Character evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Character evaluation - Essay Example It is concluded that Sara as a film character is well-developed and not one-dimensional like other film heros and villains are.    The main theme of the film, faith, is embodied by the character of Sara Crewe. Growing up  to a rich family in India, Sara believes that all girls are princesses. As a young girl, she was encouraged by her father to believe in such things as magic. As a result, Sara became more in touch with the fantasy world than in the banal realities of life. She enjoys reliving and retelling the story of Ramayana, takes pleasure in reading books and playing with expensive dolls, and most importantly, appreciates a world of make-believe that is driven by fantasy. Her being open to the arts, emotions, unconventional ideas, and adventure is what brings life to the movie. Saras open nature has influenced the way she was perceived and treated by the schools headmistress, Miss Minchin, the students, and the servant girl, Becky. During her fist week at school, Sara became an instant favorite among the students because of her ability to tell the story of Ramayana in such a creative and  engaging manner. By imagining that she could talk to her dead mother in heaven, Sara was able to remove the tantrums of Lottie who also lost her mother as a young child. In one of the most  memorable scenes  in the film, a flower vendor offers Sara a bright yellow flower and utters the phrase "For the princess." Sara received the flower with a smile and then, like a princess, took a bow. A turning point in the film, this scene established that all girls are, indeed, princesses regardless of their social and economic status. Saras being open led her to acknowledge and believe what her father has been telling her all along, and which was re-affirmed by the flower vend or.    Sara also acted with a sense of duty, self-discipline, and achievement. Because Sara knew the French language by heart, she felt it was her duty to teach the other students on her free time.

Barn Burning by William Faulkner Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Barn Burning by William Faulkner - Essay Example However, equally powerful is Faulkner’s use of character to define, explain, and develop the conflicts that take place throughout the short story. As such, this author will work to examine these two specific aspects and draw inference on their interrelation and use within the story. The story itself opens amidst a trial that is set in the epitome of the rural dust-bowl of the mid-west. Abner Snopes stand accused of purposefully and intentionally burning the barn of his former employer. The reader is quickly made aware that the true nature of the crime is known by young Sartoris and it is soon incumbent upon him to lie to the court, as instructed by his father, in order to wrongfully acquit the accused. Unlike most stories where the denouement comes at the end, Faulkner uses this as a mechanism to provide a life-altering impression on the young Sartoris; an impression that categorically affects the way that the rest of the story progresses and has implications for how Abner Sno pes will eventually be undone (Swann 132). In a way, Faulkner’s development shows the reader that the story can essentially be broken in to three distinct components. Firstly, the reader is made aware of Abner Snopes treachery and his moral deviance. Secondly, Faulkner wanders about describing each scene to the fullest while alluding back to the effect that Sartoris has come to experience as a result of the lies that have been told and the type of life that is being led. Lastly, the tension is released by Sartoris making the difficult choice to right the wrong that he had previously done. Although few might consider this story a tale of redemption, for Sartoris, it is precisely this. Haunted by the wrongs that the father continues to perpetrate and fearful of what the future consequences of these might be, Sartoris has to make the most difficult of decisions and quickly pursue honesty in order that the opening sequence of the short story will not repeat itself with respect to Abner’s short employment with de Spain. Although this conflict exists early in the story, it is the feeling and sense of conscience that troubles the young boy and makes it difficult for him to accept the result of the trial as well as to accept his role in the acquittal and to a greater extent his role within such a family. Faulkner presents a young boy who even at the tender age of 10 is uniquely aware of what is right and what is wrong (Comprone 18). Masterfully fabricated elements within the story help to develop the fact that Abner Snopes is an absolute tyrant. These include but are not limited to the beating that Sartoris faces as the family is in the process of relocating, the fact that Abner curses at his wife and instructs her not to tend to Sartoris wounds, the incident with the rug in de Spain’s house, and the final incident concerning the lantern oil. Although these can be understood as elements of conflict, they are at the same time elements of character development with relation to the way that Sartoris views his surrounds, his role in the family, and the level to which he will allow these things to continue before making a stand based on his own convictions. What is intriguing about the development of both of these themes is the fact that they are so inexorably linked. Without Sartoris clearly defined conscience, there would be little if any of a conflict between Sartoris and Abner. Without a broken family suffering under the dictatorial rule of a maniacal father, there would be little room to development on the emotions of frustration, rage, anger, regret,

Emergent Strategy Development and Resource Allocation Process

Emergent Strategy Development and Resource Allocation Process The business environment is subjected to rapid changes and in such scenarios organizations must change incrementally and adapt strategy on the basis of organizational learning rather than planning ahead (Campbell et al., 2002). Emergent strategy emerges over time. Barney Hesterley 2010 suggest that emergent strategy is very important for entrepreneurial firms due to the high uncertainty and high unpredictably of the business conditions. According to Johnson et al., 2008, emergent strategy can be developed through four ways. Logical Incrementalism: According to Quinn, Logical incrementalism is the development of strategy by experimentation and learning from partial commitments rather than through global formulation of total strategies. Dynamic changes are required to respond to the unexpected changes in the environment rather than planning the strategic direction well ahead (Johnson et al., 2005). Resource Allocation routines: Resource allocation and management has become a vital component of the firms, since effective allocation of resources eases the operations of the firm and also helps in completing their projects within the specified deadline. According to Barney Hesterley 2010, the organizational culture and ritual in a firm that would direct all the employees in the organization to define their jobs in competitive and fiscal terms leads to gain sustainable competitive advantage. As an example, Honda was able to sell their Supercub motorcycles in the American market through their effective resource allocation process. Cultural Processes: The culture within the organization plays an imperative role in the incremental strategy development if it is harmonized with the environmental changes. Incompetent organizational culture may act as a barrier for a firm to keep their strategic directions in line with the environmental changes (Johnson et al., 2005). According to Pearce Robinson 2009, the entity of todays global firms is that organizational culture should be acquainted with cultural diversity. Managing the relationship between strategy and culture in the firm is significant for the successful implementation of the strategy. Organizational politics: The Political observation of strategy development is that strategies develop as a result of processes of haggling and negotiation among the influential stakeholders of the firm. Political action is often perceived as an inevitable part of the strategy development process in an organization (Johnson et al., 2005). To conclude, although the process of emergent strategy development lags sufficient planning since it arises over time, it could be significant for organizations operating in a changing business environment. Using the website of a large organization find its organizational chart. Explain why the organization is structured in the way illustrated. Procter and Gamble (PG) is the worlds biggest maker of consumer products and is well known for their innovation. Over the years PG has considered organizational structure as an essential part of their growth. The brand portfolio is immense (Appendix 1). The decision making at the top management level is made by the board of directors. Each functional operations of the PG group are discretely controlled by their relevant management. In the early 90s, PG was structured in the forms of global matrix structure to meet the consumer demands in each region as shown in Figure 1. This structure allowed the company to create global technical units in distinct regions each with a core competency in a particular category of products. The global category Presidents, RD department and VPs developed the product category stage technologies that could be functional for global branding strategies. The creation of influential and self-governing global functions endorsed the improvement in knowledge levels, transfer of best practices and eradication of intraregional redundancies. The matrix structure proved to be a massive advantage for PG since it combined the manufacturing, purchasing, trading and distributing into a single global supply chain (Piskorski Spadini, 2007). Figure1: Procter Gamble Organizational Structure in 1990s (Source: Grant, 2010, pp.616) Although strong regional functions provided enormous competitive advantages, the matrix structure was never symmetrical in PG. Each function focused more on their own strategic program and development in the company rather than combining with other functional units to develop the companys position in the market place. With problems in their structure and plans for further diversification, PG carried out a six year restructuring plan through which they restructured from global matrix structure to global business units (GBU). The current organizational structure of PG is shown below in Figure 2. Figure 2: Current Organizational Structure of PG (Source: Procter Gamble) The purpose of each level in the current structure is given in Appendix 2. The primary focus of the global business units is on the product and market development and the focus of the Presidents in GBUs is to standardize the manufacturing process and to simplify the brand portfolio. For example GBU for Baby care division proposed a plan to reduce the several numbers of diaper-manufacturing processes into a single standard process (Grant, 2010). This structure increased dexterity and decreased costs through accelerated standards of manufacturing processes and better coordination of promotional movements across countries (Piskorski Spadini, 2007). The organization is huge and they are diversified across the globe with a massive brand portfolio. With product specialization and marketing being their main focus and being successful in the followed structure for more than a decade, global business units proves to be the suitable structure for PG. Four Tenets of Organizational Learning: Learning is an integral part of an organization and it can lead to strategic directions and decisions. Organizational learning is closely related to the logical approach of strategy and firms must persistently learn about themselves and their operating environment (Campbell et al., 2002). According to Johnson et al., 2008, structure and culture of an organization contributes widely towards organizational learning; formal structures might stifle the organizational learning. Managers would be playing a less directive and a more facilitative role. Each individual in the organization might specialize in certain skills. Organizational performance will improve only when the individual knowledge gets transferred into organizational knowledge. Managers are completely responsible for the sharing of knowledge in the organization through knowledge management skills (Campbell et al., 2002). Managers can arrange knowledge transfer sessions on a customary basis in order to improve the core competencies of employees and thereby contributing to organizational learning. They can also emphasize the importance of knowledge sharing and how it might impact on the performance of organizations among the employees. Information flows and relationships between people should happen both horizontally and vertically. Organizations should posses a culture in which the communication and sharing of knowledge between the employees among all the levels is encouraged. The management should persuade sharing of information and knowledge among the organization, so that all employees become susceptible to the changes happening around them and contribute towards organizational objectives (Johnson et al., 2008). Organizations are pluralistic, in which even distinct and divergent ideas are welcomed and surfaced. In pluralistic settings different ideas emerges from different level of people in the organization. Although being pluralistic might provide an advantage in learning for some organizations, it is very risky for an organization to be pluralistic since it might deceive knowledge. Experimentation is the norm, trying out new ideas might become an important part of the learning process. For example; Wipro Technologies, one of the leading software companies in India tried developing a corporate extensive knowledge management system called KNET through which employees can track, access, exploit and produce knowledge. Although they were not using KNET widely in the initial years, it proved to be very valuable in the recent years of their success. Following the success of KNET, Wipro has developed the same portal system for Microsoft, one of the major clients of Wipro (Wipro, 2010). Organizational learning could be a crucial factor for the companies in gaining advantage in the near future. All the four tenets could be critical in organizations where emergent strategy is considered as a primary source of strategy development. Does structure follow strategy or does strategy follow structure? Organizations seek new strategies for the reason that they offer new opportunities and potential advantages. Before implementing the strategy, a variety of factors needs to be considered because it involves change and risk. The link between structure and strategy is an important aspect to be considered before implementing the strategy. Structure of an organization is a vital factor since the change in corporate strategy might require some sort of change in the manner a firm is structured and in the type of proficiency required in specific positions of the firm (Wheelen Hunger, 2008). According to Thomson Martin 2008, although structures are designed primarily and changed later to fit the intended strategies of an organization, the daily activities and behaviors of people within the structure might lead to significant emergent strategies. A traditional study conducted by Chandler concludes that structure follows strategy after he analyzed the changes in some large U.S. corporations. For example, in the periods of First World War DuPont an explosive company diversified its product range. Research shows that their business failed since they followed the same centralized organizational structure even after diversifying their product range. When they realized the problem, they shifted to decentralized structure since it was congruent with their chosen diversification strategy (Chandler, 1962). In the case of DuPont, the problem was with the structure and if their structure was congruent with their strategy, they would not have faced the problem. Similarly General Motors (GM) also shifted from centralized to decentralized multidivisional structure in 1920s and they found it to be intensely effective in permitting the freedom for product development to each division. Strategy can also follow structure. Although there is no empirical research conducted on structure directing to strategy, many authors support this fact. Although Chandler inscribes that structure follows strategy he has also told that due to the structural changes in GM, brilliant strategies were framed in the making and selling of their products (Hall and Saias, 1980). To conclude, although it is not erroneous to say that structure follows strategy since it is true in most of the cases, proficient organizational structure may also lead to the formation of new strategies. It might depend upon the type of the industry, markets and environments the firms are operating with. Give an example of an organization where resource allocation process (RAP) form part of strategy development. Resource Allocation Process (RAP): RAP is a composite and subtle process which occurs on a daily basis in all organizations. If RAP is not prioritized and linked with the intended strategy of an organization, it might create a disparity between the intended and actual strategy of the organization. In large diversified organizations, the centre plays a vital role in allocating the resources among the diverse strategies proposed by their divisional units. Even small companies operate in the same mechanism but on an informal basis (Lynch, 2009). Both emergent and intended strategic ideas can be filtered through RAP as shown in Figure 1. Figure 1: (Source: Christensen Donovan, 2000) Honda at American Markets: During the post world war era, Honda was the supplier of small Supercub motorcycles in the Japanese market. Following the success in the Japanese market, Honda thought of entering the North American market by manufacturing large over the road bikes, since it was suited for American markets. It sent three of its employees to LosAngels to launch the endeavor. But Hondas large bikes were unsuccessful in American markets. After experiencing the market conditions in America, the three employees proposed a plan to sell their small Supercub motorcycles in the American market since they received an informal order for sport bikes from the buyer for the sports equipment of Sears. But the top management filtered their ideas since their strategy in American market were to sell large over the road bikes. After further failure in selling the large bikes, the management considered the plan and the results were surprising. Honda became a successful company in selling its Supercub in the American mar ket (Henry, 2008). RAP in Honda: After this experience Honda approached things in a different manner. As manufacturing volume increased, they planned for some price reduction strategies through appropriate RAP. They became the market leader and competitors were unable to compete with Honda. In terms of the Figure 1, Honda entered American market with an intended strategy and immediately after that although it got emergent inputs such as Sears buyers request of their Supercub, companys RAP filtered out those inputs, since it was not matching with its strategy. Once they persuaded corporate management to change the filter in the RAP, the constituents of winning strategy emerged. Thus, RAP played a vital role in the formation of emergent strategies and in achieving the intended strategies for Hondas success in the US motorcycle industry.

Southern Innfluences In A ROSE For Emily :: essays research papers

William Faulkner’s classic short story, â€Å"A Rose for Emily,† has been noted as an excellent example of Southern literature. Southern literature can be defined as literature about the South, written by authors who were reared in the South. Characteristics of southern literature are the importance of family, sense of community, importance of religion, importance of time, of place, and of the past, and use of Southern voice and dialect. Most of the novels are written as a Southerner actually speaks. Many books also describe the historical importance of the Southern town. William Faulkner was a twentieth century American author who won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Most famous for his novel The Sound and the Fury, Faulkner defines Southern literature. In his mythical county of Yaknapatawpha, Faulkner contrasted the past with the present era. The past was represented in Emily Grierson, Colonel Sartoris, the Board of Alderman, and the Negro servant. Homer Barron, the new Board of Alderman, and the new sheriff represented the present. Homer was the main representative of Yankee views towards the Griersons and the entire South, a situation of the present. Emily held the view of the past as if it were a rose-tinted place where nothing would ever die. Her world was already the past. Whenever the modern times were about to take hold of her, she retreated to that world of the past, and took Homer with her. Her room upstairs was that place, a place where Emily could stay with dead Homer forever as though no death nor disease could separate them. Homer had lived in the present, and Emily eventually conquered that. Emily’s family was a monument of the past; Emily herself was referred to as a â€Å"fallen monument.† She was a relic of Southern gentility and past values. She had been considered fallen because she had been proven susceptible to death and decay like the rest of the world. As for the importance of family, Emily was really close to her father. He was very protective of her and extremely dominating. The entire town had a tableau of the two of them, Miss Emily was a slender figure in white in the background, and her father was a sprawled figure in the foreground, his back defensively turned to her and clutching a horsewhip with the dark boundary of the door framing them. The town also believed the Griersons held themselves a little too high for what they really were.

Fairy Tales Essay

Fairy tales are often considered to be for children. However an analysis of the collection of stories by the Brothers Grimm shows that they all have message to deliver, even to young adults. In today’s rat race, young adults often forget the importance of little things that we learnt as children. Everyone knows what morals are, however theoretically. People today, are always in a great hurry. More often than not when someone’s in trouble, they would do anything to get out of the situation. Under such circumstances people make false promises. The story of the Frog King touches upon this aspect of human behavior. The princess promises the frog that all his demands will be met if he retrieves her golden ball. However on receiving the ball, she blissfully forgets her promise and runs away without the frog. However, when the frog turns up at her door, she has to fulfill her promise at her father’s insistence. This story highlights the fact that promises are meant to be kept and not broken. It emphasizes the point that people should learn to honor their word, for a promise breeds trust and trust should never be broken. Young adults also put too much by store on the appearance of things. This many a times proves to be a booby trap, as expectations are rarely met in such circumstances. This aspect is touched upon in both the stories, the Frog King and Hansel and Gretel. In the latter, the brother and sister are in awe of the candy house and trust the old woman to be nice. It’s only a little later that they realize the witch’s wicked intentions. Their false judgment of the witch on the basis of the house she lived in put their life in danger. In the Frog King the princess was reluctant to fulfill her promises because she found the frog repulsive, who later turned out to be a handsome prince. The stories teach us that not everything thing that glitters is gold and that we should never judge a book by its cover. Fairy tales enthrall not only ones imagination, they also serve the purpose of delivering important messages. The subtlety with which the message is delivered is plausible. The use of metaphors is most common in the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. The style in which the message is delivered is both entertaining and instructive. In the story of Little   Red Cap, the message that people who commit evil deeds can never escape their fate is beautifully stated by the following statement –‘They filled the wolf’s body with them, and when he woke up and tried to run away, the stones were so heavy that he fell down dead.’ This states that one’s evil deeds weigh down upon him/her and become the cause of their death in the end. This line uses a beautiful metaphorical sentence to convey the message, where the stones are the evil deeds committed. In the story flowers and emotional attachment are shown as distractions that steer people away from their path. The wolf realizes that Little Red Cap greatly lover her grandmother and in order to delay her distracted her with the beautiful flowers she could take for her grandmother. Greed can never be satiated and always leads to something unwanted are stated in the story of Rapunzel. The object of greed in the story is the rampion that Rapunzel’s mother craves for. Despite her husband satisfying her cravings once she wants more. This ultimately leads to her losing her daughter in a bargain to the wicked witch. To summarize, the stories of the Brother Grimm use beautiful imagery and metaphors to deliver yet important messages that many seem to forget in a hurry.

Brazil’s Political Factor in Business

Political factor by ashraful islam Trade Policies in political factor Brazil's economic history has been influenced remarkably by foreign trade trends and policies. Successive cycles of export booms in such commodities as sugar, gold and diamonds, rubber, and coffee played major roles in Brazilian development before World War II. In the 1930s, the collapse of coffee prices signaled a turn inward, resulting in a nascent industrialization. In succeeding decades, industrial development was fostered deliberately through restrictive trade policies, making Brazil a relatively closed economy by the mid-1960s.Only in the early 1990s did Brazil begin significant liberalization of its trade policies, and even these reforms were modest by comparison with those in a number of other Latin American nations. Government intervention in foreign trade has a long history in Brazil, reaching back to the colonial period when Portugal forbade Brazilian trade with other nations. Following independence in 1 822, Brazil opened its ports and expanded its trade with other nations, particularly Britain. Extensive government regulation of trade continued, however, with tariffs providing over half of the government's revenue before World War I.Other forms of intervention in trade included the 1906 coffee price support plan, which was a sophisticated attempt to exploit Brazil's monopolistic position in the world coffee market. Before World War II, trade policies were used mostly as a source of revenue or as a response to specific groups such as the coffee producers, rather than as a means of achieving national economic goals. In the early 1950s, Brazil began to use trade policy in a more deliberate way to promote industrialization. The forced reduction in Brazilian imports after 1929 had resulted in the first major industrial growth in Brazil, centered in Sao Paulo.Heeding this apparent lesson, policy makers in the 1950s argued that measures that deliberately reduced imports would stimulate d omestic production, thereby encouraging technological development and increasing employment in activities that were regarded as more â€Å"modern† than Brazil's traditional agricultural and extractive activities. The steep rise in world oil prices that began in late 1973 soon ended Brazil's move toward greater trade openness. The approximate balance between imports and exports in the early 1970s became an unprecedented US$4. billion deficit in 1974. Although record levels of external capital flows financed this deficit, Brazilian policy makers responded by restricting imports. In June 1974, import financing for many products was suspended, while tariff rates on more than 900 items were doubled. Over the year, restrictions were increased further, and in 1975 the government required that imports be paid for in advance with deposits that did not earn interest or any correction for inflation. On the export side, further measures were taken to promote exports, especially for manuf actures.Despite these measures, Brazil's trade balance remained in deficit for most of the 1970s. The combination of tightened import controls, real depreciation, and the fall in domestic demand induced by the restrictive macroeconomic policies of the early 1980s resulted in a sharp adjustment in Brazil's external accounts. The magnitude of the adjustment appears to have surprised even many of its proponents, both in the Brazilian government and among creditors. After 1983 the massive trade surpluses averaged more than 3 percent of GDP, compared with negative or negligible levels through most of the 1968-82 period.In 1984, as the full effects of the adjustment program were felt, exports were about double imports, and Brazil's trade surplus reached an unprecedented 6. 1 percent of GDP, far exceeding the comparable shares in other important economies such as Japan (3. 5 percent of GDP) and West Germany (3. 8 percent). By 1984 it was clear that the successful external adjustment had a domestic price, as inflation accelerated to more than 200 percent at annual rates. Trade policy consequently began to be viewed as a potential instrument for internal stabilization, with some import liberalization viewed as a potential contributor to reduced inflation.In late 1984, a number of the direct controls on imports were cut back, and the number of products on the negative list was reduced substantially. Import financing requirements were also relaxed through exemptions, and tariff surcharges were replaced by smaller additions to the legal tariff. On the administrative side, the Cacex policy of import restrictions for balance of payments purposes was reduced. Although import licenses were not abolished, their approval became a relatively routine operation, and by 1991 most licenses were being issued within five working days.The CTIC became primarily a reporting and registration agency, which had little of the discretionary power formerly exercised by Cacex. The former CPA, w hich had been far overshadowed by Cacex, was replaced by an agency coequal with the CTIC, the Technical Coordinating Office for Tariffs (Coordenadoria Tecnica de Tarifas–CTT). With the shift in emphasis in trade policy from discretionary administrative control to the automaticity of published tariffs, many of them limited by Brazil's treaty commitments, the CTT's role in formulating import policy became significantly greater than the CPA's had been.Early in 1991, the Collor de Mello government announced a series of tariff reductions to be phased in over the 1991-94 period. These were among the most far-reaching and significant reductions in Brazilian trade protection in several decades. Earlier tariff reductions often had been largely cosmetic, only reducing rates that were prohibitive to high levels that still barred many imports. The 1991 reforms went much further, and in many sectors reduced rates to about a third of their level in the early 1980s.Equally important, the re forms reduced the wide variability or dispersion of tariff rates that were once characteristic of Brazilian trade policy. The overall trend in Brazilian trade policy is clear. By the mid-1990s, Brazil had become a much more open economy than it had been a decade earlier. priorities in terms of business support Market Overview The Federative Republic of Brazil is Latin America's biggest economy and is the fifth largest country in the world in terms of land mass and population with about 192 million people.Brazil’s economy, the 6th largest in the world, grew 2. 7% in 2011. Growth slowed due to reduced demand for Brazilian exports in Europe and Asia, despite solid domestic demand and a growing middle class. During the past decade, the country has maintained macroeconomic policies that controlled inflation and promoted economic growth. Inflation was at 6. 5% in 2011, and urban unemployment reached a historic low of 6. 0%. Interest rates, though high compared to the rest of the wo rld, remained historically low at the Central Bank benchmark rate of 8. 0% as of July 2012. In 2011, the U. S. as Brazil’s largest source of imports followed by China, Argentina, Germany, and South Korea. U. S. merchandise exports to Brazil in 2011 were US$42. 9 billion, and U. S. imports from Brazil were US$31. 3 billion. Market Challenges Brazil has a large and diversified economy that offers U. S. companies many opportunities to export their goods and services, and U. S. exports are increasing rapidly. Doing business in Brazil requires intimate knowledge of the local environment, including both the explicit as well as implicit costs of doing business (referred to as the â€Å"Custo Brasil†).Such costs are often related to distribution, government procedures, employee benefits, environmental laws, and a complex tax structure. Logistics pose a particular challenge, given infrastructure limitations posed by nearly a decade of economic expansion. In addition to tariffs, U. S. companies will find a complex customs and legal system. Market Opportunities There are few, if any, sectors in Brazil that do not have excellent short term opportunities. Certain sectors of the Brazilian market have experienced higher than average growth, such as air transportation, telecoms, oil and gas, and mining.Under the second phase of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC II), the Government of Brazil will spend R$955 billion (the equivalent of around US$470 billion) in development of the country’s energy generation and distribution system, roads, railroads, ports, and airports as well as stadiums as it prepares for the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016. Other promising areas for U. S. exports and investment include agriculture, agricultural equipment, building and construction, aerospace and aviation, electrical power, safety and security devices, environmental technologies, retail, and transportation.The Brazilian national oil company Petrobras' expans ion may represent the largest global business opportunity in the oil & gas sector until 2020. The offshore pre-salt oil deposits discovered in 2006 and 2007 are estimated to exceed 60 billion barrels in probable or recoverable reserves, and could place Brazil among the world’s top ten oil-producing countries. Petrobras anticipates that it will invest $224 billion in exploration and development through 2015. Brazil is one of the largest IT markets within the emerging economies. IT end-user spending in Brazil is expected to grow to $134 billion in 2014.The largest share of spending will be on telecom equipment, representing 72% of the market, followed by IT services at 13. 3% and computing hardware at 11. 9%. In the years leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will host several international mega-events. In 2011, Brazil hosted the World Military Games and the Pan-American Maccabi Games and in 2012, Rio de Janeiro hosted the Rio+20 global environmental su stainability conference. In 2013, Brazil will host a papal visit and the World Youth Day event as well as the soccer Confederations Cup.In 2014, twelve Brazilian cities will host the soccer World Cup. The Government of Brazil expects to invest $106 billion in the preparations for these events. These investments, which will include outlays for infrastructure, construction, transportation systems, port improvements, public security, and airport infrastructure upgrades, will present significant commercial opportunities for U. S. companies. Most of the major infrastructure upgrades will be carried out through Public-Private Partnerships under Brazil’s Growth Acceleration Program. Market Entry StrategyBrazil’s business culture relies heavily on the development of strong personal relationships. Companies need a local presence and must invest time in developing relationships in Brazil. The U. S. Commercial Service encourages U. S. companies visiting Brazil to meet one-on-one with potential partners. One of the best ways for U. S. companies to enter the Brazilian market is by participating in local trade shows or using the U. S. Commercial Service’s Gold Key Service (GKS), through which they can meet with pre-screened potential clients or partners.It is essential to work through a qualified representative or distributor when developing the Brazilian market. Some firms establish an office or joint venture in Brazil. Further discussion of these alternatives can be found in the â€Å"Marketing Products & Services† chapter. It is very difficult for U. S. companies to get involved in public sector procurement without a local Brazilian partner. Education of the workforce Despite being one of the world's most populous countries, Brazil does not have a single university ranked in the top 100 internationally.Of its college graduates, 5 percent are engineers, far below the rates of countries such as China and South Korea, according to Brazilian busin esses. Since Brazil's education system is falling short, Vale, like several other Brazilian companies, has decided to build its own. â€Å"For years, technical education was not the main focus of the government,† said Marco Dalpozzo, Vale's global human resources director. â€Å"Mining was not seen for the last 20 years as a great opportunity or a vocational business opportunity for the country. So you have professions for which Vale had to create their own entire system of education. Over the past few years, several Latin American countries have enjoyed soaring growth rates as they exported oil, minerals and agricultural products around the world. In Brazil, gross domestic product more than doubled, to $1. 3 trillion, in the five years ending in 2007, while inflation dropped to 3. 6 percent, a quarter of the 2003 level. Yet recent studies have shown that workers in Latin America have less education than those in East Asia and Eastern Europe and that the percentage of studen ts enrolled in high school is far lower than in developed countries.In Colombia, one out of every 700,000 people receive PhDs, compared with one in 5,000 in developed countries, wrote Jeffrey M. Puryear and Tamara Ortega Goodspeed in a contribution to a book published this year titled â€Å"Can Latin America Compete? † â€Å"The region's limited number of scientists and advanced degree recipients weakens the region's competitiveness by limiting countries' ability to use and generate knowledge, and to carry out research,† they wrote.For younger students, Latin American countries have focused in recent years on building schools and expanding access to public education, rather than improving the quality of that education, said Emiliana Vegas, a senior education economist at the World Bank. Teachers' pay raises are based on longevity rather than performance, and few parents are used to demanding more rigorous standards. â€Å"Most Latin American parents have less educatio n than their kids. They feel their kids are already receiving an advantage they didn't get,† said Vegas, who co-authored the book â€Å"Raising Student Learning in Latin America. In the most recent results of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's triennial tests of 15-year-olds from 57 countries, the Latin American countries that participated, including Brazil, Argentina and Colombia, consistently scored near the bottom. â€Å"It's not just that kids need to go to school, they need to learn in school,† Vegas said. Brazil – quality of port infrastructure Quality of port infrastructure, WEF (1=extremely underdeveloped to 7=well developed and efficient by international standards)Definition: Quality of Port Infrastructure measures business executives' perceptions of their country's port facilities. The rating ranges from 1 to 7, with a higher score indicating better development of port infrastructure. Source: World Economic Forum, Global Compet iveness Report |Year |Value | |2007 |2. 63 | |2008 |2. 52 | |2009 |2. 65 | |2010 |2. 94 | |2011 |2. 70 | Airports The Brazilian airport network has long been lamented as underdeveloped and poorly maintained. The network is run almost exclusively by Infraero, an authority that reports to the country? s defense ministry.In operation for 37 years, Infraero has more than 28,000 employees and contractors assisting in the management of 67 airports throughout the country. These airports handle 97 percent of all air traffic in the country, with more than 2 million takeoffs and landings and over 113 million passengers annually. 11 The company? s charge is quite difficult, considering that the airports are spread across a country the size of the contiguous United States Roadways Like the United States, Brazil is heavily dependent on its road system for transportation. However, there is great disparity in the quality of these road networks.Despite constituting 68 percent of Brazil? s transport needs, only 12 percent of the country? s 1. 6 million kilometers of roads are paved. 20 The consequence of these infrastructure deficiencies is slower and more expensive transport – costs can be up to 35 percent greater on unpaved roads. 21 This affects the booming agricultural sector greatly, as many of the goods are produced in remote locations with poor road conditions. Rail Brazil? s national rail network consists of approximately 28,000 kilometers of track, and most of it is operated by private concessionaires.These concessions have been utilized for 12 years, and the government is reviewing its concession model to make better use of the rail network. â€Å"One of the main objectives of the changes is to put abandoned or low-capacity stretches back into operation. †29 As part of the Ministry of Transport? s National Plan, Brazil will consolidate a new rail network, developing almost 12,000 additional kilometers of track. 30 These rail lines will serve areas of ag ricultural and mineral productivity and enable the increased transfer of cargo between transportation modes.Additionally, the rail lines will be implemented in planned corridors that are specifically designed to link production and consumption regions, as well as production and shipment areas (like ports). The MOT is also studying the feasibility of a corridor that will link railways from Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. Economic factors by ashraful islam Economy – overview: Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries, and Brazil is expanding its presence in world markets.Since 2003, Brazil has steadily improved its macroeconomic stability, building up foreign reserves, and reducing its debt profile by shifting its debt burden toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. In 2008, Brazil became a net external creditor and tw o ratings agencies awarded investment grade status to its debt. After strong growth in 2007 and 2008, the onset of the global financial crisis hit Brazil in 2008. Brazil experienced two quarters of recession, as global demand for Brazil's commodity-based exports dwindled and external credit dried up.However, Brazil was one of the first emerging markets to begin a recovery. In 2010, consumer and investor confidence revived and GDP growth reached 7. 5%, the highest growth rate in the past 25 years. Rising inflation led the authorities to take measures to cool the economy; these actions and the deteriorating international economic situation slowed growth to 2. 7% for 2011 as a whole, though forecasts for 2012 growth are somewhat higher. Despite slower growth in 2011, Brazil overtook the United Kingdom as the world's seventh largest economy in terms of GDP.Urban unemployment is at the historic low of 4. 7% (December 2011), and Brazil's traditionally high level of income equality has dec lined for each of the last 12 years. Brazil's high interest rates make it an attractive destination for foreign investors. Large capital inflows over the past several years have contributed to the appreciation of the currency, hurting the competitiveness of Brazilian manufacturing and leading the government to intervene in foreign exchanges markets and raise taxes on some foreign capital inflows.President Dilma ROUSSEFF has retained the previous administration's commitment to inflation targeting by the central bank, a floating exchange rate, and fiscal restraint. | | | | |Brazil Interest Rate | | |The benchmark interest rate in Brazil was last reported at 7. 25 percent. Historically, from 1999 until 2012, Brazil Interest | | |Rate averaged 16. 6 Percent reaching an all time high of 45. 00 Percent in March of 1999 and a record low of 7. 25 Percent in | | |October of 2012. In Brazil, interest rate decisions are taken by The Central Bank of Brazil's Monetary Policy Committee | | |(CO POM). The official interest rate is the Special System of Clearance and Custody rate (SELIC) which is the overnight lending | | |rate. This page includes a chart with historical data for Brazil Interest Rate. | [pic] Brazil Income Taxes 2012 Last partial update, May 2012Individual Income Tax: Brazil's individual income tax rates for 2012 are progressive, from 7. 5% to 27. 5%. Personal annual tax rates 2012 (BRL) |Income (BRL) |% | |1-18,799 |- | |18,799-28,174 |7. 5 | |28,174-37,566 |15 | |37,566-46,939 |22. 5 | |over 46,939 |27. 5 |Note: Nonresidents pay a flat 27. 5% tax on income earned in Brazil Corporate Tax: Brazil's combined corporate tax rate for 2012 is 34%. The tax consists of a basic tax of 15%. There is also a surtax of 10% for annual income of over BRL 240,000, about $ 110,000. Additonal 9% are added for social contribution on net profits. Capital Gains: Capital gains of companies are added to the regular income. Individuals: Pay 15% tax on capital gains, dividend incom e from local companies is tax exempt. Residence A foreign company is resident if incorporated in Brazil.An individual is resident when holding a permanent visa, or a temporary visa with an employment agreement, or even without an employment agreement, when staying in Brazil for more than 183 days within 12 months. Brazil Tax Deductions †¢ Losses are carried forward indefinitely. In future years only 30% of the current year taxable income can be set off against the loss. †¢ Depreciation is deducted using the straight line method. Companies working in 2 shifts can claim 150% of the standard rates, while companies working in 3 shifts are entitled to 200% of the standard rates. Companies involved in development of technical research can use accelerated depreciation for tax purpose. †¢ There is no company consolidation for tax purpose. †¢ Thin capitalisation rules relating to interest expenses are in effect in Brazil from 1. 1. 2010. Brazil Personal Credits and Deduct ions For Brazilian residents, the first annual income of BRL 18,799 is tax exempt. There is a standard monthly deduction for each dependant. Education expenses are deductible, up to a limit. Deductions are also permitted for social security payments by an employee, payments to private Brazilian pension plans, up tp a limit, and for alimony payments.Deduction of Tax at Source In Brazil tax is deducted at source from the following payments to non residents: Dividend- 0%. Interest- 15%/25%. Royalties- 15%. Services -15%/25%. Social Security The contributions by the employer and the employee are subject to to ceiling defined by law. Employer: 37. 3% of the gross salary, 28. 8% social security and 8. 5% for severance fund. Employee: 7. 65%-11% of the gross salary. The employee's payment, which is capped, is based on a â€Å"contribution salary table†, provided by the government.

Free Essays on Drugs And Behavior

Activities and Observations Throughout the course of the last three weeks, the phrase â€Å"moderation is the key† is one that in the end proves itself correct. Excess of any activity can lead to negative consequences, especially when it comes to drug and alcohol use. One might claim that is just common sense that having too much fun will catch up with you. It is the inevitable. However, I have learned through this class that it takes more than just ‘common sense’ to recognize a potential problem. By recording the daily activities of my social life I have actual written proof of what is considered ‘having too much fun’. By having to monitor the consumption, cost, and consequences of the drug and alcohol use around me made me see my social circle and myself from a different perspective. From the dates of September 2 – September 22, my drug log kept me very busy. I kept record of my social life and any thing drug-related. The instructions for the first week of the drug log were to monitor drug-related activity as I normally would encounter them. I was excited to keep the log because it seemed very interesting and I was hoping maybe I would learn something from it. I knew my friends and I socialized frequently and thought at first jotting down our use of alcohol and drugs would be funny. We all know that sometimes we get excessive with partying but we just attribute it to being ‘a crazy night’. I don’t think we have ever taken into account of the reality of what we do. A lot of people make jokes about their drinking and developing addiction problems but no one ever talks about it seriously. There are a few people who everyone knows drinks too much, but that is usually phrased as ‘he or she parties hard’. From Monday September 2nd through Sunday September 8th, the only day that I refrained from using was Sunday. I felt very sick from the previous night, but looking back at the entries now I realize it was from the e... Free Essays on Drugs And Behavior Free Essays on Drugs And Behavior Activities and Observations Throughout the course of the last three weeks, the phrase â€Å"moderation is the key† is one that in the end proves itself correct. Excess of any activity can lead to negative consequences, especially when it comes to drug and alcohol use. One might claim that is just common sense that having too much fun will catch up with you. It is the inevitable. However, I have learned through this class that it takes more than just ‘common sense’ to recognize a potential problem. By recording the daily activities of my social life I have actual written proof of what is considered ‘having too much fun’. By having to monitor the consumption, cost, and consequences of the drug and alcohol use around me made me see my social circle and myself from a different perspective. From the dates of September 2 – September 22, my drug log kept me very busy. I kept record of my social life and any thing drug-related. The instructions for the first week of the drug log were to monitor drug-related activity as I normally would encounter them. I was excited to keep the log because it seemed very interesting and I was hoping maybe I would learn something from it. I knew my friends and I socialized frequently and thought at first jotting down our use of alcohol and drugs would be funny. We all know that sometimes we get excessive with partying but we just attribute it to being ‘a crazy night’. I don’t think we have ever taken into account of the reality of what we do. A lot of people make jokes about their drinking and developing addiction problems but no one ever talks about it seriously. There are a few people who everyone knows drinks too much, but that is usually phrased as ‘he or she parties hard’. From Monday September 2nd through Sunday September 8th, the only day that I refrained from using was Sunday. I felt very sick from the previous night, but looking back at the entries now I realize it was from the e...

Human Ingenuity as my Area Essays

Human Ingenuity as my Area Essays Human Ingenuity as my Area Paper Human Ingenuity as my Area Paper I have chosen Human Ingenuity as my Area of Interaction because it is an interesting topic to learn about. I also chose world records because I love to have a challenge in my life, and seeing other people hold weird and wacky records is very interesting to me. Even before I had the idea of trying to beat a record, I thought it was such thrills watching other people reach their achievements and goals of beating a world record. Ever since seeing those people, Ive always wanted to beat a world record. World records fit in with Human Ingenuity because its how people try and achieve their goals to make their dreams come true. This year we learned about human achievements and it interested me a lot. This is why I decided to do World Records for my personal project. This topic interests me because world records are very cool and challenging. World records have always interested me, because it is cool how people can beat these records for crazy and interesting things at any time. World records, such as sword swallowing and another, most scorpions held in mouth. For my project I decided to try and break the world record for most straws in your mouth at once. The current record is 400 straws at once, and held there for 10 seconds. My goal was to beat this world record and have Guinness world records put me in the record book. I picked this goal at first because it was at 256 but went up quite a bit in a month. This made my goal all the more challenging to beat the record, but as I like a challenge I decided to continue on with the goal to beat that record. It turned out to be a very challenging record. This shocked me but also made me want to do it more. It made me feel this way because I love having a challenge in my life and thats one of the reasons I chose world records in the first place. It took me a while to but I finally decided on this world record because I figured I could accomplish it. This influenced me to make decisions on stuff like: how to loosen my lips so I could hold that many straws in my mouth, what type of straws to get, how to record it if I beat the record to get it to Guinness world records, who would by my witness for beating this goal, and how could I make a good attempt to beat this goal. I had to create solutions for these such as: stretching my lips to try and fit around all the straws, just regular soda straws, just take photos of me beating the record (if I beat it), get someone either friend or family to watch me do it, and just go for it without thinking about the pain in my lips from the hundreds of straws stretching my lips. Throughout the process of this I had to learn to understand the connection between these things and the goal of my project and how to keep these things in mind. It was very challenging at times to remember these steps and I would start complaining because my lips hurt from all the straws or that I kept thinking I couldnt do it because I was running out of room for straws in my mouth. It was really hard to convince myself to keep putting more straws in and keep going on. I would feel incredible pain in and around my lips and lose my concentration and the straws would fly out of my lips, because my mouth would slip off of the straws. In my research along the way I looked at lots of records and changed my mind quite a few times before deciding to try and break the record for most straws held in your mouth at once. Lots of the world records I looked at seemed rather easy but they turned out to be rather hard and a lot more difficult than I expected. For example: I looked at the world record for fastest time to eat 3 soda crackers which seemed rather easy, but it was actually rather challenging as soda crackers are really salty and are hard to chew fast and swallow fast too. Then I tried doing the record for most Ferrero Rocher eaten and unwrapped in 1 minute which was 8. This also seemed easy, but it was also very challenging as the chocolates were hard to unwrap and the little nuts in them made them hard to chew and swallow very fast. Then I had a brilliant idea, start a new world record! That way I would be guaranteed a spot in Guinness World Records. But, the more I looked into it the more complex I realized it was. First the Guinness team had to review and debate the submission, deciding if it was record material or not. Then they would have to interview eye witnesses about whether or not you actually did it (applies to all records, but Guinness is especially strict about new records). So I kept that idea for a while and thought of things that I could do but they either turned out to be too hard to do, or turned out that Guinness would not accept it as a record, therefore I wouldnt be accomplishing my goal. I would just be doing something crazy for the heck of it, which wasnt the point of my goal.

James Oglethorpe and the Georgia Colony

James Oglethorpe and the Georgia Colony James Oglethorpe was one of the founders of the Georgia Colony. Born on December 22, 1696, he became well known as a soldier, politician, and social reformer.   Driven to the Soldier's Life Oglethorpe started his military career as a teenager when he joined in the fight against the Turks with the Holy Roman Empire. In 1717, he was aide-de-camp to Prince Eugene of Savoy and fought in the successful siege of Belgrade.   Years afterward when he helped found and colonize Georgia, he would serve as the general of its forces. In 1739, he was involved in the War of Jenkins Ear. He unsuccessfully attempted to take St. Augustine from the Spanish twice, though he was able to defeat a large counterattack by the Spanish. Back in England, Oglethorpe fought in the Jacobite rebellion in 1745 for which he was almost court-martialed due to his units lack of success. He tried to fight in the Seven Years War but was denied a commission by the British. Not to be left out, he took on a different name and fought with the Prussians in the war.   Long Political Career In 1722, Oglethorpe left his first military commission to join Parliament. He would serve in the House of Commons for the next 30 years. He was a fascinating social reformer, helping impressed sailors and investigating the terrible condition of debtors prisons. This last cause was especially important to him as a good friend died in such a prison.   He became a staunch opponent of slavery early in his career, a stance he would hold the rest of his life. Even though he was an elected member of parliament, he chose to accompany the first settlers to Georgia in 1732. While he traveled back some to England, he did not permanently return to England until 1743. It was only after the attempted court martial mentioned earlier that he lost his seat in Parliament in 1754.   Founding the Georgia Colony The idea for the founding of Georgia was to create a haven for Englands poor along with creating a buffer between the French and Spanish and the other English colonies. Thus in 1732, Georgia was founded. Oglethorpe was not only a member of its Board of Trustees but was also among its first settlers. He personally chose and founded Savannah as the first town. He took an unofficial role of the colonys governor and directed most decisions about the new colonys local administration and defense. The new settlers took to calling Oglethorpe Father. However, eventually, the colonists grew upset against his stern rule but also his stance against slavery which they felt put them at an economic disadvantage compared to the rest of the colonies. In addition, the costs associated with the new colony were questioned by the other trustees back in England.   By 1738, Oglethorpes duties were curtailed, and he was left with being the general of the combined Georgia and South Carolina forces. As previously discovered, he was deeply involved in the War of Jenkins Ear leading campaigns against the Spanish. When he failed to take St. Augustine, he went back to England never to return to the New World.   Elder Statesman and Champion of the Colonies Oglethorpe never wavered in his support for the rights of American colonists. He befriended many in England who also espoused their cause such as Samuel Johnson and Edmund Burke.  After the American Revolution when John Adams was sent to England as an ambassador, Oglethorpe met with him despite his advanced years. He died soon after this meeting at the age of 88.

Review of Accounting Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Review of Accounting Ethics - Research Paper Example Current Business and Regulatory Environment-Conducive to Ethical Behavior In light of the continuing and current scandal related business environment people working in the corporate environment tend to indulge into unethical business practices. However, it is to be determined that the ethics whether qualitative or quantitative in nature have undergone a rise or decline in the conduct of the business of the respective organization. In reality the tension between the quantitative and the qualitative ethics are resulting in the increasing tensions and conflicting needs of the company. The company bears the responsibility of providing timely information to the shareholders that is relevant and easily understood by the shareholders of the company whereas the responsibility of the accountant of the company is with meeting assigned ethical duty. But mostly there lies a clash between the ethics and the economical status of the country in which the company is operating and unfortunately econo mies of the country turn the winner, making the regulatory environment conducive to the ethical behavior (Kushniroff, 2011, p.103). The Organization SNC-Lavalin is one of the largest construction and engineering company in Canada at Montreal. The company has come up with new inventions and innovations in the field of core engineering business so as to encourage the new activities and skill to meet the ever changing requirements of the markets and the clients. The company concentrates on reaching the sustainable growth in areas like world class products. The company also places the importance of ethics and quality of the product thus manufactured by the company for the achievement of the ongoing improvement of the company. Thus the company pays great importance to the achievement of the financial objective of the company in accordance with the code of ethics of the company. The Accounting Ethical Breach A complex ethical breach resulted in the accounting failure of the company. This was identified from a certain number of the executives of the company leading to the misallocation of the costs of the company in relation to payments to agents valuing a total sum of $ 56 million. The rationale behind this was irrespective the CFO of the company refusing to sign the transaction it was readily passed by the head of the company. Though the company accepted that weakness persisted in its internal controlling over the financial reporting of the company which occurred due to the management failing to comply with the code of ethics and policies on commercial agents; yet it was too late (Lemer, 2012). The impact on the organization related to ethical breach The breach in the accounting of the company resulted in the chief executive of the company resigning after the internal investigation taking place. The reason behind the resignation of the chief executive of the company was due to false payment to third party agents against the company’s code of ethics. The inte rvention of the media made the matter more gruesome leading to project the actual news being blown out of proportion. Detection of Organizational Ethical Issue As per the report of SNC it was found that Mr. Duhaime the chief executi

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

Sustainability - Research Paper Example The implication of this is that everything on earth depends on the natural environment in order for them to survive either through direct or indirect means. Therefore, sustainability helps in maintaining the conditions that will ensure that humans and nature continue to coexist in productive harmony that will be essential in fulfilling the needful requirements for the present and the future generations. One of the key environmental issues that have continued to attract the sustainability concern is water as many view this as a precious resource. Ideally, water is crucial in the operations of an environment and for supporting the life of a community. Many of the water sustainability efforts rely on the policies that regulate the use of water, and the protection of the water resources. With this, this essay will delve into water sustainability as a relevant issue within the physical environment through a detailed research of the same. Water access as an environmental issue Over the rec ent years, the climatic changes have not been favorable on water resources, hence influencing the rapid implementation of policies that would preserve water for this generation and the next. Water as a natural resource has been the center of conflict among several communities while those that have access to this commodity may not have clean and consumable water. In urban areas, the population levels have increased in recent times hence creating water access challenges as many of these centers lack proper planning. The over exploitation of natural resources has also spread to water towers hence minimizing the areas that provide water to many of the global populations. In many researches, respondents have intimated that access to fresh water and maintaining a constant supply of the same top the list of issues that are affecting most of the global population. In most of the economically challenged nations, the access to clean water has forever been low because of the privatization of t he water resources. The implication of this is that the price of this precious commodity has increased in these areas meaning that a resident in a slum in Manila may be paying high amounts for water access as compared to an individual living in London. According to statistics, at least 1.1 billion of those living in developing nations do not have adequate access to clean water, which has created a direct relationship between poverty and access to water (Shah, 2006). Mostly, the population that lacks access to clean water live in high poverty levels meaning that they have other costs to meet such as those associated with health care spending and labor diversions. On the contrary, water covers at least 70% of the earth’s surface but the supply and access to the same is not as adequate as required by the needs of the population. Moreover, water problems are unique and specific to every region, meaning that the water problems of a farmer in Australia may not be the same as those of villager in Pakistan. The decreasing access to water for consumption draws relevance from the fact that the demand for this commodity is increasing while the supply of the same continues to decrease as the years progress. In the end, there would not be any significant or sustainable development if there were no

Leukemia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Leukemia - Research Paper Example The different types of leukemia present with different clinical features and there are differing signs and symptoms. The condition affects the bone marrow as well as the blood with the presence of altered cells in the bloodstream. Different diagnostic procedures are utilized to diagnose this condition. These include the full blood count as well as blood smears. Biopsy of the bone marrow is also performed for a definitive conclusion. Each form of leukemia has its own pharmacological treatment directed towards treating the condition. Bone marrow transplant is the last treatment resort for all types of leukemia. Neoplasms within the blood arise when there is disruption in the normal pattern of differentiation of blood cells. Leukemia falls within the classification of the cancerous pathological conditions of the blood which results in a rise in the white blood cells at their site of production that is the bone marrow as well in the blood which is present in the circulation. There is no specific definitive cause that has been identified for this condition but there are many risk factors and proposed causes which are considered to increase the susceptibility of the development of leukemia. Leukemia is a malignancy which is further categorized into many subtypes. These include the acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), adult T-Cell leukemia and hairy cell leukemia (Davidson et al 2009; Kumar et al 2005). The occurrence of leukemia has been associated with different causes. It has been analyzed that alterations in the normal chromosomal development which may be due translocations as well as rearrangements in the chromosomal structure may lead to leukemia. An interesting aspect of leukemia is that it is seen to be present at a higher rate in the people who suffer from other genetic pathological conditions. A higher incidence of acute

Baker v. Carr (1962). The Voting Rights Act of 1965 Essay

Baker v. Carr (1962). The Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Essay Example xamines the underlying causes that preceded this historically important case that sought to ‘even the playing field’ for all citizens and review the immediate and enduring effects of the decision. Charles Baker, a Republican County Judge from Tennessee who resided in that state’s largest city, Memphis, along with a long list of plaintiffs, mostly from urban areas, including the mayor of Nashville, brought a complaint to the U.S. Federal Court in Tennessee in 1959 that would forever alter the way all states apportion their voting districts. Though Baker was not the lone complainant, his name appears on the case because it was, by virtue of the alphabet, at the top of the list. Baker, et al. sued the Secretary of State of Tennessee Joe C. Carr, whose responsibilities included supervising the election process and enforcing the redistricting regulations in that state (Baker v. Carr, 1962). The issue and resolution went far beyond these two individuals for whom the case is known. Baker accurately alleged that the State of Tennessee had not drawn new redistricting borders in 60 years (since 1900) which was in violation of the Tennessee Constitution which mandated that new voting districts be drawn every 10 years. Redistricting following each ten-year census results, as the Founders intended, is done so as to better reflect population growth and decline in different areas of the state and assures fair and more equal government representation. The concern of the plaintiffs was that although more people now lived in cities rather than rural areas as was the case in 1900, the Tennessee legislature was still dominated by the rural population. â€Å"Baker lived in a district whose population had grown larger than some neighboring districts and by the time of the lawsuit, Shelby County, where Memphis is located, had 10 times the population as some of the rural districts of Tennessee. Thus he claimed that Memphis was underrepresented† (Krakow, 2006). Baker, et al.

Discussion on intangible assets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion on intangible assets - Essay Example The assets have propelled various companies such as Coca-Cola to greater heights of performance and competitiveness globally. However, a number of concerns arise with respect to their value as estimated, amortization, and representation. The first concern is that, intangible assets present immense challenges when financial statements of a company are prepared. The challenges emanate since the assets lack definite value compared to tangible assets. The issue leads to the realization of numerous gaps within the process that result to misrepresentation of the actual performance level of a company (Abdallah, 2004). Concerns also arise on whether the value of the intangible assets should be reported at their carrying amounts or fair value amounts. This is a major issue as evident various financial reports given that some assets such as goodwill carries some cost of impairment that affects the value. Likewise, most companies have failed to separate the value of acquired intangible assets in their books as required under GAAP regulations as established in various financial statements. They include the value of the acquired intangible assets in the value of goodwill (Abdallah, 2004). This poses a challenge of establishing t he actual value of a company’s goodwill that determines investment decisions. Overstatement of values of intangible assets that is becoming common in most institutions also forms a significant cause of concern. This occurs due to inaccurate estimation of the useful life of an asset and the amortized value over the useful life period. Subsequently, the validity of the goodwill impairment tests has been raising systematic concerns especially at times of the financial crisis (Abdallah, 2004). The concern arises since the tests causes’ acute increase or decreases in value of the carrying amount of the intangible asset hence affect the overall reliability of the value obtained.

The Occupy Wall Street Movement Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

The Occupy Wall Street Movement - Research Paper Example In terms of my presentation I will perform a little skit on the â€Å"Occupy Wall Street† movement, demonstrating how communication and interpretations of symbols converge to create a shared reality for the people involved (Jack & Adam, 2011). Introduction The Occupy Wall Street is an underway chain of protests started by the Canadian activist group, Adbusters that started on 17th September, 2011. The setting was in the Zuccotti Park in New York’s Wall Street economic district. A common vision for this group is protesting against fiscal and social inequality which in turn has resulted into increased rates of unemployment, greed and corruption (Jack & Adam, 2011). Such inhuman acts are being done under the effect of organization especially in the fiscal sector. The demonstration group has a slogan we are the 99% referring to the escalating diversity in wealth in the United States of America. This escalation is between the bourgeois 1% and the rest of the populace. Like m ost of good techniques used in rhetorical analysis, the fantasy theme analysis method utilizes the schemata in which there is description, interpretation, and evaluation of the rhetorical material. This paper takes on the particular movement of Occupy Wall Street Movement that has a symbolic reality of the populace under demonstration (Jack & Adam, 2011). Assumptions of this fantasy theme analysis technique are of paramount importance in unveiling the implications of symbols used and the kind of vision that these people hold in common. As such, the plotline of the Occupy Wall Street movement shall be looked into as well as its scene to reveal the kind of setting and motives behind the movement. Along the discussion, the paper shall establish whether there exists a sanctioning agent in the vision of protest. Application Adbusters Foundation, which is well known for its marketing-free anti-consumerist magazine suggested a diplomatic activity of Wall Street to demonstrate corporate imp act on the democracy, the lack of authorized ramifications for the bankers causing the recent universal economic recession, and an increasing disparity in affluence (Bormann, 1985). In the use of the fantasy theme analysis, the movement indicates the element of scene, which is the place in which the protest takes place. As a result, the OWS sought to put together the symbolic setting of this year’s demonstrations in Tahrir Square having the consent decision making of the 2011 Spanish dissents. There most significant reason as to why the setting for such an action was in the Zuccotti Park is because it is privately owned. This bars the police forces from lawfully forcing the complainants to leave without an official permission of the property owner. In this case, the rhetoric, figurative and tricks of the Occupy Wall Street are on the one hand stimulated by the Arab Spring demonstrations like the Tahrir Square in Cairo. In addition, the movement has an immediate archetype whic h is the British student gripe of 2010, Greece’s as well as the Spain’s anti-austerity demonstrations of the â€Å"indignados† (Bormann, 1972). These experiences have a commonality with OWS dependence on social media and electronic messaging to outwit the governments and the notion that monetary organizations, associations and

Discussion on intangible assets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion on intangible assets - Essay Example The assets have propelled various companies such as Coca-Cola to greater heights of performance and competitiveness globally. However, a number of concerns arise with respect to their value as estimated, amortization, and representation. The first concern is that, intangible assets present immense challenges when financial statements of a company are prepared. The challenges emanate since the assets lack definite value compared to tangible assets. The issue leads to the realization of numerous gaps within the process that result to misrepresentation of the actual performance level of a company (Abdallah, 2004). Concerns also arise on whether the value of the intangible assets should be reported at their carrying amounts or fair value amounts. This is a major issue as evident various financial reports given that some assets such as goodwill carries some cost of impairment that affects the value. Likewise, most companies have failed to separate the value of acquired intangible assets in their books as required under GAAP regulations as established in various financial statements. They include the value of the acquired intangible assets in the value of goodwill (Abdallah, 2004). This poses a challenge of establishing t he actual value of a company’s goodwill that determines investment decisions. Overstatement of values of intangible assets that is becoming common in most institutions also forms a significant cause of concern. This occurs due to inaccurate estimation of the useful life of an asset and the amortized value over the useful life period. Subsequently, the validity of the goodwill impairment tests has been raising systematic concerns especially at times of the financial crisis (Abdallah, 2004). The concern arises since the tests causes’ acute increase or decreases in value of the carrying amount of the intangible asset hence affect the overall reliability of the value obtained.

Loan Management System Essay Example for Free

Loan Management System Essay The Traditional way of maintaining details of a user in a bank was to enter the details and record them. Every time the user need to perform some transactions he has to go to bank and perform the necessary actions, which may not be so feasible all the time. It may be a hard-hitting task for the users and the bankers too. The project gives real life understanding of Online Banking System and activities performed by various roles in the supply chain. Here, we provide an automation for banking system through Internet. Online Banking System project captures activities performed by different roles in real life banking which provides enhanced techniques for maintaining the required information upto-date, which results in efficiency. The project gives real life understanding of Online Banking System and activities performed by various roles in the supply chain. Scope of the Project This Project investigates the entry threshold for providing a new transaction service channel via the real options approach, where the entry threshold is established by using an Internet banking system designed for the use of normal users(individuals), Industrialists, Entrepreneurs, Educational Institutions(Financial sections), Organizations and Academicians under transaction rate uncertainty. Customer must have a valid User Id and password to login to the system If a wrong password is given thrice in succession, that account will be locked and the customer will not be able to use it. When an invalid password is entered a warning is given to the user that his account is going to get locked. After the valid user logs in he is shown the list of accounts he has with the bank. On selecting the desired account he is taken to a page which shows the present balance in that particular account number. User can request for the details of the last ‘n’ number of transactions that he has performed. A report can also be taken of this. User can make a funds transfer to another account in the same bank. User is provided with a transaction password which is different from the login password. User can transfer funds from his account to any other account with this bank. If the transaction is successful a notification should appear to the customer, in case it is unsuccessful, a proper message should be given to the customer as to why it failed. User can request for cheque book/change of address/stop payment of cheque’s User can view his monthly as well as annual statements. He can also take print out of the same. Generate reports at every section Administrator can take a back up of the database for every instance that is happening, periodically. All users are authenticated to avail the services FAQ section is also included for end users benefit.

The Communication Style In Middle East Cultural Studies Essay

The Communication Style In Middle East Cultural Studies Essay In this chapter, an analysis of the communication style of Middle Eastern countries will be provided, with particular focus on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Before analysing our focus countries, it is interesting to provide an overview of the communication style in the Middle East compared to that in the West. Only after understanding the main differences between these two regions, can inner differences be explained. Western ventures as well as expat foreign workers that start working in the Middle East face many challenges due to the differences in their communication style. The nature of business communication style is the result of the combination of different factors, such as cultural, political, socio-economical and historical characteristics of a country. Some of the main cultural factors will be therefore analysed in the section. First of all, Middle East countries are very high context, meaning that people from this region take into consideration all the different aspects of a certain event in order to get the true understanding of it. Hidden meanings can be found by analysing the situation as a whole. This term was coined by Edward Hall (1976) and positioned in contrast to low-context countries, such as USA, in which the meaning of words can be taken directly from the message, without the necessity to analyse the whole context. As can be seen later in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia section, the high context characteristic can also be associated to the characteristic of the Arabic language as an associative language. This statement by Hall (1976, p. 98) effectively gives an effective understand of the meaning of high context When talking about something that they have on their minds, a high context individual will expect his interlocutor to know whats bothering him, so that he doesnt have to be specific. The re sult is that he will talk around and around the point, in effect putting all the pieces in place except the crucial one. Placing it properly this keystone is the role of his interlocutor. Secondly, Middle Eastern people tend to invest a huge amount of their time establishing personal relationships and getting to better know their negotiating parties before actually initiating the work (Badawy, 1980). Because of this, doing business in the Middle East usually takes longer than in other countries. Personal contacts are considered more important than procedures and standard processes for businesses. For example, creative sales techniques and media advertising are not as effective in these countries as in Western ones. Instead, business in the Middle East relies more on the cultivation of individual customers and on government officials (Badawy, 1980). Another characteristic that distinguishes Middle Eastern management communication style from that of the West is related to the perception of time and space. Middle Eastern countries have a primarily polychronic work style, they usually engage in multiple activities and goals at the same time. In the Middle East, time is an open-ended concept. It is a mixture of past, present and future. The word bukra (literally tomorrow) that is often used in this region refers to the fact that what cannot be done today will be done tomorrow and the word inshallah (literally God willing) underlines that God is in control of time (Martin and Chaney, 2006). Therefore, time is considered to be a flexible concept, being late at meetings and not respecting strictly deadlines is usually not seen as offensive behaviour. Moreover, being late could also be a tactic used by Middle Eastern managers to demonstrate their superiority and power over their subordinates (Martin and Chaney, 2006). As far as space is concerned, business conversations in Middle Eastern countries usually occur simultaneously among different people and in the same office, similar to a round table discussion (Badawy, 1980). Having described some of the main features that characterise the communication style of the Middle East, this paper will now focus on the two considered countries, UAE and Saudi Arabia. The aim of the two subsections is to provide an analysis of the two countries in respect to some factors that either distinguish the Emirati or Saudi communication style from the general concept of business communication style in the Middle East or that underline differences between the two regions. United Arab Emirates The UAE is a very particular Middle Eastern country as we have seen in the previous sections. As far as the communication style is involved, studies have shown sound insights. On one hand, the high percentage of expatriate workers and western organisations have been influencing the communication behaviour of Emiratis. Many UAE companies have adapted their norms and communication style to match the Western ones (Willemyns et al., 2011). This has been a progressive process, driven by the fact that today more and more expatriates work in the UAE and that Emiratis employed in large companies can usually speak fluent English. On the other hand, specific patterns of communication style can be found within UAE companies. Our main reference will be the study performed by Willemyns et al. (2011) and described in their research paper Communication and Social Identity Dynamics in UAE Organizations. The study was conducted among 192 Emiratis (34 women) who worked in different companies in Dubai and were asked to complete a survey about their interaction with Western expatriate colleagues . However, before proceeding with the analysis of the findings, a short overview of the theoretical underpinnings behind them will be provided. More specifically, the social identity theory has been considered. This theory proposes that ones self-concept is compromised of a personal identity (based on idiosyncratic characteristics such as bodily attributes, abilities and psychological traits) and of social identities, based on groups memberships (Willemyns et al., 2011). A certain person would thus see themselves as part of a group (ingroup) and would compare their ingroup to an outsider group (outgroup), composed of people that are not part of the ingroup (Williams and Giles, 1996). This theory can therefore be used to understand and explain how the Emiratis interact with their foreign colleagues, whether they relate to them as part of the ingroup or the outgroup. The study has shown three main communication patterns. The first category relates to Interpersonal Control, which refers to the interpersonal control adopted in the interaction of Emirati nationals with their foreign colleagues. This study has stressed the importance of the ingroup dimension to many Emirati employees. In fact, a high percentage of them feel that they are perceived by their co-workers as belonging to the same group, on an equitable level. Furthermore, Emiratis try to understand the single individual when they interact with their co-workers rather than classifying them as part of a stereotypical cultural outgroup. Examples of this perception are related to non-work and friendship role relationship, similar values and interpersonal similarities. In a broader sense of the individualization process just described, Condon and Yousef (1975) have highlighted the difference between individualism, which indicates independence from the group, and individuality, which relates to the freedom of an individual to act, individuality ref ers to the persons freedom to act differently within the limits set by the social structure (Condon and Yousef,1975). Thus, in this specific case, the study refers more to individuality than to individualism of Emiratis. This sense of individuality can also be traced in the Quran where an individual (a prophet) would go against his group in order to proclaim his faith and belief in God. Therefore, for Arab people and in this specific case, for Emiratis, individual dignity and honour are extremely important. (Ayish, 2003). Therefore, if on one hand the belonging to ingroup is an essential part for Emiratis, on the other hand, the individual as a unique person is highly respected. This fact shows that it is probably too simplistic considering Emiratis as a collectivistic culture (Zaharna, 2009). The second category analysed is discourse management, which refers to the ability of a person in creating written and oral texts. In the specific case, we consider discourse management in relation to conversations held at work between Emiratis and their Western counterparts. As far as discourse management is concerned, the ingroup and outgroup sides seem to be balanced. More specifically, if on one hand, some Emiratis perceive high cultural difference with their colleagues, for example they feel their ideas are not listened to nor understood, on the other hand, some other Emiratis express an open, transparent and efficient communication process. Significant examples of this aspect are related to the willingness or unwillingness of colleagues to listen and communicate or to participate in small talk and self-disclosure. Small talks are defined by DeVito (2001) as short conversations typically used to break the ice between people. They are also defined pathic communication, term that w as coined by the anthropologist Malinowsky (1923) and refers to short discussions of low information content that are used to build and maintain relationships, to saving face issues. Finally, a balance can also be found in the last category, face issues. Emiratis value face-to-face communication as an important feature. Face-to-face communication could lead to both positive effects, for example a foreign colleague expressing explicit praise, congratulations and encouragement and negative consequences, for instance by embarrassing in public an Emirati, through criticism and negative feedback and by asking inappropriate questions such as questions related to wives and or sisters. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia In this section, an analysis of some interesting factors that shape the business communication style in Saudi Arabia will be provided. First of all, the environment highly influences the communication style of Arab countries. In particular, Ali (1990) underlines how Arab people are subjected to behave in different ways depending on the characteristics of the environment in which they are and have relationship with. More specifically, in an authoritarian environment, an Arab tends to be conservative, dependent on authorities and on higher status people and refrains from debate and discussions (Ali and Hayward, 1993). In Saudi Arabia, the communication style is more indirect and conservative compared to the communication style of other Mideastern such as the Emiratis due to their stricter environment. Moreover, Saudis show a higher avoidance of public conflict and criticism, preferring personal to impersonal procedures to resolve conflict and one-to-one business communication (Ali, 1995). Saudi Arabia is the place of birth both of Islam and Arabic. As Arabic is the language of the Quran, the spread of Islam to non-Arabic countries, such as part of South Asia, Europe and North Africa, has also implied the diffusion of Arabic language in them (Hitti, 1970; Hourani, 1992; Chejne, 1965). However, even though all countries in the Middle East have a common heritage in the Arabic language, not all of them have employed Arabic as official first language. Arabic is therefore one of the most important factors that influence the communication style in Saudi Arabia. According to Kabasakal and Bodur (2002), the Arabic language has a very strong influence on the identity of an Arabic person as well as on their communication style. Arabic manages to develop a feeling of identity among Arab people that also has crucial consequences on the communication style. In particular, the Arabic language is very associative, different examples of association can be found within the Arabic language and in the Quran (Zaharna, 2009). Therefore, in order to get the true understanding of a text written in Arabic, the ability to read Arabic is not sufficient; it is instead necessary to understand the different associations among words within a certain context. Likewise, Saudis use an indirect business communication style, where single words will not probably be of significant meaning. According to Katz (2006), a simple word like yes might mean possibly and i t will be very rare that a Saudi would answer with a direct no. Instead, Saudis value beautiful, elegant rhetoric over concise and accurate communication. Eloquent people are considered to be more worthy of trust and respect and so they will often use extremely descriptive, emotive and even poetic language to communicate their point indirectly. This can often make it difficult for Westerners to decipher the intended message. Furthermore, body language and eye contact is very important in the Middle East, however in Saudi Arabia it is more restricted and controlled. The final aspect that will be analysed in this section refers to the interaction of Saudis with the foreign corporations and colleagues. Unlike UAE, as seen in section 1.2 where Emiratis have shown a more open, transparent and positive behaviour, Saudi Arabia is a much more conservative and closed society that also regulates the way Saudis work with expatriates (Mackey, 1987). Having a local intermediary can therefore be extremely important for a foreigner to initiate a business relationship with local people. The intermediary will help providing the contacts and leveraging on existing relationships. (Katz, 2006). In fact, as described previously, personal relationships are crucial in Middle East and in this particular case, in Saudi Arabia.

The Light in the Forest by Conrad Richter :: The Light in the Forest

The Light in the Forest Conrad Richter presents a historic fictional work describing the colonial frontier in The Light in the Forest.   True Son, born as John Butler, was captured by the Lenni Lenape Indians at the age of four.   He was adopted by them and raised as the son of their chief, Cuyloga.   He became a part of the Indian culture.   Later the Indians made a treaty with the whites and all white captives were to be returned to their people, including 15-year-old True Son.   However, True Son had learned to hate the white men and their ways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Light in the Forest "enlightened" me in various ways.   It illustrates the spiritual relationship between Indians and nature as contrasted to the whites attitude.   Indians live with nature, appreciating its beauty and enjoying its comfort while whites' seem to ignore the beauty and value nature only according to its productive usefulness.   In The Light in the Forest, whites, for example, cut down the forest and clear land for farming.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   I also was intrigued with how True Son spoke of his mother the Earth, his uncle the Moon, and his brother-in-law the Wind.   In today's society we seem to concentrate on technology, while such oneness with nature is almost non-existent.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As an author, Conrad Richter appears to be a skilled writer.   I found numerous strengths and only two weaknesses.   One strength was his use of strong visual images.   "What he hungered for most was the sight of an Indian face again-his father's, deep red, shaped like a hawk's, used to riding the wind, always above the earth, letting nothing small or of the village disturb him-his mother's, fresh and brown yet indented with great arching cheek wrinkle born of laughing and smiling, framing the mouth, and across the forehead, horizontal lines like the Indian sign of lightning, not from laughing but from war and talk of war, from family cares and the strain of labor-and his sister's smooth young moon faces, not pale and sickly like the faces of white girls, but the rich blooming brown of the earth, their lively black eyes looking out from under the blackest and heaviest of hair, always wit touches of some bright red cl oth that set them off and made them handsome" (p. 53).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, Richter chooses point of view wisely.   He writes in omniscient point of view, but concentrates on True Son or Del Hardy, balancing the readers knowledge of both Indian and white life styles.

Federal Budget Must be Reduced :: Argumentative Persuasive Economics Papers

Federal Budget Must be Reduced The annual multibillion-dollar federal budget threatens the future of the United States and must be reduced.To cut the size of the deficit, federal revenues must be increased, and federal outlays must be reduced, or a combination of the two may be used.Under the 1990 budget agreement, Congress cut defense spending and benefits to veterans, farmers, and Medicare and Medicaid patients. In addition, the agreement increased taxes for the wealthiest Americans and phased out some of their tax exemptions. The act also raised taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, gasoline, and airline tickets. ("Current Issues". Close-Up Foundation,1993.) This was a good first step, at balancing rather than rolling over the debt to future generations. However, the Republicans need to find some more support to get another such agreement passed. Expensive defense programs that were once necessary are no longer needed. The money that was once used for defense should be put toward lowering the budget deficit, which grows at the rate of $10,000 per second and stood as $5,020,705,156,014 at eight o'clock p.m. on November 13, 1995. This is according to the National Debt Clock ([Debt Clock], //www.fusebox.com/debtclock/). Because Americans are not willing to sacrifice social programs, the only alternative is to raise taxes. Americans may not like it, but they need to pay for the government services they want and need. However, this increase in taxes should be kept in perspective, since a tax increase will reduce personal income and business profits. Too high of an increase in taxes will only stifle economic growth by reducing the money businesses would have to invest in expansion and job creation. The latest step in balancing the budget was a stop-gap spending bill which passed through the House of Representatives November 8, 1995, ([CNN-House passes stop-gap spending bill-Nov.8,1995], http://www.cnn.com//US/9511/budget/index.html) This bill reduces the funding for some programs. On Monday, President Clinton vetoed the stop-gap spending measure, and a debt limit extension calling them "too high a price"