Investors Valuation of Stock Essay Example for Free

Investors Valuation of Stock Essay An investor should value a stock by looking at the intrinsic value of the stock and how the market value compare to the intrinsic value. The most common mathematical method of valuing stock is to determine the price earnings ratio (P/E). The P/E ratio is calculated by dividing the share price by the company’s net income. As a general rule a P/E ratio should be in the higher teens. Stocks with a below-market P/E are considered cheaper, and a higher P/E ratio are considered expensive (Kansas, 2014). To evaluate if a stock is under or over-valued investors should look at the CAPM (Market securities Line) based on the Beta of the company and determine the performance of the stock. An investor can use indexes, such as the Dow Jones, NYSE, or SP 500, in stock valuation. Value investing is common for investors. It is misrepresentation of price so the buyer buys a stock at a lower price than true worth or sells at a higher price than true worth. Considering all variables and determining true fault in price, this method provides investors easy margins. Investors’ value stocks using various strategies and methods, but all driving factors are in hopes of gaining margin and growth of the company invested in. The concept of stock valuation is simple. However, predicting the future is not as simple and can be complicated. Market Valuation of Stock Market and investors value stock differently. The market depends on expectations and recent information available to the market. The market’s value of stock are usually based on past history and trends. Based on current economic conditions we look at the past and see how it would look going forward. Through use of charts, value lines, or other indicators, the market looks at certain things such as floors, ceiling, resistance points, when valuing stock. The stock value is a collective price based on numerous variables considered, equaling a company’s worth combined with social trends and economic factors. The most common value of a stock for the market is the open and close prices. NASDAQ uses an auction approach called opening cross and closing cross to determine stock prices (â€Å"Stock Market Prices†, 2014). The opening cross uses computer software to determine opening prices for stocks based on night trading; buying and selling of stock during close of business. The closing cross software calculates closing price based on  that day’s trades. The technology takes into consideration each trade made at the exchange and sets what is referred to as the fairest closing price. The final stock prices are released after close of the exchange and work as a main factor for night trading. The amount an investor is willing to pay is often dependent on the prices set by the market. Stock Market Prices. (2014). http://money.howstuffworks.com/nasdaq-opening-closing- cross1.htm Kansas, D. (2014). Evaluating a Stock. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://guides.wsj.com/personal-finance/investing/how-to-evaluate-a-stock/.

Developing Sustainability Indicators Monitoring For Enterprise Business Essay

Developing Sustainability Indicators Monitoring For Enterprise Business Essay The term sustainability refers to the human desire for an environment that would reap current and future benefits. Sustainability is not an absolute, independent of human conceptual frameworks. Rather it is always set in the context of decisions about what type of system is to be sustained and over what patio-temporal scale.(Allen and Hoekstra 1994) Monitoring process is an emergent and a major management response to the existing challenges in sustainability. It helps in understanding the sustainability systems and its values. Monitoring systems generally focuses on developing the various suitable tools that would help in gauging the relatedness of the sustainability practices. Basically, these monitoring systems reveal the trends and patterns of a sustainable system by constructing a good understanding of those systems. Comparison of future desired conditions with the current state of systems can be established. The changes in the entire system can be easily detected and can be used as an earlier warning against change. The growth and progress of the sustainable system in an enterprise can be effectively measured. Indicators can provide crucial guidance for decision-making in a variety of ways. They can translate physical and social science knowledge into manageable units of information that can facilitate the decision-making process. They can help to measure and calibrate progress towards sustainable development goals. They can provide an early warning, sounding the alarm in time to prevent economic, social and environmental damage. They are also important tools to communicate ideas, thoughts and values because as one authority said, we measure what we value, and value what we measure. Indicators of sustainability are different from traditional indicators of economic, social, and environmental progress. Traditional indicators such as stockholder profits, asthma rates, and water quality measure changes in one part of a community as if they were entirely independent of the other parts. Sustainability indicators reflect the reality that the three different segments are very tightly interconnected, as shown in the figure below: Segmentation of sustainable indicators As this figure illustrates, the natural resource base provides the materials for production on which jobs and stockholder profits depend. Jobs affect the poverty rate and the poverty rate is related to crime. Air quality, water quality and materials used for production have an effect on health. They may also have an effect on stockholder profits: if a process requires clean water as an input, cleaning up poor quality water prior to processing is an extra expense, which reduces profits. Likewise, health problems, whether due to general air quality problems or exposure to toxic materials, have an effect on worker productivity and contribute to the rising costs of health insurance. DESCRIPTION OF ENTERPRISE Sony Ericsson  is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001by the Japanese consumer electronics company  Sony Corporation  and the Swedish telecommunications company  Ericsson  to make mobile phones. The stated reason for this venture is to combine Sonys consumer electronics expertise with Ericssons technological leadership in the communications sector. Both companies have stopped making their own mobile phones. Sony Ericsson has strived to maintain the highest standards in our approach to sustainability. Sustainable development and production is considered to be important challenges for the future by Ericsson which demands an immediate action from responsible manufacturers. Sony Ericsson have put into effect a life-cycle approach to product development .Sony Ericsson mobile communications is a global supplier of high graphic and multimedia cell phones with various features along with accessories and pc cards. The products offer a combination of powerful technology with creative applications for mobile such as music, style, imaging, communications and entertainment. The net result is that Sony Ericsson is an enticing brand which opens up new avenues for growth in business for mobile operators and along with offering desirable, fun products to end users. In the nine years period, Sony Ericsson has been operating and it has maintained a rigorous approach to ensuring that it maintains the same standards across all chains. For Sony Ericsson, the approach to sustainability is based on the following principles: To safeguard the future profits in environmental friendly related issues. Improving the living and working conditions of all those who are involved in production of products. Not to make a negative  impact on the consumers. To improve the impact of our products and activities on the environment. Sony Ericsson have focused on low energy consumption chargers.Sony Ericsson will introduce chargers and phones with this interface well ahead of the desired industry timeline. Our portfolio of chargers is already one of the best in the industry in terms of efficiency and energy consumption. The handset was built with fully sustainable materials, the optional charger had minimal no-load power and the concept offered reduced packaging with the elimination of paper manuals. In 2008, Sony Ericsson observers were introduced. The global take back scheme and the green heart project bring us closer to our vision of being a leader in sustainability in the mobile phone industry. Constant improvising is being made by them so as to improve the working conditions and environment. Sony Ericsson set aggressive, absolute targets: Reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions from the full life cycle by 15% till 2015 (based on 2008 year levels) Reduce the total greenhouse gas emissions from So internal activities by 20% till 2015(based on 2008 year levels) Sony Ericson has continues dialogue with the parent companies on the subject of building more sustainable business. Listing Justification Of Indicators Relevant To The Enterprise ECONOMIC INDICATORS: The economic indicator refers to the system of production and consumption (including finance) and refers to the market based and to the unpaid economy. Economic prosperity is a very important element of sustainable development; it allows to combat poverty, to finance remediation of old burdens, to make changes in our development economic policy and market mechanisms must be applied in support of sustainable development, and not against it. Without denying the importance of tools such as legislation, public awareness etc., and the economy is a very powerful tool for sustainable development. Used in the right way, it provides efficient incentives to make choices for sustainable development. These incentives need to be on all levels of society, they must work in favour of sustainable development by: Making sustainable investments both in the public and private sectors profitable, Channelling research into knowledge and solutions for sustainable development Influencing consumption decision on all levels. Tele communication industry is very important for sustainable development as it generates employment wealth as well as it also provides economic benefits to the society. This all attribute raises concerns at both micro- and macro levels. The economic indicators and objective for the each specific indicator is mentioned below: Table.1 Objective Indicators Sufficient supply and goods and services GDP/ capita Efficient wealth creations Total factor productivity, cost, sales Economic systems evolution and Competitiveness Net investment, R D expenditures, Accumulated public and private debt GDP Per Capita: Gross domestic product (GDP) is nothing but the over all average of the increase or decrease of economic growth. GDP is nothing but the market value of all goods and services produced by the economy during the specific period which is often one year.2008 study by Sony Ericsson on the socio-economic impact of mobile communications in Sudan found that mobile phone access generates significant socio-economic benefits for gross domestic product (GDP), notably for people at the base of the economic pyramid. Total factor productivity, cost, sales: In simple language Productivity gives good ability to understand into inflationary pressures, and how much GDP can increase without affecting inflation. With high demand of Sony Ericsson mobiles and the company has decided to reduce operating costs, connectivity is expected to become economically viable for the local operator within three years. Net investment and capital expenditures: This indicator specifies the distribution to providers of capital broken down by interest on debt and borrowings and dividends on all classes of shares. Then Sony Ericsson describes how it has utilise its capital the level of company commitment to socially responsible investing. These are the mentioned sustainable indicators which help the Sony Ericsson, telecommunication industry to sustain in the market. ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS: Among the various sustainable indicators available in the monitoring system for the enterprise chosen, the prime importance moves to the environmental indicators as it drives the sustainability core concepts. These environmental indicators provide a measure of the companys impacts over the natural environment entities namely on the human, air, water and land ecosystems. The impacts of such practices can be a local or a global one depending upon the nature of the process. The ultimate target is the stake holders in common. Considering the enterprise of Sony Ericson, the threat is posed over the employees who work in the enterprise. Our enterprise corresponds to the telecom industry where by the scope of analysis for the telecom products and the facilities in Sony Ericson company is tremendous. Hence it is worth to develop indicators for the company to evaluate the effectiveness of its sustainable practices. The sustainability indicators relevant to Sony Ericsson Company are identified as below. Materials- (substances of concern) Energy- (power consumption) Products Transport Air emissions (carbon footprint) The above listed indicators are identified to be more crucial for carrying out sustainable monitoring framework for the company, Sony Ericsson. Materials (substances of concern): Considering the first indicator, materials, it refers to the various elements of concern that are used in the company. Being a strong player in the telecom industry, Sony Ericsson, produces mobile phones that incorporates brominates flame retardants (BFR) on its boards and casings. Moreover poly vinyl chloride (PVC) is also used in the chargers. Hence considering the usage of these materials in the company provides more concern over the sustainability issues in the company. Hence developing this indicator would help in the measurement of sustainability impacts of using such materials inside the company. Energy: For any industry or an enterprise, the usage of energy becomes very essential for its effective functioning. Sony Ericsson is not an exception and as it addresses the energy consumption issue through its chargers for mobile phones. This indicator provides effective measurement of the energy consumption that would help the company to incorporate processes that would lead to lesser energy consumption for the sustainable future. Products: Sony Ericsson continues its operations in the telecom industry through its various ranges of mobile phones and accessories that pose a question whether they are bio-degradable or not. The toxicity levels in the products and their environmental impacts can be measured using this indicator. Hence for a product based company like Sony Ericsson, this indicator becomes very significant for ensuring sustainable practices. Transport: Transport is an inevitable indicator in any sector as the movement of either goods or services becomes a mandatory process in the work areas. Considering Sony Ericsson, the usage of transport service, the kind of modes used, the frequency and intensity of transport processes involved in the company is really high which can affect the environment in many bad ways. Thus this indicator is more relevant to the company in identifying the impact that companys transport operations are projecting towards the environment. Air emissions With a large company like Sony Ericsson, the production capacities for their plants in various locations are tend to be generally larger. This results in the production of more carbon dioxide emissions across the nearby areas of the plant locations. So, careful monitoring of such emissions and controlling it becomes very important for the company to evaluate the amount of air emissions of the company. SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS Apart from having economical and environmental sustainability it is as much as important for the company to be socially important too. Since every company they are socially bounded, it is important for them to be connected with the society. For a company to be effective and sustainable, both the individual and community resources need to be developed and used within the context of four guiding principles equity, social inclusion and interaction, security, and adaptability. Telecoms industry is playing as a very important player in shaping up the economy. The five main indicators of Sony Ericsson for social sustainability are as follows: Stakeholder involvement Human rights and business ethics Equal opportunities and non- discrimination Health and safety Bribery and corruption Sony Ericsson maintains good monitoring systems on this sustainability to have better output. Stake holder involvement Stakeholders are those who have a direct relationship to, or are affected by, our business. They include investors, customers, employees, suppliers, industry partners, governments, end-users, non-governmental organizations and the media. So it is important for any organisation to have a good relationship with them. By having sustainable relationships with the stakeholder provide the company with long run benefits. Stakeholder involvement towards a particular company creates a good image for the company among the public. Human rights and business ethics Business engagement in human rights is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity. It is very crucial for any company to behave in a socially and ethically exemplary way and operates business in compliance with all national laws and regulations. This is a main indicator for company to find out whether it is sustainable or not. Equal opportunities and discrimination One of the main indicators that should be addressed in sustainable development requires companies to provide equal opportunities to all regardless of their gender, race and disabilities. Most of the research identifies that gender disparity as one of the important issues that need to be addressed by the industry, including attracting more women into professional jobs. By having equal opportunities make the company to have better sustainable practices. Health and safety: Health and safety is one the most important indicator that production industry should concern about. Providing employees with health and safety standards must be addressed properly. The action plan included installing protective railings, improving processes and equipment for chemicals handling, and implementing health and safety procedures for corrective and preventive action. Bribery and corruption: Another main issue that should be addressed the companies is bribery and corruption. Sometimes as like human rights problems, is a large scale problem that cannot be addressed the companies. So companies must make careful consideration in regard to this problem which has a direct impact on sustainability of any company. CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF LISTED INDICATORS Justification For The Economic Indicators: China, India, Indonesia and Brazil are among Sony Ericssons 10 largest markets in sales share. Emerging markets represent around one third of global GDP, and network sales in emerging markets grew an estimated 15 percent in 2008, representing over half of network sales. High growth market: The above mentioned statistical data proves that the Sony Ericssons GDP is increasing to sustain in the market. Moreover, connectivity is an instrument to generate economic opportunity. In fact, a 2007 Deloitte analysis of sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the middle east and Asia pacific confirms that a 10 percent increase in mobile penetration leads to a 1.2 percent increase in gross domestic product (GDP) in developing countries twice the equivalent impact in developed markets. Applying life- cycle thinking to telecom network helps reduce the total cost of ownership for customers by demonstrating how to optimize energy. Two studies conducted by Sony Ericsson in 2008 showed in the lowest segments, money transfer, learning and mobile applications in health are in high demand. This shows that the company is done the research and addressed the capital investments, profit and share holders value to sustain in the market. Table.2 categories of economic indicators: Provides information on /measures Economic issues addressed Stake holders directly affected Main customers, market share contribution to GDP Contribution to GDP and wealth creation Customers, national governments Financial viability of business and wealth creation Capital investments, profits, share holders value, wealth creation, revenue distribution Shareholders, creditors, insurers Types of product, sales, earnings, values added Sales, earnings and value added Employees, customers, creditors, shareholders. Thus the above mentioned Economic Indicators as provided information on measures and also addressed the economic issues and how the stakeholders are directly affected. The additional indicators include generally- applicable measures of economic performance such as earnings before interest and tax. The micro economic issues have traditionally dominated business decision making with a focus on short term returns, which is in the telecommunication industry often based on production volumes rather than on valued added products and services. ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS: Indicator material The material indicator provides information about the various substances and elements that are used in the products and processes of the company namely Sony Ericsson. The various chemical substances like PVC, BFR and lead in the manufacturing of mobile phones and its accessories are taken into account in this indicator. One of the main substances highlighted by the media is brominates flame retardants (BFR) that reduces the risk of fires in the mobile phones. The major risk of BFR is that it becomes a dioxin under uncontrolled incineration. The company also strives to removes this substance from its charger and cable cases. Thereby the company has phased out the BFR in most of its products. Moreover Sony Ericsson takes the pride of becoming the first mobile phone firm to eradicate the entire use of BFR in its products. The other major substance is the poly vinyl chloride (PVC) because it releases hydrochloric acid and dioxins that gets accumulated in the animal fat and causes cancer to human due to the various carcinogens. Sony Ericsson worked hard to find alternatives for PVC and finally from 2007 all new Sony Ericsson products were PVC free. Other substances of concern were the phthalates, beryllium and antimony were also found hazardous and hence as an attempt to go environment friendly, the Sony Ericsson products are now almost free from such elements which can be very well evident from the companys report over sustainability. Table.3 sustainable indicator framework for social sustainability Indicator Provides information on/ measures Environmental issue(s) addressed Stakeholders directly affected/interested Materials Use of substances of concern like PVC, BFR, beryllium etc. Use and depletion of resources Suppliers, contractors, NGOs, national governments Energy Energy use and efficiency, use of renewable resources of energy. Use of energy resources, contribution to global warming. Suppliers, contractors, local communities, NGOs, national governments. Product Environmental impacts of products life cycle Environmental impacts of products like product toxicity. Customers, NGOs, national governments, insurers and creditors. Transport and logistics Transport distances for products and with respect to employees Intensity of transport activity carried out, use of non-renewable resources etc. Contractors, suppliers, local communities and authorities, national government and NGOs Air emissions Contribution to air, water and land pollution Air effluents, carbon emission, related environmental impacts Local communities and authorities, national governments, NGOs, creditors, shareholders. Indicator -energy The indicator provides measures on the usage of the energy and its efficiency and the usage of renewable sources of energy. With respect to the company, Sony Ericsson the mobile phones and their chargers come into picture regarding the energy or power consumption. Considering the total energy life cycle impact of a mobile phone, there is a no load power consumption issue. Sony Ericsson tried to reduce this and achieved a 0.15 w of average no load power in its mobile phone chargers. Indicator product The product indicator provides information about the environmental impacts that happens throughout the life cycle of the product. It exhibits the other hazardous and toxic properties of the mobile phone products and its accessories of Sony Ericsson. The product gathers more importance in identifying the measure of the sustainability in a company like Sony Ericsson as the entire business rolls out of its products. The company has come up with the initiative towards the development of the mobile phone product that is environmentally sustainable. In 2008, the company initiated a concept called green heart. According to this concept, the entire life cycles of products are revised and the usages of various elements are identified to be environmental friendly. Indicator transport and logistics: The indicator provides information about the distances involved in the transportation of products and the employees as well in the company. This indicator throws light on the usage of the various non-renewable resources and the corresponding emissions that would pose a considerable threat to the environment. Sony Ericsson collaborates with the logistics companies so as to reduce the impact of transport on the overall carbon footprint. The company framed out a separate environmental friendly guideline in selecting the vehicles and fuels for its transport operations. According to the life cycle assessment made by the company in 2008, it was found that 3.7 kg of carbon dioxide emission resulted out of the transportation of which 90% contributed from the outbound transportation. Thus the serious efforts have to be made to join with Logistics Company and reduce the weight of packaging as well so that overall impact of transportation can be minimized. Indicator air emissions (carbon footprint) The indicator provides information about the amount of pollutants that the company introduces to the land, air and water ecosystems. It also defines the level and severity of the impact and the corresponding impacts on the environment. Sony Ericsson has been planning out for larger volumes of production because of business constraints and this causes a larger emission of carbon dioxide into the air. The three major activities were identified to contribute towards carbon emission namely factories, offices and travel. Table.4 Table.5 The impact of business travel is another problem accounting for higher carbon emission. Reducing the long distance travel by introducing alternative meeting arrangements like Tele-Presence systems, an advanced video conferencing technique have been initiated as an effective alternative to reduce business travels. These all techniques were thought for reducing the companys total carbon emission from its business operations. SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS: Companies are paying more attention to the social dimension of sustainable development, mainly due to an experienced shift in stakeholder pressures from environmental to social-related concerns. During the last decades of the 20th century, various significant steps were taken to draw the social dimension of sustainable development into open. Sony Ericsson has taken the following social issues for their sustainability in the market. Stakeholder involvement Human rights and business ethics Equal opportunities and non- discrimination Health and safety Bribery and corruption Table.6 sustainable indicator framework for social sustainability Indicator Provides information on/ measures Social issue(s) addressed Stakeholders directly affected/interested Stakeholder involvement The level of commitment to external stakeholder Stakeholder involvement All external stakeholder Human rights and business ethics The level of commitment to protecting human rights of all stakeholders, employees Human rights and business ethics. All stakeholders, employees, trade unions. Equal opportunities and non-discrimination The level of commitment to non-discrimination and to provide equal opportunities Equal opportunities and non-discrimination Employees, trade unions, national governments Health and safety Employee health and safety Health and safety Employees, trade unions, national governments Bribery and corruption The approach to avoiding bribery and corruption Bribery and corruption Local communities and authorities, national governments, NGOs, creditors Indicator stakeholder involvement Board participation is crucial for the implementation of underlying values for sustainable development and preservation of cultural values. Therefore, involvement of local communities and other stakeholders is crucial in decision making process. Sony Ericsson seeks to respond promptly to stakeholder concerns. They conduct an annual stakeholder survey identifying the top-ranked social, environmental and economic issues for customers and investors. They measure employees views in annual surveys and polls. In 2008, both investors and customers were particularly interested in supply chain management. Indicator -human rights and business ethics Protection of human rights is another relevant sustainability of the social concern that should be addressed when considering electronics industry. Sony Ericsson respects all human rights, including the right to freedom of expression of ideas and as tools for democracy. At times the telecom industry can encounter conflicts in realisation of these rights. Sony Ericsson is addressing the relevant issues to us and our market, but at present, considers that the main concerns in this area fall within the operators domain. As society understands of these issues evolves and the border between operator and vendor changes, Ericsson will reassess its position. Indicator -equal opportunities and non- discrimination Addressing sustainable development requires companies to provide equal opportunities to all regardless of their gender, race or disabilities. Sony Ericsson is making headway in a male dominated industry, and the number of women in the workforce increased worldwide from 12,000 in 2004 to more than 17,000 today. The number of women occupying the top 200 roles increased from 12 percent in 2007 to 13 percent in 2008, while those in line management positions remained steady at 18 percent. Our objective is to develop a management team in which the number of females is proportionate to the female workforce as a whole Sony Ericsson leadership development initiative for employees nurtures key capabilities and competencies and helps set clear goals. We seek to strengthen and deepen leadership qualities at all levels of the organization. During 2008, we launched 122 training sessions to support the initiative and 1,979 managers participated, compared to 78 sessions and 1,281 participants in 2007. To maximize learning opportunities, we mix classroom sessions with informal learning such as mentoring, job rotation, coaching, and interactive feedback. This provides employees with practical support in developing the skills to spearhead and service technological convergence. Indicator health and safety In addition to wages and benefits that are universally important, one of the employee-related issues related to occupational health and safety. Occupational health and safety (OHS) is a global priority for Ericsson. In 2009 we will align our existing locally tailored OHS approach with a globally coordinated system applicable to all markets. Unit heads will ensure that they set appropriate OHS standards that are realistic, attainable and consistent with local operating conditions and legislation. During the year we will finalize a group policy on OHS that will be rolled out throughout the business. . Indicator -bribery and corruption Corruption is one of the main obstacles in equal distribution of wealth. The Ericsson group management system, implemented and monitored wherever we do business, ensures integrity and high standards of conduct. A whistle blower procedure is in place for employees to report violations relating to accounting, internal controls and procedures or fraudulent practices. In 2008, all market unit employees took the anti-corruption e-learning. We also offer training courses educate employees on the code of business ethics and anti-corruption. CONCLUSION Sustainable development has become very significant especially in the telecom industry. In order to respond to the various sustainability challenges forced in the industry, sustainable development becomes very crucial. The framework for the monitoring system developed with the corresponding indicators; provide a comprehensive tool for measuring sustainability in the telecom industry. The proposed indicators in the above discussion, addresses to the key environmental, social and economic issues that are prevalent in the tel

Syd Barrett :: essays research papers

Born on January 6, 1946, Roger Keith Barrett was raised in CambridgeEngland. He was given the nickname "Syd" as a youngster, while attending the city's High School, where his friends included Roger Waters and David Gilmour, and it stuck with him as he grew up. In his late teens, after his father died, he started producing paintings and music. He was an originating member of The Abdabs, The T-Sets, Sigma 6, and other names such as The Meggadeaths, in 1965. He worked with people like Bob Close, Roger Waters, Nick mason, and Richard Wright. When Bob Close left the band, Syd renamed the group The Pink Floyd Sound, named after the cover of an album of two american bluesmen, Pink Anderson, and Floyd Council. Syd wrote almost everything for The Pink Floyd Sound, then The Pink Floyd finally renamed just Pink Floyd), he played guitar, sung, and wrote the music and the lyrics as well. The other Cambridge native forming The Pink Floyd were Roger Waters (bass), Rick Wright (keyboards), and Nick Mason (drums). Within weeks the new line-up had rehearsed at the Thompson Private Record Company, a tiny studio sited in the basement of a house in Hemel, Hampstead. Here they recorded two songs; an original hinged to the Gloria riff entitled Lucy Leave and a version of Slim Harpo's I'm a King Bee already made famous by the Rolling Stones. At first, The Pink Floyd were a much more conventional act that the act into which they would evolve, concentrating on the rock and R&B material that were so common to the repertoires of mid-'60s British bands. Syd's influences were the Stones, Beatles, Byrds and Love," the group's first manager, Pete Jenner, told Nick Kent, adding at Barrett wore out his copy of the last-named group's debut album. "I was trying to tell him about this Arthur Lee song I couldn't remember the title of, so I just hummed the main riff. Syd picked up his guitar, followed what I was humming, and went on to use the chord pattern he worked out for 'Interstellar Overdrive'. Pink Floyd then began to experiment, however, stretching out songs with wild instrumental freak-out passages incorporating feedback, electronic screeches, and unusual, eerie sounds created by loud amplification, reverb, and such tricks as sliding ball bearings up and down guitar strings. In 1966, they began to pick up a following in the London underground; onstage, they began to incorporate light shows to add to the psychedelic effect.

American Intervention Essay -- essays research papers

American Intervention: Domestically and Internationally   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The United States and its people take great pride in knowing that the U.S. is the greatest nation in the world. That is why it’s our duty to father the rest of the world when conflicts arise. American culture and ideals are also thought to take precedents over all other cultures and ideals. In the book, The Spirit Catches You and You Fall down, written by Anne Fadiman, there are many great examples of how American culture is imposed on the people residing with in its enclosed boundaries. The U.S. going to war in Vietnam is also a great example of how the U.S. tried to impose American values on the â€Å"less fortunate.† Through understanding America’s so called â€Å"duty† in Vietnam one can interpret the intervention of American idealism in the life of a Hmong family.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Lia lee, a little Hmong girl, has a severe case of epilepsy. She is the daughter of Nao Kao and Foua lee who are among the many Hmong refugees that fled to the U.S. The Hmongs are very simple and proud people. They take pride in the fact that they have never been ruled by anyone. Even though they have been driven away and separated many times they always seem to find themselves and their culture, never seemingly adapting to the major culture. Even when French missionaries settled in their area and brought their western ideals, medicine, religion, and values they never really accepted them. Fadiman stated in her book that in reality, â€Å"no Hmong is ever fully converted† (35).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Hmong believe that the human soul is a prized possession and should always be kept happy. They believe that the soul has a domain where it rests usually where they were born. After a Hmong woman gives birth, the father digs a hole and buries the baby’s placenta. â€Å"If it was a girl, her placenta was buried under her parents’ bed; if it was a boy, his placenta was placed in a place of greater honor, near the base of the house’s central wooden pillar.† (5) Once a Hmong dies, it is believed that they must retrace his or her life path and reunite with his or her placenta, in order to be prepared for the dangerous journey ahead of them before they reach the sky and meet their ancestors. The Hmong’s also believe in animal sacrifice, which is method of keeping â€Å"dabs† (evil spirits that try t... ...sp;  The U.S. trying to â€Å"police the world† was a duty that was given and definitely not ignored. Although some American ideals and values are truly superior to others, they should not be enforced on the world. In the case of the Lee family, ignorance played a big role. Maybe if the doctors at MCMC, or even the citizens of Merced, had known a little more about Hmong customs and rituals then all of the problems that the Lee’s or any of the other Hmongs encountered could have been avoided. Another major problem that caused grief was the language barrier, hence the fact that attending physicians can’t be blamed for their decisions. In the case of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, the Vietnamese were given the opportunity to rule themselves. Even though Communism isn’t the best way for a country to gain its independence, it was a reason for the Vietnamese to fight. The U.S. had many casualties and a federal budget that was deeply injured. Back home, t hese occurrences seemed like an endless war with no apparent reasons. Even though in both cases the U.S. was trying to look for the welfare of the Lee family and for the Vietnamese, their complete and total assistance was not necessary.

Rachel Carson :: essays research papers

Area of Work. A marine biologist, writer, and an expositor of protecting the environment for the future, Rachel wrote many articles and three moving books about the sea, and a final book, Silent Spring, for which she is remembered. She was not by nature a crusader, but when aerial spraying of DDT killed the birds in a friend's bird sanctuary, she began to study the effects of pesticides on the chains of life. Silent Spring provides an authentic and chilling warning that the chemicals we use in pesticides can create greater problems than they intended to solve. Rachel warned that if we do not learn to respect nature we might face a spring when no bird songs could be heard. Education. At the Pennsylvania College For Women, a required college course in biology made Rachel change here assumptions about her career. She majored in zoology, and after graduating with honors, she received a scholarship from Johns Hopkins, where she got a Masters Degree in genetics in 1932. Challenges. Rachel first broke barriers as a women. She took her first job with the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. In 1936 she became the first women to pass the civil service exam. Over the next fifteen years she rose in the ranks until she was the editor of all publications for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After resigning from government service, she wrote best selling books. Silent Spring set off a national controversy and made her the subject of attack by the pesticide industry. She challenged DDT, whose inventor had received a Nobel prize After reading the book, President Kennedy called for testing of the chemicals mentioned in the book. Her Work Background. Her years at U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service coincided with World War II experimentation with deadly chemicals. Insects were used to test these agents. Powerful pesticides were a byproduct of the tests. Rachel was the first one to see the dangerous effects of introducing these deadly agents into our food ch ain. Achievements. Rachel set off the controversy between environmentalists and the pesticide industry that is still raging. Silent Spring warns that for "the first time in the history of the World every human being is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals from the moment of our conception until death." Rachel came to be regarded as the mother of the modern environmental movement. "The environment" and "ecology" have since become household words.

Radio and European History Essay

Radio broadcasting has been viewed by governmental agencies across the globe as a contributing medium that served its growing audience. Across the years, radio broadcasting has provided entertainment and information to a diverse audience from local to, regional and international reach in commercial, social or political atmospheres. Radio broadcasting, according to Godfrey (2006), is a primary source material and an information tool as it directly observes and relates relevant events. Along with photographic records, physical remains and oral sources, radio and television broadcasts are potent sources of unfiltered evidence closer to an event, as Godfrey added. The acquisition of specific details that try to retain the images of an event through an actual experience has led Puddington (2003) to believe that media has challenged the shape of history. The significant claims on the importance of radio broadcasting drives home the idea that its classification as a primary source of data may is its contribution to history. More importantly, this paper shall strive to prove how radio broadcasting shaped European History as it gears up a strong hypothetical contention that radio broadcasting had a definite role in the shaping of European integration. The age of airwaves begun after the series of discoveries that led to the invention of the wireless telegraph. It soon signaled the birth of the radio telegraph that allowed a wide range of sounds, music and human voice to be transmitted in a new technology in 1914 according to Godfrey. Historically, it was also a crucial time fraught with misunderstanding and strife that divided Europe into armed camps. World War I broke out with Germany leading the war for control in Europe. History would recall that as early as 1872, Germany had entertained plans to control the European region as it dominated European diplomacy while France remained isolated from the rest according to Viault(1990). An ongoing international crisis had threatened to move the European powers closer to the brink of war by the 1900’s. Still in the throes of hectic plans and preparation, Germany had to content itself with waiting for a few more years before striking a match to light the flames of war. Earlier on, Europe was in its creative prime as artistic activities catered to a romantic era of the 1800 and onwards, a little over a century before radio ruled technology. It was also a century of inventions and research that became a turning point for technology to prosper. Europe while in an age of development was politically stocked under a conservative rule which soon gave way to a movement effectively fighting for reform. While Britain’s royal and upper classes rejected political democracy, France also became very authoritarian that soon culminated in the 1848 revolution which Viault (1990) related. A growing powerful ideology of nationalism also promoted a disintegration of the Austrian empire in Central Europe that soon resulted to a few alliances among nations while contributing to reckless disintegration across the regions of Europe. In effect, Europe was in mindless turmoil and at a crossroads during a century rich with creative thought yet devoid of an amplified objective. At the onset of World War I, wireless transmission proved to be an invaluable tool to the military although they were quite wary of its potential use in espionage and mass propaganda. Indeed this was the actual case as Ireland and Britain were able to recruit young draftees for World War I following the RMS Lusitania’s bombing off the coast of Ireland on the way to Lverpool by a German U-boat (Reader’s Digest, 2003). As the United States courted the use of radio for home entertainment, BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) used the radio for news and entertainment with immediate plans to isolate it from political pressures as it battles with pay for radio entertainers as reported by the NY Times (Jun, 28, 1925). Radio broadcasting was also seen among countries in Europe as serving well in fostering good-will and amity among the nations of Europe and paving the way for unity as reported again in the NY Times (Jun 7, 1931). Such movement was instrumental in the recruitment of soldiers to serve in the allied force against Nazi Germany. In a specter of a growing 2nd World War brought about by rising Nazi Germany’s plan for domination, the radio technology was already seen as a tool in war efforts. At the outbreak of World War II, radio broadcasting reached the height of international worth as it carried news from the battlefront into the homes of listeners worldwide. Radio Commentator Edward Murrow had created sensations with eyewitness description of London during German bombing raids according to Godfrey (2006). Murrow had also reported on the Buchenwald Concentration Camps on April 11, 1945 according to Puddington (2003) which was instrumental in calling an end to the genocide. War was soon declared over the airwaves as Adolf Hitler set his conditions for war and genocide in Europe over Radio Hamburg in Viault (1990). The radio’s instrumental contribution to defeat the enemy camp of Hitler was made clear as allied camps tried to disrupt German military communications signals. Germany retaliated by jamming the signals and broadcast yet heavily lost amidst allied Europe’s hands. After the war, efforts to curb Russian communism was in the mainframe of Europe’s Radio Liberation programs that prayed for a Stalin and communist era to end. In the dark days of anti-Stalin struggle, the radio broadcast was again used as a weapon of psychological warfare according to Puddington (2003). Under a movement to free Europe from any communist rule after defeating Nazism, the Cold War between the US and USSR became a regional problem in Europe. Radio Free Europe (RFE) was established as a secretly American-funded station whose main objective was to spread the evils of communism. The Russians however weren’t quick to believe any evil broadcasts against their leader who defeated the evil Hitler and the Nazis as Puddington reasoned. By the 1970’s, Radio Liberty in Europe had ranked as the most influential international broadcast station with an impressive staff of exile writers and a growing Soviet audience in Puddington (2003). Stalin’s death in 1953 created a widening room for anti-communism ideas that had sacrificed the radio station and many of its staff and workers in the interest of international peace and harmony. Poland had once pleaded to abolish Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe in order to maintain diplomatic ties with Russia but other European countries opted for the propaganda movement against communism to remain heard. Shortwave broadcasts around the Czech Republic continued despite jamming from the Soviet communist regime. Likewise in West Germany, the country researched and studied the Soviet system of governance dedicated to the cause of freeing East Germany. Radio stations were tapped all around Europe as visible stars in an anti-communist sentiment. In a landscape of remembrance for the human efforts to attain peace and freedom, the advent of radio has ultimately provided an integral element in the unity and integration of Europe. Through radio broadcasting, information was disseminated across a wider population that became instrumental in creating an alliance among nations who desired for peace and freedom rather than dominion. The historical separation of European countries in the 19th century prior to the advent of radio technology was soon disbanded in an effort to create an alliance of nations. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights spoke of the right to receive and impart ideas and information regardless of frontiers. Radio broadcasting as the prevalent technology in an era fraught with wars and conflicts became a tool that united European nations to unite for a common cause of peace and freedom. Radio Broadcasting has therefore shaped the modern world’s history as a modern global tool that permitted countries to unite under a common goal for peace.

Charlie Chaplin’s “The Kid” and Rowan Atkinson’s “Mr. Bean” Essay

The most apparent similarity between these two films is that both films revolve around the daily lives of the main characters. The main characters, Charlie and Mr. bean, in The Kid and Mr. Bean – The Ultimate Disaster Movie respectively, both have child-like qualities, and the tendency to be rather mischievous. Mr. Bean is naive and self-centered, sometimes to the extent of becoming somewhat mean. Despite his considerable age, he still sleeps cuddled up with his teddy bear. Nothing is sacred to him, and he plays his games with an earnest sheepishness. His childish directness and honesty, while offensive at times, are his sharpest weapons. The little adventures he gets into usually revolve around the foibles of British life and the comedy of embarrassment. He is practically friend-less (save for his teddy bear), and is an outcast, just like Charlie, the main character of The Kid. Charlie is a tramp living in the slumps of South London who, while walking around one day, stumbles upon a crying baby that had been abandoned on a heap of garbage. Instead of ignoring the desperate cries of the infant or throwing it into the nearest sewer, he displays the more compassionate side of human nature by taking the baby with him and caring for it like a father. When the child is taken is away from him, he naturally gets very upset, and with a child-like recklessness, embarks on a journey to get him back, a process which includes pursuing the orphanage van over rooftops to descend into the back of the truck, then dispatching the official who had taken the child away. These two characters are also similar in their disregard for established values and the possible consequences of their actions. Their quaintness manifests itself in the unconventional way in which they analyze and then  try to make the best out of whatever situation they find themselves in, clearing obstacles and solving problems that come, â€Å"their way†, with a have a never-say-die attitude in their attempts to somehow belong to the society. Both films, being formalistic, reflect the condition of the society at the particular point of time it was made; these â€Å"raw materials† have been slightly distorted, with symbolism and visual exaggeration being used to bring out the core messages their creators aimed to convey to the viewers, while giving the films a comic effect. As Mr. Bean – The Ultimate Disaster Movie was a more recent film – The Kid was made several decades prior to it; the technology available to the creators of each film differed greatly. At the time of The Kid’s production, a thing such as colour television was not heard of and sound had not yet been introduced into the production of films; The Kid was a silent, black-and-white film while Mr. Bean – The Ultimate Disaster Movie was one with colour, sound, and certain special effects such as having its main character, Mr. Bean, falling from the sky as the credits rolled. It would be impossible to create such effects in Charlie Chaplin’s time. Also due to the different eras in which these films were made, the scenario of each plot also differed. In the case of The Kid, it was a film made in the era of the Great Depression and the aftermath of World War 1, and with the twin themes of emotional loss and homelessness being haunting motifs in its plot, it is a poignant social commentary – of the displaced refugee children of World War 1, and for the persons grieving for loved ones whose lives were sacrificed in that war. The opening title, â€Å"A comedy with a smile–and perhaps a tear†, sums it up. This film addressed social and political issues of the day, and that was an admirable feat in itself considering the fact that this film did not have the advantage of synchronized sound for dialogue nor colour for its images. Mr. Bean – The Ultimate Disaster Movie, on the other hand, has its plot based on a much lighter theme. It generally pokes harmless fun at the ‘rigid’ and ‘uptight’ stereotype we have of Englishmen by first depicting a typical Englishman, Mr. Bean himself, in a typically ‘English’ environment, then later putting  him in an ‘international’ environment. Being release in 1997 it is a light-hearted satire of how the more conservative English society reacts to and attempt to adapt to rapidly changing international standards and the shifts in power. The main difference of these two movies is that The Kid aims to bring some cheer to its audiences’ hearts by showing how joy can still be found in the gloomiest conditions (as depicted in the daily lives of Charlie and the child he has adopted) and also to reflect the state of the society while Mr. Bean – The Ultimate Disaster Movie seeks to bring some comic relief into the highly stressful lifestyle of the modern-day individual, by actually letting them laugh at a highly exaggerated, and therefore comic, version of ‘themselves’. As mentioned earlier, the era in which Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid was made did not allow for colour or sound to be incorporated into its production. Being disadvantaged in this area, the actors in the film had to make up for it by emphasizing on facial expressions and body movements, in order to express thoughts and emotions, and also to portray certain unique mannerisms and character traits of the various characters in the story. Modern-day audiences who are unaccustomed to this form of acting might feel uncomfortable viewing films from the silent era, because the actors may seem to them, to be over-acting to an outrageous degree. However, it is also due to the same reason as to why silent movies tend to be more popular than modern-day comedy as overacting is a natural form of comedy. One example would be the fight scene in which Charlie defends the child from the Bully. The moves require both grace and precise comic-timing; Chaplin’s talent was apparent in this scene as he manages to make even a brawl seem funny without the use of colour, sound or special effects. Title were also edited to clarify the on-screen situation to the viewers or add critical dialogue when there was an absolute need to. As for Mr. Bean – The Ultimate Disaster Movie, dialogue is being kept to a minimum. The creators of this movie probably wanted the focus of the viewers’ attention to be Mr. Bean’s immature, self-centered, and sometimes  outright mean persona and how these character traits of his actively contribute to the various sticky situations he often finds himself in. The dialogue in this film is mainly used to depict his mood or immediate response to certain occurrences, and from that, the viewers form a deeper impression of his character. Dialogue is seldom used to make known to the audience the plans the characters has in mind to tackle his problems. Mr. Bean almost always executes his impractical ideas and solutions immediately after he is faced with the problem. This deliberate lack of dialogue somehow suggests the unwillingness to share ideas, the impulsiveness to carry out ideas without consultation, and the complete disregard for the welfare and feelings of others that will be affected by his actions. Suitable sound effects were used to further enhance the various moods of the scenes and these sounds also give viewers a clue of the magnitude and severity of the situation Mr. Bean has once again landed himself in. Both films make use of physical comedy extensively to bring out the comic aspects of their respective characters. The signature â€Å"French-kick† displayed by Charlie when he was with the child was one example. Throughout the movie The Kid, this â€Å"French-kick† motion of Charlie’s is being executed frequently; other actions of this sort are often employed to enhance the overall comic aspect of the movie. In Mr. Bean – The Ultimate Disaster Movie, the use of physical comedy was also evident throughout the entire show, with Mr. Bean trying to resolve his perpetually unceasing string of problems with a clumsy and impractical style of doing so, a style that is typically his. The characters in The Kid had to endure poverty, homelessness, and extreme loneliness; they are exposed to the harsher aspect of life. Mr. Bean, however, had a job and a decent place to live in; the only unhappy moments he ever experiences are when his plans backfire. These moments of unhappiness are very short-lived. Therefore the characters in Chaplin’s film definitely possessed more emotional depth than those in Rowan Atkinson’s movie. Bibliography *http://www.dvdreview.com/fullreviews/bean.shtml *http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/soc/run.html *http://indigo.ie/~obrienh/bean.htm *http://www.american.edu/academic.depts/soc/kid.html *http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/1921_in_film *http://wso.williams.edu/~dgerstei/chaplin/charlie-the-kid.html *http://math.gc.cuny.edu/Charlie_Chaplin_bio.html *http://www.gltech.org/Death%20of%20a%20Salesman/Dramatic%20Terms.htm *http://www.tvguide.com/movies/database/ShowMovie.asp?MI=38984 *http://www.moviesunlimited.com/musite/product.asp?sku=043041 *http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_film *http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/wheeler/lit_terms_Q-Z.html#lit.terms.S.Anchor *http://www.epinions.com/content_29557624452 *http://www.historychannel.com/cgi-bin/frameit.cgi?p=http%3A//www.historychann