The eNotes Blog 5 New Book-to-Screen Adaptations to Watch (andRead!)

5 New Book-to-Screen Adaptations to Watch (andRead!) Did you know that many of your favorite films likely have their roots in literature? While the film industry seems to generate big-screen hits out of thin air, much of its success is owed to best-selling authors and their original storytelling. So, to get even more out of your movie-watching experience, we recommend checking out the book versions of these eight movies you may not have known were inspired by books first! 1. Beautiful Boy (2018) Based On: Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by David Sheff     Ã‚   Beautiful Boy is a heartbreaking story about a father and his teenage son who is suffering from an addiction to methamphetamine and numerous other drugs. The movie, released in October 2018, is based on a real-life father-son pair, David and Nic Sheff, bringing to life the memoirs each wrote about their experiences and struggles. David’s memoir is named Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction and is a depiction of parental love and the grief of a father’s trying to understand his son’s spiraling addiction. The movie also draws on Nic’s memoir, Tweak, which tells his personal perspective of addiction. 2. Boy Erased (2018) Based On: Boy Erased: A Memoir of Identity, Faith, and Family  by Garrad Conley Based on a true story, this movie about a boy’s coming out in a conservative Arkansas town is an adaptation of Garrard Conley’s Boy Erased: A Memoir. Like Jared in the film, Garrard Conley was raised in a fundamentalist family and pressured into conversion therapy after coming out as gay while in college. He wrote his memoir to bring to light the harmful nature of conversion therapy and the inhumane practices involved. 3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018) Based On: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows This film is an adaptation of the charming historical novel of the same name that librarian Mary Ann Shaffer and her niece Annie Barrows wrote in 2008. The film is very true to the original novel’s plotline, following protagonist Juliet Ashton’s journey as a young writer during World War II. She decides to travel to Guernsey Island after receiving a letter about a secret literary society that was established there during the German occupation. A major aspect of the novel that could not be replicated on screen is that it is told in an epistolary fashion through Juliet’s beautifully written letters. 4. The Hate U Give (2018) Based On: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas This timely movie is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Angie Thomas. Thomas created the character of Starr, a sixteen-year-old black girl who is struggling to balance two very different lives. Starr has grown up in a low-income, predominantly black neighborhood, but she attends a mostly white college-prep school. When her unarmed friend is shot by police in her neighborhood, she is called to activism as the only witness to the crime. 5. The Haunting of Hill House (2018) Based On: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson This new television web series has brought Shirley Jackson’s gothic horror novel The Haunting of Hill House to life in a terrifying way. Many may not realize that the frightening Hill House and its unfortunate guests were originally created by Jackson in 1959. Although some of the original character’s names- such as Eleanor, Theodora, and Luke- are used in the television show, they are considerably different characters than the ones from the book. Instead of featuring siblings who grew up in Hill House, the original plotline of Jackson’s novel is about four strangers who come to the famously haunted Hill House to help scientist Dr. Montague find evidence of supernatural forces. Bonus: Other, Older Book Adaptations You Should Watch (or Re-Watch) 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Based On: The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare Although this high school chick flick set in Seattle may seem like the furthest thing from a Shakespeare play, it is actually based on The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare. If you’ve read the play, you’ll notice the similarity in names and almost identical plotline, as Petruchio must â€Å"tame† the unruly Katharina so that his master Lucentio can marry the beautiful Bianca. Bridget Joness Diary (2001) Based On: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Bridget Jones’s Diary is a modernized take on Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice. Although Pride and Prejudice is focused on the societal pressures surrounding marriage and financial stability that women faced in Victorian England, 21st-century Bridget Jones also faces pressure from her mother and the people around her to marry before it’s â€Å"too late.† There are many parallels between the two storylines- the drama and romance between Bridget and Mark Darcy closely resemble the tumultuous courtship between Austen’s Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy. Shes The Man (2006) Based On: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Did you know that this sporty romance movie is also inspired by one of Shakespeare’s comedies? In Twelfth Night, Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario after she and her twin brother, Sebastian, are shipwrecked. As Cesario, she works for the Duke of the town by helping him woo the object of his affection, Olivia. However, Olivia falls in love with disguised Viola and Viola falls in love with the Duke, who is quite confused by his own affections for his â€Å"male† servant. Sound familiar?

Earn More Money by Artful Negotiation

Earn More Money Want more money? Dont hesitate; negotiate! Whether you are looking for higher salary at work, greater price on a house or better paying freelance assignments, the principles of negotiation remain the same. 1. Assess yourself. How long have you been in business? You can command a higher price if youre a veteran than if youre a novice. While some magazines welcome the fresh approach that new writers bring, many prefer to work with established writers for their experience and professionalism. 2. Assess the market. What is the magazines budget? Where do they get their funding from? How large is their subscriber base? What are their advertising rates? A privately-owned corporate publication will pay more than a department journal run 3. Keep your finger on the pulse. What are the current rates for your type of work? Ask around in writers groups, associations or online forums. What do the editors of your chosen target market seek? Check Duotrope for interviews indicating likes, dislikes and tips. Then tailor your work to align to them. The less revision your work requires, the more favourable your image, the stronger your bargaining position. 4. Have a holistic view. Where is the magazine based? New York publications pay more than Wyoming ones. Is it boom time or bust? Recession can drag overall rates down, so raise your expectations reasonably. 5. Check your budget. What have you put in to get your work out? Monitor writing-related expenditure advertising, writing material, home office with a broadband connection, library membership, subscription to a writers forum and factor in these deductions from your income to determine your asking rate. Keep in mind currency conversions, bank charges and other hidden transaction fees and ensure payment covers a percentage of it. 6. Consider the complexity. What type of article is it? What level of commitment is necessary? Researching, collecting supplementary material like photographs, arranging expert interviews, and including sidebars requires extra effort. Writing personal memoir doesnt. 7. Learn the legalese. Understand what rights are being requested. Moving heaven and earth for an extra $10 for one-time electronic rights is not worth the hassle. Asking 50 percent more for all rights is. 8. Be principled. Principles are any guiding rules we live 9. Compromise. Are you starving? Are you getting a chance to do something different that may offer new opportunities in future? Compromise on the money for non-monetary benefit-in-kind. 10. Be honest, persuasive and professional. The best type of negotiation is a win-win situation for both parties. You want the editor to feel they have gotten a good deal while ensuring you dont get the raw end of it either. Be courteous, honest, respectful and not defensive. Never be rude, threatening, sarcastic, argumentative or pushy. After you receive an offer, put your request as an open-ended question like, Is there any wiggle room in payment? Dont mention specific amounts, let the editor re-consider and come back with a revised figure. Be ready to walk away from the deal if expectations dont match. Once you have settled the deal, honor the terms. Reneging on contracts can be expensive in terms of money as well as reputation. Uphold your integrity. It may pay off when you least expect it. Negotiate and let your income appreciate.

Provide an argument for the claim that (some) mental states are not Essay

Provide an argument for the claim that (some) mental states are not identical to any brain state. Explain why the argument is va - Essay Example It also provides reason why that argument is valid and explains the resources the monist has at her disposal to undermine our confidence in the soundness of this argument. It also evaluates the response of a monist to the dualist argument that has been provided. The argument for the claim that some mental states are not identical to any brain state is supported by various premises. First, phenomenal properties can only reside in mental substances and not physical objects such as the brain. Second, physical bodies like the brain have spatial properties while minds do not have spatial properties. Third, a mind thinks while physical bodies such as the brain do not think. Fourth, a mind is known to exist with certainty while physical bodies like the brain lack that property. Therefore, in conclusion, some mental states are not identical to any brain state, and a mind is distinct from every physical state. This argument is valid because thinking about things involves intentionality, which is a property of nonphysical things (Mandik). For instance, a brain, which is purely physical, cannot think about things that do not exist in time and space. However, a mind can think about things that do not exist in time and space. Secondly, the brain cannot have intentionality because intentionality is very strange. People also think about things in the far future and distant past via their minds (Mandik). Therefore, a mind is distinct from every physical body, including the brain. Secondly, physical bodies are known via senses, but this senses ca be deceived (Mandik). Something that seems to exist may not exist, in real terms. One cannot be wrong about existence of his or her own mind. Minds are known to exist in certainty while physical objects may not be known to exist with certainty. Therefore, a mental state is known to exist with certainty while physical bodies such as the brain lack that property, and as such, a mind must be very distinct from every physical body, the bra in include (Mandik). However, this dualist argument is subject to rejection by proponents of alternatives to dualism such as monism. To undermine our confidence in the soundness of this argument, the monist has various resources at her disposal. First, monism rejects the premise of this dualist argument that the mind is immaterial. Therefore, the question goes, how can a mind, which is considered to be immaterial influence the physical brain (Seybold 89)? Also, how can a non-physical soul or mind affect a physical body, such as the brain (Seybold 90)? Secondly, neuroscience states that the brain is clearly necessary for mental states to occur, but a particular mental state is not identical to a particular brain state. Consequently, some brain state must exist for the mental event to take place, but no particular brain state can be mapped onto the specific mental event in a one to one manner. Monists argue that mental activities emerge from the brain (Seybold 90). Monism agrees with dualism that the mind can, and does affect the brain or the body, but monists reject this argument because it is not explained how the mind can affect the body, if the body and mind are of two different substances, as required in dualism (Seybold 90). Therefore, it is impossible for the physical body to be moved by a mind, which is not part of the physical world, according to monism. It should also be noted that body processes such as thinking require energy and the mind,

Slavery in Colonial Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Slavery in Colonial Latin America - Essay Example This is most evident in Latin America. The history of Latin America is a complex interplay of economic and political agenda that buffeted these countries in as a result of what can only be termed the struggle for supremacy between European powers from the 15th century. The term Latin America is ascribed to countries in South America, North America, Central America and the Caribbean Islands that lie south of the United States where the spoken language is of Spanish or Portuguese extraction. ("Latin America," 2007) Colonial Latin America is the period that many believe began with the discovery of Christopher Columbus of the Americas, referred to as the New World, landing in the Bahamas in 1492, but in fact the colonial era began when the Council of the Indies was convened in 1524 ad ended with the Comuero revolt in 1781. ("Colonial Period," 1998) This was after the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1493 divided the New World wherein the Spanish controlled everything west of the Line of Demarcation and the Portuguese had power over the east, which later became Brazil. At this point, the indigenous people, including the ruling Incas and Aztecs, had been overpowered by the colonists. Large percentages of the indigenous people in colonized Latin America died during this period, attributed mostly to diseases brought by the Europeans such as measles to which the natives had no defense against. It was to augment the pool of available slave labor that the colonists decided to take advantage of the wars in Western Africa which resulted in a glut of available slaves of African descent in the late 16th. This right of entrepreneurs to import slaves or asientos was controlled by King Charles I of Spain. These slaves were farmed out to the different colonies in large numbers, outnumbering the indigenous and European population combined. However, not all black immigrants are African-born. Spain brought Spanish-born Africans called "Ladinos" to work as mine laborers. Free Africans also immigrated to the New World in search of a better life. (Cruz, 2000) The move to free the slaves began in the French colony of Saint-Domingue in 1793 in the middle of the French Revolutions when Lger Flicit Sonthonax emancipated all slaves and made them full citizens, only to have it revoked in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Until 1870, when the slave trade was finally outlawed, it is estimated that 10 million Africans were brought to the Americas, almost half to the Caribbean islands and the Guiana's while 38% went to Brazil. Mainland Spanish America got 6% while North America and Europe roughly approximated 4.5% each. It seems undeniable from a popular point of view that the influences of the African immigrants, as slaves or otherwise, and to a lesser degree the European colonists who dominated them have served to enrich an otherwise self-contained population. The incursion of a foreign influence has led to the growth and development of the Latin American culture that would otherwise be unknown in the modern era. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the role of the importation of slaves of African descent on the social, cultural, and economic formation of Latin American countries. II. Role of Slavery on Colonial Latin America A. Social aspects Prior to the importation of

Red Hook district in New York Essay Example for Free

Red Hook district in New York Essay A view from the Bridge is a play set in the Red Hook district in New York. The main theme that this explores is the role of Masculinity in the household and its affects. This play is mainly structured around feud between virility and jealousy that divides a family. This play is also about the misunderstanding of feelings and thoughts and how they might lead to undesirable flaws in the human character and hostile conflict that end in miserable circumstances. Eddie, the protagonist is second generation Italian who has curtain views on masculinity, which cannot be ignored, be anyone or it will lead into a spiral anger and jealousy. Eddie has especially strong on views on how women should act and how they should act. A good example of this is given to the audience in the way that Eddie reaction to Catherine having a relationship with Rodolfo. When Eddie deals in Marco and Rodolfo he contradicts his views and feelings toward the community, in this Eddie also gets into a confrontation with Marco in which backing down would be a sign of weakness this lead in the end to his untimely demise. Eddie reacts with both anger and jealousy, which he tries to hide behind a shield of over-protectiveness, in which he tries to accuse Rodolfo of firstly trying to gain an American passport and then Eddie attacks Rodolfos masculinity, especially when he teaches Rodolfo how to fight (sarcastically). Eddie has obvious mixed feeling about Catherine so he feels jealous, but this does not only mean a bad thing considering that he is thinking that he is protecting her which shows his nobility in looking after the family, even though this does not condole his actions toward Rodolfo but this shows that Eddie cannot deal with his emotional side. Rodolfo and Marco arrive in America as illegal immigrants and stay at Eddies house because they are Beatrices cousins. Rodolfo then falls madly in love with Eddies niece Catherine who is also in love with him. This causes Eddie to feels challenged because Rodolfo is more virile and has a larger world of interests. This is in all respects a competition for Catherine and her affection. Another factor that makes Eddie distrust Rodolfo is that Rodolfo does not live up to Eddies views on masculinity. Rodolfo can cook, he is a tailor, he can sing, he likes films and Eddie feels that all this is feminine so he thinks that Rodolfo is gay the guy ain`t right. Due to Eddies distrust of Rodolfo scenes of tension take place such as the situation with when Catherine finally makes the decision to leave home so Eddie, because he cannot express his feelings toward Catherine and Rodolfo, kisses them. Both Marco and Rodolfo must speak with bad Italian accents. Rodolfo must have a weak confident voice that begs for attention.While Rodolfo cannot live up to Eddies rigorous standard on masculinity Marco can. Marco is both strong, as Mike says, hes a regular bull, and loyal to his family in both going to America to work for them and trusting his wife on her own. Marco is extremely loyal to his brother especially when he tells Eddie to back off when he lifts the chair while Eddie cannot. Eddie respect Marco and feels that Marco is a model to masculinity like himself. Marco just like Eddie has a sense of honor, which is explored in the play with the incident in which Marco spits into the face of Eddie. Marco does this because he feels that there has been an injustice done by Eddie in which Eddie tells the police of Marco and Rodolfo, but also in the irony of what Eddie said and promised to what he did. Marco and Rodolfo treatment of women is far different from Eddie. Rodolfo treat women, as his equal while Eddie does not. Rodolfo does not try to manipulate the women in the play instead he helps them, he does this by giving advice and being supportive like what he tells Catherine after she asks him to teach her to be independent. dont cry any more. Marco has great respect and admiration for his wife otherwise he would not have left her for a life in America all alone. Even though Eddie seems skeptical about her loyalty to Marco they count the kids and theres a couple extra, Marcos trust for his wife does not waver. In comparison to the brothers Eddie does all the opposite. First he has manipulated Catherine so much that she feels she has a duty toward him : Then why dont she be a women? If I was a wife I would  make a man happy instead of goin at him all the time.  A view from the bridge Act two  Secondly Eddie does not even take into account what a woman has to say to him because he believes that he should be shown respect. When Beatrice tries to warn Eddie about his feelings but he practically hits her and storms off to get killed. Eddie. Eddie feels a sort of arrogance towards women like as if he is better due to his so-called superior masculine characteristics he also must speak in brutish manor without a care for an answer. Alfieri is the narrator of the play, he is also a lawyer which gains him a lot of respect in the area because he the symbol of the law of the land. Apart from narrating the play Alfieri plays a lead character in the play. When Eddie Carbone comes to ask for legal advice about how to handle Rodolfo, Alfieri notices, through Eddie expressing his feelings through actions, that the entire business is corrupt. Alfieri then tries to give advice to Eddie on how to find and deal with this problem. Due to the fact that Alfieri has challenged Eddies views which drives Eddie mad so Alfirei`s advice ignored. Alfieri then Tells Eddie not to phone the police but he is then also ignored. These cases show the audience that Alfieri is intellectually smart and knows when trouble is brewing. I feel that Arthur Miller Contrasts the views of masculinity that different men have and how they conflict. Miller does this by putting Rodolfo and Eddie into direct conflict. While Rodolfo can saw and sing which makes him gay in the eyes of Eddie, Eddie has no other skill other than being a laborer. Arthur Miller shows that if men like Eddie do not start to evolve they will die out. Miller explores this through the rivalry between Eddie and Rodolfo where Eddie loses his life ironically to the same laws he had set on masculinity while Rodolfo lives on. I feel that Miller set this play specifically for people who do not understand their feelings. As the root of all this rivalry and anguish is purely set the shoulders of a man (Eddie) who cannot understand his feelings for his niece.

La Investigación de Mercados :: Los Ensayos

En el siguiente ensayo se va a analizar el impacto de la Investigacià ³n de Mercados en la toma de decisiones empresariales. La Investigacià ³n de Mercados siempre ha sido una tarea que ha favorecido a los encargados de las compaà ±Ãƒ ­as a examinar el entorno, controlar la actividad de su empresa pero sobre todo en la toma de decisiones. â€Å"El objetivo de la investigacià ³n de mercados consiste en satisfacer las necesidades de informacià ³n y proporcionar a la gerencia con informacià ³n actualizada, relevante, exacta fiable y và ¡lida† (Malhotra, 1997). Por lo tanto la investigacià ³n de mercados impulsa el crecimiento empresarial aportando informacià ³n significativa, ya que â€Å"las decisiones apropiadas no se basan en intuicià ³n, juicio de valor o sexto sentido† (Merino, 2010). En la actualidad la investigacià ³n de mercados es una necesidad fundamental en el à ¡mbito empresarial. Esto se debe a que independientemente de la actividad que la empresa realice, es esencial conocer las caracterà ­sticas que tiene el mercado donde se quiere entrar o en aquel que ya se esta operando. â€Å"Las estrategias de competencia, las motivaciones, los hà ¡bitos de compra y las tendencias del entorno, son algunos de los elementos que requieren de previo conocimiento para que la administracià ³n tome decisiones adecuadas para el diseà ±o y curso de su actividad† (Castillo, 1999). Los tres principales aspectos para que una empresa adopten una investigacià ³n de mercados, son los siguientes: En primer lugar por la extensià ³n de mercados, en la actualidad los mercados que se atienden son cada vez mà ¡s amplios por lo que es mà ¡s difà ­cil alcanzarlos. La segunda se concentra en el cambio de las necesidades, ya que las organizaciones no pueden concentrarse à ºnicamente en producir aquello que la gente necesita, sino tambià ©n en aquello que los clientes desean, tomando en cuenta sus gustos y preferencias. Y finalmente porque ahora, â€Å"el precio no es el à ºnico factor determinante para los consumidores, al momento de realizar una compra, hay otras factores que influyen como las marcas, estatutos y el prestigio de las mismas† (Castillo, 1999). Los tres objetivos primordiales por los cuales la investigacià ³n de mercados es necesaria para evitar errores en el proceso de toma de decisiones, se basa en tres distintos à ¡mbitos. En primer lugar en el à ¡mbito social, esta relacionado con conocer al consumidor, saber cuales son sus necesidades, costumbres, motivaciones y deseos. Para poder ajustar el plan de negocios a los consumidores es indispensable conocerlos y hacer un buen estudio de mercado.

The Act of Valor

The Act of Valor Today’s society consists of a diverse human race that shares a common goal, to live life to its fullest potential. In the film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, the main character, Frodo, is set out on a quest to destroy the ring that has long acquired the presence of evil. On his quest to destroy the ring, he encounters many challenges. His challenges consists of keeping the ring safe from the evil ones who want it back, making sure the ring gets to the destination, and keeping his life safe from harm.Along his journey, he is joined by a couple of his friends, all of which he must learn to trust, in order to destroy the rings that possesses evil. They are faced with the challenges to keep safe from Saruman and his orcs, the black riders, and Sauron’s soul. Throughout his journey, his qualities of a hero show. He owns the qualities of resilience, determination, courage, trust, and heroism. Without the qualities he possesses, it would have been an impossible task to complete. Frodo faces many challenges as he tries to destroy the ring.Those who seek to retrieve the ring are out to murder him. Without the help of his friends and those who care for him, he would not have stayed alive. Through his courage and determination, he shows that he can be trusted to be the one that destroys the ring. He is equipped with many qualities that help him complete the task. His optimism brought the strength he needed to succeed. As individuals in today’s society, we face many challenges in our lives. Yes, challenges can bring us down, but it also makes us stronger.Some of us are faced with challenges such as being able to survive, fighting cancer, being the first to go to college, being able to pay for bills, etc. Nevertheless, each of us encounters challenges that help shape and develop our lives. Challenges are not meant to kill anyone, but instead they are meant for people to reach their full potential in being able to f ind the answers and strength to be able to overcome the challenges we face. Each of us is born for a reason. It is impossible to tell what out fate is, but as time goes by, we start to find out just what our mission on Earth is.Frodo possesses the qualities of a Hero Archetype. Being a determined, resilient, trustworthy, and courageous individual, he is one that pleases everybody. Frodo never quit with being able to destroy the ring. Although he faced many challenges along the way, he managed to stay strong. He witnessed Gandalf’s death, he was nearly dead, and he had to leave his home to complete the task, but despite all that he encountered along the way, he managed to be determined. There were many negative effects on Frodo, but he maintained his composure and stayed optimistic until the end.Each of us has been knocked down multiple times by school, work, or simply the stress that we all face. Being knocked down is for us to realize what we need to do to get back up. Deter mination is the key to withstanding any negative effects on life. If we have a positive outlook on life and how our future will be, we can start to be heroes of our own lives. Frodo’s goal was to destroy the ring. Facing the challenges that follows as he is on his journey may impact him. By being determined, his goal to protecting the ring from the evil is reached.In our lives, we have many goals in life that we want to reach. We make mistakes here and there, but we learn from them and grow stronger. By being determined and positive, we can make sure our goals are reached. During Frodo’s journey, his friends and individuals who help protect him from those that want to retrieve the ring from him accompany him. They guide him in his journey to find his way safely. They are there to protect him from the evil that surrounds him. During our lives, we befriend many individuals who help us with our future.These friends of ours, are people we trust, turn to when they are in ne ed, or simply to have a sense of security. Just like Fordo being accompanied by his friends, we have friends we turn to when we need them. Frodo’s task is to protect the ring from the evil black riders that want it back. As he is on his journey, he makes many decisions that help him and his friends stay alive. The critical decision making that he makes throughout the film are vital in order to keep the ring in his possession, as well as stay alive.We are faced with making decisions that are crucial to our future. Without making the best decision, we cannot be successful in our lives. Frodo’s decision making made it possible for him to succeed. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, is not just a film, but it also shows its comparison to today’s society. Frodo faces many challenges while he is set out on his quest to destroy the ring. Each of us, face challenges in our life that make it difficult for us to succeed, but by working extra hard, we can m anage to overcome any challenge.Also, Frodo makes vital decisions that help with the safety and survival of Frodo and the group of followers. We face many points in our lives that consist of valuable decision-making. Those who want to protect him, as well as his friends accompany Frodo. During our lifetime, we befriend many people who become treasures to our hearts. Being able to have people we can turn to and trust is truly amazing. The film shows many relations between reality and how the movie is portrayed. As Frodo is on his journey to destroying the ring, he shows great heroism that is noticed by many.

Corporate Governance – Role of Board of Directors

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE – ROLE OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS People often question whether corporate boards matter because their day-today impact is difficult to observe. But, when things go wrong, they can become the center of attention. Certainly this was true of the Enron, Worldcom, and Parmalat scandals. The directors of Enron and Worldcom, in particular, were held liable for the fraud that occurred: Enron directors had to pay $168 million to investor plaintiffs, of which $13 million was out of pocket (not covered by insurance); and Worldcom directors had to pay $36 million, of which $18 million was out of pocket.As a consequence of these scandals and ongoing concerns about corporate governance, boards have been at the center of the policy debate concerning governance reform and the focus of considerable academic research. Because of this renewed interest in boardsmuch of the research on boards ultimately touches on the question â€Å"what is the role of the board? † Possible answers range from boards’ being simply legal necessities, something akin to the wearing of wigs in English courts, to their playing an active part in the overall management and control of the corporation.No doubt the truth lies somewhere between these extremes; indeed, there are probably multiple truths when this question is asked of different firms, in different countries, or in different periods. So what is a Board of Director (BoD) and what do Directors actually do? â€Å"A Board of Directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors.It is often simply referred to as ‘the board’ †. A board's activities are determined by the powers, duties, and responsibilities delegated to it or conferred on it by an authority outside itself. These matters are typically detailed in the cou ntry’s company law, organization's bylaws and/or the Article of Association (AoA). The bylaws commonly also specify the number of members of the board, how they are to be chosen, and when they are to meet. To better understand corporate boards, one should begin with the question of what do directors do’? Over the years there has been several indepth studies conducted and research literature published by some of the most brilliant academics only to answer this very question e. g. Mace, 1971, Whisler, 1984, Lorsch and MacIver, 1989, Demb and Neubauer, 1992, and Bowen, 1994 and their conclusions are presented breifly: The principal conclusions of Mace were that â€Å"directors serve as a source of advice and counsel, serve as some sort of discipline, and act in crisis situations†.The nature of their â€Å"advice and counsel† is unclear but Mace suggests that a board serves largely as a sounding board for the CEO and top management, occasionally providing exp ertise when a firm faces an issue about which one or more board members are expert. Yet Demb and Neubauer’s survey results find that approximately two-thirds of directors agreed that â€Å"setting the strategic direction of the company† was one of the jobs they did. 80% of the directors also agreed that they were â€Å"involved in setting strategy for the company†. 5% of respondents to another of Demb and Neubauer’s questionnaires report that they â€Å"set strategy, corporate policies, overall direction, mission, vision†. Indeed far more respondents agreed with that description of their job than agreed with the statements that their job entailed â€Å"oversee[ing], monitor[ing] top management, CEO† (45%); â€Å"succession, hiring/firing CEO and top management† (26%); or serving as a â€Å"watchdog for shareholders, dividends† (23%). According to Epstein and Roy (2006), a high performance board must achieve three core objective s; in other words Epstein and Roy nail the core responsibilities of the board: . Provide superior strategic guidance to ensure the company's growth and prosperity by Setting of Strategy: 2. Ensure accountability of the company to its stakeholders, including shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers, regulators and community; 3. Ensure that a highly qualified executive team is managing the company by The Hiring, Firing and Assessment of Management. Apart from what has been stated above one very significant and active role played by the board is in terms of â€Å"the hiring, firing, and assessment of management†.This is one role that is typically ascribed to directors is control of the process by which top executives are hired, promoted, assessed, and, if necessary, dismissed. Assessment can be seen as having two components, one is monitoring of what top management does and the other is determining the intrinsic ability of top management. The monitoring of managerial action s can, in part, be seen as part of a board’s obligation to be vigilant against managerial malfeasance. It is essential that the role, duties and responsibilities of directors are clearly defined.The Combined Code (2006) states that â€Å"the board’s role is to provide entrepreneurial leadership of the company within a framework of prudent and effective controls which enables risk to be assessed and managed†. According to UK Law, the directors should act in good faith in the interest of the company, and exercise care and skill in carrying out their duties. The Company Law Reform Bill (2005) defines, in section 154-161, the directors’ duties as follows: †¢ a duty to act within powers, that is, to act in accordance with the company’s constitution and only exercise powers for the purpose for which they are conferred; a duty to promote the success of the company, so a director must act in the way he considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole; †¢ a duty to exercise independent judgment; †¢ a duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence; †¢ a duty to avoid conflicts of interest; †¢ a duty not to accept benefits from third party †¢ a duty to declare an interest on proposed transactions or arrangements. But that does not quite answer our cardinal question as to ‘how the role the board plays is related to the overall corporate governance of the organization’.Nevertheless one thing is certain thus far is that the BoD lead and control a company and hence an effective board is fundamental to the success of the company. The board is the link between managers and the investors, and is essential to good corporate governance and investor relations. Since corporate governance represents the value framework, the ethical framework and the moral framework under which business decisions are taken; it therefore calls f or three factors: 1. Transparency in decision-making; 2. Accountability which follows from transparency because responsibilities could be fixed easily for actions taken or not taken, and; . The accountability is for the safeguarding the interests of the stakeholders and the investors in the organization. Decisions relating to board composition and structure will be of fundamental importance in determining whether, and to what extent, the board is effective and successful in achieving these objectives. A board will typically be composed of a Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Directors, Non- Executive Director, Independent Director, Company Secretary and then there are committees made from among the board for specific purposes with a view to increased corporate governance and hence accountability.It is important that the board has a balanced composition both in terms of executive and non executive directors and also in terms of experience, qualities and skills that individu als bring to the table. The Institute of Directors (IoD) has published some useful guidance in this area in 2006 which is shared below: †¢ Consider the ratio and number of executive and non executive directors. †¢ Consider the energy, experience, knowledge, skill and personal attributes of current and prospective directors in relation to the future needs of the board as a whole, and develop specifications and processes for new appointments, as necessary. Consider the cohesion, dynamic tension and diversity of the board and its leadership by the chairman. †¢ Make and review succession plans for directors and the company secretary. †¢ Where necessary, remove incompetent or unsuitable directors of the company secretary, taking relevant legal, contractual, ethical and commercial matter into account. †¢ Agree proper procedures for electing a chairman and appointing the managing director and other directors. †¢ Identify potential candidates of the board, make selection and agree terms of appointment and remuneration.New appointments should be agreed by every board member. †¢ Provide new board members with a comprehensive induction to board process, and policies, inclusion to the company and to their new role. †¢ Monitor and appraise each individual’s performance, behavior, knowledge, effectiveness and values rigorously and regularly. †¢ Identify development needs and training opportunities for existing and potential directors and the company secretary. Roles of the board members 1. Chief Executive Officer and ChairmanThe CEO has the executive responsibility for running of the company’s business; on the other hand, the Chairman has responsibility for the running of the board. The two roles should not therefore be combined and carried out by one person Conclusions Corporate governance, and in particular the role of boards of directors, has been the topic of much attention lately. Although this attention is par ticularly topical due to well-publicized governance failures and subsequent regulatory changes, corporate governance is an area of longstanding interest in economics (dating back to at least Adam Smith, 1776).Because of corporations’ enormous share of economic activity in modern economies, the extent to which corporations deviate from value-maximization is extremely important. Consequently, corporate governance and the role of boards of directors is an issue of fundamental importance in economics. Understanding the role of boards is vital both for our understanding of corporate behavior and with respect to setting policy to regulate corporate activities.

Feasibilty study of a proposed new Thames river crossing The WritePass Journal

Feasibilty study of a proposed new Thames river crossing Introduction Feasibilty study of a proposed new Thames river crossing IntroductionENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:FINANCING AND EVALUATION OF A PROJECT:Economic evaluation:RISK ASSESSMENT:LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED BRIDGE:BUDGET COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS:REFERENCES:Related Introduction Thames River is the longest river in England and second longest river in United Kingdom. The significance of the river is that it flows through the London. It starts from Thames head in Gloucestershire with an elevation of 110m and ends at Thames Estuary, Essex with an elevation of 0m. The length of river is 346km. It consists of 214 bridges and 17 tunnels which are very helpful in development. These bridges and tunnels are helpful in providing good transport facilities to the public and also for the supply of goods and cargo. By this the bridges and tunnels play vital role in development and also they are helpful in creating great opportunities for the development of industrial areas, education and also increase in the number of jobs. Thames gateway is a largest gateway in Europe. It is a largest regeneration programme. Thames gateway is of 40 miles starting from the estuary from canary wharf in London to south end in Essex and Sittingbourne in Kent. It is a very best place to invest, work and live. The world first under water tunnel was constructed in the Thames River. And the latest tunnel constructed on Thames River was Dartford tunnel. Our proposal is to connect the A130, Canvey Island in Essex with the M2/M20 in Kent. In order to reduce the traffic volumes on the existing bridges and tunnels and also for providing the better transportation facilities for the public a proposal of new river crossing across the river Thames is made. The United Kingdom government wants to construct a new river crossing. Some of the other organisations are also helping in constructing a new crossing they are Kent council, Essex council, department for London (DFT), Thames gateway south Essex partnership (TGSEP). The main aim of these organisations is to develop and help in getting more number of jobs and in the construction of new homes in the future. Although there are two existing routes which are Queen Elizabeth 2 bridge and the other is Dartford tunnel which are serving the same purpose. The new proposal is made to get more benefits to the people and also to meet the traffic volumes in future. Bridge is the best solution for the new river crossing. Cable stayed bridge with approximately 4.5 km length and a dual carriage way and also the new roads should be constructed in order to link the existing routes. The length of the new roads is approximately 3 km. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: Environment plays a major role in construction industry. Environmental issues are to be considered carefully before the construction process is going to start and also the environmental impact assessment is to be done to the particular area where the construction is going to take place. After the environmental impact assessment done then only the project is to be started it should not start before it. The environmental issues which are to be considered for the new project Geological considerations Ecology problems Land contamination Landscape Water pollution Noise pollution Air pollution Traffic and transport considerations. The construction process involves the emission of co2. The construction process is responsible for air pollution because construction works generates dust largely because of the materials which are useful for construction contains more number of dust particles. And also by the use of diesel, petrol, demolitions, burnings these all involves in air pollution. This air pollution causes damage to the public in their healths. The construction process is also responsible for noise pollution because of the machinery, vehicles and also the other useful equipment for the construction creates lots of noise that makes people to face lots of problem. By these health problems arises. Water pollution is also arises due to construction because the use of diesel, petrol, toxic materials, chemicals, solvents, cleaners, paints everything which are used in the construction process involves in water pollution. The polluted water cause great damage to the aquatic life and also to the other animals. The polluted drinking water may cause damage to human lives. Use of sustainable materials: We can reduce the wastages in the construction process by using sustainable materials. The following are some points considered. Shortage of raw materials is to be considered Consider the ecological damage caused by the extraction of raw materials Consider the amount of energy consumed at all stages Consider the amount of water consumption. FINANCING AND EVALUATION OF A PROJECT: Finance is the most important and the key factor in the construction process. In order to maintain or run a project finance is badly needed. The generation of finance can be made from different sectors such as public or private sectors. In this type of proposals the public sector involvement is more because in order to make public more comfortable with the services provided. And the private sectors also involve largely gaining more profits. Finance from government Funds from private sector By the contributions from different organisations. Economic evaluation: Better solution is to be adopted in order to provide good service and to balance economically. Cost benefit analysis is to be adopted. Generation of extra revenue from taxes. RISK ASSESSMENT: Risk assessment is the process of evaluating that a specific site poses risk to human environment or to human health. The purpose of all hazardous waste site remediation is ultimately to render a site safe for human or ecological populations. Consequently, risk assessment, as the process used to measure the effectiveness of the remediation process, is critical to all hazardous waste-site work. Risk assessment depends upon the following: Finance: It is the most important in the process, make sure of the finance. Site investigation: It is to be done properly before the project is to be started. Estimation of the project: Proper estimation should be done. Proper use of code: The code should be used properly if not it leads to great damage. Design criteria: we should follow the design criteria properly in order to avoid delays and loss in the projec Health and safety: It is the most important thing in the entire process. It deals directly with the public we should be more careful and follow the rules strictly to provide good safety measures. Environmental impact assessment: First we have to consider the environmental issues and the proper environmental impact assessment should be made properly in order to avoid delays. Natural hazards: If the natural hazards take place the project gets disturbed depending upon the severity of the hazard. If it is less small amount of loss occurs if it is more the project takes more time and money to reconstruct. Land acquisition: It is to be done properly in order to avoid delays and loss in the project. Quality of work: The quality of work is to be maintained properly in order to avoid damages to the structures and delays in the work. Transportation concerns: Proper transportation facilities are to be made before the project is going to start in order to make the work continue with out any risks or problems. Proper management: The proper management should be there in order to avoid risks and delays and also the proper running of project. FEASIBILITY PROGRAMS: Depending upon the volume of traffics, surveys are to be made. Time based traffic surveys are to be made to know the volume of traffic and proper design is to be prepared. Automatic data collection surveys are to be made. Parking surveys are to be done. Pedestrian traffic surveys are to be made. Proper investigations are to be made depending on the studies and the required information. Site investigation is to be done properly in order to avoid further delays. Proper maps of the site are to be gathered. Suitability of site is to be considered depending up on the investigations. Because to adopt the proper suitable methods which can be suitable for the project. Availability of materials is to be considered properly on the site. Consider the design parameters properly in order to maintain the standards of the project. Soil classifications are to be considered and type of soil is to be considered in order to safe guard the site from failures. Ground investigations are to be made in order to study the entire required information. Geological considerations should be followed properly. LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED BRIDGE: The proposal for a new river crossing across the Thames River. A bridge is going to be constructed which connects a link between A130, A13 near a round about in Canvey island and A228 passing through A226 and joins with M2 which builds a link to M20, Kent. The attachment shown below is the location of a proposed bridge on the Thames River. The proposed bridge length is approximately 4.5 km. BUDGET COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKS: Considering the cost of the proposed bridge. It can’t be estimated exactly as it is a proposal and it can be estimated approximately with the comparison of the other bridges which are already constructed and also with the help of some other books and the information available on the websites some data is collected and the approximate estimation of the bridge is made. The funds can be raised from different sectors like public and private sectors. The approximate cost of the proposed bridge is  £3.8 billions along with the connecting roads. REFERENCES: 1)` http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames#Summary 2)communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/157989.pdf 3) http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=enlr=id=O7klw-QUraECoi=fndpg=PA1996dq=sustainable+methods+of+constructionots=PH3J0dqGGUsig=z-YFjDsYfDNRQR-GEdff9YuzB-0#PPA2007,M1 4) http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=povFlfv82O8Cdq=risk+assessment 5)rta.tkk.fi/Kurssit/240/Risk%20Assessment%20in%20Construction%20Schedules.pdf 6) nltdc.co.uk/ 7) dur.ac.uk/~des0www4/cal/roads/si/si.html 8) http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=entab=wl 9) sustainablebuild.co.uk/ 10)ciria.org/service/Home/AM/ContentManagerNet/HomePages/CIRIA_1502_20080929T115140HomePage.aspx?Section=Home

A Fable by Mark Twain

A Fable by Mark Twain One of the basic exercises (or progymnasmata) practiced by students of classical rhetoric was the fable- a fictional story meant to teach a moral lesson. What lesson about the nature of perception is contained in A Fable, by American humorist Mark Twain? A Fable by Mark Twain Once upon a time, an artist who had painted a small and very beautiful picture placed it so that he could see it in the mirror. He said, This doubles the distance and softens it, and it is twice as lovely as it was before. The animals out in the woods heard of this through the housecat, who was greatly admired by them because he was so learned, and so refined and civilized, and so polite and high-bred, and could tell them so much which they didnt know before, and were not certain about afterward. They were much excited about this new piece of gossip, and they asked questions, so as to get at a full understanding of it. They asked what a picture was, and the cat explained. It is a flat thing, he said; wonderfully flat, marvelously flat, enchantingly flat and elegant. And, oh, so beautiful! That excited them almost to a frenzy, and they said they would give the world to see it. Then the bear asked: What is it that makes it so beautiful? It is the looks of it, said the cat. This filled them with admiration and uncertainty, and they were more excited than ever. Then the cow asked: What is a mirror? It is a hole in the wall, said the cat. You look in it, and there you see the picture, and it is so dainty and charming and ethereal and inspiring in its unimaginable beauty that your head turns round and round, and you almost swoon with ecstasy. The ass had not said anything as yet; he now began to throw doubts. He said there had never been anything as beautiful as this before, and probably wasnt now. He said that when it took a whole basketful of sesquipedalian adjectives to whoop up a thing of beauty, it was time for suspicion. It was easy to see that these doubts were having an effect upon the animals, so the cat went off offended. The subject was dropped for a couple of days, but in the meantime, curiosity was taking a fresh start, and there was a revival of interest perceptible. Then the animals assailed the ass for spoiling what could possibly have been a pleasure to them, on a mere suspicion that the picture was not beautiful, without any evidence that such was the case. The ass was not troubled; he was calm, and said there was one way to find out who was in the right, himself or the cat: he would go and look in that hole, and come back and tell what he found there. The animals felt relieved and grateful and asked him to go at oncewhich he did. But he did not know where he ought to stand; and so, through error, he stood between the picture and the mirror. The result was that the picture had no chance, and didnt show up. He returned home and said: The cat lied. There was nothing in that hole but an ass. There wasnt a sign of a flat thing visible. It was a handsome ass, and friendly, but just an ass, and nothing more. The elephant asked: Did you see it good and clear? Were you close to it? I saw it good and clear, O Hathi, King of Beasts. I was so close that I touched noses with it. This is very strange, said the elephant; the cat was always truthful beforeas far as we could make out. Let another witness try. Go, Baloo, look in the hole, and come and report. So the bear went. When he came back, he said: Both the cat and the ass have lied; there was nothing in the hole but a bear. Great was the surprise and puzzlement of the animals. Each was now anxious to make the test himself and get at the straight truth. The elephant sent them one at a time. First, the cow. She found nothing in the hole but a cow. The tiger found nothing in it but a tiger. The lion found nothing in it but a lion. The leopard found nothing in it but a leopard. The camel found a camel, and nothing more. Then Hathi was wroth, and said he would have the truth, if he had to go and fetch it himself. When he returned, he abused his whole subjectry for liars, and was in an unappeasable fury with the moral and mental blindness of the cat. He said that anybody but a near-sighted fool could see that there was nothing in the hole but an elephant. MORAL, BY THE CAT You can find in a text whatever you bring, if you will stand between it and the mirror of your imagination. You may not see your ears, but they will be there.

Korean Film class midterm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Korean Film class midterm - Essay Example Personal life of an individual intersects with the historical and cultural specifications of the country in a particular historical period of time. â€Å"Peppermint Candy† is successfully embodied this idea into its perfect content and unforgettable form. The central character in â€Å"Peppermint Candy† is considered to be a man that is named Kim Yong-ho. The opening scene of the film introduces his intention to commit a suicide. Kim Yong-ho stays on rails in front of the moving train with the words â€Å"I want to go back again† (Shin and Stringer, 161). Viewers have a chance to observe the result of his entire life, but the reasons seem in this situation more interesting. It is relevant to admit that further actions in the movie represent the number of causes that lead to such tragic and irrevocable final. The last words of Kim Yong-ho expose his desire to return to the past and built his life differently. The moment of frustration and despair is included into the opening scene and viewers are involved to Kim Yong-ho’s self disappointment and discord of his personality. This man does not find a sense in his life and does not have a desire to exist. Obviously, he wishes to correct his mistakes, but his understanding and recognition of inability to fix the past induces him only to death. He stays in front of the moving train and ready to go to eternity. The filmmakers of â€Å"Peppermint Candy† place the moment of highest emotional tension in the beginning of the movie. The step-by-step explanation goes next through the number of flashbacks that constructs the entire film. Lee Chang Dong uses the technique of reverse chronology in order to objectify his concept into this particular movie. Viewers pretend to follow the most relevant episodes from the Kim Yong-ho’s personal and social life. The last twenty years of his existence is depicted in the â€Å"Peppermint Candy† with the help of â€Å"reverse temporal denouement† beginning with 1999 and

Effect of IT Industry on Literacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Effect of IT Industry on Literacy - Essay Example For example a manual may require at least a week with a man power of ten to fifteen people whereas when it comes to an automation the same work can be finished off within a day with an employee of one o two who knows how to operate it. A number of examples can be cited where Information Technology has played a considerable role. We can take the banks before they were automated. There used to be a lot of difficulty and lot of time consumption for performing transactions. Cashing a check involved a lot of time as the balance had to be calculated manually. But Information Technology has revolutionized banking sectors. Any kind of transaction can be performed within seconds from creating an account to withdrawing cash. And the introduction of ATMs(Automated Teller machines) has made the work even much more simpler in which the user can take money whenever he or she likes and need nor carry the exact amount of money. The IT industry has created a lot of opportunities as well in terms of employment and also with special incentives and packages which no other fields are offering. And also IT sector had a lot of influence of the education sector. Computer education is being provided from early years of education itself. This helps children to cope up with the coming years since they would have firm foundation in computers. Also special emphasis is being given in terms of application programming and also to games. Games help children to improve creativity and also form a kind of entertainment and refreshment. Similarly exposure to internet has also helped since internet is considered to be the largest storage of knowledge and the child can get any sort of information on whatever topic or subject he or she is interested in. It also makes learning easy and interesting. Information technology provides for students to develop and exercise their critical thinking abilities. Information conveyed through advanced information technology such as computers and the World Wide Web can appear more convincing than the same information conveyed through a conversation with a stranger or the newspaper, despite the fact that it may have equiva lent accuracy and validity. Students must evaluate all information critically. Their ability to present information using information technology can aid in developing an ability to separate form from content in all information, and in assessing its accuracy and validity. The result is a more critical evaluation of all information. Such critical ability helps individuals to evaluate information technology-mediated claims for alternative medicines, advertisements for energy-efficient homes, and homework advice from peers. Hence it can be observed that the IT industry has many positive aspects on literacy and education. One of the reasons is that IT has been made to reach even the remote places these days. In the past computers were only subjected to large offices and sectors. Even the internet was limitedly available. But slowly due to advancement in technology an attempt has been made to reach technology to every one and everywhere. This had been dome mainly due to the benefits which this particular field has got. These are the advantages of the IT field. But there are many negative aspects of IT sector as well. IT has definitely promoted literacy. But it has