National Bank Essay

A research program is very important & essential for acquiring experience through learning and spreading the scope of Knowledge. I have done my research program in National Bank Limited, Foreign Exchange Branch. This research report is aimed at providing a comprehensive picture to the areas of Foreign Exchange operation of National Bank Limited. The report has been divided into twelve parts. These are- Introduction, Brief History of Banking Sector of Bangladesh, Corporate review of NBL, Foreign Exchange, Documents Used in Foreign Exchange Business, Letter of Credit (L/C), Import, Export, Foreign Remittance, Findings and Analysis, References. National Bank Limited is one of the largest commercial Bank of Bangladesh. The main objective of the Bank is to provide all of banking services at the doorsteps of the people. The Bank also participates in various social and development programs and takes part in implementation of various policies and promises made by the Government. National Bank Limited plays a pioneering role in handling foreign trade and foreign exchange transactions. With wide network of branches at home and a large number of correspondent banks worldwide, it is handling the largest volume of export-import business including homebound remittances. For this reason, Foreign Exchange of the Bank is very much essential. But now a day’s banking sector of Bangladesh is suffering the disease of default culture which is the consequence or result of bad performance of most banks. There are three types of modes of foreign exchange market, which are- Export Financing, Import Financing and Foreign Remittance. Foreign Exchange Branch does these foreign exchange activities vastly. In this report, I mention the overall operating procedure of foreign exchange transaction of National Bank Limited. I also mention the findings of my report and describe the recommendation to overcome the limitation. I have taken all the reasonable care to ensure the accuracy and quality to make the report standard. And I believe that it has included all the necessary information to be relevant. INTRODUCTIOIN ORIGIN OF THE REPORT As a mandatory part the BBA Program, all the students of the faculty of  Business Studies, Premier University, Chittagong have to undergo a three month long research program with an objective of gaining practical knowledge about current business world. After this research program each and every students have to submit a research report mentioning their activities during the research program. I’ve started my research at the National Bank Limited, Foreign Exchange Branch. At the end of the research program I am submitting my research report focusing on the contribution of Foreign Exchange operation to the overall performance of bank especially on profitability perspective under the supervision of Tasnim Uddin Chowdhury, Lecturer, Department of Finance, in Premier University, Chittagong. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The general objective of the study is to gather practical knowledge regarding banking system and operation. The research gives us a chance to relate the four year long theoretical learning of BBA Program with the reserch experience. This consists the following: To get an overall idea about the Foreign exchange Business of National Bank Limited. To apply theoretical knowledge in the practical field. To describe the organizational structure, management, background, functions and objectives of the bank and its contribution to the national economy. To achieve overall understanding of National Bank Limited. To analyze the financing systems of the bank to find out any contributing field. To examine the profitability and productivity of the bank. To acquire knowledge about the everyday banking operation of National Bank Limited. To evaluate the effect of world recession on foreign exchange income of NBL, Foreign Exchange Branch. To understand the real management situation and try to recommend for improving existing problems. SCOPE OF THE STUDY This study provides those scopes of knowing are the following: History and performance of National Bank Limited. Terms used in foreign exchange operations Foreign exchange operations of National Bank Limited Literature review. Total concept of Foreign Exchange Operation. METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY The report is prepared on the basic of foreign Exchange of National Bank Limited. To conduct the overall study, at first I explored the sources of Primary and Secondary information and data. Different files of the department and statement prepared by FED helped me to prepare this report. To present numerical data, I used the Annual Report of 2008 and monthly statement of January to October 2009 of National Bank Limited, Foreign Exchange Branch. For preparing this report I have used some graphical representation to find out different types of analytical and interpretation. SOURCES OF DATA As mentioned earlier, mainly primary and secondary data has been used. Sometimes the customers gave some important information regarding the services of the Bank: PRIMARY DATA Official records of National Bank Limited (NBL).. Expert opinion. SECONDARY DATA Monthly Statement of NBL. Annual Report of NBL. Official Files. Selected books. Other manual information. Websites. Various publications on the Bangladesh Bank. Newspaper reports in this concern. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION Both quantitative and qualitative analysis will be performed on the findings. The quantitative analysis will be done on the trend of export- import, growth pattern of export-import, pre and post facilities provided for easing the export-import operations. Qualitative analyses will be based on the macroeconomic variables and foreign exchange policy provided by Bangladesh bank, the central bank of Bangladesh. Different statistical tools will be used for the analysis of the findings. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY To provide current information and to make the report read-worthy, support from various sources is essential. In spite of having my wholehearted effort, I could not collect some information required at the time of the study. So this study is not free from the following limitation: Due to unavailability of latest annual report (Annual report 2009), I have to prepare the report on the basis of annual report 2008. As a result, analysis, presentation of data may not show the existing position/present condition of National Bank Limited. For the whole research I had only 90 days, out of which I get 61 days because of late commencement of research program, which were totally insufficient. So I faced time shortage extremely. Lack of previous experience to prepare this type of report and it is totally new to me as an intern. Foreign exchange division follows Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCPDC), but within this short period, I was totally stunned to understand. Learning all the banking functions within just two months was really difficult. Sometimes the officers of National Bank Limited were very busy. For this reason the personal did not co-operate me. National Bank Limited did not give me any kind of monetary support for this research program Most of the working days in NBL, I have to work in cash department to help in IPO subscription collection, so I get limited time work in other departments to have practical knowledge Another limitation of  this report is Bank’s policy of not disclosing some data and information for obvious reason, which could be very much helpful. BRIEF HITORY OF BANKING SECTOR OF BD EVOLUTION OF THE WORD ‘BANK’ The word bank originated from Italian word â€Å"Banca†. Banca means long tool. In ancient time Italian Jews merchant used to do business of lending money by sitting on the tools. It is assumed that the word â€Å"bank† derived from the word Banca. To meet the expense of war of 1171 one type credit certificate was launched in Italy at an interest rate of 5% it was called as Monte in Italian language and Bank in German language then German language was widely used in Italy. As a result the word Bank gradually changed to the word Banca from which the word Bank originated. THE EMERGENCE OF MODERN BANKING The linguistics and etymologists suggests an interesting story about banking origins. Both the old French word â€Å"Banque† and the Italian word Banca were used centuries ago to mean a bench or moneychangers table. This describes quite well what historians have observed concerning the first bankers, who lived more than 2000 years ago. They were money changers, situated usually at table or in a small shop in the commercial district, aiding travelers who came to town by exchanging foreign coins for local money or discounting commercial notes for a fee in order to supply merchants with working capital. The first bankers probably used their own capital to fund their activities, but it was not long before the idea of attracting deposit and securing temporary loans from wealthy customers became a source of bank funding. Loans were then made to merchant’s shippers and landowners at rates of interests low as 6 percent per annum to as high as 48 percent a month for the riskiest ventures. Most of the early bank was Greek in origin. The banking industry gradually spread outward from the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome into northern and western Europe. The early bank in Europe was places for safe keeping of valuable items (such as gold and  silver bullion) as people came to fear loss of their asset due to war, theft, or expropriation by government. When colonies were established in North and South America, old world banking practice were transferred . DEVELOPMENT OF BANKING IN BANGLADESH Since early British rule, the history of banking in Bangladesh territory shows that the traditional trade-networks developed before the banks invaded rural areas. And the banking services have slowly flourished in Bangladesh territory. Even today, in many places, moneylenders provide credit services. Small shopkeepers and businessman use informal credit at high interest rate. Traditional mahjong’s money lending business gradually declined due to expansion of bank and the micro credit programs of NGOs, cooperative banks and government agencies. PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS During the liberation war in 1971, the economic, political, and social system including the banking system was severally damaged. At that time, all big and medium financial institutions except two small banks had their head office in the West Pakistan. The non-beagle owners and managers of the financial establishments that operated in East Pakistan had abandoned them. After independence in 1971, the new government had to take over management and ownership of all such institutions. The banks Nationalization Order 1972 was issued to nationalize banks and financial institutions (except those incorporated abroad) in order to control chaos in the field of ownership, party bureaucracy, the intelligentsia, and pressure group. By several orders the government of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh created- Six nationalized commercial banks (NCBs): 1. Sonali Bank 2. Agrani Bank 3. Janata Bank 4. Rupali Bank 5. Pubali Bank 6. Uttra Bank One industrial bank (BSB) One agricultural bank (BKB) One industrial development financial institution (BSRS) The bank and financial institutions which originated during the Pakistan period and were merged, and renamed and functioning after independence of Bangladesh. In the year 1983, the government allowed private sector to participate in the banking business. The Publi Bank and the Uttara Bank were denationalized in 1985, due to non profitability. This action reduced the number of NCBs to four. Such restructuring of public sector banks was in order to play their role in industry, agriculture, export, self –employment etc. PRIVATE COMMERCIAL BANKS Taking advantage of the liberalization policy of the government regarding participation of private sector in the banking business, a number of private banks were established in –and –after 1983. With the emergence of private banks in Bangladesh, a competitive situation in the sector has been created. Now there are 48 commercial banks in Bangladesh which are enlisted with Bangladesh Bank, among them four (4) are NCBs, five (5) are specialized banks, twenty nine (29) are private commercial banks and ten (10) are foreign commercial banks. The emergence of private banks has added a new dimension to the banking system in Bangladesh. The private commercial banks show a steady growth in terms of number of branches, deposit and advances. CORPORATE REVIEW OF NATIONAL BANK History of National Bank Limited National Bank Limited has its prosperous past, glorious present, prospective future and under processing projects and activities. Established as the first private sector Bank fully owned by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, NBL has been flourishing as the largest private sector bank with the passage of time after facing many stress and strain. The member of the board of directors is creative businessman and international economist. For rendering all modern  services, NBL, as a financial institution automated all it’s branches with computer network in accordance with the competitive commercial demand of time. Moreover, considering it’s forth- coming future the infrastructure of the Bank has been much more to NBL. Keeping the target in mind NBL has taken preparation branches by the wear 2000-2001. The emergence of National Bank Limited in the private sector is an important event in the banking area of Bangladesh. When the national was in the grip of severe recession, Govt. too k the farsighted decision to allow in the private sector to revive the economy of the country. Several dynamic entrepreneurs came forward for establishing a bank with a motto to revitalize the economy of the country. National Bank Limited was born as the first hundred percent Bangladesh owned Bank in the private sector. From the very inception it is the firm determination of National Bank Limited to play a vital role in the national economy. We are determined to bring back the long forgotten taste of banking services and flavors. We want to serve each one promptly and with a sense of dedication and dignity. The President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Justice Ahsanuddin Chowdhury inaugurated the bank formally on March 28, 1983 but the first branch at 48, Dilkusha Commercial Area, Dhaka started functioning on March 23, 1983. The 2nd Branch was opened on 11th May 1983 at Khatungonj, Chittagong. Today we have total 103 Branches all over Bangladesh. A representative office was established in Yangon, Myanmar in October, 1996 by our bank and obtained permission from t he government of Bangladesh to handle border trade with Myanmar .opportunities is being explored for further business avenues there. Now NBL is on line to establish trade and communication with the prime international banking companies of the world. As a result NBL will be able to build a strong root in international banking horizon .Bank has been drawing arrangement with well conversant money transfer service agency â€Å"Western union†. It has full time arrangement for speedy transfer of money all over the world. Banking is not only a profit – oriented commercial institution but it has a public bas and social commitment admitting this true NBL is going on with its diversified banking activities NBL introduced monthly Savings Scheme, special Deposit Scheme, and Consumers. Credit Scheme and savings Insurance scheme etc. To combine the people of lower and middle income group. A team of highly qualified and experiment professional headed by the managing Director of the  bank who has vast banking experience operates bank and at the top three is an efficient Board of Directors for making policies. Vision of National Bank Limited Establishing as a top grade efficient bank through best application of modern information technology and business activities, offering high standard client services and Proper coordination of foreign trade business in the core of their vision. Mission of national bank Limited With a view to achieving commercial objective of the bank, their sincere and all out efforts stay put unabated. Respected client and shareholders are attracted to us for our transparency, accountability, social communities, and high quality of clientele services. Objective of national Bank Limited Bring modern banking facilities to the doorsteps of general public through diversification of services, thereby arousing saving propensity among the people. Foreign a cordial, deep rooted and farm banker customer relationship by dispensing prompt and improved clientele services. Taking part in the development of the national economy through productive development of the banks resources as well as patronizing different social activities. Connecting clients to modern banking practices by the best application of improved information technology, so that they get encouraged to continue and feel proud of banking with NBL. Responding to the need of the time by participating in the syndicated large loan financing with like-minded banks of the country, thereby expanding the area of investment Elevating the image of the bank at home and abroad by sustained expansion of its activities. Strategies of National Bank Limited To manage and operate the bank in the most efficient manner to enhance financial performance and to control cost of fund. To strive for customer satisfaction through quality control and delivery of timely services. To identify customer credit and other banking needs and monitor their perception towards our performance in meeting those and update requirement. To review and update policies procedures and practices to enhance the ability to extend better services to customer. To train and develop all employs and provide them adequate resources so that customer needs can responsibility addressed. To promote organizational effectiveness by openly communicating company plans, policies, practices and procedures to all employers in a timely fashion To cultivate a working environment that fosters positive motivation for improved performance To diversify portfolio both in the retail and whole sale market. To increase direct contact with customer in order o cultivate a closer relationship Busin ess Goal To patronize, sponsor and encouraged games and sports, entertainment and other socio-economic activities alongside providing the best services to the client. The Future thrust Full duplex on-line Banking Introducing more innovative products and services Opening new branches Expansion of business network at home and abroad SMS Banking Introduction of new liability / Asset products Corporate Culture Employees of NBL share certain common values, which helps to create a NBL culture. The client comes first Search for professional excellence Openness to new ideas& new methods to encourage creativity Quick decision making Flexibility and prompt response A sense of professional ethics Growth and Development of NBL The NBL carries out all traditional functions, which a commercial bank performs such as mobilization of the deposit, investment of funds, financing export and import business, trade and commerce and industry. The banking sector in the country faced different problems thought the year. Even through the board and management never stopped its effort to maximize wealth, which is reflected by 143.97percent profit growth in 2007, highest ever in the last 15 years. The bank earned the 676.45 core revenue in 2007 as interest, income from investment and commission & exchange earning, which who Tk. 530:69 corer in the provision year. As a result the total operating profit rode to Tk. 221.51 corer in 2007 from Tk.114.68 corer in the previous year. Branches of NBL NBL, which was started at Dilkusha Branch on March 23rd, 1983, was the first major commercial Bank. In Bangladesh operating throughout the country as well as the age of the bank is only 25 years .During this period it has established total 112 branches over the country and made smooth network inside the country as well as thought the world. The number of branches as well as territory wise is mentioned in the table.

Designing With Feng Shui in Mind

Designing With Feng Shui in Mind Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is a learned and intuitive art of understanding the energy of elements. The goal of this Chinese philosophy is harmony and balance, which some people have compared with the Western Classical ideals of symmetry and proportion. Feng is wind and shui is water. Danish architect Jà ¸rn Utzon combined these two forces of wind (feng) and water (shui) in his Australian masterpiece, the Sydney Opera House. Seen from this angle,  says Feng Shui Master Lam Kam Chuen, the whole structure has the quality of a craft with full sails: when the energy of the Wind and Water move together in certain directions, this ingenious structure draws that power to itself and to the city that surrounds it. Designers and decorators claim that they can feel the surrounding, universal energy called chi. But architects who incorporate the Eastern philosophy are not guided by intuition alone. The ancient art prescribes lengthy and complex rules that may strike modern homeowners as quirky. For example, your home should not be built at the end of a dead-end road. Round pillars are better than square. Ceilings should be high and well-lit. To further confuse the uninitiated, there are several different ways to practice feng shui: Use a compass or Lo-Pan to establish the most beneficial placement of roomsDraw on information from the Chinese horoscopeExamine the surrounding land forms, streets, streams and buildingsUse high-tech equipment to examine environmental health hazards, such as electromagnetic radiation and toxic materialsUse feng shui principles to help sell your houseUse some variation of a tool called the Ba-Gua an octagonal chart outlining the most favorable placement for roomsManipulate surrounding chi with appropriate colors or objects like a spherical sculpture Yet even the most baffling practices have a basis in common sense. For example, feng shui principles warn that a kitchen door should not face the stove. The reason? A person working at the stove may instinctively want to glance back at the door. This creates a feeling of unease, which can lead to accidents. Feng Shui and Architecture: Feng Shui teaches us how to create healthy harmonious environments, says Stanley Bartlett, who has used the centuries-old art to design homes and businesses. The ideas date back at least 3,000 years, yet a growing number of architects and decorators are integrating feng shui ideas with contemporary building design. For new construction, feng shui can be integrated into the design, but what about remodeling? The solution is the creative placement of objects, colors, and reflective materials. When the Trump International Hotel in New York City was remodeled in 1997, feng shui masters Pun-Yin and her father Tin-Sun installed a giant globe sculpture to divert the roundabout traffic energy from Columbus Circle away from the building. In fact, many architects and developers have enlisted the expertise of feng shui masters to add value to their properties. Everything in nature expresses its own energetic force, says Master Lam Kam Chuen. Recognizing this is essential to creating a living environment in which Yin and Yang are balanced. Despite the numerous complicated rules, feng shui adapts to many architectural styles. Indeed, the clean, uncluttered appearance may be your only clue that a home or office building was designed according to feng shui principles. Think of the shape of your house. If its square, a feng shui master may call it Earth, child of Fire and controller of Water. The shape itself expresses the supportive, secure, and stable quality of Earth, says Lam Kam Chuen. Warm tones of yellow and brown are ideal. Fire Shapes Master Lam Kam Chuen describes the famous triangular design of the Sydney Opera House in Australia as a Fire Shape. The irregular triangles of the Sydney Opera House lick the sky like flames, observes Maser Lam. Master Lam also calls St. Basils Cathedral in Moscow a Fire building, filled with an energy that could be as protective as your mother or as fierce as a mighty enemy. Another Fire structure is The Louvre Pyramid designed by Chinese-born architect I.M. Pei. It is a superb Fire structure, writes Master Lam, drawing down intense energy from the heavens- and making this site a prodigious attraction for visitors. It is perfectly balanced with the Water structure of the Louvre. Fire buildings are generally triangular in shape, like flames, while Water buildings are horizontal, like flowing water. Metal and Wood Shapes The architect shapes space with materials. Feng shui integrates and balances both shapes and materials. Round structures, like geodesic domes, have the energetic quality of Metal moving consistently and safely inward- the ideal design for shelters, according to Feng Shui Master Lam Kam Chuen. Rectangular buildings, like most skyscrapers, express growth, expansiveness, and power typical of Wood. Wood energy expands in all directions. In the vocabulary of feng shui, the word wood refers to the shape of the structure, not the building material. The tall, linear  Washington Monument may be described as a wood structure, with energy moving every which way.   Master Lam offers this assessment of the monument: Its spear-like power emanates in all direction, affecting the Capitol building of the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the White house. Like a mighty sword raised in the air, it is a constant, silent presence: those who live and work within its reach will often find themselves subject to internal disturbance and their ability to make decisions blocked. Earth Shapes and the Smudgers The American Southwest is an exciting juxtaposition of historic pueblo architecture and what many people consider tree-hugging modern ideas about ecology. A vibrant, local community of ecothinkers- people whose environmental thoughts direct their behaviors- have been associated with the area for decades. Frank Lloyd Wrights Experiment in Desert Living is perhaps the most famous example. It seems that this region has an unusual number of architects, builders, and designers committed to ecoversity- energy-efficient, earth-friendly, organic, sustainable design. What we call Southwest Desert Design today is known to combine futuristic thinking with a profound respect for ancient Native American concepts- not only building materials, like adobe, but also feng shui-like Native American activities such as smudging being incorporated into everyday life. Bottom Line on Feng Shui: So, if you are stuck in your career or have trouble in your love life, the root of your problems may be in the design of your home and the misguided energy that surrounds you. Professional feng shui design suggestions can only help, say practitioners of this ancient Chinese philosophy. One way to get your life in balance is to get your architecture in balance. Learn More: Feng Shui Handbook: How to Create a Healthier Living and Working Environment by Master Lam Kam Chuen, Holt, 1996The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Botton, 2006Understanding Architcture by Robert McCarter and Juhani Pallasmaa, Phaidon, 2012 Sources: Feng Shui Handbook by Master Lam Kam Chuen, Holt, 1996, pp. 70-71, 33-37, 79, 90; Meet Donald Trumps feng shui master by Sasha von Oldershausen, The Guardian, September 13, 2016 [accessed January 14, 2017]

Essay on Marketing Principles

Essay on Marketing Principles Essay on Marketing Principles Programme: Business Management MODULE: MARKETING PRINCIPLES Assignment task A â€Å"The concept of the marketing mix was reportedly introduced by Neil Borden in his presidential address to the AMA in 1953. He got his idea from James Culliton, who described the business executives as somebody who combines different ingredients. The term â€Å"marketing mix† therefore referred to the mixture of elements useful in pursuing a certain market response†. (van Waterschoot, W., Van den Bulte, C. 1992) The Marketing Mix table Jaguar XF Product Streamlined wings, sculptured bonnet, sleeker headlights with LED daytime running lights. Alloy wheels. Fitted with black buttons in the centre making the car feel more up market. A stylish leather top dash which gives decent practicality. A core pop-up gear selector. Nice and sharp steering with lots of reassuring grip. A range of new range seats to choose from; whilst the drivers seat has supportive leather. 8 speed auto. 2.2 litre cylinder diesel which returns 52 miles/gallon and emits 149g/km of carbon dioxide although it’s still pretty quick! Speed 0-60 takes 8 seconds. The mid range punch makes the car great for over-taking. A quiet engine, a rarity for a diesel. Rear wheel drive. Stop start system. Downsides to the car: Only comes in automatic Has reduced rear visibility No boot space Passengers over 6 foot will struggle to sit in the back seats due to the lowered head space The fold down seats are not standard like on an Audi A6 Slightly more expensive to run and buy than it’s German rivals. Standard features: Exterior mirrors heated with electric adjustment Phosphor blue halo illumination and interior mood lighting Suede cloth and Bond grain seats with four way electric adjustment Bluetooth audio streaming Jaguar 250W sound system Jaguar smart key system with keyless start Rear parking aid (www.jaguar.com) Price  £45,600 (plus  £2,750 in kit). Additions: Black grill and highly sculptures sills -  £1,500 LED daytime running lights -  £500 Adaptive Dynamics system -  £1,250 Place Sold worldwide via: Dealerships that promote other brands of cars Internet Private one-to-one sales Exclusive Jaguar dealerships. Physical Evidence People Older gentleman looking for comfort as opposed to style and fashion. Males rather than females. Customers seeking diesel economy. Promotion Jaguar makers are firm believers that there is no car that is bad and as such has to be unique to compete effectively. tutor2u.net For further reference please watch the following promotional video: carsite.co.uk/gallery/videos/id/9170-jaguar-xf-promotional-video-2012 Mercedes-Benz E Class – Saloon Product Large boot which can be opened using a key fob. Ample leg room in back seats. Reclined back seats. Electric adjustable steering wheel. Windscreen wipers, indicators and lights all on one store. Major on-board functions are controlled by swivel wheel. Sound insulation. Rear wheel drive. Faux leather seats. Electric heated seats. Cruise control. Comes in 2 models: SE and AMG Sport. LED daytime running headlights. Start stop system allows fuel economy of 58.9 combined with carbon emissions of 128.

Inside Scoop Lupe and Flavio Professor Ramos Blog

Inside Scoop Lupe and Flavio The story of â€Å"Bien Pretty† written by Sandra Cisneros in â€Å"Woman Hollering Creek† follows two characters, Lupe and Flavio, and how their indifferent paths intertwined and developed. Lupe is an artist while Flavio is a working exterminator and their journey began when Lupe needed some cockroaches to be killed. I will mainly focus on the development of Lupe and Flovaio’s relationship throughout the story and how it became so complex and ultimately failed. Lupe was always fixated on her past, particularly, her Mexican past. This essay will cover how Lupe’s failed relationship with Flavio, from the cultural differences and prejudice between the two, in order to embody her â€Å"Mexican† cultural background, ultimately helped her find the identity she yearned. The first scene that I wanted to cover was the moment Lupe thought Flavio could be just the guy to represent Prince Popo, following it up by describing the key features as to why she thinks he is the one to portray the Prince (Cisneros 144). A key moment to highlight in this scene or encounter in the story is that Lupe was interested in Flavio, not by his physical attraction, but by how greatly he portrays Prince Popo. Lupe seems to imply Flavio as a mere tool she could possibly use for her sake. As Lupe said follows up by asking blatantly â€Å"I need models† and that Flavio would be good for the task as he has a â€Å"wonderful. Face.† (144). This further proves that she was, at first, attracted by Flavio because of how she can benefit from him helping her. They soon meet later on in a local laundromat called the Kwik Wash, and Lupe continues to emphasize that she is a painter towards Flavio, but he counters and says â€Å"in reality I am a poet† and follows up by stating that the poems were there not fill the stomach but were there to fulfill Flavio’s desire to pursue with poems. The second scene that I wanted to talk about is the interaction between Flavio and Lupe when he told his story of his grandma and Fito. Flavio told his grandma’s of broken love between Fito only to compare it to the concept of yin and yang. Flavio explains how the yin that would represent earth and that of the females while yang that would represent heaven and that of the males and how you cannot one without the otherwise you are out of the balance (149). This highlights and probably helps the audience know where Flavio’s ideas stand in terms of looking at the interactions of a couple look like. But this story quickly came to a close when Lupe intervened and blurted out how in this day and age is the time to let go of the present in order to go back to the past and search for it (149). In the same page, it also highlights where Lupe stands in terms of finding a life purpose. Lupe seemed to always focus on her past and tries to share that once we find out of our past we will have found our destinies in life (149). One major scene that accentuates Lupe’s desire to find the past of herself is when Flavio came over for dinner and talked about performing pure tango. Flavio got up and gave Lupe dancing lessons, explaining all the types of dances he knows of, only to be interrupted by Lupe’s comment asking â€Å"Don’t you know any indigenous dances?† to Flavio (151). This annoys Flavio because it implies that he does not have what Lupe is looking for. Flavio was also having a moment only for it to be ruined by Lupe and her questioning and implying if Flavio was even Mexican by asking him that. The argument between the two only worsens from here. Lupe addresses Flavio as a product of American imperialism (151). This is a direct blow into Flavio’s face as she indirectly claims that he is not an actual Mexican, which in turn, discredits Lupe entirely. But she explains that dancing with Flavio would make her feel Mexican at that moment and all she wanted was to feel th at way from the start. It is revealed that Lupe feels a disconnect between herself and her Mexican background. But the final couple scenes that will be covered on really take the relationship to their demise. Eventually, Lupe and Flavio make love to each other, but Lupe added on that she made love â€Å"in Spanish† and she would go as far as to say Flavio is a true â€Å"[sign] of a native speaker† (153). Lupes desire to feel and embody becoming a Mexican is looking worse and defends her point because of one phrase Flavio says whenever he would hurt himself, instead of expressing pain by saying â€Å"ouch!†, but saying â€Å"Ay!† gave Lupe enough information to classify Flavio as an authentic Mexican. This was also a major turning point between the two of them. Lupe expresses her feelings to the audience that, at first, Lupe stated â€Å"Flavio was just Flavio†, but now it is much more than that to Lupe (154). Lupe, who at first saw Flavio as her stepping stone into trying to find her past, now sees him in a new light. Lupe actually starts falling in love fo r Flavio and admits that this is different from the relationship she had with Eddie. During a breakfast, Flavio announces to Lupe that he needs to leave and it is revealed that Flavio has two more women along with 7 children. Flavio tried to give Lupe cold comfort by explaining his ideology of loving other women, stating â€Å"Loving one person doesnt take away from loving another person† (156). This scene, in particular, helps the reader understand how Flavio thinks about a woman. In his eyes, he defends himself by saying that his love for Lupe is not in correlation with his love with the other two girls. In many, this could imply Flavio’s potential attitude towards women and how desensitized he is about it. Taking this outside the book, statistics show in their survey of participants ranging from various ages, over 60% have admitted to keeping at least one secret from their partner at some point in time (Whitbourne). On average it seems almost normal for someone to k eep a secret. In the story’s case, several were kept from Lupe. The story of Bien Pretty showcased many developmental stages between Lupe and Flavio’s relationship. The story ends off with Lupe re-doing her painting of the Prince and the Princess, supposedly switching the positions of the two figures, having the prince lay back while the princess standing over him (163). This final message could most likely symbolize her triumph of looking into her past and also moving on from the boy whom she attempted to use in order for her personal gains. In the end, she finds her true self and what it takes to be Mexican is really to be yourself. This story heavily used the elements of symbolism to represent major turning points throughout the couple’s relationship. From how they first met and what Lupe’s intention was with Flavio was to how she felt after despite their ideals constantly clashing against each other. In short, in the end, Lupe was able to find what she yearned for the entire story which was finding the Mexican background of herself. Work Cited Cisneros, Sandra. Woman Hollering Creek. Bloomsbury, 2004. Whitbourne, Susan Krauss. â€Å"Why We Keep Secrets From Our Partners.† Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 10 June 2014, psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201406/why-we-keep-secrets-our-partners.

Author Eric Barnes on Publishing and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction

Author Eric Barnes on Publishing and Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Youd think that ones post as the CEO of several major metropolitan newspapers throughout Tennessee, and author of multiple science fiction novels, would make the road to publishing an easy one. But Eric Barnes, host of Behind the Headlines on WKNO TV and author of four novels, including his most recently published post-Apocalyptic foray, Above the Ether, admits that its a little more complicated than that. Heres his advice for how writers can navigate the labyrinthine terrain of publishing without giving up, selling out, or letting rejection letters be the final word.Author Eric Barnes. Photo by Andrew BreigTonya: Our readers are a mix of indie authors and authors who have gone through more traditional publishing houses. What is your advice about the publishing process (either indie or traditional or both) from your experience?Eric: For the kind of novels I write, the publishing process is, to say the least, difficult. Its slow-moving and convoluted. Thats not a criticism of the publ ishers whove published my books. Its simply a comment on the reality of a very complicated business that has been in the midst of massive change for a few decades now.First there was the rise of big, corporate publisher, which bought up and combined many of the long-time independent publishing houses. Then there was the rise of massive chain bookstores like Borders and Barnes Noble. That was followed by the arrival of Amazon, a disruption that only continues as readers shift to e-readers even as independent bookstores increasingly find ways to thrive.In the midst of that, there are so many writers throwing so many manuscripts at a shrinking number of publishers who have a dramatically smaller universe of stores in which to sell those books.And meanwhile, the very process of assessing a manuscript is mind-blowingly slow. For fiction of some level of seriousness – I hate the term literary fiction but thats all there is – theres no way to fairly assess a manuscript with( out) spending quite a bit of time on it. Put another way, it takes hours (sometimes many, many hours) to read a book, no matter how quick a reader you are.Thats even before you get to the incredible cost involved in editing, designing, printing, distributing and selling a book.The process, in other words, is a labyrinth. Its slow, by necessity. And its all built on a business model that leaves little room for error.Tonya: Where did you get the idea for your newest book, Above the Ether, and how long did it take you to write it?Eric: The idea for Above the Ether came from my previous novel, The City Where We Once Lived, which is about a city thats been abandoned and the few thousand people who have chosen to live there. The city in that novel has been devastated not by a plague or some virus, but by bad decisions, inattention, abandonment. All animals have fled, all the plants and trees have died.The main character in City assumes that everyone, everywhere lives with this sort of dea th of plants and animals. But toward the end of the novel, a new person comes to the city. And, very offhandedly, he tells the main character why hes fled his home and come to this city.The animals that left this place, they didnt all just die. They went to other places. Like the city we are from. Huge packs of dogs. Feral cats. The failed efforts of the city to wipe them out with poison, so many dead animals that they had to leave carcasses in piles on corners and overflowing from dumpsters and still the animals roamed the street.The City Where We Once Lived by Eric BarnesAnd so I decided I wanted to write a book about that other city, and other cities and places like it, that were going through some kind of slow-motion disaster. Again, not plagues or runaway viruses or zombie apocalypses – just places dealing with the everyday decisions that we make or are made for us.Tonya: A lot of successful authors have a daily word count goal or specific method of getting a book writte n. Do you have either? What does a typical writing session look like for you?Eric: I need to write every day to be effective. I cant wait till I feel the inspiration. I have to schedule regular time, consistency, in order to be writing frequently enough that Im either at my desk when I feel inspired or the consistency itself generates more and more inspiration.Because of this, if I know I wont be able to write tomorrow, I will struggle to write today. Because if I cant write tomorrow, but todays writing goes badly, I will be incredibly frustrated.The reality, of course, is that I cant write every day. So I try to find stretches of time – 2 weeks or 4 weeks or sometimes as many as 6 weeks – where Ill be able to write for at least an hour most every day. That way I feel like Ill have some consistency, a routine, that I can rely on when writing goes badly. Which it does.I dont set a word count, just this goal of building a routine, but I do count words. I might write 100 words, I might write 1,500. But the goal is to write consistently.Also, I mostly write in the morning, usually from 5:30 to 7:30, then Ill read and edit what Ive written in the evening.Tonya: As CEO of several newspapers, you obviously have other obligations beyond writing novels. What is your advice for authors struggling to get a novel written when it isnt their primary occupation?Eric: It can be a nightmare. Writing is time-consuming and, at its worst, maddeningly frustrating. For me, I just have to be hyper-scheduled – down to the hour and minute of the day – as far as when I write, when I parent, when I see friends, and so on. Its hard on the people around you. You just have to accept that, as do they.The economic reality is that, for what I write (and, honestly, for what most fiction writers do), its exceedingly difficult to make a living off of novels. For many years, this meant I was personally at war with the two sides of my life – my writing life, and my day job. That wasnt healthy. Over time, I found a way devote enough time to both that they coexist much better.Tonya: What is it about the post-apoc/dystopian subgenre of Science Fiction that fascinates you most and do you have any favorite authors who write it?Eric: I grew up reading a lot – almost all – of Kurt Vonneguts novels and non-fiction. I loved how he could circle into and around science fiction, even as he was writing painful, funny, beautiful and deeply serious books. But I also read a lot of serious, entirely real fiction that I wanted to emulate, especially work by Raymond Carver, Richard Ford and others.But then there were three books I read over a number of years – For the Time Being by Annie Dillard, and Cormac McCarthys Blood Meridien and The Road – and I started wanting to write differently. Id always like complicated, multi-character narratives. My first two novels, Shimmer and, especially, Something Pretty, Something Beautiful, bot h had multiple narrators and a way that I could use the multiple narrators to shift time and place.Now I wanted to write with more unreal elements. More that was made up.With both The City Where We Once Lived and Above the Ether, though, what I did not want to do is write post-apocalyptic novels where thered been some sort of war or plague. Not that theres anything wrong with doing that, I just felt like, first, that had been done. And second, I wanted to shine more light and attention on decisions we make now and the outcomes of those decisions.Tonya: Do you have any specific advice for a writer interested in publishing in the post-apoc/dystopian subgenre? Is there any trope thats been overdone or any new slant publishers are looking for?Eric: I really dont know what advice Id give. For better and worse, Im not a writer who can write toward what publishers want or need. I have to write a story that interests me, which means taking a massive risk on whether that novel will also be o f interest to a publisher. Twice, Ive misfired and written novels that ultimately didnt get published. But I dont regret writing those manuscripts. Had I not written them, I wouldnt have written the ones that followed.

Free Essays on Children And Television

The article that was assigned â€Å"Is Television Harmful to Children?† shows the views of two studies and opinions that were made by Marie Winn and Daniel R. Anderson. Marie Winn claims that television influences children in a negative way. She quotes that it robs them of opportunities for family activities and for the development of intellectual and social skills. On the other hand Daniel R. Anderson argues that there is no confirmation that television makes children mentally unreceptive or that it affects their attention span. Marie Winn claims television is responsible for many of society’s ills, especially in children. Many scientists have hypothesized many negative effects of television. In many cases children suffer shortened attention span, increased aggression. Moreover, many parents worry about the poor quality in television programs. Also, parents commonly use television to make childrearing less burden some. The time the children spent watching television, represent a loss of opportunities for more meaningful family interaction and for the development of important social skills. Parents worry about the program their children watch, violent, so sexually explicit, so cynical, and so unsuitable. Television serves families in others ways as time filler. Turning on television set can turn off the processes that transform children in to people. Parents use television to take a break from infants because it is hard to care a baby toddler. Television keeps children away for play or familiar activities. A study shows the children who watch a lot television are more obese than children who watch less television. A lot television viewing has an adverse effect on children’s achievement in school. Children who watch more television have lower scores in reading than those who watch less television. Television can cause an addition and destroy their familiar life. Daniel R. Anderson argues that there is no consiste... Free Essays on Children And Television Free Essays on Children And Television The article that was assigned â€Å"Is Television Harmful to Children?† shows the views of two studies and opinions that were made by Marie Winn and Daniel R. Anderson. Marie Winn claims that television influences children in a negative way. She quotes that it robs them of opportunities for family activities and for the development of intellectual and social skills. On the other hand Daniel R. Anderson argues that there is no confirmation that television makes children mentally unreceptive or that it affects their attention span. Marie Winn claims television is responsible for many of society’s ills, especially in children. Many scientists have hypothesized many negative effects of television. In many cases children suffer shortened attention span, increased aggression. Moreover, many parents worry about the poor quality in television programs. Also, parents commonly use television to make childrearing less burden some. The time the children spent watching television, represent a loss of opportunities for more meaningful family interaction and for the development of important social skills. Parents worry about the program their children watch, violent, so sexually explicit, so cynical, and so unsuitable. Television serves families in others ways as time filler. Turning on television set can turn off the processes that transform children in to people. Parents use television to take a break from infants because it is hard to care a baby toddler. Television keeps children away for play or familiar activities. A study shows the children who watch a lot television are more obese than children who watch less television. A lot television viewing has an adverse effect on children’s achievement in school. Children who watch more television have lower scores in reading than those who watch less television. Television can cause an addition and destroy their familiar life. Daniel R. Anderson argues that there is no consiste...

Small Group Success

Small Group Success Introduction Acts 29 Network is a small group of Christian brothers in more than 400 churches in the US (Acts 29 Network, 2011, para. 1-6). The group’s mission is to spread the Gospel to the whole world and to establish new churches in different parts of the world. The group’s desire is to for a large number of people to be converted by God’s Spirit.Advertising We will write a custom article sample on Small Group Success specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Over the past decade, the group has been very successful in its effort to attain its mission. For a small group to work effectively, a number of strategies must be integrated. Some of these skills relate to ensuring effective communication. This paper entails an analysis of what has made Acts 29 Network to be successful. The analysis emphasizes on communication in small groups. Analysis In its operation, Acts 29 Network ensures that there is clarity on the groupâ⠂¬â„¢s mission amongst its members. To achieve this, the group ensures that all the ‘planters’ have a clear understanding of the set standards regarding its operations. The network achieves this by incorporating good leadership that ensures a clear and comprehensive understanding of its mission and vision. The group has developed a strong leadership culture that ensures that its members have a strong understanding of its philosophy before starting. To uphold this, the network has integrated continuous communication which entails emphasizing the core values that the members should uphold. This has culminated into the members developing a well-build sense of vision and mission. Additionally, the effective leadership keeps the team members focused. Considering the network’s mission to spread the gospel to the whole world, the group has incorporated the concept of teamwork. This has been achieved by organizing evangelical projects which team members participate in. T he team leaders are effective in helping all members to participate by undertaking a comprehensive explanation of all the activities that the team members are expected to undertake. Some of these activities include participating with other men from different denominations in spreading the gospel. In an effort to ensure that its evangelical projects are successful, the group leaders have integrated open communication. This is attained by ensuring that all its members participate in the decision making process. Team members are free to express their opinion regarding the implementation of the project. This has played a critical role in ensuring that there is harmony with regard to the decision that is taken by the group. According to Keen (2003, p.6), conflicts is one of the major factors that lead to group failure. In a team’s operation, conflicts arise from time to time due to the divergent views of the team members. These conflicts have to be resolved amicably so as to preve nt the team from failing. Ensuring open communication such as the one integrated by Acts 29 Network is one of the ways through which teams can minimize conflicts. This arises from the fact that all the members opinions are taken into consideration.Advertising Looking for article on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Conclusion In summary, Acts 29 Network has been very successful in its effort to achieve its goals. This has arisen from integration of effective communication within the group. For example, the group ensures clarity amongst all the members with regard to its mission. The network also ensures continuous communication of its mission, vision and core values. This significantly contributes towards the members being focused. The group’s success is also associated with its ability to integrate effective team dynamics. For example, the team ensures that all members participate in the de cision making process. This is achieved by integrating open communication. Reference List Acts 29 Network. (2011). About: Act 29 is passionate about churches planting  churches. Retrieved from https://www.acts29.com/about/ Keen, T.(2003). Creating effective and successful teams. West Lafayette,Ind: Ichor Business Books.