Waiting for Godot Major Themes

Ralph Waldo Emerson, famous literary writer, once inscribed, â€Å"Much of human life is lost in waiting† (Richardson, 24). Individuals cannot escape the waiting in daily life even if they wished so. Waiting is inscribed into society, from waiting for a bus ride, beverages at a favourite coffee house, items to be checked out at a grocery store or simply, arriving to a location too early for an occasion to occur. In Samuel Beckett’s legendary play Waiting for Godot, the main characters Estragon and Vladimir obsess about waiting for the mysterious individual Godot to arrive. From this waiting, scholars have created many literary analysis of the play the most persuasive being political, religious and existentialist in nature. The Cold War took place over decades, beginning in 1947 and concluding in 1991. The word cold is not only used in the title of this war, but also inscribed deeply into it. The war did not feature guns, bullets and soldiers, instead the war was fought aloofly between communist countries in things like sport events, propaganda and technological opposition. The Cold War appears as a metaphor for many scholars in Waiting for Godot. The characters hold a lot of emotion but never seem to really do anything with it, except discuss it at length. More than once the word nothing is used. There is often â€Å"nothing to do† (Beckett, 13) and â€Å"nothing to show† (Beckett, 4) and the character’s world stays the same. Scholars also point to the play as being Marxist in nature. Godot is the Capitalist full of power and who separates himself from the working class, the other characters are the working class, without personal purpose or goals. Pozzo and Lucky serve as an example of the Marxism analysis as well, Pozzo illustrating that to the Capitalist to labour. â€Å"Pozzo is blind to what is happening around him and Lucky is mute to protest his treatment† (Hutching, 68) serves as evidence of this relationship. Political interpretations abound in this play as do religious ones. The character in which the play focuses on yet never makes an actual appearance is Godot. It is imperative for the religious examination of the play to note that the root word of Godot is God. Perhaps this is what spun the belief that Godot is a representation of God. Religious references are apparent in the play right from the beginning. Estragon asks Vladimir what he wishes from Godot and offers as a suggestion in his probing â€Å"A kind of prayer? † to which Vladimir replies â€Å"Precisely† (Beckett, 14). Estragon and Vladimir discuss religion and specific bible passages during their wait. For example, they speak about a biblical reference of two thieves. â€Å"Our Saviour. Two thieves. One is supposed to †¦ have been saved and the other . . . he searches for the contrary of saved) . . . damned† Vladimir states and when Estragon asks what the thief is saved from, Vladimir responds â€Å"Hell† (Beckett, 64). It is interesting to note that in the bible passage, both thieves are saved from hell and like the thieves, Estragon and Vladimir wish to be saved from what Estragon later claims is â€Å"hell† (Beckett, 89). God and Godot also share a physical attribute; both have beards. Lucky states that Godot has a â€Å"white beard† (Beckett, 43) and later, the character of the boy offers that Godot also has a beard. Beckett frequently disappeared â€Å"into a trance† (Knowlson, 401) when writing and many followers of the religious analysis have accepted this as evidence that Beckett was unaware of his attentions, thus influenced by a â€Å"higher power† (Knowlson, 232). Strong appointments to this are those who see the play as Existentialist in nature. Existentialism, as defined by Oxford English Dictionary is, â€Å"The individual's unique position as a self-determining agent responsible for the authenticity of his or her choices. † The central idea of existentialism is that humans are accountable for designing, implementing and adhering to their own destiny. Thus, destiny is not God made, it is person made. Estragon and Vladimir have decided to stay in the dreary physical setting of isolation and containment. Estragon seems to offer readers a deeper thought process then his quiet and reliant friend Vladimir. Vladimir states, â€Å"All I know is that the hours are long, †¦ under these conditions, and constrain us to beguile them with proceedings which – how shall I say – which may at first sight seem reasonable, until they become a habit†¦ you follow my reasoning? † (Beckett, 91). This quote is powerful, suggesting that filling one’s day with actions just to pass time such as removing a boot as Estragon did, is suitable for a short period but unacceptable for a long course of time. Although he states this, Vladimir does not leave the scene. Pozzo and Lucky, two of the three only people Estragon and Vladimir have contact with, have a slave and master relationship, but neither chooses to step outside this, instead the two characters grow deeply dependant on one another. Vladimir and Estragon go as far as to contemplate suicide, but do not proceed to do so. Thus, all the characters in Waiting for Godot, could live an altered life, with enhanced opportunities, but choose to stay frozen in the dark. under these conditions, and constrain us to beguile them with proceedings which – how shall I say – which may at first sight seem reasonable, until they become a habit. You may say it is to prevent our reason from foundering. No doubt. But has it not long been straying in the night without end of the abyssal depths? Academics have long linked Waiting for Godot and Beckett himself, to the existential movement. The greatest argument followers of the theory have is that Beckett never discloses Godot being a symbol of God, instead, he greatly declined the claim stating â€Å"that if by Godot I had meant God I would [have] said God, and not Godot† (Knowlson, 412). â€Å"Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse type of suffering†, Paulo Coelho, celebrated Brazilian author wrote. The internal and external suffering which Estragon and Vladimir seem spellbound in is dreadful yet alluring in the same instant. Dreadful because the characters and audience wait for relief and alluring because they are enticed about what could be but is not. The waiting in Waiting for Godot has long stood as a secrecy requiring solving and the theories of politics, existentialism and religion offer convincing analyses to this literary puzzle. No one but Beckett himself and perhaps not even him, comprehend the genuine significance of this play, thus, like Estragon and Vladimir, scholars and audiences alike are caught waiting for a conclusion that may never arrive.

A Game of Thrones Chapter Fifty-two

Jon Othor,† announced Ser Jaremy Rykker, â€Å"beyond a doubt. And this one was Jafer Flowers.† He turned the corpse over with his foot, and the dead white face stared up at the overcast sky with blue, blue eyes. â€Å"They were Ben Stark's men, both of them.† My uncle's men, Jon thought numbly. He remembered how he'd pleaded to ride with them. Gods, I was such a green boy. If he had taken me, it might be me lying here . . . Jafer's right wrist ended in the ruin of torn flesh and splintered bone left by Ghost's jaws. His right hand was floating in a jar of vinegar back in Maester Aemon's tower. His left hand, still at the end of his arm, was as black as his cloak. â€Å"Gods have mercy,† the Old Bear muttered. He swung down from his garron, handing his reins to Jon. The morning was unnaturally warm; beads of sweat dotted the Lord Commander's broad forehead like dew on a melon. His horse was nervous, rolling her eyes, backing away from the dead men as far as her lead would allow. Jon led her off a few paces, fighting to keep her from bolting. The horses did not like the feel of this place. For that matter, neither did Jon. The dogs liked it least of all. Ghost had led the party here; the pack of hounds had been useless. When Bass the kennelmaster had tried to get them to take the scent from the severed hand, they had gone wild, yowling and barking, fighting to get away. Even now they were snarling and whimpering by turns, pulling at their leashes while Chett cursed them for curs. It is only a wood, Jon told himself, and they're only dead men. He had seen dead men before . . . Last night he had dreamt the Winterfell dream again. He was wandering the empty castle, searching for his father, descending into the crypts. Only this time the dream had gone further than before. In the dark he'd heard the scrape of stone on stone. When he turned he saw that the vaults were opening, one after the other. As the dead kings came stumbling from their cold black graves, Jon had woken in pitch-dark, his heart hammering. Even when Ghost leapt up on the bed to nuzzle at his face, he could not shake his deep sense of terror. He dared not go back to sleep. Instead he had climbed the Wall and walked, restless, until he saw the light of the dawn off to the cast. It was only a dream. I am a brother of the Night's Watch now, not a frightened boy. Samwell Tarly huddled beneath the trees, half-hidden behind the horses. His round fat face was the color of curdled milk. So far he had not lurched off to the woods to retch, but he had not so much as glanced at the dead men either. â€Å"I can't look,† he whispered miserably. â€Å"You have to look,† Jon told him, keeping his voice low so the others would not hear. â€Å"Maester Aemon sent you to be his eyes, didn't he? What good are eyes if they're shut?† â€Å"Yes, but . . . I'm such a coward, Jon.† Jon put a hand on Sam's shoulder. â€Å"We have a dozen rangers with us, and the dogs, even Ghost. No one will hurt you, Sam. Go ahead and look. The first look is the hardest.† Sam gave a tremulous nod, working up his courage with a visible effort. Slowly he swiveled his head. His eyes widened, but Jon held his arm so he could not turn away. â€Å"Ser Jaremy,† the Old Bear asked gruffly, â€Å"Ben Stark had six men with him when he rode from the Wall. Where are the others?† Ser Jaremy shook his head. â€Å"Would that I knew.† Plainly Mormont was not pleased with that answer. â€Å"Two of our brothers butchered almost within sight of the Wall, yet your rangers heard nothing, saw nothing. Is this what the Night's Watch has fallen to? Do we still sweep these woods?† â€Å"Yes, my lord, but—† â€Å"Do we still mount watches?† â€Å"We do, but—† â€Å"This man wears a hunting horn.† Mormont pointed at Othor. â€Å"Must I suppose that he died without sounding it? Or have your rangers all gone deaf as well as blind?† Ser Jaremy bristled, his face taut with anger. â€Å"No horn was blown, my lord, or my rangers would have heard it. I do not have sufficient men to mount as many patrols as I should like . . . and since Benjen was lost, we have stayed closer to the Wall than we were wont to do before, by your own command.† The Old Bear grunted. â€Å"Yes. Well. Be that as it may.† He made an impatient gesture. â€Å"Tell me how they died.† Squatting beside the dead man he had named Jafer Flowers, Ser Jaremy grasped his head by the scalp. The hair came out between his fingers, brittle as straw. The knight cursed and shoved at the face with the heel of his hand. A great gash in the side of the corpse's neck opened like a mouth, crusted with dried blood. Only a few ropes of pale tendon still attached the head to the neck. â€Å"This was done with an axe.† â€Å"Aye,† muttered Dywen, the old forester. â€Å"Belike the axe that Othor carried, m'lord.† Jon could feel his breakfast churning in his belly, but he pressed his lips together and made himself look at the second body. Othor had been a big ugly man, and he made a big ugly corpse. No axe was in evidence. Jon remembered Othor; he had been the one bellowing the bawdy song as the rangers rode out. His singing days were done. His flesh was blanched white as milk, everywhere but his hands. His hands were black like Jafer's. Blossoms of hard cracked blood decorated the mortal wounds that covered him like a rash, breast and groin and throat. Yet his eyes were still open. They stared up at the sky, blue as sapphires. Ser Jaremy stood. â€Å"The wildlings have axes too.† Mormont rounded on him. â€Å"So you believe this is Mance Rayder's work? This close to the Wall?† â€Å"Who else, my lord?† Jon could have told him. He knew, they all knew, yet no man of them would say the words. The Others are only a story, a tale to make children shiver. If they ever lived at all, they are gone eight thousand years. Even the thought made him feel foolish; he was a man grown now, a black brother of the Night's Watch, not the boy who'd once sat at Old Nan's feet with Bran and Robb and Arya. Yet Lord Commander Mormont gave a snort. â€Å"If Ben Stark had come under wildling attack a half day's ride from Castle Black, he would have returned for more men, chased the killers through all seven hells and brought me back their heads.† â€Å"Unless he was slain as well,† Ser Jaremy insisted. The words hurt, even now. It had been so long, it seemed folly to cling to the hope that Ben Stark was still alive, but Jon Snow was nothing if not stubborn. â€Å"It has been close on half a year since Benjen left us, my lord,† Ser Jaremy went on. â€Å"The forest is vast. The wildlings might have fallen on him anywhere. I'd wager these two were the last survivors of his party, on their way back to us . . . but the enemy caught them before they could reach the safety of the Wall. The corpses are still fresh, these men cannot have been dead more than a day . . . .† â€Å"No,† Samwell Tarly squeaked. Jon was startled. Sam's nervous, high-pitched voice was the last he would have expected to hear. The fat boy was frightened of the officers, and Ser Jaremy was not known for his patience. â€Å"I did not ask for your views, boy,† Rykker said coldly. â€Å"Let him speak, ser,† Jon blurted. Mormont's eyes flicked from Sam to Jon and back again. â€Å"If the lad has something to say, I'll hear him out. Come closer, boy. We can't see you behind those horses.† Sam edged past Jon and the garrons, sweating profusely. â€Å"My lord, it . . . it can't be a day or . . . look . . . the blood . . . â€Å" â€Å"Yes?† Mormont growled impatiently. â€Å"Blood, what of it?† â€Å"He soils his smallclothes at the sight of it,† Chett shouted out, and the rangers laughed. Sam mopped at the sweat on his brow. â€Å"You . . . you can see where Ghost . . . Jon's direwolf . . . you can see where he tore off that man's hand, and yet . . . the stump hasn't bled, look . . . † He waved a hand. â€Å"My father . . . L-lord Randyll, he, he made me watch him dress animals sometimes, when . . . after . . . † Sam shook his head from side to side, his chins quivering. Now that he had looked at the bodies, he could not seem to look away. â€Å"A fresh kill . . . the blood would still flow, my lords. Later . . . later it would be clotted, like a . . . a jelly, thick and . . . and . . . † He looked as though he was going to be sick. â€Å"This man . . . look at the wrist, it's all . . . crusty . . . dry . . . like . . . â€Å" Jon saw at once what Sam meant. He could see the torn veins in the dead man's wrist, iron worms in the pale flesh. His blood was a black dust. Yet Jaremy Rykker was unconvinced. â€Å"If they'd been dead much longer than a day, they'd be ripe by now, boy. They don't even smell.† Dywen, the gnarled old forester who liked to boast that he could smell snow coming on, sidled closer to the corpses and took a whiff. â€Å"Well, they're no pansy flowers, but . . . m'lord has the truth of it. There's no corpse stink.† â€Å"They . . . they aren't rotting.† Sam pointed, his fat finger shaking only a little. â€Å"Look, there's . . . there's no maggots or . . . or . . . worms or anything . . . they've been lying here in the woods, but they . . . they haven't been chewed or eaten by animals . . . only Ghost . . . otherwise they're . . . they're . . . â€Å" â€Å"Untouched,† Jon said softly. â€Å"And Ghost is different. The dogs and the horses won't go near them.† The rangers exchanged glances; they could see it was true, every man of them. Mormont frowned, glancing from the corpses to the dogs. â€Å"Chett, bring the hounds closer.† Chett tried, cursing, yanking on the leashes, giving one animal a lick of his boot. Most of the dogs just whimpered and planted their feet. He tried dragging one. The bitch resisted, growling and squirming as if to escape her collar. Finally she lunged at him. Chett dropped the leash and stumbled backward. The dog leapt over him and bounded off into the trees. â€Å"This . . . this is all wrong,† Sam Tarly said earnestly. â€Å"The blood . . . there's bloodstains on their clothes, and . . . and their flesh, dry and hard, but . . . there's none on the ground, or . . . anywhere. With those . . . those . . . those . . . † Sam made himself swallow, took a deep breath. â€Å"With those wounds . . . terrible wounds . . . there should be blood all over. Shouldn't there?† Dywen sucked at his wooden teeth. â€Å"Might be they didn't die here. Might be someone brought 'em and left 'em for us. A warning, as like.† The old forester peered down suspiciously. â€Å"And might be I'm a fool, but I don't know that Othor never had no blue eyes afore.† Ser Jaremy looked startled. â€Å"Neither did Flowers,† he blurted, turning to stare at the dead man. A silence fell over the wood. For a moment all they heard was Sam's heavy breathing and the wet sound of Dywen sucking on his teeth. Jon squatted beside Ghost. â€Å"Burn them,† someone whispered. One of the rangers; Jon could not have said who. â€Å"Yes, burn them,† a second voice urged. The Old Bear gave a stubborn shake of his head. â€Å"Not yet. I want Maester Aemon to have a look at them. We'll bring them back to the Wall.† Some commands are more easily given than obeyed. They wrapped the dead men in cloaks, but when Hake and Dywen tried to tie one onto a horse, the animal went mad, screaming and rearing, lashing out with its hooves, even biting at Ketter when he ran to help. The rangers had no better luck with the other garrons; not even the most placid wanted any part of these burdens. In the end they were forced to hack off branches and fashion crude slings to carry the corpses back on foot. It was well past midday by the time they started back. â€Å"I will have these woods searched,† Mormont commanded Ser Jaremy as they set out. â€Å"Every tree, every rock, every bush, and every foot of muddy ground within ten leagues of here. Use all the men you have, and if you do not have enough, borrow hunters and foresters from the stewards. If Ben and the others are out here, dead or alive, I will have them found. And if there is anyone else in these woods, I will know of it. You are to track them and take them, alive if possible. Is that understood?† â€Å"It is, my lord,† Ser Jaremy said. â€Å"It will be done.† After that, Mormont rode in silence, brooding. Jon followed close behind him; as the Lord Commander's steward, that was his place. The day was grey, damp, overcast, the sort of day that made you wish for rain. No wind stirred the wood; the air hung humid and heavy, and Jon's clothes clung to his skin. It was warm. Too warm. The Wall was weeping copiously, had been weeping for days, and sometimes Jon even imagined it was shrinking. The old men called this weather spirit summer, and said it meant the season was giving up its ghosts at last. After this the cold would come, they warned, and a long summer always meant a long winter. This summer had lasted ten years. Jon had been a babe in arms when it began. Ghost ran with them for a time and then vanished among the trees. Without the direwolf, Jon felt almost naked. He found himself glancing at every shadow with unease. Unbidden, he thought back on the tales that Old Nan used to tell them, when he was a boy at Winterfell. He could almost hear her voice again, and the click-click-click of her needles. In that darkness, the Others came riding, she used to say, dropping her voice lower and lower. Cold and dead they were, and they hated iron and fire and the touch of the sun, and every living creature with hot blood in its veins. Holdfasts and cities and kingdoms of men all fell before them, as they moved south on pale dead horses, leading hosts of the slain. They fed their dead servants on the flesh of human children . . . When he caught his first glimpse of the Wall looming above the tops of an ancient gnarled oak, Jon was vastly relieved. Mormont reined up suddenly and turned in his saddle. â€Å"Tarly,† he barked, â€Å"come here.† Jon saw the start of fright on Sam's face as he lumbered up on his mare; doubtless he thought he was in trouble. â€Å"You're fat but you're not stupid, boy,† the Old Bear said gruffly. â€Å"You did well back there. And you, Snow.† Sam blushed a vivid crimson and tripped over his own tongue as he tried to stammer out a courtesy. Jon had to smile. When they emerged from under the trees, Mormont spurred his tough little garron to a trot. Ghost came streaking out from the woods to meet them, licking his chops, his muzzle red from prey. High above, the men on the Wall saw the column approaching. Jon heard the deep, throaty call of the watchman's great horn, calling out across the miles; a single long blast that shuddered through the trees and echoed off the ice. UUUUUUUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooooo. The sound faded slowly to silence. One blast meant rangers returning, and Jon thought, I was a ranger for one day, at least. Whatever may come, they cannot take that away from me. Bowen Marsh was waiting at the first gate as they led their garrons through the icy tunnel. The Lord Steward was red-faced and agitated. â€Å"My lord,† he blurted at Mormont as he swung open the iron bars, â€Å"there's been a bird, you must come at once.† â€Å"What is it, man?† Mormont said gruffly. Curiously, Marsh glanced at Jon before he answered. â€Å"Maester Aemon has the letter. He's waiting in your solar.† â€Å"Very well. Jon, see to my horse, and tell Ser Jaremy to put the dead men in a storeroom until the maester is ready for them.† Mormont strode away grumbling. As they led their horses back to the stable, Jon was uncomfortably aware that people were watching him. Ser Alliser Thorne was drilling his boys in the yard, but he broke off to stare at Jon, a faint half smile on his lips. One-armed Donal Noye stood in the door of the armory. â€Å"The gods be with you, Snow,† he called out. Something's wrong, Jon thought. Something's very wrong. The dead men were carried to one of the storerooms along the base of the Wall, a dark cold cell chiseled from the ice and used to keep meat and grain and sometimes even beer. Jon saw that Mormont's horse was fed and watered and groomed before he took care of his own. Afterward he sought out his friends. Grenn and Toad were on watch, but he found Pyp in the common hall. â€Å"What's happened?† he asked. Pyp lowered his voice. â€Å"The king's dead.† Jon was stunned. Robert Baratheon had looked old and fat when he visited Winterfell, yet he'd seemed hale enough, and there'd been no talk of illness. â€Å"How can you know?† â€Å"One of the guards overheard Clydas reading the letter to Maester Aemon.† Pyp leaned close. â€Å"Jon, I'm sorry. He was your father's friend, wasn't he?† â€Å"They were as close as brothers, once.† Jon wondered if Joffrey would keep his father as the King's Hand. It did not seem likely. That might mean Lord Eddard would return to Winterfell, and his sisters as well. He might even be allowed to visit them, with Lord Mormont's permission. It would be good to see Arya's grin again and to talk with his father. I will ask him about my mother, he resolved. I am a man now, it is past time he told me. Even if she was a whore, I don't care, I want to know. â€Å"I heard Hake say the dead men were your uncle's,† Pyp said. â€Å"Yes,† Jon replied. â€Å"Two of the six he took with him. They'd been dead a long time, only . . . the bodies are queer.† â€Å"Queer?† Pyp was all curiosity. â€Å"How queer?† â€Å"Sam will tell you.† Jon did not want to talk of it. â€Å"I should see if the Old Bear has need of me.† He walked to the Lord Commander's Tower alone, with a curious sense of apprehension. The brothers on guard eyed him solemnly as he approached. â€Å"The Old Bear's in his solar,† one of them announced. â€Å"He was asking for you.† Jon nodded. He should have come straight from the stable. He climbed the tower steps briskly. He wants wine or a fire in his hearth, that's all, he told himself. When he entered the solar, Mormont's raven screamed at him. â€Å"Corn!† the bird shrieked. â€Å"Corn! Corn! Corn!† â€Å"Don't you believe it, I just fed him,† the Old Bear growled. He was seated by the window, reading a letter. â€Å"Bring me a cup of wine, and pour one for yourself.† â€Å"For myself, my lord?† Mormont lifted his eyes from the letter to stare at Jon. There was pity in that look; he could taste it. â€Å"You heard me.† Jon poured with exaggerated care, vaguely aware that he was drawing out the act. When the cups were filled, he would have no choice but to face whatever was in that letter. Yet all too soon, they were filled. â€Å"Sit, boy,† Mormont commanded him. â€Å"Drink.† Jon remained standing. â€Å"It's my father, isn't it?† The Old Bear tapped the letter with a finger. â€Å"Your father and the king,† he rumbled. â€Å"I won't lie to you, it's grievous news. I never thought to see another king, not at my age, with Robert half my years and strong as a bull.† He took a gulp of wine. â€Å"They say the king loved to hunt. The things we love destroy us every time, lad. Remember that. My son loved that young wife of his. Vain woman. If not for her, he would never have thought to sell those poachers.† Jon could scarcely follow what he was saying. â€Å"My lord, I don't understand. What's happened to my father?† â€Å"I told you to sit,† Mormont grumbled. â€Å"Sit,† the raven screamed. â€Å"And have a drink, damn you. That's a command, Snow.† Jon sat, and took a sip of wine. â€Å"Lord Eddard has been imprisoned. He is charged with treason. It is said he plotted with Robert's brothers to deny the throne to Prince Joffrey.† â€Å"No,† Jon said at once. â€Å"That couldn't be. My father would never betray the king!† â€Å"Be that as it may,† said Mormont. â€Å"It is not for me to say. Nor for you.† â€Å"But it's a lie,† Jon insisted. How could they think his father was a traitor, had they all gone mad? Lord Eddard Stark would never dishonor himself . . . would he? He fathered a bastard, a small voice whispered inside him. Where was the honor in that? And your mother, what of her? He will not even speak her name. â€Å"My lord, what will happen to him? Will they kill him?† â€Å"As to that, I cannot say, lad. I mean to send a letter. I knew some of the king's councillors in my youth. Old Pycelle, Lord Stannis, Ser Barristan . . . Whatever your father has done, or hasn't done, he is a great lord. He must be allowed to take the black and join us here. Gods knows, we need men of Lord Eddard's ability.† Jon knew that other men accused of treason had been allowed to redeem their honor on the Wall in days past. Why not Lord Eddard? His father here. That was a strange thought, and strangely uncomfortable. It would be a monstrous injustice to strip him of Winterfell and force him to take the black, and yet if it meant his life . . . And would Joffrey allow it? He remembered the prince at Winterfell, the way he'd mocked Robb and Ser Rodrik in the yard. Jon himself he had scarcely even noticed; bastards were beneath even his contempt. â€Å"My lord, will the king listen to you?† The Old Bear shrugged. â€Å"A boy king . . . I imagine he'll listen to his mother. A pity the dwarf isn't with them. He's the lad's uncle, and he saw our need when he visited us. It was a bad thing, your lady mother taking him captive—† â€Å"Lady Stark is not my mother,† Jon reminded him sharply. Tyrion Lannister had been a friend to him. If Lord Eddard was killed, she would be as much to blame as the queen. â€Å"My lord, what of my sisters? Arya and Sansa, they were with my father, do you know—† â€Å"Pycelle makes no mention of them, but doubtless they'll be treated gently. I will ask about them when I write.† Mormont shook his head. â€Å"This could not have happened at a worse time. If ever the realm needed a strong king . . . there are dark days and cold nights ahead, I feel it in my bones . . . † He gave Jon a long shrewd look. â€Å"I hope you are not thinking of doing anything stupid, boy.† He's my father, Jon wanted to say, but he knew that Mormont would not want to hear it. His throat was dry. He made himself take another sip of wine. â€Å"Your duty is here now,† the Lord Commander reminded him. â€Å"Your old life ended when you took the black.† His bird made a raucous echo. â€Å"Black.† Mormont took no notice. â€Å"Whatever they do in King's Landing is none of our concern.† When Jon did not answer, the old man finished his wine and said, â€Å"You're free to go. I'll have no further need of you today. On the morrow you can help me write that letter.† Jon did not remember standing or leaving the solar. The next he knew, he was descending the tower steps, thinking, This is my father, my sisters, how can it be none of my concern? Outside, one of the guards looked at him and said, â€Å"Be strong, boy. The gods are cruel.† They know, Jon realized. â€Å"My father is no traitor,† he said hoarsely. Even the words stuck in his throat, as if to choke him. The wind was rising, and it seemed colder in the yard than it had when he'd gone in. Spirit summer was drawing to an end. The rest of the afternoon passed as if in a dream. Jon could not have said where he walked, what he did, who he spoke with. Ghost was with him, he knew that much. The silent presence of the direwolf gave him comfort. The girls do not even have that much, he thought. Their wolves might have kept them safe, but Lady is dead and Nymeria's lost, they're all alone. A north wind had begun to blow by the time the sun went down. Jon could hear it skirling against the Wall and over the icy battlements as he went to the common hall for the evening meal. Hobb had cooked up a venison stew, thick with barley, onions, and carrots. When he spooned an extra portion onto Jon's plate and gave him the crusty heel of the bread, he knew what it meant. He knows. He looked around the hall, saw heads turn quickly, eyes politely averted. They all know. His friends rallied to him. â€Å"We asked the septon to light a candle for your father,† Matthar told him. â€Å"It's a lie, we all know it's a lie, even Grenn knows it's a lie,† Pyp chimed in. Grenn nodded, and Sam clasped Jon's hand, â€Å"You're my brother now, so he's my father too,† the fat boy said. â€Å"If you want to go out to the weirwoods and pray to the old gods, I'll go with you.† The weirwoods were beyond the Wall, yet he knew Sam meant what he said. They are my brothers, he thought. As much as Robb and Bran and Rickon . . . And then he heard the laughter, sharp and cruel as a whip, and the voice of Ser Alliser Thorne. â€Å"Not only a bastard, but a traitor's bastard,† he was telling the men around him. In the blink of an eye, Jon had vaulted onto the table, dagger in his hand. Pyp made a grab for him, but he wrenched his leg away, and then he was sprinting down the table and kicking the bowl from Ser Alliser's hand. Stew went flying everywhere, spattering the brothers. Thorne recoiled. People were shouting, but Jon Snow did not hear them. He lunged at Ser Alliser's face with the dagger, slashing at those cold onyx eyes, but Sam threw himself between them and before Jon could get around him, Pyp was on his back clinging like a monkey, and Grenn was grabbing his arm while Toad wrenched the knife from his fingers. Later, much later, after they had marched him back to his sleeping cell, Mormont came down to see him, raven on his shoulder. â€Å"I told you not to do anything stupid, boy,† the Old Bear said. â€Å"Boy,† the bird chorused. Mormont shook his head, disgusted. â€Å"And to think I had high hopes for you.† They took his knife and his sword and told him he was not to leave his cell until the high officers met to decide what was to be done with him. And then they placed a guard outside his door to make certain he obeyed. His friends were not allowed to see him, but the Old Bear did relent and permit him Ghost, so he was not utterly alone. â€Å"My father is no traitor,† he told the direwolf when the rest had gone. Ghost looked at him in silence. Jon slumped against the wall, hands around his knees, and stared at the candle on the table beside his narrow bed. The flame flickered and swayed, the shadows moved around him, the room seemed to grow darker and colder. I will not sleep tonight, Jon thought. Yet he must have dozed. When he woke, his legs were stiff and cramped and the candle had long since burned out. Ghost stood on his hind legs, scrabbling at the door. Jon was startled to see how tall he'd grown. â€Å"Ghost, what is it?† he called softly. The direwolf turned his head and looked down at him, baring his fangs in a silent snarl. Has he gone mad? Jon wondered. â€Å"It's me, Ghost,† he murmured, trying not to sound afraid. Yet he was trembling, violently. When had it gotten so cold? Ghost backed away from the door. There were deep gouges where he'd raked the wood. Jon watched him with mounting disquiet. â€Å"There's someone out there, isn't there?† he whispered. Crouching, the direwolf crept backward, white fur rising on the back of his neck. The guard, he thought, they left a man to guard my door, Ghost smells him through the door, that's all it is. Slowly, Jon pushed himself to his feet. He was shivering uncontrollably, wishing he still had a sword. Three quick steps brought him to the door. He grabbed the handle and pulled it inward. The creak of the hinges almost made him jump. His guard was sprawled bonelessly across the narrow steps, looking up at him. Looking up at him, even though he was lying on his stomach. His head had been twisted completely around. It can't be, Jon told himself. This is the Lord Commander's Tower, it's guarded day and night, this couldn't happen, it's a dream, I'm having a nightmare. Ghost slid past him, out the door. The wolf started up the steps, stopped, looked back at Jon. That was when he heard it; the soft scrape of a boot on stone, the sound of a latch turning. The sounds came from above. From the Lord Commander's chambers. A nightmare this might be, yet it was no dream. The guard's sword was in its sheath. Jon knelt and worked it free. The heft of steel in his fist made him bolder. He moved up the steps, Ghost padding silently before him. Shadows lurked in every turn of the stair. Jon crept up warily, probing any suspicious darkness with the point of his sword. Suddenly he heard the shriek of Mormont's raven. â€Å"Corn,† the bird was screaming. â€Å"Corn, corn, corn, corn, corn, corn.† Ghost bounded ahead, and Jon came scrambling after. The door to Mormont's solar was wide open. The direwolf plunged through. Jon stopped in the doorway, blade in hand, giving his eyes a moment to adjust. Heavy drapes had been pulled across the windows, and the darkness was black as ink. â€Å"Who's there?† he called out. Then he saw it, a shadow in the shadows, sliding toward the inner door that led to Mormont's sleeping cell, a man-shape all in black, cloaked and hooded . . . but beneath the hood, its eyes shone with an icy blue radiance . . . Ghost leapt. Man and wolf went down together with neither scream nor snarl, rolling, smashing into a chair, knocking over a table laden with papers. Mormont's raven was flapping overhead, screaming, â€Å"Corn, corn, corn, corn.† Jon felt as blind as Maester Aemon. Keeping the wall to his back, he slid toward the window and ripped down the curtain. Moonlight flooded the solar. He glimpsed black hands buried in white fur, swollen dark fingers tightening around his direwolf's throat. Ghost was twisting and snapping, legs flailing in the air, but he could not break free. Jon had no time to be afraid. He threw himself forward, shouting, bringing down the longsword with all his weight behind it. Steel sheared through sleeve and skin and bone, yet the sound was wrong somehow. The smell that engulfed him was so queer and cold he almost gagged. He saw arm and hand on the floor, black fingers wriggling in a pool of moonlight. Ghost wrenched free of the other hand and crept away, red tongue lolling from his mouth. The hooded man lifted his pale moon face, and Jon slashed at it without hesitation. The sword laid the intruder open to the bone, taking off half his nose and opening a gash cheek to cheek under those eyes, eyes, eyes like blue stars burning. Jon knew that face. Othor, he thought, reeling back. Gods, he's dead, he's dead, I saw him dead. He felt something scrabble at his ankle. Black fingers clawed at his calf. The arm was crawling up his leg, ripping at wool and flesh. Shouting with revulsion, Jon pried the fingers off his leg with the point of his sword and flipped the thing away. It lay writhing, fingers opening and closing. The corpse lurched forward. There was no blood. One-armed, face cut near in half, it seemed to feel nothing. Jon held the longsword before him. â€Å"Stay away!† he commanded, his voice gone shrill. â€Å"Corn,† screamed the raven, â€Å"corn, corn.† The severed arm was wriggling out of its torn sleeve, a pale snake with a black five-fingered head. Ghost pounced and got it between his teeth. Finger bones crunched. Jon hacked at the corpse's neck, felt the steel bite deep and hard. Dead Othor slammed into him, knocking him off his feet. Jon's breath went out of him as the fallen table caught him between his shoulder blades. The sword, where was the sword? He'd lost the damned sword! When he opened his mouth to scream, the wight jammed its black corpse fingers into Jon's mouth. Gagging, he tried to shove it off, but the dead man was too heavy. Its hand forced itself farther down his throat, icy cold, choking him. Its face was against his own, filling the world. Frost covered its eyes, sparkling blue. Jon raked cold flesh with his nails and kicked at the thing's legs. He tried to bite, tried to punch, tried to breathe . . . And suddenly the corpse's weight was gone, its fingers ripped from his throat. It was all Jon could do to roll over, retching and shaking. Ghost had it again. He watched as the direwolf buried his teeth in the wight's gut and began to rip and tear. He watched, only half conscious, for a long moment before he finally remembered to look for his sword . . . . . . and saw Lord Mormont, naked and groggy from sleep, standing in the doorway with an oil lamp in hand. Gnawed and fingerless, the arm thrashed on the floor, wriggling toward him. Jon tried to shout, but his voice was gone. Staggering to his feet, he kicked the arm away and snatched the lamp from the Old Bear's fingers. The flame flickered and almost died. â€Å"Burn!† the raven cawed. â€Å"Burn, burn, burn!† Spinning, Jon saw the drapes he'd ripped from the window. He flung the lamp into the puddled cloth with both hands. Metal crunched, glass shattered, oil spewed, and the hangings went up in a great whoosh of flame. The heat of it on his face was sweeter than any kiss Jon had ever known. â€Å"Ghost!† he shouted. The direwolf wrenched free and came to him as the wight struggled to rise, dark snakes spilling from the great wound in its belly. Jon plunged his hand into the flames, grabbed a fistful of the burning drapes, and whipped them at the dead man. Let it burn, he prayed as the cloth smothered the corpse, gods, please, please, let it burn.

Causes of crime in Trinidad

There are several causes of crime in Trinidad and Tobago but this essay will analyse four of these causes of crime in Trinidad and Tobago.Firstly I will analyse the laxity with which the government has been dealing with the crime situation; It will also be discussed that a nation that forgets God will sin in this way; The eroding morals of society is another ;and the impact of the media on people’s lives. Ð ¡auses of crime And the raison detre successive governments have been unable and unsuccessful in dealing with this problem is primarily because they have all adopted a Euro-centric approach instead of an Afri-centric approach. The Euro-centric approach focuses on the results/effects of a problem while the Afri-centric deals with the causes. This writer strongly contends that the endemic causes of crime in Trinidad and Tobago are three-fold, viz, the 18th century imposed Euro-centric British education system, the abolition of corporal punishment in schools in February 2001 and the subliminal Americanisation of all aspects of life in Trinidad and Tobago, 24/7 365 days a year. The fact of the matter is that the current Euro-centric education system produces young people who are unemployable, devoid of the vital life-survival- empowerment skills and any sense of direction plus low esteem. As a result of all this societal baggage on their shoulders, these young people have no other choice but to resort to a life of crime to survive, And this mind-set makes sense to them, period. The Euro-centric education system continues to imbue in these young people a sense of worthlessness, nothingness and unpreparedness. At the end of their matriculation, these young people seriously and disgracefully lack the 3Rs— Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. They are doomed, period. They are totally convinced (rightly or wrongly) that society, as in the System, has failed them. They feel betrayed by society. Ipso facto, they not only internalise their accepted truism that they are failures but more self-destructively, they also publicly act out Bob Marleys lyrical dictum that the Babylon system is a vampire. Ergo, they are now totally convinced that they have the right to turn on society—crime, therefore, becomes their magnetic force just to survive. On the thorny issue of corporal punishment, this writer vociferously rejects the Euro-centric notion that the decision to abolish was based on research carried out in North America and Europe. Thats the problem. Again, this is exactly what the renowned Euro-centric psychologist Sigmund Freud did centuries ago, namely, using the European behaviour/experience as the norm, standard and model for all people ( including governments) to accept and follow—total, unabashed rejection by this Afri-centric scholar/professor, period. This decision not only represents a direct correlation with but also a very dangerous embrace of the Euro-centric world view and policy-making modus operandi. And thats the problem with solving crime in Trinidad and Tobago. The stark reality is that the historical experience/behaviour of the European coloniser is totally different from that of the colonised. Ergo, what is good and works for the European coloniser is not necessarily good and works for the colonised. That must be clearly understood by public policy-makers in Trinidad and Tobago. The truth be told: As a direct result of the Euro-centric decision made in 2001, today (2012) the chickens (have finally) come home to roost in Trinidad and Tobago, period. The subliminal Americanisation of life in Trinidad and Tobago is overtly reflected in the proclivity for crass materialism, instant gratification, 50 Cent philosophy, disgusting ghetto attire, slangs, body antics and mannerisms of young people, gang turf warfare, just to cite a few. Indeed, judging the daily attire of young, mature and older Trinbagonians one can correctly conclude that just maybe Trinidad and Tobago has been re-assigned. albeit re-located, from the tropical (hot) zone to the temperate (cold) zone. The truth be told: The failed Euro-centric education system in Trinidad and Tobago compels young people to gravitate and mimic only the most self-destructive aspects of American ghetto life styles. In the final analysis, this writer offers the following Afri-centric solutions to deal with crime — (i) radical surgery on the current dependency Euro-centric education system (ii) re-introduction of corporal punishment in schools so that young people will respect/obey adult authority/discipline and (iii) immediate deletion of the BET and BET J channels on Trinidad and Tobagos daily television schedule.

Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Culture - Essay Example However, it is often debated as to whether the religion is a part of the culture or culture is part of the religion. The historical roots of every religion suggest a very strong correlation between the culture and religion as most of the religious rituals are finally being shaped by the culture of the society within which the religion evolve. It is therefore because of this fact that Historian Dawson claim that "The heart of Western civilization says Historian Dawson, is its Christian culture. By this he means not the Christian religion but its impact on the social life and institutions of the West. Today that Western heart is not beating at the center of things, where it belongs, but is fluttering on the fringes, and Western civilization is sick with a bad case of secularism." (www.time.com). Thus there is very strong historical evidence as to how the religious values and culture has shaped the overall form of Christianity which is prevalent today. As defined above that culture is a set of patterns of an individual's life which portray the human activity and present a symbolic representation of that person's or group of persons' lives. In its essence, culture is a collection of values commonly practiced by a large number of people sharing a common heritage. The first definition of the word culture came in 1871 when in his book "Primitive Culture" he defined culture as "complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, law, morals, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society" (Tylor). Culture is considered therefore as a powerful human tool necessary for the survival of the human beings but it is also considered as fragile too as cultural bondages define not only common heritage but common sentiments and emotions too. It is often believed that there are various layers of the culture also commonly known as subcultures. First layer is called the cultural traditions which effectively distinguish and specify a society from others whereas second layer of culture is called subculture which is often considered as the very own identity of the individual. The third layer of culture is called cultural universals and is considered as shared behaviors which are being used by all the humanity across all the geographical regions of the world. Cultural Difference As discussed above that culture have three different layers. This very fact clearly suggests that culture is itself diverse in nature. This diversity creates cultural differences between the various societies and within cultures even. These cultural differences can sometimes be the source of great embarrassment for people who are relatively alien to that culture or even present a great opportunity to create an environment where society can be shared by various cultures belonging to different regions etc. Since "Culture is vital because it enables its members to function one with another without the need to negotiate meaning at every moment. Culture is learned and forgotten, so despite its importance we are generally unconscious of its influence on the manner in which we perceive the world and interact within it. Culture is significant because as we work with others it both enables us and impedes us in our ability to understand and work effectively together." (Learning). Thus

Data collection method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Data collection method - Essay Example The organization has a significant team environment. The New York based company also provides high degree of independence towards their staffs. Individual responsibility and sense of individual respects highly prevails into the company. The company fosters high level of team environments among all the employees. Big assignments and tasks are being divided among the all team members. Generally projects are being staffed with the help of senior level management of the organization. The organization maintains close relationship with their clients and it has helped the organization to create a clear cut relationship with the clients. That is why there is no scope of confusion between the organization and customers. To maintain good relationship with the clients the organization engages itself with various kinds of activities like publishing articles and white papers. The company is related with various kinds of events also. Those events are webcast, Boot camp for compensation committee, Boston NASPP Chapters 6th Annual Regional Conference and 2014 Equilar Executive Compensation Summit. It means the organization gives significant focuses towards the client relationship. Currently the organization has very less number of employees. 10-15 employees are there with the company. Over the years the organization has gone through lots of changes. Those transitions have not been able to cause very serious problems for the company. The organization has a consistent vision for serving the clients.

Literature Review on Group Creativity Theory Essay

Literature Review on Group Creativity Theory - Essay Example rt in their field and have strong knowledge to properly guide the design team and create an environment that is conducive to creativity, innovation and stimulation of new ideas (Paulus & Nijstad, 2003). In other words, the art director serves as a project manager, designer and coordinator of all design activities in order to achieve the best possible end-product for the customer. Without a strong art director, a design team may not have clear direction or have the tools necessary to instill creativity and innovation for all projects. Perhaps the most difficult challenge for the art director is to implement a creative environment while balancing the challenges of group creativity theory and all of the variables associated with group dynamics. There are many external, social and psychological factors that can impact a design team’s ability to think creatively. Furthermore, the politics of a creative team can impact the group creativity because individuals begin to compete over whose ideas are more creative. One issue that can arise is an over-abundance of ideas that can actually reduce the positive creativity that is desired within a group collectivity situation (Goncalo & Staw, 2006). In this situation, it is highly important for the art director to utilize the control and organizational power awarded by the position to continue to harbor good ideas while reducing the opportunity for too many ideas to have a negative impact on group creativity. In the end, a choice must be made and the group must push forw ard to produce a strong website that is both creative and to the customer’s approval. Due to socio-psychological issues stemming from criticism in the workplace, there is often a serious issue that confronts group creativity. Many employees shut down their creativity when their own work has been criticized, in which case, directors often avoid criticizing work which negatively impacts the quality and abundance of creativity (De Dren et al., n.d.).

The World Wide Consortatium Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The World Wide Consortatium - Essay Example The web is the open mechanism for people to share information, communicate, to use of entertainment and for commerce.† Mr Jaff further adds W3C derives its authority (the driver of technical standards for the Web) from three main sources. The first source is the founder of the Web and the director of W3C Tim Berners-Lee, who created an open architecture, and asked the industry through W3C to continue to develop and enhance an open architecture. The second source of W4C’s authority is from the membership. Over 300 members (W3C has most of the key participants in the IT industry) in the web industry, participating in its numerous conversations. Companies like Access Co. Ltd., Adessis Netlife S.L., Adobe Systems Inc. Altove GmbH, AME Info, Ayuntamiento de Zaragosa, Bartemius – Accessibility, British Broadcasting Corporation, Business Directory UK, CWI, Deutsche Telecom AG, Ericsson, FinanzNachrichten.de, Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (Forth), Fraunhofer Gesselschaft, Fujitsu Limited, Fundacion CTIC, Fundacion ONCE, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) GmbH, Hitachi Ltd., IKM Internet Kaufmart GmbH, Infraware, Inc, Inventive Designers n.v., Mitre Corporation, Mitsue Links Co. Ltd etc are members of the W3C forum of various initiatives. The third source of authority is a track record of success. A recent Boston Globe article spoke about the 150 most important things that MIT has ever developed and mentioned W3C to be â€Å"the most important thing to have developed out of the 150 inventions.† The John Peddie Research on Electronic Devices, Service on a Chip, the market for computing devices in 2012 and the future market as well as future for chip manufacturing companies Qualcomm emerged as the big fish in the market of System on a Chip. It accounted for the most number of systems on a chip shipped to other client countries in a fast-growing market during the first half of 2012.This data has bee n provided by Jon Peddie Research’s new research report. In this context, the last shipments were up 69.4 % from all suppliers (John Peddie Research 2012). Samsung  saw the biggest increase in compound annual growth rate (CAGR) year-over-year, up 179%. CAGR happened for all of the top 5 vendors except for Texas Instruments which went down by 31 % from previous year (John Peddie Research).   MediaTek  had a record 966% growth year on year. It started from a very low base. Statistical graphic given below MediaTek is included in the other’s section. (John Peddie Research). Following are the other suppliers: Broadcom,  Freescale,  Intel,  Marvell,  Rockchip,  ST-Ericsson and  Wonder-Media. Most modern mobile â€Å"System on a Chip† (SoC) GPUs are being run on OpenGLES 3.0, released August 2012. (John Peddie Research). They are backward compatible and enable functions as powerful as PC GPUs and applications. The Report Summary says, â€Å"They have programmable shaders and can deliver amazing game play, UI and browser acceleration, and accelerate the new potentially killer app, augmented reality (AR)† (John Peddie Research). Quite different than their PC counterparts the mobile devices have GPUs that can have support image processing functions and can handle camera input directly. They are also capable of video processing and support 1080p High Definition TVs and can be interfaced with monitor via the HDMI port (John Peddie Research). According to the JPR, the four primary GPU Intellectual Property

Are we violating the human rights of patients in a persistent Essay

Are we violating the human rights of patients in a persistent vegetative state - Essay Example Other research objectives identified are: signs and symptoms, causative factors, legal preliminaries, etc. Using these research objectives, we have confirmed the findings through a wide choice of case studies. Analysis: The case studies used are 1)Tony Bland 2)Terri Schiavo 3)Leslie Burke 4)Glass v. UK. These case studies have gone into the depth of how and why it is necessary to have proper legal safeguard mechanisms to avoid human rights violations, because of various controversies that are inseparable from the very findings of PVS. Conclusion: The case studies, backed with solid strength of data in Literature Review, clearly confirm that there is a lot of possibility for human rights abuse in PVS, and relevant safeguard mechanisms have been suggested to alleviate concerns. Ch 1: Literature Review The aim of this dissertation is to determine the ethical and legal repercussions of a highly sensitive topic: Persistent Vegetative State, or PVS as we’ll refer to it throughout the paper. This topic has generated a lot of controversy in recent times, because it comes on the fence between the ethical perspectives of pro-life advocates and euthanasia supporters, which are two grossly different factions in this debate over what would constitute a better alternative for the patient itself. From the very outset, our interest lies in picturing an appropriate controversial definition of PVS. The term was first coined by Scottish neurosurgeon Bryan Jennet and American neurologist Fred Plum to describe â€Å"that condition in a patient’s physical and physiological well-being, that essentially makes them unconscious and unaware of their surroundings,

Mergers Don't Always Lead to Culture Clashes Essay

Mergers Don't Always Lead to Culture Clashes - Essay Example The culture in MBNA shows a more laid-back, business-like and highlights a secretive organization. Employees at MBNA are accustomed to lavish lifestyles and the company offers high salaries and generous benefits. Among the perks available include private golf courses, corporate jets and yachts. Bank of America, however, operates on financial efficiency and values low cost approaches. Moreover, Bank of America expanded because of thrift and has managed to focus on size and smarts rather than speed. Bank of America is expected to encounter challenges as the bank attempts to integrate a culture that is totally opposite from the ideals being promoted by the company. The high salaries and benefits received by MBNA employees is one major issue. Although the salaries received by Bank of America employees are relatively competitive, the bank’s management has to decide what approach needs to be done to reconcile the gap. Lowering the salaries of MBNA staff will cause widespread demoralization. Maintaining the high salaries will also affect current Bank of America employees. This is a dilemma that needs to be taken into consideration before addressing the salary issue. Another aspect that requires focus is the perks received by MBNA employees. Bank of America will certainly reduce most of the privileges and to integrate the bank’s vision when it comes to spending.... Bank of America recognizes the culture of MBNA and how it has developed the organization. MBNA has been successful and Bank of America intends to ensure that the success will be sustained. Respect also drives Bank of American to be more sensitive and do consultations as to what needs to be changed and retained. The integration of MBNA in Bank of American required rigorous planning. Bank of America managers view MBNA managers as arrogant while the latter sees the former as bureaucratic. But these observations are part of the growing pains that Bank of American attempts to hurdle. Bank of America decided to adopt some of the practices in MBNA. The management also created new policies to satisfy both Bank of America and MBNA employees. The executive uniforms in MBNA underwent a hybrid phase change to suit the needs of both parties. Since most Bank of America processes are flexible, modifications are implemented seamlessly. The goal is to prevent clashes and satisfy the different culture s. Despite the adjustments, Bank of America remained firm on cutting costs and the high MBNA salaries were significantly reduced. Although some employees decided to leave, majority of the employees remained. Bank of American sold all but one of the corporate jets and donated the golf course to the State of Delaware. The bank maintains that there are other ways to compensate for the removed perks. The most important part is to ensure that Bank of America’s financial principles are followed but employees still enjoy the best rewards for their hard work. 3. Do you think culture is important to the success of a merger/acquisition? Why or why not? Most observers highlight financial impact, synergies and pipeline

Achievements of Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 Essay

Achievements of Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 - Essay Example There are considerable reforms which have been achieved in law of mortgages after the introduction of the Land and Conveying Law Reform 20091. The land reforms were occasioned by the need to modernize the property law to adhere with the current social, economic and demographic changes. Another objective was to simplify the law and make it more accessible and understood. Much of the property law on conveying had been governed by laws that were enacted in 19th century thus most of the rules and principles were obsolete. The areas which were covered in the consultations include estates in land, mortgages, future interests, contracts for the sale of land and conveyances, settlements and trusts. The Act provided repeal of the enactments which were considered obsolete depending on the modern circumstances and modernization of the land in regard to lis pendens with the amendment of the registration of deeds and Title Acts of both 1964 and 20062. The Act came in to force on 1st December 2009 with the exception of Section 132 which deals with rent reviews which came in force on 28th February 2010. The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009 provides inter alia for the amendments of law dealing with the review of rents and variation of the trusts. The Act makes an inclusive definition of land whereby land is defined as any estate or interest over the land whether corporeal or incorporeal. Land also includes land covered by water, buildings, structures, mines, minerals, and airspace which is above the surface of the land or any structures. The Act also expands the definition of â€Å"incumbrance† to include any charge, lien, mortgage, portion, annuity and trust securing capital sum or annual sum3. The land reforms comprise the fundamental reforms of Irish Land law since 19th century. The Act has simplified the registration of Land and mortgages by providing e-conveyancing. The Act has abolished the vestiges of feudal tenure that may be surviving in the modern era but has retained the estates doctrine with amendments so as to ensure only two legal estates of land can exist in Irish Law. The two estates include the leasehold estate and freehold estate of a fee simple in possession4. The principle that contracts must be evidenced by writing has been rested in modern and simple language and the minimum period for production of a good root of title has been minimized from 40 years to 15 years. The deeds which may be executed by individuals no longer require as seal but must be executed in a valid manner since there must be two witnesses to attest their signatures. The Act has recognized the deeds that may be executed by foreign-registered companies if done according to the foreign law applicable for the particular company. Another major simplification is provision fro the application of the rules of notice of the Act if instruments such as mortgages omit the provisions and rules of serving a notice including the criteria of serving the notice th rough e-commerce or facsimile machine5. The law has brought important changes since it is no longer possible to sever a joint tenancy. Since all the tenants must either consent to the severance or a court procedure must follow where the consent is not possible to obtain. Accordingly, registration of any mortgage against the interest of the joint tenant will not sever the joint tenancy. However, if such mortgage remains unsevered, the judgment mortgage will only extinguish after the death of the judgment debtor. The law has made it possible for freehold covenants created since it came in force to be enforced against successors in title of the original covenantor. The rule of Tulk v Moxhay which allowed negative covenants to bind the successors has been abolished by

Horses by Edwin Muir Essay Example for Free

Horses by Edwin Muir Essay The poem Horses by Edwin Muir uses imagery and figurative language to create and associate the the themes such as nature, machine, power and myth. Edwin Muir uses a variety of language tools such as Paradox, simile and metaphor to create a particular effect. He conveys his feelings through the poem and to link to the past. In addition, Muir’s use of rhyme scheme with the repetition of words puts emphasis on certain lines which in turn provides development for the tone. The Rhyme scheme for the poem is AABB thorugh out the poem that gains interest from the readers. Muir uses many literary devices. In the phrase,†Lumbering Horses in the Steady Plough† he uses Enjambment comparing the Horses on a steady plough to a bare field. The effect created by the use of enjambment is that the feelings or memories of the poet are still ongoing and this is reflected. The enjambment helps the poem flow into the next line. The word â€Å"lumbering† is defined as moving in a slow, heavy manner. There is consonance in the words Those, Horses, plough. The Consonance creates a more subtle effect with the repetition of the o’s. The word containing 3 syllables slows down the rhythm of the sentence. The term ‘steady plough’ means a device pulled through the even ground in order to break it open into furrows for planting. The poet implies that he still has a fear of Horses by expressing his childhood dismay for Horses. The use of the ‘Perhaps’ denotes his uncertainty or possibility and he does not wish to be too definite or assertive in the expression of an opinion. The word ‘Childish’ refers to a silly or suitable for a child. He is referring and relating to the past to deliver evidence to fear. There is internal rhyme in the words some and come that adds particular emphasis and quickens the pace of the Rhythm in the phrase. The phrase contains alliteration in the words ‘childish’ and ‘come’. The Alliteration emphasizes the words giving the sentence a good sense of Rhythm and sound. The writer uses alliteration in the phrase ‘standing still’ in order to suggest the silence, calmness and fixed position of the Horses. The alliteration creates the effect of silence by associating it to the theme of the text such as a Machine. He compares that the Horses are showing signs of movement and yet they are standing still. He uses simile to create a vivid mental image and to carry on the effect of the Horses’ effortless behaviour and power. Consonance adds to the effect by the words seem, standing still. It increases the Rhythm of the sentence and combines with the Horses steady movement. To describe the Horses movement ‘up and down’, the and in the line slows the sentence down by the amount of syllables and by connecting two clauses. The contradiction in the line where Muir describes the Horses movement but claims that it is standing still brings out a humorous effect. The line has a total of ten syllables which is a normal spoken sentence.

African Americans in the U.S. Essay Example for Free

African Americans in the U.S. Essay African Americans (American Blacks or Black Americans), racial group in the United States whose dominant ancestry is from sub-Saharan West Africa. Many African Americans also claim European, Native American, or Asian ancestors. A variety of names have been used for African Americans at various points in history. African Americans have been referred to as Negroes, colored, blacks, and Afro-Americans, as well as lesser-known terms, such as the 19th-century designation Anglo-African. The terms Negro and colored are now rarely used. African American, black, and to a lesser extent Afro-American, are used interchangeably today. Recent black immigrants from Africa and the islands of the Caribbean are sometimes classified as African Americans. However, these groups, especially first- and second-generation immigrants, often have cultural practices, histories, and languages that are distinct from those of African Americans born in the United States. For example, Caribbean natives may speak French, British English, or Spanish as their first language. Emigrants from Africa may speak a European language other than English or any of a number of African languages as their first language. Caribbean and African immigrants often have little knowledge or experience of the distinctive history of race relations in the United States. Thus, Caribbean and African immigrants may or may not choose to identify with the African American community. According to 2000 U. S. census, some 34. 7 million African Americans live in the United States, making up 12. 3 percent of the total population. 2000 census shows that 54. 8 percent African Americans lived in the South. In that year, 17. 6 percent of African Americans lived in the Northeast and 18. 7 percent in the Midwest, while only 8. 9 percent lived in the Western states. Almost 88 percent of African Americans lived in metropolitan areas in 2000. With over 2 million African American residents, New York City had the largest black urban population in the United States in 2000. Washington, D. C. , had the highest proportion of black residents of any U. S. city in 2000, with African Americans making up almost 60 percent of the population. Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Atlantic Slave Trade, Atlantic Slave Trade, the forced transportation of at least 10 million enslaved Africans from their homelands in Africa to destinations in Europe and the Americas during the 15th through 19th centuries. European and North American slave traders transported most of these slaves to areas in tropical and subtropical America, where the vast majority worked as laborers on large agricultural plantations. See Slavery. Between 1440 and 1880 Europeans and North Americans exchanged merchandise for slaves along 5600 km (3500 miles) of Africa’s western and west central Atlantic coasts. These slaves were then transported to other locations around the Atlantic Ocean. The vast majority went to Brazil, the Caribbean, and Spanish-speaking regions of South America and Central America. Smaller numbers were taken to Atlantic islands, continental Europe, and English-speaking areas of the North American mainland. Approximately 12 million slaves left Africa via the Atlantic trade, and more than 10 million arrived. The Atlantic slave trade involved the largest intercontinental migration of people in world history prior to the 20th century. This transfer of so many people, over such a long time, had enormous consequences for every continent bordering the Atlantic. It profoundly changed the racial, social, economic, and cultural makeup in many of the American nations that imported slaves. It also left a legacy of racism that many of those nations are still struggling to overcome. Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Civil Rights Movement in the United States, political, legal, and social struggle by black Americans to gain full citizenship rights and to achieve racial equality. The civil rights movement was first and foremost a challenge to segregation, the system of laws and customs separating blacks and whites that whites used to control blacks after slavery was abolished in the 1860s. During the civil rights movement, individuals and civil rights organizations challenged segregation and discrimination with a variety of activities, including protest marches, boycotts, and refusal to abide by segregation laws. Many believe that the movement began with the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955 and ended with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, though there is debate about when it began and whether it has ended yet. The civil rights movement has also been called the Black Freedom Movement, the Negro Revolution, and the Second Reconstruction. Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. AAVE Distinctive patterns of language use among African Americans arose as creative responses to the hardships imposed on the African American community. Slave-owners often intentionally mixed people who spoke many different African languages to discourage communication in any language other than English on their plantations. Moreover, many whites were unwilling to allow blacks to learn proper English. One response to these conditions was the development of pidgins, simplified mixtures of two or more languages that speakers of different languages could use to communicate with each other. Some of these pidgins eventually became fully developed Creole languages spoken by certain groups as a native language. Significant numbers of people still speak some of these Creole languages, notably Gullah on the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia. African American Vernacular English (AAVE), also called black English or Ebonics, is a dialect of English spoken by many African Americans that shares some features with Creole languages. Microsoft  ® Encarta  ® 2009.  © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Maybank BHD Financial Performance Analyis

Maybank BHD Financial Performance Analyis CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Production or gain from a financial institution is depending on some issues whether the external control or the internal control. External control refer to the environment in our country like economy growth and inflation that effect the purchasing power of customer as the price of goods increases, customer demand will increase too. The Malaysian economy actually moves together with strong financial system. Strong financial system of a country will contribute to economic growth. Economic growth of a country like Malaysia is measured in terms of real GDP. According to Travel Document Systems (1996) ,since independent on 1957 until 2005, Malaysian economy had grew by 6.5% per year automatically it become the best country in Asia at that time. Banks nowadays struggled to maintain a good performance in order to fulfill its objectives of satisfying their customers, employees, depositors and government according to Askari Commercial Bank ( 2006 ). The evolution of financial system in Malaysia has been significant. 7.2 per cent economic growth registered by the country last year was the highest achievement over 10 years and was driven by the two stimulus packages as well as the management of countrys financial and banking system by Bank Negara said the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (2011) . 1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY Profit is the major focus of why everybody struggles to make sure their business going well as profit is the important sources of funds. This paper will measure financial performance of Maybank Bhd and determinant of data by identifying the profitability performance of Maybank Bhd. It is important to understand the profitability of commercial bank after considering certain factors that may contribute to the profitability. The research is based on the performance of Maybank from 2001 to 2010. 1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT A financial institution is a profit-seeking organization owned by shareholders who expect to gain return with the risk associated that they have to face. There are many factors that contribute to bank profitability. According to Bankers Journal Malaysia, for Malaysian Banks, more than 80% of their total income is attributed to interest income. Previous studies have also found that interest income and non-interest income have a positive effect on bank profitability. However besides those banking characteristics of internal variables, there are some external variable that may affect the banks profitability performance that cannot be overemphasized like inflation and GDP. Earlier studies by Al-Hajji, Mohsen (2003) have found positive relationship between the GDP and bank profitability. When GDP increases, profitability of the bank will increase too. Adverse result was found about relationship between inflation and bank profitability. This study will answer the question of how interest income, non-interest income, GDP and inflation rate relate with bank profitability also how is well is the performance of Maybank Bhd during the period of study. RESEARCH QUESTION Dependent and independent variables are studied to find solution about the profitability performance of Maybank Berhad. Factors affecting performance of Maybank Berhad can be comprises into external and internal factors. The criteria that will be evaluated are interest income, non-interest income , interest expenses, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and inflation rate. The intent of this study is to examine the effect of all this factors towards performance of Maybank Berhad. This research problem leads to questions concerning relationship between selected criteria. In this research, there are few question were asked as listed below : 1.3.1 To what extend inflation rate effect the performance of Maybank Berhad? What are the relationship between dependent variable and independent variables ? 1.3.3 What is the factor that most effect profitability ratio of Maybank Berhad? 1.4 OBJECTIVE OF STUDY The main objective of this study is to study the factors attributes to the profitability performance of Maybank Bhd. comprises of interest income, non-interest income ,Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and inflation rate. The study also will determine the profitability performance of bank for 10 years period. Apart from that, there are few supporting objectives to support the main purpose were listed below : To study the relationship between internal variables and bank profitability. To identify whether bank cost and bank revenues will contribute to profitability performance of Maybank Bhd. To determine which factors contribute the most to profitability of Maybank Bhd. To analyze the trend of Maybank profitability over 10years and identify Maybanks strength and weaknesses using certain profitability ratios. SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY Bank profits refer to the return on invested capital and it is important to company as well as the shareholder. Bank profits can be considered as benefit to depositors as it shows stronger, safer and efficient banking system in the increases in revenues and services improvements. Indirectly borrowers also will get the benefits since the bank lending rate depends of ability of banks capital accounts. This paper will focus on some categories as follows: Facilitate researcher to find out the major factors contributing to the profitability performance of commercial banks especially Maybank Bhd. To assist the researcher to be more alert on how to manage and overcome problems that could come together with independent variables and provide guides on how to improve profitability performance. Also provide information on banks profitability strength and weaknesses that could be use by the customers as an evaluation of banks performance. The researcher may also view the performance trend of Maybank Bhd. during this 10 years from 2001 to 2010. 1.6 SCOPE OF STUDY This research paper will focus on the financial performance of Maybank Berhad based on banks profitability. The factors that will be evaluate are divided into 2 which are external factors (Gross Domestic Product, and inflation) and internal factors ( interest income, non-interest income ). 1.7 LIMITATION OF STUDY The limitations of this study is the data only for 10years starting 2001 to 2010. Furthermore the data come from secondary data and sometimes may be adequate or accurate. Besides most of the data were gathered from journals, BNM – Maybank annual reports , and articles. 1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS 1.8.1 Profit According to Wikipedia, profit  can be considered as the difference between the purchase  price  and the  costs  of bringing to market whatever it is that is accounted as an enterprise or in a simple word it means money gained in business. 1.8.2 Interest Income Companies sometimes keep their cash in short-term deposit investments such as certificates or deposit with maturities up to twelve months, savings account, and money market funds. The cash placed in these accounts earn interest for the business, which is recorded on the income statement as interest income. Interest income will fluctuate each year with the amount of cash a company keeps on hand and the general level of interest rates as set by the Federal Reserve. (Source: Joshua Kennen – Investing for beginners guide ) 1.8.3 Operating profit The profit earned from a firms normal core business operations. This value does not include any profit earned from the firms investments (such as earnings from firms  in which  the company has partial interest) and the effects of interest and taxes. It is also  known as earnings before interest  and tax (EBIT). (Source:http://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/operating_profit.asp) 1.8.3 Profitability Analysis Analysis that assigns revenues and costs to major customers or groups of customers rather than to organizational units, products, or other objects. The results may direct organizational resources toward more profitable uses. It is an application of segmented reporting in which a customer group is treated as a segment. It is especially helpful when combined with an activity-based costing approach that determines which activities are performed for each group and assigns costs based on appropriate drivers. (Source : http://www.answers.com) 1.8.4 Inflation Inflation is An increase in the amount of currency in circulation, resulting in a relatively sharp and sudden fall in its value and rise in prices: it may be caused by an increase in the volume of paper money issued or of gold mined, or a relative increase in expenditures as when the supply of goods fails to meet the demand. (Source : Websters New Universal Unabridged Dictionary) 1.8.5 Financial Ratios Ratios that measure a firms ability to meet its short-term financial obligations on time, such as the ratio of current assets to current liabilities. (Source : The Free Dictionary by Farlex ) 1.8.6 Gross Domestic Product Gross domestic product (GDP) refers to the market value of all goods and services produced within a country in a given period. It is often considered an indicator of a countrys standard of living. Gross domestic product is related to national accounts, a subject in macroeconomics. ( Source : http://erbwikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product ). Interest Expense Interest expense is a non-operating or other expense for the cost of borrowed money or other credit. The amount of interest expense appearing on the income statement is the cost of the money that was used during the time interval shown in the heading of the income statement, not the amount of interest paid during that period of time. (Source : Accounting Couch) SUMMARY In this chapter, we have discussed about the influence of factors affecting profitability performance of Maybank Berhad and the question that need to be answered in this paper. This research examined the bank profitability which focused on both the returns on bank assets and equity, net interest rate margins and net operating margin. High performance comes from effort given by bank management to produce high profit while facing risk related. Firm need to generate income as much as possible as banking institution is a profit-orientation company. CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW INTRODUCTION Bank performance depends on the profitability measurement of banks financial statement. It is recognized that the growth of the banking system is dependent on a strong and stable economic development. PREVIOUS STUDY This paper deals with performance of commercial bank, focuses on Maybank Berhad. Some of previous study that relate with this research are Masood et al. (2009) revealed that in case of calculating profitability in terms of ROE or ROA the most significant internal and external factors affecting Saudi banks are capital adequacy ratio, earning assets to deposits ratio, operational efficiency, growth rate in GDP, and banking sector development. He finds also that variables to do with credit risk, inflation rate and interbank offered rate are insignificant and have a low effect on all indicators of profitability. The results in the speech by Tan Sri Dato Ali Abu Hassan Bin Sulaiman, Governor of BNM, (23 September 1998), he stated that since the onset of the financial crisis, BNM had instituted a number of measures , amongst others included tighter loan classficication policy for non-performing loans and a limit on lending for the purchase of shares. Since then, the financial crisis advers ely affected the real economy, resulting in real GDP contracting by 4.8% during the first half of 1998. Year 1998 was a difficult year for the banking system while 1year after that was the recovery year in the performance of banking system. (BNM 1999 Annual Report Press Conference). Haslem (1968) defined profitability as the capacity to gain or profit, or to return a profit or income. Profit is the measured for productive capacity of a company. According to Orl and Yolalan(1990), profitability performance evaluation of a banks should be linked to decision model so as to associate the result obtained with the decision. Meanwhile, according to Bashir and Hassan , (2003) on their study on the factors influencing the profitability of Islamic banks in eight Middle Eastern countries for the period 1993–1998, they find that the higher leverage and large loans-to-asset ratios lead to higher profitability. This study also indicates a positive relationship between macroeconomic variables, stock market development and profitability of banks. Ben Ben Naceur and Goaied (2006) they find that macroeconomic indicators like inflation, GDP, and market concentration ratio have no impact on banks interest margin and profitability. However, financial structure variables (stock market capitalization divided by total assets or GDP) do have a positive effect on the return on assets. Staikouras and Wood (2003) said that macroeconomic indicators (variability of interest rate, growth of GDP) had a negative impact on profitability. Chance and Lane [1980], and Sweeney and Warga [1986] find little evidence that supports the interest rate sensitivity of bank or financial institutions stock returns. On the other hand, studies such as Lynge and Zumwalt [1980], Booth and Officer [19851, Scott and Peterson [1986], and more recently Chaudry and Reichert [1999] suggest that the stock returns of financial institutions are highly sensitive to changes in interest rates.  Different result from Kosmidou and Pasiouras (2007) which they examine how a banks specific characteristics and the overall banking environment affect the profitability of commercial domestic and foreign banks operating in the 15 EU countries and they found that the main determinants of profitability measured by ROAA, macroeconomic conditions (inflation, growth of GDP) and financial market structure (stock market capitalization to total assets or to GDP, total assets to GDP) are statistically significant and related to both domestic and foreign banks profitability. Apart from that, Bourke (1989), Heggested (1977) using the consumer price index (CPI) as a proxy for inflation both of them made a research on relationship between profit and inflation and the result, both studies found that inflation had a significant relationship with profit. Earlier study from Revell (1980). believed that inflation could be a factor in the causation of variations in banks profitability. For studied on total expenses, items that fall within the control of bank management can be broadly divided into 3 categories: staff expenses, provision for loan losses, and other general expenses. Expenses, such as payment for income tax, are considered statutory expenses and hence beyond the control of management. Devinaga Rasiah (2010) . THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK In this study, 4 factors were chosen to be evaluated. They are return of unit trust fund, risk level of unit trust, diversification level and last but not least is risk-adjusted level. Below is the relationship between dependent variable and independent variables. Title : Investigation of The Financial Performance of Maybank Berhad Bank interest income Bank Non-Interest Income GDP Inflation rate Bank Profitability Interest Expense DEPENDENT VARIABLE INDEPENDENT VARIABLES CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY AND DATA 3.0 INTRODUCTION This study will analyze the relationship between dependent variable (profitability of Maybank Bhd) and independent variables (interest income, non-interest income, inflation rate and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ).This study will covered 10 years data from 2001 until 2010 and will be done using Statistical Package For Social Science (SPSS). Furthermore, hypothesis will be tested whether it can be accepted or rejected. This will provide more understanding view among variables. The advantage of using profitability ratios is that they are inflation invariant that is they are not affected by changes in price levels. This is useful in a time series analysis such as this, where the real value of profits may be distorted by the time varying inflation rates as stated by Devinaga Rasiah (2010). 3.1 DATA COLLECTION Data was collected using annual reports of Maybank Bhd. The data collection was compiled from the financial statement also the balance sheets from Maybanks annual reports for 10 years.. All the data will be evaluate accordingly to see the relationship between the dependent and independent variables also to test the hypothesis. Besides some of the data comes from Internet website like video on news and some articles which contain information about Maybank Bhd. 3.2 SAMPLING FRAME 10 years data was chosen as to see the latest profitability performance of Maybank Bhd. 10 years data is enough to show the flow of performance of bank to see whether it has consistent performance or not and factors which relate the most to banks performance can be determine. 3.3 SOURCES OF DATA The data on Maybank Berhad financial statements and balance sheets were collected using secondary data which come from: (BNM) Bank Negara Malaysia Annual Reports (2001 until 2010). Bursa Malaysia Internet Website. Library books, articles and magazines. 3.4 VARIABLES AND MEASUREMENT The variables used in this study can be categorized into two main types which are, the dependent and the independent variables. 3.4.1 Dependent Variables The dependent variable for this study is the profitability performance of Maybank Bhd. 3.4.2 Independent Variables There are 4 independent variables in this study which are interest income, non-interest income, inflation rate and Gross Domestic Product(GDP). RESEARCH DESIGN Research design involves a series of rational decision making choices. Various issues regarding the topic will be describe here including purpose of study, types of investigation to be make, time horizon and so on. 3.5.1 Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study is to determine the profitability performance of Maybank Bhd from 2001 to 2010. Besides, this study attempt to analyze the factors relates with the performance of Maybank Bhd. and what are the factor that has the highest impact on Maybank Bhd performance. 3.5.2 Types of Investigation This study involved the multiple regression study on the data from range of 2001 until 2010. This model was chosen because this study has more than 1 independent variable.. 3.5.3 Unit of Analysis Unit analysis for this study are interest income, non-interest income, inflation rate and GDP. 3.5.4 Time Horizon This study will use range data from 2001 until 2010 of Maybank Bhd. 3.7 DATA ANALYSIS AND TREATMENT This study use SPSS, multiple regression study as the statistical tool as to measure how all these variables will influence profitability performance of Maybank Bhd. The multiple regression study will be used to analyze the relationship between dependent variable, which is the profitability of Maybank Bhd and independent variables which includes interest income, inflation rate, GDP and non-interest income. Multiple Linear Regression Model: General Functions: P = f( Inflation rate, interest income, Non-interest income , GDP, e ) Specific Form of Equation: P = a + b1X1 + b2X2 + b3 X3 + b4GDP + b5INF + Where; P = profitability a = Constant b1, b2, b3, b4 = Coefficient Beta value X1 = interest income X2 = non- interest income GDP = Gross Domestic Product INF = Inflation = Error 3.8 HYPOTHESIS STATEMENT There are 5 hypotheses in this study which are: Hypothesis 1 H0: There is no significant relationship between inflation rate and bank profitability. Hypothesis 2 H0: There is no significant relationship between GDP and bank profitability. Hypothesis 3 H0: There is no significant relationship between Interest Income and bank profitability. Hypothesis 4 H0: There is significant relationship between Non-Interest Income and bank profitability. SUMMARY In this chapter, we have discussed about where the data comes from and how the data will be measures to evaluate the significances between dependent variable and the independent variables. The study is designed to examine 5main areas which are interest expense, interest income, non-interest income, inflation rate, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 10 years data from varieties of secondary sources like Bank Negara Malaysia and internet sources will be evaluated to explain the relationship between profitability performance and factors influence it. .

walt whitman :: essays research papers

Walt Whitman   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Walt Whitman, born in 1819 to a family in Long Island, lived a very humble life before becoming a well known writer. He grew up in a community full of Quakers and followed religion very strictly as a child. Whitman loved reading the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson because he thought he related to Emerson’s ideas and theologies which closely corresponded to his own. At the age of 35, Whitman published his first book, Leaves of Grass, which was so successful that it appealed to other known poets worldwide. His talent was a great surprise to many. Whitman's abilities as a poet were unknown because his previous job was working for a local newspaper from which he got fired for being an abolitionist. It is believed, however, that Whitman's inspiration came from his trip to New Orleans and New York. Whether it was a love affair or the great scenery from the countryside that truly inspired him is unknown; nevertheless this first book was the beginning to an exciting c areer. Whitman viewed himself as the first real American poet. His poetry was symbolic of freedom and democracy, as well as emotions and beliefs. Later editions of Leaves of Grass were published in 1856 and 1860. These editions were full of new poems as well as revised earlier ones. At this time, Whitman was the editor of a local newspaper, the Brooklyn Daily Times, in addition to helping is father in carpentry. It was in 1862 when he found out his brother was injured in the war and he traveled South to serve as a volunteer nurse to the military until 1867. During his time as a nurse, Whitman composed several war poems which were published in the 1867 edition of Leaves of Grass.

How committed is Canada, with respect to environmental security in the

In Canada, concerns involving environmental security are not the top priority. But due to recent research, Canada must be more strongly committed to environmental security due to increasing environmental problems internationally. There are many ways Canada can stay committed to environmental security, for example, increased funding to Canada’s Department of National Defence’s Environment Department. Also to stay committed to increased access and support to Voluntary Environmental Programs across Canada. Finally to completely stay up to world standards in environmental security, Canada must implement an effective environmental planning system. Throughout the essay, the topic at hand will be if Canada is able to implement these actions to make the nation more environmentally stable and explain that environmental security should be a main means of concern in Canada. Canada’s Department of National Defence (DND) created the Environment Department on 1983. What motivated the DND to do so was that there was an outrageous amount of environmental issues emerging in 1983 within Canada. The Environment Department started with energy conservation, then forestry and vegetation concerns, and on to storage tanks and sewage treatment facilities. Over time, the department realized that one of their main concerns was sites contaminated by prior military practices, such as disposal of chemicals or ammunition. There is a policy in place for site closures and to ensure that the pollution of these sites is diminished. The policy is the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and it governs issues such as the acquisition of a new base or the closure of a facility. Many sites have been found across Canada and are under control but sadly the Environment ... ...meet all eight steps in the environmental planning system. Therefore once these eight pieces of criteria are met, Canada will be strongly committed to environmental security. In conclusion, the steps needed to make Canada more committed to environmental security are in place. It is up to the Canadian government and also the Canadian population to realize what is available and help our nation when it comes to environmental security. Whether it be increased funding to the DND’s Environment Department or increased accessibility and support to Canadian VEPs. And most importantly, meeting the eight steps of the environmental planning system. The information and resources are all there for Canada, the federal, provincial and local governments must now use these resources to improve the environmental security across the true north strong and free, the land we call home.

Role of Mutated Gene in the Evolution of Large Brained, Small-Jawed Hum

Role of Mutated Gene in the Evolution of Large Brained, Small-Jawed Humans The debate with-in the anthropology field has been heated over the evolution of the human and the events that have lead us to where we are now. One of the major questions that is debated is how did we, humans-large brained and small jawed, evolve from primates-large jawed and small brained. Interestingly enough, this debate is now being directed from outside the field; by biologists and plastic surgeons. On march 25, 2004, Doctors Stedman (and others) published their findings in Nature (VOL 428) under the title Myosin gene mutation correlates with anatomical changes in the human lineage. Their findings point to the gene myosin and its mutated form MYH16 and that the mutation that toke place some 2.4 million years ago as a major step in the development of a larger brain that we now as humans have. In this paper I aim to outline what they have discovered and point out some of the controversy surrounding the findings. It is not my goal to understand how the gene functions, but to rely on accepted judges conclusions that the gene is mutated but I will explain what this can say about the formation of bone structure. What the researchers found centers on the MYH16 mutation and the original myosin gene, a protein that builds strong muscular jaws. Myosin is a protein that works with other proteins to contract muscles, more importantly jaw muscles. The mutation of myosin, MYH16, causes a weaker bite. In their experiments they looked at macaque monkey and human genes to determine how this mutation worked. They found that the gene myosin only worked in the muscles of the head used for chewing and biting. The difference between the two subjects was... ...ary Source: Stedman, Hansell, et. al. Myosin Gene Mutation Correlates with Anatomical Changes in the Human Lineage. Nature, Vol 428, March 28, 2004. The Nature Publishing Group. www.nature.com/nature Secondary Sources: Associated Press. Gene Mutation Said Linked to Evolution. http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Living/ap20040324_1105.html Hopkin, Michael. Jaw-Dropping Theory of Human Evolution. http://www.nature.com/nsu/040322/040322-9.html Kreeger, Karen. Myosin Mutant Points to Human Origins. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-03/uopm-mmp032204.php Ananthaswamy, Anil. Early Humans Swapped Bite for Brain. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994817 Reuters. Scientists: Humans traded jaw strength for big brains. http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/science/03/24/science.brains.reut/index.html