Alchemy Essays (651 words) - Hermeticism, Alchemy, Esotericism

Alchemy Alchemy is not just the changing of base metals into gold as most people think, although that was one of the goals people tried to achieve through alchemy. Alchemy is stemmed from astrology; both make attempts to understand mans relationship to the universe and exploit it. While astrology is concerned with the stars alchemy is concerned with the elements of nature. Alchemy also stemmed partly from metallurgy, a science that deals with the extracting of metals form ore and the combining of metals to make alloys. Todays modern chemistry evolved from alchemy using the extended knowledge of substances and how they react with each other. There were several goals that alchemist tried to achieve but the driving cause behind it was to understand mans relation to the universe. Alchemists of many religions believed that they could understand the will of their god or gods through understanding the world in which they lived. However many alchemists strive for more selfish goals. The most well known goal is the changing of metals to gold. Alchemists called this transmutation. They believed that metals such as gold as silver were pure and that the other base metals were impure or sick. If the base metals could be purified they would become gold, silver or some other precious metal. However they never succeeded We now know that changing one element in to another is impossible with out the use of a nuclear reaction, of which they had no knowledge of or any way of accidentally creating. Another popular goal of alchemy was to make the old young again and also to gain immortality. Like changing metals it is also known as transmutation and was believed to be purification. Most of the potions they concocted made people very sick and even killed. A lesser-known goal was to discover a substance that could bring about any desired change instantly. There were many myths about it and many names. Zosimos, an alchemist from 300A.D. first proposed the idea of such as substance. He called it the tincture also called the philosopher stone later on. Many of the processes in alchemy were chemical thought they didnt call it this. But there wasnt much science involved in their mixing of substances; most of it relied on folklore and superstition. Many of the reactions the created used impure mixtures of chemicals that they regarded as a substance not knowing that they were using several different chemicals at once. For many alchemists the mixing of chemicals wasnt as important as the chanting and incantations the said while they made their potions and elixirs. In fact this lead to myth of magic and witchcraft where spells were cast using only spoken words. Many of the practices of early alchemy, which was around since 300B.C., contributed to development of magical practice. Alchemy spawned has a more credible practice than magic. Thats the science of chemistry. During the time alchemy was in use list of known substances was greatly increased and several important discoveries were made such as mineral acids. Also allot of the procedures as tools used in chemistry came from alchemy. In the 18hundreds alchemy gave way to chemistrys more accurate results and far more scientific methods. Scientists of the 16hundreds 17hundreds and 18hundreds brought about new ideas and changed peoples way of thinking. Alchemy was thought of as wrong and actually outlawed in many places. During the 15 hundreds and 16hundreds alchemist had a hard time practicing because many countries wouldnt let them practice unless the worked for the sovereign of that nation. The sovereign considered them a threat, if they produced a lot of gold the sovereigns would decrease in value however if the alchemists worked for them then they could increase their wealth. Many alchemists who didnt work for a sovereign were often imprisoned or killed. Technology Essays

Back To School Icebreakers, Worksheets, and Resources

Back To School Icebreakers, Worksheets, and Resources There are lots of fun resources to get your school year started. For more ideas, especially classroom management tools, check out the Back to School Toolkit. Icebreaker Worksheets These worksheets give your students lots of things to think about, lots of things to share with their classmates and opportunities to consider the kind of year they are going to have. Be sure you also plan some time for collaboration, opportunities for students to compare their answers and perhaps starting doing some grouping of their own.  Ã‚   Getting to Know You, Scavenger Hunts, IcebreakersSolving Math Problems Worksheets3 Getting to Know You Worksheets Classroom Management These resources also include articles with ideas for building classroom structure, routines and a comprehensive plan for classroom management.  The first sheet may even help your students help you formulate the routines your classroom will need to run efficiently.   Teaching Rules and RoutinesCreating a Comprehensive Classroom Management Plan12 Behavior Contracts That WorkCreating a Comprehensive Classroom Management PlanYou Can Handle Them All- Tattletales, Bullies, Aggression- Here’s How IEP Help As a special educator, IEPs will always have to have a place near the top of the list.  These resources should help you prepare your classroom and build the infrastructure that will support your students needs. Parts of an IEPBehavioral Components of an IEP

Finance Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Finance Assessment - Essay Example In this concept one stocks performance is benchmarked by the performance of another stock. The returns which will be generated are compared relatively to other stocks of similar nature operating in the markets (Gitman, 2003). The major difference between both the absolute and relative return is that absolute return is concerned about the returns which are generated from one particular asset or stock, whereas in relative return the stock is compared or benchmarked with the measures of other stocks. The most debated concept of Security Analysis and Portfolio Management is about the understanding whether a portfolio has been properly analyzed for the returns which the investors will get or understanding the relative performance of that particular stock in the markets (Deloitte, 2010). The investors need to redefine the definition of risk, how it is measured and how to deal with it and for this reason; investors create a portfolio of different stocks and securities. Alpha and Beta are th e tools used by the investors to assess their portfolios and measure whether or not their investments are generating the expected returns considering the risk they are taking. Assessing a portfolio in terms of both Alpha and Beta, the investor will have more control over the portfolio and he will maximize the returns by minimizing risk (Koba, 2012). The measurement of an investment on risk adjusted basis is called Alpha. Investors seek to minimize risk and increase returns (Loth, 2007). The stock prices are subject to volatility. The price risk associated to a portfolio determines the return expected by the investor. The additional return which an investor gets on a portfolio apart from the benchmark set is called Alpha. A negative Alpha of a portfolio shows underperformance (Faulkenberry, n.d.). Beta is a tool which is used to measure the volatility of risk associated to a portfolio as compared to the performance of the market. Regression analysis is used to calculate Beta. In othe r terms Beta is the propensity of investment return to respond to the market volatility. The lower the value of Beta, lesser will be the volatility of the stock with respect to the market. Both Alpha and Beta are popular tools used for the measurement of volatility. Alpha compares the asset returns on the investment to the risk adjusted expected returns whereas Beta is the movement of the asset along with the benchmark that has been set by the market. Alpha is very important for assessing the growth and the returns that are associated to the portfolio. It depends on the structure of the portfolio, the investor and the market which is being analyzed that which factor either the Beta or the Alpha will be critically significant for the investor (Seeking Alpha, 2011). With the varying school of thoughts the perceptions of the importance of Alpha or Beta vary. Alpha and Beta alone do not possess the potential to assess the risk instantly and adjust the portfolio for the returns. Alpha al one is not sufficient to assess the skills which are derived from the leverage of the portfolio. It is not suitable for a risk averse investor and may end up being a misleading performance measure for the investors. The value of Alpha itself is not sufficient for the assessment of the stock but it can be used if a benchmark of the portfolio is set. Beta does not possess this benefit. The direction of the market cannot be assessed by the benchmark Beta set for the portfolio. The use of Alpha and the speculations made by using it are very consistent. The

International Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

International Marketing - Essay Example Consumer attitudes consist of three main components, affective, cognitive and behavioral component (Pride et al, 2011). The cognitive component refers to the buyer’s knowledge and information about a product. The affective component is the buyer’s feelings and emotion towards the product. Lastly, the behavioral component consists of the actions of the buyer towards the product. Marketers should seek to identify and understand all this components of the consumer attitudes in order to ensure the success of a product. According to Hassan and Samli (1994), the country of origin effect is defined as the influence that a country’s manufacturer has on the negative or positive judgment of the consumer (Doole & Robin, 2005). There are many methods that can be used by marketers to gauge buyers’ attitudes. One simple method involves questioning the buyers directly. This helps marketers stay informed on the buyers attitudes and identify what the buyer wants exactly. I n 2007, a survey by The Roy Morgan Research reported that 89% of Australian consumers are looking for fresh food that is grown in Australia. 74% of this buyers said that they wanted Australian fresh foods in order to support local businesses and farmers. This research points out that advertising fresh products as Australian-grown is a smart marketing strategy especially when targeting Australian consumers. Therefore, if buyers have a strongly positive attitude towards the country of origin, the marketers should consider playing up the country of origin in its marketing strategy and communications. Another example of this is the 1990s’ Volkswagen’s â€Å"Fahrvehrgnugen† campaign. It asserted the company’s German roots despite the fact that many of the cars that it sold were assembled in low-wage countries such as Mexico. Buyers will, therefore, buy this products since Germany is associated with quality and reliable products. For the same reason, people opt to buy other German made cars such as Bosch and BMW (Chasin & Jaffe, 1979). Likewise, Switzerland is known worldwide for its precision. Watches from Swiss are legendary the world over and for this reason; buyers are even willing to pay a higher price for them (John & Jagdish, 1969). On the other hand, marketers tend to have an uphill task when combating the buyer’s negative perceptions of a product’s Country-of-origin. Russia and South Africa are examples of two countries where marketers experience hardships when marketing their products. Although Russia is well known for producing high quality vodka, many buyers avoid using its products since they still term the country as a communist country (Chasin & Jaffe, 1979). Likewise, South Africa is synonymous with producing very fine wine and at very attractive prices. However, American consumers have been reluctant to buying this product due to their negative perception about the country resulting form the apartheid era al though it has ended (Christopher, 2001). Another country experiencing negative bias, especially in United States, is Vietnam. In countries where negative bias is in existence, marketers should downplay the country of origin especially in packaging and the product’s marketing communications. By doing this, buyers will have less knowledge about the country where the product originated from, and this may result in increased sale of the

Annotated Bibliography Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

Annotated Bibliography - Research Paper Example Shocking too is that almost half the group had undergone some form of mental or physical abuse. According to Alsbjer (3), the experiences that the AAS users had from school were in most cases negative and were accompanied by LDs (learning difficulties), boredom, as well as concentration problems. The current circumstances of the interviewees included theft, illegal possession of weapons, crimes such as assault and wife battering, and abuse of other drugs. Their stories on the development of drug use varied significantly taking into account social background, onset of drug use, relationship to use as well as experience of the effects of AAS. Initially, all patients had experienced positive AAS effects, but with time the negative consequences overrode them. It was found out that all of them were given to excess gym training and combined this with steroids an indicator that the use of AAS has a close relation to gym training. This source’s only bias is the dwelling mostly on adults and their current endeavors to recover from AAS abuse and addiction. This shortcoming can be countered or covered by arguing from the point of view that those under observation give accounts of having started the abuse of steroids in their adolescence or teens. The source fails to consider the possibility of teens from well off families starting to use steroids as a matter of peer pressure and to enhance their looks albeit citing social difficulties and mental issues as the cause. This possibility is factored in, in most of the other sources. The audience for the material in this source would specifically be AAS users to help them understand the hidden reasons behind AAS use from the interviewees’ accounts of their stories. This source is appropriate for my research by providing some effects of AAS use such as acting as a gateway to abuse of other drugs, as well as connection to criminal activities. This source h as

Challenges facing the Mauritian economy due to globalization

Challenges facing the Mauritian economy due to globalization Government Drivers -Government in almost all developed countries over the world have promoted free trade and reduced trade barriers and the European Union has also liberalised capital flows in 1992 which has contributed towards globalisation. Furthermore, there has been a decline in the role of government as producers and consumers and large private firms have been seeking a physical presence in many major countries. It has truly transforming itself, slowly, into a Global system of governance, not so much by the use of raw independent power, but through the consensus of its most powerful members, and key players, increasingly multinational Corporations and International financial institutions, both formal and informal. This trend would continue, slowly almost imperceptibly to most Americans, though not to the world at large. In the past decade there has been also increasing participation of China and India in the global economy which has added towards globalisation. 5 Competitive Drivers is the fourth factor that has contributed towards globalisation. Analysts hold that globalisation has a multi-causal dynamic involving the interrelation of several forces such as growth of global networks making countries interdependent in particular industries that they are becoming universally centred rather than nationally centred. For instance, in UK the personal savings of its citizen are now internationally diversified, making them less dependent upon the future success of Britain. Instead, the UK citizens are amassing shares in the developing countries. 6 Global Aspect of Globalisation in the Current World Globalisation is a historical process rather than political or economical. It is the result of human innovation and technological progress. Globalisation has shown the increasing integration of economics around the world. It has taken a greater aspect in the world particularly, through trade and financial flows. Globalisation has covered the broader culture, politics and environmental dimensions of globalization. Today, globalization is well known topic across the world. The word has taken a common term. It is referred as the extension beyond national borders of the same market forces that have operated for centuries at all levels of human economic activity_ village markets, urban industries or financial centers. Global markets promote efficiency through competition and the division of labour _ the specialization that allows people and economies to focus on what they do best. Global market offer greater opportunity for common people also to tap into more and larger markets around the world. In the global market, people can access more capital flows, technology, cheaper imports and larger export markets. Today, commerce and finance are more developed and deeply integrated in global world. The global era has raised many questions related to social, political and workers. Does globalization harm workers interest? Many theoreticians dont believe in this question. However, this is right question. Globalisation is the parallel world between the rich and the poor. Capitalist globalization is always very harmful for workers. In global world, only big giant can survive. Globalisation has given the theory of third world countries also. In the financial world globalization is known as the basic elements of periodic crisis of an inevitable consequence of globalization. National Sovereignty question is also related to the globalization question. In the financial market national sovereignty is never followed however, the question always has taken place in political era. Questions: What are the factors that have contributed towards globalization? (10) How globalization is influencing the business culture? (10) According to you what are the impact of globalization on the Mauritian Economy. (20) What are the factors that have contributed towards globalization? (10) There are four main factors that have contributed towards globalisation. These can be listed as follows: Cost Drivers is one aspect which has led towards globalisation. At the heart of globalisation lies the rapid decrease in transportation cost and revolution in information technology. The cost of moving products around the world has significantly reduced over the last decades. Furthermore, capitalists have also contributed towards globalisation since they allow production facilities to be located wherever costs are lowest and profits greatest. Furthermore, global accounting practices enable prices and taxes to be calculated in ways that raise profits. Global connections like telecommunications and electronic finance create major opportunities for profit making. Finally, emergences of newly industrialised countries like China and India with productive capability and low labour costs are establishing in foreign markets. Market Forces is another factor that has contributed towards globalisation. The world trade and investment have grown rapidly, with many attractive market places opening up in China, India and Eastern Europe and elsewhere thus leading to the growth of global companies. Transnational corporations have begun to behave as global customers and establishing world brands, for instance, McDonald, Gap and Wal Mart have become globally prominent as a result of great marketing prowess. Organisations are also developing global advertising as Reebok, for example, to launch its Instapump sneakers has used the same advertising compaign in 140 countries. Furthermore, people are travelling more in the last two decades and they are becoming aware of different prices and quality of goods over the world and their lifestyles and tastes are changing accordingly. Many markets are also globalising for instance, as some tastes become universal to young people; we can see the same designer jeans and leather jackets in virtually all countries. Government Drivers -Government in almost all developed countries over the world have promoted free trade and reduced trade barriers and the European Union has also liberalised capital flows in 1992 which has contributed towards globalisation. Furthermore, there has been a decline in the role of government as producers and consumers and large private firms have been seeking a physical presence in many major countries. It has truly transforming itself, slowly, into a Global system of governance, not so much by the use of raw independent power, but through the consensus of its most powerful members, and key players, increasingly multinational Corporations and International financial institutions, both formal and informal. This trend would continue, slowly almost imperceptibly to most Americans, though not to the world at large. In the past decade there has been also increasing participation of China and India in the global economy which has added towards globalisation. Competitive Drivers is the fourth factor that has contributed towards globalisation. Analysts hold that globalisation has a multi-causal dynamic involving the interrelation of several forces such as growth of global networks making countries interdependent in particular industries that they are becoming universally centred rather than nationally centred. For instance, in UK the personal savings of its citizen are now internationally diversified, making them less dependent upon the future success of Britain. Instead, the UK citizens are amassing shares in the developing countries. Finally, it can be said that today no country can remain in isolation and has to take part in the global economy where people from all countries will become more integrated and aware of common interests and shared humanity. 2. How globalization is influencing the business culture? (10) Culture and globalisation are two different concepts. According to David (2002), from the culture point of view, globalisation is the process of harmonizing different culture and beliefs. It can also be said that cultural globalisation have accelerated again late in this century, after almost 50 years of regression. More and more, countries are now integrated into a single global marketplace through trade, finance, production, and a dense web of international treaties and institutions. Globalization is a sword with two blades for the business culture and this can be discussed as follows. Some critics argue that globalization really means Americanization as more people around the world are exposed to the American culture and lifestyle in the food they eat, the stores they shop, and television shows and movies they watch, the more they lose their individual cultural identities. Moreover, Mauritian teens watch TV series Hannah Motana and ask their parents for westernized clothes and schools bags of pictures of Hannah Montana. Some consider such imported culture a danger, since it may replace the local culture, causing reduction in diversity. Globalisation is also influencing schools. Schools work on culture to improve the sociological bases in agreement with the technological advancement. Therefore there has been an obvious move from lecture-based activities towards more student-centred activities as teaching and learning styles are changing. Under such a circumstance, schools need to go for the cooperative, collaborative, participatory, integrative and inclusive processes and approaches of learning and school organisation. For instance, in Mauritius our children have to attain standard of knowledge, skills and competence as is the case in leading countries of the world so that they are able to keep pace in the globalised economy. At Primary and secondary level, new textbooks have been designed so that learners are aware of the changes in the world. Besides, changes have been made in the primary books itself as more emphasis has been put on ICT and tourism sectors rather than agricultural sectors. Furthermore, cultural products with widely recognized icons are shared globally. For example, American companies like Mc Donalds are very flexible and adapt to different cultures as its menu in Bombay and Delhi do not have beef in it. Worldwide fads and pop culture such as Pokà ©mon, Sudoku, Numa Numa, Origami, Idol series, YouTube, Orkut, Facebook, and MySpace are accessible to all those who have Internet or Television around the world. It is also subjective to say that globalization is bad, or vice versa. For one thing, it helped to highlight a nations culture, draw on the strong points of other cultures and contribute the cultural diversity in the business world. It can also be said that it is because of globalisation that consumption in the world has increased exponentially which requires an infinite number of resources. Since consumption demands exceed what the earth is able to restore, very soon the earth would be too small to meet the basic needs. Governments and businesses talk so much about safeguarding, saving the environment; and at the same time, invent, develop and produce the very things that destroy the environment. Ultimately it can be said that up to now globalisation has helped the business sector more than the people. Only the capitalists acquire the wealth generated by globalization whereas the mass populations have to work harder. With globalisation, teenagers tend to neglect their culture and education to concentrate on the new register globalisation has brought along through media as media persuade them to consume some products they do not really need to succeed in life 3. According to you what are the impact of globalization on the Mauritian Economy. According to the Financial Times Special Report March 2009, Mauritius enjoys the second most improved economy over the past years. Mauritius has also one of the highest standards of living in Africa. Globalisation has opened the door to many benefits for the Mauritian Economy. It has promoted open societies and open economies and encouraged a freer exchange of goods, ideas and knowledge, create employment, have more quality goods but on the other hand, economic performance has also suffered, resulting from its loss of preferential access to the EU sugar and textile markets. Globalisation is a mixed blessing for the Mauritian Economy. Benefits of the impact of globalisation on the Mauritian Economy can be listed as follows: Create Employment Large investment of foreign capital has created job opportunities in the IT/BPO sector that has benefitted unemployed persons. Even unskilled persons have been able to get gainful employment. Furthermore, the number of companies in the IT/BPO sector has increased from less than 100 in 2004 to over 400 in 2010 with the industry employing around 18,000 professionals from world over in Mauritius. In the past four years, its IT/BPO industry has sustained an annual growth rate of 25 percent and the sector has generated revenues of 5.7 percent of GDP, according to Board of Investment, Mauritius. In the global competitiveness Index 2008-09 of World Economic Forum, Mauritius is ranked 57th in the list of 134 nations.  Another sector which has benefited from globalisation in Mauritius is the tourism sector. About 17,111 people are employed in the tourism sector, 65 percent of these in the hotel industry in February 2010. The forecast tourist arrival in 2015 is 2 million which eventually wil l create more employment for Mauritian people. Improvement in living Standard With lifting of quantity restrictions on imports and reduction in import duties, Mauritian customers are getting quality goods at reasonable prices. One example is the Chinese electronic goods- which are both better quality and low priced, have flooded the Mauritian markets. The availability of imported quality goods at low rates has lead to improvement of living standards of Mauritian people. Even common people are enjoying goods and services that were beyond their reach earlier. Political Politically, globalisation has brought Mauritius with more nations into the decision-making process on international issues. For instance, Mauritius is a member of different international organizations namely the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and World Trade Organisation (WTO). This has led to better understanding of philosophies by people of different cultures. Furthermore, there are diplomatic ties between Mauritius and European countries, African countries, India and China. For instance, political ties between China and Mauritius date back to 1972. In his recent visit to Mauritius the prime minister of China has signed an economic and trade co-operation agreement with Mauritius worth about $9 million, including a $6 million grant and $3 million interest-free loan. The two governments are relying on this promising trend to further strengthen the ties in cultural exchange, education and tourism between the two countries. The Mauritian government paired up with the Chinese government invests in the construction of commercial, residential and leisure facilities in order to become an international center with a global expatriate population similar to countries such as Dubai, Malta and Singapore. The Shanxi Tianli Enterprises business park the is the largest ever injection of foreign cash into Mauritius that is around $750 millions. Given the problems in other areas of the economy, this project could partly contribute either directly or indirectly to reduction of the unemployment problem and could also generate economic growth. Drawbacks of the impact of globalization on the Mauritian Economy can be listed as follows: Weak labor unions The surplus in cheap labour together with an ever growing number of companies in transition has caused a weakening of labour unions in Textile factories in Mauritius. Unions in Mauritius do not have the same value as their membership begins to decline. As a result unions hold less power over Textile companies that are able to easily replace Mauritian workers with Bangladeshi or Chinese workers, often for lower wages, and have the option to not offer unionised jobs anymore. Even large companies are employing Indian software engineers on contract basis than local professionals due to lower costs. Interestingly, Mauritius has been making intensive use of imported labour from China and India. The number of foreigners working in large establishments in Mauritius has been increasing continuously since 1990. More consumption than saving With globalisation, the world of international business has progressed at a fast pace and a new standard has been created. But foreign companies often employ unfair means to get hold over the market. They offer better bargains, gifts, and spend huge sums of advertisement and publicity. Wide advertising of consumer goods, together with easy loan facilities encourage Mauritian people to spend rather than saving their money. Furthermore, markets for automobiles and computer systems are increasing drastically over the past decades. With finance companies ready to offer soft loans, Mauritian people are buying such goods not because of any real need but only as a status symbol. It can be said that Mauritian people are leading a materialistic lifestyle and see consumption as the path to prosperity. For instance, the savings had fallen to 18.3% in 2009 from 22.7% in 2008 and this has cause concern for the GDP growth as well as for the inflation rate. Deficit in Balance of Payments Besides Mauritius is facing a deficit in its current accounts in the balance of payment as published by the Bank of Mauritius fiscal year 2007-08. Mauritius are importing more goods and services from Asian countries rather than exporting. Sugar production averages 650,000 per year and was exported to the European Union at preferential rates through the ACP/EU Sugar protocol and Special Preferential Sugar (SPS). However, the EU has decided to remove the preferential rates in 2008. This cut had translated into lower earnings of approximately 4 billion rupees. Mauritian sugar producers are finding it difficult to compete on the international market because their production costs are much higher than the world market price. In fact their cost of production is twice that of the most efficient ACP suppliers, and even higher when compared to Brazilian prices. Coupled with the above the elimination in December 2004 of the global quotas on clothing under the Multi-Fibre Arrangement has expose d the local textile sector to competition from other exporting countries, including those in Asia and South America as they are producing at lower costs. Conclusion To conclude we can say, the long-term challenges facing Mauritian economy due to globalization are daunting. The local agricultural and manufacturing industries are lagging behind and there is a fear that globalisation may one day wipe out the sectors. Thus, Mauritius may become dependent on foreign countries.

personal :: essays research papers

Depression is a chronic mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and irritability. Many people do not realized that depression is a disease, it’s a real medical disorder where changes occur in the brain, and they have medicine that helps correct these imbalances. Depression has been described as a â€Å"whole-body illness† because it doesn’t only affect the person’s mood but can affect every aspect of a person’s life. Depression is an illness, not a state of mind or a weakness. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, but there are also other factors that may play a role as well, such as: environment - a significant loss, a difficult relationship or financial problems all produce stress. The body, by secreting extra amounts of certain hormones persisting for a long time, can produce changes in the brain actually killing some of the nerve cells. psychological - peoples whose personalities involve pessimistic thinking, low self-esteem and excessive worrying are more likely to develop depression. Genetics could also play a part - parents, siblings and children of depressed people are four times more likely to get depressed than a non-relative. Depression can affect anyone, any age. Even infants can become depressed, and may even die when they receive only a limited amount of human contact. Out of the estimated 17.6 million Americans suffering from depression each year, 1.5 million are children under eighteen. In teens depression is sometimes masked, shown in different ways like drugs, alcohol use, trouble in school, at home or with the law, withdrawal from social activities and sulkiness, grouchiness, and over-sensitivity. Sadness may be shown by wearing black clothes, writing poetry with morbid themes or music with nihilistic themes. Sleep disturbances may be shown by watching television all night, difficulty in getting up for school, or sleeping during the day. Lack of motivation and lowered energy level is reflected by missed classes. Getting lower grades than usual can show loss of concentration and slowed thinking. Boredom could also be a sign of depression in teens, loss of appetite may become anorexia or bulimia. Depression can appear to come out of nowhere, or it can be triggered by a life event such as the death of ones mother or the divorce of ones parents. According to the American Psychiatric Association, someone is depressed when loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities, or feelings of sadness last without relief for at least two weeks.

Personal Finance Essay

Personal finance refers to the principal that is applied to the monetary decisions of an individual or a family unit. It addresses issues such as the ways in which the individuals or families obtain finance, budget, save and spend the monetary resources of a company over a given period of time while at the same time taking in account the financial risks and the future life events that are related to the businesses activities. The profits or loss of a company are derived by determining the incomes of a company and the expenses that are incurred by a company. If the incomes are more than the expenses the company generates profit for the company. If the expenses of the company are more than the incomes then the company incurs losses in the financial period of a company. Assumptions The income of Donna Terrell is estimated to be $3333 per month since it is assumed that he earns a salary that is equally distributed throughout the year. The expenses of Donna Terrell are also assumed to be evenly distributed throughout the year except in the months where Donna Terrell specified that the expenses were incurred in those months. After Sherman acquisition of his new job on June 2003 and his decision to assist Donna Terrell was a positive move since after the month of June the Donna’s business started to earn profits since in the previous months the business was incurring losses, but after June 2003 the company started to generate profits for the company, thus was in a position to run it affairs effectively (http://64. 233. 169. 104/search? q=cache:DmCJZy7zP6kJ) It is also assumed that Sherman would earn a salary that would be $1500 per the month that followed the month of June up to December 2003. In the first quarter of the year Donna business had been incurring losses from January to May 2008 since the amount of losses have been increasing rapidly since the expenses of the business were more than the incomes of the business. After Mr. Sherman decision to assist Mr. Donna in giving him financial assistance the business started to improve in its performance. The business incomes was greater than the expenses as from July to December of the Year 2003 and this contributed to the increased profits of the business as it continued with its operation until December 2003. As at December 2003 the Company had profits that were over $13000. The management of companies can run their activities if they ask for financial assistances from friends and also financial institutions since after the Mr. Sherman decision to assist Mr. Donna the performance of the company started to improve. The instances where the management of companies runs other business activities that generate revenue to a company this can contribute to the profitability of the company since the additional income increases the companies working capital that enables the company to generate as much revenue to the company hence its increased returns and finally this leads to the growth of the company. The management of companies should also plan their finances properly so as to avoid budget deficits as this can affect the performance of the company and also its reputation as this can result to reduce sales volume for a company hence in some cases due to the poor management of the companies finances the company go into liquidation that can lead to the closure of the company.

Analysis of the Robert Browning Poem My Last Duchess

Analysis of the Robert Browning Poem My Last Duchess Robert Browning was a prolific poet and at times his poetry drew a  stark contrast to that of his famous wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. A perfect example is his dramatic monologue, My Last Duchess, which is dark and a daring portrait of a domineering man. Though written in 1842, My Last Duchess is set in the 16th-century. And yet, it speaks volumes of the treatment of women in the Victorian time of the Brownings. The misogynistic character of the poem is also a severe contrast to Browning himself who was a master of negative capability. Browning would often write poetry of men like the duke who dominated (and barely loved) his wife while penning endearing love poems to his own Elizabeth. My Last Duchess is a poem to that engages conversation and it is a perfect study for any student of classic literature. The Contrast of the Brownings Poetry Elizabeth Barrett Brownings most famous sonnet asks, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways? Sounds lovely, does it not? On the other hand, Porphyrias Lover, an infamous poem that was written by Elizabeths husband, would count the ways in a very disturbing and unexpected manner. Step 1) Welcome the beautiful girl into your secret meeting place.Step 2) Listen while she declares her undying love for you.Step 3) Tenderly wrap her long, golden hair around her throat.Step 4) Strangle her.Step 5) Sit happily next to her dead body. The above list is a disgustingly violent scenario, the sort one might expect to find in a grizzly episode of some CSI knock-off or straight-to-video slasher flick. Or maybe its even darker than that, due to the last nihilistic lines of the poem: And all night long we have not stirred,And yet God has not said a word! (lines 59-60) If it were read aloud in a creative writing classroom today, the students would probably shift uncomfortably in their seats, and the unsettled English teacher might very well recommend counseling for the poet. Yet, far from modern, Porphyrias Lover is a product of Englands prim and oh-so-proper Victorian society of the mid-1800s, and the poet was an adoring husband in favor of equality for women. So why then does Browning delve into the mindset of a misogynistic sociopath, not just with Porphyrias Lover, but also with the deviously cruel poem My Last Duchess? Browning exercises what John Keats referred to as negative capability: an artists capacity to lose himself in his characters, revealing nothing of his own personality, political views, or philosophies. In order to critique the oppressive, male-dominated society of his age, Browning gave voice to villainous characters, each representing the antithesis of his worldview. Browning does not eliminate his personal virtues from all of his poetry. This dedicated husband also wrote sincere and tender poems to his wife; these romantic works, such as Summum Bonum, unveil the true and benevolent nature of Robert Browning. The Theme of My Last Duchess Even if readers give My Last Duchess a mere passing glance, they should be able to detect at least one element: arrogance. The speaker of the poem exhibits an arrogance rooted in an audacious sense of male superiority. In simpler terms: he is stuck on himself. But to understand the deadliness of the Dukes powerhouse combo of narcissism and misogyny, the reader must delve deeply into this dramatic monologue, paying close attention to both what is said as well as unsaid. It is evident that the speakers name is Ferrara (as suggested by the character heading at the beginning of the speech). Most scholars agree that Browning derived his character from a 16th-century duke of the same title: Alfonso II dEste, a renowned patron of the arts who was also rumored to have poisoned his first wife. Understanding the Dramatic Monologue What sets this poem apart from many others is that it is a dramatic monologue, a type of poem in which a character distinctly different from that of the poet is speaking to someone else. Actually, some dramatic monologues feature speakers who talk to themselves, but the monologues with silent characters display more artistry, more theatrics in storytelling because they are not merely confessional tirades (as with Porphyrias Lover). Instead, readers can imagine a specific setting and detect action and reaction based on the hints given within the verse. In My Last Duchess, the duke is speaking to a courtier of a wealthy count. Before the poem even begins, the courtier has been escorted through the Dukes palace - probably through an art gallery filled with paintings and sculptures. The courtier has seen a curtain which conceals a painting, and the duke decides to treat his guest to a viewing of a very special portrait of his late wife. The courtier is impressed, perhaps even mesmerized by the smile of the woman in the painting and he asks what produced such an expression. And thats when the dramatic monologue begins: Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall,Looking as if she were alive. I callThat piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolfs handsWorked busily a day, and there she stands.Willt please you sit and look at her?  (lines 1-5) The Duke behaves cordially enough, asking his guest if he would like to gaze at the painting. We are witnessing the speakers public persona. Notice how he keeps the painting behind a curtain until he feels like showing it to others. He has control over who views the painting, mastery over the painted smile of his deceased wife. As the monologue continues, the Duke brags about the fame of the painter: Fra Pandolf (a quick tangent: fra is a shortened version of friar, a holy member of the church. Note how the Duke uses a holy member of the church as part of his plan to capture and control his wifes image). It pleases the Duke that his wifes smile has been preserved within the artwork. The Character of the Late Duchess During the Duchess life, the Duke explains, his wife would offer that beautiful smile to everyone, instead of reserving her look of joy exclusively for her husband. She appreciated nature, the kindness of others, animals, and the simple pleasures of everyday life. And this disgusts the duke. It seems the duchess cared about her husband and often showed him that look of joy and love, but he feels that the duchess ranked / [his] gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybodys gift (lines 32 - 34). He might not reveal his explosive emotions to the courtier as they sit and look at the painting, but the reader can deduce that the duchess lack of worshipfulness infuriated her husband. He wanted to be the only person, the only object of her affection. The duke self-righteously continues his explanation of events, rationalizing that despite his disappointment it would have been beneath him to talk openly with his wife about his feelings of jealousy. He does not request, nor even demand, that she alter her behavior because Een then would be some stooping; and I choose / Never to stoop (lines 42 - 43). He feels that communication with his own wife is beneath his class. Instead, he gives commands and all smiles stopped together (line 46). Keep in mind, he does not give commands to his wife; as the duke indicates, instruction would be stooping. Rather, he delivers orders to his minions who then execute this poor, innocent woman. Is the Duchess So Innocent? Some readers believe that the Duchess isnt so innocent, that her smiles are really a code word for promiscuous behavior. Their theory is that whoever she smiles at (a servant for example) is someone she engages in a sexual relationship. However, if she were sleeping around with everything she smiled at (the setting sun, a branch from a cherry tree, a mule), then we would have a duchess who is a not only a sexual deviant  but must possess the physical prowess similar to a  Greek goddess. How else could she have sex with the sun? Although the Duke is not the most reliable of narrators, he keeps most of his conversation on a literal, not a symbolic, level. He may be an untrustworthy character, yet the reader should trust that when he says a smile, he means a smile. If the duke executed a lustful, adulterous wife, that would still make him a bad guy, but a different sort of bad guy: a vengeful cuckold. However, if the duke executed a faithful, kind-hearted wife who failed to revere her husband above all others, then we are witnessing a monologue performed by a monster. That is exactly the experience which Browning means for his audience. Women in the Victorian Age Certainly, women were oppressed during the 1500s, the era in which My Last Duchess takes place. Yet, the poem is less a critique of the feudalistic ways of medieval Europe and more of an attack on the biased, overbearing views expressed during Brownings day. How uptight was Englands Victorian society of the 1800s? A historical article titled Sexuality and Modernity explains that The Victorian bourgeois may have covered their piano legs out of modesty. Thats right, those pent-up Victorians were turned on by the sensuous curve of a pianos leg! Literature of the era, in circles both journalistic and literary, portrayed women as fragile creatures in need of a husband. For a Victorian woman to be morally good, she must embody sensitivity, self-sacrifice, innate purity (Salisbury and Kersten). All of these traits are exhibited by the Duchess if we assume that allowing herself to be married to a creep in order to please her family is an act of self-sacrifice. While many Victorian husbands desired a pure, virginal bride, they also desired physical, mental, and sexual conquest. If a man was not satisfied with his wife, a woman who was his legal subordinate in the eyes of the law, he might not kill her off as the Duke so cavalierly does in Brownings poem. However, the husband might very well patronize one of Londons many prostitutes, thereby obliterating the sanctity of the marriage and endangering his innocent wife with a frightening variety of incurable diseases. Robert and Elizabeth Browning Fortunately, Browning was not transposing his own personality into  My Last Duchess. He was far from the typical Victorian  and married a woman who was both older and socially his superior. He adored his wife  Elizabeth Barrett Browning  so much that together they defied her fathers wishes and eloped. Over the years, they raised a family, supported each others writing careers, and loved each other as equals. Clearly, Browning used what Keats called negative capability to invent a character that was strikingly unlike his own: a vicious, controlling duke whose morals and beliefs contrasted with those of the poet. Yet, perhaps Browning was observing fellow members of Victorian society when he crafted the devious lines of Duke Ferrera. Barretts father, although not a murderous lord from the 16th-century, he was a controlling patriarch who demanded that his daughters stay faithful to him, that they never move out of the home, not even to marry. Like the duke who coveted his precious artwork, Barretts father wanted to keep hold of his children as if they were inanimate figures in a gallery. When she defied her fathers demands and married Robert Browning, she became dead to her father and he never saw her again†¦ unless, of course, he kept a picture of Elizabeth on his wall.

Free Essays on Luke’s Significance In The Scriptures

Luke’s Significance in the Scriptures If I were lucky enough to lecture students on Luke’s Gospel, simply discussing the factual aspect of his writings would not do him, nor Jesus, any justice. Along with it being a great depiction of Jesus’ life from his conception until his resurrection, Luke’s Gospel teaches lessons Jesus used through His teachings to better educate His followers of what it takes to eventually be a part of God’s kingdom. Such information would be seemingly too broad to understand within the confines of a book, however Luke masterfully combines all of these facts into one story with numerous lessons, leaving it as a difficult task for an educator to select which aspects of it to cover. The third Gospel, written by Luke, presents The Son of Man through a human form as Jesus. Jesus’ life on Earth could be broken down into three parts: Jesus’ birth, Jesus’ preaching, and Jesus’ death and resurrection. These three aspects of His life are the vocal points for what modern day Theologians seem to focus on in their own teaching, so it would be nonsensical for me to refrain from using them within my own. It must also be acknowledged that much of what Jesus endured through His lifetime teaches a point so after discussing the actual happenings of a particular event, it is necessary to discuss its intentions for us. Concerning Jesus’ birth, I would teach students how His birth had both simil- rities and differences to our own. Mary went through pregnancy carrying a fetus for nine Kearney 2 months, as women always have, though she was never actually impregnated. The Angel Gabriel visited Mary to bear some unexpected news, telling her that, â€Å"†¦you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son† (CSB 99). Mary was a virgin, although God gave her the power to conceive a chi... Free Essays on Luke’s Significance In The Scriptures Free Essays on Luke’s Significance In The Scriptures Luke’s Significance in the Scriptures If I were lucky enough to lecture students on Luke’s Gospel, simply discussing the factual aspect of his writings would not do him, nor Jesus, any justice. Along with it being a great depiction of Jesus’ life from his conception until his resurrection, Luke’s Gospel teaches lessons Jesus used through His teachings to better educate His followers of what it takes to eventually be a part of God’s kingdom. Such information would be seemingly too broad to understand within the confines of a book, however Luke masterfully combines all of these facts into one story with numerous lessons, leaving it as a difficult task for an educator to select which aspects of it to cover. The third Gospel, written by Luke, presents The Son of Man through a human form as Jesus. Jesus’ life on Earth could be broken down into three parts: Jesus’ birth, Jesus’ preaching, and Jesus’ death and resurrection. These three aspects of His life are the vocal points for what modern day Theologians seem to focus on in their own teaching, so it would be nonsensical for me to refrain from using them within my own. It must also be acknowledged that much of what Jesus endured through His lifetime teaches a point so after discussing the actual happenings of a particular event, it is necessary to discuss its intentions for us. Concerning Jesus’ birth, I would teach students how His birth had both simil- rities and differences to our own. Mary went through pregnancy carrying a fetus for nine Kearney 2 months, as women always have, though she was never actually impregnated. The Angel Gabriel visited Mary to bear some unexpected news, telling her that, â€Å"†¦you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son† (CSB 99). Mary was a virgin, although God gave her the power to conceive a chi...

Research Project Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

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