Background to the drama Essay

‘A View from a Bridge’ is a play inspired by Miller’s own background, in terms of plot and context. Miller grew up in America and was the son of two immigrants. In the late 1940s he became interested in the work and lives of the communities and Longshoremen of New York’s Brooklyn Harbour, a place where he had in fact previously worked. Many of the workers were exploited by their bosses, underpaid and had only recently immigrated to the United States. It was during this time that a young lawyer friend of Miller’s ‘mentioned a story he’d recently heard of a longshoreman who had ratted to the Immigration Bureau on two brothers, his own relatives, who were living illegally in his very own home, in order to break up an engagement between one of them and his niece. ‘ Miller took this story combined with his upbringing and experiences on a recent trip to Sicily and provided the background to the drama ‘A View from a Bridge’. The play takes place in Brooklyn around 1950s. Catherine is an orphan who lives with her aunt and uncle, Beatrice and Eddie Carbone. Eddie agrees to Beatrice’s two relatives, Marco and Rodolpho, both of whom are illegal immigrants. Eddie, the plays protagonist, has a very particular view of the qualities of a man. When other characters don’t conform to these masculine expectations it leads to hostility and aggression resulting in death. Our first impression of Eddie is that of a simple, average man. He comes across as a hardworking, friendly, kind and generous husband and uncle: especially as he is prepared to accept and welcome his wife Beatrice’s illegal immigrant cousins into his own home. However Eddie has a very strong point of view of the qualities of manliness, believing that a real man should be strong, tough and mean. The appearance of a man should be with dark features and big size. He thinks that a real man should be like him, the breadwinner who works hard, doing work that uses muscle and not much brain: â€Å"I worked like a dog†. He perhaps also thinks that a man would always look at a pretty woman in a sexual way rather than just another person; this is shown when he says there are â€Å"bad men† at Catherine’s workplace. Another quality which Eddie considers to manly is power. Eddie’s views on manliness are also based around the ideas of protecting your family and loved ones, providing for your family and keeping your pride and dignity. Eddie tries his very best to keep to these things as he feels very strongly of being a man. He shows this by showing concern when Catherine buys a new skirt. He says, â€Å"Where you going all dressed up? † and, â€Å"It’s too short ain’t it? † He is concerned because he doesn’t want her attracting too much attention from other men, like when he says, â€Å"I don’t like the looks they’re giving you in the candy store†. This overprotectiveness leads to conflict on a small scale between him and Catherine as she says â€Å"Eddie, I wish there was one guy you couldn’t tell me things about! † This dialogue shows that Eddie has been overprotective before and Catherine has realized it. She does not say it seriously but rather, a joke; however she is actually trying to express that he’s being too overprotective. This power that Eddie considers to be manly also creates many other incidents on small scales and Eddie starts to show open hostility towards the other characters. Firstly when Rodolfo, Marco and Eddie are talking about oranges and lemons Eddie becomes very hostile when Rodolfo corrects him, â€Å"Lemons are green†. Eddie lashes out at Rodolfo when he corrects him about the colour of the lemon and becomes slightly aggressive â€Å"I know lemons are green for Christ’s sake†. Eddie becomes hostile and aggressive because he believes knowledge and being ‘right’, amongst other things, is where the power lies. Miller uses this to show how something as insignificant as a lemon can create hostility and aggression all because of a manly characteristic of wanting power and respect. Another example of Eddie’s pettiness is during a conversation about Marco’s family back home in Italy. Eddie tries to suggest an affair with Marco’s wife but Rodolfo again corrects him saying â€Å"it’s more strict in our town† We are able to see how Eddie is becoming aggressive through Miller’s stage directions. Eddie goes from being hostile and sarcastic â€Å"(laughing)† to aggressive â€Å"(rises, pacing up and down)† as a direct reaction to the immigrants differing culture. The stage directions often say a lot more about the characters then the actual script itself and also greatly contribute to the heightening of tension throughout. Not only do they describe the positions of the characters on set; they help the audience to identify with their feelings. Miller begins a scene with a simple conversation about a recent trip to Africa which Marco and Rodolfo had undergone through work. However, tension is still created, regardless of the triviality of the conversational subject, by Eddie, who, from a simple glance at Catherine, appears to be sceptical about whether the trip took place â€Å"They went to Africa once. On a fishing boat. (Eddie glances at her. ) It’s true, Eddie†. Eddie then retreats to his rocker, a prop which Miller makes significant throughout the play as it acts as Eddie’s position of authority, as his â€Å"throne† – when in his rocker, he feels very much at the helm of the household and Miller uses this in order to show how Eddie feels he has power yet a rocker is slightly unsuitable as it does not assume a fixed position The conversation then continues further, though it is clear from Miller’s use of stage directions that Eddie is disregarding anything Rodolfo says to him, and talking to Marco exclusively, creating an uneasy atmosphere and increasing the tension further.

Richard Gregory Rust hadn’t always been ‘Mr. Old School’

No. Hard as it is to comprehend in today's World of airborn luchadores and chair-wielding bump-machines, Richard's nonchalant style of wrestling was once the universal norm. He didn't need to refer to himself as â€Å"Old School†, because, at the time, what he was doing wasn't old at all. It was, in fact, state-of-the-art. Fresh. Dare I say – he was considered â€Å"New-School†. He sighed. Boy, how things had changed. His two oak-toned eyes glared at the images beaming out of the TV screen. They had seen a lot in their fifty years on this Earth, yet what they currently observed before them was a struggle to comprehend: A young-looking, frail-framed male – clad in an extravagant mask and a UCW T-shit – dove gallantly over an official UCW ring's top rope, landing onto another similar looking lad, who – quite obviously – waited to catch him on the outside. They called it a plancha. He called it bullshit. It made no sense to him, at all. ‘Why had the art of professional wrestling become nothing more than a glorified circus show?' he asked himself – no doubt, not feeling too dissimilar to the great Stu Hart when he exclaimed â€Å"that's a great way to break your neck†, after watching a clip of his grand-nephew, Teddy Hart, perform a triple-jump four-fifty moonsault†¦ Or something along those lines. Ricky Rust, however, was hardly quick-witted or half as nifty with words as Stu Hart was – and, so, simply settled on exclaiming: â€Å"Fucking hell, that's stupid†. â€Å"Heh† – It was somewhere in between a giggle and a laugh. Simon restricted himself from all-out cackling, as he didn't wish to seem as though he was in agreement. â€Å"Now, now, Ricky. Don't be like that. I know it all looks very different to what you're used to, but it'll grow on you. Trust me.† He assured; but his heart wasn't really into it. Deep down, he knew that what he was saying wasn't entirely true. Simon Isosceles was merely a sports agent. And not a professional wrestling-specific one, either. Ricky Rust was simply one of the many clients contained within his black book. In actually fact – Simon never really understood what the appeal to wrestling was; but – being dedicated to job, and loyal individual – he put his all into catering for Rust's need. Never-the-less, he was merely a sports agent – yet, even he could sense that UCW wasn't really the right place for â€Å"Mr. Old School†, Ricky Rust. But he had a way of being forever optimistic. â€Å"That's just the lighter guys' division. There's more on the tape, y'know.† He chirped; piping up again, and trying to drag Ricky into a similar mind-frame. â€Å"There'll be som'in' you like. Dave said there's some technical stuff at the end.† Ricky wasn't buying it. Plonking himself on the cream, leather sofa beside the twenty-seven year veteran; Simon snatched the remote controller and jammed down on the fast forward button. The duet sat in silence for a moment, as the images on the screen whizzed forward at a faster pace than they already had been. â€Å"Here it is† Simon began again; releasing the forwards button, and letting the UCW promotion tape return to it's usual pace. Ricky watched as a round grappler – boasting a pair of shorts and matching kickpads – snatched his opponent's thin arms into a Full Nelson. Then, proceeded to pop his hips forward, arch his back and heave his foe backwards†¦ sending him over his own head†¦ and †¦ landing right on his neck. â€Å"Ooh† Ricky couldn't help but release an audible gasp. He promptly filled the now empty space in his lungs with silvery nicotine smoke. As the sound of the tape's commentators nattering away about â€Å"Dragon Suplexes† and â€Å"Stiff American Strong-Style† buzzed irritating on his eardrum, Ricky casually exhaled; before dryly stating: â€Å"So that's what passes for technical wrestling these days†. He put the cigarette to his lips once more. â€Å"Oh, come on Rick. Show some enthusiasm. This is probably an old tape, anyway. UCW's probably different, now. Probably more†¦y'know†¦ your style† Was Simon's last ditch attempt at getting Ricky interested. And â€Å"†¦Probably† was Ricky's flat reply. The conversation was over. No more was, or could, be said to attempt to change the aged wrestler's mind. That's just the way Ricky Rust was – Ridged. Deeply set in his ways. But he was going into UCW. Underground Championship Wrestling. A place that claims to be â€Å"A break from Tradition†. And as Simon settled into the sofa to watch the rest of the tape; he couldn't help but wonder if a man like Ricky could ever bring himself to adapt. ‘He better', Simon thought. Because if he couldn't†¦He wouldn't even stand a chance.

Benefits Of Customer Relationship Management Essay

Benefits Of Customer Relationship Management - Essay Example Studies show that CRM was developed because consumer differed in their spending habits and preferences. If all consumers were alike, there would be less need for CRM. Consequently, understanding customer profitability and drivers can enable customers to better customize their offerings to optimize the general value of their client portfolio (Kaufmann, 2013). The attention that organizations are currently giving CRM is because today’s marketing environment is highly concentrated and more competitive. CRM is an enterprise-oriented concept covering all sections of a business (Baran and Galka, 2013). In addition, besides customer service, CRM would also encompass manufacturing, assembling, purchasing, product testing, sales and engineering, human resource, and marketing. CRM is a complex concept that mines customer information, which has been retrieved from all customer touch points, which then creates and supports the organizations to have a comprehensive perspective of the custo mer (Kaufmann, 2013). The result is that organizations can identify and determine the right category of customers and forecast the trend of their future purchases. CRM is also an all-embracing concept that smoothly incorporates field support operations, customer service, sales, and other processes that concern customers. CRM is a concept touching on how companies can retain their most profitable clients and simultaneously lower costs and increase values of engagement that then increases profitability (Baran and Galka, 2013).  

Marketing Strategy and Success of Nokia Term Paper

Marketing Strategy and Success of Nokia - Term Paper Example The Finnish company Nokia has gone through significant transformational changes since its inception over 150 years ago. Growing from a small company to a mobile phone manufacturing giant that is today, Nokia has had difficulties in its growth process. Venturing into different industries, Nokia has over time managed to survive through the years. The company has engaged in businesses such as rubber boots manufacturing, car tires manufacturing, and even TV sets (Harms, et al p. 132). Over time, Nokia has grown to become the biggest cell phone manufacturing company it is today connecting over 1.3 billion people globally through its handsets and the recently launched smartphones (Stole 2006, p. 6). Â  The company sells its products in about 150 countries globally and directly employs about 101,982 people in about 120 countries. Despite the company’s success in the cell phone business and its market leadership, it is fast losing to other more innovative and competitive companies su ch as Samsung and Apple. According to Williamson (2012, n.p.) in some of the traditionally markets known as Nokia’s dominant markets such as Europe, its own home country, the company is fast losing to its biggest rival Samsung. The loss of the smartphone business for the company has contributed to the slump in the company’s revenues. The company’s recent reduction in its profitability and revenues can attest to this trend in business (Chikezie 2011, p. 6). In an effort to win back its lost market share, Nokia in 2011 got into a partnership with Microsoft in order to manufacture smartphones running on a windows operating system (Wingfield 2013, web). However, the deal did not pay off much, as Microsoft finally acquired Nokia, hence taking over the business as part of a Microsoft business. This is in a bid to help the company regain its market through different management. However, this proves unlikely, if Nokia’s strategy does not focus on low-end phones.à ‚  

Discuss the meaning of MRP terms, such as planned order release and Assignment

Discuss the meaning of MRP terms, such as planned order release and schedule order receipts - Assignment Example Moreover, the proposed order is determined by balancing the expected order receipt in the procurement lead-time of the item. Therefore, a planned order release transaction incorporates within a particular time, for it to schedule within a companies or organizations procedure. Confirmation of the order is determined by balancing the amount of the order in the receipts of procurement over a particular period (Coyle et al., 2012). It is a scheduled order designed to meet the customers’ demand in a market within the firms planned orders and forecasted demand. Planned order within the materials requirement planning of a company meets the customers’ demand the time speculated to reach a customer. Demand in MRP systems originates from finished goods within forecast design or components of products. Moreover, the sources of MRP system fall under independent and dependent requirements. An Independent order affects the demand for finished goods while dependent demand refers to demand items, which are subassemblies or component parts used in the production of finished

Horrible and Strange Practice Under the Context of Our Modern Culture Essay

Horrible and Strange Practice Under the Context of Our Modern Culture - Essay Example Initially, it would seem that suttee is such a horrible and strange practice if perceived under the context of our modern culture. However, the essence of this act bears such a close resemblance to our own values, particularly those pertaining to the level of love and piety of husbands and wives. Both cultures acknowledge the sacred union and celebrate the special bonding of couples. As mentioned, those people believe that suttee purged a couple of all accumulated sins, warranted salvation and guaranteed an afterlife reunion. In our modern culture, people believe that husbands and wives should work together to achieve their familial goals as well as enrich their spirituality. It is in this way that values of the modern and archaic cultures converge. It is in the â€Å"Til-Death-Do-Us-Part† concept that the two cultures differ. We believe that couples, those who enter into marriage at least, should stay together in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer. However, in the e vent that one of them dies, the marriage ties are severed. This means the church and the state grant the other the freedom to marry again. On the contrary, selected Hindu cultures practising suttee deem that the union of a husband and a wife does not end in death (of the man) and goes beyond the present life. This stems from the Hindu belief of the after-life. On the given scale, I believe that I fall on 3. I think that diversity of cultures should be respected. People should show consideration for the culture and customs of others. This is tantamount to upholding their inherent right as a people to practice their customs and nourish their culture no matter how different these are from our own.

Evolution of the Cellphone and How it Changed our Lives Essay

Evolution of the Cellphone and How it Changed our Lives - Essay Example Then came Motorolla MicroTAC 9800X which was considered small during its time because it can fit into a shirt pocket. It featured an 8-character dot-matrix red LED display with an innovative new flip design. In 1993, Motorola introduced that Bag Phone 1992 which was power intensive compared to cellphone today because it runs on a 3 watts of power while today’s cellphone only requires .06 watt or less. During the same year however, competetion in the celphone industry begun. For the first time, Nokia introduced its model 1011, the first mass produced GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) phone. A year later, another competitor went in the cellphone industry with IBM Simon, IBM’s first smart phone. From then on, cellphones slowly added other features such as the addition of customized ringtones in the Mova N103 Hyper (1996). Siemens went into the market and put color on the LCD screen (1997). In 1998, Nokia introduced its first phone that removed the external ante nnae with its model 8810. In 1999, several features on the cellphone was added by different manufacturing companies. Nokia 7110 introduced the first mobile phone with a WAP browser that can surf the internet and do the functionality of an email. The popularity of MP3 on cellphones was also first introduced with Samsung SPH-M100 Uproar. Benefon Esc also pioneered the idea of integrating GPS into a cellphone. Sharp also introduced the first multicolor display screen with its J-SH04 model which had a mere 0.1 megapixel resolution. A year later, the Bluetooth capabilities in cellphone was introduced with Ericsson T39 (White). The introduction of Lithium Ion Batteries was... The researcher states that moblile phones or cellphones has certainly gone a long way. From an enormous, 80 pound, car mounted communication apparatus, it is now miniaturized to a small terminal in our backpockets. Its size may have been reduced but certainly not its battery life and functionality. The former two pounds weight and 60 minutes batterly life is now reduced to four ounces and can now extend to more than a week of battery life. What used to be a â€Å"brick† is now a full-fledged computer, with a video camera, audio/video playback and high-speed internet. Its functionality is so diverse that it can cater to various needs and preference of its users that extends beyond its use as a handheld mobile communication device that it is now called a personal trusted device. The celphone device in itself is no longer just a phone. It has evolved into an all purpose device that can virtually function like a computer. The introduction of apps or applications made its functiona lity almost limitless that it can enable users to do functions such as online banking, trade stocks and play games, just to name a few. The ways that cell phones have changed the world and our lives are just too many to fit in this paper. Suffice to say, that it has enriched human connection through mobile communication where access is almost universal because of its lowered cost. Its increased functionality also enriched our lives because it enabled us to do things easier. It may be a distraction at times, but it has definitely made this world a lot better.

Advanced entrepreneurship - legal and financial decisions Essay

Advanced entrepreneurship - legal and financial decisions - Essay Example Every year thousands of immigrants arrive in New York.The immigrants come with promising talent and academics,high hopes of living the American dream.Along with this,the natural increase in the population of a city resulted in a population growth rate of 5% The inhabitable land definitely does not increase with the same rate and this result into densification of population in the city centers. The two – bed room apartment, with all the traditional bulky furniture, that can be bought in no less than $500,000 can hardly accommodate a family of four, let alone allow them a comfortable living. Hence a problem exists and with it comes new opportunities to do business. The Industry: This business idea is related to furniture industry. A new product called ‘Space Saving Furniture’ is presented to Triangle Solutions as a prospective business opportunity in New York City, Manhattan and similar densely populated metropolitan areas. The art of furniture design combined with the latest technology in engineering yields a broad range of multi-purpose furniture products. The new designs are more comfortable, occupy lesser space, and can be easily modified to fit different needs throughout the day. The catalog of product includes a study table that turns into a two tier beds for kids at night, a superb sofa set that turns in to a double – bed when needed, a shelf that can be disassembled to give four small chairs if required and so on. The list includes a whole range of easy to operate furniture products that can fit into offices, bed rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, study rooms etc. and can serve at least two, if not more, functions at a time. Market Size: There are at least 2.14 million apartments in New York City alone according to a survey conducted in 2008 (DiNapoli, 2009, p. 1). Most of the residents of these apartments suffer with the problems of low accommodation. Compared with the real estate prices and monthly rents, space saving furniture is a financially feasible option for the apartment dwellers to increase their accommodation. Hence it is estimated that the product will be extremely popular with the majority of the population. Competition exists in this market as well. There are a few companies such as Resource Furniture which are already marketing the product. However, we believe that a strong marketing campaign can certainly attract the so far untapped customer base. Team Requirements: The team for this business must consist of following experts. Interior Decorator: To design the aesthetics of the furniture Product and Industrial Design Engineer: For general product design Mechanical Engineer: For material selection, load calculations and hydraulic system design etc. Marketing Manager: For devising marketing and sales strategy and its implementation Director Operations: To manage the production, inventory and general operations. Finance Officer: To manage finances. Scalability of the Product: The product is scalable over a good range of production and sales volume. Looking at the costs break down, we can observe that the product has very high initial, fixed costs and comparatively low variable cost. The initial cost includes the cost of equipments and machinery required for production and the design expenses. The variable costs include the materials, marketing and energy bills. Hence increasing the production and hence the sales volume will result in lesser payback time and greater profits. On the contrary, if low sales are forecasted for a particular product, then the costs can be reduced by using simpler production machinery instead of highly specialized machinery for each product. This machinery will have low initial and running cost but has more production time. Financials: The business can be started by establishing an office / display center at Furniture Market in New York. A small manufacturing facility will be set up close to the display center. The initial capital required for it is $2 5,000. All the

Critic and Target Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critic and Target - Term Paper Example The advancing science and technology resulted in different lifestyles, which definitely changed the group dynamisms. It thus irrelevant to attribute some of Comte’s principles to the life of the American society at the time that the likes of Du Bois lived (Du Bois 5). In his theory of positivism, Auguste Comte, one of the earliest French philosophers, devised a number of psychological theories in an attempt of analyzing the group dynamisms and the behavior of people in groups especially through his social doctrines based on science. Individual relationship is of essence in sustaining groups, this is a pertinent aspect of philosophy that investigates the group dynamics and the role of group relations in creating the different personalities in people (Comte and Ferre? 21). Different groups exhibit distinct features and are composed of members drawn together by common interests. A number of factors possibilities contributed to his ideas. Psychology is the study of the human mind, different people living in different times and geographical regions therefore exhibit different traits thus mindsets. W. E. B Du Bois was an American sociologist and a historian who grew up in the American generation of race discrimination. He became the first African American to earn a doctorate degree at Harvard and became a renowned historian. Among the philosophical ideas he learned included some fostered by Auguste Comte. The two grew up in different times and societies; they therefore have different views on psychological features. Making Du Bois a critic of Comte’s works therefore attracts a number of biases based on the different times and societies in which the two lived. The most important influence of the philosophical theories is the environment in which one lives. People living in different societies experience life differently and therefore form different mindsets. Comte’s theory of positivism became relevant to so many regardless of their societies. In this theory, he devised mechanisms of developing a cohesive society by analyzing the role of different aspects of human life such as religion and the sciences. He thus develops a hierarchy of these factors and their roles in creating a coherent and peaceful society. Analytically, most of his ideas reflect the society in which he lived. The seventeenth century France comprised of scientists and religion was integral in the lives of the people following the widespread faith in the Roman Catholic and the subsequent rise of the Protestants. Most of Comte’s ideas became essential in analyzing, understanding and therefore pacifying the French revolution. He grew up in the oppressing regimes of the Roman Empire, which thereafter led to the rise and culmination of the revolution. The unstable political situation in the French then therefore informed most of his theories, his theory of social evolution becomes outdated owing to their affiliations to the tumultuous times in France. Du Bois on the other hand lived in a highly segregated society. Furthermore, he belonged to the marginalized community and therefore faced many challenges. He therefore shares some of the ideologies fostered by Comte (Comte and Ferre? 15). During the time, the United States was undergoing a number of revolutions owing to the racial segregation that threatened the peace of the country. Under such similar circumstances, the ideas of positivism become relevant in explaining the future

Qualitative Research Methodology Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Qualitative Methodology - Research Paper Example While computer technology offers a plethora of benefits in its application to police administration, I assume that it would be met with resistance from management, employees, personnel, and other parties involved. The police administration has been using their old routines and systems for the past decades; abandoning those old routines in exchange of new technologies may pose difficulty for some people. It would take a lot of effort for the people involved to unlearn what they have been doing for the longest time, and then learn and adopt a new system that would eventually replace the old system. Those difficulties, challenges, and resistances must be properly addressed in order for the new system to survive and become successful. Finally, the behavior and attitude of people toward computer technology is mediated by the meanings and experiences they have with it. People possess both positive and negative opinions about using computers in police administration. In addition, the role o f computer technology in their lives is determined by their age, gender, class, and an entire system of values and beliefs. These values and beliefs, when uncovered, would yield a better understanding of their perspective and lead to the development of an E-Administration that is specifically tailored to suit their needs. Considering the abovementioned assumptions, a methodology that would allow me to gain a deep understanding of the subjects being studied is necessary. A methodology that would reveal the insights, beliefs, and experiences of the people would work best for my study. Among all the qualitative research methodologies available, ethnography is what I consider the most proper methodology that would yield the necessary data for my study. 2. Ethnography In a nut shell, ethnography tells the beliefs, values, and attitudes of a certain group of people or culture about something. Primarily applied in anthropology and sociology, the application of ethnography has been extended in the areas of market research, business, and practically any group of people or culture where an understanding of their beliefs, experiences, and attitudes is needed. Using ethnography would uncover the perception and opinion of the RAK Police about using computer technology in their administration. It would also reveal the meanings they hold about technology, which, in turn, influences their attitude towards computers. This would allow me to identify the probable reasons they have in avoiding or accepting the new system. Ethnography would allow me to see patterns of behavior that can be understood rationally and intuitively in a real world context. Their behavior towards the old system would expose the underlying problems and limitations. Understanding the problems of the old system is useful in designing the structure of the new system. Their behavior towards the new system, on the other hand, would serve as a measure of their readiness to accept E-Administration. Ethnography, in addition, would reveal the prevailing norms that shape the perception of the police administration about computer technology. Norms refer to the beliefs and values that a society hold about something. With ethnography, the challenges and resistances which are rooted in the

Blockbuster Australia Essay Example for Free

Blockbuster Australia Essay Blockbuster Australia is a subsidiary of Blockbuster Inc. that operates more than 400 stores in Australia. The companys leadership in Australia is made possible through the acquisition of smaller video rental houses and the franchising of the company brand to other businesses. Blockbuster is noted for its commitment to provide the most convenient means for its customers to access movie and games using multiple channels of distribution, like its physical stores, by mail, and through the Internet. Worldwide retail home video industry revenues for 2007 reaches more than $20 billion, half of the sales came from international locations, like Australia. The retail home video industry is an important market for movie studios as box office performances are not enough to provide studios with profits. Blockbuster Australias success in capturing a large portion of the multi-billion industry is largely due its number of stores, franchisees, and sources of information. The companys sources of information include: word of mouth, print advertisements, online data sources, and social networking sites. Word of Mouth Word of mouth happens when there is a verbal exchange of information, generally, of positive nature, like recommendations and referrals. Blockbuster takes care of its customers so that theyd tell their friends and acquaintances to obtain their home video needs from any of its outlets. Word of mouth can be made through face-to-face communication or through the phone, e-mail, and SMS. Marketers expands the use of word of mouth as a promotional technique. Instead of waiting for the natural buzz to happen because of excellent products and services, the company creates its own buzz by engaging individuals to talk about the company and its products. In the Internet, word of mouth promotion can happen in blogs, forums and social networking sites. A person engaged by the company can offhandedly insert a good comment or begin a conversation that would have an underlying promotional intent. Print Advertisements Promoting products and services in print is a classic marketing technique that remains highly effective. Blockbuster can buy spaces in newspapers or magazines to increase customer awareness and maintain visibility. The company can also create paper handouts that would lists their latest offerings and hand them to customers who visit their stores. Not only will the customers read about the company, others around that person would also learn about the company. Online Data Sources There are many online advertising and marketing services offered in the World Wide Web. For instance, Blockbuster can go to Business for Sale Online to promote its products and services. It can also employ affiliate marketing to boost traffic to its site and increase sales. Social Networking Sites Social networking sites are highly popular places for all sorts of people from all age groups to gather and exchange information. Blockbuster can post an advertisement on any of this site to increase customer recall. The company can even engage marketers to talk about it in a manner that does not sound like a promotional pitch. BIBLIOGRAPHY Business for Sale Online (September 11, 2000), http://www. businessonline. net. au/main. htm Sorce, Patricia, and Dewitz, Adam. The Case for Print Media Advertising in the Internet Age. New York: Printing Industry Center at Rochester Institute of Technology, 2007. http://print. rit. edu/pubs/picrm200602. pdf United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Blockbuster Inc. Form 10-K. http://sec. gov/Archives/edgar/data/1085734/000119312507044360/d10k. htm (accessed October 14, 2008). Word of Mouth. Answers Corporation (2008), http://www. answers. com/topic/word-of-mouth

The sociology of deviance

The sociology of deviance How important and relevant are Mertons Strain theory and Beckers labelling theory in our understanding of deviance? In this essay I will analyse the importance and relevance of a structional functionalist view of deviance seen through the lens of strain theory and a symbolic interactionalist perspective through the use of labelling theory. Strain Theory attempts to explain why crime is resolute amongst the lower classes who are subjected to the least opportunities for economic achievement (O Connor 2007). It focuses on the positions that individuals occupy in a social system, not on the characteristics of the individual. Labeling theory explains why sustained delinquent behaviour stems from destructive social interactions and encounters (Siegel Welsh 2008). These theories work in harmony as the former theory explains why deviance begins and the latter gives an explanation as to why deviance continues through the lifespan. I will be describing and evaluating these theories to further answer the question of: just how important are these two theories for the understanding deviance? The sociology of deviance is the systematic study of social norm violation that is subject to social sanction according to (Henry 2009 p.1). Deviant behaviour is behaviour that does not follow common perceptions, when people are deviant they do not conform to expectations. It is difficult to give an exact definition of deviance as many major theorists have cast a vast variety of perspectives on what it really is. Some sociologists believe that deviance is the violation of any social rule, whereas other sociologists argue that deviance does not have to be a real behaviour for it to be labelled deviant (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008). Downes Rock (2003) state that deviance is everywhere and not only that but it leaves traces everywhere. Theories of deviance are rarely catapulted into political settings to be accepted or rejected in their entirety; rather they trickle in from many sources. The influence of ideas is always changing due to the instability of political circumstances (Downs Rock 2003). The increase in deviance may be due to the fact that people are confused about the correct values and morals to hold. As a result of this ever evolving world there are new variations of deviant behaviour occurring on a daily basis, ranging from minor violations of the law such as not paying a television licence to major deviance like abuse scandals in regard to the Catholic Church. These acts are considered to be deviant as they are acts which the rest of society deems as unacceptable (Tierney 2006). Traditional values such as religious views have been shattered to pieces because of ongoing scandals in the Catholic Church. Individual pursuits drive people; religion has no impact on the expected standards of people in todays materialist driven society, which in turn leads to an increase in deviant behaviours. The Functionalist perspective stems from the work of Durkheim who believed that peoples social roles or functions hold society together (Flynn 2009). In contrast to this is the Symbolic interaction approach where the emphasis is on the way people construct the meaning of others acts (Becker McCall 1990). Durkheim believed that crime is not only functional but it is necessary, it only become dysfunctional if the rates are either too high or too low (Covington 1999). The functionalist analysis of deviance begins with society as a whole; it looks for the source of deviance in the nature of society rather than in the psychological nature of the individual. Durkheim believes society is held together by shared values, and if these values are not constantly reaffirmed through the generations it may signify the collapse of society. One may put forward the argument that shared values are not a fundamental part of society today. It proves difficult to reaffirm values through generations when the family when parents are working long hours. Parental influence over children has declined; due to this children seek values from available sources such as the television or internet, resulting in the promotion of materialistic values which are in turn the norms today. If the community collapsed, and the collective conscience failed the result was a state of anomie (Covington 1999). In essence anomie represents the problems in society caused by social deregulation. Merton developed an anomie theory based on Durkheims earlier work which referred to a deinstitutionalization of norms that happens when there is a disjunction between the importance of cultural goals and institutional means (Featherstone Deflem 2003). Mertons strain theory argues that structures in society may encourage deviance and crime, it is a structural functionalist explanation. Functionalist theories offers the basis for policies that are wide-ranging in their scope (Downes Rock 2003), however Gouldner (1970) believes that Functionalism thinks of systems as mutually interacting variables rather than in terms of cause and effect, thus one may infer that it is impossible to implement policy to stop a particular effect if the cause is not highlighted. Theories of deviance are extremely important as Downes Rock (2003) believe that all theories of deviance have implications for policy making. That said however the ease of implementation of polices may prove difficult. For example doing something about anomie would be far more difficult than tackling vandalism by technical means (Downes Rock p. 317 2003) However, Mertons anomie theory is of great relevance to the realm of policy as it infers a definite cause and effect statement relating to the disjunction between goals and means (Downes Rock 2003). The main principle of Social Strain Theory is that some social structures exert a definite pressure upon certain persons in society to engage in non-conforming rather than conforming conduct (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008 p.33). This is not to say that certain social structures leave the individual with no other choice but to turn to crime, rather inadequate regulation leaves the individual with a different perspective on means to financial gain. I agree that this system is a great source of inequality and subsequent deviance in our society today that the less powerful groups are labelled so negatively and punished severely. Every crime should be treated in the same manner, regardless of whether they are from an underprivileged area or a high flying business person. An impact of cycle of deficient regulation may also be seen in Beckers Labelling theory. This theory was greatly influenced by the symbolic interaction approach as it is people who determine and give meaning to labels. The justice system operates on behalf of powerful groups in society; hence one has to ask the question what behaviours are criminal? The two strands of this theory are a concern to address how a particular behaviour comes to be labelled as deviant and secondly what is the impact of this label. (Becker p.9 1963) states that The deviant is one whom that label has been successfully applied: deviant behaviour is behaviour that people so label. In relation to deviance Labelling theory places the importance on the reaction to behaviour not the behaviour itself (Macionis Plummer 2007). It was this belief that leads Becker to place labels on types of behaviour, but who are the people labelled as deviant in society. To put it simply, labelling theory is concerned with what happens to criminals after they have been labelled, also suggesting that actual crime rates may be heightened by criminal sanctions. Unlike the Functionalist perspective, Symbolic Interaction is concerned with the process that underline social life and consequently the mechanisms by which meanings are given to those processes. It centres on the creativity capacity of humans and their ability to share interactions with others (Walklate 2007). In relation to deviance it is concerned with how certain behaviours come to be understood as deviant. Becker argued that behaviours of less powerful groups for example the poor, or disadvantaged are more likely to be criminalized than those who are privileged such as the white and wealthy. This happens because there is an assumption that crime is a social label along with the creation of law which are made by people in positions of power and enforced on people without power (Hopkins Burke 2002). The judicial system criminalizes less dominant and less powerful member of society, thus Becker argues that some rules may be cynically designed to keep the less powerful in their place (Hopkins Burke p.137 2002). Becker (1963) disagreed with the notion that those who break the law will be labelled as a criminal. He brought our attention to the fact that in many cases the innocent are accused, along with this only some of those who break the law are punished and brought through the system (Hopkins Burke 2002). Becker used a concept developed by Merton called the self fulfilling prophecy which is what labelling theory is most widely known for. When a situation is given a false definition it evokes a new behaviour in the person which as a result makes the false assumption comes through (Hopkins Burke p.142 2002). Becker felt that most criminals were in the first place falsely defined as a criminal, not only are their actions defined by society as deviant, the label is then extended to them as a person (Hopkins Burke 2002). Mertons concept of strain refers to pressure the lower economic classes feel when they try to achieve societys goals of monetary success (Flynn 2009). Merton felt that in society, people were focused on achieving high financial success which although exceptionally productive on one hand, on the other was a direct source of stress and strain for the individual (Cohen 1966). In effect there is a distortion between culturally induced aspirations for economic success and structurally distributed possibilities of achievement. This is in accordance with labeling theory view where the people who commit deviant acts are probably under strain from society to achieve monetary success. An example of this would be in relation to higher education, people without the means or cultural knowledge to aspire to respected professions are more likely to engage in deviant behaviour than those with access to achieving their goals (Flynn 2009). Within labelling theory there are two important concepts, those of primary deviance and secondary deviance. Merton thinks that the sense of strain that men feel is an accumulation of frustration, despair and injustice (Cohen 1966). Structural and Individual strain are the two main types of strain in society that promote deviance and crime. The former refers to the cycle of deficient regulation in society that has a negative impact on how an individual evaluates their needs, means and opportunities (Flynn 2009). The latter concept is defined by OConnor (2007) as frictions and pains experienced by the individual as they look for ways to meet their needs. Primary deviance in labeling theory involves acts committed by someone without a criminal identity such as an underage drinker. This act provokes little reaction from others around us, therefore it does not have any impact on the persons self concept (Macionis Plummer 2007). Secondary deviance develops through peoples actions towards the person committing the deviant act they may be pushed away and stigmatized making the crime worse, it is caused by the criminal label (Hopkins Burke 2002). It evolves from primary deviance being labelled, which is more likely to happen if you are from a less powerful group (Macionis Plummer 2007), thus mirrors Mertons argument about distortion between economic success and possibility of achievement (Flynn 2009). Merton noted that there were five possible responses or adaptations to strain that happen when people are not in a position to legally attain internalised social goals (Hopkins Burke p.107 2002). This is a perfect example of how labels are the cause of further deviant behaviour. Durkheim and Merton are one in believing that strain results in deviant behaviour, however Durkheim felt the main causes of strain were changes in society. Adapting through conformity is a self explanatory explanation whereby people both the cultural gaols of society and the means of achieving them (Burke 2002), this ensures the continuality and stability of society (Thio, Calhoun Conyers 2008), people do not break laws when achieving their means. Retreatism is considered the most uncommon adaptation by Merton, they reject social goals and the means to attain them (Hopkins Burke 2002), their behaviour is not normal and are considered true aliens (Thio, Calhoun Conyers p.37 2008). Ritualism is similar to conforming behaviour; they adhere to rules for their own sake with an emphasis on means of achievement rather than outcome goals (Hopkins Burke 2002). Innovation is a response to the pressure placed on the individual for success. The innovator embarks on novel routes to achieve success due to barriers for them to achieve success by socially approved means. They have the potential to be seen as deviant (Hopkins Burke 2002), as they engage in illegal means to achieve success. The final response is rebellion, whereby people not only reject but also want to change the existing social system and its goals (Hopkins Burke 2002). The very word rebellion connotes negative meaning thus showing the existence of labeling and stigma as used by Merton. People are stereotyped as being incapable of following normal behaviour and the general population treats them differently, resulting in discrimination in employment, and in many other areas of social life The internalization of labels by offenders may very well produce a career in criminality because of the negative reactions they receive (Hopkins Burke 2002). However, in contrast as Merton argued Cohen agreed that the root cause of the original emergence of delinquent behaviour was the economic pursuit of money success (Downes Rock 2003). A lot of labels come about through the stigmatization of a particular behaviour. Stigma is powerful negative label that has the potential to radically change a persons self concept (Macionis Plummer 2007), thus it is an influential force in the field of labelling. Slattery (2003) notes that a stigma can either be ascribed or achieved, you can be born with one or earn one. Similar to this is strain theories focus on negative relations between people, focusing on how the individual is not treated as they would like to be treated (Agnew 2002). Labelling theory has several limitations; firstly because labelling is very relative it does not take into account some behaviour like murder which is condemned virtually everywhere. Consequently it is most useful to apply to less serious behaviours like youth vandalism. Secondly, labelling may be seen in two ways- it could encourage more criminal behaviour of it could curb it because of people do not like to have a stigma attached to them. (Macionis Plummer 2007). Finally another limitation of labelling theory is that it does not tell us what are the root causes of primary deviance so how do these people become deviant in the first place? They cannot be labelled deviant if they have not engaged in that type of behaviour. Both labeling and strain theory emphasize the role society has to play in crime. Deviance is shaped in its transactions with events and people around it. Labelling theorists in particular have occupied themselves with the workings of the social reaction to deviance (Downes Rock 2003). Dissimilar to this is Durkheims perspective of deviance as performing functions that are essential to society through, encouraging social change, promoting social unity by responding to deviance, clarifying moral boundaries and affirming cultural norms and values (Macionis Plummer 2007). Sumner (1994) argued that deviance is not applicable to sociology today. He believes that the sociology of deviance died in 1975. Similarly Miller, Wright and Dannels (2001) claim to find empirical support for it and signify the death of deviance in respect to the world today. However, on the other hand Goode (2002) claims that at a certain stage in its history, the sociology of deviance developed a large number of ideas, concepts, and theories that influenced related fields. These ideas included: stigma which influenced disability and transgender studies, anomie in social theory, labelling in ethnic studies and the sociology of the underdog in queer theory. Regardless of the fact that sociology of deviance did not create these concepts, the field did help project them onto the intellectual map. Goode concludes that The social construction of deviance is once again controversial, relevant, central to our lives, and fundamental to our understanding of todays world (Goode 2002). I must agree with this statement as not a day goes by without some type of crime or deviant behaviour brought to our attention. Cohen (1966) believes that rules in everyday life provide a blueprint for every human gesture; consequently every rule then creates potentiality for deviance. However, as mentioned previously- are we really all aware of societal norms and values? I believe that society today has failed to provide a blueprint or clear rules for people to live by, hence leading to the unprecedented rates of crime and social deviance. Strain theory and labelling theory do not pay much attention to psychological factors involved in deviant behaviour, this is a limitation to both I feel. I would question the generalizability of strain theory as it emphasises the focus of materialism for society today. However, much crime is committed by people who simply want to get by in life, to survive. They feel they have no other option but to commit crime to put food on the table. Crime may not necessarily be about reaching the top in society, it may just be about getting by. Labeling theory is a lot more individual in its focus; it is more concerned with peoples reactions when placed in a designated role by society. References Miller, J, M., Wright, A., Dannels, D. (2001) Is Deviance Dead? The Decline of a Sociological Research Specialization. The American Sociologist, Volume 32: 43-59. Sumner, C. (1994). The Sociology of Deviance: An Obituary. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press. Downes, D. Rock, P. (4th Ed.) (2003). Understanding Deviance. New York: Oxford University Press. Henry, S. (2009). Short Introductions: Social Deviance. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press. Goode, E (2002). Does the death of the sociology of deviance claim make sense? The American Sociologist. Volume 33: 107-118. Thio, A., Calhoun, T., C., Conyers, A. (5th Ed.) (2008) Readings in Deviant Behaviour. United States of America: Pearson International, Inc. Cohen, A., K. (1966). Deviance and Control. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc. OConnor, T. (2007). Strain theories of crime. Megalinks in Criminal Justice. Retrieved March 19, 2010. Available at: http://www.apsu.edu/oconnort/crim/crimtheory11.htm Gouldner, A. (1970) The Coming Crisis in Western Sociology. New York: London. Covington, P. (1999) Deviance: Functionalist explanations. The Functionalist Explanation of Crime. Retrieved 22nd March, 2010. Available at: http://www.sociology.org.uk/pcfcri95.pdf. Hopkins Burke, R (2002) An Introduction to Criminological Theory. Canada: Willan Publishing. Tierney, J. (2nd Ed) (2002). Criminology: Theory and context. England: Pearson Education Limited. Macionis J, J. Plummer, K. (4th Ed) (2007) Sociology: Global Introduction. England: Pearson Education limited Walklate, S. (4th Ed) (2007). Understanding Criminology. England: Open University Press. Becker, H. (1963). The Outsiders. New York: Free Press. Slattery, M (2003). Key Ideas in Sociology .United Kingdom: Nelson Thornes Limited Agnew, R (1992). Foundation for a general strain theory of crime and delinquency. Criminology. Volume 30, Issue 1, p.47-87 Siegel, L, J., Welsh B., C. (2008) (10th Ed. Juvenile Delinquency: Theory, Practice, and Law. USA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

Byron When We Two Parted Poem Analysis English Literature Essay

Byron When We Two Parted Poem Analysis English Literature Essay I should note that this poem is often read as meaning that a prior secret lover has made a public fool of him- or herself, and is now being gossiped about in society. Friends discuss it openly in front of the speaker, not knowing of his past relationship, and it reopens all the wounds of the original separation. I should also note that I read this poem slightly differently, based on all the verbal cues that have to do with death, as meaning that the ex-lover is now dead, and is nevertheless the object of societys ridicule as a result of a misspent life, and that the far-distant future meeting is in the afterlife. Its supportable on the face of the poem, but isnt, I believe, the traditional take on it. And thats the beauty of poems- they are subject to individual interpretation. STRUCTURE The poem is divided in four stanzas and each one in eight verses. The rhyme used by Byron follows this structure: abab cdcd efef ghgh ijij klkl mnmn kbkb. Separating each stanza in four verses, we have the rhyme more clear, each even verse and each odd verse rhyme with its equivalent even or odd verse. This structure gives to the poem a lot of rythm, giving the sensation of musicality. RHETORICAL FIGURES In this poem it is too difficult to find rhetorical figures, due to the most important of all the poem is the strength of the words. Despite of this, it can be seen, for example, in the third line a metaphor: half broken-hearted; the poet is expressing us how he and his lover feel when they are two parted. Another striking thing found in the poem is the second part of the fourth stanza. It is the only stanza which repeats the rhyme of other verses and not just the rhyme, but the word itself. E.g. (4) To sever for years/ (30)After long years. If we pay attention, there is also a correspondence of meaning, in the first stanza Byron is telling they are going to sever for years and in the last stanza he is thinking of what he will do when they remeet. With the other two verses is the same, at the first part: (2)In silence and tears is how they react when they are two parted, and in the last part of the poem: (32)With silence and tears is how he is going to have to greet her since they did not meet. COMMENTARY The poem, as I said before, is divided in four stanzas, and each stanza talks about different visions of this love separation. On the whole, the poem is all the time giving the feeling of the pain that the poet has due to the separation of the two lovers; what we cannot know is if the separation is because of death or maybe because she split up with him. In the first stanza the poet begins with the main topic, remembering the separation of the two lovers, how they felt: half broken-hearted , showing his pain. Also he expresses the idea of what we think that this separation is due to the death of his lover with the metaphor of : Pale grew thy cheek and cold,/colder thy kiss. All that sorrounds her is cold, and this cold is a perfect form to express the death in contrast with the warm involving the life. Following with the poem, in the second stanza it can be found the relation of colder morning with the pain that the poet is feeling. Also another time we can see that his lover is dead: thy vows are all broken. Then, it follow with the shame that feels the poet when he hears her name; maybe shame because their relation was a sin. This idea will be developed later with some comments of people that she was a married woman. The third stanza contains strong vocabulary showing again that she is dead: A knell to mine ear; A shudder comes oer me.These two verses remain to the sounds of the bells of a funeral, using the appropriated word Knell. Also he asked himself why he loved her so, and people who knew her well do not know any relation between them. Maybe that people who knew her well could be her family and husband. At the last stanza the poet is remembering when they met and transmits us a feeling of hope: If I should meet thee. Maybe life exists before death and they can reopen their love, and the poet also tell us how they greet: With silence and tears. Some researches say that the person who was addressed this poem is Lady Frances Webster (married woman) and a last stanza was left out to keep the identity of the woman a secret. It was discover when Byron wrote a letter to his cousin Lady Hardy giving her of the last stanza: Then fare thee well Fanny Now doubly undone To prove false unto many As faithless to One Thou art past all recalling Even would I recall For the woman once falling Forever must fall. (3) RELATION OF THE POEM WITH THE HISTORICAL MOMENT When we two parted is included in the historical movement of Romanticism which is an artistic, literary, and intellectual movement that originated around the middle of the 18th century in Western Europe, and gained strength during the Industrial Revolution.(4) i[1]During the 19th century Britain was transformed by the Industrial Revelution. Maybe this poem has nothing of realtion with these transformations, but if we consider that in these times people had to work a lot and maybe the husband of Lady Webster spent a lot of time doing business, she probably had more freedom and she felt alone and the solution was to find a lover. Moreover, unfaithfulness is a topic of all the times and the separation of two lovers due to death or for something else happens then, now and after. For that reason we can consider that this poem of pain is a poem for all the times. RELATION OF THE POEM WITH TODAY As I said before, this poem perfectly can be described for people of nowadays, due to Byron expresses wonderfully what people feel when the person they love splits up with them or dies. This is a feeling of all the epochs and centuries, the loneliness and pain provoked by the missing of the person who loves. The poet has also a relation with today, Byron has returned as a figure of great consequence, this is an historical fate to be welcomed. Now he is more appreciated than in his times, because unless in his time he was famous, he was perjudicated by his type of life, having problems with alcohol and women. But now he was recognised as one of the most representative writers of the Romanticism.

Report on Long-term Financing Policy :: essays research papers

Work Teams: Dispute Resolution Abstract Can conflict among work teams or individual employees be avoided? This and other conflict resolution issues will be addressed in this paper along with a couple of hypothetical workplace disputes and the viable solutions that can be applied to resolve the conflict(s). Work Teams and Conflicts   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The use of work teams has become a popular strategy for increasing productivity and worker flexibility in the United States. Seventy-eight percent of U.S. organizations report that at least some of their employees are organized into work teams. In those organizations that utilize teams, an average of 61% of all employees is members of teams† (Bishop, Scott, and Burroughs, 2000). â€Å"A team is a group of people who are interdependent with respect to information, resources, and skills and who seek to combine their efforts to achieve a common goal† (Thompson, Aranda, and Robbins 2000, p9).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In most cultures and most global organizations, individuals have been paired or grouped into teams that are required to work together towards the completion of set goals. Today’s employees come from diverse cultural backgrounds with diverse attitudes and values. This can be good in that it can provide an organization with new and innovative ideas for positive and profitable direction in a global economy that is dominated by many of the same types of businesses. However, when employees are placed in groups or work teams, conflict can, sometimes, arise. Types of Hypothetical Workplace Disputes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conflict can be good or bad for an organization. It is good or functional when it causes a team to perform effectively. However, conflict can be bad for an organization when it causes a group or team to perform inefficient and ineffective work that keeps the team from achieving its desired goals and objectives in the specified timeframe. Some conflicts support the goals of the group and improve its performance; these are functional, constructive forms of conflicts. There are also conflicts that hinder group performance; these are dysfunctional or destructive forms (Robbins 2001, p262-263). What Causes Conflicts   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Several factors can lead or contribute to the escalation of conflict among groups or teams in the workplace. Some factors include but are not limited to: communication barriers, lack of good interpersonal skills, and poor ethical behavior. Desired Outcomes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Conflict is constructive when it improves the quality of decisions, stimulates creativity and innovation, encourages interest and curiosity among group members, provides the medium through which problems can be aired and tensions released, and fosters an environment of self-evaluation and improvement† (Robbins 2001, p269).

Epic of Beowulf Essay - Ambiguous Allegories and Imperfect Symbols

Ambiguous Allegories and Imperfect Symbols in Beowulf   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Though Beowulf contains apocalyptic elements from beginning to end, perhaps the most important apocalyptic element of Beowulf is the poet's historicizing of the biblical monsters in his characterization of Grendel, his mother, and the dragon. Of course, the many ambiguities found in Beowulf is the source of considerable confusion. For instance, on the one hand, early in the poem we read that the Danes in their dire necessity pray at heathen temples, invoking the devil for aid: "Such was their custom, the hope of the heathens; they thought of hell in their hearts; they knew not the Lord, the Judge of deeds, they knew not the Lord God, nor could they praise the Protector of the Heavens, the Ruler of Glory" (Beowulf: 175-188). On the other hand, Hrothgar and Wealhtheow constantly pray to the Christian God, whom they are supposed not to know, according to the lines cited above! In Beowulf and in the Book of Apocalypse, identity between symbols and realiti es, between allegories and their significations is ambiguous and imperfect. A few scholars have pointed out eschatological elements in the poem. John D. Niles writes: "Although God's final judgment of humankind is affirmed by only a few verses (977b-979, 3069a, perhaps 2741a and 3083b), the prospect of judgment is implicitly present throughout the poem. Similarly, the reality of Christ's incarnation is also implicit--in fact, it is never mentioned" (192). The last things are alluded to in Beowulf's seeking out "the judgment of the righteous," (2820), in Scyld's going "into the Lord's keeping" (27b), in Hrethel's finding God's light (2469-70), and in Heremod's, Unferth's, and Grendel's suffering torments in hel... ...duction. Cambridge: Univ. Press, 1967. Collins, John J. "Apocalyptic Literature," Harper's biblical Dictionary, ed. Paul J. Achtmeier. San Francisco: Harper, 1985. Emmerson, Richard K. and Bernard McGinn. The Apocalypse in the Middle Ages. Ithaca: Cornell, 1992. Garmonsway, et. al. Beowulf and Its Analogues. New York: Dutton, 1971. Gang, T. M. "Approaches to Beowulf." RES 3 (1952):.6-12. Gildas. De Excidio Britanniae in Wade-Evans, A. W. , trans. Nennius' History of Britons. London: Methuen, 1938. Goldsmith, Margaret. "The Christian Theme of Beowulf." Medium Aevum 29 (1960): 81-101. Green, Martin. "Man, Time, and Apocalypse in The Wanderer, The Seafarer, and Beowulf," JEGP 74 (1975): 502-518. Hieatt, Constance B. "Envelope Patterns and the Structure of Beowulf," English Studies in Canada 1 (1975): 249-265.   

Comparing A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye Essay -- J.D. Sa

Comparing A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye The coming of age novels, The Catcher in the Rye, written by J.D. Salinger, and A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, both interpret the lives of adolescent boys journeying through their conflicts and inner confusion to reach the level of maturity. Salinger and Knowles both discern the literal ways a typical teenager grows up with the help of literary elements such as plot, setting, character development, conflicts, irony, symobolism, theme, and point of view. In both of the novels, the setting is taken place in an all boys’ school. The all boys’ school in A Separate Peace was named Devon High School, located in New Hampshire and the school in The Catcher in the Rye was named Pencey Prep, located in New York. By having both main characters being raised in a same type setting, they both can experience similarities that they might have to go through. However, each novel was set in a different timeline. A Separate Peace was actually written during the time of World War II, while The Catcher in the Rye was written after World War II. As a result, different time periods probably differentiated their lifestyles, which can produce unlike conflicts that the teenage boys might encounter. The protagonists in A Separate Peace, Gene Forrester, and The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Claufield, make them coming of age novels by the struggles that they come across as they grow up into becoming mature, adult like men. Gene Forrester attains his maturity by dealing through the confusion he has from cooperating with his best friend, Finny, and the guilt he inherits as he blames himself responsible for Finny’s death. On the contrary, Holden Claufield, in The Catcher in the Rye, illustrates his attainment of maturity by growing with the depression he possesses and his alienation from the people in the novel. The battle of Gene with himself and Holden with himself creates the similar major conflicts between the novels. In this case, Holden has it much more difficult in The Catcher in the Rye because he has to struggle with a great depression and he constantly tries to escape it through drinking, sexual intimations, his awful attitude, and attempts of being out going after he leaves Pencey Prep early. The cause of this depression is the death of his younger brother Ally. In the novel, he describes that h... ...p between Gene and Finny. On the other hand, J.D. Salinger’s theme in The Catcher in the Rye was developing through adolescence with depression and confusion in your life. Through the point of view of Holden’s place, his attitude and experience he went through discerned that stress was a big issue to him and struggling through depression as a teen and achieving maturity from it is something the most of us could relate to. Overall, both of the themes in the novels have something to do with social events in our lives and both of the themes became interesting appeals. J.D. Salinger and John Knowles both accomplished their description of their protagonists reaching their level of maturity through literary elements. They provided excellent examples of a teen growing up; and A Separate Peace and The Catcher in the Rye have at least one moral that one can rely on. In conclusion, the conflicts in the stories were things that I could actually relate to and I can expect to experience the same things that the characters experienced. Works Cited Knowles, John. A Separate Peace Holt, Rineheart and Winston, 1960 Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye New York: Bantan books 1951

Portfolio Managemnt Essay

Overview KBIM Investment Inc. is a leading investment company incorporated in Barbados and licensed under the Companies Act cap 308 of the laws of Barbados. Founded in the year 2000, the company seeks to provide its investors with risk-adjusted returns in a management structure that closely aligns the  interests of investors and managers. Further, KBIM has continued to evolve from a dedicated private equity investment firm to a diversified management company. The fund buys US and Canadian stocks from the New York Stock Exchange as well as from the Toronto market. The fund has been equally divided among the following four industries; financials, technology, pharmaceuticals and energy. To assure that efficiency is maintained, the net assets are calculated weekly at the end of each week (Friday) of all stock market transactions. Global Economic and Market Outlook The global economy is in a dangerous new phase. Global activity has weakened and become more uneven, confidence has fallen sharply recently, and downside risks are growing. Against a backdrop of unresolved structural fragilities, a barrage of shocks hit the international economy this year. Japan was struck by the devastating Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami, and unrest swelled in some oil-producing countries. At the same time, the handover from public to private demand in the U.S. economy stalled, the euro area encountered major financial turbulence, global markets suffered a major sell-off of risky assets, and there are growing signs of spillovers to the real economy. The structural problems facing the crisis-hit advanced economies have proven even more intractable than expected, and the process of devising and implementing reforms even more complicated. The outlook for these economies is thus for a continuing, but weak and bumpy, expansion. Prospects for emerging market economies have become more uncertain again, although growth is expected to remain fairly robust, especially in economies that can counter the effect on output of weaker foreign demand with less policy tightening. World Economic Outlook (WEO) projections indicate that global growth will moderate to about 4 percent through 2012 from over 5 percent in 2010. Real GDP in the advanced economies is projected to expand at an anemic pace of about 1 ½ percent in 2011 and 2 percent in 2012, helped by a gradual unwinding of the temporary forces that have held back activity during much of the second quarter of 2011. However, this assumes that European policymakers contain the crisis in the euro area periphery, that U.S. policymakers strike a judicious balance between support for the economy  and medium-term fiscal consolidation, and that volatility in global financial markets does not escalate. Moreover, the removal of monetary accommodation in advanced economies is now expected to pause. Under such a scenario, emerging capacity constraints and policy tightening, much of which has already happened, would lower growth rates in emerging and developing economies to a still very solid pace of about 6 percent in 2012. Strategic Objectives KBIM Investment Inc endeavours to provide an above average, long-term total return fund by investing in small capitalization stocks listed from within the US stock exchanges. The fund’s investment style of small capitalization values the investment objective of growth funds. A growth fund seeks to find companies that are expected to show rapid future growth in earnings, even if current earnings are poor, or possibly non-existent. The latter is directed towards more aggressive investors seeking good performance in an expected market rise. KBIM Investment Inc places heavy emphasis on asset allocation which is a very important decision for any investor in terms of portfolio construction. Fund managers have decided based on strategy and policy of the fund to utilize tactical asset allocation. This approach is performed routinely as part of the ongoing process of asset management. Using this approach, market risk is insulated, where exposure to a particular market is increased when its performance is expected to be good. On the other hand there is decrease exposure to the market when performance is expected to be poor. An investor’s fate is basically determined by having allocated funds to asset classes. Risk, expected return, market expectations, risk tolerance and goals of the fund is reflected in the allocation of weights The following characteristics should be present for companies in which the fund invests: 1. The company’s share price is depressed after a period of negative growth 2. An acceptable level of financial strength, efficient control and effective management of business assets should be exhibited by the said Company. KBIM Investments Inc reserves the right to rebalance the portfolio after decisions have been made from review of the portfolio ever quarter. Rebalancing reduces the risks of sharp losses and is less volatile than a portfolio not rebalanced. At any time where the fund liquidates or suitable equity investments are absence, KBIM investments Inc will seek investments in short term debt securities or money market instruments. Risk KBIM investment equity fund is specifically for an investor who seeks to attain high returns and by doing this is willing to tolerate high risk to receive the maximum benefit from their investment. Investors must take into consideration that investments in only one portion of the economy may offer greater risk than a highly diversified fund. In addition to the above, a fund that invests in well-established companies may be less risky than one that favors start-up companies. Limitations Investors must take into consideration the impact of taxes on the portfolio. Further, changing tax laws imposed can become bothersome in terms of forecasting future tax rates. Investors must also abide by regulation requirements imposed by state and federal agencies. The latter specifies the actions an investor should take in terms of achieving objectives, given the preference of the investor and any constraints imposed. Benchmark To evaluate portfolio performance, the following questions should be answered; the first being whether or not the return on the portfolio was adequate after all expenses was taken care of? Next the amount of risk taken by the investor or portfolio manager in creating and managing the portfolio should be assessed. Finally what return should have been earned on the portfolio, given the risk taken and the alternative returns available to be earned from investments over the same period. KBIM will be benchmarked against the S&P 500 small cap index. The stocks for the fund were selected based on the following criterion: ROE > 10 Market cap > 1,000,000,000 Six month return >0 P/E < 15 Competitive Advantage The fund managers of KBIM, are committed to offering returns above average of similar portfolios. Through our investment strategic policies, we hope to attract investors who are seeking to hedge funds. Here at KBIM we also value enhancement services such as risk management, insurance reviews, consulting and corporate governance. The firm’s comprehensive offerings provide private equity clients with numerous competitive advantages throughout the private equity life cycle, including fund development, portfolio growth and divestiture. Fee Details Annual charges: Annual Management charges: 1.65% of net asset value Fund Administrative charges: 0.05% Registrar charges: 0.13% Fund expenses: 0.2% Commission: Sales charge of 1.85% will be charged on amounts invested into the fund. During the first week of investing, KBIM Investment Fund grew by 3.5%, as U.S stocks rose, driving the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to its longest winning streak since February, amid optimism Europe’s leaders would announce a plan to contain the debt crisis and after McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) joined companies beating profit estimates. Financial shares in the S&P 500 added 3.9 percent as European finance ministers began negotiations to prevent a Greek default and shield banks. The S&P 500 climbed 1.1 percent to 1,238.25, the highest since Aug. 3, and had risen three straight weeks. It had surged 13 percent since Oct. 3, when it closed within 1 percent of a bear market, or 20 percent plunge, from its high in April. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also rose a fourth straight week, gaining 164.30 points, or 1.4 percent, to 11,808.79. Equities rose as European finance ministers approved a 5.8 billion Euro loan to Greece, and France retreated in a clash with Germany over expanding the bailout fund. Talks are to continue through Oct. 26. The S&P 500 also gained after 74 percent of companies that reported quarterly results topped the average analyst  projection. During the second week of investing, KBIM Investment Fund grew by 4.54% amidst a week which ended with most U.S. stocks falling, as data on consumer confidence and spending failed to boost equities a day after European leaders expanded the region’s bailout plan. Stocks pared losses in the final minutes of trading on Friday, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index erasing a decline as it completed a fourth straight weekly advance, the longest streak since January. About four stocks declined for every three that rose on U.S. exchanges at 4 p.m. New York time on Friday. The S&P 500 rose less than 0.1 percent to 1,285.09, after rallying 3.4 percent on Thursday. It was up 3.8 percent since Oct. 21. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 22.56 points, or 0.2 percent, to 12,231.11. The Russell 2000 Index of small companies retreated 0.6 percent. U.S. equity options expired Friday. Stocks rose Thursday, extending the best monthly rally since 1974 for the S&P 500, as European leaders agreed to expand a bailout fund and U.S. economic growth accelerated. Earlier this month, the index came within 1 percent of extending a drop from its peak in April to 20 percent, the common definition of a bear market. Since then, it has risen 17 percent. The S&P 500 rallied above the average strategist forecast for its closing level on Dec. 31, the third straight year that stocks ran ahead of projections. The index closed above the year-end forecast on Nov. 4 in 2010 and on June 2 in 2009, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the debt crisis won’t be over â€Å"in a year.† Italy’s borrowing costs rose to a euro-era record at a sale of three-year bonds, driving yields higher amid concern that efforts to contain the sovereign crisis won’t be enough to safeguard the region’s third-largest economy. Fitch Ratings said part of the plan to contain debt turmoil amounts to a Greek default. European leaders may struggle to maintain the euphoria that drove the euro to its biggest one-day gain in more than a year as scrutiny deepens on their latest attempt to stem the region’s turmoil. During the third week of investing, KBIM Investment Fund fell by 3.28%. U.S. stocks fell, driving the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to its first weekly decline since September, as a disagreement on Europe’s resources to fight  the debt crisis offset a drop in the American unemployment rate. The S&P 500 dropped 0.6 percent to 1,253.23 as of 4 p.m on Friday, November 4, New York time, after falling as much as 1.8 percent earlier. The gauge was down 2.5 percent this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 61.23 points, or 0.5 percent, to 11,983.24. Benchmark gauges tumbled earlier this week as Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced on October 31 a parliamentary confidence vote and his desire to hold a referendum on a European Union aid package needed to avert default. Equities rebounded on Thursday as Greece abandoned the referendum, moving closer to accepting the bailout. Global stocks slumped on Friday as the Group of 20 nations failed to agree on increasing the International Monetary Fund’s resources to fight Europe’s debt crisis. Ruling party lawmakers urged Papandreou to step aside and allow the formation of a new government that can approve the bailout plan for Greece. The unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to a six-month low of 9 percent from 9.1 percent, even as the labor force expanded. The 80,000 increase in payrolls followed gains in the prior two months that were revised up by 102,000. Financial stocks had the biggest decline in the S&P 500 among 10 industries, falling 1.4 percent as a group. During the fourth week of investing, KBIM Investment Fund rose by 1.17%. U.S. stocks rose this week, restoring the year-to-date gain for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, as improving economic data and leadership changes in Greece and Italy bolstered investor optimism. The S&P 500 rose 0.9 percent to 1,263.85, overcoming a 3.7 percent decline on Nov. 9 that was the largest one-day loss since Aug. 18. The Dow advanced 170.44 points, or 1.4 percent, to 12,153.68 this week. Stocks resumed the rally that drove the S&P 500 up as much as 20 percent since the first week of October. Equities gained after U.S. consumer confidence improved and Italy’s Senate approved debt-reduction measures, paving the way for a new government led by former European Union Competition Commissioner Mario Monti. Greece swore in Lucas Papademos to head a unity government. The S&P 500 has rebounded 15 percent from a 13-month low on Oct. 3 as the Citigroup Economic Surprise Index for the U.S., which gauges whether reports are beating or trailing estimates, climbed to a seven-month high. The benchmark measure of U.S. equities rose 2 percent on Thursday, preventing a second weekly drop, after  a gauge of consumer sentiment topped estimates in November and reached the highest level since June. The Labor Department said on Nov. 10 that the number of Americans filing applications for unemployment benefits fell to the lowest level in seven months. Stocks tumbled on Nov. 9 as yields on Italian government bonds surged, fueling concern European leaders will struggle to fund bailouts. During the fifth week of investing, KBIM Investment Fund fell by 3.71%. U.S. stocks fell, sending the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to its worst weekly loss in two months, as Spanish, French and Italian bond yields rose and Fitch Ratings said Europe’s debt crisis poses a threat to American banks. The S&P 500 decreased 3.8 percent, the most since the week ended Sept. 23, to 1,215.65. The index closed at the lowest level since Oct. 20. The Dow fell 357.52 points, or 2.9 percent, to 11,796.16. Equities slumped this week as higher government bond yields in Spain, France and Italy spurred concern the European debt crisis is intensifying outside Greece. The S&P Financials Index slumped 5.6 percent this week, the biggest drop among 10 industries, after the Fitch report spurred speculation the European crisis poses a threat to earnings. The S&P 500 advanced one day this week, on Nov. 15, amid speculation Mario Monti would succeed in forming a new Italian government to battle the debt crisis, while growth in retail sales bolstered optimism in the economy. Yesterday, he won a final parliamentary confidence vote, granting full power to his new government after pledging to spur growth and reduce debt in the euro-region’s third-largest economy. The benchmark measure of U.S. stocks erased gains yesterday after Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported that Germany’s Foreign Ministry said the nation was considering the possibility of â€Å"orderly defaults† beyond Greece. The index had rallied after a measure of leading U.S. indicators signaled the world’s biggest economy will keep growing in 2012. During the sixth week of investing, KBIM Investment Fund fell by 4.07%. The euro touched a seven-week low against the dollar, falling for a fourth week, as Italian borrowing costs jumped to the highest level since 1997, adding to speculation Europe’s sovereign-debt crisis is spreading. U.S. stocks tumbled in the worst Thanksgiving-week loss for the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index  since 1932 as concern grew that Europe’s debt crisis will spread and American policy makers failed to reach agreement on reducing the federal budget. The S&P 500 slid 4.7 percent to 1,158.67, closing at the lowest level since Oct. 7. The Dow fell 564.38 points, or 4.8 percent, to 11,231.78 this week. The S&P 500 has fallen for seven days, the longest streak in four months, and has tumbled 7.6 percent so far in November. U.S. equities erased an early advance on the final session of the week as S&P lowered Belgium’s credit rating and Reuters reported that Greece is demanding private investors accept larger losses on their debt. The cost of insuring European sovereign bonds against default rose to a record this week as Germany failed to find buyers for 35 percent of the bonds offered at an auction. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said market turbulence sparked by the euro region’s sovereign-debt crisis will last for â€Å"a few months.† Congress’s special debt-reduction committee failed to reach an agreement this week, setting the stage for $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts and fueling concern that economic- stimulus measures that are set to expire will not be renewed. Still, S&P reaffirmed it would keep the U.S.’s credit rating at AA+ after stripping the government of its top AAA grade on Aug. 5. Stocks fell Nov. 22 as revised Commerce Department figures showed that gross domestic product climbed at a 2 percent annual rate from July through September, less than projected and down from a 2.5 percent prior estimate. U.S. stock exchanges were shut Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving and closed three hours early on Nov. 25. Evaluation of Fund KBIM FUND PERFORMANCE WEEK 1-6 Initially, the first two weeks of the portfolio’s performance did exceptionally well. Due to extreme market conditions in Europe (European Debt Crisis), the fund was affected. The weaknesses of Europe’s common currency area, ranging from its design to a persisting dearth of bank funding and anemic economic growth, weren’t properly addressed in the measures revealed on to stem investor panic. Consumer confidence unexpectedly rose in October from the previous month, indicating the biggest part of the economy will help keep the U.S. recovery intact.  Performance fell in week 3 but stabilized in week 4 due to improving economic conditions in Europe (leadership changes in Greece and Italy), thus restoring confidence in the market. Week 4 and 5 dropped to record lows in the S&P 500. This was due to the negative result of the sale of government bonds in Germany, as investors lacked the confidence it once had in what is arguably the strongest economy in Europe. The fact that the German economy was unable to raise the money it expected to with the sale spoke volumes, as it was the one country in Europe which seemed to be stable and assisted in the bailout of its struggling member countries (Greece, Italy and Spain). This also led to a huge dip in the value of the Euro currency. Overall, the fund’s performance was below expectations. There was, however, directly related to unexpected market conditions, which affected the global market adversely. Invariably, that was passed down to the portfolio. During the six week period KBIM started out with $999,984.84 and ended with $977,853.00, thus making a loss of $22,131.82. Total return was then a negative return of 2.21%. The decision was taken to hold of the selling of equities with the portfolio. Instead, the strategy opted was one of riding the storm out, and in some instances, even buying more stock, as the markets were down and the share prices down as well. This would allow for the fund to make substantial profits when the market recovered or improved, as it could only improve from this point. Bibliography Jones, Charles P. Investment Analysis and Management, Eleventh Edition John Wiley and Sons 2010 http://www.bloomberg.com http://www.imf.com

Essay about Madagascar Essay

Madagascar is the worlds fourth largest island located 20 ° N and 47 ° E, just off the shore of Mozambique (Southern Africa). The area of the island is 587,040 kilometers â€Å", with 4,828 kilometers of coastline, and it is slightly larger than twice the size of Arizona. Madagascar is a high plateau with a narrow coastal plain and mountains on the top. Their main natural resources consist of graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, and hydropower. The land is 4.41% arable land, .093% is permanent crops, and 94.66% other. Madagascar has a population of 16,979,744 people, which means there is 30 people per square kilometer. Of the population 45% of people are between 0-14 years, 51.9% of people are between 15-64 years, and 3.1% of people are 64 and over. The population growth rate is 3.03% per year, the birth rate is 42.16 births per 1000 population per year, and the death rate is 11.88 deaths per 1000 population per year. The life expectancy for people of Madagascar is 53.86 for males and 58.53 for females. The rate for the number of people over 15 who can read and right is 68.9% The official name of Madagascar is the Republic of Madagascar. The official languages are French and Malagasy (Native). The main religions are 52% Local-Traditional Beliefs, 41% are Christian, and 7% are Islamic. Their type of government is a republic, in which their capital is located in Antananarivo. Madagascar divides the country into 6 provinces they are, Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, and Tolaira. Madagascar was formerly an independent kingdom before the 1880s. Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free Presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier Ratsiraka, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier Ratsiraka and Marc Ravalomanana, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced Ravalomanana the winner. Their constitution was approved August 19, 1992 by national referendum. The Madagascar constitution establishes separation of powers among executive, legislative, and judicial branches with a multi-party political system. The president is elected by universal suffrage (anyone 18 or over) for a five year term with a two-term limit. Prime minister is nominated by bicameral parliament composed of Senate and National Assembly, and approved by the president. Supreme Court has eleven members and forms apex of other judicial bodies. Local government consists of twenty-eight regions with decentralized powers in economic field. In the first legislative elections of Third Republic in 1993 more than 120 political parties entered 4,000 candidates for 138 seats. Proportional representation list system encourages candidacies. Madagascar is a member of Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT), African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP), African Development Bank (AfDB), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture organization (FAO), Group of 77 (G-77), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Criminal Court (ICFTU)(Signatory), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Maritime Organization (IMO), Indian Ocean Commission (InOC), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC); International Organization for Migration (IOM), Nonaligned Movement (NAM), Organization of African Unity (OAU), United Nations (UN), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Confederation of Labor (WCL), World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Tourism Organization (WToO), and World Trade  Organization (WTrO). Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of privatization and liberalization, which has placed the country on a slow and steady growth path. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for one-fourth of GDP and employing four-fifths of the population. Export earnings primarily are earned in the small industrial sector, which features textile manufacturing and agriculture processing. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel are serious concerns. The separatist political crisis of 2002 undermined macroeconomic stability, with the estimated drop in output being subject to a wide margin of error. Poverty reduction will be the centerpiece of economic policy for the next few years, seines how the 71% of the population are below the poverty line. Of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, the value comes from 63% services, 25% agriculture, and 12% industry. Services consist of the telephone system, air and rail transportation, tourism, and retail sale. Industry consists of meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly, paper, petroleum. Agricultural produces mostly coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton, mining, and petroleum products. A unique blend of African and Asian landscapes and cultures is usually one of the first things recognized by first-time travelers to Madagascar. In the zebu cattle-raising regions of the south and west, for example, the savannas resemble those of East Africa. In the central highlands, however, irrigated and terraced rice fields evoke images of Southeast Asia. These contrasting images lie at the heart of an ongoing debate over the origins of the Malagasy people. According to one theory, peoples from the Indonesian archipelago migrated along the coast of south Asia, across the Arabian Peninsula into the east coast of Africa and, finally, across the Mozambique Channel into present-day Madagascar. This movement occurred over several generations and, because of the gradual interaction between Asian and African populations, led to the  arrival and eventual implantation of a distinct Malagasy people and culture. A second theory emphasizes the diversity of the peoples inhabiting Madagascar. Simply put, proponents argue that the Malagasy resulted from a series of migrations by different peoples over time. According to this theory, migrants from the Indonesian archipelago arrived first and eventually settled in the central highlands, followed by the arrival of African peoples as a result of normal migrational trends and the rise of the slave trade. Recent scholarship has suggested that perhaps the theories are complementary, with greater emphasis b eing placed on the first. Scholars traditionally have described Madagascar as being divided into eighteen or twenty ethnic groups, each with its own distinct territory; political developments in the contemporary period are often described in terms of ethnic conflict. Yet ethnicity is potentially misleading in the Malagasy context because it connotes a more or less self-sufficient and unique cultural, socioeconomic, and historically united group that perceives itself as being different from other groups. Another potentially valuable method of analyzing Malagasy society is to differentiate between the so-called cotiers, or peoples living in coastal areas, and those who live in the central highlands. Indeed, scholars have noted in recent years that the salience of ethnic group identity has declined, while the division between the central highlands peoples and the cotiers continues to be of great importance in understanding social and political competition. Although many observers equate the term central highlander with the Merina ethnic group (once again suggesting the importance of ethnicity), it is important to note that the Betsileo people also live within this region, and the Merina themselves have settled in other regions of the country. Equally important, many cotiers do not live anywhere near the coast. In this sense, the central highlands/cotier split is best understood as the historical outcome of the domination of the Merina empire, the original center of which was Imerina (a round the city of Antananarivo) and was located in the central highlands.