The Phases of Life Essay

We are born to this world to feel hatred, pain, happiness, heartbreak, anger, fear, sadness, being trust and distrust, devastation, love and the different phases of life. The unfairness and gladness, that’s we called life. According to Albert Einstein, â€Å"Life is like a riding bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.† Before you learn to ride in a bicycle, you must get hurt first but it doesn’t mean you’ll stop doing it because hurt can make you stronger and braver. The two wheel represent your life, sometimes your up, sometimes your down. Always remember that those wheel has no edges, means you must keep going even if your on the road that full of stones. Stones represent challenges; you must be brave and have trust in yourself. That is life, in every disappointment you’ll get and every happiness you’ll take, you must keep moving. Just like when my innocent’s lost, I’m slowly facing the real meaning of life. Way back when I’m inside my mothers’ womb. I’m naive, unfleshed and my body and my soul covers innocence. My brain begins to go through development changes. At the age of 6, when my mind develops and I reach childhood, there were no computer games, no cable TV and definitely no internet. But, we did have a wild and creative imagination and playing with my sister and friends at our province. I experienced my childhood momentous memories with my best childhood friends at our province. Me and my sister guarded by my caring grandmother and cool three uncles. My parents are working here at Manila for us. I’m contented with my life back then, playing Rock-Paper-Scissors, Patintero, Chinese Garter, hide and seek, strolling in our neighbours’ friends and finding ghost house, sleep over, roaming in plaza, walking along the river, playing with my three handsome uncles, going to market with my lovely grandmother, storytelling with my superb auntie, eat so much food because you don’t care what will you look like when you get fat, you don’t care with your body and how your hair looks like. You always look like a mess after playing outside the street, you don’t care how your dress smells. It seems like everyday in your life feels perfectly. The only time you feel down when your still a child is scolding by your guardian and start crying not realizing that they are only advising. Your always alert to hide when  they already have a piece of slipper or belt. Every time you remember the past memories and the funny things, you keep asking to yourself â€Å"Did I really do that?†. You will miss the stupidity things you did in the past. Less problems, free from complicated life and your still innocent. Everthing in this world will change. Our life is temporary so live your life to the fullest. You don’t know what will happen in the near future. Just like my life, many things has changed. Many years passed, after I leaved at my province and since 7 years old I already here at Manila with my parents to continue our study. I lost my communication with my childhood friends. Because of environment I’m living today, I found new friends and bestfriends. We forgot each other. They all still together but me and my sister separates between our friendship. This is life so we must accept all changes. When I was 10 years of age, my eyes and my mind opened in the unfairness of life. I saw how my mother felt broken and devastated when my father cheated on her two times. I saw her how she cries a lot. How my grandmother in Manila discriminates us when we was younger. How my cousins ignored and disrespect us. How my parents suffer when my younger sister always at the hospital in the middle of strong typhoon. This stage of life you’ll see the difference between real friends and fake friends, the respectable and disrespectable person you will encounter. If others respect you, respect them. If they disrespect you, still respect them. Do not allow the actions of others decrease your good manners, because you represent yourself, not others. Stop trying to please everyone to respect you, they will respect you if you are worthy respected. In the year 2013, the most important lesson I learned in my life is to gain happiness. Despite of all challenges, trials, past memories, unexpected thing, random people you met in your life that leaves a mark and to the people who leaves you, always remember that some people go but some people replace in your life. There is one person who will change your poor attitude, accepts all your flaws and still love you whatever your past is. In life, there are always be unexpected things and problems happened. We  come across many challenges that we want to end our life. That we think that there is no solution to our problem. Were not realizing that nothing in this world is bigger than God. In any decisions we will take, we must take the consequence and learn from it. We need how to handle it correctly and properly. Majority of us want to give up but the one who won’t give oneself up will be the ones to face the brighter side in the darker side of the day. Just like our life is like a riding bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving. In order to be healthy emotionally and mentally, you should move past any bad memories. And look towards the future. I also think it might be about not over thinking things as well. At the end of the road your taking off, that is your future. Believe in yourself, your confidence will lead you to success and happiness. Don’t be afraid to get hurt, because getting hurt is a big part of your life. If you don’t have ups and downs in life. It simply means your dead.

Capstone Case Study †Arthur Andersen LLP Essay

1. Discuss the environmental, strategic and organizational changes that occurred over the life of Andersen in the context of figure 11.1. While Andersen started off as a stable environment, once changes started being made to the main focus of the company many changes were expedited. While still successful in it’s auditing business, other opportunities arose that allowed for quicker and more dynamic revenue growth. This strategic shift from auditing only to offering a number of other services (automated bookkeeping, information technologies, consulting, corporate staffing) eventually led to a rift within the company, the separation of operations into two companies under one umbrella, and the eventually severance of those two companies into two wholly separate corporate entities. Once the two companies (Andersen Consulting and Arthur Anderson) split, Arthur Andersen, which was originally the auditing only arm, but had dipped back into the consulting business even though it should not have per it’s agreement with AC, went full force into offering the full range of services. In the quest for the biggest sale and to drive non-audit revenue, managers were compensated based on sales targets instead of performance or quality of work. This lack of quality control and change in the focus of the business was the beginning of the downward projection of AA. The fact that there were changes in all three areas, environmental, strategic and organizational, made it difficult for there to be tight control at AA and almost made it acceptable to make questionable decisions as long as the clients got what they wanted and revenues continued to come in. 2. Evaluate Andersen’s claim that their problems on the Enron audit were due to a few â€Å"bad partners† in the organization. If you agree with this claim, discuss what you think were the root causes of the problem. It was AA’s decision to hire 40 auditors from Enron, then augmented by 150 of  their own staff, and place them within Enron as it’s in house accounting staff. Since the staff was on site at Enron, attended Enron meetings, and made decisions in the best interest of Enron and not with the idea of doing quality work, it is hard to put stock in AA’s claim that it was only a few â€Å"bad partners†. Also, AA made the decision to break up it’s own Professional Standards Group and re-locate members of that group to local offices. Once that happen though, their power was usurped and held no water. If they questioned decisions, they were removed. It is up to the company to make decisions that not only help generate business, but protect the company and it’s employees from any questionable situations or circumstances where unethical scenarios might play out. 3. Suppose you were Andersen’s managing partner in the early 1990’s. Would you have done anything differently than the actual management (assuming you knew only what they did at the time)? There are a couple of things that I could have done had I been the managing partner for Andersen in the 1990’s. I think the separation of the consulting business and the accounting business into two companies was actually a good move. The fact that AA eventually started to offer and go after non-auditing services business with clients was where a mistake was made in my opinion. If I were a partner at AA I would have strictly enforced the agreement that we would be sticking with auditing business only. While offering a lower margin than the consulting business, it was a solid foundation and allowed more oversight, tight controls and decreased the likelihood that questionable decisions would be made. I also would have kept the Professional Standards Group in tact to oversee and review all aspects of the operation. Splitting up the group and assigning individual members to local offices basically neutered their power and allowed for those looking to manipulate the system to do so. 4. Discuss the relation between what happened at Andersen and multitask principal agent theory. With the Multi-Task Agent Theory, certain tasks are rewarded and other tasks  are not, and because of this the non-rewarded tasks suffer from neglect of a decrease in quality. The first time this was an issue is was before the split into two companies, where those driving the consulting and IT business were unhappy with the fact that the auditing side had so much power over the company even though it was not the segment driving the revenue. After the eventual split into AC and AA under one umbrella, and then the total split into two separate corporations, with Andersen bringing in business other than auditing was rewarded more than auditing business, to the point that it was expect that managing partners brought in twice as much consulting and other business as it did auditing business, otherwise face penalties or even termination. In all three stages of the company’s history the inequality between the consulting business and the auditing business led to there being a de-emphasis on the auditing segment of the business (both in quality and as a driver of revenue). 5. Discuss the relation between the â€Å"hard† and â€Å"soft† elements of a firm’s corporate culture in the context of this case. In the case of Andersen, it almost seems as if the changes in the â€Å"soft† elements of corporate culture were either directly related to or a side effect of change in the â€Å"hard† aspects of the corporate culture. As stated in the case study, during the majority of the company’s existence, â€Å"tradition was everywhere†. From â€Å"soft† elements like the physical design of offices and the way partners dressed and looked to hard elements like the quality control exerted over all aspects of the business, there were standard all across the board. As changes started to happen in the â€Å"hard† culture, like the focus being on driving revenue as opposed to putting out quality work, changes were also seen in the soft aspects of the culture. Managing partners did not dress as sharp, the giants wooden doors of the offices (that seemed to be a metaphor for the strong, sturdy operation of the company) were removed, and a new corporate logo was introduced. 6. Do you think that the problems at Andersen were unique to them or did they exist at the other big accounting firms? Suppose you were the top partner at one of the other major accounting firms at that time of Andersen’s demise. What action, if any, would you take in response? Explain. As shown when Andersen themselves called into question the practices of one of it’s competitors (calling for an investigation), these issues at Andersen are not unique to their company (though it may not happen on as grand of a scale). If I was the top partner at one of the other major accounting firms at the time of Andersen’s demise, I would have immediately either called for an internal investigation of my firm’s practices or volunteered to have my company’s practices reviewed by the SEC or another appropriate authority. I would be open with what was found, make any necessary changes to organizational structure or practices, and move forward. I think this would be important because at the time of Andersen’s demise, it is likely the credibility of ALL accounting firms was hurt, and I would want there is to be proof that our company was doing things the right way. 7. In 2000, the SEC proposed new regulations that would limit consulting work by accounting firms. This proposal was not passed by congress. Do you think the legislators were trying to act in the public interest when they failed to pass this proposal? Explain. Legislators were not acting in the public’s best interests; they were bowing to pressure from the auditing industry lobbyists. Steve Samek, who spearheaded operations that already lead lawsuits, payouts, bankruptcies and fines, led the charge to oppose the proposal. At that point it should have been obvious that the right call was passing the proposal. The fact that different legislation related to the oversight of accounting firms was eventually passed later on in 2002 (the SOA) shows that oversight was necessary, but just needed a spectacular failure like Andersen/Enron to allow legislators to feel comfortable in taking a stand. 8. The American Institute of CPAs is the primary professional association for CPAs. It has developed a Code of Professional Conduct that sets the  standards of conduct for CPAs. People can file complaints about the ethical conduct of a CPA with the AICPA, which can levy sanctions and other penalties against its members. Do you think that the unethical conduct at Andersen (and possibly other accounting firms) was the fault of the AICPA for not setting and enforcing higher ethical standard among its members? Explain. While I think the AICPA has a place in setting standards and ethics in the industry, and has the right to levy sanctions and penalties against it’s members (based on complaints that are filed), they are not a regulatory agency and their reach only extends so far. In reality, being a member organization, if a corporation does not want to deal with or answer to the AICPA, they and choose not to be a member. It may hurt their reputation, but in the long run the work they do and the clients they have will have a much greater effect of their business than whether or not they are a member of the AICPA. While it is nice to have organizations like the AICPA and the SEC overlooking the practices of corporations in the industry, it is hard to transfer fault for the unethical behavior of a company away from the company that behaved that was to some member organization or regulatory agency. It is the organization or agency’s place to set guidelines and respond when corporations do not follow them. 9. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 established a new five-person board to oversee financial accounting in publicly traded corporations. The board is appointed by the SEC. Prior to the creation of this board the industry relied primarily on self-regulation through the AICPA. Do you think the establishment of the new oversight board was a good idea or should he profession have continued to be self-regulated? I think in practice, a combination of both works. The industry need to show that it is interested itself in keeping it’s practices on the level and being transparent. But at the end of the day, you will always find someone who likes to work outside the system. In these cases having the SEC oversight board is a critical tool to keep companies in line that may think they can work the system. Also, having SEC oversight can result in much  stiffer penalties for the organization, so it carries and extra layer of deterrent for companies who may think about making questionable decisions. Andersen themselves, in the form of managing partner Leonard Spacek, saw the power of SEC intervention early on (1947).

Montana 1948 Practice Essay Essay

Topic: â€Å"At the heart of ‘Montana 1948’ is the conflict between loyalty to the family and duty to the community†. To what extent do you agree? In Larry Watson’s ‘Montana 1948’, there is an overwhelming conflict between loyalty to family and duty to the community. The Hayden family are very loyal to one another but this loyalty goes too far and causes conflict. In the Hayden family, there is a lack of duty to the community and this creates some small-town tension. When people attempt to be loyal to their family, they are unable to be loyal to the community as well, creating inner conflict. In the heart of ‘Montana 1948’ is the conflict between loyalty to family and duty to the community. Loyalty in the Hayden family nurtures the conflicts, as loyal decisions and actions go too far. The Haydens are very loyal to one another and Wesley and Julian (in particular), put their family first. After Frank committed his crimes of rape, David’s father â€Å"knew he was guilty†. Yet Wesley lets Frank get away with it, because they are brothers and in their eyes, family is the first priority. This loyalty creates conflict not just to the wider community, but to their own family as well. The relationship between Julian and Wesley is a frightening one at certain points in the novel. Julian â€Å"wanted, he needed, power†, and he gets this power from the authority he has over his child, Wesley (and the community itself). Julian is dismissive of Frank’s crimes and asserts his dismissive behaviour upon Wesley, influencing the decisions Wesley makes. As a result of Julian’s authority, combined with his intimidating nature and his ‘family first’ views, Wesley fails to make decisions of his own that aren’t affected by the pressures of other people. Wesley informs Gail that Frank will â€Å"have to meet his punishment in the hereafter†, and that he â€Å"won’t do anything to arrange it in this life†. He says these things because he is afraid of Julian. Loyalty in Hayden family creates conflict within the family itself. In the small community of Mercer County, Montana, there is a lack of duty to serve others, and this creates conflict. The lack of duty in the community on Wesley’s behalf is ultimately what kills Marie Little Soldier. (However that’s not to say that Frank’s actions had little to do with her death.) If Wesley’s actions and decisions were different, then Marie’s life could have been saved. Marie’s death creates conflict between the Haydens and the rest of the community, as the lies and deceptions behind her death remain mostly secret. People in power abuse those in the community that have little to none, preventing the less privileged to come forward and this creates tension. Duty to the Mercer County lacks the most in two ways. Firstly, there is prejudice towards the native Indians from a lot of people in town. And  secondly, there is an unjust procedure of law that Wesley carries out when handling his brother, Frank. Wesley is a prime example of a character that does not fulfil his duties to the community. Wesley â€Å"believed Indians, with only a few exceptions, were ignorant, lazy, superstitious, and irresponsible†. Wesley also says that Frank â€Å"didn’t want to be locked up in the jail†, and that he â€Å"would respect that†. The less the community is served by Wesley, the more the conflict builds between them. Duty to the community in Mercer County is lacking, causing tension to build. There is a conflict between the loyalty towards family and the loyalty towards the community, as the loyalty towards both of these groups, struggles to coexist. Wesley is in a tough situation where the choices he makes are vital. But, the decisions are often ones that will affect family in one way, and the community in another. In other words, when his choices make a positive impact on the community, they often have a negative effect on family (and vice versa). Wesley â€Å"believes that in this world people must pay for their crimes†, yet he is torn between justice and family when it comes to forming a resolution. There is conflict within Wesley himself as he battles with the difficult choices between serving the community, and being loyal to his family. If Wesley jails Frank, then he helps the community, but betrays family; and if Wesley lets Frank roam free, he helps his brother, but betrays the community. There is inner conflict residing in Wesley’s thoughts, as loyalty towards family and the loyalty towards the community fail to go hand-in-hand. Larry Watson’s ‘Montana 1948’ is a text that addresses the conflict between loyalty to family and duty to the community. Loyalty in the Hayden family goes further than it should and tension builds among their relationships. The Haydens are inadequate in their obligations to the community, stirring up tension between these two social groups. Loyalty to family can’t coexist with loyalty to the community, fostering the inner conflicts of certain individuals. In Mercer County, family and the community are two separate entities, and the dedications made to either of these groups prove cataclysmic, when loyalty goes too far.

Taxation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Taxation - Essay Example 28). Therefore, from this claim the people who own many assets or earn some good salaries pay more to the government trough taxation. Taxation is, therefore, necessary in order to meet the cost of expenses and in the running of day-to-day government affairs. â€Å"It is the sole responsibility of the government to collect taxes and ensure that it is carefully spent for the benefit of the citizens† (Mirrlees & Adam, 2011 p. 39). Taxation is the main means through which governments raise the required money to pay for commodities and services that they provide for the people. In fact, most governments depend on taxes to pay for the major portion of their spending since it is their major source of revenue. â€Å"It is important to note that, governments are always under pressure from citizens demanding quality education, health care, security and infrastructure† (Lymer & Hasseldine, 2002 p. 17). Taxes at the local level are necessary for construction of classrooms, public l ibraries, security service stations, sport facilities, as well as for the payment of municipal employees and county directors government revenues (obtained from taxes) are essential. The government to run the budget without borrowing grants from other countries uses taxes (Ahmad, 1999 p. 82). However, taxation is not the only way governments use to collect money for their spending. â€Å"Government’s cannas well levy a variety of users to pay for bridges, parks, and sports stadiums among other services to get revenue from users rather than the taxpayers† (Barro & Boskin, 1978 p. 125). â€Å"In addition, Governments also borrow funds to support their tax revenues whenever they run short of target in budget† (Claus, 2010). The standard of living of the modern society demands taxation by all means, this is because the government must collect taxes in order to meet the needs, wants and demands of its citizenry. No government can exist without taxation, though taxati on can never exist without the government, as well. â€Å"One could, therefore, argue that taxation is a necessity for the governments to run all the activities aimed at improving the living standards of the citizens all over the world† (Keen & Smith, 2000 p 40). â€Å"The value added tax is a form of consumption tax. This is the tax imposed on to the buyer when purchasing goods from any dealer whereas on the prospect of the seller, it is the tax imposed on the product, service or the material from an accounting point of view from the producer† (James, 2009 p 13). The final consumer is taxed in this way and; hence, the total tax levied at each stage is what makes continuous chain of supply; thus, collection of VAT is borne by the business but not the state. Tax merits The collection of VAT in the UK has a number of merits for instance; it enables the government to create a stronger incentive to collect revenues even through the sales tax are low. This is because the fi nal consumer of the product cannot easily evade payment unlike trough the previous method and does not give the seller the legality to collect it. â€Å"The UK government has been able to balance the amount of taxes collected per year through VAT since the seller is the motivator of the buyer but has no direct economic incentive to collect it† (Bird, 1999 p 25). It has also been able to balance the application of equal taxes to each member of the production chain without much care on the position in it and

Do EU Regulations Provide Sufficient Protection From Child Essay

Do EU Regulations Provide Sufficient Protection From Child Exploitation Within Member States - Essay Example (Beckett, 2007) The European Convention on Human Rights 1950 was a more general attempt to define the rights of humans and it was not a child centric legislation. However, it sets the overall tone of the regulation and suggests that the rights of children have also been considered. This is also significant in the wake of the fact that EU Court on Human Rights has developed significant level of jurisprudence to cover extensively human rights issues pertaining to children. (Bueren, 2007) Local and national governments in EU are considered to be closer to their communities and are considered in a better position to safeguard the interests of the children under the UN Human Rights Charter and Child Rights. It is critical to note however, that children did not featured as a voice in the overall policy making and legislative process in EU till late 1990s. At the time of formation of treaty, though there was an emphasis on bringing in equality between men and women however, children hardly featured into the overall policy making and legislative process in the region. (Renucci, 2005) The Amsterdam Treaty for the first time however, realized this anomaly and clarified new changes though which discrimination based upon age was discouraged. Amsterdam Treaty was enacted in 1997 and supplemented the European Union Treaty. The Article 13 of the treaty clarified that Children should be included in the treaty and discrimination against them should be treated equally along with adults. (Cockburn, 2010) The overall child protection can also be viewed from the perspective of social protection. Expenditure on social protection is considered as one of the indicators of how the 27 member States actually contribute and intervene into reducing predefined risks to... Most of the existing studies on the topic are the reviews of the legislations made over the period of time. This research study will focus upon exploring as to whether these regulations have been effective in achieving their objectives. This research study will therefore provide an insight into how future legislations need to be done in order to make them more applicable and result oriented. Ethics are normally concerned with right, wrong, good and bad and outlines as to how issues of moral concerns can be explored. Since exploring the issue of child protection involves understanding the ethical point of view also, it is therefore critical that ethical inquiry should be blended with the qualitative research design to explore underlying research issues.More appropriately, the existing regulations from EU with respect to child protection will be explored from the perspective of Utilitarianism. Utilitarianism outlines the greater good for the greater number of people and as such existing regulations pertaining to child protection may be viewed from utilitarian perspective. Quantitative research methods will also be employed to explore and understand the impact of the legislations on the reduction of child exploitation. For the purpose of this research, a sample set of 10 member countries will be chosen. This sample will be randomly picked countries officially admitted to the membership of EU since last 10 years.

Because it is too long so i wrote in the report format Essay

Because it is too long so i wrote in the report format - Essay Example This report has thus evaluated the factors that influence the decision of the organisation to hire a German engineer to help increase its car modelling and production. This is a sound idea but a number of factors arising from international human resource management must be considered and given due consideration. This paper finally advices on the best approach that the organisation should steps to help reduce the financial expenses that may arise from this decision. Introduction Background information The process of recruiting and posting of staffs is a major concern in international human resource management to organizations that operate beyond their domestic borders. Recruitment involves the process of searching for and obtaining potential job candidates in a good number and with different qualities so as to enable the organization chose the individual with the best skills. Recruitment for multinationals presents many challenges to organization due to the operational differences tha t exist in different countries around the globe. ... Ethnocentric, polycentric, regiocentric and geocentric staffing orientations are quite common in international human resource management. This decision to recruit a German foreigner thus means that the organization has adopted the use of foreign expatriates to occupy a number of positions in the organizations (Deresky, 2010). The success of such a policy is influenced by a number of factors which include the work visa and the immigration rules of the country. Aims of the study This report will thus evaluate the major issues that will arise and that requires consideration by the organisation in their quest to employ a German national as the engineer to help improve the car production business. It will thus analyse the visa issues and remuneration issues that will be considered by the organization before making this decision. As a foreigner, the company will have to implement an induction program to help familiarize the employee with the work culture of the country and how he can live comfortably in the country with his family members despite the cultural differences. The report shall thus analyse how such a condition will affect the company’s financial and human resource position. Scope of the study In completing this task and achieving the desired aims of this study, the Australian system shall be analysed in line with the emigration and the labour laws of the country. This will enable me analyse the labour related issues that may affect the working conditions for the German engineer and how he may be required to comply with international working permits. In line with the international human resource practises, the remuneration package for the engineer will also be analysed especially to determine how the variation with the

The Impact of the Domestic Regulatory Environment on Competition and Case Study

The Impact of the Domestic Regulatory Environment on Competition and Corporate Strategy Development - Case Study Example Now a days, after the globalization and liberalization policies, the competition is not only from companies located with in a nation but also from firms established globally. All these factors that affect the competition and firm’s strategic management plans would be further influenced by domestic regulatory environment. The domestic regulatory environment includes the government policies that aim at social and economic justice, tariff structure in different services and technical regulations that aim at enhancing the growth rate. The influence of external environment and government polices on the corporate strategic options was well established (Venkatraman and Prescott, 1990). Though it was proved that the role of management positively influences the company’s performance, still the constraints caused by the domestic environment may result in negative growth rate (Thomas et al., 1991). This may happen at higher intensity when the domestic regulatory environment discou rages the products of the company by putting environmental safety norms. The government policies may also aim at bringing welfare state of the society for which the companies may be asked to follow the steps fulfilling the social obligations which in turn negatively influence the firm’s performance (Bryer, 1982). ... Similarly, the companies which are involved in fruit juice making may get huge benefit if the government policy encourages the export environment by giving tax concessions. At the same time, the companies that are involved in electronic goods may incur losses if the domestic environment encourages the imports from other nations at a cheaper price. Hence, the private or corporate business firms must have dynamic strategic management development options which provide higher adaptation compared to its competitors in the market (Teece et al., 1997). The element of diversification gives remarkable edge to the corporate houses in making flexible adjustments in response to any domestic regulatory environment. The advantage of mixing several products that suit the customer needs in terms of competitive edge and firms performance was well established (Simmonds, 1990). Those firms which concentrated only on one product have higher risk due to change in domestic regulatory environment. These fi rms may respond well to the technical regulations laid down by the government from time to time, but they fail in their competitive ability and adjusting to the new tariff structure in the market and to the regulations related to social and economic justice in the society. The companies which have strong and dynamic strategic development / management team strive well in the market as they predict the new changes in domestic regulatory environment and hence they respond faster to the changes with highest competitive ability. The corporate houses must respond to the domestic regulations as early as possible to reduce the losses and to capitalize the new situation

Film comparison Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Film comparison - Essay Example One particularly important factor to note, with regards to the differences exhibited in style between Hollywood blockbusters and â€Å"new wave† films of the 1960s and beyond, is the freedom of expression and experimentation that is oftentimes exhibited within such â€Å"new wave† films. As Hollywood is creating films on a profit basis and positioning and/or advertising them according to the belief of the analysts that the film is a money maker, the overall ability of the actors, directors, writers, and producers to exhibit the same level of experimentalism and free expressionism that films such as Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless is severely limited if not non-existent. To a great degree, this helps to explain the fact that even the more thrilling and action packed movies that Hollywood churns out for consumption by both the international and domestic market rely on an a heavily formulaic approach that gives many viewers the distinct impression that they may have wa tched the film - or one highly similar to it before. This is a decided drawback to the way that Hollywood blockbusters are made in that expression and experimentation are discouraged in lieu of whatever factors might most broadly appeal to a diverse international audience with different levels of film knowledge, experience, expectations, and likes. In this way, films such as Mel Gibson’s Braveheart have to appeal to the lowest common denominator among these groups without affording the luxury to employ stylistic expression and experimentation throughout the medium. For instance, Jean-Luc Godard experimented heavily with the technique of the â€Å"jump shot† in Breathless in order to convey an unrealistic and decidedly cinematic feel to some of the shots exhibited within the movie. This decision enraged many as it worked to draw the viewer’s attention to the fact that the work was edited and took away from the overall illusion that cinema often had of creating th at alternate reality that film-goers so deeply craved. What is especially fascinating is that although Jean-Luc Godard employed these jump shots to great effect within Breathless, he juxtaposed this with heavy reliance upon another technique that was experimental, somewhat unappreciated at the time, and definitely a harbinger of change that many future films would employ. A secondary feature that Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless employs that was considered highly avant-garde at the time was the use of handheld cameras to film many of the sequences. This allowed for many of the scenes to have a true-life, gritty, and raw feel that was otherwise uncustomary for the movies of the time. Although Jean-Luc Godard did not pioneer this approach, he successfully employed it in such a way that he re-introduced the technique to such great effect that it was later picked up and re-introduced to a number of subsequent highly profitable films. On a side, note, it is possible to say that Hollyw ood might not employ this technique to the extent it does today in such films as the Bourne Identity if it were not for such a bold introduction and use of such an innovative tactic by Jean-Luc Godard during the 1960s. It is important to note that

Historic Preservation and the Imagined West Term Paper

Historic Preservation and the Imagined West - Term Paper Example It is the oldest and most historic block of the Mile High City. The buildings of the area tell a lot about the birth and the early years of the city of Denver. The Lower Downtown was formed with the intension to encourage the preservation of a significant area which is vital because of its historical area, architectural look and economic value. The historic resources were given protection due to the historic status of the area. Protection was also given to the 127 contributing historic structures by the act of zoning ordinance. This ordinance included building height limitations and encouraged mixed use development. For rehabilitation and new constructing purposes it provided strict design guidelines. This LoDo District was formed when an unorganized group of Lower Downtown property owners joined District Collaborative, a marketing entity, to form the so called LoDo District. This joint effort was focused on the needs of the neighborhood as it produced a diverse group of people whose community and philanthropic interests were based on those needs. Denver City was named after James Denver who was the territorial governor or Kansas and the main street was named after his son General Larimer. Larimer’s cabin which was torn in 1961 and a one-story false-front store was built at its place until in 1982 when the Granite building was constructed. The first bank, bookstore, photographer and dry goods store of Denver was housed at the city block of Larimer Square. Denver’s first post office was also built on the same block, where currently the Bent Lens is located. The block also had Denver’s first theatre in the Lincoln building, currently where the store Eve is located. The North West corner of Larimer Streets had a building which was once a legendary watering hole for politicians, policemen and city hall reporters known as Gahan’s Saloon. Dana Crawford, an award-winning

The Automobile Industry in the US in 1920s Essay

The Automobile Industry in the US in 1920s - Essay Example In 2009, China successfully challenged its position, taking over as the second largest producer. Currently, America stands third in mass production of automobiles [1]. At the onset of the American automobile industry, a large number of manufactures came on the scene, and vigorously vied for the domination of the local market. However, towards the end of the 1920s, only three major companies had managed to control the market. Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler were the big players in the country. These companies continued to thrive strongly, even after the Great Depression and the advent of the World War 2. In the 1970s, a mishmash of rocketing oil costs, fervent competition from foreign brands, and tightening government laws greatly affected the companies negatively. From then on, the companies experienced widely fluctuating fortunes, but by 2008, the business was undergoing severe havoc. This resulted to the fall of General Motors and Chrysler, who had to file for bankruptcy. The Fo rd Company managed to stay afloat all through these trying periods, and is currently gaining momentum to regain its lost glory [2]. The Ford Company came into being from the original idea of its owner and founder, Henry Ford. Currently, the company stands second among the world’s biggest automobile producers. The multinational conglomerate is now currently worth about $167 billion dollars. Though the company specialized in automobiles, it now also runs Ford Credit, a venture that rakes in around $3 billion dollars annually. In addition, it also possesses The Hertz Corporation, which is the biggest car-rental company in the world. The corporation now produces a wide range of vehicle brands. These include Ford, Mercury,... This essay discusses the automobile industry, that is a huge part of the engineering sector and is involved in the devising, growth, production, and selling of vehicles. It is one of the major industries in the world in terms of economic worth and revenue. The definition of the industry, though broad, is limited to the production and sale of automobiles, and does not include after-sales services like repair and maintenance. The industry is laden with events and milestones that marked its start and evolution to what it is currently. Firstly, the researcher dicusses the onset of the American automobile industry and mentiones companies, such as Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, that were the big players in the United States in the 1920s. The researcher discusses the Great Depression that happened in the late 1920s and severely depleted General Motors’ financial strength. This was what that gave the Ford Company a much-needed lifeline. The General Motors’s market share al l but disappeared, thereby greatly depleting its income avenues. The market stake of the Ford Company shot up drastically. In conclusion, the researcher states that Ford company managed to survive through the trying times mainly due to the backing of its continuous perfect performance of its financial services sector. However, reclaiming its position as the world’s biggest automotive producer is not an easy task. The frequency of changing technology and fluctuation of markets will certainly be a problem for most companies.

Eadership style and skills using relevant theories and examples Essay

Eadership style and skills using relevant theories and examples - Essay Example This essay discusses that along with the emergence of the new global economy, the need for effective management and leadership has become all the more important and crucial. Global business organizations have increasingly realized the need for effective leadership and its capacities to leverage the collective knowledge in the organization and which consequently depends largely on the quality and effectiveness of the leaders. Known for its ability to influence the minds of people and directing their activities and actions towards a required desired direction, leaders have emerged as one of the most crucial components in the management of organizations. In fact the future and fate of organizations significantly depends on the presence of leaders. Some of the most famous multinational organizations in the world, such as Microsoft and General Electric has successfully attained fast pace of growth because of the initiative and efforts taken by their leaders. Extensive researches have been conducted to identify the traits of leaders. It is seen that leadership traits or styles can vary significantly between individuals and this greatly depends on the personality that he is born with or the situations under which he emerges as the leaders. However, certain theorists are of the opinion that leaders are not made, they are born with leadership qualities. Thus it is important to make a thorough understanding of the leadership style that an individual should adopt depending on his character, personality, traits or the situation in which he adopts leadership styles. In the context of a large organization, it must understand which style of leadership would be suitable for it to take it towards success and growth (Gitlow, 2004, p.1-2). This project seeks to make an analysis of one’s leadership style and skills using relevant theories and examples. The views of researchers and authors are provided to make a critical analysis of the subject. Following with the identifica tion of the style of leadership suggestions are made with regards to the ways in which it can be enhanced in order to find usage in different situations (Okafor, 2009, p.81). Analysis of own leadership skills using leadership theories Leadership theories primarily focus on the differences in attributes between the leaders and the followers. However, recently there has been a shift in emphasis in this regard and subsequent theories have emerged which considers variables like situational factors, skill levels etc. Trait theory of leadership The trait theory of leadership provides a list of qualities or traits which are associated with leadership. The theory identifies some of the key characteristics which are associated with the great and successful leaders. The general belief was that people having such key characteristics would make great leaders and so therefore they were recruited for the leadership positions in the organization (Bolden, Gosling, Marturano & Dennison, 2003, p.6). However, the trait theory is not free from criticisms. After the identification of the traits several researches were conducted, however, the subsequent researches revealed that no such consistent traits could be identified. Although certain traits were found in many of the studies, most of the research results remained inconclusive. Researchers have claimed that although certain traits have been identified as being typical of the leaders, their mere absence does not necessarily mean that these people would not make good leaders (Bolden, Gosling,

Culture Day Topic Essay Example for Free

Culture Day Topic Essay History of Judo was created by Jigoro Kano. He was a highly educated man; he was considered the founder of the modern Japanese education system. He wanted to preserve and combine the ancient martial traditions of Japan. One of the most important innovations was the emphasis of â€Å"randori†, or non-cooperative free sparring practice. The majority was based on pre-arranged sequences of attack and defense known as â€Å"kata†. For several years Kodokan Judo reigned supreme. Kudo was challenged by a man named Mataemon Tanabae. Maeda Mitsuyo Maeda became one of the greatest fighters in the history of Judo. Maeda retired without ever losing a fight. The Gracies, Maeda settled in Brazil and created an academy of â€Å"Jiu Jitsu†. One of his students was Carlos Gracie. After studying for several years he opened his own academy. He and Maeda created the â€Å"Gracie Challenge†, all challengers were welcome to compete in the challenge. The Gracie fighters were victorious against all kinds of fighters from different backgrounds. Several members of the Gracie family began to go to the US in the late 1980’s. The Gracies and their particular brand of fighting has had a major impact on martial arts today. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was very similar in many ways with to Judo and other systems of Japanese Jiu Jitsu. Judo was originally designed as a powerful system of self-defense. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is divided into three categories: self-defense, free fighting competition, and sport grappling. The fighting strategy of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is to make a physically smaller or weaker person be able to defend from a larger or stronger attacker. When applying BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) techniques leverage is key. As leverage is the secret to the most use of force.

Melodrama And Film Noir In Mildred Pierce

Melodrama And Film Noir In Mildred Pierce Film noir first appeared when The Depression ended with society feeling the lack of material objects, in response to the end of the Second World War. The American Dream was coming under threat due to women being forced back into their domestic roles. It uses textual structures and style to show the nightmare that is the American Dream. Mildred Pierce (Michael Curitz, 1948) attempts to modernise a post-war economy by showing how important gender roles are in supporting a balanced family to the audience of the film. Mildred Pierce sheds light on the historical need to reconstruct an economy based on a division of labour by which men command the means of production and women remain within the family, in other words the need to reconstruct a failing patriarchal structure (Cook, 2005, p. 69). The film also touches on a fear of women by men returning from the war. Women were more independent and less feminine that before the war. The films themselves seem to indicate just how threatened and unsure hegemonic patriarchy was during the post-war years (Benshoff, 2007, p. 264).This film deals with the deterioration of a family in post-war America. While birth rates did soar after the war, so did divorce ratesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦men and women had very different experiences of the war, and the two often did not easily mesh (Benshoff, 2007, p. 262). Warner Brothers released the film in 1945, a year many American soldiers returned from World War II. It left millions dead, but the calamitous event also boosted womens place in society. During the WWII period, women became the main providers for their families while American men were at war, a situation that lead to increased independence for American women. Popular slogans and icons of the time, like Rosie the Riveter, encourage women to work and take charge of their lives. However, when men returned and re-entered the workforce, society expected women to step aside and rejoin the cult of domesticity. This background knowledge adds many layers of meaning to the movie and is vital to understanding the message of the movie. The protagonist of the film Mildred Pierce does everything in her power to help her children. Mildred is determined that her children will have greater opportunities in life than she and Bert have had (Lloyd Johnson, 2003, p. 14). Mildred dreams that one day her daughters will be prima donnas and concert pianists, and pursues these fantasies to the best of her abilities. Mildred attempts to shoulder fatherly responsibilities, which makes her the worst kind of mother possible. The matriarchal coup ends in disaster, and reveals the filmmakers message: a womans place is in the household, and she cannot hope to thrive in a mans world. Mildred replaces men with women she chooses her female daughters over her male husband, which reinforces the idea of a matriarchy. Only Veda and Kay, who are female, can inherit from Mildred. The marriage dissolves on account of the Mildreds unbalanced, smothering, obsessive, insistent maternal love for her female children. Mildreds first flashback within the film has two distinct points of view: Mildred, the woman, and the detective, the man. The basic split is created in the film between melodrama and film noir, between Womans Picture and Mans Film, a split which indicates the presence of two voices, female and male (Cook, 2005, p. 72). Mildreds flashbacks are evenly lit, but cannot be trusted. The viewers process of picking up cues, developing expectations, and constructing an ongoing story out of the plot will be partially shaped by what the narrator tells or doesnt tell (Bordwell Thompson, 2008, p. 92). The detectives perspective explains the truth of the narrative, but is presented in shadows and low-key lighting. Mildreds discourse is the discourse of melodrama, her story is the stuff of which the Womans Picture was made in pre-war and war years when woman were seen to have an active part to play in society and the problems of passion, desire, and emotional excess (Cook, 2005, p. 71). The melodr amatic tone to Mildreds narration helps to pull the woman in the theatre into the storyline. Elizabeth Cowie suggests that the voiceover narration in Mildred Pierce is associated with melodramas because it markedly lacks a hard-boiled style (Cowie, 1993, p. 138). It isnt quite as simple as this however. Mildreds melodramatic narrative is put into doubt due to the film signalling her out as a possible suspect who manipulates people to get her way. On the other hand though her melodramatic story has a film noir style thats impossible to avoid and noirs dystopian feeling dominates this melodramatic narrative. Cook sees this as the point at which Mildred Pierce becomes a Mans Film because the womans discourse of melodrama has been taken away and replaced with noir (Cook, 2005, p. 71). One of the key messages in the film presents the idea for women to stand behind their men and to go back into the kitchen and cook pies. The detectives discourse is a representation of the mans role to find the truth through hard evidence. The detective is simply concerned with establishing the Truth, with resolving the enigma, while Mildreds story contains complexity and ambiguity, showing a concern for feelings rather than facts. (Cook, 2005, p. 71). Mildreds legs are fetish sized in order to control her sexuality. One part of a fragmented body destroys the Renaissance space, the illusion of depth demanded by the narrative, it gives flatness (Mulvey, 1975, p. 26). By the man taking a small part of the woman and focusing in on it, the woman, as a whole, is no longer a threat to the man. This entire scene sexualizes Mildred. Men in post-war America were threatened by the womans sexual prowess and often tried to repress it. The film gives an example of the brutal and enforced repressi on of female sexuality, and the institutionalization of a social place for both men (as fathers and husbands) and women (as mothers and wives) which rests uneasily on this repression (Cook, 2005, p. 69). Mildreds sexuality is repressed by the realization later in the film that it is Monte who is using Mildred and not the other way around. The filmmakers provide this devastation through three negative constructions of women in the film. Veda emerges from her childhood as a femme fatal, a sure sign that something went terribly wrong in her upbringing. The filmmakers imply that if Bert had been around he would have put her in her place. Bert says that he is so fed up with the way [Veda] high hats him that he would eventually cut loose and slap her right in the face. His attitude towards Veda contrasts sharply with Mildreds attitude, but in the end, Mildred hits their daughter first. Although he admits that he does not have the maternal connection that Mildred has with her daughters, he knows that her method of raising the kids isnt right. These lines are also important because they show that Bert, the patriarch, knows more about being a mother than the Mildred. She is too busy making pies to provide for her children to see what has gone wrong. Interest in business already makes her blind to domestic problems. While the role reversal between Mildred and Bert does not become apparent until the end, a hint of Berts predi ction about Veda shows up in the scenes following his departure. Veda, the next matriarch in the line of inheritance, already tries to control her mother after Wallys visit by trying to trade Mildreds dignity for a new house. Mildreds character is paralleled by Vedas character. The film asks us, through the device of metaphorical substitution , to confuse the wicked Veda with the honest Mildred, thus establishing Mildreds innate guilt, even though she is not guilty of the actual murder (Cook, 2005, p. 71). Through their intimate happenings with the same man at the same location, Mildred later discovers Veda and Monty kissing at the beach house, it is clear that cinema setting can come to the forefront; it need not be only a container for human events but can dynamically enter the narrative action (Bordwell Thompson, 2008, p. 115). Although Mildred did not kill Monte, she is guilty of an even bigger crime in post-war America: pursuing a career and becoming the head of a family. Mild reds take-over of the place of the father has brought about the collapse of all social and moral order in her world (Cook, 2005, p. 75). Mildred works her way up the socio-economic ladder. She possesses the traits of the ideal all-American man: hard work, self-reliance, and perseverance. Her labours pay off in the Horatio Alger tradition and she reaps a handsome profit from her chain of restaurants. There are two messages in this sequence of events that contradict the ominous predictions of the kitchen scene first; her success demonstrates that if women leave their husbands, they are not condemned to lives of poverty and misery. Second, her successes with the restaurants show that women are also capable of being entrepreneurs in the business world. Ida also enters Mildreds world, and becomes another affirmative theme in the film. As the two bond they create a relationship that is an equitable partnership, devoid of the power structure present in Mildreds relationships with men. These positive elements build audience empathy for Mildred. They celebrate along with Mildred when her restaurant does well and cheer when she opens the new branches of her dinner. The audience becomes Mildred through this empathy and lives through her vicariously. But these positive themes are later used to manipulate the female audiences emotive response. The heroine, who momentarily enjoys business success, is destined to fail as a career woman as well as a mother. Mildred Pierce was, after all, designed as a lesson to the women of the post-war period in both its theme and its narrative. The empathy created from Mildreds success resounds as strongly during her fall from happiness. By manipulating the emotive response in this way, the film reaffirms patriarchal cultural values. The first of the negative themes begins Kays death. It warns of what happens when the nuclear family falls apart: while Mildred frolics at the beach with a new lover, her daughter is dying of pneumonia. Sylvia Harvey has argued that film noir contains a critique of the nuclear family so devastating that no narrative can resolve it (Harvey, pp. 22-34). The film constructs this scene as what happens with the decay of the nuclear family unit. While Mildred is off having an affair with Monte, her daughter is dying. The film teaches its audience how to avoid such a failed family ideal. The first sign of deterioration comes when Mildreds one night of illicit passion with Monte is followed by Kays death (Cook, 2005, p. 74). This film establishes ideal gender roles for the redevelopment of society while defining the fear of women present in post-war America. This ultimately sends the message of the importance of the family unit: a woman must stay true to her family as a whole even if it mean s living an unhappy life. The film implies that an ideal mother would have been on call, always ready to care for her children. Of course Kay dies; she is a sacrificial lamb for Mildreds excesses. Her death also makes it possible for Mildred to concentrate on Veda and Monte, two key figures in Mildreds destruction. The second negative theme deals with Mildreds maternal failure. As Mildred becomes more heavily invested in her business, Veda drifts further and further away from her, and buys into Montes materialistic values. Veda ultimately becomes the femme fatale of the movie, and serves as an example of why women cannot be successful businesswomen and mothers at the same time. Juggling two things at once does not work for Mildred because she can only focus on one thing at a time. Her obsession with making money forces her not to notice the unsavoury developments in her daughter Veda, which Bert forecasts earlier in the kitchen: The trouble is, youre trying to buy love from those kids and it wont work. One of the most powerful images in the movies occurs simultaneously as the couple steps into the dawns sunrise. Two cleaning women kneel scrub the floor as Bert and Mildred leave. A silhouette shot ensures that they scrub in anonymity and no discerning features of their faces can be seen. These two lowly scrub women are symbols of the two ambitious women of the film: Mildred and Ida. They wash floor as if trying to be cleansed of their sin: the sin of gaining a foothold in society. Truly repentant, they can no longer stand on their feet but only kneel down. Ultimately, this sends the message that female economic power must not be powerful at all only humble and faceless. In post-war America woman were unceremoniously fired from their jobs in order to create employment opportunities for returning men (Benshoff, 2007, p. 262). Society demanded that woman be in the home and that men be at the workplace. Mildreds involvement with a man that doesnt fit this mould consequently ends in her downfall and the deterioration of her family. The message presented in the film clearly outlines gender roles and what is expected of each sex in order to restore patriarchal order to America at this time. In 1947, America was recovering from an economic crisis, altered gender roles, a deteriorated male population, and high divorce rates. Leave it to Hollywood to instruct Americans on how to set everything straight again. Not only does this film present a number of messages detailing the womans place in the home and the mans place at work, but it also reflects a fear that woman had gained too much control, become too masculine, and would no longer be a link in healthy family units. The melodramatic ending that Mildred Pierce presents shows that the womens threat to the patriarchy of men cannot simply be resolved by love (Gledhill, 1987, p. 24). It uses extreme representations of women trying to step out of their domestic roles and reassures the women watching the film that although they might be discontented with being forced back into the home after the Second World War, their lives are considerably better than what is being shown on screen.

An argument for Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical businesses

An argument for Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical businesses It all started in the eighteen century, with a Scottish philosopher of political economics, Adam Smith, who expressed that the free interaction of organisations and the public would meet the needs and desires of society. This responsibility was then termed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and started an evolution from the 1950s and further expanded during the 1970s. The evolution and expansion of CSR is a direct result of ever growing economies. Corporate Social Responsibility is a model for incorporating ethical business regulations into the business model. This model provides corporations a framework to embrace a responsibility towards the community, employees, environment and other service users. The three areas of main accounting are as follows; Financial success or profit Contributions to livable environment Contribution to solving social problems. A corporation incorporated each area into their business model and culture, generating growth for all three areas using their framework. An initial financial profit setback will be met when applying the framework, an exception being if the businesses have a direct business involvement with social issues. Regardless of whether business or government, leaders in all sectors have an opportunity to improve current issues and solve business problems. Community needs can be opportunities to utilise business technology and provide collaborative efforts to serve community needs. The Internet revolution has provided the public the chance to empower themselves and with this in mind customers, empowered by the internet, are researching corporate citizenship. The times of word-of-mouth and traditional media sources, such as television, is being surpassed by the number of growing search engines, and the number of customers using the Internet to research companies through independent sources is growing. Corporations should look for new ways to inform consumers about their social responsible actions and should realise that a great number of consumers will be sceptical and will check up on any claims. A company with good CSR policies, which demands that commercial success, be gained through positive practices that aim to promote general welfare, such as more jobs, better salaries, environmentally responsible activity and local interaction, tend to do a lot better then companies who do not. Success, after all, is not only measured in monetary terms but also the corporations impact on the community, on its customers and on the environment. Why bother? There are a number of valid reasons for this question, including that CSR is a good business Ethics. Business ethics regards what is morally right and wrong with a companys activities and behaviours. The likelihood of company to transact without creating some sort of environmental or social impact is very small, might this be of positive or negative impact. A key point of CSR is that it recognises the responsibility that companies have to take into account of those impacts. CSR is a framework for thinking about business ethics, making ethical decisions and working within the law, it says a company responsibilities reach further than just making a profit. Another reason is that CSR means engaging with Stakeholders (people whose lives and livelihoods are impacted by the companys activities). CSR in this case means that a company will make a decision with society (the Stakeholders are a broad and varied group) expectations in mind. Furthermore, the corporation will recognise not only th e opinions but also the values that are important to the Stakeholders and will actively engage with its Stakeholders to understand their aspirations, goals and concerns. There are many different ways a corporation can support a social initiative and still make profits. A good example is the Marriott Corporation (ref), who was motivated by a desire to help the community while still helping the bottom line, by training and hiring 6000 persons on welfare. Marriott was still able to cut costs and increase productivity. It can be in a companys best interest to provide a needed service within a low income area. By incorporating a service that improves the resources and infrastructure of a community, it can offer an economic return for the organisation through recognition or direct community investments. In this sense, a business has an obligation to both profit and serve the community, for all stakeholders involved. This shows that when a company practice in good CSR, it gains better reputation and brand image meaning an extension of better sales, more investors and customer loyalty plate form. This is supported by the survey done by Hill Knowlton/Harris (2001) showed that 91 % of all customer survey said that they would switch to other companies, if the corporation had a negative image. How does CSR work? Corporation Social Responsibility must first be sold as a developing a value proposition to its own board, as it plays an important role in helping to shape and develop the value proposition. A value proposition being the corporeal results a customer gets from using the companys products or services. Aligned with social dimension, this helps provide guidance and direction to utilise the energy and enthusiasm for CSR. By identifying where companies can be socially responsible while continue to pursuit long term competitiveness of its business, companies can utilise the wider community with its own set of expertise. This framework should whilst reinforcing its core business strategies also attempt to transform value chain activities. This is important as local customers are an important source of sales and improving a companys reputation, the company itself will find it easier to recruit workforce and lead a better local authority relation. The best way to assess whether CSR is working and related to the corporation is to set CSR measurability and performance metric (differ for every company). An example of CSR metric are Key Performance indicators (KPIs) using a balance score card to measure factors such as environmental performance and benchmarking against other companies in the same industry spectrum. Advantages and Disadvantages Corporations, although are enterprises with purpose of commercial pursuits, are powerful and influential institutions. However, one must not forget that their processes have a very public impact and affect many lives through their actions and behaviours. For this reason, it is very important that they act and behave responsibly and CRS policies should be there to guide corporation to Ethical path. More importantly for corporation, this responsibility can make a worthwhile contribution to society as irresponsible business can be harmful in equal measure. Companies without regard for their responsibilities and act/behave in an unethical ways that is damming to the worlds natural resources, will earn bad reputation which could not only loss profit or even destroy the company in their home ground but also the impact could be greater for international companies as their restriction could expand to many countries across the world. As more and more Stakeholders are demanding accountability CSR now involves more complex decision making. This makes the companies grow from the single dimensional thinking of maximising financial profit and concern more about the economic, social and environmental aspects of corporation impacts. For this to continue to be possible a firmed knowledge of CSR is critical, as learning about CSR means learning to manage CSR initiatives and engage with Stakeholders enabling managers to kept CSR alive within the company. Another reason for learning about CSR is so that ethical misconduct within the workplace can be recognised by employees, managers and Stakeholders, as this is far too common. This recognition could open a gateway to taking action to address the misconduct. Everyone can benefit from Corporate Social Responsibility giving compelling reasons for customer, supplies and community to learn about CSR so as to protect and promote their interest in relation to corporate activities. Although, many organisations such as United Nations (UN) are all attempting to regulate Corporate Social Responsibility through their framework, it is still voluntary corporation action and goes beyond regulations and laws. This unfortunately means that CSR lack of formal regulation and is not standardised and therefore often not possible to compare CSR performance in detail. Appallingly CSR is misused as a market ploy and reveals facts such as some company, whose very existence is considered to be socially irresponsible, such as British American Tobacco Corporation, are being recognised for performing some socially responsible acts. This is due to companies being given the right to shape and define CSR increasing the risk of abuse of power. Conclusion Although, Corporation Social Responsibility can come across as an idealistic idea, especially as it is voluntary process and lack regulation and therefore subjected to abuse of power by decision making companies in the social domain, it actually produces favourable results if applied positively. Corporations and governments are powerful and influential institutes and can therefore make a significant difference to society. This difference whether these institutes impacts positively or negatively, will depend on the contribution to better thinking about what is Ethically right or wrong. This knowledge can produce decisions and behaviours that are recognised by stakeholders as unethical and help managers assess the changes needed to manage CSR. A good CSR framework aligns community efforts and charitable efforts with core business strategy, expertise and market needs. This in turn helps build up a companys social capital and is likely to bring returns including financial returns.

The Effect of Pride and Prejudice on Darcy and Elizabeths Relationship

The Effect of Pride and Prejudice on Darcy and Elizabeth's Relationship The novel 'Pride and Prejudice' was written in 1796. It was written by a writer who's name was Jane Austin. The book was first published in 1813, and has consistently been Jane's most popular novel. The original version of the novel was written in 1796, and was called 'First Impressions'. In the story there is a family called 'The Bennett's'. This is one of the main families in the book. The whole novel is almost based around this family. In this family there is, Mr & Mrs Bennett, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Lydia, and Kitty. There are five daughters. Mrs Bennett is very determined to get her daughters married to someone with a lot of money. An entail is to limit the inheritance of property or estate to a specified succession of heirs. A good marriage is very important for everyone. This is because the person you get married to is the person that you are going to spend the rest of your life with. In the time that Austen wrote her novel, marriage was for life. There was no way out of a marriage. Divorce was not a common occurrence as it is today. A good marriage is important because you and your partner are together "to have and to hold, in sickness and in health" There are many effects of pride on the relationship of Darcy and Elizabeth. In chapter 33, Darcy says, "It distressed her a little," this evidence, tell us that Darcy thinks that she likes another man called Colonel Fitzwilliam. He believes that she will marry to have financial security because Colonel Fitzwilliam is rich. However, Elizabeth knows that she will marry for love and not for money. So Darcy is shown to be prejudiced against Elizabeth, because she is of low... ...rcy, and Elizabeth's relationship. I think that both characters have each other to blame for the inconveniences they caused each other. They are both proud of their own social status and they both do not which to be judged. However they both are prejudiced towards each other in many senses. Darcy is prejudice towards Elizabeth because he believes that she should be flattered that he has proposed to Elizabeth, being of a lower class than he is. On the other hand, Elizabeth is prejudiced towards Darcy, because she judges him on first impressions and on what she hears about him. I think that this pride and this prejudice that both characters poses, only causes them to be distant from each other for a longer period of time and that they should have been a happy couple form the start. This could have been done if they did not let their pride come in the way.

How To Become A Less Aggressive Driver Essay -- essays research papers

Statistics has shown that road rages has been increased over the years. Where do you usually feel the most impatient and angry? If you are like the most of people, driving in traffic is probably high on your list. No matter what you do it remains the same. Looking at most major highways these days, you probably would think you were on a racetrack instead of a roadway. For being that, there are three excellent reasons for becoming a less aggressive driver. First, driving aggressively is not healthy for you. Second, you ended up saving your life and getting the place you want to go safely. Third, when you are aggressive, you put yourself, passenger and everyone around you in extreme danger. When you are an aggressive driver, your blood pressure goes up, your grip on the wheel tightens, your eyes are strained, and your thoughts are spinning out of control. You would feel a lot worst than before you get into the car. But when you make the right decision to become a less aggressive driver, you start using your time in the car to relax. Driving is not like on the racetrack, plus you don’t own the road either. On the other hand try to see your driving not only as a way of getting somewhere, but as a chance to breathe and to reflect. Rather than tensing your muscles, see if you can relax them instead. I even have a few records that are specifically suited toward muscular relaxation. Sometimes I pop one and listen. By the time I reach my destination I feel more relaxed than I did b...

One Life to Live (soap opera) :: essays research papers

One Life to Live is a soap opera broadcasted on the ABC channel on the weekdays. I started to watch this show when I was a sophomore in high school, and when I used to come home from school, my mom would be watching it. That is how I got addicted to it. The story takes place in a town called Llanview. One Life to Live appeals to many viewers because the show keeps the viewers hanging onto the episode’s next scene. The viewers know that if they watch the last scenes of one episode, then, the next day, the story may change or something unexpected might happen. This is how the viewer gets attached to the show. For example, a couple of weeks ago, one of the last scenes was with Jen with a pregnancy test in her hand. If people watched the show the next day, the pregnancy test was not hers. It was her mother’s. Her mother had also taken a pregnancy test the same day and had switched the tests on her. Then, the scene was cut with a commercial. The story was that her mother was pregnant, not Jen. This catches viewers to watch the show the next day because then, they want to know why her mother would do such a thing. The next day, the show is done the same way with the last scenes. There would be a scene that is cut off so that the viewers have to watch it again just to find out what happens the next day. Another way that keeps the viewers watching One Life to Live is how they never know who is going to be broadcasted the next day. There are so many characters that it is unlikely for all of them to be on each episode. For example, Todd, Blair, and Star are one family. Todd and Blair are the parents of their ten-year old Star. One day, the three of them might be broadcasted together in the same episode. The next day, Todd might be on an excursion throughout the show whereas Blair and Star are not even viewed. This is what occurs with almost all the characters. So viewers get attached to see who will be viewed the next day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One Life to Live also appeals to the viewers because of how the characters all relate to one another and some of the characters do not even know that they are related to someone else somehow. One Life to Live (soap opera) :: essays research papers One Life to Live is a soap opera broadcasted on the ABC channel on the weekdays. I started to watch this show when I was a sophomore in high school, and when I used to come home from school, my mom would be watching it. That is how I got addicted to it. The story takes place in a town called Llanview. One Life to Live appeals to many viewers because the show keeps the viewers hanging onto the episode’s next scene. The viewers know that if they watch the last scenes of one episode, then, the next day, the story may change or something unexpected might happen. This is how the viewer gets attached to the show. For example, a couple of weeks ago, one of the last scenes was with Jen with a pregnancy test in her hand. If people watched the show the next day, the pregnancy test was not hers. It was her mother’s. Her mother had also taken a pregnancy test the same day and had switched the tests on her. Then, the scene was cut with a commercial. The story was that her mother was pregnant, not Jen. This catches viewers to watch the show the next day because then, they want to know why her mother would do such a thing. The next day, the show is done the same way with the last scenes. There would be a scene that is cut off so that the viewers have to watch it again just to find out what happens the next day. Another way that keeps the viewers watching One Life to Live is how they never know who is going to be broadcasted the next day. There are so many characters that it is unlikely for all of them to be on each episode. For example, Todd, Blair, and Star are one family. Todd and Blair are the parents of their ten-year old Star. One day, the three of them might be broadcasted together in the same episode. The next day, Todd might be on an excursion throughout the show whereas Blair and Star are not even viewed. This is what occurs with almost all the characters. So viewers get attached to see who will be viewed the next day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One Life to Live also appeals to the viewers because of how the characters all relate to one another and some of the characters do not even know that they are related to someone else somehow.

Part One Friday

Barry Fairbrother's body had been moved to the undertaker's. The deep black cuts in the white scalp, like the grooves of skates on ice, were hidden by his forest of thick hair. Cold, waxen and empty, the body lay, re-dressed in Barry's anniversary dinner shirt and trousers, in a dimly lit viewing room where soft music played. Touches of discreet make-up had returned a life-like glow to his skin. It was almost as though he slept; but not quite. Barry's two brothers, his widow and his four children went to bid the body goodbye on the eve of the burial. Mary had been undecided, almost until the minute of departure, as to whether she should allow all of the children to see their father's remains. Declan was a sensitive boy, prone to nightmares. It was while she was still in a fever pitch of indecision on Friday afternoon that there was an upset. Colin ‘Cubby' Wall had decided that he wanted to go and say goodbye to Barry's body too. Mary, usually compliant and agreeable, had found this excessive. Her voice had grown shrill on the telephone to Tessa; then she had begun to cry again, and said that it was just that she had not planned a large procession past Barry, that this was really a family affair †¦ Dreadfully apologetic, Tessa said that she quite understood, and was then left to explain to Colin, who retreated into a mortified, wounded silence. He had simply wanted to stand alone beside Barry's body and pay silent homage to a man who had occupied a unique place in his life. Colin had poured truths and secrets he had confided to no other friend into Barry's ears, and Barry's small brown eyes, robin bright, had never ceased to regard him with warmth and kindness. Barry had been Colin's closest ever friend, giving him an experience of male comradeship he had never known before moving to Pagford, and was sure he would never have again. That he, Colin, who felt himself to be perpetually the outsider and the oddball, for whom life was a matter of daily struggle, had managed to forge a friendship with the cheerful, popular and eternally optimistic Barry, had always seemed a small miracle. Colin clutched what was left of his dignity to him, resolved never to hold this against Mary, and spent the rest of the day meditating on how surprised and hurt Barry would have been, surely, at his widow's attitude. Three miles outside Pagford, in an attractive cottage called the Smithy, Gavin Hughes was trying to fight off an intensifying gloom. Mary had called earlier. In a voice that trembled with the weight of tears, she had explained how the children had all contributed ideas for tomorrow's funeral service. Siobhan had grown a sunflower from seed, and was going to cut it and put it on top of the coffin. All four kids had written letters to put inside the casket with their father. Mary had composed one too, and was going to put it in Barry's shirt pocket, over his heart. Gavin put down the receiver, sickened. He did not want to know about the children's letters, nor about the long-nurtured sunflower, yet his mind kept returning to these things as he ate lasagne alone at his kitchen table. Though he would have done anything to avoid reading it, he kept trying to imagine what Mary had written in her letter. A black suit was hanging in dry-cleaner's polythene in his bedroom, like an unwelcome guest. His appreciation of the honour Mary had done him, in publicly acknowledging him as one of those closest to the popular Barry, had long since been overwhelmed by dread. By the time he was washing up his plate and cutlery at the sink, Gavin would have gladly missed the funeral altogether. As for the idea of viewing his dead friend's body, it had not, and would never have occurred to him. He and Kay had had a nasty row the previous evening, and had not spoken since. It had all been triggered by Kay asking Gavin if he would like her to go with him to the funeral. ‘Christ, no,' Gavin had said, before he could stop himself. He had seen her expression, and knew instantly that she had heard. Christ, no, people will think we're a couple. Christ, no, why would I want you? And although these were precisely his feelings, he had attempted to bluff his way through. ‘I mean, you didn't know him, did you? It'd be a bit weird, wouldn't it?' But Kay had let rip; tried to corner him, to make him tell her what he really felt, what he wanted, what future he envisioned for the two of them. He had fought back with every weapon in his arsenal, being alternately obtuse, evasive and pedantic, for it was wonderful how you could obscure an emotional issue by appearing to seek precision. At last she had told him to get out of her house; he had obeyed, but he knew that it was not over. That would be way too much to hope for. Gavin's reflection in the kitchen window was drawn and miserable; Barry's stolen future seemed to hang over his own life like a looming cliff; he felt inadequate and guilty, but he still wished that Kay would move back to London. Night drew in over Pagford, and in the Old Vicarage Parminder Jawanda perused her wardrobe, wondering what to wear to say goodbye to Barry. She had several dark dresses and suits, any one of which would be appropriate, and yet still she looked backwards and forwards along the rail of clothes, mired in indecision. Wear a sari. It'll upset Shirley Mollison. Go on, wear a sari. It was so stupid to think that – mad and wrong – and even worse to think it in Barry's voice. Barry was dead; she had endured nearly five days of deep grief for him, and tomorrow they would bury him in the earth. The prospect was unpleasant to Parminder. She had always hated the idea of interment, of a body lying whole under the ground, slowly rotting away, riddled with maggots and flies. The Sikh way was to cremate and to scatter the ashes in running water. She let her eyes wander up and down the hanging garments, but her saris, worn to family weddings and get-togethers back in Birmingham, seemed to call to her. What was this strange urge to don one? It felt uncharacteristically exhibitionist. She reached out to touch the folds of her favourite, dark blue and gold. She had last worn it to the Fairbrothers' New Year's party, when Barry had attempted to teach her to jive. It had been a most unsuccessful experiment, mainly because he did not know what he was doing himself; but she could remember laughing as she almost never laughed, uncontrollably, madly, the way she had seen drunk women laugh. The sari was elegant and feminine, forgiving of middle-aged spread: Parminder's mother, who was eighty-two, wore it daily. Parminder herself had no need of its camouflaging properties: she was as slim as she had been at twenty. Yet she pulled out the long, dark length of soft material and held it up against her dressing gown, letting it fall to caress her bare feet, looking down its length at its subtle embroidery. To wear it would feel like a private joke between herself and Barry, like the cow-faced house and all the funny things Barry had said about Howard, as they walked away from interminable, ill-humoured council meetings. There was a terrible weight on Parminder's chest, but did not the Guru Granth Sahib exhort friends and relatives of the dead not to show grief, but to celebrate their loved one's reunion with God? In an effort to keep traitorous tears at bay, Parminder silently intoned the night-time prayer, the kirtan sohila. My friend, I urge you that this is the opportune time to serve the saints. Earn divine profit in this world and live in peace and comfort in the next. Life is shortening day and night. O mind, meet the Guru and set right your affairs †¦ Lying on her bed in her dark room, Sukhvinder could hear what every member of her family was doing. There was the distant murmur of the television directly below her, punctuated by the muffled laughter of her brother and her father, who were watching a Friday-night comedy show. She could make out her elder sister's voice across the landing, talking on her mobile to one of her many friends. Nearest of all was her mother, clunking and scraping in the built-in wardrobe on the other side of the wall. Sukhvinder had drawn the curtains over her window and placed a draught excluder, shaped like a long sausage dog, along the bottom of her door. In the absence of a lock, the dog impeded the door's progress; it gave her warning. She was sure that nobody would come in, though. She was where she ought to be, doing what she ought to be doing. Or so they thought. She had just performed one of her dreadful daily rituals: the opening of her Facebook page, and the removal of another post from a sender she did not know. As often as she blocked the person bombarding her with these messages, they changed their profile and sent more. She never knew when one would appear. Today's had been a black and white image, a copy of a nineteenth-century circus poster. La Veritable Femme a Barbe, Miss Anne Jones Elliot. It showed the photograph of a woman in a lacy dress, with long dark hair and a luxuriant beard and moustache. She was convinced that it was Fats Wall who was sending them, although it might have been somebody else. Dane Tully and his friends, for instance, who made soft, grunting ape-like noises whenever she spoke in English. They would have done it to anybody of her colour; there were hardly any brown faces at Winterdown. It made her feel humiliated and stupid, especially as Mr Garry never told them off. He affected not to hear them, or else to hear only background chatter. Perhaps he, too, thought that Sukhvinder Kaur Jawanda was an ape, a hairy ape. Sukhvinder lay on her back on top of her covers and wished with all of her being that she was dead. If she could have achieved suicide, simply by willing it, she would have done it without hesitation. Death had come to Mr Fairbrother; why could it not happen to her? Better yet, why could they not swap places? Niamh and Siobhan could have their father back, and she, Sukhvinder, could simply slip into non-being: wiped out, wiped clean. Her self-disgust was like a nettle suit; every part of her prickled and burnt with it. She had to will herself, moment by moment, to endure, to remain stationary; not to rush to do the one and only thing that helped. The whole family had to be in bed before she acted. But it was agony to lie like this, listening to her own breathing, conscious of the useless weight of her own ugly and disgusting body on the bed. She liked to think of drowning, of sinking down into cool green water, and feeling herself slowly pressed into nothingness †¦ The great hermaphrodite sits quiet and still †¦ Shame ran down her body like a burning rash as she lay in the darkness. She had never heard the word before Fats Wall spoke it in maths on Wednesday. She would not have been able to look it up: she was dyslexic. But he had been kind enough to explain what it meant, so there was no need. The hairy man-woman †¦ He was worse than Dane Tully, whose taunts had no variety. Fats Wall's evil tongue fashioned a fresh, tailor-made torture every time he saw her, and she could not shut her ears. His every insult and jibe was branded on Sukhvinder's memory, sticking there as no useful fact had ever done. If she could have been examined on the things he had called her, she would have achieved the first A grade of her life. Tash ‘N' Tits. Hermaphrodite. The Bearded Dumb-bell. Hairy, heavy and stupid. Plain and clumsy. Lazy, according to her mother, whose criticism and exasperation rained down upon her daily. A bit slow, according to her father, who said it with an affection that did not mitigate his lack of interest. He could afford to be nice about her bad grades. He had Jaswant and Rajpal, both top of every class they took. ‘Poor old Jolly,' Vikram would say carelessly, after glancing through her report. But her father's indifference was preferable to her mother's anger. Parminder did not seem able to comprehend or accept that she had produced a child who was not gifted. If any of the subject teachers made the slightest hint that Sukhvinder might try harder, Parminder seized upon it in triumph. ‘†Sukhvinder is easily discouraged and needs to have more faith in her abilities.† There! You see? Your teacher is saying you don't try hard enough, Sukhvinder.' Of the only class in which Sukhvinder had reached the second set, computing – Fats Wall was not there, so she sometimes dared put up her hand to answer questions – Parminder said dismissively, ‘The amount of time you children spend on the internet, I'm surprised you're not in set one.' Never would it have occurred to Sukhvinder to tell either of her parents about the ape grunts or about Stuart Wall's endless stream of malice. It would mean confessing that people beyond the family also saw her as sub-standard and worthless. In any case, Parminder was friends with Stuart Wall's mother. Sukhvinder sometimes wondered why Stuart Wall did not worry about their mothers' connection, but concluded that he knew that she would not give him away. He saw through her. He saw her cowardice, as he knew her every worst thought about herself, and was able to articulate it for the amusement of Andrew Price. She had fancied Andrew Price once, before she realized that she was utterly unfit to fancy anyone; before she realized that she was laughable and strange. Sukhvinder heard her father's voice and Rajpal's, growing louder as they came up the stairs. Rajpal's laughter reached a crescendo right outside her door. ‘It's late,' she heard her mother call from her bedroom. ‘Vikram, he should be in bed.' Vikram's voice came through Sukhvinder's door, close by, loud and warm. ‘Are you asleep already, Jolly?' It was her childhood nickname, bestowed in irony. Jaswant had been Jazzy, and Sukhvinder, a grizzling, unhappy baby, rarely smiling, had become Jolly. ‘No,' Sukhvinder called back. ‘I've only just gone to bed.' ‘Well, it might interest you to know that your brother, here – ‘ But what Rajpal had done was lost in his shouting protests, his laughter; she heard Vikram moving away, still teasing Rajpal. Sukhvinder waited for the house to fall silent. She clung to the prospect of her only consolation, as she would have hugged a life-belt, waiting, waiting, for them all to go to bed †¦ (And as she waited, she remembered that evening not long ago, at the end of rowing training, when they had been walking through the darkness towards the car park by the canal. You were so tired after rowing. Your arms and your stomach muscles ached, but it was a good clean pain. She always slept properly after rowing. And then Krystal, bringing up the rear of the group with Sukhvinder, had called her a silly Paki bitch. It had come out of nowhere. They had all been messing around with Mr Fairbrother. Krystal thought she was being funny. She used ‘fucking' interchangeably with ‘very', and seemed to see no difference between them. Now she said ‘Paki' as she would have said ‘dozy' or ‘dim'. Sukhvinder was conscious of her face falling, and experienced the familiar sliding, scalding sensation in her stomach. ‘What did you say?' Mr Fairbrother had wheeled around to face Krystal. None of them had ever heard him properly angry before. ‘I di'n mean nuthin',' said Krystal, half taken aback, half defiant. ‘I was on'y jokin'. She knows I was jus' jokin'. Don' yeh?' she demanded of Sukhvinder, who muttered cravenly that she knew it was a joke. ‘I never want to hear you use that word again.' They all knew how much he liked Krystal. They all knew he had paid for her to go on a couple of their trips out of his own pocket. Nobody laughed louder than Mr Fairbrother at Krystal's jokes; she could be very funny. They walked on, and everybody was embarrassed. Sukhvinder was afraid to look at Krystal; she felt guilty, as she always did. They were approaching the people-carrier when Krystal said, so quietly that even Mr Fairbrother did not hear it: ‘I wuz jokin'.' And Sukhvinder said quickly, ‘I know.' ‘Yeah, well. S'ry.' It came out as a mangled monosyllable, and Sukhvinder thought it tactful not to acknowledge it. Nevertheless, it cleaned her out. It restored her dignity. On the way back to Pagford, she initiated, for the first time ever, the singing of the team's lucky song, asking Krystal to start with Jay-Z's rap.) Slowly, very slowly, her family seemed to be putting themselves to bed at last. Jaswant spent a long time in the bathroom, clinking and crashing around. Sukhvinder waited until Jaz had finished primping herself, until her parents had stopped talking in their room, for the house to fall silent. Then, at last, it was safe. She sat up and pulled the razor blade out from a hole in the ear of her old cuddly rabbit. She had stolen the blade from Vikram's store in the bathroom cabinet. She got off the bed and groped for the torch on her shelf, and a handful of tissues, then moved into the furthest part of her room, into the little round turret in the corner. Here, she knew, the torch's light would be confined, and would not show around the edges of the door. She sat down with her back against the wall, pushed up the sleeve of her nightshirt and examined by torchlight the marks left by her last session, still visible, criss-crossed and dark on her arm, but healing. With a slight shiver of fear that was a blessed relief in its narrow, immediate focus, she placed the blade halfway up her forearm and sliced into her own flesh. Sharp, hot pain and the blood came at once; when she had cut herself right up to her elbow she pressed the wad of tissues onto the long wound, making sure nothing leaked onto her nightshirt or the carpet. After a minute or two, she cut again, horizontally, across the first incision, making a ladder, pausing to press and to mop as she went. The blade drew the pain away from her screaming thoughts and transmuted it into animal burning of nerves and skin: relief and release in every cut. At last she wiped the blade clean and surveyed the mess she had made; the wounds intersecting, bleeding, hurting so much that tears were rolling down her face. She might sleep if the pain did not keep her awake; but she must wait for ten or twenty minutes, until the fresh cuts had clotted over. She sat with her knees drawn up, closed her wet eyes, and leaned against the wall beneath the window. Some of her self-hatred had oozed out with the blood. Her mind drifted away to Gaia Bawden, the new girl, who had taken such an unaccountable fancy to her. Gaia could have hung out with anyone, with her looks and that London accent, yet she kept seeking out Sukhvinder at lunchtimes and on the bus. Sukhvinder did not understand it. She almost wanted to ask Gaia what she thought she was playing at; day by day she expected the new girl to realize that she, Sukhvinder, was hairy and ape-like, slow and stupid, someone to be despised and grunted at and insulted. No doubt she would recognize her mistake soon, and Sukhvinder would be left, as usual, to the bored pity of her oldest friends, the Fairbrother twins.