Black Women Of African American Culture - 1731 Words

African American culture has grown tremendously and has become more popular among all of the races. Not only has it become popular but it has also stirred up a lot of controversy. One aspect of African American culture that has become popular and is very controversial is Black women wearing their hair natural. Black women are really starting to embrace their natural hair and love the skin they are in but there are also a lot of people in society tearing them down. A lot of Black women and men have very curly natural hair and when the women do not feel like managing their hair they wear protective styles like braids or faux locks. Because of these styles, African Americans have been denied jobs and opportunities to prosper in society (Williams, 2015). It is offensive to tell Blacks how to wear their hair and that it is not acceptable. It is basically like telling her that she is unacceptable. There has been a great flow in the popularity of natural hair. In the early 1900’s sin ce Black women were teased for their natural hair, straightened hair had become widely favored in the African-American community, but it lost its popularity to the Afro, which was seen as a symbol of black pride during the 1960s. Later on, Black women and even men returned to using chemical straightening treatments known as relaxers that loosened their naturally curly hair. Experts say that this method was often used as a means of meeting the white standard of beauty. The number of women using relaxersShow MoreRelatedThe Influence Of Black Women In America1044 Words   |  5 Pagesepidemic, and studies show African American women suffer from higher rates of being overweight or obese than Caucasian women. African American women are pressured by their culture to be self-accepting of their bodies that God gave them, and in their culture beauty is not only measured by weight, but by other personal features. Many Black women believe that the ‘thin ideal’ is for White women because they describe being heavier as sexy and having curves. With Black women being self-accepting of theirRead MoreAn Inside Look at Melissa Harris-Perry Essay1597 Words   |  7 Pagessurrounding black women and the implication that correlate with these myths. Perry focuses on three main stereotypes of black women that began with slavery and are still prevalent in society today. Perry not only examines the depth and causes of these stereotypes, but she also scrutinizes their role in African Americans lives as citizens today. Black women today are not only separated from society outside of the African American community, but there are also existing stereotypes within the culture. ExaminingRead MoreIn The United States, Not Only Are Latin Women Being Misunderstood,1508 Words   |  7 PagesUnited States, not only are Latin women being misunderstood, but African American women are also stereotyped by other people. Latin women are discriminated in their dressing and service occupa tions, while African American Americans are stereotyped in sexually promiscuous, caregiving role, and â€Å"welfare queens.† Both of them are victims of racial stereotypes, which affect them negatively on their identities and characteristics. However, the differentiation of their cultures makes them being stereotypedRead MoreTrends in African American Families Essay1455 Words   |  6 PagesResearch studies have shown that African Americans are currently the least likely ethnic group to be married in this country. This paper will examine some of the reasons why this trend exists when there was a time when marriage rates among blacks were about equal to those of whites. History, culture, economics and dominant culture influences have impacted the current trends in African American families. Many are choosing to postpone marriage, while others are finding alternative ways to cultivateRead More The Role of Female African American Sculptors in the Harlem Renaissance1689 Words   |  7 PagesRole of Female African American Sculptors in the Harlem Renaissance The Harlem Renaissance, a time of global appreciation for the black culture, was a door opening for African American women. Until then, African Americans, let alone African American women, were neither respected nor recognized in the artistic world. During this time of this New Negro Movement, women sculptors were able to connect their heritages with the present issues in America. There is an abundance of culture and history toRead MoreBeauty Between Beauty And Beauty1140 Words   |  5 Pagesclass, race, and gender. Eventually changing the definition of how beauty is viewed. Beauty however, has become more important to women as majority research focuses on gender difference and the experience of physical attractiveness (Poran 2002). Since the early centuries, there have been numerous attempts to try and adhere to those existing beauty notions (Patton 2002). Women, of course, would follow these beauty standards rigorously. Nevertheless, the constant changes in society have always changedRead MoreIdentities : Cultural Stereotypes Of African American Women Essay1724 Words   |  7 PagesCultural Stereotypes of African American Women and Citizen: An American Lyric Racism and stereotypes are explored in Claudia Rankine’s Citizen: An American Lyric, which draws the reader in through a series of vignettes, using poetry, prose and multi-media to detail both subtle and overt incidents of racism that happened to the author, her friends and celebrities. This paper will explore the ways in which modern racism is rooted in historical racism and African American women are subject to intersectingRead MoreThe Beauty Standards Of America1099 Words   |  5 PagesCommon standards set by society are deemed as appropriate for all people no matter what race. American people are very diverse and what is acceptable to gender, age or race differs from person to person. More specifically, American women share complaints regarding the unrealistic beauty standards that are set by the media and society. Many women complain that it is not fair that they are judged by their outer appearance and are viewed as not beautiful enough, or not normal when they do no t conformRead MoreSkin Differentiation Within The African American Community1516 Words   |  7 PagesDifferentiation Within the African American Community Ebony S. Jackson HIST 221: African American History before 1877 American Public University Loni Bramson Skin Differentiation Within the African American Community It seems like modern day African Americans are constantly haunted by their past. There are sayings that African Americans do not have a direct cultural connect to their initial West African roots. Different factors, which resulted from enslavement of Africans during the colonialRead MoreBlack Lives During The Harlem Renaissance1373 Words   |  6 PagesBlack Lives During the Harlem Renaissance New Negro Movement, the elegant roaring times of the Billie Holidays’, Dorothy Wests’, and the Augusta Savages’. The rebirth of African American arts, took place in Harlem, New York in the early 1920’s. The New Negro Movement was utilized to describe African American as artistic, conscious, sophisticated. The Great Migration was the movement of 6 million African Americans who began to move from the rural southern parts of the United States to the Northeast

Reconstruction During The Civil War - 1892 Words

Reconstruction Over the course of America’s existence, it has acquired many successes and failures. Over time there have been a large number of accomplishments that have made the world a greater good, but there have also been phases of turmoil and tragedy. The Reconstruction period after the Civil War is a prime example of a complete failure. The Reconstruction period consisted of many goals and ideas that Americans planned to achieve in their country after being torn apart from the Civil War. One of the main objectives was to rejoin all of the states to the union to help rebuild the South and help African Americans come back into society. It soon came to an end and was a complete failure since Southerners would not abide by the laws of rights to former slaves and the introduction of segregation soon began. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were passed to protect feed people’s natural rights. This process of protecting was the whole concept of â€Å"reconstructing America†. At first a majority of the states did not agree with these new laws, but by 1870, all of the former Confederate states had accepted them and were admitted into the union once again. Once Reconstruction ended in 1877, society slowly went back to a strong racist background and former slaves were once again in servitude. This time, even harsher discrimination against the Blacks were introduced by enforcing state segregation. Reconstruction only caused the nation to become worse. When Reconstruction began,Show MoreRelatedReconstruction Of Reconstruction During The Civil War883 Words   |  4 Pages Describe and analyze Reconstruction. Did Reconstruction have any successes? The end of civil war in the United States of America brought about many problems, in particular for the South. Some of the problems were political, economic decay and social disorder. The war destroyed the plantations and crops thus causing many to starve to death while others became homeless. The reconstruction became the only hope for the people. Radical reconstruction began in 1867, which enabled the freed black menRead MoreReconstruction During The Civil War Essay1676 Words   |  7 PagesReconstruction The United States went through many changes after the Civil War and during the Reconstruction period of 1866-1877. Before Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on December, 1863, by John Wilkes, Lincoln announced the first Reconstruction plan a year before the Civil War had ended and Lincoln offered general amnesty to white southerners who would pledge an oath of loyalty to the government and accept the abolition of slavery. During the summer of 1865, Johnson not long after he took officeRead MoreReconstruction During The Civil War966 Words   |  4 Pages Reconstruction is a time period after the Civil War ended in 1877. We view it as something that resembles a transformation, shifts in the southern U.S. after the Civil War. This was when slavery inequality, some political, economic, and social issues were, in some ways, balanced. The categories of issues that arose throughout this â€Å"restoration† were aspects such as involving the Confederacy into the Union, abolishing along with figuring out what to do with our free blacks, and addressing conflictRead MoreReconstruction During The Civil War972 Words   |  4 PagesThere was a transformation period after the Civil War called the reconstruction during the years 1863 to 1877. The reconstruction was the rebuilding of the United States, mainly in the South. There were three major types of reconstruction, which were political, physical, and social. The political reconstruction allowed some African Americans to vote; however, they had to be literate in order to take the Oath tes t. Not many African Americans knew how to read and write, because they were slaves andRead MoreReconstruction During The Civil War1487 Words   |  6 PagesReconstruction was the period when America was figuring out on issues pertaining to who was an American, what rights an American should enjoy and what rights other Americans were exercising. The post bellum period was a period after the civil war that had affected the United States of America. This conflict had mostly taken place in the south and therefore the people there were the for the most part affected by this warfare. After the civil war, racism was still a threat and a struggle for the nationRead MoreReconstruction During The Civil War864 Words   |  4 PagesIn hindsight it is sometimes claimed that Reconstruction was a failure. Although there was some good that came out of the Reconstruction it was mostly just a relentless uphill battle against Southerners and immoral politicians that were here to delay change and kee p racism alive. Reconstruction brought the Ku Klux Klan who displayed great resistance, and poverty that swept the South once the blacks were freed. The freedom of these black slaves led to discriminatory legislatures such as the BlackRead MoreEducation During Reconstruction During The Civil War918 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Education during Reconstruction† In the south before during and after the reconstruction was a time for educational growth. Many states were just beginning to provide public education. The education system was trialed and errored to become the system that we know today during this era. The civil war brought separation of races but also families, the radical republicans stressed education during the reconstruction to avert the attention of the people from the war and racial issues. BeforeRead MoreThe Reconstruction Era During The Civil War1370 Words   |  6 PagesThe Reconstruction Era beginning in 1865 marked the period where white men and recently freed African Americans quarreled over the concept of equality on the basis of race as well as where freedom extended to. After the Civil War, there was a power struggle between the Republican and Democratic parties as they had extremely distinct ideas on whether African Americans should be free and hold citizen rights. African Americans were able to achieve citizenship as well as have equality through the 14thRead MoreThe Era Of Reconstruction During The Civil War1630 Words   |  7 Pageswas imposed by the white people. This contradiction is emblematic of the African-American experience. The era of reconstruction was a short-term success, a medium-term failure, and a foundation for the long-term successes of the civil rights movement in terms of black freedom. The era of reconstruction exposed the radical limits of freedom for natural born citizens in the post-civil war United States. The idea of freedom changed in a tremendous way for the blacks. I would like to begin by askingRead MoreThe Legacy Of Reconstruction During The Civil War Essay1254 Words   |  6 Pageshistory. These â€Å"revolutionary movements† have created lasting impressions on the United States that helped mold the nation that it is today. One such movement was Reconstruction. Reconstruction was a time in America consisting of reuniting the country and pulling it from the economic catastrophe that stemmed from the Civil War. The reconstruction era had dealt with three separate plans: the Lincoln Plan, the Johnson Plan and the congressional Plan. These plans, each with their own unique way of unifying

Academic and Professional Integrity-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Academic and professional integrity. Answer: Academic and professional integrity is wide term which could be defined separately. Academic could be defined as education and courses for the students and professional integrity put emphasis upon application of the knowledge, skills, and value of the chosen profession in the considered academic (John, 2016). Integrity focuses on the social standards and moral values of society while implementing proper knowledge, skills, and value of the chosen profession in the academic learning courses (Woods, Negrin, 2016). After learning the ethics and integrity of the AIH course, I realised that ethical production of academic essay, business report, depends upon the self-generated work which demonstrates the learning and study outcomes of the organization. It also assisted me to learn the practical application of the gained knowledge. After comparing my prior knowledge and the knowledge I gained after studying AIH course, I came to realise that I need to set up proper norms and rules for my study program. I need to be more complied with my understanding and need to focuses on keeping plagiarism free work. How I will study the Academic and professional integrity in AIH course Implementation of the learned skills and knowledge with its practical approach Keep the work completely plagiarism free Set new rules and regulation for implementing proper AIH courses program Now, in the end, it could be inferred that AIH course will assist in development of my own Academic and professional integrity. References John, T. (2016).RE-?IMAGINING THE INTERNATIONALISATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION: a case study of a UK University(Doctoral dissertation, PhD thesis, University of Reading). Woods, P., Negrin, K. (2016). Supporting Academic Integrity for Internationally Educated Nurses: Building a Foundation for Academic and Professional Success.

Utility Analysis Essay Example

Utility Analysis Essay SConcept of Utility * For effective decision-making, businessmen have to analyze and understand consumer behavior. Every rational human being endeavors to maximize his total utility by selecting the best from the given set of alternatives. * Utility refers to the satisfaction or pleasure that a consumer obtains by consuming the product or service; or want-satisfying ability of a good or service. * The concept of utility has been developed to explain the basic principles of consumer choice and behavior. Choice is different from preference. When we talk about preference, we only express our likes and dislikes. By contrast, a choice is something that we select from our preferred alternatives that suits our budget well. By utility, we mean the level of satisfaction obtained by consuming a good/ service preferred by a consumer. * Given the limited resources, a rational consumer allocates his money in such a way that the preferred combination of goods/services gives him the highest level of satisfaction. | | approaches to Measurement of Utility There are two approaches, namely cardinalist approach and ordinalist approach, to estimate utility. According to the cardinalist approach, utility can be measured in subjective units, say 10 utils, 20 utils, 30 utils, etc. Conversely, ordinalists feel that utility cannot be measured, but can only be ranked in order of preference (e. g. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, etc). We will write a custom essay sample on Utility Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Utility Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Utility Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer According to the cardinalist approach, we choose a good that gives us maximum utils. In the given example, we select good E as it gives us 17 utils (which is best among the 5 goods). According to the ordinalist approach, we choose a good that ranks higher among the given set. In the above example, we select good E, as it ranks 1st in the order. Total Utility and Marginal Utility | | * Total utility is the total satisfaction obtained by a consumer from the consumption of the goods and services. Marginal utility is the additional or extra satisfaction a consumer derives from the consumption of an additional unit of a good or service. * Total utility (TU) increases as long as marginal utility (MU) is positive. TU reaches maximum when MU is zero (0). When MU is negative, TU decreases. Units of Good X | Total Utility | Marginal Utility | | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 3 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 28 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 26 | -2 | | | | Total Utility and Marginal Utility: A Graphical Representation In the figure, total utility and marginal utility curves are drawn assuming that the law of diminishing marginal utility is operating. Thus, as the quantity consumed per period increases, the total utility initially increases at a decreasing rate, reaches maximum (known as satiation point) and then declines. Total utility is at maximum, when marginal utility is equal to zero and TU declines when MU of the good becomes negative. |   | | Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility According to the law of diminishing marginal utility, the additional utility of any good tends to decline as successive units of a given product are consumed over a definite period of time. | | The table shows the operation of law of diminishing marginal utility. If you eat one Cadbury chocolate, you get some satisfaction. If you eat a second Cadbury chocolate, you may get satisfaction, but lesser than that of the first one. If somebody offers you another Cadbury chocolate, you may be reluctant to accept it. This shows that the marginal utility (i. e. the additional utility a consumer derives from consuming an additional unit of a good) gradually diminishes. This also indicates that by consuming more of a good, total satisfaction increases, but at a diminishing rate and after reaching a point, it declines. The Law of diminishing marginal utility (chocolates) | Unit of chocolates | Marginal utility, utils | Total utility, utils | First Second Third Fourth Fifth | 10 6 2 0 -5 | 10 16 18 18 13 | | | Law of Equi-Marginal Utility   or Utility-Maximizing Rule According to the maximum utility rule, in order to maximize total utility the consumer should allocate his income such that the last rupee spent on each product purchased gives the same amount of extra (marginal) utility. Symbolically, this relationship is given by MUa/Pa = MUb/Pb = MUn/Pn Where, MUa, MUb and MUn are marginal utilities of product a, b and c respectively, and Pa, Pb and Pc are prices of product a, b and c respectively. Let us assume that a consumer has to allocate his income on two products – ‘a’ and ‘b’ such that he can maximize his utility. When MUa/Pa gt; MUb/Pb, the consumer will consume product ‘a’. He continues to consume more of product ‘a’ as long as MUa/Pa = MUb/Pb. Similarly, if MUa/Pa lt; MUb/Pb the consumer consumes product ‘b’ and he continues to consume product ‘b’ until MUa/Pa = MUb/Pb. Thus, the utility maximization equation is given by MUa/Pa = MUb/Pb. Illustration 1:Let us consider that a consumer has to allocate his income, say Rs. 10 between two products – A and B. Prices of products A and B are Rs. 1 and Rs. 2 per unit respectively. First unit of A gives him 10 utils and first unit of B gives him 24 units. Thus, marginal utility per rupee of first units of A and B are 10 and 12 respectively. A rational consumer consumes product B because it gives him more satisfaction than product A for the same rupee. The consumer is now left with Rs. 8. Now, he has to chose between first unit of A and second unit of B. For each rupee spent on first unit of A or second unit of B, he will get the same amount of extra satisfaction, i. e. 10 units. Therefore, he can choose either A or B. As he has Rs. , he will buy both A and B. Now, his remaining income reduces to Rs. 5 and he has to choose between the second unit of A and third unit of B. The consumer will buy third unit of product B as it gives him more additional satisfaction. Finally, the consumer consumes second unit of A and fourth unit of B with his remaining income, as each rupee spent on them give the same level of satisfaction. When the consumer allocates his total income in accordance with this rule, he finds no incentive to alter his expenditure pattern. Unit of product | Product A: Price = Rs. | Product B: Price = Rs. 2 | | (a) Marginal Utility, Utils | (b) Marginal Utility per rupee (MU/price) | (a) Marginal Utility, Utils | (b) Marginal Utility per rupee (MU/price) | First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth | 10 8 7 6 5 4 | 10 8 7 6 5 4 | 24 20 18 16 12 6 | 12 10 9 8 6 3 | | | Illustration II: Suppose a man goes to the market with Rs. 400 in his pocket, which he wants to spend on oranges, caps and milk, and further. Suppose that the utility he expects to derive from each unit of Rs. 25 spent on these commodities is follows. Unit of Rs 25 spent| Utility derived from the each unit of Rs. 25| | Oranges| Caps| Milk| 1St| 10| 13| 11| 2nd| 8| 12| 9| 3rd| 7| 10| 6| 4th| 5| 8| 5| 5th| 4| 6| 4| 6th| 3| 4| 2| 7th| 2| 3| 1| The purchaser will spend the first 25 on the object, which will give him the greatest satisfaction. In this case such an article is cap, the utility of its first unit is 13, which is maximum. Guided by the same motive, he will spend the second Rs. 25 on caps. He will spend the third Rs. 25 on milk and the forth-on oranges. In this way he will go spending money. The following table indicates the order in which he will spend the Rs. 400 he has got with him. Units of Rs. 25| Object of expenditure | Utility derived| Units of Rs. 25| Object of expenditure | Utility derived| 1St | Cap| 13| 9th| Orange| 7| 2nd| Cap| 12| 10th| Cap| 6| 3rd| Milk| 11| 11th| Milk| 6| 4rth | Orange| 10| 12th| Orange| 5| 5th| Cap| 10| 13th| Milk| 5| 6th| Milk| 9| 14th| Orange| 4| 7th| Orange| 8| 15th| Cap| 4| 8th| Cap| 8| 16th | Milk| 4| Total Utility derived from 16 units of Rs 25 =| 117| Total utility derived from Rs. 400 out off 117 The above table shows that he will spend Rs. 25 each 5 on oranges, 6 on caps, and 5 on milk, and will in total derive 117 units of utility. This is the maximum satisfaction that he can obtain out of his expenditure. If he does not follow this scheme of expenditure, he will not be able to derive maximum total utility. Therefore, if we want to derive maximum satisfaction out of our expenditure, we should spend our money in such a way as to derive, more or less, the same satisfaction from the last unit of money spends on each head. This is the law of Equi-Marginal Utility.

How to Write a Romance Novel ðŸ ðŸ

How to Write a Romance Novel ðŸ’â€" 📕 How to Write a Romance Novel Romance novels have always captured our hearts - they contain the intrigue, intimacy, and basic human drama that all readers love. And while it was once a â€Å"shameful† genre read mostly in secret, romance today is having a huge moment, with mega-popular books like Outlander and Crazy Rich Asians even being adapted for film and TV. So why not get in on the zeitgeist and learn how to write a romance novel of your very own?Luckily, though love itself may be hard to explain, the process of writing about it isn’t. Here are our seven best tips for writing romance, including all the crucial elements you need. We’ll use examples from a variety of sources to show you how to employ them - though not all these examples are strictly romance themselves, their tropes and techniques are key to the genre. How to write romance that'll make your readers swoon  Ã°Å¸Ëœ  1. Find your nicheIf you've never even tried to write romance before, don’t worry - we’ll start you off easy. The first thing to know is that the genre, like Walt Whitman, is large and contains multitudes. There’s no one right way to write romance, as evidenced by the fact that it encompasses so many subgenres!Popular subgenres of romance include:HistoricalContemporaryYoung adultFantasyParanormal/supernaturalReligious or spiritualEroticSo if you’re concerned that your writing won’t â€Å"fit† with the genre, never fear: you just have to find the right niche. And the best way to do that is by reading romance yourself! Of course, you may have already read quite a bit within a particular subgenre and you’re confident that’s where you fit in. But if not, now’s the time to explore the many glorious facets that romance has to offer. 2. Set the stage effectivelySetting is absolutely paramount in romance. Why? Well, for a couple of reasons:Romance is all about escape - and if the setting isn’t immersive enough, readers won’t be able to lose themselves in the story.Many romance authors go on to write a series based on their first novel (more on that later). So the setting needs to be a place both reader and author will want to return to, book after book.What defines a strong setting in romance?Contemporary romances tend to have cozy, small-scale settings: quaint villages, college campuses, etc. There might be a local haunt where the main characters frequently meet (such as a diner or bookstore), and where gossiping friends and neighbors hang around to add a bit of comedy. If you’re sticking to the standard, you’ll want to have one of these â€Å"compact† settings where people can’t help but run into each other. 😉If you’re writing for a more specific subgenre , however, your setting could take on different qualities. For example, the historical romance Outlander takes place in a small settlement in the Scottish Highlands, but the constant tension and violence that occurs there doesn’t exactly make for a cutesy, cozy setting. Nevertheless, it works for the story because threats from the outside ultimately bring the main couple closer together. A strong main couple is key to compulsively readable romance. Image: Buena Vista Pictures4. Use tried-and-true tropesNow we’re getting into the meat and potatoes of the story. Again, there are so many possible paths for your main couple to take, it’d be impossible to describe them all! But here are just a few tried-and-true devices that many romance authors have used successfully. (If you’re hungry for more, you can always check out this post on classic romance tropes.)Friends/enemies to loversTwo of the most beloved romantic devices of all time. The main couple knows each other, but they just don’t see each other in that way - or they may not like each other at all.  Ã°Å¸Ëœ § Luckily, all that's about to change.Friends to lovers tends to work best when there’s another big conflict or project distracting one or both of the main characters, so they don’t get together until the very end. This is basically the plot of that Netflix movie Set I t Up: the two main characters are so focused on getting their bosses to fall in love, they don’t realize that they themselves would make a great couple.Enemies to lovers is the perfect device for two characters who clash in some fundamental way. For example, one might be very Type A and the other more Type B (see: 27 Dresses). Or one is a hardworking single parent while the other is a spoiled rich bachelor/bachelorette who’s never had to work a day in their lives (see: Overboard).And of course, there’s always enemies to friends to lovers - arguably the most effective and realistic iteration of this trope, as evidenced by Pride and Prejudice and When Harry Met Sally. The hero and heroine hate each other at first sight, gradually get to know one another and become friends, and ultimately fall deeply in love. It’s the perfect combination of fiery tension and genuine connection, and if you can pull it off, the payoff is incredibly satisfying.One helps the ot her one healAs we discussed, the hero in romance often has some deep psychological wound inflicted by his past. (The heroine can, too, but it’s more common among heroes.) It might just be a backstory detail, but it can also serve as a source of conflict for your couple: the damage impedes their relationship or his mental health, so the heroine has to help the hero heal.A prime example of this device occurs in Me Before You, in which the heroine, Louisa, literally becomes a carer for a quadriplegic man named Will. Will is bitter and depressed at first, but eventually he opens up to Lou and becomes much less negative - not to mention he helps her see own potential. We’re not going to give out any spoilers, but it’s safe to say that he’s much better off for having met her, and both agree that their time together was invaluable.Choosing each other all over againAh, the quintessential trope of Rachel McAdams movies. For those who haven’t seen The Noteb ook or The Vow, this device involves the hero and heroine either being separated for a very long time, or one of them outright forgetting who the other one is - due to amnesia, dementia, or some supernatural phenomenon. Then they have to choose each other all over again, hence proving that they’re well and truly soulmates. (For a more recent example, check out the season four Black Mirror episode â€Å"Hang the DJ.†)Also remember that, as much as readers love these devices, it’s still important to put your own spin on them. Infuse unique elements to add intrigue/suspense, or just for pure entertainment! For example, Ten Things I Hate About You is based on Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy The Taming of the Shrew - but it’s set in modern day with high schoolers, which makes it much more fresh and accessible. A new romance book template... that's made for you Read post One of the best tactics for writing intimate scenes is to simply study those that you think are written well. The author you emulate will depend on your subgenre and personal taste, but some mainstream authors who write good, nuanced love and sex scenes are Curtis Sittenfeld, Sally Rooney, and yes, Nicholas Sparks. The more you read and hone your own language for it, the better your love scenes will be. Trust us: your readers will thank you. Tips for writing love scenes 🔠¥ and more on how to write romance ⠝ ¤Ã¯ ¸  6. Don’t neglect secondary charactersWhile the main couple is obviously where most of your characterization focus should be, secondary characters are critical to a well-rounded romance. After all, when the heroine’s agonizing over her hot-and-cold text conversation with the hero, who’s she going to ask for advice? Why, her Tinder aficionado roommate, of course.Secondary characters fill out the world of your romance novel. Friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and even arch-enemies - say, someone who’s competing with one of your main characters for the other character’s interest - all contribute to making the story come to life.Best friends are typically the most important secondary characters in romance, since they’re the ones who dispense advice, give pep talks, and generally add color to the story. They’re often a little bit quirky, but that’s why the main characters love them†¦ and why readers do too!Still, ensure tha t most of the focus remains on your main couple, as we mentioned. Former Harlequin editor Ann Leslie Tuttle notes that secondary characters can sometimes become â€Å"too pervasive† in romance, which is a big no-no. â€Å"You don’t want to run the risk of making them more interesting than your own hero and heroine,† she says.Series potential?Having a solid secondary character presence is especially important if you want to turn your novel into a series. There are a few ways to create a series from a standalone romance, but one of the easiest (and most enticing to readers!) is to write the next novel about one (or two) of the secondary characters - especially best friends, siblings, or romantic competitors of the main characters. Emily Giffin does this seamlessly in her novels, Something Borrowed and Something Blue: two of the heroine’s best friends in the first book, who initially seem like opposites, end up getting together in the sequel.This strategy i s great because it ensures a smooth transition from book to book, since readers will already be familiar with the setting and cast of characters. Plus, it sets you up for a cycle that you could theoretically repeat ad infinitum: each new sequel simply centers around characters who were secondary in the previous book. Best of luck and have fun romancing your readers!  Ã°Å¸â€™ËœWhat's one of the best ways to hone your romance writing craft? Reading, of course! Here are some Reedsy Discovery lists of romance books to get you started (and possibly find your niche):40+ Paranormal Romance Books with Bite30+ Best Young Adult Romance Books That You Can't Miss Out OnThe 10 Best Historical Romance Novels Like Outlander

10 Astonishing Facts About House Flies

10 Astonishing Facts About House Flies The house fly, Musca domestica, may be the most common insect we  encounter. But how much do you actually know about the house fly? Here are 10 fascinating facts about house flies: 1. House Flies Live Almost Everywhere There Are People Though believed to be native to Asia, house flies now inhabit nearly every corner of the globe. With the exception of Antarctica and perhaps a few islands, house flies live everywhere people do. House flies are synanthropic organisms, meaning they benefit ecologically from their association with humans and our domesticated animals. As humans throughout history traveled to new lands by ship, plane, train, or horse-drawn wagon, house flies were their travel companions. Conversely, house flies are rarely found in the wilderness or in places where humans are absent. Should humankind cease to exist, house flies might share our fate. 2. House Flies Are Relatively Young Insects in the World As an order, true flies are ancient creatures that appeared on Earth during the Permian period, over 250 million years ago. But house flies seem to be relatively young, compared to their Dipteran cousins. The earliest known Musca fossils are only 70 million years old. This evidence suggests the closest ancestors of house flies appeared during the Cretaceous period, just before the infamous meteorite fell from the sky and, some say, triggered the extinction of the dinosaurs. 3. House Flies Multiply Quickly Were it not for environmental conditions and predation, wed be overrun by house flies. Musca domestica has a short life cycle – just 6 days if conditions are right – and a female house fly lays an average of 120 eggs at a time. Scientists once calculated what would happen if a single pair of flies were able to reproduce without limits or mortality to their offspring. The result? Those two flies, in just 5 months time, would produce 191,010,000,000,000,000,000 house flies, enough to cover the planet several meters deep. 4. House Flies Don't Travel Far and Aren't Fast Hear that buzzing sound? Thats the rapid movement of a house flys wings, which can beat up to 1,000 times per minute. Thats no typo. It may surprise you to learn, then, that theyre generally slow fliers, maintaining a speed of about 4.5 miles per hour. House flies move when environmental conditions compel them to do so. In urban areas, where people live in close proximity and there is plenty of garbage and other filth to be found, house flies have small territories and may only fly 1,000 meters or so. But rural house flies will roam far and wide in search of manure, covering up to 7 miles over time. The longest flight distance recorded for a house fly is 20 miles. 5. House Flies Make Their Living in Filth House flies feed and breed in the things we revile: garbage, animal dung, sewage, human excrement, and other nasty substances. Musca domestica is probably the best known and most common of the insects we collectively refer to as filth flies. In suburban or rural areas, house flies are also plentiful in fields where fish meal or manure is used as fertilizer, and in compost heaps where grass clippings and rotting vegetables accumulate. 6. House Flies Are on an All-Liquid Diet House flies have sponge-like mouthparts, which are good for soaking up liquefied substances but not for eating solid foods. So, the house fly either seeks out food that is already in puddle form, or it finds a way to turn the food source into something it can manage. This is where things get kind of gross. When a house fly locates something tasty but solid, it regurgitates onto the food (which may be your food, if its buzzing around your barbecue). The fly vomit contains digestive enzymes that go to work on the desired snack, quickly predigesting and liquefying it so the fly can lap it up. 7. House Flies Taste With Their Feet How do flies decide something is appetizing? They step on it! Like butterflies, house flies have their taste buds on their toes, so to speak. Taste receptors, called chemosensilla, are located at the far ends of the flys tibia and tarsa (in simpler terms, the lower leg and foot). The moment they land on something of interest – your garbage, a pile of horse manure, or perhaps your lunch – they start sampling its flavor by walking around. 8. House Flies Transmit a Lot of Diseases Because house flies thrive in places that are teeming with pathogens, they have a bad habit of carrying disease-causing agents with them from place to place. A house fly will land on a pile of dog poop, inspect it thoroughly with its feet, and then fly over to your picnic table and walk around on your hamburger bun for a bit. Their food and breeding sites are already overflowing with bacteria, and then they vomit and defecate on them to add to the mess. House flies are known to transmit at least 65 diseases and infections, including cholera, dysentery, giardiasis, typhoid, leprosy, conjunctivitis, salmonella, and many more. 9. House Flies Can Walk Upside Down You probably knew that already, but do you know how they perform this gravity-defying feat? Slow motion video shows that a house fly will approach a ceiling by executing a half roll maneuver, and then will extend its legs to make contact with the substrate. Each of the house flys legs bears a tarsal claw with a sticky pad of sorts, so the fly is able to grip almost any surface, from smooth window glass to a ceiling. 10. House Flies Poop a Lot Theres a saying, Never poop where you eat. Sage advice, most would say. Because house flies live on a liquid diet (see #6), things move rather quickly through their digestive tracts. Nearly every time a house fly lands, it defecates. So in addition to vomiting on anything it thinks might make a tasty meal, the house fly almost always does poop where it eats. Keep that in mind next time one touches down on your potato salad. Sources: The Encyclopedia of Entomology, 2nd edition, edited by John L. Capinera.Encyclopedia of Insects, 2nd edition, edited by Vincent H. Resh and Ring T. Carde.Vector Control: Methods for Use by Individuals and Communities, by Jan A. Rozendaal, World Health Organization.Physicians Guide to Arthropods of Medical Importance, 6th edition, by Jerome Goddard.Elements of Entomology, by Dr. Rajendra Singh.Time Flies, a New Molecular Time-Scale for Brachyceran Fly Evolution Without a Clock, in Systematic Biology, 2003.

Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example 1-2). Cloud computing is widely acknowledged to have the capacity to revolutionize completely the way organizations and enterprises manage their information technology at the same time utilizing it more beneficially. However, the prevailing paradigm requires an infrastructural change in order to fit in for the enterprise needs. Through the adoption of cloud IT services, business enterprises are able to realize efficiency, agility, elasticity as well as cost reduction. Nevertheless, many studies have revealed hesitation by these organizations to adopt the systems for the reason of insecurity. Moreover, establishing sound relations between the clients as well as the service producer would go a long way in confirming the security threat as is interpreted by the research studies. According to Technical White Paper of July 2011, the design and operation of the cloud-based IT environment, sound systems as interpreted though security is a matter of joint efforts by both parties; the cloud c omputing service provider as well as the clients seeking the services (IBM Global Technology Service, 2011, p.3). The customers are subjected to major threats in hacking system; lose of stored data and the overall cooperation of the IT teams from the cloud computing service providers as well s the internal IT departments of the clients to the business. Many enterprises and organizations have come to appreciate the services of cloud computing especially with the increased use of fast internet services through ‘hand held’ wireless gadgets which makes it possible to access these services conveniently and more easily than was in the past (Ernst and Young, 2011, p.4). Studies have cited the increased use of cloud computing services to be beneficial not only from the consumer point of view but also to the service providers. However, there have been notable hindrances to complete adoption of the services especially within the business sector majorly for the reason of poor infr astructures through which no certainty is offered to consumers for the security of their data and information. However, the concerns that emanate from the pools is that the collection would be the best targets to hackers through whom sensitive information of organizations would leak out. Moreover, in the event of data leakage the cloud computing service providers have no specific provision on controlling the effects that would arise. These fears about security and secrecy of organizational information present the greatest challenge to both service providers and the customers. There is therefore the need for the industry to focus on investing in proper infrastructures through which cloud-computing services would be effectively offered. Clients to the cloud computing service providers are hesitant to adopt the dynamic system of data storage because they feel that the system does not fully guarantee the security to their data. On the other hand the crash of Dot com era, the web develop ment gave rise to a newer version of web-based applications, which would introduce rather interactive web pages than was the case with the previous versions of the web sites. The new web services introduced adopted the name of Web 2.0 and had a distinction from the previous web applications in that it allowed higher levels of interactions

Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 14

Nursing - Assignment Example According to this institution,  this is the only way to acquire quality education especially in pursuit of a health care related profession (Finkelman and Kenner, 2013). The process of evaluating the excellence levels in the nursing profession may seem to be difficult; however, the Academy of nursing feels that the accreditation bodies have been established to ensure that health care professionals are acquainted with adequate knowledge towards quality health care delivery. Notably, American academy of nursing has a strong view that the nursing accreditation schools are creating gateways and programs that make qualified health care athletics to pursue advanced, professional studies (Finkelman and Kenner, 2013). Moreover, the American academy of nursing feels that these accreditations are profound avenues that will help institutions and professionals to develop, promote, and maintain appropriate education standards. According to the American academy of nursing, only accredited institution is capable of providing quality education to the athletics (â€Å"Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative †¦ â€Å"2011). For instance, the systems of accretion, accreditation standards, and criteria have ensured that health care become patient centered thereby promoting communication and health provision to the patients (Finkelman and Kenner, 2013). Health care provision through shared management and decision-making will adversely advocate fo r disease and injury prevention measures thereby promoting healthy lifestyle among the public and health care professionals. Conclusively, the American academy of nursing is quite supportive of the accretion, accreditation standards, and criteria since they belief that it is the way to provide quality health care to the nation. Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine., & Institute of

Show how Stevenson through themes, language and setting creates a world of double standards and hypocrisy Essay Example for Free

Show how Stevenson through themes, language and setting creates a world of double standards and hypocrisy Essay With titles such as Treasure Island and The Black Arrow, one expects to suffer complete infatuation when they pick up a book marked Robert Louis Stevenson. The Scottish author/poet published the world renowned novella Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in 1886. The story tells of a scientist (Dr Jekyll), living within the respectable society of Victorian England, and his quest to prove to himself that he can master two opposing personalities without fault. It is told from the view point of John Utterson, lawyer and friend to the respected and brilliant scientist. From the unwanted arrival of the menacing character Mr Hyde comes a brutal crime followed by a barbaric murder. Suspicions begin to flare and before long Mr Utterson reluctantly discovers a horrific and terrifying story. Dr Jekylls theory that within every man lies a good and evil persona has lead to him create and consume a potion that changes him into an embodiment of his evil side; Dr Jekyll is in fact the sinister and menacing murderer Mr Hyde. This captivating story is perhaps the most famous in its gothic genre, selling forty five thousand copies within its first few months. Even now the term Jekyll and Hyde is used to portray someone with a dual personality, someone who lives a double life of respectable decency and unforgivable sin. At the time it was written Victorian life was governed by strict etiquette and repressed sexuality, Stevenson could not have written a book more controversial to the times. The very existence of the book was a sign of duality and double standards. It is rumoured that Stevensons wife burnt the first manuscript as she feared that the tale was too controversial, that the reserved citizens of Victorian England would take to it with an uproar far less than positive. Publishing the book was a huge gamble on Stevensons part; even his own wife doubted its success, but evidently its success was not to be doubted. The inspiration behind the story is a subject matter of great interest. To understand what made Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a classical story known by young and old alike, we must first look at where it began. As a child, Stevenson was obsessed with William Deacon Brodie, a cabinet maker/notorious criminal from Edinburgh in the 18th Century. Stevenson had a cabinet that was created by Brodies company in his bedroom, and was fascinated by the history behind it. Stevensons inspiration from Williams life is very much apparent in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with the idea of duality displayed in almost every chapter of the novella. William Deacon Brodie was a very respectable man, being a member of the local government and a fine gentleman, much like Jekyll. But this seemingly respectable faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade concealed a private life, which consisted of two mistresses with five children between them and a gambling addiction which he funded by carrying out a series of robberies on premises to which his official position had given him access to, this darker, criminal side is much like Jekylls counterpart Hyde. Something else that can be seen in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the main components that define the Gothic Genre. With Stevensons novella firmly situated within the borders that outline this genre, we expect before reading to be engaging in a story that features amongst other components: the supernatural, darkness, primitive behaviour and some degree of isolation. Supernatural is clearly shown from the transformation of Jekyll to Hyde and also the appearance of Hyde and the effect that he has on the other characters of the story. Hyde is described on page twenty-three as pale and dwarfish he is said to give an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation linking more obviously to the supernatural is the description that states Mr Hyde wears Satans signature upon his face as well as the description that states he wasnt like a man but like some damned Juggernaut. The effect that Mr Hyde has on the people that surround him is also rather unearthly. One the most respectable and unbiased characters, Mr Enfield, says that he has never seen a man he so disliked. Even the doctor who is described as being about as emotional as a bagpipe is turned sick and white with the desire to kill him whenever he sets his eyes upon the unnerving character. Mr Hydes appearance and his effect on others can also be linked into the next component; darkness. The idea of darkness is emphasised on every page of the book, the storyline itself is of a dark nature, and Stevenson emphasises this with use of intense imagery and descriptive language in just about every chapter. Primitive behaviour is perhaps the easiest component to pick up on, this component links directly to Mr Hyde as he is portrayed as primitive from the moment he arrives in the storyline. The novella goes out of its way to paint Hyde as animalistic. In chapter two Hyde is described by Mr Utterson as a troglodyte. Troglodyte is a word from Greek origin that when translated means cave-dweller. This translation triggers images of cave men to the readers mind, as we begin to think of humans who were less developed and therefore more primitive than we are in both looks and mannerism. The word is acting almost as a stimulus, a stimulus from which the reader derives a picture of Mr Hyde. In comparison the element of the gothic genre that is the most hidden is the theme of Isolation. It is shown in many parts of the book, in cases in a very simple way, but the reader does need to look deeper within the text to find the relation. Near the end of the book Jekyll who is slowly being eclipsed by Hyde confines himself to his laboratory to protect others from himself. This shows isolation quite simply, but the fact that Jekyll makes a potion that gets rid of the angel within man leaving isolated the fiend is an example of a relation that is hidden within the well written words of Robert Louis Stevenson. Though well written is quite the understatement. Stevenson employs a range of many techniques to make Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a novel that can most definitely be described as one of a kind. The change of narratives and the way in which the final chapters are structured like genuine documentations is a unique method that really gives the story a sense of authenticity. The novella plays host to an immeasurable amount of themes all of which coincide with the idea of double standards and hypocrisy. The foremost being the theme of duality. This theme is reiterated throughout the story in many different ways and at many different points, from as early as Story of the Door. In that first chapter we receive two detailed accounts of the streets that home Jekylls residence and his laboratory. The first account goes into great depth about the serenity and picturesque qualities of the street, the reader gets the feel of an aristocratic society, where everything down to the inhabitants is polished and as close to perfection as humanely possible. But Stevenson doesnt leave this string of happiness apparent for long. He is quick to give us his second account, an account that clashes with the first in every possible way. The second account gives the reader a feel of negligence and also a feel of darkness. Stevenson uses words such as dingy discoloured and blind to really emphasise just how dark and squalid the neighbourhood is. We can clearly see that the theme of duality is intended as Stevenson does not just describe the two scenes to us but also forces the reader to compare the two by saying the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood. Deriving from the theme of duality, is the duality of man, the story focuses on the notion that humanity is dual in nature. Though the theme is not fully emerged until the last chapter, when we find Jekyll and Mr Hyde are one and the same, it is always apparent to us, as we, in this day and age know of the concept the story holds before having read the book. When reading Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde it is important to realise that the book was intended as a mystery and though we know of the final conclusion, the Victorian reader did not and was not supposed to. With this in mind, we see that the theme is only really confronted after we have witnessed and formed opinions on all the events of the story. In chapter ten Jekyll states that man is not truly one, but truly two he imagines man as two characters as an angel and a fiend and it is this philosophy that leads to the potion that is supposed to separate each side. It is this philosophy that provides the basis for the entire story. Another theme which places a large emphasis on creating a world of double standards and hypocrisy is the theme of irrationality. Every character within Stevensons novella is or at least starts as a respectable member of the society in which they live. One could argue that Mr Hyde is anything but, and the reply to that would simply be that Hyde is Jekyll, and even before the potion, when Jekyll is engaging in activities acceptable by his peers, Hyde still exists within him. With this on-going faà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ade of respectable and gentlemanly stature, every irrational act that occurs within the eighty-eight pages of this celebrated novel is also an act of hypocrisy and of double standards. And irrationality does occur. The trampling of the girl in chapter one shows hypocrisy on Jekylls part; that hidden deep within him, underneath his courteous exterior is the urge to engage in reckless and uncivilized deeds. The murder of Sir Danvers Carew is similar in the way in portrays hypocrisy, and after this second act of maliciousness the reader is intrigued to look further into the irrationality of these acts. It appears that these brutal attacks are done for nothing more than joy. We get the impression from his assault upon innocents that Hyde seems to enjoy doing wrong, we see it is not just a case of Hyde being free from law, civilization and conscience but instead a case of Hyde going out of his way to commit violent crimes, just because he can. We get the impression that Hyde is immoral rather than amoral. Another side of irrationality is The Beast in Man. Again no-one portrays this better than Hyde. Stevenson wants the reader to think of a creature when they envision Hyde and he uses many descriptive devices to obtain this effect. Hyde is described as trampling over Sir Danvers Carew with ape like fury, in the third chapter and when Jekyll is describing his spontaneous transformation into Hyde he describes his fiendish counterpart as the animal within me in addition a general description of Hyde portrays his hand as corded and hairy. These examples of symbolic imagery help paint a picture for the reader by helping to depict the appearance of Hyde. Fitting in with the duality of man, Stevenson wanted to make sure that Jekyll and Hydes appearance were seen as completely different, therefore it is necessary for the constant references to Hydes appearance as animalistic as no character within in the entire book can give a detailed description of Mr Hyde, they all instead seem to conclude that he is ugly and deformed in some indefinable way. The Beast in Man is further emphasised when Poole and others begin to characterize Mr Hyde with the words it and thing: God know what it was, That thingwas never Dr Jekyll. Near the beginning of this Victorian Mystery Jekyll asserts the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr Hyde. Jekyll believes he has complete control over the situation that he has worked so desperately to create. He believes that he can switch in and out of his rivalling personas by merely drinking his concoction. When he decides he no longer wants to be Mr Hyde, he believes that by discontinuing the use of the potion, Hyde will cease to exist. The emphasis is on the word believe. Jekyll under-estimates the situation he has created, and as realisation hits him, it is already too late. He has wandered too far past the point of no return. This statement emphasises the theme of control and addiction. Jekyll is subject to addiction and as with all addictions he genuinely believes that he has total control. The notion of hypocrisy is in Jekylls certainty that he has control, when in fact he is as out of control as can be. It is unfortunate that his realisation of the fact that he is entirely out of control comes virtually before his death. The ending of this tragic story, really touches the reader as even though the hero and villain of the story are one and the same, there is still a likeness that the reader develops for Jekyll, and his death, though it means the death of Hyde, is not the happy ending that you would expect. The tragedy of Jekylls death is further accentuated by the reaction and sorrow that the friends of Jekyll feel at his loss. Friendship and loyalty is yet another theme that is apparent in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. This theme harmonizes wonderfully with the element of decorum that runs throughout the novella. The two relationships that best define the word friendship are between Jekyll and Utterson and Jekyll and Poole. When Utterson suspects that Jekyll is being black-mailed and then later on when he suspects that Jekyll is sheltering Hyde from the police, he does not make his suspicions known. Knowing of the importance of reputation, he remains loyal to Henry Jekyll and keeps his friends secret, so as not to ruin his respectability. The idea of hypocrisy is shown through Utterson being an upright and respectable member of the community, whilst still being prepared to keep sordid secrets quiet, besides his instincts that something negative is taking place. The friendship between Jekyll and Poole is best shown when Jekyll has been fully extinguished. Poole has been a loyal servant to Jekyll for over twenty years and is the first person to realise Jekylls death. He with Utterson engages in out of character behaviour, when they pummel down the door of Dr Jekyll which again shows double standards as they are acting out of turn, in a way that suggests anything but respectability. More importantly it shows the strength of friendship that these two characters have for Dr Jekyll; that they would engage in reckless behaviour, set aside their morals, forget about their respectability, their stature and think of nothing but their dear friend. Stevenson uses all these themes skilfully and eloquently to portray a world of double standards, but the idea of hypocrisy is shown within this piece of literature through a number of different devices such as language and setting. Every scene that is introduced to us is shortly followed by the introduction of another scene that is always of a harsh contrast. Dr Jekylls home is described by Stevenson as having a great air of wealth and comfort. In a brutal comparison is his laboratory which is described as a certain sinister block of buildingwhich bore in every feature the marks of a profound and sordid negligence. The laboratory with its neglected aura and overt ugliness perfectly illustrates the malevolent and malicious character of Mr Hyde and the dark nature of the story as a whole. Whereas the respectable and affluent house portrays the respectable and upright Dr Jekyll and the dignified element to the story. The connection between the two buildings represents the connection between Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The buildings are attached but they look out onto two different streets. Because of the layout of the streets, the fact that the buildings are two parts of a whole is undetectable without prior knowledge, just as the fact that Jekyll and Hyde are one and the same is undetectable. Another example of two scenes that illustrate duality is Hydes house; the interior and the exterior. Stevenson tells us in hindsight that Jekyll had bought and furnished a house to live in when he transformed into Hyde. We are given a description of the outside of the house, we are told that it is placed in a dingy street, a gin palace and that ragged children huddle in the doorways that surround this sorry excuse for a home. No sooner have we read about this distasteful house are we made subject to the description of the houses interior. The rooms are furnished with luxury and good taste. Adjectives such as elegant, good and agreeable are all used in the description of the interior of Mr Hydes house. The conflict between the inside and the outside of Mr Hydes house is a prime example of Stevenson trying to portray a world of hypocrisy and double standards to the audience. As well as themes and settings, Stevenson uses many literary techniques to get across the idea of double standards and hypocrisy. The first example of this is the descriptions of the street and Jekylls laboratory in the very first chapter. Stevenson describes the shops on the street as standing out like rows of smiling saleswomen. This simile creates a joyous mood, as does the statement the street shone out in contrast to its dingy neighbourhood. The word shone portrays radiance and tells the reader that the street is much better and livelier than all around it. It almost gives an impression of the street being something special. When describing the dreary laboratory belonging to Jekyll, Stevenson uses powerfully depressing adjectives and personification to show just how sinister the laboratory is. It is described as having a blind forehead and a door that is blistered and distained. All of these descriptions depict human characteristics, especially blistered and distained. These adjectives bring about a depressing mood, and help in portraying the evilness and ugliness of the building. By using these contrasting accounts Stevenson is not only showing duality and hypocrisy but also emphasising and symbolizing the character and habits of Mr Hyde. The laboratory which appears as no more than a door is seen as different from all of the houses that surround it. It is not considered normal. This demonstrates the fact that Hydes principles are not normal, as the laboratory is where Hyde is situated for a lot of the book. The laboratory is neglected and uncared for unlike everything around it. During Victorian times outward appearance was very important amongst society, it was necessary that everyones appearance was very respectable, so that people would receive the right impression of them. Hyde is quite the opposite; he doesnt care about how he looks or how he is seen. The way the laboratory stands out because of it dingy manifestation shows how Hyde is different and the odd one out in society. The duplicity of Victorian society is also shown, by the quote Though so profound a double-dealer. This assertion by Jekyll in the final chapter of the book shows Jekylls motives for the extended research into the duality in man and the eventual potion making. It explains that his initial hypothesis was based on himself as he in public and in private behaved as though he were two people. The alliteration in this quote also helps to portray the theme of double as the very word is in the phrasing and the alliteration is on two words. Another way in which Stevenson uses literary techniques to portray his main theme is in varied sentences. Stevenson uses a lot of short sentences to create tension and to change the pace that the story is being read at. He uses sentences such as and his blood ran cold in his veins and theyre all afraid this helps builds tension and prepares the reader for climaxs within the story. Robert Louis Stevenson was a man with a definite flare for writing. He has managed to portray the theme of hypocrisy and double standards to his readers in a clever way and with a unique style. This theme could have been shown simply and entirely by the two main characters: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, but Stevenson goes further with his work, he shows duality in every possible way he can, oxymorons, contrasting descriptions. The world of double standards is apparent from the very start of this eloquent novella. It is the passion and depth that you can so clearly see in his words that make Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde a novella loved by all ages.

Kate Controls Her Own Actions in William Shakespeares Taming of the Sh

Kate Controls Her Own Actions in William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew Who is primarily in control of Kate's actions in William Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew? Is Kate primarily controlling her actions, or do other characters in the play control her? If you just read through the play, but don't study it in-depth, it appears that Kate is controlled by other characters' actions towards her, but is this actually the case? Isn't it very possible that Kate is actually in control of all her decisions, but is just strongly influenced by others? After studying the text in-depth, you can see for yourself that although Kate is strongly influenced by others, she is the one who actually makes the decisions to act in the manner in which she acts. As was stated, although Kate, in many instances, appears to be controlled by others, she is actually in control of her actions. She is the one who does everything, such as allowing herself to be married off to Petruchio. Some people may say that she was forced to marry Petruchio, but she could have just run away if she really hadn't wanted to marry him. In this instance, Kate's family, especially her father Baptista, and society were influencing Kate to make the choice to not run away and follow through with the marriage. In the end, though, this was Kate's decision - no one made it for her, she had to make it for herself. She had the ability to choose to run away or do something else about being forced to marry Petruchio. Kate was already considered a shrew and often did not let society's roles for men and women influence her: Why couldn't she have done the same in this instance? Another instance in which it may seem to some people reading the play that Kate is being controlled by... ...Petruchio mistreat his servants. After coming home from the wedding, Petruchio says, "Here, sir! here, sir! here, sir! here, sir!/You logger-headed and unpolish'd grooms!/What, no attendance? no regard? no duty?/Where is the foolish knave I sent before?" (4.1.115-118). He continues to mistreat his servants right in front of Kate; he even hits a few of them. Kate sees this and realizes how poorly she has treated others in the past and realizes that she doesn't want to be a shrew any longer. In class, when discussing the topic of control, everyone was pretty much able to agree on one point: Although there are many influences on our decisions, we are ultimately the ones who make our decisions and no one can do that for us. In Taming of the Shrew, there are numerous examples of times Kate is influenced greatly by others, and yet she makes the final decision herself.

Mountain Man Brewing Company

Mountain Man Brewing Company| To:| Chris Prangel| From:| 001706975| CC:| David Nasser| Date:| 3/4/2013| Re:| Bringing the Brand to Light| Comments:| For the first time in the company’s history, Mountain Man Brewing Company is experiencing declining sales in response to changes in beer drinkers’ preferences. Mr. Prangel’s response to this problem is introducing a â€Å"light beer† form of the popular Lager. In the past six years, the â€Å"light beer† industry as increased at an annual rate of 4% while sales of traditional beer has been declining annually by 4%. Although this seems like a probable solution, there are two major problems Mr.Prangel is facing: 1. ) Mountain Man’s current target market will not approve of this new beer, and 2. ) bringing in a light version of the Mountain Man Lager could ruin the brand image and ultimately destroy the company. Mountain Man’s biggest target market currently, and pretty much since it started in 1925, is males ages 45-54. Most of these males are blue-collar, hardworking males. It has been known as â€Å"West Virginia’s Beer† known for its authenticity, quality and its toughness. To the younger beer drinkers, the market the light beer appeals to, view Mountain Man beer as too strong and a â€Å"working man’s† beer.Not only do the younger beer drinkers have their negative thoughts about Mountain Man developed, but the blue-collar customers account for a huge percentage of sales. The brand loyalty rate for Mountain Man Lager is 53% which is higher than any of its competitors. The â€Å"light beer† appeals to the younger generation, especially the females, and Mountain Man Lager has always appealed to the older, rugged, blue-collar male. The appearance of Mr. Prangel’s dilemma is very evident. Based on the evidence, Mountain Man should not introduce the light beer.The light beer industry is growing, that can’t be denied, howev er for Mountain Man, it is not in their best interest yet. Although the quantitative reasoning is included below, it would be in Mountain Man Brewing Company’s best interest to take the $750,000 and spend it elsewhere: create a new beer (non-light) that can appeal to more than the current target market without losing its brand image, spend more money for advertising to the younger beer-drinking market. Mountain Man Brewing Company needs to have a wider target market before introducing a completely new product that could potentially destroy the company if it were unsuccessful.THE PROS AND CONS OF INTRODUCING A LIGHT BEERThe most beneficial pro of introducing Mountain Man Light will be reaching the younger beer drinkers. It is shown that the younger beer drinkers enjoy the light beer better, and also in their twenties, usually haven’t committed to a brand yet. Mountain Man is very well-known by the younger beer drinkers, however, they tend to buy and consume in quantity; the Mountain Man Lager is not on their top preference, along with other lagers and full-flavor beers. Introducing this light beer could reach the younger beer drinkers and potentially lead to brand loyalty amongst them. A few cons could be losing brand loyalty amongst the older generation, losing sales of the Mountain Man Lager due to cannibalization, and a lower contribution margin.THE BRAND NAME OF A LIGHT BEERIf the light beer were introduced, the name Mountain Man Light is not the best option for the market Mountain Man is already in. A 53% loyalty rate is great for a company that produces one flavor of a brew. If the company that they have seen as for years as a rugged, authentic, â€Å"West Virginia’s Beer†, puts out a â€Å"light† version, its image could be lost immediately. In response to the introduction of a light beer by Mountain Man, it was the man in his fifties and early thirties that found it to be absurd.BREAK EVEN AND BREAK EVEN IN MARKET SHAR E IN 2 YEARSBy keeping the same price for light as the lager, breakeven in dollar amount is almost $10,000,000 which then translates into 100,473 barrels. Within two years, Mountain Man Light will have to produce almost $10,000,000 in sales and sale 20% of what Mountain Man Lager has worked almost a century to sale. As for the market share, Mountain Man Light will need to gain a 26% of the market share in 2 years to break even.This seems very unrealistic since the leading brand light beer now consumers 32. 9% and the second leading brand holds 17. 8% of the market. Mountain Man Light will have to become the second leading brand in the market within only 2 years (assuming that the sales of â€Å"light beer† continue to grow annually by 4%).CANNIBALIZATION RATEBecause Mountain Man Lager produces so many units and produces such high sales already, the difference in cannibalization of 5% to 20% is pretty significant (almost 1,000,000). Two year contribution with a 5% cannibalizat ion rate is $32,895,226. 2 compared to $31,988,859. 59 with a 20% cannibalization rate. This is a major loss in sales of the Mountain Man Lager. If cannibalization is inevitable, the lower percentage of cannibalization is the best option, it yields a higher contribution. Anything above 20% is unnecessary and definitely not worth introducing the Mountain Man Light.BUDGET FOR THE LAUNCHThe budget of $750,000 added onto the $900,000 already annual cost of SG&A costs is not appropriate. Not only is it adding that money onto the annual SG&A costs, it adds $4. 9 more per barrel in variable costs. Yet, the price of the light will still be the same as the lager. It will produce a 60% awareness level for Mountain Man Light, however, reduces the contribution margin by 16%; the price remains the same and cost of goods sold increases. Adding an expense like $750,000, a company should expect it to be better for the company. A 16% decrease in the contribution margin is not good for a company like Mountain Man that has its one specialty product in which it is known for.THE LAUNCHAlthough it is not recommended to introduce this Mountain Man Light because of the previous stated concerns, Mountain Man should not stop there and let the company fail. Mountain Man can take their $750,000 and introduce another beer just not a â€Å"light beer†. Keep the authentic, rugged brand image by introducing a different type of brew that will continue to appeal to the target market. Mountain Man should try to increase its target market with its original idea before it tries to introduce a new brand.If this is not ideal, the $750,000 can be spent on gaining, and retaining, a younger, beer drinking crowd. There is always a way to appeal to a younger crowd, Mountain Man needs to find the window of opportunity and take those consumers. With the high awareness of Mountain Man Lager by the younger beer drinker, however, Mountain Man could change their marketing strategy and discover a way to appeal to the younger market. | Contribution of Lager and Light Breakeven in Dollars and Units (Barrels) Market Share Cannibalization of 5% Cannibalization of 20%

Rene Descates and John Locke Essay

John Locke were both philosophers of the 17th century. Descartes was a rationalist in the way that he thought and wrote about. A rationalist used reasoning to gain knowledge. John Locke on the other hand, was an empiricist in the way he philosophized and taught. An empiricist used senses and experiences. These philosophers, being a rationalist and empiricist, were very different in the way they saw life and knowledge, but they had some similarities as well in the way that they thought. Being of two different groups of philosophers, the rationalists and empiricists, John Locke and Rene Descartes were very different in the beliefs they had; however, as different as they may be there were some similarities that were shared by both of these seventeenth century philosophers. First and most importantly, the biggest similarity that they shared was the fact that they were not skeptics. In other words, they both believed knowledge can be gained by humans. In addition, both of them separated the mind and the body to be two different things or concepts of a living being. For Descartes, mind was for thinking and reasoning and body was just matter or substance. For Locke mind was used for reflection or self-examination of oneself and the body was used for getting knowledge through its senses. For example, Locke says â€Å"it is past doubt that men have in their minds several ideas. † This is an example of how he says and believes the mind works in a human being and gives those ideas which are ultimately reflections. Descartes when he begins to write first states that he is going to doubt everything and then search for the truth. He first establishes himself. He writes â€Å"†¦I could imagine I had no body, and that there was no world nor or any place that I occupied, but that I could not imagine for a moment that I did not exist. † This is where he starts to identify his self. He goes on to say the very well-known phrase â€Å"I think therefore I am. † This is the first truth he presents. He pretty much says that he exists. Then he goes on to identify other truths that he finds. He ultimately finds the biggest truth and says that there is a God that exists. He says the God is almighty, all knowing and perfect in every way. Upon stating the existence of God he says that everything we and do are true. In his writing, he states this when he says â€Å"†¦that all those things which we conceived very clearly and very distinctly are true, is known to be true only because God exists†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and he goes on to say that this is true because everything we have comes from God and that he cannot be wrong. The reason as to why Descartes writes this is to get people to understand one thing. That people are a thinking substance and that because we are thinking we have the ability to reason. He says that â€Å"†¦we should never allow ourselves to be convinced except on the evidence of our reason. † This is how Descartes views self; it is a living substance that has the ability to reason and think and therefore it should. John Locke’s first words on his paper Of Ideas in general, and their Original is â€Å"Idea is the object of thinking. † This statement is a perfect way to summarize what Locke believes. Locke in his writing writes about how all ideas then come from experience. He then goes on to describe that there are two ways of achieving experience. One of them is reflection or self-examination and the other is through your senses. Locke uses these two concepts of experience to ultimately describe what he feels self is. He understands self not to be a reasoning body, but a blank paper. In other words, people are not born knowing anything. They acquire knowledge through the experiences that they go through in life. For example, a person when born does not know that fire is hot, but if he tries to touch it and gets burned he will have learned that it is hot. This is one example of how Locke sees people molding themselves to be who they are. He says â€Å"Men are differently furnished with these, according to the different objects they converse with. † This essentially summarizes the meaning of the fire example. In addition, he writes â€Å"These, when we have taken a full survey of them, and their several modes, combinations, and relations†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He implies that our minds start to take these experiences and make them into ideas and then combine ideas to make bigger ideas and so on. All in all, John Locke regards the self to be born and be like a blank piece of paper and when grown he expects it to be a byproduct of its experiences. In fine, both of these writers had similarities even though they were part of two very different groups of philosophers. They had similarities such as, the fact that they were skeptics and that they separated the mind and body and these were the places where they found the most disagreement. In other words, they both believed knowledge was attainable but disagreed how and they both believed mind and body were different, but had different duties for them. Both these writers, even though they are very different, have made huge impacts in the field of philosophy and in life in general.

Answers to Questions About Punctuation

Answers to Questions About Punctuation Answers to Questions About Punctuation Answers to Questions About Punctuation By Mark Nichol Here are a few questions from readers about the use of various forms of punctuation, followed by my responses. 1. In the following sentence, how do you separate the statement from the description, â€Å"A system of aligned chambers supports anaerobic digestion, a biological process that happens naturally when bacteria breaks down organic matter,† or â€Å"A system of aligned chambers supports anaerobic digestion; a biological process that happens naturally when bacteria breaks down organic matter†? The first sentence is correct: A term’s definition is set off from the term by a comma. (The definition is a form of appositive, an alternative way of naming something, just as in â€Å"The boy, a fifth grader at the school, was not injured.†) A semicolon is appropriate only if what follows it could stand on its own as a complete sentence, as in â€Å"A system of aligned chambers supports anaerobic digestion; this is a biological process that happens naturally when bacteria breaks down organic matter.† 2. I avoid the serial comma whenever possible i.e., in cases where there is no ambiguity because I prefer not to have comma-heavy sentences.   However, when it is necessary, I bend my rule and use it to remove any ambiguity. Would this be considered inconsistent style (for writing and editing)? It’s correct, if you generally avoid using serial commas, to omit a serial comma for â€Å"a, b and c† constructions but make an exception to insert one for clarity in â€Å"a, b, and c and d† constructions. That’s consistent usage and it’s approved of by The Associated Press Stylebook and other guides that recommend omitting the serial comma in simple in-line lists as long as you always omit it in the first case and always insert it in the second case. (It would be inconsistent only if you varied between â€Å"a, b and c† and â€Å"a, b, and c.†) But I think it’s better to simply always, always, use a serial comma, as The Chicago Manual of Style and many other guides recommend. 3. In the sentence â€Å"Do you employ a serial comma the final comma in a sentence such as ‘I bought one apple, two bananas, and three oranges’?† you have your punctuation (question mark) outside the quotes. That’s not intentional, right? Question marks and exclamation points are located either within quotation marks or outside them based on whether the quoted material is a question or an exclamation or the framing sentence is a question or an exclamation. In the sentence, â€Å"I bought one apple, two bananas, and three oranges† is not a question; it is positioned within a sentence that is a question: â€Å"Do you employ a serial comma . . . ?† Therefore, the question mark should follow the close quotation mark. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Slang Terms for MoneyCannot or Can Not?Threw and Through

The Difference Between Public Relations and Journalism

The Difference Between Public Relations and Journalism To understand the difference between journalism and public relations, consider the following scenario. Imagine that your college announces it is raising tuition (something many colleges are doing due to drops in government funding). The public relations office issues a press release about the increase. What do you imagine that release will say? Well, if your college is like most, it will probably stress how modest the increase is, and how the school still remains very affordable. Itll probably also talk about how the hike was absolutely necessary for the face of continuing funding cuts, and so on. The release may even have a quote or two from the president of the college saying how much he/she regrets having to pass the ever-increasing cost of running the place on to students and how the raise was kept as modest as possible. All of this may be perfectly true. But who do you think wont be quoted in the college press release? Students, of course. The people who will be affected most by the hike are the very ones who wont have a say. Why not? Because of students likely to say the increase is a horrible idea and will only make it more difficult for them to take classes there. That perspective doesnt do the institution any favors. How Journalists Approach a Story So if youre a  reporter for the student newspaper assigned to write an article about the tuition hike, whom should you interview? Obviously, you should talk to the college president and any of the other officials involved. You should also talk to students because the story isnt complete without interviewing the people who are most affected by the action being taken. That goes for tuition increases, or factory layoffs, or for anyone else whos ever been hurt by the actions of a large institution. Thats called getting both sides of the story. And therein lies the difference between public relations and journalism. Public relations is designed to put the most positive spin on anything done by an institution like a college, a company or a government agency. Its designed to make the entity look as wonderful as possible, even if the action being taken - the tuition increase - is anything but. Why Journalists Are Important Journalism isnt about making institutions or individuals look good or bad. Its about portraying them in a realistic light, good, bad or otherwise. So if the college does something good - for instance, offering free tuition to local people who have been laid off - then your coverage should reflect that. Its important for journalists to question those in power because thats part of our primary mission: to serve as a kind of adversarial watchdog keeping an eye on the activities of the powerful, to try and ensure that they dont abuse that power. Unfortunately, in recent years public relations has become more powerful and ubiquitous even as newsrooms across the country have laid off thousands of reporters. So while there are more and more PR agents (reporters call them flacks) pushing positive spin, there are fewer and fewer journalists there to challenge them. But thats why its more important than ever that they do their jobs, and do them well. Its simple: We are here, to tell the truth.

Power Tool Market Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Power Tool Market Analysis - Essay Example Finally, the difference in the estimates is not material. The projected values represent a decline of approximately 11.5% over the last year's figure of 1.8 million units by U.S. Census Bureau. The values for the last 5 years show a continuous declining trend. The following table summarizes the historic actual values. From the above statistics, it can be concluded that the demand for power tools in this sector may not increase in 2007 as the economic activity is declining. The demand may infact decrease since lesser number of houses will be developed. The expenditure for residential construction is expected to be at $504 billion as per Realtor, and $434 billion as per Haughey, in 2007. This shows a declining trend as the last year's (2006) figures show that the expenditure was $581 billion and $608 billion for 2005 (Realtor, 2007). The actual historic data is shown in the table below (U.S. Census Bureau: 930 - Value of Private Construction Put in Place: 1995 to 2005, 2007). This declining trend indicates that this sector will have less demand of power tools in 2007 than it was in prior years. This is because the expenditure for construction will decrease and power tools industry provides the tools that are used for construction. Hence, demand will be negatively affected for this market. The expend

The Evolution of Legacy Acknowledged System of Systems to Directed Research Paper

The Evolution of Legacy Acknowledged System of Systems to Directed - Research Paper Example However, managing emergent behavior of SoS is also necessary since it is capable of generating exclusive benefits. On the contrary, this behavior opens new horizons for engineers to experiment with in order to support the needs of users. This behavior contributes to the deciding factors regarding the methodologies and approach that users will adopt in future to conduct the business. Moreover, they enable engineers to identify those weaker areas of system which are source of hindrance for users to meet their needs and where further nurturing resources must be deployed. It enables the system to combat threats demonstrated by interoperation and attain traits such as flexibility, scalability and cost leadership. Emergence is mostly unavoidable; therefore it is pivotal that engineers learn how to coexist with it, effectively using this phenomenon to establish an invulnerable and highly elastic SoS that can easily respond to changing environment. If emergent behavior is managed effectively , systems forming SoS interact with each other, creating a synergetic effect that enables the entire network to fulfill its essential purposes that cannot be possibly attained in isolation as a standalone system. Therefore, it is only fair to state that the evolutionary process of SoS is a direct product of effective management of its emergent behavior. Figure 2: Simple example of emergent behavior of SoS (Thwink.org) Emergent behavior has largely been researched into and many experiments have revealed different definitions and characteristics to it. Dyson and George claimed that it is a behavior shown by SoS which is not easy to foresee and analyse through evaluation of its components; instead, it must be seen as a single system on the whole. They... This paper stresses that SoS is a complex network of systems that individually have different characteristics but collectively display entirely distinct behavior. This behavior emerges due to synergetic effect of interaction between these systems and components of SoS. This behavior is so strong that it is capable of ripping the entire system apart through cascade effects. High coordination among stakeholders and components and distributed control are required by system engineers to manage it. Researching and harnessing on this issue is vital for SoS to be successful in achieving its primary purposes. This report makes a conclusion that agent modeling devices and simulation settings are prime tools that can be used to mitigate consequences connected with emergent behavior by speculating it beforehand and developing strategies to undermine its effects. If controlled effectively through these engineering tactics, the SoS has high potential to achieve levels of flexibility, cost leadership and scalability that cannot be possibly attained via conventional systems. This paper shall be a source of great contribution towards SoSE Body of Knowledge since it addresses the most crucial obstacle faced by SoS and due to its highly radical and dynamic nature, still to date the researchers and engineers have not been able to fully attain grip and certainty over projecting behavioral patterns and interactive process. Since it is a replication technique and small scale research, only limited assurance can be assumed on results achieved. Nonetheless, further research is required in this field to b e in a better position to draw conclusions.

Plutarch - Fall of the Roman Republic Research Paper

Plutarch - Fall of the Roman Republic - Research Paper Example Despite the person based accounts, which to an extent seem like a mere collection of biographies, Plutarch provides a detail discussion on the underlying forces and factors that undermined and eventually ended the Roman Republic. Plutarch discusses historical figures not as mere personages of history but as prime movers of events. Plutarch’s style in which discussions of historical events are pegged on the lives of individuals has influenced historical references up to today. An example is the analysis of the Agricultural Crisis in Rome where â€Å"Hannibal’s invasion had destroyed farms and farmland.†3 At the center of the Agricultural Crisis were the Gracchus4 Brothers, â€Å"Tiberius Gracchus elected tribune in 133 B. C. promised to help the farmers. He called for taking of public land and distributing it among the landless farmers.†5 This clearly contains Plutarch’s style wherein individual persons are at the center of major events most especially events that precipitated to the decline and eventual end of the Roman Republic. Moreover, analysis of the period of decline up to the end of the Roman Republic centers on the personas of the individuals that were identified to being so influential and powerful that their personality, life and ideas forged the destiny of Rome. â€Å"The disintegration of the Roman Republic is the first example in European history of the collapse of a constitutional system. One school of thought contends that individual generals and would be dictators like Julius Caesar and Pompey destroyed the traditional political system of Rome through ruthless ambition. According to this view, the Commanders of the Roman army, acting like feuding Mafia dons, turned their armies inward upon the Constitutional system.† 6 From another source, â€Å"Julius Caesar's adoptive son, Octavian, became, like Augustus, the first  emperor of Rome. According to modern ways of looking at things, this or the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March 44 B.C. marked the official end of the Republic of Rome.

Capital Market Union: Do We Need One?

Capital Market Union: Do We Need One? Introduction Capital market integration is not a new topic in the EU. It became however pressing again after the international financial crisis, that exposed the limits of European firms overreliance on banks. The Juncker Commission made CMU one of its flagships initiatives, aiming at reducing national fragmentation and barriers in order to create a better environment for firms financing. While such a decision can be easily understood from a single-market perspective of analysis, the proposed and implemented reforms in order to establish such a unified market do not tackle deep structural differences at the national level, while also avoiding the strengthening of a central supervisor, undermining the efforts of harmonisation. What is CMU? The idea of a European Capital Market Union (thereafter CMU) was presented on 15 July 2014 by the soon to be President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker addressing the European Parliament[1], subsequently inserted in the Commissions priorities through the establishment of a new Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Market Union[2]. As repeatedly stressed by Juncker, the top priority of his presidency is to strengthen Europes economy and stimulate investment to create jobs, favouring a deepening of capital market integration and a reduction of the current fragmentation between national borders. In the words of former Commissioner Hill, the CMU is about linking savings to growth in Europe, Capital market union is not a novelty in the integration debate: the free flow of capital is indeed one of the fundamental principles (the so-called four freedoms) on which European integration is based since the treaty of Rome (art. 63 TFUE). In the 1980s a first wave of integration dealt with harmonisation of public offering and listing particulars. In 1993 the Investment Service Directive (ISD)[3] was agreed. In the wake of the EMU a new wave of harmonising measures was proposed under the aegis of the Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP), with the ambition to increase growth and reduce funding costs. The centrepiece was the 2004 Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID)[4], but it also contained measures regulating disclosure and market manipulation. Notwithstanding years of harmonising regulation and a common currency for most EU member states, capital market is still fragmented, integration often rests on a vertical base, few EU-wide structures have emerged in the last decade and the most powerful intermediaries are often of US parentage. Europe has struggled for decades to create a decent capital market, heavily relying on bank financing, and the financial crisis has retrenched and re-fragmented the landscape. A capital market channels money provided by investors and banks to borrowers through a variety of instruments, called securities. A central problem in the development of such a market is the information asymmetry between issuers and investors. As noted in Black (2000), both governmental bodies and self-regulatory organizations and reputational intermediaries play a role in guaranteeing the enforcement of transparency of information and correct price formation. Formal rules are only the beginning: the real challenge is the direct and indirect enforcement of new legislation. Rationale for CMU The proposal for CMU can be analysed through different lenses, justifying its rationale.First and foremost, the allocation of resources in the actual structure of the EU is over-relying on bank loans. While retail banks have a better knowledge of local situation, often providing more information to investors and borrowers, bank funding is not always the most efficient way for dynamic and highly growing enterprise to fund themselves. Moreover, due to the increased capital requirement for banks after the financial crisis and the difficulties encountered by some banks regarding their balance-sheets and the bias over sovereign bonds of their home country, financing opportunities have decreased. National fragmentation and the bias for national portfolios reduce the opportunities for cross-border funding, complicating the way investors and borrowers can meet their needs. Finally especially valuable for the Eurozone enhanced financial integration act as a private risk-sharing mechanism, spreading the risk inherent in investment on a cross-national field, thus reducing the risk of asymmetric shocks in the area and fostering the resilience of the block. This consideration is even more important considering the lack of political will to establish a public shock absorption mechanism as for instance proposed in the Five President Report (Juncker, Tusk, Dijsselbloem, Draghi, Schulz, 2015). Moreover, numerous forms of financing and better allocation of resources within the Eurozone foster the transmission channel of monetary policy, enhancing the ability of the ECB to meet its targets (ECB 2012). European and US capital markets The natural benchmark for capital markets is the US. Comparisons can be made at the EU level, but once we consider the country specificity we have an even more complex landscape. In fact big differences remain between national markets, mostly of a structural nature. When the CMU action plan was presented, although US and EU economies have roughly the same size, US venture capital market is five times EUs one and US equity markets are twice the EU ones in term of capitalization. Europe has a universal banking landscape with large banks covering commercial and investment activities. While in the US 80% of corporate debt financing depends on capital markets, in the EU 90% depends on bank financing[5]. Such dependence made the European economy vulnerable when banking conditions tightened in a number of member States during and following the international financial crisis. Moreover, the financial crisis had a considerable negative impact on securitization issuance in Europe, dropping from 594 billion euro at the end of 2007 to 216 billion in 2014 (on the rise since 2011). Finally, international capital requirement and EU banking regulation changes during the crisis impacted bank lending. Variation within Europe Other than having a different system to the one of the US on aggregate, within the EU there is also great variation on the depth and development of capital markets nationally.   Ã‚   Only 9 Member states have non-banking financial intermediation above 50% of GDP. Divergence can be seen also in the stock market capitalization of different member states as a percentage of GDP. Moreover, also the access to firms and individuals differ considerably among member states. Non-financial company reliance on equity issuance exceeded reliance on bank credit in only the UK and Denmark. Reliance on both equity and debt issuance exceeded reliance on bank credit in external company finance in only UK, Denmark, Finland, France, and Germany (European Commission, 2015a). Obstacles and barriers in the European Union landscape In the EU there are actually 28 different codes of tax, company and insolvency law that transnational investors have to deal with, blocking the smooth flow of capital between member states. Taking the example of bankruptcy law, different traditions and level of protections for investors are in place in member states. As Jey Westbrook, emeritus director of the International Insolvency Institute highlighted, The Brits have always had a more sympathetic idea to saving a debtor in trouble, Westbrook said. The Germans have had a much stricter view: There remains a big bias in favour of the idea that the management of this company screwed up, theyre losers, they probably did something fraudulent, the company should be bankrupt and pay the creditors as best they can, and the management should go join a monastery, so to speak. And then you have French law, which is somewhere in between but has much more emphasis on protecting employees and protecting jobs.[6]. The creation of truly European-wide securities moreover runs into the quest for harmonisation. Creating a security for home-mortgages, for example, requires that repossession laws in member states is to a certain degree homogeneous, same as the length of time spent in court to enforce a contract. Data from the World Bank doing Business indicators[7] show that litigation in court in countries like Italy and Greece can take up to three times the time spent in court in the Netherlands or Sweden. Banks normally bundle securities together into homogeneous groups (in our case Dutch mortgages packed together and Greek ones in a different securities). Moving to a single market for capital would require further harmonisation in national law in order to overcome national bias. Juncker CMU action plan After the publication of a Green paper in February 2015 and a public consultation to gather expert opinions, on 30 September 2015, the Commission adopted an action plan setting out a list of key measures to achieve a true single market for capital in Europe. It is supposed to be fully in place by 2019. As the plan reads there is no single measure that will deliver a Capital Market Union, meaning that a set of initiatives will be undertook in the short to medium run to facilitate the flow of capital, with the aim of reducing barriers between national borders. The process will take years, so it has not to be seen as a cyclical patch for relaunching growth in a stagnating post-crisis EU, but as a structural reform on the way credit is allocated throughout the continent. As outlined in the Green Paper the Commission supports market driven solutions when they are likely to be effective, and regulatory changes only where necessary (European Commission 2015a). Other than the action plan on CMU the commission also presented two directives on securitization: the first building blocks of CMU. The concrete outcome consists mainly of few technical proposals and amendments. First, changes to the prospectus Directive are proposed in order to facilitate SME financing, limiting the burden that these companies have to take in order to enter capital markets. Secondly, it recognizes the need to facilitate infrastructure financing and securitization through changes in the solvency II Directive and the capital requirement Regulation. SME financing is a focal point of the plan given the importance of those enterprises in creating jobs in Europe. The Commission plan aims at: Financing for innovation, start-ups and non-listed companies Making it easier for companies to enter and raise capital on public markets Investing for long-term, infrastructure and sustainable investment Fostering retail and institutional investment Leveraging banking capacity to support the wider economy Facilitating cross-border investing These broad goals are not fully operationalised and from the text there seems to be some inconsistencies. While the proposed approach is bottom-up, removing barriers when encountered, the Commission action aims at harmonising practices while possibly (as stated in the 5 Presidents Report) central supervision. What has been done until now In December 2016 the Council has agreed on the revision of EuVECA and EuSEF[8] making it easier for investors to diversify funding sources. Prospectus directive has been amended in December 2016 and now awaits implementation (capital rising up to 1 million euro will not need a prospectus; EU prospectus only required for risings over 8 million; new EU growth prospectus for facilitating cross-border money rising; ESMA will maintain a European online prospectus database; prospectus will be shorter and less costly to produce). Amendments to Solvency II legislation regarding infrastructure projects took effects in April 2016, concerning the calculation of regulatory capital requirements for several categories of assets held by insurance and reinsurance undertakings. No legislative steps yet. Proposal on simple, transparent and standardised (STS) securitisations and revision of the capital calibrations for banks. Structural Reform Support Programme within the Commission to spread best-practice and suggest reforms to member states. No other legislative procedures already enacted. Critical analysis While aiming at promoting investments in Europe, Giovannini et al. (2015) argue that it is not clear what are the causes of low investments in Europe, whether it depends on fragmented financial systems or if it is due to a low demand for capital. This means that the presumed effect of the CMU cannot be yet fully quantified. In order to strengthen cross-border transaction one of the most pressing issue is to improve the quality of information flow in order to establish market mechanism. This would require actions to increase the quality and harmonization of company data across Europe, including accounting standards, credit information and ownership. Considering the legislative outcomes so far, the CMU project has relied mainly on technical adjustments on existing legislation, creating new layers in order to arrive at a European-wide rulebook. The reformed prospectus directive, combined with the agreement of banks all over the continent to give feedbacks to firms in the case funds are not granted is a positive step forward. SMEs, having feedbacks on the best way to raise money will now be able to more easily access capital market due to the more limited fixed costs related to it. The STS securitization regulation includes a list of 55 criteria that a securitization should comply with in order to qualify for the STS label. These criteria aim at mitigating the risks arising from the process of securitization itself, allowing the investors to focus their assessment on the credit of the underlying assets. A major critical point however is that such a regulation without a proper enforcement mechanism is deemed to be at best suboptimal. National supervisors will be tasked to control the respect of these standards and sanction non-compliance, undermining the role of these assets in being really European, and creating possible conflicts due to different applications of standards between national regulators. Conclusion and final remarks The CMU action plan do not promise to eliminate the deep structural barriers that stands in the way of fully integrated capital markets. Moreover, much of the CMUs success depends on whether financing instruments represent free choices by SMEs or whether they are mainly dependent on the domestic market structure. In the latter case reform of the regulatory framework without harmonisation of national legislation will not guarantee enhanced financing opportunities for enterprises, jeopardizing the success of CMU itself. If the deep structural barriers that prevent cross-border integration of capital markets are not tackled, financial centres that are already at a competitive advantage will be in a good position to increase their market share. On a side note, the effect of Brexit has a huge weight in the future of CMU, being London the most important financial hub in the continent. Brexit offers however also the opportunity to revise the governance system of the CMU, proposing the stepping up of ESMA competencies in supervising European instruments. The UK was against further centralisation of competencies at the EU level, but now such a possibility should be taken into consideration, in order to strengthen the common supervision same as happened within the framework of the Banking union. Reference: Black, B. S. (2000) The Core Institutions that Support Strong Securities Markets. Business Lawyer, 55, 1565-1607. Commain, S., (2016) The securitisation regulation: missing the target?. CEPOB, 16/16 Demary, M., Hornik, J., Watfe, G. (2016) SME financing in the EU: moving beyond the one-size-fits-all. Bruges European Economic Policy Briefings, 40/2016. ECB (European Central Bank) (2012) Financial Integration Report (Frankfurt: ECB). European Commission (2015a) Green Paper: Building a Capital Markets Union, COM(2015) 63 à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ nal. European Commission (2015b) Action Plan on Building a Capital Market Union, COM(2015) 468 final. Giovannini, A., Mayer, C., Micossi, S., Di Noia, C., Onado, M., Pagano, M., Polo, A. (2015) Restarting European Long-Term Investment Finance, CEPR Press. Quaglia, L., Howarth, D., Liebe, M. (2016) The Political Economy of European Capital Markets Union. Journal of Common Market Studies, 54, 185-203. [1] A New Start for Europe: My Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change, http://ec.europa.eu/about/juncker-commission/docs/pg_en.pdf [2] Chaired by the British Johnathan Hill and lately by Dombrovsksis after the Brexit vote. [3] Council Directive 93/22/EEC of 10 May 1993 on investment services in the securities field. [4] Markets in Financial Instruments Directive 2004/39/EC [5] Historically in the USA from 1933 with the Glass-Steagall Act commercial and investment banking were separated until 1991, fostering a deepening of capital market financing in the country. [6] http://www.politico.eu/article/moving-money-a-capital-markets-union-primer/ [7] http://www.doingbusiness.org/data [8] Regulation (EU) No 345/2013 on European venture capital funds and Regulation (EU) No 346/2013 on European social entrepreneurship funds.