Tenets of Neoclassical Economy

The objective of this academic essay is to discuss the main tenets of neoclassical economic liberalism, explain whether less developed countries should entirely depend on developed countries not and give the reasons. According to Schumpeter (1954), the classical school of economics was developed in the 1750 and lasted as the mainstream of economic thought until the late 1800.Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nation book published in 1776 can be used as the formal beginning of classical economics but it actually evolved over a period of time and was influenced by Mercantilist doctrines, Physiocracy, the enlightenment, classical liberalism and the early stages of the industrial revolution. Adam Smith is recognized as the originator of classical economic. John Stuart Mill a British philosopher 1806-1873 is often regarded as the synthesizer of the school.While Adam Smith would be regarded as the originator and leader of the school, David Ricardo 1772-1823 should be credited with establishing the form and methods of school. Neoclassical economic liberalism is based on principles of namely free competition, a self-regulating market economy, and low or no taxes on income and property, while sharing with other forms of liberalism â€Å"a belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties.Liberalism has long history rooted in the theories of liberal political thought. It focuses mainly on the individuals rights. It attaches a lot of value to personal freedom be it political or economical. It strives to limit the state’s influence in the economic and social life of society. Liberal theorists believe that economic life should not be interfered by constitutional and legal rights to run all the national or public services. Economic life should be let flourish on its own without interference by the state.Therefore, the cornerstone or the most important thought o f liberalism are free trade and free competition (Schumpeter 1954). Neo-classicists see the market for organising economic activities and individuals and companies are rewarded for their efficiency. The market is seen to be at the centre for economic growth and not the state. In other words, Neoclassical seek to understand economic development in terms of the market behaviour of individual actors and therefore can be described as essentially individualistic (Downs 1957).Economics is a science that studies human behaviour as a relationship between ends and scarce means that have alternatives uses. Neoclassical economics pursues this study by means of supply and demand models that determine prices based on the subjective preference for determining prices in order to escape from the so called objective value theory of classical economics, according to which the value of goods could be established by reference to some basic commodity or the labour input required to produce a good.Neo-cl assicists hoped that by throwing away objective values, economics could be placed on a more scientific basis as an essentially descriptive and predictive theory of human behaviour (Thirlwall, 2006). Neoclassical economics can be understood in terms of both its subject matter and its method. The subject matter of economics deals with variables such as incomes and prices, and aggregates like gross national product, employment levels and inflation rate.The methods offer a way to think about large number interactions within markets, although in principle the range of social institutions can be extended to include politics. The characteristic feature or main tenets of the neoclassical method are instrumental rationality, methodological individualism, economic self interest, equilibrium analysis and the use of mathematical techniques (Riker, 1982). With instrumental rationality entails that agents are supposed rational in a broad sense that their behaviour can explained in term of their p references.Preferences are assumed to be determined by the individuals’ desires and beliefs and well ordered with regard to outcomes. For many purposes, preferences can remain specified only up to certain abstract structural features, such as consistency, completeness and complexity. The latter requirement forms the basis of relative price analytics focused on behavioural effects of changes in the relative prices of different objects of value. More specifically, rational individuals are assumed to respond to any increase in the price of a good by consuming less of it.This simple relative price proposition turns to be surprisingly powerful in predicting behaviour in economic setting and includes specifically the basis of institutional analysis: Institutions yield different social outcomes because they alter the incentives that agents face (Buchanan, 1975). In principle, individuals’ preference could have any content whatsoever: agents could be benevolent or could be dri ven by group interests or a desire to comply with group norms. But in practice , there is a strong tendency to ascribe predominantly self interested motives o individuals and to rely more on institutional mechanism that bend interests to the service of duty than on individuals inherent sense of dutifulness. Accordingly, the first question economists are likely to ask of institutions is what economic incentives they give rise to. Equally, when individuals agents interact, neo-classicists generally assumes that each agent maximizes his or her own well being, considered apart from the well being of the other agents with whom he or she interacts.According to Downs (1957) in the resultant interplay among rival interests, neoclassical economists tend to conceptualize stable social outcomes as form of â€Å"equilibria,† in which the strength of the various contenders are in balance. Furthermore, analysis proceed by examining changes in external circumstances that would alter the str ength of different forces and thereby induce all to change their behaviour in particular directions.The external circumstances in question include policy change by government and changes in broader institutional arrangements though there is an issue as to how far government action should be regarded as external to the social system. Buchanan (1975) argues that the distinct feature of the neoclassical approach to economics can be usefully illustrated with reference to classical economics, in particular to Adams Smith’s metaphor of the invisible hand.Smith’s metaphor express the idea that, under certain conditions, the behaviour of agents who act in their own interests can also ultimately promote the public interest. Smith claimed specifically that the freely operating market under the system of natural liberty would constitute such an invisible hand process. Although agents are assumed to be neither particularly benevolent nor cooperate by nature, the exchange processes that the free market were seen to mobilize vast benefits from large scale human cooperation that are individually not attainable.The neoclassical version of the claim is embodied in the so called fundamental theorems of welfare economics, which asserts that all perfectly competitive equilibria are Pareto optimal, and all Pareto-optimal points are equilibria of a perfectly competitive market under some initial distinction of goods. Pareto optimally is defined as the situation in which all possible mutually beneficial moves have been made. Interestingly, the neoclassical version of this result follows David Ricardo’s formulation in which gains from exchange arise from exploiting natural differences among agents according to principle of ompetitive advantage. In Adam Smith’s version by contrast, the gains from exchange arise not merely from natural difference but from gains from specialisation (Buchanan 1975). There is however, a more significant limitation to fundamenta l theorem of welfare economics. The theorems are restricted in their scope to private goods that are excludable. Markets cannot guarantee the optimal provision of public goods and collective consumption goods. Under plausible conditions, non excludable goods such as defence or law and order and non patentable discoveries may not be provided at all.Even accepting the limited normative reach of paretian concepts, therefore, markets cannot reliably deliver much that is required for their successful operation, such as a secure system of property rights and many goods that are important for human flourishing, such as public health measures or plausible theories about the working of the economy (Thirlwall, 2006). Furthermore, Pareto–optimal outcomes are not necessarily just. Pareto-optimality is consistent with slavery if slaves cannot purchase their own freedom.It is also consistent with very large disparities in income levels. Although the fundamental theorem of welfare economics state that any Pareto-optimal outcome can be realized by a suitable initial redistribution of goods, perfectly competitive markets remain themselves neutral with regard to distributive issues. In other words, the neoclassical defence of perfectly competitive markets can offer only a partial foundation for a comprehensive theory of cooperation, because the normative basis of evaluation that the neoclassical approach offers is too thin.Political philosophers such as Robert Nozick (1974) and David Gauthier (1986), for example, have taken this lack of normative justification as a starting point to embed markets into broader theories of social and economic cooperation that balance efficiency considerations with concerns for justice. Nevertheless, the neoclassical analysis of markets carries important normative implications. First, the analysis demonstrates that the benefits available from human cooperation are considerable.Neoclassical economics depicts social interaction as potentially â€Å"positive sum. † Beyond enjoyed by some individuals need not imply a loss to other and can lead to additional gains. Second, in mobilizing the mutual benefits available, there is a significant task of coordination among individual participation, a task that markets perform well for private excludable goods. Third, in part, markets work well in this coordination role, because they induce predominantly self-interested persons to serve others’ interests.It might be said that markets economize on benevolence, which tends to be a scarce good for many human interactions. Finally, the neoclassical account help to identify cases of market failure cases in which markets cannot guarantee optimal outcome (Emrah, 2008). Less developed countries cannot depend entirely on the notion of neoclassical economic liberalism or markets mechanism to the extent developed countries. This is because most markets in developing countries are characterised with widespread imperfection.One e xample is lack of information and existence of uncertainty that most individual producers face. Most producers in developing countries are generally unsure about the size of local markets, the existence of other producers and the availability of inputs both domestic and imported. Therefore in such a situation profit-utility maximising may be based on incorrect information and in the end lead to inefficient allocation of resources. (Todaro and Smith, 2009) Under such circumstance, the government may perhaps intervene to provide information by guiding producers and consumers.Therefore it can be analysed that, although free market economies have been successful in developed economies, it cannot be so in developing countries and the only recourse is the model of the mixed economy or social market economy. According to Thirlwall (1989), the true benefits of free market outputs may not be reflected in the prices because of the presence of substantial externalities. A number of goods may h ave high social value that is not reflected in their market prices.Because of market distortion or imperfections, the prices may not reflect marginal cost and many social goods and services such as health and education may not be produced at all or offered at a low price even free because markets are incomplete and private sectors have no incentives to produce them. In addition there is no guarantee that market mechanism will distribute resources equitably. Therefore, the government usually has the responsibility to provide them. Todaro and Smith (2009) further argue that although markets may ensure efficient allocation of resources, it can also lead to high levels of income inequalities.Over dependence on market may not improve the distribution of income but it worsen it. Due to these kinds of market failures, different developmental experts and economist have argued in the past that there must be government intervention in the development process and adopt various forms of plannin g models to allocate resources. In some countries resource allocation or planning is managed by bureaucrats and not by consumers. The government plan how resources are allocated across different sectors of the economy (Thirlwall, 1989). In conclusion, the welfare role of the state is retained in a social market economy which cares for the poor.In cases where the poor countries are striving towards a free market economy, there should be certain segments controlled by the state but with prevalence of free enterprise such that efficiency is restored and the country moves towards economic prosperity. Free market economy under centralized political control is the most effective way for distributing resources. BIBLIOGRAPHY Aydinonat, N. Emrah. (2008) The Invisible Hand in Economics: How Economists Explain Unintended Social Consequences: Routledge, New York. Buchanan, J. M. (1975). TheLlimits Of Liberty :University of Chicago Press, Chicago: Downs, A. 1957). An Economic Theory of Democracy . Harper, New York: Gauthier, D. P. (1986), Morals by Agreement: Clarendon Press, Oxford, UK. Nozick, R. (1974), Anarchy, State, And Utopia: Blackwell,Oxford, UK. Riker, W. H. (1982), Liberalism against populism: A confrontation between the theory of democracy and the theory of social choice: Freeman, San Francisco. Schumpeter, Joseph A. (1954), History of Economic Analysis: Oxford University Press, New York. Thirlwall, P. A (2006), 8th ed Growth And Development; Macmillan, London. Todaro, M and S. Smith (2009) Economic Development : Dorling, New Delhi.

Online Billing System

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Online Bill Payment system helps keep your information organized in a simple and convenient way. We've developed advanced tools that help organize and pay all your bills, whether they're recurring or one-time payments. Now your information can be consolidated in one easily accessible online resource. Learn more below and pay your bills quicker and easier than ever before. 1. 1 Background to Research A wide variety of payment mechanisms as well as related services is currently available. This section provides a summary of the uptake of online payments, and is followed by a brief account of common payment systems.A number of online payment systems have been developed in Europe, especially where offline bank transfers are already well established. The most common and easy to use include: online banking transfers where the account holder is redirected to the bank is Web site by the merchant site to effect payment. Other options are: i) electronic and mobile banking which have more advanced features, for example, schedule payments and ii) EBPP, where instead of having to enter all transaction details manually, these are automatically entered from the electronic bill and the payer only authorises.The EBPP provider (either bank or third party) establishes contracts with the organisations whose bills it can present electronically (e. g. utility companies) and will send in the bills the buyer has authorised. The report concentrates on business-to-consumer online payments rather than on business-to business (B2B) financial transactions. With the success of online auctions person-to-person markets have gained in importance and are also considered. The various offline payment options available for buying on line are not dealt with. 1. 2 Project overviewThis application administrates its users and customers. The system is easy to use with simple knowledge of computer. The applied principles in this system are instinctive and depend on running applicat ion at user interface. The following steps are included in the developing of an application. * Information collection * Design * Coding and assigning * Testing * Applying the application at User end 1. 3 Objectives This project will serve the following objectives:- * Add and maintain records * Add and maintain customer details. * Provides economic/financial reports to the owner monthly or weekly and yearly. Provides a convenient solution of billing pattern. * Make an easy to use environment for users and customers. 1. 4 Project scope * The online Billing application is providing with efficient GUI to the user and can be installed in other systems easily. * The modules is divided into * Login * Create User * Add entry * Erase Entry * Modify Entry- 1. Search name, 2. By mobile number. * This project will help the store keeper in fast billing * This project enable to maintain a great database of all customers visited. * This project is web based and easy to use Easy to maintain in futu re prospect. * Powerfull online payments software * Secure, Flexible and customizable. 1. 5 Features * Security:Security is one of the most important features that customers and businesses look for in a billing system. The all encompassing security feature you do not want to go without is PCI compliance. To be PCI compliant, a system must meet all the security standards set by the PRCI SSC (Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council). If your business is primarily B2B versus B2C, you may want to consider Level 3 Processing, as ell. * View Invoice and Payment History Online:Â  Your customers will love being able to view their invoice and payment history online. By offering an EBPP to your customers, they will be able to access this information easily without having to call your office and talk to an employee to get their simple questions answered. They will be able to access this information anytime, virtually anywhere. Talk about convenient! * Email Reminders:Â  Another onli ne billing feature your customers will appreciate are the email reminders.By utilizing an online billing system, you can create emails that will remind customers of late payments, upcoming payments, and changes to account easily and quickly. * Store Customer Payment Preferences:Â  These billing systems also can store your customers’ payment preferences online. It is secure and convenient. This way your customer can just set it and forget it. It cuts the payment process time down. Your customers will appreciate how this saves time and effort. * Autopay Functions:Â  The benefit that your customers will love if they decided to use is the autopay function.Your customers can have their bill taken out of their bank account each month automatically, if they so choose. This is convenient for customers who really want to save time. It also benefits customers who may be prone to forgetting to pay. This guarentees that they will not receive a late fee, as their bills will always be pa id on time. * Easiness in modification of data: The system provides managing of huge data effectively and efficiently for efficient results,storing the details of the customers, employees etc. in such a way that the database can be modified. User friendly: The system is user friendly because the retrieval and storing of data is fast and data is maintained efficiently. Moreover the graphical user interface is provided in the proposed system, which provides user to deal with the system very easily. * Sharing the data is possible: Data can be shared in proposed system. This means that two or more persons can use the same data in existing system provided that they have right to access that data. Also the two or more departments in an organization can easily interact with eachother without the actual movement of data. No or very few paperwork: The proposed system either does not require paper work or very few paper works is required. All the data is feted into the computer immediately an d various bills and reports can be generated through computers. Since all the data is kept in a database nodata of the organization can be destroyed. Moreover work becomes very easy because there is no need to keep data on papers. * Support strategic competitive advantage: Proposed system supports strategic competitive advantages.Since the proposed systems provide easiness in reports generating it will provide strategic advantages among competitors. * Computer operator control: Computer operator control will be there no errors. Moreover storing and retrieving of information is easy. So work can be done speedily and in time. Chapter 2 TOOLS & TECHNOLOGY The choice of technologies for your project implementation is a critical issue because it will not only influence your project development time and cost, but also will determine how your application will stand the test of time and will be approved and appreciated by your clients.With Itransition Business Analysts you will be able to n avigate all the technologies and platforms listed below, to choose the most up-to-date and win-win solution. You will be able to discuss and negotiate the choice of the programming languages and technologies suitable for project aims, size and budget. We are always attentive to all your requirements and wishes, including technological preferences, because we believe that only close cooperation with our customers all the way in project development can bring a visible and effective outcome.Programming Language were used in developing this application: JAVA with JS, Javascipt, HTML. RAM 64 MB and 2 GB hard disk. Operating Systems: Windows 95 & higher version. * Web Technology: Asp. net (Microsoft visual studio 2005 framework 2. 0) * Database: MySQL Server-2005 * Development Tool: MS Visual Studio 2005 * Web Server: IIS * Web browser: Internet Explorer service pack 1 * Languages Used: C#. net, JavaScript,JAVA,HTML * Others: Themes, CSS

The State of Human Nature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The State of Human Nature - Essay Example Hobbes identified and discussed two paths that human nature takes and, no matter the striving and effort put into one or another, the human being and its glory or fall resides in what he called ethical egoism. The purpose of this paper is to discuss this matter by looking at two examples: one given by Michel Montaigne and the other, more recent and representing a deeply disturbing moment in history, by Primo Levi. The ethics and moral values of humans seem to diminish, if not vanish, when it comes to two important processes that set into motion the dynamics of humanity; be it the natural condition that Hobbes discusses, that of the man dealing with no artificial political or religious bodies of governance, a man who has to create a cult for the Self in order to survive, or the condition in which the mechanisms of power punish or reward the individual, man proves to be fundamentally violent and able to start the metamorphosis of everything that once was considered moral value. In 'De Cive' Hobbes concludes that: " I obtained two absolutely certain postulates of human nature: one, the postulate of human greed by which each man insists upon his own private use of common property; the other, the postulate of natural reason, by which each man strives to avoid violent death."1 The transformations do not completely erase the cognitive capacities of the individual, but reinforce in a very dangerous way for the society the Delphic principle 'nosce te ipsum', which can push the individual into a world of absurdity in which reasoning is as well transformed and all meaning becomes corrupt. Michael Montaigne's aim in his essay 'On Cannibals' is a very complex one and it is that of proving that no matter the time or the social circumstances, human nature developed its fundamental values and constantly fought to adjust morality to whatever its interest was. The problem of the pain or pleasure generated by a government like mechanism, which in Hobbes opinion triggers the egotistic behavior, is seen by Montaigne as something which occurs in those of us who have a very strong desire to be better than others, desire that is destructive for the rest of the society, and, this sort of action loses touch with the original selfishness, degenerating thus; we all are barbarians, some are transformed by these inner happenings into more barbaric people. For Montaigne both the cannibal who lives in a natural state of no law and reasoning, who and the cannibal who adhered to a moral barbarism as part of an artificial structure, if we are to put it in Hobbes terms, are guilty of seeing as barbarian, as a threat "whatever is not his own practice".2 When it comes to the questions related to the similarities and differences between the cannibal and the barbarian withholding some moral values, the last one represents the society contemporary to Montaigne, mainly seen in terms of political dispute and greed for power just like in Hobbes case; both philosophers found their theories on the sort of violence generated by self conscious people who end up acting as violent beings who are in fact too weak and fall under the influence of their own edacity. Montaigne's argument stands valid and is a confirmation of Hobbes's thesis that humans act only in their own advantage. Montaigne states that: "I conceive there is more barbarity in eating a man alive, than when he is dead; in tearing a body limb

Marketing research proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing research proposal - Essay Example Consumer satisfaction is generally defined as the consumer's view of services received and the results of the treatment. It has been used by program evaluators to enhance health care providers' ability to render services that meet consumers' needs (Sheppard, 1993). However, important methodological concerns have limited the value of consumer satisfaction assessments (Elbeck, 1992). For instance, most satisfaction instruments are simple ad hoc measures. They fail to address satisfaction at any level of specificity, i.e., in terms of particular service recipient groups, treatments, or types of facilities (Lebow, 1983-i).They also do not focus of consumer/patient dissatisfaction. There structure is generally based on issues which health care staff or satisfaction assessors feel are important, rather than on issues that do actually form the major areas of consumer discontent. They generally fail to take into account the relative (weighted) importance of such concerns. In our research sch eme such concerns would be controlled by collecting data on consumer dissatisfaction at least on 3-4 parameters. The term "consumer satisfaction" in health care assessment has been taken in a broad and narrow and narrow sense. Studies using broad definition use general measures like self-perception of changes that have brought about improvements, type of grievances registered, complaints, appreciation treatments, questionnaires assessing suggestions for potential improvements, and specific probes into what is found to be either useful,supefluous or even bad. Studies based on a narrow definition are "...all inquiries into both the felt adequacy of treatment and of surrounding milieu: specific aspects may include reactions to the quality of care, to its helpfulness, its cost and continuity, the availability and accessibility of the practitioner, and the reaction to supporting services" (Lebow, 1983-ii). The research scheme being suggested below would have a mix of broad and narrow concerns. Research methodsResearch methods normally concern the ways by which research objectives are sought to be probed and approached. Any probe is normally dependent upon the data collected from the investigated site(s). In the present scheme measurement of consumer satisfaction is the primary object and primary investigation site is the Gwynedd Hospital. After having delineated important activities which matter to customers, following data collection techniques would be utilized to collect both quantitative and qualitative data: (a) Face to face interview with

Scopes Monkey Trial Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Scopes Monkey Trial - Essay Example ospital and spent most of his time there making observations of the professors during his stay at Baltimore and wrote informative opinions on the four famous doctors and being a famous journalist of his times his writings are considered important especially in the field of sciences. (Roberts, 2010) John Scopes was the teacher convicted in Scopes Monkey trial for teaching evolution in school going against the Bulter Act. Scopes being a learned man believed in Darwin’s theory and taught the theory of evolution to the general science students. His contribution to science especially among the schools in Tennessee was that his trial became the first ever trial to be broadcasted on the radio and hence the helped in spreading the popularity of Darwin’s theory .It helped consider the legitimacy of teaching evolution theory to students (Frazzetto, 2004). Darrow was a well known lawyer. He joined the Scope’s Trial as defendant lawyer particularly because the prosecutor was W.J. Bryan and Darrow considered it once in a life time opportunity to defend a case that was immense importance in those times. Darrow was considered an amateur scientist and he grew up reading and indulging in science was never against the theory of evolution which helped him defend the case. However, one of most famous role of Darrow’s in science was his movement against eugenics. His idea of eugenics was rather sceptical and he wrote several articles aimed against the idea of Eugenics which he believed was doom for the human society (Darrow, 1926). W.J. Bryan was a politician and was concerned with teaching of evolution in the schools. He was the main prosecutor in the Scope’s Monkey Trial. He looked upon scientific theories with suspicion a nd considered science was responsible for weak moral standards of students (Linder, 2004).During the trial he handed out pamphlets which talked against Darwin’s evolution theory. However he contributed to the field of medical sciences by

How the country Music of that Era Helped Research Paper

How the country Music of that Era Helped - Research Paper Example After Great Depression and Sand Storm, Americans not only suffered financial break down but also emotional turmoil .Country music came out as a solace. Country music of this era has a profound impact on American’s subconscious. This music provided individuality to the nation. Americans identify themselves with Country singing. American country ballads were subjective and secular in nature. The music of that time is also known as Old time music and Mountain music. The year 1920 saw the first generation of Southern performers called hillybilly in Commercial music. The music of that era was recorded and sold but with the onset of Great Depression, people could not afford buying records but were able to enjoy free music on radio. Radio stations in 1920s were hungry for the live performances of the country singers and since then the popularity of this genre grew. The popularity of radio shows led to the creation of Barn dances. Various forms of country songs became popular like Roc k and Roll, Dansband, Southern Rock and Heartland Rock. The cousins Owen Gentry and Cook formed Alabama, the popular Rock Band, in 1969. They were known by the name Young Country. They first played at High school talent contest, won the first prize, and gradually decided to make music their full time career. They renamed it Wild Country and later called it Alabama. Alabama gave a new facet to the country music. They are not only famous for their soulful southern ballads that Writer 2 stirred emotions in women of all ages but also catered to the enthusiasm and the spirit of the youth of that era. As Galante remarks, â€Å"They really have a way of saying something different.†

Cadmium in Shellfish Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Cadmium in Shellfish - Essay Example The figures for both types of shellfish was well within the tolerable limits at 7 g/kg body weight for adults as per WHO and Australian guidelines. Nevertheless, since there was observed high standard deviation among the scallop samples and there was also high deviation between the scallop and mussel cadmium/body-weight ratios it has been suggested that a future experiment be conducted during which the origin of the two types of shellfish be ascertained first to ensure that water contamination levels for both types of shellfish are the same. This shall ensure better conformation among the results. Correlation analysis was not conducted because of the small number of samples. This too should be rectified in future experiments to ascertain how each type of shellfish responds to the same level of cadmium contamination in the water. Thus, the report finds that it is highly essential to ascertain contamination in particular harvesting areas so that only those areas from where the bivalves have tolerable metal contents can be allowed harvestable. Other non-conforming areas should be declared out-of-limits. Only this can assure safety in supply. Cadmium is a heavy metal that is commonly found in many types of soil and rocks. At birth, primates like humans have no cadmium in their bodies but, with age, some humans induct the metal from their environment. The metal is a contaminant and classified as possibly carcinogenic under World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines (CHEC, Cadmium, 2007). The metal is variously used in industrial applications and commonly found in everyday use objects like paints, plastics, some types of coatings, batteries and other electrical components (CHEC, Cadmium, 2007). The metal is also let out into the atmosphere from burning fuels, especially fossil fuels. It is present in rubber tires and is emitted when tires burn. Also, many industries let out the metal into the atmosphere trough flue gases (CHEC, Cadmium, 2007). Another significant source of cadmium contamination is tobacco smoke. Children are especially susceptible to the metal if they are near smokers (CHEC, Cadmium, 2007). Children also a re more prone to cadmium contamination because ration of the metal intake by body weight is much higher than in adults with larger body weight. Thus, more care has to be taken to preclude such contamination in children. Also, it is estimated that cadmium build-up in the body is faster in the early years than later if the individual is subjected to such contamination (WHO, Cadmium, Series 24, 1972). In this particular context it is noted that shellfish like mussels and scallops are bottom-dwellers and are non-mobile filter feeders (Moffett, 1993). In all likelihood, if the metal becomes evident in seawater, it settles down towards the bottom and the shellfish induct it into their systems. Since there is evidence that the metal is not easily evicted from organic tissues. Over time the metal may accrue in shellfish tissue and if these are ingested by humans poisoning may result if the metal levels in the tissue are

Influence of Nostalgia on the Concept of Ideal World Essay

Influence of Nostalgia on the Concept of Ideal World - Essay Example To present an influence of Nostalgia on the concept of Ideal World it is very important to have a comprehensive understanding of the word Nostalgia. Nostalgia refers to the sweet memories which an individual would want to relive all over again. The Nostalgic concept in Paradise lost is based around the lives of Adam and Eve.. Eve was the first to eat the forbidden fruit and Adam committed a bigger sin by following in the footsteps of Eve. When they quarreled over small things they realized that things had changed after the consumption of the forbidden fruit. God decides to expel Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Adam then goes on an expedition with an angel to know how the world is like. He finds suffering in the world and becomes nostalgic to the moments he spent with Eve in the Garden of Eden. "To satisfy the sharp desire I had Of tasting those fair apples, I resolv'd Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once Powerful persuaders, quicken'd at the scent Of that alluring fruit, urg ed me so keen." (Browse Authors, 21 October 2008). The quote goes to show the implications of the actions taken by Adam, in spite of the warning he chose to taste the forbidden fruit. As a result of the same, he was expelled from the Garden of Eden where he experienced all the comforts and luxuries.

Benefits of transformational leadership vs other leadership models Essay

Benefits of transformational leadership vs other leadership models - Essay Example This has made it easier for us to identify which method to adopt in a particular situation or nature of business/profession. Within various leadership theories, one widely used leadership model is â€Å"transformational leadership theory†. This paper will discuss the importance of transformation leadership style and how it is better from other leadership models. Transformational Leadership Successful leadership is not only about limited set of traits and actions; it’s about having wide variety of skills, ideas, and approaches to attain a defined goal, and a transformational leader has it all. Such leaders have the following characteristics: Honesty Ability to set understandable and achievable goals Ability to effectively communicate vision Supportive Helps followers fulfill their needs Inspiring personality In simply words, transformational leadership is all about gaining your follower’s trust. This leads to motivation in the team which in turn results in positiv e outcomes. Transformational leader through charismatic methods attract his team members towards him. Transformational leader in addition to having a charismatic, smart and confident personality also realizes the needs of his team members. He clearly understands that in an organization every individual have certain needs which are important to be fulfilled in order for the employers to perform efficiently. James Burns further stated that a true leader is one who not only brings change within the organization and achieve his set goals but also bring positive change in people involved in the project. A leader is called a transformational leader because he has the ability to transform his followers by using the following ways: Effectively communicating the value and importance of the project Making his team members focus on project goal instead of their personal interest Comparison of Transformational Leadership model with other Leadership models The charismatic leaders are known to sp read out enthusiasm, positive energy and passion among their team members or followers. Such type of leaders possesses the ability to attract others towards them with their charisma. Their outstanding personality forces their followers to trust them blindly and have complete faith in them. Therefore, loosing such kind of individuals might lead to confusion within the organization as they make workers believe in their own vision and make them work accordingly. Charismatic leaders tend to be self-confident and principled as carrying out difficult mission requires such characteristics. Due to these characteristics of a charismatic leader, his team members or followers might feel discomfort and uneasiness while working with them. (Judge Bono, 2000) Another author further describes a charismatic leader as an attractive and emotional individual who has the ability to win the emotions of his fellow workers and fulfill their requirements and needs. In order to attract his follower, they nee d to formulate an attractive and smart vision and goals and take steps to achieve these goals. (Khatri, 2005) Charismatic leaders have the talent to easily communicate their thoughts, goals and vision which further strengthens their followers believes in them. This ability in them

Mark Mathabane’s Kaffir Boy Essay Example for Free

Mark Mathabane’s Kaffir Boy Essay Racial Discrimination, has already been a long term phenomenon, in existent in almost all societies in different eras and civilization. The idea of discrimination is inevitable. Considering that such discrimination creates social structure as regards what is expected of everybody in a society and what is due to them. However, sometimes this social structure is abused, beyond its limit. People who belong to a higher status quo would definitely do whatever it takes to keep it. To illustrate, colonizers who had way better technology, combat powers and knowledge as compared to areas being colonized, would come to these new conquests are superiors. They would then take the locals as slaves and ravish on the wealth that they have to offer. In their own place, these locals become discriminated and unwanted. In return, locals would do whatever it takes to associate themselves with the colonizers, by looking like them, being friends with them, working for them, or marrying people of their kind. And it always seems that it is the right thing to do. When the British came to South Africa, this is exactly what happened. Mark Mathabane’s Kaffir Boy, tells a real story of a man who chose to fight a different battle to combat discrimination and inequality. While most of his relatives act as freedom fighters, he came to America to educate himself and to excel in a sport he loves. His success has given so much inspiration. His story as depicted in his book will take us with him as he reveals the horrors of his past. Mark Mathabane lived in a country, wherein racial divide, for most of its early years seemed to be the only thing that defines them. South Africa, a country nestled in the continent of Africa, was once invaded by white colonizers too. And they have proven that they came there to stay. In a country such as South Africa, a nation so unique as compared to other nations in the African continent. South Africa can be considered as diverse in a special way, because it is the only African country that has Caucasians as locals. Originally dominated by black Americans, South Africa is now a melting pot of two cultures. Analysis It had never occurred to me that though the two were different as night and day, as separate as east and -west, they had everything to do with each other; that one could not be without the other (94) This statement from Johannes best explains the struggles of Mathabane. In summary it explains how the two dominant races in South Africa has tried to isolate each group against each other, by means of creating physical division such as creating boundaries and naming certain places as black or white territory. Whites are in a way regarded more superior because they are more literate as well. The government also used formal means to strengthen the divide by creating laws such as prohibiting mix marriages, and creating policies in the education system that seems to favor a specific race. Overall, it was almost the generally accepted norm, to- categorize, discriminate. Kaffir Boy, is a tale about Mark Mathabane’s life growing up in South Africa, just outside of Johannesburg. Mark Mathabane lives in the town of Alexandra during industrial colonialism period with his parents, five sisters and a brother. He talks about how he experienced brutality and starvation from the Peri Urban, an Apartheid police group in South Africa. Growing up very poor, he dreamt of having a better life for him and his family. He often questioned the prejudices happening around him and has decided to take the course of his destiny in his own hands. As a young boy, he struggled with his identity. He wonders which religion he should practice, which country or class he should belong. There is so much craving for autonomy that at a young age he began resenting his parents religious and tribal heritage and eventually decided to leave Africa. Believing that religion, specifically Christianity was used wrongfully by different groups and races, he eventually rejected it. He believes that government used it to claim that God had given whites the divine right to rule over blacks; the black churches misused it by demanding money from Africans who were already destitute; and black churches further misused it by resigning themselves to the idea that this was their lot in life, Gods will for black men and women (36). Mathabane also recalled how apartheid made use of tribalism as form of torture against Africans. He believes that his father, allowed himself to be controlled by superstitions, Relatively mature for his age, he reiterates his independence by doing what he pleases with his life. For Mathabane, the Christian God is bias in favor of the whites and is oblivious to the Africans pain. Although he recognizes its legitimacy as sign of respect for her mothers faith, he still rejects it the way he rejects tribalism and African superstition. For him, submitting to any specific belief or religion is synonymous with compromising his free will. In page 208 of the book he further on states African superstition and tribal culture were not for him. His scorn for his father lay in the fact that his father clung to values which had outlived their usefulness, values which discriminated against him while he attempted to function within the white mans world (208). â€Å"What Mathabane did accept, though it took some trial and error, was his mothers understanding that education would lead him to a better life. Learning English, he decided, was the crucial key to unlocking the doors of the white world (193). The books that white people read led to the power they had over black people (254). Mathabane eventually decided that literacy was a necessary element in the liberation struggle. How can the illiterate function, he wondered, in a world ruled by signs (201) Books had taught him about places where he could be free to think and feel the way I want, instead of the way apartheid wants (254). He then realizes that he needs to make important decisions in order to make his dreams come true. Thinking that South Africa has nothing much to offer, at least for a poor black African boy like him, he decided to try his luck with American Universities. As he begins to plot his future, his tennis abilities begin to progress faster and better. Being an avid fan of Arthur Ashe, he takes his wins and losses as if his own. The achievements of his â€Å"idol† encourages him to do better every single day. From black state competitions, he started joining the more prestigious white state competitions. His participation in white state competitions led to his banning from joining black state competitions. At this point, he feels as if his progress in his craft takes him away from the things he loved the most. Luckily, Mark later on leaves for the United States as a university scholar, through the help of a famous American tennis player and other white donors. Conclusion Deep within me,I knew that I could never really leave South Africa or Alexandra. I was Alexandra, I was South Africa (348). This goes to show that despite of all the successes, the author looks back in his roots. At first, his move out of Africa was just his way of â€Å"escaping† the endless circle of failed dreams and lack of opportunities. But his absence in his country makes him reaffirm his identity, and gives him the opportunity, to finally appreciate what his past has to offer for his present and for his future. This book tells a very dark story filled with pain, sadness and loneliness on most of its chapters, but it also provides a strong foundation for the readers to further understand the plight of the narrator. The journey he took was not only of hope, but rather, a journey of rediscovery. How can the illiterate function, he wondered, in a world ruled by signs (201)? The books had taught him and transported him to places where he could be free to think and feel the way I want, instead of the way apartheid wants (254). Why burn the only thing that taught one to believe in the future, to fight for ones right to live in freedom and dignity? (285). Here reaffirms his conclusion as we experiences Soweto riots, which was triggered by resentment over the governments ruling that African education system be taught it Afrikaans instead of English. Upon witnessing the library burn down he inquired for enlightenment from one of his peers, who mentioned that the burning is for the destruction of all the traces of white oppression in the Bantu Education system. The struggles in his youth, leads him to think that literacy is the key to success. by learning English, he will be given better opportunities, the same as the whites. According to the author, literacy has given the whites so much edge and power over the black Africans. Having an education will somehow even out the playing field. Literacy for Mathabane is so important, that for him this will eventually lead them to be liberated from all their struggles. In the end, we really have no control over our government, over the people around us, and over norms and traditions we grew up with. But we do have full control over our perspective, our feelings and destiny. And this is precisely what Mathabane did. He took charge of his own future. This book inspires me to examine the choices I have made as a young person, at the same time, it makes me wonder whether the previous steps I have taken in life will take me closer to my aspirations or take me farther. But then, it makes me think deeper not just about my ambitions, but what I really want to contribute to my society in the end. This book serves as a wake up call. In a society wherein we are given so much opportunity, it seems as if we are left with no excuses not to excel. Reference: Mark Mathabane, 1998, Kaffir Boy, Simon Schuster Adult Publishing Group

Customer And Competitive Analysis Icelandic Glacial Marketing Essay

Customer And Competitive Analysis Icelandic Glacial Marketing Essay Icelandic Glacial is a Brand of Bottled Natural Spring Water from Olfus, Iceland. This company was established in the year 2004 and its headquarter is in Hlidarendi, Olfus, Iceland. The company is a sole proprietor company and dealing with the production and selling of the bottled water across the world. With its initiation, the company started the business in Iceland only and in the year 2005, it started exporting the branded bottled water to various other countries like USA, Germany, France, Mexico, UK and Canada. The company has very strong credentials and the bottling plant and the product finished by the company is accredited by NSF International. According to the company, customers buy Icelandic Glacial as their best choice because of the source of unparallel purity which is free of contamination, high quality bottle design which is absolutely recyclable; it is considered to be affordable luxury, it is environmentally friendly and last, but not the least, it is NSF certified. Target market for the product/service in the home market Home market for Icelandic Glacial Packaged drinking water is Iceland from where the product is produced. Target market for Icelandic Glacial is mainly schools and college canteens, various offices and households (especially bigger bottles), several grocery stores, etc. If segmentation of the target market of Icelandic Glacial is done, there are mainly three segments that can be identified clearly. These are as follows: Foreign tourists: These are the people who really do not like to drink the normal water from anywhere because of the health safety purpose. Domestic tourists: These are the people who really do not waste time in finding water from here and there and would spend money and devote their time in roaming around. Health conscious people and fashionable people: These are people who do not like to drink normal water ever and give priority to mineral water. Mineral water has also become a brand recognition as several people consider it a symbol of high class. Especially, people of age group 20 to 35 years is the main target market for Icelandic Glacial in the home country i.e. Iceland. The main motive of Icelandic Glacial was to produce high quality bottled water not a low quality product which most of the other companies produce. Brief summary of the products/services competitive strategy, marketing program, and positioning in the home market Competitive strategies of Icelandic Glacial Competitive strategies of Icelandic Glacial include a high focus on packaging quality and a cautious placement of the product as a preferred brand in the market. However, the company had a spoilt image in other countries, not because of its product quality but a spill-over effect of the bad name associated with Iceland. This had given a huge advantage to the competitors. To overcome this problem, the company came up with a different bottle with an art work on it and it really worked. It looked as if there is an ice formation on the bottle which really attracted the people. It created a landscape kept in the shelves of the stores just through change in the style. Marketing Programs of Icelandic Glacial In order to get an edge in the market, the owner of the company used his contacts in the business and the film industries which resulted in Icelandic water to be present in every party and even at every film festivals (Birchal, 2007). Promotional video has been on the website of the company with two very beautiful women showing the bottle of Icelandic Glacial on the main page of the website to attract customers Marketing Positioning of Icelandic Glacial Icelandic Glacial positioned the packaged drinking water in the market through various successful marketing strategies. In order to position the product in the market, the company used some very powerful slogans such as: Icelandic Glacial is the purest water; it is eco-friendly; it is certified by NSF; the bottles have the best physical structure; etc. Evaluation of the marketing program: S.W.O.T ANALYSIS There are more of strengths of the marketing programs which have been implemented by the company than its weaknesses. Strengths Icelandic Glacial is the purest bottled water in the world; It is eco-friendly and has zero carbon footprints; It is certified by NSF; the bottles have the best physical structure and are recyclable; Company has gained recognition in the global market; People got very much attracted by the bottle designs It was seen in the film festivals which really helped a lot to increase the sales of the product Weaknesses Company had to spend a lot of money to gain the recognition in the market Company has not established vast and firm global presence; Company has no presence in the UAE beverage or bottled water market. Opportunities UAE is a very rich country with very high per capita income; Large and very active demand for quality bottled water Unsaturated market expansion possibilities to other GCC countries Threats Competitors in the market size and strength Government protection of domestic suppliers Company Analysis for ENTRY market Analysis of the companys capabilities in entering new market Icelandic Glacial is marketed and distributed in large countries such as the USA, Germany, France, Mexico, UK and Canada. The company entered US in the year 2005 where after being a bad reputation of water being associated to Iceland, company made a stunning reputation. At present scenario, American company, Anheuser-Busch has around 20 percent stake in Icelandic Glacial. Icelandic Glacial is capable of producing 30,000 bottles in an hour. A separate type of distribution takes place in Canada, UK and Netherlands. Recently, Icelandic Glacial entered into the market of China. This packaged drinking water is known for its purity and zero carbon footprints and very much renowned in Europe and North America. It is now entering into the beverage market of China to increase its footprint all across the world (Icelandic Glacial Enters China Beverage Market, 2010). China Water and Drinks is the company which is the subsidiary of a US company Heckmann Corporation Inc. which is taking the responsibility of distribution of Icelandic Glacial in China. It is distributed to all the mentioned companies by various very renowned companies in the sector of water supplies. With such a huge and increasing global distribution and recognition as the purest bottled water in the world with zero carbon footprints, Icelandic Glacial has the capable of launching its product successfully in the UAE which could prove a big market for Icelandic Glacial. UAE, being one of the fast developing countries of the world can easily welcome the product with a huge sale all across the country. There is a huge opportunity for Icelandic Glacial to enter the UAE beverage market and compete with the existing products in its field. Icelandic Glacial could find UAE to be a very successful place like the USA. Identification of the business model Business Model which can be used by Icelandic Glacial for expanding its business in UAE is Distribution Business Model in which the company which has started its business from Iceland, and expanded its business to various countries of the world by distributing its product in the foreign market. UAE will be the next foreign branch of the company in which it will expand its distribution services. Main cost drivers for Icelandic Glacial in UAE for setting up its feet in the market could be huge promotional cost, plant setting up cost, cost of distribution channels, etc. Customer Analysis for ENTRY market Identification of 360-degree profile of customer segments There are almost every company which has its office in UAE and huge number of hypermarkets and shopping complexes. Regular Population Foreign tourists Customer Characteristics Demographics 7.5 Million 10 Million per year Psychographics Treat it as necessity and many treat it as hygienic Do not trust on regular water Location Urban as well as Rural Urban and sub urban Purchase Characteristics Purchase Occasion Very often (purchase it as a regular product) Almost regular Benefit Sought Value in the market Value in the market Product Usage hygienic concerns Necessary Product Evaluation of potential segments and selection of target market Potential Segment for Icelandic Glacial in UAE bottled water industry could be huge numbers of foreign tourists coming, increasing population in UAE. College and school canteens, health conscious people, offices, households, etc can be considered as the target market for the company. Volume potential Bottled water business in the country accounts for more than 40 percent of the total drinking water which gives up a business of AED 570 million (UAEs Bottled Water Industry Set to Sustain Growth by Boosting Capacity, 2009). Demand for drinking water in the country is going to increase in future due to increase in population and tourism. Present companies, for example, Al Ain is planning to expand its business in UAE. This means that there could be a huge projected growth for Icelandic Glacial in the country once it finds a good place in the market. Most of the well established brands in the country produce 15,000 of 1.5 l bottles in an hour. Thus, we can assume that at the starting we could produce 5,000 to 7,000 and in future could easily compete with the competitors. Margin potential The industry is not that price sensitive but price should not be very high or very low. It should be kept as the industry average. The industry average for 1.5 liter packaged drinking water in UAE is between AED 5 to AED 7 for a 1.5 liter bottle. Persuasion potential There are a huge number of competitors in the market like PepsiCo Aquafina, The Coca Cola Company Kinley, Nestle Purelife, Masafi mineral water, Al Ain Mineral water, Gulfa, etc which absolutely satisfy the needs of the customers with Al Ain being the topper in the list with 40 percent share in the market. I would highly recommend Icelandic Glacial to enter into UAE market because there is high need of water market in the country and this is also a fact that almost 40 percent GDP of UAE is based on this business. In spite of the fact that there is a high level of competition in the market, but still market is so high that surviving is very easy. But in order to gain a considerable amount of market share, it is necessary for the company to pursue the customers to buy the product which could be done by high level of promotion of Icelandic Glacial in the local market as taglines like the purest water on earth, etc. Identification of value drivers for the target market Benefits: UAE is a country where there is a huge need for drinking water. It is a market which earns the highest per capital income from packaged drinking water as compared to any other part of the world. Point-of-resistance: There will be huge competition in the market. Almost each and every international brand is present and along with that there are several big and small local brands as well. Industry and Competitive Analysis for ENTRY market Industry analysis Product i.e. Bottled water market is in the maturity stage and this is the reason that Icelandic Glacial is confident enough to enter into the market and get a considerable amount of success. But as the product is in maturity stage it is really difficult to gain a huge amount of market share as there are still companies who have made their brands for the past many years. Porters Five Force Model Bargain power of the Suppliers: It totally depends on the geographical location of the country. There is a huge problem of drinking water in the country as there is inadequate supply of water. Substitute Product: Cold drinks, tea, coffee, juice, etc. can be considered as the substitute products Bargain power of Buyers: Customer has a lot of choices in the market as there are a lot of brands of packaged drinking water exist in the current market New Entrants: Market is in its maturity stage, hence there could be just entrants in the market Rivalries: There is an oligopoly competition in the market as the market is in maturity phase (Bottled Water Industry and Competitive Environment Analysis, 2009). Identification of major competitors and the competitive strategy used by each Major competitors for Icelandic Glacial in UAE could be PepsiCo Aquafina, The Coca Cola Company Kinley, Nestle Purelife, Masafi mineral water, Al Ain Mineral water, Gulfa, etc. Strategies Used by each PepsiCo Aquafina: This Company uses natural and underground water which makes it different from the other brands available in UAE Nestle Purelife: Purelife is imported in the country from Saudi Arabia and it promoted with a statement on it label that Purelife is water coming from natural spring and deep well. Masafi mineral water: This is a local company in UAE which is situated in Ras Al Khaimah. It positions itself in the market by its superior quality product with ISO 9002 and ISO 9001:2000 certifications. Al Ain Mineral water: Clear leader in the cities like Abu Dhabi and Al Ain with more than 40 percent share in the market. It positions itself with great quality product and high customer loyalty. Marketing audit of competitors Analysis of Marketing Program There are several marketing programs done by various brands in the country. For example, Al Ain, which is the brand with maximum percent share in the market, is sponsoring Al Ain International Aerobatics Championship of 2008 (Al Ain Mineral Water, proud sponsor of the Al Ain Air Show introduces bottle recycling programme , 2008). Misafi Mineral Water came up with a flavored mineral water in order to give customers a combination of sweet drink and pure water. There are some other efforts made by several companies for establishing their brands in the market through television ads, newspaper ads, banners, etc. All the market programs done have succeeded only because of the fact that there is huge need of drinking water in the country. Companys Ability to Support Marketing Programs Icelandic Glacial is a company which promoted its water in Film award function in the starting of its business in US. This totally implies that Icelandic Glacial is capable of doing its marketing program in UAE due to the huge organizational as well as financial infrastructure available with the country. Positioning of competitors product/brand There are a very large numbers of competitors in the market but in spite of that there is a huge scope for Icelandic Glacial to sustain in the market because of the fact that need for this product in UAE is huge. At present, there are almost all the international big banners in the field of packaged drinking water present in UAE with enormous number of local manufactures. Among them Al Ain is a company which takes the maximum position in the market with 40 percent of the marker share. Assessment of industry attractiveness and competitors strengths and weaknesses UAE is a country which is very much attractive for a business of packaged drinking water. According to some previous statistics, UAE has the highest per capita income through the packaged drinking water business. This means that market for Icelandic Glacial is to a high degree certain and there is no doubt about that. Competitors for Icelandic Glacial in UAE have the strength that they are well established in the country especially Al Ain, which has huge share in the market but these companies have the weakness that there are so many companies in this industry that it could be possible that the qualities of zero carbon footprint, eco-friendliness and purity of the water could enable Icelandic Glacial to establish a niche in the market.

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley :: Papers

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley Introduction: The play was written in 1945, but the play was set in 1912, before the 2nd World War when people talked confidently of the future, unaware of the disasters to come. Part 1: Mr. Birling is very self-cantered, doesn't like to be proved wrong and he thinks low-class people are not as good as him. Mr. Birling is very competitive and if Sheila marries Gerald Croft the son of Mr. Birling's competition, then he will not have to worry about losing profit if Mr. Birling and Gerald Croft's father join sides. He wants his daughter married to a high-class family because he doesn't want her in a low-class family. My first impression of Sheila is that she doesn't care about anyone but herself, she is very stuck up, excitable and jealous and she is excited about her marriage to Gerald Croft, her father also spoils her Part 2: When Mr. Birling first meets the inspector, he is very surprised that the inspector thinks that he and his family had anything to do with the death of Eva Smith, he begins to ask the inspector questions because Mr. Birling knows most of the police in the area and thinks the inspector is a fake. When Sheila first meets the inspector she does not understand why he is there and asks what is going on. She is shocked at the fact that the inspector thinks her father was the cause of Eva Smith committing suicide, and also shocked at the fact that her father fired Eva Smith for asking for enough money to live on because Mr. Birling was paying her below minimum wage. She is very different to Mr. Birling because Mr. Birling doesn't care about the fact that a woman has committed suicide because of him, whereas Sheila does and she can't stop thinking about it. Part 3: Mr. Birling acts very calm when the inspector starts asking questions, but as he starts asking more personal questions, for example when Eva An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley :: Papers An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley Introduction: The play was written in 1945, but the play was set in 1912, before the 2nd World War when people talked confidently of the future, unaware of the disasters to come. Part 1: Mr. Birling is very self-cantered, doesn't like to be proved wrong and he thinks low-class people are not as good as him. Mr. Birling is very competitive and if Sheila marries Gerald Croft the son of Mr. Birling's competition, then he will not have to worry about losing profit if Mr. Birling and Gerald Croft's father join sides. He wants his daughter married to a high-class family because he doesn't want her in a low-class family. My first impression of Sheila is that she doesn't care about anyone but herself, she is very stuck up, excitable and jealous and she is excited about her marriage to Gerald Croft, her father also spoils her Part 2: When Mr. Birling first meets the inspector, he is very surprised that the inspector thinks that he and his family had anything to do with the death of Eva Smith, he begins to ask the inspector questions because Mr. Birling knows most of the police in the area and thinks the inspector is a fake. When Sheila first meets the inspector she does not understand why he is there and asks what is going on. She is shocked at the fact that the inspector thinks her father was the cause of Eva Smith committing suicide, and also shocked at the fact that her father fired Eva Smith for asking for enough money to live on because Mr. Birling was paying her below minimum wage. She is very different to Mr. Birling because Mr. Birling doesn't care about the fact that a woman has committed suicide because of him, whereas Sheila does and she can't stop thinking about it. Part 3: Mr. Birling acts very calm when the inspector starts asking questions, but as he starts asking more personal questions, for example when Eva

Essay on Internet Privacy - Cookies and Internet Privacy :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Cookies and Internet Privacy    Student Josà © Amador likes to use his email account at yahoo.com. "I find paper so obsolete," he says. Amador is not worried about the privacy of this account. Perhaps he and the many other people that use yahoo email should be concerned, however. All users of Yahoo mail are having their actions tracked.    Yahoo monitors the actions of users, in part, by using "cookies." Cookies are small files that record visits to web pages. When you open up a cookie dispensing web page, the web server sends one or more of these files to your browser. The cookies will usually contain a number that is unique to that browser. Then the next time that this browser opens that particular page, the web site will both send a new cookie and retrieve the old one. This makes it possible, for sites to compile lists of how often visitors go to a particular page as well as when they visit it.    By themselves, cookies cannot reveal the identity of the user. All these files can do is store information about domain names and the rough location of the visitor. That said, if the site requires registration and a sign in -as is the case with yahoo email, for example- then site administrators can combine the two streams of data with ease. Cookies also cannot send viruses. They are only text files thus preventing that danger. Readers who want to view the cookies stored on their browser should search for a file called on cookies.txt on PCs or a file called MagicCookie on Macs.    The first browser that could handle cookies was Netscape Navigator 1.0. Cookies have become commonplace on the web since that browser first came out in 1995. By one account, 26 of the top 100 web sites utilize these files. Sites that use cookies include AltaVista, all pages on the GeoCities domain, and the web version of the New York Times. The New York Times is a lot like Yahoo mail in that the acceptance of cookies is required. Most sites, however, do not require browsers to accept cookies.    Web site administrators say that the primary purpose of cookies is not to track Internet surfing habits. Rather they argue that cookies allow users to customize their experiences on the web. Services like My Yahoo would not work nearly as smoothly without cookies.

Justification of Punishment! :: Philosophy Philosophical Essays

Justification of Punishment ABSTRACT: Both utilitarians and the deontologists are of the opinion that punishment is justifiable, but according to the utilitarian moral thinkers, punishment can be justified solely by its consequences, while the deontologists believe that punishment is justifiable purely on retributive ground. D. D. Raphael is found to reconcile both views. According to him, a punishment is justified when it is both useful and deserved. Maclagan, on the other hand, denies it to be justifiable in the sense that it is not right to punish an offender. I claim that punishment is not justifiable but not in the sense in which it is claimed by Maclagan. The aim of this paper is to prove the absurdity of the enquiry as to whether punishment can be justified. Difference results from differing interpretations of the term 'justification.' In its traditional meaning, justification can hardly be distinguished from evaluation. In this sense, to justify an act is to say that it is good or right. I differ from t he traditional use and insist that no act or conduct can be justified. Infliction of punishment is a human conduct and as such it is absurd to ask for its justification. I hold the view that to justify is to give reason, and it is only a statement or an assertion behind which we can put forth reason. Infliction of pain is an act behind which the agent may have purpose or intention but not reason. So, it is not punishment, but rather statements concerning punishment that we can justify. Regarding the justification of punishment philosophers are not of the same opinion. According to the utilitarian moral thinkers punishment can be justified solely by its consequences. That is to say, according to the utilitarian account of punishment 'A ought to be punished' means that A has done an act harmful to people and it needs to be prevented by punishment or the threat of it. So, it will be useful to punish A. Deontologists like Mabbott, Ewing and Hawkins, on the other hand, believe that punishment is justifiable purely on retributive grounds. That is to say, according to them, only the past fact that a man has committed a crime is sufficient enough to justify the punishment inflicted on him. But D.D. Raphael is found to reconcile between the two opposite views. According to him, a punishment is justified when it is both useful and deserved.

Corrections Accreditation and Privatization Essay

Accreditation means to meet requirements. Corrections are a system of agencies likes jails and prisons. So corrections accreditation is just that. Correction systems need to meet requirements all the time to maintain accreditation to hold a higher standard. Corrections accreditation has a positive effect on the professional develop of corrections officers. Because the standards for accreditation change every year, this means that the officers have to go through more things to become credible. By learning new things they set higher standards. Accreditation improves the management of the facility, raises accountability and credibility for the staff and administration, and makes for a safer environment for everyone. To plan for better correctional officer professionalization and accreditation the industry leaders can make it harder to get that position. They can make the training harder and make them go through new training or refresher courses every so often. Most times these officers let things slide they should not, which leads to lower credibility for the institute if they are caught because such things need to be reported. A correctional officer job is not one to take lightly because they are not glorified babysitters. They need the extra training and they should have to meet certain physical criteria so if in a position they need to get out of they have the smarts and ability to do so. Privatization is basically the private operations of prisons and jails. This affects state and federal because privatized systems do not have to follow the same guidelines as the others. The privatized systems can also go for profit, non-profit or charitable organizations whereas state and federal prisons depend on tax money to operate. Privatized prisons are held accountable and this is measured and monitored just as in state and federal prisons. They do not cut corners so in many ways they are more secure and safe compared to state and federal prisons. The privatized prisons offer effective inmate programs just as do the state and federal prisons. They also hold to the safety standards that state and federal prisons do.

Units Of Sound In The Ict Suite Education Essay

The purpose of this assignment is to measure a piece of package happening out the benefits the programme has to offer for kids with extra demands in ICT. The package that is traveling to be evaluated is Unit of measurements of sound. The unit of sound programme was created in 1972-3 by Walter Bramley. The programme contains a Cadmium ROM which is installed on a computing machine ; a user usher and a reading book are besides provided. Unit of measurements of sound are besides associated with the Dyslexia Action Organisation Group. The package was chiefly designed to assist Dyslexic readers. Rice and Brooks ( 2004 ) found that â€Å" Unit of measurements of Sound was designed to assist dyslexic readers but has been used to assist non-dyslexic hapless readers – in line with the research that ‘ordinary hapless readers ‘ benefit from the same instruction and larning methods designed for dyslexic pupils † . The Unit of measurements of sound is a structured cumulat ive and multisensory programme learning kids reading, spelling, memory and command, it involves the kid to work at their ain gait independently. ‘Information and Communication Technology has a alone and valuable part to do to the acquisition experiences of students with particular educational demands ‘ ( Aquilonis, 2007 ) It is an extra programme that helps back up Particular Educational Needs ( SEN ) kids with Literacy, assisting the kid to construct on their vocabulary, reading and replying simple comprehension constructing on their ego assurance. The advantage of Unit of measurements of sound it has the capableness to alter the background coloring material fount size if the kid types in an wrong spelling or grammar it highlights by altering the coloring material text, besides it has a programme that would read the sentence back to you in full. If you can non recognize the spelling the word can be heard before composing the text. Data is provided which shows how the kids are bettering over the term efficaciously monitoring and entering the kids ‘s advancement. There are three phases of Unit of measurements of sound stage1 Basic is coloured Green stage2 Functional is coloured Blue and stage3.Independent is coloured Orange. Each phase has two elements to it reading and spelling there are four programmes for the kids to finish at each phase. First the kid is assessed with a little reading and spelling trial of 50 words to see if they are successful to get down the programme utilizing the computing machine which is ocular and auditory. The single kid ‘s degree is set depending on their mark by the computing machine to the reading page, and the spelling sets. Unit of measurements of sound is a literacy programme that is used to excite a kid ‘s head by memorizing ocular, there are besides benefits parents every bit good as instructors can back up their kid signifier place with Unit of measurements of sound if they have a Personal computer. Before get downing my observations I spoke to the parents of the kids I would wish to detect by inquiring for their consent to take exposure of their kids working on the computing machine accessing Unit of measurements of sound for portion of their course of study in literacy. Guaranting the parents all their kids ‘s picture taking would merely be used for the school internal web page and my assignment. ( See appendix ) Under The Data Protection Act ( 1998 ) and the Freedom of Information Act ( 2000 ) command the utilizations of information produced by schools. Such web sites must protect the individuality of kids and if, for illustration, exposure of kids are to look, permission from the parents or carers must be obtained and care taken non to supply information that could be misused ( pg4 ) . Title: Unit of measurements of sound in the ICT suite Date: 24.11.09 Time: 8.55am Duration: 35 proceedingss Observer Jacqueline Wildman Purposes: To detect Child A deriving entree to the package Units of sound. Observation: Child A comes into the computing machine suite he says hullo and goes over to the chair pulls it out and sits on it. Child A switches on the computing machine, delaies for a piece and says this computing machine is taking it ‘s clip. Child A bends to another kid and what are you making? The screen comes up child A logs in and entree the package Units of sound, Child A asks â€Å" should I make the reading foremost miss, † I said yes Child A puts the earphone over his ears he looks over and smile. Child A puts his manus up and says lose my earphones are non working I said you have plugged it in the incorrect socket, Child A says, oh! and carries on. Child A accesses the reading and starts the activity Child A reads what is on the screen in the mike hearing his voice what he has said, Child A completes the reading undertaking and clicks the mouse onto the spelling screen.Child A listens to what word is said and so types out what he heard. Child A completes the spellings and asks if he can salvage and publish it out I said yes and please can I see the consequences. Evaluation: Child A accesses the computing machine and the package really easy, the lone clip he wanted aid was when the earphones were non working. Child A seems really confident and knowing with how to utilize a computing machine. Title: Unit of measurements of sound in the ICT suite Date: 25.11.09 Time: 12.00pm Duration: 30 proceedingss Observer Jacqueline Wildman Purposes: To detect Child H entree the package Units of sound. Observation: Child H switches on the computing machine she logs in her name and watchword and says girl I ca n't log on because my watchword wo n't allow me in. The instructor tells her to seek once more she tries the instructor comes over and tells her the watchword she logs on. Child H put her manus up and says girl I ca n't retrieve were to travel the instructor shows her the icon, Child H waits for the programme to come up on the screen she turns to Child A and asks him if she should travel on the reading Child A says yes. The instructor comes over to see if she has accessed the programme Child H says, â€Å" look miss I got on myself. † The instructor says, â€Å" that is first-class. † Child H smiles Child A shouts out! â€Å" Miss I showed her † . She moves the mouse around the desktop and says it ‘s non doing noise the instructor inquire her â€Å" where is your earphones? † Child H replies â€Å" I do n't cognize lose it is non in my draw à ¢â‚¬  . The instructor asks Child H â€Å" where is it? † she shrugs her shoulders ; the instructor gives her another earphone. She plugs the earphone in the socket and listens to the sound and reiterate what she hears in the mike. Child H calls the instructor and says, â€Å" I do n't cognize what the individual is stating, † the instructor takes the earphone and listen and tells her he said dab the kids are asked to log off and close down the computing machine Child H asks if she should salvage her work because she did non complete her reading Evaluation: Child H switches the computing machine on all right but logs in her watchword falsely she could non retrieve what icon she should snap on. The instructor praises her when she entree the reading screen Unit of measurements of sound Child H did non successfully finish a reading page, but with this programme kids can work at their ain gait independently non experiencing that this has to be rushed. In my professional function I use Information Communication Technology ( ICT ) about every twenty-four hours with the kids with limited experience. ICT is linked with portion of the course of study used efficaciously in the schoolroom with different types of demands. ICT besides enhances kids larning which enriches the learning potency for kids who are particular educational demands ( SEN ) with ocular damages, address and linguistic communication damages, medical demands, physical disablements, emotional and behavioral troubles and dyslexia. Katz ( 1995:109 ) cited Nutbrown and Clough ( 2006, p 13 ) states â€Å" about what should be learned and how it would best be learned depend on what we know of the scholar ‘s developmental position and our apprehension of relationships be early experience and subsequent development † . Children are taught the simple and basic instructions which is differentiated to their abilities, such as how to exchange on the computing machines, logging into their history with their username and ain watchword. Children are non afraid to do errors they are confident and knowing scholars who jump to a challenge. Nutbrown and Clough ( 2006 P, 13 ) province that â€Å" Development progresss when kids have chances to pattern freshly acquired accomplishments every bit good as when the experience a challenge merely beyond the degree of their present command † . Monitoring and recordings of the kids advancement would be on traveling procedure publishing out kids ‘s single informations sharing the information with the category instructor and the particular demands co coordinator ( SENCO ) . Benefits of a Particular Educational Needs they are able to entree all installations at their ain gait. Wall ( 2003 p164 ) states that â€Å" inclusion exists where all kids have a right to be able to entree all installations offered and are hence a portion of that community † . Every Child Matters suggest that ‘The Government believes that every immature individual should see the universe beyond the schoolroom as an indispensable portion of acquisition and personal development, whatever their age, ability of fortunes ‘ . Evaluation: In my mundane function I support my SEN kids in utilizing Unit of measurements of sound from every twelvemonth group for 20-30 proceedingss a twenty-four hours. Working and be aftering with the SENCO how the kids are movitative and have benefited from this programme accomplishing good consequence at their ain degree.

Class

In Maya Angelou’s excerpt, â€Å"What’s So Funny? † she pointed out that vulgarity and crudeness happens to be the direction in which comedians, entertainers, and people take their jokes. She explains that behind the obscene profanities, are people who are just as vulgar as their jokes. By us laughing with them, we are not only stooping down to their level, we are also taking part in the humiliation. I agree with Maya Angelou’s point. For example, laughing when someone makes a joke towards someone else who suffers from obesity not only humiliates that person, but makes them feel disgusted with themselves.The person laughing is applauding the comedian. What’s the humor in that? There’s a difference between being funny and being disrespectful. A lot of us tend to be confused as to where to draw the line. While others simply like to cross it. It’s almost like a form of bullying, but not a lot of us see it like that. Ms. Angelou believes t hat there are other ways to make jokes and start conversation without having to stoop low and belittle someone. Our generation has grown to become more shallow and vain through the years.When entertainers, comedians, and people use vulgarity and crudeness to express their thoughts and use it in their jokes to make an audience laugh, it paves a path for the audience to chime in and think that it is okay to behave that way. Perhaps the person making the joke is hiding behind the shallowness in order to prevent exposing their own insecurities? Maybe they’re using obscenities and humiliation as a self-defense mechanism. I never even thought about the bigger picture until now. Ms.Angelou is right. Nothing should stop us from saying â€Å"that’s wrong. † We don’t have to laugh at someone else’s mean joke just because it’s meant to be funny. Maybe the cold shoulder to a rude joke would be the bigger reaction. Either way one as an individual needs t o realize when someone has crossed the line. I feel that Maya Angelou’s â€Å"What’s so funny? † has definitely opened up my eyes and made look at things from different perspective because I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t one of those audience members.

Research Methods Essay

The main factors that influence a sociologist’s choice of research method depend on two different theoretical approaches to the study of society; positivism and interpretivism. Positivism is an approach in sociology that believes society can be studied using similar scientific techniques to those used in the natural sciences, such as physics, biology and chemistry. Interpretivism is an approach emphasizing that people have consciousness involving personal beliefs, values and interpretations that influence the way they act and that they do not simply respond to forces outside them. These two theoretical approaches often use different research methods because they have different assumptions about the nature of society, this influences the type of data they are interested in collecting. Practicality, ethics, theory and subject of study also contribute to the methods used for research. There are various methods sociologists use to carry out a research on society. The two common forms are quantitative and qualitative research methods. I will begin by analysing the meanings behind the words, qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative methods are used by people that support the use of scientific investigation, it usually includes numerical statistical methods; the purpose is to expand and utilize mathematical techniques, conjecture and hypothesis. In contrast to this the qualitative research method. This is usually used by sociologists that support the use of humanistic research. It differs from quantitative methods in the sense that, qualitative research methods depend on specific reasons behind the way some people in society behave. Using the qualitative method however, they are prone to ask questions like, ‘why? or ‘how? ’ compared to the quantitative data which would more likely ask straight forward questions like, ‘what? ’ or ‘where’. In qualitative methods the research usually focuses on small samples instead, unlike quantitative research on the other hand, focus lacks and the methods usually inhabits a large, random sample. Unlike a quantitative method where the research depends restrictedly on the investigation of arithmetical or quantifiable statistics, data from qualitative research comes in many medium e. g. moving images, text or sound. Qualitative research was first recognised in the 1970s. Examples of Qualitative data are participant observation, direct observation, unstructured interviews, case studies etc. Examples of Quantitative data are questionnaires, surveys, attitude scales or standardised tests. They are practical issues that affect the methods sociologist may use. These can come from a range of financial issues to ethical issues. * Coaching Interviewers is comparatively clear-cut and economical however it cost more to merely redistributing questionnaire to people. Surveys that resort to structured interviews can cover great group of people with restricted resources because they are moderately cheap to administer however they cannot match the huge numbers reached by postal questionnaire. * Questionnaire and interviews collect straight forward factual information * Questionnaire results are quantitative because they are closed-ended questions with coded answers. This makes them suitable for hypothesis- testing. Sometimes there are specific factors could cause problems amongst certain research methods. Such as: * Time – Questionnaires would be more time consuming while the workload of surveys can be shared by a team * Money -researchers need an income and costs large scale. Social surveys are more high-priced than small focus groups. * Characteristics and skills of the research some situations may be risky and not all sociologist could cope handle this, a woman may have difficulty doing P. O in a monastery access and opportunity. If there is no access to certain groups then secondary sources may have to be used as an alternative. An example of this is when you get researchers hoping to cover a survey on a specific gang or cult. This could be dangerous especially if that gang may have a record of crime and callous behaviour. The researcher may find it really hard if not impossible to get access into the gang or cult; and if he was to get access he could be in immense trouble especially if he went under cover. * Some issues include ethical issues, sometimes certain research is taken on an undercover basis. This could be seen as illusory. Some people would argue that researchers should be 100% honest with the people they are researching on, it is only ethical, moral and honest that this form of sincerity is shown amongst whom the research is based on nevertheless when doing a research as an undercover researcher the questions of ethics arises. Is it morally correct that someone should be studied and researched on without consent or acknowledgement of such thing? The law is that undercover research can only be approved as long as there is no other alternative that is available. Posivists like their research to be scientific whereas Interprevists like to get into the shoes and go through the situation. Feminists, Ann Oakley decides her choice of methods and topic according to her own experience of childhood and motherhood. As a feminist she avoided methods which she described as having a male-stream bias (positivism). She selected the more qualitative and intimate methods of unstructured interviews and participant observation. She deems that the commission of sociology is to include the lives of the respondents.

Mordecai Richler. Duddy Kravitz Apprenticeship Essay

Mordecai Richler. Duddy Kravitz Apprenticeship - Essay Example In the whole novel we see Duddy as an ambitious but greedy person who holds no value for love and friendship and considers wealth as his ultimate goal. The major theme that runs in the story is the power of negative ambition, greed and materialism which overpowers pure emotions like love, decency and affection. From the start of the story we see that the family of Duddy plays an important role in taking Duddy’s ambition to a dangerous level. His grandfather advises him that "A man without land is nobody.† His father repeatedly tells him story of a young man who progressed from rags and riches by cheating people on his way. And then he sees his uncle who is extremely rich and successful and it burns a desire in Duddy’s heart to become wealthy. Duddy, in his greed and ambition fails to value relationships and we see him as a man who cheats on her girlfriend even though she loves him truly. Duddy also mistreats his long-time friend, Virgil and even cheats him out of his money when he is confined to his bed due to paralysis.

Poverty ( Global Issue) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Poverty ( Global Issue) - Research Paper Example Now how does it affect the world in large? It creates a chaos, in the form of increased number of immigrants (legal and illegal both) in developed countries, increases crime rate, hinders globalization process due to instable situation of the underdeveloped country, produces inflation which reduces buying power and consequently encourages corruption, becomes an active cause of decline in literacy rate due to the need of every individual to earn living, increases disease due to inadequate health care facilities and above of all increases the death rate, which is a communal aspect of concern for all the nations to ponder over and work towards its elimination. Poverty means people living their life in very low conditions lacking basic necessities and services for quality life; for example: proper housing, clothing, food, water, education and health care facilities. Poverty is inevitable to any country, but third world countries or under developed countries like Congo, Liberia, Uganda, Z imbabwe, Malawi, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and Mali are extreme poverty stricken, where people lack basic needs like food, water, shelter and struggle throughout their life to make the ends meet ("20 Poorest Countries In The World"). However, developed countries like UK, Canada and Australia have also faced poverty to some extent after the global economic recession. Even the wealthiest country has areas where people live low standard of life, but they are secluded; like ghetto areas. Where, they are seen as nomadic homeless, deprived suburbs, street children, jobless people or as aboriginals. Thus, it’s a relatively mild type of poverty, where they receive aid for their basic necessities from the government or from social services at some point. People suffer from poverty either due to unfortunate incidents like loss of financial means, un-payable debts and due to incurable diseases or due to their pre-existed environment of paucity of basic needs (Lu?sted, p.12). Hence, every hu man requires four basic requirements like food, hygienic water, shelter and health care facility as his basic right to life, which if lack then he/ she is bound to be struck with poverty. Facts on Poverty: Approximately 3 billion people around the globe live on $2.50 per day and almost 1.3 billion spend their life in intense poverty and live on $1.25 per day. Due to the abovementioned ratio of earning and consumption of poverty stricken people, 1 billion children live in poverty and around 22,000 die every day due to it (Shah). Among other causes, scarcity of food, sanitation and clean water is a major cause for increased death rate among children around the world. Lack of drinking water and food shortage has been described as a major cause for increased death rate in the world by World Food Programme, which has increased death rate among children more than malaria, HIV, and tuberculoses. About 870 million people do not receive sufficient food and around 165 million children growth is affected due to continual malnutrition. Due to unhygienic condition of water diarrhea and pneumonia prevail especially; among young children, taking the lives of 2 million children each year, who also lack basic services to health care facility due to poverty (Shah). Outcomes or consequences of Poverty: Poverty causes drastic consequences in any society. Hence, these can comprise of hunger, prevalence of diseases, increase in population, overcrowding and undernourishment.

Stock Investment Analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stock Investment Analysis - Research Paper Example in mid-1995, it has experienced a number of achievement and challenges based on its overall performance which have made it get where it is today (Fidelity, 2014). FLCSX and S&P 500 are companies that offer the similar services to its clients in the United States of America. FLCSX has a portfolio that consists of eleven equities section which include health care, financials, energy, consumer staples, industrials, telecommunication services and utilities. Others include materials and customer discretion. These equities made it possible for the company to be ranked position seven after more than five hundred large companies that perform this kind of duty were evaluated by the United States News organization in 2013 and FLCSX appeared at number seven. This means that the year-to-date performance for this company is promising despite it registered an overall return of 16.24%. There are a number of drivers that made it possible for this company to perform well in the market. The greatest contributor to FLCSX success is the financial equity section because of the of the various portfolio mixtures that it has offers to its clients. These mixtures include Charles Schwab that has offered a return of 55%, JPMorgan Chase that had 29.35% and MetLife that had 48%. Charles Schwab and MetLife from the historical perspective have been performing well, thus resulting to the ever increasing interest rates (Fidelity, 2014). Therefore, both companies (FLCSX and S&P 500) registered a 20% share price increment after thus, taking advantage on speculations that the market’s economy was gradually recovering from the recession. Basing on the evaluation done by US News, S&P 500 is also among the companies that registered an excellent year-to-date return of more than 13.80%. In the first quarter of 2013, both S&P 500 and FLCSX gained more than ten points but during the s econd quarter of the same year, their returns decreased thus the former recording a return of 2.90%while the latter