Gold Price In The Us Essays - Precious Metals, Gold, Inflation

Gold Price In The Us Essays - Precious Metals, Gold, Inflation Gold Price In The Us The largest demand for gold is in jewelry and investments. Gold is known as a metal that is easily used and has many industrial applications. Since gold is so durable and luxurious, many people invest in jewelry, stocks, and gold bonds. Considering the fact that gold is considered a world-wide valuable good, many economies have gold reserves to help protect themselves in times of need. Nevertheless, factors of supply and demand have contributed to the decrease of the price of gold, which has reached an all time low since 1978. This reduction has raised many concerns in the United States having them weigh the different factors of the price, supply and demand, and consumption that may be affecting the price change. The price change commands attention since gold serves to indicate price stability or inflation. Although, inflation is not as threatening in the United States because it is more industrialized, the bigger fear is facing deflation with our countries gold currency. Gold averaged 294 dollars per ounce in 1998, when at one time the prices were in the mid $400-500 per ounce. Due to fact that gold prices have been so low, Central Banks have threatened to sell their gold inventories fearing that gold is no longer considered the ultimate store of value. Regardless, prices have continued to fluctuate in both directions throughout the year, but it is important to weigh the different variables that are having an effect on the price. There are different factors associated with the supply and demand which have caused prices to decrease. First of all, the record low prices in the past year has caused investors to participate less causing prices to be determined largely on golds own supply and demand fundamentals and the economic environment. The supply of gold declined by less than 2% during 1998. The price reduction started to impact the mine production by slowing the rate of manufacture growth by the end of 1998. When prices began to weaken, this caused many mines to shut down, leaving low grade ore in the ground. This alone is effecting the mine output and the cost to produce more gold. On the other hand, the sales of gold jewelry are increasing at a record pace, since the economy is strong, there are low gold prices, rising consumption rates, the emergence of new discount chains, television shopping, and electronic chains (Haubrich, Joseph). The growing demand for gold jewelry helped push gold usage in the United Sates to a first time report of 428.4 metric tons in 1998, which is an 18% increase. Since consumption has been driven in the United States, our economy is expanding and consumers are spending more. During the past year, according to the JCK national poll, over 150 independent jewelers support the figures. They found that two-thirds of respondents (68%) said they had a sales increase over the past year, while the other two out of five (38%) claimed to have sales gains of 20% or more. Over all, the immediate gain for jewelry retail due to the lower prices was a 15 % increase. Using the statistics from the Commodity Price Index, for the last 12 months in 1998, it is evident that the second half of the years prices fluctuated. In the first part of 1998, the gold price ranged from $295.90 - 297.49, although it peaked in April reaching to $308.40, which was the highest for the year. The price increase was due to higher demand of consumers and the expansion in investments during that time period, in spite of the fact, prices did not continue to remain as high for the remainder of the year. In fact, the following month of May, dropped another $9.01, having the rate of gold at $299.39. As for the second half of the year, prices still dropped but managed to stay in the low $290s making retailers prosperous. Regardless consumers were happy with the lower prices, many investors and miners have been struggling to feel the same towards the lower rate. Stocks have lost over 90% percent of their investments in gold and have many investors wondering if the value of gold is depreciating. Miners too, are worried about the lower prices considering they have been the major producers of gold in the past and in future markets. The idea that central banks have discussed to sell partial amounts of their gold reserves has investors worried with hopes that demand will not continue to decrease. When evaluating

How to Solve Marketing Fire Drills with Kyle DeWeerdt from Apprenda [PODCAST]

How to Solve Marketing Fire Drills with Kyle DeWeerdt from Apprenda [PODCAST] Marketing fire drills: Can you learn to take care of them before they turn into bona fide emergencies? It can be stressful and overwhelming when projects crop up with little to no notice. Planning where you can and having good communication with your team can help you get through it with no negative ramifications. Today’s guest is Kyle DeWeerdt, marketing programs manager at Apprenda. He has come up with a simple system to help his team prioritize their time to complete their work, nipping stressful emergencies in the bud. He’s going to help us learn how to resolve issues before they even start. Some of the topics you’ll hear about today include: Some information about Apprenda and the types of content that Kyle works with, as well as Kyle’s background. An explanation of â€Å"marketing fire drills†: What are they, and what can you do about them? An explanation of buffer time, and how it can help you handle these emergencies that come up. How to break down a project to define a deadline and a publish date for content. How Kyle manages the process behind the scenes with multiple teams to make sure every task is completed on time. Kyle’s best tips for marketers who want to manage their projects more efficiently.

Law Enforcement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Law Enforcement - Essay Example There were no payments or training done to these â€Å"drafted† officers. Under these circumstances, the system lacked motivation and eventually lost focus towards administering the very important duty enforcing the law. As a result, policing became more of a reactive event. As the momentum of industrialisation and urbanization increased, new challenges with increased crime forced a radical shift in community policing, thus the beginning of struggles to professionalize the police force with more proactive measures to law enforcement. The 1800’s witnessed the adoption of new technologies with better response times and faster communications. At the dawn of the 20th century, law enforcement had attached within its system more advanced methodological dynamics that incorporated the cooperation of the police agencies with the communities that characterize more of a service attitude never experienced at the beginning. Indeed, police agencies in the United States have evolved to become a highly organized group that strives not only to prevent crime but also serves to preserve citizen’s rights and adhere at all times to maintain professionalism. Under their colonial masters, the police system was in the hands of the sheriff, the constable and the watch. Appointed by the Governor of the colony, county sheriff was the most important law enforcement officer especially in the rural set ups that characterized many areas then. This officer was paid in terms of tasks performed. His duties included collecting taxes, apprehending criminals, appearing in court proceedings and serving subpoenas. Much of their duties concentrated in collecting taxes and so apprehending criminals oftentimes fell in the periphery. In cities, constables and night watch performed more or less the same tasks but with added responsibilities such as reporting fires and eliminating health hazards. As stated above, the activities of these officers were reactive in

Financial Reporting Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial Reporting - Coursework Example Due to this increase in performance of the financial statements of the company, the earnings per share increased as well as the dividend payout ratios went up with a coverage of 2.8 times for the full year, which is the shareholder’s interest in the organization. As compared with the market ratios from IHG company, Next company shown a growth in all its financial aspects. The accounts have been presented in accordance with the IFRS 7 and 12 which requires disclosure of interest in other parties IFRS 10 which requires consolidating the group accounts and IAS 1 to 9 which talks of all the disclosures. The disclosures of the segments are contained in IAS 14 but superseded by IFRS 8 which requires every segment to be disclosed separately (Weygandt 2012). Since the exceptional items are material in nature, the materiality concept applies and that is the reason why they are disclosed separately since they are matters which might have an impact on the financial statements. They are d ivided into continued and discontinued exceptional items. Ratio Analysis: Liquidity Ratios This is a ratio that measures the firm’s ability to meet its obligations financially. Historically these ratios have been used to measure the overall health of organizations. Their usefulness is being diluted as the modern companies Next PLC are holding fewer current assets to generate revenue. However, these ratios remain a good measure in this industry because the hotel industry relies on huge amounts of current assets to generate income. The meaning of these ratios is measured based on the relevant industry norms (Clatworthy 2005). Current Ratio Current Ratio = Total Current Assets Total Current Liabilities Account 2013 2012 Increase/Decrease Total Current Assets 1,207.8 1,139.9 Total Current Liabilities 816.0 742.4 Current Ratio 1.48 1.53 -0.05 From the above analysis, Next PLC is a company which can meet its short term obligations in both year 2013 and year 2012, however at a close r look, it shows that it has decreased its ability to meet these short term obligations in the year 2013 which is a fall back from the previous period. A further identification is that the group has disposed a lot of its current assets and also paid more of its obligations in terms of liabilities. In further analyzing the cash position of the group in the cash flow statement, the group has covered more of its expenses on the revolving cash flows from operations, which is a healthy indication of the organization's ability to operate in the foreseeable future (Gibson 2012). Quick Ratio Quick Ratio = Cash and Equivalents - Inventory Total Current Liabilities Account 2013 2012 Total Current Assets 1,207.8 1,139.9 Inventory 331.8 371.9 Total 876 768 Total Current Liabilities 816.0 742.4 Current Ratio 1.072 1.034 This ratio is more accurate than the current ratio since it reveals how the company can meet its short term liabilities without having to dispose its stock. And in this case of s tudy, the company still remains stable and even better since the stock levels are low and that means the company can meet its short term financial obligations with ease. In year 2013, it indicates that the company did better than year 2012 just like the previous ratio. Any ratio that is positive means that the company can meet its obligations and any figure that is negative means that th

English Castle Essay Example for Free

English Castle Essay Castles are fortifications made to protect resources and lives as well. It is also the main structure of defense. Walls made of large well-defined heavy stones that are stacked to perfection. The castle has a stable, storehouse, bakeries, kitchens, cottages and quarters for soldiers. Usually a city a situated in a castle where a city is surrounded by walls and the only entrance is a single huge gate. This gate is where the merchants and entrepreneurs trade goods for the city market. It was the Norman conquerors who made the castle building an art. They built castles primarily as a defense outpost. They situate a castle in a high ground wherein it will be surrounded by water or a deep ditch. It was supposed to be high because it will delay intruders from attacking also it will be very susceptible for archers to snipe down intruders. Castle acts as keeps or strongholds that no one can penetrate. A castle is governed by a king, the highest rule. In the English setting, castles were built in Medieval era, wherein castles were made out of stone. This is a linear representation of what has transpired back then. In the Stone age, Causewayed Camps and Stonehenge was discovered. The Bronze age produced the Hillforts of England and the Maiden Castle, which is considered to be the biggest castle. In the Iron Age and the Romans Hillforts of England was reinforced since the English were under siege. The English people put up Hadrian’s Wall and the Roman Forts as a line of defense. After the Romans have fallen, the English people were restless with war and were attacked by Scotts, the Welch and the Anglo-Saxons. These invaders were also accompanied by the sudden attacks of the Vikings. By that time Alfred the great thought of defense mechanism to make England less susceptible for attacks. Alfred the great made the not a formation of walls instead made a strategic positioning of fortified towns that was called â€Å"Burhs†. Logically, if there are many fortified towns reinforcing each other then there will less attacks made because the chances of survival will be small. This happened in the reign of the Anglo-Saxon which is also known as the Dark Ages. But the root of all the prestigious castles made were from the Medieval Period spearheaded by the Norman Invasion in which they introduced the Motte and Bailey castle which is made from stone and wood. At this time, the Medieval Kings have devised a plan to erect Windsor and Warwick Castle. Then King Edward I conquered the Wales. He established the massive fortifications called Concentric Castles. Examples of these Concentric Castles are the Cowny, Harlech and the Caernarvon Castle. Concentric Castles were also called Edwardian Castles. They have no basic points of concentration. Their defense is the wall rings built around them and the entrance is a single gate that serves as bridge and also served as the gate. They lower the gates in the morning and closes at night. Castles in general are mainly for protection and also for economic purposes. There are estimated to be seventy-two English Castles and here are some of them: Alnwick, Lindisfarne, Warwick, Carisbrooke, Pevensey, Tintagel, Stafford, Pendennis, Lancaster, Herstmonceux, Saint Mawes, Grimsthorpe, Calshot, Rochester, Ludlow, Kenilworth, Richmond, Carlisle, Yarmouth, Bodiam and Scotney Castle. Among those numbers of Castle, a few stand-out such as Pontefract, Bodiam, Caister, Allington, Hever, Tower of London, Windsor, Warwick and Leeds Castle. Pontefract Castle was King Charles last fortress in the Civil War. Bodiam Castle was erected by a soldier in the time of King Edward III named Sir John Dalyngrudge. He believed that fortifying the castle would make it hard for intruders to penetrate. Caister Castle was built by Sir John Fastolfe, who fought in the French Wars. In the Allington Castle, Sir Thomas Wyatt was born. This castle was his sanctuary for writing the prose and verse of his poems. Hever Castle has a beautiful garden always been associated with Queen Anne Boleyn which is the concubine of King Henry VIII. The Tower of London is considered to be the royal residence of the King. It also means that it was the center of power. Tower of London is not a single tower but it consists of other different tower as defense structures. It thwarted the attacks of the Vikings. Beheading and tortures are also done here to show disillusion the people from the strength the government has and also to promote fear to their enemies. Windsor Castle is longest standing castle with its nine hundred years of its glorious existence. The Windsor Castle is comprised of three wards namely: Saint George’s Chapel as the lower ward, royal apartments and grad state rooms as the upper ward and middle ward is an amphitheater. The Warwick Castle follows a Motte and Bailey style that is made of wood but since the William the conqueror was in-charge the he changed the wooden part of the castle into stone by exploiting the Anglo-Saxon labor force. Lastly, the Leeds Castle, which lies on the River of Len and is strategically engineered between to adjacent islands. The name Leeds came from King Ethelbert IV called Ledian. Whatever the advantages of Motte and Bailey and Concetric designs, for being cheap and crude or tough and expensive, it sure made the history of England very meaningful. Acquisitions of land here and there entailed that there was a decentralized rule of power and due to it colonizers took advantage of it and waged war. The Norman conquerors should be proud on what they have achieved. Today, castles are just remnants of what has transpired back then. All of which is written in history, engraved in our memory. The hardships and sufferings of those who are tortured are screaming in the air where the castle stood. Ghosts of the dead haunt these sacred places, a place rich with tradition and full of honor and dignity. Castles are not just fortifications for protection but a shelter for the weak and oppressed, a symbol of bravery and diplomacy and above all a symbol of life in its borrowed existence. The English Castles are rich with memories of the executed and the times of triumph. For what of it remains is what is ours to preserve. Its existence can never be replaced, its value, its worth, and its beauty. Lastly, castles are not built by stone, wood or clay, it is made of the people’s blood, sweat and tears. People visit English castles because of awe and amazement that it brings to them. Its structure reminds them of how people have lived and it also depicts the events that have transpired back then. Since wars are the predominantly remembered association with castles, rumors and stories about the existence of ghosts emerged. The existence of ghosts is attributed to the executions done inside a castle and also to the prisoners kept in the dungeon. Though there is no material evidence to show that there are ghosts within these castles, people still insists its existence. The intricate designs and ornamentation around the castle adds up to the mysticism it brings to the visitors. The main attraction in visiting castles is the place where the throne is situated since in represents royalty and dominance over a large scale of people. But there is also an equal attracting part of the castle in contrast to the throne is the dungeon or lair. This is where prisoners of war are kept. In this place, it is believed that prisoners are being tortured to death to extract information from their army. Since, loyalty is valued, these prisoners are executed and their screams fill the air like a resonating sound of a ghost. Death is considered to be the ending of their torment. In sum, castles are visited based on their history and to what historical events have happened there. Castles best explain how the pre-existing people have lived their lives and also it show how technology have transcended to what it is right now. The scientific engineering and planning of creating a good castle is logically thought of. Every detail of a castle has a rational purpose. It was distinctively modified upon the needs of the people living in it. Lastly, the long-lasting castles are the evidences of the great historical events for the English people.

Project Coast: South Africa’s Top Secret Chemical and Biological Weapon

To protect the safety of the country and people of South Africa, those who hold authority or control in the decision making process sometimes are faced with making tough decisions. When it comes to South Africa, President P. W. Botha decided that to best protect the welfare of the citizens, a defensive measure must be established that was secure and efficient. The idea of such measures brought on an evolution of a secret chemical and biological weapons program which became known as Project Coast. The personnel that knew of its existence hid the program from the world and used various measures to ensure that this program remained their little secret. However, no secret lays dormant forever. The idea of S. Africa partaking in such measures shined a distasteful light on a country that was already divided and fighting amongst each itself. Project Coast was against all the morals of what the United Nations had established and stood for peace and working together unified. The S. Af rican government knew this; the pride and protection of their well-being outweighed what was right. South Africa’s choice to begin a Chemical and Biological Weapons Program (CBW) was unsound but this was not the first time the country experimented with such lethal weapons. History reveals that during World War II, South Africa participated in the manufacturing of mustard gas when the Smuts government assisted Great Britain (Gould & Folb, 2002). There were two manufacturing plants that produced the gas, but by 1945 production ended and the plants were closed. When these plants were closed the idea of research still lingered on the minds of those who held office. Some years later, in 1960, a company called Mechem was founded and headed by Dr. J. P. ... ...asson. Project Coast is a reason why there are so many sanctions on chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. The intention to study and research may be good, but the idea of it getting in the wrong hands can be detrimental. Reference Bale, J. Monterey Institue of International Studies, (2006). South Africa’s Project Coast: â€Å"Death Squad’s,† Covert State-Sponsored poisonings, and the Dangers of CBW Proliferation (10.1080/1741916060623434). Retrieved from Taylor & Francis Group, LLC website: http://www.miis.edu/media/view/18941/orgianal/balecoastarticle.pdf Buger, M., & Gould, C. (2002). Secrets and Lies: Wouter Basson and South Africa’s Chemical and Biological Warfare Programme. Zebra Press. Folb, P., & Gould, C. (2002). Project Coast: Apartheid’s Chemical and Biological Warfare Programme. United Nations Publication. Retrieved from www.unog.ch/bwc

Friendship: Meaning of Life and Friends Essay

What is a friend? According to Aristotle, a friend is a single sole dwelling in two bodies. People understand the concept of friendship differently, but there is one common ground for it. It is always built on a mutual sympathy. Friendship plays an important role in our lives, to a large extent. Friends can help you find the meaning of life by helping you overcome challenges. They are people in your life that care for you and they simple add joy and meaning to your life. In some cases it is short and finds its end quickly, while in other cases it may last for many years and grow stronger every year. True friendship is built on trust and mutual support. Your real friend will always find time to talk and try to find solutions to the hard problems you face every day. They are always there to help you and expect the same from you. Friends are psychologically comfortable with each other, and sometimes are emotionally closer than with their relatives. Friends help you overcome challenges you may face at times in your life. A special thing about friendship is that friends have the ability to do different things like simply talking something through and giving advice or physically helping you Sometimes friends find more comfort in each other rather than family because they might have the idea that there family might judge them, and there friend will tell it right. In difficult times, friends make you see things from a different point of view, allowing you to take time to reflect and examine the situation. Doing this it allows you to see another perspective of the situation and find another way to overcome your challenge. Not only do friends help you through situations, but they go about this through love. Friends are people in your life that love and care about you. They will not only help you through something but they are the ones that will always be there for you in those times of need. They care about you and how you feel and that is what makes them a true friend. A friend is someone who believes in you when you have yet to believe in yourself. They help you to find the meaning of life because they let you know that there is someone out there that cares for you and that you are valuable to someone else in this world. Friends are not only there to help you, but they also add fun, happiness and joy to life. They add fun, happiness and joy as you can relate to each other and share the same values about things. Through sharing the same values you are able to laugh and joke about things that you will both find funny as you share the same ideas. They can make you forget about any problems you have by simply having some fun. Friends can be your whole life as you revolve many things around them. You know you can trust them as much as they can trust you. Friends help us to not take everything in life too seriously and have a bit of fun by simply being in each other’s company. Friendship has great value in the meaning of life. It is one of the richest treasures of life. Friends help you overcome challenges and difficult times in your life, through talking and physically helping you. They are someone who knows you well and cares about you, so that everything they do for you and through love. When the crowd dies down after a crisis, your friends are the ones who are still active. Friends will sit with you in the hospital, be with you while you grieve, be available at a moment’s notice of crisis, come out to help in the middle of the night, stand up for you, lend a hand when there is work to be done, be loyal to you, have fun with you, make you laugh when you are sad etc etc†¦ and the list goes on. The most important thing about friendship is that it adds meaning and value to our lives.

Kantian and Utilitarian Essay

Kant believed in an absolute moral law that he called the Categorical Imperative. It is this imperative that determines our duty. (2) Two formulations of this imperative can be used to determine the morally correct action that Alistair should choose. The first formulation, The Formula of Universal Law: â€Å"Act only on that maxim through which you can at the same time will that it should become a universal law [of nature]. â€Å"(2) Alistair has two possible maxims to act upon. These maxims, if it were universally applicable, are: â€Å"Anyone may lie in order to promote increasing human welfare† and â€Å"Everyone always tells the truth†. The first maxim is contradictory. If people had the option to lie, it negates the system of trust on which the world is built. When, for example, I put my money in the bank, I trust them to keep it safe. If the first maxim was universally accepted, I could not trust without reservation that the bank would keep my money safe because they would be able to give my money away if they felt it would increase the welfare of those less fortunate. If this was the case, there would be widespread mistrust and, ironically, it would have a negative impact on human welfare. The second maxim is universally applicable and is thus, according to Kant, the maxim on which to act upon. The second formulation, The Formula of the End in Itself: â€Å"So act as to treat humanity, both in your own person, and in the person of every other, always at the same time as an end, never simply as a means. †(2) If Alistair were to withhold the truth about the bribery, he denies the rationality of the board and denies that there is any rational action for them to perform. He denies them the option to rationally make a decision on what to do about the situation. In doing this he is using the board merely as a means to ensure the delivery of the medicine. According to Kant, for Alistair to use the board as a means in themselves, he would have to tell the truth. According to Kant’s theory, the action of ignoring the bribe fails the first and second formulation of the Categorical Imperative, thus the right thing to do would be to tell the truth to the board of directors. Utalitarian Theory Looking back at the case study it is clear that, on the one hand, people are receiving inexpensive kits of medicine, the drivers don’t get shot and the reputation of the relief organisation and the director is still intact. On the other hand, the board doesn’t know about the bribery, thus the unethical activity cannot be put to a stop. Utilitarianism is a theory based on consequences, not the action leading to the consequence. This theory holds that we should choose those actions that would result in the greatest amount of good in the interest of the greatest number of people affected by our actions. 1)(4) The â€Å"good† is anything that, directly or indirectly, brings happiness or pleasure. (4) The consequences of each particular action is considered to determine which outcome will best serve the greater good. (3) Act Utilitarianism prescribes that every situation be evaluated independently. The action that leads to the greatest net outcome of utility is then c onsidered to be the correct choice. According to this theory, Alistair should choose the action that will maximise happiness and minimise unhappiness. Alistair has two possible choices with two different consequences. The first is that Alistair tells the truth about the bribery. The possible outcome of his choice are the following: the drivers stop receiving cash and get shot, the contract is terminated and the less fortunate stop receiving their medicine, the director in charge of the contract is fired, and the relief organisation suffers great embarrassment. These are all negative effects and cause great unhappiness. On the other hand, the happiness of the board is increased because they can put a stop to more unethical activity. The second choice that Alistair has to consider is to keep silent and overlook the bribe. This would lead to the situation staying the same (as stated in the case study) and would secure the happiness of the greater good which include: the director, the relief organisation, the drivers and the people receiving the medicine. The board of directors would not know about the bribe, so there would be no unhappiness to consider. Considering the consequences of both actions, the happiness of the greater good is maximised when Alistair keeps silent.

The Role of Fate in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet

The Role of Fate in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet Theres no real consensus among Shakespearean scholars about the role of fate in Romeo and Juliet. Were the star-crossd lovers doomed from the start, their sad futures determined before they even met? Or are the events of this famed play a matter of bad luck and missed chances? Lets take a look at the role of fate and destiny in the story of the two teenagers from Verona whose feuding families cant keep them apart.  Ã‚   The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliets story begins in the streets of Verona. Members of two feuding families, the Montagues and Capulets, are in the midst of a brawl. When the fight is over, two young men of the Montague family (Romeo and Benvolio) agree to secretly attend a Capulet ball. Meanwhile, young Juliet of the Capulet family is also planning to attend the same ball. Romeo and Juliet meet at the ball and instantly fall in love. Each is horrified to learn that their love is forbidden, but they nevertheless secretly marry. A few days later, in another street brawl, a Capulet kills Romeos dear friend Mercutio, and Romeo, enraged, in turn, kills the Capulet. Romeo flees and is banned from Verona. Meanwhile, however, friends help him and Juliet to spend their wedding night together. After Romeo leaves the next morning, Juliet is counseled to drink a potion that will make her appear to be dead. After she is laid to rest, Romeo will rescue her from the crypt and they will live together in another city. Juliet drinks the potion, but because Romeo doesnt learn of the plot, he believes she is really dead. Seeing her dead, he kills himself. Juliet wakes, sees Romeo dead, and kills herself. The Theme of Fate in Romeo and Juliet The story of Romeo and Juliet asks the question are our lives and destinies preordained? While it is possible to see the play as a series of coincidences, bad luck, and bad decisions, most scholars see the story as an unfolding of events predetermined by fate.   In the opening lines of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare allow the audience to be party to his characters’ destiny. We learn early on what is going to happen to the title characters: â€Å"a pair of star-crossd lovers take their life.† Throughout the story, the words of the play encourage the audience to think about fate and to what extent our actions and outcomes are preordained.Before the Capulets party, in Act 1, Scene 3, Romeo is already feeling that fate is planning his doom. He wonders if he should attend the party, as my mind misgives/Some consequence yet hanging in the stars.  Ã‚  When Mercutio shouts â€Å"a plague on both your houses† in Act 3, Scene 1, hes foreshadowing whats to come for the title couple. This bloody scene in which characters are killed gives us a glimpse of whats to come, marking the beginning of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic downfall.Later, when Mercutio dies, Romeo himself foreshadows the outcome: This days black fate on more days doth depend/This but begins the woe, others must end. The others upon whom fate later falls, of course, are Romeo and Juliet. In Act 5, when he hears of Juliets death, Romeo swears he will defy fate: Is it even so? Then I defy you, stars! Later, in Juliets tomb, as he plans his own death, Romeo says: O, here/Will I set up my everlasting rest,/And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars/From this world-wearied flesh. This brave defiance of fate is especially heartbreaking because Romeos suicide is the event that actually leads to Juliets death. The idea of fate permeates many of the events and speeches in the play. Romeo and Juliet see omens throughout the play, continually reminding the audience that the outcome will not be a happy one. Their deaths are a catalyst for change in Verona: The dueling families are united in their grief and create a political shift in the city. Perhaps Romeo and Juliet were  fated to love  and die for the greater good of Verona. Were Romeo and Juliet Victims of Circumstance? A modern reader, examining the play through the lens of happenstance and coincidence, may feel that Romeo and Juliets fates were not wholly predetermined, but rather a series of unfortunate and unlucky events. Here are just a few of the coincidental or unlucky events that force the story into its apparently preordained track: Romeo and Benvolio happen to meet and talk about love on the very day of the Capulets ball. Had they had the conversation the following day, Romeo would not have met Juliet.Friar Lawrences messenger to Romeo, who would have explained the plan by which Juliet was to pretend death, is detained. As a result, Romeo doesnt get the message.Juliet wakes just moments after Romeos suicide. Had Romeo arrived just a few moments later, all would have been well. It is certainly possible to describe the events of Romeo and Juliet as a series of unfortunate events and coincidences, but that was almost certainly not Shakespeares intent. By understanding the theme of fate and exploring the question of free will, modern readers still find the play challenging and intriguing.

Are You Utilizing Your LinkedIn Profile Sections

Are You Utilizing Your LinkedIn Profile Sections There many often-overlooked sections you should consider adding to your LinkedIn profile.  LinkedIn frequently adds new sections appropriate for special groups like artists and students, for activities like volunteerism, and for skills like languages. You might fall into one of these categories and be at a disadvantage to the artist who completed a portfolio; the student who completed the student section; or the volunteer with a robust Volunteering Causes section. Furthermore, you might be at a loss when attempting to include all the aspects of who you are into your profile unless you utilize some of these special sections. LinkedIn used to have a section called Specialties, and you might have it in your profile. Here’s a sample of what a Specialties section might look like (this person is a specialist in LinkedIn): (You might also simply list your specialties at the bottom of your Summary). Here is a sample of the more recently popularized section for listing your skills: Skills Expertise: But I already have a Specialties section Isnt Skills redundant? Should you fill out the Skills section even if you already have a Specialties section? YES! If you have a Specialties section (not everyone does, as explained above), then both the Specialties and Skills Expertise sections are important areas in which to list your keywords. Whether or not you have a Specialties section, the Skills Expertise section is your best opportunity to appear in searches conducted for people with your skills. The Specialties section gets searched when people do an Advanced Search, and the Skills Expertise section is searchable from https://www.linkedin.com/skills/ or from the Skills Expertise section of anyones profile (hover over one of the skills and click on it for a list of people in your network with that skill). To add the Skills Expertise section, go to Edit Profile and look to the right. You will have a list of sections Recommended for you. Chances are if you don’t have a Skills Expertise section, LinkedIn will recommend that you add one! If you do not complete these two sections (or at least the Skills Expertise section), you will lose a lot of leverage in LinkedIn searches. You also will not be able to get Endorsements if you do not have a Skills Expertise section. Endorsements can be used by recruiters to confirm that you have the skills you claim to have! Can I reorganize my sections? YES! LinkedIn made it possible to move your sections around. On your Edit Profile page, just click on the plus sign to the left of the section name and you can drag the section to wherever you want it. Are you utilizing the new LinkedIn profile features?   I’d love to hear your feedback on the difference adding these features makes for your LinkedIn profile. Save

Film assingnment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Film assingnment - Assignment Example One of the most famous scenes in the film is the scene where Hoffman jumps into the swimming pool and sinks to the bottom. This is an extraordinary mise-en-scene which captures the heart of the movie, the story, and the character’s place in the world. The scene begins with Hoffman’s father building up suspense and talking to a group of friends gathered by a swimming pool in a suburban neighbourhood. The colours are bright, but generally pastels. Hoffman enters wearing a diving suit. Nothing can be heard of the people around him. Their mouths move, but he is unable to hear them. The mask and suit are isolating, separating him from others around him. He is alone and tired of the people he knows, people who are alien to him. His vision is also circumscribed by the mask which cuts off his peripheral vision. Clearly, the director wants the viewer to have the sensation that Hoffman is limited and separated from the world around him. He doesn’t belong and doesn’t yet understand his place in this world. The next part of the scene is where Hoffman falls in the water and is looking up at the world through the water of the swimming pool. He looks at his father through the mask. His father’s hand keeps reaching out, pushing him back into the water. Clearly, the father thinks this is all in good fun, but we get the sense that Hoffman is not enjoying this moment. The camera then pans out on Hoffman in his divers suit standing on the bottom of the pool. His suit is of no real purpose. He is not diving or hunting, he is just standing, doing nothing, while above his friends and family chatter on. The camera pans further out until Hoffman disappears in the murk of the suburban swimming pool. It is a brilliantly accomplished conclusion to one of the most famous scenes in American cinema. Throughout the scene, sound is very important. For example, Hoffman cannot hear anything except the sound of his own breathing. The voices of those around him a re silent, even though he can see they are talking. It is a lonesome perspective and one that is carefully achieved by the director. He is trapped in his head, trapped in his body, with no way of expressing himself to the outside world. Many of the themes of this film have been discussed at length over the numerous decades since it the Graduate was made. One of the most significant is clearly the generation gap. The 1960s marked a change in the demographics of America. The Baby Boomers, born after the Second World War, were finally coming into their own. These young men and women had very different ideas than many of their parents did. They were not shy about expressing these ideas, but they were often ridiculed and had trouble finding their place in the world. This is seen in how Hoffman, or Ben, has trouble relating to his parents, and in the desperate relationship he begins with Mrs. Robinson, played by the estimable Anne Bancroft. The corruption and boredom of suburban life are also important elements that are in play throughout the film. Deracination is very much a theme in the film. Mrs. Robinson, as much as Benjamin, appears to be isolated and unloved. She too has trouble understanding the world around her. She may seem less questioning and more confident than Benjamin but she too is a product of the post-war world and is very unhappy in it. The Graduate is a film for all seasons and repeated viewing brings out more and more elements worthy of discussion. However, the key scene is at the swimming pool as Benjamin in full, useless diving