Theatre Programme The Merchant of Venice Essay Example For Students

Theatre Programme The Merchant of Venice Essay The Merchant of Venice is a play which is made up of many different characters who each have an important role in the storyline. Some are more involved in the main plots than others, but they all provide the play with different effects. Shylock, Antonio, Portia and Bassanio are the main characters of the story and are the ones who make all the plots possible. Shylocks character is difficult to interpret as earlier in the play he was described as a comic character, but later on could be described as a evil villain. The reason for his change in interpretation is because the whole power of the play would be lost if Shylock is seen throughout the play as a comic character. Shylock is a successful tradesman who lends out money or known as a usurer. In medieval times, this type of job was seen as a sin and therefore making Shylock a sinner. The Christian community in Venice treated him very differently, but despite of their treatment towards him, he makes it clear that his relationship with Christians was strictly business. We will write a custom essay on Theatre Programme The Merchant of Venice specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now 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. This passage tells us that Shylock was willing to offer his profit-making services to Christians but was not prepared to socialise with them. The bond plot begins with Antonio becoming one of Shylocks customers of a loan. Shylock agreed to the three thousand ducats Antonio requested, but instead of charging interest he said if he could not pay him back he would have his bond, which was one pound of flesh from any part of Antonios body. Antonio agreed to such bond because he was confident of his ships returning with goods which will sell for lots of money, but Shylock had high doubts concerning the security of Antonios ships. Shylock thought his chances were high on fulfilling his vengeance against Antonio and make his suffer. Shylock said the following about Antonios ships. But ships are but boards, sailors but men; there be land rats, and water rats, water thieves and land thieves (I mean pirates), and then there is the peril of waters, the rocks; the man is notwithstanding, sufficient. Shylock wants this revenge on Antonio so much because Antonio had physically and verbally abused Shylock in the past. Shylock said this about Antonios treatment towards him: You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gabardine. But after Shylock explains to Antonio how he treats him, Antonio does not regret abusing Shylock and takes matters further by saying: I am as like to call thee so again, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. This means Antonio feels no sorrow towards Shylock and will treat him as he wants. Even though Antonio is dependant on Shylock at his point, he still shows his disrespect to Shylocks religion which could result in Shylock not lending the money to him. Antonio is a wealthy merchant in Venice. Although he is the centre of the play, he is portrayed by Shakespeare as a very depressed and is not involved in the social atmosphere around Venice. In sooth, I know not why I am so sad; It wearies me; you say it wearies you; but how I caught it, found it, or came by it, what stuff it made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn The mystery of Antonios sadness remains unsolved, as he denies the sadness is related to his ships or a lost love. Early in the play the other side of Antonio is revealed. A cruel man is displayed with hatred towards the Jewish race, especially Shylock. During Antonios sad and unhappy times, his dear friend Bassanio is there to comfort and try solving his problems. Bassanio has helped him through many troubled times and as soon as Bassanio needs a favour returned, Antonio agrees without a doubt and this is how the bond plot begins. .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 , .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .postImageUrl , .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 , .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996:hover , .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996:visited , .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996:active { border:0!important; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996:active , .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996 .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u1a26fc9ac3818748304d2d7983470996:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Twelfth Night EssayPortia is known as the Golden Fleece that suitors from all over the world come to woo. Her beauty and intelligence attracts suitors into the casket story, but during this story she displays racism and prejudice towards the Prince of Morocco, even when he said: Mislike me not for my complexion. The way Portia reacts to the suitors influences the audiences opinion of them. When she picks on a fault of a suitor it is disliked by the audience and when she finds a pleasing point in a suitor the audience also shows interest in him. An example of Portias ability to manipulate the audience is during a conversation with Nerissa about one of the suitors, the County Palatine: He doth nothing but frown, as who should say, an you will not have me, choose. He hears merry tales and smiles not; I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I have rather be married to a deaths-head with a bone in his mouth, than to either of these. Bassanio is the closest friend to Antonio and their relationship is the finest throughout Venice. Antonios other friends know that if anyone could cheer Antonio up, that someone would be Bassanio. But because they did not want to make their jealousy obvious and trouble Antonio even more, they try to change their way of conversation and make it sound like a joke or sarcasm. Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Gratiano, and Lorenzo. Fare ye well, we leave you now with better company. Salerio: I would have stayed will I had mad you merry, if wothier friends had not prevented me. Bassanio is determined to woo Portia and needs three thousand ducats to furnish his suit. When he eventually arrives to choose the casket of his dreams, he picks the correct casket and pleases Portia with his charms. Relationships are the most important aspects in Bassanios life, whether it is between his friends or with Portia. The Merchant Of Venice is concerned with two issues that were of importance in the Elizabethan time: Jewry and Usury. The Christian reaction and attitude towards Jews was hostile and that the execution of Rodrigo Lopez in 1594 was characteristic of the Christian rejection of al Jews. Jews were forced to convert to Christianity to live in England, once they did they were generally left alone. Usury was an important issue during Shakespeares time. Shylock is the typical picture of the usurer that most of the Elizabethans had and who is never accepted. He is proud of his race and his religion but he is against the Venetian society that shows no mercy to the outsider. I think William Shakespeare was not against Jews because he included a passage that made Christians and Jews feel alike, Shylock said: I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christians is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? In the 20th century we are more sensitive and conscious about political correctness. The issue of racism has further complicated Shylocks character and his role attracts greater sympathy. One of the most important passages in the play fights for equal rights and gives out a powerful effect to the readers. Shylock said: He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated my enemies and whats his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christians is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 , .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .postImageUrl , .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 , .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2:hover , .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2:visited , .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2:active { border:0!important; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2:active , .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2 .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc50c29cc3772b170a62bf973305f2df2:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: How does Shakespeare create tension in Act 3 scene 1? EssayShakespeare added this passage to show us that he is not against any religion and that al the hatred in The Merchant Of Venice is just a storyline. But this passage is also telling us that shylock is not as sinful as we thought from the beginning of the play. Shylock reveals that he knows the suffering of racism and hatred between religion but yet he still dislikes Christians. He believes that Antonio has sinned upon him more him sinning upon Antonio, and when Shylock makes this speech he thinks that he will get his bond and finish their rivalry. The passage sends out such a powerful effect because of the structure, the words used and how the sentences are arranged. The first thing noticed about the passage is that the sentences are very short or are very slow due to the amount of commas. These short sentences or statements create a slower flow of reading and allow readers to think about the statements before proceeding to the next one. The words have been carefully selected by Shakespeare which summarises the events in life. Most of the words he uses, it creates a rhetorical question and allows readers even more time to think about the statements and reflect on how powerful this passage can be. At the time of the play, the Elizabethan times were still in the age of discovering the world. The Americas and West Indies were among the few best discoveries of the world as it provided spices, silk, and other precious things. These expensive imports were sold around Europe and created jobs as tradesman. Antonio was one of these tradesmen. He owned ships which would collect the items and allow him to sell. This job is not very secure as there is always some uncertainty of the condition of the ships as Antonio finds out later in the play. The Merchant of Venice on stage needed to show a balance between its two worlds of Venice and Belmont. Shakespeare stagecraft in the play already portrays detailed visions whilst reading, but watching the play on stage took the audiences imagination to a next level. His clever use of language changes between characters to suit their separate personalities and this would bring out the best or worst in a character. The style of language he mostly uses in the play is blank verses, which is poetry that does not rhyme, but also the rhythm of human speech used in the play is known as a iambic pentameter. As a member of the audience, the play was received and acted as a comedy but the triadic was not lost through Shylocks character. The scenes of drama were expressed by each character with lots of enthusiasm and they all felt as though they were the main character. The stage was like the entire world in a few paces for the actors and actresses, and in those few paces the whole importance of the play was captured and delivered to the audience. As a reader I think this play is another one of Shakespeare best along with Macbeth and Romeo And Juliet. This dramatic comedy is enjoyable because this is one of his plays which will make you think of how much has changed in the world. Racism and hatred between religion echoes around the Elizabethan society and is not much different from other everyday activity such as having an evening meal. This play has many comedy acts and will take the focus off the main plot for a bit to give readers a break from one large continuous storyline. There are also many dramatic scenes which make a exciting climax in the main plot. The Merchant Of Venice combines the important ingredients of a good comedy and a drama to create this play.

States With Highest Teenage Pregnancy and Birth Rates

States With Highest Teenage Pregnancy and Birth Rates While the teen pregnancy rate has been declining overall over the past two decades, rates of teen pregnancy and birth can vary wildly from state to state within the United States. However, there seems to be a connection between ​sex education (or the lack thereof) and the rates of teen pregnancy and parenthood. The Data A recent report by the Guttmacher Institute compiled teenage  pregnancy statistics in the United States gathered state by state in 2010. Based on available data, below are listings of states ranked by pregnancy and birth rates. States with the high rates of pregnancy among women age 15–19  in ranked order: New Mexico  ArkansasMississippi  OklahomaTexas  Louisiana In 2013, New Mexico had the highest teenage pregnancy rate (62 per 1,000 women). The next highest rates were in Arkansas (59), Mississippi (58), Oklahoma (58), Texas (58) and Louisiana (54). The lowest rates were in New Hampshire (22), Massachusetts (24), Minnesota (26), Utah (28), Vermont (28) and Wisconsin (28). States ranked by rates of live births among women age 15–19:   New MexicoArkansas  OklahomaMississippiTexas  West Virginia   In 2013, the teenage birth rate  was highest in New Mexico, Arkansas, and Oklahoma (43 per 1,000 women), and the next highest rates were in Mississippi (42), Texas (41) and West Virginia (40). The lowest rates were in Massachusetts (12), Connecticut (13), New Hampshire (13), Vermont (14) and New Jersey (15). What Does This Data Mean? For one, there seems to be an ironic correlation between states with conservative politics around sex education and contraception and high rates of teen pregnancy and birth. Some research suggests that U.S. states whose residents have more conservative religious beliefs on average tend to have higher rates  of teenagers giving birth.  The relationship could be because communities with such religious beliefs (a literal interpretation of the Bible, for instance) may frown upon contraception  ...  If that same culture isnt successfully discouraging  teen sex, the pregnancy and birth rates rise. Furthermore, teen pregnancy and birth rates are often higher in rural areas rather than more urban areas. Think Progress  reports: While teens across the country have largely been having less sex and using more contraception, teens in rural areas have actually been having more sex and using birth control less frequently. It’s not clear why that’s the case, but it could partly be because teens in rural areas still lack access to a range of comprehensive contraceptive services. There just aren’t as many sexual health resources in rural counties, where teens may have to travel farther to the nearest women’s health clinic. And deeply rooted attitudes about sex- including school districts that continue to cling to  abstinence-only health curricula  that don’t give teens enough information about methods to prevent pregnancy- may also play a role. Urban school districts, particularly in  New York City, have made significant advances in expanding teens’ access to sexual education and resources, but there often aren’t similar pushes in rural places. Ultimately, the data underscore that it is not simply because teens are engaging in risky behaviors, such as having unprotected sex. They are also engaging in sexual activity while being un- or under-informed and while lacking access to contraception and family planning services.   Consequences of Teen Parenthood Having a child young often incites problematic life outcomes for teen mothers.  For example, just  40% of women who have a child before age 20  finish high school. Because many  teen mothers drop out of school to parent full-time, support around their education is crucial. While supportive social infrastructure to aid young parents is key, it is often missing, particularly in states with large percentages of teen pregnancies. One small way to help is for communities to start a  Babysitters Club  so they young mothers can take GED classes and continue their educations.   As the  National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy  argues by preventing teen and unplanned pregnancy, we can significantly improve other serious social problems including poverty (especially child poverty), child abuse and neglect, father-absence, low birth weight, school failure, and poor preparation for the workforce.  However, until we tackle the large infrastructural and cultural issues around teen parenthood, including access to family planning resources, the issue seems unlikely to go away anytime soon.   Source: Kost K, Maddow-Zimet, I and Arpaia, A. Pregnancies. Births and Abortions Among Adolescents and Young Women in the United States, 2013: National and State Trends by Age, Race, and Ethnicity. New York: Guttmacher Institute. 2017.

Deferred Tax Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Deferred Tax - Essay Example My decision was based on the weight of the present evidence. The matter was whether or not there would be ample taxable income generated in the coming years by the company for the realization of the anticipated tax benefit. The benefits of forthcoming deductible amounts may be realized when the anticipated future income may be at least the equivalent of the deferred deductions. Deductions frequently reduce taxes only when they reduce taxable income. However, the company was not in such a position, and it prompted my decision. However, as a noteworthy additional fact, the allowance ought to be occasionally re-assessed. Out of necessity, alter may be altered in accordance with tax laws that limit the future utilization of deductible provisional differences. The resulting effect of the valuation allowance may also affect the projected yearly effective tax rate. Having reviewed all the positive and negative evidence available, I deduced that the company needed to create value account allowance on deferred tax assets. For instance, the company has been recently operating losses. Moreover, the anticipated situations were likely to impact adversely on future operations. The management has failed, in the past years, to implement viable strategies that would improve the company’s performance. If the company had a sturdy history of profitable and sizable operations, that would be an indication of positive evidence. In such a case, the ample taxable income would lead to a realization of the deferred tax asset. In my capacity as the accountant, I firmly believe that the management was not capable of making any turnaround in the near future. There are many managerial actions that would be taken minimize or eradicate a valuation allowance if deferred tax assets are not to be realized that the company failed to make. The tax-planning tactics encompass any

Restoration & Recovery Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Restoration & Recovery Plan - Essay Example These directives and orders are part of Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning is required for Federal Government Agencies. PDD 63 or the Critical Infrastructure Protection directive and FPC 65 summarize the requirements for COOP information system infrastructure and emergency measures. FPC 65 stipulates that federal agencies are required to get back into operations within 12 hours from any kind of service collapse. OMB CircularA-130 prescribes continuity of operations planning which includes emergency procedures and policies for immediate operations recovery and restoration as well as long-term mitigation of potential services interruption of critical operations (EMC Corporation, 2006). In any kind or emergency, police and emergency services are the most essential. Therefore, the integrity, restoration and recovery of information systems in these branches of government should be the utmost priority. Florida is one of the states that have had to be vigilant regarding these concerns since the 1990's (Mittler, 1995). The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office is no exception to these circumstances. Palm Beach's experience with Hurricane Katrina emphasized not only the need to be prepared for the disasters and the essential role that police and emergency services have to play in recovery (Kam & Gomez, 2005). Restoration and Recovery of Information Systems and Data Breakdowns of information systems and data loss are not limited to the event of disasters. Natural disasters may impact systems extremely and can impair critical functions when they are needed the most but system attacks, hacking and other related crimes that is becoming the most urgent. Restoration of Information System Operations According to the National Security Agency (NSA), through the Information Assurance Directorate (IAD), information assurance refers to procedures designed to safeguard and secure information and information systems against failure, collapse or attacks. Part of this program is the re-establishment of information systems by the development of security, response and resolution competencies into the system (2006). These standards govern feral information systems and have been adopted by industry as well. These measures include providing for restoration of information systems by incorporating protection, detection, and reaction capabilities. Public sector agencies and departments must comply within the prescribed recovery period and point service levels depending on the significance of their operations and information. They have to take into account considerable quantities of paper and electronic data, data storage distribution, necessity for nonstop operations and high data security and integrity measures (EMC Corporation, 2006) Recovery of Data Data backup and replication are the underlying concern in restoration and recovery. The primary factors considered are cost, management, reliability and security Effective back up strategies limit the need to reinstall programs and regenerate data in the events of data loss. However, data loss over a long period of time either by malicious acts or because of inadequate systems is more difficult to salvage and may go unnoticed (Ginty, 2005).

International Business Climate Essay Example for Free

International Business Climate Essay 1.0 Introduction Business climate refers to the economic environment in general which depicts how businesses and business activities are supported by the government as well as the lending institutions. Business climate is also a reflection of the attitude of the labor unions toward inflation rates, taxation rates, employers and other issues which affect business activities   in a given region or country. Switzerland ranks the most attractive country in terms of having the most conducive international business climate which has attracted tremendous investments and highly skilled labor from all over the globe. The country enjoys a safe and stable working environment and most small and medium enterprises are located in the Greater Geneva Berne area (GGBa) which has an excellent international business track record (ggba-switzerland.ch, n.d). Switzerland experienced one of the weakest economies in the Western Europe in the 1990s during which the annual GDP growth averaged 0% between the years 1991 and 1997. A gradual economic growth was witnessed in the beginning of late 1997 and it reached a peak in 2000 with a GDP of 3%. Between 2001 and 2003, the economic growth slowed down but began to grow at 2.5% per annum since the year 2004 until the latest global economic crises which have had a great impact on its economic growth (state.gov, 2010). Being at the heart of Europe, Switzerland is a hub for the crucial communication systems which are indispensable in the industrial Europe. Therefore, the expansive modern and reliable infrastructure encompassing the country facilitates an extremely high number of international and local business activities. The good international business climate of the country has been influenced by several factors which entails economic, cultural, legal, and political issues. It is therefore the obj ective of this paper to discuss these issues with reference to Switzerland as a country. 2.0 Economic Climate Trade is the backbone of Switzerland’s prospering economy which has made its per capita income be among the highest globally. International climate highly favors the export markets upon which the country depends for generating enormous income while at the same time facilitating the imports of raw materials which are essential for the expansion of the range of goods and services available in the economy. Economic climate is also made better by the liberal trade and investment policies which has attracted many investors in addition to the well defined commercial law and well developed legal system. Switzerland is a member of several international economic organizations including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Trade Organization (WTO), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and The World Bank (state.gov, 2010). Important sectors of the economy include tourism, engineering, banking and insurance which have a heavy influence in the economic policies of the country. The existing trading companies enjoy unique expertise from Far East, Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe. The highly developed tourism industry gives the country’s market the   opportunity to trade in services and equipment related to tourism. The export industry provides the economy with about half of the country’s corporate earnings with the largest trading partner being the European Union. The trade and economic barriers between Switzerland and the EU are minimal hence facilitating more business activities. The U.S   is a major export destination of products from Switzerland and also a major source of imports of raw materials for the country. U.S is the second-largest importer of Swiss goods after Germany and also is the largest foreign investor in Switzerland (state.gov, 2010). 3.0 Legal Climate The business regulatory system in Switzerland is highly transparent and regulations affecting the activities of both local and international investors are applied with no discrimination. Previously, cartels were common in the economy whereby companies in various industrial and service sectors through industrial and trade associations organized themselves into vertical and horizontal cartels. The new law governing the formation of cartels ensures that such cartels do no harm to the society and the economy. The adoption of this law which includes the authority to stop anti-competitive behavior without prior warning has facilitated an extra GDP growth of 0.5-0.8% per annum following the reduction of harmful cartels (Dimireva, 2010). The legal system governing international and local business activities has propagated an efficient capital markets and   portfolio investment. One of the largest markets for foreign borrowers is the Swiss franc dominated foreign bond market and generally there are no restrictions on the sale or purchase of   foreign equities and currencies. Forward transactions between Swiss nationals and foreigners can be carried out at the prevailing market rates. The liberal market of Switzerland is protected from being misused as a platform for criminal activity and money laundering by regulations which serve to adjust particular aspects of portfolio investment. A good example is the signing of OECD Anti-Bribery Convention in 1997 which started operating in 2000 (Dimireva, 2010). The effective legal and policy framework of Switzerland has excelled in combating corruption which if unchecked can adversely impact the international business climate. Following implementatation of laws deterring corruption, for instance the U.S firms which have invested in Switzerland have not issued any complaints about cases of corruption. There are highl y effective investigative and enforcement mechanisms which deals with any domestic corruption and this has attracted more international investors who have developed confidence in the Swiss economy. 4.0 Political Climate The Swiss political system is highly stable and effective since both the county and state government bodies possess high levels opf control. The system has been structured in such a way that all the rural and urban areas of the country have access to government officials for requests or essential information. A referendum which requires a popular one million signatures is enough to give people the power to demand certain changes concerning business practice, the established law or the environment. One of the main contributors to the country’s political stability is the stability existing within different institutions.The Swiss National Bank for instance is a highly steadfast finanacial institution which has strengthened and stabilised the Swiss Franc. Political stability is further stabilised by the fact that Switzerland   is a representative democracy in which the major governing body is the Federal Council made up of seven persons. The government is considered to be trustw orthy and honest by the populace (mkeever.com, n.d). 5.0 Cultural Climate International business climate in Switzerland is greatly influenced by the etiquette and cultural expectations in the Swiss professional environment. In order to develop productive working relationships and successful business strategies, it is a preriquisite to understand and respect the various aspects of Swiss culture. The country offers Communicaid’s Doing Business cultural awareness courses to enhance the creation of fruitful business relationships between foreign business professionals and the Swiss clients partners and colleagues (Guliyev, 2007). Such courses are essential in ensuring competitive advantage which offers foreign business people with the ideal opportunity to comfortably do business in the country. In addition, there are a wide range of cultural and leisure activioties which has further facilitated the progress of the country in doing intyernational business. The ideal cultural climate has prompted a large number of   sports lovers, business travellers an d nature enthusiasist to visit the country all year round which has elevated international business relations a notch higher. 6.0 Conclusion The creation of an enabling international business climate is a collective task of various institutions and aspects of the society. These aspects must comprehensively address cultural, political, economic, and legal situations of the particular country which is willing to create a conducive business environment. Switzerland is a good example of a country in the heart of Europe which has embarked in creating such an environment which consequently has attracted huge investments. The creation of   an excellent international business climate may not be as challenging as sustaining it and therefore firm political, legal, cultural and economic strategies are indispensable in achieving it.

Creativity, the Subconcious, and Daydreaming :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Creativity, the Subconcious, and Daydreaming When an artist of any sort is inspired they have what can very closely be compared with a spiritual feeling. Some have said that this state in which, the imagination flows so freely is that of a conscious dream. In this short essay I will explore the ideas behind creativity and this dreamlike state of inspiration. In order to do so we must first decide what creativity is and then how it is affected. Creativity ¡Ã‚ ¦ is it merely the expression of ones ideas, or must it be something that none has ever thought of before? My answer to this question is that neither idea is a proper definition for creativity. To be creative is the ability of the individual to express themselves in a passionate manner that is unique. The expression must be unique in the fact that the way in which it is expressed demonstrates the emotions and feelings of the creator. Also there are other forms of creativity such as inventing in which although the idea itself may not be completely new, or unrelated to something else, but that this idea is a composite of the information, which one has obtained throughout their life. This idea in order to be creative cannot be just a regurgitation of the ideas, but rather it must be an individual perspective. Creativity can be found in every day life in the simplest things, as in the way in which a person observes a flower that they are passing. However, what causes a c reative genius is the way in which they express their unique perspective. Creative Geniuses when asked about their feelings of inspiration have often said that they feel that their spiritualized feeling is similar to that of a dream. Could the dream-like state which artists experience during inspiration be similar to that of daydreaming? Absolutely, Day dreaming is when one ¡Ã‚ ¯s mind drifts from the task that it has been set to do. In this state we are still conscious unlike in sleeping dreams, but our mind is able to, so to speak drift into the depths of itself. There have been studies done that say that daydreaming is connected with intelligence and creativity. This is partially because sometimes our brain needs time to process information and although this is generally done during our REM sleep cycle sometimes it can carry over to our wakeful states.

How Did Manifest Destiny Manifest Itself?

How did Manifest Destiny manifest itself? Manifest Destiny manifested itself in several ways during the period 1840-1896. Almost every major crisis or notable event was somehow related to manifest destiny. To understand the meaning of Manifest Destiny, we need to go back to its origins. The term Manifest Destiny was first used by John O? Sullivan in July-August 1845, in the Democratic review; â€Å"our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions† O? Sullivan said this while asking Congress for the annexation of Texas.The annexation followed quickly after but O? Sullivan? s use of sentence was barely noticed. Later in 1845, O? Sullivan reused the phrase but this time it created an extremely influential political idea. The general idea of Sullivan? s phrase was that God gave the United States of America territory so that the American people could travel westwards and settle on land that was right fully theirs. We can notice that Manifest Destiny is a racial doctrine and it put forward the white supremacy. Some people say, that the idea served as a justification for the expropriation of Native American lands.This theory cost the death of many Whites, Blacks and Native Americans. O? Sullivan created the perfect excuse for politicians like Polk, to push forward their plans of expansion in the West. James Polk was the 11th President of the United States and was in charge during both of the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War. He is one of the only presidents that competed his agenda while he was in his office. He was the last president before the outbreak of the Civil War. He is mostly remembered for his foreign policy success. The only reason Polk was not criticized a lot about the war was that he put forward Manifest Destiny.He stated that he was fighting for the Americans so that they could move westwards into new land. While the Mexican war was going on, Polk managed to increase the size of Texas, gain new territories of California, Nevada and Utah. This war of two years resulted in the treaty of Guadeloupe. According to different Sources, the treaty of Guadeloupe gave the USA an area of land from 900,000 square miles. Because of all this new and unpopulated land, the American government was keen on populating these areas to get for example more export availabilities. This caused a lot of Americans to move west because it was a new opportunity for them.From 1940 to 1962, four new laws were put through which encouraged people to move westwards. The Religion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormons was another cause why the western borders were shaped by Manifest Destiny. The Mormons claimed that people from Jerusalem were helped by god to get to the western hemisphere 600 years before Jesus Christ was born. According to Smith, the western land was rightfully the property of the Mormons and therefore rese mbles with the doctrine of Manifest Destiny. Smith died before being able to bring his people west.The LDS were persecuted so much because of their beliefs in Ohio and Illinois, that when Brigham Young took over, he started going westwards. The plan was to escape was to create a religious state in Utah. On the way to the West, they were attacked by both Native Americans and other Whites (mostly Mormons). When they arrived, Young founded Salt Lake City and became governor of Utah. It was in Utah, where the Mormons fought bitterly against other religious movements because of their previous hounding. The Oregon Boundary Dispute was another incident that was the cause of manifest destiny.It had been a problem since 1818 when the USA and Britain claimed that the Oregon territory was their own. To avoid war, the two countries occupied the territory and waited for a permanent solution instead. In 1844, there was another presidential election and Polk was a candidate. He promised them that he would fight for the boundary to be put at 54 40-north latitude. At the same time, war tensions were at an all time height because both countries wanted land and were ready to fight for it so therefore the Treaty of Washington was signed. It gave the USA and Britain, equal amounts of new land.Westward travel was made easier because railroads were built around America. It was the country with the most developed railroads and they were built quickly around the country. In the end, America had over 30,000 miles of railroads. Following the railroads, a Transcontinental Railroad was built between 1863 and 1869. Americans didn? t want to cross salt flats and deserts so they wanted to be able to assert their right of manifest destiny. The railroads meant that Americans could now go around America until the Rockies in the far west. Before people didn? go into the west but the railroads made it easy to get there and people found resources in the ground which gave them money and the opportu nity of a new way of living. A lot of people from the east who fought in the Civil War moved to the west because they saw a new opportunity of prosperity. This also helped the transcontinental railroad. Like a lot of other events, which were related to manifest destiny, minorities were abused. It was the Irish and the Chinese, which spent the most time on the railroads but in the end, it was the whites, which benefited the most from the economical growth.Behind this national triumph, the Native Americans and the Chinese immigrants were completely socially excluded. Another aspect of manifest destiny is the American reaction when gold was discovered in California. It was found at the Sutter? s mill by James Marshall in 1848. The gold rush lasted from 1848 to 1855 and it was a huge boom for California. Manifest Destiny developed in a completely different idea during that period. The WASP? s were actively looking for gold and they tried to prevent the minorities from finding any expens ive resources. The Whites also benefited from the treaty of Govt.While the whites found minerals, the water of the Native Americans was poisoned and not clean so therefore they suffered from disease and sometimes-even death. Native Americans also died of smallpox and other rear diseases At the start of Manifest Destiny, less then 20,000 people lived in California. By 1855, there were over 300,000 gold seekers. Because of this massive increase, anti-foreigner laws were passed. Racist ideas were passed on in generations and the tax for immigrants got increased so that they would move out of America. Manifest Destiny was again used as an excuse for white supremacy.Sometimes, the government just took land and said that God told them to. After a few years, California became its own state when all the Native Americans were gone. People, which were pro- slavery, argued that manifest destiny allowed them to bring their slaves into the new land. In their point of view, they helped the slaves because they gave them food and a few supplies but in fact the slaves were treated badly and it wasn? t right to do it. Before the Mexican war, there had been 15 pro-slavery states and 15 anti-slavery states. In 1850, the Missouri Compromise took place. The compromise included: The admission of California as a free state * The Texas dept. would be taken to the federal government * A better Fugitive Slave Act (FSA) * The continuation of slavery but the abolition of slavery in Washington DC In the Kansas-Nebraska problem, manifest destiny manifested itself in several ways. Because Kansas was on the border between the South and the North, there was a big problem for the government whether to allow slavery or not. There was a public outcry when Douglas, who was the runner up for the presidency as a democrat, repealed the 1820 Missouri Compromise.Obviously, the north didn? t want any more slave states. To oppose the idea of Kansas, the northerners shipped people to Kansas while the sout h send people over the border into the state. Eventually a fight broke up and there were murders. In the end, unfortunately for Douglas, the problem he had caused was the end of Manifest Destiny. So instead of getting stronger and unifying the democrats, Douglas had split the party into two. When the conflict came to an end, when the west had been populated, the land taken and the American Indians killed, manifest destiny was just not what it had been before.There was no more land to capture but unfortunately that didn? t mean the end of Manifest Destiny. According to Turner? s theory, the frontier drew and promoted some types of people which wouldn? t have risen as high without the frontier. It could almost be called the survival of the fittest. The ones that adapted best got the most out of their own situation. Jameson on the other hand claimed, that the frontier held back the revolutionaries so when the frontier was gone, the people ceased to be revolutionary. To oppose this theo ry, Turner argues because of this, these men and women flourished.The difference between the two men was that Jameson looks at the frontier as a very active agent, which formed the people while Turner states that the frontier attracted people which were looking for a new opportunity. Manifest Destiny had a lot of serious consequences for Native Americans, since the expansion into the West by the Americans meant the occupation and annexation of Native American land. This land was sometimes even used to expand slavery. The Americans only recognized parts of the Indian territory and this was supported by the Washington Administration which was signed by Henry Knox who was the Secretary of War.As a conclusion, manifest destiny manifested itself during almost every major event in the period 1840-1896. It was the reason of every conflict, in the minds of every pioneer and behind every political move towards the expansion of the United States of America. It had three main components but mo st saw the doctrine as a literal thought. Many said that it was a White man? s yoke to bear. A minority saw in it a sense of a mission. They saw a historical need that America needed to expand to be able to rule the whole continent. Yet for all these rather positive aims, Manifest Destiny had its dark side.The negative thing about Manifest Destiny is that apparently it gave the whites the right to burn, kill and raze anything that came in their way of expanding into the west. No one thought about what they were doing to the Native Americans until after they were dead. I think, the Americans used manifest destiny as a rallying cry, which said: â€Å"We are superior, we are better than you. † In other words, America manifested itself to satisfy the hunger for land that the American people had at the time. It served as a way to greaten the United States of America and please its people.