The Obstacle Race by Germaine Greer

Germaine Greer books reflect issues affecting women artists. She is a feminist writer who explores the works of female painters. She looked at the contribution female painters have achieved. In her book, The Obstacle Race, Greer analyses the works and destiny of women artists.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Obstacle Race by Germaine Greer specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More She keenly observes why women have not excelled in the field of art. The author points at such issues like social, economic and gender factors as the main cause of women oppression in every aspect of their lives. Greer points out that for women to achieve their true excellence, they have to fight the conventional roles society imposed on them (Nochlin 30). Greer notes that a fundamental obstacle to progress of women is the institution of family. Whereas one should get all the support from family, it is ironical to observe that it is the fami ly which is destroying women’s career in arts as well as other fields. Greer gives Marietta as an example. Marietta’s father jealously guarded her to the point of destroying her talent. Though Marietta was a highly gifted artist, there are extremely few traces of her paintings left. Female artists also faced obstacles from potential lovers. These men presented obstacles to prosperity of women artists. Greer uses a character like Frida, whose works and life Diego significantly influenced negatively. The relationships lead to termination of the development and prosperity of female painters as they take the roles of a wife and mother. Greer laments the loss of arts done by female artists. She writes that society’s physical neglect of women painting is worse than cultural vandalism. Greer symbolically equates this to a form of rape. She keeps on referring to neglected oeuvre, which is slowly disappearing. Greer alludes to names, which can longer be remembered. Socie ty considers women painting as non significance leading to their disappearance. This is how the vital part of women’s heritage is missing in history.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Greer demonstrates that women painters who the society gave praise also ended up worse. Excessive praises lead to confinement of women artists. The society saw womanly arts as the solution to those qualities of arts rejected in men’s work. Their paintings failed to survive changing times in history and tastes. People thought that some painting done by women were the works of men. The public subjected successful women painters to gossips related to promiscuity such as Artemisia Gentileschi. Other female artists became the objects of desire for the society. Creative women working in different arts share common obstacles and challenges. These obstacles and challenges range from economic, so cial and to some extent, personal. The politics of male dominance is an issue of concern among women for a long time. The society perceives women artists and their conditions in the art industry from the view point of their male counterparts. John Stuart Mill recognizes the subjectivity and distortion of issues affecting female artists. This situation must be corrected to give an accurate view of women artists’ situations. In fact, Nolchin suggests that women should solve their own problems. The economic situations result into hardship among women artists. Women artists who were not lucky enough to possess considerable fortunes often had their careers at limbo. Nolchin blames the poor economic status of women in society and the education system. At the same time, she points out issues of racism among the dominant whites who could have affected the contribution of female painters in art (Nochlin 50). The social order in society creates social injustice to women artists. Histor y distorts achievements of women artist. This is because there has never been a way to capture achievements of women and reflect them later in an accurate and non distorted way. The cultural ideological of the time subjected women professionalism to inadequacies and biases. Further, feminist scholars note that any question regarding female artists will provoke a chain-reaction, leading to other issues rather than the issue at hand. Talented female artists existed. However, history has never fully investigated their works or contribution to the field of art. Their contributions are neither recognized nor appreciated.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Obstacle Race by Germaine Greer specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Since the period of feminism movements, the issue of gender and education took center stage. Rosenberg and Thurber bring issues of gender equity into art classroom. Equity requires that differences be tween men and women be recognized and provided for in gender studies. The authors are extending the same opportunities available to men through recognizing areas of gender inequality and reducing them via art and gender studies. For instance, inequality in recognition of feminist artists can only be addressed through gender and art education (Rosenberg Thurber 140). The studies try to recognize and value the ways in which women are different from men (identity). Women experience sexual, cultural and bodily variations from men, which the society should recognize and celebrate. These scholars put emphasis on enhancing the position of women as artists and projecting their values into artistic life. The study is critical of social equality methods where the male dominance is the norm against which society perceives women, and where women’s position transcends so as to achieve equality. Gender and art studies try to address the socially conceived male dominance nature as the meth ods of evaluation seen relevant to social inclusion. The studies address the equality and difference rather than their incompatible oppositions. Gender inequality exists among social and cultural groups. However, gender and art studies show that equality can exist out of mutual respect for each gender, and affirmation of one another in their differences. These studies try to work out a strategy of artists’ group consciousness. Group consciousness will ensure mutual recognition and affirmation of group differences among artists of various forms of arts (Rosenberg Thurber 30). Gender-related ideas and assumptions have affected women’s creative abilities is several ways. Studies suggest that women demonstrate their creative abilities in several ways from aesthetic sensitivity, personal, relationships to public life.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Female artists have realized their creative abilities and expressed them in several spheres of life. This has enabled them to develop their talents. Female artists are in a position of adjusting to problems they encounter. A number of creative women have nurtured their skills throughout due to achievements made by feminism movements. The developments associated with gender equality have sensitized women, and they are striving to have their artistic works gain recognition. For instance, female authors often portray issues affecting them in their works. At the same time, they can demand equal representation in art arena. Gender-related ideas tend to encourage women to minimize the gender gap that previously existed. Historically, society isolated and labeled successful female artists with sexual connotations. People never appreciated and recognized women artists. In fact, their works disappeared due to negligence. Female artists have become more assertive and have demonstrated their v ital and various creative abilities. Gender and art studies show that women have emerged strongly and now competing aggressively with their male counterparts. Works Cited Nochlin, Linda. Women, Art, And Power And Other Essays. New York: Westview Press , 1989. Print. Rosenberg, Martin Thurber, Frances. Gender Matters in Art Education. Worcester, MA: Davis Publications, 2007. Print. This essay on The Obstacle Race by Germaine Greer was written and submitted by user Jaylah Q. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Genital Herpes essays

Genital Herpes essays For my human sexuality research paper, I have chosen to write about sexual transmitted diseases. Sexual transmitted diseases, also called STDs, are a growing problem that America faces year after year. When people talk about STDs, the main kind that comes to mind is HIV and AIDS. However, there are many other STDs out there that are threatening the lives of millions. The sexual transmitted disease that I will be writing about is genital herpes. To make this research paper easier for people to understand the deadly disease, I have made this paper a question Herpes or herpes simplex is a common viral infection that often causes sores or blemishes on the skin, especially on the face or in the genital area. Genital herpes consist of Herpes Type I, which is transmitted by oral and respirator secretions, affects the skin and mucous membranes and commonly produces cold sores of fever blisters. Herpes Type II primarily affects the genital area and is transmitted by sexually contact. However, cross-infection may result from oral genital sex. I will discuss Herpes Type II. Genital herpes requires intimate body contact, either through intercourse or oral sex, that being genital-to-genital, rectal-to-rectal, and mouth-to-rectum. These variations in modes of body contact lead to the finding of Herpes I in the genital area and or Herpes II on the mouth, a function of oral sex. A first infection with genital herpes generally occurs three to seven days after sexual exposure. Often people do not notice this infection for the first time, while others have their worst outbreak. Symptoms vary from a slight fever to a group of blisters, which crust over and disappear. To determine whether the symptoms you have just experienced are in fact a herpes virus, you can have two separated blood tests f ...

Scorecard Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Scorecard - Essay Example Promising results have been reported in the for-profit and governmental organizations already supporting the use of the balanced scorecard and its applicability. Keywords: Balanced Scorecard (BSC), Ministry of Education (MOE), National Center for Education Development (NCED), The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TMISS), and Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) Applying a Balanced Scorecard to the Kuwaiti Government Education System: An Initial Approach for Reforming Education Introduction In the past few decades, there have been numerous calls and demands for reforming the educational system in Kuwait. Many decision makers in the education were under the belief that if they just tweak and implement new ideas in the system, then it would work. Unfortunately, the number of fragmented solutions toward reforming education did not help the situation in the least. The solutions and ideas presented were limitless and included such concepts as flash drives, new textbooks, special programs, new curriculum, bribing students to learn, more extensive examinations, and list goes on an on. Each new idea was initially supported and tossed around various academic circles, then quickly forgotten as a new and better idea for reform was presented, with more empty promises that this new strategy would really work this time around. The Kuwaiti educational system is sick, and the intention or pretense to improve is not enough. To achieve these lofty goals for reform, professionals in the field of education need to seriously regard what exactly needs improving, and then developing sound strategies about such improvement will be measured moving forward. The elements of reform within various levels of the educational system should be seen as a complete picture. This involves having a core target that must be focused and at the center of the system. Successful efforts at improving the education system should be measured by a clear set of goals t hat are linked to the needs of both parents and students (Stone & Dahir, 2006; Gysbers & Henderson, 2000). This drive for educational reform has focused attention on the measurement of student performance by various organizations existent in the system. This paper will focus, to a large degree, on the current discussion by researchers regarding the adaption of a new methodology aimed at reforming the education system in Kuwait. This is most commonly referred to as the Balanced Scorecard. This paper is further aimed to stimulate and provide an informative discussion about the reforms needed based on the conceptual framework of the balanced scorecard. It also outlines a vision for the future of education in the region and gives an overview of key challenges, and makes recommendations for future action. Literature Review Kuwaiti Educational System Kuwait has invested considerable amounts of its oil wealth into developing a comprehensive public education system. The system ranges from p reschool, starting at the age of four, to five years of primary, four years of intermediate level education, and three years of secondary schooling. The academic system in Kuwait is highly centralized. The Ministry of Education manages and regulates districts and their schools. It is also responsible for developing and providing curriculum, textbooks, and the hiring of teachers. The evaluation for student achievement in Kuwait, for

Check the pic Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Check the pic - Assignment Example Moreover, on the canvas, some patches of earth tones are visible and this can be interpreted as streams of water. The entire image appears to be immersed in a large water body, probably an ocean. A short distance from the pale brown colored patches, there is a green patch which looks more of vegetation. The vegetation seems to be similarly immersed in water. Despite this, the vegetation looks health and easily distracts attention from the shapeless pale brown images. There is a thick line that runs vertically on the canvas dividing the canvas into two equal portions. On the left side of the canvas, there is a formless figure which looks more of a replication of the image on the right side. This indicates the artist’s prowess in utilizing negative space in creating a masterpiece that communicates the intended meaning without diluting the message or controlling the audience’s mind by providing any kind of realistic information in the image; not even the title can help in making any meaningful interpretations. I strongly believe that through PH-244 of 1953 Still wanted to express the way life was changing in America. The pale brown patches imply the hardship that Americans, particularly the blacks, were undergoing in America, and the green patch denotes a land where all suffering Americans were eagerly eyeing for. For many Americans, during the time of the painting, life had lost meaning, and Still decided to use his artistic prowess in championing for their liberation and equal treatment. Clyfford Still made the image more abstract and avoided giving any meaningful title so that it could have a large audience which could associate themselves with the occurrences in America during the 1950s. PH-244 of 1953 portrays abstraction at its best. In the second image, Still uses some red patches, black color, white and brown to create the image

Career Management and Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Career Management and Development - Essay Example This paper attempts to understand and discuss various facets of career management and development in close focus with graduate careers. The discussion also aims to create an awareness of the present workplace scenario, its issues, challenges and methods to overcome it. Career theories and its relevance and the implications of the broader social forces on career are also looked at. For our purpose of understanding let us view the discussion using the banking segment in the UK as an illustration. Job description: a) Establishing and nurturing healthy customer relationships. b) Planning and implementing effective sales strategies. c) Evaluating the effectiveness of new and existing financial products. d) Offer operational support as part of daily routine. e) Being a part of the team achieve targets. f)Processing data to produce accurate facts, figures and reports. Work Conditions And Benefits: 'Range of typical salaries for entrants on graduate management trainee programmes: 23,000 - 32,000 (usually part of a package including a 'signing on' bonus of 3,000 - 5,000). Working hours are generally nine to five but extra hours are required from time to time. Part-time, flexible working and career break opportunities do exist. The demands of fulfilling annual targets, meeting corporate objectives, and continued professional development training may sometimes give rise to stress,' says a website called prospect. Requirements For New Entrants: Although the banking sector is open to all, some functions may requires specialisation in disciplines such as mathematics; finance; business studies; economics; law; accounting. A good honours degree, usually a 2.1 or above, is required. However, entry at other levels is possible for graduates with less than a 2.1 or with an HND, especially if applicants have relevant work experience. Pre-entry work experience in the form vacation work, sandwich placements (paid or unpaid), internships and temporary or permanent work experience in a financial, customer-led environment, such as sales is desirable. In addition to an excellent academic record, graduates also need to have excellent interpersonal skills; leadership qualities; exemplary written and oral communication skills; analytical skills; willingness to relocate; flexibility and adaptability in responding to change; creative thinking and an enquiring mind; enthusiasm and a commitment to further training. With banks going global and expanding their product and service portfolio, IT skills have become advantageous, in depth knowledge of the national and international industry along with sound business acumen are essential. Training Programs and Methods: There are a variety of training options provided for new entrants joining graduate training programmes. On-the-job training, Specialised technical training, or entry to a specific functional area such as human resources, accountancy or computing, or to comply with regulatory requirements are just a few to name. Internal and external training provided in various forms like work-shadowing experienced colleagues, evening classes, a limited number of day-release courses, distance learning packages and workshops. In-house training is becoming increasingly popular. Some banks also provide training

Influencing Factors Of Foreign Tourism To Japan Cultural Studies Essay

Influencing Factors Of Foreign Tourism To Japan Cultural Studies Essay Over the last few decades, the international travel market has grown tremendously. According to the World Tourism Organization, number of international travelers reached a record of 842 million in 2006 and 898 million in 2007. The growth rate in 2007 reached 6%, which is 1.5% higher than the value of 2006. The strongest growth occurred in Africa; however, Asia Pacific region also had a great increase number of international travelers. In 2007 alone, 185 million people visited Asia. (Choi, Lee 1) International travel has become very accessible to many people because of technical advancement in transportation. For instance, it only takes about thirteen hours to get from JFK Airport in New York, United States to Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Japan Airline provides travel back and forth ticket at a price of $964.33. (www.jal.com) Before the advancement in technology, any international trip took longer time and was more expensive. However, the technical development in transportation system is effectively triggering and stimulating more people to travel internationally. Large numbers of people are now interested in Asia. (Choi, Lee 1) The number of international travelers is increasing every year. What are some convincible factors that trigger people to come to Asia? Because of its diverse cultural activities, Japan is one factor that influences people to travel to Asia. Japan is an island located in the East Asia, surrounded by North Korea and South Korea. It is a small island but has potential to captivate tourist from all over the world. Before moving ahead, it is important to define terms that will be continuously discussed in this paper. What is the definition of travel? Merriam Webster Online Dictionary defines travel as To move or undergo transmission one place to another. (www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/travel) This indicates that travel is a peoples movement between relatively distant geographical location for any purpose and any duration, with or without any means of transportation. Travel also covers all the activities performed during a movement. It is a broader concept of trip. Travel can be local, regional, domestic or international. Then, who is considered a tourist? In the United States, the National Tourism Resources Review Commission (1973) defined tourist as one who travels away from home for a distance of at least 50 miles (one way) for business, pleasure, personal affairs, or any other purpose except to commute to work, whether he or she stays overnight or returns the same day. (Masberg, 67) Then why are international tourists interested in traveling to Japan? What is unique about Japan? First, knowing concise background of Japan would help to find the answers to these questions. Brief Description of Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by the east of the Sea of Japan (also called East Sea), People of Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia and stretches from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south. Japan is composed of over 3,000 islands, making it an archipelago. The four largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku. These four main islands together accounts for 97% of Japans land area. It has sufficient rainfall for agriculture on the main islands, with no dry season. Hokkaido and northern Honshu have cold winters with good ski resorts but limited agriculture. In contrast, the two thirds of southern Honshu and the Shikoku Island and Kyushu have humid subtropical climates. Most of the islands are mountainous, many volcanic; for example, Japans highest peak, Mount Fuji, is a volcano. Japan has the worlds tenth largest population, with about 128 million people. The capital of Japan is Tokyo, located in Honshu. The government is a Parliamentary democracy. The size of Japan is about 145,856 square miles (slightly smaller than California) and Japan is homogeneous (0.6% Korean) with one language. Buddhism and Shinto are the major religions and only about 0.8% of the population is Christian. The currency of Japan is the Yen. Entering Japan is relatively easy because it is part of the visa waiver program, which means that a visa is not required for visits less than 90 days. Shopping is a main attraction in Japan; common items include Japanese handicrafts and art objects, jewelry, silks, furs, and pottery pieces. Japan has not historically looked to tourism as a major foreign income earner as it had such a huge trade surplus in the 1980s. However, from the 1990s, the government started to take an active role in promoting inbound tourism. The government is both involved in domestic and international tourism. It promotes and provides information about tourism in Japan and establishes a number of programs and offices to develop a broad variety of tourism attractions in Japan while maintaining quality of its natural environment setting. Japan also established a government organization, JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization). JNYO is a non-profit organization established by a government, and it provides free multilingual information on travel in Japan. The most visited places by visitors are the following: Sapporo, Tohoku, Tokyo and its surrounding area, Chubu, Kansai, Chugoku, Island of Kyushu, and Okinawa Island. Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, hosted the 1972 winter Olympics, and it annually has a festival called the Snow Festival. It is a festival where people present gigantic snow images by famous artists. Secondly, Tohoku is located in the northeastern section of the main island of Honshu and is very famous for its hot springs. Tokyo and the surrounding areas are located in Honshu, where visitors can observe the unique blend of the East and West culture. Another most visited location is Chubu, which is the center of the main island, Honshu. The Japanese Alps are located in Chufu, and the Japanese Alps consist of beautiful scenery. Kansai, another metropolitan area in Japan besides Tokyo, also has many important temples (historical attractions) and interesting cultural festivals. Chugoku, the western end of the island of Hon shu, is known for its beautiful beaches. Many water activities are played here. The Island of Kyushu has a subtropical climate and operates 6 national parks that attract visitors. Lastly, the Island of Okinawa is a tropical island with the wealth of national beauty, such as the sunny skies and the subtropical plants. As one can see from above, Japan has a variety of attractions. It has been and will be the center of the Asian tourism market. As the center of the Asian tourism market, Japan has exclusive aspects that other Asian countries do not contain. Japan has preserved those cultural factors well enough to encourage foreigner to learn about it. Different aspects of Japan have made it possible for influencing numerous tourists to travel to Japan. Now, this essay will focus on each aspect that influences foreign tourists to travel to Japan. Those aspects include food/cuisine, Japanese traditional lodging, sports, and business. Food of Japan Japanese food is well known to the other parts of the world. Many foreigners are familiar with sushi and ramen, which are the major representation of Japanese food. Nevertheless, there are other types of Japanese cuisine that are still unknown to the foreigners yet can strongly fascinate the foreign travelers to Japan. Japanese cuisine that will be focused on this paper is Sushi, Sukiyaki and Nabemono, Tempura, Tofu and Natto, Menrui, Mochi, Tsukemono, and Ocha. Japanese cuisine is a piece of an art work. Aesthetic display of the food is considered very crucial while serving the food to the guests. Learning the context of the cuisine is one side factors that tourists can enjoy while eating the food: how the food fits into Japanese life, what its history has contributed, how it is properly chosen and consumed, and others. Japan remains one of the countries where food represents lineage, going back to history. Thus, an understating of Japanese cuisine helps one to understand the Japanese thoughts. (Donald 12) Sushi Sushi, as one of Japans most representative food, is fairly known to people. Most large cities around the world have sushi shops. Craig Claiborne defines sushi as an assortment of small morsels of freshest raw fish and seafood presents into cold rice lightly seasoned with vinegar. (Donald, 14) This definition perfectly correct; however, there are more factors to it. Sushi is a delight to the eye, a revelation to the tongue, and an engrossing culinary happening that those who have partaken will not soon forget. (Donald, 14) When one walks into a sushi shop in Japan, the master and the waiters loudly shouts Irasshaimase! This is a phrase to welcome the guests who enter the restaurant. There is usually a long counter of white cypress. Behind the counter, there are glass-cased, ice cooled array of fish fillets and shellfish, all fresh, sometimes alive. Before the main sushi dish, a waiter serves a cup of hot green tea, a small dish for soy sauce, Oshibori (hand towel), miso soup, and picked gingers to refresh ones mouth between bites. Most popular sushi menus are maguro (tuna), toro (the marbled underside of the tuna), chu-toro (a half marbled side section of the tuna), uni (sea urchin roe), ebi (shrimp, boiled or alive), tao (sea bream), ika (squid), akagai (aki shell), hamachi (young yellowtail), tako (octopus), ikura (salmon roe), anago (conger eel), awabi (abalone). The master also creates special menus that change as seasonal fish and shellfish changes. Upon hearing an order, the sushi master starts his performance. He cuts and slices the fish and shellfish delicately. Then, he scoops a double fingerful of rice, and add bits of washabi (horseradish) and quickly forms an oblong ball, firmly capped by the seafood. This is the most popularly known regional type of sushi, Nigiri sushi. Nigiri sushi originated from Edo (Tokyo) in the nineteenth century. Because of the fast speed, it is called the worlds first fast food. Sukiyaki Ronald Barthes describes Sukiyaki as a stew whose every element can be known and recognized, since it is made in front of you, on your table, without interruption while you are eating ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦It is the very essence of the market that comes to you, its freshness, its naturalness, its diversity, and even its classification, which turns the simple substance into the promise of an event. (Ronald 21) Sukiyaki is classified as a nabemono, which means food is cooked usually at the table in a single pot or pan, and is thought of as being a winter meal. There are few different ways to cook sukiyaki: Kansai (Osaka-Kyoto) area way, Kanto (Tokyo-Yokohama) area way, Nagasaki way, and others. The most well known sukiyaki is from Kansai area. In the Kansai area, a lump of beef suet is melted in the shallow iron pan over medium heat. Then very thin slice of beef are place in the bottom of the pan. After the beef color changed to brown, one put other ingredients such as tofu, mushroom, onion, and konnaku (Japanese style jelly). The liquid is then poured into the pan. The liquid is consists of soy sauce, water, little bit of sugar, and sweet sake. Knowing the right time to pour the liquid is the key to make a delicious sukiyaki. Meanwhile, one should break raw eggs into a bowl, and add little bit of soy sauce. This becomes the sauce for meat and vegetables in the sukiyaki. Meat and vegetables are dipped into this sauce right before eating. Sukiyaki gets delicious as the cooking progresses, because the juice from the beef and vegetables makes the taste fascinating. In Kanto area, the liquid is poured first, and the meat and vegetables are added to the heated liquid. This way of cooking makes Sukiyaki more like a stew that foreigners are more familiar with. In Nagasaki, the meat is grounded. This slight adjustment of meat distinctively changes the taste of the dish. Sukiyaki has been eaten since 1860, when the country was open to foreigners and the new Maiji emperor began his reign. Before, eating meat was prohibited in Japan, because the Japanese believed in Buddhism. However, Emperor Maiji changed the law and made beef and other meat available for Japanese citizens. Gradually, Japanese citizens enjoyed eating meat, and sukiyaki is one Japanese style cuisine that developed from this era. As people enjoyed eating meat, there was a famous aphorism, which said A man who does not eat beef is an uncivilized man. (Donald 25) Tempura Tempura is delicately deep-fried seafood and vegetables, served hot and crisp, lacy golden on the outside, juicy and succulent on the inside. (Donald 26) Tempura is not a traditional Japanese food. It was introduced by Portuguese when missionaries and merchants from Portugal actively visited Japan around sixteenth century. Common types of tempura that one can get in Japan are Kuruma ebi (prawn), shiba ebi (shrimp), ika (squid), kaibashira (scallop), anago (conger eel), kisu (a small fish known as sillago), haze (goby), ginpo (gunnel), megochi (flathead). Tempura should be made just before eating it. Besides being strict about the freshness of what goes inside of tempura (such as shrimp, and squid), the Japanese are picky about the batter, also known as koromo in Japanese. Koromo literary means clothes in Japanese. It should be lumpy and be filled with air bubbles so that the texture of tempura becomes lighter. Also, the coating should be thin rather than thick. Besides the crunchiness, Japanese wants to enjoy the natural taste of the material that is inside of the batter. Therefore, the batter should be practically see-through. Tofu and Natto Tofu is also well known to international community. It came from China very long time ago and became another food that represents Japanese cuisine. Tofu is one of the most protean foods. It can be boiled, broiled, baked, fried, steamed, marinated, dried, frozen, and eaten fresh. Interesting thing is that each method changes the taste of tofu completely. Baked tofu and boiled tofu tastes extremely differently. Kyoto is best known for a good tofu. Recently, there are restaurants opening up that only serve tofu. It is one food that is loved by vegetarian travelers to Japan. Natto might be unfamiliar to international travelers. It is made out of soybean, just like tofu. Natto is fermented soybeans which is rotten stinking slimly soybeans. It is somewhat similar to a ripe cheese. Natto is served in a small lump and should first be stirred with chopsticks to make it stickier. Then, raw eggs, sliced and chopped onions, soy sauce is mixed together with natto. This mixture is then eaten with hot rice. Even if the smell of natto is strong, it is still a typical breakfast menu in Japan. It is very healthy and diet helping cuisine. Menrui Menrui in Japanese means noodle types. This indicates that menrui includes all the types of noodle cuisine that is available in Japan. There are a great variety of shapes and sizes of noodle. The two most popular types of noodles are the wheat-based noodles which are associated with Osaka and the south of Japan, and buckwheat-based noodles associated with Tokyo and the north of Japan. (Donald 54) Wheat-based noodles come in a variety of shapes, but the best know type is called udon. Udon is somewhat flat and wide. Somen is another type of what-based noodle that is more slender and a bit of vegetarian oil is used in the preparation. Buckwheat-based is called soba, and it comes with a single variety: long, thin, brown in color. There are some variations of soba. People used green tea to make soba. Therefore, the color of the noodle becomes green, instead of brown. Soba and Udon can be served both hot and cold. For a hot noodle dish, a noodle is first boiled in water, then scooped out and place in a bowl. After that, toppings and other ingredients are added. Finally, broth is poured. There are great varieties for soup and toppings. For a cold dish, boiled noodle is rinsed with hold water, and served on draining screened plate that is made out of bamboo. The noodles are decorated with little bit of dried laver, and dipped into soy sauce then quickly removed from the sauce. Another major menrui is ramen. This is also originated from China; however, Japanese changed the food into its own style and taste. Now, each region of Japan developed their own style of ramen, and there are tours within Japan to go around each region and taste the different ramen. Many distinctive local version of ramen were established as the shops in each region concentrated on the varieties of soup seasonings and toppings appreciated by local people. (Naomichi, 252) Among the best known is Sapporo ramen, from Hokkaido, which features heavy noodles, a rich thick broth seasoned with miso instead of the more common soy sauce, and locally produced toppings of butter and maize. Mochi Mochi is made out of a one type of rice, mocha-gome, and it is regarded as a unique and special food. Freshly pounded mochi is very soft and easy to eat, but it quickly gets hard and must be grilled or reheated to become edible. It is eaten during the most important ritual ceremony, the New Year. On a New Years Day, a plain white mochi is toasted and served with soy sauce. A white mochi can also be put either in a soup or as is or is eaten along with the other ingredients of this festive soup. This soup is called ozoni. Mochi can be served as a dessert as well. Mochi stuffed with sweet red bean paste is called daifuku. This can be seen as the traditional Japanese dessert that was eaten with green tea. Tsukemono Tsukemono means preserved food in Japanese. Preserved food is an important part of most dietary tradition in Japan. It is pickled food, which means that the food is stored away with a quantity of salt and transformed into sour salty products that will keep for a long time. There are several type of method to pickle vegetables and fish. Kyoto is famous for its variety of traditional tsukemono. Ocha/Tea After the meal is done, the national beverage, ocha is served. Although green tea is usually associated with Japan, there are many types of teas available in Japan. Houjicha and genmaicha are two common teas that the tastes are slightly bitter. The color of those tea is rather brown than green, and it is the most affordable tea that is available in Japan. Sencha is one rank upper than houjicha and genmaicha. The leaves used in Sencha have been picked with greater care and there are no stems. The finest tea is called gyokuro. The oldest and finest bushes of leaves were used to make this tea. As one can see, Japan has a very diverse food culture. Sushi and Japanese noodles are well known cuisine that portrays the food culture of Japan. However, there is more variety of Japanese food that delivers the thoughts of Japanese. As foreign tourists find more about those cuisines, the number of tourists will continuously increase. Lodging of Japan Japan has the privilege of possessing two types of lodging: Japanese inns and western hotels. Japanese inn is called ryokan (ryo-journey, kan-mansion) in Japanese. Ryokans historical origins are strongly rooted in Japanese society, and ryokan resisted the introduction of Western forms of lodging. (Anguis, Moon 76) One can find enormous amount of information about these two types of lodging in Japan by just searching on the internet. Generally speaking, hotels show less variety, with only few categories such as resorts hotel, de luxe hotels, and so on. On the other hand, any travel magazine published for Japanese travel shows an amazing number of extremely specialized categories of ryokan, such as spa ryokan, ryokan associated with Japanese famous writers, secret ryokan, very famous ryokan, wooden built ryokan, ryokan visited by Japanese emperor, ryokan for Japanese cuisine associated with the seasons, etc. (Anguis 76) Japanese categorized ryokan into a very specific sector, so that p eople can easily find ryokan that they are looking for. Compare to the Western hotel room size, the size of ryokans room is relatively small. Moreover, the western hotels construction and management is sustained by huge capital investments, whereas ryokan does not have large capital to fund their operation. How can ryokan still compete with the western hotels in Japan? Instead of being the part of shelter along the road, ryokan has become the purpose of the travel itself. (Anguis 77) Staying in a ryokan usually follows the same pattern. Guests usually check in between three and four oclock in the afternoon. Shoes are deposited in the entrance, and picked up when guests are leaving the ryokan. Upon the arrival at ryokan, guests are greeted by a kimonoclad maid and she leads to their rooms, where she serves tea and sweets, while explaining the schedule of their stays. Visitors are encouraged to change their everyday clothes and dress on the cotton kimono, yukata. They can have an early bath time in either inside or outside baths. While the guests are away, the room is prepared for dinner. After the dinner, second bath might be encouraged while cleaning after dinner and futon spread on the tatami. (Cogswell 40) Each room is covered with tatami, straw mats. The main room has a little shrine, similar to an altar that is raised slightly from the floor at the one side of the room. Doors in ryokan are usually slide doors. Doors are made out of paper and framed in woodwork, and they are used to break up the space. Japanese architecture and design are clean and simple. Japanese buildings tend to harmoniously blend with the natural environment. Ryokan originated during Nara period (710-784). For much of the 20th century, it was just any Japanese inn that people had stayed. People somewhat had negative ideas about it since there were no privacy. For instance, the bath was communal. During steamy summers, everyone slept with their doors and windows wide open to the breeze. From the competition with the Western style hotel, the number of ryokan declined from 80 thousand in 1988 to fewer than 60 thousand in 2005. (Brown, 128) Recently however, the ryokan is trying to change the perception of people towards ryokan. For instance a group of thirty ryokan have formed The ryokan Collection to market themselves as boutique inns, with designer flourishes, architectural details and cultural authenticity. (Brown, 129) The ryokan of Kyoto, a former imperial city and a popular tourist destination, are among the first to have instituted modernizing touches-and with much flair and frills. English-speaking staff and Western-style breakfasts are now available even at the citys legendary Hiiragiya and Tawaraya ryokan-both centuries old and famed for their refined aesthetics, attention to detail, and guest lists that have included royalty and Hollywood stars. Sports in Japan (Sports Tourism) Baseball in Japan Baseball was first introduced by Horace Wilson, who was an American expatriate educator, in 1872. Since then, baseball has grown as the major sports played by Japanese. Baseball is called Yakyu ¼Ã‹â€ Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ¡Ã… ½Ãƒ §Ã‚ Ã†â€™Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ ° in Japanese. It combines Chinese character for field (à ©Ã¢â‚¬ ¡Ã… ½ ya)and ball(à §Ã‚ Ã†â€™ kyu). The major event that attracted the foreigner to focus ones attention on Japanese baseball was World Baseball Classic. Japan won the championship in both 2006 and 2009. This attracted peoples attention towards Japanese style baseball. Now, tourists are willing to tour the Japanese professional baseball league and baseball arena for the professional baseball teams became the major attraction destination. Japanese professional baseball has two leagues, just like professional baseball in United States. One is called Central League, and other one is called Pacific League. Each league has six teams. The professional baseball season is eight months long and it begins on April, and a Championship is held on October. Teams play 144 games in total. Teams that are included in Central leagues are: Yomiuri Giants (Tokyo), Tokyo Yakult Swallows (Tokyo), Yokohama BayStars (Yokohama), Chunichi Dragons (Nagoya), Hanshin Tigers (Osaka), Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Hiroshima). Teams that are included in Pacific leagues are Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (Sapporo), Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (Sendai), Saitama Seibu Lions (Saitama), Chiba Lotte Marines (Chiba), Orix Buffaloes (Osaka), Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Fukuoka). The professional baseball teams representing major cities of Japan. For instance, Yomiuri Giant is a professional team that is located in Tokyo. It has a dorm called Tokyo Dome, which has 45,000 seats. The average viewers of each game are 40,755. Foreign tourists are now visiting these domes of professional baseball teams, and experiencing the Japanese baseball game. Sumo in Japan Sumo wrestling is a competitive contact sport where a wrestler, also known as a rikishi, attempts to force another wrestler out of a circular ring or dohyo. The sumo wrestler also attempts to force the other to touch the ground with another body part other than the soles of the feet. Originating in Japan, it is the only country where this sport is practiced professionally. The tradition of Sumo is very antiquated. It still includes many ritual events, such as the use of salt to purify the dohyo, from the Shinto Religion. Rikishi follows the rule laid down by the Sumo Association, and professional sumo players are directed to live in sumo training stables, known as heya in Japanese. There are six Grand Sumo tournaments, also called honbasho, each year. Three of the tournaments take place at Tokyo in January, May, and September. The place where those three tournaments are held is called the Sumo Hall, Ryogoku Kokugikan in Japanese, and this place has become one of the major attraction places for people to visit in Tokyo. Another tournament is held at Osaka in March. Fifth one is held at Nagoya in July, and the last one takes place at Fukuoka in November. Each tournament begins on a Sunday and lasts for fifteen days. There are two teams in a professional sumo tournament. Each top wrestler, also referred as yokozuna, in the two divisions has one match per day, and other lower leveled wrestlers have one game every two days. The schedule is constructed in a way that the highest ranked wrestlers compete at the very end of the day. The top wrestlers match usually begins at six oclock in the evening. At the end of the fifteenth day, the wrestler who wins the most matche s wins the tournament championship. If there are ties in the score, those two wrestlers compete with each other and the winner of that game takes the championship. Since sumo is only professionally played in Japan, foreign travelers are eager to watch the game while they are visiting Japan. Japanese Festivals Festivals are called matsuri in Japan. A most eloquent form of worship, Japanese festivals are intimate, joyous encounters with the divine. (Vilhar, Anderson, 5) The image of modern Japan tends to minimize the significance of these ancient religious practices. Yet, matsuri has have been continuously provided people with a strong spiritual identity as Japanese. Although Japanese no longer perceive matsuri as a ritual ceremony, it still lays heavy emphasis on the Shinto religion originated from Japan. The act of worship culminated in the celebration of matsuri. Derived from the verb matsuru (to worship), matsuri serves as a means for the people to offer divine world their prayers, gifts, and joy. Matsuri is time for communication with their gods and ancestral spirits. Many of the matsuri is related to rice growing, the very foundation of Japanese culture. There are no certain set dates for matsuri. Dates vary from area to area. Almost every town has at least one matsuri in late summer or early autumn, usually related to the rice harvest season. During a matsuri, people go out in the streets for a memorable time. Almost every town in Japan prepares its own matsuri; however, the size of the festival varies from one town to another. Each year, approximately 100,000 people gather to attend some of the major matsuris. Major matsuris take place in large cities, such as Tokyo and Kyoto. Some people living in suburban or rural areas travel by airplane to go to the matsuris because they want to enjoy the once a year event. In contrast, some matsuris are really small, generally attracting only the local people. Indifferent of the size of the festival, one can learn about the culture and tradition of Japan through matsuris. First of all, most of the people coming to a matsuri wear Japanese traditional clothes, called Yukata. The word originates from Yukatabire, which means clothes that one wears after taking a shower. Therefore, they are made out of thin cotton. Since Japan gets very hot in the summer, people tend to were Yukata rather than other clothes. The color of the Yukata is another interesting factor that reflects Japanese culture. Women tend to wear bright colors, such as yellow, pink, and bright blue. Men tend to wear cool colors, such as grey and dark blue. These colors represent nature. Bright colors such as red and pink illustrate the flowers, and earthtone colors such as grey and dark blue represent the sky or earth. The Yukatas colors help create the very exciting and fascinating atmosphere of the Matsuri. It seems as if colorful lights are illuminating the dark summer streets of Japan. Food also makes the matsuri very interesting. All kinds of food can be found at the matsuri. There is Japanese style barbeque, ice cream, candy, Japanese style pizza, and numerous other dishes. One of the major matsuri foods is called yakisoba. The word literally means burned noodle. It is called burned since the noodle is placed on a hot steel plate, instead of being boiled with water. Cabbage, carrots, meat and special sauces are also put on the plate and mixed with noodles. Moreover, there is a lot of entertainment waiting at a matsuri. First of all, there is a game called catching the goldfish. A player is given a thin paper that has a plastic handle, which he/she uses to scoop goldfish from a small pool until the paper tears apart. This game is very difficult. However, catching the fish is no longer a goal of this game as people start playing. People cheer for the players as they watch, which provides a bonding experience with my friends and family. Japanese traditional music is played in Matsuri, and is another big part of matsuris entertainment. The special host plays Wadaiko, Japanese traditional drum, as the main instrument in the matsuri since it is the oldest instrument in Japan. Moreover, it is believed that the sound of drum motivates people. While the drums are played, many people sing the song that goes with the beat. Also, there is a dance that goes with the music. People enjoy the dance and claim to release their everyday stress through the dance. Last but not least, the fireworks are the highlight of the matsuri. In Japan, one counts the number of shots to describe the size of the fireworks. The number of the shots depends on the towns. Each shot had certain meanings. For example, there was one fireworks display that had the image of red leaves in fall. There is an urban legend. It is believed that a couple that sees the first firework in the matsuri will be able to stay together forever. However, it is important that they hold hands when they watch the fireworks. This mystical, yet adorable legend makes people want to participate even more in the matsuri. The matsuri is not just a fun event. The dress, food, games, and music of the Matsuri portrays the culture of Japan. The Matsuri has endured a long time and will continue to be celebrated by gener

Human Trafficking Essay -- Ethical Issues, Sexual Exploitation

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Acts of 2003 and 2005 have defined sex trafficking as a commercial sexual act or acts that are induced by fraud, coercion, or in which the person to perform these sexual acts are under the age of eighteen Blackburn, Taylor and Davis (2010). The sex industry in Cambodia and Thailand consists of men, women, and children. In order for there to be enforced labor and sex trafficking there has to be forms of illegal immigration to these economies, though not all human traffickers are kidnapped or forced into sex work, many choose to do this work. Singh and Hart (2007) have labeled Thailand as a country of many prostitutes and its reputation derives from human trafficking and sexual exploitation, especially sexual exploitation of children. Sex trafficking is used to entice tourists to the country to please sexual fantasies Blackburn, Taylor and Davis (2010). Blackburn, Taylor and Davis (2010) indicate estimating human trafficking and sexual exploitation data is difficult provide. Although, it is estimated that thirty thousand children involved in the Thai sex trade is up to seventy-five thousand children younger than the age of sixteen working in brothels, bars, and nightclubs, and that Thailand’s gross income ranges in the twenty-two billion dollars. Singh and Hart (2007) claim their estimates differ from the reality of the true number of commercial sex workers. Though similar to Blackburn, Taylor and Davis (2010) they provided that the number range from sixty thousand to seventy-five thousand to four hundred thousand sex workers in Thailand. According to Singh and Hart (2007), The World Tourism Organization reported in 2004, th... ...at beach resort near Bangkok, Thailand and many pedophiles from around the world come there. Since there are organizations like Fight Against Child Exploitation which influence the prosecution of pedophiles after they return to their country. The authors state the police are a part of the sex trafficking problem in both Cambodia and Thailand because brothels pay monthly payment to the police for protection, and some brothels are private owned by government, military, or police officials. The Royal Cambodian National Police attempted to develop a special unit on human trafficking and juvenile crime, because this effect produced little progress, the entire national police department was told to get training on human trafficking, child exploitation, ethical behavior that led to corruption, and receiving serves from prostitutes Blackburn, Taylor and Davis (2010).

Gandhi, King, and Mandela What Made Non-Violence Work?

In the Twentieth Century, the great leaders Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr. all used non-violence to bring about change to their respective countries. What made nonresistance work was the charisma of the leaders to persuade the people to not fight back, the peaceful protests, the leaders’ willingness to accept their punishments, and their struggle for unity. In order for non-violence to work, people have to be non-violent. Each of these leaders were so powerful that they convinced even aggressive people to fight by not fighting.In Mandela’s case, he viewed nonresistance as the only way to bring democracy to everyone in South Africa because the government was many times more powerful than the movement (document 3). If Mandela had used violence, his people would have been hopelessly crushed and would remain oppressed. Martin Luther King persuaded all volunteers to give up all possible weapons before going to protest (document 5). He convinced t he volunteers that all they needed to have was the ideology that they were right. Gandhi wrote a letter to Lord Irwin stating that if something is not done about the injustice of the British, he would lead a protest on the Salt Laws (document 1).Gandhi gathered volunteers and taught the importance of life. Nonresistance worked so well because the peaceful protests gave off such a powerful message. Mandela campaigned for volunteers to not retaliate even when they are being attacked (document 6). He convinced people fighting back would ultimately lead to their failure. King took part in counter sit-ins where black people peacefully protested segregated lunch counters (document 1). The peace of the movement showed how extreme and hateful the majority of white people were at the time. After Gandhi was arrested, one Englishman documented Mme. Naidu leading a peaceful protest that lead to hundreds of people getting beat without flinching a muscle (document 4).The cruelty was so great that even the Englishman had to turn away from the gross and sickening display. One of the key factors that made non-violence work was that the leaders openly accepted their punishments. Gandhi did not hesitate to go to jail, where he spent 2,338 days total (document 7). King noted that people rushed down to the police station to be arrested in the Montgomery bus boycott (document 8). He himself was arrested 37 times and jailed 14 times. Nelson Mandela discussed with other officials what would happen if they received the death sentence (document 9). He was prepared to  die knowing that he would inspire more people to fight for democracy.Finally, non-violence worked because the leaders all made an effort to unify their country. After the British became more violent, Gandhi tried to appease the British by protesting with peace (document 10). Salt on the Lion’s tail represents Gandhi’s effort to pacify the British. Martin Luther King addressed in his speech that he would li ke to see white and black people integrate together without hatred (document 11). In this perspective, King is a hero for all of America by unifying it regardless of skin color. Mandela discovered in prison that he wanted freedom for all people in South Africa (document 12).When both sides stand together, everyone wins in the battle for democracy. Mohandas Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King Jr. are all incredible people who stood up for social equality. Through non-violent ways, they lead the world to become a greater place. They all persuaded their people to peacefully protest and to not resist their attackers. They all also sacrificed to unify their country and gladly suffered the consequences of doing so.

Reasons Why Investment Trusts Trade at a Discount The WritePass Journal

Reasons Why Investment Trusts Trade at a Discount Abstract Reasons Why Investment Trusts Trade at a Discount Abstract IntroductionReasons for discounting Investment TrustsMisestimating the Net Asset Value (NAV)Agency Costs and Managerial AbilityTaxesInvestor SentimentConclusion ReferencesRelated Abstract The fact that investment trusts and close-end funds in general trade at a discount has elicited debates among financial scholars and practitioners, often referred to as the closed-end puzzle. Based on this, this paper explores and explains some of the reasons that investment trusts trade at a discount. It also provides an in-depth explanation of characteristics of close-ended funds and conditions that lead to the classification of the share price as either a discount or a premium. Investment trusts trading at a discount are those trading at prices that are below their net asset value. Those trading at a price higher than the net asset value are considered as being sold at a premium. Some of the main reasons that are explored in this paper include miscalculation of the net asset values of the investment trust, taxes on realized capital gains, agency costs, managerial abilities and investor sentiment. Even with the explanations that are provided in this paper, the closed-end fund prize puzzle continues to be debated upon and researched. Introduction The fact that investment trusts often trade at a discount is an aspect that has drawn interests from academics and practitioners in the field of finance. To have a better understanding of these reasons, it is ideal to provide an exhaustive definition of investment trusts. Investment trusts, which are typical to the United Kingdom, are defined by Barnhart and Rosenstein (2010) as types of investment firms that are formed with the primary aim of holding securities for other companies and the obtainment of capital from the public issue of shares trading on the stock market. They are also referred to as closed-end funds because they only offer a fixed quantity of shares that new investors can purchase from already existing shareholders (Hartzell et al., 2006). The prices of shares of investment trusts are determined by the forces of supply and demand in the share market. As a consequence, there are incidents where the price of a share may either be higher or lower than its net asset valu e. Whenever a share trades at a price that is higher than its net asset value, it is considered to be trading at a premium. On the contrary, if a share trades at a value that is lower that its net asset value, it is considered to be trading at a discount (Berk Stanton, 2007). In this regard, this report intends to discuss reasons why they trade at a discount. Reasons for discounting Investment Trusts One main characteristic of investment trusts and closed-end funds in general is the fact that they are permanent capital ventures and thus, the shares’ supply is fixed (Chan et al., 2008). Numerous attempts that have been made by researchers and practitioners to explain the investment trust discounts, and have resulted in conflicting results, commonly referred to as the closed-end fund puzzle. Even though these funds are known to trade at discounts, it is important to note that newly opened investment trusts and closed-end funds in general, usually begin trading at a premium of approximately 10% of their net asset value. After their initial premium trading, they shift towards trading at a discount that is at average rate of 10% within the first 120 days. After which, discounts remain substantial. In case closed-end funds are closed or terminated, there is an increase in their share prices, which in turn eliminates the existent discounts (Cherkes et al., 2009). Explanations for investment trust discounts that have been made by researchers include the risk of liquidity, the past and future performance of shares on the market and the miscalculation of the fund’s net asset value. Investor sentiment is also another reason for discount trading in investment trusts (Yanran Liyan, 2007). This section intends to provide a more in-depth discussion of these reasons. Misestimating the Net Asset Value (NAV) This reason has been pointed out by Halkos and Krintas (2006), who argue that such miscalculations of the NAV can result from a possible accumulation of capital gains illiquid assets that had not been realized. The reason why funds with high capital appreciations that have been unrealized ought to trade at a discounted share price is that potential holders of such funds will assume a potential tax liability. In a research that was carried out by Kousenidis et al. (2011) on the effect of liquidity on closed-end funds, he established that there is a possibility of illiquid assets to be traded at a discount to provide higher expected returns. In support of inaccuracy of NAV measurement as a reason for discounts in closed-end fund trading, Yanran and Liyan(2007)suggested that when closed-end funds own large amounts illiquid assets or restricted stock that are not fairly trading in the market, their NAVs can fail to provide an accurate reflection of their true value. As a consequence of this, the shares might either trade at a lower or higher value than the NAV. Investment trust discounts are also affected by restricted stock holdings. However, given that such holdings are often quite small or at a zero value, they do not hold as valid reasons for investment trusts trading at a discount. For investment trusts, there is usually no assurance that there will always be an available market. Therefore, this lack of an assured redemption of shares makes their valuation to be discounted. In addition to this, investment trusts that hold relatively liquid securities are valued lower than their net asset values (NAVs) at the marketpla ce (Cherkes et al., 2009). Putting appropriate measures in place to avoid miscalculation of the trust net asset value is vital to solve this issue. Agency Costs and Managerial Ability Discounts in closed-end funds could be a reflection of poor performance in the management of the fund or an overcharge of management fees (Bradley et al., 2010). Agency costs may also vary according to the agency issues or conflicts that may occur due to different interests between agents and principals. Managerial abilities have also been listed by researchers as being among the main factors that determine whether investment trusts can trade at a premium or a discount. The theory that investment trusts can trade at a discount if the managers charge a fee was originally proposed by Boudreaux in 1973 (Berk Stanton, 2007). He suggested that if fund managers charge investors a fee but fail to add value to their investments, then the value of the fund is likely to be less than its NAV. In a case where managers add value to the investment trust, the reason why it might trade at a discount is when investors are made to believe that the funds’ managers are not good at investing thei r funds. If investors believe that their money is being managed by people who are good at selecting viable investments, then the fund will trade at a premium. In a research carried out on the ownership of closed-end funds Cherkes et al.(2009) established that investment trusts with larger percentage of insider ownership are likely to trade at higher discounts. This is because investors of funds that are selling at higher discounts stand a chance of receiving windfall gains in case the funds undergo immediate liquidation at their net asset value. He also established that higher expense ratios lead to higher discounts of funds because management fees are considered as being deadweight losses. Thus, discounts are used to represent the capitalization of the management fees value. Management of trusts also affects their future performances in the market, which also determine whether investment trusts are to be traded at a discount or premium. Halkos and Krintas (2006) argue that in cases where investment trusts are managed in a highly professional manner and with a positive track record, investors may have the will to pay a premium for a share of the funds. This is also due to the fact that such trusts are often expected to maintain their superior performances in future. On the other hand, funds that are expected to underperform in the market are expected to be traded at higher discounts, mainly because of the scepticism that potential investors may have for the fund (Berk Stanton, 2007). Estimation of future performance of investment trusts can be done by comparing trends in the NAV, which are estimated on a frequent basis. It can also be done by evaluating the managerial capabilities of the fund. It can be thus argued that investment trusts whose management has a good reputation tend to perform well in the market and therefore, trade at a premium. On the contrary, poorly managed trusts fail to thrive in the market and therefore, are likely to trade at a discount. Taxes Another reason why investment trusts trade at a discount is taxes. According to Jin(2006), full taxes on the realized capital gains of a fund are paid for by the current shareholders, even though the highest percentage of their gains was accumulated before the investors bought the shares. Based on this, it can be argued that funds whose accumulated gains are large ought to trade at a price lower than their NAVs also suggests that investment trusts that have a high appreciation of unrealized capital sell at discounts because holders of such funds assume potential tax liabilities that depend on the holding periods of the investors. Berk and Stanton (2007) posit that discounts in closed-end funds are partially caused by the fact that investors usually lose valuable opportunities to trade tax because of holding shares in closed-end funds. Some of the tax trading approaches include individual portfolio movement. On comparing British and U.S. closed-end funds, Cherkes et al.(2009) establis hed that British funds do not have the freedom of distributing capital gains as the US funds do. In addition, shareholders have no liability in case the invested capital gains tax, except if they decide to put the holdings that they have in the fund up for sale. Yet U.S. and British closed-end funds behave in a quite similar manner. Thus, it can be concluded that discounts in investment trusts and closed-end funds cannot be explained based on country-specific tax factors. Investor Sentiment Many researchers have focused on the aspect of investor sentiment as a reason for discounts in investment trust trading. This hypothesis was proposed Lee, Shleifer and Thaler in 1991 (Yanran Liyan, 2007). According to them, premiums and discounts in closed-end funds are determined by the attitudes of opinions that investors have about them. To explain this hypothesis, two kinds of investors are identified. These are the noise investors and rational investors. Whereas the expectations of rational investors on their asset returns are rational, noise investors’ expectations are influenced by sentiment. They have the tendency of either overestimating or underestimating the expected returns on investment. Therefore, when investment trust shares are traded, noisy and rational investors make their investments based on their respective judgments. Due to the risk associated with assets and the fact that every investor is risk averse, closed-end funds ought to trade at equilibrium pric es that reflect opinions of the noisy and rational investors, which are often discounts. A proposal was made by Halkos and Krintas (2006) that noisy investors tend to concentrate more on the closed-end fund ownership than on the ownership of the underlying assets of the funds. Pessimism by noise traders on the future of fund drives down its price to a value lower than its NAV. This causes rational investors to avoid the buying the fund’s shares because of the risks associated with trading the funds at a discount. Chan et al. (2008) also argue that the sentiment of noise traders is stochastic and, therefore, cannot be accurately predicted by rational traders. Particularly, it is impossible for rational investors to make a perfect forecast whether noise investors will either be pessimistic or optimistic at the time that they intend to sell their assets. Due to the fact that rational traders are careful about the prices with which they will resale their assets, the unpredictable nature of noise traders’ sentiment increases the level of risk on the assets they intend to trade (Kousenidis et al., 2011). The biggest risk associated with noise investors is that they will be pessimistic at the time when rational investors intend to sell their assets, causing a drop in prices. Since there is always a risk of an adverse sentiment shift, the possibility of trading shares at a discount is always existent (Yanran Liyan, 2007). Conclusion This paper has provided an in-depth explanation of some of the reasons why investment trusts usually trade at a discount. Apart from this, other aspects of investment trusts have been explained. One of the main characteristics of investment trusts that has guided the establishment of reasons discussed in this paper is that it is a closed-end fund. This means that supply of shares is fixed, regardless of the market dynamics. Therefore, fluctuations of these funds that result into premiums or discounts are mainly caused by demand factors. The main reasons why investment trusts trade at discounts include the attitudes that investors have on the fund, commonly referred to as investor sentiment, agency costs and managerial abilities, taxes and miscalculation of the net asset value of the fund. However, the factor that is contented upon by most researchers in this field of finance is investor sentiment, which is a behavioural approach of understanding this concept. Some of the other reason s that have been cited in several other researchers include the institutional ownership and performance of the trust in the market. In future research, a more specific research could be carried out by focusing on a specific investment trust in the UK. References Barnhart, S.W. Rosenstein, S., 2010. Exchange†Traded Fund Introductions and Closed†End Fund Discounts and Volume. Financial Review, 45(4), pp.973-94. Berk, J.B. Stanton, R., 2007. Managerial Ability, Compensation, and the Closed†End Fund Discount. The Journal of Finance, 62(2), pp.529-56. Bradley, M., Brav, A., Goldstein, I. Jiang, W., 2010. Activist arbitrage: A study of open-ending attempts of closed-end funds. Journal of Financial Economics, 95(1), pp.1-19. Chan, J.S., Jain, R. Xia, Y., 2008. Market segmentation, liquidity spillover, and closed-end country fund discounts. Journal of Financial Markets, 11(4), pp.377-99. Cherkes, M., Sagi, J. Stanton, R., 2009. A liquidity-based theory of closed-end funds. Review of Financial Studies, 22(1), pp.257-97. Halkos, G.E. Krintas, T.N., 2006. Behavioural and fundamental explanations of discounts on closed end funds: an empirical analysis. Applied Financial Economics, 16(5), pp.395-404. Hartzell, J.C., Sun, L. Titman, S., 2006. The effect of corporate governance on investment: evidence from real estate investment trusts. Real Estate Economics, 34(3), pp.343-76. Jin, L., 2006. Capital gains tax overhang and price pressure. The Journal of Finance, 61(3), pp.1399-431. Kousenidis, D.V., Maditinos, D.I. Ã…  ević, ., 2011. Premium/Discount Of Closed-End Funds As A Measure Of Investor Sentiment: Evidence From Greece. Journal of Applied Business Research, 27(4), pp.29-52. Yanran, W. Liyan, H., 2007. Imperfect Rationality, Sentiment and Closed end fund Puzzle. Economic Research Journal, 3, pp.117-29.

How to Pull an All Nighter

How to Pull an All Nighter So you need to pull an all-nighter? Take it from someone who has been there and done that. Its a hard thing to do. Here are tips and tricks to make the most of it, whether youre cramming for a test or have to get that lab report or problem set done before tomorrow. Key Takeaways: How to Pull an All Nighter Staying up all night long to study or complete a project isnt ideal, but sometimes it just needs to be done.If you know youre going to have to burn the midnight oil, go into it prepared. First, make certain its necessary. Try to get rest beforehand. Organize in advance.Working when youre tired doesnt usually lead to as good an outcome as if you had done the job when alert. You may want to drink coffee or another caffeinated beverage to keep going.Finally, plan for the time after the all nighter. If you can get sleep, do so. If youre cramming for a test, nap beforehand if you can, but be sure to set a (loud) alarm. The Disclaimer First, you probably already know sleep deprivation isnt good for you. Dont pull an all-nighter if youre in grade school or middle school. Its not a good plan in high school either. This advice mainly is intended for college students, grad school students and working stiffs who just have to make it through the night. If you dont have to pull an all-nighter... then dont. If you do, heres how to achieve it and what to avoid. Make sure its unavoidable.If youre staying up all night to study, keep in mind cramming is terrible in terms of long-term memory retention. If its to do a job, write a paper or lab or solve problems, expect that the task will take longer than it would if you were well-rested.Organize beforehand.Gather all your materials so that you dont need to go looking for anything later. Dont give yourself any excuses to get off task during the night.Nap.If possible, take a brief nap sometime during the afternoon or early evening. Even 20 minutes may help you. Ideally, you want 2-3 hours. I have had good success catching a nap after drinking one of the sleep-promoting drinks containing valerian or melatonin. If those supplements work for you, fine. If they dont work or you havent tried them, avoid them. No matter what, try to go into the evening as well-rested as possible.Enlist help.If you can, pull your all-nighter with a friend. This could even be an online friend  if that is easier.Make you r environment stimulating.Make it difficult to fall asleep. One helpful trick is to make it as cold as you can stand. It may help to listen to upbeat music or have a movie or television program on in the background to keep you entertained. Try either harsh, irritating music or else pick songs with lyrics and sing along out loud. Tap your feet and move around. If you find yourself dozing off, pinch yourself or rub an ice cube on your face. Avoid caffeine or use it strategically.Caffeine is a stimulant and it can help keep you awake, but you need to plan for the caffeine crash. Caffeine is short-lived in your system. You can expect it to help wake you up somewhere between 10-30 minutes after ingesting it. Youll get between half an hour and 1-1/2 hours of alertness from it. You could drink another cup of coffee or cola, but youll reach a point where your body either stops responding or else youll feel sick or jittery. On the plus side, caffeine is a natural diuretic, so youll need to get up to urinate more often. The activity can help keep you awake, providing you dont allow it to distract you.Nicotine and other stimulants can help keep you awake too, but now is not the time to get experimental. If you smoke or use nicotine, youll know what to expect. Otherwise, try to avoid drugs. Most stimulants will leave you more tired than if you made it through the night without them.ExerciseTake a break for a few minutes every hou r. During that break, get up and move around. Maybe do some jumping jacks or pushups. If you raise your heart rate youll help to wake yourself up. Keep it bright.Your brain is hardwired to be awake during the daytime. Keep your surroundings as bright as possible to help keep yourself awake.Use fear.If you are genuinely frightened by scary movies or paranoid about unlocked doors or windows, then watch that movie or leave the building a little less secure than youd like. Make fear and paranoia into your allies.Eat right.You need energy to make it through the night, but that doesnt mean you need an all-you-can-eat buffet. On the contrary, some people do better staying awake if they are hungry. Ideally, eat small portions of high protein snacks. Nibbling on fresh fruit also is good. Save the pizza, burgers and fries for another time. More Tips To Pull an All-Nighter Drink ice water. The cold actually helps. Also, dehydration can make you sleepy.Apply a bit of menthol petrolatum or lip balm. The cold sensation is stimulating.Add spice to any food you eat. Hot peppers are an option.Set an alarm to go off every half an hour. Turning it off will signal a short break for you. If you fall asleep, at least you wont lose the whole night.If you complete your task early, get some sleep! Set your alarm, so you wont miss that important meeting or deadline and also so you can truly relax. Even an hour or two of rest can help recharge you so youll make it through the day. Things To Avoid Some things will sabotage your efforts to stay away or be productive. Avoid them! Dont drink alcohol. Its a central nervous system depressant that will slow you down even if it doesnt put you to sleep.Dont get comfortable. Avoid working in bed or on a comfortable chair or in a warm room. Dont listen to calming, soothing music. Any of these things can lead to an unintentional nap.Dont take a nap at night. Its too easy to stay asleep. If you have to do this, set a time limit and use a strong alarm to wake yourself up.Avoid eyestrain. If you wear contacts, you may want to take them out. If you are using a computer, turn down the brightness a bit.Avoid fatty, high carbohydrate food. You know how you feel after a big meal? Falling into a food coma would not be helpful! Study Tips and Help Need more help? Learn how to cram (chemistry, but good for other disciplines) and how to write a lab report.

World War II and the Role of Women Research Paper

World War II and the Role of Women - Research Paper Example The businesses and industries of America required labor for their continued functionalities due to which, they recruited women in place of men, as the war required a major contribution from men in order to secure the homeland. According to Marc Miller (1980), â€Å"the war led to a dramatic rise in the number of women working in the United States† (42). Women that previously worked in homes and managed only their homes came out during the war in order to save their country from economic downfall. Ellen J. Babb (1994) informs that women were supported by the government and private sector (43). In fact, they were not only supported but also encouraged to work for their country’s welfare by getting employment in business and industrial sector. Women volunteered for the employment offered by the government and private sector, as their services were acutely required by the state. The lives of women changed as a whole, as because of their work outside their homes, they got recognition and respect, as they never enjoyed before. It was during the war that women were considered as a substitute for men; otherwise, they were regarded as less capable in comparison to men. The jobs offered to the women were temporary and there was a plan to ask the women to go back to their previous household activities when the war was over (Anderson 78). Women were not only required to manage the outside works but also their children, which was there all time job. According to Babb (1994), â€Å"One thing they had to do was find new ways to balance family and work roles† (46). The lives of American woman transformed as previously they were only to manage their homes and children but then, during the war, they were to protect the economy of their country and help it to sustain while their children and their homes were their responsibility as before. They had to do manage many works whether they were home related or work related.  

Advertisers use principles of visual search and attention to increase Essay

Advertisers use principles of visual search and attention to increase the likelihood that people will notice their message - Essay Example Within the world of advertising,there are a number of ways through which the advertising message is delivered to the target audiences.What this means is the fact that the right people should be conveyed the right message at the right time and in the right capacity. This will impact the people in a very strong and effective way, as well as make them realize about the needs and wants that they might have forgotten about or not paid enough heed to in the past. The advertisers use a number of methods and techniques in order to make sure that their message is propagated in the exact manner as they want it to be delivered. Processing this message is one thing and getting it delivered in a similar manner is an entirely different proposition. What this paper studies is the basis of the advertisers using principles related with visual search and attention in order to enhance the likelihood that people will pay attention and notice the message that has been intended for them (Fulton 1996). Dif ferent theories and evidence studies have been drafted so that a proper understanding of the subject at hand is reached upon and that there are no shortcomings within the comprehension of this study in essence. This paper will specifically deal with issues that advertisers face from time to time and the manner under which they tackle the problems related with visual search and attention are highlighted in essence. Without advertising, marketers can only think of their product lying on the retail outlets waiting for angels to come and satisfy themselves (Kotler 2005). People need to be told the plus points of their brands (by the company) so that they actually go out and make the eventual purchase which in all fairness, not an easy job for the company, say that is producing a shoe polish which does not stick on to the shoes as much as do the other competitor shoe polishes already available in the market (Agres 1990). If the customers do not know or are not given the liberty to compre hend the different features of the brand which is being advertised by the company, they would not make that valued effort on their part and hence the company will be the one to suffer in the end and no one else. One must consider that advertising is the art and indeed the science of reaching to the right sets of eyes in order to sell the product that is under discussion. Since advertisers have a clear cut task at hand, it is their duty to make sure that they draft their message in such a way that the audiences find it easy to understand and thus carry it forward to their circles of influence (O’Shaughnessy 2003). However the latter part seems to be somewhat of a complicated one because it involves quite a few areas which will not be discussed at length within this paper. What shall be the point of discussion here is the fact that advertisers use gaze motion to make sure that their audiences view the advertisements in the exact manner that they would like them to see (Cameron 1994). If there is a headline within the advertisement that needs to be viewed first by the audience, the advertisers do everything to make sure that the viewers see the headline initially and then move forward with the rest of the content in the advertisement (Levine 2003). This also signifies the basis of understanding that the elements of advertisement drafting are important and should be tackled in such a way that there is no catch within the relevant equations and that there is complete harmony within the related ranks as far as comprehending the real meaning of attracting audiences is concerned. Attention towards advertisements is indeed the key to achieve immense recall and value for the message that is being delivered by the advertisers all over the world. What this implies is the