The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940) Essays

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896 - 1940) Type of Work: Human drama Setting New York City and Long Island; 1922 Principal Characters Nick Carraway, a young bond salesman from the Midwest, and the story's narrator Jay Gatsby, a rich, young racketeer Tom Buchanan, a wealthy playboy Daisy Buchanan, his beautiful wife, and Nick's cousin Jordan Baker, an attractive pro golfer, and the Buchanan's friend George Wilson, a gas station owner Myrtle Wilson, his wife and Tom Buchanan's mistress Story Overveiw After his return from the "Teutonic migration known as the Great War," Nick Carraway felt too restless to work selling hardware in his Midwestern home town. He moved east to New York and entered the "bond business." Settling on the lowbudget side of Long Island in West Egg, Nick rented a bungalow next door to a mysterious, wealthy man-about-town known as Gatsby. Shortly after arriving in New York, Nick was invited to dinner at the house of Tom and Daisy Buchanan on the more-fashionable side of Lon 9 Island. Nick did not know either Tom or Daisy very well, but he was Daisy's second cousin and had attended Yale with Tom. Tom led Nick into a back room of the Buchanan house, where they found Daisy talking with her friend Jordan Baker, a haughty yet beautiful young woman who appeared to be "balancing something on her chin." By the time dinner was served on the porch, some untold tension was obviously building between Tom and Daisy, which climaxed after Tom left to answer a phone call. When he did not return, Daisy stomped inside to see what was keeping her husband. Jordan hushed Nick before he could speak - she wanted to eavesdrop on the Buchanans' muffled argument. Apparently Tom had met "some woman in New York..." When Nick arrived at his apartment that evening, lie saw the figure of the reclusive Mr. Gatsby himself, who had 1. come out to determine what share was his of [the] local heavens." Nick almost called out to introduce himself to his neighbor, but something in Gatsby's manner told Nick that he was content just then to be alone. From what Nick could see, Gatsby was staring towards the city at a "single green light, minute and far away." A couple of days later, Tom invited Nick to meet his mistress. He led Nick off the commuter train into a sleazy, unkempt area filled with garbage heaps. From there, they made their way to a second- rate gas station owned by a "spiritless man" named Wilson. Under the pretext that he had a car he wanted to sell Wilson, Tom covertly arranged to meet Wilson's dowdy, plump wife, Myrtle, in New York. On the ride into the City, Myrtle, along with her sister and a few friends, sat judiciously in a train car separate from Tom's; then everyone took a taxi over to an apartment that Tom kept for his trysts with Myrtle. All that afternoon and evening the group drank whiskey and talked, while Nick tried unsuccessfully to find an excuse to leave. The party finally ended in a violent argument in which Tom broke Myrtle's nose. One of the few things Nick knew about Gatsby was that he threw lavish parties, where hundreds of people "came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars." Finally, Nick was invited to one of the affairs, where he again ran into Jordan, and they mingled with others in conversations about who exactly the curious Gatsby was; it seemed none of the guests had even had a close view of their elusive host. Rumors placed him as the Kaiser's son, or as a German spy During the War, or maybe a fugitive killer. As the party wore on, Nick and Jordan found themselves sitting at a table with a rowdy, drunken girl and a man about Nick's age. The two men began discussing their respective military service. Then Nick's new acquaintance introduced himself: he was Jay Gatsby. Much further into the evening, Jordan and Gatsbv met in private to discuss something that Jordan said she was pledged not to reveal to anyone, not even Nick, until the right time. Weeks - and several parties - later, Gatsby arranged for Nick to have tea with Jordan, where she divulged the details of her conversation with Gatsby on the night of the party: It seemed that Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan had been well acquainted before the War. Gatsby at that time was a young lieutenant waiting to go to the front, and Daisy was "just eighteen ... by

Biography of Than Shwe, Burmese Dictator

Biography of Than Shwe, Burmese Dictator Than Shwe (born February 2, 1933) is a Burmese politician who ruled the country as a military dictator from 1992 to 2011. He was known for being a secretive, vindictive commander who showed no qualms about having dissidents, journalists, and even Buddhist monks beaten, jailed, tortured, and executed. Despite his absolute power, Than Shwe was so reclusive that most Burmese people never even heard his voice. Smuggled video footage of the sumptuous wedding thrown for the generals daughter sparked outrage across the country, as it provided a glimpse of the lifestyle of the very rich. Than Shwes regime was so brutal and corrupt that he is considered one of Asias worst dictators. Fast Facts: Than Shwe Known For: Than Shwe was the military dictator of Burma from 1992 to 2011.Born: February 2, 1933 in Kyaukse,  British BurmaSpouse: Kyaing KyaingChildren: 8 Early Life Very little is known about the early life of secretive general Than Shwe. He was born on February 2, 1933, in Kyuakse, in the Mandalay Division of Burma. At the time of Than Shwes birth, Burma was still a British colony. Few details of Than Shwes education have emerged, though some sources report that he attended public elementary school before dropping out of high school. Early Career Than Shwes first government job after leaving school was as a mail delivery clerk. He worked for the post office in Meiktila, a city in central Burma. Sometime between 1948 and 1953, the young Than Shwe enlisted in the Burmese colonial army, where he was assigned to the psychological warfare unit. He participated in the governments ruthless counterinsurgency campaign against ethnic-Karen guerrillas in eastern Burma. This experience resulted in Shwes several-year-long commitment to a psychiatric hospital for post-traumatic stress disorder. Nonetheless, Shwe was known as a merciless fighter; his no-holds-barred style brought a promotion to the rank of captain in 1960. He was promoted to major in 1969, and in 1971 he graduated from a military training program at the Frunze Academy  in the Soviet Union. Entry into National Politics Captain Than Shwe helped General Ne Win seize power in the 1962 coup that ended Burmas brief post-independence experience with democracy. He was rewarded with a steady series of promotions, rising to the rank of colonel by 1978. In 1983, Shwe took military command of the Southwest Region/Irrawaddy Delta near Rangoon. This posting close to the capital was to aid him enormously in his quest for higher office. Ascent to Power In 1985, Shwe was promoted to brigadier general and given the twin posts of Vice Chief of Army Staff and Deputy Minister of Defense. The following year, he was promoted again to major general and given a seat on the Burma Socialist Partys Central Executive Committee. The junta crushed a pro-democracy movement in 1988, leaving 3,000 protestors dead. Burmese ruler Ne Win was ousted after the insurrection. Saw Muang took control, and Than Shwe moved into a high cabinet position- according to one writer, because of his ability to bore everyone else into submission. Following the abortive elections of 1990, Than Shwe replaced Saw Maung as head of state in 1992. Supreme Leader Initially, Than Shwe was seen as a more moderate-style military dictator than some of his predecessors. He freed some political prisoners and released pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in the late 1990s. (She won the 1990 presidential election despite being in prison.) Than Shwe also oversaw Burmas 1997 entry into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), signaling an openness to trade and increased market freedom. He also cracked down on some official corruption. However, Than Shwe became a stricter ruler over time. His former mentor, General Ne Win, died under house arrest in 2002. In addition, Than Shwes disastrous economic policies kept Burma one of the poorest countries in the world. Human Rights Abuses Given his early association with the brutal put-downs of the Karen independence and pro-democracy movements, its not surprising that Than Shwe showed little regard for human rights during his tenure as Burmas supreme ruler. Freedom of the press and free speech were nonexistent in Burma under his leadership. The journalist Win Tin, an associate of Aung San Suu Kyis, was imprisoned in 1989. (Aung San herself was also rearrested in 2003, and was under house arrest until late in 2010.) The Burmese junta used systematic rape, torture, executions, and disappearances to control the people and quell dissent. Monk-led protests in September 2007 resulted in a violent crackdown, which left hundreds dead. Personal Life While the Burmese people suffered under Than Shwes rule, Than Shwe and other top leaders enjoyed a very comfortable lifestyle (apart from worries about being deposed). The opulence with which the junta surrounded themselves was seen in a leaked video of the wedding reception of Than Shwes daughter, Thandar, and an army major. The video, showing ropes of diamonds, a solid-gold bridal bed, and huge amounts of champagne, outraged people inside Burma and around the world. It was not all jewels and BMWs for Shwe, though. The general is diabetic, and some experts believe he may be suffering from intestinal cancer. He has spent time in hospitals in Singapore and Thailand. Than Shwe is something of a recluse, however, so this information has not been verified. On March 30, 2011, Than Shwe stepped down as the ruler of Myanmar and retreated further from the public eye. His hand-picked successor, President Thein Sein, has initiated a series of reforms and has opened Myanmar to the international community to a surprising extent since he took office. Dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi was even allowed to run for a seat in the Congress, which she won on April 1, 2012. Sources Myint-U, Thant. Where China Meets India: Burma and the New Crossroads of Asia. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2012.Rogers, Benedict. Burma: a Nation at the Crossroads. Rider Books, 2015.

A Review Of John Steinbecks Novel An Analysis Of Misogyny In Of Mice And Men

A Review Of John Steinbeck's Novel An Analysis Of Misogyny In Of Mice And Men â€Å"Misogyny in Of Mice and Men† In Misogyny in Of mice and Men the author Emery talks about how women are portrayed in the book. The roles she talks about are â€Å"that of homogeneous male fraternity not just to repress, but to eliminate women and femininity† as stated on page 70. What she is saying to me is that the male characters on mice and men are trying to eliminate from the memories or women in general. This is because they are men and men and apparently are trying to repress women entirely I agree and disagree with this statement. Well yes Steinbeck does portray women as negatively like Curley’s Wife all she did was tempt men and ruin dreams. The only women other women that are portrayed well are Aunt Clara who is a motherly figure and the women who owned the bar in the brothel. It never really hints at how femininity is bad and it should not exist in their guy group. On page 71 there was a line that really stuck out to me because I disagree with it â€Å"George the masculine creator of this dream gives it voice and grounds it in the realm†. What this says is that George was the sole creator of a shared dream between him and Lennie of owning a farm and having rabbits for Lennie to take care of. I do see how he give it a voice and makes it realistic for the both of them he does explain it to Lennie but he’s not the only one who gives it a voice Lennie gave George his say in the dream farm. They both created this dream together George was inspired by Lennie to create this theoretical heaven for the both of them to aim for hope to get into or in. They both want to go to the dream farm yet George knows he cannot grasp his dream but he can’t There is another interesting line on page 70 that says â€Å"George and Lennie represent the duality masculinity and femininity, their partnership a kind marriage.† I don’t see how this makes much sense George is masculinity and Lennie is femininity where I don’t really see where this ties in she does tie it in a bit in the sense that yes George is controlling and tries his best to be a leader. But he did not kill Lennie his closest thing to family for power he killed him out of mercy because it was either George kill Lennie himself or have someone filled with rage kill him. George killed Lennie with love someone else would do it out of pity or be influenced by another to do it. For example Candy’s dog he himself did not kill the dog someone else did out of pity and Candy regretted it so much. It would be the same with George since he knew from experience he knew he had to kill Lennie with love not pity.

Pros and Cons of US Capitalism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Pros and Cons of US Capitalism - Essay Example A capitalist economy or society with some degree of regulation of inequality, environment and the monopoly of power creates different outcomes as opposed to a purely capitalist one. The American capitalist system has significant government intervention in various fields such as healthcare, education and transport.1 There are various pros to the American type of capitalism. They include the following: The U.S capitalism system stimulates and encourages economic development. In a capitalist based system, the firms and individuals have incentives to be innovative and work hard in creating a climate promoting innovation and economic expansion.2 Thus, this is helpful in increasing the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth. It also leads to improvement in the living standards because there is a creation of wealth. Thus, enabling higher living standards. In theory, everyone is a beneficiary of the increasing wealth. It creates a trickle-down outcome from the rich to the poor. The American capitalism market has created increased competition. Competition is a natural outcome of capitalism. It is advantageous and beneficial because increased competition produces high quality products and a decreasing price of the product. Capitalism rewards firms and organizations that produce high quality products at the lowest market prices. It results in an increasing market share for the product producer. It forces firms to be more efficient in their means of product production. The efficiency pressurizes the firms to reduce product costs and avoid wastages. State-owned firms often tend to be wasteful and inefficient. For example, they are unwilling to get rid of surplus workers or methods of production that are wasteful. Furthermore, the state-owned corporations have fewer incentives to initiate innovative working practices. Another advantage of the American capitalist society is that the private sector has the means to ownership of

Blog Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Blog - Essay Example There are still many people who are white supremacists and are racist against people of all different nationalities. Whether it be a group of African Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Arabs, or Native Americans, people still racially oppress these groups. It is a system of hierarchy and allows for white people who primarily came from Europe into the American mixing pot to claim what they thought was theirs, no matter who they had to take from. Many whites still express racism in many different forms. Individuals may have no reason to hate or be prejudice against others but based on stereotypes that they have heard in the media, it is still present. The only thing that the arrogant white people have against these individuals is the color of their skin. Though many whites this far into the future may have ties to other cultures by having an American Indian great-great-grandparent or an ancestor of a different race. The whites turn a blind eye. It is evident in songs, films, text and even in sporting teams. White people do not always take into consideration that the fact that their team might be the Atlanta Braves could be offensive to the American Indian cultures. It is common for people in power to have a sense of oppression. There have been instances of individual violence and economic power. It creates an unequal distribution of power. For example, Barack Obama was the first black President and for many there have been situations where they have acted out and been prejudiced toward black people just because a person of their race has a place in power. But why has there not been a President that is a Native American? The Native Americans are given a different type of rights. Many still live together in order to share their heritage on reserves. Other Native Americans may feel that they are not good enough. They may not teach their children the stories of their past or instill their cultural beliefs. The generations may

Americas racial front Essay Example for Free

Americas racial front Essay This scripture, taken from Matthew 15:8, denotes flawlessly what was, what is, but hopefully what will not always be the plight of Americas racial front. In 1964, a Civil Rights Act was passed outlawing segregation in schools and other public places. Following its passage, blatant acts of racism were no longer tolerated in the United States. This meant that to utter racial slurs, and publicly assert ones agreement with racial stereotypes came to be considered distasteful or politically incorrect†. Therefore, though in more covert forms than in times past, racism yet rears its ugly head. Perhaps this is because America, though cloaked in the beautiful garment we refer to as equality, is yet stained with the sin of racism. This fact is most evident in the very places in which it was originally outlawed. One of the many purposes for which this law was passed was to prevent age, gender, and racial discrimination in the field of healthcare. Unfortunately, because discrimination is not a superfluous issue, but rather a serious concern due to its institutionalization, elderly people have died in huge numbers due physicians who did not hold their heal in high enough regard to follow proper (though at times, troublesome) procedure. In addition, homosexuals are often experience horrible bedside manners from doctors who disagree with the way in which they’ve chosen to live their lives, and sadly African American men, women, and children are constantly subjected to second-rate care simply due to the color of their skin. This ugly picture is nothing like the pretty one painted by America for others to see.

Emancipation Proclamation and Discrimination :: American America History

Emancipation Proclamation and Discrimination As the glowing sun set over the bloody fields of Antietem, the Civil War became a different War. Five days after the battle at Antietem was won, armed with pen and paper, Abraham Lincoln changed the war when he issued, one of the most important and controversial documents in America history, the Emancipation Proclamation. Congress was urging emancipation. Escaped slaves were fleeing to the Union army as it advanced in the South, complicating military operations.Issued on September 22, 1862, Lincoln's preliminary proclamation declared that on New Year's, 1863, slaves in areas then "in rebellion against the United States shall be then, henceforward, and foreverfree." The final Emancipation Proclamation, issued January 1, 1863, authorized the recruitment of blacks into the Union Army, which abolitionist leaders such as Frederick Douglass had been urging since the beginning of armed conflict. By the end of the war, almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union and fr eedom.The Emancipation Proclamation opposed discrimination. It allowed black slaves to serve in the army and get other jobs, or continue to work on plantations, as employees making money. However it was limited in many ways. It did not apply to slaves in border states fighting on the Union Side. It didn't even affect slaves in southern areas already under Union control. Without a doubt, the states in rebellion did not act on Lincoln's order. But the proclamation did show Americans that the Civil War was now being fought to end slavery.This great document helped shatter the issue of slavery. Slavery was completly crushed with the 13TH Amendment. Black soldiers lead a celebration among South Carolina slaves for the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. For decades after the Civil War, African-Americans made it a folkway to celebrate Emancipation Day.The decision to use the blacks as soldiers was by no means universally popular and was also selfishly motivated. During the war, many whites believed that blacks would make poor soldiers. Some whites stated that they would run at the first sign of danger! The blacks were not allowed to fight until needed. They were offered the same rights as the white soldiers, but discrimination always interfered.Most black soldiers did not receive equal pay and benefits. Even whites who supported the idea of blacks in army were harassed. The Confederacy objected strongly to the North's use of black soldiers because they grew fearful of losing slaves to the Union armies. Emancipation Proclamation and Discrimination :: American America History Emancipation Proclamation and Discrimination As the glowing sun set over the bloody fields of Antietem, the Civil War became a different War. Five days after the battle at Antietem was won, armed with pen and paper, Abraham Lincoln changed the war when he issued, one of the most important and controversial documents in America history, the Emancipation Proclamation. Congress was urging emancipation. Escaped slaves were fleeing to the Union army as it advanced in the South, complicating military operations.Issued on September 22, 1862, Lincoln's preliminary proclamation declared that on New Year's, 1863, slaves in areas then "in rebellion against the United States shall be then, henceforward, and foreverfree." The final Emancipation Proclamation, issued January 1, 1863, authorized the recruitment of blacks into the Union Army, which abolitionist leaders such as Frederick Douglass had been urging since the beginning of armed conflict. By the end of the war, almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union and fr eedom.The Emancipation Proclamation opposed discrimination. It allowed black slaves to serve in the army and get other jobs, or continue to work on plantations, as employees making money. However it was limited in many ways. It did not apply to slaves in border states fighting on the Union Side. It didn't even affect slaves in southern areas already under Union control. Without a doubt, the states in rebellion did not act on Lincoln's order. But the proclamation did show Americans that the Civil War was now being fought to end slavery.This great document helped shatter the issue of slavery. Slavery was completly crushed with the 13TH Amendment. Black soldiers lead a celebration among South Carolina slaves for the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. For decades after the Civil War, African-Americans made it a folkway to celebrate Emancipation Day.The decision to use the blacks as soldiers was by no means universally popular and was also selfishly motivated. During the war, many whites believed that blacks would make poor soldiers. Some whites stated that they would run at the first sign of danger! The blacks were not allowed to fight until needed. They were offered the same rights as the white soldiers, but discrimination always interfered.Most black soldiers did not receive equal pay and benefits. Even whites who supported the idea of blacks in army were harassed. The Confederacy objected strongly to the North's use of black soldiers because they grew fearful of losing slaves to the Union armies.

Understand Partnership Working in Services for Children and Young People L 2

Working in partnership with others is very important for children and young people; it will help them to have consistent routines, which is very essential it provides them with a sense of security and structure to their day. All adults who work with children and young people have a duty to get on very well with each other to demonstrate a positive attitude at work setting and to develop good professional relationships and also be a good role model to the children and young people they are caring for, this will help determine the type of care the child needs; temperament, likes, dislikes, health, interest and behaviour. Successful relationships between colleagues will allow them to pull together to create a warm, friendly welcoming atmosphere and maintain a safe environment for the children and young people and also to build a plan fix for individual this will help to avoid any unnecessary conflicts or misunderstanding between them. Parents/carers must always be involved in their children’s daily learning development and willing to work with the child care workers as part of the team, so good relationship and good communication skills between the two parties will have a huge effect on the child’s development, and it will make it easier for both to approach one another for any feedback and concerns for the child which is important to have this information and be aware of any sudden change in the child to act fast, to resolve any problems he/she may have, after all parents/carers and practioners are all aiming at the same goal, that is the health and well being of the children and young people and to make sure that they have the opportunities to get the most out of life. Feedbacks between the two happens either face to face when the parents/carers drop off their children or at the pick up time, but sometimes through informal meetings to discuss their child’s progress and needs, and suggest ways in which parents/carers can stimulate their child’s learning and development at home. The importance of these meetings is to have a clear picture and full understanding of the child in addition to organize activities that will encourage the child’s physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth. It is the practioners duty to help children explore individual interests, build self-esteem, develop talents and independence and learn how to get along with others. In some cases unfortunately are not straight forward, where outside professional agencies may get involved in the child’s life where there may be issues like for xample, speech difficulties, in this case the child will be referred to speech therapy where he/she be seen by a specialist who will provide sessions on one to one basis, to help the child to improve their speech. For children who are affected by behaviour or emotional difficulties, psychologist will be involved in their learning development. Social services may be involved too if there are any concerns or sign of child abuse, it is their duty to investigate any alleged incident and to assess the risk to the child and their need for protection. Social workers will often work closely with the child and the family to provide them with supports, but if the child is highly at risk of abuse, then the police will be contacted and involved too. Other outside agencies who may be involved are physio, they provide exercises to help children who having problems with their muscular or breathing problems. SENCO is responsible for supporting children with special education needs to reduce the underachievement gap and enable all children to reach their full potential. Children who are facing problems with visual or hearing impairment are referred to sensory impairment team who will offer the best advice to the parents/carers on how to help the child and also how to use equipment effectively. The effective partnership working together is to share information about the child, their interests, routines and working to resolve issues such behaviour, sleep routine etc†¦ That is why it is vital to have good working partnership with parents/carers or guardians, they seem to know their child better than anybody else when it comes to the child’s interests, needs and strengths. Many parents/carers are very supportive and have a very good knowledge on how to help their child, especially where the child has medical or physical disability. When there is poor or lack of communication between the two parties, lot of unnecessary conflicts and misunderstanding will appear causing barriers to partnership which may have a strong effects on the child’s learning development. Sometimes there are various reasons for barriers to partnership working; one of them could be simply language barrier, culture, attitude and social economical background. There are also many reasons can cause barriers between practioners and the child, it can be anything that prevents the child from participating fully because he/she was not given a chance to try certain activities, which make him feel excluded from the group. Some adults have a belief that disabled children are incapable, or to be pitied or feared. Barriers can be environmental too where the premises are inaccessible due to steps or poor lighting or other difficulties that occur within the environment such as the use of complex language; or it could be a lack of discriminatory policies or procedures. In order to promote inclusion, practioners must be aware of features that may cause a barrier to participation. Good communication between partners is central to working with children and young people and parents/carers; it helps build trusts and understanding the perspective of others. It also encourages them to seek advice and uses services; it is key to establishing and maintaining relationships. It is important for practioners to use clear language to communicate with all children, young people, and parents/carers and all partners including people who find communication difficult to overcome any conflicts and misunderstandings, it is best to summarise situations in the appropriate way for the individual, taking account factors such as background, age and personality. Having a clear communication between partners will make it easier to collect and gain information on the children and understand their needs which will help providing the right activities for individual and maintain a safe learning environment for the children and young people whom they are working with, and again it becomes much easier to communicate about issues and resolve problems that inevitably arise. Listening is the heart of clear communication, when people feel listened to and have their feelings accepted, they feel relief and move on to problem solving but when they do not feel understood or they feel judged or are interrupted, their annoyance or upset increases. Policies vary depending on type of work and the business, but there are quite a few policies that every work place should have like A Code of Conduct sets standards of ethical conduct and work place behaviour. Policies in workplace is a statement of principle and practice dealing with ongoing management and administration of the organisation, they act as a guiding frame of reference for how the organisation deals with everything from its day-to day operational problems or how to respond to requirements to comply with legislation, regulation and codes of practice. Policies explain how to perform tasks and duties, it is a procedure specifying who in the organisation is responsible for particular tasks and activities, or how they should be carry out their duties, these should be reasonable and clearly understood. Confidentiality is one of the things that is included in child care policy, it is very vital to be kept private unless otherwise. This confidential information is private and personal; it includes: *Address *Contact number *Birth date *Emergency contact information *Records of any medical history including immunisations *Contact information of the next kin *Details of the child’s GP & dentist *Nutritional restrictions *progress reports that has been gathered by observation *Referrals details *slips/forms of any injury occurring at the program *family changes All these information must be treated confidential in all child care programs and must not be shared outside the programs between friends and families of practioners; it is against the confidentiality policy and can have serious consequences. It can upset lot of people. Trust may be lost causing damage to working relationships and also leads to disciplinary action by superior, not to mention the bad affect on the care worker’s professional reputation. Sensitive information should made available to practitioners only on a need-to-know basis. That means that different practitioners in the same setting will not necessarily have access to the same information. Therefore should not discuss confidential matters with colleagues unless it is appropriate and can be done privately. Sometimes confidential information needs to be discussed with parents/carers, this should be done privately as well. All this confidential information must be stored securely and handed with care. Never leave sensitive paperwork or files where people who do not need to know will have access to them. If a setting stores records on computer, they must be registered on the Data Protection Register. There are rules about what information can be recorded and how information should be kept. Referrals take place for different reasons such as having concerns about the safety, welfare and/ or well being of children etc†¦ Referrals of children in need should whenever possible, be accompanied by a statement of consent from the child or young person and parents/carers. Children and young people who are suffering significant harm will have social services involved in their cases, or maybe even the police depending how serious the harm is. Some children who having difficulty in communication will be referred to speech therapy, who will arrange one to one sessions once a week with parents/carers permission, the child will be assessed by specialist to help them recognize the cause of speech delay or problem, and what kind of methods and activities will be useful for individual to be able to respond to the treatment he/she be receiving. Other children may have different issues like behaviour, or emotional difficulties, in this case they will be seen by psychologist and again same procedure will be needed. Physio will deal with children and young people who have muscular or emotional problems. Physio will use exercise for this matters.

Financial Analysis of AB InBev

The Anheuser-Busch InBev Company (AB InBev) was established throughout the years through mergers and acquisitions. AB InBev is the largest brewery in Jupille, Belgium. They operate in North America, Latin America, South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Due to political upheavals in Germany and Bohemia in 1848, many German immigrants settled in St. Louis, Missouri (â€Å"Anheuser-Busch,† 2011). Eberhard Anheuser was a trained soap maker and became part owner of the Bavarian Brewery. By 1860, he bought the investors’ shares and the brewery name was changed to E. Anheuser & Co. Adolphus Busch married Lilly Anheuser, Eberhard’s daughter and later Adolphus purchased half ownership of Anheuser’s brewery, becoming a partner (â€Å"Anheuser-Busch,† 2011). Due to Busch’s innovations, the brewery became the first to use pasteurization, allowing the beer to be shipped long distances without spoiling. By the early 1880’s, the brewer introduced a rtificial refrigeration, rail-side icehouses, and refrigerated railcars. These innovations allowed the company to grow and distribute their beer across the country. To market the beers Busch used traditional selling methods; however, Busch’s methods were more organized and deliberate than his competitors. Busch â€Å"pioneered the use of giveaways and premiums, and used his brewery as a showplace for the public to visit† (â€Å"Anheuser-Busch,† 2011). The brewery company was renamed Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association in 1879 to recognize Adolphus’ efforts. The company became one of the nation’s leading breweries in 1901 when it broke the one million barrels of beer sales mark (â€Å"Anheuser-Busch,† 2011). Over the years, the company grew through acquisitions and mergers and became AB InBev. In 1989, a group of investors purchased Brahma, the number two beer in Brazil. In 1999, the brand took over the number one spot and was combined with its chief competitor to form AmBev. AmBev expanded throughout South America and became the third-largest brewer in the world. In 2004, Interbrew, the European beer company, acquired a majority stake in AmBev, which created InBev. In 2008, InBev purchased Anheuser-Busch; resulting in the new company AB InBev (Allen & Zook, 2012). Anheuser-Busch (AB InBev) The publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) is based in â€Å"Leuven, Belgium with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD)† (Anheuser-Busch InBev [AB InBev], 2011) and is not only the leading global brewer, but is one of the world’s top five consumer product companies. AB InBev’s portfolio contains over 200 brands of beer with fourteen brands that generate over $1 billion per year in revenue. The brewer invests in their greatest growth potential brands such as Budweiser with 45% of sales originating in North America. The company owns 50 percent equity interest in Mexico’s leading brewer and owner of the Corona brand, the subsidiary Grupo Modelo. With their approximate 116,000 employees based in twenty-three countries worldwide, AB InBev is geographically diversified, along with a balanced exposure to developing and developed markets, the company has a completive edge. AB InBev is a multinational beverage company and is the largest brewer, with almost 25 percent global market share. They are the third largest FMCG company by firm value (AB InBev, 2011). AB InBev was chosen for a financial analysis due to its longevity and innovated ideas and marketing. It is hoped that AB InBev’s financial records will show that their innovated methods will show a continuous financial growth. The Annual Report For this analysis, AB InBev’s 2011 annual report is used and it compares 2010 and 2011. The audit was performed by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The report is in millions and AB InBev saw a $2,197m in profit gain from 2010 to 2011 and a $1,114m in cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital and use of provision. The change in working capital was $1,183m resulting in an increase of $2,581m of cash flow from operating activities. There was a negative increase in the investing and financing activities, $185m and $2,239m respectively. In 2010, AB InBev had a net increase in cash and cash equivalents of $602m and $759m in 2011. Overall, in 2011 AB InBev realized $39 billion revenue (AB InBev, 2011). The Balance Sheet When assessing the financial report, it may be difficult to see positive revenue. In order to understand, one must know how interpret the financial statement as a whole. The balance sheet provides information about AB InBev’s assets, liabilities, and shareholder’s equity. Assets are things that a company can sell or use. These items include physical property, inventory, equipment, etc. Intangibles are also assets – things that cannot be touched, but nevertheless have value, i. e. patents and trademarks, investments the company makes. And of course cash is the main asset. Liabilities are amounts that the company owes to others. These amounts can include a loan secured to launch a new product, rent for use of a factory, or money owed to a supplier, etc. Liabilities also include future obligations, i. e. goods or services promised to be provided in the future. Shareholder equity (or capital or net worth) is the money that would be left if a company sold all of its assets and paid off all their liabilities. Any money left over belongs to the owners (or shareholders) of the company. The balance sheet’s â€Å"equation† is Assets = Liabilities + Shareholders’ equity (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). The balance sheet is set up with the assets listed and tallied on the left side, while liabilities and shareholders’ equity on the right. The assets are usually listed in order of how quickly they can be converted into â€Å"real† cash. Current assets are things that the company plans to convert to cash within one year, i. e. inventory. Noncurrent assets are things that are expected to be converted to cash longer than a year. Noncurrent assets include fixed assets (not available for sale, i. e. office furniture). Liabilities are usually listed according to their due dates. Liabilities are either current or long-term. Current liabilities are debts that the company expects to pay off within a year; on the other hand, long-term liabilities are due in more than a year. Shareholders’ equity (SE) is the amount invested by the owners. SE is calculated by subtracting the company’s earnings or losses from the owner’s investment in the company’s stock (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). In assessing AB InBev’s balance sheet for 2011, the company had $39,046 million in revenues, a 4. 6% increase, and a gross profit of $22,412 million. It is stated in the annual report that a selective price increase was taken in the last quarter in anticipation of higher commodity costs. Cost of Sales (CoS) increased by 1. 6%. This increase was due; according to AB InBev in part to lower aluminum can costs in Latin America and procurement savings and implementation of their best practice programs in North America. The total operating expenses increased by 3. 7%. This was partly due to distribution expenses increasing by 9. 2%. Brazil had higher transportation costs, while Latin America South saw higher labor costs and higher transport tariffs in Ukraine and Russia. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 4. 1% because, specifically in North America, more investments in brand offset savings in non-working money. Administrative expenses increased by 0. % due to fixed cost savings in the United States offset by salary increases and expansion costs in China and Brazil. Other operating income was $694 million compared to $64 million in 2010 mainly because of tax incentives in China and Brazil (AB InBev, 2011). The Income Statement An income statement shows how much revenue a company earned and the costs assoc iated with earning said revenue. The bottom line of an income statement normally shows the company’s net losses or earning. This statement tells how much the company has made or lost over the accounting period, usually for a year or a portion thereof. Income statements reports earnings per share (EPS). (To calculate EPS, the total net income is divided by the number of outstanding shares of the company). An income statement also shows how much shareholders would receive if the company distributed all of the net earnings for the accounting period; however, most companies reinvest their earnings (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). Income statements begin with the total amount of revenue made during an accounting period and then deduct certain costs and operating expenses associated with earning said revenue. The bottom line tells how much the ompany earned or lost during the period. The beginning is the â€Å"gross† revenue (or sales). The next line is the amount the company does not expect to collect (referred to as allowances), i. e. discounts, or returns. After deducting these allowances from the gross revenues (or sales), the result is net revenues. The next lines are operating expenses. Although these expenses can be lis ted in various order, the line after net revenues is usually costs of sales. Costs of sales is the amount the company has spent producing the goods or services sold during the accounting period. Subtracting cost of sales from net revenues gives a subtotal of gross profit (also known as gross margin) (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). The operating expenses are listed next on the income statement. These expenses support a company’s operations, i. e. salaries, marketing, etc. Because operating expenses cannot be linked to the production of products or services being sold, they are different from costs of sales (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). Depreciation is also deducted. Depreciation is the amount of wear and tear on assets (machinery, tools, etc. ) that are used over long term. This amount is spread over the periods they are used and is called depreciation or amortization. After this deduction from the gross profit, the income from operations is arrived. This amount is before interest and income tax expenses (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). The next section allows companies to account for interest income and interest expense. Interest income is earned from interest-bearing savings accounts, money market funds, etc. Interest expenses are monies paid in interest on loans, etc. Some companies show these separately and some combine the two. The income and expenses are totaled and then deducted from the operating profit to arrive at operating profit before income tax (EBIT). Finally, income tax is subtracted and the bottom line of net profit or net loss (also known as net income, net earnings, or net operating income) is calculated (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). On AB InBev’s income statement, sales are the same as on the balance sheet. (AB InBev, 2011). In North America, EBITDA increased 1. 5%, $6. 573 million with a margin expansion increase up to 42. 9%, driven by growth in overhead cost reductions and gross profit. In the combined statement (the gathering of all AB InBev’s companies), the EBIT for 2011 is $12,607 million and an EBITDA of $15,357 million (AB InBev, 2011). Cash Flow Statements While a balance sheet is a snapshot and the income statement shows if the company made a profit or lost money, a cash flow statement shows if the company generated cash. Cash flow statements shows the inflow and outflows of the company’s cash. This statement is very important because it proves that the company has enough money to pay expenses, purchase assets, and stay competitively profitable. Whereas other financial statements shows an absolute dollar amount at a particular time, a cash flow statement show changes during the accounting period. The cash flow statement uses the information from both balance sheet and income statement. Cash flow statements are divided into three major sections: operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). AB InBev’s financial report consolidates the activities, followed by a breakdown of the activities including explanations. Operating activities rose from $9,905million to $12,486 million; investing activities increased from a negative $2,546m in 2010 to negative $2,731m in 2011; and financing activities rose from $6,757m to $8,996m in 2011. However, the net increase in cash and cash equivalents increased from $602m to $759m (AB InBev, 2011). Operating activities. The first section of a cash flow statement analyzes inflow from net income or loses. This section usually reconciles the net income (taken from the income statement) to the actual cash the company received from and used in its operating activities. This process adjusts net income for any non-cash items, i. e. adding depreciation expenses back, and for any cash that was a source or a use provided by other operating assets and liabilities (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). AB InBev’s financial report of cash flows shows an increase in operating activities. This increase is due to a higher profit and strong contribution from changes in the working capital. The increase in working capital is the result of on-going trade initiatives; furthermore, there is an increase in trade payables that are linked to higher capital expenditures. These expenditures have longer payment terms (AB InBev, 2011). Investing activities. Investing activities shows the inflow from all investing activities. These activities usually include purchases or sales of long-term assets, i. e. property, plant, and equipment (PPE) as well as investment securities. If a company buys machinery, this activity would be listed as a cash outflow because cash was used. However, if the company sold some investments from their portfolio the proceeds would be an inflow from investing activities because it is a source of cash (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). AB InBev’s investing activities were $2,731m in 2011, compared to 2010 which was $2,546m. This increase is by higher capital expenditures mainly in Brazil and China. To partially offset this increase, the company sold short-term debt securities. The company invested in 2010 to facilitate liquidity and capital preservation in Brazil. Net capital expenditures were $3,256m in 2011 and $2,123 in 2010. This increase is primarily linked to investments for expansion in China and Brazil in order to meet demands in the growing market. Approximately 57% was used to improve production facilities while 33% was used for logistics and commercial investments. Ten percent was used for purchase of hardware and software and improving administration (AB InBev, 2011). Financing activities. The last section is financing activities. This part of the cash flow statement shows the typical sources of inflow, including cash raised by selling stocks or bonds and borrowing funds from a bank (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). Cash inflow from financing activities was $8,996m in 2011, compared to 2010’s $6,757m. The 2011 amount reflects higher dividend payouts, net repayments, and settlements of derivatives that were not part of a hedge. AB InBev could borrow enough to meet its liquidity needs; the company’s policy is to rely on cash flows from operating activities to fund its continuing operations (AB InBev, 2011). Analysis of AB InBev’s Financials According to the 2011 annual report, Anheuser-Busch InBev saw a year of solid performance and progress. AB InBev experienced growth, expanded their EBITDA margin, grew EPS, and made strides in de-leveraging the balance sheet. AB InBev experienced a strong growth from their three well-known global brands: Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Beck’s. These brands were up by 3. 1%. Stella Artois volumes increased by 5. 9%, with a 24% surge in sales in the United States, 13% in Argentina, and 200% in Brazil. The company continues to expand and grow in China and Brazil. The company raised its dividends to 1. 20 euros per share, a 50 % increase. â€Å"These results were achieved despite weak consumer confidence in several markets and increases in commodity prices. Faced with adverse conditions, our people did what they do best. They took ownership of the situation, focused on what they can impact, and did not let short-term factors distract from our long-term goals of connecting with consumers, driving shareholder value, and working toward our dream: to be the Best Beer Company in a Better World† (AB InBev, 2011). The United States shows signs of an economic recovery. An increase in US profits are supported by the company's new NFL sponsorship. Felipe Dutra, AB InBev’s CFO said the increase could also â€Å"have something to do with the unseasonably mild weather† (AB InBev, 2011). The newly launched Bud Light Lime and Bud Light Platinum performed well. Dutra said â€Å"We believe we have the right brands to exploit that opportunity,† before, during and after the Olympic games. Budweiser has also extended sponsorship of the soccer World Cup through 2018. AB InBev will continue to rely heavily on their strategic brands (AB InBev, 2011). Conclusion A fundamental part of their culture is never being entirely satisfied with their results: â€Å"we always challenge ourselves to dream bigger and achieve more. . . † (AB InBev, 2011). With continued global growth and expansion and early payoffs of debt, AB InBev will continue to see profits. The company’s innovated thinking will carry it into the millennium.ReferencesAllen, J., & Zook, C. (2012, May 4). The strategic principles of repeatability: How nonnegotiable fuel growth. How can a company sustain profitable growth? [brief]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.bain.com/publications/articles/the-strategic-preincipels-of-repeatability.aspx Anheuser-Busch: Dedication to our craft . (2011). http://anheuser-busch.com/index.php/our-heritage/history/ Anheuser-Busch InBev. (2011). ABInBev Annual Report 2011 [Annual report]. Brouwerijplein, Leuven: AB InBev. Garrison, R. H., Noreen, E. W., & Brewer, P. C. (2010). Managerial Accounting (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Music, Dance and Theater Essay

Music, Dance and Theater Essay If you are enrolled in some particular art class – you may be asked to write a paper on music, dance or theatre. These types of tasks are very common to students whose education is some way is connected to arts. So if you are one of these students – and you are given an assignment to write a music paper, dance paper or theatre paper – read below: Music, dance and theatre papers have a lot of things in common with reaction, descriptive and informative papers. In the paper you will be asked to express your reaction on the art that you have been able to observe, based on a musical composition, art element or a theatre act, describe the things that were going on there, inform all technical aspects, reveal some history facts of the musical track, dance history or the play story. All these elements form a great music, art and theatre paper, reveal every little aspect of the paper, provide distinct information on the event and show your preliminary writing talent and ability to show your thoughts, feelings and emotions on paper. When writing a paper of the above mentioned type – you have to divide the paper into 2 absolutely different parts: In the first part you have to concentrate on the events of what you are writing about, try go into details of the song you are listening, dance you are watching (doing) or act you are watching. Try to describe the event as detailed as possible for the reader to get the idea of the thing. The second part needs to show your emotions you have while experiencing the music, dance or theatre act. But make sure that the paper sounds very logical according to the things you have written in the first part. If you are experiencing difficulties with the music, dancing, theatre you can easily hire a good essay writer, professional and expert writer to assist you with your music paper, dance paper, theatre paper. Just contact CustomWritings.com and inquire about your possibilities of ordering a paper for your class.

Understanding consumer decision process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Understanding consumer decision process - Essay Example In the market situation, interacting factors determines the movement of products and services. One important factor in the conceptualization and production of products and commodities is the target market. The consumers' reaction to products offered commands the possible success of certain products. Consumers utilize goods and services on a daily basis. In the present era wherein every product that a consumer can possibly need is available in the market, producers compete mainly on the quality of products and goods offered.The consumers mainly comprise the target market of goods and products produced in the market, thus, factors that affect their decision process with regards to the purchase of different products and services in the market is studied. The study of factors that contribute to the choice of consumers is an important field that can be explored. Every choice made by the buyers specifically the type of products to buy, the brand, the size and other specifications are affec ted by factors (Johnson, & Mullen, 1990, p.1). To be able to better demonstrate the behavior of the consumer with regards to the choices made in buying any goods in the market, a certain product is chosen and studied.Personal items such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and perfumes are items that are widely available in the market. Perfumes are products that are available in the market that are produced from the mixture of aromatics or chemical compounds with distinct smell. Through the history, the role of perfumes has evolved from being a fashion and luxury item to a personal necessity (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2006). In a survey conducted products that are considered of personal necessity has an increasing trend with regards to sales in the market. Perfume and other cosmetic items comprise 10.84% of the sales for the second quarter of 2004 which is comparatively higher than the same period in 2003 (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Statistica, 2004). One company that distributes perfumes in the market is the Ralph Lauren. The company was established in the 70's when Ralph Lauren himself started producing ties and men's wear and in 1971 started designing women's line. It was in the 1978 when Ralph Lauren produced the first line of fragrance and perfume collection. The collection started only from one kind of perfume for each gender (Ralph Lauren Media, 2006). Based on the 2005 report of the company, 9.4% of the total sales were derived from the line perfumes produced (Polo Ralph Lauren, 2006). The perfumes and fragrances are types of products that focus on different target markets. There are perfumes for both men and women and for any ages. Another type of customization with regards to these fragrances is the type of activities that the consumers are involved in. There is a product line that fits subdued activities such those consumers that wear perfumes when going to work. One product line targets the active individuals. This line is called the Ralph Lauren Polo Sports perfume which has two different variants, for men and for women. The target of this perfume line is the particular groups of individuals that are health conscious and either engaged in sports and other physical fitness activities. This group belongs to the population with age ranging from 20 years of age and with no upper limit that are fit and sporty individuals. These products were produced by RL in response to the 90's trend towards the development of a healthy and active lifestyle through sports and ex ercise enthusiasm (Ralph Lauren Media, 2006). The Consumer Behavior In the study of the marketability of any products, an important focus is given to the behavior of the consumers. The consumer behavior encompasses the practices involved in the sales of any products in the market. It is studied through the combined tools of different scientific fields such as sociology, psychology and other related fields that explore human behavior in the society

Philosophy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 12

Philosophy - Assignment Example Indeed, since God is a superior being and invisible, it has been tough for any religion to prove his existence. This essay will take a look at how St. Anselm uses logic and reasons to argue out his points about the existence of God. To start off his argument, Anselm starts by giving his view on how God can be defined. He defines God as â€Å"something than which nothing greater can be thought. In addition, he claims that every human being, whether he or she believes in God or not will automatically agree with his definition. He uses the example of the fool in Psalms does not believe in God, and claims that even him will agree with his definition. Anselm then agrees to the fact that there is a difference between understanding God as a concept and understanding him to exist (Solomon, Higgins & Martin 53). To explain his point further, Anselm uses the painter’s analogy. He then claims that before any talented painter comes up with his or her own masterpiece, he or she can see it clearly in his head even though he knows that it does not exist. The painter only understands the masterpiece as a concept. However, once the painter has finished his work and it can be seen as reality, he can now understand the concept of the painting and also understand that it exists. The latter stage of the painting is the same position that a firm believer of God and agrees with Anselm’s logic would be at. If God’s definition which Anselm strongly believes that it is the best ever, then God is a superior being; superior to any other thing that exists in the world. It is from Anselm’s strongly stressed definition that he places his argument. He argues that an existent God is greater than a non-existent one. Therefore, since God is perfect from the definition, must be in existence. If God does not exist, he would not be the most superior beings to ever exist. Therefore, if anything existed and was superior to God, it would not be God. In other words, Anselm believes