Fundamentals of Corporate Finance Essays

Fundamentals of Corporate Finance Essays Fundamentals of Corporate Finance Essay Fundamentals of Corporate Finance Essay WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT 1 1 Week 4 Assignment 1 Edwin Lopez-Petrilli Professor William Hall Fundamentals of Corporate Finance Tuesday July 26, 2011 WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT 1 2 Explain why market prices are useful to a financial manager. Financial managers are tasked with making investment decisions, financing, and managing cash flows from operating activities therefore when prices from competitive markets determine the cash value of goods and the price determines the value of the goods. Financial managers must be able to evaluate costs and benefits in order to make the right decisions that benefit the organization. When market prices are used to evaluate the costs and benefits, in terms of cash on hand now, the determination is the best decision for the organization. This makes the organization and its investors profits, because the value of its benefits exceeds the value of its cost. Discuss how the Valuation Principle helps a financial manager make decisions. . The task of every financial manager is to make educated decisions on behalf of the investors and shareholders. Managers in these positions are faced with questions regarding investments, production, etc. ; each and every day. It is too often that within an organization, a propose idea that sounds good at the time but may not be of benefit. It is the job of the financial managers to break the idea down into detail to analyze the cost and benefits, and then make a decision based on concrete numbers. The process is the Valuation Principle, an analysis between the value of the cots and the value of its benefits. It provides a basis for making decisions within a company. : In a competitive market in which the good(s) can be bought and sold at the same price, the value of a good(s) is set by its price, and any personal opinion or preference is irrelevant when determining value. WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT 1 3 Describe how the Net Present Value is related to cost-benefit analysis. . Cost-benefit analysis (CBA), sometimes called benefit-cost analysis (BCA), is an economic decision-making approach, used particularly in government and business. CBA is used in the assessment of whether a proposed project, program or policy is worth doing, or to choose between several alternatives. It involves comparing the total expected costs of each option against the total expected benefits, to see whether the benefits outweigh the costs, and by how much. In CBA, benefits and costs are expressed in money terms, and are adjusted for the time value of money, so that all flows of benefits and flows of project costs over time (which tend to occur at different points in time) are expressed on a common basis in terms of their net -present value. CBA usually tries to put all relevant costs and benefits on a common temporal footing using time value of money formulas. This is often done by converting the future expected streams of costs and benefits into a present value amount using a suitable discount rate. Explain how an interest rate is just a price. Money like any other good can be bought and sold with a supply and a demand, interest rate is the equivalent of the price of that good over a period of time. When money is borrowed, interest is typically paid to the lender as a percentage of the principal, the amount owed. The percentage of the principal that is paid as a fee over a certain period of time is called the interest rate (price). Therefore interest is the price paid over a period of time for the acquired good(s) now. In economics, interest is considered the price of credit. WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT 1 4 Describe how a bond is like a loan. A bond is like a loan: the issuer is the borrower (debtor), the holder is the lender (creditor), and the coupon is the interest. Bonds provide the borrower with external funds to finance longterm investments, or, in the case of government bonds, to finance current expenditure. Bonds must be repaid at fixed intervals over a period of time. A bond is a debt security, in which the authorized issuer owes the holders a debt depending on the terms of the bond, is indebted to pay interest (the coupon) and/or to repay the principal at a later date, termed maturity. A bond is a formal contract to repay borrowed money with interest at fixed intervals. Just like borrowing money for any purpose there’s a term and an interest that is paid for the use of that good. WEEK 4 ASSIGNMENT 1 5 References Berk, J. , DeMarzo, P. , Harford, J. (2009). FIN100:Fundamentals of corporate finance: 2010 custom edition. New York, NY: Prentice Hall.

How to Figure Out if You Can Patent Your Idea

How to Figure Out if You Can Patent Your Idea A  patent  is a set of  exclusive rights  granted to an inventor for a limited period of time in exchange for detailed public disclosure of an  invention. An invention is a solution to a specific technological problem and is a product or a process. The procedure for granting patents, requirements placed on the patentee, and the extent of the exclusive rights vary widely between countries according to national laws and international agreements. Typically, however, a granted patent application must include one or more  claims  that define the invention. A patent may include many claims, each of which defines a specific property right. These claims must meet relevant  patentability  requirements, such as  novelty,  usefulness, and  non-obviousness. The exclusive right granted to a patentee in most countries is the right to prevent others, or at least to try to prevent others, from commercially making, using, selling, importing or distributing a patented invention without permission. Under the  World Trade Organizations (WTO)  Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, patents should be available in WTO member states for any invention, in all fields of technology, and the term of protection  available should be a minimum of 20  years.  Nevertheless, there are variations on what is  patentable subject matter  from country to country. Is Your Idea  Patentable? To see if your idea is patentable: First, check to see if your idea qualifies.Second, learn the basics of the patenting process.Next, do a search for of all previous public disclosures that concern your invention. These public disclosures are called prior art. Prior art includes any patents related to your invention, any published articles about your invention, and any public demonstrations. This determines if your idea has been patented before or publicly disclosed, making it unpatentable. A registered patent attorney or agent can be hired to do a patentability search for prior art, and a big part of that is searching for U.S. and foreign patents that compete with your invention. After an application is filed, the USPTO will conduct their own patentability search as part of the official examination process. Patent Searching Conducting a thorough patent search is difficult, particularly for the novice. Patent searching is a learned skill. A novice in the United States could contact the nearest Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) and seek out search experts to help in setting up a search strategy. If you are in the Washington, D.C. area, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides public access to collections of patents, trademarks, and other documents at its Search Facilities located in Arlington, Virginia. It is possible, however difficult, for you to conduct your own patent search. You should not assume that your idea has not been patented even if you find no evidence of it being publicly disclosed. It is important to remember that a thorough examination at the USPTO may uncover U.S. and foreign patents as well as non-patent literature.

Feminism in the 1900s Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Feminism in the 1900s - Research Paper Example Occurrence of the World Wars had a substantial impact on their revolution since they were influenced to take a stand. This paper will explore ideas from different sources such as â€Å"The Great Gatsby† by Fitzgerald, â€Å"A Raising in the Sun† by Hansberry and â€Å"Jasmine† by Mukherjee, thereby discussing feminism in 1900s. During 1990s, women had managed to make their way into manual labor force in America, and others acquired professional occupations. For instance, Hansberry in â€Å"A Raising in the Sun† explains that Beneatha was socially progressive, whereby she undertook a course in the medical field and this enabled her to provide for her family (Hansberry, 23). On the other hand, women commenced to engage in a struggle aimed at establishing equal pay after the First and Second World Wars. In fact, this was contrary to expectations that they would give up their jobs and resume to their initial role of being domestic caregivers. Furthermore, they engaged into strikes, and they had a conviction that their effort would leave an incessant mark on American society. Women’s freedom to change their lives was attained during the 1900s, whereby they were offered a chance to vote and right to acquire education. In fact, this revolution led to increased changes in the work force, while fashion in America underwent continual upheavals. There were changes in women’s dressing, whereby they used fashion as a way of expressing themselves. For instance, in â€Å"The Great Gatsby† by Fitzgerald, there is a character named Myrtle Wilson, who is highly concerned with appearance and fashion (Fitzgerald, 26). During 1900s, women managed to acquire professions that were reserved for men, though there were those who decided to be employed in keeping boarding houses. In this case, women were able to secure employment in medical field (like Beneatha in â€Å"A Raising in the Sun†), while others became lawyers. In fact, a ll this revolution is attributable to revolution that occurred in nineteenth century. During this period, acceptance towards women increased significantly; this acceptance was based on their suitability in various occupations. Nonetheless, other women decided to continue with their domestic roles, thereby being excluded from attaining factory occupations and other professions such as writing or teaching Women who were married at a young age were denied a chance to pursue a career in the medical field due to lack of accessibility to necessary education. For instance, Beneatha became a professional in the medical field since she was not married; in fact, she was still living with her parents (Hansberry, 20). Prior to 1990s, women were offered a chance to become nurses, while men were offered a chance to become doctors. In addition, before the revolution in 1900s, there was a prohibition, which barred women from joining American Medical Association; in fact, they would not attend some medical colleges such as Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, but in 1910, women could join medical schools (Women's International Centre, 1). According to Women's International Centre, only seventeen and five present of doctors in America were women prior to 1900s (1). In fact, by 1930, there were no substantial improvements in women situation concerning other

Historical Educational Theorists Letter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Historical Educational Theorists Letter - Essay Example Indeed, this is a serious concern that can affect any school system, for this reason; there are certain steps that need to be taken into consideration by your administration to restore the system to its full functioning. It is important to understand that the process of real education only happens through the stimulation process of a child’s powers, these often comes about because of social demands that the individual child finds himself in. By interacting with these societal demands, a learner is inspired to act in a way that portrays him as a member of that community. In my perspective, â€Å"I believe that in the ideal school, we have the reconciliation of the individualistic and the institutional ideals† (Dewey, 2013), therefore, you need to outline clearly these separate ideals. In this way, the learner finally graduates to become a useful and reliable member of the school and community. In my view, â€Å"I believe that the child should be stimulated and controlled in his work through the life of the community† (Dewey, 2013), and not being forced to conform to the system that is set. Therefore, what exactly needs to be done? I would prefer that you play the leading role as a leader of the institution to create an environment in which learners can know how to interact with various systems in the school. In this case, create core values that the administration and school community can uphold, they should be values that facilitate proper communication, respect, love and excellence among others. Through these needs, learners will find themselves with the urge to behave in certain ways that are in line with the core values set. Keep in mind that the school is a social community where learners, teachers and other stakeholders play a crucial role in shaping the values of a child for life. The management problems and the poor relationship that exists in your institution can be due to lack of proper awareness about the

Crash Essay Example for Free

Crash Essay Description: The film Crash illustrates through various characters many themes that are sociologically relevant and have been intensely covered in course lectures and readings. With the extensive minority groups presented throughout the film; elements of prejudice, discrimination, deviance, patterns of accommodation, as well as strain theory are evident. The film offers an array of conflict in four characters especially that will be discussed here. â€Å"Anthony† and â€Å"Peter Waters† two African-American men, â€Å"Farhad† a Persian shop owner, and â€Å"Officer John Ryan† a white prejudiced policeman all display interesting characteristics of the theories mentioned above. Analysis: Anthony and Peter both commit criminal acts and fit well into the innovation as part of deviance model. They do not believe that they can conform and do not see other opportunities in the largely white areas in which they steal cars, admitting that they want to steal from whites, as they perceive whites to have privilege and hostility toward them. Peter is shot while Anthony attempts to redeem himself by helping another minority group, who he sees to be exploited due to their minority status. Officer Ryan is a prejudiced policeman, who feels the trickle down effect of strain theory. Due to the loss of his father’s job due to affirmative action policies and the subsequent issues with him receiving improper healthcare, this officer turns his frustration to blacks as a whole due to the strain of his father’s condition. Finally, Farhad exhibits the patterns of accommodation, as he attempts to assimilate to the United States, he distrusts others in the different minority groups and feels the shame of being called a terrorist. He retaliates by attempting to kill a Mexican-American, as his level of conflict with other groups is extremely high. Self-reflection: This film is very effective in showing how theories can be applied to actual events that occur in the lives of minorities and those with white privilege. The complex interactions between the different groups highlight much of what conflict theory proposes and elements of structural functionalism, as well. I would highly recommend this movie to any sociology student or others, who have an interest in how groups in society function and deal with one another on a daily basis.

An Investigation into the Portrayal or Truth Within the Documentary Gen

As documentary by its very nature introduces itself as factual, concerns exist as to where the boundary between the truth of subject and the fiction produced by its creator emerges. As anything that has been edited has by definition removed certain aspects and enhanced others, there must be at best an innocent naturally occurring bias formed from individual perception, and at worst purposefully manipulated misinformation. Through researching various sources, I intend to discover the difference (if any) between these two methods making factually based programmes, to determine any variables that lie in the ‘grey area’ between the two extremes, and to ascertain the diverse forms of conduct in which truth (and in turn documentary) can be presented to an audience, and to what effect? This report aims to make light of certain elements of documentary making that are perhaps more susceptible to influence on the director’s part, and once again explore the effect of these decisions on the audience’s reaction to the information presented. Corner, J. ed., 1986. Documentary and the mass media. Suffolk: Richard Clay ltd This book contains, amongst other things, an insightful account into the foundations of documentary, in particular its British base and its early days via the medium of radio. It features quotations and journal extracts, as well as interviews with some of the prominent figures of early documentary programming during the first half of the 20th century, before leading into the mass observation experiments beginning in the late 30’s. The book describes the documentary format’s departure from its BBC London base under the guidance of Hilda Matheson and Charles Siepmann, who relocated their mobile recording units to what was kn... ... a documentary film by definition must include visuals, but Ames aspires to explain how an emphasis on certain imagery can be used to persuade as well as inform. Works Cited Corner, J. ed., 1986. Documentary and the mass media. Suffolk: Richard Clay ltd Davies, N. 2008. Flat Earth News. London: Random House Publishing Control Room, 2004. [Film] Directed by Jehane Noujaim. Iraq: World Cinema ltd. Waltz with Bashir, 2008. [Film] Directed by Ari Folman. Israel: Artificial eye. Tompkins, C., 2009. The paradoxical effect of the documentary in Walter Salles’s â€Å"Central do Brasil†. Studies in 20th & 21st Century Literature 33 no1 p9-27 Zeitgeist, 2007. [Film] Directed by Peter Joseph. USA: Released via Internet. Available at http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com. [accessed 14/03/2010] Ames, E,. 2009 Herzog, Landscape and Documentary. Cinema Journal v. 48 no. 2 p46-69.

Defending the Meat and Poultry Industry

In the article â€Å"They Die Piece by Piece† Joby Warrick of the Washington Post tells a dramatic story of how animals are slaughtered and strongly advocates for further regulations on the meat and poultry industry in order to better protect animal rights. Thesis: While it may seem like the moral high road to support animal rights regulations, upon evaluating the effects of the proposed solution on our economy it will prove that the status quo remains the most viable option. In order to further understand this situation it is important to evaluate the impact the meat and poultry industry has on the United States economy, the effects of imposing further regulations upon it and the counter arguments to the issues presented by the animal rights movement. Body 1: impact the meat and poultry industry has on our economy Since the end of the second world war the United States has been the world's predominate super power with the efficiency of meat and poultry industries begin a driving factor in maintaining this status. As the world's super power the citizens of the United States have enjoyed an unprecedented amount of opportunities which are often over looked and taken for granted. The United States has an annual gross domestic product of over $15 trillion, the largest in the world and approximately 25% of the global economy (International Monetary Fund). As result of this the possibilities for entrepreneurs and changes in social-economic class are larger then anywhere else in the world. In order to achieve and maintain this level of dominance it is essential for the United States to continue and support its thriving industries. Currently the meat industry in the United States employes 6. 2 million people, totally $200 billion in wages and generates over $83 billion in federal and states tax revenue annually. Additionally, the economic impact of the meat and poultry industry equates to $864 billion annually, approximately 6% of United States' entire GDP (The American Meat Institute). To put this into perspective, Exxon Mobil, the largest company in the world produces $482 billion annually, only about half of the impact of the meat and poultry industry (Forbes). Were we to more tightly regulate the meat and poultry industries it would have a dramatically adverse effect on the United States economy and transitively on every American. Body 2: the effects of imposing further regulations upon it Were further regulations to be imposed on the meat and poultry companies, these added measures will increase overhead costs and these companies will be forced to lay off employees and increase the prices in order to maintain their currently level of profitability. This will adversely effect the economy and well being of America in two ways. First the newly unemployed people will no longer contribute income taxes which work to fund schools, hospitals, police and fire departments, along with ever other public service. Additionally these unemployed people will receive unemployment benefits and welfare which will further drain tax dollars away from essential programs. The second adverse effect will be the rise in food prices. Currently people in America spend less money on food then any other country in the world (Economist. com). As a result people in America have more disposable income to spend on unessential items and help the economy maintain its level of superiority. Rising food costs will effect every single persons level of disposable income and will effectively depress spending on every single other industry. In turn reduced consumer spending will force more layoffs and downsizing of companies and further perpetuate this cycle. As our government continues to collect taxes in a deficit compared to spending they will be forced to cut funding to social programs such as schools and hospitals and the general welfare of people will be effected. A perfect example of this concept is the 2013 Sequester following the failed fiscal cliff negotiations in which the federal government cut $83 billion in funding to national security and domestic programs including â€Å"health, education, drug enforcement, national parks, Hurricane Sandy relief and other programs† (Green). After reviewing the consequences of these proposed regulations it is apparent that well being of humans in America is far more important then the humane treatment of meat and poultry. It is also important to evaluate who will benefit most from these proposed regulations. If American meat and poultry companies are forced to raise there prices due to an escalated cost of production it will create an opportunity for foreign companies to penetrate into the US market. Meaning if regulations were imposed, consumers would switch to purchasing foreign meat and poultry. These foreign companies will be impossible to regulate and the goal of the proposed regulation will not be achieved. Additionally, US companies may move their operations outside of the country which will result in a massive rise in unemployment and loss in tax revenue. Body 3: counter arguments to the issues presented by the animal rights movement. Now lets evaluate the counter arguments to the issues presented by the animal rights movement. The first issues is that animals suffer during the slaughter house process. Human are carnivores and kill animals and eat them, which will obviously require some suffering on the animals behalf. Additionally, regardless of how nice the animals are or how nicely they are treated ultimately all of them are killed. It would be a waste of resources to invest in a product that is facing guaranteed destruction. It would not make sense to give a car a brand new paint job before crushing it at a recycling plant. It may seem unsettling to think about the slaughter house process but understand that life is not all sunshine and rainbows. Many industries practices far more shocking business practices and receive drastically less media attention. For example Foxcon the Chinese company that Manufacturers Apple products such as the iPhone and iPad, has been forced to install safety nets because workers are committing suicide as a result of overbearing work conditions (Moore). Realize these are real people dying and not livestock, yet activist seem to care far less as they write tweets from their apple iPhones. While this information is unsettling it is important to understand these are the measures necessary to maintain the lifestyle that Americans are accustom to. The United States has achieved its super power status by embarking on these efficient processes and without it we would be unable to enjoy the luxuries this country has available. The second issue proposed by animal rights activist is that meat and poultry plants are unsafe for workers. In Joby Warrick's article he says, â€Å"Improperly stunned animals contribute to worker injuries in an industry that already has the nation's highest rate of job-related injuries and llnesses† (Warrick 323). While worker safety is a very important issue, it is in the meat and poultry companies best interest to work to improve the safety of their employees. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that â€Å"Over the last 20 years, injury/illness rates in the U. S. meat industry have improved by nearly 80 percent, as efforts t o enhance workplace safety have taken effect† (Bureau of Labor Statistics). While it is impossible to prevent all work place injuries, a reduction of 80% is a very impressive figure and shows that these companies are actively working to improve safety conditions. Additionally, a portion of the responsibility falls onto the employees who are aware of the dangers of working in a slaughter house presents. For the last 60 years the United States has been the world's predominate super power. We have achieved this level of success by supporting our thriving industries and creating the world's largest and most powerful economy. While the humane treatment of animals appears to be a strong ethical issues upon evaluating the side effects on our economy and the well being of our citizens it is apparent that further regulations should be avoided.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding Essay

â€Å"My Big Fat Greek Wedding† is a romantic comedy that explores cultural differences in a combination of romance and humor. The story revolves around Toula, a thirty-year-old Greek American single woman, who lives with her family in the suburb of Chicago. She works in her family’s business, a restaurant called â€Å"Dancing Zorba’s.† Toula is expected to marry from their ethnic background. However, she struggles with her strict father to convince him that she longs for something else in life. She enrolls in college and takes computer classes. She manages her aunt’s travel agency and starts dating Ian Miller, a white high school English teacher. They date secretly for a while, before she has the courage to introduce him to her family. Her father is angry over her dating a non-Greek. The overall of the story occurs when both sides try to adjust to each other. This movie relates a lot to the five themes of geography we have been studying. It relates to location because they live in the suburbs in Chicago, which is a place. A location is people and places are positioned variously on the Earth’s surface. Also, the father lived in Greece before coming over to the U.S. So therefore, location relates to this movie. It also relates to place, physical and human characteristics distinguish one place from other places. In Greece, you have a very religion type of country. Houses are made to represent the Parthenon, which to the Greeks, is the home of Athena. Rather in, Chicago, you have very modern houses that don’t symbolize really anything. It relates to relationships within places also because in the movie, the family’s house in Chicago resembles the Parthenon, which you wouldn’t exactly see in such a city. It can also relate to movement because the family is constantly on the phone with each other. With Greeks, you would normally have a huge family, so they are constantly talking on cell phones or driving to each other’s houses to gossip. Also, last but not least, it can relate to region. The Earth can be divided into regions to help us understand similarities and differences of people and places. For example, Greece and Chicago are divided because they are very two different places. I really enjoyed watching this movie in class. It was very humorous and I learned a lot. Before watching this movie, I didn’t know that when you marry, your job as a woman is to basically cook, clean, and have kids. That shocked me completely. I loved the movie, however it was very predictable. By the way they set up the movie, you could easily tell what was going to happen next. But the overall movie was great. I would definitely recommend this movie to my friends to watch, it’s a very good movie if you just want to have a good laugh.

Muslims are betrayed in the media Essay Example

Muslims are betrayed in the media Essay Example Muslims are betrayed in the media Essay Muslims are betrayed in the media Essay Name Lecturer Course Date Muslims Are Betrayed In the Media Numerous studies indicate that the media has a profound impact on public opinion. The media generally receives news of various social, political and economic events in order to relay them to the average viewer, listener or reader. However, the influence the media has on the public can be both positive and negative. With respect to the Muslim community, the British media has exercised more of a betrayal approach than a positive portrayal. This can primarily be blamed on the 9/11 and 7/7 terrorist attacks. The word Muslim has also been drawn out of context in most of the media reports and news. Negative reflections of Muslims make the headlines without taking into consideration that the stereotype is extreme. Muslims in the UK continuously complain of the marginalization and demonization they suffer from the media. One of the major stories that made headlines involved to Muslim brothers that were arrested in an inhumane manner. The media had projected the story setting the basis on the fact that they were both Muslims. Allegations forwarded by the police claimed that the two were plotting a biological attack. The raid did not consider their fundamental rights as members of the British society. The portrayal of the media for the two brothers was not a new approach towards terrorism and Muslims. Many Muslims have fallen victim of Islamophobia. This is a renewed concept in the British society and the entire western world. Terrorism and other related evils are strongly associated with Muslims. However, this perception does not take into consideration that terrorists can be of other religions. The reality is that terrorism is driven by extremists and not religion. One story in The Telegraph displayed how a man killed his two daughters in honor of Islam. The article played key focus on the fact that Yaser was Muslim, and it did not take any other consideration of him as a criminal. Muslim honor killing is stated to be the approach taken by Yaser in order to kill his daughters (Duell 3). The motive was that is daughters were dating non-Muslims. Consequently, the Muslim religion has been demonized in the story. The main emphasis of the story is that the religion drives individuals towards heinous crimes like those of Yaser. However, the Islamic religion is centered on principles of peace, understanding and tolerance. In addition, the story was tracing the man back to New York where he was a cab driver. When Muslims are generalized in such stories, public perception is inclined towards the focal point of the headline. The impact is that the public perception changes to consider Muslims as murderers who act in honor of their religion. Another article by the Mail Online displays the story of a man who killed his three daughters. The article headline played keen emphasis on the fact that the man was Muslim. The story states that the man had done the act in honor of Islam (Daily Mail Reporter). It was an action undertaken because the daughters were getting married to the wrong men. Shaffia was the prime suspect in the killing basing on the evidence that was found in the car. He had also called his daughters prostitutes for marrying the men and bringing him shame. The article also states that the Shaffia is not remorseful for what he did. The article once again uses the word â€Å"Muslim† in the headline just like other articles that have Muslim articles. This therefore highlights the role of the Islamic religion in the crime. It also states that it is an honor killing. The first presumption people would have is that it is in honor of Islam. The reality is that the man felt that his daughters had brought shame to his house. Therefore, the Islamic religion is not the main motivation for his killing. However, by reading the article headline one might easily resolve that Islam drove the man to murder the three women. Britain has become the central zone for terrorism in recent years. The controversial and disputed military campaigns overseas have seen the country at a higher risk of terror attacks and extremists. The dangers of terrorism have risen to unprecedented proportions since 2007. In addition to these statistics, the number of attacks and attempted attacks has also been on the rise. With these numbers on the rise, police have also increased their approach towards terrorism. They have launched the global war on terrorism. This has resulted to an increase in the number of arrests on suspected terrorists. In addition, the government created laws to detain the terror suspects to six months without any charges. The Trend Report and European Union Terrorism Situation have reported that terror related arrests in increased in the United Kingdom. In 2007, 203 suspects were arrested. This was 30 percent up from the year 2006. However, the article revealing the arrest of the two brothers highlights that the arrests are primarily based on people from Islamic states, religion and origin. The shooting of one of the brothers is also considered an infringement of their human rights. Since the 7/7 attacks, Muslims have been targeted by the police on suspicions of terror attacks. The arrests are carried out on Muslims without conceivable evidence. United Kingdom media has been extremely biased on reporting such arrests and approaches towards Muslims. The story on the two brothers is evident of the level of media bias. Various stories on the arrest made it look like the police had caught the real criminals. The headlines were broadcasted on both print and digital media. Therefore, many people were reached by the information conformed by the media. The entire audience followed what the media had relayed to them. Ultimately, the media shaped the perception that the two brothers were responsible for the terror attack. The media in England use various approaches towards relaying information to the public. One of the ways in which Muslims are demonized is through the omission of some critical information that is useful to the pubic (Bryfonski 45). When some information is omitted, people lack a proper understanding of the issue at hand. People draw their own conclusions on the story. This has been a common occurrence on issues related to Muslims and the image of their religion. For instance, the two brothers who were arrested were indeed innocent. However, after the police established this, they stated their remorse for the approach they had taken. This aspect of the story was not a major headline for most media houses. Consequently, the public were not made aware of the new findings. This selective approach by the media has also increased the level of Islamophobia in the United Kingdom and the rest of the Western world. The media has been a catalyst of the souring relations between the public and those of the Islamic religion. Muslims have therefore become victims of some overzealous sections in media entities. The terrorist definition of Islam has also been imposed blindly on Islamic communities that live in the United Kingdom. Ultimately, British Muslims have become disenfranchised and silenced. Sections of the media have been on the forefront to encourage that the Muslims should be overtaken by fringe elements. They whip up passions through the iconography of angry and extremist Muslims. However, this section of Muslims discredits the rest of England’s Muslim population. The Muslim community categorically rejects terror and violence. This rejection is particularly focused on issues of national interest and politics. Muslim groups in the United Kingdom have unreservedly condemned the 7th July terror attack in the UK. Those in the UK have also voiced their discontent for the act of terror. However, the media has failed in its responsibility to convey this message. It has failed to offer sufficient prominence towards the overwhelming condemnation of Muslims. There is lack of balance on these issues of terror and reflection of the Muslim community (Lewis, 56). The tragedy created by the media has also affected the way Muslims view themselves. Constantly, the reports from the media show only one side of the Muslim community. People of this religion feel marginalized in society. The media has redefined how Muslims view themselves as citizens in Britain. Many Muslims have been forced to propitiate prejudice from other people. However, the media and public perception make this task quite difficult. The imagery and headlines that are emitted almost on a daily basis from the media is the major hindrance towards creating a positive perception of the Muslims in England. The word Muslim makes the most headlines with respect to acts of terror in UK media. The initial approach was undertaken after the 9/11 and July 7 attacks. The media has been using the word to relate with negative issues and terror. However, it is interesting to note that people from other religions rarely have their religious inclinations in the headlines when they are engaged in criminal activities. The story of the two fathers who killed their daughters in the Mail Online and The Telegraph are a revelation of how the media associates evil acts with Islam. In addition, they are portrayed as guilty criminals even before undergoing trial in court. In 2006, the Sun Newspaper published an exclusive story about some criminal Muslim group in the UK. The report described in graphic detail the formation of a â€Å"Muslim hate mob† (Duell 4). The mob was stated to be involved in the vandalism of a house in Windsor. It was also perceived as a vendetta to stop British soldiers arriving from the Afghan war from renting the house. The newspaper formed the opinion that the Muslims were on a hate mission against British soldiers in the Afghan war. However, it was later established that Muslims were not involved in the crime. Evidence in the crime established that there was no Muslim involvement. These stories have been used by the media creating a sense of suspicion among the citizens. Many people relay on the media as their main source of information. Public perception is shaped by the information they receive from the media. With such stories, hostilities are bound to be created between the public and the Muslim community. The Sun created a sensational assertion that Muslims were responsible for the vandalism. With the wide readership it enjoys, there is little doubt that people become suspicious of the Muslims community. The story portrayed Muslims as the main source of trouble. Islamophobia denotes irrational fear, prejudice or hatred of Muslims (Bryfonski, 32). The concept has been growing in recent years especially in the Western world. In the UK it has increased since the 7/7 (July 7) attacks. Islamophobia has been blamed largely on the media in the United Kingdom. According to research majority of the people in the UK blame the media for Islamophobia. Islamophobia has become so dominant that it is slowly receiving acceptance in the society. However, this does not look into the fact that it is an infringement of human rights. Muslims are adversely affected as they have been discriminated in the social, political and economic aspects. However, the media in the UK is slowly hanging its approach towards the Muslim community. The realization that it is responsible for the increased Islamophobia has made the media reconsider its approach towards Islamic issues. Reports from media houses are also becoming positive and highlighting the plight of the Muslim community. Media houses are also establishing policies that will set an equal ground for all citizens in the UK. Action is also taken against media houses that portray negative images. For instance, the Sun was forced to retract its story on the â€Å"Muslim mob† by the Press Complaints Commission. In conclusion, the media is resourceful towards shaping and influencing public opinion. The stories that are relayed to the public are important. However, they should not be biased or target a particular section of society. The media in the UK is partly to blame for the negative perception of the Muslims. However, this can be remedied if the government and relevant authorities establish policies that will regulate the media. In addition, these laws must be applied and implemented with respect to the laws of the country. It is also the role of the public to question some aspects of media reports in order to make them accountable.

What is a Prologue (and How to Write One) 7 Insider Tips from Editors

What is a Prologue (and How to Write One) 7 Insider Tips from Editors What Is a Prologue - and How to Write One Readers Won't Skip Some call it the "introduction" to a story, or a first of â€Å"two beginnings.† While there's some debate on how they function as a literary device (more on that later), it is agreed upon that a good prologue contains information that is vital to the rest of the story - though often not in a way that’s immediately apparent.A prologue is mainly necessary if it contains information that would hinder the narrative if present in the body of the novel. Think of it a bit like an appetizer: if done right, it can perfectly prepare you for the main course. If done carelessly, it can ruin your appetite for the novel.Before we talk about the best way to write a prologue, let's make sure we're all on the same page about what a prologue is - and isn’t.What is a prologue - and how is it different from a foreword, preface, and introduction?It’s easy to confuse prologues with prefaces - they’re both P-words that refer to the bit before the beginning of a book: the front matter. But they’re not the same, and neither are forewords or introductions.A prologue prepares the reader for the story they’re about to read with information that is necessary to have before the start of the novel itself. Mostly used in fiction.A foreword is written by someone who is not the author of the book - usually a public figure or authority on the subject matter at hand. The foreword explains some significant connection between its writer and the book or the book’s author. Used in both fiction and nonfictionA preface gives the reader a look at how the book came to be. It explains the goal of the book, its development, and acknowledges the parties who contributed to the book. Mostly used in nonfiction, sometimes in fiction. You can go this way to learn more about prefaces.An introduction deals specifically with the subject of the book. It might offer supplemental information or explain the perspective of the writer(s). While a preface doesn 't typically contain information critical to the reader’s understanding of the book, an introduction usually does. Mostly used in nonfiction.The prologue is the opposite of an epilogue, which comes at the end of a novel. Now we’re all clear on this particular literary device, let’s take a closer look at its purpose and determine whether it’s the right start for your story. Tips from professional editors on how to write a prologue that will stick with readers. How to write a prologue: tips from our editorsNo one hates being told â€Å"these are the rules† more than writers. We get it, writing is a personal thing and reading is a subjective pleasure. But since the popularization of the novel in the 18th century, certain ways of writing a prologue have emerged as being more reliable than others.Below are tips from our editors on its ideal uses, and suggestions for when an author is better off diving straight into Chapter One.Do write a prologue that...Provides a crucial glimpse into the past or future When you read the first chapter of a book, you expect to settle into a story you’ll spend the next couple hundred pages with. So a first chapter that starts at one point in time only to shoot forward or backward a significant number of years can feel a bit out of the blue. If some part of the backstory is an integral piece of knowledge to have at the outset of your novel, the prologue can be a good way of delivering this without throwing the reader off. Likewise some authors to start with the aftermath of the story, then double back in the first chapter to answer the question, "How did we get to this point?Recommended read: for an intro that begins in the present and then flashes back in time in the first chapter, read  The Bridges of Madison County. The mini-series adaptation of Pillars of the Earth, image: Tandem Communications)What makes this crucial information work as a prologue instead of just a first chapter is that it introduces the questions that the rest of the novel will spend answering: has this man been set up? Why? Will the woman’s curse serve to bring the guilty parties to justice? Set in 1123, twelve years prior to Chapter One, the prologue frames the themes that the story will explore.Pale Fire by Vladimir NabokovWritten by Vladimir Nabokov, Pale Fire is a novel in the form of a 999-line poem (yes you read that right. The poem itself has been written by fictional poet John Shade, and the novel opens with a â€Å"foreword† written by a neighbor and academic colleague of Shade, Charles Kinbote.Let me state that without my notes Shade's text simply has no human reality at all since the human reality of such a poem as his... has to depend entirely on the reality of its author and his surroundings, attac hments and so forth, a reality that only my notes can provide. To this statement my dear poet would probably not have subscribed, but, for better or worse, it is the commentator who has the last word.CHARLES KINBOTE Oct. 19, 1959, Cedarn, UtanaOf primary significance here is the fact that it immediately sets up an overarching theme of the novel: things are not always what they seem. A former editor-in-chief of Scholastic’s Magazine, Tim Major notes that his favorite prologue â€Å"appears to be separate from the novel but is in fact very much a part of it.†Nabokov also uses the prologue to introduce us to the notion of the unreliable narrator and puts the reader in a critical frame of mind. For example, Kinbote spends the majority of the foreword (which is meant to be about the poem it preludes), talking about himself, and steadfastly claims that his interpretation of the poem is the correct one while making vague and strange remarks that suggest a lack of self-awareness.For more examples of effective prologues, check out the following novels:Fantasy: A Game of Thrones by George RR MartinThriller: Empire Falls by Richard RussoLiterary: The Piano Tuner by Daniel MasonRomance: Water for Elephants by Sara GruenScience Fiction: Jurassic Park by Michael CrichtonTo prologue or not to prologue?Now that we’ve discussed what goes into a well-written prologue, you might still be doubting whether your story needs one. The fact is, if you’re unsure, it probably doesn’t. But this decision must be based on your story, and not on any preconceived ideas of good practice. Even when it comes to agents, there is dissent on the subject of prologues. Tim Major remarks, â€Å"Agents, publishers and readers must be hooked by the first line, paragraph and page of a novel by an unfamiliar author. I suspect that few writers would claim that their prologue represents the most compelling aspects of their novel.† While Andrea Hurst notes: â€Å"As an agent, if the intro is short, strong, and adds to the story, I enjoy it.†If you’ve written a prologue that wouldn’t work just as well as a first chapter, has clear and necessary relation to th e rest of the story, doesn’t serve just to hook readers, create atmosphere, or info-dump, and doesn’t begin with, â€Å"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,† then you must be on the right track.

The Concept of Culture in the Translation Studies Coursework

The Concept of Culture in the Translation Studies - Coursework Example Each approach to translation attempts to trace in detail the actual process of translation and to describe how translators actually translate. One of the most important methods to emerge today in translation studies is the cultural approach. This paper will explore the merit of this method in translation studies. It was the Romans who first introduced the use of the concept of culture as an indispensable aspect in translation studies. According to Rainer Schulte and John Biguenet, during their period translation meant incorporating subject matters of foreign culture into the language of one’s own culture. For critics, this could mean looting those elements from Greek culture that would enhance the aesthetic dimensions of the Roman culture. However, as what Cicero proclaimed, he was translating ideas and their forms and was therefore setting the word-for-word rendering of the original-language text secondary or of no import at all. Culture, hence, was pivotal here even if its a spects were used to enhance another. Saint Jerome, the famous translator of the Greek Bible into Latin, favoured this method, arguing that translation meant expropriating ideas and insights from another culture to enrich one’s own language. Saint Jerome in fact improved on this, contributing to the definition of the history of the discipline. One of the authors who would credit Saint Jerome as their influence is Rufinus of Aquilea, one of the most important translators of Greek texts into Latin in late antiquity.

Collective Security Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Collective Security - Essay Example To preserve peace after World War I the League of Nations was created in 1920 and the principle of collective security was adopted. . It entails that all members have to accept and obey the rules of international law which forbid any process of employing violent behavior within the group (Stromberg, 2008, p. 1). Three important agreements have been made in this context, those are, The RIO in 1947, NATO in 1949 and WARSAW in 1955, pledging each member to avoid belligerence against each other. (Ishay, 2004, p. 225) The concept of collective security seems to be of major importance in the study of international relations and worldwide politics but the application of the concept in practice has achieved little success. It now suffers a mottled status in the context of international relations. Its significant collapse as exposed by the League of Nations is the focal representation left to the world since 1930. The eternal squabbling and ineffective pretentiousness of the United Nations throughout the Cold War period additionally disgraced the idea of collective security. (Kaloudis, 1998, P.1) As stated by James E. Goodby, in terms of international relations and politics, what seem to work in the past were collective defense alliances like NATO assurance to protect each associate state from exterior hostility.