Merchant Of Venice-Portia & Bassanios Indifference To Wealth Essays

Trader Of Venice-Portia and Bassanio's Indifference To Wealth How little is the cost I have presented in buying the similarity to my soul,(3.5.19-20) is the place the core of this play is in my eyes. Portia doing what she can for her one genuine affection, Bassanio. Cash is of no significance to her particularly with regards to the bliss or misery of Bassanio. There are numerous spots in the Merchant of Venice that show Portia and Bassanios detachment, and what is by all accounts lack of concern toward riches. Many are covered up and many are as unmistakable to the peruser. I found that adding something extra to The Merchant of Venice was a fun and fascinating experience. The manner in which Shakespeare composed his plays makes individuals truly consider what they are perusing; it helped me to remember a labyrinth. Portia, an untainted Princess to wealth, a Princess that doesnt need to ponder cash. It is something she has an impossible measure of, yet it doesnt change what her identity is or what her qualities are. Her dad appeared to ingrain in her that cash isnt everything to everyone; how you care about individuals and qualities are what matter the most throughout everyday life. At the point when we first observe Bassanio, he is revealing Antonio of a mystery trip he intends to take to win the core of Portia; yet he has no way to arrive because of his extreme living which has left him paying off debtors to other people. From the outset cash is by all accounts of some significance to Bassanio, however towards the center of the play his contemplations appear to change. In spite of the fact that Portias father doesn't have an alleged character in The Merchant of Venice; his essence is certainly felt through Portias character, just as the looks on the coffins. In doing this, Portias father in a way despite everything had a hand assisting with picking the correct spouse for his little girl. At the point when every one of the sovereigns come to charm Portia and go into the coffin room, they search for what might be the most inventive answer in choosing the coffin. The gold coffin scroll peruses Who chooseth me will pick up what numerous men want. (2.7.4-5). At the point when the peruser first observes this, he figures the gold coffin would bode well. Portias father would have placed her image in there, in light of the fact that it is gold and loaded with wealth as is Portia. Adding something extra to this the peruser may imagine that Portias father would not place her image in this one, since adoration is more extravagant than gold. The sovereign that would pick this one isn't keen on affection just Portias riches. The subsequent coffin made of silver states Who chooseth me will get as much as he merits. (2.7.7) I still can't seem to think why any Prince with a large portion of a mind would pick this coffin over gold or lead. To pick this, somewhere inside, they would not like to wed Portia. Evidently, the gold wasnt fascinating enough for them yet the lead was excessively poor. The lead coffin would be the most speaking to the Prince who truly needs to win Portias heart and not her wealth. This parchment peruses Who chooseth me must give and danger all he hath. (2.7.9) When Bassanio and Portia talk about his decisions she gets some information about his decisions cautiously on the grounds that it will decide their future until the end of time. Bassanio albeit profoundly in the red to moneylenders, can see past the gold and silver of the initial two coffins, and perils his opportunity with the lead coffin. The look inside this coffin demonstrates this point; You that picked not by the view, Chance as reasonable, and pick as evident: Since this fortune tumbles to you, Be substance, and look for no new. In the event that you be well pleasd with this, And hold your fortune for your ecstasy, Turn you where your woman is, and guarantee her with a cherishing kiss.(3.2.130-138) From the earliest starting point of the play, Portia appears for those occasions pretty much of a free soul. She has been in Belmont every last bit of her life and thinks minimal about Venice and its occupants ways of life. Portias father appeared to have imparted qualities and love in Portia from an exceptionally youthful age. She was instructed to cherish and to be

Contemporary Christianity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Contemporary Christianity - Essay Example The world is degenerate, and therefore the congregation separations itself from the world so as to keep up and protect its convictions and practices. Individuals ought not censure the congregation, however should in any case grasp it and its new ways. There are the individuals who enter the congregation with the affectation that they need to be recovered. Such individuals neglect to comprehend that the congregation is sacred, and Christianity doesn't permit fakers. An adage passes by, â€Å"pretenders are more awful than murderers†. This is valid in that professing to be somebody you are not makes one a liar. Those in the congregation should train the individuals who don't accept and have confidence to do as such, for Christianity doesn't imply that Christians’ lives stop. Being a Christian methods following in the lessons that Jesus educated, and it implies going to administrations in his respect (Weaver and David, 187). The congregation ought not separate itself from the world, however ought to rather show the world the correct way. Christians have been guided by specific rules and conventions that they have followed from the past. These rules have been ingested into their everyday lives that they have become some portion of their way of life. Review Christians as individuals who can't change their way of life in view of Christianity is making a decision about them without comprehending what they genuinely accept and trust in. Christianity by a way is political, since it has impact over a populace and is regarded by the quantity of its adherents (Weaver and David, 212). It has its own progressive system of pioneers who control and deal with the individuals. The contrast between the Christianity and an ideological group is that the Christianity impacts individuals to alter their way of life, leave their natural belongings that cause them to do sin and follow Jesus Christ looking for salvation. It doesn't guarantee salvation or recovery, yet there is a compensation toward the end. So much change has happened on the planet, and numerous things have grasped the change. But since Christians

Is Trying lying And are you truly committed to your New Years resolutions

Is Trying lying And are you truly committed to your New Years resolutions A good friend of mine recently sent me his New Year’s resolutions: #1   Be here now. #2   Keep it real. #3   Try to answer e-mail promptly. I was taken aback by #3.   First, it was the only one that required specific action, and I wondered why he would choose returning e-mails above all the other important actions to take in this world, and over a more general commitment to “Keep in close and regular contact with people important to me” or “Take action quickly on items of importance.” Even more than that, however, I was struck by the insertion of the word “Try.” Is Trying Lying? I have spent the last 10 years or so reducing the incidence of the word “try” in my spoken and written communications.   In a women’s empowerment program I was taught, “Trying is lying.” In a completely different seminar, the instructor had someone hold a tissue box in the air and said, “Try to drop the tissue box.” The person dropped the tissue box, and was met with, “No, you just dropped the tissue box. I told you to try to drop the tissue box.”   In another seminar, a different instructor did the same exercise, asking a participant to “Try to pick up that chair.”   Trying to pick it up looked like holding on to the chair and pretending to pick it up but not actually doing it. “Trying” to do something, as illustrated in these examples, is as good as not doing the thing at all.  You’re not doing it, and you’re not not doing it.   Trying leaves you in an in-between place that, in my understanding, is ultimately powerless and ineffective. Excuses, Excuses We as human beings often use trying as an excuse.   Have you gotten that project done?   “No… but I tried!   I just kept getting distracted.”   Have you lost the weight you said you would?   “No…   but I tried.”   Why isn’t your relationship going the way you want it to?   “I don’t know…   I’m trying so hard to make it work.”  We say things like “I’ll try to be there on time” so that if we’re not on time we haven’t broken a promise.   We human beings are so sneaky! Ultimately, a choice is required.   Either you do it or you don’t.   If you don’t do it, I believe the most powerful stance is to take responsibility that you didn’t do it.   If you’re still committed to a result, then do something else that works to get that result.   As another wise person pointed out, the way to attain any goal in life is to keep taking action until you achieve it.   Sounds so simple doesn’t it? Compassion is Key My New Year’s resolution friend disagreed with my take on trying.   He wrote, “I affirm the importance of stating, ‘I will try.’   Its like saying, ‘I intend.’   It sends a message to myself and others about how I am organizing my spiritual energies.”   When I asked why he didn’t write “Try” for his other resolutions, he responded, “… Its the only one of the three that doesnt come to me naturally.   So I must try harder.   :-)”   (He also mentioned that if following #3 were to contradict #1 and/or #2, he would choose not to follow #3.   We have all seen the negative consequences of impulsive or compulsive e-mailing!) I understand the value of compassion, and I understand that we sometimes go through stages in our level of commitment to a goal.   Perhaps a gentle entry (like a promise to “try”) can be useful for taking on promises we don’t know if we will keep.   Certainly, if we don’t meet one of our promises, it doesn’t help to beat ourselves up about it.   Using the word “try” lets us succeed even when we fail.   But can’t we have compassion even if we frame our promises as absolute?   If I resolve to “answer e-mail promptly” instead of to “try” to do so, and then I don’t answer promptly, I might be empowered by acknowledging that I didn’t do it, looking at why I didn’t do it, and, if appropriate, making a new promise or doing it a different way next time.   To me, that’s “keeping it real.” Honesty The Best Policy New Year’s resolutions are notoriously not kept, and I wonder if the reason is that people put a silent, implied “Try” before every one of them.   If we truly resolve to do something, rather than to try to do it, we live a more powerful life and one where results will show up with more reliability. At least my friend put “try” where it could be seen, instead of pretending something was true that was not.  A straightforward acknowledgement of one’s tendency toward fallibility might be more powerful than having “trying” live in the unsaid.   At least with an honest promise, there’s room to grow.   In the end, we must each choose the language and intention that work for us, in service of living up to our greatest promises and resolutions.

Network Security Is It Protected Or Not Important

Networking and Security What is Networking and Security? you may think network security is worthless or not important, but network security allows you to have usability, reliability, integrity, and safety of your data (â€Å"What Is Network Security† np). Without network security you would be opening yourself to many different threats such as: Viruses, Worms, Hacker Attacks, Denial of Service Attacks, Identity Theft, and more (â€Å"What Is Network Security and How Does It Protect You?† np). Network Security is important because it protects your personal information on the internet, keeps small and large business networks up and running as well as protects their private information, and speeds up the transfer rate of data because network security†¦show more content†¦With Network Security, networking technicians use multiple layers of security, so that if one layer fails the others are there to pick up the slack until the first layer is fix. Some parts of the security of a network inv olve these items: Antivirus and Antispyware, Firewalls, Intrusion Prevention Systems(IPS), and Virtual Private Networks(VPNs) (â€Å"How Does Network Security Work?† np). With this layer system that is used the ability to maintain the integrity of the network. How Does Network Security Protect You As A Common User of The Internet? Network Security helps protect you from many times of attacks every time you go on the internet some of those attacks being: Viruses, Worms, Trojan Horses, Spyware, Adware, Zero day Attacks, Hacker Attacks, Denial of Service Attack, and Identity Theft (â€Å"What Is Network Security and How Does it Protect You?† np). Most of these attacks or software target the vital parts of your computer and renders them nearly viable or complete unusable. Without network security you would be unprotected from these attacks which would make the internet an unsafe place. How Easy Is It To Break Into My Computer? Even though hackers are trying everyday to make more complex software or files to get into computers and network. The companies creating the network security softwares are constantly updating their software so that they catch the majority of the new software that the

Social Factors That Changed The World - 1366 Words

Clothing became less expensive in the 1960’s because of the Industrial Revolution, so more people are seen being involved in popular fashion trends and expressing themselves in ways they please because of the affordability. The sharply angled Vidal Sassoon hair style where women cut their hair shorter and styled it in an angular way. This decade also started the trend of people wanting to look skinnier. Designers preferred models looked younger, thinner, and had longer legs. Social factors occurring at the time also effected fashion and helped represent people’s beliefs. Andrà © Courrà ¨ge s came out with many new fashions that reflected America’s involvement in the Space Race with Russia during that time and our achievement for having sent a person to the moon. This space age caused Courrà ¨ge to come out with designs that resemble space suits which included: silver sequined pants, white plastic-like boots, and white sunglasses with slits. Courrà ¨ge also ca me out with a regular suit that had a geometrically cut jacket and angled collar which became a big hit. In the 1970’s, many fashions were inspired by the â€Å"hippie look† and many clothes were becoming handmade again. Hair was often worn long and straight or rolled into corkscrew curls and loose waves. Hot pants, tie dyed shirts, bell bottoms, and flared pants worn with platform shoes became a hit. Jeans also became a standard clothing worn by many and towards the end of the decade and high waisted and skinny jeans were beingShow MoreRelatedThe Learning Theory Influences Everyone s Culture, Ethnicity, Gender, And Social Status1605 Words   |  7 Pageseveryone’s culture, ethnicity, gender, and social status, by being from different geographical location and religious background everyone has a unique characteristic, when it comes to learning or problem solving. One of the most important events in a human’s life is the â€Å"Learning Theory†. This process takes place from the minute we are born. Information is taken in and absorbed, in turn builds one’s ability to retain what one has learned. Many factors aid in the learning process which includesRead MoreSocial Change And The 21st Century Classroom1464 Words   |  6 PagesWhile 21st Century learning and teaching is always changing, it is as dynamic as the world around us. There are many factors including globalisation, social change and technology, which are driving changes in education, with a variety of positive and negative impacts on teaching and learning in the 21st Century. With ongoing changes in teaching practices, which in turn changes the attitudes of today’s teachers and learners. A 21st century classroom is a productive environment where the teachers areRead MoreImpact Of The Columbian Exchange909 Words   |  4 PagesColumbian exchange was a huge impact on our modern day world because it changed war and hunting, it introduced new ingredien ts to different parts of the world, it welcomed new diseases to different parts of the world and the beginning of worldwide trade set the tone for other countries. The first reason the Columbian Exchange affected the formation of the modern world is because it changed battle and hunting. The trade of horses and guns changed everything. The indigenous American people could nowRead MoreSelf Efficacy And Locus Of Control879 Words   |  4 PagesPeople see and act in the world in particular ways based on behavior, attitudes and understanding in society. These factors can all contribute how people see people in the world. Different factors contribute into how people view things such as; locus of control, self-efficacy, social and cultural difference and relationships. Self-efficacy and Locus of control Self-efficacy and locus of control is a constant evolve process that begins when we are born and continues even when we are at an old ageRead MoreEmbracing The Change Of Language1704 Words   |  7 PagesEmbrace the Change of Language Introduction In the modern society, although the language we use have entered into a relatively stable status, it is still subject to dynamic changes and innovations. Across the world, there is no community thatcan maintain invariable means of expression. All languages are evolving along with time. Besides, history has repeatedly testified that changes, developments and improvements in language area constantly ongoing process that has reasons behind them (Moody, 2003)Read MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1689 Words   |  7 Pagesthrough their upbringings. A child may be raised in challenging situations and not have the same opportunities compared to another child. Friends and family tend be a major factor in a person’s life. The way friends and family interact or how society judges them can make them incredibly self-conscious of themselves. The social position of a human can critically affect how someone interacts in society and how they perceive themselves. In The Great Gatsby ,by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Glass Castle byRead MoreThe Beer Market Is One Of The Largest Exporting Products1707 Words   |  7 PagesThe beer market is one of the largest exporting products in the world; the beer market holds a stable empire in international customers’ mind. The alcoholic beverages are always employed in most social situations and becomes more officially. One of the pastimes in Russia is drinking alcohol and they have the highly ranking for alcohol consumption (Blake, 2014). In the past, drinking vodka was one of the most Russian cultures but due to its negative affect, other alcohol such as beer now replacesRead MoreWhat is Sociology? Essays665 Words   |  3 Pagesbelieve they indicate that Sociology, generally speaking, is not only a study of diversity or commonality in traits among people; it is also a science about factors in a person’s life and how these factors culminate responses. Interestingly enough, its topics of concern seem to be dire ctly determined by current and common events of the world. Through the invention and expansion of new ideas, popular trends and fashions through time, Sociology adapts to responsibly to service the very subjects ofRead MoreHealth Policies and Health Determinants1438 Words   |  6 PagesDiscuss the ways that health can be conceptualized by a society. What are the determinants of health in humans? What is the connection between how a society defines health and how it pursues health? Has increased access to technology changed that perception over the last decade? Discuss the connection between health policies, health determinants, and health. Abstract Health policies, health determinants and health are all categories that are intertwined with one another.Read MoreThe Relationship Between Consumers And Businesses1113 Words   |  5 Pageshas changed due to the diffusion of technology. In addition, the tendency of Western societies to have consumer-based economies increases the impact that technological advances have on the way that business function and interact with their consumers. The widespread use of technology as well as the different functions available due to technological advances has caused businesses to shift their marketing strategies, affecting not only the consumer but also the structure of society itself. Social media

How Much Am I Worth Sexual Tourism in the Caribbean Free Essays

string(98) " here that even local women have decided to take dominion over their situations and their bodies\." When considering the ideas of female sexuality as it pertains to tourism in the Caribbean, people tend to envision call-girls at upscale parties and prostitutes that sell their bodies to the highest bidder. However, when taking a deeper look, one can see beyond the surface into the reality of the situation. Taking into consideration the ideas of female sexuality as it pertains to tourism in the Caribbean, people tend to envision call-girls at upscale parties and prostitutes that sell their bodies to the highest bidder. We will write a custom essay sample on How Much Am I Worth: Sexual Tourism in the Caribbean or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, when taking a deeper look, one can see beyond the surface into the reality of the situation. The fact is that women in the Caribbean have found ways to manage their involvement in sex tourism, music and dance to their own advantage, thereby demonstrating agency. Prior to exhibiting the truth about female agency within sex tourism in the Caribbean, it is necessary to call attention to the myths that suggest that most women are oppressed within the industry.According to Victoria Durant-Gonzalez, there is a theory that speaks to the â€Å"grace of sexuality† which suggests that women are placed into a detrimental situation at the hands of this theory: â€Å"In Jamaica, the number of women with social ties to a man is an indicator of his social status. In this way, women in the society reaffirm, reinforce, and in some instances determine male social status. An important aspect of female affirmation of male social status is the underlying assumption that these ties are se x-based. †¦ simply suggesting intimacy reinforces male status.It is from this suggestive element that the grace of sexuality is derived. Thus the grace of sexuality places men and women into reciprocal relationships whereby women receive access to sources of livelihood and men receive arbitration of social status.. .. The grace of sexuality persists because it is an efficient way of meeting and carrying out female familial responsibility. † (Henry 1981, 7) These sentiments suggest that women are indeed disadvantaged due to the setup, which surrounds sexuality in the Caribbean. This is just one of the many untruths that need to be dispelled.Another misconception is linked to the violence that female sex workers are subject to within the industry. When a group of researchers studied the sex industry in Barbados, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, the Netherlands Antilles, Suriname, and the Colombian city of Cartagena de Indias, they called attention to this very argument. â€Å"Now, women’s groups throughout the Caribbean are concerned that female prostitutes are increasingly becoming victims of violence. There are no government initiatives aimed at protecting or empowering the region’s prostitutes† (Shephard 2010, 19).There appears to be a growing concern that these women are in such dangerous situations that they are unable to fend for themselves. This theory makes women victims and takes away the sense of agency that they have within the industry. One last misconception which must be cleared is that women who participate in sex tourism in the Caribbean are reactionary in this work. â€Å"Women relate to sexuality in a predominantly defensive mode while men are urged to explore within hetero-normative practices (Lewis 2003, 135).The fact is that researchers, tourists, and foreigners alike have pictured female sex workers in the Caribbean as weak and incapable of acting of their own self-interest. However, there is evidence to suggest that these women do indeed have strength and choice in their actions. It can be assumed that some of their actions are deliberate. In a book entitled What’s Love Got to do with it? : Transnational desires and sex tourism in the Dominican Republic, by Brennan, Mignolo, and Silverbatt, women’s economic survival strategies are explored, in the face of extreme poverty and for most, single motherhood.Dominican sex workers navigate their own comfort zones, police arrests, threats of violence and AIDS. In fact, it would appear that they exploit foreign tourists’ sexually and racially motivated stereotypes in hopes to secure long-term economic relationships with these tourists, including money wires, future vacations, and in some cases marriage and visas. These women act independently, without pimps, but against a power imbalance composed of racial, gendered, and classed hierarchies.Brennan displays that tourists who visit the Carib bean for sex are supported by their native countries with the weight of the colonial and economic dominance over these developing nations. This support displays more than just a monetary aid, instead, it incorporates travel access, and the freedom to enact on fantasies at will. The sex workers than use these forces at play to give them the upper hand with regard to â€Å"earning their keep†. This book displays a clear feminist perspective and demonstrates the agency of sex workers at all points in their search for economic and at times romantic satisfaction, even as they face daunting odds.In another article, Sandra Duvivier argues that â€Å"the employment of sexuality, particularly female sexuality, is a feasible means of socioeconomic development in the Caribbean† (Duvivier 2008, 1104). Duvivier speaks about the fact that women believe themselves to be a sort of commodity. Currently, women in the Caribbean take ownership of their bodies and use it as a means of survival. Not only do they know how to handle themselves but, they also believe that they are in control of the situations where they place the mselves, thus demonstrating a sense of personal agency. Along those lines, a researcher by the name of Carolle Charles wrote: In Haiti, poor and working women speak in a different way about the image and usage of the body for social reproduction, for economic survival, for social status, and for heterosexual encounters and conjugal relationships†¦ While the dominant discourse symbolically describes women and their bodies as â€Å"ripe fruit ready to be eaten,† working class women, in contrast, define their bodies as a â€Å"resource, an asset, a form of capital that can reap profits if well invested. â€Å"Kom se kawo tem† (my body is my piece of land) claim many poor Haitian women. (Charles 1994, 137) It is evident here that even local women have decided to take dominion over their situations and their bodies. You read "How Much Am I Worth: Sexual Tourism in the Caribbean" in category "Papers" Contrary to the majority of the patriarchal constructions of Haiti that place the advantage of women’s sexuality in the hands of men, working class Haitian women have begun to define themselves in revolutionary ways and have also started to capitalize off of their own bodies.Furthermore, it is evident through the actions of sex tourists and their connections with sex workers, that there is an exploitative representation of black female bodies in the market. Travelers have appeared to take complete control of this fact, marginalizing black Caribbean women. These women are then expected to be obedient to these men, and occasionally other women. Duvivier also calls attention to the identities of race and class within this context: â€Å"For their johns, who are of various races, these sexual engagements also allow them to affirm their First-World, gendered identity.White men, as previously mentioned, assert an uncompromised white masculinity that had been threatened in their respective home spaces. People of color, while often subjected to racism and not asserting a racialized identity, affirm ‘a sense of Western-ness and so of inclusion in a privileged world. ’† However, as she later points out, Caribbean women do not share in that privilege. On the other hand, it is quite clear that females have begun to take charge of their sexuality, especially with respect to sex work in the Caribbean. †¦Caribbean women see sex work as a legitimate way to raise money for purchasing a home for their families or sending their children to private schools†¦ both men and women who inhabit marginal sexual spaces assume an active agency over their sexual lives, sometimes rebelling against narrowly defined sexual regimes. † (Sharpe and Pinto 2006, 249) Active agency is the key portion of all of this research. The fact is that, regardless of how one gets there, exerting agency is a huge part of taking away the defensive aspect of a situation.These women, who are taking their bodies into their own rights, create prices and, situations and, who say â€Å"No† or â€Å"Yes†, for that matter, they are revealing power. This power is undeniably putting the face of sex work into a whole new light, thereby, taking away the control of the usual â€Å"First-World† tourists, which is part of the fantasy. For this reason there has been little to no concrete evidence found to support these theories. However we do know that, â€Å"As sex has become part of the exotic fantasies that destinations around the world offer tourists, sex tourism has grown to become a multibillion-dollar industry. (Sharpe and Pinto 2006, 250) The reality of these women taking control ruins the fantasy for their customers, thereby decreasing profits so, many women have yet to speak up about this matter. The books on sex work in the Caribbean (Kempadoo 1999b, 2004; Brennan 2004) represent a paradigm shift inasmuch as, first, they treat prostitution as a legitimate alternative to low-paying domestic work or jobs in the export-processing zones; second, they break down the rigid boundary between sex work and domesticity; and, finally, they articulate how workers exercise some control over their exploitation. The studies attempt to find a place for women’s agency and dignity within an occupation that was previously treated by feminists as degrading and exploitative. Characterizing sex work as one of the limited options available to poor, uneducated women for feeding and clothing their children, Kempadoo includes it with other informal forms of self-employment such as â€Å"higglering† or â€Å"huckstering† as one of the strategies for survival†¦ (Sharpe and Pinto 2006, 251-2) Sharpe and Pinto call out a number of key points which seem to shape the arguments of agency within sex work.They later go on to speak about the fact that women see sex work as a path to social mobility either through its â€Å"superior earning power over other forms of unskilled labor or, ideally, as the path to marriage with someone who is willing to support them. † (Sharpe and Pinto 2006, 252) Though, as discussed earlier, it may be hard to see the agency exerted by these women in sex work, there are other areas where it is easier to see the fact that women in the Caribbean have, indeed, taken their sexuality into their own hands.Agency can be seen in the growing culture of reggae and dancehall. Women have exerted their power outwardly and have begun to take charge of their sexuality. â€Å"Bwoy mi glad seh mi hold yuh, use di pussy control yuh/ Bwoy yuh give mi di biggest wood mi ever get inna my life/ Bwoy mi never believe yuh when yuh tell mi seh mi would a need yuh/ Bwoy yuh give mi di biggest wood mi ever get inna my life† exclaims a chorus by a very famous dancehall artist, Lady Saw. This translates into: â€Å"Boy I’m glad to hold you, Use my vagina to control you/ Boy you give me the biggest penis I’ve ever had in my life/ Boy I never believed you when you told me I wouldn’t need you/ Boy you give me the biggest penis I’ve ever had in my life. † By these lyrics alone, one can see the control that women are exerting within the Caribbean. Even within the lyrics, Lady Saw uses her knowledge of a man’s ego to make him feel as though he is in control by complementing his penis. However, it is very clear that she believes her vagina is in control.For a number of years, culturally-based music, dance, and ritual has attracted tourists from all over the world to the Caribbean. Here, citizens of developed countries come to view what they deem as a â€Å"spectacle to behold† in watching women parade through the streets during carnival. Though, many have ignorantly assumed that these women do these dances and create these fa ntasies as a form of their own, unknown self-exploitation, the fact is that the dance and music of the Caribbean is a forum where women can liberate themselves. In a piece written by Belinda Edmondson she exerts: My main argument centers around the different meanings accorded to different kinds of female public â€Å"performances,† a term I use to describe women’s popular culture rituals and behaviors in the public sphere. In that â€Å"performance† suggests a physical gesture made with a physical body for a passive viewing audience, it is a particularly apt term for my purposes here. â€Å"Performance† implies agency, an act meant to do particular kinds of work or make particular kinds of statements. Edmondson 2003, 2) In a culture which may often repress a woman’s sexuality, using sexuality as an active agent in music and dance helps to release this dissonance of not owning one’s own body/feeling. Jeanie Forte has argued that, these sexual female performers â€Å"expose their bodies in order to reclaim them, to assert their own pleasure and sexuality, thus denying the fetishistic pursuit [by men]. † This thought is not actually all that revolutionary. In fact, consider the late Josephine Baker who traveled all over the world, exhibiting her sexuality as a tool for money making (similar to that of a sex worker). Though not participating in the physical act of having sex for money, Mrs. Baker’s performances created a fantasy where people of all genders and races could be united through one common, attractive factor—sex. Ultimately, the women in the Caribbean are beginning to take their sexuality into their own hands, much like Mrs. Baker, gaining from it what they want and what they need. For centuries, patriarchal societies have deemed men the sole beneficiaries of sexuality; however, the intense rhythms of Soca, Reggae, and Dancehall and now the industry of sex work is becoming a serious threat to that belief.In a book entitled, â€Å"Noises in the Blood,† Carolyn Cooper decisively considers the dismissed communication of Jamaica’s vibrant pop-culture, reclaiming these cultural forms, both oral and textual, from an undeserved neglect. The language of Jamaican popular culture–its folklore, idioms, music, poetry, song–even when written is based on a t radition of sound, an orality that has often been belittled as not worthy of serious study. Cooper’s analysis of this cultural â€Å"noise† expresses the influential and reminiscent content of these performers and highlights their contribution to an undervalued Caribbean identity.She then connects this orality, or otherwise considered the â€Å"feminized Jamaican mother tongue,† to the issues of gender in her postcolonial view. Cooper argues that these contemporary dialect forms must be recognized as genuine expressions of Jamaican culture and as expressions of resistance to marginalization, racism, and sexism. This further exacerbates the idea that women, even in their speech within the music and culture, take an active agency in their decisions. It would appear that they are divisive in nature and use every outlet possible to exert their power. To all the ladies in the dance/ I lose all control when I see you/ Standing there in front of me/ Your style, your clothes, your hair/ You fair woman, you look so sexy/ De way you wine and, de way you dance/ A nd de way that you twist and turn your waist/ Leaves me wanting, leaves me yearning/ Leaves me feelin for a taste† proclaim the lyrics to Rupee’s popular song â€Å"Tempted to Touch†. This is yet another exhibit of a woman’s power. Rupee explains how a woman can make him lose all control and leave him â€Å"tempted to touch†.The mere fact is that women have gained ownership of this control and have begun to use it for their own advantage. In fact, in a documentary entitle Masquerade, where the sexuality of women is explored within the context of carnival and other Caribbean festivities, it appeared that the general consensus was that women were taking ownership rights over their sexuality. It appeared to be a piece of them which would be hard to steal. Pat Bishop was quoted having said, â€Å"I see a sense of hedonism in our culture, it is a way of intensifying life.Others say that Carnival exhibits cathartic behavior but, to be cathartic, by definition, is to submerse oneself in grief, thereby, purging that grief. When I am performing†¦ there is no grief. † For Bishop, these rituals bring about a sense of pride and joy and she is fully aware of the fact that the way she views herself is not aligned with the way others have viewed her culture. Another woman in the documentary was quoted saying, â€Å"My race is sensual. Even when a woman walks, the sway goes to the beat. You may not hear it but, I’d bet she can.Because her knees move, her hips move; that is the base of dance. Sexual NOTHING—that’s the way we move. † This woman takes agency to an entirely other level. She would argue that Caribbean women are just being natural and that, what the rest of the world deems sexual, is actually just innate. Whether it be through music, dance, or sex work, Caribbean women have exhibited agency across the board. For a very long time, patriarchal societies and foreign tourists have deemed their behavior as such that is defensive or reactionary, when in fact, they have been in control for a long time.Asserting their own ideas and benefitting from society’s lack of knowledge about them, they have made their way toward true dominion. The single issue that remains is whether or not Caribbean women had this â€Å"disguised power† first or is it something that derived from a lack of power in previous years. Truth be told, the issue goes back to that of which came first: the chicken or the egg. It is uncertain but, ultimately does not matter. The facts remain the same: Caribbean women have found a way to exert their agency through a number of outlets, despite patriarchal systemic views.Regardless of whether or not they are paid for their actions, they receive what they want: whether that is monetary compensation, life-time partners, or just a release from daily troubles through rhythm and dance. These women are extraordinary beings and should be credited as such. How to cite How Much Am I Worth: Sexual Tourism in the Caribbean, Papers

Racism And Discrimination Essays - Discrimination, Racism, Hatred

Racism And Discrimination ...Everybody jumped on him, beat the hell out of him... Everybody washitting him or kicking him. One guy was kicking at his spine. Another guyhitting on the side of the face... He was unconscious. He was bleeding. Everybody had blood on their forearms. We ran back up the hill laughing... He should have died... He lost so much blood he turned white. He gotwhat he deserved (Ridgeway 167.) The skinheads who performed this random act of racial violence in 1990,had no reason to brutally beat their victim other than the fact that he wasMexican (Ridgeway 167). Racism is objectively defined as any practice ofethnic discrimination or segregation. Fortunately, racial violence issteadily declining as the turn of the century approaches. Now a new formof racism, covert racism, has recently sprung from the pressures ofpolitical correctness. This new form of racism, although slowly declining,still shows signs of strong support (Piazza 86). Covert racism assumes aform of civil disobedience against p olitically correct thought and speech. Essentially, covert racism is a hidden racism, or a racism not easilydetected (Piazza 78). Racism is still strongly prevalent in today'ssociety (Gudorf 3). The three different basic forms of racism, open racism, violent racism,and covert racism all express forms of hatred towards distinct ethnicgroups (Bender 47). These basic forms of racism, although different inform, all have the same main purpose, to promote racism. Open racism expresses freedom of racial thought and speech. Open racistspromote their views through strictly persuasionary tactics. This form ofracism is allowed in our society because of the First Amendment. Openracism is currently almost nonexistent and steadily declining, because itis considered politically incorrect and socially unacceptable.Violent racism promotes racism through violence, fear, and persuasionarytactics (Leone 49) This form of racism is not protected by the FirstAmendment because it promotes violence to expre ss its ideas. Unfortunatelymany violent racial groups claim they do not promote violence, andtherefore these groups are protected by the First Amendment because notenough sufficient evidence exists to prove their violent intent (Ridgeway123). Covert racism expresses ideas of racism in disguised forms; sometimes thecovert racist is not even aware of the fact that he is racist. Racism, itis asserted, is no longer blatant: people nowadays are reluctant to expressopenly their dislike of and contempt for minorities, indeed are notprepared to express publicly a sentiment that could be interpretted asracist. Racism, it is said, is subtle: it is disguised, kept out of sight(Enrlich 73) The suggestion that there is a new racism--a racism that hasa new strength precisely because it doesn't appear to be racism--deservesserious consideration (Piazza 66). Avoiding minorities on the street anddenial of a public benefit to a minority which would be awarded to a whiteare examples of covert racism. Since it is no longer politically correctto openly express one's racist views, people therefore favor disguised,indirect ways to express their bigotry (Piazza 68). Covert racism is themost abundant form of racism in our society today. What causes racism? Unfortunately, the answer is much longer and detailedthan the question. The three main causes for racism are: racism has becomepart of our heritage, right-wing racial and political groups, and pride inone's own race. Practically since the dawn of man's existence man has undoubtedly noticeddifferences between races. Racism's presence throughout the formation ofour culture is quite evident (Tucker 17). Frequently throughout historythe ethnic group with the most power has assumed that its race and cultureare superior to others. The same incident even occurred in America withthe introduction of slaves. Throughout American history, racism has beenstrongly prevalent. Racism's roots lie deep within the foundation of oursociety (Tucker 19). These roots undoubtedly are the source for a greatmany of the racist groups and covert racism ideas found throughout oursociety. Extremist social and political groups, particularly those advocatingright-wing policies of racial inequality, promote racism as well. Thesegroups serve as the epitome of racial thought and speech (Ridgeway 10). The following represent various racist groups found throughout the UnitedStates: John Birch Society, Ku Klux Klan, Knights of the KKK, InvisibleEmpire, NAAWP, White Aryan Resistance, American Front, Nazi Skinheads,Posse Comitatus, Aryan Nations, The Order, and National Alliance (Ridgeway15). All of these groups are given the freedom to express their ideas ofracism because of the First Amendment (CIEQ 16). Although the

Free Essays on Pop Culture

The Cold War and American Pop-Culture The influence of the Cold War on American popular culture in the 1950s is very clear. â€Å"As true today, popular culture in the 1950s meant primarily movies, television programs, and recorded music as well as fiction, drama, and even fashion and comics.† The Cold War is the name given to the tensions and arms race that occurred between the United States and the Soviet Union in the years following the Second World War. Anti-Communism, and the â€Å"red scare† dominated American popular culture, with everyone trying to prove that they were against Communism. The influence that the Cold War had on American popular culture is evident through the popular novels at the time, which usually contained violence towards Communists and portrayed Americans as tough and righteous. Secondly, the Cold War had drastic affects Hollywood largely due to the fact that no other city has such a large influence on all of America. Many people were blacklisted, due to unfounded speculations t hat they might be in some way associated with the Communist Party. Lastly, the influence that the Cold War had on American popular culture is evident through analysis of the popular music of the 1950s. As a result of the Cold War, American popular culture was largely dominated by anti-communist ideals and subsequently caused mass paranoia throughout the United States The influence that the cold war was having on America is prevalent through analysis of the literature that was popular throughout the 1950s. Mickey Spillane’s books dominated the fictional bestsellers list of the 1950s, with six of them making the top ten. Historian Stephen Whitfield claims that it was â€Å"the detective’s hairy-chested heroics would have made such novels enormously popular even if they had been devoid of any explicit politics, but the overt anti-communism of Spillane’s fiction engraved it with the signature of the period.† Overall it is evident t... Free Essays on Pop Culture Free Essays on Pop Culture The Cold War and American Pop-Culture The influence of the Cold War on American popular culture in the 1950s is very clear. â€Å"As true today, popular culture in the 1950s meant primarily movies, television programs, and recorded music as well as fiction, drama, and even fashion and comics.† The Cold War is the name given to the tensions and arms race that occurred between the United States and the Soviet Union in the years following the Second World War. Anti-Communism, and the â€Å"red scare† dominated American popular culture, with everyone trying to prove that they were against Communism. The influence that the Cold War had on American popular culture is evident through the popular novels at the time, which usually contained violence towards Communists and portrayed Americans as tough and righteous. Secondly, the Cold War had drastic affects Hollywood largely due to the fact that no other city has such a large influence on all of America. Many people were blacklisted, due to unfounded speculations t hat they might be in some way associated with the Communist Party. Lastly, the influence that the Cold War had on American popular culture is evident through analysis of the popular music of the 1950s. As a result of the Cold War, American popular culture was largely dominated by anti-communist ideals and subsequently caused mass paranoia throughout the United States The influence that the cold war was having on America is prevalent through analysis of the literature that was popular throughout the 1950s. Mickey Spillane’s books dominated the fictional bestsellers list of the 1950s, with six of them making the top ten. Historian Stephen Whitfield claims that it was â€Å"the detective’s hairy-chested heroics would have made such novels enormously popular even if they had been devoid of any explicit politics, but the overt anti-communism of Spillane’s fiction engraved it with the signature of the period.† Overall it is evident t...

How to fix run-on sentences - Emphasis

How to fix run-on sentences How to fix run-on sentences ‘Run-on sentences’ may sound like a newspaper headline announcing that sentences are flying off the shelves. In fact, they are a product of the grammatically incorrect practice of running complete ideas into each other. Observe: I rock she rolls. As you can see, a run-on sentence isn’t necessarily long. When we say ‘complete ideas’ (of which this example has two), what we mean is independent clauses. Independent clauses An independent clause (as well as being a term for when Santa’s kids fly the nest) is a part of a sentence that contains a verb and a subject and makes sense by itself – otherwise known as a simple sentence. In the example above, there are two subjects (or ‘doers’): I and she. And each subject has its own verb: rock and rolls respectively. Here’s another: I like to throw my shapes in the middle of the dance floor Caroline busts her moves in the corner. Rein in the run-on So how do you fix these sentences? It may be tempting to just throw a comma in the middle (I rock, she rolls), but this is still not correct – it’s known as a comma splice. The comma can do many things, but don’t ask it to support the weight of two (or more) independent clauses by itself. There are other options available, though. Which one you pick depends on the gist of your sentence. Put a stop in it A simple solution is the good ol’ full stop: I like to throw my shapes in the middle of the dance floor. Caroline busts her moves in the corner. Perfectly grammatical, and often the best option. But if you want to show how the two clauses are related, or you find a full stop too abrupt, you may prefer one of the other methods. Connect with the semicolon A great way to suggest a connection between the clauses is by using a semicolon. Many people have a deep-seated suspicion of the semicolon, but its very useful here. Unlike the divisive full stop, the semicolon allows the parts to stay snuggled together in one sentence. In this way, they can stand in for conjunctions. I like to throw my shapes in the middle of the dance floor; Caroline busts her moves in the corner. The tell-tale conjunction If you want to make the relationship between the clauses explicit (and keep your sentence grammatically correct), add a coordinating conjunction (joining word) such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so to the comma splice. The conjunction you choose can give quite different meanings to the final sentence. Look at the difference between I like to throw my shapes in the middle of the dance floor, but Caroline busts her moves in the corner. and I like to throw my shapes in the middle of the dance floor, so Caroline busts her moves in the corner. In the first version, it would merely appear that Caroline and I have contrasting preferences on where we get our groove on. But in the second it seems that my shape-throwing drives Caroline to the corner (probably out of embarrassment). Whoa there Don’t let the meaning of your sentences – or your grammar-usage credibility – run away. Use these techniques to keep a tight grip on the reins of your writing, so you always guide your reader in the right direction.

Midterm Essay Question about Germany Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Midterm Question about Germany - Essay Example Strategy The Germany’s military strategy was to control Alsace region up to the mountain range, the Thionville and Metz in order to protect the borders and sovereignty of Germany. The military had also planned to control the Thionville and Metz during the war. The developing of the strategy of taking over the aforementioned lands helped Germans to win in the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 and contributed to the defeat of France and emergence of united German state. Economy According to Pohlsander (27), the military had interest in some states like the Alsace-Lorrain which had iron-ore and coal resources. With the help of these natural resources German leaders planned to develop the country’s economy. The main goal was military annexation since France had lost some land and inhabitants. It had also lost its mining and steel potential. The German Empire wanted to achieve growth of its economy and so the creation of a free independent nation-state able to wage war against its neighbors was a must at that time. Factors from European World that Contributed to Germany’s Development from 18 Century through 1871 Germany’s development was contributed to by different factors during that period; these included political and military factors, the factor of French culture and religious reforms among others. The Prussian State The German Prussian state played a major role in the development of Germany. Prussia was the biggest state and also most developed one which controlled Zollverein and most of the German states during that period. Zollverein was a union that was used to enable the states to compare their developments and statuses within the context of... The European world contributed majorly to the development of Germany. The victory in the war made the nation stronger as from 1871 the military forces continued becoming more powerful and grew in number as the French wanted revenge (Pohlsander 53). There was economic growth due to the unification of the states, which enabled them to trade and contributed to civilization growth. Despite the fact that a lot of citizens lost their lives either in war or due to epidemics like different diseases, Otto von Bismarck was able to defeat France in war. Germany established its own state which it is still among the most powerful nations in the world. We have learnt that the economic development from 1815-1871 contributed to Germany’s unification as only after the war with the economic boom Germany became the nation as it is today.

Network Risk Assestment and recommended actions Research Paper

Network Risk Assestment and recommended actions - Research Paper Example Application attacks are gaining popularity. Networked based fire walls will not be able to effectively keep the system secure from this kind of attack. Though some firewalls in networks have application firewall capabilities, most are considered to be underpowered by experts, providing less protection than the available firewalls that are single purpose. Actually, network firewalls have no capacity what so ever to protect against custom web applications (Eschenauer and Gligor, 1). This nature of a network security infrastructure leaves the organizations web resources at risk with dire consequences on the organization Quantitative risk analysis regarding the network architecture Asses Value Asset Value Cost of maintenances Profits to the company Worth in competition Recovering cost Acquisition cost Firewalls 4,000 100 per month 10,000 per month 2,000 1,000 5,000 Web server 5,000 100 per month 10,000 per month 2,000 1,000 7,000 Database Server 5,000 100 per month 10,000 per month 2,000 1,000 7,000 Table: 1 Estimate of potential Loss per Threat The table below shows the estimate potential loss per threat Asset Cost of physical damage Cost of loss in productivity Cost if information is disclosed Cost if critical devices fail Firewalls 4,000 10,000 120,000 10,000 Web server 5,000 15,000 1,000 15,000 Database Server 5,000 30,000 200,000 10,000 Table: 2 Application attacks can also be used to gain access into various departments in an organization, For instance gaining access into a database administrator, financial controller, or system administrator can provide an attacker access to information to these departments which may be having information that may contain passwords for credit card numbers which can be used to steal identity, or have dire financial implications to an organization or a company. Risk factor two Another issue is that the basic implementation has its default use of well-known UDP and TCP and ports for communication. Unfortunately for this organiz ation’s Web applications are packaged-solutions, hence the organization is unable to makes change to the prescribed ports. Therefore, systems in the demilitarized zones (DMZ) will be compromised; it is easy for the attacker to compromise the systems because of the default TCP/UDP portals. In addition, systems in the demilitarized zones experience little to no monitoring or security-controls. Only one server that will be compromised before an intruder to access the Web applications Because of these shortfalls, the basic architectural technique no longer gives the kind or level of security currently being required by online cash transfer companies like VISA Cardholder-Information-Security- Program (CISP) and Payment-Card-Industry (PCI) security standards, Federal-Information-System-Management-Act (FISMA), GLBA, SOX and more other regulatory and industry-security standards engaged in this compliance effort. Risk Factor 3 Physical factors like act of nature, earth quakes, floods and fires often cause irreversible damage on networking hardware. Some of these calamities are unpredictable, and can cause extensive damage in an organization’s network system with great loses, damaged equipments can result to loss of sensitive data and information, negatively affecting productivity with end effect being heavy losses on an organization. Another physical factor that poses security threats to the network system is unauthorized access to where the various devices and

Theoretical And Conceptual Framework Of Airlines

Theoretical And Conceptual Framework Of Airlines In the past of few decades ago, airline industry is being control very tightly with lots of regulations. For example, United State (US) air transportation industry is being control tightly by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) on price, route and schedule of flight. After that in 1978, domestic air transportation market of US is having a free competition among airlines which allowed by the Airline Deregulation Acts of 1978. Through this act, every airline is allowed to set their own price, how frequent they are flying and the destination they want to fly to (Thomas, O.G., 2004). After the deregulation of American airline market, European air transport also experienced deregulation in the middle of 1980. The result of regulation is an increase competition of airlines and to open new entry to new airlines. The airline structure has changed due to deregulations. The airline industry becomes more competitive with numbers of competition. Changes of pricing strategy, marketing strategy and airlines networks such as hubs and spokes had made. There are lots of changes from deregulation such as service patterns, pricing, computerized of the management systems and industry structure. Deregulation and air transport liberalization make a turning point of airlines structure and marketing strategies. Travelers are rational and not willing to pay for a level of service which is not necessary (Pourat, H., 1994). Technological development had improved the management system of airline where they are now having seats inventory system and reservation system had been improved. During that time, lots of existing regulated airlines meet failure and left the airline industry. There are numbers of new entry airlines joined the airline industry as well. (Kaplan, D.P., 1995 cited in Thomas, O.G., 2004) report that, 19 jet operator formerly regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), only 7 survived until 1995. The most famous survivor, Southwest Airlines (created in 1971) remains a prosperous carrier today. Deregulation of airline market also brings in another form of new business model which is the low cost business model into the airlines industry as well. This will be further discussing in the next section. 1.2 Problem Statement The new idea of low cost business model was first brought up by Southwest Airlines in the 1970. It took 15 years for the US airline industry and 20 years for the EU airline industry to take up the challenges of the emergence of low cost airline business model. After the deregulation, in 1978, there are huge numbers of new entry of low cost airlines into the airline industry. Initially these new entry airlines was doing quite success but due to by having only low fare would not be able to sustain their business. They are lack of financial support to compete in the competitive airline industry during that time. There are new entries of airlines and airlines which faced failure and left the industry (Natthida Taweelertkunthon, 2006). There is another new generation of low cost business model emerged in the airline industry in 1990. They startup their business with a strong financial support and with a better and younger aircraft used. This new generation of low cost airline has rewritten the business model to compete in the US competitive airline business environment and also with the commercial airlines market. They had also shifted from their business strategy from product differentiation into low cost. They become more cost advantages through efficiency where their operational efficient help to bring down the cost. The emergence of low cost airline manage to steal customer from the commercial airlines especially price sensitive customer and served with wide range of services. Even those high end customers are not longer willing to pay such a high fare on air transport where this bring benefit toward the low cost airlines. Air transport is not a luxurious thing anymore. At this point of time, traditional airlines faced challenges from low cost airlines where they find difficulty on sustaining their business. In Asia, low cost airline business model is still a new idea and just started in year 2000. Nevertheless, this new business model do faced problem of restrictive of two countries involved. Problem had been solved through the agreement among Southeast Asia (SEA) countries. Air Asia the successful pioneer established in the year 2001 and took the sky in November 2002. The success of Air Asia with low cost business model is the reason of the growth of low cost airlines rapidly in Southeast Asia. There are numbers of new entries of low cost airlines such as Tiger Airways, Nok Air and etc. The fact that Southeast Asia has a massive population is crucial, more than 50 million people with a rising middle class and a growing propensity for travel. The geographical location of surrounding islands without viable and competitive alternatives modes of transportation in Southeast Asia will enhances LCCs an enormous competitive advantage over surface and ground modes. (Natthida Taweelertkunthon, 2006) Low cost business model of low cost airlines is different in between of SEA and US and EU. The application of low cost principle is different. For example, in US and EU, they could have a lower fare on landing at secondary airports. But in SEA, they couldnt be able to avoid air traffic congestion at the core airport easily. Therefore, SEA low cost airlines cannot be able to save and lower fare on landing fees and etc. Besides that, the competition faced by SEA low cost airlines is much competitive as compare to US and EU low cost airlines. This is because of there are lots of competitor in SEA country with low cost airlines. Therefore, the marketing strategy that being implement by the low cost airlines to stay and being competitive is important. This research proposal is focusing on the marketing strategy that implement by low cost airlines to gain competitive advantages in the competitive environment. 1.3 Research Question From the problem statement above, it brings to several research questions where the researcher need to collect information for the purpose of this proposal. What are the marketing strategies implementing by Air Asia? How does marketing strategies influence the sales of Air Asia? What are the objectives, benefits and cost of the marketing strategies implementing? Are there any differences in between of traditional and low cost airlines marketing strategies? How Air Asias marketing strategies make Air Asia to be competitive among other low cost airlines? 1.4 Research Objective Research objectives have been listed down at below to guide the researcher in getting and answering the research questions which had stated above. Identify the marketing strategies that being use by Air Asia. Analyze on the marketing strategies that had being used. Analyze the sales trend of Air Asia. Compare the sales trend and marketing strategies that had implemented. Evaluate the objectives, benefits and cost of the marketing strategies implemented. Compare the marketing strategies of traditional and low cost airline. Evaluate the competitive advantages of Air Asia. 1.5 Theoretical and Conceptual Framework 1.5.1 Conceptual Framework 1.5.2 Theoretical Framework The process of this research proposal is shown in the diagram above. First of all, the problem statement would be discussing that the emergence of low cost airlines in the airline industry. 1.6 Scope and Limitation 1.6.1 Scope In the business world, there are plenty of strategies that are implementing by different company to stay competitive in the business environment. The strategies implemented by company are such as marketing strategy, financial strategy, research and development (RD), management information system (MIS) and etc. in this research proposal, the strategy that is being focus on is marketing strategy of an airline. It is to research on the ways of an airline manage their marketing strategy well to gain competitive advantage. Airlines industry is a huge industry which consist of full service airlines and no frills airlines. This research proposal has limited the research topic into a small scope which is focusing on analyzing the marketing strategy of no frills airlines. Besides that, there are numbers of no frills airlines in the world as well. Therefore, the researcher has further scope the topic down to low cost no frills airline of Malaysia which is Air Asia. 1.6.2 Limitation In every research proposal, there would have some limitations which limit the researcher to collect better information or result for the presentation of proposal. There is limitation which face by the researcher when doing research for this research proposal. AirAsia.com (2010), Air Asia is the only low cost airline available based in Malaysia (which not consist of low cost airline (FireFly) with subsidiaries of Malaysia Airline System Berhad). There do not have choice to researcher where Air Asia is the only available choice to be included as the scope of the topic. Besides that, there are limited journals available about the marketing strategy of a low cost airline. Therefore, it is a limitation for the researcher to collect journals for review the literature. In addition, the marketing strategy of low cost airlines differs from airline to airline. It is difficult to finalize the main marketing strategy that is implementing by low cost airlines. 1.7 Significance of the Study This research proposal is important to YBhg. Dato Tony Fernandes, the CEO of Air Asia and the marketing manager of Air Asia. This is because the research proposal has a summary of the effectiveness of the marketing strategies that being implementing by Air Asia where it makes them to be competitive advantage and a head above other low cost airlines. They would have the opportunity to have an outlook on a different angel of view in order to further improve on their current marketing strategy by advancing the current strategic planning model. Besides that, another targeted reader of this research proposal is the marketing managers of other airlines (such as low cost or full service airlines). This is because they could have the idea of how Air Asia is having such an excellent marketing strategy which brings it to where it is right now as the Worlds Best Low Cost Airline. They could use the strategic that Air Asia is implementing as the role model to market their airlines to be more competitive as well. In addition, this research proposal is useful to students who are majoring in marketing strategic management. This is because it would be a good and appropriate case study to read and learn from on the ways of a company could be able to manage their strategic planning model so well and gain competitive advantages over other competitors. Student would have the opportunity to have an in-depth understanding on the ways of a low cost airline planning the marketing strategy model to suit the business model which to keep cost low and being successful. 1.8 Definition of Term ASK = Available seat kilometer ASK is to measure the carrying capacity of airlines passenger. The formula is seat available x distance flown = carrying capacity per plane Chapter 2: Literature Review According to Natthida Taweelertkunthon (2006), there are two types of low cost carrier which are low cost no frills carrier and low cost low frills carrier. Low cost no frills carrier is those low cost airlines which do not provide any other extra services like on board meals. Tiger Airways and Air Asia are the example of low cost no frills carrier. On another hand, low cost low frills carrier refers to low cost airline which provide some extra service like on-board drinks or snacks. The fare of air ticket is slightly higher than low cost no frills carrier. The example of low cost low frills carrier are Nok Air, One-Two-Go and Jetstar Asia. 2.1 Key Features of Low Cost Airline Business Model Figure 2.1: LCCs Business Model Source: (Jiang, H., 2007) The figure above shows the low cost airline business model which is build up three main key features which are simple product, low operating cost and positioning. 2.1.1 Simple Product / No Frills A low cost airline would keep service and product simple to maintain cost advantages to offer product which is value for money to the customers. A simple product which also means no frills or no extra service such as meals on board provided on board to cut down cost. Besides that, meal on board could also be provided with a mean of good quality with extra charges. The seats are narrow to have a large capacity on plane and maximize seat density. This is to have a large volume of sales to cover the cost on the single journey to the destination. There is an only one class seat on aboard available with no seats arrangement allows (Jiang, H., 2007). 2.1.2 Low Operating Cost In addition, a low operating cost is one of the low cost airlines features. Low cost airlines will only land on secondary airports where the landing fee is much lower as compare to core airports. Secondary airports also have the advantage of less traffic congestion where the flight and stop by and take off again in a shorter time. They would have a shorter turnaround time to avoid paying higher tax charges on parking. Besides that, low cost airline practice direct sales of air ticket or through online reservation and buying. A cost cutting strategy would be implementing by low cost airlines to keep their cost low and to have cost advantages (Dietlin, P., 2004). 2.1.3 Positioning Lastly, low cost airline will market themselves mainly to non-business passengers. For examples, leisure passengers and price sensitive passengers are non-business passengers. In recent years, low cost airline starts to target business travelers as well. This is to grow their market to a more large perspective. A good and effective marketing strategy of low cost airline plays an important role to position their product to the public and to gain competitive advantage as well. Low cost airline will have a short haul which fly from point to point with high frequency. Moreover, low cost airline would likely to become the number one or two on most routes operated (Jiang, H., 2007). 2.2 Challenges of Low Cost Airlines In the competitive environment of airline industry, there are several challenges which will be faced by low cost airlines. Explanations on the challengers that face by low cost airlines are explained as below. 2.2.1 Overcapacity First of all, the airline industry of low cost airline is growing rapidly where there is more new entry of low cost airlines. According to Jiang, H. (2007), the author said that there are over thirty low cost airlines launched in the year of 2002. A sudden increase of a large amount of new entry brings threat to the existing low cost airline. The market is overcrowded and overcapacity where all of the low cost airlines need to compete among airlines to generate revenue for their own. 2.2.2 Pressure on Yield or Average Fares With a large amount of new entry it creates a competitive competition environment among airlines. According to Dietlin, P. (2004), worldwide airline yield will decrease by 1.1% per year until 2010 and intra-Asia yield will decrease much faster than that. New pricing strategy had been introduced by traditional airline to compete with low cost airline. For example, for some routes, traditional airline introduce a low aggressive fare especially those routes that being fly by low cost airlines. Besides that, there is a price competition among airlines. The new entry airlines are having lower fares to compete with existing low cost airlines. This pulls down the average fares per customer where it does not benefit any side on a long run. 2.2.3 Difficulty on Keeping Cost Advantages According to Dietlin, P. (2004), Asian airlines are having a significant lower input costs as compare to American airlines and European airlines. This problem of lower input cost is mainly due to labor cost. Dietlin, P. (unpublished, 2004) stated that Airlines in Singapore unit labor costs are USD 0.77 per ASK and airlines in American is having US 2.92 per ASK which is 279% more. Asian airlines are trying to solve the problem by hiring labor from low-income countries where they could have low wages for their labor to increase unit costs. 2.2.4 Product Differentiation With numbers of low cost airlines in the market push every single low cost airline to differentiate their product to gain as much market share as possible. This simple mean more cost will incur. Airlines are coming up with more aggressive and low fares which it would pull down the average revenue of airlines. Low fare of air ticket is no longer enough to be differentiating from other competitor. They are trying to brand themselves to differentiate from others to gain competitive advantages. 2.3 Marketing Strategy that Implemented by Low Cost Airlines There are several marketing strategies that being implement by low cost airlines to market or position their product to their customer. There are some marketing strategies that being practicing by low cost airline are stated as below. 2.3.1 Frequent Flyer Program Frequent flyer program is one of the marketing strategies of Southwest Airline but it is not adopting by most of the low cost airlines. This program gives out frequent flyer point when customers purchase air ticket each time. By using the accumulate points, it could be redeem for free ticket or upgrade class seat which depend on the company policy (Lederman, M., 2003). As a marketing tool FFPs have proved highly successful (Bennett, M.M., 1996). 2.3.2 Point-to-Point Gutstafsson, L. (2005) says that point-to-point could be included as a cost leadership strategy as well as a marketing strategy as well. Point-to-point refers to the air traffic movement system where the flights fly directly to the final destination without going through the hub. This would be able to help airline to save up cost. At the same time, it could be able to attract customer where they do not need to waste time on transiting at the hub. Customer could be able to have a flight directly to the final destination that they wish to be just with a low fare air ticket. 2.3.3 Branding / Image It is difficult for airlines to differentiate their product from other competitor as the basic product of airlines are the same. Therefore, branding and build up good image or reputation is another option to market their product to the public. Branding is do marketing on a product externally to the public. There is another way round of branding being practicing. As an example, Air Asia do brand their product internally to their staff first before to brand it externally to the public (Marketing-interactive.com, 2008). This is to let the staff of Air Asia knows well on the function and attractive of the product where they could sell it more better externally to the public. 2.3.4 Pricing (Low Fares) Low cost airlines are marketing their products with low fare to compete with traditional full service airlines. Low fare is the main attractiveness of low cost airline as compare to full service airline. Low cost airlines keep on introduce low fare ticket to customer and having promotion sales on air ticket. Fare of air ticket is getting cheap as time goes. Fare of air ticket is the main strategy that plays around by low cost airlines. Chapter 3: Research Design and Methodology 3.1 General Nature of Research The general nature of the research proposal is qualitative methodology. Saunders, M. et. al (1998) defines qualitative research as an array of interpretive techniques which seek to describe, decode, translate and otherwise come to terms with the meaning, not the frequency of certain more or less naturally occurring phenomena in the social world. A deeper insight of the ways of Air Asia managing their marketing strategy would be able to gain from doing qualitative research. A research which is base on the meaning which express through words is qualitative research (Saunders, M. et. al, 1998). 3.2 Research Philosophy Interpretive or phenomenology is the research philosophy that selected by researcher on this research proposal. This philosophy is suitable for research which is on qualitative methodology. Interpretive would help to gain new insight about the reality and deeper understanding on the question of how and why. Researcher is more flexible to adapt with changes during the research process. It is more appropriate to study on a small sample for interpretive philosophy. There are threats by using this philosophy. First of all, it will be time consuming when collecting qualitative data. In addition, analyzing of qualitative data would be difficult especially for inexperience researcher to analyze and generate new theory. 3.2 Research Method and Research Design 3.2.1 Research Method The research method that is being use by the researcher in this research proposal is interview research method. According to Saunders, M. et. al (1998), there are several types of interview such as structured interview, semi-structured interview and unstructured interview. The choice of interview selected is semi-structured interview which would have a list of topics to be cover during the section of interview. Semi-structured interview would be able to cover in depth and exploratory study. It would benefit to gain new insight on the particular topic as well (Saunders, M. et. al, 1998). 3.2.2 Research Design 3.2.2.1 General Research Design General research design is known as research strategy. The three main research strategies are experiment, case study and survey. The research strategy that would be use in the research proposal is case study strategy. Case study would have a detail and intensive knowledge on the single case study that is being studied. Case study is very useful in conducting exploratory of the theory and challenging with come up with a new theory. Besides that, case study would provide a very rich understanding on the case that is being studied (Saunders, M. et. al, 1998). 3.2.2.2 Research Approach Besides that, the research approach that being used is inductive approaches. Inductive approach is building theory which is more for case study research strategy. This approach would get the research to involve in the case study as well. The general idea of the problem would be understand well when inductive approach is being use. This approaches would more likely to use up interview data. It would be able to formulate theory by using the result of data analysis but at the same time it would also end up with the same theory as the existing theory (Saunders, M. et. al, 1998). 3.3 Sources of Data 3.3.1 Primary Research There are several primary researches available such as observation, interview and questionnaire. The primary research which is being use in this research proposal is through interview. A semi-structured and in-depth interview would be conduct in order to have an exploratory study on Air Asias marketing strategy to gain new insight. An open-ended interview questionnaire would be design and use to interview the potential interviewee to collect qualitative data. A face-to-face interview would be held where it allow researcher to have more control and strengthen open-ended question (Mona, C., et. al, 2001). 3.3.2 Secondary Research In this research proposal, the secondary research used is through online database to collect useful journals which are relating to the topic. The main online database is being use is [emailprotected] which is an online database of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The information that found through this online database is highly reliable where there is lots of PhD or masters unpublished thesis available on the database. Besides online database as secondary research, websites are being used as well. Official website of Air Asia is being used as the secondary research tool to get information regarding on Air Asia. Newsletters of Air Asias would frequently update the researcher on current news about Air Asia. Besides that, Air Asias blog is one of the secondary research tools where it provides new updates of Air Asia from time to time when latest news of Air Asia could be known from there as well. 3.5 Data Analysis Procedures There is several methods data analysis on qualitative research. The method of data analysis selected for this research proposal is the grounded theory data analysis. This data analysis method uses the inductive research where it collects data from the source of interview. Through interview, data would be able to collect and at the point of time, the data is being grouped accordingly into respective main concept (Gutstafsson, L., 2005). After the grouping of data into different concepts is done, the data could further categories into different supporting theory structure. By doing so, it enable researcher to have a better outlook of the data displayed in the structure. Therefore, researcher could interpret and analyze the data easily. A new theory would be able to generate by using the result of data analysis (Gutstafsson, L., 2005).

Chapter 1 Course Notes

Financial Accounting Theory and Analysis 10e Chapter 1 – The Development of Accounting Theory What is Theory? Webster defines theory as â€Å"Systematically organized knowledge, applicable in a relatively wide variety of circumstances; a system of assumptions, accepted principles and rules of procedure to analyze, predict or otherwise explain the nature of behavior of a specified set of phenomena. † Why is the development of a general theory of accounting important?The development of a general theory of accounting is because of the role accounting plays in our economic society. We live in a capitalistic society which is characterized by a self-regulated market that operates through the forces of supply and demand. What is the relationship of accounting research to accounting theory? The goal of accounting theory is to provide a set of principles and relationships that explains observed practices and predicts unobserved practices.That is, accounting theory should be able to explain why companies elect certain accounting methods over others and should enable users to predict the attributes of firms that elect various accounting methods. And as in other disciplines, accounting theory should also be verifiable through accounting research. Accounting research is needed to attain a more general theory of accounting, and in this regard the various theories of accounting that have been posited must be subjected to verification. The Early History of AccountingZenon Papyri * Accounting records have been found to date back several thousand years in various parts of the world. Discovered in 1915, the Zenon Papyri contained information Apollonius private estate for a period of about 30 years concerning construction projects, agricultural activities, and business operations during the 3rd century B. C. According to Hain, this â€Å"surprisingly elaborate accounting system† was used in Greece since the fi fth century B. C. â€Å"Zenon’s accounting system contained provisions for esponsibility accounting, a written record of all transactions, a personal account for wages paid to employees, inventory records, and a record of asset acquisitions and disposals. In addition, there is evidence that all the accounts were audited. † The Impact of the Renaissance * It wasn’t until approximately 1300-1500 the need arose for more accurate records due to the Italians merchants vigoursly pursing trade and commerce. Italian merchants borrowed Arabic numeral system and the basis of arithmetic and an evolving trend toward the present double entry book keeping system developed. In 1494 an Italian monk, Fra Luca Pacioli, wrote a book on arithmetic that included a description of double-entry bookkeeping. Pacioli’s work, Summa de Arithmetica Geometria Proportioniet Proportionalita, did not fully describe double-entry bookkeeping; rather, it formalized the practices and ideas that had been evolving over the years. Double-entry bookkeeping enabled business organizations to keep complete records of transactions and ultimately resulted in the ability to prepare financial statements. The evolution of joint ventures into ongoing businessesAs ongoing business organizations replaced isolated ventures, it became necessary to develop accounting records and reports that reflected a continuing investment of capital employed in various ways and to periodically summarize the results of activities. By the nineteenth century, bookkeeping expanded into accounting, and the concept that the owner’s original contribution, plus or minus profits or losses, indicated net worth emerged. However, profit was considered an increase in assets from any source, as the concepts of cost and income were yet to be developed.Another factor that influenced the development of accounting during the nineteenth century was the evolution in England of joint ventures into business corporations. Under the corporate form of business, owner s (stockholders) may not be management. Thus many individuals, external to the business itself, needed information about the corporation’s activities. Moreover, owners and prospective owners wanted to evaluate whether stockholder investments have yielded a return.As a consequence, the emerging existence of corporations created a need for periodic reporting as well as a need to distinguish between capital and income. The impact of the industrial revolution and the progressive movement The industrial revolution and the succession of the Companies Acts in England also increased the need for professional standards and accountants. In the later part of the nineteenth century, the industrial revolution arrived in the United States, bringing the need for more formal accounting procedures and standards. Railroads became a major economic influence.These companies created the need for supporting industries, which in turn led to increases in the market for corporate securities and an in creased need for trained accountants as the separation of the management and ownership functions became more distinct. The concept of capital maintenance The major concern of accounting during the early 1900s was the development of a theory that could cope with corporate abuses that were occurring at that time, and capital maintenance emerged as a concept. This concept evolved from maintaining invested capital intact to maintaining the physical productive capacity of the firm to maintaining real capital.In essence, this last view of capital maintenance was an extension of the economic concept of income (see Chapter 5) that there could be no increase in wealth unless the stockholder or the firm were better off at the end of the period than at the beginning. The accountant as a protector of business interests World War I changed the public’s attitude toward the business sector. Many people believed that the successful completion of the war could at least partially be attributed to the ingenuity of American business. As a consequence, the public perceived that business had reformed and that external regulation was no longer necessary.The accountant’s role changed from protector of third parties to protector of business interests. Critics of accounting practice during the 1920s suggested that accountants abdicated the stewardship role, placed too much emphasis on the needs of management, and permitted too much flexibility in financial reporting. During this time financial statements were viewed as the representations of management, and accountants did not have the ability to require businesses to use accounting principles they did not wish to employ. The result of this attitude is well known. In 1929 the stock market crashed and the Great Depression ensued.Although accountants were not initially blamed for these events, the possibility of governmental intervention in the corporate sector loomed. Accounting in the United States since 1930 Meetings bet ween NYSE and AIA One of the first attempts to improve accounting began shortly after the inception of the Great Depression with a series of meetings between representatives of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the American Institute of Accountants. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss problems pertaining to the interests of investors, the NYSE, and accountants in the preparation of external financial statements.The cooperative efforts between the members of the NYSE and the AIA were well received. However, the post-Depression atmosphere in the United States was characterized by regulation. There was even legislation introduced that would have required auditors to be licensed by the federal government after passing a civil service examination. AAA Similarly, in 1935 the American Association of University Instructors in Accounting changed its name to the American Accounting Association (AAA) and announced its intention to expand its activities in the research and develop ment of accounting principles and standards.The first result of these expanded activities was the publication, in 1936, of a brief report cautiously titled â€Å"A Tentative Statement of Accounting Principles Underlying Corporate Financial Statements. † The four-and-one-half-page document summarized the significant concepts underlying financial statements at that time. SEC (Securities And Exchange Commission) Two of the most important pieces of legislation passed at this time were the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which established the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).The SEC was created to administer various securities acts. Under powers provided by Congress, the SEC was given the authority to prescribe accounting principles and reporting practices. Nevertheless, because the SEC has acted as an overseer and allowed the private sector to develop accounting principles, this authority has seldom been used. However, the SEC has exerted p ressure on the accounting profession and has been especially interested in narrowing areas of difference in accounting practice. * Securities Act of 1933A federal piece of legislation enacted as a result of the market crash of 1929. The legislation had two main goals: (1) to ensure more transparency in financial statements so investors can make informed decisions about investments, and (2) to establish laws against misrepresentation and fraudulent activities in the securities markets. * Securities Exchange Act of 1934 The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 was created to provide governance of securities transactions on the secondary market (after issue) and regulate the exchanges and broker-dealers in order to protect the investing public.Committee on Accounting Procedure The AICPA’s Committee on Accounting Procedure (CAP) was formed in 1936. The committee had authority to issue pronouncements on matters of accounting practice and procedure in order to establish generally accept ed practices. CAP was relatively inactive during its first two years, but became more active in response to the SEC’s release of ASR No. 4. One of the first responses was to expand CAP membership from 7 to 21. Major concerns were: * Use of the historical cost model of accounting.The then-accepted definition of assets as unamortized cost was seen by some critics as allowing management too much flexibility in deciding when to charge costs to expense. * The impact on inflation on reported profits. Lobbies were held by several companies in the 1940s for the use of replacement cost depreciation. Both CAP and the SEC rejected the efforts. This decade long debate didn’t until Congress passed legislation in 1954 amending the IRS Tax Code to allow accelerated depreciation. CAP works were originally published in the form of Accounting Research Bulletins (ARBs).The pronouncements did not dictate mandatory practice and received authority only from their general acceptance. The Acc ounting Research Bulletins were consolidated in 1953 into Accounting Terminology Bulletin No. 1, â€Å"Review and Resume† and ARB No 43 through 51 was published from 1953 until 1959. The recommendations of these bulletins that have not been superseded are contained in the FASB Accounting Standards Codifications. Accounting Principles Board By 1959 the methods of formulating accounting principles were being questioned as not arising from research or based on theory.The CAP was also criticized for acting in a piecemeal fashion and issuing standards that, in many cases, were inconsistent. Additionally, all of its members were part-time and as a result their independence was questioned. Finally, the fact that all of the CAP members were required to be AICPA members prevented many financial executives, investors, and academics from serving on the committee. As a result, accountants and financial statement users were calling for wider representation in the development of accounting principles.The AICPA responded to the alleged shortcomings of the CAP by forming the Accounting Principles Board (APB). The objectives of this body were to advance the written expression of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), to narrow areas of difference in appropriate practice, and to in the method of establishing accounting principles was quickly squelched when the first APB chairman, Weldon Powell, voiced his belief that accounting research was more applied and pure and that the usefulness of the end product was a major concern.The APB was composed of from seventeen to twenty-one members, who were selected primarily from the accounting profession but also included individuals from industry, government, and academia. Initially, the pronouncements of the APB, termed â€Å"opinions,† were not mandatory practice; however, the issuance of APB Opinion No. 2 (see FASB ASC 740-10-25 and 45) and a subsequent partial retraction contained in APB Opinion No. 4 (see FASB ASC 740-10-50) highlighted the need for standard-setting groups to have more authority. Financial Accounting Standards BoardDue to the growing criticism of the APB, in 1971 the board of directors of the AICPA appointed two committees. The Wheat Committee, chaired by Francis Wheat, was to study how financial accounting principles should be established. The Trueblood Committee, chaired by Robert Trueblood, was asked to determine the objectives of financial statements. The Wheat Committee issued its report in 1972 recommending that the APB be abolished and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) be created. In contrast to the APB, whose members were all from the AICPA, this new board was to comprise representatives from various organizations.The members of the FASB were also to be full-time paid employees, unlike the APB members, who served part-time and were not paid. the Accounting Principles Board Formation and structure The APB was composed of from seventeen to twenty-one members, who were selected primarily from the accounting profession but also included individuals from industry, government, and academia. Types of pronouncements * APB Opinions Initially, the pronouncements of the APB, termed â€Å"opinions,† were not mandatory practice; however, the issuance of APB Opinion No. 2 (see FASB ASC 740-10-25 and 45) and a subsequent partial retraction contained in APB Opinion No. (see FASB ASC 740-10-50) highlighted the need for standard-setting groups to have more authority. The flap over accounting for the investment tax Credit This controversy was over the proper method to use in accounting for the investment tax credit. In the early 1960s the country was suffering from the effects of a recession. After President John F. Kennedy took office, his advisors suggested an innovative fiscal economic policy that involved a direct income tax credit (as opposed to a tax deduction) based on a percentage of the cost of a qualified investment.Congress pas sed legislation creating the investment tax credit in 1961. The APB was then faced with deciding how companies should record and report the effects of the investment tax credit. It considered two alternative approaches: 1. The flow-through method, which treated the tax credit as a decrease in income tax expense in the year it occurred. 2. The deferred method, which treated the tax credit as a reduction in the cost of the asset and therefore was reflected over the life of the asset through Rule 203The lack of support for some of the APB’s pronouncements and concern over the formulation and acceptance of GAAP caused the Council of the AICPA to adopt Rule 203 of the Code of Professional Ethics. 10 This rule requires departures from accounting principles published in APB Opinions or Accounting Research Bulletins (or subsequently FASB Statements and now the FASB ASC) to be disclosed in footnotes to financial statements or in independent auditors’ reports when the effects of such departures are material.This action has had the effect of requiring companies and public accountants who deviate from authoritative pronouncements to justify such departures. Criticism of the APB 1. The independence of the members of the APB. The individuals serving on the board had full-time responsibilities elsewhere that might influence their views of certain issues. 2. The structure of the board. The largest eight public accounting firms (at that time) were automatically awarded one member, and there were usually five or six other public accountants on the APB. 3. Response time.The emerging accounting problems were not being investigated and solved quickly enough by the part-time members. The financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) The Wheat Committee The Wheat Committee, chaired by Francis Wheat, was to study how financial accounting principles should be established. The AICPA quickly adopted the Wheat Committee recommendations, and the FASB became the official body c harged with issuing accounting standards. The Trueblood Committee The Trueblood Committee, chaired by Robert Trueblood, was asked to determine the objectives of fi nancial statements.The FASB was established The Wheat Committee issued its report in 1972 recommending that the APB be abolished and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) be created. The structure of the FASB The structure of the FASB is as follows. A board of trustees nominated by organizations whose members have special knowledge and interest in financial reporting is selected. The organizations originally chosen to select the trustees were the American Accounting Association; the AICPA; the Financial Executives Institute; the National Association of Accountants (The NAA’s ame was later changed to Institute of Management Accountants in 1991), and the Financial Analysts Federation. In 1997 the board of trustees added four members from public interest organizations. The board that governs the FASB is the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF). The FAF appoints the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council (FASAC), which advises the FASB on major policy issues, the selection of task forces, and the agenda of topics. The number of members on the FASAC varies from year to year. The bylaws call for at least twenty members to be appointed.However, the actual number of members has grown to about thirty in recent years to obtain representation from a wider group of interested parties. FASB Mission The FASB’s mission is to establish and improve standards of financial accounting and reporting for the guidance and education of the public, including issuers, auditors, and users of financial information. In attempting to accomplish this mission, the FASB seeks to: 1. Improve the usefulness of financial reporting by focusing on the primary characteristics of relevance and reliability and on the qualities of comparability and consistency 2.Keep standards current to reflect changes in methods of doing business and changes in the economic environment 3. Consider promptly any significant areas of deficiency in financial reporting that might be improved through the standard-setting process 4. Promote the international comparability of accounting standards concurrent with improving the quality of financial reporting 5. Improve the common understanding of the nature and purposes of information contained in financial reports Type of Pronouncements * Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts Statements of Financial Accounting Standards * Interpretations * Technical Bullentins Originally, the FASB issued two types of pronouncements, Statements of Financial Accounting Standards (SFASs) and Interpretations. Subsequently, the FASB established two new series of releases: (1) Statements of Financial Accounting Concepts (SFACs) and (2) Technical Bulletins. SFASs conveyed required accounting methods and procedures for specific accounting issues and officially created GAAP. In terpretations were modifications or extensions of issues pronouncements.SFACs are intended to establish the objectives and concepts that the FASB will use in developing standards of financial accounting and reporting. To date, the FASB has issued seven SFACs, which are discussed in depth in Chapters 2, 6, and 7. SFACs differed from Statements of Financial Accounting Standards in that they did not establish GAAP. Similarly, they are not intended to invoke Rule 203 of the Rules of Conduct of the Code of Professional Ethics. It is anticipated that the major beneficiary of these SFACs will be the FASB itself.However, knowledge of the objectives and concepts the board uses should enable financial statement users to better understand the content and limitations of financial accounting information. Technical Bulletins were strictly interpretive in nature and did not establish new standards or amend existing standards. They were intended to provide guidance on financial accounting and repor ting problems on a timely basis. Emerging Issues One of the fi rst criticisms of the FASB was for failing to provide timely guidance on emerging implementation and practice problems.During 1984 the FASB responded to this criticism by (1) establishing a task force, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), to assist in identifying issues and problems that might require action; and (2) expanding the scope of the FASB Technical Bulletins in an effort to offer quicker guidance on a wider variety of issues. The EITF was formed in response to two confl icting issues. On the one hand, accountants are faced with a variety of issues that are not fully addressed in accounting pronouncements, such as interest rate swaps or new fi nancial instruments. These and other new issues need immediate resolution.On the other hand, many accountants maintain that the ever-increasing body of professional pronouncements has created a standards overload problem (discussed in more detail below). The FASB establi shed the EITF in an attempt to simultaneously address both issues. The goal of the EITF is to provide timely guidance on new issues while limiting the number of issues whose resolutions require formal pronouncements by the FASB. Standards Overload One of the fi rst criticisms of the FASB was for failing to provide timely guidance on emerging implementation and practice problems.During 1984 the FASB responded to this criticism by (1) establishing a task force, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF), to assist in identifying issues and problems that might require action; and (2) expanding the scope of the FASB Technical Bulletins in an effort to offer quicker guidance on a wider variety of issues. The EITF was formed in response to two confl icting issues. On the one hand, accountants are faced with a variety of issues that are not fully addressed in accounting pronouncements, such as interest rate swaps or new fi nancial instruments.These and other new issues need immediate resolution . On the other hand, many accountants maintain that the ever-increasing body of professional pronouncements has created a standards overload problem (discussed in more detail below). The FASB established the EITF in an attempt to simultaneously address both issues. The goal of the EITF is to provide timely guidance on new issues while limiting the number of issues whose resolutions require formal pronouncements by the FASB. Standard setting as a political processA highly infl uential academic accountant stated that accounting standards are as much a product of political action as they are of careful logic or empirical fi ndings. 15 This phenomenon exists because a variety of parties are interested in and affected by the development of accounting standards. Various users of accounting information have found that the best way to infl uence the formulation of accounting standards is to attempt to infl uence the standard setters. The CAP, APB, and FASB have all come under a great deal o f pressure to develop or amend standards so as to benefi t a particular user group.For example, the APB had originally intended to develop a comprehensive theory of accounting before attempting to solve any current problems; however, this approach was abandoned when it was determined that such an effort might take up to fi ve years and that the SEC would not wait that long before taking action. The Business Roundtable engaged in what initially was a successful effort (later reversed) to increase the required consensus for passage of a SFAS from a simple majority to fi ve of the seven members of the FASB.Congressional action was threatened over the FASB’s proposed elimination of the pooling of interest method of accounting for business combinations (see Chapter 16). Two of the most notable examples of the politicizing of accounting standards involved the issues of employee stock options and fair value accounting. Economic Consequences The increased pressure on the standard-set ting process is not surprising, considering that many accounting standards have signifi cant economic consequences. Economic consequences refers to the impact of accounting reports on various segments of our economic society.This concept holds that the accounting practices a company adopts affect its security price and value. Consequently, the choice of accounting methods infl uences decision making rather than just refl ecting the results of these decisions. Consider the release of the FASB’s pronouncement on other postretirement benefi ts (OPRBs) FASB Statement No. 106, â€Å"Other Post Retirement Benefi ts† (see FASB ASC 715-10-30, 60, and 80). The accounting guidelines for OPRBs required companies to change from a pay-as-you-go basis to an accrual basis for health care and other benefi ts that companies provide to retirees and their dependents.The accrual basis requires companies to measure the obligation to provide future services and accrue these costs during the years employees provide service. This change in accounting caused a large increase in recorded expenses for many companies. Consequently, a number of companies simply ceased providing such benefi ts to their employees, at a large social cost. The impact on our economic society of accounting for OPRBs illustrates the need for the FASB to fully consider both the necessity to further develop sound reporting practices and the possible economic consequences of new codifi cation content.Accounting standard setting does not exist in a vacuum. It cannot be completely insulated from political pressures, nor can it avoid carefully evaluating the possible ramifi cations of standard setting. gaap Evolution of phrase: * Changed wording of auditor’s certificate brought about by meetings between NYSE and AIA One result of the meetings between the AICPA and members of the NYSE following the onset of the Great Depression was a revision in the wording of the certifi cate issued by CPAs. The o pinion paragraph formerly stated that the fi nancial statements had been examined and were accurate.The terminology was changed to say that the statements are â€Å"fairly presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. † This expression is now interpreted as encompassing the conventions, rules, and procedures that are necessary to explain accepted accounting practice at a given time. Therefore fi nancial statements are fair only to the extent that the principles are fair and the statements comply with the principles. * The APB’s definition * The Auditing Standards Executive Committee’s definition The current sources of GAAP consist of four levels described as A, B, C, and D by Statement of Auditing Standards No 69 he business reporting research project Steering Committee Working Group the role of ethics in accounting Ethics are concerned with the types of behavior society considers right and wrong. Accounting ethics incorporate social sta ndards of behavior as well as behavioral standards that relate specifi cally to the profession. The environment of public accounting has become ethically complex. The accountants’ Code of Professional Ethics developed by the AICPA has evolved over time, and as business transactions have become more and more complex, ethical issues have also become more complex.Accounting in Crisis – the events of the early 2000s On January 1, 2001, Enron’s stock was selling for over $90 per share. From that time until the early summer of 2001, nineteen investment research fi rms reviewed its performance and twelve had given it a â€Å"strong buy† recommendation, while fi ve others had recommended it as â€Å"buy. †27 Additionally, the company’s 2000 annual report indicated that its auditor had not found any signifi cant accounting problems. However, on August 14, 2001, it was announced that the company’s president, Jeffery Skilling, had resigned after only six months on the job for â€Å"purely personal reasons. Enron used what were termed special-purpose entities (SPEs) now termed variable interest entities (VIEs) to access capital and hedge risk. 28 By using SPEs such as limited partnerships with outside parties, a company may be permitted to increase its fi nancial leverage and return on assets without reporting debt on its balance sheet. 29 The arrangement works as follows: An entity contributes fi xed assets and related debt to an SPE in exchange for an ownership interest.The SPE then borrows large sums of money from a fi nancial institution to purchase assets or conduct other business without the debt or assets showing up on the originating company’s fi nancial statements. The originating company can also sell leveraged assets to the SPE and record a profi t. At the time these transactions took place, the FASB required that only 3 percent of a SPE be owned by an outside investor. If this guideline is met, the SPE d idn’t need to be consolidated and the SPE’s debt was not disclosed on the originating company’s fi nancial statements.Enron used SPEs to new degrees of complexity and sophistication, capitalizing them with not only a variety of fi xed assets and liabilities but also extremely complex derivative fi nancial instruments, its own restricted stock, rights to acquire its stock, and related liabilities. Additionally, as Enron’s fi nancial dealings became more complicated, the company apparently also transferred troubled assets that were falling in value, such as certain overseas energy facilities, its broadband operation, or stock in companies that had been spun off to the SPEs. As a consequence, the losses on these assets were kept off Enron’s books.To compensate partnership investors for assuming downside risk, Enron promised to issue additional shares of its stock. As the value of the assets in these partnerships fell, Enron began to incur larger and l arger obligations to issue its own stock farther down the road. The problem was later compounded as the value of Enron’s stock declined. On October 16, 2001, the company reported a third-quarter loss and its stock dropped to about $33 a share. On October 28, as some of the problems with the SPEs were made public, a special committee of the board of directors of Enron was established under the chairmanship of William C.Powers, dean of the University of Texas Law School. The Powers Committee Report concluded that some Enron employees were directly involved in the SPEs and were enriched by tens of millions of dollars they never should have received. The committee also found that many of the transactions were designed to achieve favorable fi nancial statement results and were not based on legitimate economic objectives or to transfer risk. International Accounting standards A truly global economy emerged during the 1990s, as many U. S. companies generated signifi cant amounts of revenue and profi ts in foreign markets.Multinational companies are faced with decisions on the allocation of resources to their most effi cient uses. These allocations cannot be accomplished without accurate and reliable fi nancial information. Companies seeking capital or investment opportunities across national boundaries face cost and time issues. Capitalseeking fi rms must reconcile their fi nancial statements to the accounting rules of the nation in which they are seeking capital, and investors must identify foreign reporting differences. The increasingly global economy requires that this process be simplifi ed.Thus there is a push to harmonize international accounting standards. The IASB is an independent private sector body that was formed in 1973 to achieve this purpose. Its objectives are 1. To formulate and publish in the public interest accounting standards to be observed in the presentation of fi nancial statements and to promote their worldwide acceptance and observanc e 2. To work generally for the improvement and harmonization of regulations, accounting standards, and procedures relating to the presentation of fi nancial statements33These objectives have resulted in attempts to coordinate and harmonize the activities of the many countries and agencies engaged in setting accounting standards. The IASB standards also provide a useful starting point for developing countries wishing to establish accounting standards. 34 The IASB has also developed a conceptual framework titled the Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements. 35 The conclusions articulated in this release are similar to those contained in the FASB’s Conceptual Framework Project.That is, the objective of fi nancial statements is to provide useful information to a wide range of users for decision-making purposes. The information provided should contain the qualitative characteristics of relevance, reliability, comparability, and understandability. At t he time this book was published, the IASB had issued forty-one Statements of Accounting Standards (IASs) and ten Statements of Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). However, since it has no enforcement authority, the IASB must rely on the â€Å"best endeavors† of its members.Neither the FASB nor the SEC is a member of the IASB, so its standards have no authority in the United States at the present time. However, the SEC recently ruled that foreign companies that adopt IASB standards are eligible to list their securities for sale on U. S. stock exchanges (see Chapter 3 for a further discussion of this issue). As noted in Chapters 2 and 3, there is also a movement to have IASB standards become GAAP for U. S. companies. The emergence of multinational corporations has resulted in a need for the increased harmonization of worldwide accounting standards.The role of the IASB is discussed in more detail in Chapter 3, and the IASB standards are reviewed throughout this text in chapte rs dealing with the issues addressed by each IAS or IFRS. Cases †¢ Case 1-1 Sources of GAAP The FASB ASC is now the sole authoritative source for all U. S. GAAP. a. What are the major goals of the FASB ASC? b. How is the FASB ASC expected to improve the practice of accounting? c. What literature is now contained in the FASB ASC? d. What should an accountant do if the guidance for a particular transaction or event is not specifi ed within the FASB ASC? †¢ Case 1-2 Accounting EthicsWhen the FASB issues new standards, the implementation date is frequently 12 months from date of issuance, and early implementation is encouraged. Becky Hoger, controller, discusses with her fi nancial vice president the need for early implementation of a standard that would result in a fairer presentation of the company’s fi nancial condition and earnings. When the fi nancial vice president determines that early implementation of the standard will adversely affect the reported net income f or the year, he discourages Hoger from implementing the standard until it is required. Required: a. What, if any, ethical issue is involved in this case? . Is the fi nancial vice president acting improperly or immorally? c. What does Hoger have to gain by advocacy of early implementation? d. Who might be affected by the decision against early implementation? (CMA adapted) †¢ Case 1-3 Politicalization of Accounting Standards Some accountants have said that politicalization in the development and acceptance of generally accepted accounting principles (i. e. , standard setting) is taking place. Some use the term politicalization in a narrow sense to mean the infl uence by governmental agencies, particularly the SEC, on the development of generally accepted accounting principles.Others use it more broadly to mean the compromising that takes place in bodies responsible for developing these principles because of the infl uence and pressure of interested groups (SEC, American Accounti ng Association, businesses through their various organizations, Institute of Management Accountants, fi nancial analysts, bankers, lawyers, etc. ). Required: a. The Committee on Accounting Procedure of the AICPA was established in the mid- to late 1930s and functioned until 1959, at which time the Accounting Principles Board came into existence.In 1973, the Financial Accounting Standards Board was formed, and the APB went out of existence. Do the reasons these groups were formed, their methods of operation while in existence, and the reasons for the demise of the fi rst two indicate an increasing politicalization (as the term is used in the broad sense) of accounting standard setting? Explain your answer by indicating how the CAP, APB, and FASB operated or operate. Cite specifi c developments that tend to support your answer. b. What arguments can be raised to support the politicalization of accounting standard setting? . What arguments can be raised against the politicalization of accounting standard setting? (CMA adapted) †¢ Case 1-4 Generally Accepted Accounting Principles At the completion of the Darby Department Store audit, the president asks about the meaning of the phrase â€Å"in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles,† which appears in your audit report on the management’s fi nancial statements. He observes that the meaning of the phrase must include more than what he thinks of as â€Å"principles. † Required: a.Explain the meaning of the term accounting principles as used in the audit report. (Do not in this part discuss the signifi cance of â€Å"generally accepted. †) b. The president wants to know how you determine whether or not an accounting principle is generally accepted. Discuss the sources of evidence for determining whether an accounting principle has substantial authoritative support. c. The president believes that diversity in accounting practice will always exist among independent entit ies despite continual improvements in comparability.Discuss the arguments that support his belief. †¢ Case 1-5 The Evolution of the Accounting Profession The nineteenth century witnessed the evolution of joint ventures into business corporations. Required: Discuss how the emergence and growth of the corporate form of business affected perceptions regarding the role of the accounting profession in fi nancial reporting in England and the United States. †¢ Case 1-6 Accounting in Crisis During the early 2000s, the role of accounting and the auditing profession changed and several accounting scandals were uncovered. Required: a.What conditions caused accounting and the auditing profession role to change during this time? b. What major changes occurred as a result of the accounting scandals at that time? †¢ Case 1-7 The FASB The FASB is the offi cial body charged with issuing accounting standards. Required: a. Discuss the structure of the FASB. b. How are the Financial Acco unting Foundation members nominated? c. SFAC No. 2 describes a number of key characteristics or qualities for accounting information. Briefl y discuss the importance of any three of these qualities for fi nancial reporting purposes. CMA adapted) FASB ASC Research For each of the following research cases, search the FASB ASC database for information to address the issues. Cut and paste the FASB ASC paragraphs that support your responses. Then summarize briefl y what your responses are, citing the paragraphs used to support your responses. †¢ FASB ASC 1-1 Variable Interest Entities In this chapter, we discuss how Enron and other companies use Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) to keep the effects of transactions and events off corporate balance sheets. 1. How does the FASB defi ne a VIE?In other words, how does an entity qualify to be a VIE? 2. Is a company that meets the defi nition of a VIE required to consolidate the VIE? †¢ FASB ASC 1-2 Status of Accounting Research Bulle tins Portions of ARB No. 43 are still considered GAAP. Three of the most important issues covered in ARB No. 43 are revenue recognition, treasury stock, and comparative fi nancial statements. Find the appropriate sections of the FASB ASC, originally contained in ARB No. 43, that address these issues. Cite the sources and copy the relevant information. †¢ FASB ASC 1-3 Accounting for the Investment Tax CreditThe accounting alternative treatments for the investment tax credit originally outlined in APB Opinions 2 and 4 are still considered GAAP. Find and cite the FASB ASC paragraphs and copy the relevant information. †¢ FASB ASC 1-4 Securities and Exchange Commission Comments SEC observers frequently provide comments at EITF meetings. Find, cite, and copy the observer comments on: 1. Revenue recognition—customer payments and incentives 2. Debt with conversions and other options 3. Software cost of sales and services †¢ FASB ASC 1-5 Generally Accepted Accounting Pr ocedure GuidelinesFind the guidelines for determining GAAP in the FASB ASC. Room for Debate †¢ Debate 1-1 Which Body Should Set Accounting Standards in the United States? Team Debate Team 1: Argue that the SEC should set accounting standards in the United States. Team 2: Argue that the FASB should set accounting standards in the United States. †¢ Debate 1-2 Should the Scope of Accounting Standards Be Narrowed Further? Team Debate Team 1: Pretend you are management. Argue against the narrowing of accounting choices. Team 2: Pretend you are a prospective investor. Argue for the narrowing of accounting choices.