To What Extent Do You Think Aristophanes free essay sample

Through the character of Xanthias, Aristophanes claims that he does not â€Å"intend to make mincemeat of Cleon this time†. As this is during the opening of the play, the audience may assume that â€Å"Wasps† is not a serious critique of political matters at this time, however many relations of Cleon are named which does suggest a political target of importance. Aristophanes can be seen to seriously criticise Cleon during the debate between Bdelycleon and Philocleon. A distinct contrast of personalities and views is portrayed through these characters from the first introduction of said characters, as â€Å"Bdely†, meaning hate, or puke, suggests a hatred of Cleon due to the use of â€Å"Cleon† as a suffix, and â€Å"Philo† meaning love, suggests a fond admiration of the archon. It is this difference in opinions which divides the father and son and causes the debate. Through the character of Bdelycleon, Aristophanes insists that Cleon takes advantage of the jurymen, paying them less than ten per cent of the national income of which they produce. We will write a custom essay sample on To What Extent Do You Think Aristophanes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is suggested that the people elected to rule over the state receive all of the benefits whilst the jurymen, who work for the state, receive merely the leftovers. It is also suggested that Cleon encourages the jurymen and more trials to take place in order to raise funds and gain more money, not for the sake of justice. Further critiques of Cleon are shown through Sosias’ dream. These critiques, however, appear more light-hearted and mere immature digs at the physical appearance of the archon as â€Å"a rapacious-looking creature with the figure of a whale† depicts Cleon speaking to the Athenian citizens. It could also be argued that this is a clear critique of the relationship between Cleon and the people. This is because the people are portrayed as the sheep in Sosias’ dream, who just follow one another under the leadership of Cleon, all wearing the same little cloaks and all listening intently to the speaker before them, producing a more serious critique than mere name-calling. Xanthias’ response appears to be a more personal attack of Cleon rather than the Athenian citizens who follow him under his reign.Xanthias response of that dream â€Å"stinks of a tanner’s yard† is a direct insult of Cleon as he was born and raised in a tanner’s family, but this not only insults Cleon, but also directly enforces the impression that the whale speaking to the sheep â€Å"with a voice like a scalded sow† is a representation of Cleon. Similar to this, the representation of Cleon is also shown during the faux trial in the courtyard of Philocleon and Bdely cleon’s home. Clear links are portrayed in rder to represent Cleon as the prosecuting dog in the trial. The â€Å"Dog of Cydathenaeum† is an obvious link to Cleon which the audience would recognise as Cydathenaeum is the deme of which Cleon belongs. The defendant, Labes of Aexone, presents similarities to Laches, who faced accusations from Cleon for misappropriation of public funds while in Sicily. Aristophanes even goes as far to include Sicilian cheese in the play, which is supposedly what the dog Labes, meaning ‘snatcher’, had stolen.Laches had belonged to the deme of Aexone, so this trial posed many recognisable associations which the audience would comprehend as distinct references to Cleon. The faux trial seems like a pointless and frivolous affair, as stealing cheese could be seen as a minor crime and by portraying Cleon as a dog accusing another dog on immoral grounds of a trivial crime, Cleon could be seen to be criticised. The law courts too, face criticism from Aristophanes in ‘Wasps’.Aristophanes portrays the jurymen as being less concerned with justice but only concerned in the pay of three obols, and anything else they can get out of the job through bribes, such as the offer of the defend ants daughter for sexual favours or the pleasure the jurymen may have found in a nude boy. It is evident that the jurymen also enjoy enforcing the law as they please and causing harm through the power they believe they have by deciding the fate of any defendant who crosses their path. Yet, even though these jurymen are obsessed with securing the conviction they are easily fooled by demagogues such as Cleon, and therefore manipulated into being taking advantage of and ordered around for a mere three obols. On the other hand, Aristophanes appears to display the law courts in a much more comedic sense to show the foolish structure of the system in its entirety. By creating a parody of the trial procedure Aristophanes appears to present the trials as an act which could be set up anywhere, which gives the impression of a masquerade or show, rather than a system of justice.Much like previous works of Aristophanes, ‘Wasps’ presents usual, everyday serious matters into ludicrous and trivial affairs, not to be taken seriously. The main comedic element of the law courts has to be the jurymen, presented as an exaggerated caricature of a vicious yet moronic swarm of wasps. It is this caricature which prevents the law courts being taken seriously in the play, as t he jurymen would often be older men with a stern mind, as â€Å"it takes a clever speaker to convert a hostile jury†. The comical image of the jurymen all ressed as wasps, prancing around the stage singing in chorus creates an extremely comical effect, sure to make the audience of the play laugh. By presenting the jurymen in such a manner Aristophanes is successful in making his audience laugh, but I think at the same time he displays the jurymen as idiots and people who cannot be taken seriously as they are easily influenced and he presents them as a mockery to the justice system by presenting them in a costume with stings in their rears as a visual representation of the pain they inflict.Moreover, the character of Philocleon is an individual member of the swarm of wasps who also makes the audience laugh. The roles of the father and son appear to be reversed as Bdelycleon will go to extreme lengths to contain his father in the house for his well-being. The use of methods to do so create a comical atmosphere as the absurdity of covering the entire house with a net seems surreal.This absurdity is also presented through Philocleon as he will also go to extreme lengths to escape in order to go to the court, as he is a ‘trialophile’, meaning he loves to sit in the c ourt as a member of the jury and decide the fate of the defendants. The actions of Philocleon present him to the audience as slightly crazy, and by clinging to the stomach of a donkey and pretending to be smoke blowing up the chimney he is clearly desperate to escape the netted house.It also becomes apparent that even when removed from the law courts and trials he is still nothing short of a nuisance to his son, Bdelycleon. As Bdelycleon attempts to morph his father into a socialite, the impression is given that it is not only Philocleon and the jurymen who are corrupt in some way, but also Bdelycleon. This is because he criticises Cleon as greedy and insists he takes advantage of the jurymen, yet he is still insistent that the best thing for his father is for him to associate with the likes of Cleon in order for the family to move up in the social ladder.By doing to Aristophanes gives the impression that although Bdelycleon sees it as wrong for Cleon to treat his father as a juryman in such a manner, when him and his family are on the opposite end of the social ladder and are not affected by this corruption, he simply does not care. Aristophanes also touches on the social comment of the time, as Philocleon undergoes a complete role reversal from a vicious juryman to an anarchic, violent drunk. However, in both attitudes of the character, he still presents problems for his son, which creates a comical effect as it is nusual for the son to have to restrain his father. The drunk and sex-crazed behaviour is also odd behaviour for a senior citizen and it is much unexpected that an elderly member of the state would attempt to run off with a flute girl and then pretend that the girl is a sacrificial torch from the marketplace, or cause physical harm to other citizens. Aristophanes also plays on the paranoia of the richer citizens as he presents the slaves drinking and falling asleep instead of carrying out the task or job that they have been given sufficiently. This could be seen as a serious issue as the audience may panic about what their own slaves could be doing at that moment while they were out, but by including jokes during the slaves’ conversation, about members of the audience such as Cleomenes, Aristophanes ensures a flippant manner is presented, which would also make the audience laugh. During the Parabasis of the chorus, Aristophanes appears fairly arrogant. This is because he is insistent that the audience will never witness humour or comedy as excellent as his plays.He criticises the audience for not appreciating his previous work, which could be taken as a serious note because the audience would not find such humour in being told â€Å"the author has a bone to pick with you† as they did not lavish him with the praise which he believed his work deserved. Aristophanes not only criticises the audience during this Parabasis but also criticises Cleon, in a more serious sense than previously in the play as this is dur ing the Parabasis which is a less comical and more serious interval in the humour of the ‘Wasps’.Aristophanes reminds the audience he had previously taken â€Å"on the greatest monster in the land†, which indicates he believes Cleon is the worst political individual in the state of Athens. He then indulges in further name-calling such as â€Å"jagged-toothed monster† with a heinous stench. This demonstrates a clear critique of Cleon in what could possibly have been a humorous manner, although I would argue that given the presentation of a serious criticism of the audience, this would be a less than light-hearted attack of Cleon as.

Buddhist Views on War

Buddhist Views on War To Buddhists, war is akusala- unskillful, evil. Yet Buddhists sometimes fight in wars. Is war always wrong? Is there such a thing as a just war theory in Buddhism? Buddhists at War Buddhist scholars say there is no justification for war in Buddhist teaching. Yet Buddhism has not always separated itself from war. There is historical documentation that in 621 CE monks from the Shaolin Temple of China fought in a battle that helped establish the Tang Dynasty. In centuries past, the heads of Tibetan Buddhist schools formed strategic alliances with Mongol warlords and reaped benefits from the warlords victories.​ The links between Zen Buddhism and samurai warrior culture were partly responsible for the shocking collusion of Zen and Japanese militarism in the 1930s and 1940s. For several years, a virulent jingoism seized Japanese Zen, and teachings were twisted and corrupted to excuse killing. Zen institutions not only supported Japanese military aggression but raised money to manufacture war planes and weapons. Observed from a distance of time and culture, these actions and ideas are inexcusable corruptions of dharma, and any just war theory that arose from them were the products of delusion. This episode serves as a lesson to us not to be swept up in the passions of the cultures we live in. Of course, in volatile times that is easier said than done. In recent years, Buddhist monks have been leaders of political and social activism in Asia. The Saffron Revolution in Burma and the March 2008 demonstrations in Tibet  are the most prominent examples. Most of these monks are committed to nonviolence, although there are always exceptions. More troubling are the monks of Sri Lanka who lead the Jathika Hela Urumaya, National Heritage Party, a strongly nationalist group that advocates a military solution to Sri Lankas ongoing civil war. Is War Always Wrong? Buddhism challenges us to look beyond a simple right/wrong dichotomy. In Buddhism, an act that sows the seeds of harmful karma is regrettable even if it unavoidable. Sometimes Buddhists fight to defend their nations, homes, and families. This cannot be seen as wrong, yet even in these circumstances, to harbor hate for ones enemies is still a poison. And any act of war that sows the seeds of future harmful karma is still akusala. Buddhist morality is based on principles, not rules. Our principles are those expressed in the Precepts and the Four Immeasurables- loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. Our principles also include kindness, gentleness, mercy, and tolerance. Even the most extreme circumstances do not erase those principles or make it righteous or good to violate them. Yet neither is it good or righteous to stand aside while innocent people are slaughtered. And the late Ven. Dr. K Sri Dhammananda, a Theravadin monk  and scholar, said, The Buddha did not teach His followers to surrender to any form of evil power be it a human or supernatural being. To Fight or Not to Fight In What Buddhist Believe, the Venerable Dhammananda wrote, Buddhists should not be the aggressors even in protecting their religion or anything else. They must try their best to avoid any kind of violent act. Sometimes they may be forced to go to war by others who do not respect the concept of the brotherhood of humans as taught by the Buddha. They may be called upon to defend their country from external aggression, and as long as they have not renounced the worldly life, they are duty-bound to join in the struggle for peace and freedom. Under these circumstances, they cannot be blamed for becoming soldiers or being involved in defence. However, if everyone were to follow the advice of the Buddha, there would be no reason for war to take place in this world. It is the duty of every cultured person to find all possible ways and means to settle disputes in a peaceful manner, without declaring war to kill his or her fellow human beings. As always in questions of morality, when choosing whether to fight or not to fight, a Buddhist must examine his own motivations honestly. It is too easy to rationalize one has pure motives when in fact one is fearful and angry. For most of us, self-honesty at this level takes extraordinary effort and maturity, and history tells us that even senior priests with years of practice can lie to themselves. Love Your Enemy We are called upon also to extend loving kindness and compassion to our enemies, even when facing them on a battlefield. Thats not possible, you may say, yet this is the Buddhist path.   People sometimes seem to think that one is obligated to hate ones enemies. They may say How can you speak well of someone who hates you? The Buddhist approach to this is that we can still choose not to hate people back. If you have to fight someone, then fight. But hate is optional, and you may choose otherwise.   So often in human history, war has sewn seeds that ripened into the next war. And often, the battles themselves were less responsible for evil karma than the way occupying armies treated civilians or the way the victor humiliated and oppressed the conquered. At the very least, when it is time to stop fighting, stop fighting. History shows us that the victor who treats the conquered with magnanimity, mercy, and leniency is more likely to achieve the lasting victory and eventual peace. Buddhists in the Military Today there are more than 3,000 Buddhists serving in the U.S. armed forces, including some Buddhist chaplains. Todays Buddhist soldiers and sailors are not the first in the U.S. military. During World War II, approximately half of the troops in Japanese-American units, such as the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Infantry, were Buddhists. In the Spring 2008 issue of Tricycle, Travis Duncan wrote of the Vast Refuge Dharma Hall Chapel at the U.S. Air Force Academy. There are 26 cadets currently at the academy who practice Buddhism. At the dedication of the chapel, the Reverend Dai En Wiley Burch of the Hollow Bones Rinzai Zen school said, Without compassion, war is a criminal activity. Sometimes it is necessary to take life, but we never take life for granted.

Onsumer behaviour and decision making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Onsumer behaviour and decision making - Essay Example It is only a few decades back that consumer behavior emerged as a highly specialized area under marketing. â€Å"Consumer Behaviour is a branch which deals with the various stages a consumer goes through before purchasing products or services for his end use.† (Management Study Guide, 2012) There wasn’t the concept of consumer behavior when Ford started making their cars on assembly line. The only color that the customers could get then on the car was black. But as and when industrialization happened and more and more products came into the market, companies started focusing on the desire and need of the customers. This became more important with the beginning of globalization and when companies started cross border business. The concepts that the marketers were focusing on was market segmentation, targeting and positioning. But in the recent years, the marketing practitioners are puzzled about these concepts. They are doubtful whether these traditional concepts are val id for current marketing environment. The objective of this essay is to analyse the situation in the light of these concepts in the current environment and advise the marketers for the best way to approach customers. Traditional Marketing Practices Segmentation, targeting and positioning are three core concepts of traditional marketing practices. Marketers have been focusing on these concepts to the core of understanding the consumer behaviour and introducing products that the customers want. Segmentation: Market segmentation is the process of identifying and targeting the right customers. â€Å"It is about identifying the specific needs and wants of customer groups and then using those insights into providing products and services which meet customer needs.† (Riley, 2010) Marketers segment the market because the needs and wants differ from one customer to the other. But there definitely can be a group with common characteristics which is in other words called a segment. The most common kinds of segmentation are geographic, demographic, behavioural and psychographic. Geographic segmentation groups customers based on customer location and region. Demographic segmentation does it based on age, gender, occupation, and other demographic factors. Behavioural segmentation divides customers based on the customer behaviours and psychographic segmentation does it based on the personality and lifestyle of the customers. Debates have emerged recently regarding the relevance of market segmentation in the modern marketing environment. The behavioral aspects of customers are changing in such a way that they are not limited by the demographic, lifestyle, or other segmentation factors. An example for this is the initial failure of the world’s cheapest car Tata Nano. Tata segmented the market and targeted the Nano car to the common man. Least importance was given to value of the product. But when the car was actually launched in the market, it made terrible low s ales. When the company made a post launch market study, it was understood that the customers does not want a car that is of least value and the one that is tagged as a cheapest car. The company now revamped the car and entirely changed its marketing strategy and experienced success. (Cleveland, 2011) Targeting: Targeting is the activity that follows segmentation. Targeting is the process of aiming the market that has been identified through the segmentation process. â€Å"Target Marketing refers to a concept in marketing which

Your Career Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Your Career Development - Essay Example Furthermore, I will present an analysis of how my decision related to career has influenced my career prospects – both in the positive and negative ways – and what have I achieved so far. Introduction It will seem odd to say that I have quite a few MBA’s in my family and I have seen them struggle. Since MBA is a family thing I never had much of a choice, but when I got in and decided that I will make best of what I had; I also resolved in my mind that I will do more, and something worthwhile with my life and career, not sit around waiting for someone to offer me a job. Having my own business set up, however small it might be, was the ultimate solution for me. Hard work has never been bothersome to me, but to wait upon others to recognize my potential and tell me what to do is just not my cup of tea. I made up my mind with regard to my career before I joined the MBA, but I never meant to study to get a job, having a business of my own is the ultimate goal for me. My career anchors, lifeline, Wheels of life, strengths exercise and integration allow me to look closely into the choices I have made and the extent to which they favor my career choice. Personal and Career Purpose While thinking about the personal and career purposes I have to take family and work together. I chose to study MBA for lack of choice and to show respect to what my family thought best for me. Seeing the way many MBA’s suffer while waiting for a job I decided that I had to make myself self-sufficient, so much so, that I shouldn’t have to wait for a salary to run my house hold and to fulfill my and my family’s needs. Starting a business from scratch is no easy task, thus I decided to first take advantage of my MBA to gain necessary understanding of how things work in the business world. The course modules have given me an insight into the business world and have made me firm on my decision rather than weakening my resolve. Courses like entrepreneurshi p, HRM, Supply Chain have provided me with a clear and detailed understanding of the functionalities and complexities faced in the world of business. But I still believe that I lack in understanding of how to make things happen for me when it comes to starting a business from scratch and running it successfully. The severity of competition is becoming even more evident with the crisis threatening businesses all around. After an MBA, I consider it necessary to take courses that offer understanding of starting a business. Free courses and certifications are available online to take. These courses provide with all kinds of information on businesses, financing, accounts and marketing strategies (Norman). Online workshops along with videos from the IRS are also an instrumental tool towards gaining the understanding of personal business (Norman). Such courses and research are free and only require an investment of time. Significance of My Own Business My own business holds significance fo r me in multiple ways. I have always aspired to be unique and to stand out. I enjoy being unique and creating uniqueness. My business will be my own; unique and innovative. Allowing me the freedom of choice I crave. I realized also how much this business is significant to me as I studied about the recession during my classes and how people have been losing their jobs. So many jobless people and such limited opportunities, made me think of creating my own circle of opportunity which will not only make me self-sufficient but also will allow me to help other jobless people by recruiting them. My key anchors, independence, sense of service and entrepreneurship enabled me to realize how significant this venture is for me. Whose Support Will Matter? Rome was not

Siebel Forced-Ranking System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Siebel Forced-Ranking System - Essay Example In a sense, force ranking is a more truthful way of implementing performance management. Managers are forced to differentiate talent and the process of forced ranking also forces managers to spot and champion talent. Since the forced-ranking system requires that criteria for ranking need to be set first and foremost, the system also provides information that conventional performance appraisal systems cannot. The deliberations among managers in determining criteria help them define and understand what are important for success of the organization. Subsequently, knowing the criteria that managers use to appraise performance increases the probability that employees will adjust their behavior in order to succeed. A forced-ranking system can also provide an independent verification of performance appraisal data. Significant variations in the talent data provided by the performance appraisal system and the data provided by the forced ranking process should be worth delving into. Better performing employees may be motivated by a forced-ranking system because they feel appreciated and not treated in the same way as underperformers. In terms of teamwork and collaboration, forced-ranking may also have a positive effect, because those who do not want to cooperate with the team or in a collaborative effort are eliminated. Organiz Organizations implementing forced-ranking may be attractive to high-quality job applicants who would see such a system as one where their contributions would be recognized and rewarded and would therefore be eager to work for the organization, thereby improving the overall quality of the applicant pool. Company investors may view a forced ranking system as management's commitment to accountability and to operations efficiency. Cons May be unfair to people performing at an acceptable level, with attendant legal repercussions in terms of human rights. May create an unhealthy star-cult culture. It may not possible to continually improve the overall potential of a workforce by removing the bottom dwellers and replacing them with better employees. As standards are raised, it would be more difficult to find applicants to replace those that have been removed. A job applicant who is aware that an employer uses a forced ranking system may feel that such a culture would be stressful or risky, and not consider the organization, causing the loss of high-potential applicants. Shareholders might not agree with a forced ranking system because of potential lawsuits or other negative consequences. Some companies using forced ranking have become embroiled in discrimination lawsuits brought by employees upset over dismissal or lower pay (Levinson, 2003). The system may create a dysfunctional, hypercompetitive work environment where employees refused to collaborate with one another, such as hoarding knowledge or hoarding customers,

Consumer Awareness of Market Economy

Consumer Awareness of Market Economy We know that the conditions of an economy do not remain static. The factors which influence it keep on changing. The rate of flow of funds also, changes with time in an economy, so people have funds available in different strengths at different moment of time. It affects the lives of people living in that economy because to satisfy their needs they require funds. People always feel a gap, positive or negative, between their needs and required funds. So they do their financial planning. In this project we have tried to find and analyse how and in which ways people are doing financial planning in the prevailing market situations. We have also tried to find the awareness of people about current market situations, awareness of financial planning among them and their interest area of investment. Financial Planning is not a very new concept in India. It had been in practice in earlier social systems also. In the past also, people used to do this in some ways. They used to purchasing pieces of land, jewellery and keep these with them for their bad days. Some of them kept their saved money with so called ‘Mahajanas who used to acting as banker. Though people in the past were involved in some kind of activities related to their financial planning, yet they were not very conscious and aware of the thing and were not doing this very actively. It was so because the joint family system was there in the society and also the economic conditions, in the country, were almost static and not as turbulent and volatile as in current scenario. So people did not feel so much insecure. But after industrial revolution, things started to change. People started to move towards cities in searching of new earning opportunities. This leaded to a dynamic economic condition in the country and a change in family structure in the society. This thing has been continuing for years in the country and today we can observe increasing number of nuclear families and varying economic conditions here. The needs of a person and his consumption habits have also changed significantly. Further, the priorities and these needs of a person also change with change in his life stage. So financial planning has become more relevant and important in current market scenario. But, How many persons are there who understand the meaning of financial planning? How many of them are actively doing it? In which ways are they doing their financial planning? These are some questions we need to find answers so that we can conclude to a result and can act accordingly. We have tried to find the answers of these questions in this project. Personal Financial Success: The Six-Level Pyramid  Ã‚   Using the six-level pyramid to help explain the various building blocks to financial success helps to reveal the development of financial planning and indications, at each level, if instruments that might be considered. At the first level of the pyramid, there are four stages that need to be considered. Before any phase of an action plan can be implemented, an individuals current situation must be determined. One must evaluate their personal income because the amount of money a makes directly affects the amount that person can save. After all debts and living expenses are subtracted form income, one can know how much to put in savings every week, month or year. The amount one puts in savings is very important. This will have bearing on a spouse, children, and retirement life. Saving money should become a top priority in the financial planning realm of life. Goals are another important factor in financial planning. Without goals, a person has nothing to strive for, nothing to look forward to. This should come with ease during the implementation of a financial action plan. Career choice plays a major role in ones ability to live at a certain level in society. There are many factors to consider when making a career choice. They include personal factors, social influences, economic conditions, and trends in the industry. A person must consider these things when deciding on a career if they want to have long-term success in any given profession or calling. Keeping good records and being organized is a necessity for a person with a successful financial action plan. After receipts have been found, invoices filed, and check numbers recorded, one can develop a budget. A budget simply allocates income to different areas of spending. For example, one family may spend two hundred and fifty dollars per week on groceries, while another only spends one hundred per week. A budget can be done on a weekly, bi-weekly , or monthly time frame basis. An important part of an overall budget is taxes. Taxes, in general, include federal and state, occasionally county expenses on land ownings and other purchases. A person should be fully aware of how to calculate their taxable income and on how to get help with taxes. The second level of the pyramid involves managing. The absolute first way to begin with money management is to get the money out of a pocket ( or from under a mattress ) and put it into am interest-bearing account. Before this can be done, however, the best bank suitable to a persons needs mus be located. To do this, one must evaluate the different banks rates, fees, and other factors such as number in branched in the area and the services offered. One should examine the gains and losses of having a checking account as well. Credit is a way of life for million of American today. In my opinion, one must be very cautious when choosing whether or not to use consumer credit. There are almost always hidden costs and consumer traps ready to suck a trusting person in. One should be aware of possible credit mistakes and try their best to avoid them. Also, spending far above ones personal income level can become a major problem if taken advantage of. In the market for loans, the most enduring statement is to Shop Around! A person will never know what could be gotten until they try to look for the best deal. One should be aware of the fluctuation of interest rates and the affect that they will have on the principle amount of money borrowed. The third level of the pyramid illustrates the major purchasing decisions in life. Should I buy that shiny new Mustang on credit or save that money for a down payment on a home in a nicer neighborhood? The allocation of personal funds is one of the most harrowing sets of decisions a person will ever make. The decision to purchase a home is in this set. This will probably be the most expensive purchase one will ever make. One should be sure that the purchase of a new home is not outrageously out of his or her income range and that it meets all of their needs. The second most important purchase would be that of a new vehicle. A car purchase can be an exciting time. Since cars are seen as status symbols in society today, most people attempt to buy one that they cannot afford. This can be ruining to credit and make daily expenses much harder. Day to day existence in todays society can be dangerous if a person does not have adequate insurance coverage for self, spouse, and children ( if any ). The fourth stage of the pyramid deals with the adequate amount of insurance. How much is too much or too little? Risk management is a major factor in this. For example, a race car driver is not going to get a good a rate of insurance as a middle aged accountant. Factors such as car accidents, speeding tickets, safety measures taken, and daily activities such as smoking or drinking all affect the amount different types of insurance will cost an individual. After life insurance, I believe that the next necessity is to have automobile and home insurance. These are the two most likely things that someone might have to call on insurance to cover. Health care and disability insurance truly comes in to play when one has a family, nut possibly when single if severe illness occurs frequently. Finally in the fourth level, a value must for life insurance must be chosen. This is directly affected on who will be left depending on money received from your life insurance. This insurance money can be left as a legacy, as a help for funeral expenses, or even a gift from the deceased. The fifth stage of this financial planning pyramid is about investing. There are four fundamental ways that one can invest. They are stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate. Stocks are divided into two main categories, common stock and preferred stock. Common stock makes money by dividing the value of an investment three ways: income from dividends, dollar appreciation of the stock value, and stock splits. Preferred stock is similar to common stock. However, with preferred stock, the investor receives his/her cash dividends before the holders of common stock receive theirs. There are a number of factors that enable investors to evaluate the value of any certain stock. One can read daily newspapers, and gain information from professional in the stock market field. Bonds are divided into two main categories as well. A corporate bond is a corporations written pledge to repay a specified amount of money plus interest gained over a specific period of time. This total is referred to a s the face value of the bond. Corporations issue bonds in order to have available monies to finance expansions, takeovers, etc. This is referred to as debt financing for a corporation. The other type of bond is one that is issued by the federal, state or a local government agency. The bonds that the federal government sells are referred to as treasury bills, notes, bonds, or savings bonds. These are used to finance the national debt and for the governments everyday activities. A municipal bond is one that is issued by a state or local government. All three of these types are said to be generally risk-free. As a financial planner, I would advise my client to seriously look into bonds. Mutual funds are unique in the fact that there is diversification of the purchased portfolio. A persons money goes into a large pool, which a company then invests in many different stocks. The last type of fundamental investing is Real estate. There are different types of real estate investments. For ex ample, your home can be an investment if handled properly or one can purchase commercial property for resale only. The sixth and last stage of the pyramid involves retirement and estate planning. Taking steps now to ensure that a person has money during retirement is particularly important. This should be linked in with the amount of money chosen to save in part one of the financial planning program. Last of all, one must know a little about estate planning. There are legal and personal aspects of this matter. Estate planning is the plan for the disposition of ones property during ones lifetime and at ones death. Legally, everyone needs to have a last will and testament to ensure that their properties are distributed accordingly. A lawyer usually needs to be consulted on this matter. In summary, the most important aspect of financial planning is just what it states-PLANNING. A great deal of money can be gained and saved if the correct methods are incorporated into a persons everyday life and activities. OBJECTIVES We have conducted the study taking following objectives in our concern: To understand customers awareness about current market/ economic scenario. To understand customers awareness about financial planning. To understand how customers do their financial planning. Capture reasons for doing / not doing financial planning. Understand the key areas where investments and savings are made and rational reasons behind the same. Review of Literature Jim Gewert Named Executive Vice President of Worldwide Finance, Planning and Systems for Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group An industry leader since its inception, WBHEG oversees the global distribution of content through packaged goods (Blu-ray Disc and DVD) and digital media in the form of electronic sell-through and video-on-demand via cable, satellite, online and mobile channels, and is a significant developer and publisher for console and online video game titles worldwide. AGL Resources; AGL Resources To Webcast 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 27 During the meeting, AGL Resources Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer John W. Somerhalder II will provide an update on the companys financial and operating performance and its business strategy. 2010 MAY 1 (VerticalNews.com) AGL Resources (NYSE:AGL) will webcast its annual meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, April 27, at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time. During the meeting, AGL Resources Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer John W. Somerhalder II will provide an update on the companys financial and operating performance and its business strategy. The meeting will be held at the AGL Resources corporate headquarters at Ten Peachtree Place in Atlanta. Solutions Financial, Llc; Actfinancially.com Launches Personal Financial Planning Website The site includes personalized financial planning, budgeting, goal-setting tools and reports, a library of information and resources, blogs, tips, financial coaching help to manage money and community features such as forums, message boards and live chat for guidance and support. Financial Planning Steps Needed Now to Prepare for Health Care Bill Outcomes Even though the bill is still a few years from implementation, its not too soon to consider several financial planning strategies now to mitigate significant tax increases for the wealthy and the potential for increased borrowing costs for earners of all income levels, Kahler advises. Walking the Walk: A Financial Planner Teaching His Children In an interview, Daniel M. Stern, CFP, with his children, Lily and Benjamin, talked about financial planning for his kids. Stern said theyve been doing it two years now, since right after they talked. Looking at the idea of an allowance as something you give to the children; you dont base it upon work that theyre doing. Its so they can learn how to handle money and get a sense of the value of money and what can be done with it or not done with it. When it came to charity, they were trying to do it every week, but its not that big of an amount to give. Ben thinks its great. It gives them experience to know how to handle money. Lily also thinks its really good. Stern added that toward the last part of the year they had to adopt a spending moratorium. He thinks in todays society theres a huge amount of materialism. Lessons from Her Father Its no surprise that 30-year-old Kimberly Allman has her finances in order. Her parents guidance dovetailed with her own financial self-discipline. A Cornell Law School alum, Allman uses her financial sensibilities in two jobs: as manager at a nonprofit that helps homeowners avoid foreclosure, and as president of Allman Financial Planning LLC, her own personal finance consultancy. Allmans father helped to shape her relationship with money. Allman who is single, now follows her fathers example when she doles out advice to clients regarding debt, credit scores, and investments, among other concerns. In addition to her law degree, Allman has a bachelors in psychology and political science from Duke University, and shes set to receive a certificate in financial planning from Boston University this spring. While in school she avoided frills and kept expenses to a minimum. To reach her current level of financial security, Allman resisted shopping for handbags and jewelry. Money on Your Mind: The Brains Role in Financial Decision-Making The sophistication of modern civilization masks the fact that the brains have evolved little since the Stone Age. The neural programming of human beings was optimized for physical survival, not contemporary challenges such as financial decision-making. The human brain has separate, dedicated centers for coping with situations that present imminent danger or attractive rewards. When triggered by highly stimulating personal or financial events, these centers can cause the brain to react reflexively, dampening the ability to think analytically. Technology gives people ready access to their credit, savings, and investment accounts. Unfortunately, this access makes it easier for people to act upon impulsive financial decisions. This paper examines a case study to demonstrate how perceived financial dangers or rewards can unconsciously trigger emotions that override their rational decision-making. Financial planners also can help their clients develop new methods to read to financial situa tions in a more analytical manner that is consistent with the clients primary values. A House Divided: Americans Have Two Distinct Views Of Retirement The financial turmoil of the past few years has taken a huge toll on Americas confidence about the future and apparent readiness for retirement, said Jamie Ohl, senior vice president and director of The Hartfords Retirement Plans Group. The Planning Dynamic But The Hartfords research shows that people who have taken the time to plan their retirement are generally in a better place financially and are significantly more optimistic about the future than those who have not planned, Ohl said. OppenheimerFunds Survey: When It Comes to College for Their Kids, Women Drive the Planning Process But Many Take a Back Seat on Finances Later College funding is an issue for women in college, after college and for decades after, for both parents and students alike. Because women outnumber men on college campuses by a factor of almost three to two, women pay the price literally and figuratively for poor college financial planning, frequently dropping out or graduating with debt that can cast a shadow over much of their adult life, affecting even their ability to retire, Winn said. The Financial Planning Association(R) of Arkansas iShares* Make $20,000 Contribution to Arkansas Aspiring Scholars Matching Grant Program For more information about the iShares 529 Plan, contact your financial advisor, call 1-888-529-9552 or visit www.ishares529.com to obtain a Program Description and Participation Agreement which includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information; read and consider it carefully before investing or sending money. If you are not an Arkansas taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiarys home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such states qualified tuition program. METHODOLOGY Methodology is a strategy that guides a research in providing answers to research questions and for which, research survey is being done. This study has been carried in the following manner:- Methodology Adopted Questionnaire Design: The questionnaire was prepared covering the details about the client and the above objectives. The questions were designed in an easily understandable way with the help of (Miss. Nancy sahni ) that the respondents may not have any difficulty in answering them. The questionnaire also contained a comments section. This section was included so as to get opinion of the people. Random Sampling: Sampling can be defined as a part of population. Thus random sampling may be defined as the selection of a portion from the whole population in which each elements of the population has an equal chance of being selected. In this research survey people were surveyed at random to get the relevant information. Sampling Techniques: The sampling techniques used in this project are probability sampling techniques and the methods used in cluster sampling. Sampling Unit: The respondents who were asked to fill out questionnaires are the sampling units. In this survey these comprise of Govt. Employees and Self Employed persons. Sample size: The sample size was restricted to only 100 people between age group more than 25 years which comprised of mainly peoples from the area where the survey was conducted. Data Collection: Structured Questionnaire: In this part of data collection, structured questionnaire was used as a tool by asking a set of standardized questions which answers we needed to know. Interpretation: Interpretation refers to the task of drawing inference from the collected facts after an analytical study. The simple statistical tools are used to analyze the data collection. Bar Graphs and pie chart have been used to illustrate the findings diagrammatically. AREA OF SURVEY http://www.radhasoamiji.in/images/map.jpg The survey was conducted in a village BEAS and Mehru which is situated in kapurthala district in Punjab. Though it is a town of almost 40,000 people yet its market caters the need of a large customer base which comprises of people, in addition to the town people, living in several villages that surround the town. It is situated near the BEAS river and second near Phagwara, so people from other side also come here for shopping. This is a reason that a big part of population here is involved in business and related activities. A good number of service class people are also present here, because of working of several Government organisations in the town. Block Office, Subdivision Office, Seema Suraksha Bal, Registration Office, Banks, Food Corporation of India, Irrigation Department, Public Work Department, Govt Schools, Municipal Office and also some other departments are working here. In financial institutions here these are present: State Bank of India (CBS) Punjab National bank of India (CBS) Bank of India Life Insurance Corporation of India ( Satellite Branch ) Bajaj Allianz LIC Co LTD ( Branch Office ) Rahika Co-operative Bank ( Branch Office ) Sahara India ( Branch Office ) Some other institutions like – Birla Sunlife, Reliance Life Insurance, ICICI Prudential also work here controlling their activities from Main branch. LIMITATIONS The report is prepared on the basis of responses given by the respondents and is confined to the area of survey, so it does not necessarily show a pattern applicable to other areas also. Some respondents were reluctant to divulge personal information which can affect the validity of all responses. In a rapidly changing environment, analysis on one day or in one segment can change very quickly. The environmental changes are vital to be considered in order to assimilate the findings.

Ben Franklin :: essays research papers fc

Ben Franklin was a man of many ideas. He was able to come up with hundreds of inventions which played big roles at that time and for the future. He greatly affected the lives of many people around the world at that time period and at this time period with the things that he had invented. One of Ben Franklin’s greatest inventions was the Franklin stove. He took the model of the old stove and made it even better and more energy sufficient. The people of Philadelphia wanted the Franklin stove for two main reasons. The first reason is it gave off two times more heat than the old wood burning stoves. The second reason is it used one half the energy required for the old wood burning stoves(Cousins 88). This means that people didn’t have to chop down as many trees and split as much wood. They were able to used the wood for more useful things than just burning it. Ben wrote, †Since wood has become so expensive, any new proposal for saving the wood may at least be worth c onsideration†(Parker 13). They could use wood to build house or any other kinds of building or structures. They could also used the extra wood to build furniture and other things for the inside of their houses. Also there would be a lot of extra wood because less wood was required for burning. It was also was a lot less dangerous because it was a closed flame rather than an open fire. Ben found out that the women in his family that stayed home each day, did not get as many cold and toothaches as they used to(Cousins 89). â€Å"Soon every women in Philadelphia wanted a Franklin stove†(Cousins 89). â€Å"The Pennsylvania authorities were very pleased. They offered Franklin the patent for his design of the stove. This meant that he could earn money for every Franklin stove made. He refused saying that he was glad to be able to serve others.† (Parker 13) This was a truly great inventions for the people of that time and the present. During that time, wood burning was everyone’s source of heat, now there are many sources of heat. People still burn wood and it is probably the cheapest way to heat a house. Many people also use it as their primary source of heat or just as back up heat just in case something happens.

Identify potential weaknesses from either the Aircraft Solutions or Quality Web Design Company Essay

In this phase you will choose either Aircraft Solutions or Quality Web Design as the company you will work with. The scenarios are in Doc Sharing in the Course Project select area. You will then identify potential security weaknesses. Security weaknesses – You must choose two from the following three areas (hardware, software, and policy – excluding password policies) and identify an item that requires improved security. To define the asset or policy with sufficient detail to justify your assessment, your assessment must include: * the vulnerability associated with the asset or policy * the possible threats against the asset or policy * the likelihood that the threat will occur (risk) * the consequences to mission critical business processes should the threat occur * how the organization’s competitive edge will be affected should the threat occur To clarify an item that requires improved security, you must identify one of these items: * one hardware and one software weakness * one hardware and one policy weakness * one software and one policy weakness Other required elements include: * Cover sheet * APA-style * In-text citations and Reference section * Minimum length 3 pages, maximum length 5 pages (not counting cover sheet, diagram(s), references). Do not exceed the maximum length. Phase II: the Course Project (comprised of Phase I and II) – Recommend solutions to the potential weaknesses from either the Aircraft Solutions or Quality Web Design Company In this phase of the project you will include Part I (presumably improved as needed based upon Week 3 feedback) and then you will recommend solutions for the security weaknesses you identified in the Phase I. Definition of the solution – Hardware solutions must include vendor, major specifications with an emphasis on the security features, and location of placement with diagram. Software solutions must include vendor and major specifications, with an emphasis on security features. Policy solutions must include the complete portion of the policy that addresses the weakness identified. Any outsourced solution must include the above details and the critical elements of the service level agreement. Justification – You must address the efficacy of the solution in terms of the identified threats and vulnerabilities; the cost of the solution, including its purchase (if applicable); and its implementation, including training and maintenance. Impact on business processes – You must discuss any potential positive or negative effects of the solution on business processes and discuss the need for a trade-off between security and business requirements using quantitative rather than simply qualitative statements. Other required elements include: * Cover sheet * APA-style * In-text citations and Reference section * 5 reference minimum * Minimum length of solutions: 6 pages, maximum length 10 pages (not counting cover sheet, diagram(s), references). Do not exceed the maximum length P.S. Phase 1 is done and attached. Just need help with phase 2.

Leadership Profile Essay

In the entertainment industry, football is America’s choice of sport. Not only does it drive fans crazy just watching it, but a game that brings really serious injuries to players but yet, generates billions of dollars during the season. Football consists of a team of talented, skilled individuals that display strength, power and speed to play the game. Without these traits, a player will certainly be a failure to the game and the team. It is a very rough form of entertainment that we all love to watch with our families and friends. It is rather ironic that although we do not promote players to hurt each other; in the game of football, we seem to send the opposite message that it’s alright to get hurt, nonetheless, a sport where players understand that in order to stand out amongst other players, the harder they exert effort into the game also increases their risk of sustaining unpredictable injuries. Hiring prospective players is not an easy task. It involves copious amount of time tracking, observing and careful scouting of candidates for consideration. National Football League (NFL) teams make decisions on drafting players from various colleges and consider questions like whether a candidate is willing to spend a number of years physically beat up and willingly put up with the severity of the game. Can they endure enough punishment for the love of the game? Recent hiring history has shown that hiring management has been an 82% failure due to poor interviewing tactics (Gallup’s Why Great Managers Are So Rare). Gallup considers great managers who motivate each employee who has a mission and a vision, an assertive character that drive outcomes and an ability to overcome resistance and adversity. They are very accountable and build relationships that have full transparency, open dialogue and trust. Lastly, their decisions are based not on politics but productivity. For a NFL team to be successful in the entertainment world, the team must have Core Values and Purpose. A prospective candidate for the team must be interviewed and asked if they agree with the company’s Core Purpose or Mission. This strategy will certainly tell if the candidate is a good fit for the team’s  culture. If they don’t (Core Purpose/Mission or Core Values), then they don’t possess a good long term fit for the team. According to the 3 Dimensions of Purpose by Brian Sooy, a Purpose declares intent. It provides perspectives and is strategic. The chart below, popularized by John Welsh from GE has created a method of evaluation for their employees seeking to have â€Å"A† players at GE. ( See chart below) This matrix, also referred to as a talent review can and may be a good tool for NFL managers to use in determining the best candidates for the team. Another form of selecting the best candidates is through the use of a system referred to as â€Å"Topgrading†, a system that reduces time reviewing candidates. This system not only increases professionalism, but sets up a website where applicants can answer questions and get the information about the candidate. References Harter, R. B. (2014, March 25). Why Great Managers Are So Rare. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from http://businessjournal. gallup.com/content/167975/why-great-managers-rare.aspx. Sooy, B. (2014, May 2). 3 Dimensions of Purpose. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from http;//smartblogs.com/leadership/2014/05/02/3-dimensions-of-purpose. (Wick, 2014) Wick, D. (2014, May 8). NFL Draft-Hiring the Right People-One Question. Retrieved July 5, 2014, from http://strategicdiscipline.positioningsystems.com/blog-0/bid/103386?NFL-Draft-Hiring-the-Right-People.

Aristotle... Virtues and Vices essays

Aristotle... Virtues and Vices essays 1. Aristotle What does Aristotle consider a virtue and how does this determine Aristotle considers virtue to be excellence in fulfilling particular functions and finding happiness in it. Our virtues are not just given to us at birth, but we do have the capacity to receive and work on the virtues as life goes on. The way to make virtue a habit is to learn it from a early age. If we learn and understand our virtues correctly they will become habits, and we will understand what is good and what is bad. Virtues are also not feelings, you do not just achieve them, but virtues are habit. Virtues are what makes a person act good and understand what he or she is doing. Virtue is a mean between two extremes, and the specific mean depends on the person. Ethical virtue is dealing with the feelings and actions of ones self. It is said that you have to have the right feelings, at the right time, for the right the thing and/or purpose. If that is not followed and your actions do not explain themselves then it is not virtuous. It is hard to be virtuous. A person that wants to be virtuous should avoid vice and also acknowledge Morality and virtue are interconnected because morality is a persons idea of right and wrong. As we know virtue is what decides what is right and wrong to each and every person. So, morality is determined by virtue. ...

Presentation on Cost Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Presentation on Cost - Coursework Example Cost accounting information are mainly meant to permit the determination of unit costs and total product costs. Different organizations require different types of cost information. For instance, service organizations need cost information pertaining to the costs incurred for producing and providing services whereas manufacturing firms like Apple Inc, Coca Cola etc need information about costs incurred for manufacturing the products. Similarly, retail organizations need information about costs incurred for purchasing products for resale (Needles, Powers and Crosson, 2008, p. 808). These types of cost information are generally required by almost all the firms since they have multiple functions such as manufacturing, purchases and providing of services. Cost information is highly important for various managerial purposes such as ascertaining the actual costs, controlling the costs, determining the selling price, ascertaining the profitability and controlling on wastage. Similarly, cost information helps management provide a base for setting business policies, facilitate efficient information system and arrange internal auditing system. Cost information support various purposes such as planning, decision making, performing, evaluating and communicating (Needles, Powers and Crosson, 2008, p. 806). Financial management in both the manufacturing and service organizations use cost information to develop budgets, estimate income, manage total workforce and plan for the future. Cost information about product, process, function and financial transactions can help the management take managerial decision and plan for further activities and business functions. Managers in manufacturing companies use estimates of product costs in order to prepare budgets for labor, material, production and overhead costs. Another major purpose for cost information is performing by which managers find estimated cost of services with a view to mentor profitability and make decisions about vario us matters such as future business bidding, reducing negotiating expenses etc. With cost information, managers are able to predict gross margin, operating income and value of goods sold etc. This information are also useful for reducing selling prices and lowering selling prices for bulk purchases (Needles, Powers and Crosson, 2008, p. 806). Cost information supports managerial decision making, planning and performance. Planning for the future is primarily based on how costs are incurred now and how they will be in future. Planning is highly important for pricing and many other managerial decision making. Similarly, management can perform estimation, assessing, evaluation, cost control etc only if they gain sufficient information pertaining to costs of products, labor, materials, processing and so on. Cost Object A cost object is a business activity for which a separate cost measurement is desired (Drury, 2007, p. 28). More specifically, when management in an organization needs to k now the costs incurred for a specific activity, this activity is referred as cost object. The management may need to know the costs details of different activities such as purchasing, operating a machine, manufacturing a product, rendering service to

Capital Asset Pricing Model Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Capital Asset Pricing Model - Essay Example In most business, risks are often associated with each venture that entities partake. Logically, every endeavour can be affected by several stressors and will result to unsure forecasts. Indeed, firms are unaware of the exact benefits that an investment despite the forecasts provided by financial analysts. In determining the return that investments will likely provide, organisations make use of cash flows. Comparing the cash the flowed out from the investment to the cash that flowed in because of the investment appears to be a near accurate approach that results to better understanding of investment returns. Basically, there are certain tools and mechanisms used by firms to justify the use of cash flows. In particular, discounted multi-period risky cash flows are used to determine benefits coming from investments. Accordingly, the capital asset pricing model is one option that most financial analysts prefer. The succeeding discussions will tackle on the use of capital asset pricing model as basis for discounted multi-period risky cash flows. The prevalence of investments has led to several ideas particularly on the side showing benefits attributed to such activities. For investors, it is important to determine the exact amount that will be gained from the investment. Essentially, there were several methods developed to address this need. Taggart (1999) created capital budgeting analysis model that makes use of the discounted cash flow. Accordingly, this model enables investors to forecast the values of cash flow components. Among the models, this is considered as widely used because of the perceived precision. Another useful model was developed by Mahoney and Kelliher (1999), which focuses on the capital budgeting model that integrates uncertainty in the cash flow estimates. Using the Monte Carlo simulation, the model can serve as a practical and useful tool. The model, however, is embedded with higher level of complexity that can affect capital budgeting decisions. Moreover, Winston (1998) devised a model for multi-period capital budgeting using Silver Tool, which is an application in Excel. The model provides several advantages including selection of the best project considering all constraints and circumstances. Aside from the mentioned models, Ragsdale (2001) illustrated a model that uses Solver to determine optimal combination of capital budgeting investments as affected by capital constraints and maximising the Net Present Value. In this process, optimal selection of investment is ascertained considering vital risks that include the probability of success of minimum and maximum revenues with the other aspects previously mentioned. Data tables, as showed by Benninga (2000) can be used in capital budgeting analysis. The process involves computing for the point estimate of NPV, and the NPV is calculated using predetermined growth rates. The results are useful in evaluating the risk of the project with the given NPV ranges. Interestingly, Mayes and Shank (2001) focused on the use of different applications for capital budgeting analysis. This involves the collaboration of the models presented earlier in this discussion. Part of their model was to incorporate risk-adjusted discount rates and Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate project risks. According to Fama (1970), multi-period investment consumption can be associated with an individual's