Beethovens Moonlight Sonata Flashcard

Beethovens Moonlight Sonata

Free Essays on Marketing And Internet

In the last several years, the increased diffusion of computer and telecommunications technologies in businesses and homes has produced new ways for organizations to connect with their customers. These computer mediated environments (CMEs) such as the World Wide Web raise new research questions. In this paper, we examine the potential research issues associated with CMEs in five areas: (1) decision processes, (2) advertising and communications, (3) brand choice, (4) brand communities, and (5) pricing. In the last several years, the world of the marketing has changed dramatically with the rapid diffusion of computer and information technologies throughout businesses and homes. The two most notable changes that have increased potential of linking buyers and sellers are the number of households owning personal computers (over 33% in the U.S.) and the exponential growth of applications of the Internet, most notably the World Wide Web (WWW). With increased penetration of computers, particularly multi-media computers equipped with CD-ROM drives and modems, subscription-based services such as America Online (AOL), Prodigy, and Compuserve, where consumers are able to check airline flight schedules and make reservations, purchase a wide variety of products, and discuss product performance with other consumers, are becoming very popular. Households in Chicago and San Francisco can purchase groceries from home using computer software marketed by Peapod, Inc. This latter service allows consumers to search within a product category using attributes such as price, calories, sugar content, and package size. Car manufacturers such as BMW regularly mail CD-ROMs to potential customers with video shots of the cars and data both about the cars and their competitors. Durable goods can be purchased through CUC International’s Shopper’s Advantage membership-based service (www.cuc.com). â€Å"Virtual† shopping experien ces (Burke 1996) enable marketing r... Free Essays on Marketing And Internet Free Essays on Marketing And Internet In the last several years, the increased diffusion of computer and telecommunications technologies in businesses and homes has produced new ways for organizations to connect with their customers. These computer mediated environments (CMEs) such as the World Wide Web raise new research questions. In this paper, we examine the potential research issues associated with CMEs in five areas: (1) decision processes, (2) advertising and communications, (3) brand choice, (4) brand communities, and (5) pricing. In the last several years, the world of the marketing has changed dramatically with the rapid diffusion of computer and information technologies throughout businesses and homes. The two most notable changes that have increased potential of linking buyers and sellers are the number of households owning personal computers (over 33% in the U.S.) and the exponential growth of applications of the Internet, most notably the World Wide Web (WWW). With increased penetration of computers, particularly multi-media computers equipped with CD-ROM drives and modems, subscription-based services such as America Online (AOL), Prodigy, and Compuserve, where consumers are able to check airline flight schedules and make reservations, purchase a wide variety of products, and discuss product performance with other consumers, are becoming very popular. Households in Chicago and San Francisco can purchase groceries from home using computer software marketed by Peapod, Inc. This latter service allows consumers to search within a product category using attributes such as price, calories, sugar content, and package size. Car manufacturers such as BMW regularly mail CD-ROMs to potential customers with video shots of the cars and data both about the cars and their competitors. Durable goods can be purchased through CUC International’s Shopper’s Advantage membership-based service (www.cuc.com). â€Å"Virtual† shopping experien ces (Burke 1996) enable marketing r...

Evaluate the appropriateness of the operating systems elements in Essay

Evaluate the appropriateness of the operating systems elements in terms of their contributions to productivity and overall effectiveness - Essay Example The Toyota production system like any other system has its own way of carrying out its operations. It has a strategy of improving depending on the set standards. This aims at involving the participation of its staff to help eradicate unnecessary wastes. The objective of the system is make the delivery more effective by reducing time taken between when an order is issued and when delivery is made to the clients. Just like any organization or system, the Toyota Production System focuses on not only making their products of high quality but of lower cost of production, to maximize on the profits. Secondly, it is aiming at achieving workers satisfaction, fair treatment, and job security among its workers (Chiarini 2012 pg 345). The final objective is to give the company flexibility in relationship with trends in the local and global markets, to achieve maximum profit through reduction of overhead costs and realizing a sustainable prosperity. Complete elimination of all waste, unevenness in all sections of work and overburden, allows members of staff to work smoothly and efficiently. In addition, core values of the system are built on standardization that ensures safe methods of production and sustained quality of production. Toyota community is steel seeking to improve its standard processes and techniques in order to bring in maximum quality, eliminate waste, and maximize efficiency in a process known as kaizen. The process is applied in all the production elements of the company. Kaizen is a core element in the Toyota production system. Like in all large-scale production systems, Toyota requires all tasks both mechanical and human be specified and precisely standardized to ensure highest quality, improve production efficiency, and eliminate waste. In this section of production system, the members of staff follow closely these standardized works and

Critically assess how interprofessional collaboration is the key to Essay

Critically assess how interprofessional collaboration is the key to delivering modern health and social care services - Essay Example The complexity of human health which professionals face suggests the need for a reconstruction of how they conceptualize and create knowledge. Further, such knowledge can be deepened through a dialectical process of people reflecting and acting with others to both change and understand it (Gaventa & Cornwall, 2001). In this sense, interdisciplinary structure may allow health professionals to conduct studies and collaboration between them in a research process that would increase the quality of research outcomes. It has been argued that the strength of the inter-professional collaborative research group lies in the framework where contributions from a wide range of professional perspectives are incorporated into the research process (Bond & Thompson, 1996; Ryan & Hassel, 2001). Larson (2003) identified that successful collaborations would comprise a number of multi-professional teams. Similarly, Ryan and Hassell (2001) identified collaboration as the main characteristic of inter-profe ssional research and explained that collaboration across disciplines leads to the identification of health problems through the contribution of respective knowledge and experience from different professionals in a research process with open channels of communication and the absence of professional hierarchies. Drinka and Clark (2000) argued that professional differences between group members have been identified as the basic problem in regards to communication which is one of the most important elements of a successful inter-professional collaboration in research (Gelling & Chatfield, 2001). Poor inter-professional communication, including the system where information is misheard, misread and misunderstood, would break down the working relationship between professionals in groups and affect how professionals work collaboratively in the decision-making and knowledge-producing process. On the other hand, due to professional differences and distincts values and knowledge that each prof essional holds, every member knows less about each other and so it is easy to see the problem of unequal effort in their working relationship and the difficulties in building up a relationship of trust without mutual respect. The lack of trust would limit the sharing of responsibility or workload between professionals which seems inevitable and closely related to the entire research process. Group dynamics can also be a challenge and would distort collective discourse that may generate invalid understanding. As Bray et al. (2000) argued, defensive routines and groupthink would challenge the critical reflection process within the group and the ability to assess the situation from various experience and knowledge bases and build more wide-ranging and objective

The impact on globalization in hospitality industry Essay

The impact on globalization in hospitality industry - Essay Example What is the impact of global marketing with regard to positioning and branding? The complexity of globalization is presented here as the positive and negative effects, implication to local government’s tourism policies and marketing strategies of the hospitality industry. Globalization has encouraged all kinds of people from all over the world to visit places of interest, to make business, study or to take a leisure vacation. As such, it is not rare to find different races of people gather in a place. What is the implication of this? This eliminates discrimination, brings cultural interaction and makes them understand each other. A friendly environment is created regardless of the color of skin. This gives an opportunity to managers of the hospitality industry to prepare a marketing plan that would suit to the individual culture and preferences of guests for a more profitable tourism. It makes managers understand different cultures. (scribd.com) Purposes of travel of people have increased the market base for the whole industry, as now, people travel not only for holidays, but for other reasons too. In India, statistics show an annual 13% growth rate in tourism. In 2006, tourists’ number is 4 million as compared to 2.06 million in 2002. (India tourism, statistics and figure 2004) Tourists’ arrival in China is 21 million in 2009. From this figure, a large number of tourists come from Asia, followed by travelers from Europe, and then visitors from America. Asian visitors go to China for sightseeing and leisure as the first priority, meeting business second reason, to work as third and, visiting relatives as last purpose. . (China National Tourist Office) As visitors come in to a tourist destination, they spend money that causes a multiplier effect in the economy. It has contributed to the GDP of countries; China, for instance has a total of approximately 5,201 hotels, a growth of nearly 20% since 1996. This represents a total of

A real estate investment trust

A real estate investment trust Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a mode of indirect investment which buys, sells, develops and manages property investments. REITs have an advantage in that they experience gains from certain taxation rules. Before REITs were introduced in the UK in 2007 listed property companies suffered from double taxation, with corporation and investors tax being paid on their dividends. With direct property investment there was only one taxation charge on rental income. In order to alleviate this problem the REIT structure was adopted in the UK, by making companies exempt if they met certain requirements. The birth of the REIT structure came from the United States and dates back as far as the 1880s. Originally they were simple modes of investment were it enabled investors to avoid double taxation by distributing their income to beneficiaries. In this essence they have not changed however are more heavily regulated than these early days. Although this tax advantage was ended in the US for a period they quickly re-emerged in 1960s, were their structure has been developed since. Certain changes such as allowing pension funds investment access has saw the mode of investment sore. Although REITs offer advantages of taxation it also has numerous benefits over direct property investment vehicles. The heterogeneity of property can lead to uncertainty about its market value which can be compounded by thin trading in some locations with a lack of transparent data on transaction prices also. Thin trading can lead to delays in the sale and slow legal transfer process. These disadvantages of direct property create the potential for illiquidity and prevent fund managers from actively managing their portfolios. Property also has higher management and transaction costs than the paper asset quality of REITs which can be sold in smaller divisible units. Direct property is â€Å"lumpy† in that only the largest financial institutions can afford to buy in any large volume. REITs have the benefit of being a paper asset tradable on major exchanges with their dividend linked to the income from property. Information for REITs are freely available and regulated by accountin g policies. REITs also have the benefit of the opportunity for investors to diversify risk in their portfolio. This has the benefits of property but without the difficulties linked to direct property investments. In the REIT structure there are 3 different types of REITs generally on offer. Equity REITs offer investment trusts where greater than 75% of assets are in the form of direct ownership of income producing properties. These are the most popular form of REIT. Mortgage REITs however deal in the ownership and investment of property mortgages, they loan money to owners of property or invest in existing mortgages or mortgage securities. These are debt instruments were income is generated from the interest they earn on the mortgage loans. A Hybrid REITs combine both equity and debt instrument. Although REITs appear to offer many advantages in comparison to direct property investment their history in UK since their instigation in the UK has been greatly chequered with the global economic downturn having effected fund values greatly. Source- REITa.org 1.2 Proposition The proposition for this paper is; â€Å"Investor confidence in the UK-REIT has been permanently affected by the timing of their introduction to the UK during the recession.† 1.3 Aims and Objectives Indirect investment in property has been a steadily growing mode of investment in the UK over the previous years. With Real Estate Investment Trusts being introduced to the UK in 2007 my overall research aims to establish the effects recent years have had on investor confidence in UK-REITs performance as an indirect investment mode in portfolios. In order to meet this aim a number of objectives are assembled. These are: To look at how the recession has affected investment in property as a whole. To compare how direct and indirect investment in property have performed in the UK during the recession. To establish whether there is an inherent problem with the structure of UK—REITs or has the recession been the main driver for their underperformance. To interview a mixture of fund managers, property investors and general property professionals in order to support theoretical findings of the poor performance of UK-REITs since their introduction and establish any other underlying factors in the UK-REIT system. 1.4 Scope of Study This research initially involves an overview of the structure of the UK-REIT and its performance history since January 2007. The scope of the study is then further narrowed down, with emphasis on why the UK-REIT has performed poorly supported by interviews to indicate investors views of the future performance of UK-REITs. 1.5 Structure of Study Chapter one: Introduction Introduces the field of this study and states the hypothesis that will be investigated. The chapter also sets out the aims and objectives of the dissertation to â€Å"understand the history of REIT performance within the UK and ascertain if investor confidence has been permanently affected by the recession† and concludes with a brief discussion of the methods used. Chapter two: Research Methodology States the research methodology utilised to carry out this study. It looks at the various types of research and data that will be employed and how these findings will be analysed. Chapter 3: Literature Review This shall look at the generic fundamentals of the UK structure of the REIT in order to establish that the UK-REIT structure is not flawed. It will look at the theoretical determinants of the performance the UK-REIT. Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Conclusion will look at the key findings of the study. Conclusion Chapter 2: Research Methodology 2.1 Introduction The purpose of all research is fundamentally the same and is defined by â€Å"seeking through methodical processes to add to ones own body of knowledge and hopefully, to that of others, by the discovery of non trivial facts and insights.† Sharp and Howard (1996) This chapter shall detail the methods to be implemented during the course of this study. It shall include a brief outline of different methods used; secondary data and primary data along with quantitative and qualitative data. It shall show the process with which the research shall follow, along with its limitations and finally an explanation of how the results can be analysed. 2.2 Types of Research Methods The different types of research methods used during this study shall be described below. 2.21 Secondary Research Secondary research involves the summary, collation and or synthesis of existing research. For my dissertation I shall look at a number of sources of secondary research in order to better inform my primary research. I shall use existing academic research on REITs from journals, in order to source such material from the Library catalogue. Textbooks shall provide another academic background to the subject. Articles from publications such as the Financial Times shall provide current views of property professionals. Search engines such as www.google.com and the Google scholar service shall provide further material for this paper. Historic data on the performance of REITs can be sourced from such bodies as the IPD and REITA.org. This quantitative data shall be statistically analysed. Academic integrity of sources shall have to be taken into consideration when reviewing secondary sources. Academic journals have the Newton metaphor of â€Å"standing on the shoulders of giants† in that their material has been reviewed intensively by other academics before being published. However other material may not have such integrity in their views. For example articles are only one persons view point on a subject and thus may not be entirely correct. 2.22 Primary Research Primary research involves the collection of data that does not already exist. My dissertation shall look to conduct primary research through semi- structured interviews with a mixture of fund managers, property investors and general property professionals. This research shall be in the form of a questionnaire emailed to the individual. The results of which shall be treated ethically following the research ethics guiding principle outlined by Dissertation Guide. This Chapter 3: Literature Review 3.1 Introduction This Chapter shall aim to look into the work of previous academics on REITs. Firstly we shall look at depth the generic fundamentals of the UK structure of the REIT in order to establish that the UK-REIT structure is not flawed. Secondly it will look at the place of REITs in a modern portfolio, REITs as an inflation hedge, information transfer between direct and indirect property and REIT sensitivity. 3.2 The UK structure of the REIT The introduction of REITs in the UK has been long in the making and regarded by many as long overdue. The 2003 Pre-budget report announced that â€Å"in line with the interim recommendations of the Barker review, the government has concluded that reform to the tax treatment of property investment would improve liquidity, transparency and scrutiny, provide access to property for long-term savings and could expand the private rented sector† This was the beginnings of the process that concluded with the introduction of Real estate investment trusts in January 2007. In order to establish a Real Estate Investment Trust structure in the UK the HM Treasury published the Paper â€Å"Promoting more flexible investment in property: a consultation† in 2004. The purpose of this paper was to look at the possibilities of REITs in the UK and to look at successful structures which had been implemented in other countries. By looking at these other structures HM Treasury concluded that REIT structures which I had been successfully implement elsewhere were close-ended, publicly listed and internally manage. The Paper also outlined the requirement to distribute a high level of the income to investors, combined with restrictions on debt gearing and development activity permitted. In order for Real Estate Investment Trusts to be instigated in the UK the Government through this paper set out four key objectives for reform: â€Å"Improving the quality and quantity of finance for investment in commercial and residential property. Expanding access to a wider range of savings products on a stable and well regulated basis. Protecting all taxpayers by ensuring a fair level of tax is paid by the property sector. Supporting the structural change in property markets to reduce costs and improve flexibility and quality for tenants.† HM Treasury 2004 3.21 UK Structural Features The paper (HM Treasury, 2004) also outlined structural features that would be vital to the design of any proposed property investment fund for the UK. Firstly one of the primary objectives for introducing a REIT structure to the UK would be to be listed on the stock exchange. This would expand the opportunity for small investors to invest in a wider range of property. It would also ensure fairness restricting private companies taking advantage of the tax arrangement without delivering some of the wider public benefits. The paper also outlines further benefits to being lists on the stock exchange; ensuring a wide investor base and encourages access to the retail investor. The listed property structure also determines frequent market scrutiny with the regulation structure already place in the stock market ensuring transparency for the investor, whilst also increasing liquidity of the asset type. Another potential advantage would be that the fund might trade closer to its net asset value, which would make it easier to raise new capital on the market. A second key structural feature of the UK-REIT was to establish if a close-ended or open ended fund structure would be more suitable. An open ended structure could mean that the scheme may have to liquidate asset quickly, at a time which might not be appropriate for the market leading to instability. The nature of property as an illiquid asset and with the requirement of some degree of liquidity to be present in the portfolio causes difficulties in the open ended structure. With the close-ended structure the UK-REIT these difficulties do not arise. If an investor wishes to withdraw an investment they may simply sell shares, where the price reflects market equilibrium for the share. Thirdly in this early stage of the looking at the possible UK-REIT structure it was decided that there would be a high level of income distribution to investors. This was to ensure that that investors had good returns. However the exact distribution percentage needed to be designed to reflect conditions specific to the UK in order to for there to be sufficient cash to maintain properties in the portfolio. The report also looked at the levels of borrowing that the property investment fund should be allowed. If there was high borrowing allowed then this would imply high debt service costs, reducing the level of income to investors, perhaps also changing the balance from an income return based investment to a capital value return. With high borrowing, then the structure may resemble that of an ordinary property company. The report also looks at concern over the development activity in the UK structure. The government had two objectives for this; firstly to encourage greater renewal within the property industry, to develop new commercial and residential property. Also secondly to ensure that the property sector contributes its share of tax, with high levels of income and capital being distributed to investors. With the high distribution costs and borrowing restrictions it was decided that the fund should not be a vehicle which newly developed property would be sold and managed. In December 2006 HM Revenues and Customs published their pre budget report, outlining the UK- REIT structure that would be implemented in January 2007. 90% of the income from the tax exempt business is to be distributed to shareholders within 12 months of the end of the accounting period. The company must not be controlled by five or fewer shareholders. Shares must be recognised on a recognised stock exchange An entry Charge of 2% of the market value of their investment properties is chargeable at the date of conversion 75% or more of its assets must take the form of investment property and 75% or more of its income must be rental income. The company must not borrow money on terms that are linked to its profits. Distributions of UK-REITs tax exempt income are treated as income from property. Where a UK-REIT carries on a joint venture, the activities of the joint venture company can be taken into account in deciding if the UK-REIT meets the regime conditions. Restrictions on gearing; profits must cover interest payments by at least 1.25times failing this the company will pay corporation tax. 3.3 REITs place in a Portfolio The place of REITs in a portfolio has been the subject of much debate. Chiang et al. (2002) conducted research into the place of REITs in a contemporary portfolio. It states that the business of investment management is a decentralised, top-down one in which practitioners must estimate the optimal asset class mix. Therefore fund managers must have an understanding of what exactly Real Estate Investment Trusts are at the macro level, in order to be effective in optimising and diversifying their portfolios. If an investment manager was able to mimic the returns of REITs, the less understood REIT would be likely to be operationally redundant. However if the price behaviour of REITs is unique then including REITs into portfolios would be essential and beneficial to practitioners, as their portfolios are further diversified at the macro level. The Chiang et al paper is motivated to provide evidence regarding the benefits of diversification from including REITs in multi asset portfolios wi thout or combined with unsecuritised real estate. Liang and McIntosh (1998) however include a more complete set of asset classes over a longer period of time in order to derive more conclusive results. The research concluded that REITs are a unique asset class which cannot be mimicked at the macro level by investing in other asset classes. The paper also investigated that styles of REITs can change over time, while the returns remained unique throughout the sample period. However in a study by Glasgock et al.(2000) claims that previous research only looked at linear relationships and without acknowledging the long run economic effects that may occur. In their study they used integration analysis to examine long term economic relationships among REITs and other markets. Need more about real estate versus stocks

DOUBLE SPEAK Essay -- essays research papers

Doublespeak  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Doublespeak, whether intentional or unintentional is communication that is obscure, pompous, vague, evasive and confusing.() In most instances, doublespeak tries to achieve a particular objective as is the case in President Bush’s address to the nation on September 11, after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. The objective of this speech is clearly to mollify the emotions of a frightened nation and at the same time set the tone for what is to come as a result of the attacks. In this speech one can find many examples of doublespeak. These examples seem to be intentional although they defy typical doublespeak in that the doublespeak is not intended for any personal gains and is not concealed with a lot of convoluted language. If one can understand some of the basic principles about making sense of media-speak then the domino effect of this type of speech can be reduced.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One of the first statements President Bush makes in his speech can be classified as doublespeak. When he say’s â€Å"Our way of life, our very freedom came under attack,† he is indirectly saying that everything Americans are accustomed to and enjoy is at stake. With these simple words and the tone chosen to deliver them President Bush is strategically taking the emotions of the American people for a ride while making it clear that the American people are his target audience. An important principle for properly deciphering this instance of doublespeak is to unload first responses and get them out in the open so the rest of the message can be received clearly and unobstructed by inner thoughts. Other examples of doublespeak that fit into the same category as the previous one are when President Bush uses the phrases, â€Å"Foundation of America† and â€Å"Steel of American Resolve.† Both of these examples attempt to evoke an emotional resp onse although, the emotions attempting to be extracted are different from those in the beginning of the speech. They differ because they set the tone for new offensive and secure feelings opposed to the original feelings of defense and endangerment. This example also illustrates how obscure doublespeak can be.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  President Bush regards the attacks as despicable and evil acts. The word evil is the doublespeak in this example. The way he uses this word automati... ...nbsp;  Ã‚  Ã‚  G-d is stronger than any human on earth. Walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Not fearing the terrorists because of such a tragedy in close proximity. Every walk of life  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All races, genders, and cultures. Resolve for justice and peace  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We are going to war. Eliminating Mediaspeak: Is it Clear Now?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Doublespeak is deceptive as are most of the examples mentioned from this speech. On the contrary, doublespeak as explored through this example is sometimes a necessary tool to address an issue in a manner that is politically correct. When the doublespeak present in this speech is eliminated the underlying themes are not entirely lost and the speech is still effective. I think given the circumstances the audience was pleased with the underlying messages delivered and probably expected them making it easier to decipher President Bush’s jargon. The speech could have been delivered without doublespeak and more directly, but the perception of the audience would likely remain the same.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

American Idiot Essay

The song that I chose to write about is titled American Idiot by Green Day. This song was on Green Day’s album titled American Idiot. This album was originally released in 2004. American Idiot, the song, peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. My reason for choosing this song is that it talks about how the media runs society and how people shouldn’t let the media run their lives. The main social issue that is talked about in this song is how the media runs our lives and society. One of the lines in the song is â€Å"Don’t wanna be an American idiot, one nation controlled by the media. † This line refers to how people in America rely heavily on the media for everything. They trust every word that is printed in a newspaper or magazine or said on television without question. People hang on every word that is pumped through the media. I don’t consider this to be a personal problem because it refers to all people being controlled by the media. It is not as if the singer in the song is the only one that the media affects. Media is worldwide ways of letting people know what is going on around them. What Billy Joe Armstrong is saying throughout this song is that people need to realize is that not everything that a person hears is necessarily true and people should not panic just because of what the news says. Green Day is an American rock band that was formed in 1987. the group consists of three members: Billy Joe Armstrong(vocals), Tre` Cool(drums), and Mike Dirnt(bass). In 1988, they signed to Lookout Records and then in 1989 they released their first EP titled 1,000 Hours. However, the band didn’t have much success until it released the album Kerplunk in 1993. After Kerplunk’s success, Green Day proceeded to leave Lookout Records and sign with Reprise Records. In 1994, they released their first major label debut, Dookie. Over the next few years, Green Day would have much success but then decided to take a break in 1996. They returned in 1997. When they returned, they began to work on a new full-length album. This album was entitled Nimrod and was released in October of 1997. This album deviated from their normally pop-punk style of music and gave listeners a variety of music. They didn’t release another album until 2000 when they released Warning which further continued their new sound that they started with Nimrod. After releasing Warning, they were nominated for 8 awards in the California Music Awards. They won all eight awards. The band then continued their success over the next few years. In 2004 the band released American Idiot. And then in 2006 they won the Grammy for record of the year because of the track Boulevard of Broken Dreams which spent 16 weeks at the top of the charts. The lyrics to American Idiot are as follows: â€Å"Don’t wanna be an American idiot. Don’t want a nation under the new mania. And can you hear the sound of hysteria? The subliminal mindfuck America. Welcome to a new kind of tension. All across the alienation. Everything isn’t meant to be okay. Television dreams of tomorrow. We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow. For that’s enough to argue. Well maybe I’m the faggot America. I’m not a part of a redneck agenda. Now everybody do the propaganda. And sing along in the age of paranoia. Welcome to a new kind of tension. All across the alienation. Everything isn’t meant to be okay. Television dreams of tomorrow. We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow. For that’s enough to argue. Don’t wanna be an American idiot. One nation controlled by the media. Information age of hysteria. It’s calling out to idiot America. Welcome to a new kind of tension. All across the alienation. Everything isn’t meant to be okay. Television dreams of tomorrow. We’re not the ones who’re meant to follow. For that’s enough to argue. †

Economic Problems of the Philippines Essay

Economic problems of the Philippines are very similar to those being battled by other underdeveloped and developing nations. After a long tryst with colonization, the nation is now grappling with increased imports and a mixed economy that is still to stabilize. The Republic of the Philippines is located in Southeast Asia and Manila is its capital city. The country comprises 7,107 islands and ranks as the 12th most populous country in the world. Like most other southeast Asian regions, the Philippines too has a history of European colonization. It was a colony of Spain and the USA. The country is now home to multiple cultures and traditional ethnicity. It is also looked upon as a perfect example of a ‘mixed economy’. Industrialization is a new development in the Philippines. Traditionally, the economy stabilized on the agrarian contributions and the manufacture of garments, pharmaceutical products and semiconductors. In the last decade, electronic exports added to the exports, including various products obtained by mining. The economy of the nation also largely depends on the remittances from Filipinos residing overseas and investing in the homeland. However, exports are not evenly balanced by the imports that include heavy electronics, garments, various raw materials, intermediate goods and fuel. The influence of the Manila galleon on the nation’s economy during the Spanish period, and bilateral trade when the country was a colony of the United States has resulted in the preference of a mixed economy over a centrally planned or market based one. It is very important to understand the shift during the Ferdinand Marcos leadership, from a market economy to a centrally planned economy, to relate to the economic recession that the country is now facing. With adverse global trends and the world economy entering a protracted depression, in 2011, the Philippines faced another economic downturn. The country’s lack of internal economic strength due to the absence of core manufacturing sector and an absence of firm and bold domestic policy initiatives have led the economy to be dependent on the state of the global economy. Thereby making it vulnerable to external shocks. Here we try to look at three possible challenges posed to growth and real development of the economy in 2012, based upon the insights provided by the economic policy-making and decisions by the Aquino administration in 2011. Major Financial Problems of the Philippines Over-dependence on Global Economy The growth of the Philippines economy drastically slowed to just 3.6% in the first three quarters of 2011, which is significantly less than the 7%-8% growth targeted by administration’s Philippine Development Plan (PDP). Though the slowdown may have been due to the ongoing global crisis, it was markedly slower in comparison to other South-East Asian neighbors. Economic performance figures indicated a contraction in exports and a drop in FDI. Though the remittances from overseas Filipinos to the country grew in the first ten months of 2011, however the compensation that overseas Filipinos received actually fell, in peso terms, due to an appreciating peso. In 2011 the Aquino administration sought a FTA (Free Trade Agreement) with the EU and join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The administration further allowed the US to even more directly influence Philippine economic policy making in its self-interest, by entering in a Partnership for Growth (PfG). These partnerships will consequently further the dependence of the economy on the global economy, whereas a regional arrangement between less unequal Southeast Asian countries is potentially useful. Greater attention has to be paid to addressing to the internal problems of the economy and enhancing domestic-oriented growth. A policy of removing structural impediments to growth has to be adopted with lesser focus on foreign investors and exporters. Unemployment The official unemployment figures for the Philippines in 2011 are among the worst in Asia, higher than its South-East Asian neighbors and according to the International Labor Organization the country is among the worst one-fourth in the world in terms of unemployment rates. Without a strong manufacturing industry or real Filipino industry, the economy will be unable to create enough decent paying jobs. Till then manufacturing or services will remain substandard, or of low value-addition. According to employment figures, jobs in the Philippines manufacturing sector increased by just 8% of the total employment. Nearly three out of every ten people in the labor force are looking for work or are jobless. The mining sub-sector said to be one of the fastest growing industry in 2011 failed to generate new jobs (just 0.6 % of total employment). Steadily rising inflation has contributed to the erosion of the value of the minimum wage. Though the Aquino administration increased the minimum wage and announced cash dole-outs but lack of quality decent paying jobs and higher real wages continue to be a problem. The government’s policy to encourage foreign capital, even if in just low value-added assembly operations will continue to hinder real growth and development of the manufacturing sector. The Aquino administration needs to plan over the long-term, and prepare an industrialization program that encourages value-addition manufacturing or services and builds Filipino-owned industries. Misplaced Fiscal Austerity Practicing fiscal austerity just to get favorable credit ratings can be counterproductive. The Aquino administration, in 2011, pursued fiscal austerity and spent 2.1% less in the first 11 months than it did in the same period last year. This along with increased revenues brought down the fiscal deficit and subsequently international credit rating agencies Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s and Fitch upgraded the country’s credit ratings and outlooks. In 2011 the government cut spending on economic services, including infrastructure, in the same vein did not fill in for shortfalls in education, health and housing sectors. As a result, over the first three quarters of 2011, income from public construction contracted by about 46% whereas government consumption reduced by a mere 1.7% in comparison to the same period last year. Misplaced austerity measures and an exaggerated concern about credit ratings contracts the economy, reduces demand and undermines future growth. The proposed public private partnerships (PPPs) are a poor substitute to real investment and public expenditure, because the former are majorly driven by short-term profit while the latter play a vital role to create development. These are just some of the economic challenges looming large over the Philippines. The country is facing significant decline in industrial production, gross domestic product, income and employment and sales. The Aquino presidency supposedly is getting the support of the people, as indicated by its high approval ratings, for the necessary economic measures that are in the general public interest. In 2011, the Aquino administration’s policy choices to give greater weight to narrow foreign and domestic elite interests, unfortunately, underscores the challenge of pushing for real reform in 2012.

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant essays

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant essays "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant tells the Biblical story of Dinah, the only daughter in Jacob's family of four wives and twelve sons. Told from Dinah's perspective, the book details lives of women and the importance of the 'red tent' at that time. It teach us timeless lessons of life, love and suffering of woman. The novel begins with the stories of Dinah's mothers, the four wives of Jacob: Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilbah. Although Leah is Dinah's birth mother, all four teach her lessons and share their gifts. With their help and insight, Dinah grows into a strong, capable woman. Through the novel, we grow with Dinah from her childhood in Mesopotamia through puberty, when she is then entered into 'the red tent,' and well of into her adulthood from Cannan to Egypt. Throughout her journey, we learn how 'the red tent' is constantly looked upon for encouragement, solace, and comfort. It is where a woman goes once a month during their periods, where they have babies, where they dwell in illness and most importantly, where they tell stories, passing on wisdom and spinning collective memories. With a heart full of advice and wisdom, Dinah matures from a simple-minded young girl to a valiant independent woman. Each of her mothers taught her something different: Rachel taught her to help pregnant women deliver children, Leah taught her to weave and be strong, Bilbah taught her patience and Zilpha taught her to honor the Gods. Fertility and childbirth were central women's role in a society at the time of 'the red tent'. A woman's value was determined to a great extent by the number of children she bore, particularly by the number of male children. Jacob, Dinah's father did not seem to have much of role in her life at all. He barely recognizes her and she is not a part of the measure of his worth that his sons are. For most of her brothers, Dinah was just another woman in the tents, just another to serve the man. She had a spe...

Positivism-the key to success Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Positivism-the key to success - Essay Example ot on an individual’s ability to ascribe positive outcomes to one’s aspirations, for it is eventually up to a person as to how one chooses to shape one’s life. The paper brings together the arguments for and against how positive thinking brings success, and then comes to a conclusion that positive thinking it actually a key to success. To confirm this, the paper highlights the way I shaped my life and how I achieved success in personal endeavors by using positivism as the key to success. Since my childhood, I always positively looked forward to any task, problem or challenge that came my way. I was somehow always confident about being successful, irrespective of the fact that at that time I did not know what it meant to be positive. I simply believed that being happy while facing life would bring me success and fulfillment. For instance, I represented my state in national swimming competitions. I knew that in case of an athlete, one has to be very strict with one’s training hours and diet. However, my personal passion for success went beyond training and proper diet. Before participating in a competition, I strongly believed that I was going to win, and I simply imagined myself on the podium with coveted medals and trophies. I think it was primarily owing to this positive attitude on my part that I managed to win many competitions. In high school I was always hopeful and positive about achieving what I aspired to achieve. The remarkable fact is that when you seek good, you are very likely to find it (Peale 1). I just immersed my consciousness in the goals I wanted to attain, and never stopped until I realized them as Peale explain also. For instance, I am a triplet and I have a brother and a sister. Many a time people happen to believe that all the three of us will think and act the same. However, realistically speaking, this is not true. The three of us spent our childhood together. In fact, in high school, we three were in the same class, taught by the

Leadership for Organizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

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