Able Planet Case

Running head: Case 2 Able Planet Case 2 Able Planet Kelly Raines Devry University SBE 560 ? Contents Abstract3 The difficulties entrepreneurs face when raising between over $100,000 for their businesses4 Ways Kevin Semcken can raise $1. 5 million in capital5 Memo to Kevin Semcken7 References9 ? Abstract This paper will analyze Case Study 2 Able Planet. In this case study, Kevin Semcken, Able Planet’s CEO and chairman is seeking capital to finance existing operations for its current products, build a prototype for a new product and market both products to new and current customers (Scarborough, 2012).Furthermore, Able Planet is unable to secure financing from a bank due to a predicament in the economic markets which has all but closed shut the lending opportunities at most commercial banks. Information that will be evaluated includes the following: †¢Why entrepreneurs face difficulties when trying to raise between $100,000 and $3 million for their businesses †¢Ways Ke vin Semcken can raise $1. 5 million in capital by use of both debt and equity financing †¢What should be done before approaching potential lenders and investors in order to maximize the chance of getting needed capital ?The difficulties entrepreneurs face when raising between over $100,000 for their businesses Capital is the lifeline of any business; it supplies the funds to expand, grow and make a promising business idea into a money-making enterprise. However, many entrepreneurs miscalculate how difficult it is to obtain financing for a business venture and get annoyed by this step of the business startup process. Nevertheless, investors and banks have plenty of reasons to be wary of financing especially it involves several thousands of dollars.Some of the reasons that entrepreneurs have issues when trying to raise large sums of capital include: †¢Most small business fail: According to Channon (2012), â€Å"More than 50 percent of businesses fail within the first five y ears of operation. † This makes its difficult to raise capital due to the uncertainty in getting a return on an investment. †¢Unproven Business Model (Channon, 2012): If the business idea is new, then there is no historical data such as sales to show that the business will last. This means that there is no guarantee that the business will repay the loan or increase the investor’s equity. Lack of Coherent Business Plan (Channon, 2012): This will prevent lenders and investors from financing a business. The business plan will give a financial forecast along with market research and a list of competitors. This will allow investors to see an actual financial result that are expected and help them to decide of this is realistic. ? Ways Kevin Semcken can raise $1. 5 million in capital Whether Kevin Semcken is preparing to launch a new product or is trying to grow Able Planet, one thing is for certain; he will need money.Debt and equity financing are two different financia l strategies that can be used to raise capital: Taking on debt means borrowing money for the business, while gaining equity entails injecting his own or other stakeholders’ cash into the business. Mr. Semcken can use debt financing as a means to raise the needed capital. One way to do this is borrowing from a financial institution. This involves loans that have to be paid over time and with interest. Able Planet can borrow money over the short term (less than one year) or long term (more than one year).The chief sources of debt financing are banks and government agencies, such as the Small Business Administration (Rath, 2012). Debt financing presents businesses a tax advantage, because the interest paid on loans is usually deductible. Borrowing also reduces the company's future requirement for loan repayments, because the lender does not obtain an ownership share in the business. However, debt financing also has its disadvantages. New businesses at times find it hard to make regular loan payments when they have uneven cash flow.Thus, debt financing can cause businesses to be susceptible to economic downturns or hikes in interest rates. Carrying too much debt is a problem because it raises the supposed risk associated with businesses, making them unappealing to investors and thereby lowering their capacity to rise future additional funding (Rath, 2012). The other option Mr. Semcken can use is equity financing. Equity financing refers to money attained from investors in exchange for an ownership share in the business.Such funds may come from friends and family members of the business owner, wealthy angel investors, or venture capital firms (Rath, 2012). The main advantage of equity financing is that the business is not required to repay the money. Instead, the investors expect to recover their investment out of future profits. The participation of high-profile investors may also help raise the credibility of a new business. The main disadvantage to this t ype of financing is that the investors become partial owners of the business, and therefore have a say in business decisions.As ownership interests become blurry, managers face a probable loss of independence or control (Rath, 2012). As well, an undue dependence on equity financing may signify that a business is not using its capital in the most constructive way. ? Memo to Kevin Semcken Memorandum To:Kevin Semcken, CEO and Chairman of Able Planet From:Kelly Raines Date:3/24/2013 Re:Steps to take before Approaching Potential Lenders and Investors Money is the livelihood of any business, and at some point, every company is apt to need an outside source to help it grow.Regardless of the amount that you are seeking, you will need to take a few steps before trying to make your case. Here are some steps to you must do before approaching investors or lenders for any amount of money: †¢Gather together the documents that will help you secure funding from a backer and that indicate you a re a good risk (Clifford, 2012). You will need: oA well written business plan, which will shows the backer not only why you want the capital but what you plan to do ith the money; oCash flow projections, which will show lenders and investors if you are able to repay the loan or offer a return on the investment. This will give backers concrete financial data that they can use to assess this risk; oA statement of your personal financial status, which lists your personal assets and debts to give the backer a fuller financial picture; oPast business tax returns: As this business is established and you have past business tax returns, it is a good idea to take them with you to the meeting.They will give the lender/investor a better idea of how your business is doing financially; and oA credit rating report: Your credit rating report shows loan repayment history and will help backers determine if you are a good risk. Additionally you should: †¢Line up your team (Clifford, 2012): This shows that you and the management team are able to execute the ambitious business plan you have presented and pay back your loan or generate a return for investors.Make sure you and your key people can talk about what may be ahead for the business, what the later phases of growth might be, what can go wrong, and how you might handle those things. †¢Practice your presentation (Clifford, 2012): This will include highlighting key areas of your business plan to potential funding sources. Try to find areas of your plan that show what you consider to be the most advantageous to them, and put these attributes into a 15 minute slide show presentation appropriate mainly to the professionals to whom you are presenting.Also study the business plans completely because you never know what questions will be asked, and you want to have answers pertinent to your business model. †¢Finally, research those to whom you will be presenting, produce samples/prototypes of your main product(s) for them to assess, purchase a nice business suit, and conduct the presentation of a lifetime. By following the above steps securing funding for Able Planet should be easy if you are properly prepared for the meeting. ? References Channon, T. (2012). Why is it So Hard to Raise Capital When Starting a New Business?. Ehow.Retrieved August 10, 2012, from http://www. ehow. com/about_7448696_hard-capital-starting-new-business_. html Clifford, C. (2012, June 15). 9 Things Startups Must Know Before Approaching Lenders. Entrepreneur. Retrieved August 10, 2012, from http://www. entrepreneur. com/blog/223818 Rath, T. (2012). Debt and Equity Financing: Two Options for Financing Your Small Business. About. com. Retrieved August 9, 2012, from http://sbinformation. about. com/od/creditloans/a/debtequity. htm Scarborough, N. (2012). Effective Small Business Management. (10th ed. ). (p. 812). Boston, MA: Prentice Hall.

Neuron and Chemical Synapse

Nervous System II: Anatomy Review 1. The somatic nervous system stimulates ____________ muscle. The autonomic nervous system stimulates ___________ muscle, ____________ muscle, and ___________. 2. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) consists of two divisions, each innervating the effector organs. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) generally speeds up everything except digestion. The parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) generally slows down everything but digestion. Signals from the SNS cause the heart rate to _________, while signals from the PNS cause the heart rate to ___________.Signals from the SNS cause smooth muscles of the intestine to _________ contractions, while signals from the PNS cause these muscles to _________ contractions. Signals from the SNS also cause the adrenal gland to _________ epinephrine and norepinephrine. 3. Neurons can excite or inhibit another neuron. Exciting another neuron will increase the chances of a/an ___________________ in the second neuron. Inhi biting another neuron will make the chances of a/an __________________ less likely. 4. Axons from one neuron can synapse with the dendrites or soma of another axon.These synapses are called ______________________ (on dendrites) and _________________________ (on soma). They carry input signals to the other neuron. Axons from one neuron can synapse with the axon terminal of another neuron. These synapses are called ________________________, and they regulate the amount of ________________________ released by the other neuron. 5. The electrical synapse: Electrical current flows from one neuron to another through _________________. These synapses are always (excitatory or inhibitory). Advantages of the electrical synapses: . _______ signal conduction 2. _____________ activity for a group of neurons. 6. The chemical synapse: Chemical synapses are not as fast as electrical but are the most common type of synapse. A chemical, called a/an ______________________, is released from the sending neuron and travels across the ___________________(a gap between the neurons) to the receiving neuron. Advantages of the chemical synapse: 1. The signal can be either ____________ or ____________. 2. The signal can be ______________ as it passes from one neuron to the next. 7.The neuron conducting the impulse toward the synapse is called the __________________ neuron. The axon terminal contains ___________ ____________ filled with ______________________. An action potential in the axon terminal of the _____________ neuron causes the chemical transmitter ____________________ to be released. It diffuses across the synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on the ________________ membrane. These receptors open __________________. The movement of the charged particles causes an electrical signal called a/an _______________________.

Technology in international business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Technology in international business - Essay Example If one tries to find out the huge impact of Web 2.0 on the social sphere, the search should start from the 2008 US presidential election. The election witnessed the use of social networking and YouTube for passing information and videos. In fact, President Obama even announced the vice presidential selection via text message. However, the question here is to analyse how the tool can be used to enhance cross-cultural team performance, for example, that of a virtual team. At this stage, it is easy to proceed if one knows the ‘Container Model of Learning (Knowledge Transfer) and Communication. As Jin, Mason & Yim (n.d.) point out, according to the model, if A and B are two entities, and if A communicates its knowledge to B, both A and B get the knowledge that initially resided only with A. 1. One can undoubtedly say that Web 2.0 technologies can greatly enhance team work, especially when they are virtual teams, by enhancing collaboration and sharing of information. In fact, Web 2. 0 helps teams to bring their core project management process online. At that stage, using social networking like Facebook makes the project process visible to all members of the team, irrespective of geographical area and time. Additionally, there is Wiki where all team members can update the status of tasks as required. In addition, there is blogging to mention. It seems that Web 2.0 offers much more than what is required to have proper communication and collaboration in teams. Also, the benefit of using Social networking platforms like MySpace for interaction cannot be neglected. Such networks allow invisible human networks. If properly used, these networks can function as sources of expertise that can be made available whenever and wherever required. As experts observe, communication is the main hurdle that hinders cross cultural communication most of the time. However, computer environments have offered a much greater possibility of communication, though there still are problems . Email, instant messenger, and chatting communication allow constant communication that was impossible earlier. In fact, many Web 2.0 tools can be used as communication tools. The list is long and vibrant, ranging from Blogs, Wikis, Flickr, podcasts, and videos. In addition are social networking sites like MySpace, and Facebook. There are tools that facilitate person-to-person and group-to-group communication. Some of them are email, IM, text messaging, Google Groups, and Web conferencing (Thing 7. Web 2.0 communication tools). It seems that Web 2.0 opens up a whole new arena of interaction and cooperation in international organizations. For example, webcam enabled video conferencing allows instant face to face communication, though this will not be so interesting for non-English speaking countries. However, one cannot deny if it is claimed that collaborative blogs can help members communicate effectively, share views, and thus result in better team performance. In addition, everyo ne knows how a wiki can be used to analyse controversial issues. It is very evident that it will be interesting to see how staff from various cultural backgrounds interact and reach better rapport. In addition, Google documents can be used to promote writing on the development of intercultural competencies, and this will help

Dubai and world Disney Thesis Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dubai and world Disney - Thesis Proposal Example In the event, that an organization finds that order to be stringent then it has to resort to free economic zones where that ownership regulation does not apply (Noack, 2014). However, operating from the free economic zones limits a firm a lot of opportunities since most of the operation will be meant for export and not for sale in the Dubai market. A company like Disney will find it challenging to adhere to such regulation since by deciding to set business in Dubai its main intention will be to lure the Dubai consumers into buying its services. Waltz Disney is an international organization with structured owners thus being limited to 49% ownership means the firm has to source a local partner to engage in the business an exercise that is even more difficult. That notwithstanding, the work etiquette that is in place in Dubai is based on Islamic traditions; thus, foreigners who are non-Muslims have to learn these set of protocols for them to be able to conduct business transactions efficiently (Noack, 2014). Conversely, Dubai is currently being ranked as the most preferred business destination globally. Thus, firms from all over the world have set up business in this country making competition be very stiff; for instance, currently there are numerous theme parks that are in place in Dubai i.e. Dubai land and others while a lot more projects for similar businesses are on-going. It does present a tricky situation for Waltz Disney that is aiming to showcase its services to the Arab customers but the stringent rules and stiff competition are discouraging efforts to venture into this market (Noack, 2014). The process of establishing a foreign company is Dubai involves a number of steps whereby various government agencies have to be consulted before confirmation is obtained. To begin with the Waltz Disney will be required to research its business name and apply for registration in the department

Great Events in History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Great Events in History - Essay Example Unlike of religious beliefs, there is no proper definition of justice in Quran and therefore my understanding is based on Muslim interpretation of justice. My view of justice is also partly open-minded since I strongly believe that no system is perfect to deal with all the complex situations the world is faced with. Men are the most decision makers when it comes to matters of Islamic justice even though we are equally affected by the outcomes of the decisions they make. I strongly believe that morality and ethics are the roots of all evil in the society and the remedy can easily be found in the spiritual traits. Life is sacred according to Islam hence should not just be taken away without proper accusation beyond any reasonable doubt. This therefore implies that life can only be taken away on the context of justice and law and not any other consideration (Abou & Cohen 71). The spirit of the Muslim penal code is to protect lives and promote justice and not the vice versa as many other people and religions have tried to paint it. Quran legislation for the death penalty in the case of murder, forgiveness, and compassion are strongly encouraged and the murder victims are given a choice to either insist on the death penalty or pardon the wrongdoer and accept compensation. The act of spreading mischief across the land on matters that are mostly related to apostasy, terrorism, piracy, rape, adultery, and homosexual behavior can also result to capital punishment according to the Muslim faith (Khadduri 102). The methods of punishment vary from place to place but the common ones in Saudi Arabia include firing squad, hanging and beheading. Executions are held in public places to act as a warning to those who may consider repeating such acts in future that their days are numbered. Vigilantism has no place in Islamic society and one must be properly convicted under the Muslim laws that require strict evidence standards before capital punishment is imposed on anybody. The ac t of homosexuality is highly prohibited according to my religion on the basis that it clashes with the natural order in which God created human beings. In the social scene, it brings destructions to the family set up since no two people of the same sex have the possibility to mate and give rise to a fertile offspring. The believers of Muslim faith should neither participate nor support such acts of gay either materially or psychologically at all time of their lives. We believe that everything has been created in pairs and such, people should benefit and develop a relationship based on the opposite sex and not same sex relationships. Pairing of the males and the females is part of human nature and the natural order that should be promotes in a culturally sensitive society (Khan 11). The Quran supports the relationship between a wife and husband as a relationship that supports love, tenderness and support and I strongly believe that such qualities can hardly be found on same sex relat ionships. There is punishment for acts of gayism according to Islam but there is no legal judgment for those who feel the homosexual impulse but are reluctant to act on them. Acting on homosexual feeling is a bad idea that is condemned and subject to legal punishment that varies from jail term to death penalty. The use of sexist, racist, and homophobic language is prohibited according to my traditions, culture, and religion. We strongly believe

BUSINESS STRATEGY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

BUSINESS STRATEGY - Assignment Example Introduction In a general sense, business strategy is regarded as the selection of effective and valuable business ideas, which aids in meeting organisational objectives. Formulation of business strategy is typically considered to be an imperative task for every organisation, whether small or large. It begins with the formulation of innovative business ideas by the concerned persons of various organisations. The responsibility of these concerned people does not end with the formulation of the ideas, but also they need to find out the best ways to implement those ideas and also have a frequent look whether those ideas are working well or not. All these significant aspects have been viewed to provide active support to the business managers of an organisation in making effective decisions towards the accomplishment of organisational targets (Kourdi, 2010). This assignment will analyze two of the decisive models that include ‘Porter’s Five Forces Model’ and ‘Por ter’s Diamond Model’ as a new way of understanding competitive advantage. In this regard, Porter’s Diamond Model is used as the most appropriate basis of measuring the competitiveness at the company level and thus, it is also considered as the model which provides the learning of competitive advantage in accordance with different opinions. ... Both of these models that proposed by Michael Porter are considered to be the effective tools for determining the position of the companies in the international competitive business markets (Porter, 1990). Hence, in this assignment, the study of various elements along with the principles of these models will be carried along with their practical implications within business and economic context. In the last section of the assignment, contemporary examples will be analysed wherein the aforesaid models help to analyse along with understand the relevant business and economic context. 2. Principle and Structural Elements of the Porter’s Model 2.1. Porter’s Five Forces Model 2.1.1. Structural Elements Porter’s Five Forces Model is a strategic insight, which avoids keeping the company’s competitive edge at risk and also ensuring the attainment of greater profit margin on a long term basis. The profit margin of the companies depends on a number of factors that ca n also be regarded as the structural elements of the aforesaid model. These elements have been mentioned below. Threat of New Entrants: It is the prime responsibility of the companies to prevent its competitors from entering into the business markets where they operates. This particular structural element depends on numerous factors such as market size, raw materials, cost of entry and also the cultural barriers (Lima, 2006). Competitive Rivalry: The competition between the companies determines the demand for the market. It is the analysis that performs by the companies to identify their competitors and determining their strengths along with weaknesses (Lima, 2006). Bargaining Power of Buyers: This structural element helps to control the profitability in the market. The companies must be conscious in

Project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Project management - Essay Example (Knapp, B. W., 2010, p.62) CPM is used for analyzing the projects by estimating the longest series of tasks or with those tasks which have least slack by a project network. I prefer it because even after being a traditional technique it is most frequently used in managing the project. (Uher, T. E., 2003, p.38) It has the ability to calculate starting and finish date of the given project, enabling project managers to find out exact dates for every activity and compare what should be happening to what is actually happening and respond accordingly. It has following added advantages over other techniques and methods. My decision for choosing CPM technique was justified once I compared it with other traditional technique, PERT and scheduling analysis technique like critical chain scheduling. Both other techniques have some limitations, like probabilistic nature of PERT, in which estimations are unsure. (Schwalbe, K., 2010, p. 236). Pert lays more stress on the time element while in CPM efforts are made to make optimum use of resources. PERT can only be used on entirely new projects only. (Singla R. K., 2010, p. 283) The Critical Chain approach has stated advantages over the conventional approaches. This approach has its own limitations, like in the scenario where simultaneously different projects are handled using the same resource is not workable, due to loss of resource productivity. (NocêRA, R. D. J., 2013, p.283) While on the other hand CPM can handle multiple projects simultaneously. (Demkin, J. A., 2008, p.733) Critical chain scheduling not a revolutionary approach, fundamentally it is based on CPM theory. (Levine, H. A., 2002, p.89) Another major limitation of Critical Chain Scheduling is that it is expensive to implement, and depending on the project has certain degree of in accuracy as well. (Sebastian N., 2007,

Bit coin in monetary economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bit coin in monetary economics - Essay Example It allows the conversions once held bit coins are automatically stored without the requirement of a bank account (Barski and Wilmer, 31). Consequently, bit coin and other electronic coins reduce storage and business price, as well as it presents another option to control currency danger. Since bit coin floats against any money and it is attached to any nation’s financial system, it is by meaning affronted from the result of its fiscal rule and economic measures. Supports might argue that uneven balances to bit coin could guard against dips in money since the bit coin in result does not, does not shift while every other money changes instead. However, bit coin’s worth is unstable, driven by issues in numerous cases exterior to the distinctive supply and command for the money itself. Recently commerce in bit coin has been considerably influenced by news that regulatory organizations perceive the active currency as a refuge for money wash (Barski and Wilmer, 53). The lack of participants in the marketplace is also another important issue. Banks are not engaged in bit coin; therefore a business seeming to transact has inadequate alternatives. Even as a handful of treasury and risk controls portals will deal with practical currencies, the need for a system addition and formal confirmation actions will be vital. The legal activities increase the time and attempt for companies to total their diligence and narrow fulfillment to support these dealings (Barski and Wilmer, 122). Combine with the need for a copied marketplace and the requirement for business to evade projected money poses and the instruments just aren’t there for business to dependently use the bit coin. For business treasury and danger managers, the bit coin is not a considerable option to real market money owing to the need for cash. The quantity of bit coin in survival is little, which apparently makes it hard for

Japanese Culture Essay Example for Free

Japanese Culture Essay social forces which influence the society and its values. Every culture has its own unique qualities not found in other cultures. Japan is no exception. It is culture is centered on the core values and traditions. They lead Japanese people to have different ways of looking at the world largely from differences in language and religion. Japanese culture determines specific way of living and social relations, cultural and religious views. History, Culture and Lifestyle Japanese history rises mistily out of the period known to archeologists as the Tomb or Tumulus period. During this important period Japan was unified under the imperial court of Yamato and became intimately involved with South Korea, pathway for many cultural elements of continental origin into Japan. Writing was one such element. Japan began to have historico-legendary records of its own and gradually moved from its protohistoric to the historic period. The main historical period were â€Å"Asoka period (522-710), Nara Period (710-784), Early Heian (784-897), Middle and Late Heian (897-1185), Kamacura period (1185-1336), Murimachi Period (1336-1393), Memoyama period (1573-1614), Edo Period (1615-1867), Meiji Restoration (1867-1911)† (Martines, 1998). During all historical period, Japanese lifestyle was influenced by political, economic and social changes, new perception of the world and religion. Japanese culture is based on unique traditions and values influenced by religion and life style. The Japanese learned to view the world from the perspective of traditional versus modern values after the Meiji Restoration in 1868 following the opening of Japans doors to the world. This attitudinal structure started to fall apart in 1978, and its disintegration became definite by 1988. For example, the conquering nature was an important value during the era of Japans modernization process, but it has since been replaced by the following nature. In the middle of the XX century, the traditional perspective of catching up with the West and categorizing what is Western and Japanese has become meaningless (Oxtoby 2001). While the industrialization process produced divergent values for Japan and the West, it also is responsible for the development of some homogeneous cultural values. Researchers found three levels of similarities: (1) frequency distribution of single variables, (2) similar impacts of age and gender on attitudes, and (3) similar structures in the way people categorize their experience (Oxtoby 2001). Modern Japanese lifestyle is influenced by industrialization and innovations coming from other countries. Thus, Japanese value their old traditions and rituals adapting them to new social environment. For instance, Japanese take off shoes inside the house, they pay 5% commission tax for purchases, they follow bath and toilette design according to norms and practices of century old traditions (Oxtoby 2001). In short, the Japanese self, characterized by its diffuse nature or collective orientation, represents a self who lost its space to be free of the omnipresence of the giri-ninja social network in Japanese society in return for being taken care of by its group. The strong sense of belonging to ones company and family assures one materially a comfortable life at the individual level and stability and safety at the social level, making Japan relatively free of violent crimes. Such a life is stifling and meaningless to Americans even if they must pay a high price of alienating from the rest of society (Shelley, 1992). Japan managed to keep a sense of alienation to a minimum as it industrialized and urbanized by maintaining its virtually village mentality and social network. However, the value the Japanese gain by observing the traditional code of conducts, the giri-ninjo, is material and psychological welfare, which is provided to members of Japanese society more or less equally and fairly at the individual level, and public safety, which is provided at the collective level in Japan today. Another pair of terms often used in discussing Japanese culture is tatemae and honne. The former refers to the proper role expectation as defined by society and the second to ones real inner feelings, however irrational they may be. Often, to act in accordance with giri is to act in conformity with the norm of a community (tatemae). The role language plays in culture cannot be underestimated, for it offers a way of organizing ones life experience in a particular way that is shared by its speakers but not necessarily by people in other cultures (Davies and Ikeno, 2002). Family is one of the most important social institutions which keep century old traditions and human relations. In response to the traditional call for harmony, the Japanese are expected to conform to group norms. This proclivity yields situational ethics based on flexible standards (Shelley, 1992). There are no absolute criteria by which one passes judgment. The Japanese spend a disproportionately large sum of money for socializing, as embodied in semiannual gift exchanges between friends, relatives, and colleagues and after-work drinking of working men and women among co-workers and friends. Religion In Japan, nearly 100 % of the population are Buddhists and in many cases Scientists. The Japanese are, of course, not religious in the sense that they believe in God. Christians constitute about I % of the total population. Most Japanese are not very concerned with religion. They celebrate the birth of children in accordance with the Shinto rituals and bury their dead with the help of Buddhist priests. Meanwhile, they may get married in civil ceremonies, Christian churches, or other facilities. That is perhaps what makes it possible for the Japanese to accept more than one religion at the same time, an unthinkable option for monotheistic people of the West and West Asia, accustomed as they are to dialecticism. The Japanese approach the world in a diffuse fashion or inclusively. The number of Japanese with a religious faith increases with age (Davies and Ikeno, 2002). Fewer than 10 % of the Japanese in their early twenties and about 50 % of Japanese senior citizens over sixty years of age are religious. The older one becomes, the more religious one becomes. Likewise, Japan never had any revolutions such as experienced by China, France, and the United States. Revolutions are carried out by those who believe in the total destruction of the old regime and the establishment of a radically different doctrine. The Japanese seem to be incapable of totally denying their past. They are always interested in improving (kaizen) their existing systembe it via fax machine, Buddhism, or television sets. The majority of the Japanese do not take religion very seriously from the Western perspective (Oxtoby 2001). Japanese mythology distinguishes two categories of deities, the heavenly gods and the native or territorial gods. Some myths represent the heavenly deities as descending to the land of Japan to conquer or rule its autochthonous deities. The myth of land transfer in Izumo is one instance. Two generals of the heavenly gods were dispatched to Izumo to demand of O-Kuninushi, chief of the native gods and master of the territory of Japan, that he hand over sovereignty to the heavenly gods (Oxtoby 2001).

Hardys dramatic dialogue Essay Example for Free

Hardys dramatic dialogue Essay Denying the harsh moral codes set upon you can at times improve your material circumstances; however it can reduce you to a situation lower than poverty. Hardys dramatic dialogue The Ruined Maid attempts to portray the injustices and ironies of Victorian morality. Hardy is able to achieve this through his elaborate control over language. The class distinctions and moral codes placed upon women in the Victorian era have a large degree of irony. In the first stanza Hardy introduces two women: an unnamed, impoverished farm maid and a relatively wealthy ruined woman. The fact that the farm maid is unnamed shows her relatively insignificant life in comparison to the ruined woman who is named. The ruined woman (Melia) is said to have acquired fair garments, illustrating her affluence as the adjective fair suggests her clothes were of great beauty. The farm maid also wonders how Melia has come across such prosperi-ty emphasising her newfound wealth. Melia states that she has acquired this wealth as she has been ruined. By crossing the Victorian morality line and selling herself she has been rewarded instead of being looked down upon. In the second stanza Hardy contrasts the two womens lifestyles to illustrate their vast differences. Hardy uses negative diction such as the noun tatters to describe the poverty-stricken woman clothing which contrasts to the description of the wealthier woman in the first stanza. Hardy also contrasts this in the second stanza where Hardy uses positive diction with vibrant connotations such as gay bracelets and bright feathers to again describe the ruined womans clothing. The use of juxtaposition between the poverty of one woman and the relative wealth of Melia emphasises their class differences. The ruined woman, obviously gaining from her denial of normal moral codes, states thats how we dress when we are ruined. This illustrates that all women in her profession wear wealthy clothing, portraying the ironies of Victorian moral rectitude. Restrained in the entrenched Victorian class system with its moral and economic confines women at times have to escape in order to improve their situation. In the third stanza Hardy illustrates the ruined womans original poverty. She is described to have had a home in the barton, illustrating her initial lack of wealth through the use of the noun barton. Melia is said to have in the past used archaic, colloquial language such as thee and thou portraying her earlier impoverishment; only those of the lower classes would have used these words. However Hardy contrasts this with the womans talking which now fits ee for high company, again emphasising her gain from selling herself. Melia says that some polish is gained with ones ruin. The noun polish suggests the woman has gained refinement by becoming ruined, illustrating the potential gains from defying Victorian moral codes. This can also portray the hypocrisy of Victorian society as pure, virginal women are approved of; however happen to live depressing, miserable lives. In the fourth stanza Hardy again contrasts the womans current position with her past one, describing how she used to have paws and a face blue and bleak. The fact that her hands are said to have been paws illustrates the strenuous work she had to endure. The adjective bleak is an example of a synecdoche as it is used to illustrate Meilas former emotions. However she is now said to have little gloves and a delicate cheek portraying her dramatic improvement both in her occupation and emotionally. The last line: we never do work when were ruined emphasises her lack of taxing labour after becoming ruined. Crossing the morality line can at times result in improvements to ones position economically. By defying Victorian morality ones situation is condemned to being lower than the poverty of those who are pure and righteous. In the fifth stanza Hardy again uses negative diction to describe Melias past position. Hardy illustrates that she used to view her life as a hag-ridden dream portraying her past depressive outlook on life due to her previous poverty. She is said to have sigh[ed] and sock[ed] emphasising her negative view on life. However now she know[s] not of melancholy. This shows her emotional improvement as a result of becoming ruined. In the last stanza the farm girl says she wished she was like her former friend and had feathers and a fine sweeping gown. This illustrates her misunderstanding of Melias new profession due to her poverty. She is unable to see through the vivacious fai ade of Melias wealthy clothing in order to see the realities of her occupation. Melia however separates herself from her former friend stating that she is but a raw country girl. The adjective raw again emphasises the girls righteousness and innocence contrasted to the other womans ruined morality. The two women are completely different due to the chasmic nature of the Victorian class distinctions and Melias decision to sell herself. Melias also denies the farm maid of her dreams stating that she cannot quite expect that. Although she wishes she could become wealthy she cant escape the class which she was born into. Melia says that you aint ruined showing that to become rich after being born into the lower classes you must become ruined. However this could also be seen as a warning to the other woman to hold on to her maidenly modesty due to its huge worth in Victorian society. Furthermore Hardy uses the colloquial expression aint to show the reader that the ruined woman hasnt escaped her poor origins. Women of the Victorian times held a very insecure position in society; one which could change dramatically just by defying ironic moral codes. In The Ruined Maid Hardy attempts to show the ironies and injustices place upon women in the Victorian era. He shows that although one may improve their economic situation by defying the moral codes of their society they are condemned to a fate worse than poverty.