Voodoo essays

Voodoo essays Voodoo and Its Misinterpretation in America Voodoo is a religion rich in heiratage and founded in faith and community. The religion has been villianized by western culture and has been wrongly protrayed as malignant and dangerous. The religion is not founded in any of the black magics or fear popularized by Hollywood films, but rather it is based on balance and tradition. The religion is not something which should be encountered with inhibition or fear induced from childhood horror stories, but embraced for its strength and history. Voodoo (also known as Vodun, Vodou, Umbanda, Quimbanda, and Candomble) originated as an amalgam of African religions during the slave trade. As slaves were shipped from Africa to the Carribean and America, groups of slaves sharing a similier heretage were broken apart to prevent any since of community or bond between them. With no connection beyond the tortures of slavery, the slaves had little chance to establish any relationship to thier fellow captives. Hailing from lifestyles and cultures far removed from each other, the only opportunity for a common bond came from sharing their deep faiths. Though different religions, the intense faiths allowed an intellectual exchange and common bond. With several different religions present in any given group of slaves, the majority of slaves adapted by holding a service which accepted all lineages and respected all ancestreal lines of faith, both aspects being of primary concerns in African religions. These services were effective in blending the rites and practices of many religions into one combination religion. This adaption effectively created a new religion, Voodoo, which translates to spirit in several African languages. This new religion gave the slaves a since of alliance with their nieghboring slaves and, with that alliance, a since of community. This new found unity was viewed as a threat to the French ...

Shakespeares Sonnet 116 Study Guide

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 Study Guide What is Shakespeare saying in Sonnet 116? Study this poem and you will discover that 116 is one of the best-loved sonnets in the folio because it can be read as a wonderfully celebratory nod to love and marriage. Indeed it continues to feature in wedding ceremonies worldwide. Expressing Love The poem expresses love in the ideal; never ending, fading, or faltering. The final couplet of the poem has the poet willing this perception of love to be true and professes that if it is not and if he is mistaken, then all of his writing has been for nothing–and no man, including himself, has ever truly loved. It is perhaps this sentiment that ensures Sonnet 116s continuing popularity in being read weddings. The idea that love is pure and eternal is as heart-warming today as it was in Shakespeares time. It is an example of that special skill that Shakespeare had, namely the ability to tap into timeless themes that relate to everyone, no matter which century they were born in. The Facts Sequence: Sonnet 116 forms part of the Fair Youth Sonnets  in the folio.Key Themes: Constant love, Ideal love, enduring love, marriage, fixed points, and wandering.Style:  Like Shakespeares other sonnets, Sonnet 116 is written in iambic pentameter  using the traditional sonnet form. A Translation Marriage has no impediment. Love is not real if it alters when circumstances change or if one of the couple has to leave or be elsewhere. Love is constant. Even if the lovers face difficult or trying times, their love is not shaken if it is true love. In the poem, love is described as star guiding a lost boat: â€Å"It is the star to every wandering bark.† The star’s worth cannot be calculated even though we can measure its height. Love does not change over time, but physical beauty will fade. (Comparison to the grim reaper’s scythe should be noted here–even death should not alter love.) Love is unchanging through hours and weeks but lasts until the edge of doom. If I am wrong about this and it is proved then all my writing and loving is for nothing and no man has ever really loved: â€Å"If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved.† Analysis The poem does refer to marriage, but to the marriage of minds rather than the actual ceremony. Let us also remember that the poem is describing love for a young man and this love would not be sanctioned in Shakespeare’s time by an actual marriage service. However, the poem uses words and phrases evocative of the marriage ceremony including â€Å"impediments† and â€Å"alters†Ã¢â‚¬â€œalthough both used in a different context. The promises a couple make in marriage are also echoed in the poem: Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,But bears it out ev’n to the edge of doom. This is reminiscent of the â€Å"till death do us part† vow in a wedding. The poem is referring to ideal love which does not falter and lasts until the end, which also reminds the reader of the wedding vow, â€Å"in sickness and in health†. Therefore, it is little surprise that this sonnet remains a steadfast favorite in wedding ceremonies today. The text conveys how powerful love is. It cannot die and is everlasting.   The poet then questions himself in the final couplet, praying that his perception of love is real and true, because if it is not then he may as well not be a writer or a lover and that would surely be a tragedy.

History of psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History of psychology - Essay Example This reality manifests itself in the American social context with regard to the high element of materialism. Various marketing campaigns target the consumptive nature of the American public with various goods and services, which are billed as the most fashionable, trendy, and the most advanced. The desire to live within the context of the American dream of limitless success often makes people to seek the attainment of these goals. Many times, the American people undergo tremendous painful experiences in their desire to achieve or obtain the goods and services that are marketed in various media outlets. According to Buddha, humans ought to control their desire and cravings for things in order to achieve for higher levels of spiritualism. The pain that Buddha describes is usually understood within the context of greed (Eckel 92). It is brought out as a consequence of human greed and other failings that have to be moderated through the attainment of higher levels of consciousness. The argument presented in this philosophy could further be explained in terms of the natural weakness of humans to overcome their appetites. The capacity to overcome the appetite for material things and higher services should, therefore, mark the apex of

British Involvement in Arabic Peninsula Dissertation

British Involvement in Arabic Peninsula - Dissertation Example However, the interest into the Arabic Peninsula is motivated by the beautiful landscape of the place. The terrain and climate of the Peninsula had successfully kept away any adventurers for years. The British contact into the area was just on the individual level and not on governmental level at all (ROGERS, 2006). These individuals were mainly explorers who were visiting the place, and many other places around the world, for adventure. It is through the activity of these explorers that the world came to know about the Arabic peninsula. Some of the outstanding explorers were Charles Doughty and Richard Burton who get the credit for opening up this place to the western world. The peninsula’s location in the Arabic region was the spark to the British interest. For a long time, traffic from between the Orient and Europe used to pass through a corridor which bordered the Sahara on the south-west, and the mountains of turkey and Persia on the north-eastern region. It is along this corridor that the Arabic peninsula stretches. The corridor was, therefore, completely not penetrable. Explorers and people on adventure had to pass around the region by either going through Syria towards the Euphrates and then down to the Gulf, or across the Red Sea through Egypt. Even though Vasco da Gama had discovered the Cape route in the 15th century, the all-sea route was still preferred by many who sought to go around Africa. In the beginning of Britain’s interests in the Middle East, the main objective was commercially motivated. It was in the 17th century that the British government started to show interest in the Arabic Peninsula. During this time, the East India Company opened new offices in locations around the region such as the Red Sea, Basra and the Persian Gulf coast. The company main objective was to seek for new markets in the Middle East region. Although the intention of the British was purely economic at first, it started to take a political perspective towards the end of the 18th century (BALFOUR-PAUL, 1994). During this time, the British had already consolidated the Indian empire and, therefore, cared less about the local trade ventures. Consequently, they turned their interests to the strategic location of the Gulf because it was a major route into India. Because of this, the British administration turned all the offices in the region outside India from trade centers into political and diplomatic hubs. These centers were now used for purposes preservation and protection of the British’s interests in the region. The British notably coined some clever treaties that enabled them to preserve and protect their presence in the region. In these treaties, the British offered to protect the local Arabian rulers from their rivals in return of the Britons dominance in the region. The British, therefore, achieved the command of the Indian Ocean gateways. In this way, they were able to deny any other international powers the ports of the sea. When the British learnt of a Napoleonic entry into Egypt, they sought an agreement with the Sultan of Muscat so that they can prevent the French from expanding their territories towards the Arabic Gulf region. In other measures to protect their interests in the Arabic Peninsula region, the British signed numerous treaties with the surrounding kingdoms. These treaties were aimed at reducing piracy in the Gulf region and to safe guard trade. British have been consistent in fighting off other colonies that posed a threat to the Britons’ supremacy in the Gulf region. Among these are the Egyptians, French and Russians who have posed threat to the Ottoman Empire. The British are much concerned with the interference of the Russians, who have showed increased

Special Ed. Essay Example for Free

Special Ed. Essay With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2001 and revisions of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools have implemented the pre-referral process encouraging individual based level of education for a particular student. Historically, before recent updates to state and federal special education guidelines, students typically received special attention to their specific needs through parent conferences, generic observations, a few general intervention techniques, psychological evaluation, or simply a review of report cards, social records. Since the implementation of IDEA, students are now receiving proactive approaches to match his or her level of need. Two such approaches of evaluating individual students are Positive Behavior Support (PBS) and Response to Intervention (RTI). Both PBS and RTI are structured on a different model, but both have the same goals. Each intervention approach takes into account components and accounts for critical universal factors that target a specific individual, group, or level. These two models offer a range of interventions that are scientifically applied to a student, based on the student’s level of needs through previous monitoring in the classroom. Response to Intervention (RTI) is defined as â€Å"the practice of providing high-quality instruction and interventions matched to student need, monitoring progress frequently to make decisions about changes in instruction or goals, and applying child response data to important educational decisions† (Batsche et al. , 2006). RTI has emerged as the more popular of the two intervention model’s and has been accepted by most schools in the United States, as the new way of thinking about early intervention and identifying a child’s educational disability. The RTI approach considers the application of an individual student’s difficulties in schools by evaluating student’s environment and then provides intervention as soon as the student shows signs difficulty, lack of focus, or academic problems. The goal of RTI is to ensure all students receive the highest quality of education and instruction and reduce any possible false referrals to unnecessary classes, or programs. RTI has a three tier model for also eliminating unqualified teachers as a reason for a student’s lack of performance, or grades. For example in, tier I of the three modeled tier, teachers are required to implement different teaching techniques in order to gauge a student’s performance and focus toward learning. This form of teaching is a method only most qualified teachers can provide in the RTI process. Tier one is described as a universal assessment using formal and informal instructional techniques. Tier two targets students that have not made progress in a given amount of time and are monitored frequently. These students are considered as having some academic weakness. Tier three is more of an intensive intervention and for students that do not respond to instruction form tier two. Tier three students may be eligible for special education classes and programs. When a student is evaluated and qualifies for tier three, the students will be specially monitored and eventually reviewed for receiving an individual educational program (IEP). Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), is based more on a model of how to solve inappropriate behavior and prevent that behavior through teaching and reinforcing appropriate behaviors. â€Å"Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) is a process for creating school environments that are more predictable and effective for achieving academic and social goals. For some schools, PBIS will enhance their current systems and practices, for others it will radically change the culture for the better† (www. cms. k12. nc. us). Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) is a systemic approach to proactive, school-wide behavior based on a Response to Intervention (RTI) model. â€Å"The concept of PBIS has been researched in education for approximately 15 years† (www. cms. k12. nc. us) and has been implemented successfully in thousands of schools in over 40 states. PBIS applies evidence-based programs, practices and strategies for all students to increase academic performance, improve safety, decrease problem behavior, and establish a positive school culture. Schools implementing PBIS build on existing strengths, complementing and organizing current programming and strategies. The PBIS model had resulted in dramatic reductions in disciplinary interventions and increases in academic achievement. Data-based decision making is a hallmark of PBIS and is a scientific approach to the pre-referral process to special education. There are many ways to define, or explain the concepts of PBIS and RTI, but each provides a specific three tiered pre-referral process to special education that will enhance the quality of life for students participating in these interventions. Whichever intervention a student is placed, he, or she should receive a higher quality education and instruction. Elements common in these models indicate a system of intervention based on a student’s performance that will indicated whether there is a legitimate learning disability, not just the need for additional instruction for no reason. References RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION. (2006). In Encyclopedia of Special Education: A Reference for the Education of the Handicapped and Other Exceptional Children and Adults. Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http:library. gcu. edu:2048/login? qurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. cred oreference. com/entry/ wileyse/response_to_intervention CPI Educate. Empower. Enrich. (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. crisisprevention. com/Resources/Knowledge-Base/Positive-Behavior-Support SEDL Advancing research, improving education (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from : http://www. sedl. org/pubs/sedl-letter/v19n02/rti. html CMS Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. (2011). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. cms. k12. nc. us/cmsdepartments/PBIS/Pages/default. aspx Response to Intervention (2012). Retrieved May 23, 2012, from: http://www. nasponline. org/resources/handouts/revisedPDFs/rtiprimer. pdf

Comparing the Life of Tennessee Williams and Glass Menagerie Essay

Parallels in the Life of Tennessee Williams and The Glass Menagerie   Ã‚  Ã‚   Tennessee Williams is one the major writers of the mid-twentieth century. His work includes the plays, The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire. One theme of The Glass Menagerie is that hopeful aspirations are followed by inevitable disappointments. This theme is common throughout all of Williams' work and throughout his own life as well. It is shown through the use of symbols and characters.    "I have only one major theme for my work, which is the destructive impact of society on the sensitive non-conformist individual (Williams Netscape)." Symbols help to show the dreams and desires that the characters long for and also the restrictions that keep them from fulfilling those dreams. In The Glass Menagerie, the fire escape symbolizes the way for Amanda Wingfield to bring a man into the house to save her and her daughter. To Tom, the fire escape is a means of escape from the house that traps him- a path to the outside world (Susquehanna. "New Critical"). Rainbows in The Glass Menagerie symbolize hope and are associated with hopeful situations (Susquehanna. "New Critical.) When Tom Wingfield receives a rainbow-colored scarf at the magic show, he is amazed at the fact it turned a bowl of goldfish into flying canaries. Just like the canaries, Tom hopes to fly away- fly away to escape his imprisonment (Susquehanna. "New Critical"). At the end of the play when Tom looks at the "pi eces of colored glass, like bits of a shattered rainbow (Williams 137)", he remembers that he has left his sister behind and prays that he will be able to move on without her. Even though the rainbows appear to be positive signs throughout the book, they eventually all... ...s something they can relate to. His honesty through his writings brings hope to people looking for it.    Works Cited Haley, Darryl. "Certain Moral Values: A Rhetoric of Outcasts in the Plays of Tennessee Wililiams." 1997 < http://www.angelfire.com/al/haley002/Proctectus.html > Susquehanna University. "New Critical." Online Posting. < http://www.susqu.edu/ac_depts/arts_sci/english/lharris/class/williams/new.htm > Susquehanna University. "Biographical Criticism." Online Posting. < http://www.susqu.edu/ac_depts/arts_sci/english/lharris/class/williams/auto.htm > "Biography of Tennessee Williams : Playwright, Poet, and Screenwriter." American Decades CDROM 1.0. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998 Weales, Geralt. "Tennessee Williams." Scribner Writer Series, Comprehensive Edition. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1997.

Asset Liability Management in Banks

5 Asset and Liability Management (ALM) 29. There are different organizational and governance models that guide the management of bank asset and liability activities. The models reflect fundamentally different risk philosophies that tend to evolve with the growing sophistication and depth of financial markets together with the position and activities undertaken by a bank in the market. The terms ‘ALM unit’ and ‘treasury unit’, can be confusing as they are often used by organizations who assign different responsibilities to them – this will be explained below. 5. 1 Key aspects that influence a banks approach 0. The evolution of models is driven by differing philosophies about the role of the treasury or the ALM unit and banks in markets at different stages of development often regard the treasury unit differently. 31. In emerging markets the treasury function is usually simplistic and a support function mainly focused on liquidity management and basic f oreign exchange activity. In these banks, it is not uncommon to have a prohibition on involvement in more sophisticated capital markets transactions such as derivatives due to lack of knowledge and suspicion about the instruments. Such markets can suffer from poorly developed capital markets that provide little capacity to offset the risks assumed from the customer franchise. The result is often that these banks are slow to evolve and run risks, without knowing it, which can threaten their very survival. 32. In developing markets the treasury function usually begins to take on more structure, more activities and a broader mandate. At the simpler end of the spectrum it can assume full balance sheet management responsibility, involving itself in more complex analytics and hedging activities. At the more complex end it can assume trading and market making responsibilities for a range of capital market products that are used in hedging but also are provided to customers. This can often be referred to as an ‘integrated treasury function’, with profit making as well as hedge management the central themes. 33. In developed markets the model usually evolves by separating out the trading and market making functions into a more customer centric unit such s a capital markets or institutional banking division, with a subsequent refocusing of the core ALM functions on more detailed analysis, and management of the banks’ assets, liabilities and capital base. Treasury becomes more of a service centre in these banks, providing assistance and support with pricing and analytics to customer facing divisions. The ALM or balance sheet can often be managed aggressively through the use of 11 | P a g e derivative contracts. Funds transfer pricing mechanisms are used extens ively to create economic transparency and to immunize business units to risk. 4. In all models the ALM function reports to either the CEO / CFO with the CFO generally having the day to day responsibility for the ALM core functions. Under all models it is important to establish a clear understanding of activities and risk thresholds in the Treasury function and ensure the risk framework is aligned to the operating structure and market realities. Establishing a governance structure within which the board of the bank is fully informed and cognisant of the risks being run is a critical and mandatory component. 35. It is in the more developed markets that the Chief Risk Officer function has developed and come to represent the single independent point of oversight both internally and externally. 5. 2 Focus on some key ALM activities 36. Successful ALM units create a properly aligned risk and return management process. The right mix between skills and risk appetite must be identified, expected outcomes of activities known and appropriate metrics established. The approach adopted needs to be aligned to the realities of the market the bank is operating within and to its desired risk appetite. 5. . 1 Mismatch Management and Performance Measurement 37. A bank needs to decide whether it wants to take a relatively neutral approach to ALM risks or is prepared to take a more aggressive approach and target higher long term earnings and an increase in economic value. Irrespective of the choice made, a bank needs to realise that the right level of skills and resources need to be committed to support the fun ction. Failure to do this can result in a poorly managed operation characterised by volatility in; core earnings/margin; economic value, and; unpredictable economic results. 8. The mismatch position of the balance sheet represents the interest rate and liquidity risk profile inherent. Assuming a single portfolio without hedges, a large and well diversified bank, with transactions weighted broadly across all market segments, will find that its balance sheet will naturally take on countercyclical characteristics as the business environment consolidates through the economic cycle. This makes sense as the bank is effectively providing customers with solutions they are demanding as they operate in the external environment. The market itself will also provide limitations and one of the areas where this can manifest strongly is on the liability side of the balance sheet. Various techniques are used to examine the mismatch in a bank’s balance sheet and it can be a difficult process if not supported with adequate systems. Depending on systems and analytical support the ALM process will undertake a number of analysis designed to identify; static and dynamic mismatch; sensitivity of net interest income; and, market value under multiple scenarios -including under high stress. 39. The majority of banks set net interest income (NII) limits as a main measure of performance with the more advanced banks also using market or economic value as a secondary measure. NII has become the industry benchmark simulation tool because; it is relatively easy to understand and implement; it’s a single period measure that does not require many assumptions, and; it is easy for investors to relate to because it is directly linked to reported financial results. On the negative side, it is limited as it does not provide a full view of the risks run by a bank or reflect fully the economic impact of interest rate movements. Market value or economic value simulations on the other hand, offer a more complete assessment of the risk being run but require significantly more 12 | P a g e detailed analysis which is out of reach of many banks at this point. The process requires multiple assumptions that are difficult to form in some cases and is less intuitive and more difficult to understand. Notwithstanding the difficulties of the latter, both metrics are important in the measurement and management of embedded risk in banks. In less developed ALM units, the time it takes to collect and analyse information can render much of it useless for active management as by the time it is available markets have moved making hedging ineffective. 40. Access to timely and accurate data is critical in support of any form of ALM activity. 5. 2. 2 Funds Transfer Pricing (FTP) 41. The funds transfer pricing system has become a fundamental ALM tool in a bank. It creates the ability to immunize business units from risk and provides the basis for economic and product transparency. 42. The process of FTP is designed to identify interest margins and remove interest rate and funding or liquidity risk. Looking at it from the business unit perspective, it effectively locks in the margin on loans and deposits by assigning a transfer rate that reflects the repricing and cash flow profile of each balance sheet item – it is applied to both assets and liabilities. From the ALM unit’s perspective, it isolates business performance into discrete portfolios that can be assigned individualised metrics and facilitates the centralisation and management of interest rate mismatches. A by-product is that it effectively allocates responsibilities between the organizational business units and the treasury department. 43. In more developed banks, the FTP mechanism can also be used as a tool to assist with management of the balance sheet structure with FTP rates adjusted to either encourage or discourage product and customer flows. The associated analytical process leads to greater understanding of a bank’s competitive advantage, assisting with asset allocation and protection of the franchise. Similarly, in smaller and/or less developed banks it is of equal value as both a management and strategy tool. 4. The methods used by banks are generally consistent – FTP rates are structured to include both interest rate and funding liquidity risks with the derived transfer yield curve constructed to include appropriate premiums. Such premiums should capture all elements associated with the banks funding cost. These should include the cost of items such as; holdi ng liquidity reserves; optionality costs, where pre-payment rights exist; term funding program costs; and, items such as basis risk. 5. 2. 3 Liquidity Management 45. The main liquidity concern of the ALM unit is the funding liquidity risk embedded in the balance sheet. The funding of long term mortgages and other securitised assets with short term liabilities (the maturity transformation process), has moved to centre stage with the contagion effect of the sub-prime debacle. Both industry and regulators failed to recognise the importance of funding and liquidity as contributors to the crisis and the dependence on short term funding created intrinsic flaws in the business model. Banks must assess the buoyancy of funding and liquidity sources through the ALM process. 46. Banks are in the business of maturity transformation to meet their customers’ requirements and these result in liquidity, interest rate and currency mismatches which need to be managed. ALM 13 | P a g e units have traditionally analysed and ‘managed’ liquidity within pre set limits; however it is only the recent crises that have brought its true importance into focus. Failure to manage effectively can have dire results but the events of recent times have demonstrated that liquidity impacts can be cataclysmic to a bank. 47. Like all areas of risk management, it is necessary to put a workable framework in place to manage liquidity risk. It needs to look at two aspects: 1) Managing liquidity under the business as usual scenario, and 2) Managing liquidity under stress conditions. It also needs to include a number of liquidity measurement tools and establish limits against them. Some of the tools that have become industry standard are shown in Table 2. Table 1 – Selection of Liquidity Measurement Tools Liquidity Management Tool Description / Aim Static Funding Gap Defines the short fall in maturing liabilities required to service maturing assets– it is usually calculated on a maturity bucket basis and is calculated as the net asset osition over total liabilities. Dynamic Cash Flow Gap This includes a measurement based on maturing assets and liabilities plus assumed marketable asset liquidation over a given period. Liquidity Asset Ratios This is the ratio of liquid assets to total liabilities with liquids defined to include items such as cash and cash equivalents, trading account securities, repos investme nts into government securities, etc Concentration Ratios This is an important ratio that reassures the funding from a particular source compared to assets /liabilities or capital. Liquidity Stress Measurement A number of ratios can be examined here looking at multiple low stress and high stress scenarios Source: Modified from GARP 2008 Best Practices presentation. 5 48. At the governance level, boards need to recognise liquidity risk as the ultimate killer. This means a board needs to clearly articulate the risk tolerance of the organization and subject the balance sheet to regular scrutiny. Guiding principles need to be included as part of this process. The following 5 principles are valuable: 1. Diversify sources and term of funding – concentration and contagion were the killers in the recent crisis. . Identify, measure, monitor and control – it is still surprising that many banks do not fully understand the composition of their balance sheet to a sufficient level of detail to allow for management of the risks. 3. Understand the interaction between liquidity and other risks – e. g. basis risk – the flow on impact of an event in on e area can be devastating to others. 4. Establish both tactical and strategic liquidity management platforms – keep a focus on both the forest and the trees. 5. Establish detailed contingency plans and stress test under multiple scenarios regularly.

A Singer I Admire

As we grow older, we find someone to looks up to. Some of us admire celebrities, family, and friends. I admire Andy Lau. A star of over 100 films and one of Asia's most popular singers, Andy Lau was born on September 27, 1961 in Hong Kong. He grew up in a very poor area where there was not even running water. The young Andy had to make up to eight trips a day to collect water for his family. Despite financial problems, Andy's parents encouraged him to do well in school, and upon graduating, he entered the TVB academy, where he studied acting and martial arts. After appearing on television for a couple of years, Lau moved onto films with 1982's Boat People. As was the norm for many young stars at this time, there was an attempt to diversify Lau by having him record an album. While these types of albums usually provide some extra publicity and money for the actor, for Lau they became a second career. His first album I Only Know I Love You came out in 1985 to a minor buzz. It was not until 1990, when Lau had established himself as one of Hong Kong's top actors. Lau's musical career intertwined with his acting, as he began to record songs for the movies he appeared in. Despite his success, Lau's career almost suffered a fatal flaw early on when he refused to sign a contract with TVB. Lau was blacklisted from Hong Kong television, and it was only through the intervention of Chow Yun-Fat (who was a friend of the director of Boat People, Ann Hui) that Lau began to find more work in movies. Despite having a reputation of being hard to work with, Lau continues to be one of Hong Kong's most prolific and bankable actors. In fact, there were times when Lau was so popular that he was working on multiple films as well as recording songs all at once, sleeping in his car as time allowed. This dedication to work seems to have finally paid off in one respect; in 2000 Lau won the Hong Kong Film Award for his work in Running Out of Time. In 2004, he won the prestigious Golden Horse Award for his performance in Infernal Affairs III, the sequel to the popular Infernal Affairs. Western audiences may also be familiar with his performance in the House of Flying Daggers. His singing career reached stellar status in 1990 with the release of the album entitled Would It Be Possible, and his subsequent releases only solidified his status as a marketable singer. [5] For that song, he would win his first 1990 RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards. He would then win at least one RTHK award category every year consecutively until the year 2007. From Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards, he has won the â€Å"Most Popular Hong Kong Male Artist† award 7 times and the â€Å"Asia Pacific Most Popular Hong Kong Male Artist† award 15 times. He also entered into Guinness World Records for â€Å"Most Awards Won By A Cantopop Male Artist†. By April 2000, he had already won a total unprecedented 292 awards. Andy's success did not come easily. He is known most by insiders for his hard work and drive. Catching some sleep in his car between the midst of recording an album and making a movie is not uncommon for the singer-actor. Yet, Andy managed to excel in both games. As an actor, Andy never settled for two-bit roles or stereotypical characters who only excelled in kung fu. As a singer, Andy never seemed to be satisfied with status quo. Through the two-plus decades that Andy gave to the entertainment world, he persevered, he advanced, and he conquered. In a race to be the best of everything, Andy is the only one crossing the finish line. Andy Lau is an exemplary person. He is multi-talented actor, comedian, and even singer who has come a long way. His past amazes me and his diligence touched me. In my mind, Andy Lau is the role model which is why I admire him.

Catherine the Great essays

Catherine the Great essays Throughout history, Russia has been viewed as a regressive cluster of barely civilized people on the verge of barbarism. In the eighteenth century, ideas of science and secularism grasped hold of Europe, and Russian Czars, realizing how behind Muscovite culture was, sought out this knowledge, attempting to imbed it into Russian society. Catherine II was one of these Czars. She listened to both the ideas of the philosophes and the problems of her people and strove to enlighten Russia by codifying the laws, establishing an elected government, funding hospitals, and forming a functioning school board. Her attempts, however, were met with only partial success. Her reforms received much criticism, especially from the serfs, and Catherine was forced to realize, through the Pugachev Rebellion in 1773, that enlightening all of Russia was an impossibility. Catherine IIs greatest glory was seen in her foreign policies, as she solved two fundamental problems for Russia by winning victorie s over Turkey and Poland. As well, she established a League of Armed Neutrality and spoke out against the French Revolution. Catherines reign created both prosperity and poverty for Russia. In order to decide whether she was truly great, one must evaluate her accomplishments upon the foundation of Russian ideals. At the end of the seventeenth century, Russia was a country in transition. The death of Czar Alexis in 1676 marked a change in Russian society, a movement from traditional Muscovite culture toward new, educated concepts. Reforms in the 1650s divided and weakened the Russian Orthodox Church, and a few bold individuals began to adopt a semi-westernized lifestyle. By western standards, however, Russia still seem backward, and at best, a fringe nation of Europe...without benefit of middle class, universities, academies, or secular culture (Oblensky and Stone 144). The rebellion of the musketeers, or streltsy, in 1682 ex...

26 Lists to Make That Will Help You Improve Your Quality of Life

26 Lists to Make That Will Help You Improve Your Quality of Life Lists make life more manageable. If you’re naturally organized, you likely already know the order and ease they can bring to the chaos we all face very day. If you’re not, and want to be, why not start jotting things down? Lists are  easy to make, easy to read, and make all the things things you want to remember more easier to manage. If you need to feel less overwhelmed, or just want to be more organized, here are 26 lists to make- some for work, some for fun, and some just to keep you sane.1. RecipesNo idea what to make for dinner this week? If you have a list of recipes you’ve been meaning to try, you’ll never be at a loss again.2. MoviesEvery get to your Netflix and completely blank on all those movies you’ve been meaning to see? Make a list! You’ll never have to have the â€Å"I don’t know, what do you want to watch?† conversation again.3. BooksSame goes for the bookstore. Never hit the beach unprepared again.4. TV ShowsS ame thing as Netflix! Keep up with all the shows your friends have been recommending.5. RestaurantsNeed to pick a place to meet a friend or date? Keep a list of new places you want to check out.6. TripsNext time you find yourself with some accumulated time off  and some excess cash, have a list ready of things you’d like to see around the world.7. Cities/Countries to VisitIf you don’t have a specific trip in mind, but might like to explore a new place on the globe, have a list!8. Things to Do  in Your HometownEver feel like you’re not making full use of where you are? Make a list of cool things to do where you live- and never spend another boring Saturday on your couch.9. PasswordsNo matter what site you’ve completely forgotten your account information for, you have a list for that.10. Daily To-DosNothing is more satisfying than crossing these puppies off as you go through your day.11. A â€Å"Done† ListMake a new list of all the things you did today as you do them. Then look back at the accumulated tasks completed and pat yourself on the back.12. A Bucket ListMake a list of all the things you want to do in your life, big and small. And start checking those things off!13. Short-Term GoalsThis should contain all the things you want to do this week/month/year.14. Long-Term GoalsSave those bigger things you want to do during the next 5-10 years for this list.15. Professional AccomplishmentsJot down everything awesome you do at work and every compliment you get. This one is great for a day when you’re feeling down- and even better for resume-writing time!16. Things You Want in Your Next JobKeep track of the things you notice that make you work your best and use that as your criteria on the job search.17. DIY ProjectsAll those things you’ve really been meaning to get done. Sweaters you’ve been meaning to knit.18. Home ImprovementLeaky faucet? Need a new rug? Write it down and hold yourself accountable.19. GroceriesNever be caught adrift in the aisles again. Keep a running list so you know you didn’t forget toilet paper on your weekly shop.20. DrugstoreSame idea. You need Q-tips but won’t be going to CVS for a few days? Write it down. Otherwise you could forget them every trip for months.21. Wardrobe WishesNeed a new coat for the coming winter? A cute swimsuit for a vacation? Keep track of that stuff and you’ll save money by shopping only for what you know you really want and need.22. Important DatesRemember your best friends’ anniversaries and birthdays and significant dates. Be thoughtful with the people you love most.23. Due DatesIf you’re forgetful, this is key to making sure you’re never caught without a project complete on time.24. Quotes Your LoveNext time you need inspiration, you can consult your list of quotations that really get you fired up.25.  Things to be Thankful ForRemind yourself how great your life is and how lucky you are . You’d be surprised at how positive this can be.26. Things That Make You HappyNever be bored or blue again. Give yourself a reason to smile. Or fake it ‘til you make it and it will get better soon.

EXAM # 2 - Dunkin Brands Group, Inc. (DNKN) Research Paper

EXAM # 2 - Dunkin Brands Group, Inc. (DNKN) - Research Paper Example According to the firm’s 2013 Annual Report the specific strategy offers to the company the following advantage: being released from the costs related to the daily operations of its restaurants, the firm is able to emphasize on sectors that are critical for the business success, such as ‘menu innovation, marketing and franchisee support’ (2013 Annual Report, p. 1). The above strategy of Dunkin’ Brands Group can be characterized as an ‘Analyzer’ strategy (Daft 2010, p.71) since the following term is met: the firm keeps certain parts of its strategy stable, such as the use of franchise, while other parts are continuously updated; the continuous changes on the firm’s menu are examples of this practice. Moreover, the overall strategy of the firm can be characterized as aligned with the rules of geocentrism (Culpan 2002, p.51) since key the firm’s units worldwide are considered as part of an integrate business unit, even if the method o f franchise is employed by the firm for securing global expansion. The establishment of long-term objectives is a critical part of the strategic planning process (Lussier 2008, p.123). The long – term objectives have the following characteristic: the time required for their achievement can be long, usually more than a year (Lussier 2008). In the case of Dunkin’ Brands Group the increase of the number of the firm’s units worldwide can be considered as one of the firm’s long-term objectives (2013 Annual Report, p.2). The improvement of the firm’s ‘relationship with its franchisees’ (2013 Annual Report, p.2) is another key long-term objective of Dunkin’ Brands Group. The development of an effective business strategy can require different strategic tools; the organization chart is one of these tools. The organization chart shows the business units so that existing business infrastructure can fully support daily business operations (Karami 2007, p.163). Organization chart is quite valuable

The Use of 5 Fluorouracil Pumps in Gastro-Intestinal Patients Research Paper

The Use of 5 Fluorouracil Pumps in Gastro-Intestinal Patients - Research Paper Example The authors reported a study involving 26 patients suffering from gastrointestinal cancers and other epithelial-related conditions. These subjects were administered to continuous intravenous infusion of the medication using a portable pump. From the 26 observed patients who were placed under continuous observation, four realized full remission, another four showed a partial response to the therapy. From 12 of the patients, the disease remained stable. The response rate from the study was 33%. Twenty from the total number showed significant improvement as reflected from their overall quality of life and performance status after the therapy. The information showed a 9.5 months median survival. The study showed that continuing the infusion of 5-fluorouracil results in palliative value, from patients suffering from gastrointestinal or other neoplasma condition, related to epithelial origin. In administering the therapy, the usage of portable pumps makes the model cost effective and a pra ctical outpatient model of treatment for these patients. This paper is an audit report of 5 fluorouracil (5FU) pumps as used on gastro-intestinal patients, accounting for the information given to patients and the areas of information deficiency when administering the therapy (Cascinu et al., 1999). Background information on the use of 5 fluorouracil (5FU) pumps The service evaluation was instigated by the Forever Healthy cancer support, which is a cancer support agency operating in the US and also extending its supports services and information provision to many other different regions across the world. The reasons for undertaking the service evaluation included the information gaps evident in the usage of the model, despite the fact that the area has been studied extensively. An example of the deficiencies in information includes that communicated to the patients as well as the team administering this therapy. Some of the areas of information deficiency include the lack of knowledg e on how to control the side effects resulting from the therapy. For instance, an overdose of 5-FU results in severe side effects such as neutropenia, diarrhea, and hand/foot syndrome. On the other hand, a low dosage of the medication does not produce any results or therapeutic effect. Further, there is a possibility of individual therapeutic balance existing between the benefits and the side effects expected. As a result, based on understanding of the expected benefits and the effects of this therapy on the users, the organization saw that there is a need to offer more information to the patients. Based on the better information, they will make better decision and more logical choices when using the service, as opposed to the current use – which may be affected by the lack of comprehensive information. Based on the information delivered to the users, more information on the individual-based application of the therapy, as well as the benefit-threats balance, more areas of inf ormation will be uncovered, leading to better results from the therapy. For instance, more information on the usage of the administered dosage depending on the body characteristics of the patients will be of great importance to the usage of the therapy.