Why is promotion decision making so difficult Essay

Why is promotion decision making so difficult - Essay Example Among the most important considerations when deciding who to promote into a position is which candidate possesses the highest level of hard skills to do the job. It usually does not make much sense to promote someone into a finance management position who does not have a background in finance. This is often the first step in identifying qualified candidates, and usually comes as part of the resume review and screening process. The hiring manager must assess the educational and professional experience of the candidates to help determine who would likely be capable of doing the work that would be required. That being said, there are times when all of the other qualities of a prospective candidate are so strong that a decision might be made to promote that person even though he/she lacks the requisite level of hard skills to do the job effectively. However, this will only be the case when a persons ability and willingness to learn the requisite skills is evident. That may mean choosing someone with a background of high educational achievement who displays a propensity to engage in professional development activities. Another important characteristic to consider when deciding whom to promote is leadership ability. ... All of these responsibilities require effective leadership. When assessing a person's leadership potential, a hiring manager should inquire into the candidates' experiences that may have evidenced leadership qualities. Behavioral based interviewing can be an effective tool in this regard. Using this method, the hiring manager will ask the candidates to recall a particular event in their personal or professional experience in which they actually demonstrated the desired characteristic. This requires the interviewee to demonstrate a sharp mind in quickly recalling an appropriate event. It also precludes the candidate from talking hypothetically about what they would do in a given scenario. Rather, they are required to explain what they actually have done in a scenario. The theory is that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. For example, the hiring manager might ask the candidates to recall a time when they had to delegate responsibility in order to achieve an objective. Or she might ask them to recall a time when they had to influence others to behave in a way that helped them to achieve their goals. Either of these questions would elicit valuable information about whether and how the candidates have demonstrated an ability to lead. This information can then be added to the overall formula in determining which candidate has the greatest preponderance of desirable characteristics for the position. Personality Personality fit is a huge consideration for any hiring decision, particularly when deciding whom to promote. This is also arguably one of the most difficult factors to evaluate in prospective candidates. To be sure, people generally act somewhat different in an interview than they would in a

Bronchodilator Essay Example for Free

Bronchodilator Essay By definition, a bronchodilator is a drug used for the treatment of chronic breathing complications such as emphysema, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease also known as COPD. Bronchodilators are used to reverse the effect of obstructed airways acting as decompressor and mucus removers that cause breathing complications. There is short term or short acting bronchodilators that act as â€Å"rescue medications† (Webmd. com). These rescue medications are used in more emergency instances as with asthma. Long-acting bronchodilators are used for the maintance of such diseases as COPD which is more chronic. Each bronchodilator type â€Å"opens bronchial tubes so that air can move through†¦. And help clear mucus from lungs (webmd. com). Bronchodilators such as uniphyl and Phyllocontin come in the form of a pill or tablet and are a sustained release formulation of another drug called Theophylline which opens constricted lung passages. These are more long term treatments. Short term or more frequent usage as with advair, symbicort, serevent, Foradil, are inhaled and last between two and four hours while long term tablets use lasts upwards of 12 hours. Although bronchodilators provide control over congested airways, they also act as stimulants and have an array of side effects. These side effects include: nervousness, hyperactivity, heart palpations, upset stomach, trouble sleeping, and muscle aches. Bronchodilators are approved by the FDA and originated in emergency room settings, where the necessity was abundant for chronic asthma attack patients. Albuterol, commonly used for the maintenance of asthma in an inhaler form is often however more effective than most other long acting bronchodilators. Albuterol is considered an anticholinergic bronchodilator. As previously mentioned, theophylline, an inexpensive bronchodilator acts as a stimulant similar to caffeine. Theophylline stimulants the heart and nervous system, relaxing airway muscles. Some side effects of its use include nausea, diarrhea, stomach ache, headache, and irregular heartbeat. Some bronchodilators contain adrenaline so mixing with other stimulating drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes; thyroid, hyperactivity, and heart disease are discouraged from the use of bronchodilators. Inhaled bronchodilators â€Å"enable the drug to reach into the lungs for maximum benefits† (medicine. net). It is a possibility to overdose on inhaled bronchodilators. Some signs of overdose include seizures, headaches, fainting and dizziness, and chest pains. If one is experiencing symptoms similar while using inhaled bronchodilators it is advised to visit a local emergency room or primary care physician. Alternate treatment conducive to bronchodilators includes pulmonary rehab and therapy. Excessive use of bronchodilators makes the treatments less effective and increases the probability of side effects. It is uncommon to have allergic reactions to bronchodilators but in the event, rash, itching, swelling and further complications occur, further use is discouraged. Some conditions treatable with bronchodilators are commonly COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is â€Å"an irreversible disease associated with air flow obstruction†. (purdue. ca/products/products-asthma-asb) COPD umbrellas a category of other conditions such as emphysema, (irreversible lung damage/over inflation/weaking of air sacs) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation and scarring of airways tubes. Common symptoms of these conditions include: chronic chough, wheezing increased mucus, shortness of breath, and tiresome minimal activity. COPD is more predominantly caused by cigarette smoking however; other causes may include genetics, air pollution, cystic fibrosis, and childhood infections. Another condition treatable with bronchodilators is asthma. Asthma is also a chronic lung disease that causes swelling of the airways which creates complications with breathing. Causes of asthma are less solid than those of COPD but implicate being due to an† immune-mediated processing which inflammatory cells and inflammatory mediators enter airway tissues to cause disease† (purdue. ca/products/products-asthma. asp). One who is diagnosed with asthma often becomes sensitive to hair sprays, cosmetics, cleaners, paints, pollens, animals and cock roaches, chemicals, temperature, and even some foods, An asthma attack is experienced with shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightening, persistent coughed and dyspnea. Bronchodilators are most effectively used while avoiding things that further complicate breathing. This is especially true with cigarette smoke which should be avoided first and second hand. Bronchodilators work most when used according to prescription and consistency. One should always educate self when or before exposing the body to such drugs as bronchodilators which are often stimulants and cause brief and sudden body changes.

Kurdistan Essay -- essays research papers fc

Kurdistan is a region that has existed in turmoil and is the â€Å"never was† country. The Kurds are the fourth largest ethnic group of the Middle East, numbering between 20 and 25 million. Approximately 15 million live in the regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and Syria, an area they called Kurdistan, yet they do not have a country of their own. Formal attempts to establish such a state were crushed by the larger and more powerful countries in the region after both world wars. When the Ottoman Empire collapsed after World War I, the Kurds were promised their own independent nation under the Treaty of Sevres. In 1923 however, the treaty was broken allowing Turkey to maintain its status and not allowing the Kurdish people to have a nation to call their own. The end of the Gulf war, Iran-Iraq war, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the end of the cold war has reinvigorated a Kurdish Nationalist movement. The movement is a powder keg ready to explode. With the majority of Kurds living within its boundaries, no country faces this threat more than Turkey. Because of Turkey’s concept of unified, cohesive nationhood-in which the existence of minorities are not acknowledged- these tensions in Turkey are more difficult to handle than else where. In southeastern Turkey, extreme fighting and guerilla tactics are used by the Kurds in support of their political parties. The Turkish military is actively stationed in this area now. There are several political parties that represent the needs of the Kurdish people. They are the Kurdistan’s Workers Party (PKK) who represent the needs of Turkish Kurds and are the most violent terrorist like group, the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) who is active politically but not militarily, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) composed of Iraqi Kurds, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) who is also representing the Iraqi Kurds. The PKK was created in 1974 as a Marxist-Leninist insurgent group primarily composed of Turkish Kurds searching for an independence movement. Its first and only leader, Abdullah Ocalan, or Apo as he came to be called, was at that time a student of political science at Ankara University. From the late 1970s, Ocalan worked closely with both the then Soviet Union and with Syria, whose governments were attempting to generate a political breakdown in Turkey. In 1977, the PKK published a series of "com... ...for years. In 1980, Ocalan actually moved to Syria and used Syrian facilities as well as training grounds in the Bekaa Valley to drill terrorist groups for cross-border attacks against targets in Turkey. Greece, a NATO ally, backs the PKK and its affiliates by every means at its disposal. The PKK is a very malicious and radical group in their search for their independence. They believe that their human rights are being oppressed by The Turkish peoples and that they deserve what land is theirs, no matter the cost. The only forces that stand in their way are Turkey, the PUK, and the KDP. If these organizations fail to stop the PKK, a new nation will be formed in the name of Marxism. And other countries may soon follow, changing what we know as the Middle East. Bibliography http://burn.ucsd.edu/~ats/PKK/pkk5-3.html http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/pkk.htm http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/docs/mfa-t-pkk-s.htm http://web.nps.navy.mil/~library/tgp/kurds.htm http://www.turkey.org/apo-pkk/apo1.htm http://www.comebackalive.com/df/dplaces/kurdista/ The Kurdish Nationalist Movement in the 1990’s ; Robert Olsen, editor; The University Press of Kentucky, 1996

A Comparison Between Desirees Baby & Stench Of Kerosene Essay -- Engli

A Comparison Between Desirees Baby & Stench Of Kerosene 'Stench Of Kerosene' was written by Amrita Pritam approximately fifty years ago. This emotional short story mainly revolves around the relationships between a woman, her husband and his mother. Another important theme is the significance of cultures and traditions in the protagonists' lives. The main characters are Manak and Guleri, who are husband and wife. Guleri and Manak are a loving couple who live with Manak's mother in a small village in India. Guleri cannot give birth and her mother-in-law desperately wants a grandchild. Once a year, during a special festival, Guleri visits her parents in a nearby village. This year, Manak halfheartedly tries to persuade his wife not to go. Adamant, Guleri pays no heed to her husband's baseless wish, and goes to visit her parents regardless. Upon her departure, Manak's evil mother decides to bring an end her grandchild-less status, and immediately purchases a wife for Manak, in the hope that this new bride could have the baby Guleri could not. When news of her husband's betrayal reaches Guleri, she commits suicide by dousing herself with kerosene, and consequently setting herself alight. 'Desirees Baby,' by Kate Chopin, amongst other themes, also explores the theme of relationships. Desiree, the female protagonist, is an orphan who was found at the front of the Valmonde home, lying asleep in the shadows of a big stone pillar. Madame Valmonde, the owner of the large house cannot have children; hence welcoming the child and treating her as her own. When Desiree grows up, she marries a man from a prestigious family. After a period of marital bliss, they both have a child whom they immensely love.... ...they do not obviously state what was wrong with the women. Desiree is made out to be so sweet and loving - her beauty helping to draw the readers into sympathy for her. It is not blatantly stated that it was stupid of her to commit suicide. Likewise, Guleri should really have had trust in her husband, and listened to what he told her instead of proudly ignoring his pleas. This shows that although their relationship outwardly shows happiness, there were some serious problems that occurred beneath the surface. Hence, I conclude that in 'Desiree's Baby," Armand was wrong to have so much pride, but Desiree's weak character spurned her awful fate. In 'Stench of Kerosine,' Manak was weak and stupid, but the consequences of his marrying again could have been avoided if Guleri trusted her husband. It is simply too easy to blame the men entirely for what happened.

Kip Kinkel

Kipland Kinkel a 15 year old teenager killed his parents at their home in Oregon in 1998, and later went to the cafeteria of Springfield Thurston high school and went on a shooting spree, killing two and injuring 25 students. Kinkel was sentenced to spend around 112 years in prison without any option of parole. Kinkel was suspected to be a paranoid schizophrenic, the brain harm in Kinkel’s case was supposed to be due to genetic disorders. Kinkel’s mother’s family was also found to have a history of mental illnesses. After a detailed study of this case, the competencies that are of utmost interest to this case are, The mental state of Kinkel The history of mental illnesses in Kinkel’s family His relationship with his father His interest in guns and bombs High educational expectations form his parents The effect of the anti-depressants he was taking. All the above-mentioned points must have directly or indirectly influenced Kinkel to do what he did. Increased pressure on the brain of any person and especially a teenager is bound to give negative results. This is what made Kinkel go on a shooting spree. Kip Kinkel Juveniles with a history of mental illnesses like schizophrenia and ADHD are more inclined to commit certain offenses like robbery, stealing vehicles, drugs etc. The main features of the case, which will be important in the legal point of view, are Kinkel was a paranoid schizophrenic He had a slow psychological development Was taking medicines for his mental condition ‘Not guilty by reason of insanity’ then he would be sent to a mental hospital Psychological Factors Some of the main psychological conditions which influenced Kinkel, were that he was a schizophrenic, his mother also suspected him of having attention deficit disorder (ADHD).   His family had a history of mental illnesses, it was learned that his mother also used anti-depressants, and at least nine of his other family members have mental illnesses. All this might also show a link to a genetic disorder. As a child he was a slow learner who was emotional and hyperactive. Kinkel had a mental problem, which damaged his brain, and there was also talk about holes in his brain. Kinkel also said he heard voices, which made him do this. Psychological disorders can be due to genetic inheritance, which can be traced back to nearly three generations, and Kinkel’s family on both his parents’ sides had a history of mental disorders. All these psychological factors will definitely have an effect on the behavior and capabilities of Kinkel, and this is what happened to him.   He was mentally depressed and in a psychotic state when he committed the offense. Kip Kinkel Medications To improve the mental state of Kinkel, I think he should be given the necessary medications to control his depression and anger.   If he is not given medicines, there are chances of him to repeat the offense again during his trial on his co-mates.   He should be given a chance to vent out his feelings, so that he can think straight. By not taking medicines, he might be constantly remembering the same incident again and again, which might increase the feelings of depression in him and subsequently result in further brain damage. By taking medicines during his trial, he can slowly improve his mental condition and reduce his anger. And there are chances of him to be totally get rid of his depression, which will give him a new lease of life, and there will be a meaning to his life also. Juveniles are not grown ups and their psychological and mental condition is also not totally developed, they don’t have the maturity that adults have, due to which they are bound to commit offenses. At the same time they have to be given a chance to prove themselves, even if it is when they are under trial.   So taking medicines to improve their condition is definitely advisable for juveniles. Defense Arguments In Kinkel’s case, the main points that the defense should try to highlight are His mental illness His juvenile status The use of medicines for depression Not guilty by reason of insanity Kip Kinkel The defense should handle the case very tactfully by highlighting the aspects that are advantageous to Kinkel. They should stress on the mental condition of the defendant at the time he committed the offense. The cognitive development of a juvenile should also be considered, as children cannot differentiate between what is right and what is wrong, as they are immature. The other point that the defense can argue is the history of mental illnesses in Kinkel’s family, which could have developed a genetic disorder in him, the reason for his mental condition. The two main points that the defense can lobby for are Kinkel’s mental condition and his juvenile status. Conclusion Kipland Kinkel was and is guilty for the murder of his parents and two of his fellow students, and according to the nation he should be severely punished.   But the fact that he is a juvenile should be considered, as children are different from adults, and they are not mature enough to decide what is right. Also considering the fact that he was a paranoid schizophrenic, he should be given a chance to take proper medication for his mental condition and overall well being.   He should be sent to a rehabilitation center, to take proper treatment for his psychological disorders. Everybody does mistakes, after all it is human nature to go wrong at a certain point, but the greatness lies in forgiving a person and giving him a chance to mend his ways. Kip Kinkel committed this offense, but he was not mature enough to understand what he was doing at that time, he had sort of gone blank, and he was not in a state to judge what was right and wrong. He must be given an opportunity to take suitable treatment for his psychological development. References Ellis Swanson, ‘†Killers Start Sad and Crazy† Mental Illness and the Betrayal of Kipland Kinkel’, Oregon Law Review, Retrieved 13 June, 2007, http://www.law.uoregon.edu/org/olr/archives/79/79olr1081.pdf Jeff Barnard, ‘Oregon school shooting suspect describes killing on videotape’, Court TV Online, Retrieved 13 June 2007 Rusty Dornin, ‘Oregon school shooter showed signs of mental disease’, CNN.com, Retrieved 13 June 2007            

Company Profile Kia Lim Berhad Essays

Company Profile Kia Lim Berhad Essays Company Profile Kia Lim Berhad Essay Company Profile Kia Lim Berhad Essay Kia Lim Berhad was set up as the holding company of Syarikat Kia Lim Kilang Batu Bata Sdn Bhd (SKL) and Kangkar Raya Batu Bata Sdn Bhd (KRBB) bricks manufacturers, which had been operating since 1973. SKL has set up a fully automated plant employing German technology. It was incorporated in Malaysia on 8 May 1995 as public limited company and listed in the KLSE Main Board (Industrial Products) on 29 May 1996. Commercial production commenced in mid 1999. KRBB installed a second plant in late 1991, which is fully automated and capable of producing common, block and facing bricks. The Group has diversified its range of products to include clay-roofing tiles, facing bricks and pavers. The Groups products are exported to regional markets like Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and Qatar. Kian Joo Can Factory Berhad Kian Joo Can Factory Berhad is manufacturer and distributor of tin cans and 2-piece aluminium beverage cans. They also produced polyethelene terephalate products, corrugated fibreboard cartons, provision of engineering services, letting of property, provision of share registration and provided management services. Kim Hin Industry Berhad The Company (KHI), which is Kuching-based, started operations in 1975 as a small-scale manufacturer of clay bricks. In 1979 it ceased this activity and ventured into the manufacture of mosaic tiles. It changes its name from Kim Hin Industry Sdn Bhd to present form on conversion. From a single production line, the Company now has three factories with 24 production lines. Today, KHI is one of Malaysias largest integrated ceramics manufacturers. The Group is a fully integrated manufacturer of wall, floor and homogeneous tiles, with installed production capacity of 19m sq m p.a. The Group has invested approximately RM266m in state-of-the-art Italian tile manufacturing plant and equipment. Kris Components Berhad Kris Components Bhd was incorporated on 9 September 1975 in Malaysia as a private limited company but converted to a public company on 2 November in year 1995. Its principal activities are manufacturing and stamping of precision metal parts and anodizing high-end cosmetic surface-finishing metal parts. YTL Cement Berhad YTL Cement Berhad listed on KLSE Second Board on September 6, 1993 and transferred to Main Board (Industrial Products) on June 26, 1997. It is incorporated on 29 January 1977 in Malaysia as a private limited company and converted into a public limited company on 4 May 1992. It change its name from Buildcon Sdn Bhd to Buildcon Bhd on conversion and to YTL Cement Bhd on 26, February in year 1997. The Company manufactures and supplies ready-mixed concrete to the construction industry. The Groups operations are located in Westport, Selangor, Bukit Sagu, Pahang and Pasir Gudang, Johor. Body of Contents Company Analysis Kia Lim Berhad Refer to Table 1, common-size analysis of capital structure shows that the liabilities constitute 76% and equity 24% of the companys financing in 2001 compare with 30% of total liabilities and 70% equity in the companys financing in 1996. Debt ratio and total to debt equity ratio increases sharply in 2001 compare to the previous years. In 2001, the company financed its assets approximately 72% of its debt. It was supported when the trend index of long-term liabilities (391.926%) exceeds its current liabilities (308.003%) and shareholders equity (55.331%) ( refer to Table 2). From Table 2, we can see that cash and bank balances decreases sharply from 99.356% to 2.813%. Yet the companys the companys cash flow adequacy ratio is 0.745, which is less than 1. This implies that the internal cash sources in the company were insufficient to maintain its dividend and current operating growth levels. There is a need for the company to seek for external financing in order to fulfill the requirement of the company. Table 3 shows the financial ratios of Kia Lim Berhad, which indicates that the company is facing liquidity needs. The current ratio of the company dropped over the past 5 years and the inventory turnover decreases. Kia Lim Berhads return on invested capital showed unfavorable level, where every unit of invested capital generates less profits to the company from 1998 onwards. The return on common equity also decreases over the past 5 years. The growth rate is decreasing, which the SEGR drop from 0.062% in Year 1997 to 0.185% in Year 2001. This can be seen from Table 1, which total equity capital is 28% in 2001 compare to 70% in 1996. This indicates that when the indebtedness of the company reaches a risky point, the more financial leverage the company has. The company sales show an average declining trend, which it decreases sharply in Year 2000 (-32.084%) and rebound to 100.529% in Year 2001. The forecasted sales for the next year are RM 32062120.43, which the sales are dropping and the companys net profit is forecasted to decline in Year 2003. The dollar of amount earned on behalf of each share decreases from RM 0.08 (1998) to RM 0.04 (1999) and further decreases to nil. This means there is no earning generate for each share of the company. Similar behavior was found in dividends yield, in which it decreases from 3.14 in year 1997 to 1.58 in year 1999. Kian Joo Can Factory Berhad From Table 4, we can conclude that the highest proportion of total liabilities and equity to total equity capital, are recorded in year 1999. As an overall, the average of total liabilities and total equity constitutes 41.6% and 78.37% each year of Kian Joos financing. Besides that, Table 5 reveals the trend of selected accounts, which year 1996 as the base year. The highest record of net income is in year 1997, which is 80.839%. However, the performance of Kian Joo Can Factory in year 1999 is worsening due to the net income earned are decrease for two consecutive years. A tremendous drop in net income in year 2000, which is almost 44.8% less than previous year reflect the company is overcapacity and may attract the new competitors enter into this industry. In year 1998, we can see that the trends of almost all the account selected are downturn because financial crisis occur in that year. Over these five years, the average of sales is 22.18%. Since the inventory growth is more than sales growth over the 5 years period, the company has more funds to invest in inventory. By reviewing Table 6, we find out the return on invested capital is in increasing trend except for year 1997 and 1998. The highest ratio is in year 1997. A large portion variability of the return on common equity of this company is due to changes in return on assets. Notice that the sustainable equity growth ratio, which relative to the prior year is shrink over the four years period except for year 2001. However, the average of this measurement over the five years period is 0.36%. For the debt ratio, there is a sudden drop between year 1998 and 1999 due to 23.6% increase in long term debts. The total debt to equity ratio record the highest amount in year 1998 due to the economic crisis and the company increase their credit line. In year 2000, there is a sudden drop from RM2 dividends yield to RM1.52. After year 1999, earnings per share are decrease for two consecutive years. This is because reducing in net profit over the years. There is an improvement in PE ratio except the year 20 01. Since economic recession in year 1998, the company must sell their stock in higher price, that is RM28.3 in order to get RM1 earnings. The forecasted sales of this company for year 2003 are RM473, 509,169, which is 1.17% less compare with previous year. However, net income is expected increase 5.97%, which is from RM28, 220,000 raise to RM29, 904,528. In summary, the company will performed better in year 2003 since the forecasted net income is higher. Kim Hin Industry Berhad Table 7 shows a common size analysis of capital structure for Kim Hin Industry Berhad. For year 1996, liabilities constitute 16.702% and this percentage decreases to 0.099% in year 2000, which indicates that the obligations of Kim Hin Industry are reducing. However, in year 2001, this amount increases 0.015% to 0.114%. From the table, it shows the shareholders equity of Kim Hin industry Berhad is stable over years. The reserve of this company reaches its peak in year 1998. This may be due to the economic crisis that makes the company to increase their reserve in the bank to face the contingency in the future. From Table 8, we can see that cash and bank balances increase the most in year 2001 (2492.699%) if compared with the other short-term assets. This indicates that Kim Hin Industry Berhads liquidity needs is improving over the year. Although long term asset and long term liability show a downturn from year to year, they are still remained above the level of total long term assets based on year 1996. From here we can see that sales growth are faster than the inventory growth. This is a good sign for Kim Hin Industry Berhad. This may be due to the better inventory system in this company. Net income shows a rising trend over these six consecutive years except in year 1998, the net income decreased 33.954% if compared with year 1996. Besides, account receivables are growing faster than the sales (118.975% versus 110.042%), this is suggestive for a more aggressive credit policy. After doing the time series forecasting of the value of sales and net income in year 2003, we predict that both categories will be in a decreasing trend, which reach an amount of RM 15,561,322.19 for net income and RM 150,277,952 of sales. From Table 9, the value of cash flow adequacy ratio (CFAR), which is 1.01606, indicates that this company is able to cover these cash without a need for external financing. The debt ratio of this company over five years is decreasing from year to year. This implies that the portion of assets that are being financed by the creditors are keep on dropping. Furthermore, the debt to equity is decreasing from year 1997 (0.352044 times) to 2001 (0.161399 times). The highest ROCE over these five business-operating years is in year 1997 which yield an amount of 27.8%. The growth rate is decreasing, which shows by the SEGR, from 25.03% in year 1997 to -5.827% in year 1998. After year 1998, the growth rate increase steadily from year 1999 (7.116%) to 2001(11.35%). Although the companys earning per share decreases from 0.18 in year 1997 to 0.05 in year 2001, the dividend yield increases from 0.53 in year 1997 to 0.98 in year 2001. In year 1998, dividend yield comes to it highest point of 3.23 which designates that the selling price of each share, the company will get RM 3.23 dividend in return. The PE ratios of Kim Hin Industry Berhad fluctuate over time. The highest PE ratio among these five years is in year 2000, which yields that the company should sell its share for RM 27.90 in order to earn RM 1.00. Kris Components Berhad Table 10 shows a common-size analysis of capital structure for Kris Components Berhad. For year 2001, liabilities constitute 52.1% and equity 47.9% of Kriss financing, while long term liabilities equal l2.41%. Total liabilities is increase from 22.44% in year 1997 to 52.1% in year 2001, whereas total equity capital has decreased from 77.56% to 47.9%. This shows that there is a greater likelihood of insolvency in company since the higher the proportion of debt, the larger the interest charges and debt repayment. Table 11 shows the trend index of selected accounts of Kris Components Berhad. The cash and cash balances was decrease dramatically from 864% in year 2000 to 530.3% in year 2001, whereas inventory is increase substantially from 639.3% to 1049.8%. This shows that the company has more funds invested in inventory in year 2001. However, the inventory growth is less than sales growth from year 1998 to year 2001. Net income is in an increasing trend except from year 1999 to 2000. Therefore, we have forecasted the sales and net income using regression model for year 2003. As the result, estimated sales in 2003 is RM 484,523,776.2 while the estimated net income is RM46,118,828.51. Refer to Table 12, the total debt to equity ratio shows an increasing trend during the 5 years period. This indicates the proportion of the companys capital that derived from debt is larger compared to other sources of capital. The total debt to equity ratio in year 2001 (108.475%) shows that the likelihood of insolvency in the company is greater especially during periods of earnings decline. The debt ratio of the company also increases over the 5 years period. It shows the portion of assets that is financed by creditors is increase from year to year. The return on invested capital ratio is fluctuated over the 5 years period. It shows 12.43% in 1999 indicates the company is able to attract financing compare with previous year. Kriss higher return on common shareholders equity as compared to its return on invested capital reflects the favourable effects of financial leverage. That is, Kris is successfully trading on the equity. Kriss cash flow adequacy ratio for the five-year period is 0.364, implying that funds generated from operations are insufficient to maintain dividends and current operating growth levels and there is a need for external financing. Kris sustainable equity growth rate in year 2001 is 12.14% compare with 10.01% in year 2000, markedly improve relative to prior years. This indicates better future growth in sales and earning. The year 2001 net income of RM19.771 million and dividend of RM 3.711 million leave sufficient funds for reinvestment and internally financed growth. While earnings per share increase from RM0.20 in year 1998 to RM0.42 in year 2001, the PE ratio was fluctuate during that period. Dividend yield was decline. Declining in dividend yield is attributable mainly to increase in PE ratio. YTL Cement Berhad Refer to Table 13, the company total liabilities decreased since 1999 with 65.1% compare to 36.36% (2002). Besides that, the overall total shareholders equity fluctuates each year with a moderate high percentage (63.64%) in 2002. The total debt to equity ratio is decreased from year 1999 to 2002. There is a sudden decreased of almost 70% from 186.506% in 1999 to 57.139% in 2002. Table 14 indicates that the sales and the net income of the company was in good condition for 4 consecutive years with an increment from 79% (1999) to 188% (2002) and net income increased from 21% (1999) to 438% (2002). In addition, we have forecasted the sales and net income using regression model for year 2003. As the result, estimated sales for year 2003 slightly decrease with the amount of RM 382,055,745.50 compare to 2002 with the amount of RM 422,639,071 while there is a rise in estimated net income for 2003 with RM7,454,009.69 (refer to Appendix). From the short-term liquidity ratio of YTL Cement Berhad, we analyze the companys inventory turnover. From Table 14, we can see that the companys inventory turnover increased over 4 consecutive years from year 1999 to 2002. We can also see that there is a sudden increased of almost 50% in 2000 due to an increased in YTL Cement Berhads sales from 109% in 2000 to 188% in 2002. This shows that there is effectiveness in managing inventory by YTL Cement Bhd. Besides that, CFAR for YTL Cement Berhad for 5 years period is 2.33 (refer to Table15). This ratio indicates that the company is able to cover cash needs without a need for external financing. The return on invested capital (ROIC) is increased from year 2000 to 2002. This is cause by the increment in the net income of the company over the past 3 years. Similar to ROIC, return on common equity (ROCE) of the company also increased. This is cause by the rise of the net income of the company over the past 3 years from 113% (2000) to 438% (2002) (refer to Table14). Sustainable equity growth rate (SEGR) recognizes the internal growth for YTL Cement Bhd depends on both earnings retention and return earned on earnings retained. There is an improvement on SEGR for 5 consecutive years from 1998 to 2002 after a sudden drop from 13.52% in 1997 to 1.58% in 1998 due to the occurrence of financial crisis (refer to Table15). From the view of financial market measures, YTL Cement Berhad EPS increased for 4 consecutive years from 0.03 in 1999 to 0.479 in 2002. This shows that the company earnings had improved over the periods. The company had lower PE ratio during year 2002, 2001, 2000 compare with the previous 3 years. This is good for the company. The company highest DY (5.12) was in 1998 compare to other years (refer to Table 15).

French education system essays

French education system essays D'abord, les tudes, en France, sont srieux ! Aux Etats-Unis on peut terminer le lyce sans passer un examen (mais à §a va changer tout de suite avec les nouvelle loi de Grey Davis notre `gouverner d'Etat de Califorie). En France les lycens doivent passer le bac, c'est dire, le baccalaurate. C'est un examen trs important qui marque la fin des tudes secondaires et qui determine, en grande partie, l'avenir des lycens. S'ils sont reà §us, ils peuvent aller l'universit et continuer leurs tudes. S'ils ratent le bac, ils peuvent redoubler et se reprsenter l'anne suivante, ou bien ils peuvent faire des tudes techniques, ou entrer dans la vie professionelle, ou, pour les garà §ons, faire leur service militaire. Il y a plusiers types de bac. Ils sont dsigns par des lettres. Dans chaque srie, l'lve doit choisir une spcialit. Il y trois sries principales avec leurs spcialits. Il y le Srie littraire, le Bac L avec langues vivantes, lettres classiques, art et mathmatiques. Le Srie conomique et sociale, Bac ES avec les spcialits de sciences conomiques et sociale, mathmatiques, et langues vivantes. Et finalment, il y a le Srie scientifique, le bac S avec mathmatiques, physique chimie, sciences de la vie et de la terre, et technologie industrielle. Ces spcialits sont important parce qu'elles dterminent le genre d'tudes universitaires qu'on peut faire, et, par consquent, sa profession future. Par exemple, si on veut à ªtre mdecin ou pharmacien, il est conseill de faire un bac S. spcialit sciences de la vie et de la terre. Si on pense faire des tudes de droit, et devenir avocat, il est pr ...

Bio of Ma Rainey, Influential Early Blues Singer

Bio of Ma Rainey, Influential Early Blues Singer Born Gertrude Pridgett, Ma Rainey (April 26, 1886 - December 22, 1939) was one of the first blues singers to record music. Nicknamed the â€Å"Mother of the Blues,† she recorded more than 100 singles, including the hits â€Å"Prove it on Me Blues,† â€Å"See See Rider Blues,† and â€Å"Don’t Fish in My Sea.† Fast Facts: Ma Rainey Occupation: Blues singerNickname: Mother of the BluesBorn: 1882 or 1886 in either Russell County, Alabama, or Columbus, GeorgiaParents: Thomas and Ella PridgettDied: Dec. 22, 1939 in Columbus, GeorgiaTop Songs: Prove it on Me Blues, See See Rider Blues, Don’t Fish in My Sea, Bo-Weavil BluesKey Accomplishments: 1990 Rock Roll Hall of Fame inductee, 1990 Blues Foundation Hall of Fame Inductee, 1994 US postage stamp honoree Early Years Gertrude Pridgett was the second child born to minstrel show performers Thomas and Ella Pridgett. Her birthplace is often listed as Columbus, Ga., and her birth year is widely reported as 1886. However, census records indicate that the singer was born September 1882 in Russell County, Alabama. Her singing career took off during her early teens. Like many African Americans, she honed her musical skills in church. By 1900, she was singing and dancing in Georgia’s Springer Opera House, now a National Historic Landmark. A number of artists have performed at the theater, including Buffalo Bill, John Philip Sousa, Burt Reynolds, and Oscar Wilde. Rainey, however, stands out as one of the early greats to do so.   In addition to the career success she enjoyed as a young woman, Rainey hit a milestone in her personal life when she married performer William â€Å"Pa† Rainey on February 2, 1904. The couple performed as â€Å"Ma† and â€Å"Pa† Rainey throughout the South. Traveling so much, especially in rural areas, is what led Ma Rainey to first hear the blues, a new art form at the time.   Blues combined African-American spirituals with African musical customs, such as â€Å"blue,† or flat notes. Performers would typically repeat the same lines, and the lyrics often discussed heartache or struggles of some sort. When Rainey first heard a singer perform the blues, the woman described a man who’d left her. Rainey had never heard anything like it. Introduced in the late 1800s, the blues paved the way for several different music genres, namely RB and rock-n-roll. Ma Rainey came to love the genre so much that she soon started performing blues songs. Her performances thrilled audiences, putting her on the path to become one of the early blues greats. Some scholars have said Rainey influenced younger performers, such as Bessie Smith, the blues singer she met in 1912. But it’s unclear if Rainey really acted as a mentor to Smith, whose singing style differed from hers. Well into the 1910s, Rainey continued to enjoy musical success, performing with Fat Chappelles Rabbit Foot Minstrels as well as Tollivers Circus and Musical Extravaganza. Their shows included chorus lines, acrobats, and comedy acts. When Rainey sang at the end of the program, she looked every bit the stage diva, turning up in showy jewelry, like diamond headpieces and necklaces made of cash. She even had gold teeth, which complemented the gold gowns she wore.   A Hitmaker for Paramount Records In 1916, Rainey began performing without her husband because the two had separated. She did not publicly identify as a lesbian, but some of her later musical lyrics and an arrest for throwing an â€Å"indecent† party toward the end of her career suggest she had romantic relationships with women. The newly single Rainey performed with her own backing band, billing herself as Madam Gertrude â€Å"Ma† Rainey and Her Georgia Smart Sets. Ma Rainey was one of the earliest recording artists to perform blues music. Photo by Donaldson Collection/Getty Images Rainey cut several songs for Paramount Records in 1923. They included the hits Bad Luck Blues, Bo-Weavil Blues, Moonshine Blues, and Those All Night Long Blues. Mamie Smith recorded the earliest blues single three years before. Rainey may not have been the first blues recording artist, but she had a prolific output. She went on to record about 100 blues tracks, and Dead Drunk Blues was among the most popular. Her songs had many themes. The lyrics, like those of many blues songs, focused on romantic relationships; they also discussed drinking and traveling as well as the African-American folk magic known as hoodoo. Although Rainey started out performing in the South, the success of her records led to a tour in the North, where she had dates in cities like Chicago with her backup ensemble, the Wildcats Jazz Band. In the following years, Rainey performed with a number of talented musicians, most famously Louis Armstrong. In 1928, Rainey’s music career began to slow down, as her type of blues fell out of fashion. Paramount did not renew her contract, despite the slew of hits she’d performed for the record label. One of the last tracks she recorded, Prove It On Me Blues, openly discussed her sexual orientation. â€Å"Went out last night with a crowd of my friends,† Rainey sang. â€Å"They must’ve been women, ‘cause I don’t like no men. It’s true I wear a collar and tie. Makes the wind blow all the while.† In the promotional image for the song, Rainey is drawn wearing a suit and a hat, speaking with a few women as a policeman eyes her. The song and the image allude to a women-only party Rainey threw 1925. It got so rowdy that a neighbor complained to the police. The women were getting affectionate with one another when the officer arrived, and as party host, Rainey was arrested for throwing an indecent party. While the singer could not openly identify as a lesbian during this era, she is regarded as a gay icon today. She’s one of the recording artists featured in Robert Philipson’s 2011 documentary T’Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness: Queer Blues Divas of the 1920s. Ma Rainey’s Impact Today Although Rainey stopped recording new music in the late 1920s, she continued to perform, simply at much smaller venues than she had during the height of her career. In 1935, she retired from the industry, returning to her hometown of Columbus, Ga. There, she purchased two movie halls- the Lyric and Airdome theaters. Ma Rainey died from a heart attack on Dec. 22, 1939.   She may have been a singer, but Rainey has been a major influence on black literature and drama. Poets Langston Hughes and Sterling Allen Brown both alluded to her in their works. The August Wilson play â€Å"Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom† directly referenced the singer as well. And Alice Walker based blues singer Shug Avery, a character in her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel â€Å"The Color Purple,† on artists like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith. In 1990, Rainey was inducted into the Blues Foundation’s Hall of Fame and the Rock Roll Hall of Fame. Four years later, the US Postal Service issued a postage stamp in the blues singer’s honor. Her home in Columbus, Ga., became a museum in her honor in 2007. Sources Freedman, Samuel J. What Black Writers Owe to Music. New York Times, 14 October 1984.Giaimo, Cara. The Queer Black Woman Who Reinvented The Blues. Atlas Obscura, 27 April 2016.ONeal, Jim. Ma Rainey. The Blues Foundation, 10 November 2016.

Corporate Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Corporate Finance - Essay Example e impact on stock prices.(Frankfurter 2002 )Another school of thought contends that prices are negatively correlated with dividend payout levels.(Frankfurter 2002).The third view is that firm dividend policy is irrelevant in stock price valuation. (Frankfurter 2002.These views are best summed up as being based upon, the tax effect ( Litzenberger and Ramaswamy (1980),)Clientele effects explanations (Elton and Gruber, 1970), Agency theory explanations(Easterbrook 1984), Signaling models(John and Williams (1985), and psychological/sociological explanations ( Frankfurter and Lane 1992). Coming to the aspect of Dividend Policies, Capital structure decisions and taxation academic literature has similarly differed and presented varying views. The leading theory here is the MM theory discussed below based on which the paper explores the literature pertaining to the simultaneous effect of both the corporation tax and personal income taxes on the dividend policy and capital structure of a firm in theory. In this vein many other studies have also examined the temporal pattern of corporate dividend payout and dynamic dividend behavior based on varying tax codes.(MA Lasfer 1996). It has been seen often that there will be â€Å" structural shifts in the aggregate dividend payout and these shifts often coincide with tax law changes†(Wu 1996).Thus the empirical evidence on the effects of both corporation and personal income taxes on dividend payment adjustments and on capital structure decisions is accordingly reviewed hereafter. It has often been stated that companies set their dividend policies to minimize their tax liability and to maximize the after-tax return of their shareholders. (Wu 1996).It has also been stated that whenever a company is unable to deduct the advanced corporate tax from their tax liability it will resort to giving out low dividends.(Wu 1996 citing Brennan). The notion of the tax hypothesis states that the differential taxation of dividends and

Corporates Fighting Poverty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Corporates Fighting Poverty - Essay Example Coca-Cola Foundation is the main charitable company of Coca-Cola. The foundation receives requests from needy individuals and tries their best to respond to the requests. The company vows to give back to the society 1% of their operating income annually. According to statistics, the company injected at least $143 million to help communities worldwide. The program to help the needy will work well if there is a good relationship the society and companies that exist to make profits. The program will be for a company that manufactures food products. The solutions of the program will aim to help the individual at the bottom of the pyramid. The main aim of the program will be to provide the poor with realistic interventions that will help uplift their standards of living. The program will be sustainable because the products modification will be able to benefit the poor. The products will have nutrients that the regular products do not have to help poor families. There are certain nutrients that normal products lack but are available in other food products. Since the needy do not have the ability to access all the food products, having a product that is rich in nutrients is important. The product will be of economic importance to the company because of developing a market for the needy individuals. The product will be good for business because it will expand their market among the low-income group of individual. The program will have the ability to exploit the market to create sustainable community transformation.

What is Education's Purpose Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

What is Education's Purpose - Essay Example There are two leading thoughts today about the overall purpose of education. The main goal of education is to teach the students what they need to know to go out into the world. But what is being taught in school is not coming across that way. The core subjects of Math, Science, Social Studies, and English are all needed to be taught to every student throughout the time they are in school. How a teacher goes about teaching their students the information is now what's at stake. In â€Å"School's Out† by Daniel Pink, he tells the reader that most of the classrooms have the smell of nostalgia, not of the students churning their mind. He also, shows the reader that public schools are not even up to date with the technology that is in the classrooms, making it that much harder on the teachers trying to help bring the next generations along into the world to be productive citizens of their perspective nations. As education goes on, the students, particularly those in the United States, are not keeping up with other students from foreign nations. Education's purpose is to teach the students what they need to know to go on and be successful in the world.... Daniel Pink shows the reader that even though the purpose of education is to attain knowledge and be successful in the world, maybe learning in public schools is not helping the students after all. In â€Å"School's Out†, Pink tells the reader that the children who attend public schools are being out tested by the students who are home schooled. He goes on to tell us that with the ever changing economy and the collapse of company after company, that more people are going into small business for themselves or becoming the ever growing population of the workforce that is creating its income through the use of the internet. He even goes on to state that some people, who have mainstream jobs, are telecommuting from home to their job site never actually having to leave the home to provide the income needed to run the household. He states that education may be headed the same way as the job force. â€Å"Today’s adolescents would be better off pursuing a college degree, jumpi ng directly into the job market, engaging in public service, or taking on a vocational apprenticeship.† (Pink) Pink goes on to explain the different ideals of home schooling which include: â€Å"A renaissance of apprenticeships, a flowering of teenage entrepreneurship, a greater diversity of academic courses, a boom in national service, and a backlash against the standards.† (Pink) Furthermore, he goes on to state that those students who were home schooled, free learners know how to continue their education throughout the rest of their lives. On the other hand, Maya Angelou was very proud of the day she graduated from high school. She shows the reader through a bunch of similes that she uses in the piece and she describes the graduates of her class â€Å"Like travelers with exotic

BUS205-Introduction to Aspects of Business Law Essay

BUS205-Introduction to Aspects of Business Law - Essay Example Rights against Costumes R Us English National Operetta Company (ENOC) entered into a contract with Costumes R Us for the purchase of theater costumes. The contracts of sale are governed by Sale of Goods Act, 1979 which defines a contract of sale in s.2 (1) as: ‘a contract whereby the seller transfers or agrees to transfer ownership in goods to the buyer in return for a money consideration called the price.’ In the given case, Costumes R Us agreed to manufacture and deliver theater costumes to ENOC and ENOC agreed to pay ?5,000 in return. The agreement was made on 1st May 2010. This is an agreement to sell. It pertains to future goods which would be delivered on 1st September 2010. But before Costumes R Us could begin the manufacturing process for the agreement, on 1st June 2010, a fire broke out due to a fault of some children and burnt down their premises. They could not manufacture the costumes and hence could not deliver them to ENOC. ENOC has threatened to sue Costum es R Us for damages. Costumes R Us could not perform their promise. ENOC had to purchase the same quantity of costumes from Theatre Togs Ltd at a cost of ?6,000. ENOC is looking to recover their resulting loss in the form of damages from them by suing them for breach of contract. Costumes R Us would look to defend by pleading on the basis of Doctrine of Frustration. ... The happening event must have been outside the contemplation of the parties at the time they entered into the agreement. Where the parties have foreseen the likelihood of such an event arising and have made express provision for it in the contract the doctrine of frustration will not apply; and iii. The frustrating event was not self induced. In other words, the frustrating event must not have been the fault of, or due to the actions of, either of the contracting parties. In the given case, on June 1st 2010, the fire accident rendered it impossible for Costumes R Us to manufacture the costumes. The event is a frustrating event. On May 1st 2010, the time of making of the agreement, this event could not have been foreseen as it is not normal that the whole premises of a business are burned down due to an outbreak of fire. According to the given facts, the fire was caused by some children who were playing with matches near the premises. Therefore, the fire was not caused due to negligen ce or a fault by either of the parties. On the other hand, the breakout of fire occurred before the stipulated time of delivery i.e. 1st September 2010. If three months were sufficient for Costumes R Us to recover from the accident and perform their promise of making the costumes and delivering them, the Doctrine of Frustration would not be applicable. The subject matter of this contract is not of existing goods. It pertains to future goods which would be manufactured by Costumes R Us in the future. The fire could not have destroyed the subject matter of the contract. But it can be assumed that the machinery required to process the material was destroyed so the subject matter could not have been brought into existence. The courts would discharge both the parties from the contract by the

Customer satisfaction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Customer satisfaction - Essay Example According to Kotler (1995) customer satisfaction can best be defined as an individual’s pleasure or displeasure resulting from comparing the outcome or performance of a product, with prior expectations about performance of the same product. Another definition which exemplifies customer satisfaction is provided by Stank et al. (2007). The scholars posit that customer satisfaction refers to consumers’ evaluation and perception of a specific service or product after purchasing and utilising it. Earlier definitions denote that customer satisfaction constitutes feedback provided by buyers about a service or a product after consuming it (Fornell, 1992; Oliver, 1981). As can be discerned from these definitions, customer satisfaction stems from a customer’s perception of the suitability of a product in comparison to actual experience after consumption. Cochran (2003) emphasises that customer satisfaction is a high subjective concept, since consumers derive pleasure from commodities on the basis of various variables such as the price of the service/product, availability, and reliability, among other attributes. Judging from the various definitions and explanations of customer satisfaction, it is apparent that this concept bears immense significance to companies like Apple, which are currently competing within the global context. For instance, recognising customer preferences and product expectations ensures that the Company manufactures computers and computer peripherals that satisfy buyers. Accounting for customers’ taste and preference in computerised gadgets partially explains Apple, Inc.’s success internationally. This is because customer satisfaction paves way for repeat purchases and heightened customer loyalty. Allbal (2011) points out that there is a wide variety of factors that influence customer satisfaction, since

BUS205-Introduction to Aspects of Business Law Essay

BUS205-Introduction to Aspects of Business Law - Essay Example Rights against Costumes R Us English National Operetta Company (ENOC) entered into a contract with Costumes R Us for the purchase of theater costumes. The contracts of sale are governed by Sale of Goods Act, 1979 which defines a contract of sale in s.2 (1) as: ‘a contract whereby the seller transfers or agrees to transfer ownership in goods to the buyer in return for a money consideration called the price.’ In the given case, Costumes R Us agreed to manufacture and deliver theater costumes to ENOC and ENOC agreed to pay ?5,000 in return. The agreement was made on 1st May 2010. This is an agreement to sell. It pertains to future goods which would be delivered on 1st September 2010. But before Costumes R Us could begin the manufacturing process for the agreement, on 1st June 2010, a fire broke out due to a fault of some children and burnt down their premises. They could not manufacture the costumes and hence could not deliver them to ENOC. ENOC has threatened to sue Costum es R Us for damages. Costumes R Us could not perform their promise. ENOC had to purchase the same quantity of costumes from Theatre Togs Ltd at a cost of ?6,000. ENOC is looking to recover their resulting loss in the form of damages from them by suing them for breach of contract. Costumes R Us would look to defend by pleading on the basis of Doctrine of Frustration. ... The happening event must have been outside the contemplation of the parties at the time they entered into the agreement. Where the parties have foreseen the likelihood of such an event arising and have made express provision for it in the contract the doctrine of frustration will not apply; and iii. The frustrating event was not self induced. In other words, the frustrating event must not have been the fault of, or due to the actions of, either of the contracting parties. In the given case, on June 1st 2010, the fire accident rendered it impossible for Costumes R Us to manufacture the costumes. The event is a frustrating event. On May 1st 2010, the time of making of the agreement, this event could not have been foreseen as it is not normal that the whole premises of a business are burned down due to an outbreak of fire. According to the given facts, the fire was caused by some children who were playing with matches near the premises. Therefore, the fire was not caused due to negligen ce or a fault by either of the parties. On the other hand, the breakout of fire occurred before the stipulated time of delivery i.e. 1st September 2010. If three months were sufficient for Costumes R Us to recover from the accident and perform their promise of making the costumes and delivering them, the Doctrine of Frustration would not be applicable. The subject matter of this contract is not of existing goods. It pertains to future goods which would be manufactured by Costumes R Us in the future. The fire could not have destroyed the subject matter of the contract. But it can be assumed that the machinery required to process the material was destroyed so the subject matter could not have been brought into existence. The courts would discharge both the parties from the contract by the

Pilot Fatigue and Stress Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Pilot Fatigue and Stress - Essay Example In order to reduce the impacts of these problems, an Aviation Safety Program is developed from the perspective of an airline operator, with a great emphasis on how to successfully implement the safety program. The discussion about pilot fatigue and stress is as old as aviation itself. This problem has been given a serious consideration because of the monumental destruction it could cause. Some of the deadly plane crashes recorded in the history of aviation were as a result of the pilots losing concentration on their jobs, which is one of the characteristics of pilot fatigue and stress (Ragan 33). Therefore, to save lives and protect their businesses, airline operators have been working hard to fashion out an efficient safety strategy that would give confidence to their airlines in the eyes of the passengers (Ragan 21). Many studies have been carried out and different safety programs have been implemented. But the question still remains: what is the best approach to completely curb the menace of pilot fatigue and stress? Hawkins (49) analyzed three main kinds of pilot fatigue and stress: though they appear not separable from one another, since it is practically difficult to identify which of the fatigue is currently affecting a pilot’s performance at a particular period. These are muscular, mental and skill fatigue. As its name implied, muscular fatigue arises from over-exertion of physical power, which might cause serious pain in both arms’ and legs’ muscles. But this kind of fatigue could easily be cured by taking some rest or/and by application of balm. Mental fatigue occurs as a result of mental stress from to much brainstorming and exhaustion, while skill fatigue is defined as a gradual decline in performance owning to the pressure from a work that constantly requires concentration and high level of skill (Hawkins 49). If not handled properly, both mental and skill fatigue could lead to nervous breakdown; and

Warn of dangerous fellow student Essay Example for Free

Warn of dangerous fellow student Essay Many other authors are researchers seem to voice the same observations made by Syvertsen et al (2009). Students’ psycho-social development is highly essential and should be integrated in learning curricular to ensure students are exposed to positive developmental behaviors. Relationship enhancement amongst teachers and students cannot be more emphasized than when studies are done and students reveal that strength of the bond their have with adults/teachers will determine if they would intervene directly or by reporting cases of violence. Students too, as it has been revealed, want to have a sense of having some control on their own. Resilience can be developed in students through the teachers influence as Grotberg (2003, p. 108) observed that, â€Å"Teachers are some of the major builders of our children’s resilience. They have our children in their care for most of their waking hours; from kindergarten to the end of school, approximately 13 years. Their influence is profound. Their responsibility is awesome. † From the Grotberg’s observatory comments, one is able to then assert the students’ notion that if they have a closer relationship with the ones they spend most of their tender school age with – the teachers – then they are bound to go to the teachers and report a student who would be planning a violent attack on the school community. If positive relationships are to be developed between students are teachers then â€Å"a positive relationship with an adult who is available to provide support when needed is one of the most critical factors in preventing student violence †¦ [since] peers are the most likely group to know in advance about potential school violence† (Vitto, 2003, p. 16). Closer interaction, fewer numbers of students allocated to each teacher and extra curricular activities may pave the way for better interaction that would enhance student-teacher interaction and encourage students to seek advice and help from teachers and adults incase of a colleague’s plan to violate or threaten the safety of the school community. Fascinatingly, common factors noted in over 75% of the 37 incidents of school shootings reported in the U. S revealed that the violator (s) told someone or talked to a colleague of their intent or that the shooting would happen. However, in most cases the students who happened to have information of the happenings beforehand did not seek out or inform any adult. This is a clear indication that understandable instructions should be given to students on what would be the most appropriate to take incase they heard of violence threats and ways of reporting these cases anonymously should be given to the students. Additionally, this may be an indication that students might not always seek out counsel or have enough confidence in adults to go to them and report such threatening situations. It may, therefore, be noted that the absence of trust could be the primary reason that may be given most commonly by students for not going to teachers for counsel or assistance. Syvertsen et al. (2009), reveal that â€Å"Fostering a caring school climate in which students (and teachers) feel a shared sense of responsibility to look out for one another and to take action to keep one another safe is something not taught in textbooks or made possible by metal detectors, but is built through the daily interactions teachers have with students and students have with one another. † Cultivating trust would be the best way to fulfill the students’ need to security and encourage as well as enable them to deal with problems, develop positive relationships and a strong sense of self and belonging. In return, emotional as well as psycho-social development is enhanced making the students more confident to defend the safety and wellbeing of schools and their community by reporting cases of violence. Difficult backgrounds, poverty, socio-economic challenges may be some of the factors that may underlie the development of divisive and aggressive behaviors among students. Having the ability to instill hope and confidence in students would not only help enhance independence and a positive sense of self worth but also positive interaction. With this kind of interaction, most students may be able to not only have the intent to intervene but also to take action to curb and prevent violence in schools. It’s the most complicated relationships to build if students come from backgrounds, however, with conducive environments and encouraging learning conditions, students can slowly but surely develop the emotional capabilities to deal with challenging situations hence minimizing violent outbursts and/or cases of ignoring violence signs. During teenage and adolescent years, most students may be individually seeing appreciation and acknowledgement from their peers and teachers. This means that they may, more than likely, try to intervene in violence situations by talking to their peer who may be planning a violence attack. Teachers, as much as they may seeks to encourage this kind of intervention, would have to ensure that the intervening student’s safety would not be threatened and that the students would be encouraged to seek the counsel and intervention of an adult. However, the student openness and willingness to participate in positive psycho-socio developmental activities and programs can only be left to the students. Aggressiveness forged towards students to make them participate on welfare activities and programs can also result in aggressive resistance and possible violent reactions. Conclusion It’s generally and conclusively agreed that, just as the studies reveal that different developmental levels enhance or deter intervention of students. Students need positive emotional as well as psychological nurturing to impact their school community’s safety programs. It’s therefore mandatory that, in order to reduce the risk of violent attacks by students, teachers and adults have to create an atmosphere that encourages students to develop their social skills and seek to protect the safety of their learning institutions. Besides the academic curricular, social, emotional and psychological developmental programs must be initiated to ensure students’ development of self worth is fulfilled. This would help lessen violence and encourage cohesion. In the end, safer school environments would be realized and abilities and willingness to intervene incase of violence threats can be achieved. References Dwyer, K. , Osher, D. Warger, C. (1998). Early warning, timely response: A guide to safe schools. Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Education. Retrieved June 10, 2009 from http://cecp. air. org/guide/guide. pdf Grotberg, E. H. (2003). Resilience for today: gaining strength from adversity. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. Jimerson, S. R. Furlong, M. J (2006). The handbook of school violence and school safety: from research to practice. New York: Routledge. Johnson, C. (n. d). The A-B-Cs of School Violence. Retrieved June 10, 2009 from http://www. aboutteens. org/essays/schl-violnce. htm Syvertsen, A. K. , Flanagan, C. A. , Stout, M. D. (2009). Code of Silence: Students. Perceptions of School Climate and Willingness to Intervene in a Peers Dangerous Plan. Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 101, No. 1, 219-232. Vitto, J. M (2003). Relationship-Driven Classroom Management: Strategies That Promote Student Motivation. California: Corwin Press. Willenz, P. (2009). Students Who Feel Connected to Peers, Teachers are More Inclined to Warn of Dangerous Fellow Student: Zero Tolerance Policies Can Work against Cohesion in Schools. Retrieved June 9, 2009 from http://www. apa. org/releases/schoolviolence. html.

Case Study Human Growth And Development Assignment Social Work Essay

Case Study Human Growth And Development Assignment Social Work Essay The aim of this case study is to use knowledge of human growth and development to critically discuss the theories a social worker might employ to assess a family and better understand their behaviour. These theories will be applied to two members of the family, Molly (13-years old) and Elsie (65-years old), and critiqued in terms of how they might assist social workers in making informed, anti-oppressive assessments. Any limitations to the theories will also be discussed. Anti-oppressive practice will underlie the critique and has been defined as a form of social work practice which addresses social divisions and structural inequalities in the work that is done with clients (users) and workers (Dominelli, 1993, p. 24). It is a person-centred approach synonymous with Rogers (1980) philosophy of person-centred practice. It is designed to empower individuals by reducing the negative effects of hierarchy, with the emphasis being on a holistic approach to assessment. Practising in an anti-oppressive way requires valuing differences in lifestyle and personal identities. By recognising the power imbalance present between social workers and clients, especially between social workers and children or oppressed older adults, theory and knowledge can be utilised to challenge oppression and discrimination (Dalrymple and Burke, 2000). How this can be achieved is demonstrated throughout this case study. MOLLY The two theories of human growth and development to be applied to Molly are Attachment Theory and Life Course Theory. Attachment Theory Attachment Theory is a psychological theory based on the premise that children require an attachment relationship with at least one consistent caregiver within their lives for normal social and emotional development (Bowlby, 1958; Ainsworth et al., 1978). For Molly, the development of an attachment figure was likely to have been compromised during her early developmental years. When she was between 1 and 7-years old, her mother was addicted to drugs and alcohol and thus was emotionally and physically unavailable (Eiden et al., 2002). Despite living with her father and paternal grandparents for a period of time, the overall insecurity within her family unit is likely to have impacted her ability to attach to others (Barrow, 2011). The possibility that Molly has developed multiple attachments also needs to be considered as Molly lives within a context of shared caregiving (Kelly and Lamb, 2000). This is where the theory is limited in its application within this family since it does not provide insight into the dynamics and implications of multiple attachments. It also fails to acknowledge the impact of losing multiple attachments (Ainsworth et al., 1978). There are a number of significant changes that have occurred in Mollys life and that involve potential attachment figures. For example, Mollys father, whom Molly remained close to even when her parents were separated, has become marginalised and distanced in an effort to avoid arguments with Mollys mother (Markiewicz, Doyle, and Brendgen, 2001). When he is at home, the tension is likely to impact the duration and quality of time spent with Molly. Marital conflict has been found to influence adolescents attachment security by reducing the effectiveness of parenting (Markiewicz, Doyle, and Brendgen, 2001). Given the family history, Molly might be fearful of her parents separating again, the extent of which cannot be underestimated (Lewinsohn et al., 2008). A recent article in the news reported on the potential long-term impact of divorce on children and their life course, including a reduction in earning potential and less stable relationships (Barrow, 2011). The implications of this a re that Molly is not only being negatively impacted in the present, but might experience a continuation of these problems into adulthood. Long-term impact cannot, however, be assumed and consideration of individual differences such as personality, resilience, coping style, and stage of development can provide the context for assessing the impact of changes in attachments. Another criticism of attachment theory is that such individual differences are not accounted for (Ainsworth et al., 1978). Molly has already lost one of her attachment figures, her grandfather, and thus loss is a reality for Molly. Mollys grandmothers behaviour is likely to have changed as she comes to terms with her own loss, and the impact that this might be having on Mollys already fragile micro-system (Bronfennbrenner, 1977) needs to be part of Mollys assessment. All of the key attachment figures in Mollys life are either emotionally or physically unavailable at present. Mollys recent problems at school might be the result of a lack of secure attachment figures. Indeed, being racially abusive towards her peers would indicate difficulty in developing attachments outside of the home, a frequently reported problem among children who do not have a secure family attachment from which to learn (Allen and Land, 1999). Furthermore, research with feral children has shown that children raised without the attention of a consistent caregiver can display anger, distress, and detachment in the short-term and aggre ssion, clinging, detachment, and psychosomatic disorders in the long-term (Siegler, 2006). Harris (1998) would argue that the theory neglects to account for Mollys developmental stage, with adolescence being a time when children are influenced more by their peers than their parents. This might especially be the case with Molly, whose dual ethnicity means she is likely to be experiencing more pressure to fit in among her peers. Evidence within the literature has shown that adolescents of dual heritage report more ethnic exploration, discrimination, and behavioural problems than those of single heritage (Ward, 2005). The level of attention Molly gains from her family during this challenging time is likely to be limited by her brothers disability, which requires extra time and effort from Mollys caregivers. This might be depleting their energies and reducing their capacity to support Molly (Opperman and Atlant, 2003). Social workers are responsible for ensuring that non-disabled siblings within a family are not overlooked (Children Act, 1989; Every Child Matters, 2003). Furth ermore, Adlers theory of birth order can alert social workers to a phenomenon termed dethronement (Leman, 2004), which describes the removal of attention from the first child to the second child. Molly could be feeling the sense of inferiority that is often associated with dethronement, a factor that cannot be explained by biological theories of human development. Life Course Theory Life Course Theory has been defined as a sequence of socially defined events and roles that the individual enacts over time (Giele and Elder, 1998, p. 22). During adolescents, Gonadotropin, Luteinising, Follicle Stimulating, and Adrenocorticotropic hormones strongly influence mood swings and extremes of emotion (Corwin, 2008), which might explain Mollys difficulty controlling her anger at school. The teenage brain is only about 80% developed, with the white matter that signals the release of these hormones increasing substantially during this time (Jensen, 2005). According to Ericksons 8 stages of human development, Molly is in stage five, which is characterised by a conflict between identity versus role confusion (Erickson, 1998). Risks to Mollys social development include poor parental supervision and discipline, family conflict (Beinart et al., 2002), and any identity conflict she might be experiencing around her dual heritage (Ward, 2005). Molly is only one-quarter Asian and thus her identity is very ambiguous as her outward appearance is only 25% Asian extraction. There is the possibility that she may resent her mother for looking Asian and that her racial abusiveness at school is transference of this anger. There is also the issue of whether Mollys mother has cultured any part of her Asian heritage onto Molly. In assessing Molly via this theory, it is important to recognise the inevitable power imbalance between a social worker and an adolescent who is in an insecure home environment and struggling with the hormonal changes that come with being a teenager (Sakamoto and Pitner, 2005). By recognising this power imbalance, the social worker can redress any imbalances by reflexivity and becoming aware of their own preconceived ideas about adolescents (Dalyrmple and Burke, 1995). It would be easy to limit the involvement of Molly in the assessment in an effort to shield her or protect her due to her young age. However, since adolescence is a time when individuals are developing their own unique identities, such action would merely act to oppress and disempower Molly. She is already experiencing a lack of control within her current environment and thus it is crucial that the assessment by the social worker does not remove further control by being based on stereotypes and assumptions. For example , the hormonal changes that impact the mood of adolescents can lead to stereotypes of the moody, anti-social teenager, with such assumptions resulting in teenagers being an oppressed group portrayed as a social problem. The additional pressure to fight this oppression and prove they are good people can make this developmental phase an even more challenging time. Additional biological factors involved in Mollys current sense of well-being might include issues around body image since this is a time when she will be making the transition from child to adult. Difficulties around relationship development and sexual attraction and orientation are all potential contributors to Mollys low mood (Levinson, 1978). One of the limitations of biological theories of adolescence, however, is whilst they facilitate an understanding of adolescent development, they do not take into account the psychological factors associated with adolescence, such as identity development and role confusion. Considering Mollys behaviours in light of psychological, social and cultural factors is important in gaining an accurate assessment of her social care needs. For example, Mollys efforts to find her own identity whilst grappling with the physiological effects of adolescence is likely to be complicated by her dual heritage, which will be strongly linked to her sense of ident ity. There is the possibility that Molly is finding it difficult to fit in with her peers or that she is being bullied at school; being racially abusive might be an unconscious effort to raise the attention of adults towards discrimination she might be experiencing. This supports psychodynamic approaches and the notion that actions and experiences are influenced by unconscious motivations (Freud, 1923). Unless Molly is treated as an individual as opposed to a homogenous member of the adolescent group, a social worker will not be able to accurately assess and understand the core issues underlying Mollys current behaviour. In turn, this will only act to further marginalise this oppressed group. Without the specialist knowledge and skills that can be gained from theories of human growth and development, it could be argued that social workers should not be allowed to work within the field of child protection (Laming, 2009). ELSIE The two theories of human growth and development to be applied to Elsie are Ecological Systems Theory and Disengagement Theory. Ecological Systems Theory Bronfenbrenners (1977) Ecological Model of human development posits that in order to understand human development, an individuals ecological system needs to be taken into consideration. This includes their microsystem (i.e. immediate relationships), mesosystem (i.e. different parts of the microsystem working together), exosystem (i.e. systems that the individual is not directly part of but that affects them), macrosystem (i.e. the larger, more distanced social world such as government and culture), and their chronosystem (i.e. a system of change). The microsystem and macrosystem are likely to be of most impact to Elsie, the former in terms of current family insecurity and the latter in terms of culture and stereotypes associated with ageing. Elsies ecological system has been continually changing for many years, especially her immediate surroundings, which are likely to have greater impact on her well-being. There has been very little environmental stability within Elsies life, at least over the last 7-years or more. She has recently lost her husband, experienced continually fluctuating environmental conditions, and is now living in a tense atmosphere due to issues within her sons marriage. Part of working with Elsie in an anti-oppressive way is to recognise the harsh realities of her current ecological system. It is also important to note that, childrens behaviour and personality can also affect the behaviour of adults; Elsies behaviour and sense of well-being might be negatively affected by her granddaughters struggle through adolescence and her grandsons disability. Taking into consideration Elsies ecological system highlights the importance of not making assumptions that Elsies increased forgetting is a sign of dement ia; her symptoms might be the result of stress within her environment. Despite the relevance of this theory to understanding Elsies situation, the critique does highlight limitations in its operationalisation (Wakefield, 1996). In particular, since past experiences and future anticipations are likely to impact Elsies current well-being, lack of inclusion of this element of human growth and development within the Ecological Model is a serious limitation in terms of assessing Elsie. For example, Elsies social systems today are extremely different to when she was younger. Indeed, Elsie has lived through two world wars, which is likely to have impacted her perceptions of herself and her social world. Another limitation to the theory its emphasis on adaptation, which it has been argued can be used to encourage individuals to accept oppressive circumstances (Coady and Lehman, 2008). Social workers using this theory in their assessments ideally need to be aware that oppression and injustice are part of the environment that needs to be considered in an ecological analysis. With this consideration, the theory offers social workers a way of thinking about and assessing Elsie holistically, within her environment and social context. The most drastic change in Elsies ecological system is the death of her husband. The possibility that Elsie is struggling with the bereavement of her husband needs to be taken very seriously. Elsies current cognitive problems might be reflective of depression associated with one of the purported stages of bereavement (Kubler-Ross, 1989). This is often characterised by feelings of guilt, lack of purpose in life, and a sense of loss. The threat of losing even more in her life, such as her role as caregiver to her grandchildren might be exacerbating the depression and any feelings of lack of purpose. The current tension within the family might also be raising concerns about losing the family, which is her primary source of support. Such fears are likely to hinder Elsie reaching a period of restoration orientation, where she can focus on building a future without her husband (Worden, 2003). Being a widow means that Elsie is likely to have a unique sense of the contribution that being in a relationship or being alone has to personal identity; this might be strengthening any concerns she has about losing other relationships within her ecological system. This sense of self in later life has been referred to as the mature imagination by Biggs (1999). If Ericksons theory of life stages were to be utilised by the social worker, they would understand that this search for identity is a very important time for Elsie and could lead to either integration or despair (Erickson, 1998). An understanding of demands and resources is important when working from the ecological perspective, an understanding which the theory itself lacks to emphasise (Coady and Lehman, 2008). For Elsie, demands within her life include coping with the loss of her husband, being responsible for collecting Mason from school, and dealing with any concerns she might have about her sons marital problems. Elsie is also likely to be worried about her forgetfulness, perhaps attributing it to signs of dementia, which is frequently perceived as an inevitable part of the ageing process (ref). In terms of resources, Elsie does not have the support of her family as they are preoccupied with their own problems. Elsies demands drastically outweigh her resources, making it particularly important that social workers consider the disempowerment that Elsie is currently experiencing. Reflexivity is essential in ensuring that Elsie is assessed not based on preconceived ideas about older people, but on the real ity of her difficult social circumstances (Dalrymple and Burke, 1995). Social Disengagement Theory Social Disengagement Theory has been described by Cumming and Henry (1961) as an inevitable mutual withdrawal . . . resulting in decreased interaction between the ageing person and others in the social systems he belongs to (p. 227). It could be argued that Elsie is preparing to disengage via the manifestation of memory problems that impact her ability to collect Mason from school and which has caused tension between the family. On the other hand, this cannot be assumed as this risks encouraging unwanted disengagement or creating a sense of obligation to disengage. If Elsie starts to feel like a burden, she might choose to disengage in order to prevent the tension she is witnessing before her. This illustrates how old age is just as much a social construction as a biological process (Estes et al., 1982). In order to work in an anti-oppressive way, social workers need to be aware that Elsie might be experiencing a sense of obligation to disengage rather than a biological need to disen gage. Whilst her forgetfulness might be a step towards disengagement, it could just as equally be the result of a self-fulfilling prophecy resulting from stereotypes of old age. Equally, it could be the signs of dementia, with cognitive functioning likely to decline rapidly if it is a sign of Alzheimers disease (Teri et al., 1995). Again, this cannot be assumed, however, as despite being seen as a natural consequence of ageing, only a minority of people develop the condition (Stuart-Hamilton, 2006). A key concern with disengagement theory is that there needs to be a move away from viewing older people as an homogenous group characterised by passivity, failing health, and dependency (Leontev, 1978). Placing Elsie within a category of older people would be oppressive and would ignore Elsies individuality, including her own personal wants and needs in terms of engaging or disengaging from society. It might be that Elsie is ready to take a step back from the responsibility of collecting her grandson from school, hence the manifestation of forgetfulness. On the other hand, it might be that Elsies identity and sense of well-being rely on the joy she gets from collecting him from school. The latter is likely if Elsies past is taken into consideration. Elsie lived through two world wars, and in order to maintain continuity of personality (Atchley, 1989), it is plausible that Elsies sense of worth is based on hard work, productivity, and social contribution. The notion of continuity of p ersonality has been supported within the literature (Reichard et al., 1962; Haan, 1986). The theory is also limited in that it does not examine sociocultural differences. In the case of Elsie, whilst she might no longer be working and she no longer has the role of wife, a social role has been established for her (Hochschild, 1976) primarily as a support to her family, whether that be collecting her grandson from school or providing financial and emotional support them. This is supported by Activity Theory (Neugarten, 1977), which posits that a healthier approach to older age is to be active and socially engaged by replacing roles from earlier in the life trajectory with alternatives, which is exactly what Elsie has attempted to do. Activity theory is supported by the finding in several studies that active older adults show higher levels of life satisfaction and morale (Boyd and Bee, 2006). Furthermore, Activity Theory is by its very nature anti-oppressive in that promotes positive images and involvement and places a value on participation and relationships (Dalrymple an d Burke, 1995). This highlights the importance of being mindful of the fact that, frequently, individuals who lose their partner in later life do not tend to start dating or looking for another partner. Elise could still have another 25-years to live, but is disengaging herself from the role of lover or wife by burying herself in her family. To utilise disengagement theory within Elsies assessment risks being ageist and making assumptions based on her age. This in turn could result in Elsie becoming socialised and disengaging from society. This is also in line with Social Exchange Theory, which posits that social life is structured around reciprocal exchange and that disengagement from society or relationships is brought about by inequalities in the exchanges available to older people (Dowd, 1980; Nelson, 2000; Hendricks, 2004). Social workers can help establish any power imbalances between an older person and their social networks by acting as an advocate and thus actively preventing further oppression (Nelson, 2000). This involves not treating older people as children by using what the Americans have termed elderspeak (i.e. calling older people dear or sweetie), which can be perceived as patronising and disrespectful (Wigmore, 2008). Such practice also acts to create a power divide, where the older person is infantilis ed and treated as a dependent person. This can be discriminative in that it is a demeaning exercise of power (Thompson, 1997). Conclusion Family relationships are complex and effective support for individual members requires the utilisation of theory and knowledge pertaining to human growth and development. Evidence-based practice via the use of theories within social work is demonstrative of best practice, especially within a social world of continually changing contexts and social norms (Fook et al., 2000; Smith, 2004); however, flexibility and an eclectic approach need to run alongside established knowledge if discrimination is to be prevented. Theory needs to be embedded in practice so that social workers continually strive to develop the theory inductively via reflexivity and the challenging of personal thoughts and feelings that might create a power imbalance (Argyris and Schon, 1974). Social workers are a powerful social group whose practice can maintain discrimination if they do not remain aware of personal and social prejudices (Payne, 1997). Working according to Thompsons (1997) PCS framework can facilitate a nti-oppressive practice, whereby assessment of a family such as this one comprises an awareness of personal, psychological, practice and prejudice (P), values and norms that are internalised through socialisation via, consensus and conformity (C), and a socio-political understanding that discrimination is part of society (S). This framework is especially important when working with vulnerable adults and children such as Elsie and Molly.

Themes of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure Revealed in Angelo’s Solilo

Themes of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure Revealed in Angelo’s Soliloquies Angelo’s soliloquies (2.2.161-186; 2.4.1-30) express themes of the tragicomic form, grace and nature, development of self-knowledge, justice and mercy, and creation and death as aspects of Angelo’s character. By the theme of the tragicomic form I mean that which â€Å"qualified extremes and promoted a balanced condition of mind [†¦] It employed a ‘mixed’ style, ‘mixed’ action, and ‘mixed’ characters—‘passing from side to side, it works amongst contraries, sweetly tempering their composition’.† (Guarini’s Compendio della Poesia Tragicomica (1601) cited in Lever lxi-lxii). I take Measure for Measure’s tragicomic form as its major theme, or perhaps meta-theme, because it reinforces the value of the via media, of moderation over zealotry. Angelo swings from one extreme to the other before, by the play’s conclusion, prompted by the orchestrations of the duke, he adopts a middle way. In Angelo’s first two soliloquies we see him transition from believing himself immune to earthly love (2.3.185-186) to believing he is ruled by his blood (2.4.15). This transition suggests a theme of development of self-knowledge. In the first soliloquy Angelo refers to himself as a saint (2.2.179) and speaks of physical love in a condemning tone (2.2.173). In the second soliloquy Angelo has adjusted his self-image (2.4.16) to be consistent with his experience, and he describes his experience of love without spending equal time condemning it. He realizes he took sinful pride in his severity (2.4.9-10), and now compares that quality with an idle plume in a cap—an aspect of appearance, not being. Development of self-knowledge does not show up clearly in other characters however... ...ing between them, was virtue. This signified a beneficent use of natural function which merited the gift of grace as a concomitant; correspondingly, it implied a ‘going forth’ of grace which might comprehend the conscientious payment of nature’s debt. [†¦] Throughout the main action, however, the properties of grace and nature are dissociated and juxtaposed. ‘Strict restraint’ and ‘immoderate use’, the distorted attitudes of convent and brothel, of precisian and libertine, are presented as jarring disparates inducing a process of psychic disruption. In the absence of virtue as a moderator, sexual function turns into the abuse of lechery [†¦] At the spiritual level, excessive zeal is corrupted to pride [†¦] Most alarming of all, there are the sudden slips from level to level, landslides of the soul which transform zealot into lecher and saint into sadist. (lxxii-lxxiii)

Deriving Meaning from William Carlos Williams, The Young Housewife Ess

Deriving Meaning from William Carlos Williams', The Young Housewife Everything depends on perspective. The uniqueness we bring to our reading is essential to the absorption of poems with Imagist elements. An example of this is the poem, "The Young Housewife", by William Carlos Williams. Perhaps it was a streak of laziness on my part, but I had very little imagination to offer this poem. Having had no experience as such, I didn't identify with the young housewife, the fish-man, the ice-man, or even the dramatically fallen leaf. What I initially saw was a jumble of thoughts arranged neatly into three very brief verses. The biographical information about the author provided in the Third Edition of the Heath Anthology of American Literature ¹ describes Williams' writings as reflections on the "...disjunction of modern life in broken lines and flashes of incomplete thought." Exactly. Only, I was left to wonder how it could be that this was meant by the biographer to be complimentary. Seems to me that somewhere along the way I picked up the notion that incomplete thoughts were a bad thing.... Granted, the concept of Imagism is not lost on me. Read after read of this poem led me to believe that it is very true that reality is created in the act of our perceiving it. I could take on any perspective or mindset and find applicable passages that would lend themselves wholeheartedly to whatever arguments of meaning I could come up with. Perhaps I have an imagination after all. Considering the lack of natural meaning that I initially got out of the poem, I ended up doing a systematic dissection of the lines to extract a meaning I could expound upon. Despite the fact that doing this meant go... ...ing. Here we have the husband taking action in his own way to ensure that his leaf remain not only under a watchful eye, but also under the thumb of his silent, yet ultimately draining, power. Little thought is obviously given to whether the leaf itself remains young and vibrant or if it slowly dries up. Williams use of visual writing enables the poem to close with a vivid flourish and a tone of smugness as the narrator finally passes by with a bow and a smile. You sense the crushing of another leaf whom he'd help to fall unwittingly. It's a stretch, yes, but when you read the poem with the sympathy this theory evokes, its meaning is changed and so too is your view. There's suddenly a reason for this poem. 1.) Lauter, Paul (1998). pg. The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY