Tuesday, August 25, 2020

How does Golding build up to the final emergence of the beast on the island? Essay

In this paper, I will cover the component of the novel, â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, where the â€Å"beast† rises and causes the spread of abhorrence among the gathering of young men. I will likewise clarify how this has centrality all through the novel, how the past occasions develop to this second, why William Golding incorporated this area, and his thinking for composing the novel. The epic â€Å"Lord of the Flies† raises questionable issues of profound quality, essential human intuition and society by and large. William Golding, the creator of â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, depicts solid convictions concerning the limit with respect to malicious, intrinsic into each individual, and these convictions are depicted all through the novel in the manner that the educated ethics of civilisation and society step by step evade the gathering of young men, and they decline into savages, to in the long run speak to the â€Å"beast† on the island. This is the thing that Golding accepted was the â€Å"capacity for evil†. He recommended that, when every single scholarly lesson of society have sneaked away, leaving just the crude nature which people originally had, there is where civilisation used to lie; the limit with regards to abhorrent. He calls it this since he accepted, that when all ethics are non-existent, and people have cleared themselves from obligation, there is nothing to keep people from submitting detestable deeds. Golding filled in as a maritime official during the war and through his experience, and through what he saw, he bit by bit discovered that human instinct was, maybe, not as edified as he recently saw. He was shocked by how individuals were prepared and ready to hurt their kindred men realizing that that there would be no results and no censure for their activities; the Nazi inhumane imprisonments, where Jews were eliminated like rodents, the way that the Japanese abused their detainees, the mass bombarding of regular citizens by Britain and America, and even a portion of the activities that he himself did upon individuals who were not even answerable for the circumstance. Individuals would do things that they could never have considered, had the duty been theirs. Individuals supported their activities by believing that â€Å"right† was their ally; in any case, Golding before long started to address whether individuals really accepted this, or whether they were simply attempting to persuade themselves that they were not fouling up. He discovered that without rules and limits, all human instinct could turn savage and unrepentant. In a mental examination completed in America, to watch the constraints of human instinct, it developed that, if individuals were pardoned of all duty regarding their activities, and on the off chance that the obligation regarding their activity lay with another person, at that point an individual could do things to their kindred people that they would’ve already never have thought about, had they been restricted by the imprisonments of civilisation and the duties of society. This is appeared in the book, by the boys’ limit with regards to detestable ascending in relation to the loss of good constrainments and civilisation. All through the novel, the malevolence on the island is spoken to by the possibility of the â€Å"beast† which is in the long run released from inside the young men, after all hints of the ethics of civilisation have disappeared. All through the novel, Golding utilizes solid pictures and fundamental ramifications to develop to, and set up the peruser for the second that the â€Å"beast† rises and causes a definitive obliteration of everything that speaks to civilisation on the island. The setting for the novel is on a tropical island, frequently connected with heaven. This is a corresponding with R.M. Ballantyne’s â€Å"Coral Island†, where a gathering of young men are abandoned on a remote location, and work together to from a general public wherein they can work. When perusing â€Å"Lord of the Flies† the prompt pictures that are passed on, are ones of a tropical heaven, and the quick ends drawn, are that the young men will have the option to work effectively. In any case, so as to pass on his profound concerns with respect to human instinct and the limit with respect to insidious, Golding makes pictures from the get-go in the book, that propose the island isn't exactly the heaven that we at first saw it to be. Weaved unpredictably among the portrayals of the island as a heaven is symbolism proposing a malicious nearness; â€Å"witch-like cry† and the strict inductions of the organic products, for example, in the Garden of Eden, which really makes the young men sick, and gives them looseness of the bowels, all recommend the to some degree evil feelings of the novel, which spread out to a more prominent level as the novel advances. We are acquainted with Ralph and Piggy at an early stage in the novel, and we become quickly mindful of the social gap between the two, a factor that will join the young men later in the novel. Ralph is an articulate and believes himself to be better than Piggy, since Piggy talks with poor language structure in correlation. This makes an outcast from the get-go in the novel, and Piggy turns into a subject of criticism, someone that doesn’t matter, and somebody who gives an obvious objective to kill, when the young men have declined into savages. In the main part, after Ralph has blown the conch and the entirety of the young men have assembled, we are given our early introduction of the ensemble as a â€Å"beast† or an animal. â€Å"Something dull was mishandling along†¦the animal ventured from hallucination onto clear sand†. The ensemble has a military style of control, which is more clear than the orders of their religion, and they obey Jack when he provides orders. We become mindful in a flash of Jack’s want for power, and of the position that he can order. At the point when Jack approaches, he â€Å"vaulted onto the stage with his shroud flying† which gives the impression of an animal of fanciful detestable, for example, a vampire. This is the place we originally become mindful of the conspicuousness of Jack, and it alludes to the chance of Jack turning into a type of commanding, detestable nearness in the novel. There is additionally the association among Piggy, and the chasing of the pigs, which are viewed as of a lower remaining in the natural way of life on the island; they are substandard, as is Piggy. From the beginnings of the novel, Jack considers Piggy to be nearly underneath human, and utilizations him as an objective, when as a general rule, it is Jack who is the first to dive beneath mankind. There is a hypothesis, in regards to the degeneration into an oppressive society, that, for this plunge to start, it is important to discover â€Å"an inferior†, which is the thing that the entirety of the young men, with exemption conceivable to Simon, find in Piggy. This gives a base, right off the bat in the novel, for society on the island to decline into oppression and brutality. The young men start with a thought for the island of heaven; they will frame an enlightened society, and start by having a decision on who ought to be the Chief. The possibility of a vote energizes them; it is a â€Å"adult† activity, an image of majority rule government, just like the conch, but at the same time is an image of their previous lifestyle and of society when all is said in done, a perspective which the entirety of the young men wish to reproduce on this island. Jack is determined that he ought to be the boss, again affirmation of his craving for power. He legitimizes his case with â€Å"simple haughtiness, â€Å"because, I’m section chorister and head kid. I can sing C sharp.† His case to chieftaincy are all physicality’s, he doesn't have administration characteristics, and his longing for physical force develops further as the novel advances, for example the whipping to start individuals into his clan and so forth. Jack thinks profoundly about what different young men consider him, and when he isn't picked as boss, Jack’s face vanishes â€Å"under a become flushed of mortification† which infers that, for the remainder of the novel, Jack may consistently have this profound envy of Ralph, and in the long run attempt to uproot him as pioneer. As this pressure develop through the novel as the ethics of society become less evident, Jack’s endeavor to dislodge Ralph totally finishes with him requesting the murdering of Ralph, when the taboo’s of the old life have totally vanished. When Ralph reveals to Jack that the trackers are his to be anything he desires them to be, he rushes to conclude that they ought to be trackers, practically like some crude clan, which is in the long run what the young men will become, starting with pigs and afterward in the long run different individuals from the gathering. The hunter’s ability to slaughter living things increments as the principles of society that are scratched in their brains are overlooked. We are given inconspicuous clues by Golding, that there is something specific about Jack, which drives him to communicate the malicious side or the â€Å"beast† as a part of his character more so than different characters. When Jack has deteriorated to this level, it empowers others to do as such, as it exculpates them from the obligation and results of their activities, being a piece of on mass instead of being a person. Right off the bat, Jack is appeared to loathe vote based system, when he â€Å"started to protest† at the possibility of a decision in favor of the Chief. He is more for a fascism than a popular government, and with the arrangement of his own clan, he turns out to be in excess of a pioneer, â€Å"†¦ painted and garlanded, stayed there like an idol.† He doesn’t truly care what others need, insofar as he is glad. Jack is bound to overlook the guidelines and guidelines of society if he somehow happened to profit by doing as such. In spite of missing out in the vote, Jack Ralph still wish to cooperate, â€Å"Jack and Ralph grinned at one another with timid liking† representing the requirement for collaboration in the public eye, a picture that is still solidly engraved on the brain of each kid on the island. We become mindful of the pulverization on the island brought about by the young men, at an early stage. The principal example of this is the imprint made

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Management Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 6

The executives Accounting - Essay Example This stage encourages the associations to take their drawn out business choices. It has been seen that there is a drawn out discussion between the worldwide clubs related with the usefulness of bookkeeping. Numerous specialists have portrayed bookkeeping as the conveying instrument for the associations to feature their business reality. Then again numerous individuals have expressed that bookkeeping itself develops reality. This discussion is a copying issue for the associations over the world. Bookkeeping is only a data science utilized to order money related information. Here in this article the title proclamation will be fundamentally broke down based on different positive and negative contentions. The exposition will likewise incorporate the system of Burchell et al into this article. The exposition will follow a bit by bit approach which will break down the point in nitty gritty style. The article will follow an appropriate structure. With the assistance of this paper an endeavo r will be made to end the discussion related with the title theme. Bookkeeping is a procedure through which hierarchical reality can be conveyed. Association does representing the reason for imparting real factors towards the all partners related with the associations. Each association has interior and outside partners. It is significant for inner and outside partners to know the association reality in point by point style. To get the itemized data there is no substitute of bookkeeping. It demonstrates that bookkeeping communicates reality to the partners. Monetary correspondence is the most significant factor based on which venture related choices are being made. Financial specialists contribute their funds based on appropriate data. That data is being spoken with the assistance of bookkeeping. As per the structure of Burchell, if vulnerabilities of

Friday, August 7, 2020

Graduation 2009 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Graduation 2009 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog Two times of year always get me really pumped up: orientation and graduation.   For all but a few months of my entire life I have either been in school or worked for a school.   Orientation is particularly great for me because I get the rush of starting school, but I do not actually have to go to class and do the work.   Graduation is a rush for obvious reasons. SIPA students participate in two ceremonies.   The first is a school specific ceremony and the second is a combined graduation ceremony for all of the schools at the university.   At the SIPA graduation on Monday I was reminded of how close SIPA students become.   Recently I was contacted by an applicant who had a question about the atmosphere at SIPA.   The question was something along the lines of, Is SIPA more competitive or more community oriented. I posed this question to a graduating student and she said, I think SIPA can best be described as collaborative.   As she elaborated she talked about the fact that students at SIPA typically represent close to 100 different countries, do a great deal of group work, and share many common goals.   She talked about the fact that since so many students are from so many different places, it is likely you will find someone who has lived or done something very similar to what you wish to do.   Through group work, student groups, and workshops, friendships are formed that will last for a lifetime.   The opportunity to study in one of the most diverse cities in the world with a community of diverse students is a unique attribute that is hard to duplicate. I am still in close touch with several of the people I went to graduate school with and I witnessed the same type of bond at graduation this week.   Yes, a strong sense of community does exist at SIPA and it is clear to see it.   It binds people through subject matter, career goals, sense of purpose, and genuine friendship. The main Columbia graduation takes place in the campus quad and from the top of the SIPA building there is a great view.   The picture I took with my Blackberry is not the best, but it gives you an idea of what a unique ceremony it is.   And the weather was fabulous!

Saturday, May 23, 2020

My Philosophy of Education Essay - 720 Words

My Philosophy of Education Out of the four primary philosophical outlooks, I identify best with the existentialism philosophy; because this philosophy best fits my teaching style. I want my classroom to be a place where students discover their abilities, self-worth, and uniqueness as an individual by experiences within the classroom. This is my goal as an educator. Creativity and variety will be the two components I rely on to create my classroom. I intend to use lots of color and light in the classroom to create a comfortable atmosphere where students feel relaxed and are able to focus on learning. In my classroom, I will have plants, photos of me and my students and classical or instrumental music playing softly in the†¦show more content†¦I plan to make these activities daily routines in my classroom. I defiantly will establish a daily routine of activities will go on in my classroom. I believe that routines lead to a structured classroom. Furthermore, I believe structure is a necessity in the classroom. However, I believe it has to be used in moderation like everything else. I also want my children and parents to have a say in classroom rules and for my students to understand why it is important to obey rules. I will have rules posted in a highly visible spot on the wall in the classroom and from time to time remind my students of them. I believe in positive – reinforcement so therefore I will offer a reward for well-behaved students. I believe when you reward good behavior and address misbehavior that your students begin to see the importance of their actions. I will deal with as many problems in the room as I can and will not use the office unless I feel it necessary. I will welcome parent involvement in the classroom. I believe when students see parents volunteering that it sends them of message that they are loved and cared for. I would love to have parents come eat with their child, bring snacks, read stories and so forth; it would excite me. Also, I plan to communicate with parents through weekly newsletters that let them know what is going on in the classroom because I think it is vital for parents to be in tune with what is going on in their child’s classroom. I willShow MoreRelatedMy Philosophy On The Philosophy Of Education844 Words   |  4 PagesIn mathematics, as in life, everything must be brought to the simplest of terms. I base my teaching philosophy on the foundation that every student is capable of learning mathematics. I will strive, as a teacher, to ensure that my students are able to have a strong foundation of mathematical skills when they leave my classroom. Some students believe that they are not mathematically gifted; therefore, incapable of learning mathematics. I believe to the contrary, all students with motivation, sustainedRead MoreMy Philosophy On Philosophy Of Education852 Words   |  4 PagesMy Philosophy of Education My philosophy of education is founded on a belief that all students have a desire to learn and to feel accepted. Learning takes place when students are able to have their specific needs meet inside the classroom, to feel accepted in the environment, and find the learning to be meaningful. I believe that before learning can take place a proper educational environment must be present inside the classroom. In order to make any classroom work I believe you need meet three criteriaRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education As A Education864 Words   |  4 Pagesdifferent philosophy of education, and what purpose education serves in a child’s life. The five philosophies of education that we recognize are: Essentialism, Perennialism, Progressivism, Social Reconstructionism, and Existentialism. I would most recognize my philosophy of education as Essentialism. Essentialism has been a dominant influence in American education since World War II. It focuses on core curriculum of traditional academic topics. I believe that the purpose of education is teachingRead MoreMy Philosophy of Education824 Words   |  4 Pages13 February 2011 My Philosophy of Education I believe that progressivism educational philosophy most closely matches my educational ideals. In my opinion based on the progressivism educational philosophy, the purpose of education is to enable students to learn useful knowledge that has meaning to them in the future. Thus, the most useful education for students is the skill of â€Å"learning how to learn†. When students understand the methodsRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education And Education1038 Words   |  5 PagesMy Philosophy of Education When trying coming up with a personal philosophy of education, I had to ask myself what the purpose of education is. To me, the purpose of education is to teach students knowledge that is needed to make it through school and to succeed in the world after graduation. Anyone can go into teaching, but not every teacher can teach. Teachers go above and beyond to introduce methods, philosophies, and strategies to help their students learn, as well as, retain the informationRead MoreMy Education Philosophy 1511 Words   |  6 PagesPersonal Mission Statement Education is the imparting and acquiring of knowledge and skills through teaching and learning. As an educator, my personal mission statement is to master my subject area in order to serve as a role model for my students thereby producing students who thoroughly understand the subject matter, and who develop holistically. In order to achieve this goal I must have a set education philosophy with a strong Christian worldview. I must also have a general understanding of theRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education1056 Words   |  5 PagesPhilosophy of Student Engagement My philosophy of education is that every child should receive high quality education that is inclusive, relevant and meaningful to their life. I am a firm believer of making pedagogy relatable to my students. My vision is driven by my personal experiences with the American school system. I was what is thought of as â€Å"A child at risk†. I am an immigrant, black, Muslim student. My life is transactional as I am a part of multiple marginalized groups. Most of my teachersRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education And Education864 Words   |  4 PagesPhilosophy of Education Children are the future and their education is the key to our society’s success. When considering this, I realize I have an immense responsibility as an educator. The main focuses of my teaching are active learning, building character within students, and providing meaningful curriculum. I want to create a comfortable setting where every student feels safe to learn. In many ways, my philosophy agrees with the holistic approach to education. I feel this challenges the studentRead MoreMy Philosophy on Education814 Words   |  3 PagesMy Philosophy of Education I think when I made the decision to become a teacher I was not thinking the seriousness of this decision. When we become teachers we also become the molder that will shape our student to be successful in life. But when you decide to become a teacher in a Christian school you are not only shaping this student to be successful in life but we are also shaping their Christian mind to do things with a feeling knowing that they are shape and where made by the image of GodRead MoreMy Philosophy Of Education1015 Words   |  5 Pagesimmediately sparked my interest in becoming an educator and share my personal beliefs on the important aspects of education. In addition to this, I will present various traits I believe are essential and critical for teachers to successfully fulfill their role as an educator. During my elementary years, I developed an urge to frequently ask many questions during the school day. Being able to question anything was astonishing to me. This was because my parents were unable to answer my questions and help

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Neo Patrimonial State And The Capitalist Class Essay

Koral Zazueta PSCI 241 – Essay #1 Kohli identified Cohesive-Capitalist state in South Korea as being the most effective in fostering industrialization because of its centralized cohesive state authority and close relationship between the state and the capitalist class. The Neo-patrimonial state in Nigeria is characterized by a weak decentralized authority and consists of a corrupt relationship between the state and the private sector, which makes it least effective. The Fragmented-Multiclass state in India consists of a fragmented state authority and a broader class alliance which falls in between the two other states (Kohli, 2004). Successful state intervention can be identified by different methods of state intervention aimed at promoting industrialization. Ultimately, the role of different types of colonialism, state intervention, nationalist movements, and state commitments, effect state development in the developing world. Kohli argues that the state capacity of India, Nigeria, and South Korea have been molded by their different colonial experiences and that forceful state intervention enhances rapid economic growth. To have successful state intervention, a state needs to agree on market reinforcement policies and profit for private investors, as well as maintain cooperation between the private sector and the state (Kohli, 2004). While this method did exist and work for South Korea, Botswana experienced a different type of state intervention with minimal colonialShow MoreRelatedThe Successful State Intervention For South Korea Essay1262 Words   |  6 Pagessuccessful state intervention can be identified by different methods of state intervention aimed at promoting industrialization. Kohli claims that cohesive-capitalist states have been the most effective in fostering industrialization, specifically in South Korea, neo-patrimonial states being least effective, which existed in Nigeria. The fragmented -multiclass states India, is in between (Kohli, Atul. 2004). Ultimately, the role of different types of colonialism and state intervention effects state developmentRead MoreSocio-Economic Inequality in South Africa is Due to the Institutionalised Ideological Mismatch Regarding Labour and Economic Policy1665 Words   |  7 Pagesadoption of macro-economic neo-liberal policies. Organised labour protected labour market policies which lead to policy inconsistencies with regard to trade liberalisation. Trade liberalisation combined with labour market protection leads to unemployment. (Nattrass 2013, 56) Insert some definitions VoC approach highlights policy inconsistencies There did exist the possibility of a post-apartheid political economy shaped by social accords/ tripartite negotiations, but the State preferred to act unilaterallyRead MoreComparative Public Administration11510 Words   |  47 Pages A cross-national analysis of administrative system involves countries forming part or different cultures, this would be called a cross-cultural analysis. For instancf, comparing the admisiistrativesystem of the USSR (a socialist state) with the U.S.(a capitalist system) could be termed a cross-cultural analysis. Even a comparison between a developed country (e.g. France) with a developing country (e.g. Algeria) or between a developing democratic country (e.4. Philippines) and a developing CommunistRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesunrest in Jamaica was going to lead to a movement away from colonial rule and, having heard Marcus Garvey speak of the importance of Africa to black people in the New World, found in his remarkable success as a leader of thousands in the United States quite an amazing thing. Those who would presage the arrival of Rastafarianism also witnessed and read about the dramatic struggle of Emperor Haile Selassie to remove the Italians from his homeland of Ethiopia, which became the ï ¬ rst African nation

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Assignment Communication Profile Free Essays

During the course of the day, I spent just as much time listening as I did talking so I guess it is 50/50. I thought before doing this chart that I did not talk much but after I look at it I spend just as much time listing as I do talking. After noticing that most of my day is silent because no one is at home I think I need to find something to do during the day. We will write a custom essay sample on Assignment Communication Profile or any similar topic only for you Order Now When it comes to the different types of listing such as comprehensive listening, empathetic listening, critical listening and appreciative listening I noticed I use mostly appreciative listening and empathetic listening. Because I am A stay at home mom about the only conversations I have are with my daughter and her daddy so I spend most of my time soothing them and helping them with there problems and just being there to listen to them. I think I need the most improvement in critical listening because some times I tend to loose the whole idea of the conversations I am in and find my self daydreaming and blocking people out. I think improving on critical listing will help me a lot because not only will I be listing to what people have to say I would actually be paying attrition and understand what they are talking about.I think to improve on this listing skill I will need to get out of the house more often and communicate with different types of people. Over all I think my listing and communications skills could use some work. I think most of my problem is being stuck inside the house except for one day a month when I do errands and shop for food. I think getting out and meeting new people and commun icating with friend would help me out a great deal. I think with a few minor adjustment to my normal day to day life will help me in a big way.Now when I go out I will pay more attrition to my communication skills. Because who knows what people think of me when I go out and they try to speak to me and I just smile and shake my head and they can tell I am not listing to what they are saying. Now since I am paying more attention to the way I communicate I have practiced it with my family and they told me I was acting different because now I actually take in everything that have to say.I also communicate more with them than I use to and they say I seem like a different person. I enjoy the time I have with my family now and pay more attention to my communication skills. They said before I was like a knot on a log I was always in a daze and never really said anything back to them when they were talking. Now I am on my way to better communication skills not just in my personal life but my social life as well. How to cite Assignment Communication Profile, Papers

Friday, May 1, 2020

Music industry report Essay Example For Students

Music industry report Essay These institutions were mostly small, independently created babbling companies run by entrepreneurs who would discover talent, create records and promote the performers live shows. Since these proprietorships were small in size, if an artist or group produced an album that did not sell well, the labeling companies would be forced to keep promoting their artist because other clients were harder to find due to competition among labels. Steve Chapel and Rebel Grafton, Rock n Roll Is Here to Pay: The History and Politics of the Music Industry (Chicago: Nelson-Hall, 1978), 46. Over the past half-century, some of these labels were either combined or purchased by other corporations, in turn putting only a few major corporate giants in control of music promotion. The corporations would loan money in order to pay for these entrepreneurial institutions, but they later found themselves in debt from all of the labels they had purchased. This then caused the corporations to fire the talent agents and entrepreneurs that brought these companies to tuition to begin with. Eventually the only people controlling, discovering and promoting talent were the large incorporated record labels. These record corporations nominated almost every aspect of music production. In order for an artist to become successful, they would need to sign a contract with one of these companies. These are commonly known as record deals, and without the promotion value of one of these corporations a group would have very little chance of achieving widespread popularity for themselves. Thus, the record corporations became the arbiters of taste for the music scene. In fact, they even had direct control over what songs are played on public radio stations, so the only music that was being exposed to the masses was from signed artists. Mark J. Percival, Music Radio and the Record Industry: Songs, Sounds, and Power. Popular Music and Society 34. 4 (201 1): 460. If a company did not like the way an artist sounded, they were not re-signed. If they did like their sound, a record contract would be negotiated. A new performer has relatively little bargaining leverage over the companies; hence the first contract that is signed is monetarily unfavorable for the performer. The most common form of contract would include an music industry report By Jar Simms capital or risk capital. Sums of money as large as $100 million have been given to ammos artists to write and sell a set number of albums, These albums are then produced, promoted, and sold to the public. The danger for the artist lies in how many albums they sell. The investment capital given to them by the company is based off of a projected number of sales. If the actual amount of sales is lower than this amount, then the artists owe the record company a portion of the investment capital. This puts the artist in debt, and in order to pay it off, the artist will be forced to sign yet another record contract and try to sell even more albums the second time around. After Maria Careers album Glitter failed to meet its enormous projected sales amount, MI Music canceled her contract and she found herself owing close to $72 million to the record company. MI Drops Maria Carrey, BBC News, wry. BBC. Com, 23 Jan. 2002 (accessed 25 Par. 2012). Thanks to her previous success she was able to overcome the loss and continue her singing career, but should something like this happen to a newly signed artist, their music career could effectively be over. Oftentimes the company drops an artist, and because of the contract agreements the artist cannot make music for anyone else. The entire system is therefore based off of the revenue earned by the record companies. .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 , .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .postImageUrl , .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 , .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69:hover , .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69:visited , .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69:active { border:0!important; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69:active , .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69 .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8885ad61f8a9d1a87a0da8bb8d023b69:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: On Being a Musician EssayThe performers main goal becomes keeping the record companies happy because they will only make money once they pass the projected album sales figure. This is a fundamentally flawed system because the artist represents an equal if not more important aspect of the music industry, and the traditional system exploits them. In order for this system to change in the musicians favor, a drastic reconstruction of the industry must take place. Theirs is still a deeply troubled business. Since 2000, when online file-sharing took off, global recorded-music sales have fallen from $26. Billion a year to $15. 9 billion, according to the IF, a trade group. Apple has helped to smash profitable albums into less profitable singles. High-street music shops are closing. Digital outlets such as tunes are not growing nearly fast enough to offset the decline in CD sales. Indeed, in many countries they are stuck in a niche. In Japan, 73% of spending on recorded music in 2010 was on CDC, DVDs and vinyl. Fewer than one- fifth of Britons bought digital music last year. Streaming services such as Spottily, which make money from advertising and subscriptions, are not yet helping much. They brought in Just 3% of total recorded-music revenues last year, according to the BPI, which represents British record labels. The new products unveiled by the Great Turtleneck One this week should push the digital market out of its niche. Apples cloud is not Just a storage locker for music. It will search devices for tracks purchased from the tunes store, and automatically give customers the rights to download the music to any Apple device. That puts Apples service ahead of recent offerings by Amazon and Google, which require users to upload music to the cloud. By making digital music purchases more accessible, it should raise their perceived value, leading to more sales. Which will scan computers for all music tracks and offer cloud-based access to them for $24. 99 a year. Apple will take a cut of sales and give the rest to the record companies. Whereas the cloud is simply better than the competition, this is a breakthrough. In effect, it will allow music companies to levy an annual fee for the use of their music, whether ripped from CDC or downloaded illegally. -http:// www. Economist. Com/node/18805473

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Vietnam Essays (1867 words) - Vietnam War, Ho Chi Minh,

Vietnam Believing that communist aggression in South Vietnam could lead to takeover of South East Asia, the United States slowly became more involved in the conflict there during the years of 1954 through 1975. Prior to the War Following World War II, there was a bloody 7 ? year struggle between Communist Vietnamese and the French for control of the land. A peace conference was finally held in Geneva, Switzerland on July 1954 which determined that French rule would be ended in Vietnam and that the country would be split at the 17th parallel of latitude into North Vietnam, with a Communist government, and South Vietnam, with a republican government. Not long after, the United States military advisers took the job of training the South Vietnamese army. At the same time, Ho Chi Minh, president of North Vietnam, pledged to "liberate" South Vietnam. Elections were planned to be held during 1956 to resolve the division of Vietnam, but the U.S. supported Ngo Dihn Diem's refusal to hold the elections, believing that Ho Chi Minh would win. South Vietnam South Vietnamese Government Loses Support Ngo Dinh Dem was elected in 1955, and was very popular at first, but public support, as well as that of military officers and cabinet ministers, gradually disappeared. This was mainly because Diem's brother and adviser, Ngo Dinh Nhu, was able to give orders to officers and military units. Madame Ngo Dinh Nhu, Diem's sister-in-law, also promoted a lot of dislike from Vietnamese. South Vietnamese Rebellion On May 1963, President Diem, a Roman Catholic, prohibited the flying of the Buddhist flag. Thousands of Buddhists were arrested, and some were tortured or killed. Some Buddhists publicly burned themselves to death in protest. On November 1, three weeks before President Kennedy was killed in Dallas (on November 22), Diem and Nhu were assassinated. A government was hastily put together, and remained unstable. Vietcong Communist guerrillas, known as the Vietcong, came across the border through Laos in large numbers, helping native Communist terrorists in the south. One main objective of these rebels who were directly controlled by the Vietminh, North Vietnam's government, was to disrupt all types of South Vietnamese order. Many local administrators were also assassinated accomplishing this goal. Guerrilla bands also raided industries, farms, military installations, and villages. Frequently they attacked at night, withdrawing afterward in the thick forest. Seldom were the South Vietnamese forces able to fight them in the open. Because of this battles were rarely fought along a single front.. U.S. Involvement Beginning U.S. Involvement and Escalation In October 1961, President John F. Kennedy sent Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor to South Vietnam, to evaluate the country's economic and military condition. General Taylor said that "infiltration of the Vietcong from the north was increasing," that "South Vietnam's economy had suffered drastically," and that "better and more equipment was needed." Believing that there would be a domino effect President Kennedy expanded economic and military aid. American aid increased from 1961 to 1963, and over 16,000 military advisers were sent to South Vietnam, and 400 million dollars provided for military purposes. The Vietcong was temporary halted. About this time Robert Macnamarah was escalating the involvement of the U.S. in Vietnam and later the war will begin to be called Macnamarah's War. William Wessmoreland a commander of MAC V (Military Assistance Command Vietnam) was assuring political figures that in order to win he needed more troops. United States Warships Attacked On Aug. 2, 1964, North Vietnamese patrol boats off the coast of North Vietnam attacked the USS Maddox, a destroyer cruising in the Gulf of Tonkin. Two days later the Maddox and another destroyer were attacked. The United States was drawn further into the conflict when President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered retaliatory air attacks and the congress authorized U.S. military operations with the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. Reaction to Terrorist Activities Terrorist attacks upon American bases in South Vietnam became frequent. These were made to discourage the United States into complete withdrawal from Vietnam. However, the number of air raids by American aircraft against North Vietnam increased. The attacks on Pleiku triggered the massive bombing campaign on North Vietnam called "Operation Rolling Thunder". Bombings were aimed mainly at highways and bridges. In Laos, bombers also struck the Ho Chi Minh Trail, an important Vietcong supply line.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Festivals in Barbados essays

Festivals in Barbados essays The Caribbean Island of Barbados is quickly becoming a hub for many tourists. In previous years sugar cane was our main source of income; however, it has been quickly overtaken by Tourism. Due to this rise in Tourism, the government had to put several activities in place to attract and keep their most welcomed guests well entertained also with the view of ensuring their return to our shore. Hence, the annual tourism calendar for the island, the government has made provision for seven major festivals billed by many persons as, The Magnificent Seven. These festivals are rich in history and they provide lots of entertainment for our numerous visitors and natives alike. The festivals are namely, the Crop Over festival, Holetown festival, Oistins fish festival, Gospelfest, National Independence festival of Creative Arts, the Congaline Carnival and the Barbados Jazz Festival. The Crop Over festival, the oldest of the festivals is the highlight of the summer. It is an all-island jubilation running from mid-July to early August (Pariser 77) Crop Over originated in the days of the plantation society. During this festival, there is the collision of British and African cultures. The Original event was know as the English Harvest Home Festivities or Harvest Time, signaling the end of the sugar cane harvest. The festival was a combination of a traditional harvest festival and West-African style yam celebrations (78). During this time, the slaves and their masters both had reasons to celebrate the end of the crop. For the planter, this signaled that the last of the crop for the year was ready for shipping to the merchant in England, who in return rewarded the planter with the luxuries of life. For the slave it was the end of the longest and most exhausting part of the year. Thus, the completion of the harvest season brought singing, dancing and general merriment. After the emancipation of the slaves, the fes...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Design of a Production System Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Design of a Production System - Case Study Example Mexico has become the most favorable relocation site as it not only offers incentives of cheap labor but the low import duties to materials shipped into Mexico would help the firm to gain cost leverage in the manufacturing and production of subpacks. The proximity to US considerably reduces the transportation cost and time, while at the same time, the fluctuating rate of currency has also less impact on the production process as against Taiwan sourcing site In the rapidly changing environment of globalization, change is essential for development and organizations tend to adapt to the constantly evolving business environment. To exploit the emerging business opportunities, the organization needs to look forward to improve it performance outcome through diversification of its products and services using optimization of operational functions and effective supply chain management. Since supply chain helps coordinate the organization’s various linkages with the external agencies and promotes efficient receipt and delivery of goods and services, it has great potential to give Emerson Electric a competitive edge in the global and domestic arena. Indeed, the evaluation of operational logistics of relocation of company’s subpack production facility from China would greatly facilitate competitive advantage. The business relationship thrives on the modules of exploitation of knowledge gained through the strategic alliances. Hence, it is extremely important that the partners identify their core competencies and forge alliances on areas that either complements or supplements their competencies and market efficiency. Elements of product differentiation become the vital aspects for exploiting business relationships. In the tough economic scenario, the management would like to relocate the sourcing so as to cut cost and increase profit. ACP product line comprises of ceiling fans that are marketed under Northwind and 1895 brand names. Many components of the fans are

Monday, February 3, 2020

Colours R Us' Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Colours R Us' Case Study - Essay Example Programming, on the other hand, is the actual implementation of the HR plan. Programming involves â€Å"recruitment, training, and lay-offs† (Bateman and Snell, 2007, p.332). The third stage, which is the evaluating stage, measures the effectiveness of HR plans in â€Å"producing the results needed to contribute to the organization’s business plan†. It measures such indicators as â€Å"productivity, quality, innovation, satisfaction, turn-over, absenteeism, health† (Bateman and Snell, 2007, p.322). It is assumed that the company â€Å"Colours R Us† has already undergone planning as the first stage of its HR planning process for its Magnificent Miniature lines. It has determined that it will need 30 persons for its latest product ordered by its main client, the Home Style Innovations. Probably, the company has already conducted a demand forecast, where it determined â€Å"how many and what type of people are needed† for this new product line. Before the company starts its recruitment and selection process, it must have a thorough job analysis for the positions being opened. Job analysis, as defined, is where HR managers determine what the job is all about – including the tasks involved, the duties it entailed, and the accompanying responsibility (Bateman and Snell, 2007, p. 324). This is what is usually referred to as job description. Job analysis also determines the corresponding human requirements to match the specifications in the job description, such as â€Å"skills, knowledge, abilities, and other characteristics needed to perform the job† (Bateman and Snell, 2007, p. 32). This set of characteristics which is required from a prospective applicant is referred to as job specifications. Recruitment is described by Bateman and Snell as the â€Å"development of a pool of applicants for jobs in an organization† (2007, p. 324). Accordingly, recruitment can be done either through internal or external

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Islamic Bank of Britain vs. Dubai Islamic Bank Comparison

Islamic Bank of Britain vs. Dubai Islamic Bank Comparison Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1- Introduction This chapter discusses the aims and objectives of the project. A detailed background of the study, research rationale and theoretical framework has also been discussed in this chapter. At the end of this chapter, the report structure of this thesis is mentioned. Research Title Islamic Bank of Britain vs. Dubai Islamic Bank (A Comparative Study) 1.2- Background of Study Islamic banking is very different as opposed to conventional banking, as it works on the principles of Islam and Sharia which entails avoiding interest and gives more preference to invest in a business and in sharing of profit and loss. There are several Islamic banks all over the world and all of them operate on the Sharia principles, however some progress to profit and some decline to loss and a prime example of this is the Islamic Bank of Britain. The Islamic bank of Britain was founded in 2004 by a group of Middle East investors. This was the first Islamic Bank in the United Kingdom. The formation of this bank was based on the simple foundation of Sharia conduct with typical products and services, however the bank underperformed, more so than anticipated. Losses were evident from the initiation of its business in the United Kingdom. Moreover, according to Financial times and its 2008 income statement, a loss of was highlighting, displaying major cause for concern. On the other hand, the Dubai Islamic Bank which was founded in UAE by Arabic investors and also adheres to Sharia principles has reported quarterly profit of US$ 122.5 million. This then raises the questions as to why Islamic Bank of Britain has been unable to attract the customers and what are the main factors causing losses for the bank every year. 1.3- Research Aim The aim of conducting this research is to discover the factors and causes troubling Islamic banking in United Kingdom as one of the major Islamic bank has accumulated losses for a considerable period of time, although its entrepreneurs are from the Gulf where Islamic banking has been growing and prospering. Moreover the rules of Sharia apply whether the Islamic Bank is in the UK or in UAE. After uncovering the underlying causes of the Islamic bankings plight in the United Kingdom recommendations will be drawn up to rectify the situation and highlight how improvements can be made. Circumstances will further be examined in form of comparisons between the United Kingdom and the UAE Islamic banks. 1.4- Research Objectives The objectives of this research are as follows: To investigate the performance of Islamic banks in UK and UAE To explore the reasons that affect the performance of Islamic Banks To study the investment portfolio of Islamic Banks in UK and UAE To analyse the impact of risks on the performance of Islamic Banks in UK and UAE 1.5- Research Rationale Islamic banking is a relatively new topic in the financial sector and especially in UK where the first Islamic bank started its business only in 2004. Though Islamic banks are quite successful across the globe, the first Islamic bank established in UK has not been able to gain significant success in the past 5 years. There is currently insufficient research conducted in regards to the performance of Islamic banks in the UK. This fact compels one to investigate this issue in order to gain some strong knowledge about the topic. 1.6- Theoretical Framework This research was designed in a structured format. Initially, a detailed study of literature was conducted. The purpose of this literature review was to gain an insight in regards to Islamic banking functioning across the globe. After reviewing the relevant literature, assessments were made as to how different Islamic banks improve their performance by designing their investment policies and how different type of risks can affect the performance of Islamic banks. This assisted in the analysis of both Dubai Islamic Bank and Islamic Bank of Britain, which further assisted in arriving at a conclusion to determine the reasons of poor performance of Islamic Bank of Britain. 1.7- Structure of Thesis Chapter 2 provides a review from literature which has been distributed into three sections. The first section describes the origin of banking and the main purpose of starting the banking. Second section explains about Islamic banking and its main functions. Chapter 3 discusses the current business operations of both the banks. I have given a detailed description of where both the banks invest their assets and how do they manage the risks. The purpose of this chapter is to find out how different investment and risk management techniques help the Islamic banks to give better performance. Chapter 4 highlights the methodology used in this thesis. A detailed description of the research methods used in thesis has been given in this chapter. All the sources of data used in this thesis have been explained in details and at the end of this chapter; I have given a detailed description of different accounting ratios used in this thesis. In this chapter, I have given a detailed description about the research methods used in this thesis. Chapter 5 comprises of different financial calculations. I have calculated various financial ratios for both the banks in order to do a side by side comparison to find out the reasons of poor performance of Islamic Bank of Britain. Chapter 6 includes a side by side comparison of the financial ratios of both the banks calculated in chapter 5. In addition to this, regression analysis has been given between certain risk ratios and profitability ratios to find out the impact of risk levels on returns. The possible reasons of poor performance of Islamic Bank of Britain in line with literature review and results in chapter 3 have also been discussed in this chapter. Chapter 7 discusses the conclusion of this thesis. All the research questions have been answered in an appropriate manner in line with the literature review and the results discussed in chapter 3, 5 6. At the end of this chapter, I have discussed any limitations of this research work. Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1- Introduction This chapter provides a review from literature. It has been distributed into three sections. The first section describes about origin of banking and the main purpose of starting the banking. The second section explains Islamic banking and its main functions. Lastly the third section explains the origin of Islamic banking in Dubai and United Kingdom. 2.2- History of Banking The origins of banking are believed to have started after coinage, in the area between river Tigris and river Euphrates. People could keep their belongings safely in royal palaces and holy places. Within same period, some laws were developed and these laws are considered to be one of the earliest forms of laws (Glyn, 2002). 2.3- Banking Business A business that provides financial services to different customers and businesses is called as banking. A detailed definition of banking business can be a financial institution that accepts, collects, transfers, pays, safeguards or lends money for its customers (Sobczak, 1997, pp 6). 2.4- Islamic Banking A financial institution that operates under the principles of Islamic Shariah and it does not accept or pay out any interest (riba) is called an Islamic bank (Sadeque, 1980). Islamic banking is based on the idea of sharing profit and losses. Both the investor and the bank share any profits and losses as agreed at the time of opening the account (Venardos, 2006, pp 1). 2.5- History of Islamic Banking A few decades ago, conventional banks and other financial organisations were not providing the customers with any Shariah compliant services. This led to the necessity of starting such a financial institution that could provide the Muslim clients with the Shariah compliant services. The original Islamic bank initiated business in 1963. During the later years of 1970s, the Association of Islamic banks was established. Initially, Islamic banks were only operating in Islamic countries. In 1980, the first Islamic bank was open in a non-Islamic country and it further expanded into additional European and American countries. Within this short span of time, Islamic banks have progressed very well all over the world (Venardos, 2005, pp 65). 2.6- Services offered by Islamic Banks Islamic banks offer a range of services to their customers. A detailed description of these services is explained below. 2.5.1- Deposit Accounts Islamic banks offer three types of deposit accounts: current, savings and investment accounts. The customers are assured that they can withdraw their money on demand if agreed by both parties at the time of opening the account. In Islamic banking, demand deposits are places in a contract called Wadiah (trust). Islamic banks guarantee their customers to return their principal sum on demand. The banks cannot use this principal sum unless authorised by the customers. As the banks do not use this amount for their investments they do not pay back any profits on such accounts. Some banks offer some returns in the form of Hibah (gift). Islamic banks are using some innovative techniques for offering different products and most of the demand deposit accounts are structured within the contract of Mudharabah (Saeed, 1996, pp 101). 2.5.2- Current Accounts Current or demand deposit accounts are the same as those of conventional banks. Islamic banks guarantee the principal amount on demand (Hassan and Lewis, 2007, pp 131). 2.5.3- Saving Accounts Saving accounts are different from conventional banks in Islamic banking. In some Islamic banks, the depositors authorise the banks to use their deposited money, however they are guaranteed that they will be returned the full amount back from the bank. No profit is guaranteed in this sort of accounts. The banks usually use these deposits for short term projects (Al-Omar and Abdel-Haq, 1996, pp 51). 2.5.4- Investment Accounts Islamic banks accept the investment deposits for a fixed or unlimited time period. The investors agree at the time of opening the account to share any profit and loss at an agreed proportion. The banks do not guarantee to return the principal amount. Usually, the investment deposits have an expected maturity and expected rate of returns. Such investments are places under Mudharabah contract in which both the depositor and the bank agree at a ratio to share any profits or losses. This type of investment is totally different from conventional banks as there is no risk of losing any thing in those investments (Iqbal and Llewellyn, 2002, pp 198). 2.7- Financing modes in Islamic Banking Different banks use different modes to acquire assets and finance different projects. These modes can be distributed into three different areas namely investment, trade and lending services. 2.6.1- Investment Finance Khan (2009) says that Islamic banks can do investment financing in three different ways. First type of investment financing is called as Musharaka. In this type of investment financing, the bank can join another organisation or entity to open a joint venture. Both the parties participate in this venture in different roles. Both the parties agree on a set ratio of sharing any loss or profit before making such a venture. This type of venture is an independent entity and the bank can withdraw from this venture after an initial period. Second type of investment financing is called as Mudarabha in which the bank finances the projects and the clients provide with their expertise, labour and management. Both the parties i.e. bank and the clients share the profit but in case of any losses, its only the bank that will bear the losses. In third type of investment financing, the banks finance on the basis of an expected rate of return. If the profits are more than the expected rate of return, t he bank shares it with the clients but if the returns are lower than the expected rate, the bank will accept the lower rates. In case of any losses, the bank will share it (Khan, 2009). 2.6.2- Trade Finance Khan (2009) says that Islamic banks can do trade financing in different ways. The most common type of trade financing is called as Mark-up in which the bank buys an item for its client and the client agrees to pay back the bank the price and the agreed profit at later stage. In second type of trade financing, the bank buys an item for the client and then leases it to client for an agreed time period. At the end of the lease, the client pays the balance amount to the bank and becomes the owner of the item. Another type of trade financing is called as hire-purchase in which, the bank buys an item for its client and then hires it to the client for an agreed time period. At the end of this time period, the client becomes the owner automatically. Another type of trade finance in Islamic banking is called as sell-and-buy-back in which a client sells his property to the bank for an agreed time period at a condition that the client will buy back the property at an agreed rate. 2.6.3- Trade Finance Khan (2009) says that Islamic banks have different types of lending services including loans, no-cost-loans and overdrafts. Islamic banks offer the loans by charging the service charge. The bank does not charge any interest but they apply service charges to cover their expenses. Some Islamic banks offer the loans to needy people at no costs. Some Islamic banks also offer the overdraft services to the customers subject to some limits. The banks charge a certain amount if the customers request higher overdraft limits. 2.6.4- Miscellaneous Services Islamic banks offer additional services such as collecting the bills on behalf of different organisations, money transfers, trading foreign currency etc. Some banks charge a commission amount if their own money is not involved in such transactions. 2.8- Risks in Islamic Banking Khan (2003, pp 130-131) says that Islamic banking faces certain risks like conventional banking. The nature of these risks varies with the structure of the bank. As discussed earlier, Islamic banks usually operate under two different kinds of models. First type of model is known as the two tier Mudarabah model. This type of model operates under the principle of sharing both the profits and losses. The latter model is known as the single tier Mudarabah model. In this type of model, both the parties share the profit just on the liabilities side. Lewis and Hassan (2007, pp 144) say that Islamic banks have to follow certain rules based on Islamic Shariah. Both the authors believe that in this kind of situation, the nature of risk changes for Islamic banks and only a careful management of these risks can result in the better performance of the bank. Islamic banks face following risks: Operational Risks Credit Risks Liquidity Risks Withdrawal Risks Legal Risks 2.7.1- Operational Risks El-Hawary (2005, pp 21) says that this type of risk is caused when the people working for the bank fail to perform their duties appropriately or the systems used by the bank staff fail. Most of the time, this risk is caused due to the employees of the bank or any frauds. El-Hawary (2005, pp 21,22) has quoted the example of Dubai Islamic bank when the bank suffered huge losses due to an incompetent person during the later years of 1990s. Iqbal et al (1998) considers that the Islamic banks face more operational risk than conventional banks as a minor problem in computer systems can cost them too much. 2.7.2- Credit Risk Sundrarajan and Errico (2002, pp 5) believe that Islamic banks administer the profit loss accounts differently from conventional banks. Islamic banks determine the profit and loss ratios of different projects before the start of any agreement. On the basis of this expectation, Islamic banks set a share ratio that sometimes can cause them losses. In addition to this, Islamic banks carry on auditing the financial projects. In such situations, it becomes very difficult for the banks to standardise their financial products. Cihak and Hesse (2008, pp 5) believe that in PLS (Profit and loss sharing) accounts, the banks suffer losses as well if the profits are lower or the project ends in a loss. They believe that this is due to the reduced level of assets in the balance sheet. Sundrarajan and Errico (2002, pp 5) believe that in Mudarabah accounts, the banks can only share the profits but if the business ends up in loss, it becomes very difficult for the bank to recover the loans back due t o some legal complications as the Mudarabah accounts do not allow the Islamic banks to interfere in the business. On the other hand, in the case of Musharaka account, Islamic banks can monitor the financed projects and it reduces the risk levels significantly. 2.7.3- Legal Risk Haiwad (2008) says that Islamic banks have different kind of legal documents. He considers that due to compulsion of Islamic accounts to be Shariah compliant, the banks need to prepare a complex set of legal documents. In addition to this, the banks need to consider the local laws of the country as well before making any legal documents. Sometimes, it is very complicated to develop the legal documents that comply with both the Shariah law and the local law of the country. It ultimately increases the legal risk levels in the Islamic banks. 2.7.4- Liquidity Risk Aburime (2009) says that Islamic banks face the liquidity risk when the banks fail to sell their fixed assets at the desired rates. The banks usually develop the need to sell their fixed assets to meet their liabilities. This risk is increased due to the fact that Islamic banks do not accept any loans on interest so the Islamic banks are unable to come out of this situation by taking loans from other banks. Aburime (2009) considers that this risk is dependent on the economy of the country. The destabilisation of economy increases liquidity risk. 2.7.5- Withdrawal Risk Aburime (2009) says that sometimes, Islamic banks do not provide the customers with handsome amount of profits and it can lead to the customers withdrawing their money from the bank. In such situations, withdrawal risk is increased significantly. Aburime (2009) believes that this risk is more in Islamic banks as compared to the conventional banks. 2.9- Do Risk Levels affect Performance? Mencia (2009) says that a business can produce more money if there is greater risk at the start of the business provided the risks are managed appropriately. Kunt et al. (2009) says that those banks that generate income without any interests are at greater risks and can give better returns as compared to those that generate interest money. Haque and Mirakhor (2006) say that in Islamic banks, customers are at greater risk to lose their money and the banks are at lesser risk as Islamic banks do not guarantee any return at the time of account opening and in few accounts both profit and loss are shared. This fact can deter customers, leading them to invest their money in those banks where they do not have any risk to lose their money. Shim et al. (2000, pp 176, 177) has suggested that the extent of financing the business through debts is a useful indicator of risk levels in the business. They believe that if a business is financed more through debts, it is at higher risk. Helfert (2001, pp 128) has also same beliefs as that of Shim et al. (2000, pp 176, 177). He considers that financing the business through debts increases risks but at the same time it increases the probability of better returns as well. Falkenstein (2009) conducted research to explore the effects of risk levels on the returns of different businesses. His research results showed that the businesses that used more debts to finance their assets were at higher risk as compared to those that did not finance their assets through debts. The businesses that were at higher risk and that managed their risks appropriately produced better returns than those that were at lower risks. 2.10- Effective Risk Management in Islamic Banks Management of different types of risks is very different from conventional banks and due to some restrictions of Shariah laws it is very difficult to manage these risks. Effective credit risk management is a very complex procedure in Islamic banks as there is no permission of paying or receiving any interest. In addition to this, Sharias law does not allow to penalise the clients and this facility in Islamic banks is misused by some clients. In such situations, there are long delays in paying back the principal amount and it reduces the assets of the bank. Most of the Islamic banks use collaterals and take pledges from their clients. The best way to avoid the misuse of the facilities provides by Islamic banks, the banks can take more collateral before the start of different contracts. In addition to this, if the banks take personal guarantees before sanctioning the loans, it can help in reducing credit risk as well (Hawray et al., 2004). Shariah law forbids dealing harshly with those people that are in bad financial crisis. This facility can be misused by the clients. This issue costs the Islamic banks and it should be taken seriously. A comprehensive system to credit score each client before offering them the loan can make a huge difference. Furthermore, the banks should ask the clients to sign on possible enforcement as within Islamic law a person can be enforced if he has signed before the start of the contract. In addition to this, Islamic banks working in United Kingdom can think about legal actions against those that were unable to pay back the loans (Wilson, 2007). The nature of legal risks is very different in Islamic banks as compared to conventional banks as Islamic banks have to fulfil the requirements of both Shariah laws and local laws of the country they operate in. This makes the Islamic banking operations very complicated and legal risks are increased. The best way to come out of such situations is to make sure that prior to writing the contracts, requirements of local legislations are fulfilled as well. This can aid the banks in developing good knowledge about the possible ways of enforcement if a client fails to repay his loan. In Sharia law it is allowed to enforce those clients that file false claims. Bearing this fact in mind, Islamic banks should consider including this in the contracts. This will help the Islamic banks to reduce legal, liquidity and withdrawal risk as people will not attempt to misuse the lenient system (Djojosugito, 2008). 2.11- Diversification in Islamic Banks The banks that provide diverse financial services or spreading different risks into different geographic areas are likely to achieve improved diversification. In the case of Islamic banks, geographical diversification helps in breaking the banks concentration in limited areas and the bank usually gets good borrowers. (Greuning and Iqbal, 2008, p 264). Islamic banks mostly deal in the real estate business and most of these banks start their business from their regions and carry on working in that region. The real estate business has suffered huge losses in the past few years due to the effects of recession and interest rate variations across the globe. Due to this fact the investments in real estate have not proved very fruitful for such organisations. In order to gain good profits, Islamic banks need to diversify into different sectors and geographic areas as it will diversify the investments and the risks can be spread across different areas where the banks can get good borrowers and good investment opportunities (Islamic Investment Banking, 2009). There are different sectors that can prove beneficial for Islamic banks. The most important sector for diversification in Islamic banks is Insurance (Takaful). This sector is highly under developed even in big Islamic countries such as Malaysia where this sector is not developed much. Concentrating on this sector can prove very beneficial for Islamic banks (Thomas, KPMG.COM). Expansion of Islamic banks across different countries can prove to be very beneficial for them. Currently, Islamic banks are working in a lot of countries but their business size is very small. If these banks diversify into different zones of the world, it is inevitable to attain benefits. Furthermore, Islamic banks can consider to make strategic alliances with those conventional banks that wish to start Islamic banking as it will not only increase the size of Islamic banks but will help in obtaining a diverse work force as well. Finally, Islamic banks can get diverse competent staff that can help in improving different systems and it will ultimately result in reduced operational risks (Iqbal et al., 1998). Making of strategic alliances with other banks that wish to start Islamic banking will also help in reducing the liquidity risk. Making strategic alliances will help Islamic banks to increase their assets and the current assets level of Islamic banks will increase. This will help the Islamic banks to pay current liabilities and liquidity will be improved. Furthermore, strategic alliances will increase peoples trust in Islamic banks and the level of investments will be increased that will ultimately increase current assets and better liquidity of the banks (Iqbal et al., 1998). Chapter 3: Business Cases 3.1- Introduction This chapter will provide an overview of the current business operations of both the banks. Detailed descriptions of where both the banks invest their assets and how they manage the risks will follow. The purpose of this chapter is to find out how different investment and risk management techniques help the Islamic banks to give better performance. 3.2- Islamic Bank of Britain Islamic Bank of Britain started its business in UK in September 2004. This bank is the first Islamic Bank that started its business in UK. The bank is approved by FSA (Financial Services Authority). 3.2.1- Shareholders The bank has 10 major shareholders holding different levels of share in the bank. The biggest shareholder of the bank is Al Amal Investment and Trading that holds 52% of the total shares of the bank. IIB European Investment Company is the second major shareholder of the bank and it holds 10% shares of the bank. BNP Paribas Bahrain holds 8% of the shares; Mr. Al Rajhi holds 7% of the shares. The remaining 23% shares are owned by 6 other shareholders. 3.2.2- Investments The bank comprises of a board of directors and it is their responsibility to decide upon the investments. Most of the time, the bank invests its money in buying different properties, costly metals, different currencies etc. The bank mostly concentrates in buying the properties in United Kingdom. The board of directors decides all these matters in such a way that can be beneficial for its investors. 3.2.3- Services offered by the Bank The bank offers three main types of services to its clients Personal Business Premier 3.2.3-1. Personal Services In personal services, the bank offers current accounts, saving accounts and home purchase plans to its customers. In addition to this, the bank also offers personal finance to its customers. 3.2.3-2. Business Services In business services, the bank offers its clients business current, business savings, business finance, charity accounts and commercial property finance. 3.2.3-3. Premier Services The bank offers this service to those clients that are highly paid (at least  £100,000 per annum) and to those who can deposit more than  £75,000 in their account with a view to purchasing property in the UK that is worth more than  £250,000. 3.2.4- Risk Management in the Bank Islamic Bank of Britain manages its risks in a systematic way. Board of directors has the responsibility of managing the risks with the help of some committees assisting them. They have some written policies to manage the risks that are reviewed on a regular basis by an audit committee that is responsible to measure the risk levels and start the risk management after a certain risk threshold. The bank faces credit risk, liquidity risk, market risk and operational risk. A brief description of risk management is given below. 3.2.4-1. Credit Risk Management The bank has a systematic approach to manage the credit risk. To manage this risk certain producures are put into place such as the following: The bank makes credit policies The bank sets credit limits after assessing the profile of each borrower Credit risk assessment before start of agreement Collaterals for a few loans but in most accounts the bank does not ask for any collateral 3.2.4-2. Liquidity Risk Management The treasury department of Islamic Bank of Britain is responsible to manage liquidity risk. The bank uses following steps to manage liquidity risk; The treasury department maintains a portfolio of short term assets that can be liquefied. Comparison of liquid assets with asset maturity against any customer deposits Submission of any mismatches in liquid assets and asset maturity to financial services authority on quarterly basis 3.2.4-3. Market Risk Management The bank has a systematic approach to manage the market risk. To manage risks, the following procedures are adhered to: Profit rates for few accounts are agreed at the time of agreement start. Maturity profiles are constantly reviewed. Rates are agreed on a monthly basis for consumer finance transactions. Long term home purchase plans and commercial property finance are benchmarked against market measure. Process is assessed every six months. Profit rates on Mudaraba account are reviewed every month. 3.2.4-4. Operational Risk Management The bank has a systematic approach to manage the market risk. The board of directors of the bank is responsible to manage the operational risks. There are some risk committees that manage this risk under the guideline of the board of directors. The purpose of operational risk management is to implement such a system that can support the process efficiency and meeting the customer needs. To manage this risk the following procedure is respected: The bank aims to manage this risk by cutting down the costs on certain things. Getting reports from risk committees over regular periods of time 3.3- Dubai Islamic Bank Dubai Islamic Bank was formed in 1975 and is considered to be the first fully-fledged Islamic Bank in the world. The bank uses the latest innovative technology in its day-to-day operations. The bank is considered to be the undisputed leader in the field of Islamic banking and sets its examples for new starters in Islamic banking. A lot of Islamic banks in the world including Arab countries follow Dubai Islamic Bank to start and run their day-to-day operations (http://www.alislami.ae/en/index.htm). 3.3.1- Shareholders The Government of Dubai is the major shareholder of the bank and other shares are held by additional stakeholders in Dubai. 3.3.2- Investments The bank invests its money all over the world and is open to any businesses that require financing through the bank. The bank invests in properties, c

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Wage vs Salary

Introduction: Wage and salary are the two important elements for designing compensation package for any organization. Often, we mistake considering the wage and salary as synonymous. But there are some substantial differences between them. In order to get higher productivity, it is much more important to know the different between wage and salary. Before comparison, try to penetrate the insights of them. Wage: Wages are generally paid per hour. This means that you have to be present and working in order to get paid. Most of the time, wage jobs are not as inclusive when it comes to things like paid vacations, or paid sick days. Wage earners often have to give up pay for leaving early, coming in late, missing a day, or taking a vacation. Historically, we often refer to manual labor jobs as wage jobs, and positions. Wage earners are more likely to be found in positions with high turnover, while salaries are often assigned for positions with low turnover Wages are more likely to be added up into additional payments. If you work 50 hours in one week, you may receive your first 40 hours at the regular pay rate, and the additional 10 hours at 1 Â ½ times your normal pay rate. Depending on the structure and traditions of different economies around the world, wage rates are either the product of market forces (supply and demand), as is common in the United States, or wage rates may be influenced by other factors such as tradition, social structure and seniority, as in Japan. Salary: A salary is an amount paid for a particular job, regardless of hours worked, in a package payment system. Salary refers to how much you get paid every year. Salary earners rarely have to punch a time clock, or keep an accurate account of their hours, because they get paid for performance rather than by the hour. Salaried workers are much more likely to have paid sick days and paid vacations, and are not docked pay for being late or leaving early from time to time. Salary can also be counted in terms other than money. Some companies consider reimbursement for things like medical insurance as part of your salary. You can even find some companies blending education and retirement contributions as part of your salary package. Professional jobs are salaried jobs and it has low turnover compare to wage jobs. It might include a base salary, pension, fringe benefit, bonuses, stock options and so on.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Body Modification †Deviance in Society Essay

The last decade has seen a dramatic rise in spectacular forms of body modification, including the tattoo renaissance and the phenomena of body piercing, the emergence of neo-tribal practices like scarification and the invention of new, high-tech forms of body art like sub-dermal implants. Therefore, body modification practices have proven to be an interesting field of study for sociologists interested in deviance, social control, and the social construction of problematic behaviour. Much of the sociological research and literature into these practices fits within the symbolic interaction tradition, focusing specifically on the ways that people define body modification, and whether or not they perceive it as being scary or beautiful, dangerous or alluring, rebellious or inclusive. This essay explores the connections between body modification and deviance and seeks to identify whether physical alterations of the body are a rite of passage, a group identifier, or a mechanism of negative sanctioning and social control, believed to be key elements in the social construction of deviant self-identities. The origins of the cultural trend of body modification, unlike those of nearly all other fads, are thousands of years old. Ever since our Neolithic ancestors invented art tens of thousands of years ago, humans have been decorating the human body, as it is the most intimate of canvas (Siebers 2000, p. 212). Most sociological theory about body modification is framed in discussions of labelling and differential association orientations which explain social definitions and the processes through which body modifiers learn how to be successful in changing the ways their bodies look to themselves, and to those with whom they come in contact. The cause of controversy surrounding the issues of tattooing and piercings is directly rooted in the message that these forms of body modification present. The one essential feature all of these deviants share is visibility; they are all, by definition, overt deviants whose rule breaking is immediately apparent. Their deviance is rooted, not in what they have done, or even who they are, but in how they appear (Heitzeg 1996, p.358), therefore, this type of deviance is highly diverse with regard to the how  and why of rule breaking. In modern contexts, body modification practices can be seen as symbolic as they represent the death of conventional beauty standards and the rebirth of new ideals of attractiveness by challenging the classical ideal of the skin as ‘a pristine smooth closed envelope for the self’ (Pitts 2003, p.92). Hence, when a person submits the body to the modification process, it damages the skins basic structure and its integrity, which contradicts the western notion of the body as fixed and unchanging. The fact that Western society is not overtly tribal or strictly racially segregated (Atkinson 2003, p. 99) is perhaps one of the reasons why the importance of bodily appearance in constructing social identity is regarded so suspiciously. Western civilisation has no history of group body modification (Miller 2004, p. 61), and where we have encountered it in others, it has often been regarded as evidence of primitivism and savagery, with efforts made to eradicate it as part of the ‘civilisation’ process. In western culture, body modification practices have been shunned and outcast as the marks of Satan (Miller 2004, p.37) and traditionally, the Christian body was only marked as a sign of shame. In the last few centuries however, these fallacies have subsided to thoughts of mere loathing of any permanent defacing of a person’s body and it has been argued that body modification is ‘no more than just attention seeking self-mutilation, in which only heathens and criminals engage’ (Jones 1998, p. 89). The debates concerning body modification and self-mutilation often suggest that individuals who choose to decorate their bodies through tattooing and piercing are driven by harmful impulses that they cannot understand and do not control. Though many view these forms of body modification as sin and are loath to initiate any permanent modifications beyond those dictated by nature and necessity, others feel that it is a historical footnote about the cultural identity of this era. Though the desire to mark the body does emanate from the inner sense of self, it does not necessarily read as an intentional act of harm to the individual  self (Miller 2004, p. 102). Body modification, despite its interest in intervening with the physical flesh and creating blood, scars, holes and scars, actually is not a violent practice. Individuals partaking in such body modifications such as piercing and tattooing can be seen to be taking a kind of libertarian attitude towards their bodies as these acts of personal choice that demonstrate social independence. Vale & Juno (1999, p.8) believe that amidst an almost universal feeling of powerlessness to ‘change the world’, individuals are changing what they do have power over, their own bodies. Through various forms of body decoration, individuals attempt to resolve ‘ontological insecurities of modernism by deliberate self-identification’ (Pitts 2003, p.113). These are acts of personal choice that demonstrate social independence. The wilful act of modifying one’s body is not a passive, but a deliberate and successful attempt to direct the gaze of society where the individual chooses. In essence, tattooing and piercing puts control into the hands of the individual; control over their body and control over the objectified body, liberating it with alternative forms of power. Within the realms of body modification, you can take control of what you otherwise could not (Vale & Juno 1999, p. 82). Individuals engage in body modification through piercing and tattooing to challenge personal and social invisibility while also adding cultural capital to the body’s surface (Hewitt 1997, p. 112). In part people are using their bodies to reject homogenisation of popular capitalist culture. In an era in which large multi-national corporations dominate the socio-economic landscape, tattoos and piercings cannot be mass produced. They are a personal expression of one’s self. Body modification, through ink and flesh, as well as piercing is an act of self-creation. It is a protest of transient socially constructed features of desirability, inferiority or power. It constitutes a statement of control and ownership over the body in a cultural context characterised by accelerating social control and alienation. The human body is a canvas for the expression of cultural ideas of men and women throughout time and around the world. Therefore, arguments of the positive or negative connotations of tattooing and piercing do not often justify or debase body modifications but seemingly ‘indicate a breakdown between morality and aesthetics’ (Sanders 1989, p.35). The demographic and imagery of tattoos has undergone profound change and reflects the economic, political and social upheaval that has taken place in the 21st century (Turner 1994, p. 70). Tattoos and other forms of body modification have become more pervasive in the last couple of decade with a rise in mainstream clientele (Jones 1998, p. 65). New techniques, artists, technical innovation, professionalism and media attention have helped catapult the frequency and acceptance of body modification in conventional society. Whilst there is a rich history in regards to the ancient practice of permanent body art, a large majority of Western society view it as disruptive, crude, and a form of self-mutilation, seeing tattoos and piercings as marks of disgrace and social deviance (Miller 2004, p.75) whilst often showing little interest in what motivates people to decorate their body in such a way. However, Maffasoli (1995, p.51) suggests in his research that there is a strong fascination from ‘outsiders’ in regards to the art of body modification, although fear of negative sanctioning and lack of understanding regarding the process and the motivational factors of body modification mean people often shy away. This ‘popular interest’ manifests itself in numerous articles in popular magazines, current affairs television, documentaries, music videos, advertising and film. All of these mediums help to disseminate a basic knowledge and awareness of these modification practices to a larger mainstream population. This extended knowledge and interest has seen body modification practices shifted out of the backrooms of adult bookstores and into heavily patronised, high-technology shop-front studios. With middle-class customers increasingly entering the body modification arena (Sanders 1989, p.27) these practices are becoming less taboo and are no longer just the domain of bikers, sailors and social misfits. Tattoos and piercings not only give power and a sense of control to the individual but permits them to record one’s own history and developmental milestones on the body, therefore for some, body modification has a deeper meaning, serving the function of indelibly marking into the flesh  significant events in their lives (Favazza 1996, p. 92). A twenty-eight year old woman framed her decision to have her nostril pierced as a response to her experience of becoming a mother at eighteen, ‘the experience of being a young mother is in part why I chose to get my nose pierced. I felt trapped by others’ expectations, the piercing was a way of pushing through my own desires to deal with in myself the power of the systems that be, and my desire to refuse to conform’ (Holtham 1997). Others imbue private acts of body modification with symbolic power, capable of reclaiming previous experiences of powerlessness or an unpleasant event (Douglas 1970, p. 45). Another young woman shares, ‘I guess as my way of getting some pleasure out of the situation. I had a pair of stitched lips tattooed into the inside of my thigh six months after having been raped which symbolised my inability to speak about the event’ (Holtham 1997). Another reason for becoming a fan of modification practices are to do with enjoying the process and liking the ‘look of it’. Modification recipients speak of the ‘thrill’ and ‘rush’ of the actual moment of the piercing, as well as enjoying playing with healed piercings and adorning their bodies with jewellery (Dunbar & Lahn 1998, p.12). In support of this position, Featherstone (2000, p.55) believes that some individuals simply see their tattoos and piercings as little more than fashion accessories, on par with other forms of jewellery which enhance a certain ‘look’. Certainly, vanity can play a large part in the decision to modify one’s body, for example a tattoo strip around a man’s biceps can make them appear larger just as a tattoo or piercing will call attention to various parts of the female anatomy, especially on the lower back and around the belly button. Despite the diversified reasons for body modifications, most cultures from around the world were unified in their belief that body piercing was an art form with highly important, empowering, and positive connotations (Atkinson 2003, p.72). Whilst modern forms of body modification are seen as a self-motivated expression of personal freedom and uniqueness, ancient cultures usually marked a person to prove membership or non membership of a group, or to express religious, magical, or spiritual beliefs. These forms of body decoration have existed throughout history to mark numerous ideals within societies such as social stratification, servitude, and religious or spiritual rites. In modern times, if you modify your body, particularly in the methods discussed within this essay, you are inevitably changing your appearance whilst stating something about yourself, your lifestyle and social status. You are also making a statement about your income, wealth and class. However, body marks in pre-literate societies were permanent, collective and largely obligatory. Unlike today, they were set within a shared culture of collective meanings, where the significance of a tattoo or mark could be read unambiguously (Featherstone 2000, p.39) . The growing revival of highly visible and sometimes ‘shocking’ primitive body modification practices such as tattooing, multiple piercings and scarification is a personal choice just like cosmetic surgery and body building, which are seemingly more respectful avenues of body modification. People choose to be pierced or inked for aesthetic purposes, spiritual incentives, erotic reasons, fashion trends or a variety of other personal motives. Throughout history, society has always shown a multitude of symbols through body art and decoration, even in its simplest forms. That implicit link between past and present confers not only a sense of antiquity to body modification but also sanction and validity. Today, seeing a person with a body modification may evoke an involuntarily judgment or opinion, even though the conclusion may be wholly inaccurate and prejudicial. An altered body, as well as being a way to establish one’s own individual, unique personality, can also seen as a way to establish oneself in an alternative community (Pitts 2003, p.8). Society perhaps does not consider that the body modifiers or ‘modern primitives’ of today, just like their ancient equivalent, are not only using tribal customs to express themselves through body modification, but are also actually a form of tribe within their own social groups. There is no doubt that body modification is an interesting topic of discussion and one that can only result in examination by society. Tattoos and piercings have been around for millennia, and for the majority of that time, they have always been accepted as a form of art, not mutilation. Body modification such as tattooing and piercing is not a bizarre form of  deviance peripheral to society like many researchers signify but rather an ‘everlasting visual dialogue expressing one’s self-concept, ideas and beliefs’ (DeMello 2000, p.22). Body modification has become a vehicle for people to altar their appearance which can be of significant importance to the individual and can publicly express a rite of passage as well as break the accepted cultural code. As such these forms of body modification are primal forms of self-expression and a reflection of cultural reality. Lack of understanding surrounding participants of body modification can cause negative sanctioning such as unemployment, social ridicule or even ostracism from family and peers and social control practices are experienced to enforce or encourage conformity and deal with behaviour which violates accepted norms. As this essay has sought to explore, modified bodies invariably provoke a strong reaction among those who are not as they elicit a primeval response which touches the core of who we are as people and a society. As a new set of cultural and social meanings are being ascribed to bodies and we experience the re-definition of beauty, it is increasingly clear that society may need to become more accepting and adjust cultural norms to accommodate the novel yet historic culture of social communication through the decorated body. Reference List Atkinson, M., (2003). Tattooed: the Sociogenesis of a Body Art, University of Toronto Press, Canada. DeMello, M. (2000). Bodies of Inscription: A Cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community, Duke University Press, London. Douglas, M., (1970). Natural Symbols: Explorations in Cosmology, Pantheon Books, New York. Dunbar, A., & Lahn, D., (1998). Body Piercing, Wakefield Press, NSW. Favazza, A.R., (1996). Bodies Under Siege: Self-Mutilation and Body Modification in Culture and Psychiatry, 2nd ed., JHU Press, USA. Featherstone, M., (2000). Body Modification, Sage Publishing, UK. Heitzeg, N., (1996). Deviance: Rulemakers & Rulebreakers, West Publishing Company, USA. Hewitt, K., (1997). Mutilating the Body: Identifying in Blood and Ink, Bowling Green State University Press, USA. Holtham, S., (1997). Body Piercing in the West: a Sociological Inquiry, http://www.bmezine.com/pierce/bodypier.html, retrieved 27/4/09. Jones, A., (1998). Body Art: Performing the Subject, University of Minnesota Press, USA. Maffesoli, M., (1985). The Time of the Tribes: the Decline of Individualism in Mass Society, Sage Publishing, London. Miller, J.C, (2004). The Body Art Book: A Complete Illustrated Guide to Tattoos, Piercings, and other Body Modifications, Penguin Publishing Group Inc., USA. Pitts, V., (2003). In the Flesh: The Cultural Politics of Body Modification, Palgrave MacMillan, USA. Roach Anleu, S., (2006). Deviance: Conformity and Control, 4th edn., Longman, South Melbourne. Sanders, C., (1989). Customizing the Body: The Art and Culture of Tattooing, Temple University Press, USA. 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