Case Study- Marks & Spencer Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Case Study- Marks & Spencer - Essay Example Case Study- Marks & Spencer Despite new policies being made and brand’s shares overtaking the UK general retail index since 2009, M&S still fails to be a hit around the globe. I think this is because save cost savings, little improvement is made in financial performance with majority of customers who approach M&S stores belonging to old age group. This is one of the main shortcomings of the company that it fails to attract younger people especially women to its stores and this is an area where more work needs to be done by M&S management in order to compensate for the fall in profits. A growing body of arguments attempts to find out what exactly M&S should do to combat falling fashion sales which despite different policies and many changes made within company, fail to reverse. People who ardently used to approach M&S stores for quality shopping experience now hesitate because apart from dwindling standard, there is also lack of innovation and flair in designs and patterns of clothes. This explains why M& S is currently relying more on food sales for annual profits as clothing sales continue to struggle. I think it would be a better future strategy if M&S decides to focus less on celebrity-laden advertising campaigns and invest more in bringing back the quality and originality in its clothing designs. It is reported that M&S CEO Bolland faces pressure from critics as the business reports consistent fall in clothing sales. (Thompson 2013). In contrast to cloth sales, M&S has made more progress as the most significant food retailer in the UK in terms of customer satisfaction. I think that same old arguments regarding performance and clothing sales will keep haunting M&S cloth stores in the coming years if the leaders do not make radical changes in the company. Employee empowerment is good but this is also true that M&S has suffered quite much as a result of deciding to distribute power to the lowest level possible. This decision started many of its store managers making many decisions on their own which were not very well-thought-out and negatively interfered with both fashion sales and customer loyalty. It is suggested that delivery of power to employees working on all levels is good but only if top management continues to heavily monitor all operations being performed. It is also recommended that people at top positions in the company who have power should establish a new healthy culture at M&S plc in an attempt to rid it of its constipated culture. This is the biggest challenge which should be analyzed in order to plummet down the rate of operation problems. Also, failure to meet profit targets is one of the primary issues encountered by the management. Several issues like poor relations with investors and suppliers, embarrassing boardroom arguments, failure to provide trendier clothes at lower prices, and more than necessary autonomy given to people working at low level are responsible for this. I think that as a way of

Properties of Gases Essay Example for Free

Properties of Gases Essay The purpose of this lab was to investigate and discover the physical and chemical properties of some gases. Throughout this lab the ability to identify if and when gasses were present was enhanced. During the first step of this lab, when obtaining the hydrogen from the mossy zinc and the hydrochloric acid, it took a lot longer than I thought it would for the water in the pipet to be displaced. I was tempted to remove the stopper and add another piece of zinc and see if that would make it go faster, but I did not want to interrupt the process. It seemed the longer that the mossy zinc was exposed to the hydrochloric acid the faster it dissolved and therefore more gas was produced. When the manganese and the hydrogen peroxide were exposed to each other there was much more fizzing produced than that of the zinc and the hydrochloric acid. I was surprised (although I don’t know why) that the lime water turned cloudy when exposed to breath. It is quite simple when you think about it that when you exhale you release carbon dioxide which as shown in the above data turns the lime water cloudy. Conclusion/Discussion During the course of this lab I learned a lot about the generation of gases. I was somewhat confused in the beginning about how to use some of the equipment for this lab. As the lab went on I figured it out and became much more comfortable with it. I thought some of the experiments were very informative and interesting. I especially liked the portions about reactions with a lit match or the glowing splint as it showed on a small scale if the gas produced was flammable or not. Questions A. Give two reasons why we fill the gas generator test tubes almost to the top with chemicals. 1. The first reason we fill the test tubes almost to the top with chemicals is so that the reaction between the two substances is high enough to the top to go through the rubber stopper and displace the water in the pipet and trap the gas. 2. The second reason is so that observations can be made easily about the reactions. If it was not almost completely filled we may have had to try to pick up the test tube or remove the tissue paper to make observations and this may have altered the results. B. What happens to the zinc in the hydrogen generation experiment? The zinc begins to slowly dissolve when exposed to the hydrochloric acid. The longer the zinc was submerged in the hydrochloric acid the faster it seemed to dissolve. C. What happens to the manganese in the oxygen generation experiment? The manganese produced large amounts of fizzing when exposed to the hydrogen peroxide. It was difficult to tell whether the manganese was actually dissolving or just fizzing. D. Write a balanced equation for the reaction between O2 and H2. 2H2 + O2 2H2O E. What is the function/purpose of the bromothymol blue in the CO2 experiment? The purpose of the bromothymol blue was to show the reaction of the chemicals and the gas that was formed. Since the bromothymol blue changed from blue to yellow, that signified that the gas formed was acidic. F. Bromothymol blue is blue in the presence of basic solutions, and yellow in the presence of acidic solutions. If your solution is a murky green, what might you assume about the solution? I would assume one of two things. There may have possibly been a contamination of the substance. The other possibility might be that the pH of the solution is neutral. If the bromothymol blue turns a murky green color this may indicate that the substance is neither basic or acidic.

The Character of Henry Higgins in Pygmalion Essay -- Character Analysi

Shaw has often been criticized for his inability to create well- developed round characters. His characters are usually seen as mere puppets propelled by the crisis of the plot or as mouthpieces for his socialist viewpoint. However in Pygmalion,, Shaw vindicates himself of these charges by the creation of rounded and life-like characters such as Higgins and Eliza. Clearly they are not authorial stooges. They have a peculiar quality that leaves a lasting imprint on the reader's memory. But there is some truth in the charge that Shaw created a mouthpiece for his own ideas and the character of Alfred Doolittle is a case in point. While Doolittle is undoubtedly a staple comic character, he is an artificial and flat one. Doolittle is there for a purpose - he serves Shaw's didactic needs. As such he is in the Dickens' vein of exaggeration. Doolittle's character is drawn for the sole purpose of ridiculing the Victorian philosophy of the "undeserving poor." One cannot imagine such a characte r existing in real life. On the whole, however, Pygmalion is peopled with imaginative and lively characters. While Higgins and Eliza are excellent, even the minor characters are well drawn. Henry Higgins Higgins is an extremely interesting character and the life of the play. Although the play's obvious concern is the metamorphosis of a common flower girl into a duchess, the development of Higgins' character is also important. The play isn't only Eliza's story. One also detects changes in Higgins or to be more precise he appears to the reader in a new light at the end. This is seen when he tells Eliza that he has grown accustomed to seeing her face and hearing her voice. This is not much of a sensitive display of emotions but it is quite diffe... ...ough the character of Higgins. It is obvious that Higgins's manners are not much better than those of the Covent Garden flower girl. In fact Higgins comes off much worse because of the fact that he has had all the civilizing benefits of wealth and education yet he is rude to the point of being boorish and ill mannered, is given to frequent inflammatory outbursts, and possesses abominable table manners. The fact that such an ill- mannered person is accepted by society as a "gentleman" provides Shaw with an opportunity to expose the shallowness and hypocrisy of such a society. Shaw thus critiques a society that views wealth and the ability to speak correctly as the constitutive criteria of a prescriptive gentleman. It is one of Shaw's master ironic strokes to make such a rude and boorish egotistical bully the main agent for transforming a common flower girl into a lady.

Adults and Children as Learners Essay -- Education Psychology Essays

Adults and Children as Learners Teaching adults should be different if adults learn differently than children do. Theories or perspectives on adult learning, such as andragogy, make a number of assertions about the characteristics of adults as learners: adults need learning to be meaningful; they are autonomous, independent, and self-directed; prior experiences are a rich learning resource; their readiness to learn is associated with a transition point or a need to perform a task; their orientation is centered on problems, not content; they are intrinsically motivated; their participation in learning is voluntary (Draper 1998; Sipe 2001; Tice 1997; Titmus 1999). For some, "the major difference between adults and younger learners is the wealth of their experience" (Taylor, Marienau, and Fiddler 2000, p. 7). For others, the capacity for critical thinking or transformative learning is what distinguishes adults (Vaske 2001). In contrast, pedagogy assumes that the child learner is a dependent personality, has limited ex perience, is ready to learn based on age level, is oriented to learning a particular subject matter, and is motivated by external rewards and punishment (Guffey and Rampp 1997; Sipe 2001). If there are indeed "distinctive characteristics of adults, on which claims for the uniqueness and coherence of adult education are based, then one might expect them to be taken into account in all organized education for adults" (Titmus 1999, p. 347). However, each of these characteristics is contested. Courtney et al. (1999) assert that "characteristics of adult learners" refers to a small number of identified factors with little empirical evidence to support them. Andragogy has been criticized for characterizing adults as w... ...ctions for Adult and Continuing Education no. 91, edited by C. A. Hansman and P. A. Sissel, pp. 17-27. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, Fall 2001. Smith, M. C., and Pourchot, T., eds. Adult Learning and Development. Perspectives from Educational Psychology. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 1998. Taylor, K.; Marienau, C.; and Fiddler, M. Developing Adult Learners. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2000. Tice, E. T. "Educating Adults: A Matter of Balance." Adult Learning 9, no. 1 (Fall 1997): 18-21. Titmus, C. "Concepts and Practices of Education and Adult Education: Obstacles to Lifelong Education and Lifelong Learning?" International Journal of Lifelong Education 18, no. 5 (September-October 1999): 343-354. Vaske, J. M. "Critical Thinking in Adult Education: An Elusive Quest for a Definition of the Field." Ed.D. dissertation, Drake University, 2001. (ED 456 251)

Commercial Banking

Assignment 1 Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to evaluate the performance of both Hong Leong Bank and its peer bank RHB Bank for the financial year ended in 2010. The DuPont model is used to provide the information on the bank’s liquidity, profitability, efficiency and leverage status that allows financial analyst to evaluate on the performance of the bank as a result of the changes of these factors. A trend comparison for year 2010, 2009 and 2008 is conducted and evaluated its respective ratios and other financial data.The peer comparison of financial ratios between RHB Bank & Hong Leong Bank is evaluated and analysed to see which bank performs better in 2010. The other key ratios are also calculated in for deep analysis on to see how well these two banks in Malaysia perform in 2010. In addition, its credit risk that includes the risk management and its policy of both banks is then evaluated and compared to see which bank manages its credit risk properly.Fi nally, this report provides an overview of the performance of both RHB Bank and Hong Leong Bank for the financial year ended in 2010 and conclude which bank perform better in terms of various financial ration and management of credit risk. II II Assignment 1 Part A: Bank Performance Question 1: Dupont Model: a. Dopont Model: The DuPont model analysis is a common form of financial statement analysis and this model provides information on the bank’s liquidity, profitability, efficiency and leverage status that allows financial analyst to evaluate on the performance of the firm as a result of changes in one or more of these actors (Milbourn & Haight, 2005). According to Narayanan (2010), the DuPont model provides a starting point to determine the strength and weakness of the firm. It is also a very powerful financial tool to assist financial analyst, shareholders, investors and bankers in understanding the profitability of the firm and a tool that evaluate the firm’s financial statements by comparing the relationships within the income statement and balance sheet, or between the two statements. (Milbourn & Haight, 2005). The DuPont Model starts with the return of equity (ROE).The ROE is a strong measure on how well the management of the bank creates value to the shareholders (Pinsent, 2010). It is also a good starting point in the analysis of a bank’s financial condition. ROE is calculated by dividing the net income by total equity (Gup, Avram, Beal, Lambert & Kolari, 2007). The formula is as follows. ROE= Net incomeEquity According to Gup et at, (2007), the ROE ratio is equal to the Return of Assets (ROA) ratio times the Leverage multiplier that shows the dollar amount of assets that are financed by each dollar of the equity. The leverage multiplier is one indicator of financial leverage.ROE=ROA x Leverage Multiplier Net IncomeEquity = Net IncomeTotal Assets x Total AssetsEquity Leverage multiplier shows the extent to which the b ank relies on debt financing. The higher the leverage multiplier, the more debt the bank is carrying. Leverage Multiplier= Total AssetsEquity The Return of Assets (ROA) measures the bank profits as a percent of its assets and also measures the ability of the firm to use the real financial resources of the bank to generate revenue. It is commonly used to evaluate bank management (Gup et al, 2007). ROA is calculated by dividing net income y total assets. ROA= Net IncomeTotal Assets In the DuPont model analysis, the ROA is expended into another equation: Net IncomeTotal Assets = RevenueTotal Assets x Net IncomeRevenue Thus the DuPont model translates the ROA equation into the following: ROA=Asset Utilisation x Net Profit Margin The net margin ratio shows how much profit the bank makes for every $ 1. 00 it generates from the revenue. Generally, the higher the ratio, the better the net margin. In order to obtain more revenue, most banks will want to reduce the net income to achieve a hig her net margin ratio.Net Margin= Net IncomeRevenue The asset utilisation shows the amount of income the bank generated for every dollar worth of the assets available. This shows the bank’s efficiency in utilising the assets. Basically, the higher the asset turnover, the better the firm use the assets. Asset Turnover= RevenueTotal Assets In order for the bank to increase the ROE, banks need to increase their credit risk; this can be done by providing more loans to customers and subsequently, the bank will earn more income. This will in turn increase the ROA and the same time increases the ROE.Limitations of the Dupont model analysis: * It is based on accounting numbers, which are basically not reliable. * it does not include the Cost of Capital. * Garbage in, garbage out. Assumptions of the DuPont method: * Accounting numbers are reliable. b. Dopont Model Analysis: i. & ii. Trend Comparison of Hong Leong and RHB (2008, 2009 & 2010): Hong Leong Bank’s data: | 201 0| 2009| 2008| | RM’000| RM’000| RM’000| Revenue| | | | Interest income| 2,592,586| 2,937,002| 3,064,785| Non-interest income| 506,979| 511,537| 501,067| Total| 3,099,565| 3,448,539| 3,565,852| | | | | Operating costs| | | |Interest expense| 1,209,792| 1,579,883| 1,688,293| Non-interest expense| 831,139| 806,030| 786,194| Total| 2,040,931| 2,385,913| 2,474,487| | | | | Net profit| 767,817| 659,678| 838,874| Total assets| 77,730,208| 70,732,513| 69,992,756| Equity| 5,815,063| 5,319,288| 4,923,133| RHB Bank’s Data | 2010| | RM’000| Revenue| | Interest income| 4,530,637| Non-interest income| 722,818| Total| 5,253,455| Operating Cost| | Interest Expense| 1,811,153| Non-interest Expense| 1,302,007| Total| 3,113,160| | | Net profit| 1,294,437| Total assets| 105,179,231| Equity| 8,397,474| Dupont Model of Hong Leong Bank 2010| 2009| 2008| Return On Equity: Net incomeEquity| RM767,817,000RM5,815,063,000= 13. 20%| RM659,678,000RM5,319,288,000= 12. 40%| RM83 8,874,000RM4,923,133,000= 17. 04%| Leverage Multiplier:Total AssetsEquity| RM77,730,208,000RM5,815,063,000=13. 37times| RM70,732,513,000RM5,319,288,000= 13. 30times| RM69,992,756,000RM4,923,133,000= 14. 22times| Return On Assets:Net IncomeTotal Assets| RM767,817,000RM77,730,208,000= 0. 99%| RM659,678,000RM70,732,513,000= 0. 93%| RM838,874,000RM69,992,756,000= 1. 20%| Asset Utilization:RevenueTotal Assets| RM3,099,565,000RM77,730,208,000= 3. 9%| RM3,448,539,000RM70,732,513,000= 4. 88%| RM3,565,852,000RM69,992,756,000= 5. 10%| Net margin:Net incomerevenue| RM767,817,000RM3,099,565,000= 24. 77%| RM659,678,000RM3,448,539,000= 19. 13%| RM838,874,000RM3,565,852,000= 23. 53%| Dupont Model of RHB Bank | 2010| Return On Equity: Net incomeEquity| RM1,294,437,000RM8,397,474,000=15. 41%|Leverage Multiplier:Total AssetsEquity| RM105,179,231,000RM8,397,474,000=12. 53times| Return On Assets:Net IncomeTotal Assets| RM1,294,437,000RM105,179,231,000=1. 23%| Asset Utilization:RevenueTotal Assets| RM5, 253,455,000RM105,179,231,000=4. 9%| Net margin:Net incomerevenue| RM1,294,437,000RM5,253,455,000=24. 64%| c. Analysis and Discussion: Trend comparison of Hong Leong Bank Ratio| 2010| 2009| 2008| Net margin| 24. 77%| 19. 13%| 23. 53%| Asset utilisation| 3. 99%| 4. 88%| 5. 10%| Return on assets| 0. 99%| 0. 93%| 1. 20%| Leverage multiplier| 13. 37times| 13. 30times| 14. 22times| Return on equity| 13. 20%| 12. 40%| 17. 04%| Hong Leong Bank’s net margin is higher in year 2010 (24. 77%) compared to the year 2009 (19. 13%) and year 2008 (23. 53%). It means that operating costs are relatively lower in year 2010 compared to year 2009 and year 2008.Operating costs in the year 2010, 2009 and 2008 are RM2,040,931,000, RM3,448,539,000 and RM2,474,487,000 respectively. This indicates that operating costs are well controlled by Hong Leong Bank in 2010 compared to 2009 and 2008. Thus this shows that the bank run their operations effectively in 2010 that increased its profitability. Hong Leon g Bank’s asset utilisation is lower in year 2010 (3. 99%) compared to the year 2009 (4. 88%) and 2008 (5. 10%). It decreased constantly from year 2008 to 2010. The decline in the figures shows that beginning in the year of 2009, the bank did not utilise much of its assets to generate more revenue.Therefore revenue was decreasing from 2008 to 2009. Revenue for the year 2010, 2009 and 2008 are RM3,099,565,000,RM3,448,539,000 and RM3,565,852,000. This shows that the bank well utilised the assets to generate revenue in 2008 compared to 2010. Hong Leong Bank’s return on assets is lower in year 2010 (0. 99%) compared to the year 2009 (0. 93%) and 2008 (1. 20%). This shows that Hong Leong Bank did not do well in managing and utilising its asset base in 2010. Hong Leong Bank’s leverage multiplier decreased from the year 2008 (14. 22times) to year 2009 (13. 30times) and increased back in year 2010(13. 7times).This implies that Hong Leong Bank does not depend too much on debt financing in their activities and carried less debt in their operations in 2009 compared to year 2010 and 2008. Thus, Hong Leong Bank was exposed to more risk in 2008 compared to year 2010. Hong Leong Bank’s return on equity decreased from year 2008 (17. 04%) compared to year 2009 (12. 40%) and increased back in year 2010 (13. 20%). This implies that it did not manage and utilise its equity base and therefore the investors did not get a better return from the Hong Leong Bank in 2010.Overall, Hong Leong Bank performance on profitability was better in 2008 compared to the year 2009 and 2010. Peer comparison Ratio| Hong Leong Bank| RHB Bank| Net margin| 24. 77%| 24. 64%| Asset utilisation| 3. 99%| 4. 99%| Return on assets| 0. 99%| 1. 23%| Leverage multiplier| 13. 37times| 12. 53times| Return on equity| 13. 20%| 15. 41%| Hong Leong Bank’s net margin (24. 77%) is higher than RHB Bank’s (24. 64%). It means that RHB Bank’s operating costs are relatively hig her. RHB Bank’s operating costs are RM3,113,160,000 whereas Hong Leong Bank’s operating costs are RM2,040,931,000.Thus, RHB Bank’s operating costs are higher by RM1,072,229,000. This indicates that operating costs are well controlled by Hong Leong Bank compared to RHB Bank. RHB Bank’s asset utilisation (4. 99%) is higher than Hong Leong Bank’s (3. 99%). This shows that RHB Bank used most effectively of its assets to generate more revenue than Hong Leong Bank. RHB Bank’s revenue is RM5,253,455,000 which is higher than Hong Leong Bank’s revenue which is RM3,099,565,000. Hong Leong Bank’s return on assets is 0. 99% which is slightly lower than RHB Bank’s return on assets which is 1. 23%.This can be implied that Hong Leong Bank did not manage and utilise its assets base better than RHB Bank during operations to generate revenue. However, both banks generated low return on the basis of their assets. With total assets of RHB B ank is RM105,179,231,000, it generated revenue of RM5,253,455,000 whereas Hong Leong Bank’s total assets is RM77,730,208,000 and it generated revenue of RM3,099,565,000. Even though, RHB Bank has assets of 1. 35times more than Hong Leong Bank, its return on assets is still low.Thus Hong Leong Bank managed its assets better than RHB Bank. Hong Leong Bank’s leverage multiplier (13. 7times) is higher than RHB Bank’s (12. 53times). Hong Leong bank has leverage multiplier of 0. 84times more compared to RHB Bank. This implies that RHB Bank does not depend too much on debt financing in their activities and carries less debt in their operations. Thus, Hong Leong Bank is exposed to more risk than RHB Bank. Hong Leong Bank’s return on equity is 13. 20% which is lower than RHB Bank’s 15. 41%. RHB Bank has a higher ROE because possibly the bank does not rely too much on debt financing and offers a high return to shareholders of the bank. Thus, shareholders of RHB Bank will be happy and stay with RHB Bank.Shareholders of Hong Leong Bank may sell its shares and leave the bank. Generally, the overall financial performance of Hong Leong Bank is not very well in comparison with RHB Bank (peer bank). It is possible that Hong Leong Bank’s objectives and strategies are different from RHB Bank’s. Question 2: Hong Leong Bank’s data of 2010 Interest earning asset 1:| RM’000| Deposits and placements with banks and other financial institutions| 7,004,664| Securities held at fair value through profit or loss| 6,703,224| Available-for-sale securities| 3,859,367| Held-to-maturity securities| 7,042,610| Loans, advances and financing| 33,589,093|Other assets| 2,014,821| Total| 60,213,779| | | Earning assets 2:| | Interest Income Assets:| | Deposits and placements with banks and other financial institutions| 7,004,664| Securities held at fair value through profit or loss| 6,703,224| Available-for-sale securities| 3,859,367| Held -to-maturity securities| 7,042,610| Loans, advances and financing| 33,589,093| Other assets| 2,014,821| | | Non-Interest Income Assets:| | Investment in subsidiary companies (Note 31) earning dividend| 714,092| Investment in associated company (Note 31) earning dividend| 946,505| Total| 61,874,376| | |Interest sensitive assets 3:| | Cash and short-term funds| 13,421,408| Deposits and placements with banks and other financial institutions| 7,004,664| Available-for-sale securities| 681,619| Held-to-maturity securities| 1,705,674| Loans, advances and financing| 30,712,038| Total| 53,525,403| | | Interest bearing liabilities 4:| | Deposits from customers| 63,239,050| Deposits and placements of banks and other financial institutions| 3,791,129| Bills and acceptances payable| 285,366| Other liabilities| 3,890,295| Total| 71,205,840| | | Interest sensitive liabilities 5:| | Deposits from customers| 54,798,922|Deposits and placements of banks and other financial institutions| 3,784,376| Bil ls and acceptances payable| 25,453| Total| 58,608,751| | | | | Liquid assets 6:| | Cash and short-term funds| 13,928,247| Deposits and placements with banks and other financial institutions| 7,004,664| Loans, advances and financing (Note 8)| 9,057,329| Available for sales securities| 3859367| Total| 33,849,607| | | Deposits | 7,004,664| Shareholders’ fund = Total equity| 5,815,063| | | Net-write offs 7:| 202,219| NOTES: 1 Interest earning asset are assets that earns interest income. (Note 28 of pg113 of Hong. Leong Bank Annual Report 2010) Earning assets Income earning assets held by a bank typically include interest bearing balances, investment securities and loans. (Note 28 of pg113 & Note 31 of pg115 of Hong Leong Bank Annual Report 2010) 3 Interest sensitive assets are the dollar value of assets that either mature or can be repriced within within a selected time period such as one year. 4 Interest bearing liabilities are those liabilities that have to pay interest. 5 Interest sensitive liabilities are the dollar value of liabilities that either mature or can be reprised within a selected time period usually of one year.Liquid assets are unpledged, marketable short term securities that are classified as available for sale, plus federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreement to resell, a liquid asset can be easily and quickly converted into cash with minimum loss. 7 Net Write Offs is the amount written off under the assets of loans, advances and financing. (Note 8of pg95 of Hong Leong Bank Annual Report 2010) NOTES: 8 Interest Sensitive Assets RM’000 13,421,408 7,004,664 681,619 1,741,674 30,712,038 Interest Sensitive Liabilities RM’000 54,798,922 3,784,376 25,453 Interest Sensitive Assets RM’000 3,421,408 7,004,664 681,619 1,741,674 30,712,038 Interest Sensitive Liabilities RM’000 54,798,922 3,784,376 25,453 RHB Bank’s data of 2010 Interest Earning asset 1:| RM’000| Loans, advances and financ ing| 71,125,558| Money at call and deposit placements with banks and other financial institutions| 1,539,648| Securities purchased under resale agreement| 276,407| Financial assets held-for-trading| 129,583| Financial investments available-for-sale| 8,143,221| Financial investments held-to-maturity| 8,143,221| Total| 89,357,638| | | Earning assets 2:| | Loans, advances and financing| 71,125,558|Money at call and deposit placements with banks and other financial institutions| 1,539,648| Securities purchased under resale agreement| 276,407| Financial assets held-for-trading| 129,583| Financial investments available-for-sale| 8,143,221| Financial investments held-to-maturity| 8,143,221| Total| 89,357,638| | | Interest sensitive assets 1:| | Cash and short-term funds| 10,270,874| Securities under resale agreement| 276,398| Deposits and placements with banks and other financial institutions| 777,779| Financial investment available-for-sale | 1107052| Held-to-maturity securities| 3833825| Loans, advances and financing| 52741914| Total| 69,007,842| | | Interest bearing liabilities 4:| | Deposits and placements of banks and other financial institutions| 6,158,453| Deposits from customers| 80,567,577| Subordinated obligations| 3,018,157| Recourse obligation on loans sold to Cagamas Berhad| 818,503| Hybrid Tier I Capital Securities| 605,407| Long term borrowings| 819,362| Others liabilities| 868,165| Total | 92,855,624| Interest sensitive liabilities 2:| | Deposits from customers| 63,270,532| Deposits and placements of banks and other financial institutions| 5558376| Bills and acceptances payable| 2934533|Recourse obligation on loans sold to Cagamas Berhad| 147030| Long term borrowings| 817127| Total| 72,727,598| | | | | Liquid assets 3:| | Cash and short-term funds| 11093561| Securities purchased under resale agreements| 276,407| Deposits and placements with banks and other financial institutions| 782,462| Financial assets held-for-trading| 119,374| Financial investment available-for-sale| 1176035| Financial investment held-to-maturity| 3854749| Loans, advances and financing| 14124170| Other assets| 88835| Derivative assets| 190637| Total| 31,706,230| | | Deposits | 1,539,648|Shareholders’ fund = Total equity| 8,397,474| | | Net-write offs 7:| 1,033,573| NOTES: 1, 2, 3 – Please refer to appendix. | Hong Leong BankRM’000| RHB BankRM’000| Interest earning assets| 60,213,779| 89,357,638| Interest bearing liabilities| 71,205,840| 92,855,624| Earning Assets| 61,874,376| 89,357,638| Interest sensitive assets (RSA)| 53,525,403| 69,007,842| Interest sensitive liabilities (RSL)| 58,608,751| 72,727,598| Liquid assets | 33,849,607| 29,990,240| Shareholders’ fund| 5,815,063| 5,815,063| Net-write offs| 202,219| 1,033,573| Operating Income| 3,099,565| 5,253,455|Operating Expense| 2,040,931| 3113160| Other key indicators for the year ended 2010: Bank efficiency| Hong Leong Bank| RHB Bank| Efficiency ratio:Operating expenses Ope rating income| RM2,040,931,000RM3,099,565,000= 65. 85%| RM3,113,160,000RM5,253,455,000= 59. 26%| Cost to assets ratios:Operating expenses Total assets| RM2,040,931,000RM77,730,208,000= 2. 63%| RM3,113,160,000RM105,179,231,000= 2. 96%| Efficiency ratio measures the changes of costs in relation to income. Hong Leong Bank has an efficiency ratio of 65. 85% while RHB Bank is one with the lower which is 59. 26%.This implies that Hong Leong Bank’s rate in increasing the operating income is at lower rate compared to RHB Bank. In terms of rate of increase in operating income, Hong Leong has the lower efficiency compared to RHB. Cost to assets ratio is used to measure the costs incurred in relation to the assets size. RHB Bank has a higher cost to assets ratio that is 2. 96% compared to Hong Leong Bank that has a figure of 2. 63%. Therefore in term of cost of control relative to the total assets owned, Hong Leong is more efficient than RHB Bank. Interest differentials| Hong Leong Bank | RHB Bank|Net interest income:Interest earned -Interest expense| RM2,592,586,000 -RM1,209,792,000= RM1,382,794,000| RM4,530,637,000-RM1,811,153,000= RM2,719,484,000| % of interest margin:interest earned – interest expenses Earning assets| RM2,592,586,000-RM1,209,792,000RM61,874,376,000= 2. 23%| RM4,530,637,000-RM1,811,153,000RM89,357,638,000= 3. 04%| %interest spread(interest earned/interest earning assets) – (interest expense/ interest bearing liabilities)| (RM2,592,586,000/RM60,213,779,000)-(RM1,209,792,000/RM71,205,840,000)= 2. 1%| (RM4,530,637,000/RM89,357,638,000)-(RM1,811,153,000/RM92,855,624,000)= 3. 12%| Net interest income refers the difference between revenue that is generated from the bank’s assets and expenses associated with paying out its liabilities. In the table above, RHB Bank’s net income is RM2,719,484,000 which is higher than Hong Leong Bank which have a figure of RM1,382,794,000. This means that RHB Bank has higher excess revenue and interest income after deducting interest paid on deposit from interest earned on assets.Percentage interest margin shows the dollar difference between interests earned and interest expense, as a percentage of earnings assets. Hong Leong Bank’s% interest margin is 2. 23% which is lower than RHB Bank which is 3. 04%. This implies that RHB Bank made a better investment than Hong Leong Bank due to higher percentage interest margin. Percentage interest spread refers to the difference in borrowing and lending rates of financial institutions (such as banks) in nominal terms. RHB Bank’s % interest spread is 3. 12% which is higher than Hong Leong Bank’s 2. 23%. Risk management| Hong Leong Bank| RHB Bank|Interest rate riskinterest sensitive assets interest sensitive liabilities| RM53,525,403,000RM58,608,751,000= 0. 91| RM69,007,842,000RM72,727,598,000= 0. 95| Credit risk net write-offs total assets| RM202,219,000RM77,730,208,000= 0. 26%| RM1,033,573,000RM105,179,231,000= 0. 98%| Liquidity risk :liquid assets/total asset liquid assets/deposits| RM33,849,607,000/RM77,730,208000= 0. 44RM33,849,607,000/RM7,004,664,000= 4. 83| RM29,990,240,000/RM105,179,231,000= 0. 29RM29,990,240,000/RM1,539,648,000= 19. 48| Capital risk :shareholders’ funds total assets| RM5,815,063,000RM77,730,208,000= 7. 48%| RM8,397,474,000RM105,179,231,000= 7. 8%| Interest Sensitivity ratio measures the interest rate risk and it measures the level of repricing irregularities between the bank’s assets and liabilities. RHB bank has an interest sensitivity ratio of 0. 95 while Hong Leong has 0. 91 which is slightly lower than RHB Bank. This implies that RHB Bank can replace assets with higher yielding assets quicker than replacing the low cost deposits with more funds compared to RHB. Credit risk refers to risk of loss of principal due to the borrower’s failure to repay the loans or otherwise meet the contractual obligation. RHB bank has a higher credit risk which stands at 0. 8 % compared to Hong Leong that has a lower figure of 0. 26%. This shows that Hong Leong is better in managing its credit risk compared to RHB. Liquidity ratio is used to measure the ability of the bank to repay off its short term obligations. RHB Bank has lower liquidity ratios of 0. 29 while Hong Leong has a higher ratio of 0. 44. This shows that Hong Leong has higher liquid assets to meet short term obligation and able to repay all short term debt in time compared to RHB Bank. The capital risk ratio is used to calculate the capital risk and it measures the financial stability of the bank.RHB Bank has a higher simple capital ratio that has a figure 7. 98% compared to Hong Leong bank that has a value of 7. 48%. This implies that RHB is well protected against any operating losses incurred than Hong Leong. Overall, in terms of risk management RHB Bank is performing well compared to Hong Leong Bank for the year ended 2010. Question 3: Comparison of forms of loans between RHB and Hong Leong Bank OverdraftsTerm loans/financing-Housing and shop loans/financing- Syndicated term loans/financing- Hire purchase receivables- Lease receivables- Other term oans/financingCredit/charge card receivablesBills receivableTrust receiptsClaims on customers under acceptance creditsBlock discountingRevolving creditStaff loans/financingFloor stockingOther loans/financingUnearned interest and incomeGross loans, advances and financingFair value changes arising from fair value hedgesUnamortised fair value changes arising from terminated fairvalue hedgesAllowance for impaired loans and financing-individual impairment allowance-collective impairment allowance-general allowance-specific allowanceAllowance for bad and doubtful debts and financing:- specific- generalTotal net loans, advances and financing| RHB Bank (RM’000)5,976,56915,908,732835,5889,322,667-29,854,4431,644,4651,418,203325,1774,130,205-3,491,071336,5281,56973,245,217-(682,522)(1,437,137)—-71123,9 89| Hong Leong Bank (RM’000)2,086,55016,933,8161,458,6333,284,687-1,653,6902,017,519211,01992,9823,184,6968,2181,219,78096,668-44,390(613,549)31,679,09928,3858,714—(306,807)(471,305)30,938,086|Credit risk is the risk of financial loss due to a borrower or counterparty being unable or unwilling to deliver on its payment obligations to the Bank, which leads to a loss of revenue and the principal amount. It arises principally from lending, trade finance and treasury activities (Hong Leong Bank Annual Report 2010 pg. 150). Based on the above table shows the comparison of the total amount of loans for Hong Leong Bank and RHB Bank for the financial year ended 2010. RHB Bank has the highest number of loans that stands at RM71,125,558,000 while Hong Leong Bank has a total of RM 33,589,093,000. However, based on the credit risk ratio RHB Bank has a higher credit risk which stands at 0. 98 % compared to Hong Leong that has a lower figure of 0. 26%.This shows that Hong Leong is b etter in managing its credit risk compared to RHB Bank RHB Bank has 2. 1times more loans than Hong Leong Bank, but it’s credit risk is 3. 76times more than Hong Leong Bank. It implies that Hong Leong is better in managing its credit risk and loan portfolio because most borrowers able to pay back the loan to the bank. Therefore, Hong Leong provided the best of the credit risk quality. In order for the bank to increase and strengthen the risk management practices, RHB Bank ensures to maintain the credit quality of its loan portfolios, improve cost effectiveness, and ensure the liquidity and capital stay strong throughout the financial year in 2010.Therefore, RHB Bank manages risk through clearly defined guidelines that are approved by the Board of Directors, through a framework of established control and reporting process. Hong Leong Bank also gives a strong priority for managing effectively in credit management. It is also managed by high-experience personal with high level re view undertaken by the Management Credit Committee under the supervision of the Board Credit Supervisory Committee. The bank integrated risk management structure is similar to RHB Bank whereby credit risk framework that is compliant with Bank Negara Malaysia’s guidelines on ‘‘Best Practices for the Management of Credit Risk†.The Group Risk Management Committee (GRMC) had been established by RHB Bank for risk oversight within the bank. Among the committees of this group are namely the Group Credit Risk Management Committee (GCRMC), Group Operational Risk Management Committee (GORMC) and Group Assets and Liabilities Management Committee (GALCO) assist the GRMC in managing credit risk, operational risk as well as market and liquidity risk. The committee ensures the development and implementation of risk policies as well as the effectiveness of policies. Among the exposure of credit risk in RHB Bank may be categorized as primary exposure. Loans, advances and fin ancing are the credit risk that arises in the primary exposure.Most of the lending activities in the bank are guided by the Group’s Credit Policies and Guidelines, in line with Best Practices in the Management of Credit Risk, issued by Bank Negara Malaysia. The credit risk policy includes an overview of the lending organisation, and the responsibilities of the parties in the organisation whereby the Board have a loan committee that oversees major new loan and renewals and the performance of the loan portfolio (Gup et al, 2007). Example, Hong Leong will be redeveloping a new credit risk system for corporate and commercial borrowers while for the retail segment, the bank has implemented a credit application and behavioural scoring system in order to improve the Bank’s ability to control credit losses within predictive ranges and achieve a well balanced portfolio.This is accordance to the Basel II that RHB Bank is also practising whereby every bank requires to hold adequa te capital in order to fulfil the minimum capital adequacy of the bank. This is also supported by Hassan & Muhammad, (2007) whereby bank loans are the most largest and obvious credit risk. Therefore the Basel II is required so that most banks will know how much capital they must hold. The Bank’s credit risk management process is documented and processed In the Credit Manual. One of the functions of the Credit Manual that is introduced by Hong Leong Bank is to set out the lending policies, lending authorities, credit risk rating, credit reviews, collateral, credit administration and security documentation, and timely rehabilitation and restructuring of problematic and delinquent accounts.Apart from that, this is to ensure that structures are there to maintain to enhance the Bank’s risk assessment capabilities in key areas of credit that includes sound credit policies and procedures, quality credit approvals, appropriate risk measurement. ARHB Bank does not have this Credit Manual but they form a second line defence that formulate the risk management policies. The function of an internal audit is to provide independent reviews of the quality of the loans (Gup et al, 2007). Based on the Hong Leong Bank Annual Report (2010), it states that Internal Audit conducts independent post to reviews on the financial statements and the capital of the bank.This is to ensure that the qualities of credit risk and approval standards are in accordance with the credit standards and the lending policies and directives established and approved by the Bank’s management and Board of Directors. Question 4: Conclusion In conclusion, the performance of Hong Leong Bank for the financial year ended in 2010 is not as good as its peer bank RHB Bank. This is due to that the ROE is lower compared to RHB Bank. This can be improved by not relying too much on debt financing for its operations and to provide more return to investors. Also, Hong Leong Bank did not create m uch value to the shareholders due to low ROE. However, only the net margin part is the main strength of Hong Leong compared to RHB Bank This indicates that operating costs are well controlled by Hong Leong Bank compared to RHB Bank.This is a good indicator as this prevents wastage and smartly uses the assets to generate more income. The liquidity ratio for both the banks are below 1 which is not safe for both banks because they cannot meet the requirements to pay off the obligations and current assets are less than current liabilities they having. Based on the ratio analysis for year 2009 to 2010, the ROE, ROA and net margin ratio shows a good improvement due to economic boom and inflation happens during the period. However, in 2009, most of the ratio for Hong Leong Bank declines because may be due to economic recession and the decline in the economic activity of the bank.For the credit risk, RHB Bank did not manage its credit risk well compared to Hong Leong based on the credit ana lysis. RHB could improve their credit risk by having an internal audit to check on the loan defaulters and the accounts. Personal experience of visiting banks We visited Hong Leong Bank and RHB Bank in Ampang branch and Cheras branch. We asked the branch manager of RHB Bank for more details of their items on balance sheet and income statement. She did not know what items are called interest earning assets in Balance sheet. She does not know Income Statement and Balance Sheet. I was surprised, she is a manager and she does not know.She was kind enough to call the headquarter of RHB Bank and made me speak to the person in charge of financial statements. Well, I was told that each bank has different items calling interest earning assets and liquid assets. He cannot release those details. The RHB Bank and Hong Leong Bank in Ampang Branch have 400 to 500 customers daily and they are overcrowded during lunch hours. However, the RHB Bank has 100-150 customers daily and Hong Leong Bank has 50-100 customers daily in Cheras branch. Most customers come during the lunch hours. Ampang branch has more customers compared to RHB Bank. Thus it depends on location, the number of customers visit banks. Below are the cards of Hong Leong bank and RHB Bank:Ampang Branch Cheras Branch Part B: Virtual Bank Balance Sheet |   |   | |   |   |   | | Liabilities| |   | | Asset| | 1. Deposit| | |   | 1. Gold and foreign exchange| i. Current deposit | |   | 2. Cash and Liquid Assets| | ii. Fixed deposit| |   | 3. Securities| | iii. Certificates of deposit|   | i. Trading securities | | iv. Other deposits such as call deposits, cash| ii. Investment securities | | management accounts and savings account| iii. Short term discount security| 2. Non-deposit liabilities| |   | iv. Long term bonds or notes| Liabilities due to clearing houses and financial| 4.Loans and advances| | institutions and rank in priority after deposit| i. Overdraft | | i. Repurchase agreements|   | ii. Credit card outstanding| ii. Promissory notes| |   | iii. Housing finance | | iii. Liabilities on bill acceptances|   | iv. Other term loans| | iv. Corporate bonds and other long-term borrowings| v. Lease and hire purchase finance | 3. Due to other banks| |   | 5. Due from other banks| | 4. Trading derivatives| |   | 6. Trading derivatives| | 5. Other financial liabilities at fair value| 7. Other financial assets at fair value| 6. Other borrowings| |   | 8. All other asset| | 7. Bonds, notes, and subordinated debt| 9.Due from customer on acceptance | 8. Other debt issues| |   | | | | 9. All other liabilities| |   | | | | 10. Goodwill and other intangible asset| | | | | | |   | | | | | | |   | | | | | Capital| |   | | | | Capital acts as a buffer against unexpected losses and| | | | protects against insolvency. |   | | | | i. Debt capital : borrowed funds|   | | | | ii. Equity capital : shareholders' fund| | | | NOTES : Asset 1. Changes in this item reflec t transactions of the following kinds: a. the Bank's transactions in foreign exchange and foreign securities (including under repurchase agreements); b. earnings on foreign currency investments; and c. hanges in the valuation of foreign currency and gold, and changes in the market prices of the Bank's holdings of foreign currency securities. 2. Liquid assets are assets that can be converted into cash quickly without loss of value 3. i. Trading securities : banks plans to sell before maturity ii. Investment securities : banks plan to hold till maturity iii. Short term discount securities : pay face value at maturity iv. Long term bonds or notes which pay coupons during the life of the security and the face value of maturity. 4. Includes loans, deposits with central banks and other regulatory authorities and settlement account balances due from other banks.Amounts due from other banks are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. Advances: non-der ivative financial assets with fixed payments that are not quoted in an active market i. Overdraft : – borrower can draw up to the limit * Interest payable on amount drawn * Commitment fee is payable on the undrawn amount| ii. Credit card outstanding: – borrower can purchase on credit| or take cash in advance -form of revolving credit -Interest payable on amount drawn -annual fee may be charged | | | | iii.Housing finance : – Mortgage where the collateral is real estate – loan application fees are charged – variable rates(up to 30 years) – fixed rates(3-5 years)| iv. Other term loans : – example such as fully drawn advance – maturity of 5-8 years – a single loan of a specific dollar amount – fixed interest rate – application fees, establishment fees – repayment maybe fully amortised or structured to match the profits Generated by project being finance. | v.Lease and hire purchase finance : – se cured loans where the collateral is an asset – term of loan related to the life of the collateral – fixed interest rate – application fees, establishment fees| | | 5. Trading derivatives have not been shown by contractual maturity because they are typically held for various periods of time. 6. Also called as market related contingencies such as futures, swaps, options, forward rate agreements 7. example: land, buildings 8.Due from customer on acceptance : customer who wants to borrow from the bank may be offered a â€Å"bill facility† and the customer must agree to repay the bank. The bank is the acceptor(promise to pay the holder the face value Liabilities: Deposit: 1. Current deposit : – No maturity and no minimum balance – Withdrawals by writing a cheque or through electronic transactions – May be interest bearings(variable interest rate) or non-interest bearing 2. Fixed deposit : – Minimum amount – Specific term eg. 1-5 years – Early withdrawals incur a penalty – Fixed interest rate 3. Certificates of deposit : – Face value at least $100,000 – Maturities between 14-270 days – Fixed interest rate – Originally issued at par but may trade above or below depending on Market yields. At maturity, receives face value plus interest 4. The deposits : a) Call deposit – must give notice of withdrawal, variable interest rate b) cash management accounts – minimum balance requirement, variable interest rate linked to money market yields c) savings account – no minimum balance or notice of withdrawal requirements – variable interest rate Non-Deposit: i. Repurchase agreements : – banks borrow for a short period (5 years) – sell securities with an agreement to repurchase on agreed date at agreed price ii. Promissory notes : – discount securities – bank sells to the market iii. Liabilities on bill acceptance : -bank is the acceptor and pays face value at maturity iv.Corporate bonds and other long term borrowings : example domestic bonds, eurobonds Due to Other Banks: Includes deposits, vostro balances, repurchase agreement and settlement account balances due to other banks. Trading derivatives: Financial liabilities at fair value are financial liabilities held for trading if it is acquired or incurred principally for the purpose of selling or repurchasing it in the near term. | Other financial liabilities at fair value Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. It is subsequently carried at amortised cost, any difference between initial recognised amount and the redemption value is recognised in the profit or loss.For example: borrowing from reverse bank, other banks, or borrowing from outside of the country. Other financial liabilities at fair value: Short term and long-term debt issues of the group including commercial paper, notes, term loans, medi um-term notes, mortgage backed securities and other discrete debt issues. All other liabilities: I) Bills Payable (drafts, telegraphic transfers, mail transfers payable, pay slip, bankers cheques, other miscellaneous items, etc) II) Inter-Office (The inter-office adjustments balance, if in credit, should be shown under this head. Only net position of interoffice accounts, inland as well as foreign should be shown here)III) Interest Accrued (Includes interest due and payable and interest accrued, but not due on deposits and borrowings Includes net provision for income tax and other taxes like interest tax (less advance payment, tax deducted at source, etc. ) IV) Deferred Tax (surplus provisions in bad debts provision account, surplus provisions or depreciation in securities, Contingency funds which are not disclosed as reserves but are actually in the nature of reserves, proposed dividend/transfer to Government. ) V) Others (which are not disclosed under any of the major heads such a s unclaimed dividend, provisions and funds kept for specific purposes, unexpired discount, outstanding charges like rent, conveyance, etc. certain types of deposits like staff security deposits, margin deposits, etc) Goodwill and other intangible asset:Goodwill arises on the acquisition of an entity and represents the excess of the aggregate of the fair value of the purchase consideration and the amount of any non-controlling interest in the entity over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets at the date of the acquisition. Capital Debt capital : borrowed funds, ranks higher than equity capital for the repayment of annual returns. Equity capital : -shareholders’ fund which represents the remaining interest in assets of a company. -permanent commitment of funds -earns the residual income of the firm after all interest and other costs -main components includes issue share, reserve and retained earnings References Hong Leong Bank. (2011). Annual Report: 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2011 from http://www. hlb. com. my/data/ar2010. pdf RHB Bank. 2011). Annual Report: 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2011 from http://www. rhb. com. my/corporate_profile/investor_relation/pdf/annual_reports/2010/RHB%20Bank%20Berhad%202010. pdf Gup, B. E. , Avram, K. , Beal, D. , Lambert, R. , ;amp; Kolari, J. W. (2007). Commercial Banking. Milton, Qld: John Willey ;amp; Sons Hassan, H. , ;amp; Mohammed, F. (2007). Banks’ risk management: a comparison study of UAE national and foreign banks. The Journal of Risk ;amp; Finance, 8(4), 394-409. Hong Leong Bank Berhard. (2009). Annual Report: 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2011 from http://www. hlb. com. my/data/ar20091. pdf Milbourn, G. , ;amp; Haight, T. (2005).Providing Students with an Overview of Financial Statements Using the Dupont Analysis Approach. The Journal of American Academy of Business, Cambridge. 9(3), 46-50 Narayanan, L. (2010). How DuPont Analysis Reveals Return on Equity Ratio. Managing Credit, Receivables ;amp; Collections. 2(1), 12-14. Pinsent, W. (2010). Decoding DuPont Analysis. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from http://www. investopedia. com/articles/fundamental-analysis/08/dupont-analysis. asp Class Dupont. (2010). Current Financial Accounting. Retrieved September 10, 2011, from http://www. sjrbiz. info/Current%20Classes/Financial%20Accounting%20Class/Dupont%20Model%20in%20a%20Nutshell. pdf

How to Answer the What is Your Current Salary Question in an Interview

How to Answer the What is Your Current Salary Question in an Interview It’s almost inevitable that in the course of your job search you will be asked for your salary history- either what you’re currently making, what you made in your previous position, or beyond. Employers want to know because they think it is a good gauge of your market value, and they want to get a sense of what salary level you might be expecting and/or hoping for. If you and the position you’re applying for are not in the same league, asking about salary can save you both a lot of time. That said, what if you’re being underpaid at your current position? What if you know you’re getting far less than market value, to say nothing of your actual value? Or what if you were hoping this new position would lead to a significant pay raise? Or it’s your dream job and you don’t care that you’d be taking a massive pay cut?Follow these guidelines and tactical options for when (and if) you should show your salary cards to your potential empl oyer.Think in terms of your worth, rather than your pay.There are situations in which divulging your salary information is basically like underbidding on yourself and setting the bar fairly low for negotiations. (And, in situations where you make dramatically more than the position would pay, you don’t want to scare anybody away from hiring you.) The trick with this strategy is to find out what the position is worth on the market and negotiate from that position.Address any major discrepancies with your current pay level in your cover letter. If the question comes up in your interview, simply deflect by saying you’ve researched the fair market value of the job in that region, and you’re sure that at the appropriate time, you would be able to settle a mutually appropriate figure. (Hint: you can’t say this unless you’re sure you would accept something in the fair market range.)It’s okay to deflect.If you’re keen not to give a number and the interviewer or HR department keeps pushing you, you can come up with a respectful way to say that you don’t believe your salary history should affect your prospective salary future at a different company- or in a different role or industry. Pivot again to describe the ways in which this job is different, and thus your salary comparison is not appropriate. If they’re all about the dollar amount and really getting pushy for no obvious reason, then ask yourself if this is the kind of company you really want to work for.Keep your cards close to your vest.Take caution, especially in the beginning! There’s no reason to preemptively disclose your salary history on your application. Put dashes in those boxes if they appear on any forms. If you’re asked for a resume and salary history, send just the resume. If they really want it/need it, they will ask, and you can proceed with your chosen strategy from there. If they do call you, that means they’re in terested in you. Score! You’ve just gotten one of their cards before showing your full hand!Of course, this strategy can easily backfire if no one calls you to get the extra information. Then you lose out on a potential interview. (Note: some civil service and other jobs require salary disclosure, but these have very rigid pay structures, so there’s much less risk to you. In these cases, divulge immediately.)Don’t stonewall.If you sense that you are really just frustrating your interviewer by not budging, maybe you can rethink. Try the tactic of honesty- the best policy. If you’re hesitating because you’re currently being woefully underpaid, try just being straightforward about that. This also opens up the conversation about why you think you’re being undervalued, which gives you another chance to sell your unique skills and expertise.The Bottom LineNo matter which strategy you go with, remember that the point is to explain your worth in ord er to get the salary you want. The only way to do this is by selling your skills and your particular blend of experience and expertise. Let your record stand as the biggest bargaining chip. You’re the best candidate at the fair market price you’re asking. It is possible to get what you want and what you deserve from the right company willing to realize your value.

Human Rights Issues and Terrorism

Human Rights Issues and Terrorism The concept of human rights was first expressed in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which established recognition of the inherent dignity and inalienable rights of all members of the human family.   Human rights are relevant to terrorism as concerns both its victims and its perpetrators. The innocent victims of terrorism suffer an attack on their most basic right to live in peace and security. The suspected perpetrators of attacks also have rights, as fellow human beings, in the course of their apprehension and prosecution. They have the right not to be subject to torture or other degrading treatment, the right to be presumed innocent until they are deemed guilty of the crime and the right to public trial. The War on Terror Focused Human Rights Issues The Al Qaeda attacks of September 11, the subsequent declaration of a global war on terror, and the rapid development of more stringent counter-terrorism efforts have pitched the issue of human rights and terrorism into high relief. This is true not only in the United States but in a number of countries who have signed on as partners in a global coalition to crack down on terrorist activity. Indeed, following 9/11 a number of countries that routinely violate the human rights of political prisoners or dissidents found tacit American sanction to expand their repressive practices. The list of such countries is long and includes China, Egypt, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. Western democracies with long records of an essential respect for human rights and institutional checks on excessive state power also took advantage of 9/11 to erode checks on state power and undermine human rights. The Bush Administration, as the author of the global war on terror has taken significant steps in this direction. Australia, the UK, and European countries have also found advantage in restricting civil liberties for some citizens, and the European Union has been accused by human rights organizations of facilitating the rendition- the illegal detention and transport of terrorist suspects to prisons in third countries, and where their torture is all but guaranteed. According to Human Rights Watch, the list of countries who found it to their benefit to use terrorism prevention to intensify their own crackdown on political opponents, separatists and religious groups, or to advance unnecessarily restrictive or punitive policies against refugees, asylum-seekers, and other foreigners immediately following the 9/11 attacks includes: Australia, Belarus, China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Macedonia, Malaysia, Russia, Syria, the United States, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe. Human Rights for Terrorists Are Not at the Expense of Victims Rights The focus by human rights groups and others on the preservation of terrorist suspects human rights may seem jarring, or as if that focus comes at the expense of attention to the human rights of terrorisms victims. Human rights, however, cannot be considered a zero-sum game. Law Professor Michael Tigar put the issue eloquently when he pointed out  that governments, because they are the most powerful actors, have the greatest capacity for injustice. In the long term, an insistence that all states prioritize human rights and prosecute illegitimate violence is the best defense against terrorism. As Tigar puts it, When we see that the struggle for human rights in all the world is the surest and best means to prevent and to punish terrorism properly so-called, we then understand what progress we have made, and we will see where we need to go from here. Human Rights and Terrorist Documents The Universal Declaration of Human RightsHuman Rights Watch list of countries violating rights in the name of anti-terrorismHuman Rights and Terrorism Commission on Human Rights resolution 2003/37Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism

Modern Drama and the Diminution of Dreams essays

Modern Drama and the Diminution of Dreams essays The Aristotelian view of drama required an imitation of life, but his heroes were invariably members of the noble class. He regarded Sophocles Oedipus Rex as the perfect play. Given this viewpoint, and given the stranglehold that Aristotle had over Europe over the next sixteen centuries, it is no wonder that most drama from the Greeks through until the renaissance were designed with this in mind. Dramatic heroes needed to be elevated so that their plunge into darkness would be all the more extreme. The Renaissance began a process which allowed a re-examination of drama. No longer was a protagonist required to be a king. Now it was possible for lesser mortals to experience the devastation formerly reserved for nobility. By the 19th century Naturalism and Humanism had made it possible for plays to be written about prostitutes as protagonists, such as The Lady of the Camillias in 1849, which eventually degenerated into Eugene ONeils Anna Christie. By 1902 Maxim Gorky was writing plays about the dregs of society, the lower class, as in The Lower Depths. Realism allowed playwrights a chance to write about real people. Ibsen wrote about women smothered by society, as in A Dolls House, or The Wild Duck. ONeil wrote plays about dysfunctional families, such as A Long Days Journey into Night, or plays about the destruction of lower class men, such as The Emperor Jones and The Hairy Ape. None of these protagonists were noble in class, and yet their falls often resulted in death, and the act of their falls left audiences as drained as the Athenians who watched a king plummet from grace. Along with this de-emphasis on the stature of the protagonist has come a shift in the tragedy that surrounds them. Aristotle stressed the natural, as he said in his discussion of plot, in that it should follow the rule of what is possible according to the law of probability or necessity. ...

Discuss the reading. What did you think of the story Did it have any Essay

Discuss the reading. What did you think of the story Did it have any meaning in your life Is it still relevant today Things you didn't like - Essay Example He is not ready to accept his aging. The society, after all, celebrates youth and beauty and neglects the old and the ugly. Prufrock is also materialistic, because he is concerned of materialistic concerns, such as sophisticated dress and language. Urban decay is also described through images of â€Å"yellow fog† and â€Å"yellow smoke.† Yellow signifies the gangrene of materialistic modern living that destroys the environment and simplicity in people. The poem, in addition, uses repetition to express materialism. When Prufrock says â€Å"And indeed there will be time† several times, he is complaining of his boredom. It becomes palpable that he has no real social life and no permanent human relationships too, which indeed makes life boring. What I did not like about the poem is that it seems like it has been written by a schizophrenic person, because of the fragmented ideas that go circular. Prufrock does not focus on any idea and expands on it, because he gets easily distracted by different things or people. The poem demonstrates the mental decline of Prufrock and the citys urban decline. At the same time, it shows how materialism and vanity pervade in modern culture. A materialistic culture, hence, creates vain and superficial

Youth Violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Youth Violence - Essay Example However, violence amongst youths is the widely recognized form of violence in the society. Throughout the world, media present reports on almost daily a basis about violence being perpetrated by youths in schools or as gangs in the streets (Lane, 2004). Youth violence does not only affect the victims but it also leads to significant effects to the families of those affected, their friends and the communities (Rutherford, Quinn, and Mathur, 2004). The effects of youth violence are not only viewed from the number of deaths, disabilities and illnesses caused, but it also affects the quality of life. Violence perpetrated by and against young people leads to increased costs of welfare and health care, causes a decline in property value, disrupts some services and causes a breakdown of the social fabric (Rutherford, Quinn, and Mathur, 2004). Webber and Plotts (2008) explain that youth violence cannot be isolated from other problem behaviors exhibited by young people. Violent youths general ly commit more types of crimes and exhibit a range of problems including truancy, drug and substance abuse, school drop-out, cheating, high rate of sexually transmitted diseases and reckless driving (Ryan, Pierce and Mooney, 2008). Nevertheless, teachers should be aware that all violent youths do not necessarily show the problems outlined above and neither do all young people having such problems have to be violent. According to Lane (2004), there is usually a close relationship between youth violence with other types of violence. For instance, a child who goes up witnessing violence at home or is sexually or physically abused may grow up with his mind set that violence is accepted as a way of resolving conflicts. Additionally, if a child grows up in an environment where s/he is exposed to prolonged armed conflict may lead to such a child to develop a mind set of terror and this can increase rates of violence (Lane, 2004). In developing a plan to manage youth violence, it is critica l to understand the factors that lead to such behaviors and its symptoms. This paper has been prepared as a guide for teachers to understand this behavioral disability. Particularly, the history of the youth violence, its cause, statistics and symptoms will be discussed. In addition, strategies that can be used by teachers to manage this disability will be discussed. The History of Youth Violence Youth violence is described as the harmful behaviors which start during a person’s early age but continue into early adulthood. A young person can either be a perpetrator, victim, or witness of violence (Webber and Plotts, 2008). This form of violence includes an array of behaviors such as hitting, bullying and slapping all which cause high emotional harm. Furthermore, youth violence may be perpetrated through assault and robbery causing significant serious physical harm which may lead to death. Recognition of youth violence as a behavior disability has a long history (Ryan, Pierce a nd Mooney, 2008). Youth violence is recognized as both social and public health behavior problem. Previously, infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and pneumonia were the main causes of deaths in the United States. Once the government has been able to put infectious diseases under control, cases of suicide and homicide begin to rise causing significant number of deaths. From 1965, suicide and homicide have consistently been ranked among the fifteen top causes of death in the United States (Ryan, Pierce and Mooney, 2008). Suicide and homicide cases perpetrated by mostly the youths and minority groups in the society reached alarming levels in the 1980s. Further increase in rates of suicide and homicide increased at the beginning of the 20th century with rates of suicide among

'The employment relationships is based on a contract entered into by Essay

'The employment relationships is based on a contract entered into by equal parties but it is in fact a relationship characterised by parties with unequal power' - Essay Example While employment and the process of working for a particular employer may be defined in legal terms with contract documents and legal definitions which try to be as exact as possible, it is the psychological contract between the employer and the employee which is difficult to define and creates the inequality in the relationship. Any company would like to keep individuals working for the company engaged and motivated in their work. However, the process of engaging individuals as well as providing the motivation to all concerned parties is not an easy one (Vance, 2006). Establishing the psychological contract requires careful management, an understanding of what motivates certain individuals and understanding the work-life balance which prevents employees from burning out (Erdogan, 2005). These responsibilities may be considered as a part of the equation on the side of the employer but then dedication and devotion must also be offered from the employee to create a balanced psychological contract. There are several examples of companies employing effective policies and others where the policies may not be that effective and these can be discussed in the light of theoretical analysis to show how company policies can influence the employment relationship with a view to the psychological contract. Robinson and Rousseau (1994) suggest that the psychological contract is significant for all sides of the employment contract and those employees who are given employment with the company always hope to obtain more benefits from their employment in future. As per the meaning of the term the psychological contract is the implicit contract of various understandings between the company and the workers as they relate to both the expectations of the employees and the obligations of the employer (Emott, 2006). For example, as reported by Welch (2005), when employees are heavily rewarded for high performance

Purposes of police patrol Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Purposes of police patrol - Research Paper Example Purposes of police patrol Knowledge about the neighbourhood is the essence of every police patrolling function. â€Å" Knowledge about the physical structure of the neighbourhood, Boundaries and adjoining areas, Alleys, Businesses, Layout of streets, dead end streets, geographical directions† etc would enhance the patrolling functions very much. â€Å"Foot Patrol, Motorcycle Patrol, Motorized Patrol, Bike Patrol, Horse Patrol, Aircraft Patrol, Watercraft Patrol, Routine Patrol, Directed Patrol, D-Runs, Saturation Patrol, Split Force, Suspect-Oriented Patrol† etc are some of the most common patrolling programs undertaken by police force. Increased probability of accidents is the major issue in high speed pursuits. â€Å"Research from the 1980s indicates that nationwide property damage occurs in about one of every five pursuits, personal injury in one out of seven, and death in approximately one out of every thirty-five pursuits†. Moreover increased rate of law suits against the patrolling officers is another issue associated with high speed pursuits. It should be noted that in high speed pursuits, the possibility of causing damages to the innocent people is more. Casualties in the form of death and injury can occur to the innocent people while the police officers chase criminals at a high speed using different types of vehicles. â€Å"California police chased more than 7,000 drivers in 2003. The chases resulted in 58 deaths, including 18 innocent individuals who werent involved in the pursuit".

There is a real danger of a house price bubble in London. Discuss Essay - 10

There is a real danger of a house price bubble in London. Discuss - Essay Example Such a scenario envisions that indeed the house price bubble in London which is about to burst. Ideally, just like any other cosmopolitan city in the world London’s property market has been on an upward trajectory for a considerable period given the fact the position of the town on the global map is favourable for both business and luxury living thus attracting the world’s rich to purchase the properties (Nationwide Building Society, n.d.). The influx of foreign capital into the London house market led to the steady increase of the house prices to cater for the growing demand by outsiders thus making the process unaffordable for the local Londoners. According to the available statistics, Middle Easterners account for about forty percent of London’s luxury property buyers followed by Americans and Russians. The fact the foreigners are increasingly becoming attracted to investing in London’s property market has been the primary reason for the massive surge of house prices in London. Developers are coming up with luxury and new concept homes to cater for these clients who are ready to part with premium prices as opposed to the locals who cannot afford the house prices. Literally, a significant number of Londoners have been shelved off the price ladder since the prices is technically unsustainable for them since they do not match their earnings thus making the homes unaffordable to a majority of London native s (Fry, 2013). On that light, the buyer demand for London properties has fallen drastically since the target market are essentially the wealthy foreigners who are willing to spend extra capital to acquire the premium homes in London thus scaring away the conventional buyers from making offers for the houses. However, the situation is not exclusive in London alone. Conventionally, it was deemed that the price surge was only limited to the prime areas of London such as Westminster. The

Purposes of police patrol Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Purposes of police patrol - Research Paper Example Purposes of police patrol Knowledge about the neighbourhood is the essence of every police patrolling function. â€Å" Knowledge about the physical structure of the neighbourhood, Boundaries and adjoining areas, Alleys, Businesses, Layout of streets, dead end streets, geographical directions† etc would enhance the patrolling functions very much. â€Å"Foot Patrol, Motorcycle Patrol, Motorized Patrol, Bike Patrol, Horse Patrol, Aircraft Patrol, Watercraft Patrol, Routine Patrol, Directed Patrol, D-Runs, Saturation Patrol, Split Force, Suspect-Oriented Patrol† etc are some of the most common patrolling programs undertaken by police force. Increased probability of accidents is the major issue in high speed pursuits. â€Å"Research from the 1980s indicates that nationwide property damage occurs in about one of every five pursuits, personal injury in one out of seven, and death in approximately one out of every thirty-five pursuits†. Moreover increased rate of law suits against the patrolling officers is another issue associated with high speed pursuits. It should be noted that in high speed pursuits, the possibility of causing damages to the innocent people is more. Casualties in the form of death and injury can occur to the innocent people while the police officers chase criminals at a high speed using different types of vehicles. â€Å"California police chased more than 7,000 drivers in 2003. The chases resulted in 58 deaths, including 18 innocent individuals who werent involved in the pursuit".

Critically discuss the article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Critically discuss the article - Essay Example Just like in the investment business, the author argues that using past performance of a company’s stock is dangerous. He points out the likelihood of the stock underperforming in the future (Sullivan 2012, p. 1). According to Sullivan (2012, p. 2), investors ask the wrong question by raising an argument of the best funds between active and index funds. To the author, searching for patterns does not result to good investment policy. He proposes that the best way of picking good managers is by mixing art and science. The ability of mutual and hedge fund managers to excellently perform when the indexes are at the peak and then declining as more money comes into the funds makes the practice an art. The science of choosing managers involves a four element criteria of investment process, organizational structure, past returns and due diligence. He points out that performance track record is not the only indicator of good performance by a manager. To him, a good manager ought to have an investment plan or an institutional structure that is better than what people can see. The manager should not only use market timing, but rather understand the market properly to know when to enter and when top exit (Sullivan 2012, p. 3). The author, in trying to advice investors on the best methods to use in hiring managers who can perform has incorporated a number of factors. To him, those who use past performance make a big mistake. A number of factors can lead to managers performing well, which should be verified. However, when hiring, there is no indication that the manager is likely going to maintain the performance record or not. The author was right that a number of factors are involved in evaluating performance by a manager. The fact that the past does not always reflect the future outcome is true. However, past performance cannot be rubbished altogether. The very

Vesta, The Roman Goddess of Heart and Fire Essay Example for Free

Vesta, The Roman Goddess of Heart and Fire Essay Vesta is the Goddess of Heart and Fire. Being one of the most popular gods/goddesses of Ancient Rome, she symbolizes â€Å"the continuity of the life of the State† (Johnston, par. 488). Being a people of deep religious feeling (Hamilton 45), the ancient Romans embraced gods and goddesses like Vesta into their everyday lives, as they gained in statute and dignity before the eyes of gods and men. Every ancient Roman family has the personification of Vesta in their home, as she is one of the family’s own gods and goddesses. Vesta is among the gods/goddesses who were â€Å"never worshipped in temples, but only in the home, where some of the food at each meal was offered to them† (Hamilton 45). For this reason, Vesta appears to be one of the most lived gods and goddesses of Rome, protecting the heart of the family in order to gain stability, prestige, and dignity. This paper revolves around Vesta, the Roman Goddess of Heart and Fire, and how the Vestal Virgins appear and relate to the ancient Roman state. After examining the dense issue of how Vesta and the Vestal Virgins appear and relate to the people, it shall be proposed that the appointing of Vestal Virgins do not indicate Ancient Rome’s affinity or high respect with the females in general. Instead, it proposes that females can have an opportunity of having the highest honor within the community if she is true to her duties and her chastity. This proposition is supported by the idea that: first, Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest responsibilities associated with their social position, and if they are true to it, then they get one of the highest honors; second, Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest sacrifices associated with their social position, and if they are true to it, then they get one of the highest honors; third, Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest punishments associated with their social position, but if they are true to it, then they get one of the highest honors. Main Text Vestal Virgins Carry One of the Heaviest Responsibilities Vestal Virgins were associated to possess strong spirits and powers in the ancient state of Rome. As priestess of the goddess Vesta, they carry one of the heaviest responsibilities, as they keep the ‘sacred fire’ in the altar aflame and lingering. As stated in the recent page, this act symbolizes â€Å"the continuity of life of the State† (Johnston, par. 488), and this makes it very necessary for the state and the village. Having to protect the ‘home fires’ of the people, Vestal Virgins keep homes stable and flourishing as well, as daughters of the households assist them in tending fires, and then gain stability and permanence. In the process, the virgins would have to be of noble origin. The College of the Vestal Virgins is composed of 18 members, with 6 members working at a time (Fowler, par. 3). Originally, only the upper class blood were traditionally allowed to be included in the college, but later on, it was approved that daughters of patriarchs and freedman were allowed to join the college (Fowler, par. 3). Handpicking physically ideal girls who were 6-10 years of age and had two living parents (Fowler, par. 3), they were sworn to celibacy to serve the first ten years of their Vestal life learning priesthood, the next ten years applying what they learned of priesthood, and the last ten years of priesthood teaching to the new Vestal Virgins what they have learned. Vesta and her Vestal Virgins carry the crucial role of keeping the family and state intact and thriving, though in a metaphorical way. Vestal Virgins Carry One of the Heaviest Sacrifices Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest sacrifices in the ancient state of Rome, as they lived their whole lives in total celibacy, chastity and purity. At the end of their term—which is exactly 30 years—these women were allowed to get married. However, as stated by Fowler (2006), â€Å"[m]any retired Vestals decided against marriage† (par. 4). This is because, according to the Roman tradition, wives were supposed to be under the dominion of their husbands. Having to live almost all of their lives getting prime seats in Roman theaters, attending luxurious dinners and parties, or having the permission to vote†¦ being under the power of a man would be very difficult; thus, they spend the rest of their lives being single. Another significant responsibility of Vestal Virgins appears during the celebration of Vesta—the feast called ‘Vestalia’, which is an â€Å"annual ritual in honor of their patron goddess, Vesta† (Fowler, par. 6). As stated by Fowler (2006), every June 7-15 of the year†¦ â€Å"[T]he doors of the Temple of Vesta opened to the mothers of the families of Rome who brought offerings of food to the goddess. The Virgins also prepared special food offerings at this time. This occasion was the only time of year that the doors of the temple were opened to the public. † (par. 6) In vowing for a powerful position for women in the Ancient Rome, such as being a Vestal Virgin, the religious and political rank carried with it heavy sacrifices and forfeits. Vestal Virgins Carry One of the Heaviest Punishments Lastly, Vestal Virgins carry one of the heaviest punishments in Ancient Rome. Aside from the forfeit and sacrifices that were mentioned above, the virgins carry a chastisement if they failed to comply with their responsibilities in keeping the fire of the family and state aflame. This spells death and disaster when the member breaks the vow of celibacy, with the execution being given by means of the following strategies: first, by being buried alive; second, by being thrown into the Tibet River; third, by being publicly whipped (Fowler, par. 5). Aside from her failure to keep her celibacy and chastity, another grave destruction for a Vestal Virgin is when she fails to keep the ceremonial fire inside the Temple of Vesta. It is, indeed, an appealing way of life, as dictated by Fowler (2006, par. 4)†¦ but the responsibilities are grave and the punishments are nothing but life threatening. Conclusion Vesta and her Vestal Virgins relates and serves to the families and state of Rome by doing the following: first, by keeping the sacred fire aflame and burning; second, by keeping the home fires stable and flourishing; third, by sacrificing to a life of chastity and celibacy; fourth and final, by keeping the feast of Vestalia alive within the state. However, as the life of Vestal Virgins reflect one that is full of responsibilities, sacrifices, and punishments†¦ it is evident that the appointing of Vestal Virgins does not indicate Ancient Rome’s affinity or high respect with the females in general. Instead, it proposes that females were given the chance to live a life that only the males were given privilege in the ancient world. If she remains true to her word, her chastity, and her responsibility, then she gains all the respect, dignity and power that only a few citizens were able to obtain. It is true that ancient women of Rome were more privileged in 700 B. C. , but still, life and existence are always at stake. It was 37 years after the founding of Rome that Romulus—one of its founders—was said to have disappeared in a thunderstorm (Bingley, par. 1). Having no king, Numa Pompilius was elected as king of the state, who then appointed priests, pontifices, flamines, the Salii†¦ and the Vestal Virgins who, since then, took charge of fire and water (Dio 3). Bibliography: Bingley. â€Å"Numa Pompilius. † 4 March 2004.Suite101. com. 13 May 2007 http://www. suite101. com/article. cfm/ancient_biographies/106541. Brelich, Angelo. â€Å"Vesta. † The Journal of Roman Studies 40. 12 (1992): 150-151. Burriss, Eli Edward. Taboo, Magic, Spirits: A Study of Primitive Elements in Roman Religion. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1931. Dio, Cassius. â€Å"Fragments of Book I. † Roman History. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Loeb Classical Library, 1914. Exovedate. com. â€Å"Timeline: Ancient Rome. † N. d. 13 May 2007 http://www. exovedate. com/ancient_timeline_one. html. Fowler, Robin. â€Å"Vestal Virgins of Rome: Privileged Keepers of Rome’s Home Fires. † Ancient History. 7 May 2006. Suit101. com. 13 May 2007 http://ancienthistory. suite101. com/article. cfm/vestalvirginsrome. Hamilton, Edith. â€Å"Part 1: The Gods, the Creation, and the Earliest Heroes. † Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes. Boston, New York: Warner Books, 1942. Johnston, Harold Whetstone. â€Å"Chapter 15: The Roman Religion. † The Private Life of the Romans. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Scott, Foresman and Company, 1932.

The Life of King David

The Life of King David David was the second king of Israel and a descendant of Abraham. He was the youngest of eight brothers in his family (1Samuel 17:22) and was growing up as a shepherd (Bible Dictionary). He was the father of the well known king Solomon. In New Testament Jesus called as son of David. I am going to tell about Davids life before he became a king; a description of his way of becoming a king of Israel. As a king he was righteous and brave. However, as far as I am concerned, his life before becoming a king was also interesting to know. I have chosen to concentrate particularly on this part of his life, because at that point he seemed to be an ordinary person like an average shepherd, but his great faith and believe in God gave him such a strength and bravery, that he managed to become a famous hero and king in the Biblical story of Israel. The story of David begins in the Bible from the 16th chapter of 1st Samuel. David was the youngest son of Jesse, who was son of Obed. Also here we get information about his anointment by Samuel, who was a prophet before and had set Saul on throne for the United Kingdom. After that, David faced the first trial which defined his future. It was the war with Philistine. Philistines had one unbeatable warrior Goliath whom they sent to fight with any Israelite warrior. The end of their battle would define the winner. Goliath was a champion in Philistine army, he was tall and strong. No one from Israelite army wanted to fight with him, because they were afraid of him. Some forty days later (New Bible Commentary, 2006, England) David became a warrior and fought against Goliath. The decision of fighting with Goliath for David was not made due to the wealth and honor, but rather because of the presence and honor of God (New Bible Commentary, 2006, England). Therefore, David showed here that he is a better leader and warrior than Saul. After that fight, where David defeated Goliath, Saul understood that David had more faith and strength than he had and that David was chosen by God. After that, David became a national hero, who saved Israel people from Philistine army. His popularity was growing and spreading. That was not beneficial for Saul, because he could lose his position in Israel and thus his offspring would not inherent the throne. So Saul decided to kill David and save the throne for himself and his sons. At the same time Saul gave his daughter to David to marry her. Son of Saul Jonathan got a task from his father to kill David in any way possible. Jonathan was very proud of David and told him about his father idea (1 Samuel 19:2-3). Later David has a long way of becoming as a king. There were a lot of situations when Saul tried to kill David, but he always escaped and was saved. This proved that he, as a faithful and righteous man, was protected by God. The most interesting thing is that David, as a very righteous and faithful man, knew Sauls plans to kill him, even when he had a chance to kill Saul he did not do it. I think that it was because that behavior showed to Saul that he even as a king was weaker than the one chosen by God. Saul was Davids enemy, but David was never Sauls enemy (New Bible Commentary, 2006). Davids behavior proves that he was not afraid of Saul, the powerful king of Israel; he was stronger and than Saul because of his true belief in God. So that fact shows that David was blessed by God and was none other than the future king of Israel. First time when Saul sent David to the most dangerous battle, hoping for his death, David has always emerged victorious. When Saul had sent one of his assassins, David, with his wife Mikal, fled from the palace and was forced to hide in caves. Each time David was meeting anyone from his story of becoming a king of the United Monarchy (1 Samuel 18 2 Samuel 1) he was always presented as a righteous and wise man and everyone appreciated that. Even Sauls own family loved David.(New Bible Commentary, 2006) There were a lot of cases where we can see him as a good man with wise and faithful heart. As I think he became a great believer in God and faithful from that time when God was talking to him about his mission in the battle against Philistines. As far as I am concerned, David is a great character from the Bible. His life after becoming a king was also very interesting, but not as pure, faithful and gracious as the time before becoming a king. This character is one of the best examples of a faithful and holy character in the Bible, besides the time of him being a king. That character includes real characteristics of a strong and faithful person, because he was living in harmony with himself and God. He is the man, who was strong, brave, and righteous; who was fighting for his people, nation and independence. I agree that Davids actions and behavior as a king put a great cross on his reputation, therefore I wanted to show the best side of his life and prove that Bible is a history book of Hebrew PEOPLE (Janes lectures), because all of them had both weaknesses and strong sides in their characteristics. I chose to demonstrate that there are no essentially bad people in the Bible; all of them are sinful, yet all of them prove to be good and righteous as well. I really do believe that sometimes faith and belief can make people stronger without strength, and somehow the invisible hand of God can save good people and give them free choice. David was a sinful person, yet I would point out not only his sinful actions after becoming the king of united Monarchy, but more of the faithful obedience he possessed. He was a good example of active, faithful, and courageous character in this passive and sometimes mysterious world.

Basketball in NS Essay -- essays research papers

Basketball was first introduced to Nova Scotia as early as 1895 but in the past thirty years the popularity of the sport has really taken off. The high concentration of universities in the province, the tradition and esteem of the high school programs, and the continued support from a large and knowledgeable basketball community have made the game a staple of Nova Scotia life, culminating with the capital city of Halifax becoming known as the basketball capital of Canada. When you talk about basketball in the Maritimes you can break it down into different levels of competition. There are the club systems throughout the province, the regional and provincial teams, then high school basketball, then you have to look at intercollegiate basketball, and finally pro basketball that was here for a short period of time. Another way of looking at how the sport has come along in the past thirty years is by focusing on the people who have been an integral part in its development. People such as Bob Douglas, Mickey Fox, Ritchie Spears, Brian Heaney, Steve Konchalski, and Bill Robinson, who through different roles have made and continue to make an impact on basketball in this province. Others who will not be discussed as much but whose role was just as important are those who laid the groundwork for all of the aforementioned. People such as Stu Aberdeen who created a legacy at Acadia University and in the process developed some of the best coaches this province has ever seen. Others like Al Yarr, Terry Symonds, and Frank Baldwin, whose tremendous efforts at the minor, high school, university, and national levels earned him the name Mr. Basketball. The foundation that was set by these people has allowed basketball to flourish in Nova Scotia on every level.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the 1970’s basketball in Nova Scotia was starting to gain popularity and in the minor system, the community YMCA and the Halifax Martyrs started basketball programs that provided children with an opportunity to play. At the high school level the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation took control of administering interscholastic athletics in 1971 and made many changes which improved the league. One of the improvements was to change the provincial format to qualify eight teams instead of just four, which allowed for more excitement as underdog schools had a chance to upset higher ranked t... ...st in the country the CIAU still decided that Halifax should become the host for the Final 8 tournament. The 90’s brought professional basketball and along with it, increased interest in the game, as participation levels reached new heights. As we move into 2002 basketball is still very much a marquee sport in this province and its rich heritage ensures that it will be treasured for a long time to come.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Young, A.J.(1988). Beyond Heroes: A Sport History of Nova Scotia. Hantsport, NS: Lancelot Press. Douglas, Bob. (2000). Life is a Ball: 50 Years of Nova Scotia Sport. Halifax, NS: Links Publishing. Morrow, D., Keyes, M., Simpson,W., Cosentino, F., & Lappage, R. (1989). A Concise History of Sport In Canada. Toronto, ON: Oxford University Press. http://www.basketballns.ca Saunders, C. (1993, May 2). Hoops: Symonds tourney a cultural event.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Halifax Daily News, p. 29. Connolly, P. (1995, December 24). Halifax has earned the moniker of Canada’s basketball capital. The Halifax Daily News. Bezanson, S. (1984, July 25). Halifax being considered for CBA franchise.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Chronicle Herald.

Parks, Moments and Forests Endangered Essay -- Conservation

Parks, Moments and Forests Endangered One of the best ideas this country did was the creation our system of national monuments, parks, and forests; as well used as a model for our state parks. Historically, parks and forests were the domain of the very rich, influential, and the powerful where they could hunt and relax. Here in the United States that mindset prevailed that until the mid-1860s. With the discovery in the early 1800’s by who were called mountain men of boiling hot mud, steam being emitted out of the ground, water being ejected out of the ground that at first was dismissed as nonsense and was dubbed â€Å"Colter’s Hell† (Burns). This is until a prestige’s expedition brought back detailed description of hot springs, the boiling mud, and of course the geysers. After this time a sense was gaining momentum that we, as a nation, should preserve such wonders for not only the rich and powerful, but for all citizens to enjoy. Our parks became the last refuge of animals that otherwise hav e disappeared forever (Burns). Our national park system for the creating of the first national park at Yellowstone, they continue to evolve of who should control the national parks, what should be contained within their boundaries, even if they should exist at all (Burns). A push for the creation of a â€Å"Nations Park† came due to the near ruin of Niagara with landowners owning every vista and overlook of the falls and charging a fee, commercialization gone wild and what became a national embarrassment (Burns). While Yellowstone is officially the first national park, Yosemite with a bill passed in 1864 introduced a bill to protect the Yosemite Valley and signed by President Lincoln. This became a cascade of more parks being created, but not only fo... ...dea. Prod. Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan. Perf. Peter Coyote. PBS, 2009. DVD. Sharon, Susan. Maine Lawmakers Resolve to Oppose Creation of a National Park. PBS. MPBN, Maine, 17 June 2011. Maine Lawmakers Resolve to Oppose Creation of a National Park. PBS, 17 June 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Budget. By GPO. National Park Service, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. National Park Service Cultural Resources Discover History. By Robert W. Righter. The Western Historical Quarterly. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Wildland Fire in Yellowstone. By GPO. National Park Service. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. The Yosemite Valley Case. Supreme Court. Dec. 1872. FindLaw. Thomson Reuters Business. Web. 8 Apr. 2012. Parks, Moments and Forests Endangered Essay -- Conservation Parks, Moments and Forests Endangered One of the best ideas this country did was the creation our system of national monuments, parks, and forests; as well used as a model for our state parks. Historically, parks and forests were the domain of the very rich, influential, and the powerful where they could hunt and relax. Here in the United States that mindset prevailed that until the mid-1860s. With the discovery in the early 1800’s by who were called mountain men of boiling hot mud, steam being emitted out of the ground, water being ejected out of the ground that at first was dismissed as nonsense and was dubbed â€Å"Colter’s Hell† (Burns). This is until a prestige’s expedition brought back detailed description of hot springs, the boiling mud, and of course the geysers. After this time a sense was gaining momentum that we, as a nation, should preserve such wonders for not only the rich and powerful, but for all citizens to enjoy. Our parks became the last refuge of animals that otherwise hav e disappeared forever (Burns). Our national park system for the creating of the first national park at Yellowstone, they continue to evolve of who should control the national parks, what should be contained within their boundaries, even if they should exist at all (Burns). A push for the creation of a â€Å"Nations Park† came due to the near ruin of Niagara with landowners owning every vista and overlook of the falls and charging a fee, commercialization gone wild and what became a national embarrassment (Burns). While Yellowstone is officially the first national park, Yosemite with a bill passed in 1864 introduced a bill to protect the Yosemite Valley and signed by President Lincoln. This became a cascade of more parks being created, but not only fo... ...dea. Prod. Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan. Perf. Peter Coyote. PBS, 2009. DVD. Sharon, Susan. Maine Lawmakers Resolve to Oppose Creation of a National Park. PBS. MPBN, Maine, 17 June 2011. Maine Lawmakers Resolve to Oppose Creation of a National Park. PBS, 17 June 2011. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Budget. By GPO. National Park Service, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. National Park Service Cultural Resources Discover History. By Robert W. Righter. The Western Historical Quarterly. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service. Wildland Fire in Yellowstone. By GPO. National Park Service. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. The Yosemite Valley Case. Supreme Court. Dec. 1872. FindLaw. Thomson Reuters Business. Web. 8 Apr. 2012.