Analysis Of Fences By August Wilson - 1251 Words

Fences by August Wilson is a play about African American life during the 1950’s era, it reflects a transitional time where African Americans begin to stand up and fight against racism. The father son relationship is a centering conflict within the play Fences. Throughout the play we are immersed into this complex connection of Troy and his two sons, Cory and Lyon. Troy struggles to create an identity separate from what is forced on him through an oppressive society. His battle with identity streams into the life of Troy’s youngest son, Cory. In Analyzing the father and son relationships within Fences depicts how one often internalizes the negative effects of oppression, and then passes this way of thinking down through generations. As a child Troy possessed a great ability for baseball but due to racial constraints he was not given the chance to pursue his dream. Troy’s father reinforces racial problems through his role as father, and Troy is only encouraged to pursue â€Å"tangible† jobs like his father, since blacks had no real chance in the major leagues at that time. Troy’s father was a sharecropper but his farm was falling into debt . This leaves him feeling hopeless and incapable of providing for his family and fulfilling his role as a male. The economic hardships Troy’s father faces negatively impacts him and we see this through his actions. Soon Troy struggles to recognize his father for the man he once was and he even calls him â€Å"the devil himself† (Wilson, 52). ThereShow MoreRelatedFences Analysis On Fences By August Wilson1283 Words   |  6 Pages Fences Analysis In the play â€Å"Fences† by August Wilson the play’s attitude toward women is biased, and if the play was written by a female I think it would have a stronger feminine influence. Issues such as racism and discrimination against blacks may be raised in the play that the author did not bring up, and the women in the story somewhat do generally typify women in the 1950s. To support my interpretation, the women in the play were homebodies, just worrying about the household because theyRead MoreAnalysis Of Fences By August Wilson1179 Words   |  5 PagesFences, August Wilson The close reading process for this play occurs in three stages: 1. First Read (Days 2 and Day 3): Students are not to cold read the play during this period. It is essential for their understanding that this first read comes from a fluent adult reader or (less ideally) from a recording of the play. Teachers should pre-select moments of tension or surprise when students should stop and jot their thoughts, ideas and questions about the text. The suggested cues for the openRead MoreAnalysis Of Fences By August Wilson1340 Words   |  6 Pagescharacter who, for the most part, is a benevolent person, but suffers from his or her hamartia and hubris, which ultimately leads to their downfall and recognition of their poor choices, as well as the reversal of their situation. The play Fences written by August Wilson describes the struggles and hardships of an African-American family endeavoring to live the American Dream in the 1950s. Although some may argue that the main character, Troy, is not a tragic hero, evidence in the play fortifies that heRead MoreAnalysis Of Fences By August Wilson1612 Words   |  7 Pages In August Wilson s play Fences, he uses his piece to explain that someone unable to control their actions caused by selfish, hatred, or angry emotions will cause issues in one s personal life, general decisions, and in family life. Wilson hopes to target people who can t control their emotions and wishes to prevent the negative effects of uncontrolled actions caused by negative emotion. The inability to control one s emotions can harm their friends, decision making, and family. Wilson mainRead MoreAnalysis Of Fences By August Wilson Essay1837 Words   |  8 PagesFences written by August Wilson, the setting reveals the man that Troy Maxson really is. The set of the play represents Troy Maxson’s character within the play where him and his family reside in a fenced in yard of Troy’s front porch, brick house. He is proud to provide a home for his family. However, Troy has not accomplished this achievement on his own. Which takes a toll on Troy when he realizes he has nothing to show for his life which leads Troy to feel ashamed of himself. The protagonist, TroyRead MoreAnalysis Of August Wilsons Fences 1800 Words   |  8 PagesAugust Wilsons â€Å"Fences† takes us on a journey that transforms the 20th century impression of a Negro Family with Insatiability, Tenderness, and Sacrifice. The famous play is an autobiography of an American Negro man who loses his dreams for the people he loves. Fences demonstrates us what sacrifice looks li ke and how egocentricity still exist today. Fences takes place with a family in Pittsburgh from 1957 to 1965. The characters are Troy, Bono, Rose, Lyons, Gabriel, Cory, and Raynell. Fï  ¥Ã¯  ®Ã¯  £Ã¯  ¥Ã¯  ³Ã¯â‚¬  Ã¯  ©s importantRead MoreAnalysis Of `` Fences `` By August Wilson867 Words   |  4 Pagesa family. August Wilson’s â€Å"Fences† portrays extremely well what happens when a member of the family decides to forget his or her duties. The use of metaphors and symbols throughout the play such as baseball and fences, illustrate exactly why Troy Maxson as a family man was destined for disappointment. Rose, Troy’s wife in the play was the obvious voice of reason between the two; all she wanted was an interrupted happy family life. The fences that she put up were not physical fences but ratherRead MoreAnalysis Of Fences By August Wilson1656 Words   |  7 Pagesand typically a positive thing. There are times, however, when the people that children emulate are not the best examples society has to offer. In the play Fences Cory looks up to his dad when it comes to sports. However, by the end of the play the reader starts to notice that Troy is not the man to look up to. The plot in Fences by August Wilson is centered around an African American family that looks at the world a little differently by that I mean when Troy was young people believed blacks shouldn’tRead MoreAnalysis Of Fences By August Wilson1240 Words   |  5 Pagescontinued to pursue this goal despite the likeliness of failure? Would it still be worth it? Fences by August Wilson tells the story of an i mpoverished African-American family in the 1950s and the father Troy’s failed American Dream. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald illustrates the upper class in the Roaring Twenties and a man named Gatsby who also fails to attain his long-awaited dream. Both Wilson, in Fences, and Fitzgerald, in The Great Gatsby don’t believe solely in the dreamer or solely in theRead MoreAnalysis Of Fences By August Wilson1307 Words   |  6 PagesIn 1990, after Paramount Pictures and playwright August Wilson came to a disagreement about the adaptation of his play Fences, Wilson published an Op-Ed in Spin magazine titled â€Å"I Want a Black Director.† The Spike Lee edited piece discussed what Wilson saw as the penultimate disagreement between himself and the studio, stating specifically: â€Å"At the time of my last meeting with Paramount Pictures in January 1990, a well-known, highly respected white director wanted very much to direct the film

Courtly Love Essay - 1342 Words

Courtly Love â€Å"‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all† (Miriam-Webster 253). This quote has been used for centuries as both persuasion in favor of loving and also as comfort in times of heartbreak and loss. However, is this statement completely true, or does it offer false hope to anguishing lovers? In fact, are the rules and costs of loving and being loved so great that in fact it is actually better to never have loved at all? When pondering these questions, one must first consider the rules of loving and being loved to determine the physical, emotional, and psychological costs they entail. In order to do so, one could use Andreas Capellanus’ The Art of Courtly Love as a guideline for the rules of love.†¦show more content†¦Initially, the theme of courtly love surfaces in Undset’s story in the life of Lavrans Bjorgulfson. Lavrans, who belongs to highly regarded linage in Norway known as the sons of Lagmand, is the father of the story’s main character Kristin. Early on in his life â€Å"Lavrans was married at a young age; he was only twenty-eight...but after his marriage he lived quietly on his own estate...rather moody and melancholy and did not thrive among the people in the south† (Undset 3). In regards to this situation, Capellanus’ sixth rule of courtly love states, â€Å"Boys do not love until they arrive at the age of maturity† (Capellanus #6). After marrying his wife at an age considered young during his time, Lavrans is not mature enough respect his wife’s desire to settle in her native land and except the lifestyle he leads there. It is not until years later that Lavrans gains the maturity necessary to do so and is able to truly love his wife without holding any resentment towards her. As the story progresses, Lavrans’ wife Ragnfrid’s attraction to her husband is explained, â€Å"he was known as a strong and courageous man, but a peacef ul soul, honest and calm, humble in conduct but courtly in bearing† (Undset 4). Rule eighteen of The Art of Courtly Love says, â€Å"Good characterShow MoreRelatedThe Law of Chevalrie: Courtly Love Essay1240 Words   |  5 PagesIn order for there to be a set of laws established for the knights of the Anglo-Saxon era, the law of chevalrie was created. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has some insight into the rules of chivalry concerning one specifically: courtly love. The rules of â€Å"courtly love† require wit and deceit with an intention of good behind it. The chivalric rules in this aspect require a good and clever battle with words rather than swords. Key Passage: Smiling gently and courteously they made playful speech,Read More The Contradiction of Chivalry and Courtly Love Essays899 Words   |  4 PagesThe Contradiction of Chivalry and Courtly Love Two conflicting disciplines are prevalent throughout Arthurian Legend; that of chivalry and that of courtly love. The ideal of each clash throughout the medieval tales, and it is impossible to interfuse the two models for society. Chivalry is a masculine code, an aggressive discipline, whereas courtly love is based upon women - their needs, wants, and desires. The consistent problem if Lancelot and Guinevere’s adulterous relationship in differentRead MoreEssay on Courtly Love and Rondeau Form1428 Words   |  6 PagesCourtly Love and Rondeau Form Both Adieu mamour, adieu ma joye by Dufay and Le souvenir de vous me tue by Morton are the songs of the courtly love and, they are composed in the rondeau form. From one point of view, the form of the music, rondeau, may be too specific in terms of the melody order to express the poem of the courtly love which is about a mans feelings of distant love. However, in these two specific songs, Dufay and Morton used their clever criativities to let the repetition ofRead MoreA Brief Description of the Concept of Courtly Love1200 Words   |  5 Pagesdescription of the concept of â€Å"courtly love†, a few characteristics must be highlighted. Courtly love appeared in Provence (southern France) in the eleventh century. It consists on the expression of love in its most sincere, chivalric and noble form. It tended to be chaste and adulterous. It was also secret and, in general, always took place between the members of the higher classes of society. Andreas Capellanus defines it in The A rt of Courtly Love as â€Å"the pure love which binds together the heartsRead MoreEmpowering Women through Courtly Love Essay1153 Words   |  5 Pagesupon a man for her livelihood. However, in the world of courtly love, some could say that this was the first idea of goddess worship. Where the man is unable to survive without his beloved. As a result of this, her love causes him to achieve noble deeds, and become obedient to her in hopes of winning her affection. In The Lais of Marie de France, specifically Chevrefoil and Yonec, the author does not follow all of the rules of courtly love, yet she does illustrate to the reader the relationshipRead MoreCourtly Love Essay2157 Words   |  9 Pagesart of Courtly Love today? De Amore, written by Andreas Capellanus is a treatise about the art of courtly love. Douglas Kelly, in his article mentions that, â€Å"This disconcerting treatise provides us with the only true art of courtly love that we possess, but it also contains a very harsh attack against love. The antithetical attitude towards love is all the more astonishing because Andreas, although a churchman, devoted far more space to the instruction on how to love and the praise of love than toRead More A College Student’s Approach to Courtly Love Essay3059 Words   |  13 PagesA College Student’s Approach to Courtly Love The term courtly love is a highly ambiguous one. As it applies to works of literature, it spans over hundreds of years and over a half dozen countries. Hence finding its specific literary and allegorical definition and impact on literature is difficult. It is important to understand the roots of courtly love. To do so means that one gains a greater understanding of the most foundational element of any society- the relationship between men and womenRead MoreEssay about Courtly Love1043 Words   |  5 PagesDuring the Middle Ages, Courtly love was a code which prescribed the conduct between a lady and her lover (Britannica). The relationship of courtly love was very much like the feudal relationship between a knight and his liege. The lover serves his beloved, in the manner a servant would. He owes his devotion and allegiance to her, and she inspires him to perform noble acts of valor (Schwartz). Capellanus writes, in The Art of Courtly Love, â€Å"A true lover considers nothing goo d except what he thinksRead MoreThe Art of Courtly Love, Consolation of Philosophy, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight1454 Words   |  6 PagesThe Art of Courtly Love, Consolation of Philosophy, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Part 1: Consolation of Philosophy, written by Boethius 1. Boethius was a popular member of the senatorial family. He was a philosopher that agreed with Plato that government should be solely in the hands of wise men. After becoming consul, charges of treason were brought against him. He lived in a time in Roman society when everyone was mainly Christian. He was an Arian Christian and believed that ChristRead More Knighthood and Courtly Love in the Time of King Arthur Essay1753 Words   |  8 Pagesthat, Perceval loves him mother dearly. Perceval may not have been the most sophisticated man around, however, when he did know how to do something he did it exceedingly well. He could not forget his love for his God though. God was a huge factor for knights and their beliefs. â€Å"Perceval, the story relates, had lost his memory so totally that he no longer remembered God.† (Story of the Grail, 457) Once Perceval found his way back to God, he was seen as the better knight because of his love for Him. Ultimately

Reducing Guinea Worms in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa Sample Assignment

Question: Describe about the Reducing Guinea Worms in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa? Answer: Health Condition: In 1986 before the start of the campaign 3.5 million populations were estimated in 18 endemic countries of Asia, Africa who were infected by guinea worm disease and near about 120 millions of persons were at risk. Global important of the health condition: In 2009, fewer than 12,000 cases of this guinea worm disease were reported in the rest of the remaining endemic countries. Only three of the countries have reported approximately 1100 cases and the majority of the disease is reported from Sudan. Intervention or program: With financial and technical support led by United Nations Childrens Fund, the Carter Center, the World Health Organisation and the US Centres for Disease Control and prevention, Near about 20 countries implemented national eradication guinea worm program running through the health ministries. The first intervention of the campaigns includes maintaining the safe water by digging deep well, by using insecticides and purification of water by using cloth filters, education of health, management, and containment of case and surveillance. Cost-Effectiveness: The total cost of the whole program is near $87.5 million. According to the World Bank the campaign is very much cost effective. Economic rate based on the productivity of agriculture in return is approximately 29%. The cumulative cost estimated as of 2008 was near about $130 million. Impact: This eradication campaign had led to 99.8% decrease in the guinea worm disease. In 2009, fewer than 12000 cases were reported. In compared with the year 1986 near about 9 million cases of this disease have been decreased 1. As of 2009, this campaign has prevented near about 64 millions of cases of the population and reduced the number of endemic villages up to 90%. Two ways these environmental and organizational challenges were overcome. Environment Challenges: By protection of the water sources this challenges can be overcome. Prevalence of this disease can be reducing by digging deep wells or borehole wells. A proper safe drinking water service should be provided in order to meet the disease spreading 4. Improved Water sources should be provided to the agriculture in order to decrease this disease. Water can be filtered by the use of cloth filters and also insecticides can be used to overcome. Organizational Challenges: By reducing the poverty and hunger level of the countries this challenges can be decrease. Guinea worm disease is a sign of poverty as well as is a contributor of it 3. Mostly population of poor school education is associated with this disease. SO in order to overcome this challenge a universal primary education is needed to be achieve. By following this collaboration campaign program and implementing some of the principles many other diseases can be eradicated 2. Diseases like malaria can also be controlled by using insecticides in the locality, by providing safe drinking water etc. References: 1. Braune E, Xu Y. The Role of Ground Water in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ground Water. 2010;48(2):229-238. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2009.00557.x. 2. Claude Saha J. Reducing poverty in sub-Saharan Africa: the need for participatory governance. Development in Practice. 2008;18(2):267-272. doi:10.1080/09614520801899192. 3. Fenwick A. The global burden of neglected tropical diseases. Public Health. 2012;126(3):233-236. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2011.11.015. 4. Jones A, Becknell S, Withers P et al. Logistics of Guinea Worm Disease Eradication in South Sudan. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2014;90(3):393-401. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.13-0110.

Accounting for Business Decisions Giant Construction and Material

Question: Describe about the Accounting for Business Decisions for Giant Construction and Material. Answer: Introduction Boral Limited is a giant construction and material company based out of Sydney. The company enjoys the position of a market leader in the Australian market with regards to building and construction material. The company has long standing ties with USG Boral of USA. The company boasts at being the largest supplier of building material in all the respective Australian states. The company has full time employee strength of about 8,356 employees which tend to provide services to various construction plants situated all around Australia (Boral, 2015). The company is highly customer centric which is one reason for its continued success in the space and leadership position in the market. The company has presence in multiple geographies such as Australia, Asia and USA. The company has a host of competitors in the space like Holcim Ltd, RMC Group plc, James Hardie Industries Limited, CSR Limited, Aggregate Industries etc. (Boral, 2015). The given report aims to review the financial performance of the company in FY2015 in comparison to the previous year using selected elements from the three financial statements namely income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement. The relevant data has been collected and analysed to yield meaningful and relevant conclusion with regards to the companys future. Comparative financial analysis - Boral Limited A. Statement of Financial Position This is one of the key components of the financial report and tends to present information about the outstanding liabilities, assets and shareholders equity on a given date which is usually the last date of the financial year (Damodaran, 2008) The requisite entries from the balance sheet are highlighted below (Boral, 2013;2014;2015). Current assets may be defined as those assets which tend to be liquid and hence are readily convertible into cash in the short term i.e. before one year. The various components of current assets tend to be cash and cash equivalents, inventory, account receivables, any prepaid expenses and all investments in securities undertaken by the firm which are liquid and hence convertible into cash (Petty et. al, 2015). On the other hand, non-current assets are those assets which are meant to derive benefits for the company over a period of time and thus are charged a depreciation for value erosion over the estimated useful life. Typical examples in this regard include PPE(Plant, Property Equipment), Land, Intangible assets (Marcus Kane, 2013). Current liabilities may be defined as those liabilities which the company needs to settle during the short term whose horizon typically is taken as one year or current financial year. The typical examples would include account payables, tax liabilities, temporary liabilities, wages payable and other dues which are expected to be settled within one year. The non-current liabilities tend to include those liabilities which are payable over the long term i.e. over a period stretching into multiple financial years (Northington, 2016). Another relevant aspect is the shareholders equity which represents the amount of funds that the company has derived from investors through share issue. The major components in this regards are share capital along with the earnings that have been retained (Seal, Garrison and Noreen, 2012). On the basis of the given table, it may be derived that there has been an increase in the current asset in FY2015 unlike FY2014 when there was a decrease. This augers well for the company as it has sufficient liquid resources so as to meet its liabilities in the short term and invest on the business. In regards to non-current assets, there has been an increase in the current asset in FY2015 unlike FY2014 when there was a decrease. This stands well for the future of the company as investment is being made which would lead to higher returns in the future. Further, in relation to the current liabilities, the trend has continued from FY2014 to FY2015 but the severity of the same has enhanced as the company owes less to the various stakeholders as compared to the previous year. Besides, there has been a trend reversal with regards to the long term liabilities as these have increased by 36.25% in FY2015 as compared to a decrease of 43.37% in FY2014. This is indicative of a trend whereby the company is converting the short term liabilities into long term liabilities by availing term loans. Also, in relation to the shareholders equity, the table indicates an increase in stakeholders equity in FY2015 and in percentage terms, this exceeds the corresponding increase in FY2014. This is attributed to a higher contribution from the retained earnings in FY2015 compared to the previous year owing to higher profits earned by the company in the current year i.e. FY2015. From the above discussion on selected entries relating to the financial position of the position, it would be fair to conclude that the companys financial conditions seems sound with no liquidity concerns looming either in the short term or the long term. B. Stockholders Equity The stockholders equity may be defined as the residual claim of the owner during the liquidation of the company, once the debtors have been settled. The key components include paid-in capital, retained earnings along with the common stock although variations are also noticed. The money that the company has raised through the issue of the common shares is known as the paid-in-capital (Bhimani et. al., 2008). Further, retail earnings are referred to as the surplus earnings remaining from the net profits of the company after dividends on both preference and ordinary shares has been paid. Besides, treasury stock or common stock refers to the money that the company spends in relation to repurchasing the shares but does not intend to withdraw the same from capital stock of shares that it has (Drury, 2008). The movements in the various components of the stockholders equity are summarized in the table shown below (Boral, 2013;2014;2015). It is evident from the table demonstrated above that common stock has seen a decline in FY2015 while in FY2014 there was a small increase. This may be attributed to the companys share being undervalued due to which the stock in the open market has decreased. Additionally, in relation to the retaining earnings, a higher % increase in FY2015 as compared to FY2014 is indicative of higher share of profits have been diverted to retaining earnings of the company in the current year (FY2015) as compared to the previous one (FY2014). C. Statement of Profit and Loss Profit and Loss statement also known as income statement is a key component of the financial statement which to capture the revenue obtained by the company during the given period and the various expenses incurred to obtain this revenue. Further, based on the revenue and the related expenses, the net profit or loss may be derived (Brigham Ehrhardt, 2013). The five major constituents of this statement are operating revenues, COGS or Cost of Goods Sold, total operating expenses, non-operational gains or losses and the EPS or Earnings per share (Christensen et al., 2013). The operating revenue for the company is the revenue that the company derives from its routine activities and usually arises on the basis of the underlying product or service that the company sells. Besides, COGS refers to the various expenses that the company has to incur to make those goods or provide service and include costs such as raw material costs and labour costs. The total operating expenses refer to the expenses relating to the business and are indirect costs which are usually not related directly with the good or product (Parrino Kidwell, 2011). Additionally, at times gains or losses may be realised by the company on account of non-operating activities such as disposal of a particular business or asset and these are termed as extraordinary events as these tend to isolated incidents but may have a significant impact for the company financials. EPS is a critical element which is closely related to the market price as the investors tend to view profits not In absolute terms but rather in regards to profit generated on a per share basis (Brealey, Myers Allen, 2008). The relevant figures from the profit and loss statement are summarised below (Boral, 2013;2014;2015). It is apparent on the basis of the table above, that there has been a higher decline in revenues in FY2015 (4%) as compared to that in FY2014 (1%). This may be related to weak trading conditions that are persistent in 2015. However, the COGS for FY2015 has witnessed a decline of 3% as compared to an increase of 3% in FY2014. This augers well for the company and enables higher gross margins. The credit for this goes to the various measures undertaken by the company to reduce their costs and enhance margins (Needles and Crosson, 2013). Besides, the quest for cost reduction and surplus waste reduction of the company is also visible at the level of the total expense which have witnessed a decrease of 5% in FY2015 which even though lesser than lesser than corresponding decrease of 7% in FY2014 but still is a healthy trend for the company which is likely to enhance the profitability margins for the companys operations. The profitability of the company in FY2015 is being adversely affected by the decline of 81% in non-operating income in FY2015 while in the previous year i.e. FY2014, there was a corresponding increase of 10%. This drop may be explained on the basis of less dividend income and the various losses leaped by the company from the investments that it had made. Further, there has been a decrease in EPS in FY2015 by about 36% while the corresponding change in FY2014 was -20%. This is a worrying aspect for the company as the profitability seems to be continually reduced despite higher margins especially at the gross level.. D. Statement of Cash Flow The cash flow statement is a pivotal elements of the annual financial statements which tend to represent the cash position of the business and is imperative since revenues need to be converted into cash and also because the company needs to prudently manage the condition of financial shortfalls. CFO or Cash flow from operating activities tends to indicate the cash that is generated from the operating activities i.e. routine business of the company (Graham Smart, 2012). A positive CFO reflects positively from the company and infact a positive CFO by some stakeholders is considered more vital than the net profits. Further, the effect of the inventory stocks, accounts receivables is also reflected in the CFO value (Geurard, 2013). The Cash Flow from Financing or CFF is another aspect of the cash flow statement which tends to indicate the amounts of funds that the company has borrowed and the extent to which repayment has been done. Further emphasis is also on the exact mechanism of rai sing incremental money and paying it back. This also presents a fair idea about the underlying liquidity of the firm (Petty et. al., 2015).. Besides, Cash Flow from Investing (CFI) is indicative of the amount being invested into the business particularly fixed assets and also presents an account of the disposal of certain assets which may not central to the business and hence are disposal off. An increased outflow in the CFI may hint at a positive future for the company as the investment that is being undertaken currently would enable the company to earn superior returns in the future (Damodaran, 2008). The table indicating the requisite balances from the cash flow statement is summarised below (Boral, 2013;2014;2015). It is apparent from the above that there has been a decline of 18% in the operating cash flow in FY2015 which is on expected lines considering the weak economic conditions that are persisting both in Australia and also globally, However, in FY2014, the corresponding operating cash flows witnessed increase by 64% over the previous year. The net cash outflow from financing has witnessed a huge decline of about 52% in the current year i.e. FY2015 which is clearly indicative of the reduced need for financing as the new projects are being deferred, Additionally, the cash flow from investing is undergoing negative growth indicating that there has overall spending by the company on the fixed assets which augers well for the company for the future when the trading environment would improve and company would see growth (Kane Marcus, 2013). Conclusion It may be fair to conclude based on the analysis above that the current financial position of the company seems sound as there is no liquidity crunch or insolvency fears for the company. Further, the company is acting in a prudent manner by substituting its short term liabilities with long term liabilities which is preferable in a difficult trading environment which the company is currently witnessing. However, on the profitability front, there has been a continued decline in the profits which are also being reflected in the EPS and infact this trend has worsened in FY2015 despite the company having higher gross margins in FY2015. However, with regards to the cash position, even though it has deteriorated, the concerning factor is the operational cash flow which needs to pick up going ahead. Recommendation It may be recommended that in order to reduce its short term financing need and reduce the overall working capital required, the company should take proactive measure for reducing the value of operating cycle. Also, the retained earnings which are currently essentially lying idle must be deployed in some productive use so as to enhance the returns for the shareholders especially at a time when the core business is also underperforming. In order to provide a boost to the declining profitability, emphasis should be on more prudent measure with regards to cost management as enhancing the revenue seems difficult in the current business environment where demand is lagging (Northington, 2011). However, the company can make attempts to increase the revenue by lowering the prices ins selected products. This would effectively enable an improvement in the operational cash flow which has witnessed a significant decline. Further, the company should go ahead with its strategy of converting the short term debt into long term debt and may also raise additional funds through the equity route whenever the markets are opportune so that a fair price can be obtained through the share issue. In order to strengthen the cash position, the non-core assets of the company may also be liquidated so that money is diverted only in core business which company wants to continue in the long run (Parrino Kidwell, 2011). References Bhimani, A, Horngren, CT, Datar, SM Foster, G 2008, Management and Cost Accounting 4th eds., Prentice Hall/Financial Times, Harlow Brealey, R, Myers, S Allen, F 2008, Principles of Corporate Finance, 9th eds., McGraw Hill Publications, New York Boral Limited 2013 Annual Report. [Online]. Available at: https://www.boral.com.au/Images/common/pdfs/annual-reports/Boral-Annual-Report-2013.pdf (Accessed on 23 September 2016). Boral Limited 2015 Annual Report. [Online]. Available at: https://www.boral.com.au/Images/common/pdfs/annual-reports/Boral-Annual-Report-2015.pdf (Accessed on 23 September 2016). Boral Limited 2014 Annual Report. [Online]. Available at: https://www.boral.com.au/Images/common/pdfs/annual-reports/Boral-Annual-Report-2014.pdf (Accessed on 23 September 2016). Brigham, EF Ehrhardt, MC 2013. Financial Management: Theory Practice, 14th eds., South-Western College Publications, New York Christensen, M, Drew, M, Blanchi, R Ross, S 2013, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 6th eds., McGraw Hill, New York Drury, C 2008, Management and Cost Accounting, 7th eds., Thomson Learning, London Damodaran, A 2008, Corporate Finance, 2nd edn, Wiley Publications, London Graham, J Smart, S 2012, Introduction to corporate finance, 5th eds., South-Western Cengage Learning, Sydney Guerard, J 2013,Introduction to financial forecasting in investment analysis, 6th eds., Springer. New York Kane, B.Z. Marcus, A.J. 2013. Essentials of Investment, 9th edn, McGraw-Hill International, Singapore Northington, S 2011, Finance, 6th eds., Ferguson, New York Parrino, R Kidwell, D 2011, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 3rd eds., Wiley Publications, London Petty, JW, Titman, S, Keown, AJ, Martin, P, Martin JD Burrow, M 2015, Financial Management: Principles and Applications, 6th eds., Pearson Australia, Sydney. Seal, WB, Garrison, RH and Noreen, EW 2012, Management Accounting, 4th eds., McGraw -Hill Higher Education, Maidenhead

John Constable Essays - John Constable, Babergh, Constable, Flatford

John Constable What made Constable different from the majority of his contemporaries was his attitude towards the things that he saw. He was not, like so many other landscape artists, a conscious seeker of the picturesque. As an artist he was virtually self-taught and his periods of formal study amounted to little more than process of directive discipline. His real master was his own sensitive and perceptive eye (Peacock, 15). It was through a study of nature rather than by a study of academic principles that his artistic philosophy was evolved. It was at East Bergholt on the Suffolk side of the river Stour on 11 June 1776 that artist John Constable was born. The house where John was born is now disappeared, but its prosperous Georgian solidity exists for us in a number of his paintings (Peacock, 15). Golding, Jonh's father, was a miller and the owner of water mills at Flatford and Dedham, and two windmills at East Bergholt (Taylor, 10). The Constables were a large family, John was the fourth of six children. Though much is not recorded of John's first school experince , he was sent to Lavenham at age seven (Shirley, 39). There like most of the pupils, ill-used, he finished it in Dedham grammar school under a Dr. Thomas Grimwood. John did not do well in his studies to justify seeking a career in the church like his father had wished (Taylor, 11). In fact, Constable's only record of excellence at Dedham was in penmanship, and so he was quickly directed into the family business, becoming locally known as ?the handsome miller? (Shirly, 39). For a year John worked in his father's mills and so acquired first-hand knowledge of the miller 's trade. In the mills what John learned probably stood him in a better stead that all the formal instruction in art he would ever receive (Peacock, 16). In 1796 he went on an apprenticeship in London. John apprenticeship to John Thomas Smith, a draughtsman and engraver, known as ?Antiquity Smith?. Constable assisted by making sketches that might be used as subjects for his work. Golding Constable grew impatient and dismissed his son's taste for painting as a young man's whim, and with the need for help in the mills, Golding summons John back to Bergholt (Taylor, 17). To John, this summons could not have been more deviating, but fate was kinder than he would have expected. On February 4, 1800, Constable was admitted to the Royal Academy as a student. Golding Constable would give the allowance to cover the expenses, but it would be three years before John would win his father's consent to his becoming once and for all a painter and not a miller. Consent would be given in June of 1802, and in 1802 John exhibited for the first time at the Academy. He had made his start, but it brought neither fame nor recognition (Peacock, 18). In 1806, David Pike Watts, Constable's uncle, paid for him to make a sketching on a tour in the lakes. The tour would prove to evoke a sense of the sublime and provide him with the subjects to feed his imagination and extend his skills. Constable's legacy of the two month lake tour compromises a number of broadly washed but muddy watercolors drawins, and a few paintings (Baskett, 8). For Constable, watercolor was chiefly used, as a kind of shorthand technique by which the effects of nature could be noted more swiftly and accurately than was sometimes possible in the more opaque medium of oil. Light, he found, could be captured well enough on a sheet of white paper. The translucent tones of watercolor laid in with broad and broken washes could admirably reproduce the varied patterning of sky and clouds, as well as the forms of trees and the play of sunlight over dewy grass. With Constable it is the sensa tion of the moment that counts, especially in the layer of watercolors. For John, light becomes the means by which reality may be heightened (Taylor, 20). In the next few years John produced a rich output of oil sketches. Spending most of his time in East Bergholt, the first ten plates in this

Quotation Marks The Right Way to Use Punctuation Inside of Quotes

Quotation Marks The Right Way to Use Punctuation Inside of Quotes Quotation marks ( ) are a beloved form of punctuation in the English language, used to indicate a verbatim report on what someone said, and used in a great deal of business writing. They are often misused. This article will explain some punctuation rules and clear up some misconceptions held by many about proper usage of quotation marks with other punctuation marks. When to Put Periods and Commas Inside Quotes – The United States In the United States, commas and periods ALWAYS go INSIDE the quotation marks, whether or not the comma is actually part of the quotation. Here are some examples from some recent discussions on LinkedIn. Don’t expect this rule to be logical: CORRECT (in US): E.g. stands for â€Å"exempli gratia.† CORRECT (in US): As for [the phrase] â€Å"graduating college,† I’m not sure when it became correct. INCORRECT (in US): You are my â€Å"go-to person†. INCORRECT (in US): I was unaware of the difference [between initialisms and acronyms] until I heard it on the NPR program â€Å"A Way With Words†. INCORRECT (in US): â€Å"Its† is the possessive form of â€Å"it†, and is rare among possessives†¦ When to Put Periods and Commas Inside Quotes – The UK Australia Leave logic to the Brits. In the UK and Australia, they keep punctuation inside the quotation marks only when it is part of the quotation. For example: CORRECT (in UK): I was unaware of the difference [between initialisms and acronyms] until I heard it on the NPR program â€Å"A Way With Words†. CORRECT (in UK): You are my â€Å"go-to person†. CORRECT (in UK): â€Å"Its† is the possessive form of â€Å"it†, and is rare among possessives†¦ INCORRECT (In UK): E.g. stands for â€Å"exempli gratia.† INCORRECT (in UK): As for [the phrase] â€Å"graduating college,† I’m not sure when it became correct. When the Period or Comma is Part of the Quotation If the punctuation mark is part of the quotation, always put it inside the quotation marks! INCORRECT (everywhere): It is written, Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. CORRECT (everywhere): It is written, Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Punctuating Letter Names Some grammarians say we should use the logical way of punctuating in the case of letters. For example: The eighth letter of the alphabet is â€Å"h†. Name three words that start with an â€Å"e†, and three that start with a â€Å"k†. I prefer to avoid this issue by italicizing the names of letters: The eighth letter of the alphabet is h. Name three words that start with an e, and three that start with a k. Exclamation Points and Question Marks When it comes to exclamation points and question marks, we all get to be logical. If the quote is a question or exclamation, include the punctuation inside the quotation marks. If it’s not, don’t. She asked, â€Å"Which way is it to the theater?† Did she say, â€Å"I absolutely love the theater, darling†? I’m so excited to see â€Å"In the Heights†! I get chills every time I hear King Richard declare, â€Å"Off with his head!† Semicolons and Colons Here’s some more good news: We get to be logical with semicolons and colons too! The following items go in the bin labeled â€Å"Paper Recycling†: magazines, newspapers, envelopes, and clean cardboard. Put magazines, newspapers, and envelopes in the bin labeled â€Å"Paper Recycling†; do not put paper towels, tissues, or greasy pizza boxes in there! (It’s so much fun to sneak a public service announcement into a grammar blog!) What if Im Canadian? All bets are off (or on, as the case may be), in Canada. Do it the way you think your readers will expect you to do it, or the way your editor requires you to do it. As far as I can tell, you get to choose unless under prescription by someone else. There are many more subtleties to the use of quotation marks. If you have questions, ask The Essay Expert. I’m happy to provide my most educated answer. If youre not already on our Grammar Writing Tips e-list and youd like more tips like this, sign up here. 😀 Log in to Reply Marji Yablon says: February 10, 2010 at 6:58 pm Up until today, I never doubted that punctuation any punctuation that wasnt part of a quote should go outside the quotation marks. After reading your post, out of curiosity, I skimmed some of my published articles. In every one of them, that little habit of mine had been corrected, so that it all agreed with the rules as you have explained them. In any back-and-forth Id done with an editor, I had failed to notice that change or maybe it had come later. So, thanks. From now on, I can give them their punctuation correctly from the start. But perhaps some day, Ill write the original version of something for a British publication. Then, Ill be able to both BE correct and FEEL correct! Log in to Reply Laurie Price says: April 24, 2012 at 8:34 am Re: What if Im Canadian? There is something called mid-Atlantic style, which I think of as a euphemism for Canadian. I have Canadian clients who request that I use: The Economist Styleguide which includes your suggestions for quote marks (in fact, their section on quote marks is fairly extensive), and for spelling issues, The New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors. My Canadian friends have verified this they spell analyze as analyse, and categorize as categorise, yet realize, memorize and finalize are spelled how we would spell them. Log in to Reply Mike says: March 20, 2013 at 1:44 pm Per British punctuation, are these correct? 1. I dont like his pithy sentence It is what it is. (Full stop outside?) 2. The sign said Keep off the Grass. (Full stop outside?) 3. I like the old adage A stitch in time saves nine. (Full stop outside?) 4. His email said, There will be a mandatory meeting on January 1, 2013 at Town Hall. Please be punctual. (Full stop outside?) 5. The signs Beware of dog, Swim at your own risk, Trespassers will be arrested and Shoplifters will be prosecuted were posted throughout the village. (Commas outside mid-sentence quotes?) Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: March 20, 2013 at 1:50 pm I believe the periods should be inside the quotation marks in #1, #3 and #4 since the periods are part of the quoted sentences. Log in to Reply Mike says: March 20, 2013 at 1:51 pm One more, please. Im thinking that No 2 below is correct with the ending punctuation like this (.) – the full stop inside both the double and single quote per British style. Am I right? If not, which is preferred and why? 1) Mike said, I heard Judith say, Im not interested in the management position. 2) Mike said, I heard Judith say, Im not interested in the management position. 3) Mike said, I heard Judith say, Im not interested in the management position. Thank you. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: March 20, 2013 at 2:22 pm Again, since the quoted sentences include periods, I would put the periods inside the quotation marks. I would choose #2: Mike said, I heard Judith say, Im not interested in the management position. In the United States, it would be: Mike said, I heard Judith say, Im not interested in the management position.' Log in to Reply Mike says: March 20, 2013 at 11:05 pm Thank you. Last questions on this. Again, per *British* style, would the commas separate the questions after the exclamation points and question marks? 1) Barry hated his wifes How much did you drink?, How late were you out? and Did you cheat on me? questions. 2) When she screamedGet the hell out of here!, the children got scared. 3) When he said, Be careful what you wish for, most people listened. (Comma outside the the single quote after the word for?) 4) I called his mother a purveyor of malicious quips. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: March 21, 2013 at 12:43 am My best take on these: #1: I believe this sentence is correctly punctuated. #2: I dont think the comma is necessary here at all. #3: The comma here should be inside the quotation mark because it replaces the period. I know, its confusing. #4: Why are there two sets of quotation marks here? Log in to Reply Mike says: March 21, 2013 at 5:50 am Thank you. Log in to Reply Mike says: March 21, 2013 at 5:59 am In lieu of #4 (to more accurately depict the example), I believe this to be correct. Of course, I dont want to use italics here. Again, this is per BrE style. Im not sure whether I can define the word tergiversate. When they asked me to define the word tergiversate, I couldnt. (Comma outside of tergiversate mid-sentence as exampled?) Thats all I have on this subject. Youve been great, and I thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. Have a nice day! Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: March 21, 2013 at 9:58 am In both these examples again I dont see the need for the double sets of quotation marks! Do you mean to ask about a sentence where someone said these things? He said, Im not sure whether I can define the word tergiversate. She complained, When they asked me to define the word tergiversate, I couldnt. Sometimes a better solution is to write the sentence in a different way so as to avoid these issues! For instance, He said that he was not sure whether he could define the word tergiversate. Log in to Reply Mike says: March 21, 2013 at 1:29 pm Yes. All I wanted to know was if somebody said it, would the sentence end as I had it – (.) Thank you for your time. Log in to Reply Avi Green says: May 29, 2018 at 1:59 pm Thank you! Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: May 30, 2018 at 11:14 am Youre welcome, Avi! Log in to Reply

Effective Project Financial Management Tools Case Study

Effective Project Financial Management Tools - Case Study Example However the above mentioned studies will not be discussed in details. This paper will only evaluate the effectiveness of using cost estimations and budget in financial management project of the two companies. Project financial management is a process which brings together planning, budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, internal control, auditing, procurement, disbursement and the physical performance of the project with the aim of managing project resources properly and achieving the project's development objectives (world bank group). Financial management is the main character for the success of a project process. An accurate and relevant financial information provides a basis for better decisions, thus speeding up the progress of the project and the availability of the funds. An effective financial management provides the following: An effective financial management system is vital for projects because of the need to deliver services to target groups quickly over a large geographic area to a wide variety of stakeholders. One of the tools in financial management that is widely used is the Cost estimation and budget. Budgets are the financial work plan for projects, programs and organizations. Budgets that work are based on realistic assumptions, use good cost estimates and come from organizational processes that include board and staff members (J. Rouse, P.Rouse). Project financial management processes are organized into five groups of one or more processes each: Initiating processes-authorizing the project or phase. Planning processes-defining and refining objectives and selecting the best of the alternative courses of action to attain the objectives that the project was undertaken to address. Executing processes-coordinating people and other resources to carry out the plan. Controlling processes-ensuring that project objectives are met by monitoring and measuring progress regularly to identify variances from plan so that corrective action can be taken when necessary. Closing processes-formalizing acceptance of the project or phase and bringing it to an orderly end. Cost Estimations and Budgets In the financial management done by the ISS (International Space Station) for NASA has shown that the cost growth is contributed to many factors that are beyond the control of the project manager. The Project Manager was not able to clearly communicate the justification for his budget requests and the rationale for the cost growth because NASA has lacked a single standardized accounting system and the program has not developed and maintained a baseline lifecycle cost estimate. Past efforts to control costs through budgetary constraints have failed to achieve their stated purpose and have probably exacerbated the cost growth. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) was not able to determine the reasons for the cost increases because the data is not readily available from the Federal Highway Administration.