Franz Kafka the Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis is arguably Franz Kafkas best works of literature where author, Franz Kafka, directly casts upon the negative aspects of his life both mentally and physically. Franz Kafka was a visionary, whose works contained the secret to the future. Kafka’s world is one of a kind. To Kafka popular culture portrays contrast between functional and dysfunctional families to frame the elements that contribute to their formation. In similar pursuit, Kafka recognizes one significant aspect in the establishment of a healthy and stable family.In The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka applies symbols, imagery, and settings to impress that a family organization where equally shared responsibilities prevail is more effective in keeping a positive domestic atmosphere. Also Kafka demonstrates the absurdity of human life and the sense of alienation of human existence, a reflection of Kafka’s own life. â€Å"Because the notion of bug aptly characterized his sense of worthlessness and pa rasitism before his father. † (Neider 262). When Franz Kafka was a boy his father abused him.Whenever Kafka disagreed with his father or told his father that he wanted to be a writer, his father got very upset with him. Franz was expected to follow the course his father planned out for him. â€Å"But from his childhood he considered himself a disappointment to his authoritarian figure parent and inadequate when compared with him. † (Czech 255). Kafka’s father viewed Franz as a failure and disapproved of his writing because he wanted Franz to become a businessman like him. This obsession with wanting Franz to become a businessman led his father Herrman to beat his son.There was always a great tension between Kafka and his father; Kafka always had strong mixed feelings toward him. Franz had other siblings but he was left all alone to struggle with the mantle of his father's expectations and frustrations. The relationship between Gregor and his father is in many way s were similar to Franz and his father Herrman. The emotional and physical abuse Gregor goes through is reciprocal to what Kafka went through in real life. They were both abused and neglected by their fathers when they were disappointed with them.â€Å"The mother and sister almost survive the test, but the father rejects him from the start. (Angus 264). The relationship with his father was reflected in Kafka’s, The Metamorphosis. In the book, Mr. Samsa displayed a violent temper from the very first encounter with the transformed Gregor. â€Å"When he chased Greggor back into the room, he kicked him in the back as he reached for the door. † (Kafka). Kafka illustrates that imbalance in family responsibility results in resentment and hatred. â€Å"All our knowledge of Kafka’s life and story technique suggests that it is a precipitation in fantasy of his lifelong sense of loneliness and exclusion. † (Angus 264).Quite apart from his isolation within his famil y, Kafka also felt isolated from the rest of society. Both Samsa and Kafka experienced the difficulties of living in a modern society and the struggle for acceptance of others when in a time of need. Also the lack of affection in Kafka’s childhood is a cause of feeling isolation that both Samsa and Kafka felt. Kafka never seemed to keep a wife. He was engaged twice but both times he was the one that ended the engagement. In The Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa says â€Å"Constantly seeing new faces, no relationships that last or get more intimate. (Kafka).Gregor Samsa was a character that endured seclusion and exile like no other. Gregor adopts the precaution â€Å"of locking all the doors during the night even at home. † (Kafka). In this quote, the lock symbolizes Gregor’s wish to isolate himself from his family and society due to his anger. â€Å"Into a room in which Gregor ruled the bare walls all alone, no human being inside Grete was ever likely to set foot. à ¢â‚¬  (Kafka 34). The way Samsa was portrayed by his own family was the main cause of the feelings in which Gregor felt.His family purely the basis of the isolationism. Throughout the book, The Metamorphosis, Kafka creates Gregor to express his own feelings of isolation and alienation. â€Å"Reminded even his father that Gregor was a member of the family, in spite contrary, it was the commandment of family duty to swallow their disgust and endure him, endure him and nothing more. † (Kafka). Kafka, in a similar situation, uses Gregor transforming into a bug as a way of exaggerating himself, trying to express his feelings and point of view.Kafka saw the world much as he describes in his novels, just as a man who feels himself to be persecuted sees reality fitting into a system, which is really of a spiritual order, to persecute him. † (Spender 257). Kafka who had the pressure of his father forcing his own occupation on him resulted in a negative way. It was the main reas on that caused Kafka’s animosity towards his father. Kafka’s father already forced him to do what he wanted and not what Kafka wanted. This is similar to Gregor’s work life as a salesman. Gregor is not working for himself but to pay the family’s debt; he is unsatisfied with his occupation.Gregor Samsa is the only provider in the family he gives his family a nice atmosphere making them all feel economic security. Gregor’s atmosphere is one his family wouldn’t understand. He has the burden of finance on just him, only a single person results and this results in bitterness and anger. Kafka implies that in order to achieve a healthy family atmosphere, all members must contribute equally to common causes. Kafka uses symbols to contrast the difference in mood between the unequal and equal shares in financial responsibility of the Samsa’s family.He also uses imagery and settings to provide a transition between positive and negative oppositio n as a result of the shift towards balance and evenness of responsibility. His message is about domestic stability. The first page of The Metamorphosis is Gregor’s transformation. This tends to leave many readers confused at what’s actually going on. â€Å"Kafka states in the first sentence that Gregor wakes up to find himself changed into a giant kind of vermin (â€Å"Ungeziefer†). The term â€Å"vermin† holds the key to the double aspect of The Metamorphosis. † (Sokel 267). When you think vermin you think, bug.According to the dictionary a vermin is â€Å"noxious, objectionable, or disgusting animals collectively, especially those of small size that appear commonly and are difficult to control. † You think its just something that lives off human beings and maybe sucks their blood. However in context to The Metamorphosis â€Å"On the other hand, it connotes something defenseless, something that can be stepped upon and crushed. † (Sok el 267). These words are proven to be a correlation to how Gregor Samsa felt in The Metamorphosis. This is how Kafka felt about himself. He uses Gregor to expand upon what and how he felt.He felt this way relating back to his father. Kafka’s father viewed him as a vermin. â€Å"Kafka’s famous letter to his father would give support to such a view since Kafka has his father refer to him as a blood-sucking type of vermin, a bedbug or a louse. † (Sokel 267). Franz Kafka channels his real insecurities into his writing by attributing them to his protagonist, Gregor. The transformation from human to insect depicted in his novel represents the author’s childhood loss of confidence and self-esteem. The Kafkaesque nightmare of The Metamorphosis mimics the authors own life.

Chapter 20 Problem 1

Week 5 – Financing Strategy Problem Problem 1 – Chapter 20 Firm A has $10,000 in assets entirely financed with equity. Firm B also has $10,000 in assets, but these assets are financed by $5,000 in debt (with a 10 percent rate of interest) and $5,000 in equity. Both firms sell 10,000 units of output at $2. 50 per unit. The variable costs of production are $1, and fixed production costs are $12,000. (To ease the calculation, assume no income tax. ) A. What if the operating income (EBIT) for both firms? Sales/Revenue: 10000 * 2. 50 = 25000 Variable Cost: 10000 * 1 = 10000 Fixed Production Cost: 12000EBIT = sales/revenue – variable cost – fixed production cost = 25000 – 10000 – 12000 = $3000 B. What are the earnings after interest? InterestEarnings after interest Firm A: 0 3000 – 0 = $3000 Firm B:5000 * 10% = 500 3000 – 500 = $2500 C. If sales increase by 10 percent to 11,000 units, by what percentage will each firm’s earning s after interest increase? To answer the question, determine the earnings after taxes and compute the percentage increase in these earnings from the answers you derived in part b. Sales/Revenue: 11000 * 2. 50 = 27500 Variable Cost: 11000 * 1 = 11000Fixed Production Cost: 12000 EBIT = sales/revenue – variable cost – fixed production cost = 27500 – 11000 – 12000 = 4500 Firm A Firm B Interest 05000 * 10% = 500 Earnings after interest (prior) 3000 – 0 = 3000 3000 – 500 = 2500 Earnings after interest (after) 4500 – 0 = 4500 4500 – 500 = 4000 Increase/decrease % 50% 60% D. Why are the percentage changes different? Firm B had a higher increase in profit because they had a higher net % change and lowered their interest income through their debt financing.

How do emotional, creative and pessimistic learning styles affect critical thinking? Essay

Critical thinking has a tendency to be thought of as a cold, dispassionate endeavor that rewards objectivism in the name of ultimate truths and facts. However, the rise of cultural pedagogy and critical theory tracks in higher education has created a new system for inquiry that favors a subjective interpretation specifically located in its relevant context. This brief essay will outline how emotional, creative and pessimistic learning styles affect critical thinking. According to the University of Michigan’s Problem Solving page for Critical Thinking, there are four keys to developing critical thinking: Identifying and challenging assumptions, recognizing the importance of context, imagining and exploring alternatives and developing reflective skepticism (Critical). Although all types of learners utilize all four, emotional learners prioritize identifying and challenging assumptions, creative learners emphasize imagining and exploring alternatives, while pessimistic learners tend to value the development of reflective skepticism (Learning). Critical thinking skills need to be cultivated and encouraged by educators according to each student’s particular learning style. No two students are alike and many times students change which type of approach they undertake depending upon the problem (Felder). Critical thinking is a vital component in creating thoughtful and inquisitive students and students need their learning style to fit into this equation. Works Cited Critical Thinking. (2009). The University of Michigan. Retrieved 12 February 2009 from http://www. engin. umich. edu/~problemsolving/strategy/crthink. htm Felder, Richard and Rebecca Brent. Understanding Student Differences. (2005). Journal of Engineering Education. Retrieved 12 February 2009 from http://www4. ncsu. edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/Papers/Understanding_Differences. pdf Treuer, Paul. Learning Styles. (2006). The University of Minnesota – Duluth. Retrieved 12 February 2009 from http://www. d. umn. edu/kmc/student/loon/acad/strat/lrnsty. html

English and Vocational Training Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

English and Vocational Training - Essay Example The importance of English as the medium of education is on a steady rise and is being incorporated into countries which are non-English in their linguistic backgrounds. Today, we have a wide range of careers options, that are inclusive of stereotypic career options like English Literature, Arts, Sciences, etc. and also the newly emerging vocational careers like engineering, electronics, electrical communication and the like, which depend more towards the technicalities, rather than linguistic prowess. However, communication is an important aspect of life and good communication skills set apart a good employee from a bad one. Mere command over technicalities is not the only criteria in the process of selecting employees. Good language skills count and since English is the common language across the world, good command over the English language is a must to come across as a candidate with great fluency and proficiency. Vocational training given to candidates in the fields of telecommunications, electricals and electronics need training in the English language, as well.

Authenticity and Commercialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Authenticity and Commercialism - Essay Example For instance, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, an underground music revolution was taking place in Seattle, aptly called "grundge" due to the unkempt, unshaven, and slovenly appearance of the band members who were producing this "new" type of music. Independent bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana, were known locally on the Seattle club scene, however, the rest of the country was not aware of this independent movement in music. However, it would not be long before the popularity of this new sound caught the eyes and ears of commercial music labels, which signed many of these bands to recording contracts. Once this occurred, the public was given a taste of grundge and Nirvana and other similar bands became superstars and commercially successful throughout the country, and even the world. This culturally unique music, once only played in the underground clubs of Seattle, was now commercially viable and its authenticity was somewhat lost in the process. Although authenticity may be lost by virtue of commercialism, the authenticity of a product or practice may actually increase its commercial value (Szekely 93). ... Once those in the public get wind of the latest trend or the newest "authentic" music, they too want to be part of the experience or the movement. Therefore, more of the music is sold, which increases its commercial value tremendously. What Are the Implications When Commercialism Destroys Authenticity, Yet Increases Commercial Value One major implication of these two phenomenons working together is that authenticity is lost and commercialism is increased, however, it is the authentic nature of the product or practice that propelled it into commercial popularity. Furthermore, this would suggest that authenticity is a fleeting thing, and is stripped once commercialism takes hold and. Conclusion Authenticity and commercialism are not mutually exclusive as, ironically, it is authenticity that can propel a product or practice to commercial success. Therefore, commercialism is only detrimental to a product or practice in the destruction of its authenticity, but is instrumental in giving an authentic product, success and notoriety. Works Cited Szekely, Michael. "Pushing the Popular, or toward a Compositional Popular Aesthetics."Popular Music and Society 29.1 (2006):

Ressource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ressource Management - Essay Example This paper aims at discussing strategies that are involved in sourcing, budgeting processes as well as financial reporting requirements adopted by Tesco PLC, a UK based supermarket that deals with various kinds of products. Sourcing Apart from dealing with food products and Tesco mobile among other brands, Tesco PLC deals with selling and distribution of safety equipments such as gumboots, oil resistant boots, helmets, ear plugs, overalls and dust coats among others. Majority of our customers are entities dealing with manufacturing of all kinds of products as well as flower farms. Based on the need to maintain safety in all work places and be in line with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety requirements, majority of firms offering products as well as services have continued to order from us thus increasing our sales. Tesco PLC has outsourced the process of manufacturing most of our products to a neighboring firm. Outsourcing refers to the contracting of a firm ’s business activity to a third party. ... The second advantage is that the company is able to share the risks arising. Another advantage of outsourcing is that the company does not incur the costs of hiring production machine or purchasing them. Likewise, we are able to concentrate with our core business of selling and marketing of our products making the relationship with our client’s stronger. Disadvantages of outsourcing our services Although Tesco PLC emulates outsourcing, the company is faced with some disadvantages. First is lack of customer focus by the company we have outsourced to. Based on the fact that the company manufacturers products for various companies dealing with safety gadgets, it may lack complete focus on the quality of our brands2. Additionally, sometimes there is a delay in the delivery of the final products to Tesco PLC premises an issue that has caused us to lose some loyal customers3. Despite the disadvantages, our organizations objective is to outsource its production process for the next 3 years after which it will establish its own production department. Budgeting processes Tesco PLC.has established accounting department that undertakes the budgeting process under the leadership of a senior accountant. The company maintains a cash budget. The cash budget entails an expansive plan of future cash flows. In order to ensure that the company liquidity is maintained at a recommendable state, four items are covered by the cash budgets. These includes cash receipts, cash disbursements, net change in cash for a particular period of time as well as new financing needs. The accounting department undertakes six processes in its annual budget preparation. Automating: This department uses excel spreadsheets with formulas that are used to compute

Research Proposal on Cardiovascular Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

On Cardiovascular - Research Proposal Example In many cases, however, it is not possible to arrive at a specific etiologic diagnosis, and thus it is often more desirable to classify the cardiomyopathies into one of three types dilated, restrictive, hypertrophic on the basis of differences in their pathophysiology and clinical presentation (Braunwald, 2005, 13-78). Current literature concerning the molecular mechanism of this disease and attendant cardiac failure will be searched to find out the gap in the current knowledge. Sebastini et al. in their 2009 article, discusses the molecular events linking mtDNA defects to cardiac hypertrophy as the cause of congestive heart failure. It has been suggested that the cellular and molecular mechanism of cardiac dysfunction is related to energy derangements and increase of mitochondrial derived reactive oxygen species. There is a continuous cardiomyopathic remodelling in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure has been attributed to mitochondrial proliferation and the factor of mechanical dysfunction (Sebastini et al., 2009). Moorjani et al. (2006) investigated the phenomenon of activation of apoptotic Caspase cascade during the transition to pressure overload induced heart failure.

English literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

English literature - Essay Example He finds his job degrading with long working hours and little time for sleep and rest. His boss is a woman and â€Å"It was funny to have a white woman for a boss in a plant like this one† (Petry n.p.). His lack of interest in work often infuriates his boss. Their stern and hostile behavior makes him angry and it gets hard for him to resist the urge to beat her white employer, saying that he would never beat a woman. Further in the story, Mr. Johnson encounters a white girl working at a coffee shop who refuses to serve him just because he is black; it could be solely Mr. Johnson’s thinking that made him to think that every white person hates the black person. However, he resists his anger with his heart pounding to beat her but somehow; he learns to control his angers and walks out of the coffee shop. Anne Petry further explores how the bad sense of humor that Mae possesses makes Johnson to think that he is a black man with no respect in the society. She jokingly calls him a â€Å"nigger† (Petry n.p.). Her bad sense of humor provokes him to take out his anger, frustration and humiliation he encountered the entire day on her. The story projects that how the evils of racism was a bitter part of reality in American society in 1946. The story revolves around two main themes such as racial discrimination and domestic abuse. The domestic abuse that Mae faced was the outcome of the psychological aggression that was brought into Mr. Johnson due to the humiliation he faced by the hands of two white women. He hated to raise his fist against a woman but his aggression let him do that but this led to the death of his family’s belief, not to hit on any female. Anne Petry explains how our bottled aggressions and frustrations make us to do things that we consider immoral. Johnson is a colorful example of a man who fails to control motions unwinding his sheets of anger and frustration on his

Law - Corporate Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Law - Corporate Law - Essay Example The partners wish to bring in more funding into the proposed entity. Consequently, they want the resources injected be recognized as capital. Additionally, they want the business to bear responsibility for any debt pertaining to it. Considering the conditions set by the three partners Tinky, Lola and Daphne the best form of business is a Private limited company (PLC). This form of an organization is better than a sole proprietorship. The proposed business form has a distinct identity from its founders. As such, they would bear no liability for the entity’s transactions2. Additionally, such an entity can own property and take legal action against another party. The proposed business form will incur less tax than a sole proprietorship3. The law treats the incomes of a sole proprietorship as those of the founders of the organization. A private limited company (PLC) fits the description of the business form they are seeking. A PLC is accountable for its own tax burden. This assert s that the organization is a legal personality contrary to a sole proprietorship4. Individuals that subscribe for shares in a PLC are the owners since a share denotes the basic unit of ownership in any a PLC5. Shareholders do not administer the company openly. Nonetheless, they appoint directors who run the entity6. This allows a PLC to inject professionalism in its management since they appoint qualified individuals into such posts. Conversely, the sole proprietor governs his entity based on his knowledge. Therefore, the business may suffer due to his incompetence7. Nonetheless, decision-making is easier since no consultation are held. Overall, a PLC is a better business form than a sole proprietor based on the above reasons. The company act governs all the undertakings of all incorporated bodies. The act provides stringent statues on the way that a PLC should undertake its activities8. Conversely, they are negligible rules that direct the operations of a sole proprietorship. The d irectors in a PLC are answerable to the members while the sole proprietor is liable to himself9. A limited liability partnership (LLP) is a very attractive form since Tinky, Lola and Daphne are already in such similar business. Thus, a LLP will only limit their liability, but the entity will continue to incur relatively enormous taxes since the tax authorities charge it alongside the other incomes of the partners10. This implies that a LLP has no legal personality. A LLP is better that ordinary partnership since the members’ liability is limited. This denotes its major variation from other partnerships. However, it is imperative to note that the accountability of members in such an entity may vary. As such, some partners might have restricted liability11. In such a scenario, the partners with unlimited responsibility would meet the partnership’s debt during liquidation12. Nonetheless, in a PLC no member takes responsibility for the entity’s loans since the organ ization is separate from its founders and its members. The three partners should consider this pro13. Partners may run the business simultaneously by sharing duties. Alternatively, they may appoint one of the members to govern the organization. Governing such an entity is tricky since decision-making requires consultation. This makes decision-making challenging14. The partners share

Miranda Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Miranda Rights - Essay Example proven guilty, are no different than any other criminals, and have the Fifth and Sixth Amendments backing them up, they should be guaranteed the rights enumerated in the Miranda warnings. Innocent until proven guilty is the phrase that is used to describe someone who has not been found guilty of a crime, such as a suspect, who must await trails until that decision can be made. Terrorist suspects are in the same boat as robbery suspects in that they have yet to be found to be completely guilty. Many people who are suspects often end up not being guilty of the crime for which they are being accused. As every suspect is considered to be innocent until they are proven guilty, they should be entitled to the rights that are drawn out in the Miranda warning. A suspected terrorist is as innocent as any suspected criminal until decided otherwise before a court. Terrorist suspects are just like any other criminal suspects. They have committed a crime, they have done something wrong against another person, organization, or something larger, such as the United States, and they have been caught. Someone who is suspected of terrorist activity should get the same treatment and rights as a person who is suspected of robbing a store or murdering a family member. Indeed, it seems that people who have committed a heinous crime such as murder or rape are entitled to more rights than someone who is suspected of engaging in terrorist activity. In reality, there is no difference between the different types of criminals. If one criminal is entitled to the laws that are displayed in the Miranda warnings, than those that are accused of terrorist activity should get the same benefits. As was the case in Miranda versus Arizona, the U.S. Supreme Court case that birthed the Miranda rights (Sonneborn, 2003), the criminal suspects that are denied their Miranda rights are essentially denied their Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights. The Fifth Amendment protects criminals from abuse of government

Language, Identity and Cultural Difference Essay Example for Free

Language, Identity and Cultural Difference Essay According to Hall (1997a), enunciation theories suggest that even though we may talk of ourselves from our experiences, the person who speaks and the subject being spoken of are never identical. Identity in this regard is to be conceived as a production which is never complete- â€Å"always in process, and always constituted within, not outside, representation†- (Hall, 1997a) as opposed to viewing it as a complete fact which is then represented by the new cultural practices. However, this view shakes the legitimacy and authority upon which the term cultural identity bases its claim. There are two ways in which cultural identity can be thought of. The first view sees it in terms of a single shared culture, some kind of a collective ‘one true self’ that is hiding inside many other more artificially imposed selves that people with a shared history and ancestry hold in common (Hall, 1997b). Within this view of description of cultural identity, our cultural identities mirrors those historical experiences that we hold in common and the shared cultural codes which offer us as a people, a stable, immutable and continuous frames of reference and meaning, under the shifting classes and fluctuations of our actual history (Hall, 1997a). Singapore was envisioned by her leaders as a multiethnic society in which the constituent ethnic groups shared participation in common institutions while at the same time retaining their distinct languages, customs and religions. The ethnic categories represented self-evident, natural groups that would continue their existence into the indefinite future. Singaporean identity therefore implies being an Indian, a Chinese, or a Malay but in relation to other groups. This model of ethnicity demands the denial of important internal variations for each ethnic group and the recognition of differences between the categories (Tsui Tollefson, 2007). The second view of cultural identity recognizes that there are similarities and important differences which make up what we really are. We cannot persistently refer with exactness to one experience and one identity without recognizing the other dimension. This other dimension represents the rifts and discontinuities that comprise cultural uniqueness. In this second sense, cultural identity is viewed as an issue of both â€Å"becoming† and â€Å"being†, something that belongs to the future as much as it belongs to the past. Cultural identities in this regard have histories and therefore changes constantly. In other words, cultural identities are subject to the uninterrupted play of history, culture and power (Hall, 1997a). Identity is the name given to the different ways we are placed, and put ourselves within the tale of the past. This second conception of cultural identity is more disturbing and less familiar. How can the formation of identity be understood if does not proceed from a straight line or a fixed origin? The Singaporean identity can be thought of as composed of two vectors that operate simultaneously. These are the vectors of rift and difference, and similarity and continuity. The Singaporean identity can be seen with regard to the relationship between the two vectors.   Similarity and continuity brings to fore the realization that it is the experience of fundamental discontinuity that the Indians, Malays and Chinese share and among these are immigration, colonization and Asian origin. It is therefore interesting to look at how the concept of identity, language and cultural differences were created and how these concepts are related within the context of Singapore. The analysis herein presented will be based in Hall’s view of the link between language, identity and cultural difference. Relationship between Language, Identity and Cultural Difference The relationship between language, culture and identity has emerged to be a hotly contested topic in social sciences. The questions that mainly arise concern the apparent difference between cultural and ethnic identity. Are these types of identities similar or should they be differentiated conceptually. Various scholars hold varying views on the role of language in the definition of one’s identity. A major question that one may be compelled to ask is whether a culture or ethnic group can be considered to be unique if it does not have its own language or in the least its own rendition of a common tongue. Cultural identity is universal whether it is expressed with regard to humanity or otherwise since people from every part of the world are conscious of some kind of specificity that sets them apart from others. In contrast, ethnic identity only appear to take place within complex societies when it seems functional to separate individuals into categories founded upon something other than age, gender or occupation. Ethnicity is associated with cultural identity since one must make reference to cultural, linguistic or religious particularities in order to categorize individuals. According to Hall (1997b), culture is produced by representation. Culture concerns shared meaning and the medium through which we make sense out of things is through the use of language. It is through language that meaning is produced and exchanged. The only mechanism of sharing meaning is through a common access to language. In this regard, language is fundamental to meaning and culture and has always been conceived as the major bank of cultural values and meanings. However, one may be compelled to ask how meaning is constructed through language. According to Hall (1997b), language constructs meaning via its operation as a representational system. Language is one of the mechanisms through which ideas, thoughts and feelings are represented in culture. In this regard, representation through language is fundamental to the processes through which meaning is produced. Our sense of identity is derived from meaning and therefore meaning is linked with questions about how we use culture to define and maintain identity and difference within and between groups. In every social and personal relationship in which we participate, meaning is constantly being produced. Meaning is also produced through our expression in and consumption of relevant cultural materials. Our conducts and practices are also regulated and organized by meaning which help in the setting of rules, norms and conventions upon which social life is ordered and governed. The question of identity therefore emerges in relation to various other divergent moments or practices within the cultural circuits; in our construction of identity and the defining of difference, in the production and consumption and in the regulation of social conduct. In all these instances, language is one of the most important medium through which we produce and circulate meaning.

Management in Libraries Essay Example for Free

Management in Libraries Essay Economic threat to the libraries by escalation of books and journals, fewer resources, constant growth changes in technology and user high expectation have shown that management is the critical factor that determines efficiency and effectiveness of all types of libraries. Thus managers are expected to play different functions in order to be effective and efficient. In this assignment different functions and roles played by managers in different libraries are discussed showing how they improve efficiency and effectiveness and different laws of library management are discussed. DEFINITION OF TERMS Management Effectiveness defined by Bateman, T is â€Å"doing things right†. This means that the manager has the responsibility for selecting the right goals and appropriate means to achieving it. Efficiency is measuring the cost of attaining a given goal, concerned about how resources such as money, time, equipment, personnel obtain given goals. Thus a manager needs to be effective and efficient in order to achieve the goals of the library. MAIN DISCUSSION Library management comprise more than just making changes, it involves managing ongoing operations in the optimal fashion for your institution in the context of its goals, other department’s activities and patrons needs. Thus we realize that different libraries may require managerial different managerial skills in order to perform their duties effectively. Managers help in giving direction to the library showing where it is going. Library management involves planning, organizing, leading and controlling. Planning is about systematical making decisions about the library goals. In planning the manager defines the objectives the objectives of the library, stating the purpose of its existence, defining the user community and their information needs. This is important as it facilitates efficiency. It helps in understanding the library stakeholders. A public library is an omnibus organization. It carters for everyone in the community thus the need for every user must be known and fulfilled. A public library serves a diverse community of adults, children and teens thus a manager has to plan on resources to be acquired. A manager can plan on different resources that can be acquired ranging from entertainment, fiction, nonfiction for general research, children story books because there are no specific users, the resources must benefit everyone in the society. A manager also organize and coordinate human, financial , physical, informational and other resources needed to achieve library goals. The manager establishes the activity authority relationship of the library. The activities necessary to achieve the objectives are then grouped into working divisions, departments and grouped together. In an academic library a manager can group together activities like accession and cataloguing The manager has to establish standards for performance; this will make sure that the library is performing in such a way as to arrive at its destination. According to Griffin â€Å"controlling helps to ensure effective and efficiency needed for successful management† As a leader the manager is responsible for staffing which is concerned with allocating prospective employees to fulfill the jobs created by organizing process. It involves the process of reviewing the credentials of the candidates of the jobs and trying to match the job demand with the application s abilities keeping each employee qualified. It also involves the development and implementation of a system for appraising performance and providing feedback for performance improvement. In a special library where the main target is a specific audience, for example ZIMRA library its serves the ZIMRA staff and mainly the manager have to recruit someone who posses research skills because mainly it deals with research for its company. The manager is responsible for choosing the right candidate, who knows how to research, even on the internet where there is information overload the candidate must be able to extract relevant information using the right search engine, mainly in a special library every one depend on the information provided by the librarian. The manager is also responsible for keeping the librarian qualified for the job by providing ongoing training since the librarianship profession is dynamic thus this will improve effectiveness and efficiency of libraries. A manager also gives s direction that will help the library in achieving its goals. Directing builds a climate, provides leadership and arranges the opportunity for motivation this is further explained by Rachel’s laws of library management, it says save time of your staff. This means that the staff must be given support they need for them to achieve goals effectively and efficiently this include providing training for them where it is needed. Each boss must plan and oversee the wok of each of his or her subordinates. In an academic library there are different services offered for example cataloguing and accession section can be directed by one manager then the E- resource section can be under another manager e- journals purchased, subscriptions etc. This will ease the load as one manager is focusing on a specific service thus he spend more time trying to improve the services and working with his subordinates and improves efficiency in the library. As a manager attempts to perform the managerial job effectively and efficiently there is a need to ‘wear different hats’ in interaction with employees. Managers interacts with others besides subordinates they work with other peer level managers in some other departments and outside contacts (suppliers and clients). Thus a manager is building contacts through which to gather information. Rachel agrees with this in the laws of management which says library resources are for use. A library manager is expected to connect resources with the user achieving the library goals. Through the liaison role a manager is able to network with other libraries. Academic libraries can practice resource sharing if there are shortages of material in specific departments the two libraries can share the available resources to both libraries and this will give the patrons a wide variety of information thus fulfilling their needs, this will improve efficiency. The manager is exposed to new ideas or methods that may improve the work unit operations. The manager initiates activities that will allow and encourage the work unit to use the idea most advantageously. Rachel’s law of management says that a library is a growing organism. A manager needs to open to change and help the library evolve to meet the needs of patrons. We can look at public library, the introduction of automation the staff may resist change having fear of losing their jobs thus a manager is responsible for encouraging and motivating the staff showing them the advantages of automating the library services and how it can reduce their workload, providing training for them thus the duties are performed effectively and efficiently satisfying the needs of different patrons. An effective manager is an active leader who creates a positive work environment in which the organization and its employees have the opportunity and incentive to achieve high performance (†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. ) In order to perform duties effectively and efficiently Rachel says that â€Å"every task its doer†. The manager encourages ownership and responsibility to each staff member. Every staff member his/ her work, the manager must know people’s skills and strength and staff can then be deployed according to their abilities then the duties can be done perfectly improving effectiveness and efficiency in a library. Even though the staff is divided according to their abilities it is the duty of a manager to create a spirit oneness and togetherness amongst the subordinates. They should work as a team to achieve the library goals; Bavakuty M (2000) agrees that libraries can become effective and efficient by â€Å"strong top management support, a system approach and strategic planning, a customer focus, an emphasis on employee team work, empowerment training, the use of measurement and analysis technique and commitment to continuous improvement†. The manager seeks and receives wide variety of special information to develop through the understanding of the library and the environment, emerges as the nerve centre about the library. The manager monitors internal and external events, ideas, trends and analysis. The manager then uses the information to detect changes, problems and opportunities and to construct decision making scenario. The manager as the disseminator transmits information from other employees to other members of the library. The manager can bring external information received into the organization and facilitate internal flow of information. Thus we realize that management is the heart of any type of library and facilitate efficiency and effectiveness. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bavakutty, M (2000). Management of libraries In the 21st Century. Ess Ess Publication. India. Griffin, R. (1987). Management 2nd editition. Maffin Co Mohant, T. C. (2008). Research Methodology in Library Science. alpha Publishers India. Plunket, R. (1983). Introduction to Management. Kent Publication. United States of Amenrica.

Environmental Degradation In Rural Bangladesh Environmental Sciences Essay

Environmental Degradation In Rural Bangladesh Environmental Sciences Essay Introduction Today, as people in developed countries generally enjoy a high standard of living, at the other end of the spectrum, the poor in developing countries are struggling to make ends meet. 22% of the population in developing countries live on less than $1.25 daily and 75% of these people live in rural areas (The World Bank, 2012). This group of rural poor are the greatest victims of environment degradation. In this essay, by looking at the case study of Bangladesh, we will get a deeper insight into why the poor puts great pressure on the environment. In turn, we will uncover why environmental degradation affects the poor most severely resulting in the reinforcement of environmental degradation. Thereafter, we will explore some possible measures to help developing counties like Bangladesh to break out from the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation. Environmental consequences of poverty Although majority of researchers have attributed poverty as a key factor for causing environmental degradation, we have to note that other factors such as profit motives, and institutional failures are also responsible for environmental degradation. Nevertheless unlike other factors, poverty and environmental degradation shares a unique relationship that causes them to reinforce each other in a vicious cycle. We would first look at how poverty causes environmental degradation. In Bangladesh more than 40% of the population lives below the international poverty line and are vulnerable to food insecurity and natural disaster (Aid Effectiveness, 2009). 85% belong to the rural poor (Drakenberg, 2006). Bangladesh faces a series of environmental problems including deforestation, land degradation, air pollution, water shortage and contamination, as well as loss of biodiversity. The poor play a vital role in influencing these aspects of environmental degradation. Firstly, poverty leads to deforestation. The existing natural forests in Bangladesh are decreasing at a rate varying from 2.1% /year to 3.3% /year (Rahman, 2012). This is due to exploitation of forest resources for commercial logging, fuel wood collection as well as agricultural land expansion. Commercial logging provides a viable income for the poor as the timber logs could be sold for cash. This monetary benefit could encourage more trees to be felled resulting in unsustainable deforestation. Bangladesh has a high fertility rate, due to desire for more children to help in the fields and for social support in old age. The growing population requires more trees would have to be felled to provide fuel for their cooking needs. There will also be a need to increase food production for the larger population causing large tracts of forest to be cleared and converted into agricultural land for growing of crops. Deforestation, with loss of forest cover is responsible for soil erosion and lo ss of fertile top soil decreases agricultural productivity. Secondly, poverty contributes to land degradation. Land degradation arises due to soil exhaustion, salinization and desertification. Similarly, due to population growth with poverty, multiple cropping with a shorter fallow period was done to increase food supply. To increase land productivity, farmers use fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides heavily. These methods of intensive land use may be effective in increasing agricultural output in the short term. However in the long run the soil would gradually lose its nutrients, land is degraded and desertification creeps in. Though irrigation is helpful in ensuring stable water supply for crops all year round, mismanaged irrigation due to lack of knowledge of rural farmers could result in reverse osmosis and accumulation of salt (Duraiappah, 1996). This causes a backlash and soil productivity drops. Thirdly, poverty affects water resource. Irrigation reduces ground water which may result in a water shortage if there is insufficient water for the large rural population. In the north-western part of Bangladesh, aquifer level of ground water was lowered when extraction of ground water for irrigation is not adequately recharged and coupled with high rate of evaporation (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). Furthermore, Bangladesh faces problem of water contamination due to fertilizers and pesticide run-off from the farmlands. In 2002, more than the 65% of the countrys population were at risk of arsenic poisoning. 61 of the 64 districts had arsenic levels which were found to be above the national accepted standard of 0.05 mg/litre (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). Lastly, poverty contributes to air pollution. The poor depend on biomass and firewood for fuel. The burning of these fuels degrades the air quality and can cause respiratory problems. Although there are substitute fuels which are less harmful to the environment, the poor have yet to gain access to them and may not be able to afford. Moreover, due to a lack of education, the rural poor may not have the knowledge on how to protect their living environment. They extract more resources from the forest to meet the needs of the growing population, not taking into consideration the externality cost of resource loss since access to the forest is free and unrestricted. To them, the immediate needs are of priority and they dont tend to plan far for the future due to the uncertainties of life. As a result, the poor have no qualms about the unsustainable land use practices and lack vision for long-term optimal resource management. This mindset is detrimental to the long term sustainability of environmental resources and unplanned use of resources is likely to result in environment degradation. The mindset of the poor has led to loss of biodiversity where flora and fauna as well as wetlands are overexploitation. In Bangladesh, inland and coastal capture fisheries have declined and about 30% of inland fish species have become endangered (Drakenberg, 2006). Environmental degradation reinforce poverty Firstly, the rural poor are most vulnerable to environmental degradation because they rely heavily on the fragile natural resources for their daily living. 55% of rural women work as farmers in the field, and they rely on the environment for fuel wood, food and water. Desertification is detrimental to the poor as it affects their supply of basic needs from forest resources. Over extraction of water for irrigation leads to lowering of ground water level and water becomes salinized, causing a severe shortage of drinking water.In Bangladesh, rural women are responsible for collecting fuel wood, water and food for family consumption from forest. Deforestation and water shortage causes shrink in food and water availability and women have to work harder and travel further to search for resources. This enduring task is demanding on their health and scarcity of food could lead to malnutrition (Jahan, 2008). The poor being reliant on natural resources for basic needs and agricultural land for food, is offered hardly any food security due to the fragile nature of the natural environment. When their agricultural land becomes less fertile due unattainable land use practices, the familys income is drastically reduced; the poor remain in their vicious cycle of poverty and their basic needs and nutrition could be compromised. Likewise near the coastal areas, the poor rely on wetlands for capture fishery as their main source of food and income. With the destruction of wetlands for conversion to shrimp cultivation area, it drastically reduces the vulnerable food supply of the poor and increased salinity over coastal land endangers their health. Secondly, environmental degradation affects the poor most severely as they are the group that continues to live in places facing land degradation as these polluted areas are cheaper to live in. Being unable to afford to move to a better land, the poor are exposed to Arsenic pollution from contaminated water sources (Mahbuba Nasreen, 2006). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that, 37 million people in developing countries suffer chronic poisoning due to exposure to toxic pesticides from working in fields that use chemical fertilizers and pesticides extensively (Jahan, 2008). The poor also have to make do with cheaper source of fuel for cooking and heating. Burning fuel wood and dung causes respiratory infections affecting women and children, causing child mortality. Vicious cycle of poverty and environment degradation Source: Poverty and environment, 2000, Figure 9.2 Vicious Cycle of Poverty and Environment Degradation in Developing Countries, pp. 201. As seen in the context of Bangladesh, farmers hard-pressed by population growth and increasing poverty overexploit natural resources and extend cropping onto fragile marginal lands which results in a loss of sustainability and environmental degradation. Decline in agricultural productivity on degraded lands then triggers poverty which in turn forced many farmers to continue degrading their land further to extract subsistence output (Duraiappah, 1996). Overtime, this phenomenon creates the vicious circle between poverty and environmental degradation as seen in the diagram above. Urbanisation further aggregate environmental degradation and worsen life of the rural poor. Government may allocate more funds to support the growing industry of engineering, electronics and information technology which would generate more income for the economy (United Nations ESCAP, 2010). Conversely, the agriculture sector would receive less funds and manpower is reduced with young men moving to work in urban areas. This leaves behind the elderly and women to manage the marginal agricultural lands. Urbanisation causes air pollution from vehicular and industrial emissions, loss of biodiversity from human interference to natural habitats and deforestation which contributes to global warming. The poor at the receiving end become victims to these problems. In many developing countries, governments generally do not address the sustainability issues if there is little public pressure and they find no political rewards in enhancing environmental quality. Nevertheless for developing countries to achieve environmental sustainability, support from the government is definitely essential. As highlighted, the poor are the biggest victims of environmental degradation; conversely poverty can exacerbate ecological problems. To ensure long term environmental sustainability, possible measures needs to target poverty alleviation and environmental management. Possible measures to achieve sustainable development Source: National sustainable development strategy, 2008, Figure 3.1 schematic representation of the vision, strategic priority areas and cross-cutting areas, pp. 6. In 2008, Bangladeshs government came out with a national sustainable development strategy (NSDS) to guide the country towards alleviating poverty and environmental problems. As shown in the table above, the strategy aims to achieve sustainable development by ensuring sustainable economic growth, agricultural and rural development, social security and environment management (DOE, 2008). Having sustainable economic growth means to accelerate growth while ensuring environmental sustainability. Bangladesh strives to ensure economic growth with higher private investment, increased inflow of FDIs and effective trade policies (DOE, 2008). It includes the agricultural sectors in the economic progress by providing them with electricity, roads, and telecommunications to improve connectivity with urban areas. One possible direction for sustainable economic growth is to promote investment in renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectricity. Bangladesh has abundant sunlight year round, wind and high energy waves; this can generate profits and reduce air pollution from fuel burning (M. S. Islam, 2011). Agricultural and rural development measures ensure food security for the growing population without causing environment degradation. Crop productivity can be increase with agriculture diversification and improved technologies. To reduce reliance on irrigation and lower risk of salinization, storage of surface water is enhanced and rainwater harnessed. To prevent deletion of marine fisheries resource, fishing is regulated avoid over exploitation. To enhance forest biodiversity, forest protected area could be extended and rural folks could be educated with knowledge on sustainable resource use (DOE, 2008). Social security is achieved with sanitation, shelter and empowerment through education. It involves provision of housing facilities, clean drinking water, electricity, medical services and ensuring food security for all (DOE, 2008). Additionally, primary and secondary education is made available and compulsory for all, enabling empowerment of the poor. Environment management protects the environment and its resources. To manage water shortage and contamination, water conservation is encouraged and pollution sources are identified and managed. Loss of biodiversity is addressed by monitoring unsustainable consumption of biological resources. Also, scientific and traditional knowledge are to be integrated to effectively conserve the ecosystem. Most importantly, environmental sustainability considerations need to be integrated in policies concerning forest, water, land, agriculture, industry and energy (DOE, 2008). Conclusion As discussed, poverty and environmental degradation has close interlinks and reinforce each other. Poverty is a key contributing factor to various environmental problems of deforestation, land degradation, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Consequently, environmental degradation has the greatest impact on the poor, causing them to be ever more vulnerable and having to further degrade the environment to meet their basic needs and ensure survival. To achieve sustainable development in developing countries like Bangladesh, possible measures would have to target both poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability. Likewise these measures would work best if backed by strong government support and properly planed and organized. Bangladeshs elaborated NSDS shows a strong commitment to solve environmental issues and ensure a better standard of living for current and future generation. Nevertheless, it is still too early to determine the effectiveness of the strategies; time will tell if Bangladesh is able to break free from the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation.

Willy as Pathetic Hero in Death of a Salesman Essays -- Death Salesman

Wily as Pathetic Hero in Death of a Salesman      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Arthur Miller succeeds in demonstrating incredibly well in Death of a Salesman that not only is tragic heroism still possible in the modern world, but that it is also an affliction to which both king and commoner are equally susceptible.   However, Wily Loman is not a tragic hero because he is pathetic, not heroic, in his personal "tragedy" that comes from his inability to admit his mistakes and learn from them.   Instead, he fits Miller's description of pathos and the pathetic character, one who "by virtue of his witlessness, his insensitivity, or the very air he gives off, [is] incapable of grappling with a much superior force," (Miller   1728).    The tragic right to Arthur Miller is a condition of life that enables an individual to travel the route to self-realization and allows one to blossom to the fullest extent of his or her capabilities.   This learning only occurs when the individual has courageously and unblinkingly "shaken"   and undergone the "total examination of the 'unchangeable' environment" (Miller   1727).   From this examination often comes the fear and terror associated with tragedy, as the individual is confronted with his own impression of his 'rightful dignity' in society (who and what he thinks he is) as opposed to the dignity afforded him by society-at-large.  Ã‚   Only the tragically heroic are ready to die to secure this personal dignity, one that imbues them with heroism because   of their "unwillingness to remain passive in the face of what [they] conceive to be a challenge to [their] dignity, [their] image of [their] rightful status," (Miller   1726).  Ã‚   Thus, one is only flawless if they remain passive in the midst of this common-among-all-human-be... ...n debarred from such thoughts or such actions," (Miller 1727).   Therefore, Willy is his own enemy because his unwillingness to change his behavior and thinking keeps him entrapped in a system of values that prevent him from ever being free.   This makes him pathetic and tragic, not heroic and tragic, because the tragic hero rejects any system that prevents the freedom of love and creativity in the self, even if it is a system he himself has adopted.   This is possible for the common man, but Willy is a common man, who, by standing in his own path of development, cannot achieve it.    Works Cited Corrigan, R.W. (ed.)   Arthur Miller:   A Collection Of Critical Essays.   Prentice-Hall, NJ:   1969. Miller, A.   "Tragedy and the Common Man."   Criticism On Drama.   1949:   pp. 1726-1728. Moss, L.   Arthur Miller.   Twayne Publishers, Inc., NY:   1967. Willy as Pathetic Hero in Death of a Salesman Essays -- Death Salesman Wily as Pathetic Hero in Death of a Salesman      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Arthur Miller succeeds in demonstrating incredibly well in Death of a Salesman that not only is tragic heroism still possible in the modern world, but that it is also an affliction to which both king and commoner are equally susceptible.   However, Wily Loman is not a tragic hero because he is pathetic, not heroic, in his personal "tragedy" that comes from his inability to admit his mistakes and learn from them.   Instead, he fits Miller's description of pathos and the pathetic character, one who "by virtue of his witlessness, his insensitivity, or the very air he gives off, [is] incapable of grappling with a much superior force," (Miller   1728).    The tragic right to Arthur Miller is a condition of life that enables an individual to travel the route to self-realization and allows one to blossom to the fullest extent of his or her capabilities.   This learning only occurs when the individual has courageously and unblinkingly "shaken"   and undergone the "total examination of the 'unchangeable' environment" (Miller   1727).   From this examination often comes the fear and terror associated with tragedy, as the individual is confronted with his own impression of his 'rightful dignity' in society (who and what he thinks he is) as opposed to the dignity afforded him by society-at-large.  Ã‚   Only the tragically heroic are ready to die to secure this personal dignity, one that imbues them with heroism because   of their "unwillingness to remain passive in the face of what [they] conceive to be a challenge to [their] dignity, [their] image of [their] rightful status," (Miller   1726).  Ã‚   Thus, one is only flawless if they remain passive in the midst of this common-among-all-human-be... ...n debarred from such thoughts or such actions," (Miller 1727).   Therefore, Willy is his own enemy because his unwillingness to change his behavior and thinking keeps him entrapped in a system of values that prevent him from ever being free.   This makes him pathetic and tragic, not heroic and tragic, because the tragic hero rejects any system that prevents the freedom of love and creativity in the self, even if it is a system he himself has adopted.   This is possible for the common man, but Willy is a common man, who, by standing in his own path of development, cannot achieve it.    Works Cited Corrigan, R.W. (ed.)   Arthur Miller:   A Collection Of Critical Essays.   Prentice-Hall, NJ:   1969. Miller, A.   "Tragedy and the Common Man."   Criticism On Drama.   1949:   pp. 1726-1728. Moss, L.   Arthur Miller.   Twayne Publishers, Inc., NY:   1967.

The History of Stalingrad Essay -- Stalingrad War Battles European His

The History of Stalingrad â€Å"Stalingrad is the scene of the costliest and most stubborn battle in this war. The battle fought there to its desperate finish may turn out to be among the decisive battles in the long history of war†¦In the scale of its intensity, its destructiveness, and its horror, Stalingrad has no parallel. It engaged the full strength of the two biggest armies in Europe and could fit into no lesser framework than that of a life-and death conflict which encompasses the earth† New York Times, February 4, 1943 The battle fought between the Soviet Red Army and the Nazi Wehrmacht over the â€Å"city of Stalin† for four long months in the fall and winter of 1942-3 stands as not only the most important battle of the Eastern front during World War II, but as the greatest battle ever fought. Germany’s defeat at Stalingrad ended three years of almost uninterrupted victory and signaled the beginning of the end of the Third Reich. In this way, Stalingrad’s significance was projected beyond the two main combatants, extending to all corners of the world. This paper is not meant to be a military history of the battle; I am not qualified to offer such an account. It is also not an examination of why Russia won (and Germany lost). The goal of this paper is to explain why this particular conflict, fought at this particular point in time, and in this particular place became the defining moment of World War II. During the late summer of 1942, Germany’s position in the Soviet Union appeared to be dominant. The Russian winter offensive in front of Moscow had succeeded in relieving the pressure on the capital but had failed to make any substantial gains beyond a few miles of breathing space. The Germans had managed to stabilize the situation, inflicting severe casualties on the Russians before opening their own offensive in southern Russia in the spring and summer of 1942. This offensive, like the initial attack on the Soviet Union, caught the Russians (who expected a second assault on Moscow) completely off guard. Germany’s success was immense, and by the end of July the Wehrmacht had reached the Caucasus Mountains and the Volga River, with the oil-rich cities of Astrakhan, Grozny, and Baku in its sights. The first fourteen months of the war had been a debacle of monumental proportions for the Russians. During this time, the Germans had occupied more than a... ... the regime began to make concrete plans to overthrow it. Stalingrad was the beginning of the end for the Third Reich.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  World War II was filled with turning points, including Midway, El Alamein, and Moscow. Stalingrad, however, was not simply a turning point. It was the decisive battle of the most violent and destructive war ever fought. It is a fitting testament to the importance of Stalingrad that General Chuikov, the tough-as-nails commander of the 62nd Army that defended the city, would later lead his men in the final battle of the European war, the assault on Berlin. Works Cited Baldwin, Hanson. Battles Lost and Won. New York: Smithmark Publishers, 1966. Craig, William. Enemy at the Gates. New York: Readers Digest Press, 1973. Elting, Mary and Robert T. Weaver, Battles: How They Are Won. Garden City: Doubleday, Doran and Company, 1944. Overy, Richard. Russia’s War. New York: Penguin Books, 1997. Roberts, Geoffrey. Victory at Stalingrad: The Battle that Changed History. London: Pearson Education, 2002. Stalingrad, Moscow: Foreign Languages Publishing House, 1943. Weinberg, Gerhard L. A World At Arms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994.

Film Analysis :: essays research papers

Film Assignment I have this opinion that America â€Å"a land of opportunity† and also a â€Å"rat race.† Why I say both of them? First, it is because, for me, America is a land of opportunity. Everybody has the opportunity to work as long as they have the willing to work, the work ethic. It’s just not everybody has the willing to work because the government will support those people who are unemployed. Like foreign students for example. The INS gives foreign students the â€Å"practical training† permit, so they can use it for working in the US after they finish their school. Even though it’s only a one-year permit, at least they have the opportunity to look for a company who is willing to be their sponsor for applying for the H-1 visa. Like in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. When George Bailey got bankrupt, he has another chance to make everything back to normal if he wanted to. However, when we look at the â€Å"individual social mobility, it makes Amer ica a â€Å"rat race† country. Since America is known as a land of opportunity, which will lead into a â€Å"rat race† because people may want to accomplish or fulfil their goal. Everybody is trying to get the highest position in his or her job. Everybody is trying to make higher profit in his or her life. They will do anything to get into that â€Å"position† even though they have to do something illegal, something bad, something deceitful, corruption. Everybody is competing and just thinks about him or her self. Like in the Glengarry Glen Ross, everybody is trying to keep his job there. They have to make the highest profit or they will lose their job, and that makes some of the officers rob the office. It’s a beautiful life is a kind of family movie that has a happy ending. When I watched it, I got so depressed in the middle of the movie because everything happens is just like a tragedy. That is the basic story after all. George Bailey has been dealt a savage blow and is contemplating suicide at his lowest ebb. It takes an apprentice angel to put it all in perspective and remind him that joy in life should never be eclipsed by any setback. After all how many of us can empathize with a penny pinching self centered old grouch versus a good man faced with letting his family and friends down.

Republican Viewpoints on National Healthcare

Republican Views Towards Healthcare Reform From the Republican viewpoint, any form of nationalized or partially nationalized universal healthcare is unacceptable. Any public delivery system will limit ‘for profit’ free enterprise and thus violates our form of government. It will increase taxes and the overall cost of healthcare. Publicly delivered health care will cause the quality of care to go down by directly hindering the quantity of healthcare providers as well as the quality of care rendered by remaining healthcare providers. Republicans oppose a universal public health care delivery system primarily because of profit – free trade – constitutional issues, fiscal issues and quality of care issues. Further government meddling in the private practice of medicine and healthcare will be detrimental to many Americans. In the 1990’s, universal nationalized healthcare was proposed by the Clinton administration. The proposed law failed due to the fact that the Republican Party had gained control of the house and senate for the first time in over fifty years. During the 2008 presidential election, one of President Obama’s primary campaign promises was universal healthcare. The proposal has created a new national debate on the pros and cons of a universal healthcare system. Proposals from the House and Senate vary greatly and will have to be reconciled during the legislative reconciliation process. Interestingly, both parties favor some form of health care insurance reform but the concept of universal coverage offered through a single public payer or both private and public payer options has generated controversy. Republicans have adamantly opposed the public option because it alters the free enterprise ‘for profit’ healthcare system currently and traditionally in existence in the Untied States. The public option will radically alter the environment of the core constituency of the Republican Party. Looking at the constituency of the Republican Party, there are certain positions that the Republicans should put forward on the national healthcare debate to best represent the party’s core constituents. Traditionally, private practice physicians, ‘for profit’ hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers have been a core constituency of the Republican Party. The Huffington Post recently pointed out doctors’ traditional opposition to any form of expanded government health care or socialized medicine. â€Å"[The] AMA (American Medical Association) has fought almost every major effort at health care reform of the last 70 years. The group’s reputation on this matter is so notorious that historians pinpoint it with creating the ominous sounding phrase ‘socialized medicine’ in the early decades of the 1900s. The AMA used it to mean any kind of proposal that involved an increased role for the government in the health care system. (The Huffington Post) The American Medical Association has gone on record as opposing various provisions of the House’s current health care reform bill. Doctors, particularly private practice physicians, have long complained about any form of socialized medicine because they know it will substantially reduce the economic viability of the practice. Likewise, for-profit hospitals have a long history of opposing any form of socialized medicine. The American Hospital Association recently put out a formal statement on the house version of health care reform. Specifically, expanding the number of people in Medicaid program to 150 percent of the poverty level is problematic at a time when states are struggling with budget shortfalls and payment rates for hospitals continue to be cut. While a public option with negotiated rates for those above 150 percent of the poverty level is an improvement, we remain concerned that the program would still, in part, be based on historically low Medicare rates. † (Umbenstock) The American Hospital Association is concerned that any healthcare reform with an expanded public option may lower ‘already’ low payment rates. Moreover, the American Hospital Association is also concerned that payment rates under an expanded public option will be based on previously minimal Medicare rates. For this reason, for profit hospitals have long lobbied for and sided with the Republican Party knowing that their profitability and ability to compete will be eventually dissolved if the pending ‘public option’ is passed. Pharmaceutical Manufacturers have been a traditional core constituency of the Republican Party because of the Party’s past opposition to any form of nationalized or socialized medicine. The primary trade group for pharmaceutical manufacturers has also put forth a statement on the house health care reform bill. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of American (PhRMA) policy statement says: â€Å"The 1,990-page House draft bill, which we are currently reviewing, contains a number of problematic provisions for seniors, patients, and the continued development of new therapies that not only improve or save lives, but ultimately help reduce the burden of health care costs in America† (Johnson). Democrats have long vilified Pharmaceutical companies for their ‘for profit’ business practices and commercial interests. Thus, Pharmaceutical companies are one of the largest campaign donors to the Republican Party. Many portions of the currently proposed bill will dramatically limit their profit and therefore their ability to participate in and compete with new health care products. Universal health care is inconsistent with the traditional American private, for profit, free enterprise system based health care business model. From a physician’s perspective, a system of universal health care could be compared to indentured servitude. The government would be in complete control of whom the physician treats, what modalities they use to treat the patient, and how much they are paid. Moreover, for the individual health care worker, limiting or mandating the service contracts would limit the workers freedom to do business in a free market. The New England Journal of Medicine recently conducted a survey of physician views on new public insurance option and Medicare expansion. The survey was a statistically randomized sampling based on 5,157-physician questionnaire responses. The survey presented three methods of expanding coverage, including expanding the current public provider Medicare along with private options, private options only and public options only. Ninety-two percent of private practice physicians (practice owners) oppose socializing all health care into one single public option. Thirty-two percent of private practice physicians (practice owners) favor abolishing all public options which would presumably include Medicare. Over half of all of the physicians in the study favored expanding care through private options and the, â€Å"†¦ expansion of Medicare to include adults between the ages of 55 and 64 years† (Keyhani). The randomized physician survey demonstrates that physicians are extremely skeptical of any public option beyond expanding Medicare. Physicians fear a public option will reduce their personal income as well as their ability to recommend and deliver a full range of medical services. Physicians are well aware of the longstanding low Medicare reimbursement rates and limitations of coverage. Physicians do not want to see more of the same with a public option that will further lower the amount paid for care and limit the amount of care that the government will pay, despite a patient’s actual medical needs. Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and ‘for profit’ hospitals also are strongly concerned that any public option beyond a slight expansion of Medicare will effectively put them out of business. PhRMA says that, â€Å"†¦the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has warned that the House bill †¦ would ultimately lead to a 20 percent increase in Part D premiums paid by beneficiaries. What’s more, according to CBO, imposing a mandatory rebate on Part D prescription drugs would reduce incentives to invest in the research and development of new discoveries for diseases†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Johnson) Simply put, pharmaceutical manufacturers will not invest if it is not profitable. For-profit hospitals are also concerned that a public option will ultimately translate to less coverage and lower reimbursement rates. The American Hospital Association, which has over 5000 member hospitals, has stated that the bill will further cut reimbursement rates. â€Å"AHA†) The current bill also specifically restricts physicians from owning hospitals and referring their office patients to their own hospitals. This directly affects their profit as well as raising free enterprise and trade issues. Historically and culturally, the United States health care system has been based on a ‘for profit’ private enterprise. The public option puts government in what has tradi tionally been a private ‘for profit’ enterprise. Just fifty years ago, Americans would have screamed communism at the concept of national socialized medicine. In 1961 when the idea of Medicare came along American Medical Association spoke out against it through Ronald Reagan. Reagan said: â€Å"One of the traditional methods of imposing state-ism or socialism on a people has been through medicine. It is very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project. Most people are reluctant to oppose anything that suggests medical care for people who possibly can’t afford it. † (The Huffington Post). Essentially, he was stating that the most common way of inflicting socialism is through a government run healthcare. Legally, restrictions that limit the free market may be interpreted as a violation of the constitution. The American Bar Association states, â€Å"Whatever President Obama and the Congress decide to do with health care reform, they must do within the constitutional limits off their respective branch – and our nation’s courts will ensure that those limits are respected† (Lamm). Although health care insurance companies are not subject to antitrust (monopoly) laws as state laws govern them, a ederal option, which is included with universal health care, may create unfair competition and violate anti trust laws as well as the commerce clause of the constitution. Interestingly, the proposed bill mandates that every American must pay a tax for ‘free’ health insurance even Americans that don’t want health insurance coverage. The Wall Street Journal says that, â€Å"the requirement in the plan laid out by Max Baucus, that every American have health in surance, makes current proposals unconstitutional. Not just unconstitutional, mind you, but profoundly unconstitutional† (Jones). Republicans must do all in their power to preserve constitutional rights that will be affected by a public healthcare option. The way that national health care is set up could be financially damaging if the bill, H. R. -676, were to be passed. As Avery Johnson states in the Wall street Journal, â€Å"TennCare runway costs show that the public health-insurance proposal by House Democrats could bankrupt the federal government. † (Johnson, â€Å"Tennessee†). Tennessee’s arranged a public insurance program that was similar to a statewide health care to insure those without insurance. It started in 1994 and by 2005 Tennessee was forced to shut the program down due to high expenses. Basically, Tennessee tried to have a statewide health insurance system similar to national health care and they went bankrupt. This is a reasonable model of what would happen on a more widespread scale. There are multiple financial reasons that cause a universal health care system to not work. To achieve the amount of money to make it possible to have a universal health care system there are many sacrifices that must be made. Payroll tax, which is a 7% social security tax that we pay when we buy something, will go up. Income tax will also go up dramatically, affecting many lives. In fact, there may have to be new taxes set into place just to be able to maintain the universal healthcare or the required payments will go down. This will in turn affect the doctors by decreasing incentive. Another factor that will affect their incentive is coverage benefits. Coverage benefits will be decreased as a result of universal healthcare. For example, insurance will not cover elective care treatments, such as breast augmentations, cosmetics, chiropractics, etc. Payment to the specialists, such as brain surgeons, heart surgeons, etc. , will be lowered dramatically. Progression in the field of medicine will dwindle due to a lack of money for clinical research. A physician to learn more about a procedure or to experiment usually does clinical research. It takes a lot of money and time and is not funded by the government; it comes from the physician’s pocket. If the physician’s pay lowers by so much they will not be able to do research. All of this will lead to a diminishing rate of medical progression that may ultimately come to an absolute halt. Furthermore the government will provide us, if the bill passes, with inexpensive generic drugs. This will cause the name brand companies to lose customers and money and will prevent them from developing any new prescription medicine. When funding inevitably runs low, rationing of people will begin to occur. Old people won’t get care because they are old, and smokers won’t get lung surgery because they are smokers. This rationing is unethical in many different ways but would be unavoidable. Even more unethical, is that insidious rationing, that happens in Canada, would come into play. Insidious rationing is ‘hidden rationing’ where, for example, a cancer patient would wait for treatment because they were about to die. The cancer patient would wait long enough that death occurred before the needed chemotherapy. Sadly, this often occurs in Canada, due to their system of universal health care. If this happens in the United States, it would be too late to take back the legislation. However, if properly informed, there would be less supporters of the health care bill because the general populace would be unwilling to commit to a plan that denied them needed coverage. Likewise, instituting torte form will partly generate expenses for this costly health plan. This is a lawsuit cap used in some other countries. If a drunken doctor accidentally cuts a healthy patient’s leg off, the doctor will only be able to be sued for a low set amount of money. This will save the government a minute amount of money that would be used to support everybody’s health care, while that patient would be handicapped forever without adequate compensation. Even so, Tim Foley has stated â€Å"the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in 2004 conceded that the legislation for tort reform, even if it instituted a federal cap, would barely dent health care costs† (Foley). The cause and effect impact on health care worker profitability including nurse pay, private practice physician pay, for profit hospitals, for profit health care insuring systems, pharmaceutical companies and other health care workers and entities will be enormous. No doubt lawyers will litigate for years the constitutionality of various healthcare reform provisions. Another concern from the Republican viewpoint is the fiscal issue of how to pay for either universal health care or a public option. Simply put, where will the money come from to pay for healthcare particularly given the current economic crisis? Next, how will a universal public option effect access to care, quality of care and cost of care. As the financial aid towards funding universal health care bottoms out, the quality and accessibility of health care would go down. With government in control of health care and providing insurance for all they will have less money to spend on better quality hospitals. In the TennCare experiment it showed before and after pictures of the work places that were used. Hospitals had turned into rundown trailers barely big enough for an examination room with outdated computers and equipment. Lowering the Quality of facilities means the lowering of quality of care given to the patients thereby increasing the number of people who go to a doctor and are unable to receive quality treatment. Thus quality of life becomes worse, and one would hope proper treatment came quickly enough to evade more serious conditions and/or death. Access to patients is denied as the quality and quantity of health care providers is decreased by the inadequate organization and funding of a public option. One such thing noted about doctors faced with a decision to participate in a public option is that â€Å"†¦often the ones who care for our most vulnerable patients are the most severely impacted. In communities across this nation, physicians are faced with early retirement or leaving patients that need them. The bottom line: access to care is compromised. †(â€Å"AHA†). The Health Care Associations of America view this is as a topic of controversy that would indeed change lives greatly. Many associations including the American Hospital Association, American Heart Association, and even the American Bar Association have spoke out against health care reform including universal health care and a public option. In Conclusion, the Republican Party views the aspects of a system of universal healthcare from a cynical viewpoint. It seems that free healthcare is to good to be true and they say it is. Universal healthcare or a public option is unconstitutional by violation of the free enterprise system. With the economy in its current recession it is believed, by reforming ealthcare, the government will financially cripple the United States permanently. Also, almost like reverting back to a primitive state, quality of care and the access thereof could decline to unbearable standards. Now the republicans uphold the struggle against any bill passing through senate. Works Cited â€Å"AHA : Issues : Liability Reform. † American Hospital Association. American Hospital Associ ation, 15 Oct. 2009. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. . Foley, Tim. â€Å"Avoid Tort Reform in the Health Care Bill at All Costs! | Universal Health Care | Change. org. † Universal Health Care | Change. rg. 17 Mar. 2009. 28 Oct. 2009 . â€Å"GOP Health Care Talking Points. † GOP. gov – The Website of Republicans in Congress. N. p. , 11 May 2009. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. . Huffington Post, The. â€Å"American Medical Association Trying To Torpedo Health Care Reform Again. † http://www. huffingtonpost. com/. N. p. , 11 June 2009. Web. 28 Oct. 2009. . Johnson, Ken. â€Å"PHRMA – PhRMA Statement on House Tri-Committee Health Reform Bill. † PHRMA – Home. N. p. , 14 July 2009. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. . Jones, Ashby. † Is Health-Care Reform Unconstitutional (Part II) – Law Blog – WSJ. WSJ Blogs – WSJ. The Wall Street Journal, 18 Sept. 2009. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. . JOHNSON, AVERY. â€Å"Tennessee Experiment's High Cost Fuels Health-Care Debate â €“ WSJ. com. † Business News & Financial News – The Wall Street Journal – WSJ. com. 17 Aug. 2009. 28 Oct. 2009 . Keyhani, Salomeh , and Alex Federman. â€Å"NEJM — Doctors on Coverage — Physicians' Views on a New Public Insurance Option and Medicare Expansion. † The New England Journal of Medicine: Research & Review Articles on Diseases & Clinical Practice. N. p. , 1 Oct. 2009. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. . Lamm, Carolyn. Our Constitution, Debate it, Discuss it, Understand it. † ABAnow. N. p. , 16 Sept. 2009. Web. 27 Oct. 2009. . McArdle, Megan. â€Å"Why I Oppose National Health Care – The Atlantic Business Channel. † The Atlantic Business Channel. 28 July 2009. 29 Oct. 2009 . â€Å"National health insurance – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. † Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 6 Oct. 2009. 28 Oct. 2009 . Shear, Michael D.. â€Å"Obama Pushes Insurance Reforms – washingtonpost. com. † washingtonpost . com – nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines. 15 Aug. 2009. 8 Oct. 2009 . Umbenstock, Rich. â€Å"AHA : Press Release : AHA Statement on House Health Reform Proposal. † American Hospital Association. American Hospital Association, 29 Oct. 2009. Web. 3 Nov. 2009. . Time Magazine. â€Å"Medicine: Debate Over National Health Insurance – TIME. † Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews – TIME. com. 12 Oct. 1970. 28 Oct. 2009 . Wall Street Journal. â€Å"The Public Option Makes a Comeback – WSJ. com. † Business News & Financial News – The Wall Street Journal – WSJ. com. 22 Oct. 2009. 28 Oct. 2009 .

Sample Business Plan

Business Plan CLK Corporation Food Industry Members: Claudine Aurellano Liza Gaston Kashka Lantion A. Name of Enterprise Krasi & trofi? Once upon a Greek Bistro†¦ B. Location Bonifacio High Street Global City, Taguig City C. Project Description Krasi & trofi? (once upon a Greek Bistro†¦) will open at Bonifacio High Street(B1). The store is open from Monday to Sunday at 10AM to 10PM. It introduces an exquisite type of Greek Cuisine in the Philippines. It offers a Greek traditional way of fine dining, where customers can enjoy the customs of Greece like being introduced to the Greek superstitions, traditions, and holidays. The Bistro’s color scheme is blue and white since it’s the color of the national flag of Greece. Its advantage is the specialty dishes that are Greek inspired, as well as the fresh ingredients. D. Project Objective †¢ To introduce a new taste to Filipino customers. †¢ To introduce to Filipinos the traditions and cultural ways of Greeks. †¢ To attract future investors through the unique way of our business. In any business, the main goal is to earn profit. †¢ To be competitive in the food industry by producing income. E. Mission Statement Our product mission is to let our clients/target market experience the Greek way of living as well as satisfying their wants, needs, and expectations. Our economic mission is to gain profit and to expand the business as well as to achieve our set margins in order to have a stable business and to satisfy shareholders. Our social mission is to provide employment to Filipinos and give them a great opportunity of experiencing a different way of serving in a fine restaurant, in order for them to have an extraordinary skill in the future. Vision The company’s vision is for the next 3 years is to increase our profit to more than 50% of our current earnings. The business performance will also increase and attract other investors and shareholders. Gaining more investors will lead to the expansion of the business to greater markets. In those three years we intend to gain more clients that patronize our product and services. We, not only sell the products, but as well as the different yet wonderful experience in dining with us. F. Highlights of the Project †¢ Company’s History Greece is famous for their large appetite which is identical to the eating habits of Filipinos, that is why Krasi & trofi? wanted to bring a new kind of cookery that is familiar as well in the Filipino culture. Greece is also known for its specialty ingredients like lambs, yogurts, olives, and wine that create remarkable dishes. Greece is also well-known for its lively entertainment and its superstitions and traditions that they practice up to now. Krasi & trofi? would also illustrate a Greek Style of service that would bring excitement and satisfaction to its customers. Project time table and status †¢ Industry analysis †¢ Financial analysis †¢ Investment G. Major Suppositions Used and Summary of Findings †¢ Market Viability †¢ Technical Viability †¢ Financial Viability †¢ Socio-Economic Viability †¢ Management Viability H. Conclusion of the Study ‘ Chapter II Market Study A. Product Description Krasi & trofi? is a fine dining Greek Bist ro that caters dishes like Fricasse (arn-nee free-cah-seh), a stew lamb made with spinach, Sadziki (tsa-tsi-key): Yogurt, cucumber and garlic, and salt. It is great on fresh Greek bread. Those are few of the cuisines that we offer. Our dishes are both Greek and Filipino-inspired that interest more customers. B. Demand and Supply Demand  refers to how much (quantity) of a product or service is desired by buyers. The quantity demanded is the amount of a product people are willing to buy at a certain price; the relationship between price and quantity demanded is known as the demand relationship. Supply  represents how much the market can offer. The quantity supplied refers to the amount of a certain good producers are willing to supply when receiving a certain price. The correlation between price and how much of a good or service is supplied  to the market is known as the supply relationship. Price, therefore, is a reflection of supply and demand. C. Demand and Supply analysis The analysis of demand and supply depends on how the relationship is doing. For example, if the demand is high and the supply remains constant, the price therefore will increase. It is because there is a scarcity of supply; therefore there is a limited number of product/service that can be purchased so people who can only afford the product can buy it. And when the demand is lower than the supply, then the price would decrease because the company should be able to produce and sell all the supplies in order to gain back their capital. Price, therefore, is a reflection of supply and demand. D. List of competitors CYMA Greek Taverna Manos Greek Taverna E. Study on Product, Place and Promotion (Needs geographic, survey and demographic) F. Marketing program

External Factors and the Real Estate

Assignment 1. 3 External Factors and the Real Estate Industry By Karen Chapman 11 November 2012 Assignment 1. 3 Index: 1. The demographic environment: 1. 1Cultural diversity trends and developmentsPage 3 1. 2Demographics of own area, vs. national demographics and trendsPage 3 2. The economic environment: 2. 1 The current economic environmentPage 3 2. 2 Socio-economic factorsPage 4 3. The political environmentPage 4 4. The technological environmentPage 5 5. The competitive environmentPage 5 6. The legal environment: 6. 1 Regulations pertaining to property ownershipPage 5 . 2 Regulations pertaining to land use controlsPage 6 6. 3 Other rules and regulationsPage 6 ConclusionPage 6 ReferencesPage 6 Assignment 1. 3 Introduction: The real estate industry is hugely affected by external factors, which have the effect of either having a positive or negative impact on us as real estate agents. When the economy is good houses sell and buyers are able to qualify for bonds. When the economy is in a downturn then houses stay on the market for a lot longer. Buyers are more reluctant to take the plunge and buy property.Repossessions increase and banks often become more reluctant to grant bonds. 1. The demographic environment 1. 1Prior to the repealing of the Group Areas Act the residential housing market was segmented by race. Each race group was legally only allowed to stay in certain areas and neighbourhoods. After the repealing of the Group Areas Act and the democratisation of South Africa after our first free and fair elections for all races in 1994, different race groups and ethnicities started living together in the same neighbourhoods for the first time.With South Africa being welcomed back into the international community we also now have more clients from around the world. This has also resulted in a major paradigm shift for estate agents – from serving one race group previously we are now dealing with clients from every race and ethnicity from both South Afric a and around the world. To be successful and effective, estate agents have had to learn to be sensitive to, and understand, different cultures and their customs.Buyers and sellers have also had to learn to be more tolerant towards the different cultures and norms of their neighbours. 1. 2The demographics of my â€Å"farm area† are representative of the national urban demographics and trends. 2. The economic environment 2. 1 The world economic crisis has also negatively impacted on the South African economy and this had had a direct negative impact on our housing market. Due to cut backs and layoffs many homeowners are finding it difficult to meet their bond commitments and as a result many homes are being repossessed by the banks.Buyers are also experiencing difficulties in obtaining bonds from banks one of the main reasons being that South African banks appear to fear further repercussions from the global credit crisis and continued job losses (up to 400 000 before the year end) House prices have continued to fall. Absa's senior property analyst Jacques du Toit said house prices dropped further in nominal terms in June, by 4,4% year-on- Assignment 1. 3 year, while in real terms, prices were down by 11,1% year-on-year in May. But the residential market is expected to improve early in 2013Mortgage stress has increased from 55 000 in the second quarter of 2011 to 155,000 in the second quarter of 2012. Severe mortgage stress, where bondholders are over 4 months in arrears, has almost doubled in a year and increased sharply in June to over 72 000 home owners from 55 000 in the first quarter. Despite the lower interest rates there are more sales in execution than ever before. Currently there are approximately 4 500 houses per month which are being sold forcibly through legal channels which includes sales in execution, insolvency sales and bank's voluntary distressed sales channels. . 2 With the global economic meltdown, retrenchments and unemployment have be come more and more of a reality in South Africa. With the increased unemployment levels, bondholders have become more hard-pressed to make payments and this has led to an increase in defaults and consequently repossessions. Other homeowners have tried to sell their properties as they have become more financially strapped. This has resulted in an over supply of properties on the market (a buyers market) and as a result some buyers are able to negotiate more favourable/lower prices on houses.Many buyers are also reluctant to buy because of economic uncertainty. (job loss/retrenchment). Banks stringent lending criteria have also prevented potential buyers from obtaining loans. The net result being that the property market has been severely negatively impacted. 3. The political environment: The change in the political environment in South Africa has also resulted in a change in the real estate industry. Agents had to previously deal with clients from one race group e. g. but with the re pealing of the Groups Areas Act we now deal with clients we previously never dealt with i. e. ifferent race groups, ethnicities and nationalities In 20 years, South Africa has achieved many successes, including greater political stability and greater economic freedom. Research Worldwide. com has just published results of its annual survey, which showed that property investments in South Africa showed an actual total return of 15,1% last year. South African commercial real estate outperformed sixteen other major countries. The real estate boom in South Africa and low interest rates continues to encourage homeowners to feel confident and spend buying those houses for sale, farms for sale and commercial property for saleAssignment 1. 3 4. The technological environment: Technology has become an integral part of Real Estate over the past few years. Property software programs have played – and will play an increasingly important role in the future of Real Estate. To remain competit ive real estate agencies need to use the latest technology to benefit their business. The real challenge is to find a software application (programme) that supports all facets of the industry, cutting out the need to duplicate day-to-day work.The world wide web enables estate agents to operate globally as properties can be viewed from anywhere in the world. An agent can create a virtual office in his car with a laptop, 3G connection and a cell phone. 5. The competitive environment: The real estate industry has often been perceived as an unprofessional industry because there have been no entry standards for those wishing to join the industry. However, this is changing as all real estate agents are now required to obtain the FETC: Real Estate Level 4 qualification to enable them to practice as agents.This has benefits for both the industry and clients – the industry will have knowledgeable and qualified/professional agents which will enable both buyers and sellers effectively. Qualified agents will be in high demand in the industry. 6. The legal environment 6. 1 Regulations pertaining to property: There are a number of acts that govern property ownership in South Africa: Sectional Titles Act 95 of 1986 Makes it possible for different persons to each own a portion of a building Companies Act 61 of 1973 Share block shares must be transferred in terms of the Companies ActShare Blocks Control Act 59 of 1980 Controls the operation of Share Block schemes Housing Development Schemes for Retired Persons Act 65 of 1988 Regulates the development and alienation (sale or lease) of accommodation in schemes which are â€Å"Housing Development Schemes† as defined by the Act The Estate Agencies Affairs Act 112 of 1976 Safeguards the interests of members of the public in their dealings with Estate Agents The Estate Agencies Affairs Board is a regulatory body established by the above Act. Alienation of Land Act 68 of 1981