The Messiah as Corruptor in Frank Herbert’s Dune Essay -- Dune

The Messiah as Corruptor in Frank Herbert’s Dune Frank Herbert’s Dune is arguably one of the best science fiction novels ever written. A milestone of the genre, the work incorporates an intricate plot with a unique setting and memorable characters. Dune is rich with thematic material, touching on such varied issues as ecology, economics, religion, and politics; ultimately, it is a novel about control, the consequences of power, and human nature. Any reading of Dune and its sequels inevitably arrives at an analysis of Paul, who begins the novel as the youthful ducal heir to House Atreides. Trained both by his mother, a sister of the enigmatic Bene Gesserit School, and by the mentat Thufir Hawat, the human equivalent of a supercomputer, Paul is obviously quite gifted. Through some combination of his genetic makeup and his education, Paul has exceptional mental clarity, often seeing connections where others would see nothing; sometimes his abilities, especially his prophetic dreams, transcend rational explanation. Early on in Dune, House Atreides is pressured into a change of fief from their ancestral home of Caladan to the unforgiving desert planet Arrakis—the sole source of the spice melange which, among other things, promotes long life and gives the Imperium a means of interstellar transport. The victim of a â€Å"work of art among vendettas,† Paul’s father, Duke Leto Atreides, is soon deposed and assassinated by the Atreides’ hereditary rival, the Baron Harkonnen. Having managed to escape House Harkonnen’s clutches, Paul and his mot her, Lady Jessica, find themselves lost in the desert wilderness and are soon captured by a tribe of the indigenous Fremen. With the guidance of his mother, Paul works himself into the implanted ... ...s character, Herbert asserts that in messiahs we must not look for domination, but for inspiration. Works Cited Herbert, Frank. Dune. Berkley Publishing Company. New York, NY. 1965. Herbert, Frank. Dune Messiah. Berkley Publishing Company. New York, NY. 1969. Kucera, Paul. â€Å"Listening to Ourselves: Herbert’s Dune, â€Å"the Voice† and Performing the Absolute.† Extrapolation. Vol 42, No 3. Fall 2001. 232–45. Mulachy, Kevin. â€Å"The Prince on Arrakis: Frank Herbert’s Dialogue with Machiavelli.† Extrapolation. Vol 37, No 2. Spring 1996. 22–36. O’Reilley, Timothy. Frank Herbert. Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. New York, NY. 1981. Stratton, Susan. â€Å"The Messiah and the Greens: The Shape of Environmental Action in Dune and Pacific Edge.† Extrapolation. Vol 42, No 4. Winter 2001. 301–16. Touponce, William. Frank Herbert. Twayne Publishers. Boston, MA. 1988.

Grendel & Existentialism Essay

â€Å"I understood that the world was nothing; a mechanical chaos of casual, brute enmity on which we stupidly impose our hopes and fears. I understood that, finally and absolutely, I alone exist. All the rest, I saw, is merely what pushes me, or what I push against, blindly-as blindly as all that is not myself pushes back. † Existentialism is a philosophy that I, personally, was unfamiliar with until we talked about it in class. The relationship between Grendel and existentialism was profound to me not only in the way that it drew lines of symmetry, but in the way that it helped me to interpret the concepts behind the philosophy. This quote spoke to me because it demonstrates how Grendel is pressured into living an existentialist lifestyle by the very forces that he says push upon him. Grendel delves into the psyche of a man-beast whose only choice is to react to the world as an existentialist; the world (specifically mankind) exemplifies all of existentialism’s concepts, proving Grendel’s niche to be that of an existentialist. â€Å"Dark chasms! † I scream from the cliff-edge, â€Å"seize me! Seize me to your foul black bowels and crush my bones! † I am terrified at the sound of my own huge voice in the darkness †¦ At the same time, I am secretly unfooled. The uproar is only my own shriek, and chasms are, like all things vast, inanimate. They will not snatch me in a thousand years, unless, in a lunatic fit of religion, I jump. † [Grendel, pg. 10] Grendel knows that he is alone, despite his attempts to fool himself. This is ratified by his mother’s inability to speak to him, the fear animals have of him, and the rejection he receives from mankind. He has no explanation for anything in existence due to his inability to communicate with anyone, until the dragon comes along. â€Å"My knowledge of the future does not cause the future. It merely sees it, exactly as creatures at your low level recall things past. And even if, say, I interfere – †¦ – even then I do not change the future, I merely do what I saw from the beginning. That’s obvious, surely. Let’s say it’s settled then. So much for free will and intercession! † [Grendel, pg. 63] Lack of free will is another concept of existentialism. Grendel’s previously mentioned lack of communication makes him eager to soak up any idea that the dragon shares with him, and eventually he takes this to mean that his war on the mead hall was not done of his own free will, but because it was his future as the dragon foresaw it.

Valentinos Essay Example For Free At Magic Help - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 10 Words: 3004 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Marketing Essay Type Research paper Tags: SWOT Analysis Essay Did you like this example? Executive Summary This essay presents an analysis and discussion of the strategic position of the Valentinos Personal Introductions Agency and the value/feasibility of an information systems update with regards to the competitive advantage of the business within the UK market. The findings of this essay highlight that the companies computer systems are an important contingent factor in the strength of their organizational culture, their levels of productivity and motivation, and most importantly the maintenance of their strong and valuable reputation. It is thus recommended that Valentinos update their current systems hastily before any inevitable issues occur that would threaten their competitive position and their ability to capitalize upon the positive growth trends of their operative market. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Valentinos Essay Example For Free At Magic Help" essay for you Create order 1.0 Introduction The Valentinos Personal Introductions Agency is a well-established company that has been operating within the UK market since 1976 and with over 8 million single men and women in the UK between the ages of 18 and 64, and often living without the opportunity to meet potential partners, the company has been very successful. However the management of the organization have expressed a growing concern that is being felt regarding the 10 year old computer systems that are currently being relied upon and the negative affect that such outdated systems are having on the companies competitive advantage and market share within the UK. This essay will therefore seek to assess the value and importance of the computer system with regards to the competitive advantage of the company, the company culture, and the overall productivity of the organization. The essay will approach this question by firstly evaluating the strategic position of the company both internally, through the use of a SWOT analysis, and externally relative to its competitors and various other contingent factors to competitive advantage through the consideration of Porters 5 forces analysis model (Porter, 2008). The essay will then proceed to directly discuss the effects that the computer system has upon the Valuentinos organization culture and productivity levels before finally assessing if and how the computer system has provided the company with a competitive advantage such that some clear recommendations can be put forward to the companys managing director regarding their future strategic outlook and potential options. 2.0 Strategic Evaluation This part of the essay considers the strategic position of the Valentinos company by taking both an internal and external view and duly addressing the relative positions of the companies industry rivals, the consumers, the suppliers, and the general state of the industry and market in terms of threats and opportunities. Firstly, the essay will present a SWOT analysis of the Valentinos company before proceeding to analysis the external trends and factors affecting the company in order to gain a more holistic view of the general strategic position. 2.1 Valentinos current position (SWOT analysis) The SWOT analysis below highlights a number of salient factors that must be considered in evaluating the companies strategic position with regards to any possible threats or opportunities that may arise and its ability to take advantage or overcome these factors. Strengths The Valentinos company and brand has been long established, and has exhibited consistent reputable integrity in its operations which is a highly salient factor in the decision making processes of potential consumers There long established presence in the market also means that they have strong links with various suppliers such as with advertisements on public transport or in newspapers The company also inhabit the market position of the price leader which makes them well positioned to take advantage of the growing number of price savvy and/or price conscious UK consumers (Telegraph, 2010) and trends within the UK population whereby more people are spending more time at home and are unable to find the time to go out and socialize (Euromonity, 2010a) Valentinos unique combination of high technology and personal touch through the direct contact phone support services, has been critical in making the Valentinos Personal Introductions Agency a global industry leader Val entinos also holds the largest database of members which means that any potential client would have the greatest likelihood of meeting somebody when choosing Valentinos over other industry rivals Weaknesses The company database used an old version of oracle and an old matching program that is poorly documented and is poorly understood by the companies current IT staff that are struggling to maintain it. If this is left to continue then this will most likely lead to performance problems in the near future, which will no doubt be observable to the client base and result in a decrease in market share. Perhaps the biggest concern would be the accidental loss or release of private information and the subsequent sullying of the companies valuable reputation Opportunities The growing UK population proportions of university graduates indicates that a growing number of people in the UK will find themselves in busy careers, as is similarly described of the companies common clientele demographics (BBC News, 2007, Euromonitor, 2010b). The number of people using the internet, particularly within the age demographics commonly served by the Valentinos agency, nearly doubled over the period 2000- 2007. (Euromonitor, 2010c) New avenues for advertisements and promotions such as internet sites that receive a high amount of traffic or mutually beneficial links with other web-based businesses such as online clothes retailers. Threats The companies position as a price leader is a highly vulnerable one as existing competitors/ industry rivals or perhaps substitutes may choose to challenge this price dominance which can either result in a price war or the competitive obsolescence of the Valentinos Personal Introductions Agency The companies position as a leader in terms of technology may also be placed under threat by any highly resourced rivals or new industry entrants, and such an instance could result in a devastating loss in market share The companies highly valuable and hard earned reputation for safety, ethics, privacy and integrity could be threatened by poor control over their computer systems and data bases. As the table (above) illustrates, there are a number of salient opportunities and threats facing the Valentinos company and there is also a number of highly impingent strengths and weaknesses held by the company that play an important role in determining its ability to manoeuvre and navig ate through the various external trends and factors that are presented in the Porters 5 forces analysis. Firstly, with regards to Valentinos industry presence, it can be noted that the company and brand has been very long established within the market and that over the years Valentinos has proven its high standards of ethics, integrity, and accountability in terms of the safety of its clientele and the controlled protection of their personal information. This is a highly advantageous and beneficial factor for the company as it appeals to the clients and potential clients most highly regarded concerns (safety, privacy and control). However, the threat of sullying this reputation through some kind of error in the computer systems could be hugely damaging for the company in terms of competitive advantage. The companies long-established position within the industry has also allowed it to attain strong links with networks of clients and suppliers of advertising spaces such as o n public transport and in Newspapers. With regards to the companies network of clients, it can be noted that it has the largest database of people out of all industry rivals and therefore offers clients the greatest likelihood of achieving a positive result. Moreover, although the companies competitive position as an market price leader is a highly vulnerable one, generally speaking, it is also highly competitive in terms of its service which has been exhibited as being highly personal while also being very comprehensive, flexible, and efficient. With regards to the future outlook of the company, from an internal perspective, Valentinos is well poised to take advantage of the growing young professional demographics and the growing number of Internet users. However, its position as a market leader could be threatened either by the event of a lapse in their computer systems that would compromise their integrity and reputation, or by a new market entrant or highly resourced riv al that supersedes Valentinos in terms of technological resources. Nevertheless, new avenues for promotion and advertisement on the internet (e.g. online retail sites and other such high traffic addresses) could be utilized by the Valentinos company in order to further expand upon their market dominance or simply seek more effective and price efficient means of promotion. 2.2 Porters five forces model (An external view of Valentinos competitive position) Existing Rivalry Between Firms The Personal Introduction industry is one that is highly populated with market competitors of different sizes some operating country wide while others differentiate and focus on specific geographical areas or demographic groups such as over 40s. Rivalry within this industry however, appears to rest upon the visible integrity of industry rivals which can be attained through membership to official standards associations and through the strength of promotional campaigns: Barriers to Entry The Threat of New Entrants Due to a growing number of illegitimate companies and a growing concern regarding privacy and integrity (Select, 2010), an official third party association (the Association of British Introduction Agencies) has been created at the instigation of the office of fair trading to the industry as a regulator such that legitimate organizations can gain membership and subsequently accreditation and evidence of its integrity and high standards, as they must follow a set code of practice in order to be accepted for membership (ABIA, 2010). This is therefore a point of rivalry within the industry. This is also in existence to offset the threat of the media and social representation of the industry in general, with common perceptions that it is wholly illegitimate and unethical or that it does not help people (Marsden, 2010). Nevertheless, such associations create a barrier for entry to new industry entrants and this is making the market less dense and more clustered, with companies such as Valentinos occupying increasingly secure and defensible positions within the market and exerting greater dominance with their public familiarity and visibility through the strength of their promotional campaigns. The industry is performing well and experiencing steady market growth, thus, the market will grow more attractive to new entrants and as such the threat increases (IBISWorld, 2010). The Threat of Substitutes Specialised Personal Introduction Agencies such as Valentinos are under threat from a number of substitutes as the market continues to grow and become increasingly attractive as a financial investment. Firstly, Newspapers and other business with the means of reaching large quantities of people are beginning to seek entry into the online dating market, most notably the Guardian has diversified so as to include an online dating section Soulmates within its website so as to offer a more select data base of clients (Guardian, 2010). Social networking sites could also be considered as a more indirect threat as they are becoming massively popular and also have all of the prerequisite resources and capabilities for online dating operations and have already began to introduce applications through which online dating is possible (Lee, 2009). Power of Buyers Although there is a growing interest in online dating and personal introduction forums and the market is showing encouraging growth, there is a large number of industry rivals competing fiercely for market share currently and as such the power of buyers is very strong. Nevertheless, this is offset somewhat by the great amount of differentiation of industry rivals. Power of Suppliers The power of suppliers is also very great due, again, to the quantity of competitors present within the industry and more so due to the generally applicable nature of the supplier businesses such as web-designers and companies renting advertising space and promotional opportunities who are open to bids from businesses in practically any industry. 3.0 The Impact of the new IT/IS System This section of the essay assesses and discusses the effects of Valentinos computer systems on the organizational culture and its general levels of productivity before finally addressing the question of whether the computer system has provided Valentino with a competitive advantage. 3.1 How has the system impacted the organizational culture/productivity? It has been noted in the case study that due to the IT staffs inability to properly manage the (10 year old) matching program has resulted in substantial delays within the clients processes such as the amount of time taken to update a members details on the website which can be several days which may lead to low levels of consumer satisfaction and perhaps even an exodus to a rival company in the near or distant future. In essence, this significantly reduces the productivity of the organization as substantial amounts of time, effort, and manpower is being wasted on the challenge and confusion of understanding the greatly dated (C++ designed) matching system. With regards to the organizational culture, it can be observed that the lax and untidy processes that result from the dated computer systems directly contradict the cultural identity of the company, which could be most accurately described as premium standard, trustworthy, safe, and efficient. A confusion regarding the organizational culture and the various messages, meanings and symbols throughout the organization can lead to lulls in motivation and thus productivity, with organizational members not having a familiar and well understood framework within which to operate comfortably and regularly (Huczynski Buchanan, 2007). This can be a serious problem or an area of potential unrealized as a strong organizational culture has been recognized as a reason for improved levels of company performance (Thompson McHugh, 2002). 3.2 Has the computerized system provided the firm with a competitive advantage? The computerized system controlled by Valentinos, as highlighted in the case study, provides the company with the capability to provide their client members with high levels of flexibility and control over their own par-takings within the various incumbent processes with regards to the number of introduction requests that they wish to make, the degree of information confidentiality, their personalized details describing themselves and what they are seeking. The computer systems also allow the company to properly manage their exceedingly large membership base and the associated database of complex information. Thus, in its function for sustaining, properly maintaining, and utilizing a large database of clients the client is deriving a competitive advantage as a large database of clients, when utilized effectively, can provide any incumbent or potential client members with the greatest possible chance of experiencing a successful match. The computer system also allows them t o maintain control over the vast body of personal and confidential information such as the that gained from the comprehensive questionnaire, which is important from an ethical standpoint and as such is contingent to the up keeping of their reputation as a highly legitimate service with strong business integrity and strong methods of accountability with regards to recordings of what information has been released to whom. With regards to the organizational culture and how this can bring competitive advantage, it can certainly be supposed that the Valentinos company can strengthen and consolidate their organizational culture that promotes high standards and integrity above all other features. However, many scholars studying the subject of organization culture that claim that strong cultures are linked to improved performance also highlight various caveats (Ogbonna Harris, 2002) such as that the link between strong culture and competitive advantage is dependent upon whether th e culture is better than the cultures of competitors and that it cannot be imitated (Barney, 1991). This may not be the case with Valentinos, however, as noted above, the strength of the companys computer system along with its large database of clients and excellent reputation does provide a strong competitive advantage that cannot be replicated with any degree of ease. 4.0 Conclusions In conclusion, the slight shortcomings in terms of the companies computer systems and their staffs inability to properly understand and operate them, can potentially have rather significant detrimental effects to the companies culture, productivity, the motivation levels of its staff, and also its reputation among consumer for integrity and high standards of practice. The damaging of the companys reputation should be avoided by any necessary means and therefore it would be recommendable for the company to update its computer systems such that its looming threats are overcome and such that it can fully capitalize on its strong position within a growing and lucrative market. Reference List ABIA [Association of British Introduction Agencies], (2010), About the ABIA, [Online], Available from:- https://www.abia.org.uk/about [Accessed 10/12/10] BBC News, (2007), UK Slips Back in Graduate Numbers, [Online], Available from:- https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6999182.stm [Accessed 11/12/10] Barney, J.B. (1991), Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage, Journal of Management, 17 (1), pp. 99 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 120. Euromonitor (2010a), Consumer Lifestyles in the United Kingdom, [Online], Available from:- HTTP://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx [Accessed 11/12/10] Euromonitor (2010b), Population by Education, [Online], Available from:- HTTP://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx [Accessed 11/12/10] Euromonitor (2010c), Computers and the Internet, [Online], Available from:- HTTP://www.portal.euromonitor.com/Portal/ResultsList.aspx [Accessed 11/12/10] Guardian, (2010), Online Dating à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Guardian Soulmates, [Online], Available from:- https://dating.guardian.co.uk/s/ [Accessed 10/12/10] Huczynski, A.A. Buchanan, D.A. (2007), Organizational Behavior, Prentice Hall: Essex. IBISWorld, (2010), Online Dating and Match Making, [Online], Available from:- https://www.ibisworld.com/industry/default.aspx?indid=1723 [Accessed 10/12/10] Lee, J (2009), How Will Facebook Connect Affect Online Dating?, Inside Network, [Online], Available from:- https://www.insidefacebook.com/2009/06/25/how-will-facebook-connect-affect-online-dating/ [Accessed 10/12/10] Marsden, R, (2010), Would Like to Meet: The Truth About Internet Dating, The Independent, [Online], Available from:- https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/love-sex/romance-passion/would-like-to-meet-the-truth-about-internet-dating-2124529.html [Accessed 10/12/10] Ogbonna, E. Harris, L.C. (2002). Organizational Culture: A ten year, two-phase study of change in the UK food retailing sector. Journal of Management Studies, 39 (5), pp. 673 à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" 706. Porter, M.E. (2008), On Competition: Updated and Expanded Version, Harvard Business School Publishing: Boston, US. Select (2010), Code of Practice, [Online], Available from:- https://selectpersonalintroductions.co.uk/code_of_Practice.php [Accessed 10/12/10] Telegraph, (2010), Discount Shopping Gaining in Popularity, [Online], Available from:- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/the-advertorial-network/8195056/Discount-Shopping-Gaining-in-Popularity.html [Accessed 11/12/10] Thompson, P. McHugh, D. (2002). Work Organization: A Critical Introduction (3rd Edn). Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Here Is a Brief History of Print Journalism in America

When it comes to the history of journalism, everything starts with the invention of the movable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century. However, while Bibles and other books were among the first things produced by Gutenbergs press, it wasnt until the 17th century that the first newspapers were distributed in Europe. The first regularly published paper came out twice a week in England, as did the first daily, The Daily Courant. A New Profession in a Fledgling Nation In America, the history of journalism is inextricably intertwined with the history of the country itself. The first newspaper in the American colonies - Benjamin Harriss Publick Occurrences both Foreighn and Domestick - was published in 1690 but immediately shut down for not having a required license. Interestingly, Harris newspaper employed an early form of reader participation. The paper was printed on three sheets of stationery-size paper and the fourth page was left blank so that readers could add their own news, then pass it on to someone else. Many newspapers of the time were not objective or neutral in tone like the papers we know today. Rather, they were fiercely partisan publications that editorialized against the tyranny of the British government, which in turn did its best to crack down on the press. An Important Case In 1735, Peter Zenger, publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, was arrested and put on trial for allegedly printing libelous things about the British government. But his lawyer, Andrew Hamilton, argued that the articles in question could not be libelous because they were based on fact. Zenger was found not guilty, and the case established the precedent that a statement, even if negative, cannot be libelous if it is true. This landmark case helped establish the foundation of a free press in the then-fledgling nation. The 1800s There were already several hundred newspapers in the U.S. by 1800, and that number would grow dramatically as the century wore on. Early on, papers were still very partisan, but gradually they became more than simply mouthpieces for their publishers. Newspapers were also growing as an industry. In 1833 Benjamin Day opened the New York Sun and created the Penny Press. Days cheap papers, filled with sensational content  aimed at a working-class audience, were a huge hit. With huge increases in circulation and larger printing presses to meet the demand, newspapers became a mass medium. This period also saw the establishment of more prestigious newspapers that began to incorporate the kinds of journalistic standards that we know today. One such paper started in 1851 by George Jones and Henry Raymond, made a point of featuring quality reporting and writing. The name of the paper? The New York Daily Times, which later became The New York Times. The Civil War The Civil War era brought technical advances like photography to the nations great papers. And the advent of the telegraph enabled Civil War correspondents to transmit stories back to their newspapers home offices with unprecedented speed. Telegraph lines often went down, so reporters learned to put the most important information in their stories into the first few lines of the transmission. This led to the development of the tight, inverted-pyramid style of writing that we associate with newspapers today. This period also saw the formation of The Associated Press wire service, which started as a cooperative venture between several large newspapers wanting to share the news that arrived by telegraph from Europe. Today the AP is the worlds oldest and one of the largest news agencies. Hearst, Pulitzer Yellow Journalism The 1890s saw the rise of publishing moguls William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. Both owned papers in New York and elsewhere, and both employed a sensationalistic kind of journalism designed to lure as many readers as possible. The term yellow journalism dates from this era; it comes from the name of a comic strip - The Yellow Kid - published by Pulitzer. The 20th Century - And Beyond Newspapers thrived into the mid-20th century but with the advent of radio, television and then the Internet, newspaper circulation underwent a slow but steady decline. In the 21st century, the newspaper industry has grappled with layoffs, bankruptcies and even the closing of some publications. Still, even in an age of 24/7 cable news and thousands of websites, newspapers maintain their status as the best source for in-depth and investigative news coverage. The value of newspaper journalism is perhaps best demonstrated by the Watergate scandal, in which two reporters, Bob Woodward, and Carl Bernstein, did a series of investigative articles about corruption and nefarious doings in the Nixon White House. Their stories, along with ones done by other publications, led to President Nixons resignation. The future of print journalism as an industry remains unclear. On the internet, blogging about current events has become enormously popular, but critics charge that most blogs are filled with gossip and opinions, not real reporting. There are hopeful signs online. Some websites are returning to old-school journalism, such as VoiceofSanDiego.org, which highlights investigative reporting, and GlobalPost.com, which focuses on foreign news. While the quality of print journalism remains high, its clear that newspapers as an industry must find a new business model in order to survive well into the 21st century.

Case Study - Economic Turmoil in Latvia - 1006 Words

Case study 4 – Economic Turmoil in Latvia 1.) In 2008 Latvia experienced a banking crisis that stemmed from a poorly regulated banking sector. The banking sector was using aggressive lending to grow the increased inflow of foreign capital, most of which came from Russia. This lead to a property bubble, similar to what was happening in the United States of America (US), prices were being bid up by borrowers who had access to cheap loans. Before the government could step in to control the bubble that was created the property bubble in the US burst sending a rippling affect through the world. This was hardest felt by the banking sector, which now had to reclaim their loans while investors were withdrawing their money as quickly as they†¦show more content†¦The Latvian government should have monitored the lending of loans by the private financial institutions stricter and ensured the credit growth never got to the point it did. If the government dictated that the banks were to manage their lending policies tighter then the Latvian citizens would not have had access to such vast quantities of inexpensive credit and thus would not have had the means to create such demand in the market leading to double digit inflation. Alternatively the Latvian government could of increased interest rates to slow down borrowing as a pre-emptive maneuverer to avoid the impeding economic meltdown. The sooner the government acted on curbing the unsustainable growth the less an impact the crises would of had on the economy as well as the impact of the necessary interventions implemented to stop the economic downturn. Most believed however that the Latvian government should have opted to devalue the currency which could have resulted in a swifter recovery with less consequences and hardship economically. However if the Latvian government decided for the devaluation of the Lat they would have seriously hampered their efforts to adopt the Euro as their national currency. Countries such as Greece and Spain are experiencing the same situation currently but are unable to devalue the currency as they have adopted the Euro as their currency.Show MoreRelatedCase Study - Economic Turmoil in Latvia999 Words   |  4 PagesCase study 4 – Economic Turmoil in Latvia 1.) In 2008 Latvia experienced a banking crisis that stemmed from a poorly regulated banking sector. The banking sector was using aggressive lending to grow the increased inflow of foreign capital, most of which came from Russia. This lead to a property bubble, similar to what was happening in the United States of America (US), prices were being bid up by borrowers who had access to cheap loans. 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A Mothers Love Summary Free Essays

Nothing comes close to having love that a mother haves for her children. Most women are great mothers to their children. Women that carry their children before they are born and then continue to take care them throughout their childhood and even into adulthood. We will write a custom essay sample on A Mothers Love: Summary or any similar topic only for you Order Now Moms make sure that their children are safe and happy through their childhood. It is the unconditional love that a mother feels for her children that drives these feelings. It is hard to describe the feeling that a mom has towards her children. Most people don’t understand this love unless they are mothers themselves. Raising a child comes with a lot of frustrations, starting the needy new born baby that needs regular care to a teenager, a mother’s job is everything but easy. A famous saying states that â€Å"God could not be everywhere and so he invented mothers†, these words are an inspiration to mothers all across the world. A mother puts her children before anything else, including their own comfort and happiness. Mothers give alot of support to their child, whether it is visible support or background encouragement. Not only do mothers support their children, but they hold the whole family structure together. This role is not always plain sailing. Mother’s can also be mad or hurt. Mother’s often takes the fallout for the toddler tantrums and the teenage angst. Despite this, mothers will love their children no matter what they do. Mothers were meant to be the cheerleaders for their children, sometimes in loud and visible ways, sometimes in unspoken way in the background. Mothers can often be the backbone of families. A mother’s job is not always the easiest one. Moms have to make sacrifices and can also have their hearts broken. The great thing about mothers is that they usually understand and love their kids in all ways. Every year there is a day set aside to celebrate the role of a mother. This day is called Mother’s Day. This day is a good opportunity for children of all ages to show their appreciation for the work of a mother. Every year there is one special day put aside for mothers. What else could it be called but â€Å"Mothers Day. â€Å"? This is the day that their sons and daughters who are grown make the long distance calls or take their moms out for dinner. Mother’s Day is a special day when mom gets the flowers she deserves. Mother’s Day is a day when children stop and say thank you to mom for all she has done over the years. Young children make mothers homemade cards that bring tears to mother’s eyes and make her realize that it is all worth it. Describing a mother’s love is impossible. It is a feeling that can only be understood by those who are mother’s. In time, a mother’s daughters will grow up to be mothers themselves. Never underestimate what a mother has over a child. It may not always seem this way, but children look to their mother for guidance on how they should deal with certain situations in everyday life. On the rare occasions that a mother is unable to look after their children, maybe through illness or death, it can have a tragic impact on the life of the children. Mothers have incredible power over their children that they must be respected. It is a tragedy for a child when the mother is not someone who looks after the child properly. It is a tragedy when a child or children lose their mother’s at a young age. Official Essay A Mother’s Love Nothing can come close to the love that a mother feels for her children. Most women are inherently excellent mothers. Women carry their young before they are born and then continue to nurture them throughout their childhood and even into adulthood. Mothers make sure that their children are safe and happy throughout their childhood. It is the unconditional love that a mother feels that drives these feelings. It is hard to describe the feeling that a mother has towards her children. In fact, most people do not understand unless they become a mother themselves. Raising children comes with its own share of frustrations, from the needy new born baby that requires regular care to the sullen teenager, a mother’s job is anything but easy. A famous saying states that â€Å"God could not be everywhere and so he invented mothers†, these words are a great inspiration to mothers across the world. When all is well, a mother puts her children before anything else, including their own comfort and happiness. Mothers give an awful lot of support to their children, whether it involves very visible support or simple background encouragement. Not only do mothers support their children, but they also often hold the whole family structure together. This role is not always plain sailing. A mother can also be upset or hurt. Remember that a mother often takes the fallout for the toddler tantrums and the teenage angst. Despite this, mothers, generally, will love their children no matter what they do. Mothers are meant to be the cheerleaders of their kids, sometimes in loud and visible ways, sometimes in sublet or unspoken ways in the background. Mothers are often the backbone of families. Mother’s job is not always an easy one. Mothers have to make sacrifices. Mothers can have their hearts broken. Mothers must be the conscience of young children and are often the brunt of their anger and pain as they grow into adulthood. The great thing about mothers is that they usually understand and love their kids anyways. Every year there is a day set aside to celebrate the role of a mother. Unsurprisingly, the day is called Mother’s Day. This day is a great opportunity for children of all ages to show their appreciation for the work of a mother. Gifts and cards, often handmade with care, are given as a sign of love. Every year there is one special day put aside for mothers. What else could it be called but â€Å"Mothers Day. â€Å"? This is the day that sons and daughters who are grown make the long distance calls or take their moms out for dinner. Mother’s Day is a special day when mom gets the flowers she deserves. Mother’s Day is a day when children stop and say thank you to mom for all she has done over the years. Young children make mothers homemade cards that bring tears to mother’s eyes and make her realize that it is all worth it. Describing a mother’s love is virtually impossible. It is a feeling that can only truly be understood by those that experience it. In time, a mother’s daughters will grow up to be mothers themselves. Never underestimate the influence that a mother has over a child. It may not always appear this way, but children look to their mother for guidance on how they should deal with situations. On the rare occasions that a mother is unable to look after their children, maybe through illness or death, it can have a tragic impact on the life of the children. Mothers have incredible power over their children that they must be respect. It is a tragedy for a child when the mother is not someone who looks after the child properly. It is a tragedy when a child or children lose their mother’s at a young age. How to cite A Mothers Love: Summary, Papers

Union Budget Report of the Indian Government †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Union Budget Report of the Indian Government. Answer: Introduction As per Article 112 of Indian Constitution the Union Budget that is also known as the annual financial statement, is the projected expenses and receipts of government for the specific year. The Union Budget of the nation maintains the records for the fiscal year for which the budget is prepared that will be applicable to the country from 1st April to 31st March. Further, the revenue budget is divided into the capital budget and revenue budget (Sarkar 2016). This report is prepared to focus on the revenue budget of the Indian Government that includes the expenditures as well as the revenue receipts. As there are 2 types of budget, that is the non-tax revenue and taxable revenue receipts, this report will find out the day to day expenses of the government associated with various services that are offered to the people of the country. If the revenue expenses exceed the revenue receipts then the net result will be shown as revenue deficit. In the 1st part of the report the details regarding the research like the findings and issues and the crucial points from the findings will be discussed. In the 2nd part, the crucial output and the outcome indicators and the crucial points from the outcomes will be discussed. Finally, based on the findings the conclusion and recommendation will be presented (Mittal 2015). Needs and identification The union budget affects the people as well as the government in various ways. For instance, schemes related to new welfare, alterations in the tax rate and schemes related to the development in infrastructure. Various sectors of the economy analyses the union budget as per its impact on them. However, the union budget is required for the following purposes are Resource reallocation: various economic related activities that the private sectors do not consider as profitable, owing to which it fails to attain the set social objectives. The government shall interfere in these areas through budget. For instances, these sectors are infrastructure, education and health sector (Duggal 2015). Reducing inequalities: from 1990s, the inequalities among the wealth and income have gone up in India. The subsidies and taxes under the union budget can be utilised to decrease the inequalities (Asher 2016). Reduction of regional disparities: regional disparities exist there that work as a barrier to the development of India. However, some urban areas has been emerged as the growth engine, the surroundings are far behind than expected. Therefore, the budget shall implement the policies to assure unique development for creating the bridge for division (Patel 2015). Reducing the poverty: though in the last few decades, India has appeared as economic superpower, the level of poverty is still remains high. Therefore, the union budget shall include the programmes and strategies to eliminate poverty through various programmes and schemes (Bhaumik 2015). Managing the public sector enterprises: under the approach of mixed economy that is adopted in India, the government are the owner of few public sector organizations like electricity and railways. Therefore, the budget shall have the policies for the purpose of optimum operation of these public sector organizations (Suresh and Maity 2015). Stabilization of economy: low rate of inflation, high rate of economic growth and low rate of employment shall be sought out to attain the policies that are outlined in the budget (Adak and Halder 2016). Issues related to the budget The financial services of India are taking the dynamic shape with regard to the various Regulatory as well as government measures that are announced over the past years. the industry of financial services has been developed during the past years as follows: Credit-deposit ratio: marginally increased to 53.4% from 52.3% Gross bank credit: the credit in the housing sector increased by 4.4% an dthe micro credit has reduced to 4.5% Aggregate deposits in bank: INR 90.30 lakhs in aggregate (9.3%) Key issues found are as follows Banking sector: Higher level of NPA under the public sector undertaking banks that amounted to INR 4.8 Lakh Crore Demonetization caused the lowering if cost of the funds Credit growth in lower rate (-0.8% during 2017 financial year) Requirement of credit off-take for utilising the higher deposits based for managing the capital adequacy ratios (Joshi and Ruparel 2016) Non-banking financial companies (NBFC) The NBFC sector has experienced better growth as compared to the banking areas during the last few years. the retail assets that are under management amounted to INR 4.2 lakh crores during 2015 an dare expected to become INR 6.1 lakh crore during 2017 FY. The rapid growth in the disbursement of credit by the NBFC was owing to their capability of mitigating the risks and creating demand in the niche market. However, the profitability of NBFC was considerably high as compared to the commercial banks. The key issues found in this sector are as follows: The benefits under section 43D was not available that lead to cash to be affected negatively owing to the taxes on the sticky advances, irrespective of the receipts Higher level of compliance costs and overhead cost that were caused by the TDS certificate collection from the customers. Overview of the insurance During the past few years, the insurance sector in India has experienced various regulations. These involves improving the foreign direct investments limits, issuance of the entry licence to the global reinsurances, formulating the norms for listing for the purpose of general insurances and launching the series of Pradhan mantri schemes for the financial inclusion. The findings from the insurance sector are as follows: The average growth for premium was 7.9% as compared to the 9.8% for emerging economies. The rate of insurance penetration was 3.44% as compared to the 6.2% of the world average The protection gap was 92.2% for the FY2015 and it was only 20% of the population in the health insurance sector and around 60% in the area of uninsured motor vehicles that run on the roads (Chava and Deshpande 2015). The key issues that were found from the insurance sector are as follows: Lack of mindset with regard to returns and lack of awareness Unfavourable ratio of the expenditure of government towards the health care that is 30% as compared to Chinas 56%. Low rate of penetration of insurance Requirement of trained distributor network as well as agents to minimise the misspelling and implement a long-run agenda for the association. Mutual fund overview The mutual funds have experienced overall growth for the past 10 years. The size of the mutual fund asset has gone up by 14% that is amounted to INR 13.5 lakh crore. Further, the fresh investments have gone up to INR 2.9 lakh crore from INR 1.8 lakh. However, the penetration in the mutual fund has been only 7% as compared to the 37% of the average of world. The key issues found from the mutual fund sector are as follows: Lack of penetration for mutual fund Lack of preference and awareness for the old method of the investment, for instance, gold and saving accounts High level of distribution cost in B-15 locations Requirement of formulation for strategic partnership, for instance, the postal networks and payment banks Requirement of trained distributors and agents. Program outcomes of the budget Projected Union budget of India for the financial 2019-20 (Amount in Crores) Particular Amount Amount Receipts Tax revenue Corporation tax ? 4,53,228.00 Income tax ? 2,87,637.00 Wealth tax ? 1,080.00 service tax ? 2,11,414.00 taxes on the union territories ? 3,878.00 Total ? 9,57,237.00 Non-tax revenue receipt of interest ? 25,378.00 profits and dividends ? 1,12,127.00 other non-tax revenue ? 1,10,336.00 external grants ? 1,881.00 Total ? 2,49,722.00 receipt of debts ? 5,32,791.00 Total receipts ? 17,39,750.00 Less: Expenses Expenditures of Centre Establishment expenses ? 3,34,870.00 expenses for central projects ? 5,21,374.00 expenses of regulatory and statutory bodies ? 5,818.00 expenses of autonomous bodies ? 41,939.00 public sector banking ? 25,000.00 other expenses ? 5,08,829.00 Total ? 14,37,830.00 Centrally sponsored schemes expenses for centrally sponsored projects ? 2,01,071.00 grants of finance commission ? 84,579.00 Other transfers/ loans/ grants ? 16,270.00 ? 3,01,920.00 Total Expenses ? 17,39,750.00 The above presented budget provides focus on the receipts and expenses that are expected to be received and expensed in the coming year that is the financial year 2019-20. In the above presented budget, it is identified that the receipts of the government includes various receipts like receipts from various taxes like corporation tax, income tax, service tax and wealth tax. The expenses of the government will include the items like establishment expenses grants to finance commission, public sector undertakings and expenses for the central projects are few to be named. Analysis of receipts The receipts excluded the recoveries from the advances and short-term loans from various states, loans made to the government employees and the receipts under the scheme of market stabilization are not taken into consideration (Kumar 2014). Analysis of expenses The expenses related to the establishments of the central are inclusive of all the expenditures associated with establishment and are inclusive of the establishment expenses that are attached to the subordinate offices. The finance commission transfers included in the deed of transfers to state and the category of the other transfer to state are inclusive of all the other transfers to the states that are made under the assistance to scheme and the relief fund related to the national disaster (Bhatia 2016). Further, the centrally sponsored schemes are inclusive of the schemes that are decided by the report of the chief ministers sub-group based on the rationalization of the centrally sponsored schemes will be approved by the cabinet during 2017. Finally, the centrally sector schemes are inclusive of all the schemes that are totally implemented and funded by the central agencies (Pandita et al. 2017). It is expected that the Indian economy will end up the next year with high growth of 8% irrespective of fighting with the global economy that will lead to deteriorating the investment position. Further, the domestic economy will continue showing the flexibility even in case of the deteriorating international environment. During the year, it is also expected to experience various initiatives like amendment of GST bill and the bankruptcy code bill are also expected to be agreed upon. Irrespective of the demonetization, the Indian economy is expected to stand at the noteworthy changes for moving towards the unified tax and the GST. The Indian government on its part is confident regarding the existing schemes and approach and will increase the distribution in various programmes in the next Union budget. Therefore, the next step will clearly be efficient implementation of the schemes. That can potentially be helpful for the economy from the structural aspect. Schemes for removing the shor tages of skill are expected to lead to the healthier market for job that is in compliance with the changes in time for bringing the changes at supply of economy. While some challenges are there at the domestic level such as inflation, some challenges exist there at the international level that remains in the geo-political matters; the set up by the Union budget is prepared with the sustainable approach which in turn, will lead to the growth of economy. Conclusion and recommendation It has been concluded from the above discussion that the various economic related activities that the private sectors do not consider as profitable, owing to which it fails to attain the set social objectives. The inequalities among the wealth and income have gone up in India. The subsidies and taxes under the union budget can be utilised to decrease the inequalities. The regional disparities exist there that work as a barrier to the development of India. However, some urban areas has been emerged as the growth engine, the surroundings are far behind than expected. Though in the last few decades, India has appeared as economic superpower, the level of poverty is still remains high under the approach of mixed economy that is adopted in India. The government are the owner of few public sector organizations like electricity and railways. Low rate of inflation, high rate of economic growth and low rate of employment shall be sought out to attain the policies that are outlined in the budg et. However, looking into the projected budget of the country for the financial year 2019-20, it can be recommended that the government shall interfere in these areas through budget. For instances, these sectors are infrastructure, education and health sector. The subsidies and taxes under the union budget can be utilised to decrease the inequalities. Further, the budget shall implement the policies to assure unique development for creating the bridge for division. Moreover, the union budget shall include the programmes and strategies to eliminate poverty through various programmes and schemes. Therefore, the budget shall have the policies for the purpose of optimum operation of these public sector organizations. Further, the Budget preparer are suggest to take into consideration the following things It shall be committed for providing a predictable and stable regime for taxation Additional options to banking companies and financial institutions, including NBFCs, for input tax credits reversal with regard to non-taxable services Customs Act shall provide the deferred payment with regard to customs duties for exporters and importers and exporters with the proven track record. Provide alternative documents to PAN card for the non-residents Single window projects with regards to the customers shall be implemented at major airports and ports from the next year With regard to the free baggage allowances to the international passengers, the baggage that are carrying the dutiable goods are only to be filed E-assessment facility shall be implemented in the major cities References Adak, D. and Halder, S., 2016. Union Budget 2016-17: Impact Analysis on the Rural Sector.The MA Journal,51(4), pp.38-42. Asher, M.G., 2016. The 2016-17 Budget: A Positive Step in India's Transformation Process. Bhatia, H.I., 2016. Decoding the Structure of Indias Union Budget.Journal of Commerce and Accounting Research,5(1). Bhaumik, S., 2015. Misplaced priorities in the union health budget 2015.Journal of family medicine and primary care,4(2), p.174. Chava, S. and Deshpande, V., 2015. Union Budget 2015: Reflections Revelations.The MA Journal,50(4), pp.58-63. Duggal, R., 2015.Union Budget 2015-16: Shocking Neglect of Health Care(No. id: 6551). Joshi, A. and Ruparel, P., 2016. India. InAngel Financing in Asia Pacific: A Guidebook for Investors and Entrepreneurs(pp. 151-169). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Kumar, N., 2014. Goods and Services Tax in India: A Way Forward.Global Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies,3(6). Mittal, P., 2015. Impact of Union Budget on Indian Economy.Asian Journal of Research in Banking and Finance,5(9), pp.19-26. Pandita, V., Patthi, B., Singla, A., Gupta, R., Malhi, R. and Prasad, M., 2017. Eliminating health disparities by implementation of oral health allocation in Union Budget-Empowering change.Journal of PEARLDENT,8(1), pp.9-24. Patel, V., 2015. Union Budget 201516, through Gender Lens.Feminists India. Sarkar, S.S., 2016. Indian Union Budget 2016-17-in The Path of Growth.Global Journal For Research Analysis,5(3). Suresh, V. and Maity, B., 2015. The framework and process of Indian Union Budget with reference to 2015-2016.TSM Business Review,3(1), p.88.