Definition Essay Sample on 3D Computer Graphics

Definition Essay Sample on 3D Computer Graphics A definition essay is the type of work that gives space for creating a comprehensive understanding of a notion that goes far ahead of its mere explanation. The writer provides the inner and outer connotation of the phenomenon to immerse readers into the linguistic and practical variety that the word could have if it is put in distinct environments and situations. In another way, the notion could have one direct meaning, but if envisioned from various perspectives, its perception could change. Therefore, definition essay implies the type of work that could give the most profound approach to the multiple faces of the phenomenon. ‘The Description of Three-Dimensional Computer Graphics’ Essay Sample The concept of three-dimensional computer graphics is proposed to be defined in three ways that include 3D-simulation, 3D animation, and 3D-visualization in general. Three-dimensional graphics (3D or three dimensions) denotes a section of computer graphics that covers algorithms and software for operating objects in three-dimensional space, and the result of such programs. It is regularly used to create images in architectural rendering, cinematography, television, computer games, printed matter, science and, naturally, advertising. It is worth to put the focus on explaining the definition of three-dimensional computer graphics through particular examples, namely, its application in interactive advertising around the world. The following should be highlighted as the main features of three-dimensional computer graphics that are most actively used in interactive advertising. First goes the creation of completely â€Å"drawn† scenes. Second, we should name the replacing of the background. Third, the process includes the creation of an environment. Forth, it is important to mention adding the actors, characters, or creatures. Then goes the actors and their actions replace; adding of an object into the frame; removing an item from a structure; dimming or illuminating images; changing speed; fixing problems and disadvantages encountered during shooting (for instance, removing a grid from a wig, changing the shape or color of the eyes). It also allows converting 2D video to 3D and creates winning captions, title s, logos, and variety of multimedia content. Usually, three-dimensional elements complement or change scenes in interactive promotional materials, but they can also be used to create fully animated commercials based on computer graphics. Internationally, they are produced in collaboration with movie companies such as Pixar, DreamWorks, and Sony Animations. Based on the latest world achievements, the following types of external interactive advertising are identified: outdoor interactive advertising, interactive showcases (including virtual directories), interactive billboards, interactive mirrors, interactive flooring, interactive racks at the bar, interactive games and games without script, virtual drafts, showcase as canvas (art projects), holographic advertising, virtual 3D promoters, X3D-video (out of the screen). Among the technologies that are being used, it is important to highlight interactive 3D projections (Ground FX technology, Free Format Projection). The next is the fully represented examples of three-dimensional graphics definition through its applications in the sphere of interactive advertising: Interactive Showcases. Interactive showcases are one of the most promising trends in retailing, while windows decorated with the classical mannequins signify a relic of the past. At present, in the face of increasing competition, retailers have to fight for the buyer. Interactive showcases do not only have the benefits of external video screens but also enable passers-by to be engaged directly. The Wieden+Kennedy Advertising Agency once greeted London residents by creating an interactive installation that performed the Christmas hymn. The feature of interactive advertising was that it mimicked a whole choir with the help of the passers-by. The unique program recreated the faces of people as if they were part of a festive three-dimensional video. Virtual Catalog. It enables a visual showing of the store range and opens access to it, even if the shop itself is closed. For example, the Puma virtual catalog in Montreal runs by this principle. People can leave messages on the screen via the virtual keyboard. Interactive Games. The gaming ideas that establish an emotional contact with the viewer work well for the companies whose product offer does not suppose to design features but has more complex characteristics that cannot be displayed on the screen (such as taste or smell). In this case, the multi-dimensional graphics computer technology is also actively used. The recent examples included the Starbucks showcases that promoted the Tazo tea line (Ramsarran par.1). Passers-by were able to manage a small creature (hummingbird or butterfly) that has to go through many obstacles to find unique components for each of the new teas. Games without the Script. To force people to engage in a game, it is not necessary to come up with complicated moves. Sometimes, it is good enough to realize a simple idea. Therefore, â€Å"motion-sensors† in interactive windows can use the movement to open or display part of the image on the screens. In support of their company, Rocking Dots Diesel equipped a showcase of their main store in Copenhagen with such sensors, and passers-by waved with pleasure to open another piece of the performance of virtual rock musicians (â€Å"Diesel Interactive Storefront† par.1). A Showcase as a Canvas. The brands that seek to link their image with creative freedom refer to interactive solutions that allow passers-by to do small art projects. The colorful interactive showcase works fine on the promotional series of art and crafts master classes held in various museums. In addition to the information on the schedule of all events, it gives adults and children an opportunity to draw their hands directly on the glass, and then send the ready masterpiece by email. Interactive Billboards. It differs from interactive showcases by means of displaying graphic (animation) information and location. The duty of marketers remains the same – to make potential consumers at least to hold back and look at external media. One method to do this is to use 3D computer technologies and make billboards or online format interactive, thus providing consumers with the reason to stop and â€Å"get in touch† with the media (Mehrabi et al. 96). For example, there was an advertising medium set up in Japan to promote a reality show devoted to cooking. Every passerby could feel like a star since the screams and camera flashes began to work when people walked close enough. Thus, the development of means for the output of multidimensional computer graphics has made it possible to achieve extraordinary results. Interactive Mirrors are advertising media that have two modes: a highlighted poster and a mirror. Built-in motion sensors determine the distance between the surface and the person, and then change the look of the surface. Thus, when passers-by are approaching closer, they can see their reflection instead of an advert. As a rule, an interactive three-dimensional advertising image on the mirror comes up thanks to the instantaneous change in the attention of potential consumers. Sensitive Floor is a projection system created with modern digital and projection technologies. Interactive floors change the position of three-dimensional graphics depending on the movement of the person. The technology is based on the operation of projectors that respond to human action within the image being projected. Process management occurs automatically in a particular computer program. In fact, one can create a variety of high-end interactive effects with 3D graphics. The circles disperse under the feet, or the stellar trail stretches behind a human. These animation elements are often used in combination with slogans and logos. Interactive floors make consumers interact with them since movement under the feet drives attention and attracts to join the game simultaneously. A similar effect is achieved due to the innovations in computer animation, namely Ground FX technology that is an ultra-modern interactive projection. It was used in several supermarkets in Hollywood, and it turned the floor between the shop display shelves into the virtual seabed. 3D Projection is an innovative way of attracting attention by streaming an impressive video onto the surface or the facade of the building. 3D holographic projections are widely used in presentations, festive events, seminars, and in the opening of stores and introduction of product innovations (Chaudhari, Lakhani, and Deulkar 30). It embodies a very effective way of presenting a campaign that promotes goods and services. Interactive Racks at the bar are not commonly used carriers from the point of view of their location. However, they have extra options. In addition to the dynamic 3D design, interactive racks are accompanied by a Smart Menu. It means that, in addition to the entertainment, the racks carry out useful functions. The visitors can order a drink or musical support simply using the Smart Menu feature. Taking that for each client, there is an opportunity to write programs and algorithms under the order. Interactive barracks can be safely counted as internal advertising media that uses three-dimensional graphics. X3D-Video is a relatively new technology developed by X3D-Technologies Corporation (Relke, Klippstein, and Riemann par.1). It was first introduced in 2002 at the high tech conference in the United States. The three-dimensional technology allows the picture to go beyond the screen easily and then go back making an unforgettable experience for people passing by. Its main difference from simple 3D technology is the ability to perceive three-dimensional images without the use of additional means, such as special helmets or 3D glasses. Additionally, the realism of the image is available at a reasonably long distance. Due to the large viewing angle and spatial reproduction technology, the effect is noticeable at a distance of up to one hundred meters that is convenient for presenting goods and services at points of sale. In recent years, this ad technology has been improved dramatically. It is popular in Japan, China, France, Germany, and the USA. It is applied actively in supermarkets, cl ubs, and entertaining shopping centers. Moreover, advertising using X3D-video has spread in the field of computer technology and banking. Free Format Projection is another find of advertising innovations. This Japanese technology creates a sense of the presence of characters or other objects in real size due to the special processing of the image that is subsequently projected onto the surface. Here, the fantasy of the advertiser can be infinite: a virtual girl tries out clothes in the shop window; a huge bottle dances at the entrance to the entertainment center; a can strolls between rows in a supermarket. Nowadays, this technology has been already used by manufacturers of computer and home appliances, luxury clothing in Japan, the United States, and China. Holograms. In 2012, the French lingerie store L’Atelier Empreinte used a non-standard advertisement: a girl in underwear appeared in the shop window at the dark times of the day, then periodically disappeared and arose again (Macleod par.1). Holographic advertising looks very plausible and attracts the attention of the consumer. 3D-Visualization. There are no doubts that people remember things better when they are able not only see or hear, but also touch or make some manipulations. These properties are inherent to the advertising with interactive 3D-model since it represents a volumetric and realistic image of the advertised object. Therefore, while defining three-dimensional computer graphics, it is possible to find out its boundless possibilities in a wide variety of media spheres. The most prominent examples of this technology application pertain to the realm of innovative advertising. The use of three-dimensional means has become particularly productive and justified from a marketing point of view. Often advertising requires the participation of a fictitious character, non-existent in reality and embodying the product. The computer graphics provides this feature. 3D simulation also allows viewing created objects from all sides, including from the inside. One can animate the things to one’s liking, acquainting the potential buyer with a product or service and letting him or her feel like the owner even before the purchase. It ensures a stable emotional contact that enables considering the three-dimensional computer technologies as a leading instrument in interactive advertising projects. The present definition essay sample opens up a comprehensive explanation of the three-dimensional computer graphics phenomenon. The definition essay topic could be considered as strong one since it proposes numerous examples taken from real life. This piece of writing will make the student’s academic headache a completely disappeared matter when approaching this type of work. Chaudhari, Aunsh, Keval Lakhani, and Khushali Deulkar. â€Å"Transforming the World Using Holograms.† International Journal of Computer Applications, 130.1 (2015). â€Å"Diesel Interactive Storefront.† Accessed 31 December 2018. Great House Film (YouTube), 2009. Macleod, Duncan. â€Å"Empreinte L’Atelier Lingerie Hologram.† The Inspiration Room, 2012. Mehrabi, Mostafa, et al. â€Å"Making 3D Work: A Classification of Visual Depth Cues, 3D Display Technologies and Their Applications.† Proceedings of the Fourteenth Australasian User Interface Conference-Volume 139. Australian Computer Society, Inc., 2013. Ramsarran, Renee. â€Å"The Starbucks Interactive Window Display Turns Heads.† Trend Hunter, 2011. Relke, Ingo, Markus Klippstein, and Bernd Riemann. â€Å"Assessment and Improvement of the Stereo-Image Visualization on X3D Technologies 3D Displays.† Stereoscopic Displays and Virtual Reality Systems XI. Vol. 5291. International Society for Optics and Photonics, 2004.

How to Focus When Youre Writing

How to Focus When Youre Writing How to Focus When Youre Writing How to Focus When Youre Writing By Ali Hale Do you ever find yourself distracted when you’re writing? I don’t think I’ve ever met a writer who could honestly answer â€Å"no† to that question! Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, checking the news headlines, browsing a few webcomics, answering emails, ordering that book from Amazon you’d forgotten about there are so many distractions just a click away. The good news is, there’s plenty you can do to help yourself to focus as you write. I’ve split my suggestions into three different categories, so you can tackle whichever area you feel is holding you back the most (or whichever is easiest for you to change right now). They are: How to make your writing environment work for you What to do before you write What to do while you’re writing I’ve also included a bonus tip on something you can do after you write, to help you gradually focus better over time. How to Make Your Writing Environment Work For You #1: Get Away from Home If you normally write at home, try writing in a local coffee shop (or library, etc) instead. This cuts out a ton of potential distractions and a change of scene can make it much easier to be creative. Some of my best, most focused, writing happens when I get away for an afternoon, evening and morning at a local hotel. There’s no laundry pile, no dishes, no kids, no TV, and the wifi there doesn’t work on my ailing laptop. I can write for hours! Even if you can’t get away for very long, just an hour in a coffee shop might be enough to help you get past a creative block that you’ve been struggling with. #2: Get Rid of Intrusive Noise When I’m in the writing zone, I tune out pretty much everything (including my long-suffering husband). But getting into that zone in the first place can be tricky if there’s a lot of distracting noise going on. In our house, â€Å"noise† is normally the kids playing / fighting / singing at the top of their lungs. Maybe that sounds all too familiar to you – or maybe the noise you’re trying to block out is construction work going on nearby, or your roommate watching yet another repeat of Friends. Whatever the noise, a pair of headphones will help (I like in-ear ones, because they’re cheap and act a bit like earplugs to muffle external noise). It’s entirely up to you what you listen to: some writers like to focus with ambient sound from a site like Noisli.com; others like movie soundtracks; still others pick a particular artist, album or even song that fits with the mood of their work-in-progress. Do whatever works for you. #3: Sit at a Desk or Table If you normally write while sitting on the sofa, or even while lying in bed, try sitting at a table or desk instead – even if that means clearing some space or rearranging a room. You might find it makes a huge difference to your concentration levels. As well as feeling more like a â€Å"work† space, a seat at a table or desk is likely to be better for your posture than hunching over with your laptop on your lap, or lying in bed with your laptop propped up on your knees. (If you do decide to stick with your sofa or bed, though, you might want to   look into something like a laptop bed tray to make it easier to write there.) What To Do Before You Write #4: Make a Plan Whatever you’re about to write, you need a plan. That might be a few words scribbled on a sticky note, or it might be a detailed document outlining your whole book. But whatever your plan looks like, it’s a vital tool for keeping you on track and focused. If you begin writing without a plan, it’s all too easy to lose focus. You don’t know where you’re going next – and as soon as you come to the natural end of one train of thought, you’ll probably find yourself getting distracted by something that has nothing to do with your writing at all. #5: Set a Goal for Your Writing Session What do you want to achieve during your writing session? If you’re writing, say, a blog post, you might simply want to work through your plan – but if you’re working on part of a longer project, you may need to come up with a specific goal. For instance, if you’re writing a novel, your goal might be â€Å"write the first 1,000 words of chapter 10† or â€Å"write the scene with Jo confronting Dwayne†. If you find that setting goals can be daunting or off-putting rather than helpful, you might want to set a â€Å"minimum† goal and a â€Å"stretch† goal – that might be â€Å"write 200 words† as the minimum and â€Å"write 1,000 words† as your stretch goal. Even if you only achieve the minimum, you can still give yourself a pat on the back. #6: Decide How Long You’ll Focus For You don’t necessarily need to work with 100% focus for the whole of your writing session. You might decide to focus for 25 minutes, then take a 5 minute break. (Those particular time intervals are part of the Pomodoro technique, which you might find helpful.) Set a timer to keep you on track as you write. While the timer is running, your job is to only write – you can’t check emails, go on Facebook, and so on. It might feel surprisingly hard at first to stay focused in this way, but you’ll soon find it becomes more natural. If you’re fighting a long-entrenched distractibility habit, you might want to use an app like Freedom.to to help you – you can block specific websites, or even the whole internet, for a period of time. What to Do While You Write #7: Keep a â€Å"Distractions† Notebook to Hand One simple tool that I find very helpful is a notebook, diary or even scrap of paper where I can jot down distractions. These are often things I need to remember to do (â€Å"Order Le Guin book† is on my list right now, because as I was drafting this post, I remembered that the science fiction book group I attend is meeting in a couple of weeks) You can use a distractions list not only for â€Å"to do† items, though, but also for impulses that crop up. Stuff like â€Å"see what’s new on xkcd† or â€Å"look up next season of Lucifer† can go on your list, too! Once you get to a break, you can delve into some of those distractions, guilt-free. #8: Don’t Stop to Look Things Up How often are you writing a blog post (or a scene of your novel, or a chapter of your book) – only to realise that you need to look up a name or a fact or a link? And how often do you stop, look it up and end up spending the next half an hour in an internet rabbit-hole? I do this more often than I’d care to admit! But as much as possible, I try to not look things up when I’m writing. Instead, I put a [note to self] in square brackets in my draft, so I can come back and insert the name/fact/link/etc later on. Here’s an example from the draft of this very post: #9: Don’t Edit While You’re Writing I know you’ve been told this one already, but it’s a piece of advice that always bears repeating: don’t edit while you’re writing. Is it okay to occasionally backspace and fix a typo, or restart a sentence that somehow came out wrong? Sure. (Though some â€Å"don’t-edit† purists might disagree with me!) However, if you draft a paragraph, change three sentences, draft another paragraph, cut everything you’ve written so far and start again you’re not going to get far. If you change your mind about something as you’re writing, just pop the section you’re unsure about into italics. Make a quick note about what you’re thinking about changing (e.g. â€Å"remove John from this scene†) and then proceed as if you’d already made that change. That way, you don’t lose momentum – and you don’t waste time editing something that you might later decide to change yet again. What to Do After You Write #10: Record How Your Writing Session Went If you’ve never tried keeping a writing journal before, give it a go. You could have a document on your computer where you jot down how you got on, you could make an entry in your diary, you could use a notebook whatever works for you. Each time you finish a writing session, take a minute or two to note what went well and what didn’t quite work out. For instance, â€Å"started well but got distracted half-way by answering an email from Jenny† or â€Å"took ages to get going but really got into the flow after a few paragraphs†. If you keep up your journal for a few weeks, you’ll find that you can spot patterns – and that you become more aware of what does (and doesn’t) work for you. All writers can focus, and often, being distractible is simply a bad habit. How could you make your next writing session a great one? Pick one idea – or more! – from the list above, and let us know in the comments how you get on. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Homograph ExamplesWhat to Do When Words Appear Twice in a RowPreposition Review #1: Chance of vs. Chance for

Empolyee relatons Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Empolyee relatons - Essay Example In case of employee participation the level of participation can be classified in two ways, a) high level and b) low level. High level employee participation is observed in case of corporate houses. It has been observed that employees participate in high level decision making process when it comes to solving doubts related to factors, including, 'co-determination', "pension fund trustees,' and employer-wide collective bargaining." (Farnham, 2000, 38) On the other hand the low employee participation occur at departmental and workplace levels or among the workgroups. There are various degrees of management to tolerate "collectivism ranges from willing co-operation at one extreme, to grudging acceptance at the other." (Farnham, 2000, 38) The modern business and its management have sorted out various connections between collectivism and employee relations. In case of US owned companies deal with factors like collectivism and employee relationship from individualist management perspective. On the other hand a common tendency has been observed among UK companies that they deal with the same issues from collectivist approach. Study of business management shows that individualism and collectivism contradict each other. Purcell has observed this incidence in some of the Japanese owned and British companies and in this context he has remarked, "Management styles operate along the tow dimensions and'action in one area, toward individualism, for example, is not necessarily associated with changes in collectivism scale." (Farnham, 2000, 38) The individualist approach of treating the aspects like collectivism and employee relations is characterized with non unionism, which means there must not be any interference of the union into the affairs of the company. On the contrary, companies that follow collectivist approach encourage in the formation of union and they expect that employee unions must come forward to covey desires and expectations of employees in decision making process of the company. Such approach is mostly observed among UK based companies. Hence, it can be said that, "an employer recognizes trade unions for representational, consultative, negotiating or co-determination purposes is an critical and visible expression of management style and its approach to employee relations." (Farnham, 2000, 38) The employee relations also include within its scope various aspects that are exclusively controlled by management of the company, such as, promotion, internal training and employee welfare. But when it is seen that a company is refusing to accept existence of the union it implies that the management is shifting towards individualist style of approach rather than collective one. In proper maintenance of employee relation, management of a company focuses over two critical issues that are also closely interwoven with each other, namely, the degree of discretion and the patterns of relations. The degree of discretion is used by the managers in making choice about aspects related with employee relations. After the managers execute the discretionary degrees, certain patterns emerge and those are considered as patterns of relation. For proper operation of a company there is a constant need of efficient people. It is not always possible for management of a big corporation to find out the right person, who suits for a particular role.

Iraq War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Iraq War - Essay Example Supporting the development of a strategy for troop safety, a special interagency branch was assigned to identify and locate any oilfield risks that the US-led coalition army might face upon entering the country crossing its northern and southern borders.   This special branch identified probable areas of the oilfields that were supposed to be booby-trapped by the Iraqi soldiers. Also it attempted to trace out other natural oilfield dangers such as toxic gases, fire-risk and pressurized equipment.   USCENTCOM's strategy for deploying troops in Iraq included these safety measures based on the intelligence reports provided by this special branch. Dividing the whole invasion strategy into a number of phases depending on their priority, USCENTCOM J2 and the â€Å"Defense Intelligence Agency† (DIA) jointly launched thirteen crisis secret service communicative partnerships in order to provide critical intelligence support to field operations in the Iraqi battlefields during the a llied invasion, the â€Å"Operation Iraqi Freedom†.   During the peak hours of the battle in Operation Iraqi Freedom, more than 900 secret agents and other subsidiaries in and outside Iraq were committed to assisting USCENTCOM. Before the commencement of the Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), an military technical adventure operated by the â€Å"Defense Intelligence Agency† (DIA) launched a â€Å"Ballistic Missile Portal† (BMP) that would collect â€Å"pictures, descriptions, order of battle, infrastructure, technical parameters, and signatures unique to ballistic missiles†2. The whole service Community, including both the expert agents and the fighters in the battlefield, provided data to the BMP, which enabled the operators at the Central Command to locate and hit the threatening targets effectively. In response to the Intelligence personnel’s requirements for quick and the best possible flawless assessme nts of the possible Iraqi counter actions and strike, DIA authority built a â€Å"RED CELL† in order to replicate the decision-making process of the Iraqi military high command. The cell prepared about twenty policy papers that reflected different aspects and functioning processes of the Iraqi high command3.  The series of Intelligence effort exerted a direct and effective impact on the US-led Coalition’s forces’ strategic invasion planning and policy making. In an all-inclusive effort to provide support to the Intelligence community prepared a list of 3000 Iraqi personalities including the 55 most wanted who were classified according to their level of posing threat to the US-led coalition. Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) formed a team of 12 analysts and on-battle foreign resource utilization specialists from DIA's MSIC, called the â€Å"Joint Captured Materiel Exploitation Cell (JCMEC)†. The JCMEC team played a crucial role in locating, collecting, assessing, utilizing, and evacuating the â€Å"captured enemy materiel and weapons of strategic or intelligence value throughout the Iraqi theater of operations†

Causes Of American Imperialism Essay Example for Free

Causes Of American Imperialism Essay The United States gained an overseas empire in the late 1890s and early 1900s due in part to its own expansionist past (which more than doubled the nation’s size during the nineteenth century), but more importantly to economic and geopolitical concerns. American business interests sought more sources of natural resources and, more importantly, larger markets for American goods. In the 1890s, an economic slump made foreign trade seem an attractive solution, and with European tariffs high, American business leaders increasingly looked to Asia. By 1898, the United States already exerted influence over Hawaii, which it formally annexed that year – five years after American business leaders deposed the native monarch and established a republic, in which no native Hawaiians held power. Republicans generally supported this action, seeing the commercial and strategic advantages of establishing American power in the Pacific. Also that year, growing American sympathy for Cuban rebels seeking independence from Spain, as well as the USS Maine’s explosion in Havana harbor, led the United States to declare war on Spain on 25 April 1898. The American decision to take the Philippines was based on the same economic and strategic motives. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany already claimed colonies or other influence in eastern Asia and the Pacific, and the United States used the war as an opportunity to claim its own by annexing the Philippines and ruling them until 1946. Though President McKinley and others claimed they took the Philippines because the Filipinos were not yet â€Å"civilized† enough for self-rule, economics and politics were the true motive, and McKinley himself claimed that doing otherwise â€Å"would have been bad business and discreditable. † WORKS CITED Davis, Kenneth C. Don’t Know Much about History. New York: Avon, 1990. Goldfield, David et al. The American Journey. Upper Saddle River NJ: Pearson, 2005. Henretta, James A. et al. America’s History. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008.

American Intervention in Cuba and Puerto Rico Essay -- American Histor

End notes are missing from the paper. To Secretary of State John Hay, the Spanish-American War was a "splendid little war", one that would bring tremendous benefit to those fortunate colonies liberated from Spain. For those places where the Spanish were forcibly expelled, there was nothing splendid about either about the war or its aftermath. To state simply that war is hell and that change is disruptive is merely to state the obvious. Beyond this, many U.S. historians have characterized the results of U.S. intervention and subsequent occupation of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines as a bequest, an opportunity to enjoy previously unknown individual liberties, political self-determination and potential economic prosperity. Other historians have characterized the actions of the United States as nothing short of exploitative imperialism, designed to subjugate those who it considered inferior to a state of political and economic servitude. What is clear is that, in Cuba and Puerto Rico, many viewed the American involvement initially as a positive development. What is equally apparent is that after the war and over time, these pro-American attitudes soured considerably. There were many reasons for this development. Leaving the economic, sociological, and psychological examinations of this large issue to other more ambitious endeavors, this paper aims to explore the way in which the intervention and occupation disrupted and complicated the normal political construction of Cuba and Puerto Rico. Also, in an effort to avoid the larger historiographical debate, political developments will be presented simply in response to conditions. The premise of this paper is that, intentionally or otherwise, the U.S. intervention and subseque... ...s E., Cuba 1933†¦Prologue to Revolution. 1972 Cornell University Press, N.Y. Carrion, Arturo Morales, Puerto Rico, A Political and Cultural History., 1983 WW Norton, N.Y., N.Y. Foner, Philip S., The Spanish-Cuban-American War and the Birth of American Imperialism, Volume 2, (1898-1902), 1972 Monthly Review Press, N.Y., N.Y. Knight, Franklin W., The Caribbean, The Genesis of a Fragmented Nationalism. 1990 Oxford University Press, N.Y., N.Y. Maldonado-Denis, Manuel, Puerto Rico: A Socio-Historic Interpretation. 1972 Random House, N.Y., N.Y. Perez, Louis A., Cuba Under The Platt Amendment, 1902-1934. 1986 University of Pittsburgh Press, Pa. Suchlicki, Jamie, "The Political Ideology of Jose Marti" from: Beckles, Hilary and Verene Shepherd, Caribbean Freedom: Economy and Society from Emancipation to the Present. 1996 Marcus Wiener, Princeton, N.J.

Terry V. Ohio

Terry v. Ohio Case Project| | | | | Victoria Swannegan| 12/2/2010| | In 1968 a case called Terry v. Ohio took place. This case made a big impact on the police departments of the United States by giving officers more reasons to make an arrest. A â€Å"Terry Stop† is a stop of a person by law enforcement officers based upon reasonable suspicion that a person may have been engaged in criminal activity, whereas an arrest requires probable cause that a suspect committed a criminal offense.A Cleveland detective (McFadden), on a downtown beat which he had been patrolling for many years, observed two stranger on a street corner. He saw them proceed alternately back and forth along an identical route, pausing to stare in the same store window, which they did for a total of about 24 times. Each completion of the route was followed by a conference between the two on a corner, at one of which they were joined by a third man who left swiftly.Suspecting the two men of â€Å"casing a job, a stick-up,† the officer followed them and saw them rejoin the third man a couple of blocks away in front of a store. The officer approached the three, identified himself as a policeman, and asked their names. The men â€Å"mumbled something,† whereupon McFadden spun petitioner around, patted down his outside clothing, and found in his overcoat pocket, but was unable to remove, a pistol. The officer ordered the three into the store.He removed petitioner's overcoat, took out a revolver, and ordered the three to face the wall with their hands raised. He patted down the outer clothing of Chilton and Katz and seized a revolver from Chilton's outside overcoat pocket. He did not put his hands under the outer garments of Katz (since he discovered nothing in his pat-down which might have been a weapon), or under petitioner's or Chilton's outer garments until he felt the guns. The three were taken to the police station. Petitioner and Chilton were charged with carrying concealed weapons.The defense moved to suppress the weapons. Though the trial court rejected the prosecution theory that the guns had been seized during a search incident to a lawful arrest, the court denied the motion to suppress and admitted the weapons into evidence on the ground that the officer had cause to believe that petitioner and Chilton were acting suspiciously, that their interrogation was warranted, and that the officer, for his own protection, had the right to pat down their outer clothing having reasonable cause to believe that they might be armed.The court distinguished between an investigatory â€Å"stop† and an arrest, and between a â€Å"frisk† of the outer clothing for weapons and a full-blown search for evidence of crime. Petitioner and Chilton were found guilty, an intermediate appellate court affirmed, and the State Supreme Court dismissed the appeal on the ground that â€Å"no substantial constitutional question† was involved. Terry was protected b y â€Å"The Fourth Amendment† but the officer had a probable cause. The Fourth Amendment to the U. S.Constitution protects personal privacy, and every citizen's right to be free from unreasonable government intrusion into their persons, homes, businesses, and property, whether through police stops of citizens on the street, arrests, or searches of homes and businesses. The Fourth Amendment provides safeguards to individuals during searches and detentions, and prevents unlawfully seized items from being used as evidence in criminal cases. The degree of protection available in a particular case depends on the nature of the detention or arrest, the characteristics of the place searched, and the circumstances under which the search takes place.In the case, they used a term called â€Å"Stop and Frisk†. This is a situation in which a police officer who is suspicious of an individual detains the person and runs his hands lightly over the suspect's outer garments to determine if the person is carrying a concealed weapon. Unlike a full search, a frisk is generally limited to a patting down of the outer clothing. If the officer feels what seems to be a weapon, the officer may then reach inside the person's clothing.If no weapon is felt, the search may not intrude further than the outer clothing. A full search is called â€Å"Search and Seizure†. It is the legal term used to describe a law enforcement agent’s examination of a person’s home, vehicle, or business to find evidence that a crime has been committed. If evidence is found, the agent may then â€Å"seize† it. Search and seizure also includes placing an individual under arrest. The Terry v. Ohio case made a phenomenal change. It made a difference in which people can be searched arrested.

Finance & Strategic Management Essay

Over the past decades the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has continued to grow in importance and significance due to external pressure of diverse stakeholders, and has thereby become more prominent on companies’ agendas (Carroll & Shabana, 2010; Beurden & Gossling, 2008). The concept of CSR has been subject to considerable debate, commentary, theory building and continues research (Carroll & Shabana, 2010). The question, of whether CSR investments result in financial and social benefits that outweigh its costs, is intensively scrutinized in existing literature (Schreck, 2001; Carroll & Shabana, 2010). Adherents of CSR argue that it is in the long-term self-interest of corporations to be socially involved (Carroll & Shabana, 2010; Barnet 2007). The overall logic is that CSR increases the trustworthiness of firms and strengthens the relationships with stakeholders. CSR may further result in decreased transaction costs and thereby improved corporate financial performance (CFP), by decreasing employee turnover, reducing operating costs, as well as functioning as a buffer in disruptive events (Carroll & Shabana, 2010; Barnet, 2007). Barnett (2007) and Schreck (2011) argue that, if the financial benefits of CSR meet or exceed the costs, CSR can be justified as a rational investment. According to Kurucz, Colbert and Wheeler (2008), firms may attain four distinct benefits from engaging in CSR; cost and risk reduction; gaining competitive advantage; developing reputation and legitimacy; and seeking win–win outcomes through synergistic value creation. Critics of CSR typically use classical economic arguments, articulated most forcefully by Friedman (Carroll & Shabana, 2010). Traditionally, the expenditures of CSR are considered an illegitimate waste of resources, which conflict with a firm’s responsibility to its shareholders (Schreck, 2011, Barnet, 2007). According to Friedman (1970) â€Å"There is one and only one social responsibility of business – to use it resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Friedman further argued that, social issues are not the concern of business people, and â€Å"the business of business is business† (Carroll & Shabana, 2010). Even though CSR have been subject to critique, an increasing number of corporations are accepting responsibilities that extend well beyond the immediate interest of the owners, by considering â€Å"non-shareholder stakeholders’ concerns† (Grant, 2010; Clegg, Carter, Kornberger & Schweitzer, 2011). Although the existence, direction and strength of possible links between CSR and CFP have been the subject of several empirical analyses (Schreck, 2011), and even though CSR is almost universally practiced, the results from empirical studies are inconclusive (De Bakker, Groenewegen & Hond, 2005). After more than thirty years of research, it cannot clearly be concluded, whether a one-dollar investment in social initiatives returns more or less, than one dollar in benefits to shareholders (Barnet, 2007; Surroca & Tribo & Waddock, 2008). The inconclusiveness of empirical studies may be due to unclear and inconsistent definitions of key terms (De Bakker, Groenewegen & Hond, 2005; Barnet, 2007), methodological differences (Carrol & Shabana, 2010), and diverse approaches of measuring CSR and CFP (Beurden & Gossling, 2008). In existing literature, CSR activities are often entioned to reduce risk, by avoiding the various consequences of moral disapproval by numerous stakeholders (Zadek, 2000). However, CSR derived risk reductions are considered as an ex-post beneficial outcome and not as a proactive risk management instrument to control or reduce idiosyncratic risk (firm specific). Under the assumption that, shareholders are risk adverse and prefer a high expected return (Bodie, Kane & Marcus, 2011; Brealey, Myers & Allen, 2011), a reduction of firm specific risk must be perceived as favorably. Provided that CSR investments can be applied as a risk management tool, CSR could be seen as investments by firms on behalf of its shareholders. Taking a shareholder perspective, this paper looks beyond the socially good deed of CSR, and focuses on the value of CSR as a method to reduce idiosyncratic risk without detriment of CFP. CSR and Risk Management Since this paper hypothesizes that, CSR can be applied as a risk management instrument to preserve CFP, risk need to be defined. Risk can be defined as the uncertainty about outcomes or events, especially with respect to the future (Orlitzky & Benjamin, 2001). Widely risk management is defined as a managerial tool to avoid risk, transfer risk to another party, reduce risk, or in some cases accepting consequences of a certain risk (Froot, Scharfstein & Stein, 1994). A shareholder’s perspective on risk management however, conflicts with the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) (Markowitz, 1952) and the Modigliani & Miller’s theorem on capital structure (1958). CAPM theory states that, the cost of reducing idiosyncratic risks simultaneously reduces the expected return, and hence firm value (Markowitz, 1952). Risk reduction by holding a well-diversified portfolio of securities will be unattainable by risk management (Godfrey, Merrill & Hansen, 2009), why a profit-maximizing investor would not prefer risk management. Total firm risk is in general the combination of systematic and unsystematic risk (Hoje & Haejung, 2012). Systematic risk, often referred to as market risk or non-diversifiable risk, is usually defined as the firm’s sensitivity to changes in the market average returns, which cannot be reduced by diversification of shareholders (Weber, 2008; Luo & Bhattacharya, 2009; Orlitzky & Benjamin, 2001). Unsystematic risk is defined as idiosyncratic risk (Hoje & Haejung, 2012; Luo & Bhattacharya, 2009). Idiosyncratic risk is traditionally viewed as indifferent to the portfolio investors, since it is associated with specific companies and thereby can be reduced by diversified portfolios (Husted, 2005; Weber, 2008). Opposing idiosyncratic risk is of great relevance to the firm manager, whose very survival may depend upon taking adequate measures to reduce the idiosyncratic risk (Husted, 2005). Firms’ financial risk is often defined in terms of variability of returns (Orlitsky & Benjamin 2001), or stock price volatility (Luo & Bhattacharya, 2009), which is important risk measures, given that higher volatility implies greater investment risk and uncertain future cash flows (Luo & Bhattacharya, 2009; Oikonomou, Brooks & Pavelin, 2012). A reduction in idiosyncratic risk reflects reduced variance in the future expected cash flows, which translates into greater shareholder wealth (Luo & Bhattacharya, 2009; Mishra & Modi, 2012). In a strict Modigliani and Miller perspective, risk-management instruments are of no value, since these are purely financial transactions that do not affect the value of a company’s operating assets (Froot, Scharfstein & Stein, 1994). The views of CAMP and Modigliani and Miller have been superseded by a postmodern view of risk management as an important strategic tool. Firms do invest in insurances even though the costs of these investments may be in excess of expected losses, which is in clear violation with the perfect market assumption (Smith & Stulz, 1985; Stultz, 2002). If risk management can reduce firms’ exposure to idiosyncratic risks, it protects shareholders against the deadweight costs of severe financial distress in a way, that investors can not accomplish in the market by diversifying (Godfrey, Merrill & Hansen, 2009). Review of the linkage between CSR and risk For several decades, researchers have aimed at discovering a conclusive linkage between CSR and CFP, the literature however, remains highly fragmented (Aguinis & Glavas 2012). According to Orlitsky & Benjamin (2001) true economic performance manifests itself in both high financial returns and low financial risk. Among financial and non-monetary benefits, risk reduction is often mentioned as a positive outcome of engaging in CSR activities. Porter and Kramer (2006) argue that, today’s pressure, of external stakeholders to hold companies accountable for social issues, learly demonstrate the potential large financial risks for any corporation. Several scholars emphasize, that the costs of CSR can be justified by reductions in risk and costs derived from engagement in social issues (Caroll & Shabana, 2010). The primary argument is that the diverse demands of stakeholders represent potential threats and risks to the viability of the firm, why it is the economic interest of firms to mitigate these threats and gain legitimacy through social involvement (Caroll & Shabana, 2010; Schreck, 2011; Kurucz, Colbert & Wheeler 2008). Existing literature on the CSR-risk relationship is virtually unanimously agreeing upon a negative correlation between CRS and idiosyncratic risk, where empirical results show that CSR lowers idiosyncratic risk (Spicer, 1978; Orlitsky & Benjamin, 2001; Godfrey, 2005; Hoje & Haejung, 2012; Caroll & Shabana, 2010; Godfrey, Merrill & Hansen, 2009; Heal, 2005; Luo & Bhattacharya, 2012; Oikonomou, Brooks & Pavelin, 2012; Berman, Wicks, Kotha & Jones, 1999; Hart, 1995; Shrivastava, 1995; Peloza, 2006). Several studies have also shown a significant negative relationship between CSR and systematic risk (non-diversifiable) (Hoje & Haejung 2012; Orlitzky & Benjamin, 2001; Mcguire, Sungren & Scneewies, 1988; Luo & Bhattacharya, 2009). CSR reduces idiosyncratic risk by reducing the probabilities of expected financial, social, or environmental crisis that could adversely influence firms’ cash flows (Hoje & Haejung, 2012). Firms perceived as socially responsible may be able to increase interpersonal trust among stakeholders, build social capital, lower transaction costs, and therefore ultimately reduce uncertainty about future financial performance (Orlitzky & Benjamin, 2001). Luo and Bhattacharya (2009) present the view of CSR, as helping the firm build a bulwark of defense against future losses of economic value by reducing firm specific risk and vulnerability of future cash flows. Firms with high social responsibility may have lower financial risk, since these are less sensitive to certain negative external events, like regulatory governmental intervention, undesirable publicity, probability of civil- and criminal legal proceedings or consumer boycotts, why risk reduction can be seen as a monetary benefit of CSR (Mcguire, Sungren & Scneewies, 1988; Oikonomou, Brooks & Pavelin, 2012; Weber, 2008; Orlitzky & Benjamin, 2001; Mcguire, Sungren & Scneewies, 1988). Participation in specific types of CSR, those aimed at a firm’s secondary stakeholders or society as a whole, is argued to create a form of goodwill or positive â€Å"philanthropic moral reputational capital†, which functions as an insurance-like protection, when negative events occur (Godfrey, 2005; Peloza, 2006). When business activity creates negative impact on society, stakeholders respond by sanctioning the firm (Godfrey, Merrill & Hansen, 2009). It is argued that the goodwill, derived from engagement in CSR, reduces the overall severity of the sanctions, by encouraging stakeholders to give the firm ‘the benefit of the doubt‘(Godfrey, 2005; Uzzi, 1997; Peloza, 2006; Godfrey, Merrill & Hansen, 2009). The resultant moral capital gained from social engagement has little to do with generating financial value, but the insurance-like protection contributes with preserving shareholder value and thereby financial performance (Godfrey, Merrill & Hansen, 2009). Mishra and Modi (2012) fund a significant effect on idiosyncratic risk, when CSR is applied, the authors however enhanced this result by finding that, positive CSR reduces idiosyncratic risk, while negative CSR increases idiosyncratic risk. Literature has, according to Mishra and Modi (2012), often a singular focus on positive CSR, and overlooks that firms also occasionally engage in activities that qualifies as negative CSR. Luo and Bhattacharya (2009) and Porter and Kramer (2006) argue that CSR is not beneficial in all situations, but is rather advantageous in some contexts and disadvantageous in others and can even lead to additional risk. This is in line with Barnet (2007), who argues that stakeholders’ perception of firms’ CSR engagement are path-dependent (Barnet, 2007; Luo & Bhattacharya, 2009; Hoje & Haejung, 2012). For firms with social negative impact or prior bad reputation, CSR may be perceived as â€Å"blood money† to mitigate past sins, omissions or shortcomings (Luo & Bhattacharya, 2009; Barnet 2007). CSR can thereby lead to reduced idiosyncratic risk, but can also expose a firm to additional risk (Weber, 2008; Barnet, 2007). Discussion Even though the CSR-risk relationship have received much attention in the existing literature, managing risk as the predominantly basic for engaging in CSR has not received specific attention. Focus within the field is on ex-post measures of risk-related benefits, where CSR is not valued as a proactive tool to reduce idiosyncratic risk. Existing research does not seem to provide any practical guidance to managerial proactive evaluations of the risk reductions derived from CSR involvement. It further lacks a practical framework to ex-ante quantify the risk related benefits of CSR (Weber, 2008). The above review demonstrates the focus on risk, solely as valuable side-effect of engaging in CSR activities. The authors of the paper posit a research gap exists within the existing literature of CSR and risk: CSR is not considered as a proactive ex-ante risk management instrument to control and reduce firm risk. Given the risk reducing benefits of CSR, the authors suggest that investments in CSR can be used as a proactive risk management instrument to reduce idiosyncratic risk. Such an approach could strengthen the overall CSR involvement and support rational ex-ante decision-making in this area (Weber, 2008). The aim is to draw a much-need attention to the risk-reduction potential of CSR by viewing CSR investments as a proactive risk management tool, where managing risk is the main purpose for engaging in CSR. Empirical resolving the research gap and verifying the hypothesis is beyond the scope of this paper. The authors however, suggest that a potential solution is to apply real option theory as a basis for proactive CSR risk management decision-making. CSR as a real option Attributable to the aforementioned arguments, the function of CSR as a risk management tool can be considered as a real option. Regular options are based on securities (financial instruments), whereas real options are based on hedging against uncertainties in real investment projects (Mun, 2002). An analysis of the costs and benefits of CSR projects, using traditional NPV models, often leads to a rejection, as these fail to contribute to maximizing shareholder value (Friedman, 1962). This is, nevertheless, not always the right decision, as the NPV approach fails to incorporate the main advantage of real options (Husted, 2005). Compared to the traditional NPV approach, real options offer management flexibility through multiple decision-making in situations with high uncertainty. Managers have the option, but not the obligation, to engage in, modifying or end strategies, as new information becomes available (Mun, 2002). A CSR option offers the choice of deferring, abandoning, expanding, or staging an investment project (Amram & Howe, 2003). Due to the theoretical and mathematical complexity of option theory, which is beyond the scope of this scientific paper, option theory will be described on an incomprehensive level. In brief option pricing is a function of five variables: the value of the underlying asset, the exercise price, time to exercise, the risk-free interest rate, and the volatility of the underlying asset (Black & Scholes, 1973). The value of the underlying asset is the resources resulted from the CSR option, such as qualified employees, PR and cost avoiding’s etc. Husted, 2005). The exercise price refers to the required additional investments needed for receiving the value created by the CSR option. The timing of the exercise is an essential variable, as it has great effect on the value of CSR options. The risk-free interest rate does not play an important role in most real options (Mun, 2002). The volatility or the uncertainty of the underlying asset has a significant impact on the value of CSR options (Mun, 2002). The variance of the expected value can both be higher or lower than the expected return. Black and Scholes is the most widely used regular option pricing model, however, also one of the most complicated models (Mun, 2002). A Binomial lattice approach is applied in most real option pricing, as it provides a more transparent and intuitive appeal compared with Black and Scholes’ theoretical and mathematical approach (Mun, 2002). However, since the aim is solely to clarify the value of real options in a CSR context, the choice of approach is of less relevance. Real options provide an important framework for firms to manage risk by reducing the risk of future investments, and can thus be an essential tool in corporate risk management (Husted, 2005). Finally, a real CSR option explicitly includes a time dimension. This ex-ante perspective is clearly different from the focus on risk in most CSR-risk research, which is ex post in nature. CSR as a risk management instrument – The Toyota example A few decades ago, car manufacturers did not focus so intensively on a green profiling as they do today. The increased oil prices in 1973 and 1979 were influential for the entry of Japanese car manufacturers in USA, who were producing smaller and more gas efficient cars (Andrews, Simon, Tian & Zhao, 2011). The gas efficient cars of Japanese manufactures were causative to the car industry as a whole subsequently invested massively in green technology projects. These investments have met consumers’ need and have generated positive branding values. Toyota’s Prius has reached â€Å"cult status†, as it is one of the most gas efficient and green cars on the market. However, more interestingly is the security, that the green profile of the Prius has offered Toyota, which includes protection against the bad publicity of car manufacturers’ contribution to pollution and factors such as Middle Eastern conflicts that influence oil prices and hence sales of cars. At first glance, it appears as Toyota has been skilled at forecasting future trends and meeting customer’s needs without using CSR as management instrument. As the following example however illustrates, Toyota’s management could have benefitted from considering investments in CSR as real options to control idiosyncratic risk and thereby preserve CFP. In 2009 repeated accidents occurred, which were accused to be caused by flaws in floor mats and accelerator pedals in Toyota’s vehicles. This resulted in a recall of more than 5 million vehicles, alone in the North American market (Andrews, Simon, Tian & Zhao, 2011). Before a product is recalled, companies have to make severe considerations. A product-recall can have great financial impact in terms of losses in brand value, consumer goodwill, decreasing sales and a negative effect on stock prices (Kumara & Schmitza, 2011), which in this case is the value of the underlying asset of the CSR option. The decision to recall the cars is the price of the option. The recall option could have generated strategic flexibility, which however, meanwhile was eliminated, as Toyota’s management failed to exercise the option, before it was too late. The leisurely recall decision resulted in losses in brand value, consumer goodwill, decreased stock price, lower sales, a fine of $16 million and more than 130 potential class-action lawsuits (Andrews, Simon, Tian & Zhao, 2011). The negative outcome of the late recall is considered as high volatility of the underlying asset. A faster recalling could have had a avoiding, a limited or opposite effect on product brand, consumer goodwill and the massive media coverage (Husted, 2005). Provided that Toyota’s management had viewed the recall decision as a valuable option rather than severe costs, strategic flexibility could have been obtained, why the negative outcome may have been avoided. A faster exercise of the recall option might have resulted in goodwill or trust, which could have been exploited by Toyota to limit the negative publicity caused by the repeated accidents. Toyota however, failed to exercise the recall option in acute time, why the result was lost flexibility to respond to the unexpected event of the accidents. The value of the real option foregone by Toyota was a function of inter alia lost sales, brand value and reputation. Toyota’s management failed to exploit the advantages of CSR as a risk management tool.

The portrayal of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Essay Example

The portrayal of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Essay Example The portrayal of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Paper The portrayal of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Paper Essay Topic: Merchant Of Venice Play This play is set in the city of Venice about the year 1596. Venice was the main trade center in all of Europe. They traded all sorts of cargo, like human cargo (slaves.), silks and spices. The law of Venice was extremely strict and if anyone disobeys the law they would be in deep trouble. Venice is full of mixed people, wealthy people, poor people, kind people, loyal people and unloyal people. Venices main religion is Christianity. The main Christian in this story is Antonio. Antonio is a merchant who loans people money without charging interest. Venice has also got Jews (or the Hebrews). The Jews came from a place called Israel. The powerful Romans ruled Israel. At first the Jews were allowed their religion but then the Romans tried to crush it. The main Jew in this story is a man called Shylock. Shylock also loans money but has to charge interest. Shylock A villain who deservers his fate? Shylock has a deep obsession with money. Shylock cares more about money than anything else in the world even more than his daughter. When his daughter ran away with a Christian it made him intensively mad. But what was more shocking to him was that she took lots of his money and his wifes precious turquoise. The turquoise is a valuable ring that he cared about a lot. When Shylock found out that his daughter had ran away he had very mixed feelings. This was because at the same time he found out another one of his archenemys (Antonio.) ships had gone down. But then he said, I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewel in her ear. These two lines tells us and the audience how low he would sink for money. Shylock also hates the rich and the tremendously famous Antonio. The main reason he hates him is because Antonio will not charge interest on his loans, He lend out money gratis. He hates Antonio for doing this because it brings down rate of unsance here with us in Venice. This means that Shylock has to charge very little interest so he can stay in business, this hurts Shylocks pocket. Shylock tells the audience his true feelings about Antonio. He says I hate for he is a Christian. When this speech is being said Shakespeares audience would have flipped in anger. The audience might have thrown stuff and definitely booed . But if this play was show now-a-days the audience would still be angry but not as much as Shakespeares time. At times Shylock can be really mean and harsh. Like when he was asked to come and eat with the Christians he didnt take it at all nicely, he said I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you and so following; But I will not eat with you, drink with you nor pray with you . I think this speech Shylock just said was totally unnecessary but after the way he has been treated its completely understandable. When he was about to leave to go to dinner he told Jessica not to look at what was happing at the dinner and lock up my door . He even said not to look at any Christians, nor thrust your head into public street, To gaze on a Christian fools with varnished faces . All these thing he says to Jessica is more bitterness towards to Christians. There Shylock is also not nice to his Christian servant Lancelot. He treats him like he has no self respect and only rarely dose he call him buy his real name he normally calls him fool . And Shylock said to Lancelot that he wasnt allowed to speak unless he said so, Who bids thee call? I did not bid thee call. I think and so would the audience that no matter how much you hate someone they at least should have the right to speak whenever they like. I dont actually think that Jessica really loves her father Shylock, because if she did she wouldnt have ran away from her father. And the thing is that she didnt just ran away with anyone she ran away with the kind of people that Shylock hates most, a Christian. She didnt even tell her father the truth and stuck up for the servant instead. When Shylock asked what Lancelot said to Jessica, Jessica replied, His words were farewell, mistress, nothing else . But what Lancelot had really said was, Mistress, look out at window for all this: There will come a Christian by will be wroth a Jewà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s eye . This is one of many speeches that the audience knows what is really happening and the actors dont. Shylock can also be a tremendously cunning and sly man. For example when the merchant Antonio came to ask Shylock for the 3,000 ducats Shylock at first wasnt sure. But then his brain clicked in and he found a cunning idea that will enable him to get his revenge that he has been waiting so long. He had tricked Antonio into signing the most dreadful bond in the entire world. If shylock didnt have his money back he would take 1lb Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken . At a point like this the audience would be shocked at how a man like this came be so evil. He tricked Antonio into the bond be saying that he was being kind and that he was showing kindness . Shylock made Antonio think that paying a 1lb of his flesh is better than paying extra interest. He also made him think that there was no way that he couldnt afford to pay him back so there was no way that he would have to give a 1lb of his flesh. This is another one of Shakespeares amazing parts were the audience knows the truth about Shylocks true feelings and Antonio and Bassanio have no idea whats going on. This brings a sense of excitement to the audience, which would stop them from falling asleep, and would stop them from walking out of the place were the play is being shown. Shylock at times is a very cruel and vindictive man. Like when he hears the awful news that all of Antonios ships have gone down and that he would be able to have his 1lb of flesh, he was delighted. But then at the same time he had got some bad news. He found out that his daughter had ran away with a Christian and she had taken most of his money. But as soon as he heard the bad news he forgot about and started talking about how his bond came true. But soon it all got to his head and he became obsessive with how he is going to kill the Christian he hates most Antonio. When he gets to the court he comes prepared for everything. And he amazed the whole courtroom by bringing his own pair on scales and his own knife. This proved to everyone in the audience what a disgusting and evil man he really was. And to top of his evil ways, while the court case was in action Shylock was sitting on the floor sharpening his knife on his leather shoe. All pleads of mercy towards Shylock were turned down. Even after Portias humungous speech about mercy he still said no. In the speech she basically said that mercy is a blessing form god and if you show mercy you will receive mercy. It is an attribute to god himself . But Shylock still wanted to go through with the dreadful bond. When Portia (Balthazar) asked Shylock if they could at least Have by some surgeon, Shylock, on your charge, To stop his wounds, lest he do bleed to death . But Shylock was on a roll being so cruel and mean; all he said was Is it so nominated in the bond? . This answer that Shylock just gave is a big time villain answer. Bassanio offered money to Shylock to spare Antonios life but Shylock refused all the money that was offered and said If every ducat in six thousand Were in six parts, and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond . Then even Antonio gave up arguing with Shylock about sparing his life. He said it was like telling the tides not to rise and not to fall. You may as well go stand upon the beach And bid the main flood bate his usual height . Shylock is quite often not a very nice man. He hates every Christian that he comes across and even the ones that he doesnt know. Shylock is so heartless, vicious, nasty and cruel that he would go ahead and kill a man while he still alive, just because he comes from a different religion. Shylock a villain who deserves his fate? Shylock is treated terribly by the Christians is especially by the evil merchant Antonio. Antonio dished out lots of verbal abuse but he still went to Shylock, and asked for money. Antonio had called Shylock misbeliever, cut-throat dog . Antonio didnt just use verbal abuse he also did disgusting things like, spit upon my Jewish gaberdine . Antonio had also mocked Shylock when he was doing bad and when he was succeeding in life and work, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains . Another reason why the Christians hated Shylock is because he is a Jew. In the time when this play was set all the Christians hated Jewish people, and Jewish people hated Christians. In Shakespeares time the audience would have also hated shylock and would have agreed with all the insults the Antonio and his friends gave to Shylock. But the audience of the 21-century would have a totally different point of view. The insults that were most used against Shylock were, dog and devil . These words were used in the play to make the audience think the Shylock is an evil man and that he shouldnt be liked or trusted. All the abuse thats Shylock took made him madder and madder making him hate the Christians. He hated them so much that he wouldnt even let his daughter look at them. To gaze on Christians fools with varnished faces . When Antonio came to ask for the money Shylock first wasnt sure but then he found out that he could use it as a way of revenge. He said that if the money was not paid back pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken . And this made Shylock turn into a mental man. When the court case had started everything had gone to shylocks head and he turned into a totally different man. And his desire for revenge became unnatural. Shylock is never shown mercy. At the court case Shylock was asked repeatively to show mercy. Then must the Jew be merciful . Portia also asked that if you be merciful then people shall be merciful to you. She also said that mercy is a blessing from God. It is an attribute to God himself, And earthly powers doth then show likest God . But when it was Shylock in trouble nobody showed even the slightest bit of mercy. It was even worse when first he was able to keep half of his wealth, which is quite merciful, but then the Christian Antonio blew the mercy thing by making Shylock turn into a Christian. He presently become a Christian . By saying this it canceled out any mercy that they might have shown. Turning Shylock into a Christian is the worst thing you can do and is defiantly not merciful. Shylock now has to turn against everything he believes and against everything hes taught. Especially Portia treated shylock terribly at the end of the court case. She the one saying to be merciful but then she turned into an evil monster. She had taken all his pride and said down, therefore, and beg mercy at the duke . Everything was taken away form Shylock and there was no way he could have been treated any worse then they did that day. My personal views. When I got asked the question is Shylock a victim or villain I thought that he is mainly a victim. He was a victim throughout over 2/3 of this play and he wasnt a villain a lot. When we first started reading the play I felt extremely sorry for Shylock. The Christian Antonio and his friend always took the mick and called him dog . When Antonio asked Shylock for 3,000 ducats, Shylock said to him Fair sir, you spat on me Wednesday last, You spurned me such a day, another time You called me dog: and for these courtesies Ill lend you thus much monies . I think that this speech is excellent I love the way that he put he words, which makes it down to the point while being sarcastic. What he says is, you called me dog, spat on me and for this I shall lend you money. Antonio had also called him misbeliever, cut-throat dog . When I first heard this speech I felt like killing Antonio, from all the info we had so far I got the impression that Shylock is capable of every day life until the evil Antonio suddenly pops up and ruins everything. I think that the punishment that was given to Shylock is way to harsh. The punishment is that half is wealth shall go to the city of Venice and the other half shall be his until he dies when it shall go to Jessica. But even worse is that Shylock has to become a Christian. I think that turning Shylock into a Christian is the most horrific thing you can do. Shylock will have to go Church, eat with Christian people and change his whole way of Jewish life. In the early scenes he told us how much he hated Christians and that he would never dine with Christians as long as he lived. So turning him into a Christian is making him turn against everything and everyone he ever loved and believed in.

Kangaroo Facts

Kangaroo Facts Kangaroos are marsupials that are indigenous to the Australian continent. Their scientific name, Macropus, is derived from two Greek words meaning long foot (makros pous). Their most distinctive characteristics are their large hind legs, long feet, and large tail. Kangaroos are unique in that they are the only animals of their size that use hopping as their primary means of movement. Fast Facts: Kangaroo Scientific Name: MacropusCommon Names: Kangaroo, RooOrder: DiprotodontiaBasic Animal Group: MammalsDistinguishing Characteristics: Large hind legs, long feet, large tail and pouch (females)Size: 3 - 7 feet in heightWeight: 50 - 200 poundsLife Span: 8 - 23 yearsDiet: HerbivoreHabitat: Forests, plains, savannas, and woodlands in Australia and TasmaniaPopulation: Approximately 40 - 50 millionConservation Status: Least concernFun Fact: Like camels, kangaroos may go for periods of time without drinking water. Description Kangaroos are best known for their powerful hind legs, their large feet, and their long powerful tails. They use their legs and feet to hop around, which is their basic means of locomotion, and their tails for balance. Like other marsupials, females have a permanent pouch for raising their young.  A kangaroos pouch is technically called a marsupium and it performs a number of functions. The female kangaroos breasts, which she uses to nurse her young, are inside her pouch. The pouch also functions similarly to an incubator to allow a joey (baby) to fully develop. Lastly, the pouch has a safety function in that it helps to protect the females young from predators.   Kangaroos are usually between 3 to 7 feet in height. They can weigh up to approximately 200 pounds. Other physical characteristics of kangaroos are their relatively small heads with their large, round ears. Due to their hopping ability, they can leap over long distances. Some males may leap to almost 30 feet in one leap. Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Murramarang National park, New South Wales, Australia.   J and C Sohns/Getty Images Plus Habitat and Distribution Kangaroos live in Australia, Tasmania, and surrounding islands in a variety of habitats such as forests, woodlands, plains, and savannas. Depending on the species, kangaroos occupy different niches in the ecosystem. Diet and Behavior Kangaroos are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of a variety of plants such as grasses, shrubs and flowers. Some species may also eat fungi and moss. Kangaroos live in groups called mobs, also known as troops or herds. These mobs are usually headed by the dominant male in the group.   Similar to cows, kangaroos may regurgitate their food to chew it as cud and then swallow once more. This behavior is much rarer in kangaroos than in ruminant animals. Kangaroo stomachs differ from those of cows and similar animals; while both kangaroos and cows have chambered stomachs, the fermentation process in their respective stomachs is different. Unlike cows, the process in kangaroos doesnt produce as much methane, so kangaroos dont contribute as much to methane emissions globally as cows. Kangaroos are usually active at night and in the early morning hours, but their overall activity pattern is varied. Their rest periods are restricted almost exclusively to a diurnal (during the day) pattern. Similar to camels, they may go for periods of time without drinking water due to their relative inactivity during the day when it is hotter. Since their diet consists of plants, their water needs can be largely satisfied by the water content present in the plants that they eat. Reproduction and Offspring Eastern Grey Kangaroo with Joey in Pouch.   Gary Lewis/Photolibrary/Getty Images Plus Kangaroos have a varied breeding season. Reproduction takes place all year long, but the Australian summer months of December to February are the most common. Male kangaroos may flex their muscles to attract females and can fight for the right to breed with females. Females usually produce one baby kangaroo, called a joey. After becoming impregnated, a kangaroo will have her baby after a gestation period of a little longer than a month (approximately 36 days). The baby joey weighs about .03 of an ounce and is less than one inch in length when born, about the size of a grape. After birth, the joey will use its forelimbs to travel through its mothers fur to her pouch, where it will remain for the first few months of its life. After five to nine months, depending on the species, the joey will typically leave the pouch for brief periods of time. After about nine to eleven months, the joey will leave its mothers pouch for good. Females can enter heat after giving birth, so they may become pregnant while a joey is still nursing in her pouch. The developing baby will enter a dormant state that coincides with their older sibling leaving the mothers pouch. When the older sibling leaves the pouch, the mothers body will send hormonal signals to the developing baby so that it will resume its development. A similar process occurs if the mother is pregnant and the older joey dies in her pouch. Conservation Status Kangaroos are designated as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Their population is very abundant and by most estimates, there are more kangaroos in Australia than people. Estimates range from a population of 40 to 50 million kangaroos, which continues to increase. Humans are the main threat to kangaroos since they are hunted for both their meat and their hides. Humans can also contribute to the loss of kangaroo habitat due to land clearing for development. Predator threats include dingos and foxes. Kangaroos use their teeth, claws, and strong hind legs as defense mechanisms against such predators. Species There are four major species of kangaroos. The red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) is the largest. Males of the species have red/brown fur. Other species include the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), the western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), and the antilopine kangaroo (Macropus antilopinus). The eastern grey kangaroo is the second largest species and is known as the great grey species, while the western grey kangaroo is also known as the black-faced kangaroo due to its distinctive facial coloring. The antilopines name means antelope-like and they are found in northern Australia. Some scientists consider there to be six species of kangaroo, including two species of wallaroo (Macropus robustus and Macropus bernardus). Wallaroos are considered to be closely related to both wallabies and kangaroos. Herd of kangaroos at twilight (Coombabah Lake, QLD, Australia).    Kangaroos and Humans Humans and kangaroos have a long and varied interaction pattern with one another. Humans have long used kangaroos for food, clothing, and some types of shelter. Due to their increasing numbers, kangaroos can be viewed as pests, particularly by farmers when kangaroos compete for grazing land. Kangaroos are often present in grasslands and areas that are typical farmland so resource competition may take place. Kangaroos are not typically aggressive when grazing. The situation of farmers seeing kangaroos as pests is similar to how many in the United States may see deer as pests. Sources Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. Kangaroo. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 11 Oct. 2018, www.britannica.com/animal/kangaroo.â€Å"Kangaroo Facts!† National Geographic Kids, 23 Feb. 2017, www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/animals/general-animals/kangaroo-facts/.â€Å"Kangaroo Mob.† PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 21 Oct. 2014, www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/kangaroo-mob-kangaroo-fact-sheet/7444/.â€Å"Kangaroo Reproduction.† Kangaroo Facts and Information, www.kangarooworlds.com/kangaroo-reproduction/.

Cultural Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Cultural Tourism - Essay Example This paper approves that to improve the services that the igloos offer, it is safe to add a unit service crew where the group shall attend to the needs of people staying. At the same time, there should be catering services where the food making paraphernalia are provided and are meant to be made by the visitors in order to have a more enhanced feeling being an Eskimo. The foods that must be served are those fit in the Eskimo culture so that the feeling of satisfaction is enhanced. In this manner, people will definitely look forward to coming back to the place. There is also a need to ensure that a positive, reliable and strong workforce exists. The good thing also about this ice restaurant is that it is the largest of its kind in the world and nothing else. This is already one of its marketable characteristics. How is this important? Possession of certain characteristics that are commendable would already leave an impression of awe and curiosity on the part of the tourist who are excited to go though the adventure. This essay makes a conclusion that the Igloo village can be considered as an attempt to preserve history. This cannot be disregarded, devalued and neglected. At the same time, this cannot be considered tokenistic. It something that justifies the need to show importance towards culture that has been neglected in this world that starts to become globalized. Culture is something that is preserved upon the attempt to create and establish a reputation. This should be done in almost all levels of planning when it comes to tourism, cultural, political and economic conditions.