Monday, March 16, 2020

Repetition and Reflexivism in The Dead essays

Repetition and Reflexivism in The Dead essays James Joyces The Dead experiments with properties that associate with musical counterpoint, where one melody is accompanied by one or more other melodies all woven into a harmonious whole (counterpoint). In music, two separate notes in a chord form a harmony, while in The Dead, Joyce uses two separate topics that are in the same music, life, but not part of the same note. Joyce uses repetition to emphasize the importance of certain aspects or reoccurring themes in the story to further tie the bonds between the otherwise separate notes. David Mosley analyzes The Dead and argues that the entire point of the story is that life is a perpetual cycle. Gabriel is merely a single note in a composition that constantly repeated itself. The pattern is the continual cycle of birth, life, and death. While everything during life is autonomous, eventually the song for that individual ends, only to have another song begin. The repetition in the story leads to varying interpretations of the con cepts, actions, and thoughts of the characters. Through deconstruction of The Dead, John Paul Riquelme explains how the story is and is not realistic. Riquelme feels that there are multiple meanings to the text and whether the story is read in the literal sense or not, opposite points might be drawn from the story. Both Mosley and Riquelme address themes that reoccur throughout The Dead, by stressing repetition and the use of reflexivism. Another term for repetition is recapitulation, which is to restate briefly. Recapitulation deals with reoccurring themes, that Beethoven used often in his music. The Dead primarily deals with repeating themes and Gabriel begins to recognize this fact at the end of the story. He is just a part of a grand scheme, or musical piece. He is a single note among many in the great song of life. In the closing narrative ...

Saturday, February 29, 2020

Canterbury Tales Analysis Essay Example for Free

Canterbury Tales Analysis Essay Physically the two characters appear extremely different. The knight is dressed in a fustian tunic, â€Å"Stained and dark with smudges where his armour had left mark† (Chaucer 5). Although he is a distinguished man, he dresses humbly and does not give the appearance of arrogance. It is also apparent that he carries a sword, which would match his profession as a knight because he is able to fight. The Sea Captain’s attire matches his occupation. He wears a â€Å"Woollen gown that [reaches] his knee† (Chaucer 15); he is tan and has a large beard. He carries a dagger, implying that he knows how to fight and defend himself like the Knight. Considering their occupations, one can find many similarities. They are both very proficient at their jobs. The Sea Captain is described as having no competition: â€Å"None from Hull to Carthage was his match† (Chaucer 16). He is experienced and knows the seas better than any captain. He is known for his skill at commanding his ship, the Maudelayne. He frequently travels the sea. Similarly, the knight is a traveler, except on land. He is an experienced fighter, as he has been in many battles. He was present at the battle where Alexandria was taken in 1365 by the King of Cyprus. In fifteen mortal battles he had been† (Chaucer 5). According to the examples of battles given in the text, the knight rarely loses a battle. He owns fine horses and is skilled at riding horseback. However, behavior is what really sets these two characters apart. The knight is a chivalrous man. He believes in truth, honor, and generosity. People look up to him; he is â€Å"Ever honoured for his noble graces† (Chaucer 4). A Christian and a virtuous man, he is even more humbled by his position as a knight. His many victories did not permit him to lose his modesty; instead, they led him to be wise and honorable. The Sea Captain, in contrast, is a fearsome character. When dealing with prisoners, â€Å"The nicer rules of conscience he ignored† (Chaucer 16); they walked the plank. Not a virtuous man by any means, he has a reputation of stealing goods from traders while they sleep. Those who fight him fear him. He does not have a high position in society, but his brutality and prudence make him successful in battle. He is revered for his skill and success, but people do not look up to him. In summary, the use of foil by Chaucer enables the reader to notice differences and similarities between the Knight and the Sea Captain. They have similar occupations, but different roles in society as well as nearly opposite personalities. The foil emphasizes their characteristics to make them even more prominent to the reader. For example, the knight’s Christian values make the Sea Captain seem extremely harsh and lowly in comparison. The reader will be able to gain more out of the story these characters tell because of how detailed their character sketches are. Specifically, the characters are given more depth by their similarities and differences to other characters in the tale. Canterbury Tales Analysis. (2018, Oct 17).

Thursday, February 13, 2020

The Main Functions and Responsibilities of the Manager Case Study - 1

The Main Functions and Responsibilities of the Manager - Case Study Example It seeks to find out the ethical questions that managers may have to ask themselves as they make decisions. This report seeks to draw insight on management theories and elaborate on how they work in the real world. The report will attempt to draw conclusions based on interviewee’s experiences. It will examine how working relationships affect the execution and coordination of an organisation’s activities. Responsibilities of A Manager The interviewer began by asking the manager his responsibilities at his current position. He asked the manager to describe his areas of accountability, responsibility, and delegation. The manager described his responsibilities as divided into three main categories (Tripathi & Reddy, 2005, pp. 12-35). The operational responsibilities are in line with the organisation’s mission. The manager also deals with financial and administrative issues, which mainly relate to the organisation’s resources and how they are allocated and util ised. These include the human resource element where the manager is responsible for the allocation and distribution of staff and the tasks they handle. The third category of responsibilities in matters of compliance. It is upon the manager to ensure all the organisation’s activities adhere to set laws, regulations, standards, and ethics. The manager has the responsibility of implementing established policies and procedures to ensure the smooth, fair, and lawful running of the organisation. A manager usually has staff reporting to them. The interviewer asked the manager if the manager had ever had to deal with an underperforming member of staff, how the manager dealt with the matter and the result. Was there an improvement in the employee’s performance? Where there was no improvement, the interviewer asked about the steps the manager took.

Saturday, February 1, 2020

J&S mini supermarket Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

J&S mini supermarket - Research Proposal Example Their main problems lie in the fact that they don't have the resources (enough staff) to offer a good service to their clients. This means that they have not been able to pay attention to building relationships with their customers. Relationship marketing is defined as "a marketing method in which businesses consistently maintain two-way communication with their prospective, current and inactive customers in order to gain a deeper understanding of their needs while delivering personal and compelling marketing throughout their lifecycle"(Vtrenz,2004:4). It involves understanding the customers' needs as they go through their life cycles, and one of its central concepts is customer retention.(Wikipedia, 2005) At J & S, customers are hard to retain because once they have experienced a bad service, they seldom come back. In order to start building relationships with their clients, this business must get to know them; who are their clients, what are their needs. This can be done by several ways. From the basic observation technique (e.g. noticing their shopping patterns); to applying mini surveys while they wait in line to pay. The point is to get to know them better. It is useful to observe things like: With this information, you ... With this information, you might be able to offer valuable services to the clients such as free parking (and/or parking space for bikes), weekly offers and promotions, etc. The point is to design a strategy that fits the customers' lifestyles and needs. Focusing on the customers' needs One of the main things the clients need at this convenient store is to be able to find their products easily. This can be done; first, by re-organizing the store's layout so that the access and flow through the locale is easy. Then, by using clear signs in the aisles and throughout the that help the customers find what they need (and their prices). Customers shouldn't feel left alone in their task of shopping their groceries. It should be made a pleasurable experience instead of a hassle. Hiring new staff for the purpose of aiding and guiding the customer is the most important action to be taken by this convenient store. Their job is to be available to the clients, to have the information about the products, about where they are located, and about new products. They should wear a distinctive uniform, perhaps a good suggestion is that they wear T-shirts or vests with a legend such as "Ask me if you have any questions" or "I'm here to help you". The clerk should salute and ask the client "Did you find all that you were looking for" before they pay, and thank them for shopping there before they leave the store. All these little details count. They will make the customer feel special and it is likely that he/she will return because the service was good and focused on the client. In the store, machines to verify the price should be available at the end of each aisle, and a person should be responsible for checking the aisles for missing prices tags, and misplaced products. Extra

Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Character of Cholly in The Bluest Eye Essay -- Bluest Eye Essays

The Character of Cholly in The Bluest Eye Morrison has divided her portrayal of a fictional town of blacks, which suffers from alienation and subjugation, into four seasons. I believe that her underlying message is to illustrate the reality of life's travails: the certain rhythms of blessings and tragedies. Some blacks understand and acccept this philosophy and Morrison's use of the seasons portrays and echoes the bible verse, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven"(Ec. 3.1). Perhaps this is a fatalistic approach or as Darrow says, Man is the product of heredity and environment and that he acts as his machine responds to outside stimuli and nothing else, seem amply proven by the evolution and history of man. Every process of nature and life is a continuous sequence of cause and effect (156). This theory is particularly evident in Morrison's development of Cholly, the man who raped his daughter. She could have portrayed him as a degenerate akin to Soaphead, a slimy character, who leaves us with a feeling of revulsion. Instead, step-by-step, she leads us through Cholly's life and experiences; so in the end, instead of hating him, we feel his pain. Cholly is introduced in the first chapter. He is the father of Pecola. Because of his actions, the whole family has been put out of their home. It was a miserable apartment, as ugly in appearance as the family. Except for Cholly. In his youth he had been big strong long limbed and full of his own fire. Now his behavior was his ugliness. Years of despair, dissipation and... ...ft pregnant with his child, and pushed to madness by these terrible circumstances: she finds her beauty in the bluest eye. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time for every purpose and for every work (Ec. 17). Morrison draws a sympathetic picture of Cholly. She blurs the reality and covers him with emotional longing for the love he knew in the past. Cholly has nothing more to lose. His life is a tragedy. Works Cited Darrow, Clarence."Crime and Free Will". Introductory Readings in Philosophy. Ed. Marcus G. Singer and Robert R. Ammerman. New York: Scribner, 1962. 156-57. Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. New York: Plume: 1994. The New Chain Reference Bible. Ed. Frank Charles Thompson. Mt. Morris, N.Y: Chain Reference Bible Publishing. 1929.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Value at Risk (VaR)

Financial markets started to use the â€Å"Value at Risk† extensively since 1990’s. But the measures of Value at Risk (VaR) were active in different names since as early as 1920’s (Holton 2003). It is the measurement of the worst expected loss at a given confidence level under normal market conditions over a specific time interval. It can also be expressed as the lowest confidence level of the potential losses that can occur within a given portfolio during a specified time period. Value at Risk only presents the worst-case scenario (Harper n. d. ).The two major parameters to be chosen for risk measurement are the time period and the confidence level. The time period can vary from a few hours to a few years. For example it can be stated that when a portfolio manager has a daily VaR at $1 million at 1%, it means that there is only 1 chance in 100 to incur a daily loss of more than $1 million under normal market conditions. The commonly used methods to estimate Valu e at Risk are: Variance – Covariance Method, Historical Performance and Monte Carlo Simulation (Benninga & Wiener 1998). Variance – Covariance Method:This model was made popular by J. P. Morgan in early 1990’s. This approach is based on the assumption that the underlying market factors have a multivariate normal distribution. This assumption helps in determining the distribution of mark-to-market portfolio profits and losses. After finding the distribution of possible portfolio profits and losses, the standard mathematical properties of Normal distribution can be used to determine the loss that will be equaled or exceeded x percent of the time which is called Value at Risk (Linsmeier & Pearson 1996).The following example can be taken to discuss the theory. A U. S. company entered a FX forward contract in the past. The difference between current date and date of delivery is 91 days. The contract requires the company to deliver $15 million in 91 days and in exchan ge it will receive  £10 million. The facts taken into consideration are the spot exchange rate expressed in dollars per pound (S), 3 month pound interest rate (rGBP) and 3 month dollar interest rate (rUSD). The current mark to market values in dollars is calculated based on the following formula:USD mark to market value= S x GBP 10million – USD 15 million 1+ rGBP (91/360) 1+ rUSD (91/360) Here the holding period is one day and the probability is 5%. The distribution of possible profit and loss on this portfolio has the mean of zero as the expected change in portfolio value over a short holding period is almost always close to zero. A standard property of the Normal distribution is that if a probability of 5% is used in determination of the Value at Risk then it will be equal to 1. 65 times the standard deviation of changes in the portfolio value.Standard deviation is the measure of the spread or dispersion of the distribution and computing the value of the standard deviatio n of changes in the portfolio value is the main factor in this method (Linsmeier & Pearson 1996). Value at Risk = 1. 65 x standard deviation of change in portfolio value The first step in measurement of VaR through this method is to determine the basic market factors and standardized market positions through â€Å"Risk Mapping†. In this case the basic market factors are spot exchange rate and 3-month dollar and pound interest rates.The associated standardized positions are spot pounds, dollar dominated 3 month zero coupon bond and a 3 month zero-coupon bond exposed only to changes in the pound interest rate. The next step is to estimate the parameters of distribution assuming that the percentage changes in the basic market factors have a multivariate Normal distribution with means of zero and thus capturing the variability of market factors by standard deviation and co-movement by the correlation coefficients.The third step is to compute standard deviations and correlations o f the changes in the values of standardized positions using the covariance matrix of changes in the basic market factors. The final step is to calculate the value of variance and standard deviation of the portfolio using standard mathematical results about the distributions of sums of Normal random variables. Standard deviation is the square root of variance. In our case its value is $ 52500 approximately. Now as the probability was taken as 5%, the formula comes to Value at Risk = 1. 65 x standard deviation of change in portfolio value = 1. 65 x $ 52,500 = $ 86,625The benefit of this model is that it uses compact and maintainable data set often available from market and third parties and calculation is quite speedy using algebraic formulae. The drawback of this method is that it assumes the change of the portfolio value to be linearly dependent on all the changes in the values of assets and also that the asset returns normal distributed (Jorion 2006). Historical Performance: Histor ical Performance method is the simplest and most transparent method that takes into account relatively lesser number of assumptions about the statistical distribution of underlying market factors (Linsmeier & Pearson 1996).The method works by using historical changes in market rates and prices to estimate potential future loss or profit with the portfolio and thereby calculating the Value at Risk. This can be illustrated based on the above example. Here we assume the holding period as 1 day, probability of 5% and computation to be based on 100 preceding business days from the current date. The current day will be the 100th day. The method involves five steps. The first step is to identify the basic market factors and to determine the formula to express mark to market value.In our case the basic market factors are 3 month dollar interest rate, 3 month pound interest rate and spot exchange rate. The formula for mark to market value is derived as USD mark to market value= S x GBP 10mil lion – USD 15 million 1+ rGBP (91/360) 1+ rUSD (91/360) Next the values of the identified basic market factors for previous 100 days are to be obtained. Daily change in these rates will be able to set the base for constructions of hypothetical values of market factors useful in the calculation of hypothetical profit and loss.The daily Value at Risk number is a measure of the portfolio loss caused by such changes over a one day holding period. The next and most important step is to subject the current portfolio to the changes experienced in the previous 100 days to calculate daily hypothetical profits and losses. In this step 100 sets of hypothetical values for market factors are calculated based on daily historical percentage changes in the market factors combined with current market factors. These hypothetical values are then used to compute 100 hypothetical mark to market portfolio values.Subtraction of current day mark to market portfolio value from each of the 100 hypothe tical values gives 100 hypothetical daily profits and losses. Ordering mark to market profits and losses from the largest profit to the largest lost is the next step. Finally the loss, which equals or exceeds 5% of the time is selected. In the present example of 100 days calculation the fifth worst loss will be the value at risk. This method relies completely on the historical data. Thus it may not be able to predict most accurately if the period chosen is not a typical one and is posing any special market condition (Jorion 2006).Monte Carlo Simulation: This method is quite similar to the Historical Performance Method. The major difference is that this method uses statistical distribution to capture the possible changes in the market factors instead of observing historical changes in market factors to calculate hypothetical profit and loss. The method involves five steps to estimate Value at Risk. The same example of single forward contract can be considered in this respect. The fir st step here is to identify the basic market factors and to determine the formula to express mark to market value similar to the Historical Performance Method.The next step is to assume a specific distribution for changes in the basic market factors and to estimate the parameters of that distribution. For the present example the percentage change in the basic market factors having multivariate Normal distribution is assumed and estimates of standard deviation and correlates are used as in this case the parameters like means, standard deviations and correlations can be interpreted naturally and their estimation is easier. However, it can be said that Monte Carlo Simulation allows risk managers to choose the distribution according to their requirements.But this flexibility also runs a risk of a bad choice that may not be suitable for the particular case (Jorion, 2006). Pseudo-random generator is used in the following step to generate more than 1000 or sometimes 10000 hypothetical valu es of changes in market factors. These are then used to calculate hypothetical mark to market portfolio values. Actual mark to market portfolio value on the current date is subtracted from each of the hypothetical values to get the hypothetical daily profits and losses.The following step is to order the mark to market profits and losses from the largest profit to the largest loss and the Value at Risk is selected as the loss which equals or exceeds 5% of time. While comparing the different aspects of these three methods it can be said that Historical Performance is the simplest method for estimating Value at Risk. It is suitable for estimation for any kind of options of the portfolio. It is easy to compute and implement and can be explained without much effort.The drawbacks of the method are that it can be misleading if the data used is not typical and represents a specific condition quite similar to Monte Carlo Simulation and Variance-Covariance methods. It is too much dependent on historical data. It is not possible to analyze alternative assumptions through this method. Monte Carlo Simulation and Variance-Covariance methods on the other hand can easily analyze alternative assumptions. Variance-Covariance method though can not examine distribution of market factors other than normal. Both of these methods are easy to implement but tougher to explain.Variance-Covariance method is easy in computation but can not capture the risks of portfolio with options when the holding period is long. Monte Carlo Simulation on the other hand is not easy to compute but it can surely capture the risks regardless of any options (Linsmeier & Pearson 1996). Thus it can be said that all of the three methods have their own benefits and drawbacks and it is completely at the discretion of the risk manager to choose a method appropriate to the portfolio based on the factors to be considered and the holding time.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Microfinance And Financial Inclusion Microfinance

4. Microfinance and Financial Inclusion: Microfinance programmes are intended to reach poor segments of society as they lack access to formal financial services. It, therefore, holds greater promise to further the agenda of FI as it seeks to reach out to this excluded category of population. India has adopted the Bangladesh’s model in a modified form. The Apex-Bank NABARD started ‘SHG bank linkage programme’ during the last decade of by-gone century, is by far the major programme initiative without parallel in any parts of the world for achieving the FI. The programme has demonstrated across the country its effectiveness in linking banks with excluded category of poor segments of population. In this process role of NGOs in development is quite pronounced in providing the last mile connectivity as enablers and catalyst between the SHGs and Village level co-operatives/banks. This is also supplemented by the MFIs delivering credit. To alleviate poverty and to empower particularly women, the micro-finance ha s emerged as a powerful instrument to serve the objective of FI in India. With availability of micro-finance, self-help groups and credit management groups have also started in India. More importance is being given to SHGs, since the micro lending to the group rather than individual borrowers is more successful and in the process also making it to reach the goal of FI. All the members of the group are equally benefitted and also the repayment by each member is guaranteed byShow MoreRelatedEssay On Microfinance Sector836 Words   |  4 Pagesnumbers highlight the extent of financial exclusion.2 Banks seem to have taken note of these realities and are adopting new technologies and leveraging partners to tap the underserved. This has resulted in increased financial inclusion in rural areas, especially among those who are opening bank accounts for the first time. 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