Music as an Aesthetic Experience Essay Example

Music as an Aesthetic Experience Paper The introduction of Donald J. Funes book Musical Involvement addresses the topic of music as an aesthetic experience. The preface to the introduction is the realization that truly listening to music requires an active response, and this type of listening is not innate. All throughout the day we are bombarded with music and every day sounds, most of which remain in our periphery. It can be difficult to focus on a single event such as a concert, lecture or any other situation that requires a quite environment because we can attend to around seven sensory inputs at any one time, including our internal conversations. Suddenly our periphery senses can become distracting to the point where they detract from the single auditory source we are trying to focus on. Actively listening requires the listener to minimize the external an internal distractions so that the important details of the work are heard. Funes notes that this is a highly rewarding way of listening but it is not the only way interacting with music. Musical Involvement is a guide to learning how to actively listen to music to achieve an aesthetic experience. Funes argues that in order to have an aesthetic experience with music, then first it is necessary to perceive music as an aesthetic object which is only possible if an aesthetic attitude is adopted. There are several components to having an aesthetic attitude. The first is the realization that preconditioned responses limit experiences. Meaning, your attitude influences your perception. A negative attitude can prevent anyone from enjoying an experience. Learning to view a situation from other perspectives can improve control over mindset therefore expanding the possibilities of responses to experiences. We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Music as an Aesthetic Experience specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Since a negative attitude is a contradiction to adopting an aesthetic attitude, all aesthetic listening is positive. To adopt an aesthetic attitude it is not necessary to develop a personal theory on aesthetics; it is only necessary to understand that it is possible to interact with music and sound aesthetically. The difficult part of listening to music as an aesthetic object is being distant from the music. To set aside any preconceived notions or associations about the work so that it may be enjoyed only for impractical reasons. Looking at something as an aesthetic object goes against any ideas of practicalities because it is highly improbably to enjoy something purely for itself if it is looked at with the potential of something else in mind. Another condition to the aesthetic attitude is adopting a sympathetic awareness, a willingness to experience all types of music because no style is superior to another. In the chapter on Perception in Lewis Rowells Thinking about Music, he discusses traditional problems of aesthetics for the listener. Although Rowell and Funes discuss similar ideas about aesthetic listening, the purpose of Rowells work is not to teach the listener how they should listen to music. Similar to an argument Funes makes, Rowell comments that even though some authors feel that there is an ideal way to listen, it is a good idea to understand that there is a range of possible listening experiences. The first problem Rowell discusses are the varying modes of perception. He sets the scene for exploring the listening experience with asking the question What am I doing. This question involves several other component questions that basically range around the listeners background in understanding music and how that might affect their experience. These questions only seem applicable to an experienced music listener who has some academic understanding of music. Later he discusses the idea of perception being a problem to discuss specifically because of the range of ways people listen to music. Rowell does discuss some modes of perception that can negatively affect the listeners experience and that just being simply conscious of these distractions can completely change the experience. Like Funes, Rowell discusses the idea of being detached from the music to achieve a more aesthetic experience. First he cites Kants definition of taste to discuss valid rules of judgment for all observers. Consequently, Kant determines it is necessary for all observers to look from an objective view. Rowell is not concerned at this point whether Kant is correct in his assessment of taste but instead he is only concerned that the listener detach themselves from the work for a more objective viewpoint. Although the idea of being distant from a work is sometimes ambiguous it can be interpreted at least three ways. The first as a literal distance, the second as a dimensional distance, and lastly the most important being a psychic distance in the form of emotional detachment. Like Funes, Rowell states the listener diminishes the possibilities of achieving an aesthetic experience when attention becomes focused on discovering the purpose of art. Finally, Rowell argues against a stance that various other authors have taking, the concept that the ideal musical experience is a total detachment from all contexts. Instead Rowell argues that although the ideal musical experience preserves a degree of distance by regarding all experiences as individual, it is necessary to have a sense of awareness about the style and performance of the work. Malcolm Budd begins The Repudiation of Emotion, the second chapter in Music and Emotion with a sizable disclaimer stating that although he is adopting the viewpoint of the listener it does not take any priority over the composer or executants viewpoint. For his purposes, Budd is only concerned with the listener who has achieve an aesthetic experience. The disclaimer continues to state that the purpose of compositions are not universally for active participation of the listener. Although, some music is intended to be incidental, the listener still has the capability of seeking an aesthetic experience with it and therefore all music is subject to the contents of the chapter. The purpose of this chapter is to discover the aesthetically significant relationship between music and emotions to explain why the listener has an aesthetic response. First Budd explains the irrelevance of the composers and the performers emotions when creating or performing a work. Although there may have been some emotional background for the creation or performance it does not mean the same emotion is audibly being transmitted to the listener. Therefore the only important instance of emotion is the emotion the listener experiences but the crucial question is whether the listener is has achieved this emotion from the quality (or intention) of the music. Budd establishes the only known negative response to this question is Eduard Hanslicks book The Beautiful in Music.

Worlds Worst Dictators Essay Example

Worlds Worst Dictators Essay Example Worlds Worst Dictators Paper Worlds Worst Dictators Paper World’s Worst Dictators There are many different dictators in the world, who have all done horrific and immoral things. They all have their worst points, and different people rank the â€Å"Worlds Worst Dictators† differently. I believe that Hu Jintao, from China, is the number one worst dictator, King Abdullah from, Saudi Arabia, is second, and Sayyid Ali Khamernei, from Iran, is third. Sayyid Ali Khamernei has been the dictator of Iran since 1989. Since then he has oppressed the rights of women, stored nuclear weapons, carried out public hangings, and destroyed media and music stores. Sayyid Ali Khamernei is number three on our list of World’s Worst Dictators because he has executed hundreds of people, supports nuclear activity in his country, even though the UN has restricted all nuclear weapons. King Abdullah has been the dictator of Saudi Arabia since 1995. He has led a punitive justice system, where he can sentence anyone including teens to death for little or no reason. One of the worst things about his rule is that women aren’t allowed to do anything without the permission of a male guardian. He has been suspected to be involved in the 9/11 attack, because many of the bombers were Saudi, but no concrete evidence has been found. King Abdullah is number two on out list. Hu Jintao of China has been in power since 2002. He has China locked down and ALL public news formats are censored and restricted by the Chinese government. Hu Jintao supports the â€Å"one child policy† which limits all the families in China to only having one child. In our opinion the worst thing that he has done is forced abortions because of the one child law. He enforces that law brutally and forces mothers who already have a child to abort their pregnancy. That is why we believe that Hu Jintao is the number one World’s Worst Dictator. All of these people have been dictators for a long time and have done many horrific things. Sayyid Ali Khamernei has carried out public hangings, King Abdullah sentences people to death at will, and finally Hu Jintao forces abortions. Each one has ruled cruelly and has violated the moral principals that hold the world together.

Answer questions from articles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Answer questions from articles - Essay Example Schor explains that these statistics underpin the need for the revival of the discourse that will call all individuals and households to reconsider their material requirements. In order for this right to be enforced, she suggests that governments should guarantee their citizens of employment, supply their basic needs, and consider using government income vouchers or transfers (Schor 7). A second element that Schor believes can help overcome the problems in American consumerism is an emphasis on quality of life rather than quantity of stuff. Schor states that it was in the 1970s that the indicators of the quality of the life of Americans stopped reflecting their incomes and the country’s Gross Domestic Product. She states that there is evidence suggesting that earning an income above the poverty line does not necessarily improve an individual’s well-being. She asserts that the lack of emphasis on well-being among the people above the poverty line is an indication of people’s concern with relative rather than absolute income. She states that an alternative explanation to the unlikely relationship between income and well-being could be the fact that increased output undermines factors yielding welfare (Schor 7). She observes that this is seen in the increase in work time, the decline in family leisure and time for one’s community. She offers that these two things exemplify the inverse relationship between growth and social capital. Growth and increased materialism affects a person’s appreciation of personal meaning, social commitment, community, religion, and family, all of which are alternative sets of values. She advises that the labor market should be restructured to allow workers more time to themselves and that companies that require their workers to work for excessive hours should be penalized. Schor believes that this will serve as an alternative indicator of GNP,

Importent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Importent - Essay Example To analysis how different models changes with ICT, Andriole (2015) assessed various models. When there is improved governance expansion of ICT stakeholders, there is a likelihood of increasing the importance of technology. Such steps improve governance, how business operates, how strategies are implemented, and guides the emergence of related technologies. For instance, the emergence of participatory governance correlates positively with the adoption of technology in federal and business environments. Besides, there is increased satisfaction of business requirement if cloud-computing takes a centre stage in such ventures (Andriole, 2015). Contrary, other federal governments and businesses that do not embrace computing lags behind in every aspect. There is evolution in governance technology because the emergence of technology leads to evolution of governance. However, one should ensure evolution does not affect the dynamisms of the business. Having all parties in the ICT is essential. The role of both external and internal individuals is a significant consideration in the emergence of new participatory governance matrix utilising

Factores affecting drivers behaviour at major and minor junctios ( Essay

Factores affecting drivers behaviour at major and minor junctios ( literature review , collection and analysis of datas ) - Essay Example Crossroads are then discussed within the same design and control framework, with indications of the methods used for controlling traffic though the major/minor priority areas. The next topic to be considered is the matter of multilevel road junctions – intersections: over- and underpasses – and the influence of the additional factors such as road works, the road surface, the weather and darkness. There are many government surveys which address a wide variety of geometric and other factors which can affect the speed and ease of passage through the junctions, all of which will affect the vehicle capacity. Junction design in two specific cases, in the UK – T- junctions and crossroads are considered and, where appropriate, the reasons for the design choice are discussed as well as the effect on traffic throughput and capacity. The third component of the narrative to be considered in this exercise is the driver and his/her response to the different stimuli which may contribute to his/her ability to drive safely. There are essentially three main categories (1) those which are permanent or semi-permanent; such as state of health, tiredness, influence of drugs or alcohol, age and gender (2) distractions, generally intermittent, which arise from activities within the car caused either by the driver or passengers (3) distractions which are external to the car; such as weather, other drivers and signs – whether relative to the road and junctions or advertisements. Drugs have the capacity to impair the driver’s judgement and give rise to a false degree of self-confidence. Alcohol also impairs the driver’s ability to make coherent and capable decisions, affects reaction speeds, and results in overconfidence. Distractions – both in-car and external - can cause severe lack of concentratio n. External distractions – which are quoted by insurance companies as contributing to a majority of accidents – are a frequent cause of driver lack

MCB Bank Pakistan: SWOT and PEST Analysis

MCB Bank Pakistan: SWOT and PEST Analysis Jump to: SWOT Analysis of MCB | PEST Analysis of MCB | Porters Five Analysis of MCB | Ecological Factors Affecting MCB This report analyses the largest bank of Pakistan, MCB. MCB was founded over 50 years ago in Pakistan, it has got a network of over 1026 branches, 750 are automated branches and 300 MCB ATMS in 41 cities of Pakistan. MCB has a network of over 12 banks on the MNET ATM switch. The aim of MCB is to rationalize expenses, realignment of back and processing to increase productivity, enhancement of customer services, increase efficiency and control. MCB is the only bank of Pakistan which introduced the innovative concept of centralizing Trade Services in Pakistan by providing centralized foreign trade services to its branches with view to improve efficiency, expertise and reduce delivery cost. MCB is the only bank who has been able to receive The Euro Money Award for the fourth time in the last 5 years. Since 2001 to 2005 MCB has won the best bank in Pakistan and in 2000 the best domestic bank in Pakistan awards. All though MCB also has distinction in winning The Asia money award in 2004 an d 2005. It has been 10 years that MCB has been privatized. MCB core businesses are corporate, commercial and consumer banking. In year 2005 MCB was the only bank of Pakistan to become the preferred provider of quality financial services. Financial services in the country with profitability and responsibility. In the year 2005 MCB was the best employers in Pakistan to employee graduates. According to the results, MCB witnessed resilient operating performance in the first quarter of 2009 with healthy growth in balance sheet and key profitability indicators. Total assets of the bank swelled to Rs 456b with an increase of 3pc over Rs 444b as at December 2008 and increased by 15pc over Rs. 397b in March 2008. Deposits showed an increase of Rs. 8b over December 2008 and closed at Rs 338b i.e. a growth of 2pc over Dec 2008. In 2007, MCB reported a profit after tax of PKR16.4 billion (US$270 million) and generated a return on average equity of 38% and a net interest margin of 8.08%. The Banks asset quality is strong with a gross NPL ratio of 4.7% and provision coverage of 100%. At the end of year 2006 MCB Bank announced it Net Income Rs. 12,541M (US$ 206M) which was an increase of 36.1% over 2005. Net Interest Income was Rs. 21276M(US$ 349M) for the year 2006, which was a healthy increase of 42% over the same period last year, with the pre provision operating profit at Rs.20, 113M( US$ 330M), a 39% increase over last year. However, the year 2007-08 has been very tough years for Pakistans economy. It is due to different factors such as political and economic events took place within Pakistan. The above explained events such as disturbed political conditions, an unstable law and order situation; supply shocks; soaring oil, food and other commodity; prices; softening of external demand; and turmoil in the international financial market. SWOT Analysis of MCB Strengths MCB Bank has earned a reputation in the market for extending quality services to the market vis-Ã  -vis its competitors. It has earned a strong Brand name in banking in a very short span of time. As customer confidence in MCB escort it towards achieving their goals and objectives. It has the premier number of linked branches in the country. The bank operates through a network of 1026 BRANCHES and over 300 ATMs across Pakistan, hence enabling them to serve customer in superior way. MCB Bank has all the products under its belt, which help it to extend the relationship with existing customer. MCB Bank has umbrella of products to offer their customers, if once customer has relationship with the bank. Some Products, which MCB Banks offering are Retail Banking, Business Banking, Merchant Establishment Services (EDC Machine), Personal loans Car loans, Demit Services with E-Broking, Mutual Fund (MCB Banks the Distributor of all Mutual Fund), Insurance and Housing Loans. MCB is having an ed ge over other banks in case of Salary Accounts. Most of the companies are having their Salary Account with MCB even if their Current Account is with any other Bank. This is mainly because of the huge network of ATMs and branches of MCB. MCB is only Bank which is having its working hours from 8 to 8 for some branches which is one of the major strength of MCB Bank with respect to nationwide business Industry. MCB Banks known for its aggressive marketing of its products. Recent Endorsement of its product by famous celebrities and superior advertisement to attract more customers. From its inception, MCB Bank has adopted a policy of selecting internationally proven and specialized Packaged Systems for its technology. MCB banks technology platform has been acknowledged globally as one of the best in terms of robustness, flexibility and cost efficiency. MCB Banks in a position to leverage this platform to further build cost and service advantage. MCB has a strong management team and have a very impressive cash flow with an excellent financial performance. As MCB was awarded 1st Asian bank providing good return on saving and current account to its customers. Weaknesses The bank targets only the top grade of clients and does not cater to the needs of small customers. Due to this reason the bank may sometimes loose good clients. As well they have to concentrate on their online banking to attract more customers as their online banking service has a weak image in front of customers. MCB Bank has a defensive approach in lending. Mainly to IT ITES companies Bank do not provide loan as these companies are not having collaterals so bank hesitate in giving loans to them. Because of this policy companies prefer nationalized banks and MCB Banking turn sometimes loose potential customers. MCB Banks having little presence Outside Pakistan, because of which companies prefer MNC Bank, mainly united bank limited (UBL). So if MCB Bank tries to emerge outside Pakistan then it has a huge potential of customers. MCB aggressive marketing has rapidly increasing its customer base. They are not however, increasing the number of employees accordingly. This is leading to c orrosion of the standard of customer service. Opportunities MCB can improve insurance services to compete in market. MCB insurance premium is high and return on claim is less in percentage. As other insurance companies are convincing their customers to buy insurance policies. It has been noticed that MCB has not been recruiting properly and their business need experts in various tax policies and service of bank. MCB has associated itself with various social causes such as helping poor people for food and medical treatment on low charges. MCB can improve their customer service as there is always a room to add innovative techniques and polices which could lead to additional proficiency of the institution. MCB recently introduces Mobile banking service, but most of the customers are unaware of the service and MCB could work on adverting it to give benefits of it to their clients. Threats MCB is having sturdy competition in market with its competitors as some of them having their branches nationwide and internationally as well. MCB is ready to provide all kind of services to their clients online but they have to make it confidential that the data is being protected and secure and cannot be leaked to third party. Branch managers are allowed to take decisions on their own in regard to their branch but decisions made by individuals will be different and a single wrong decision could escort towards intense losses to the institution. MCB has been facing trouble in providing good service to uneducated customers to use electronic and computerized machines. PEST Analysis of MCB The analysis of MCB will take in to account the general environment analysis, the competitors analysis by comparing the products offered by the competitive banks and the departmental analysis. The general environment of takes in to account the external factors like politics, economy of Pakistan, socio-cultural factors and technology. Now we will analyze these factors one by one and check how these affect the working of MCB: Political The current situation of the government in Pakistan is directly affecting the policies of banks. However, MCB tries hard to keep its business away from the politics but it is not an easy task. MCB has no accounts of political leaders or parties. However, its Customer Service Department faces peer pressure from such political parties. As MCB is trapped in dual sanctions from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and from the European Union so the changing political environment is not so beneficial for the bank to operate freely. The changing policies of the government, affects SBP which in return affects the MCB rules and policies. The government of Pakistan has privatized most of the banks. The number of government owned banks have declined constantly, so these changes directly affect MCB. Economical The economy of any country has deep impact on any financial organization. Economic indicators include Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation, balance of payment, debt of the government. These below graphs will explain how economic conditions of Pakistan are adversely affecting the banking system of Pakistan. The pitiable economy of Pakistan and instable government is adversely affecting MCB and its different departments; recently MCB has redundant many of its employees. The economy of our Pakistan is very poor. Due to poor economy businesses are showing low profits and Pakistan stock market is in great danger. Pakistans foreign debts are rising day by day, so such a situation is a huge challenge for MCB to survive. Due to financial crisis in Pakistan the management of MCB has to face stressful situations and also working environment. At present the MCB is not extending loans but recovering the existing ones. Social MCB has been influenced by the socio-cultural factors. At present most of the European countries are keeping their eyes on Pakistan as being the terrorist country, so people of Pakistan are emotionally getting affected by it. Most of the foreign investments have been stopped in Pakistan. Pakistani people are traditionalists who do not like the modern banking environment of MCB. Some of the customers do not use ATMs they still prefer cash counters, so these kinds of socio-cultural factors affect the banking environment and its operations. Technological Technology has a deep influence on different kinds of organizations whether banks or any kind social welfare organizations. In MCB technology has great effect on the working environment. Mostly all banks use computers none of the banks keep data manually so the bank has to be continuously in touch with the modern ways of task performance. MCB is always ahead to introduce new computer systems for keeping its staff up to date. The intranet facility is playing an important role in enhancing the knowledge of staff. Due to technology that bank staff keeps in touch with the customers through e mail; ATMs and online banking is only possible due to technology. In this way technology is playing its key role in and is helping management to further improve its functions. Conclusion: Overall we can say that MCB is influenced by the economic position of Pakistan, which has stopped it from extending loans to the customers. After that the policies of MCB are also affecting its performance and free functioning. Social and technological issues are of secondary importance but they also cannot be neglected. MCB is focusing positively regarding technological issues but it should also keep its eye on the social cultural factors also. Porters Five Forces Analysis of MCB For further analysis of MCB environment, Porters Five Forces Analysis is also applied on the bank. This analysis takes in to consideration the following factors: Substitutes Substitution of one product with another one increases the competition within an industry. However, the perfect substitutes of banks are not available in the market at present, but people still have choices of saving or investing their money. The people can save their money in their own houses or they can deposit their money in the National Saving Centers (Banking Intermediaries) which give protection to their assets. Aside from saving one can invest money in stock market in form of shares / bonds or in real estate. These kinds of substitutes increase the competition in the banking sector. Competition There is tough competition between different banks. There is a huge variety of public and private banks already exist in the market, offering products on competitive prices. If we look at banking products (loans, savings and current accounts) then Alfalah Bank, Meezan Bank, Habib Bank and many others are offering wide range of products in this sector. The tough competition between these banks increases the challenge which the MCB have to face. The competition among various banks increases the switching of the customers form one banks product to the other bank. Threat of new entrants The banking sector of any country has always potential of growth and competition. Mostly foreign banks step in the developing countries for expanding their branches, not only this mergers between foreign and local banks take place at large scale but Pakistans present economic condition and government instability has arose the feelings of awe and terror among most of the foreign banks to enter in the market. In future due to uncertainty and security problems in Pakistan investors will not be willing to invest here. Due to overall financial problems in the whole world new banks will not be entering in to the banking industry. Power of buyer Bargaining power of buyer is low where the products substitutes are not available and customers are large in number. In case of banks there are lots of other banks and banking intermediaries, having wide range of products, so power of buyer in banking sector is high. The bank cannot force any customer to buy the desired product because this directly affects its reputation. However, the bank can convince its customers by giving them special discount or rewards. If we look at MCB we will find that the competitors are also offering products due to which customer feel in power by saying that they can go to some other bank in case of dissatisfaction. Bargaining power of suppliers The lending power of bank is enhanced by its depositors as they are suppliers of the bank. It allows bank to involve in other business activities to invest such as personal and business loans. The suppliers then get interest on their amount as profit earned by the bank. Banks need to concentrate on their policies as bargaining power of suppliers is very high and they move towards highest interest rates. Conclusion According to Porters Five Forces analysis we can say that MCB has no fear of new entrants due to the poor economic position of Pakistan. However, it should keep its eyes open regarding mergers of various banks. There are two big threats; firstly from the buyers who can go to the other banks and secondly form the substitutes like investment in stock market, so MCB should carefully examine its task environment. The Ecological Responsibilities of Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) 3 different parts are mentioned in this section: How ecological factors affecting decision making and policy at MCB How effective the action taken towards ecological environment been so far (reducing waste, reducing carbon emission, reducing energy bills, reducing airtravel, investing in sustainable project) how these have gone up and have benefited the company. What other areas of improvement that you think they should be doing to improve response of ecological factorsthink about what other banks internationally have done and suggest something to MCB. The public responsibilities of corporations, according to Harvard management ( year ), are to grow and prosper thereby providing customer satisfaction, employment, taxes, and contributions to the economyand to control their hazards. According to Milton Friedman, the only social responsibility of a corporation is to make money, by striving after profit as an efficient agent of production, although he admits that the corporation should conform to the rules and norms of society. Corporate responsibility is more composite than a simple, linear cost/benefit analysis. Using the metaphor of corporation as organism, it is possible to outline a new set of responsibilities for corporations and a series of behaviors that human individuals and communities can practice to integrate corporate behavior into the communities. With an ecological model, the ecological responsibilities of corporations, to themselves, to nature, and to human communities, are described. At MCB profit making is an obligatory part of business, but not the sole reason for business. There for MCB ensures that it serves public goods as well as private interests. This is analogous to Ruth Benedicts original anthropological meaning of synergy as applied to individuals. In secure, nonaggressive societies, an individual serves his own advantage as well as that of the group with the same act. Institution ensures mutual advantage; the acts are mutually reinforcing. Economic recession may bring a re-examination of values, not only by individuals who have less material wealth, but by corporations that have emphasized growth. The public may insist that corporations consider social performance as well as strictly economic performance. The single economic purpose may only be the focus in a social environment.MCB is highly concerned about economic actions, such as where to build, who to relocate, hire, or dismiss, may be subjected to greater public scrutiny. Business cannot assert a primary self-interest at a cost to the public or environment. Corporations need to keep track of their environmental impacts. Many of the problems that corporations face are connected to the problems of the environment and society. Corporations need to work cooperatively to make sure the costs and benefits are extended equally throughout the system. They could start by sponsoring the rational use of rare resources through taxation, and by influencing the government to determine priorities for wilderness areas or special landscapes; beautiful, fragile, unique, or endangered ecosystems and species must be protected at the expense of commercial activity. With regards to ecological factors Muslim Commercial Bank have had considerable focus on the ecological diversities in the market some of the existing factors in addition to the future polices and practice have been discussed as under; The bank created a department with ecological authority to envision long-range plans and impacts. They have realized that they need to react more quickly to monitor their ecological and social environments for the emerging patterns that determine their future. They need to anticipate and participate in the social and natural framework. A new department, with global, anticipatory functions could provide direction and continuity. Such a department could be justified in the same manner as military forces. Military expenditure is a non-productive cost; its benefits are general and long-range, that is, it must discourage war in the next decade as well as in this one. Its scope of advice would include educational services as well as advertising, capital acquisitions as well as new products, and plant engineering as well as security. Plan all foreseeable consequences of a product. Advanced technology permits the power to change to overwhelm the ability to foresee the consequences of change. Avoiding the opposite actions of intentions (recognized by the Greeks as the operation of tragedy) is extremely difficult. Good intentions are not enough: Labor-saving devices may contribute to unemployment and social problems; foreign aid may result in starvation for more millions as local agriculture cannot compete; and the environmental management of some species for sustainable yield causes the population to collapse. The bank is determined to optimum corporate size and maintains it. As they perceive that after a point, growth results in inefficiency and non adaptability. Development, on the other hand, can continue for hundreds or thousands of years. A smaller size could mean more flexibility and faster response to local conditions. Recognize material limits. The global economy is probably too large already to be supported by the natural systems of the planet. Find an upper limit to the economy of scale. Accept limits to growth based on materials and on non-renewable or dangerous sources of energy. This should not limit development based on advancing technology and knowledge. Another factor which the bank could focus on is to adjust corporate strategies to changing values. Smaller social and cultural groups have different and diverging values, so corporations are going to have to adjust to a diversity of values instead of to a monolithic standard. The structure of power is disintegrating, with information replacing things as wealth. The knowledge-driven economy is more decentralized and customized. This moves us towards customization of production and away from mass production. Change the shape of the corporation to a framework coordinating separate divisions sharing information. Each division could react much more quickly to market conditions. MCB works to delineate a new information model of production in which the stages of a process (capital, materials, workers, design, advertising, selling) are simultaneous and synthesized. The conception of the product is extended from design (even customer contributions and design of working conditions) to aftercare, including ecologically safe retirement and disposal. The notions of efficiency and productivity are changing. Innovation and computer technology shortens product life cycles. Production diversity is increasing. Convert the information model to an understanding model. Information is just data without appropriate structure. Provide a structure and material base for understanding through communication, education, and training. Furthermore MCB promotes the principle of least effort, allowing the company to consume less, recycle, use longer, and avoid waste. Corporations could develop renewable energy sources. Conduct a complete series of audits, including an energy audit for every building. Reduce office costs through energy conservation planning. Use renewable energy sources. Energy and materials can be used and reused, flowing through the system. Cars are ecologically unacceptable forms of transport, yet companies intrinsically recognize them with large, free parking lots. Discourage commuting; encourage telecommuting or even alternate forms of transportation (bicycling, buses, and trains). Minimize wastes, for instance, by using permanent packaging (milk bottles and cola bottles can be reused forty or more times). Conduct a complete series of audits, including an environmental audit to determine negative impacts, from acid wastes or product disposal, and a problem audit, to include inherited problems. Produce a comprehensive annual impact statement. MCB ensures to maintain the health of natural communities, because environmental health is the basis for community health, and community health is the basis for economic health and worker health. The quality of life depends on the quality of the environment. If the environment is degraded to raise the quality of life, the effect is very limited and can never be self-sustaining. Fitting economic costs and needs to the limits of ecosystems and monitoring the economic process would reduce wastes and pressures on natural processes. The coupling of agricultural productivity to a solar budget, and the conscious restoration of degraded systems, would contribute to the health of ecosystems. The financial institution believes that sufficient wilderness would allow the self-maintenance of global cycles. With the increase in security, wealth, and self-esteem, human populations could be dependent on ecosystem productivities and still be diverse and unique. What made us human was that, in additio n to human social groups, we lived in communities with other species. We learned spontaneously from other animals and enjoyed their company. We are poor and malcontent without them. The management of the bank tends to be accountable for ecological impacts. They believe that the bank should be held more accountable for their technological impact. New technology is more closely regulated. They comprehend this by favoring open appraisal of new technologies. By studying the potential consequences, physical, social, and ecological, as far as possible into the future, of its innovations in information technology, they can gain credibility. Otherwise, it can wait and be forced by public and governmental pressure. Integrate loops and material flows; internalize cycles. The bank tends to avoid interference with natural processes. Technological processes have been brought into balance with the cycles of the earth. They must not damage or degrade natural cycles. Avoid unnecessary harm. It may be appropriate to use trees or to compete with black bears for tree use, but it is never wise to destroy the ecosystem of trees and bears. Laws on pollution and noxious wastes have been notoriously lax and sometimes wrong-headed. Minimal acceptable tolerances are legal, yet people often prefer zero amounts of many substances. Minimal compliance with them is virtuous for many companies, but it would be better to lead to higher standards. Work toward setting zero-level goals. Do not dump exotic or dangerous wastes. Do not discharge quantities of safe wastes. The Corporation maintains building and plants in thousands of locations, each requiring support. Convert to ecological grounds practices. Forgo economic development of key ecosystems, which should not be available for human use. Consider adjusting the economic pace to natural rates; do not cut trees, for instance, faster than they grow. Consider minimizing use of ecosystem productivity to the net ecosystem productivity, rather than the gross productivity, especially as regards fisheries. Another influential feature of MCB is to promote ecological design; the institution is becoming a more responsible member of the community. Thus it would encourage an ecological approach to systems and processes in the whole environment, where the product, with its plant, engineers, and advertisers, is a link in a long biomorphic chain stretching from knives to surgical microchip memory implants. Ecological design has important characteristics for responsible technology: The products are designed by interdisciplinary teams considering all parameters and consequences; ecological sciences offer creative insights into design through a search for underlying organic principles; the product must be related to the particular environment, the tool is a link between human and environment. It is hard to protect communities when the way most business is done tends to disrupt community life. Because of its size, power, and intention (often just for profit), the corporation should take higher risks not lower than the surrounding communities. This will ensure the safety of products and wastes. The work place is not just collection of individuals. It is a number of groups. Group interaction can change attitudes. A working community can build mutual responsibility. Show proper behavior; learn community etiquette. The bank can design the corporate structure and size for the community. Limit unnecessary movement or disruption. Plan the shape, size, and products of the corporation to fit the local community. Encourage self-reliance in communities. Communities can be self-reliant: By producing enough food and shelter; by limiting their population to what can be produced; by using local products and raw materials (soil, minerals, plants); by using general and not specialized machines; by having multipurpose factories; by networking with other communities, and; by doing without things that are not needed, e.g., bombs, food additives, or plastic bottles. Muslim commercial bank is an ecological corporation and could use corporate buying power to promote acceptable technologies and discourage unacceptable practices. Deal less with nuclear weapons contractors and more with solar energy companies. Deal less with one-shot paper companies and more with recycling paper companies. Boycott paper companies involved in Rainforest destruction or old-growth forest destruction. Avoid banks that invest in anything that brings a high return, from third-world debt to Amazonian destruction and South African discrimination. Favor peace-oriented companies as business partners. And, refuse to participate in work that is socially destructive. Economic development and social progress are necessary for the welfare of humanity, but must be conducted with environmental knowledge. The goal of economics and politics is to provide suitable and comfortable human habitations and meaningful activities. Human settlements must be planned and constructed within environmental constraints and according to ecological priorities. Work to preserve the structure of the natural and social communities. Corporations can encourage decentralization and restore schools, clinics, and shops to local communities. Offer cooperative control with the community. Change the pattern of ownership to reflect employee and community participation. The bank is promoting ecological education. Encouraging cultural traditions; refusing to let social and spiritual needs be subverted by economic ends. Helping to lead the young into their adult responsibilities through training and participation, such as with apprenticeship programs. They could also educate people in appropriate ways to achieve wealth and well-being. Teach appreciation of the services rendered by nature through flows and cycling. Point out the unexpectedness of the consequences of even simple corporate interventions and innovations, e.g., positive feedback, biological concentration of poisons, and synergetic effects of simple new chemicals like CFCs. Trace the complex and reciprocal relations of soil, climate, vegetation, and human activity. Emphasize that a fixed set of ecological parameters in an ecosystem cannot be maintained in a sustainable way, because the system is dynamic and changing. Put computers in proper perspective. Children do not need computers to dev elop the powers of thought, but they do need an ecological curriculum where animals display greater powers of mind than computers or machines. The important technological advantages of a computer, word-processing, database searches, complex connections, and rapid computation, are not really needed before high school, unlike myths, languages, and physical activities. Encourage people to take responsibility for all of their actions, from reproduction to consumption and politics. The responsibility for the welfare of the citizens belongs in the community, as does education, safety, and the whole infrastructure. Corporate management is responsible for developing programs to set goals, modify structures, and introduce criteria to measure progress. The Board of Directors is responsible, as the architects of responsibility and stewards of the human and material resources; the government is responsible, in its legislative, judicial, and regulatory functions.

life :: essays research papers

Self from Religious Viewpoint The Afterlife is an area of human consciousness we all enter upon leaving the physical world at physical death. Throughout history we've questioned if there is a life after death. Along the way, our religions and various philosophers offered beliefs and opinions to answer this commonly asked question. However, many of the answers contradict each other making it hard to figure out. While some believe it's impossible to know whether there is life after death, belief in immortality is a timeless phenomenon. Through the years there have been many philosophers that do not believe in life after death. Among them is David Hume. David Hume was a British imperialist to the extreme. He only believed in what he could see. He felt that if you can't see your soul or god then they must not exist. The same holds true for the after life, or heaven. He felt that when you died that was it, your life was over and there was nothing more. Muangkram pg.2 Buddhist's also do not believe in life after death meaning heaven. Buddhist's believe that when one dies he is reborn again and this continues until the person reaches Nirvana. Nirvana is the state in which one has attained disinterested wisdom and compassion. In the Buddhist religion there is no god to save you or to show you the way. To reach nirvana you must achieve insight and wisdom. The Buddha was not saved by a revelation or from any god. He was the self-enlightened one; by the power of his own post virtue, which finally produced piercing insight and wisdom, he came to the knowledge or the saving insight into things 'as they are.' He literally made himself a Buddha and subsequently entered Nirvana. One of the great philosophers that did believe in life after death was Spinoza. Spinoza believed there was a heaven and a hell and the life here in the physical realm was just a small part of gods greater plan. Spinoza believed that man is a fleeting incident in an infinite and eternal universe. In the Christian religion it is believed that there does exist life after death. The argument to support it being that after Jesus died he rose from the dead, proving that the soul is not destroyed after death. This proof of immortality has been accepted by millions of Christians and has been regarded as one of the most precious assurances brought to mankind by Jesus.

Regulations and Policies in Europe Essay

How does it fit within the ideas of Hayek and Keynes? Use the stagflation of the 70s as an example. The post–World War II the postwar economic boom, also known as economic expansion, the long boom, and the Golden Age of Capitalism, and the Age of Keynes in western countries after the end of World War II in 1945. It was a high worldwide economic growth in Western European that had been devastated by the war such as unusually high and sustained growth, together with full employment. By the end of World War II, much of Europe was devastated. The region’s trade flows had been disrupted. Food shortages were severe in all over the Europe. The 1930’s Great Depression in Europe production had fallen far below even than usual for the entire decade due to failure of market forces to restore demand to normal levels. Hence, the biggest panic after WWII was the return of the Great Depression during 30s. After the war, the major powers were determined not to repeat the mistakes of the Great Depression. Governments might have been slow to dismantle wartime allocation controls, and so have severely constrained the market mechanism. However, Politicians were predisposed toward intervention and regulation, their principle was: no matter how damaging â€Å"government failure† might be to the economy, it had to be better than the â€Å"market failure† of the Depression. After WWII, the slightest regulations and policies are derived from The Keynesian Economy. Keynesian economists claim that the boom was caused by the adoption of Keynesian economic policies, particularly government spending. The basic idea of Keynesian thinking was to have pure free market policies rather than the mixed economy which require a significant role for government intervention. Efforts against Keynesianism took place on three fronts – in the academic world, in politics, and in the wider world of business and public opinion. In Keynes’s theory, in contrast to the previously accepted view, an economic depression might continue indefinitely unless government spending, financed by a budget deficit, were increased sufficiently. In 1948 the Marshall Plan was implemented to rebuild and modernize Western Europe. The Coal and Steel Community had which was to become the European Union lately. The Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was a program occurred in United States to aid Europe as the US. gives monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of WWII in order to have a force over Soviet communism. The plan was for four years. The goals of the Marshall Plan were to remove trade barriers, modernize industry, and provide Europe to be strong again. Plan pumped over $12 billion to rebuild and modernize Western Europe. Keynesian economics period also accepted as financial repression. With these Keynesian policies such as low nominal interest rates and low or negative real interest rates and government policy, especially the US and UK both dealt with their existing government debt level from Great Depression and World War II and reduce the level of debt in the debt service without needing to direct a high portion of government spending. All of the success was coming from free market economies. After the death of President Roosevelt, a conservative control of Congress took place and try to turn the policies into Libertarian policies by rejecting numerous Keynesian initiatives, dropped many price controls, and instead cut taxes sharply. These libertarian policies are believed to have been stimulated the economy and created near full employment. During the whole period, especially Hayek was against Keynes at some points. He and a group occurred from other journalists and intellectuals had planned to displace Keynesianism and other collectivist influences. Hayek complained about economists to refuse to allow his work to be questioned after his death, it almost became a tabu. According to Friedrich von Hayek, the development of welfare socialism after World War II undermined freedom and would lead western democracies inexorably to some form of state-run serfdom so that socialism was also affecting Europe negatively. For the institutions Bretton Woods system was used after WWII until 1970s. The Bretton Woods system was history’s first example of a fully negotiated monetary order. It is an international regime which was designed to combine binding legal obligations with multilateral decision-making, which is conducted through an international organization, like the IMF, endowing money with some limited supranational authority. In 1971, The Bretton Woods system collapsed due to President Richard Nixon’s severed the link between the dollar and gold. Another policy which is used after WWII was Military Keynesianism, which sighted to devote a large amount of money spending to the military to increase the economical growth of the countries.

In Mrs Tilschers Class Essays

In Mrs Tilschers Class Essays In Mrs Tilschers Class Essay In Mrs Tilschers Class Essay Essay Topic: Poetry A skittle o f milk, this shows that they are having fun. They might be playing a game. The classroom glowed like a sweet shop, sugar paper and coloured shapes were all the things of happiness. It shows the teacher loved children, and children loved her. Its magical and looks as if there is a party because of all the wonderful decorations. The poet describes these changes very well, he tries to emphasis and make the readers experience all of the things she went through. There are small statements, which the poet tries to describe very well. A skittle of milk The word skittle might try to tell readers that the children are having fun by playing a game. Also the word milk, which might mean spread. The poet tries to persuade readers that children are having fun; by this he has said this (A skittle of milk). The laugh of a bell The word laugh means happiness, this is linked with the bell because both of them communicate with happiness. The bell ringing is a human sound. Laugh is positive and it associates with having fun. The poet does describe them well. The classroom was filled with decoration and then this is when the fun starts to end. A xylophones nonsense, someone is having fun it is not a tune. The inky tadpoles change into exclamation marks, this links them to be growing up. The children are more rood, A rough boy told you how you were born She imagines her mum with her legs wide open and thinks, is that were she comes from? This change is described well by the poet, the wording is just right. Very well done to the poet. Towards the end of the school the weather gets worse. That feverish July, the air tasted of electricity The word feverish reminds you of cold and fast winds in that month. The poet describes this well as well as, the air tasted of electricity. This describes that the primary school days are nearly over, and the weather also links with this, ideas are changing. The poet tries to link the weather with the end of the school year, and she does this extremely well. Towards the end of the school year as reports were handed out, you ran through the gates, ready to go to your next school. The sky split open into a thunderstorm The thunderstorm represents the end of the school year, which is finally over. This obviously is after all the fun and laughter in the beginning scenes. When children are filled with happiness, the entire classroom is filled with wonderful decorations. You loved Mrs Tilscher, and she also loved you. Then the thunderstorm at the end occurred because of the end of the school year, as children grew up from tadpoles to exclamation marks (adults). Children started to be more rood. Also towards the end, the weather changes, as it is fiercer towards the end of the school year. Valentine * An onion is unusual about the poets choice of a valentine gift. Its not the usual red rose or satin heart. Not a red rose or a satin heart It has a shape, which is equivalent to a sphere. It also has a brown substance, which is wrapped around it. The onion is very unusual but has lots of meanings as well as feelings for the person that will receive it. You look forward to having it because, It promises light * This particular gift was chosen because it means a lot for the person who receives it. It promises light. Brightness and positive vinculum together, thats why this gift has been chosen. Like the undressing of love This means that you can take your clothes off and start love, this is similar when the to the onion, when it has its brown paper taken of it. It contains lots of different layers. * There are several different affects that the person will receive. It will blind you with tears When you look at an onion tears start to appear in your eyes, it leads to tears just like a rose does. There will be a disowned image in the mirror, your reflection will be smudgy and will not be seen properly because of the tears that appeared on your face. Where caused by an onion that meant a lot to you. It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief The fierce kiss stays on your lips, which means love will last long and will carry on forever. Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips The taste of an onion lasts long. Stealing I learn that the thief is alone and has no friends; this leads to him stealing and making himself occupied. He has nothing to do; his life is dull and shadowed. What I deduce about the thief is that he has no human friends, and no relationships. I also deduce that the snow mans mind is cool as a slice of ice. He has a cold mind. With a mind as cold with a slice of ice I learn that he says, Better off dead then giving in, not taking what you want What he means by this is that you might as well be dead if you cannot take what you want. If you want something you should take it, and this is his advice for himself and also his point of view. * The thief takes the snowman because he has no human friends because if this he treats the snowman as a friend. He took him because he had a mind, which was cold, this is why he wanted him. He looked magnificent tall white mute beneath the winter moon He takes him one by one and starts with head. He said, he weighed a ton. There is some sort of vinculum between the thief and the snowman. He also takes him so children would cry in the morning. Knowing that the snowman has gone he likes to hurt children. Part of the thrill was knowing that children would cry in the morning. Lifes tough * The poet presents the ideas convincingly step by step; he explains what the thief does and what he thinks of the snowman. Sometimes I steel things I dont need The poet first writes down what he does need but doesnt say that, then he comes across what he doesnt need, all of which is only for entertainment. The poet makes the thief answer as if someone is asking a question. I took some time The poet also writes what the thief thinks of himself. Mostly Im so bored I could eat myself This shows that he has nothing to do; the poet at the end convinces readers that the thief is telling the questioner what he has said. You dont understand a word Im saying do you? This suggests that only the thief knows what he is doing and saying. It also suggests that he is completely different from other ordinary humans.

Me, myself and I (reflexive pronouns explained) - Emphasis

Me, myself and I (reflexive pronouns explained) Me, myself and I (reflexive pronouns explained) People have some pretty strong feelings about the way our language is used and abused if a recent Emphasis blog post is anything to go by. One source of irritation that stood out as a real piece of apple skin between the teeth was the incorrect use of reflexive pronouns. What are they? Reflexive pronouns are basic pronouns + self or selves. They are: myself yourself herself himself itself yourselves themselves. So whats the right way to use them? Officially, you should use reflexive pronouns in sentences where the subject (the person or thing carrying out the action) and the object (the person or thing on the receiving end of the action) are the same. For example: I patted myself on the back for mastering grammar. He dusted himself down, then rang her doorbell. She gave herself a wink in the mirror and said, Go get em, tiger. Reflexive pronouns can also be employed for emphasis (where, technically, they could be removed, leaving the sense the same): I knitted this whole scarf myself. Did you shear the whole flock for it yourself? Its advisable not to overdo this usage, however, as it quickly becomes overbearing. And the wrong way to use them? Cue much gritting of teeth. I think this house is absolutely perfect for yourselves. Id be grateful if you could send that information over to myself. Whereas what the culprits really mean is: I think this house is absolutely perfect for you. Id be grateful if you could send that information over to me. These examples make the mistake of using these words as replacements for the basic pronouns (you, me), as if they were some kind of upmarket equivalent. Sadly, there is no such upgrade: its just plain wrong. If we, ourselves, have reminded you of anything that really gets your goat or floats your boat on the English language front, please join the fun by leaving your comments at our blog yourselves (sorry).

Dying to be Thin Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dying to be Thin - Assignment Example old Erin, who starved herself, under the illusion that she was fat and ugly, even when she was way below her normal weight and at the verge of death due to malnutrition. In Chapter 6, Jennifer Schmid, who is a victim of another form of anorexia, is unable to balance diet and workout. She eats well but burns a lot more, while exercising, than what she is capable of consuming. And in Chapter 7, we see Anne Chavarro, who suffers from Bulimia, taking to purging to keep up with her binge eating habits. What surprised me the most, was the fact that these eating disorders possessed the power to make human beings capable of withstanding all emotional and physical hardships or of resorting to extremely unpleasant methods like purging or of even putting themselves through starvation which is the worst a human body could suffer, just to be extremely thin. The victims seemed only too pleased about having a disease which left them a subject of admiration, even if it came with a death warrant. Towards the end of Chapter 2, Dr. Joan Jacobs Brumberg, talks about cases of anorexia recorded in history, of women who lived hundreds of years ago. She opines that the common theme in those instances is that those women were using the appetite to express different things, depending upon their historical situation. In Chapter 1, we learn about how Katey Tracey starved herself in a desperate attempt to be accepted by her teacher as the best dancer in her group. Eleena Melamed, another ballet dancer, talks out in Chapter 5, about what led her to anorexia. Her story matches more or less with that of Katey Tracey. It could be said that they were expressing their need to be accepted and admired. Erin, who felt lonely and insecure when her mother had to stay away for a year, took to starvation, to become thin and look glamorous, in order to attract the attention of those around her. She also admits to have been sexually harassed, which added to her feeling of insecurity. Here, she is

Roxbury Manufacturing Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Roxbury Manufacturing Company - Assignment Example Calculating the DOL for 2011 and 2012 to explain the 20% decline in profit from a 10% decline in sales; The DOL is calculated as follows; Degree of Leverage (DOL) = Contribution Margin/ Operating Income Assume that the first year is (2011); The DOL for 2011 = Contribution Margin/ Operating Income = [1,000, 000/500,000] = 2 In response to a 10% decline in sales, the operating income (profit) will decline by; 2*10% = 20% in 2011. Assume that the first year is (2012); The DOL for 2012 = Contribution Margin/ Operating Income = [900,000/ 400,000] = 2.25 In response to a 10% decline in sales, the operating income (profit) will decline by; 2.25*10% = 22.5% in 2012. Now, assuming the following changes happen; - Sales decline again by 10% The sales for the year 2013 would be; [90/100*$ 3,600,000] = $ 3,240,000 - By cutting wastage, costs can be reduced by $120,000 The variable expenses for the year 2013 would be; [$ 2,700,000 - $120,000] = $2,580,000 The Revised Income Statement, if the above changes are made will appear as shown below: