Problems and Prospects of Poultry Industry in Bangladesh Essay

Business Ethics of India and China

Business Ethics of India and China Globalization has united nations, yet it has likewise made a brought together moral viewpoint for nations working with each other. Supervisory crews are at long last understanding that there is a universe of moral provokes simply holding on to be found through the expanding advancement of globalization. Morals are an issue for each nation exclusively; however simply envision the additional difficulties achieved by language and social contrasts on a worldwide scale. In this paper I will examine two articles which detail the moral points of view of India and China, how these articles add to the comprehension of worldwide morals, and how the business morals of India and China contrast with those of the United States. Santa Clause Clara University distributed an article by Stephen Rothlin entitled Business Ethics in the Chinese Context which examined the advancement in business morals made by China in 2006 and 2007. In January of 2008 Rothlin, the general secretary of the Center for International Business Ethics in Beijing, China, refreshed the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics Business and Organizational Ethics Partnership with the advancement he had seen since his past visit in 2006. Rothlin talked about six classes including purchaser rights, against debasement action, natural supportability, network commitment, and measures for moral organizations. In every one of these six classes, Rothlin talked about the upgrades he had seen and his suggestions for the regions that he felt required improvement (Business Ethics in the Chinese Context , 2008). Laborers rights and work norms have improved in China through the advancement of the Labor Contract Law. This law presently shields Chinas long haul workers from being terminated without explicit reason. It necessitates that organizations add to worker government managed savings accounts and has upgraded representative wellbeing by improving the guideline of working conditions. This new law additionally secures Chinas kids with kid work guidelines. The biggest test is in guaranteeing that China keeps these new laws and guidelines (Business Ethics in the Chinese Context , 2008). In 2007, China confronted a significant mishap from a flood of item reviews. Rothlin talked on how China ought to improve item security, publicizing, and the issues of morals. Rothlin additionally talked about Chinas against defilement exercises and how the terminating of Mayor Chen Liangyu (which was a piece of the crackdown on debasement) sent a shockwave all through China. Rothlin expressed, We need to depend on the dedication of high ranking representatives to battle defilement, and they [the top officials] lose believability by sitting idle. A significant debasement issue in China is pay off through blessing giving. Rothlin accepted that declining a blessing would be against the social standard in China, however that authorities expected to concentrate on how a set of principles could set explicit cutoff points to giving endowments (Business Ethics in the Chinese Context , 2008). Rothlin examined natural manageability and how the 2008 Olympics being held in Beijing had lured authorities to tidy up the open transportation framework, preserve vitality, and tidy up the water and air contamination issues. The Chinese individuals were urged to help through another assessment framework that was created. Subsequently, social duty had become a developing interest, particularly in the significance of instruction. The last point that Rothlin talked about was the manner by which his organization would grow new morals measures that would be utilized to help distinguish the most moral organizations in China (Business Ethics in the Chinese Context , 2008). Rothlin built up the 18 Rules of International Business Ethics (Schulman, 2006). These guidelines are: Rule 1 If you endeavor to comprehend the estimations of various societies, you will discover normal focuses. Rule 2 If you break down the realities, you will understand that genuineness and dependability advantage you. Rule 3 If you break down contextual investigations from alternate points of view, you will find the advantages of reasonable play. Rule 4 Respecting your partners is the most intelligent venture you can make. Rule 5 To build profitability, give protected and sound working conditions. Rule 6 To move trust, make your exhibition straightforward. Rule 7 Your steadfast dispute can lead your organization the correct way. Rule 8 Downsizing your work power is just valuable when you regard every partner. Rule 9 To build up your image name, go about as a reasonable contender. Rule 10 Reduce the hole between the rich and poor by building up another government disability framework. Rule 11 If you act against separation, you will build your efficiency and gainfulness. Rule 12 If you secure protected innovation, all partners will get their due offer. Rule 13 Ongoing changes in data innovation require new types of faithfulness. Rule 14 Your advertising procedure will possibly make sure about your notoriety on the off chance that it observes your drive for quality and greatness. Rule 15 Your monetary accomplishments will possibly remain on firm ground on the off chance that you reduce defilement. Rule 16 Long-term achievement critically calls you to continually think about nature. Rule 17 To turn into a refined player, hone your acumen and develop great habits. Rule 18 Care for your business via thinking about society. The second article I assessed was additionally found on the Santa Clara University site. It was composed by Margaret Steen, an independent creator. Her article entitled Business Ethics in a Global World: Indias Changing Ethics surveys a location to the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics by Jagdish Sheth. Sheth, the official chief of the India, China, and America Institute and an educator of advertising at Emory University, examined Business Ethics in a Global World (Steen, 2007). Sheth talked about manners by which Indian strategic policies are one of a kind. He expressed that he trusted Indias one of a kind strategic approaches would empower the moral conduct of the famous western perspective. Some of Indias interesting strategic policies incorporate corporate social obligation, favors, clanship, and kinship (Steen, 2007). Sheth accepted that the breakdown of socialism was a main consideration in the move from twentieth century business morals to the current 21st century plan of action. He contended that some previously socialist nations have become all around run entrepreneur nations. Some different factors in moving business morals into the 21st century are that prosperous countries are maturing and the customary enterprises don't create the same number of occupations today as they did previously. Individuals in places of intensity have found that financial aspects assume an indispensable job in the consequences of races. The central point that has helped move business morals into the 21st century however is the advancement of data innovation, which has evened the odds for all economies (Steen, 2007). In the article, Sheth accepted that both China and India are very nearly turning out to be imaginative economies and are not simply elective areas for our low-end employments. He accepted that when this occurred, the move would eventually rethink strategic approaches. Indias strategic policies are remarkable and might be good with western strategic policies one day, yet India accepts that favors, clanship, and fellowship are significant in business, while western business morals accept this to be an irreconcilable situation. In the wake of evaluating these two articles, I can see that the business morals of India and China are vastly different than those of the United States. China sees since financial matters are a significant piece of decisions, and Sheth clarified that the explanation George Bush Sr. lost his re-appointment offer was because of the wavering economy. Sheth likewise clarified his conviction that the 21st century will be viewed as the Asian century. Sheth accepted that the Asian culture puts a premium on kinship, clanship, and favors however in American business morals, this would be viewed as a gigantic irreconcilable circumstance (Steen, 2007). Sheth expressed that western business has its own form Procurement divisions in U.S. organizations are bound to purchase from the companys clients (Steen, 2007). Sheth accepted that countries are moving their concentration to partners as opposed to concentrating on investors. Later on, Sheth expressed that morals will be moored to the possibility of business as a calling, like the manner in which the field of medication is presently. There will be worldwide norms of administration, yet their application will be adjusted to neighborhood conditions (Steen, 2007). So with regards to Globalization, India and China are relied upon to be the pioneers in the twentieth century. Some accept that the nineteenth century, or the American century has at long last reached a conclusion. Through globalization, China and India have found that the zone of business morals is an ever-changing condition and subsequently, supervisory groups inside these nations have built up a moral program that empowers them to cooperate morally. Despite the fact that there are obstructions, for example, various dialects, different societies, and a developing number of individuals included China and India have had the option to defeat them so as to cooperate. In this paper I explored two articles from Santa Clara University that talked about the business morals of India and China and how their business morals contrast with that of the United States of America.

How Jessica Alba Became an Entrepreneur and Started her Company

How Jessica Alba Became an Entrepreneur and Started her Company © Shutterstock.com | s_bukleyIn this article, we will cover Jessica Albas journey from being a movie star to becoming a great entrepreneur by looking at 1) some introduction to who Jessica Alba is, 2) how Jessica started The Honest Company, 3) a deep dive into how her company is working, and 4) some thoughts on entrepreneurship from Jessica Alba.INTRODUCTIONJessica Alba is a well-known name in the television and film industry for playing roles in popular films such as ‘Little Fockers’ and ‘Fantastic Four’ along with television series like Entourage and The Office.She has been nominated in the Golden Globe and originally belongs to California. She still carries her humble beginnings with her and never stays behind when it comes to sharing her fortune with the less fortunate. She actively supports charities such as Project HOME, Habitat for Humanity, ONE and Safer Chemicals Healthy Families.Apart from all her social work, she also enjoys being a mother. For Jessica, motherhood is one of the most beautiful experiences that she has ever had. She is a mother of two gorgeous girls, Haven and Honor and she believes that it is the duty of every parent to give their children the best possible start.When I became a mom, I just kind of opened up and got a new perspective. I have fearlessness and a confidence that I think you can only get with experience and age. Some people get it earlier, but it took me a while” says Alba.How ‘Honest’ is Alba?The success of Alba’s life is not only veiled under being successful in her career as an actress and a mother of two beauties. Alba is also an entrepreneur with a company whose net value is $1 billion. That is right! Jessica Alba is the proud founder of The Honest Company. This company offers must-have products for every new family. It offers effective, safe, and natural products that are environmentally friendly and non-toxic.The Honest Company sells baby products that can provide a family with five quintessential products of their choice for only $35.95 a month. From bath and body, diapers, vitamins, feeding, gifts and cleaning to everything that a baby needs, The Honest Company sells it all at very reasonable prices.Jessica Alba’s venture is among the most successful entrepreneurial startups in the Silicon Valley.“It took three years of me spending my own money, trying to figure out where to manufacture, what the product suite would be and what this lifestyle brand is all about. I did a lot of research and funded it with my personal money. Everyone told me I was crazy. It’s not very sexy to make safe household cleaning products.” said Alba.HOW IT HAPPENEDThe idea of The Honest Company came into being when Alba was herself facing difficulty to find natural and harmless products for her newborns. Alba got an allergic reaction through a washing detergent while she was pregnant, and it made her realize that every product around us contains dangerous toxins.As a parent, in her search for safe products for her babies, she gave preference to buying products that were advertised with a green, organic, or natural vision rather than “popular brands”. She found that even the product lines, which were accumulating fame for being “green” were in reality a mere exaggeration. This was a breach of trust for Alba, and she set out on a mission to be that one brand for families that could be trusted.This realization and struggle led her to team up with Christopher Gavigan, an environmental scientist. Ganvigan’s book ‘Healthy Child Healthy World’ inspired Alba to think about developing safer products for families. The book was written to help parents adapt a green and environmentally safer approach for their homes. He was also running an initiative by the same name at that time.It was during his book launch that she met Gavigan for the first time and insisted him on helping her. She was so passionate about this business idea that she reportedly said, “I stalked hi m (Gavigan) for three years after that”.They both shared the same vision: to develop chemical free products that they will buy for their families. The initial idea was very simple and straightforward: Alba wanted a natural world all around her and wanted to contribute to a healthy environment especially for expecting mothers and young children.Gavigan and Alba researched tirelessly on making their dream turn into reality. After thorough research, the rough idea of the business was pitched to Brian Lee, a serial entrepreneur. He refused saying that the idea was not very promising. However, Alba did not give up and worked on refining her research and concept, along with battling with people all around her saying that developing products for mothers and babies is not “sexy” enough. It was after 18 months that Alba approached Lee again and then there was no looking back.Lee, Gavigan, and Alba joined forces to create a brand that contributes to a healthy environment. The Honest Com pany was thus formed in 2011, selling only wipes and diapers.Currently, the business sells a vast array of baby care products including deodorants, baby feed, vitamins, oils, conditioners, shampoos, laundry detergent, formula dispenser, and everything in between.Alba believes in great transparency and ‘honesty’ in business, and that is exactly what her business is based on. According to Alba, it is the responsibility of every parent to provide the best start to their newborns and with a multitude of chemicals present in various baby products, the best start becomes almost an impossibility.Alba and the MediaAlba has agreed on various occasions that her celebrity image has tremendously helped her with the success of The Honest Company. She has also reflected on her positive relationship with the media and how it has played a significant role in the success of her business. Alba made good use of those relationships to make sure that The Honest Company received the maximum limelight .The Honest Company does not manufacture wood toys, totes, and cribs that it sells on its own. Instead, it outsources their production to The Collective, which is a completely ‘green’ initiative. The cribs that the company sells are created by Babyletto and are finished using safe and non-hazardous paints, created from sourced pine.The Honest Company was launched with a charity project involving its cribs. On the sale of every crib, The Honest Company pledged to donate another crib to a child in need. Alba was called up to appear on Ellen Degeneres’ show and right after the show aired, all of the cribs by The Honest Company were sold out.With all the help she has received from the media, she has also reflected on its negative side. While she is up on the media talking about The Honest Company, most people think that she has endorsed the brand rather than being its proud owner. It is, therefore, difficult for people to believe that Alba was the one who came up with the idea. Mo reover, Alba feels that it is easier being an actress than an entrepreneur. Running a business takes long meetings and a lot of stress to cope up with, according to Alba.The struggleWhile Jessica Alba was just thinking about manufacturing environmentally friendly products for families, she was constantly being told by people how the idea does not match her ‘sexy’ image and how the business would fail. She took all of that advice in a positive stride and backed her pitch with great research and pragmatic reasoning. She now realizes that the Honest Company truly defines who she is as a person.Honesty all the wayThe Honest Company makes 80% of its sales online. However, it reached a deal in 2014 with Target, which enabled it to distribute its products through chains including Buy Buy Baby, Whole Foods, Nordstrom, and Costco.Jessica Alba chooses the retail partners of the company very carefully as they have to comprehend and appreciate the lifestyle and portfolio of the products. Th e Honest Company is B Corp certified and gives a fraction of its profits to families in need. Gavigan, Lee, and Alba are still in the process of investing in the brand without caring too much about the profit.The launch of the online store of the Honest Company marks its humble beginnings. All of the co-founders wanted to adapt a model in which they will get a chance to cater directly to the final consumer and hence opening up a digital outlet seemed like the correct option. Social feeds and bloggers were approached to give the online store a strong launch.A PEEK INTO THE COMPANYThe Honest Company is not only about creating non-toxic and green products for the family. Instead, it is a complete lifestyle. Therefore, when people are buying their products for their babies or family, they are opting for a complete lifestyle than a single product. The company just began with selling wipes and diapers, and now it sells everything that a mother requires. The company is so successful that b ecoming an IPO is in its pipeline.The office culture of the Honest Company is no different: just like its products, it is a heartfelt experience and lifestyle. Santa Monica, California houses the company’s offices that are branded the color tones of aqua, black and white. The flow of natural sunlight is an absolute quintessential in its office place. The Honest Company’s office is a visual treat.EatingThe place also hosts a kitchen for its employees. Alba was against the typical office environment for the employees and therefore got a kitchen constructed where they can easily prepare quick lunches and healthy snacks.The dividing kitchen wall is created out of wood and has ‘Honest’ written on it with Orange, Pink, Blue and Yellow flowers. The office also hosts a common area where employees can have their lunch in peace. The common area comprises of long wooden tables, and the dividing wall has a TV and a huge black moustache on it for an upbeat look. The office space/showroom is built in the best interests of the employees.SittingThe environment of the showroom is designed to boost creativity among the employees. The seating arrangement is very carefree with comfortable and colorful sofas, which allows creative communication and exchange of ideas. Moreover, instead of conventional conference rooms, the showroom hosts casual gathering spaces where employees can easily collaborate and bath themselves in sunlight.The internal environment is beautifully connected with the external patio that has bamboo trees and a lot of those “green” visual delights. The garage door connects the patio with the workspace. So, employees can stay inside while having a look at what’s going around outside.The patio contains comfortable chairs and tables along with huge umbrellas to provide the much-needed shade on the sunny days. All of the walls were removed from the showroom in order to enable sunlight to pierce through. Moreover, cubicles were removed and formed into c asual rows of communal teams for a home-like office environment.Go GreenNo matter where you look at the showroom, something or the other will remind you of what this business is built for. The organic and green image of the business in applied at every aesthetic corner of the workplace. Jessica Alba’s love for sustainable décor and nature is displayed through the vertical succulent garden in the common room, which is created out of reclaimed wood. Moreover, there are numerous plants around the whole workplace. The office makes use of numerous recycled materials, which comprises of the usage of reclaimed wood throughout the space. From the dividing wooden walls to wooden conference room table, reclaimed wood can probably be stated as the signature style of the whole place.The mango-wood shelves that appear throughout the workspace are created out of sustainable wood and provide both aesthetic value and storage. The same philosophy even transcends looking at the televisions they ha ve around the place; the TV looks amazing placed in front of the aqua colored wall and enclosed with a thin border of the wood.The outside garden is fueled by recyclable water and workers can pick vegetables from the garden and take them to their families if they want.Fun-filledThe joyous environment of the Honest Company is also reflected by the fact that every table has a jar of jellybeans on them. Whenever the employees feel dull, they can just pick some candy and fuel up some creativity in their brains. There is also a 3D game of Tic Tac Toe present, which employees could play around with in their free time.ProductsThe workplace hosts a jungle gym for mommy bloggers to come with their kids and play around while trying out the latest products of the Honest Company. Bloggers can then write about their experiences of the brand to spread a positive word of mouth about the company. There is a wall that comprises of frames containing all the diaper designs that the company has to offe r. The artistic flair of this company shows the various designs it has when it comes to diapers. The entire product line of The Honest Company is displayed in the workspace cum showroom. In 2011, the company offered 17 products, which were all centered on the young mother. Currently, the company sells about 100 products covering different aspects of housekeeping. Therefore, The Honest Company is now the complete home solution rather than only selling products for the babies.InspirationThere is another thing about this workplace which makes it unique: the words. Inspirational words are all over the place to provide the employees with the much-needed inspiration every single day. Let it be the walls or the staircase, anyone entering the workplace can easily lay their eyes on the mission and vision of the Honest Company. One wall has the entire manifesto of the company written over it.The main workplace area that is visible to everyone that enters it is the Tree Of Life which contains photographs of all the employees of this company branching out from the pictures of its founders. The Los Angeles Headquarters of the company employs around 200 people while the Austin office houses a further 100 employees.THOUGHTS ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP FROM JESSICA ALBAWith all success of the Honest Company, Alba now appreciates her acting profession more than ever before as she thinks handling a business is a lot of work. During one interview, she said, “Board meetings are so long.”She also discussed the role of raising money for the business and thinks it is among the most difficult jobs. According to Alba, appearing in movies is less stressful because your whole life does not depend on it. However, when it comes to a business, you life becomes dependent on its success.Jessica Alba truly believes that the journey of entrepreneurship begins with an idea â€" that is all she had in the beginning. She took her idea and researched on it to create a practical feasibility of an ent repreneurial venture. She knew what her mission was and what she wanted to contribute to the environment, and it was her idea that took her ahead in her dream of founding her own business.

Great Opening Lines Examples of How to Begin an Essay

In The Writing of Essays (1901), H.G. Wells offers some lively advice on how to begin an essay: So long as you do not begin with a definition you may begin anyhow. An abrupt beginning is much admired, after the fashion of the clowns entry through the chemists window. Then whack at your reader at once, hit him over the head with the sausages, brisk him up with the poker, bundle him into the wheelbarrow, and so carry him away with you before he knows where you are. You can do what you like with a reader then, if you only keep him nicely on the move. So long as you are happy your reader will be so too. In contrast to the leads seen in Hookers vs. Chasers: How Not to Begin an Essay, here are some opening lines that, in various ways, whack the reader at once and encourage us to read on. I hadnt planned to wash the corpse.But sometimes you just get caught up in the moment. . . .(Reshma Memon Yaqub, The Washing. The Washington Post Magazine, March 21, 2010)The peregrine falcon was brought back from the brink of extinction by a ban on DDT, but also by a peregrine falcon mating hat invented by an ornithologist at Cornell University. . . .(David James Duncan, Cherish This Ecstasy. The Sun, July 2008)Unrequited love, as Lorenz Hart instructed us, is a bore, but then so are a great many other things: old friends gone somewhat dotty from whom it is too late to disengage, the important social-science-based book of the month, 95 percent of the items on the evening news, discussions about the Internet, arguments against the existence of God, people who overestimate their charm, all talk about wine, New York Times editorials, lengthy lists (like this one), and, not least, oneself. . . .(Joseph Epstein, Duh, Bor-ing. Commentary, June 2011)Before the 19th century, when dinosaur b ones turned up they were taken as evidence of dragons, ogres, or giant victims of Noahs Flood. After two centuries of paleontological harvest, the evidence seems stranger than any fable, and continues to get stranger. . . .(John Updike, Extreme Dinosaurs. National Geographic, December 2007)During menopause, a woman can feel like the only way she can continue to exist for 10 more seconds inside her crawling, burning skin is to walk screaming into the sea--grandly, epically, and terrifyingly, like a 15-foot-tall Greek tragic figure wearing a giant, pop-eyed wooden mask. Or she may remain in the kitchen and begin hurling objects at her family: telephones, coffee cups, plates. . . .(Sandra Tsing Loh, The Bitch Is Back. The Atlantic, October 2011)There is a new cell-phone ring tone that cant be heard by most people over the age of twenty, according to an NPR report. The tone is derived from something called the Mosquito, a device invented by a Welsh security firm for the noble purpose of driving hooligans, yobs, scamps, neer-do-wells, scapegraces, ruffians, tosspots, and bravos away from places where grownups are attempting to ply an honest trade. . . .(Louis Menand, Name That Tone. The New Yorker, June 26, 2006)Only a sentence, casually placed as a footnote in the back of Justin Kaplans thick 2003 biography of Walt Whitman, but it goes off like a little explosion: Bram Stoker based the character of Dracula on Walt Whitman. . . .(Mark Doty, Insatiable. Granta #117, 2011)I have wonderful friends. In this last year, one took me to Istanbul. One gave me a box of hand-crafted chocolates. Fifteen of them held two rousing, pre-posthumous wakes for me. . . .(Dudley Clendinen, The Good Short Life. The New York Times Sunday Review, July 9, 2011) What these opening lines have in common is that all have been reprinted (with complete essays attached) in recent editions of The Best American Essays, an annual collection of crackling good reads culled from magazines, journals, and websites. Unfortunately, not all the essays quite live up to the promise of their openings. And a few superb essays have rather pedestrian introductions. (One resorts to the formula, In this essay, I want to explore . . ..) But all in all, if youre looking for some artful, thought-provoking, and occasionally humorous lessons in essay writing, open any volume of The Best American Essays.

Essay on Abstinence Programs Do They Work - 945 Words

Abstinence Programs: Do they Work? In 2005, nearly half of all high school students have had sexual intercourse. Plainly stating that abstinence programs do not work (USA Today). Abstinence programs were beneficial many years ago, but since they are ineffective in delaying teen pregnancy, then teen pregnancy rate has increased. Abstinence programs teach the â€Å"no sex until marriage† clause, but they don’t teach teens about birth control and the consequences of having sex at before they’ve matured. Although many studies argue that abstinence programs are educational and beneficial, other studies will show that they don’t delay teen sex, they don’t prevent the spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), and are a waste of taxpayers’†¦show more content†¦Sexually active teens that don’t use birth control have a 90% chance of getting pregnant within a year (Guttmacher Institute). Most teens refuse to use birth control for their own personal rea sons. Teens use birth control to opt out of having protected sex† (Center for reproductive Rights 80). There is a high percentage rate of teens that actually use condoms during sex. 74% of females used contraception the first time they had sex (Guttmacher Institute). The percentage of teens that used more than one form of contraception is very low. Approximately 25% of sexually active teens use 2 methods of birth control during sex (Guttmacher Institute). The rate of teens that use condoms and still get pregnant is very low. During the first year of â€Å"typical use†, 20 of teens under the age of 18 using condoms for contraception get pregnant within one year (Abstinence Programs 75). It proves that abstinence programs reach teens that are not easily influenced by sex. Diseases and Teens Teens end up getting sexually transmitted diseases because they are unaware of the consequences of unprotected sex. No abstinence-only program affected the incidence of unprotected vaginal sex (The Australian). Annually 3 million teenagers contract STDs from their partner (Robert Rector). Teens who have early sex not only suffer from STDs, they also have emotional and physical damage. Research shows that young people who become sexuallyShow MoreRelatedAbstinence And Comprehensive Sex Education999 Words   |  4 PagesI lean towards the abstinence side of the argument between abstinence and comprehensive sex education because of my religious beliefs. Although I feel abstinence should be the focus of sex education, I think it is important to teach young people a balance to protect themselves. While researching this topic, it seems that many of the articles have the same idea to teach abstinence along with safe sex which would be comprehensive sex ed. With the ris ing sexual transmitted diseases and pregnanciesRead MoreThe Reality Of Abstinence Versus Sex Education1224 Words   |  5 PagesClarissa Jane Fender Mrs. Presley English 11 10 April 2017 The Reality of Abstinence Versus Sex Education Do you ever stop to wonder what goes through a teen’s mind? Maybe it s the late paper that wasn t turned in for English or the worry of coming home after school to family members being high as a kite, maybe it s the plans for their significant other later on or the so called special night they have planned together. Whether it be one of the topics mentioned or some far off random thoughtRead MoreWhy Abstinence Programs Don t Work1368 Words   |  6 PagesIV 31 March 2015 Why I Believe That Abstinence Programs Don t Work How can people be abstinent if they experience or see sexual content very day? Abstinence programs don t work because we see sexual content on tv every day. Sex Ed classes don’t teach things in the right way. Also people miss use birth control, abortion because Sex Ed makes it seem what its not. I believe that abstinence programs don t work. Some people argue that abstinence programs do work because â€Å"centers for disease controlRead More Sex Education Essay1112 Words   |  5 Pagesactually in labor (Abstinence, 2002). The United States has the highest teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates in the Western world (Planned Parenthood, 2003). Are teens getting enough knowledge on sex and how to prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancies? Another heartbreaking statistic is that teenagers have the highest rate of STDs of any age group, with one in four young people contracting an STD by the age of 21 (Sex-Ed Work, 2003). Is sex education really working in school? Or do we need to changeRead MoreSex Education And Sexual Education Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesStates in different ways. Various sexual education methods exits, however comprehensive and abstinence-only programs are the most commonly know in public schools. Although many schools in the United States prefer to give an abstinence-only lecture, the results s hown proof that these programs are ineffective because it simply does not fit the reality we live in, comprehensive sex education works better, and they do not offer honest nor accurate information about human sexuality. Providing information regardingRead MoreThe Failure Of The Trump Wall. . . . . By. Christian Cisneros.1396 Words   |  6 PagesSocial b. Psychological c. Health 2. Expected Standards 3. â€Å"Just Say No† Program III. Studies A. US Department of Health and Human Services B. Columbia University C. American Academy of Pediatrics IV. Biased Views of Sexuality A. Abstinence-Only Programs B. Alienation III. Conclusion Morales3 Sex education is important, but many students finish sex education classes with a distortedRead MoreEssay on Abstinence vs. Comprehensive Sex Education1339 Words   |  6 Pagesfederal funding was put to use in â€Å". . . sex education programs that promote abstinence-only-until-marriage to the exclusion of all other approaches . . .† according to the article â€Å"Sex education† (2010) published by â€Å"Opposing Viewpoints in Context;† a website that specializes in covering social issues. Since then a muddy controversy has arisen over whether that is the best approach. On one hand is the traditional approach of abstinence (not having sex before marriage), and on the other is theRead MoreAbstinence Only Programs For Public Schools1383 Words   |  6 Pagesadvocatesforyouth.org, â€Å"abstinence only education teaches students to abstain from sex prior to marriage.† These program has been proven to be ineffective. Abstinence only educat ion is ineffective because it is not conducive in reducing teen pregnancy rates and sexually transmitted diseases rates. Abstinence only programs are less likely to teach students about birth control and contraception and how to access it. These programs has not been shown to reduce teen sexual activity. Abstinence only programs became moreRead More Education Is Key: A Comprehensive Approach to Sex Education Essay1579 Words   |  7 Pageseducation is most effective: Abstinence, Abstinence-Plus, or Comprehensive. Abstinence sex education does not acknowledge that teenagers will become sexually active, thus, students do not learn about the different forms of contraception, and students do not learn about abortion. Also, students are taught that the risks of contracting an STD or HIV are prime reasons to remain abstinent. Abstinence-plus sex education explores the context and significance of sex. Although abstinence-plus education stillRead MoreAbstinence-only vs. Abstinence-plus1607 Words   |  7 Pagesan effective program in schools that reinforce a clear message of abstaining from sexual activity in addition to informing students of the risks posed by engaging in sexual activity. The political, and religious dissension on this issue has resulted in a procedural stalemate pre venting schools from effectively addressing the problem, and implement a comprehensive sex-education program that benefits young adults in Texas and the rest of the United States. Abstinence-Only programs are currently

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 6 Free Essays

I woke up the next day, determined to go see Erik and get the truth about vampire hunters. Then, as I was brushing my teeth, I remembered yesterday’s other crisis. Seth Mortensen. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Blues CHAPTER 6 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Swearing, I finished up in the bathroom, earning a disapproving look from Aubrey for my profanity. There was no telling how long this tour thing with him might take. I might have to wait until tomorrow to see Erik, and by then, this vampire hunter or whatever could have struck again. I set out for Emerald City, wearing the most nonattractive outfit I could muster: jeans and a turtleneck, with my hair pulled severely back. Paige, all smiles, approached me as I waited for Seth in the cafe. â€Å"You should show him Foster’s and Puget Sound Books while you’re out,† she told me conspiratorially. Still waking up, I took a sip of the mocha Bruce had just made me and tried to reason out her logic. Foster’s and Puget Sound Books were competitors of ours, though not major ones. â€Å"Those places are dives.† â€Å"Exactly.† She grinned at me with her even white teeth. â€Å"Show him those, and he’ll be convinced we’re the best place for him to do his writing at.† I studied her, feeling seriously out of the loop. Or maybe I was just distracted still about the Duane thing. It wasn’t every day one had his immortality revoked. â€Å"Why†¦ would he do his writing here?† â€Å"Because he likes to take his laptop and write in coffee shops.† â€Å"Yeah, but he lives in Chicago.† Paige shook her head. â€Å"Not anymore. Where were you last night? He’s moving here to be closer to his family.† I recalled Seth mentioning his brother, but I had been too caught up in my own mortification to pay much attention. â€Å"When?† â€Å"Now, as far as I know. That’s why this was his last stop on the tour. He’s staying with his brother but plans on finding his own place soon.† She leaned close to me, eyes gleaming predatorily. â€Å"Georgina, if we have a famous author hanging out here regularly, it’ll be good for our image.† Honestly, my immediate concern wasn’t where Seth would be writing. What freaked me out was that he would not be departing for a different time zone anytime soon, a time zone where he could then forget about me and let us both get on with our lives. I could run into him every day now. Literally, if Paige’s wish was realized. â€Å"Won’t that be distracting to his writing if his presence is widely known? Annoying fans and whatnot?† â€Å"We won’t let it become a problem. We’ll make the most of this and respect his privacy. Careful now, here he comes.† I drank more of my mocha, still marveling at the way Paige’s mind worked. She could think of promotional ideas that never would have entered my head. Warren might have been the one to invest capital in this place, but it had been her marketing genius that made it a success. â€Å"Good morning,† Seth told us, walking up to the table. He wore jeans, a Def Leppard T-shirt, and a brown corduroy jacket. The lay of his hair did not convince me he’d brushed it this morning. Paige looked at me pointedly, and I sighed. â€Å"Let’s go.† Seth silently followed me outside, that awkward tension building between us like a solid barrier. He did not look at me; I did not look at him. It was only when we stood outside on Queen Anne Avenue and I realized I had no plan for today that conversation had to occur. â€Å"Where to start? Seattle, unlike Gaul, is not divided into just three parts.† I made the joke more to myself, but Seth suddenly laughed. â€Å"Seattle peninsula est,† he observed, playing off my observation. â€Å"Not exactly. Besides, that’s Bede, not Caesar.† â€Å"I know. But I don’t know very much Latin.† He gave me that quirky, bemused smile that seemed to be his trademark expression. â€Å"Do you?† â€Å"Enough.† I wondered how he would react if I mentioned my fluency in Latin dialects from various stages of the Roman Empire. My vague answer must have been interpreted as lack of interest because he looked away, and more silence fell. â€Å"Is there anything special you wanted to see?† â€Å"Not really.† Not really. Okay. Well. The sooner we got this started, the sooner it would end and I could see Erik. â€Å"Follow me.† As we drove off, I sort of hoped we might naturally flow into meaningful conversation, in spite of our bad start yesterday. Yet, as we traveled, it seemed clear Seth had no intention of carrying on any discourse. I recalled his nervousness in front of the crowd yesterday and even with some of the bookstore staff. This guy had serious social phobias, I realized, though he had made a valiant effort in shedding them during our initial flirtations. Then, I had gone and turned on the back-off vibes, undoubtedly scarring him for life and undoing whatever progress he had made. Way to go, Georgina. Maybe if I could broach some compelling topics, he would muster his earlier confidence and bring back our rapport – in a platonic way, of course. I attempted to recall my profound questions from last night. And once again, they eluded me, so I switched to mundane ones. â€Å"So your brother lives around here?† â€Å"Yup.† â€Å"What part?† â€Å"Lake Forest Park.† â€Å"That’s a nice area. Are you going to look for a place up there?† â€Å"Probably not.† â€Å"Do you have another place in mind then?† â€Å"Not really.† Okay, this wasn’t getting us anywhere. Annoyed at how this master of the written word could be so short on spoken ones, I finally decided to cut him out of the conversation altogether. Having him involved was too much work. Instead, I chatted on amiably without him, pointing out the popular spots: Pioneer Square, Pike Place Market, the Fremont Troll. I even showed him the shoddier representatives of our competition, per Paige’s instructions. I neglected anything closer to the Space Needle than a brief nod, however. No doubt he’d seen it from Emerald City’s windows and could pay the exorbitant fees to visit it up close if he really needed the tourist experience. We went to the U District for lunch. He followed without protest or comment to my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Our meal progressed quietly as I took a break from talking, both of us eating noodles and staring out the nearby window to watch the bustle of students and cars. â€Å"This is nice.† It was the most Seth had spoken in a while, and I nearly jumped at the sound of his voice. â€Å"Yeah. This place doesn’t look like much, but they make a mean pho.† â€Å"No, I meant out there. This area.† I followed his gesture back to University Way, at first seeing nothing more than disgruntled students hauling backpacks around. Then, expanding my search, I became aware of the other small specialty restaurants, the coffee shops, and the used bookstores. It was an eclectic mix, somewhat tattered around the edges, but it had a lot to offer quirky, intellectual types – even famous, introverted writers. I looked at Seth, who looked back at me expectantly. It was our first direct eye contact all day. â€Å"Are there places to live around here?† â€Å"Sure. If you want to share a house with a bunch of eighteen-year-olds.† I paused, thinking that option might not be so unappealing for a guy. â€Å"If you want something more substantial in this area, it’ll cost you. I guess Cady and O’Neill ensure that’s not really an issue, huh? We can drive around and look, if you want.† â€Å"Maybe. I’d honestly rather go there first.† He pointed across the street, to one of the used bookstores. His eyes flicked back to me uncertainly. â€Å"If that’s okay with you.† â€Å"Let’s go.† I loved used bookstores but always felt a little guilty walking into them. Like I was cheating. After all, I worked around bright, crisp books all the time. I could obtain a reprint of almost anything I wanted, brand new. It seemed wrong to take such visceral pleasure from being around old books, from the smell of aged paper, mildew, and dust. Such collections of knowledge, some quite old, always reminded me of times long past and places I’d seen, triggering a tidal wave of nostalgia. These emotions made me feel both old and young. The books aged while I did not. A gray tabby cat stretched and blinked at us from her spot on the counter as we entered. I stroked her back and said hello to the old man near her. He glanced up briefly from the books he sorted, smiled at us, and returned to his work. Seth stared around at the towering shelves before us, an expression of bliss on his face, and promptly disappeared into them. I wandered over to nonfiction, wanting to peruse the cookbooks. I had grown up preparing food without microwaves and food processors and decided it was high time to let my culinary knowledge expand into this century. Finally settling on a Greek cookbook with lots of colored pictures, I dragged myself away a half hour later and looked for Seth. I found him in the children’s section, kneeling next to a stack of books, completely absorbed. I crouched down beside him. â€Å"What are you looking at?† He flinched slightly, startled by my proximity, and tore his gaze away from his find to look at me. This close, I could see that his eyes were actually more of a golden-amber brown, his lashes long enough to make any girl jealous. â€Å"Andrew Lang’s fairy books.† He held a paperback entitled The Blue Fairy Book. On top of the stack near him sat another called The Orange Fairy Book, and I could only assume the rest followed color-coded suit. Seth glowed with literary rapture, forgetting his reticence around me. â€Å"The 1960s reprints. Not as valuable as, say, editions from the 1800s, but these are the ones my dad had, the ones he used to read to us from. He only had a couple, though; this is the whole set. I’m going to get them and read them to my nieces.† Flipping through the pages of The Red Fairy Book, I recognized the titles of many familiar stories, some I hadn’t even known were still around. I turned the book over and looked inside the cover but found no price. â€Å"How much are they?† Seth pointed to a small sign near the shelf he’d obtained them from. â€Å"Is that reasonable for these?† I asked. â€Å"It’s a little high, but it’s worth it to me to get them all in one go.† â€Å"No way.† I gathered up part of the books, rising. â€Å"We’ll talk him down.† â€Å"Talk him down how?† My lips turned up in a smile. â€Å"With words.† Seth seemed dubious, but the clerk proved an easy target. Most men would eventually cave before an attractive, charismatic woman – let alone a succubus who still sported a residual life force glow. Besides, I had learned bartering at my mother’s knee. The guy behind the counter didn’t stand a chance. By the time I finished with him, he had happily lowered the price by 25 percent and thrown in my cookbook for free. Walking back to my car, arms laden with books, Seth kept glancing at me wonderingly. â€Å"How did you do that? I’ve never seen anything like it.† â€Å"Lots of practice.† A vague answer worthy of one of his. â€Å"Thanks. I wish I could repay the favor.† â€Å"Don’t worry – hey, you can actually. Would you mind running an errand with me? It’s to a bookstore, but it’s a scary bookstore.† â€Å"Scary how?† Five minutes later, we were on our way to see my old friend Erik Lancaster. Erik had been ensconced in the Seattle area long before me, and he was a well-known figure to almost every immortal entity around. Versed in mythology and supernatural lore, he regularly proved to be an excellent resource for all things paranormal. If he had noticed that some of his best patrons never aged, he wisely refrained from pointing that out. The only annoying thing about seeing Erik was that it required a visit to Krystal Starz – a stunning example of New Age spirituality gone wrong. I didn’t doubt the place might have had good intentions back when it opened in the 1980s, but the bookstore now touted a barrage of colorful, highly commercial merchandise more weighted in price than any sort of mystical value. Erik, by my estimation, was the only employee with legitimate concern and knowledge of esoteric matters. The best of his coworkers were simply apathetic; the worst were zealots and scam artists. Pulling up into the store’s parking lot, I immediately felt surprise at the number of cars there. This many people at Emerald City would have constituted a signing, but that sort of event seemed odd in the middle of the workday. A heavy wave of incense poured over us as we entered, and Seth appeared just as surprised as me by all the people and stimuli. â€Å"I might be a minute,† I told him. â€Å"Feel free to look around. Not that there’s much here worth seeing.† He melted away, and I turned my attention to a bright-eyed young man standing near the door and directing the crowd around. â€Å"Are you here for the Gathering?† â€Å"Urn, no,† I told him. â€Å"I’m looking for Erik.† â€Å"Erik who?† â€Å"Lancaster? Older guy? African-American? He works here.† The young lackey shook his head. â€Å"There’s no Erik here. Not as long as I’ve been working here.† He spoke like he’d founded the store. â€Å"How long has that been?† â€Å"Two months.† I rolled my eyes. A veritable veteran. â€Å"Is there a manager around here I can talk to?† â€Å"Well, Helena’s here, but she’s going to be – ah, there she is.† He gestured to the far side of the store where the woman in question appeared as though summoned. Ah yes, Helena. She and I had tangled before. Pale-haired, her neck bestrewn with crystals and other arcane symbols, she stood in a doorway marked meeting room. A teal shawl covered her slim shoulders, and like always, I wondered how old she was. She looked to be in her lower to mid-thirties, but something about her demeanor always made me think she was older. Maybe she’d had a lot of plastic surgery. It would be fitting, really, considering the rest of her trumped-up, artificial persona. â€Å"Everyone? Everyone?† She spoke in this obviously faked, high-pitched voice, meant to sound like a whisper, albeit one that could reach loud volumes. So mostly it came out raspy, like she had a cold. â€Å"It’s time to start.† The masses – thirty or so, I’d say – moved toward the meeting room, and I followed, blending into the crowd. Some of the people around me looked like Helena: theme-dressed, in either all-black or too-vibrant shades, with a plethora of pentagrams, crystals, and ohms in attendance. Others looked like average people, dressed much like me in my work clothes, trailing along in excited curiosity. With a frozen, fake smile plastered across her face, Helena beckoned us into the room murmuring, â€Å"Welcome, welcome. Feel the energy.† When I passed by her, the smile faltered. â€Å"I know you.† â€Å"Yes.† The smile diminished further. â€Å"You’re that woman who works at that big bookstore – that big, commercial bookstore.† A few people stopped and listened to our exchange, no doubt the reason she refrained from pointing out the last time I was in here, I had called her a hypocrite pushing marked-up crap merchandise. Compared to certain national chains, I hardly considered Emerald City commercial. Still, I shrugged in acknowledgment. â€Å"Yeah, what can I say, we’re part of the problem in corporate America. However, we do sell all the books and tarot cards that you do, often at a discount if you’re a member of Emerald City’s Frequent Readers Program.† I mentioned this last part loudly. Extra advertising never hurt. Helena’s weakening smile disappeared altogether, as did some of her raspy voice. â€Å"Is there something I can help you with?† â€Å"I’m looking for Erik.† â€Å"Erik doesn’t work here anymore.† â€Å"Where’d he go?† â€Å"I’m not at liberty to discuss that.† â€Å"Why? Are you afraid I’ll take my business elsewhere? Believe me, you were never in danger of having it.† She raised delicate fingers to her forehead and studied me seriously, eyes nearly going crossed. â€Å"I sense a lot of darkness in your aura. Black and red.† Her voice rose, drawing in the attention of her acolytes. â€Å"You would benefit greatly from some clearing work. A smoky or rutilated quartz might also help. We have excellent specimens of both for sale here. Either would lighten up your aura.† I couldn’t resist a smirk. I believed in auras, knew they were perfectly real. I also knew, however, that my aura looked nothing at all like a mortal one, nor would someone like Helena even be able to see it. Indeed, a true human adept, capable of perceiving such things, would notice that in standing with a group of humans, I would be the only person without a discernible aura. It would be invisible to all, save someone like Jerome or Carter, though some particularly skilled mortal might be able to feel its strength and be understandably cautious. Erik was one such mortal, which was why he always treated me with so much respect. Helena was not. â€Å"Wow,† I crooned. â€Å"I can’t believe you were able to deduce all that without your aura camera.† Krystal Starz proudly touted a camera that would photograph your aura for $9.95. â€Å"Do I owe you something now?† She sniffed. â€Å"I don’t need a camera to see others’ auras. I am a Master. Besides, the spirits who have assembled for this Gathering tell me plenty about you.† My smile increased. â€Å"What do they say?† I’d had little dealings with spirits or other ethereal beings in my long life, but I would know if any were present. She closed her eyes, hands to her forehead again, lines of thought creasing her face. The onlookers watched in wonder. â€Å"They tell me that much troubles you. That the indecision and monotony in your life force you to lash out, and so long as you choose the path of darkness and distrust, you will never find peace or light.† Her blue eyes opened, caught up in her own otherworldly ecstasy. â€Å"They want you to join us. Sit in our circle, feel their healing energy. The spirits will help you to a better life.† â€Å"Like they helped you out of the porn industry?† She froze, paling, and I almost felt bad for a moment. Adepts like Erik weren’t the only ones with reputations in the immortal community. A crackpot like Helena was well known too. Someone who had apparently been a fan of hers back in the day had recognized her from a movie and passed on this bit of dirt to the rest of us. â€Å"I don’t know what you mean,† she finally said, face struggling for control in front of her minions. â€Å"My mistake. You reminded me of someone called Moana Licka. You sort of rub crystals the way she used to rub†¦ well, you get the idea.† â€Å"You are mistaken,† Helena said, voice on the verge of cracking. â€Å"Erik no longer works here. Please leave.† Another retort rose to my lips, but then, beyond her, I caught sight of Seth. He had wandered up to the edge of the crowd, observing the spectacle with the others. Seeing him, I suddenly felt foolish, the thrill of humiliating Helena turning cheap and shallow. Embarrassed, I still managed to hold my head high as I withheld my remarks and walked away from her. Seth fell into step beside me. â€Å"Let me guess,† I said dryly. â€Å"Some people write the stories, and some people live them.† â€Å"I think you can’t help but make a sensation wherever you go.† I assumed he was being sarcastic. Then, I glanced over and saw his frank expression, neither censuring nor snide. His earnestness was so unexpected that I stumbled slightly, paying more attention to him than where I was going. Having a much-deserved reputation for gracefulness, I recovered almost immediately. Seth, however, instinctually held out a hand to catch me. As he did, I suddenly had a flash of†¦ of something. Like that moment of connection back in the map aisle. Or the surge of fulfillment I got when I read his books. It was brief, fleeting, like maybe it hadn’t happened at all. He seemed as surprised as I felt and released my arm tentatively, almost hesitantly. A moment later, a voice behind me broke the spell entirely. â€Å"Excuse me?† Turning, I saw a slim teenage girl with cropped red hair and piercings up and down her ears. â€Å"You were looking for Erik, right?† â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I can tell you where he’s at. He left about five months ago to start his own store. It’s in Lake City†¦ I forget the name. There’s a light there, with a grocery store and a big Mexican restaurant†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I nodded. â€Å"I know that area. I’ll find it. Thanks.† I eyed her curiously. â€Å"Do you work here?† â€Å"Yeah. Erik was always pretty cool to me, so I’d rather see him get business than this place. I’d have gone with him, but he doesn’t really need any other help, so I’m stuck with Nutso in there.† She jerked her thumb back in Helena’s direction. The girl had a serious, practical demeanor different from most of this place’s employees. I recalled now that I’d seen her helping customers when I’d come in. â€Å"Why do you work here if you don’t like it?† â€Å"I don’t know. I like books, and I need money.† I dug through my purse, searching for one of my rarely used business cards. â€Å"Here. You want a new job, come talk to me sometime.† She took the card and read it, surprise filling her features. â€Å"Thanks†¦ I think.† â€Å"Thanks for the info about Erik.† Pausing, I considered further, and dug out another card. â€Å"If you’ve got a friend – anyone else who works here and is like you – give this to them too.† â€Å"Is that legal?† asked Seth later. † Dunno. But we’re short-staffed at Emerald City.† I figured a specialty store like Erik’s must be closed by now, so instead I turned toward Lake Forest Park to return Seth to his brother’s house. I confess, relief flooded me. Being with one’s hero was tiring, not to mention every interaction between us swung between wildly opposing poles. I’d probably be safer limiting our relationship to me simply reading his books. I dropped him off at a cute, suburban home, its front yard littered with children’s playthings. I saw no sign of the children themselves, much to my disappointment. Seth gathered up his haul of books, gave me another scattered smile as he voiced his thanks, and disappeared into the house. I was almost back to Queen Anne when I realized I’d forgotten to ask him for my copy of The Glasgow Pact. Annoyed, I entered my building and immediately heard the front desk attendant solicit me. â€Å"Miss Kincaid?† I walked over to him, and he handed me a vase of flowers teeming with shades of purple and dark pink. â€Å"These came for you today.† I accepted the vase with delight, inhaling the mingled scents of roses, irises, and stargazer lilies. They had no card. Typical. â€Å"Who brought them?† He gestured beyond me. â€Å"That man over there.† How to cite Succubus Blues CHAPTER 6, Essay examples

Psycho Essays - English-language Films, Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock

Psycho An Analysis of the Opening Sequence from Alfred Hitchcock's Just like a building, a film needs a strong foundation in order to be successful, a foundation which is made up of the starting moments of the film. In Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock successfully uses the opening credit sequence to establish a foundation on which to build an interesting plot, including techniques to elicit involvement by the spectator, and the suggestion of a Psycho theme. A musical composition consisting of quick strokes on tightly wound violins, later used in the famous shower scene, starts to play at the beginning of the sequence. Names begin to slide on and off the screen in a series of horizontal and vertical lines. The top and bottom portions of the names slide onto the screen, followed by the middle portion. The last name to appear is that of Alfred Hitchcock, which settles in the middle of the screen and begins to twitch and flutter in an unusual manner. The credits then dissolve into a long shot of an auspicious section of an unknown city where a building is being constructed (paralleling the idea of Hitchcock shaping a foundation). As this dissolve takes place, a more subtle and mellow music (again composed of string instruments) fills the air, suggesting a stable environment. The sun burns brightly in the sky and a desert landscape is seen in the background through a haze. The shot immediately begins to pan slowly to the right, revealing more city rooftops and streets. As a dissolve zooms us slightly closer to the city and the camera continues to pan, small block letters appear on both sides of the screen and converge in the middle to read PHOENIX, ARIZONA. Hitchcock immediately brings the reoccurring theme of birds into the film by setting the scenery in Phoenix. The camera continues to pan to the right, now moving on to a more dreary side of the city. The next set of titles converges in the center of the screen, reading FRIDAY, DECEMBER ELEVENTH. As the panning continues, a slow zoom begins to bring us closer to one of the buildings. The last title appears in the same fashion as the preceding, TWO FORTY-THREE P.M. Yet another dissolve stops the camera on a rather unattractive wall, slowly zooming in on a window with Venetian blinds drawn down. A cut to a closer view of the window reveals an opening a few inches below the blind in which the camera continues to zoom in on, bringing us into a dark apartment room. Since we have grown accustomed to the bright sun outside, the apartment, in contrast, seems gloomy. The camera pans to the right at the same speed as before, allowing us to make out a couple of blurred objects. Now the picture begins to focus and we see the torso of a shirt less Sam Loomis standing next to a bed where a half-nude Marion Crane lies gazing upward at him. The first words are spoken while at the same time the mu sic comes to a halt. Never did eat your lunch, did you? says Sam. With this line a cut places the camera on a close-up of a small table on which lies a water pitcher, glasses, a paper cup, and a wrapped up uneaten sandwich. Marion answers, I've got to get back to the office. The first half of the opening sequence symbolizes the film's progress as a whole. We are taken from the broad surface view of Phoenix into the depths of its intricate workings. We go from beautiful daylight to a grim darkness. Furthermore, we move from a public and general view to a most private and intimate one, just as the movie will as it progresses. We even duplicate Norman Bates's later action of peeping through a hole to see Marion partially nude as we peep beneath the blind to see the same woman, again partially nude. Hitchcock successfully uses these opening camera shots to foreshadow later events in the film as well as suggest we are not totally unlike Norman. We too have erotic desires that possess our minds. Hitchcock explains that the line between our normal behavior and Norman's abnormal behavior

Scoopes monkey trial essays

Scoopes monkey trial essays The twenties had many vogue and unsteady changes. Such as The Scopes Monkey Trial had a big social, judicial and religious effects on Americans living during the twenties. During the Twenties, the Scopes Trial had a radical social effect on Americans. The trial had been moved to the courthouse lawn to accommodate the crowds. Over two hundred national reporters and more than three thousand spectators came to the town of Dayton, Tennessee to see the trial of the state of Tennessee versus Scopes.This huge audience shows that some people realized the importance of the final sentence.The trial marked the displacement of religious faith and rural values by scientific skepicism and cosmopolism as a dominant strain in American thoughts. The trial soon became between traditionalists and evolutionists, which showed the dispute in the public opinion. The Scopes Trial influences the new existing fight between religion and tradition. Also between evolution and progress. The trial Tennessee versus John Scopes caused enormous changes in the 1920s. In attendance announcers were ready to send to the listeners the first live-radio broadcast from a trial. The presence of the reporters shows the public was interested, an interest, which demanded a new kind of news. The trial itself was a bunch of conflicts, the most obvious one was evolution against religion. The courtroom was full of members of both groups. The persecutor was a strongly religious man while the defense attorney a atheist. The United States Supreme Court put the issue to rest in 1968, when it had a similar statue in Arkansas unconstitutionaly, because it violated the separation of church and state,thats part of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This fact is evidence that the trial was unnecessary because the Butler Act, which forbid all teachings that denied the creation of mankind thats stated in the Bible, was illegal. The expectations of the fi...

The Etymology of Words and Their Histories

The Etymology of Words and Their Histories The etymology of a word refers to its origin and historical development: that is, its earliest known use, its transmission from one language to another, and its changes in form and meaning. Etymology is also the term for the branch of linguistics that studies word histories. Whats the Difference Between a Definition and an Etymology? A definition tells us what a word means and how its used in our own time. An etymology tells us where a word came from (often, but not always, from another language) and what it used to mean. For example, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the definition of the word disaster is an occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe or a grave misfortune. But the etymology of the word disaster takes us back to a time when people commonly blamed great misfortunes on the influence of the stars. Disaster first appeared in English in the late 16th century, just in time for Shakespeare to use the word in the play King Lear. It arrived by way of the Old Italian word disastro, which meant unfavorable to ones stars. This older, astrological sense of disaster becomes easier to understand when we study its Latin root word, astrum, which also appears in our modern star word astronomy. With the negative Latin prefix dis- (apart) added to astrum (star), the word (in Latin, Old Italian, and Middle French) conveyed the idea that a catastrophe could be traced to the evil influence of a star or planet (a definition that the dictionary tells us is now obsolete). Is the Etymology of a Word Its True Definition? Not at all, though people sometimes try to make this argument. The word etymology is derived from the Greek word etymon, which means the true sense of a word. But in fact the original meaning of a word is often different from its contemporary definition. The meanings of many words have changed over time, and older senses of a word may grow uncommon or disappear entirely from everyday use. Disaster, for instance, no longer means the evil influence of a star or planet, just as consider no longer means to observe the stars. Lets look at another example. Our English word salary is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary  as fixed compensation for services, paid to a person on a regular basis. Its etymology can be traced back 2,000 years to sal, the Latin word for salt. So whats the connection between salt and salary? The Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells us that in Rome, a soldier was paid in salt, which back then was widely used as a food preservative. Eventually, this salarium came to signify a stipend paid in any form, usually money. Even today the expression worth your salt indicates that youre working hard and earning your salary. However, this doesnt mean that salt is the true definition of salary. Where Do Words Come From? New words have entered (and continue to enter) the English language in many different ways. Here are some of the most common methods. BorrowingThe majority of the words used in modern English have been borrowed from other languages. Although most of our vocabulary comes from Latin and Greek (often by way of other European languages), English has borrowed words from more than 300 different languages around the world. Here are just a few examples:futon (from the Japanese word for bedclothes, bedding)gorilla (Greek Gorillai, a tribe of hairy women, perhaps of African origin)hamster (Middle High German hamastra)kangaroo (Aboriginal language of Guugu Yimidhirr, gangurru , referring to a species of kangaroo)kink (Dutch, twist in a rope)moccasin (Native American Indian, Virginia Algonquian, akin to Powhatan mksn and Ojibwa makisin)molasses (Portuguese melaà §os, from Late Latin mellceum, from Latin mel, honey)muscle (Latin musculus, mouse)slogan (alteration of Scots slogorne, battle cry)smorgasbord (Swedish, literally bread and butter table)whiskey (Old Irish uisce, water, and bethad, of life)Clipping or ShorteningSome n ew words are simply shortened forms of existing words, for instance indie from independent; exam from examination; flu from influenza, and fax from facsimile. CompoundingA new word may also be created by combining two or more existing words: fire engine, for example, and babysitter.BlendsA blend, also called a portmanteau word,  is a word formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two or more other words. Examples include moped, from mo(tor) ped(al), and brunch, from br(eakfast) (l)unch.Conversion or Functional ShiftNew words are often formed by changing an existing word from one part of speech to another. For example, innovations in technology have encouraged the transformation of the nouns network, Google, and  microwave  into verbs.Transfer of Proper NounsSometimes the names of people, places, and things become generalized vocabulary words. For instance, the noun maverick was derived from the name of an American cattleman, Samuel Augustus Maverick. The saxophone was named after Sax, the surname of a 19th-century Belgian family that made musical instruments.Neologisms or Creative CoinagesNow and then, new products or processes inspire the creation of entirely new words. Such neologisms are usually short lived, never even making it into a dictionary. Nevertheless, some have endured, for example quark (coined by novelist James Joyce), galumph (Lewis Carroll), aspirin (originally a trademark), grok (Robert A. Heinlein). Imitation of SoundsWords are also created by onomatopoeia, naming things by imitating the sounds that are associated with them: boo, bow-wow, tinkle, click. Why Should We Care About Word Histories? If a words etymology is not the same as its definition, why should we care at all about word histories? Well, for one thing, understanding how words have developed can teach us a great deal about our cultural history. In addition, studying the histories of familiar words can help us deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words, thereby enriching our vocabularies. Finally, word stories are often both entertaining and thought provoking. In short, as any youngster can tell you, words are fun.

Personal Challenge Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Challenge Experience - Essay Example I was only ten years old in a family of two children when it was evident that their relationship had turned into a sour grape and was beyond repair. At the time, I could hardly tell what was happening with between as I was asked out of the room every time their conversations took a turn. Although I was young, the memories I have are illustrative of a happy family that we were before all went south. Our parents were efficient providers and we never lacked in any way. I remember walks in the park on Sunday afternoons, as my father pushed my sister on the stroller, an indication of a happy model family. At the age of ten, one does not have an abiding opinion on with regard to family relations, and this seemed to be rubbed in my face by the fact that my parents did not consider telling me what was happening. All that happened was arguments followed by the diminishing presence of my father. It was years later that I understood the full effect of divorce and wish that the system protected me better to avoid the hurt I went through. A shared parenting plan was implemented, but I spent most of my time with mother due to my tender age until she filed and was granted sole custody. It is for this reason that I lacked a father figure to help me deal with my teenage issues and did not know anyone to turn to for the problems I had. As a result, I kept to myself and avoided all confrontation however necessary they should be. I grew dejected and weary by the day, pulling away from society as my emotions raged within me. I was angry that my parents placed a burden on me to choose who I interacted with among them. I was not ready for the sudden change of lifestyle and I resulted to hating them for the choices they made. Violent outbursts initiated by the existence of happy families existed around me became norm since I failed to understand how this came to be. I lost friend following tantrums and to make matters worse, boys picked on me, calling names and teasing me at every opp ortunity. Feelings of rejection, loneliness, and dejection characterised the period following my parents’ divorce. My grades flopped and not a week passed with a visit to the principal’s office. I recall cutting classes, hiding in empty halls and wishing that the nightmare would end. Ignorance seemed to have saved me from the harm I craved as revenge over society. I remember contemplating the death of all smiling faces around me and I all that lacked was the means to implement. Great emotional turmoil ruled my social life and sought refuge in activities that I deemed to relief my condition. Great emotional turmoil ruled my social life and sought refuge in activities that I deemed to relief my condition, which saw locked doors to avoid mother. In my view, my parents showed no compassion in their decision to part ways and thus she had no right to ‘pretend’ she cared. However, she extended her concerns to my school where after a full report on my performance and behaviour, it was recommended that I attend counselling sessions. Following sessions with the school’s counsellor and a contracted therapist, all evidence pointed to back to the divorce. I had trouble coping with the effects of the separation, which explains my behaviour. The healing process proved long, but effective although I held nothing except remorse for the events

Get Write Existing Data Sources Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Get Write Existing Data Sources - Coursework Example The weakness of conducting field research is that it is highly subjective and therefore is weak in terms of reliability (Maxfield & Babbie, 2006). Another weakness is that there can be disagreements between researchers concerning the events or subjects of the research. My research is on illegal immigration and high crime rate in the United States of America. Based on my research proposal, the researchers will be collecting information regarding the perception of hate crimes and illegal immigrants from U.S. residents. Therefore, field research is definitely appropriate for this research proposal. The participants in the field will provide significant information regarding their perception about the issues concerning illegal immigration with special emphasis on social crime rates in the area where they live. Being a resident in that area, participants can provide first hand information regarding illegal immigration and how it affects their daily life. Field research will therefore help to gather both qualitative and quantitative data regarding illegal immigration and hate crimes from the residents of the

From Black and White to HDTV, TVs grip on our Young :: essays research papers fc

From Black and White, to HDTV, TV’s Grip on our Young   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How many televisions do you have in your house? Do you watch those TV’s for more than an hour a day? How much is too much television? These questions are asked by people everyday, with each question comes a varied response depending on who is asked. Children are very impressionable. How does television affect the children that are between the ages of ten and sixteen? Could the affect be positive or is it negative. People who watch violent television as children behave more aggressively even 15 years later, according to one of the few TV violence studies to follow children into adulthood (Grossman 43). The effect appears in both sexes regardless even of how aggressive a person was as a child, researchers found (Kline 138). â€Å"Experts say the results are no surprise, but added that the study is important because it used a wide range of measures, included many participants and showed the effect in females as well as males† (Noble 113). â€Å"Huesmann said televised violence suggests to young children that aggression is appropriate in some situations, especially when it's used by   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gleason 2 charismatic heroes. It also erodes a natural aversion to violence† (Comstock 14). The American Psychological Association has said that viewing violence on TV promotes aggressive behavior, particularly in children. Other mental-health and medical groups have taken similar stands (Nobel 178). Children who play actively will have more of an opportunity to develop their senses than children who are passively viewing (Grossman 192). The health aspects of watching TV can vary, almost entirely bad. While watching TV, the eyes are practically motionless and `defocused' in order to take in the whole screen. Constant movement is required for healthy eye development (parenthoodweb Oct 24). Viewing affects not only eye mechanics, but also the ability to focus and pay attention. Since TV is more visual than auditory, children's sense of hearing is not being used to its full extent. Active listening is a skill that needs to be developed. Children need practice in hearing different things to gain that needed stimulation. Also, when TV is constantly on, the sense of hearing may be dulled by the persistent background noise (apa Oct 30). Studies show that the consumption of alcohol is shown or mentioned in 80 percent of prime-time programs (Cook   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gleason 3 32). Alcoholic beverages outnumber the other beverages consumed on TV, but the pattern of drinking is virtually the opposite of the pattern found in the real world.

Advantages Of Beauty Contests

Advantages of beauty contests†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. FIRST IMPRESSION IS THE LAST IMPRESSION†¦ how a person appears always matters†¦.. The first thing that catches your eye when you look at a person is his or her face. It takes just a split second for us to judge someone and make our first and everlasting impression. Good evening†¦ today I stand in front of you to speak against the motion â€Å"beauty contest must be banned†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Many cynical people say that beauty shows are nothing more than a showcase to flaunt women’s physical attributes. They may not be entirely true.In fact if you don't look good,may be you don't leave a good first impression. That is what beauty is. You need to look beautiful in this era where people are judgmental. In my opinion, the advantage of pageants is empowerment because when you join beauty pageants you put yourself in a position to influence people. People look up to you, they listen and respect you. You serve as a role model especially to younger people and inspire others. Beauty contests have more advantages than disadvantages: Firstly, they are a medium to get recognition. People feel valued and appreciated when they receive recognition for their hard work.Beauty Queens or Kings become instant celebrities and are treated like royalties in their respective countries! ? Secondly, they help you build up self-confidence and confront your fears. The ability to face ones fears and take action anyway develops great confidence. Its common knowledge that speaking in front of a crowd gives people cold feet. Be it Q&A, interviews,discussions,conferences or even formal conversations! ?People are usually shy and reserved. By joining pageants, they are forced to break that shell and open up to the world. Thirdly, beauty contests are a method of personal development.The more a person recognizes and understands their strengths, values, likes, dislikes, beliefs, and personality style, the greater fulfillment and satis faction they’ll experience from their life. ? And last but not the least,these contests help in handling stress, pressure and disappointment. These reactions are a part of life. Your attitude and thoughts around these reactions can either move you forward towards fulfillment or break you down. Stress, pressure and disappointment don’t have to be viewed as negative things. In fact, they can be powerful motivators to accelerate you to the next level.It all depends on how you look at them. In pageantry, you experience these to the fullest extent, and with guidance, you can learn how to flip them to work to your advantage. ? Recognition, personal development, communication skills, confidence and handling stress, pressure and disappointments in life are the benefits you’ll take with you by taking part in beauty contests. After such notable benefits, do you still think beauty contests should be banned I leave the answer to you†¦. Just remember if you fancy modeli ng, hair, makeup and fashion, then these merits come like icing to your cake!

Study Of Mutual Funds And Investors Perception About Them Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 14 Words: 4091 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Savings form an important part of die economy of any nation. With savings invested in various options available to the people, the money acts as the driver for growth of the country. Indian financial scene too presents multiple avenues to the investors. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Study Of Mutual Funds And Investors Perception About Them Finance Essay" essay for you Create order Though certainly not the best or deepest of markets in the world, it has ignited the growth rate in mutual fund industry to provide reasonable options for an ordinary man to invest his savings. Indian MF industry offers a plethora of schemes and serves broadly all type of investors. The range of products includes equity funds , debts, liquid, gilt, and balanced funds. There are also funds meant exclusively for young and old , small and large investors. Moreover, the stup of a legal structure, which has enough teeth to safeguard investors interest, ensures that the investors are not cheated out of their hard-earned money. One can avail of the benefits of better returns with added benefits of anytime liquidity by investing in open-ended debt funds at lower risk. Many people have burnt their fingers by investing in fixed deposits of companies who were assuring high returns but have gone bust in course of time leading to distraught investors as well as pending cases in the Company Law Board. This risk of default by any company that one has chosen to invest in, can be minimized by investing in mutual funds as the fund managers analyze the companies financials more minutely than an individual can do as they have the expertise to do so. They can manage the maturity of their portfolio by investing in instruments of varied maturity profiles. Since there is no penalty on pre-mature withdrawal, as in the cases of fixed deposits, debt funds provide enough liquidity. Moreover, mutual funds are better placed to absorb the fluctuations in the prices of the securities as a result of interest rate variation and one can benefits from any such price movement. Apart from liquidity, these funds have also provided very good post-tax returns on year to year basis. Apart from small retail investor, the industry can attract investments from institutional and big investors as well. Liquid funds offer liquidity as well as better returns than banks and so attract investors. Many funds provide anytime withdrawal enabling a big investor to take maximum benefits. Like we said earlier, the appeal of mutual funds cuts across investor classes. In other developed countries, mutual funds attract much more investments as compared to the banking sector but in India the case is reverse. We lack awareness about the benefits that are offered by these schemes. It is time that investors irrespective of their risk capacities, made intelligent decisions to generate better returns and mutual funds are definitely one of the ways to go about it. CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK INTRODUCTION A mutual fund is a trust that pools the savings of a number of investors who share a common financial goal. The money thus collected is invested by the fund manager in different types of securities depending upon the objective of the scheme. These could range from shares to debentures to money market instrument. The income earned through these investments and the capital appreciation realized by the scheme is shared by unit holders in proportion to the number of units owned by them (pro rata). Thus a mutual fund is the most suitable investment for the common man as it offers an opportunity to invest in a diversified, professionally managed portfolio at a relatively low cost. Anybody with an investible surplus of as little as a few thousand rupees can invest I mutual funds. Each mutual fund scheme has a defined investment objective and strategy. A mutual fund is the ideal investment vehicle for today complex and modern financial scenario. Markets for equity shares, bonds and othe r fixed income instruments, real estate, derivatives and other assets have become mature and information driven. Price changes in these assets are driven by global events occurring in faraway places. A typical individual is unlikely to have the knowledge, skills, inclination and time to keep track of events, understand their implications and act speedily. An individual also finds it difficult to keep track of ownership of his assets, investments, brokerage dues and bank tractions etc. A mutual fund is an answer to all these situations. It appoints professionally qualified and experienced staff that manages each of these functions on a full time basis. The large pool of money collected in the fund allows it to hire such staff at a very low cost to each investor. In effect, the mutual fund vehicle exploits economies of scale in all three areas -the research, investments and transaction processing. While the concept of individuals coming together to invest money collectively is not new , the mutual fund in its present form is a 20th century phenomenon. In fact, mutual funds gained popularity only after the second world war. Globally, there are thousands of firms offering tons of thousands of mutual funds with different investment objectives. Today ,mutual funds collectively managed almost as much as or more money as compared to banks. A draft offer document is to be prepared at the time of launching the fund. Typically, it pre specifies the investment objectives of the fund, the risk associated, the costs involved in the process and the broad rules for entry into and exit from the fund and other areas of operation. In India, as in most countries these sponsors need approval from a regulator, SEBI (securities exchange board of India) in our case. SEBI looks at track records of the sponsor nd its financial strength in granting approval to the fund for commencing operations. A sponsor then hires an asset management company to invest the funds according to t he investment objective. It also hires another entity to be the custodian of the assets of the fund and perhaps a third one to handle registry work for the unit holders (subscribers) of the fund. In the Indian context, the sponsors promote the Asset Management Company also, in which it holds a majority stake. In many cases a sponsor can hold a 100% stake in the Asset Management Company(AMC). Ex. Birla Global Finance is the sponsor of the Birla Sun Life Asset Management Company Ltd., which has floated different mutual funds schemes and also acts as an asset manager for the funds collected under the schemes. Mutual Funds invest basically in three types of asset classes. These include: Stocks: Stocks represent ownership or equity in a company. This asset class has historically outperformed all other asset classes over the long-term but tends to be more volatile in the short-term. Debt Instruments: This represents debt papers of corporate and government agencies. They provid e income in the form of interest payments and principal if held till maturity. There can be price volatility due to interest rate movements as well as economic and political instability. Money Market Instruments: These are inter-bank Call Money, Commercial Paper, Treasury Bills, Certificates of Deposit (CDs), Bill Rediscounting and short-term bonds. They pay interest and are the least volatile of all the asset classes. HISTORY OF INDIAN MUTUAL FUND INDUSTRY The mutual fund industry in India started in 1963 with the formation of Unit Trust of India, at the initiative of the Government of India and Reserve Bank of India. The history of mutual funds in India can be broadly divided into four distinct phases : First Phase 1964-87    Unit Trust of India (UTI) was established on 1963 by an Act of Parliament. It was set up by the Reserve Bank of India and functioned under the Regulatory and administrative control of the Reserve Bank of India. In 1978 UTI was de-linked from the RBI and the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) took over the regulatory and administrative control in place of RBI. The first scheme launched by UTI was Unit Scheme 1964. At the end of 1988 UTI had Rs.6,700 crores of assets under management.  Second Phase 1987-1993 (Entry of Public Sector Funds) 1987 marked the entry of non- UTI, public sector mutual funds set up by public sector banks and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and Genera l Insurance Corporation of India (GIC). SBI Mutual Fund was the first non- UTI Mutual Fund established in June 1987 followed by Canbank Mutual Fund (Dec 87), Punjab National Bank Mutual Fund (Aug 89), Indian Bank Mutual Fund (Nov 89), Bank of India (Jun 90), Bank of Baroda Mutual Fund (Oct 92). LIC established its mutual fund in June 1989 while GIC had set up its mutual fund in December 1990. At the end of 1993, the mutual fund industry had assets under management of Rs.47,004 crores.  Third Phase 1993-2003 (Entry of Private Sector Funds)    With the entry of private sector funds in 1993, a new era started in the Indian mutual fund industry, giving the Indian investors a wider choice of fund families. Also, 1993 was the year in which the first Mutual Fund Regulations came into being, under which all mutual funds, except UTI were to be registered and governed. The erstwhile Kothari Pioneer (now merged with Franklin Templeton) was the first private sector mutual fund r egistered in July 1993.    The 1993 SEBI (Mutual Fund) Regulations were substituted by a more comprehensive and revised Mutual Fund Regulations in 1996. The industry now functions under the SEBI (Mutual Fund) Regulations 1996.    The number of mutual fund houses went on increasing, with many foreign mutual funds setting up funds in India and also the industry has witnessed several mergers and acquisitions. As at the end of January 2003, there were 33 mutual funds with total assets of Rs. 1,21,805 crores. The Unit Trust of India with Rs.44,541 crores of assets under management was way ahead of other mutual funds.  Fourth Phase since February 2003    In February 2003, following the repeal of the Unit Trust of India Act 1963 UTI was bifurcated into two separate entities. One is the Specified Undertaking of the Unit Trust of India with assets under management of Rs.29,835 crores as at the end of January 2003, representing broadly, the assets of US 64 scheme , assured return and certain other schemes. The Specified Undertaking of Unit Trust of India, functioning under an administrator and under the rules framed by Government of India and does not come under the purview of the Mutual Fund Regulations.    The second is the UTI Mutual Fund, sponsored by SBI, PNB, BOB and LIC. It is registered with SEBI and functions under the Mutual Fund Regulations. With the bifurcation of the erstwhile UTI which had in March 2000 more than Rs.76,000 crores of assets under management and with the setting up of a UTI Mutual Fund, conforming to the SEBI Mutual Fund Regulations, and with recent mergers taking place among different private sector funds, the mutual fund industry has entered its current phase of consolidation and growth.  The graph indicates the growth of assets over the years :  CONCEPT A Mutual Fund is a trust that pools the savings of a number of investors who share a common financial goal. The money thus collected is then invested in capital market instruments such as shares, debentures and other securities. The income earned through these investments and the capital appreciation realised are shared by its unit holders in proportion to the number of units owned by them. Thus a Mutual Fund is the most suitable investment for the common man as it offers an opportunity to invest in a diversified, professionally managed basket of securities at a relatively low cost. The flow chart below describes broadly the working of a mutual fund: ORGANISATION OF A MUTUAL FUND There are many entities involved and the diagram below illustrates the organisational set up of a mutual fund: Organisation of a Mutual Fund These are :- Establishes the mutual fund as a trust and registers with SEBI Managed by the board of trustees. Sponsor Company Hold unit holders funds in mutual fund. Enters into an agreement with SEBI. Mutual fund (For e.g. Reliance AMC) Floats mutual funds as per the regulations of SEBI regulations. Asset Management Company. Provides the network for distribution of schemes to the investors. Provides registrar and transfer services. Provides custodial services. Distributors Registrar Custodian Types of Mutual Fund Schemes Mutual fund schemes may be classified on the basis of its structure and its investment objective. By Structure Open-ended An open-end fund is one that is available for subscription all through the year. These do not have a fixed maturity. Investors can conveniently buy and sell units at Net Asset Value (NAV) related prices. The key feature of open-end schemes is liquidity. Close-ended A closed-end fund has a stipulated maturity period which generally ranging from 3 to 7 years. The fund is open for subscription only during a specified period. Investors can invest in the scheme at the time of the initial public issue and thereafter they can buy or sell the units of the scheme on the stock exchanges where they are listed. In order to provide an exit route to the investors, some close-ended funds give an option of selling back the units to the Mutual Fund through periodic repurchase at NAV related prices. SEBI Regulations stipulate that at least one of the two exit routes is provided to the investor. These mutual fund schemes disclose NAV generally on a weekly basis. Interval-Funds Interval funds combine the features of open-ended and close-ended schemes. They are open for sale or redemption during pre-determined intervals at NAV related prices. By Investment Objective Growth/Equity Oriented Schemes The aim of growth funds is to provide capital appreciation over the medium to long term. Such schemes normally invest a majority of their corpus in equities. It has been proved that returns from stocks, have outperformed most other kind of investments held over the long term. Growth schemes are ideal for investors having a long term outlook seeking growth over a period of time. Income/Debt Oriented Schemes The aim of income funds is to provide regular and steady income to investors. Such schemes generally invest in fixed income securities such as bonds, corporate debentures and Government securities. Income Funds are ideal for capital stability and regular income. Balanced Funds The aim of balanced funds is to provide both growth and regular income. Such schemes periodically distribute a part of their earning and invest both in equities and fixed income securities in the proportion indicated in their offer documents. In a rising stock market, the NAV of these schemes may not normally keep pace, or fall equally when the market falls. These are ideal for investors looking for a combination of income and moderate growth. Money Market Or Liquid Funds The aim of money market funds is to provide easy liquidity, preservation of capital and moderate income. These schemes generally invest in safer short-term instruments such as treasury bills, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and inter-bank call money. Returns on these schemes may fluctuate depending upon the interest rates prevailing in the market. These are ideal for Corporate and individual investors as a means to park their surplus funds for short periods. Gilt Fund These funds invest exclusively in government se ­curities. Government securities have no default risk. NAVs of these schemes also fluctuate due to changes in interest rates and other economic fac ­tors as is the case with income or debt-oriented schemes. Other Schemes Tax Saving Schemes These schemes offer tax rebates to the investors under specific provisions of the Indian Income Tax laws as the Government offers tax incentives for investment in specified avenues. Investments made in Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) and Pension Schemes are allowed as deduction u/s 88 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. PLANS THAT MUTUAL FUND OFFERS Mutual Funds in order to cater to a range of investors, have various investment plans. Some of the important investment plans include the following: Growth Plan Under the Growth Plan, the investor realises only the capital appreciation on the investment (by an increase in NAV) and does not get any income in the form of dividend. Income Plan Under the Income Plan, the investor realises income in the form of dividend. However his NAV will fall to the extent of the dividend. Dividend Re-investment Plan Here the dividend accrued on mutual funds is automatically re-invested in purchasing additional units in open-ended funds. In most cases mutual funds offer the investor an option of collecting dividends or re-investing the same. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) SIP is similar to a Recurring Deposit. Every month an amount the investor chooses, is invested in a mutual fund scheme of his/her choice. Under this plan Investors invest a specific amount for a continuous period, at regular intervals. By doing this, the investor get the advantage of rupee cost averaging. Which means that by investing the same amount at regular intervals, the average cost per unit remains lower than the average market price, irrespective of how the market is rising, falling or fluctuating .i.e. with every fluctuation in the market the units are purchased systematically, thus resulting in averaging the purchase price. Whereas this is not true for a one-time investment. This is the reason why a SIP investor gets phenomenal rate of return compared to a one-time investor. Systematic Withdrawal Plan As opposed to the Systematic Investment Plan, the Systematic Withdrawal Plan allows the investor the facility to withdraw a pre-determined amount/units from his fund at a pre-determined interval. The investors units will be redeemed at the existing NAV as on that day. Retirement Pension Plan Some schemes are linked with retirement pension. Individuals participate in these plans for themselves, and corporate for their employees. Insurance Plan Some schemes launched by UTI and LIC offer insurance cover to investors. NET ASSET VALUE (NAV) NAV is the total asset value (net of expenses) per unit of the fund and is calculated by the Asset Management Company (AMC) at the end of every business day. Net asset value on a particular date reflects the realizable value that the investor will get for each unit that he his holding if the scheme is liquidated on that date. The performance of a particular scheme of a mutual fund is denoted by Net Asset Value (NAV). Mutual funds invest the money collected from the investors in securities markets. In simple words, Net Asset Value is the market value of the securities held by the scheme. Since market value of securities changes every day, NAV of a scheme also varies on day to day basis. The NAV per unit is the market value of securities of a scheme divided by the total number of units of the scheme on any particular date. For example, if the market value of securities of a mutual fund scheme is Rs 200 lakhs and the mutual fund has issued 10 lakhs units of Rs. 10 each to the in vestors, then the NAV per unit of the fund is Rs.20. NAV is required to be disclosed by the mutual funds on a regular basis daily or weekly depending on the type of scheme. CALCULATION OF NAV ADVANTAGES OF MUTUAL FUNDS 1. DIVERSIFICATION: Mutual Funds invest in a number of companies across a broad cross-section of industries and sectors. This diversification reduces the risk because seldom do all stocks decline at the same time and in the same proportion. You achieve this diversification through a Mutual Fund with far less money than you can do on your own. Thus, with smaller amounts you can achieve a higher degree of diversification and reduce your risk. 2. PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT: Most mutual funds pay topflight professionals to manage their investments. These managers decide what securities the fund will buy and sell. 3. RETURN POTENTIAL: Over a medium to long-term, Mutual Funds have the potential to provide a higher return as they invest in a diversified basket of selected securities. 4. LIQUIDITY: Its easy to get your money out of a mutual fund. In open-end schemes, the investor gets the money back promptly at net asset value related prices from the Mutual Fund. In closed-end scheme s, the units can be sold on a stock exchange at the prevailing market price or the investor can avail of the facility of direct repurchase at NAV related prices by the Mutual Fund. 5. CONVENIENCE: Investing in a Mutual Fund reduces paperwork and helps you avoid many problems such as bad deliveries, delayed payments and follow up with brokers and companies. Mutual Funds save your time and make investing easy and convenient. 6. TAX BENEFIT: Some mutual fund schemes offer you tax benefits under section 80C. 7. LOW COSTS: Mutual Funds are a relatively less expensive way to invest compared to directly investing in the capital markets because the benefits of scale in brokerage, custodial and other fees translate into lower costs for investors. 8. FLEXIBILITY: Through features such as regular investment plans, regular withdrawal plans and dividend reinvestment plans, you can systematically invest or withdraw funds according to your needs and convenience. Switch over option for switching to/from some other existing fund is also offered by some mutual funds. 9. AFFORDABILITY: Investors individually may lack sufficient funds to invest in high-grade stocks. A mutual fund because of its large corpus allows even a small investor to take the benefit of its investment strategy. 10. VARIETY OF SCHEMES: Mutual Funds offer a variety of schemes to investors thus giving an option to choose a scheme that suits the investors varying needs over a lifetime. 11. WELL REGULATED: All Mutual Funds are registered with SEBI and they function within the provisions and strict regulations designed to protect the interests of investors. The operations of Mutual Funds are regularly monitored by SEBI. TYPES OF RISK INVOLVED MARKET RISK The NAV of the scheme investing in equity will fluctuate as the daily prices of the individual securities in which they invest fluctuate and the units when redeemed may be worth more or less than the original cost. NON-MARKET RISK Bad news about an individual company can pull down its stock price, which can affect, negatively, funds holding a large quantity of that stock. This risk can be reduced by having a diversified portfolio that consists of a wide variety of stocks drawn from different industries. INTEREST RATE RISK Price of securities and interest rates move in opposite directions. When interest rates rise, security prices fall and this decline in underlying securities affects the NAV negatively. The extent of the negative impact is dependant on factors such as maturity profile, liquidity etc. CREDIT RISK Bonds are debt obligations. So when the funds invest in corporate bonds, they run the risk of the corporate defaulting on their interest payment and the principal payment obligations and when that risk crystallizes it leads to a fall in the value of the bond causing the NAV of the fund to take a beating. ASSOCIATION OF MUTUAL FUNDS IN INDIA (AMFI) With the increase in mutual fund players in India, a need for mutual fund association in India was generated to function as a non-profit organization. Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) was incorporated on 22nd August, 1995. AMFI is an apex body of all Asset Management Companies (AMC) which has been registered with SEBI. Till date all the AMCs are that have launched mutual fund schemes are its members. It functions under the supervision and guidelines of its Board of Directors. Association of Mutual Funds India has brought down the Indian Mutual Fund Industry to a professional and healthy market with ethical lines enh ancing and maintaining standards. It follows the principle of both protecting and promoting the interests of mutual funds as well as their unit holders. As of now, all the 39 Asset Management Companies that are registered with SEBI are its members. AMFI functions under the supervision and guidance of a Board of Directors Its objectives are as follows: *It maintains a high professional and ethical standards in all areas of operation of the industry. *It also recommends and promotes the top class business practices and code of conduct which is followed by members and related people engaged in the activities of mutual fund and asset management *AMFI interacts with SEBI and works according to SEBIs guidelines in the mutual fund industry. *Association of Mutual Fund of India do represent the Government of India, the Reserve Bank of India and other related bodies on matters relating to the Mutual Fund Industry. *It develops a team of well qualified and trained Agent distributors. *It implements a programme of training and certification for all intermediaries and other engaged in the mutual fund industry. *AMFI undertakes all India awarness programme for investors inorder to promote proper understanding of the concept and working of mutual funds.