Night World : Dark Angel Chapter 16

Gillian stood as if her snow-powdered body had been turned to ice. Because it was the worst, the absolute worst that she could possibly have imagined. He killed a kid. â€Å"The little girl who disappeared a year ago,† she whispered. â€Å"On Hilkrest Road.† The one she'd thought of-completely irrationally-when she'd heard the crying. â€Å"I was doing a spell,† Gary said. â€Å"A strong one; I was a quick learner. It was a fire elemental spell-so I was out in the woods. In the snow, where nothing would burn. And then she showed up chasing her dog.† He was staring into the distance, his face dead white. Looking not haunting, but haunted. And Gillian knew he wasn't with her at that moment; he was far away, with Paula. â€Å"They broke the circle. It all happened so fast. The fire was everywhere-just one white flash, like lightning. And then it was gone.† He paused. â€Å"The dog got away. But not her.† Gillian shut her eyes, trying not to imagine it. â€Å"Oh, God.† And then, as something twisted inside her, â€Å"Oh, Gary †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I put her body in my car. I was going to take her to the hospital. But she was dead. And I wasconfused. So finally I stopped the car. And I buried her in the snow.† â€Å"Gary†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I went home. Then I went to a party. That was the kind of guy I was, you see. A partyin' guy. Everything was about good times and me, me, me. That was even what being a witch was about.† For the first time there was emotion in his voice, and Gillian recognized it. Self-hatred. â€Å"And at the party, I got really, really drunk.† Oh. Suddenly Gillian understood. â€Å"You never told anybody.† â€Å"On the way back home I wrapped my car around a tree. And that was it.† He laughed, but it wasn't a laugh. â€Å"Suddenly I'm in Neverland. Can't talk to anybody, can't touch anybody, but sure can see everything. I watched the search for her, you know. They passed about a foot away from her body.† Gillian gulped and looked away. Something had twisted and broken inside her, some idea of justice that would never be put back together. But this was no time to think about that. It hadn't really been his fault†¦ but what did that matter? You played the hand you got dealt. And Gary had played his badly. He'd started out with everything-good looks, obvious brains, and witch power enough to choke a horse-and he'd blown it. Didn't matter. They had to go on from here. She looked up at him. â€Å"Gary, you have to tell me where she is.† Silence. â€Å"Gary, don't you see? That's your unfinished business. Her family doesn't know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Gillian stopped and swallowed. When she went on, her voice wobbled. â€Å"Whether she's alive or dead. Don't you think they ought to know that?† A long pause. Then he said, like a stubborn child, â€Å"I don't want to go anywhere.† Like a frightened child, Gillian thought. But she didn't look away from him. â€Å"Gary, they deserve to know,† she said softly. â€Å"Once they're at peace-â€Å" He almost shouted, â€Å"What if there isn't any peace for me?† Not frightened, terrified. â€Å"What if there isn't anywhere for me to go? What if they won't take me?† Gillian shook her head. Her tears overflowed again. And she didn't have any answers for him. â€Å"I don't know. But it doesn't change what we've got to do. I'll stay with you, though, if you want. I'm your cousin, Gary.† Then, very quietly, she said, â€Å"Take me to her.† He stood for a long moment-the longest of Gillian's life. He was looking at something in the night sky that she couldn't see, and his eyes were utterly bleak. Then he looked at her and slowly nodded. â€Å"Here?† David bent and touched the snow. He looked up at Gillian. His dark eyes were young- a little scared. But his jaw was set. â€Å"Yes. Right there.† â€Å"It's a pretty strange place to do it.† â€Å"I know. But we don't have any choice.† David got to work with the shovel. Gillian pushed and mounded snow into walls. She tried to think only of how she'd done this in childhood, about how easy and interesting it had been then. She kept at it until David said, â€Å"I found her.† Gillian stepped back, brushing off her sleeves and mittens. It was a clear day, and the afternoon sun was brilliant in a cold blue sky. The small clearing was peaceful, almost a haven. Untouched except for a welt in the snow where a ground mouse had tunneled. Gillian took a couple of deep breaths, fists clenched, and then she turned to look. David hadn't uncovered much. A scrap of charred red wool muffler. He was kneeling beside the shallow trench he'd made. Gillian was crying again. She ignored it. She said, â€Å"It was the last day before Christmas vacation, so we took the day off from school. We were playing hooky in the woods. We decided to make a snow fort†¦.† â€Å"And then we found the body.† David got up and gently put a hand on her elbow. â€Å"It's a weird story, but it's better than the truth.† â€Å"And what can they suspect us of? We never even knew Paula Belizer. They'll know she was murdered because she was buried. But they won't know how she died. They'll think somebody tried to burn the body to get rid of it.† David put his arm around her waist, and she leaned into him. They stood that way for a few minutes, steadying each other. It was strange how natural that was, now. David had agreed to help her with all this without a moment's hesitation†¦ and Gillian hadn't been surprised. She'd expected it. He was her soulmate. They stood together. At last, he said quietly, â€Å"Ready?† â€Å"Yes.† As they left the clearing, David added even more quietly, â€Å"Is he here?† â€Å"No. I haven't seen him since he showed me the place. He just-disappeared. He won't talk to me either.† David held her tighter. Mr. Belizer came at dusk, after most of the police had left. It was almost too dark to see. David had been urging Gillian away for an hour. So had Gillian's parents. They were there, both of them, huddling close and touching her whenever they could. David's father and stepmother were on the other side of David. Yeah, Gillian thought. It's been a rough last few days on everybody. But here they all were: David, pale but calm; Gillian, shaky but standing; the parents, bewildered but trying to cope. Not comprehending how their kids could have found so much trouble in such a short time. At least nobody seemed to suspect them of having hurt Paula Belizer. And now, here was Paula's dad. Alone. Come to look at the last resting place of his daughter-even though the coroner had already taken his daughter away. The police let him go up to the clearing with a flashlight. Gillian tugged at David's hand. He resisted a second, then let her tow him. Gillian heard murmurs as they went. What are you doing, following that poor man. My God, that's- ghoulish. But none of the parents actually grabbed them to stop them. They ended up a little distance behind Mr. Belizer. Gillian moved to see his face. Now here was the thing. She didn't know about spirits. She wasn't sure what needed to be done to release Gary from the between-place. Did she need to talk to Paula's dad? Explain that she had the feeling whoever had done it was sorry, even if they could never tell him themselves? It might get her locked up. Showing too much interest in a crime, too much knowledge. But, strangely, that didn't scare her as much as she'd have thought. She was Gary's cousin, and his debts were hers somehow. And things had to be put right. As she stood hesitating, Mr. Belizer fell to his knees in the trampled snow. Oh, God. That hurt. If strong arms hadn't been holding Gillian up, she might have fallen, too. David held her and pressed his face into her hair. But Gillian kept looking at the kneeling man. He was crying. She'd never seen a man his age cry, and it hurt in a way that was scary. But there was something else in his face. Something like relief†¦ peace. Kneeling there, with his overcoat spread around him, Mr. Belizer said, â€Å"I know my daughter is in a better place. Whoever did this, I forgive them.† A shock like cold lightning went through Gillian, and then a spreading warmth. She was crying suddenly. Hard. Tears falling straight down from her eyes. But she was filled with a hope that seemed to lift her whole body. And then David drew in his breath sharply, and she realized he'd raised his head. He was staring at something above Mr. Belizer. Gary Fargeon was hovering there. like an Angel. He was crying. And saying something over and over. Gillian caught â€Å"-sorry, I'm so sorry†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Forgiveness asked for and given. If not exactly in that order. That's it, Gillian thought. Her knees began to tremble. David whispered huskily, â€Å"Can you see that, too?† â€Å"Yes. Can you?† Nobody else seemed to see it. Mr. Belizer was getting up now. He was walking past them, away. David was still staring. â€Å"So that's what he looks like. No wonder you thought-â€Å" He didn't finish, but Gillian knew. Thought he was an angel. But†¦ why was Gary still here? Wasn't the forgiveness enough to release him? Or was there something else that needed to be done? Gary turned his head and looked at her. His cheeks were wet. â€Å"Come in a little farther,† he said. â€Å"I have to say something.† Gillian untangled from David, and then pulled at him. He came, jaw still sagging. They followed Gary past a thicket and into another clearing. As the trees and the darkness closed around them, they seemed suddenly far away from the police noise and bustle. Gillian guessed even as Gary sank down to face them. But she let him say it. â€Å"You have to forgive me, too.† â€Å"I forgive you,† Gillian said. â€Å"You have to be sure. I did some terrible things to you. I tried to warp you, damage your soul.† â€Å"I know,† Gillian said steadily. â€Å"But you did some good things, too. You helped me-grow up.† He'd helped her conquer her fears. Gain self-confidence. Discover her heritage. And find her soulmate. And he'd been close to her in a way that she would probably never be with anyone else ever again. â€Å"You know what?† Gillian was on the verge of tears again. â€Å"I'm going to miss you.† He stood facing her. He was shining just dimly. His eyes were dark and bruised looking, but his lips were smiling. And he was more beautiful than she had ever seen him. â€Å"Things are going to work out, you know,† he said softly. â€Å"For you. Your mom's going to get better.† Gillian nodded. â€Å"I think so, too.† â€Å"And I checked on Tanya and Kim. They're going to be all right. Tanya's still got all her fingers.† â€Å"I know.† â€Å"You should go see Melusine. You could help them a lot with Circle Daybreak. And they can help you deal with the Night World.† â€Å"Yes. All right.† â€Å"And you might want to talk to Daryl at school. She's got a secret that Kim was spreading rumors about last year. It's that-â€Å" â€Å"And-Gary!† Gillian held up her hand. â€Å"I don't want to know. Someday, if Daryl wants to tell me her secret, she can do it herself. But if not-okay. I have to deal on my own, now.† She'd already thought about school, all last night while she'd been lying alone in her room. Things were going to change, obviously. It was surprisingly easy to sort out which friends mattered. Amanda the Cheerleader and Steffi the Singer and J.Z. the Model were all right. No better and no worse than any of the less popular girls. She wouldn't mind if they still liked her. Daryl-who was not Daryl the Rich Girl anymore, but just Daryl-was better than all right. The sort that might turn out to be a real friend. And of course there was Amy. She owed Amy a lot. As for the others-Tanya and Kim and Cory and Bruce and Macon-Gillian didn't really want to know them. If she never went to another Popular Party, that was fine. â€Å"And I don't want to know if J.Z. really tried to kill herself, either,† she said now. Gary shut his mouth. Then his eyes actually seemed to twinkle. â€Å"You're going to do all right.† And then, for the first time, he looked at David. They stared at each other for a moment. Not hostile. Just looking. When Gary turned back to Gillian he said very quietly, â€Å"One last thing. I didn't change my mind about killing him because I couldn't go through with it. I did it because I didn't want you to hate me forever.† Oh. Gillian put out her hand. So did he. Their fingers were close together, blurring into each other†¦ but they couldn't touch. They never would. And then suddenly, Gary looked startled. He turned to look up and behind him. At the dark, starlit sky. Gillian couldn't see anything. But she could feel something. A sort of rushing. Something was coming. And Gary was lifted toward it like a leaf on the wind. His hand was still stretched toward her, but he was in the air. Weightless. Bobbing. And as Gillian watched, his startled expression melted into something like awe. And then joy. Joy and†¦ recognition. â€Å"I've got to go,† he said wonderingly. Gillian was staring at the sky. She still couldn't see anything. Not the tunnel, not the meadow. Did he mean he had to go to the between-place? And then she saw the light. It was the color of sunlight on snow. That brilliant, but not painful to look at. It seemed to shimmer with every color in the universe, but all together the colors made white. â€Å"Gary-â€Å" But something was happening. He was moving without moving. Rushing away in some direction she couldn't point to. Getting smaller. Fading. She was losing him. â€Å"Goodbye, Gary,† she whispered. And the light was going, too. But just before it went, it seemed to take on a shape. It looked something like huge white wings enfolding him. For the briefest instant, Gillian felt enfolded, too. By power and peace†¦ and love. And then the light was gone. Gary was gone. And everything was still. â€Å"Did you see that?† Gillian whispered through the ache in her throat. â€Å"I think so.† David was staring, his eyes big with awe and wonder. â€Å"Maybe†¦ some angels are real.† He was still staring upward. Then he drew in his breath. â€Å"Look! The stars-â€Å" But it wasn't stars, although it looked like star-dust. Crystalline points of light, frozen beauty sifting down. The air was full of it. â€Å"But there aren't any clouds†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"There are now,† David said. Even as he said it, the stars were covered. Gillian felt a cool touch on her cheek. Like a kiss. And it was ordinary snow, just an ordinary miracle. She and David stood hand in hand, watching it fall like a blessing in the night. [The End]

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Medical Image Marketing - Essay Example Reports are ready immediately, which reduces turnaround time and greatly increases the ability of the radiologist professional to self-edit reports. In one study, turnaround time was reduced from 20 hours to less than 6 hours. For the ordering doctor and the patient this means a quicker response to time sensitive medical issues. For the hospital and administration there is a cost savings involved over the traditional hand transcription, as it eliminates the need for contracted transcription services. RadWhere can be customized to utilize individual radiologist templates as well as a standard template set. It has an accuracy rate of 99 percent and is compatible with a wide variety of accents and foreign dialects. The ability of the radiologist to self-edit markedly decreases the time from the imaging to the final report, and the archiving and retrieval versatility makes the report available to large scale integrated systems (Industry-wide Focus on Cutting Transcription Costs). Computed Tomography (CT) Scan is an x-ray technique that uses digital imaging to create and reconstruct cross-sectional pictures of the heart. This system is used by doctors in the identification and treatment of heart disease and abnormalities. Traditionally, viewing inside the heart could be accomplished by cardiac catheterization, a slow and invasive process. CT scanning of the heart allows multiple cross section x-rays to be taken, which are then reconstructed into a 3 dimensional image. One of the obstacles to this process has been that the heart is in continual motion and the resulting image is reduced in resolution and accuracy. The Toshiba CT Scanner 64 Slice with Cardiac software overcomes these obstacles. Higher resolution imaging and enhanced software allows the CT operator to get high quality 3 dimensional images of hearts with rates as fast as 140 beats per minute. Toshiba states that the software "facilitates cardiac CT angiographic reconstruction when the heart is in the best cardiac phase with minimum motion" (Staffordshire General Hospital). Additionally, the Toshiba CT Scanner and software renders true cardiac function analysis, as a beta blocker is not required for its use. It has the ability to deliver sufficient resolution to image coronary arteries and soft plaque structures. Patient care quality is improved as the process is quick, non-invasive, and provides early warnings of problems that may exist within the cardiac system. Doctors benefit from the improved imaging and the ability to see the multi-dimensional rendering, which allows them to more thoroughly examine the heart's activities and the associated problems of plaque buildup (Staffordshire General Hospital). "On Guard": Chest X-ray CAD by Riverain Medical The most critical component driving improved prognosis in lung cancer patients is early detection. Riverain Medical has improved the ability of doctors to diagnose patients for lung cancer with it "On Guard" Chest X-ray Computer Aided Detection (CAD) technology. The system utilizes existing and traditional x-rays to aid the radiologist in locating and identifying early stage actionable nodules that may be early stage lung cancer. In addition, it interfaces with Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) technology to easily integrate into a hospital's existing system.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Mass Media Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility and Mass Media - Essay Example The Story of Corporate Social Responsibility (2006), Dunne said that corporate social responsibility has eventually come to mean â€Å"responsiveness†. â€Å"Responsiveness† does not imply any particular action but a range of actions or range of possible responses based on a company’s perception of social or consumer needs and the company’s role in responding either to society’s or the consumers’ needs. Carroll (1999, p. 268) explained that meaning of corporate social responsibility has undergone an evolution from its â€Å"beginning in the 1950s, which marks the modern era of CSR.† Carroll (1999, p. 268) pointed out that the â€Å"alternative themes† in corporate social responsibility â€Å"included corporate social performance (CSP), stakeholder theory, and business ethics theory.† Against the Dunne (2007) viewpoint, the Carroll (1999, p. 268) viewpoint is that corporate social responsibility is â€Å"a core construct that yields to or is transformed into alternative thematic frameworks.† On investigating whether corporate social responsibility adds to financial return, Cardebat & Sirven (2010) concluded that the results of their study do not provide evidence that the adoption of corporate social responsibility improves corporate financial performance. Cardebat & Sirven (2010) used statistical and econometric methods in testing hypotheses on the role of corporate social responsibility on company financial performance. On the other hand, the work of Ali et al. (2010) indicated that the practice of social responsibility may or may not promote the retention of consumer. Based on the study, it can nevertheless be argued however that the practice of corporate social responsibility can promote the retention of the customer base. In my study, I have chosen two cases: the case of the Aviva plc and the case of Thames Water Company. For reasons that will be explained later, Aviva appears to be a lead ing example of a company based in the United Kingdom that espouse corporate social responsibility consistently and diligently for the last several years and has gained additional prominence for the espousal as well as practice of that responsibility. Aviva claims to have â€Å"300 years of insights† which can be interpreted as having 300 years of engagement in the same or similar business (2011). Alternatively, the company â€Å"300 years of insights† is also described as â€Å"300 years of heritage† (2011). In contrast, Thames Water, a water company appears to have experienced a period in which its public image was at its worst. Lately, however, data are suggesting that Thames Water has invested in corporate social responsibility and may be profiting today in the said investment. Nevertheless, it appears that there are still avenues through which Thames Water’s practice of corporate social responsibility can be improved and which the company can exploit for greater profitability. II. Case 1: Aviva plc Aviva claims to the â€Å"world’s sixth largest insurance group and the biggest in the UK, with 36,100 serving around 44.5 million

Native americans Essay Example for Free

Native americans Essay Native Americans are known for many different qualities they had as a part of their lifestyle. Native Americans have been living in the Americas for many years. During their time period, we learned so much from them. Most of the information that was found, was by the movie â€Å"The Last of the Mohicans† and the three origin myths. There are many different Native American tribes that factor out cultural differences, in which usually includes nature, hybridity, and a culture clash. Nature is one of the main aspects that Native Americans show respect to. In the movie â€Å"The Life of the Mohicans† the Mohicans, one of the Native American tribes, show respect to the animal that they killed by giving thank you to him. Sometimes nature can be a bad thing, in which it surrounds the characters and complicates their battles and their chances for survival. In the movie, the Mohicans used nature in order to track their enemies, which in this case the Hurons In the origin myths, nature was what started this world and created mankind. Many Native Americans now in days still show respect for nature. There were many kinds of hybridity shown in the movie. Hybridity is the mixing of separate elements into one whole. Hawkeye is an example of hybridity because white by blood but Indian by habit. In the novel, Cora is a hybrid because her mother was black and her father was white. When nature and culture collide it makes a hybridity, just like what the Mohicans did in the movie. By the end of the nineteenth century, hybridity became very popular by rapid developments in genetic. When the Native Americans lived in the Americas, they were not alone. There was a culture clash between the Native Americans and the Europeans. In the movie, the Hurons and the Europeans did not get along. The Europeans would take by force the Native Americans Most of the Europeans killed the Native Americans for no particular reason. At the end, the ones getting involved in the small battle were the Mohicans and the Hurons. Even though both of the tribes were related, there were some differences that they had. Native Americans were well known for their culture and different lifestyles. The Native Americans had many beliefs of their different gods. The Native Americans had different tribes, but they all show respect to nature, some kind of hybridity, and the culture clash that they were involved in.

Risks Associated With International Business Transactions Economics Essay

Risks Associated With International Business Transactions Economics Essay International business has appeared in the history to satisfy the need of merchandises from long distance nations , it was an international trade . It begins in the 19th century BC where it has appeared in Assyrian merchant colony in Cappadocia . Camels allows Arab to move spices and silk from far east and trade it , establishing the silk road which make a connection to trade Chinese and Indian goods with the Romanian empire goods .Vasco de gamma ( Portuguese explorer ) has established a sea route between Europe and India . As international trade extent to reach all nations , the necessity of regulations or an international business law has been raised . The main convention for international trade was the united nations convention on contracts for international sale of good (CISG) which established by UNCITRAL (United nations commission on international trade law) . International Business Law involves two parts , private and public law , the private law related to international business transaction like international trade , finance trade , licensing and distributing agreements . the public law related to agreements that help to create a legal framework which international business takes place ( e.g. Treaties , Customs , Tariff.. ) International Business Transactions A business transactions begins when a buyer and a seller agree the terms and conditions to purchase a specific goods with a detailed quantity and price ( contract of sale ). In this contract , from the buyer point of view what is essential is to gain the ownership of the goods , for the seller what is important is to have the legal terms that provide receiving money . An International business transactions differ from domestic business transaction , because its usually include long distance which means higher risk in goods transiting , which mean higher insurance , how money will be transferred and who is responsible of the goods delivery , all that should be included and clearly in international business transaction contract . import Export trade Imports are goods or services that are made or grown abroad then purchased or receipt by the importer and distributed domestically . Exports are goods or services that are made or grown inside the nation then sold or rendered by the exporter to be distributed abroad The need of export import trade generally is because on country has an advantage over others in specific items , some countries have comparative advantages like manufacturing (ex. Germany , japan .. ) others have comparative advantage in natural resources like oil or gas ( ex. Saudi Arabia , Russia ) . Exporting can be direct or indirect .Direct exporting is when the manufacturer take the responsibility of most of the export processes , usually they use Foreign sales representative or foreign distributer in the exported country .Indirect exporting is when a company use intermediaries ( export trade company , export management company ) to enter the foreign market , usually happen because lack of capital or because the company do not have the needed experience to enter this foreign country . Trades usually governed by the laws and regulations of the trade countries , they use tariffs and non-tariffs barriers , this reflect the way that companies trade with each country . In 1947 nations accept General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade , this movement occurred to liberalize trade by reducing tariffs and non-tariffs barriers . in 1995 WTO (World Trade Organization ) has been created to manage the rules and assist settling the trade disputes between WTO nations . foreign Direct Investment Foreign Direct Investment is when a company invest its workforces and resources to purchase or to build an operation in another country . those company called MNC (Multinational Corporation) . Countries usually welcome FDI because MNCs has many impacts over hosts country economics and political system . FDI is a major decision for any company because its full of costs and risks . MNCs companies has many ways to enter the market of a foreign country considering of many factors like capitalization , legal considerations and market condition, MNCs decide to enter foreign market as Joint Venture , Mergers , Subsidiaries or Acquisitions . When a firm owned 100% by a foreigner , its a wholly owned subsidiary . A joint venture is an organization that is created by two or more companies or with the foreign government they share risk and assets , companies use joint venture to reduce the risk of entering foreign market . ( e.g. Peugeot France has a joint venture with Dongfeng Motor China) A strategic alliance is an agreement between competitors to achieve common goal .(e.g. Airlines Coding share ) Licensing , Franchising Licensing is an agreement where the Licensor (Firm) grants a Licensee (Foreign Firm) the right to use its intellectual property ( patent , logo, formula , etc.) .Licensing can be completely within one country , but its a way that companies use to distribute its products with minimum risk taken , where there is a percentage of profit paid by the licensee to the licensor . Franchising is a form of licensing which the Franchisor (parent firm) offers equipment , material , trademarks , technology à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ to the Franchisee (investor) , in the other hand the franchisee should pay a fee or a percentage of the profit to the franchisor .(e.g. McDonalds) Franchising is a good way to inter the foreign market because the franchisee will provide the capital for investment and the management and franchisee will deal with customer and labor problems , franchising usually associated with many legal requirements , it depends on the country , un US the federal trade commission is regulating the franchising . in other hand in china they eliminated most of the restriction on franchising . rISK aSSOCIATED WITH INTERNTIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS sTRATEGIC rISK Strategic risk means the risk of weak or bad strategic decision concerning the competitiveness the firm in the foreign country , its the risk of misanalysing of the porters five forces which are the threat of new entrants , threat of substitute products or services , Bargaining power of customer , Bargaining power of suppliers and the intensity of competitive rivalry . Usually MNCs companies is more concerned about this risk , where a well done study of the market is required before entering the foreign country . An example of a company which failed In the strategic risk consideration . Political risk International managers should understand the substantial effects of political decision making in country before beginning its business , and understand how political decision making can influence its business . Political movements and instability can make it difficult to the company to operate well . International manager should be aware of the ideology of the host country , the economic system ( communism , socialism ,capitalism ) and the political system ( democratic , totalitarianism ) and the structure of the host government , a risk of embargos and sanction of trades which usually used for political pressure rather that economic issues .Understanding the stability of host country political system can avoid many risks , a new and hostile government may replace the friendly relationships and hence expropriate foreign assets .The firm most understand the regional stability and international affairs of the host country . The firm can do political risk analysis to assist in firm deci sion making . operational risk Operational Risk is the risk concerning operational activities , machineries breakdown , supply of resources, logistics and inventory problems .By establishing a good operational risk analysis and evaluation , companies will be able to reduce operational loss, pre-detecting of illegal activities , reducing auditing costs and reduce exposures to future risks , and that well lead to reduce waste and improve processes , it will develop lead-time and add to efficiency in international business . In export Import international transaction , a delivery risk is an operational risk , where a buyer didnt receive ordered goods , it can happen because of workers strike , or delay in the shipment . One form of delivery risk is property risk , and its a loss or damage to the goods before they arrive. The risk of Pilferage can affect all types of trade transaction , specially import export one, this has been a problem for many years , a new way of boxing (cargo) and new technologies entered this sector to minimize the risk of pilferage . country risk When the firm decided to do business broad , it should consider the basic infrastructure needed for the firm operation , that what country risk means . Roads , Bridges and telecommunication, crime rate and corruption , internal conflicts or civil unrest and the economic condition ( unemployment rate , unskilled labor force etc. ) , terrorism , in the host country all that can make it difficult to enter or do business safely ,effectively , efficiently in that country . Country risk can be the Language and Cultural differences and the risk of exposure to foreign law and courts , a Lack of language differences awareness can cause many problems that will end in courts , an example of that , what happened in1975 , United states district court , between Gaskin (US citizen) and Stumm Handel GMBH (German company ) , an employment contract written in German has been signed by Gaskin ,who has no knowledge about German language . technological risk Lack of security in electronic transaction , absence of information technology infrastructure and the cost of rapidly developed technology , all that will result creating problems that will affect doing business in the host country . environmental risk Environmental risk may lead to damage the reputation of the Firm if firms function resulted pollution ( Air , water , environment .etc.) and that will cause risk to the firm .And vice versa if the host country has pollution , that may cause health problem to firms employees . economic Financial risk Changing in domestic fiscal or monetary policies , devaluation or inflation rate , GDP , unemployment rate and the ability of the host country to meet financial obligations , all that make an Economic risk that should be careful understood before conducting international business . In this area, Currency exchange rate can have big effect over international trade and investment decisions taken by the firm . Fluctuations in foreign country currency can diminish profits when the firm convert them back to home currency , some countries may create rules that will minimize the flexibility of the firm to send money outside the country , hedging strategies could mitigate some of the currency exchange rate. In export-Import international transaction a financial risk can be a payment risk , where the buyer will fail to pay for the ordered goods , it will costs a lot specially if the cost of shipment is so high (Because of sensitive or heavy shipments ). Summary The International Business environment has changes a lot in the last decades , with the high competitiveness of international market , International mangers now a days should be aware of economic , political , culture and other differences in the world to be affective in his position . The three main international business types , export-imports , FDI , and Licensing and franchising. In each type of them there are risks that should be considered and pre-determined to be able to build and plan a good strategy that will minimize any risk that may face firm international business.

Implications Of The Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition Economics Essay

Implications Of The Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition Economics Essay The Phillips Curve states that inflation depends on expected inflation, cyclical unemployment and supply shocks. It is given by the following equation: The inflation expectations can be either adaptive or rational. Early New Classical Economics was largely based the assumption of adaptive expectations, which assumes that people form their expectations of future inflation based on recently observed inflation. This assumption implies that in absence of cyclical unemployment or supply shocks, inflation will continue indefinitely at its current rate. It also implies that past inflation influences the current wages and prices that people set. If we suppose that the stock of money in the economy increases, the adjustment towards the long run equilibrium takes time. In each period that agents find their expectations of inflation to be wrong a certain proportion of their forecasting error would be incorporated into expectations. This means that the long run equilibrium in the economy would only be reached asymptotically. The government would then be able to maintain employment above its natural level. Rational Expectations: However, many economists disagree with the assumption of adaptive expectations. New Classical Theory replaced the assumption of adaptive expectations with that of rational expectations. Under this assumption, anticipated monetary policy would have no effect on economic activity. However, stochastic shocks to the economy could have short run effects on economic activity. This theory known as the Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition was proposed in 1976 by Thomas J. Sargent and Neil Wallace. According to the proposition monetary authorities cannot affect the output if the changes are anticipated. Under this proposition, the only way monetary authorities can affect the real economy is by making monetary policy less predictable. However, this would increase the variability of output around its natural rate and is hence not a desirable policy aim. Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition and the Sacrifice Ratio: An important implication of the Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition is that the monetary authorities can reduce inflation without any output or employment cost. If policymakers announce a reduction in money growth, rational agents will lower their inflation expectations proportionately. This is known as the Costless Disinflation Proposition. This in turn implies that the sacrifice ratio, which is basically the loss in output for a reduction in inflation by one percentage point, should be equal to zero. Empirical Evidence: Estimates of the cost of disinflation vary widely. These estimates measured in terms of the sacrifice ratio have extreme values. While some economists argue that a sound monetary policy can reduce inflation without any costs, others estimate that sometimes the sacrifice ratio may have very high values. Sargent (1982) examined the measures that brought extreme inflation under control in several European countries in the 1920s including Austria, Hungary, Germany, and Poland. According to him, in each case the inflation stopped abruptly rather than gradually. He studied these countries because of the dramatic change in their fiscal policy regime, which in each instance was associated with the end of a hyperinflation. He also noted the rapid rise in the high-powered money supply in the months and years after the rapid inflation had ended. For Austria he suggested that currency stabilization was achieved very suddenly, and with a cost in increased unemployment and foregone output that was comparatively minor. From the data for Hungary, he inferred that immediately after the stabilization, unemployment was not any higher than it was one or two years later. He posited that this could be because the stabilization process had little adverse effect on unemployment. For Poland, he noted that the stabilization of the price level in January 1924 was accompanied by an abrupt rise in the number of unemployed. Another rise occurred in July of 1924. He argued that while the figures indicated substantial unemployment in late 1924, unemployment was not an order of magnitude worse than before the stabilization. The Polish zloty depreciated internationally from late 1925 onward but stabilized in autumn of 1926 at around 72% of its level of January 1924. At the same time, the domestic price level stabilized at about 50% above its level of January 1924. The threatened renewal of inflation has been attributed to the governments premature relaxation of exchange controls and the tendency of the central bank to make private loans at insufficient interest rates. The stabilization of the German mark was accompanied by increases in output and employment and decreases in unemployment. While 1924 was not a good year for German business, it was much better than 1923. From the figures, he couldnt find much convincing evidence of a favourable trade-off between inflation and output, since the year of spectacular inflation, 1923 was a very bad year for employment and physical production. According to the data, there was an evident absence of a trade-off between inflation and real output. However he suggested that the inflation and the associated reduction in real rates of return to high powered money and other government debt were accompanied by real over-investment in many kinds of capital goods. He concluded his findings by stating that the essential measures that ended hyperinflation in each of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland were, first, the creation of an independent central bank that was legally committed to refuse the governments demand for additional unsecured credit and, second, a simultaneous alteration in the fiscal policy regime. These measures had the effect of binding the government to place its debt with private parties and foreign governments which would value that debt according to whether it was backed by sufficiently large prospective taxes relative to public expenditures. In each case that he studied, once it became widely understood that the government would not rely on the central bank for its finances, the inflation terminated and the exchanges stabilized. He further saw that it was not simply the increasing quantity of central bank notes that caused the hyperinflation, since in each case the note circulation continued to grow rapidly after the exc hange rate and price level had been stabilized. According his findings for the four countries, one may conclude that his studies supported the costless disinflation proposition. However there have been other studies that do not support this proposition. In his paper What determines the sacrifice ratio?, Laurence Ball investigated à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Considers several OECD countries. à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Finds that the cost of ending moderate inflations can be high. Sacrifice ratio = cumulative output lost due to the permanent reduction in the inflation rate associated with the disinflationary policy. à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Average sacrifice ratio = 0.77%: each p.p. reduction in inflation is associated with a 0.77 p.p. loss of output. à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Sacrifice ratio larger when disinflation slower, and in countries with greater nominal wage rigidity. à ´Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Ã‚  Does not support costless disinflation proposition The New Keynesian Stanley Fischer (1977) applied the insights of Franco Modigliani to the model employed by Sargent and Wallace. Fischer therefore introduced the assumption that workers sign nominal wage contracts that last for more than one period, wages are sticky. The outcome is that government policy can be fully effective since although workers rationally expect the outcome of a change in policy, they are unable to respond to it as they are locked into expectations formed when they signed their wage contract. It is not only possible for government policy to be used effectively but its use is also desirable. The government is able respond to random shocks to the economy to which agents are unable to react, and so stabilise output and employment. Since it was possible to incorporate the rational expectations hypothesis into macroeconomic models whilst avoiding the stark conclusions that Sargent and Wallace reached, the policy ineffectiveness proposition has had less of a lasting impact on macroeconomic reality than first may have been expected. This applies much more generally. Any consistent set of government policies will be learned and anticipated by a population with Rational Expectations. Since they are anticipated, they will not come as a surprise. Instead, people will shift their short-run aggregate supply curves in such a way that production will be back at the NAIRGDP and unemployment at the NAIRU. If the policies are designed to move the economy away from the NAIRGDP, then they will be ineffective regardless what mix of fiscal and monetary policies they are. This leads to the general Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition. Policy Ineffectiveness Proposition Any consistent government policies designed to influence the economy to a level of production other than the NAIRGDP will be ineffective if the population have rational expectations The essential measures that ended hyperinflation in each of Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Poland were, first, the creation of an independent central bank that was legally committed to refuse the governments demand for additional unsecured credit and, second, a simultaneous alteration in the fiscal policy regime.37 These measures were interrelated and coordinated. They had the effect of binding the government to place its debt with private parties and foreign governments which would value that debt according to whether it was backed by sufficiently large prospective taxes relative to public expenditures. In each case that we have studied, once it became widely understood that the government would not rely on the central bank for its finances, the inflation terminated and the exchanges stabilized. We have further seen that it was not simply the increasing quantity of central bank notes that caused the hyperinflation, since in each case the note circulation continued to grow rapidly after the exchange rate and price level had been stabilized. Rather, it was the growth of fiat currency which was unbacked, or backed only by government bills, which there never was a prospect to retire through taxation. The changes that ended the hyperinflations were not isolated restrictive actions within a given set of rules of the game or general policy. Earlier attempts to stabilize the exchanges in Hungary under Hegedus,38 and also in Germany, failed precisely because they did not change the rules of the game under which fiscal policy had to be conducted.39 In discussing this subject with various people, I have encountered the view that the events described here are so extreme and bizarre that they do not bear on the subject of inflation in the contemporary United States. On the contrary, it is precisely because the events were so extreme that they are relevant. The four incidents we have studied are akin to laboratory experiments in which the elemental forces that cause and can be used to stop inflation are easiest to spot. I believe that these incidents are full of lessons about our own, less drastic predicament with inflation, if only we interpret them correctly. Costless immediate disinflation is not possible in an economy with long- term labor contracts. This paper sets out a simple contracting model of wage and output determination and uses it to calculate sacrifice ratios for a disinflation program, under the assumption that announced policy changes are immediately believed. Under this assumption disinflation with a structure of labor contracts like those of the United States would be less costly than typically estimated. The model is then modified to allow for the slow adjustment of expectations of policy to actual policy; sacrifice ratios then approach the ranges typically estimated. The sacrifice ratio for the current disinflation is calculated in the last section: the current disinflation was somewhat more rapid and less costly than previous estimates suggested. The calculated sacrifice ratio is consistent with the predictions of the simple contracting model. Inflationary expectations and aggregate demand pressure are two important variables that influence inflation. It is recognized that reducing inflation through contractionary demand policies can involve significant reductions in output and employment relative to potential output. The empirical macroeconomics literature is replete with estimates of the socalled sacrifice ratio, the percentage cumulative loss of output due to a 1 percent reduction in inflation. It is well known that inflationary expectations play a significant role in any disinflation program. If inflationary expectations are adaptive (backward-looking), wage contracts would be set accordingly. If inflation drops unexpectedly, real wages rise increasing employment costs for employers. Employers would then cut back employment and production disrupting economic activity. If expectations are formed rationally (forward2 looking), any momentum in inflation must be due to the underlying macroeconomic policies. Sargent (1982) contends that the seeming inflationoutput trade-off disappears when one adopts the rational expectations framework. The staggered wage-setting literature provides evidence that even if expectations are formed rationally, wage and price determination will have backward-looking and forward looking elements. The backwardlooking element reflects last years contracts on this years prices whereas the forward-looking element reflects next years contracts on this years prices. Taylor (1998) presents a detailed account of the staggered wage and price setting literature, and the exercise will not be pursued here. Calvo (1983) shows that in a world of stochastic contract length, the costless disinflation result extends to a world of staggered wage contracts with forward-looking expectations. Stopping inflation is then a matter of a resolute commitment on part of the government to a credible disinflation program. In this literature, the costless disinflation result extends to a world of staggered wage contracts with forward-looking expectations. Stopping inflation is then a matter of a resolute commitment on the part of the government to a credible disinflation program. It is likely that in an economy there are both forward- and backwardlooking elements in inflationary expectations. Chadha, Masson, and Meredith (1992) (henceforth CMM), provide a unified framework to test for expectations formation in a single specification. CMM use a Phillips curve framework to consider two benchmark cases: a Phelps-Friedman adaptive expectations model which places a weight of unity on past inflation (complete inflation stickiness) and a rational staggered contracts model based on Calvo (1983) that places a weight of unity on expected inflation (inflation is independent of past inflation). These two extremes are nested in one specification where current inflation is a weighted average of past and expected future inflation.

Consistency and Epistemic Probability Essay -- Argumentative Persuasiv

Consistency and Epistemic Probability ABSTRACT: Is consistency always epistemically virtuous? In this paper, I examine one threat to the traditional view that consistency is a minimum requirement for rational belief. Central to the argument is the notion of epistemic probability, understood as the degree of support or confirmation provided by the total available evidence. My strategy in examining this argument is to apply analogous reasoning to carefully tailored examples. The conclusions which emerge are substantive, informative and utterly implausible. I conclude, first, that the argument for inconsistency fails and, second, that it fails because epistemic probability does not conform to the axioms of the probability calculus. A plausible alternate model for determining degree of support is briefly considered. Is consistency always epistemically virtuous? Is it possible for a set of rational beliefs to be inconsistent? The traditional view has been that logical consistency is a minimum requirement for rational belief. Recently, this traditional view has been challenged, and is now in some disrepute. The issue is not only of interest in its own right, but also has bearing on several other aspects of our conception of justified belief. In particular, it is a critical issue for the coherence theories of justification which have been so prominent of late, for coherence is normally understood in such a way as to presuppose logical consistency. (1) Three distinct lines of argument against consistency can be discerned in the current discussion (although not always clearly distinguished there): (i) the paradox of the lottery, (ii) the fallibility argument, the core of which is an inference from my fallibility in the past to ... ...e Probable and the Provable (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 37. (7) Note that throughout this paper, an assumption has been made which is necessary for the epistemic probability argument, as well as the analogous arguments, namely, that there is a degree of confirmation less than 1 which is sufficient for justified belief. If this assumption were not granted, then, of course, no conclusion concerning warranted belief would follow. But the same arguments would show that, in the cases presented, there is strong confirmation that there is a natural therapy which cures AIDS (or that someone has exhibited psychic powers). And this conclusion is itself quite absurd. It can be avoided, however, only by rejecting the fit between degree of confirmation and the calculus. (8) This model for conjunction is endorsed by Pollock, op. cit., 248-49, and Cohen, op. cit., 221.

James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Flann OBrien

James Joyce's 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man' and Flann O'Brien's 'At Swim-Two-Birds' and Modernist Writing The Twentieth Century found literature with a considerably different attitude and frame-of-mind than had the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. Two hundred years is, of course, a long time to allow change within genres, but after the fairly gradual progression of the novel as a form, its change in the hands of modernism happened rapidly in comparison. Explaining how texts within the framework of modernist writing are â€Å"different† require laying out from what they are different, how, and why. A direct cause of, and coinciding with, literature’s abruptly changing face was the Industrial Revolution and its subsequent changes upon the world. The largely realist approach to literature had served its course in widening the scope of the literary audience to classes other than the ruling—mostly to the rising middle class with its increasing leisure time and importance as a market. This, hand-in-hand with the new ways of exploring, changing, viewing, and recordin g the world, signaled that a change was bound to occur in art, particularly in the literary arts. Victorian writers began to express their distaste with class systems and their fears of science but overall kept a fairly straight-forwardly linear approach to narrative. Those fears of science and how people interpreted its discoveries, combined with the decreasing necessity of near-journalistic novel-writing because of telegraphs and cameras, the dwindling power of Britain as an empire, and wars with deadlier outcomes than ever before stripped away many of the charms of realist writing. The change that had begun in the Victorian age led to the more drastic ... ...ames. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2004. Joyce, James. Occasional, Critical, and Political Writing. Oxford: Oxcord UP, 2000. 104-107. Klages, Mary. "Structuralism and Saussure." University of Colorado. 6 Sept. 2001. Dept. of English, U. of Colorado. 28 Oct. 2005 . Lye, John. "Some Attributes of Modernist Literature." Brock University. 1997. Dept. of English, Brock U. 14 Oct. 2005 . Morris, Pam. Realism. London: Routledge, 2003. O'brien, Flann. At Swim-Two-Birds. Normal: Dalkey Archive P, 2005. Ryf, Robert S., ed. A New Approach to Joyce. Berkeley: University of California P, 1962. Schutte, William M., ed. Twentieth Century Interpretations of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968. Watt, Ian. The Rise of the Novel. London: Pimlico, 2000.

Urban Safari :: Free Essay Writer

Urban Safari There are times when having a brother with twenty more years of age, experience, and wisdom, can adversely effect your credibility. This is especially true at nine years old. I found this to be the case one Christmas day many years ago when my brother Tom came home for the holidays. It appeared to be the start of a special Christmas, for my brother was coming to visit. I was even more excited than usual for a nine-year-old boy at this time of year. I wondered what new presents would be under the tree? In the past, Tom always got me such neat stuff. I could hardly wait to start shaking the gifts and guessing. As usual, I was up before dawn, tearing into my gifts with all the fervor with which the drowning seize life preservers. My folks, along with my brother, had now joined me in the gift-opening ceremony. Saving the best for last was out of the question; it was the gift from my brother that I tore into first. My dreams had come true. My prayers were answered. There it was, bigger and shinier than anything in the display case of any Western Auto store in the world. It was a B B gun. Finally, I had entered the ranks of the big kids. The prestige of such a gift! I anticipated the glory of shooting my first bird. This was truly a present for a twelve years old, maybe even a teenager. While reveling in my grandeur, I hadn't noticed that my Mother was watching with obvious disapproval. Apparently she had other plans for the B B gun. "You can't shoot that thing in the yard!" she barked. "You'll have to go to the riverbed." With those words, I was instructed to leave the B B gun under the tree with the less attractive presents. "You can open your other gifts now. Tom will watch you while we go visit Auntie Mabel, and don't forget, leave the B B gun alone," Mom ordered. No sooner than they were out the door my brother grabbed the gun and headed towards the back yard. "Where’re you going?" I asked. "To test your gun out before Mom and Dad get back" was his reply. I thought this was a grand idea. Our back yard was full of potential targets. My brother's first choice was two cases of empty mason jars my Mom used for canning fruit.

Formative Strictly Ballroom

Texts represent certain perspectives on belonging which challenge us to understand our own world. This is evident in the film â€Å"Strictly Ballroom† directed by Baz Luhrmann. The style of the film is â€Å"Red Curtain† cinema which means conveys the ballroom dancing world is surreal and artificial. This film explores what it means to belong or not belong to a well-defined group. This is presented through the opening sequence by showing how Scott, Fran and Doug don’t belong to the group of ballroom dancers. The director grew up in the world of ballroom competitions.Luhrmann’s purpose was to be able to tell a story in his own particular way, â€Å"telling our own stories in our own way that is what the film is about for me†. The opening scenes explore aspects of not belonging and no being accepted. The ballroom dancing group demonstrates a veneer of belonging. The group itself is the same in appearance and behaviour but lacks emotional connection wi th other. They value tradition and authority. To belong to this world means sacrificing individual identity. A high angle shot is used to show the dancers competing in the competition, it also show the walls of the room they are dancing in.This represents their confinement to the outside world as well as their conformity because they are all dancing the same steps. We understand that when people conform to a group they become restricted and separated from the rest of the world. The close ups of Barry Fife and the judges sitting above the dancers shows that they have more power. This symbolises that they have authority within the ballroom dancing group and are the people that enforce the tradition of strict rules and regulations.From this we understand that when there is authority and power in a group there are rules to be followed that stop people from having an individual identity. The make-up of the women defines them as belonging to a certain group and symbolises their values, fo r example the women of the ballroom dancing wear bright and over the top coloured make-up. This represents them as being ‘fake’ due to being part of an artificial world. The idea of them all having exaggerated make-up tells us they all belong to the one group. From this we understand that to belong to certain groups you have must conform to their ways.The idea of not belonging is also conveyed in the opening sequence. This is represented through peoples’ individual choices and the exclusion of those who do not fit in. Scott Hastings is the protagonist in the film and as an individual he chooses not to belong. He chooses to dance his own steps, meaning he doesn’t conform and therefore does not belong. Scott shows rebellion in the first scenes where he challenges the authority by breaking the rules. He does this because he is looking for his own identity away from the group. The close up of Scott’s shoes when he dances show he is about to dance his ow n way.This demonstrates his desire for freedom and individual identity as well as his rebellion against a restrictive type of belonging. This gives us the understanding that when people wish to find their own identity they rebel and makes choices which can lead to exclusion. Scott’s costume is black pants and a white singlet which is what he wears when he dances his own steps. This indicates his difference to the group and the authenticity of his motivation as he attempts to create his own identity. Lighting affects the mood in the film and Scott is often shown in close ups with low key lighting which is more natural.In the scene where he dances in and out of the spotlight indicates his developing sense of independence from the group. Fran and Doug are two other characters who also do not belong to the ballroom dancing group. Fran is excluded because of her different attitudes to the others. Her costume is plain and simple. She wears a long T-shirt and black tights, large gla sses and no make-up. This is contrasted to the other women who wear a lot of bright make-up making them look false whereas Fran appears more natural and this makes her isolated from the group. Doug first appears as a dull man on the outside of the group.However, in these scenes we find out he also dances his own steps in the secrecy of the studio. He dances in the shadow and a single spotlight and quirky music which gives mystery and difference to his dancing. We are positioned to understand that not belonging can be caused by having different attitudes and values or it can be cause voluntary by not conforming to the rules. From the film’s opening sequence we learn that sometimes to belong to a group you have to lose your individual identity. If you rebel against conformity to a group it can result in isolation. You can also be excluded from a group due to different attitudes and values.

Margaret Atwood; Cat’s Eye Analysis- Refraction and Self Essay

â€Å"Our commonsense explanations of the world and ourselves are problematised by Atwood through her novel. Nothing is quite as it seems, when we look at anything (in a mirror, in the past, at others) it is refracted as if through water.† Discuss the ideas and issues in the novel in relation to this statement, paying particular attention to the techniques and narrative elements used to show this. Our commonsense explanations of the world are based on the absolutes in our lives. Ways of seeing have been socially constructed embedded with values and attitudes that influence our behaviour and view of the world and ourselves. Reality cannot be captured and is interpreted differently by every individual as if refracted through water. Cat’s Eye is a work of influential English by author Margaret Atwood. The novel’s central area of exploration is of different versions of reality, and the accuracy and truthfulness of our own visions of how we see the world and ourselves. These visions are problematised by Atwood, as she uses various techniques that allow her to discretely proffer her idea of ‘nothing is quite as it seems’ to position the audience. This results in our own endorsement of these beliefs, and leads us to question our own lives as just a version of reality, with a sense of disillusionment. Our world and our own lives are challenged by Atwood’s novel, as in questioning the idea of no absolutes and constants in our lives, we also begin to question the other constants in our society such as religion being just another version of reality and not an absolute. This distresses many people and problematises our lives. Measurable, knowable, constant, and absolute qualities of life provide security in our beliefs and understanding of the world and our place within it. Absolutes help us make sense of the world, and provide a connection to the world and our own inner selves generating a sense of belonging. Atwood challenges the concept of absolutes, fixed/knowable identities, and common truths through various techniques. She uses narrative elements to proffer her ideas, such as autobiographical writing to encourage us to question the one and only version of reality that is being told (through Elaine and her life). Imagery/symbolism and intertextuality are recurring techniques, for example her repetitive use reflective surfaces such a glass, water and mirrors are all symbols used to question reflection, and how we see  ourselves; is what we see what we get? These techniques are used in order to provoke self-doubt and insecurity, to unsettle and complicate the way we see ourselves and our world, through the provocative questions that it asks of us. Cat’s eye challenges the naturalized and socially constructed views and encourages the reader to question the dominant views of the world and themselves. Refraction is the distortment of light, as it travels, it’s broken-up as it changes and moves through different mediums. Atwood uses refraction as a symbol representing the key belief that our vision of life and ourselves is refracted, broken up, distorted, and that as a result our perceptions aren’t always accurate. Atwood uses Elaine’s second encounter at the bridge to imply that our views, especially on other people are refracted, and not necessarily as they seem to be. Cordelia is seen to effect Elaine the most significantly, and it is not until the end of the book, when Elaine is finally coming back to herself (the bridge) that Elaine realises that Cordelia was not what she seemed to be. â€Å"There is the same shame, the sick feeling in my body, the same knowledge of my own wrongness, awkwardness, weakness; the same wish to be loved; the same loneliness; the same fear. But these are not my own emotions anymore. They are Cordelia’s; as they always were.†It is only at the end of Elaine’s life when she realizes that her emotions that traumatized her childhood (and adult life) were in fact Cordelia’s, who in order to escape them and cope transferred them to Elaine. Elaine feels stronger with this knowledge and finally releases Cordelia, as the Virgin Mary once released her â€Å"Its ok, you can go home now.† Elaine’s mourning is over and she is free of Cordelia, she can see clearly now- â€Å"The snow in my eyes withdraws like smoke† and is starting to make sense of her past. Atwood also uses Elaine’s misconception of Cordelia to exemplify how our ‘refracted’ view of others substantially affects our view of ourselves and the world; our experience of the present is coloured by our past events. Elaine realises that all these years, she still did not ‘know’ Cordelia, supporting Atwood’s dispute of the notion that there can really be a ‘fixed’ and ‘knowable’ identity. Atwood employs this metaphor in order to position the reader to be receptive to the idea  that our views on others, the world, and ourselves are not absolute but equivocal. In Cat’s Eye the first person limited narration is unreliable in the sense that Elaine cannot ‘see’ enough – either because of her own maturation and desires and the forces conditioning them, or of the consequences of her choices. The novel questions whether ‘lives’, ‘stories’ or autobiographical narratives can ever be accurate. A novel that presents a straightforward linear narrative that moves through events sequentially and constructs a complete set of ideas about life that seem unproblematic. It accepts that our experience of life, our thoughts and feeling, motivations, movement through time – our very representation in a literary text, can be captured accurately. It implies order, coherence, unity and stability; a rational basis for our actions and thoughts thus presenting a conservative worldview. The structure of Cat’s Eye serves as a critique of this unproblematic view of the world. The novel constantly shifts between past and present and her narration as a young Elaine and an old Elaine. This shifting represents Elaine’s life, as she feels it is barley comprehensible. Because the story is written in first person, its only presents one version of reality- Elaine’s version. This leads us to question Elaine’s version and its accuracy. Atwood’s purpose behind this is to bring to light the complexity of character in Elaine, and highlight her struggle in coming to terms with her own identity. This challenge on the common qualities of autobiographical narratives even leads the reader to question Cat’s Eye as just another version of reality that is presented to us in life. Atwood questions the belief that the individual is knowable and that appearance corresponds with fixed reality; she critiques the notion that reality can be ‘captured’. This is shown through her questioning of autobiographical writing, and is perpetuated through the use of Elaine’s paintings at her gallery Sub-versions. Cordelia subjected Elaine to subtle, psychological bullying as a child, and destroyed her self-confidence, which lasts well into her adult life. Her art is a way of expressing these bottled-up emotions and a means of dealing with her trauma; her art presents a different version of reality of her life, one that she is unable to  confront in her everyday life. â€Å"I can no longer control these paintings, or tell them what to mean. Whatever energy they have came out of me. I’m what’s left over.†Through her art she exerts a power that she did have in her childhood, taking revenge on Mrs. Smeath and confronting other issues such as her bullying in the painting Cat’s Eye, where Elaine appropriates the idea of the pier glass reflecting figures outside the frames of the main picture. This glass hangs behind a self-portrait that shows only half of Elaine’s head and incorporates signs of aging. In her childhood the three girls watch her from behind yet the young Elaine in the picture is turned around, facing her tormentors. The painting symbolises the claiming and relinquishing of control. The child, Elaine looks back at the three girls, the adult Elaine looks back at the outside viewer. The back of the head is crucial: a mirror that shows only the ruined half of your face. Elaine’s art reflects the psychological state she is in and has faced in her childhood. This is symbolic of Elaine looking back on her life and seeing her childhood in a different light-‘Nothing is what it really seems.’ The gallery is appropriately named, contributing to Atwood’s hypothesis; Life is a series of different and conflicting versions of reality, identity and reality are not fixed and the concept of ‘exact truth’ can never be captured. Atwood’s novel Cat’s Eye shapes the reality by which we view the world and ourselves. Our lives operate around security (especially of ourselves) and we generate and understanding and connect ourselves to the world through various versions of reality that we reinforce to become believed ‘absolutes’ upon which we base our lives Without the ‘fixed reality’ we create for ourselves and the absolutes that structure our lives, our sense of purpose, and meaning diminishes. Distress is brought upon us through Cat’s Eye because Atwood critiques our quest for identity as she suggests that we will never ‘know ourselves’ and will never have a fixed identity. It is therefore the reader’s choice on weather to comprehend the notions Atwood is proffering. Atwood uses varied techniques and narrative elements such as imagery, symbolism, and the narrative point of view to allude her beliefs. Through the particular employment of these techniques Atwood strengthens her case to the reader and positions them to support her indited criticisms of a knowable identity, and a fixed reality and truth. Cats Eye challenges the  measurable, and the way we qualify things as knowable and existing and a truth. Bibliography: Atwood, Margaret, Cat’s Eye, Penguin, Montreal 1968

eBay

1) EBay pursue international growth through acquisitions and partnership in related and unrelated business. eBay goal was to expand its international presence in an effort to create an on line global marketplace. In many of this international website, eBay had to adapt and provide local language and currency options to gain popularity. The best approach that eBay had was by forming partnership with local companies. This strategy helps them to understand local cultures and ensure that the company was meeting local need. eBay has had tremendous success in Latin America and Europe. But in Asia has been a failure, in Japan they had to pull out of the market due to the poor market share that they were able to get. In china they still struggling to gain market share so they decided to due joint venture to learn a little bit more about the local needs. 2) eBay biggest competitive advantage was said by the founder of the company â€Å" we have specialize in e-commerce, payments and voice communication. Google stands for search, Yahoo largely stands for content† this clearly defines the completive advantage of specializing at what they do the best. In order to support this eBay has done a lot of acquisition, this offered distinct services and target specific market niches, which allowed eBay to broaden its customer base. When it comes eBay in Asia , the company run into a lot of trouble due to an inability to build a community effect in the country that focuses in customer service. But this was difficult for Ebay because changes at global level had to be approving in United States. This made it more difficult for rapid changes in the local market. eBay 1) EBay pursue international growth through acquisitions and partnership in related and unrelated business. eBay goal was to expand its international presence in an effort to create an on line global marketplace. In many of this international website, eBay had to adapt and provide local language and currency options to gain popularity. The best approach that eBay had was by forming partnership with local companies. This strategy helps them to understand local cultures and ensure that the company was meeting local need. eBay has had tremendous success in Latin America and Europe. But in Asia has been a failure, in Japan they had to pull out of the market due to the poor market share that they were able to get. In china they still struggling to gain market share so they decided to due joint venture to learn a little bit more about the local needs. 2) eBay biggest competitive advantage was said by the founder of the company â€Å" we have specialize in e-commerce, payments and voice communication. Google stands for search, Yahoo largely stands for content† this clearly defines the completive advantage of specializing at what they do the best. In order to support this eBay has done a lot of acquisition, this offered distinct services and target specific market niches, which allowed eBay to broaden its customer base. When it comes eBay in Asia , the company run into a lot of trouble due to an inability to build a community effect in the country that focuses in customer service. But this was difficult for Ebay because changes at global level had to be approving in United States. This made it more difficult for rapid changes in the local market.

Main features of the five sector circular flow model Essay

The five-sector circular flow model represents an open economy like Australia’s, and demonstrates the important relationships between the different sectors in the Australian market economy. It is the last circular flow model because it does not have any assumptions that need to be left out such as governments and trade. The five parts of the model: households, firms, finance, Government and overseas sectors work collectively to form the economy. The inter-relationships between these sectors create market economic conditions that affect every Australian. The model of the economy demonstrates that it literally works as a flow or a cycle. It can the be further defined to include two flows, one, a flow of goods and services and the other, a flow of money. The flow diagram demonstrates that when one sector is at risk it puts economic market conditions in jeopardy because they are all reliant upon one another. The Australian Economy is open, which is its open to flows of goods, services and capital from overseas using different currencies (with fixed exchange rates). In the open economy income is used for consumption, savings, tax or spent on imports. The new feature in the five-sector model is the overseas sector that includes imports and exports – Trade. The same principles apply to this model as the imports are represented as spending, however the money goes out of the economy. Money spent on imports by households or firms reduce income spent in the economy and are therefore classified as ‘leakages’ from the model. Imports can be categorised as the consumption of goods and services from the rest of the World and they reduce income, expenditure, output and employment from the Australian market economy. Importing goods mean that fewer Australian resources are utilised and production falls. Thus, the level of income decreases and the flow of money becomes smaller. Eventually however the flow would return to equilibrium but at a lesser rate and the circular flow would have contracted. Furthermore, exports of goods and services generate income for exporters from overseas households or firms who pay for these exports. An Australian export is essentially a product or service that is produced here and sold to  another country generating income for Australian businesses. Exports are therefore a form of injection of income into the circular flow without using Australian resources to produce them. With both imports and exports taking place as the new addition to the five-sector economy the circular flow is again complete. All income is consumed, saved, taxed and now can be used to purchase imports. The economy is in equilibrium when income equals output equals expenditure or simply, Injections equal Leakages. The open economy will be in equilibrium when savings plus taxation plus imports equals investment plus Government spending plus exports. However, this does not mean that savings has to equal investment only that the total of S plus T plus M equals the total of I plus G plus X. However equilibrium is not necessarily a desirable or non-desirable thing. Being at equilibrium is fine or at the point where savings, tax and imports are less than investments, Government spending and exports where this will cause a boom or expansion in economic activity however, being the opposite of this will cause a recession or contraction in economic activity. On a chart this is represented when the supply and demand curves intersect at the point where supply and demand are equal. The price at which the number of products that businesses are willing to supply equals the amount of products that consumers are willing to buy at a specific point in time. Governments can stimulate or contract economic activity depending on the current state of the economy, world issues (including other economies around the world) and political matters. When the economy is at equilibrium they can choose to stimulate the economy by being at a point of budget deficit, which would increase spending, they can also do this by lowering taxes. If they want to reduce economic activity they can increase taxes, which may create political instability at the same time, or they can generate a point of budget surplus which would slow spending. Governments only have so much impact on the economy using this method. To have more influence and impact they produce some goods their self, they do this by owning large companies or shares in them such as Telstra and Australia Post which have a large amount of economic influence. Not only do these companies have a large  amount of monetary influence every Australian relies on atleast one of their companies/services everyday . The circular flow diagram can be used to analyse the position of the Australian economy. To do this you must first understand how the diagram works. The diagram flows in a cycle. Look at a point on the diagram and follow the arrows to see where it has come from and where it can go. Research economic current economic conditions in Australia and then see what affect this can have overall by looking at the sectors flowing to and away from it. Problems have an overall effect on every part of the circular flow model however, because if one thing goes wrong then it effects everything throughout the whole cycle until it returns to where it began. The five sector circular flow model is very useful is helping to easily understand the way an open economy such as Australia works. It is a complete model including all possible sectors leaving nothing to assume. On a more careful analysis it even becomes possible to workout ways of stimulating and suppressing the economy using assumptions and simple equations. This model is especially helpful to students seeking an easy way to understand the way an open economy functions and the different affect certain problems can bring about.

Eastern European Politics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Eastern European Politics - Essay Example At a certain point in these transformations, the communist parties gave up their monopoly of power -- often removing a constitutional clause on that subject and admitting rival parties -- and submitted to competitive elections, which turned over power to their opposition. There were significant differences, for example, with regard to the abruptness or completeness of the change among the elites, ranging from the purge of the old elites in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) to the sliding-scale, power-sharing arrangements in many other postcommunist societies (Robert, 1985). As in Southern Europe and Latin America, the ruptura with the old regime transferred authority only with certain de facto limitations to the new elites. Whereas in the former areas, the army and both private and foreign big business often continued to wield powerful influence, in Eastern Europe it was more often the bureaucracy and large, state-owned firms and farms. In Russia, the entire military-industrial complex at first survived the meltdown of communist control. The new governments began to make inroads into the realms of state-owned and cooperative enterprises whose managers had somehow inherited command from the defunct state planning commissions at the center of their command economies. In many cases, this left the economy half in and half out of the range of authority of the new democratic governments (David, & Bruszt, 1998). There is no need to go into the complexities of the transfer in each country, except to stress the paramount role of particular elites -- political or nonpolitical -- along with the rebellious masses in the unraveling of the old and the consolidation of the new regimes. The masses effectively challenged the authority of even the last hard-line dictatorship. "We are the people" was the chant of the East German demonstrators in Leipzig and elsewhere as they confronted the claims of popular legitimation of their communist government (Samuel, 1991). Were the economic crises of the old regime or its dictatorial character at the roots of rebellion Most immediately, the latter, although the multiple failures of the communist economy played a significant role under the surface. Crucial to the final collapse of the old regimes were also the defeat of the repressive apparatus at home -- especially the secret police and other repressive forces such as the workers' combat groups in large factories -- and the end of the outside military threat, both of Soviet power to reformist regimes like that of Alexander Dubcek and of the Western military counterpressure that had for so long been the alibi of Soviet pressure on the satellites. Once Mikhail Gorbachev had renounced the Brezhnev doctrine of Warsaw Pact intervention against nonconforming communist regimes and, in fact, encouraged them to follow in his path of glasnost and perestroika, hard-liners in Czechoslovakia and East Germany were on their own, with predictable results (Joseph E., 1 994). The complex requirements of a working democratic system, of course, did not automatically fall into the laps of the aspiring peoples of Eastern Europe when communism fell. Far from it, each element had to be acquired separately, and, as of this moment, some are still missing, incomplete, or in