Fs3010c Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Fs3010c - Essay Example Financial institutions with significantly larger subprime mortgage portfolios therefore faced difficult situations in managing the losses and consequently went out of business owing to large losses sustained as a result of mass scale defaults by subprime borrowers. There are various reasons as to why financial institutions failed and consensus have now emerged that it was the failure of financial regulatory system of developed countries that resulted into the excessive risk taking by financial institutions. This excess risk taking therefore resulted into the failure of some financial institutions. What is also critical is the fact that systematic failure of financial institutions created negative impact on the economy and system as a whole experienced bank runs also. Northern Rock was one of the glaring examples of the failure of financial institution resulted due to imprudent risk management policies and practices. This paper will therefore provide an in-depth overview of the failure of Northern Rock and whether it was due to failure of regulatory agencies? It is generally believed that the financial crisis started as a result of subprime borrowers who failed to pay on their obligations when they became due. Subprime borrowers are those borrowers who normally do not fall into the acceptable category of borrowers due to their poor credit history. However, subprime borrowers also offer an opportunity to financial institutions to earn higher returns because of their high risk and most of the financial institutions jumped on this opportunity and started to lend in subprime market extensively. Most financial institutions however, also securitized their mortgage portfolios including subprime portfolios in order to recoup their liquidity drained as a result of lending to subprime borrowers. Most of financial institutions however, found themselves in trapped in this complex web as their repayment capacity against mortgage baked securities was

Photography is an art

Photography is an art Photography is an art that took many years and efforts of many individuals to perfect. Many different people in many different fields contributed to this light writing. Chemists, artists, inventors, and engineers all lending a crafting hand to the art. Photography can be defined as the art of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces. It is both an art and a science. As an art it expresses personal vision, and as a science it relies on technology. The word photography came from the Greek word phos, meaning light and graphos, meaning writing, which literally means light writing. Light writing is an emerging form of stop motion animation wherein still images, captured using the technique known as light painting or light drawing, are put in sequence thereby creating the optical illusion of movement for the viewer. In order to get started in creating light writing you will need a DSLR( Digital Single Lens Reflex ) camera, an ordinary DSC( Digital Still Camera ) will not do b ecause light writing requires a camera that can be placed in the B bulb shutter position, a remote shutter release and a tripod. All you need to get started is your camera and an understanding of how to control shutter speed. Light writing demands longer exposures of anywhere from several seconds to many minutes. Another technique is to use the multiple exposure features on a camera and shoot a series of 30 seconds to many minutes. A tripod will help you compose the shot and keep the camera still, and one or more lights will add to the fun. Light writing photography is a form of stop motion animation which requires the user to find a place, set the camera, and to take the picture. To create light writing, you or a friend will stand in front of the camera with a light in a dark room or place. The place should be dark otherwise the essence of light writing is useless. It is your choice on whether to bring a friend or not because the purpose on bringing a friend is to hold the camera for you, but if you have a tripod you can do it by yourself. In order to set the camera into its rightful position you need to find a place where in the camera will not move, the best places are on a still table, chair or anything that is stable, but to get the best results you need to place the camera on a tripod. After which you need to adjust the setting, the exposure should be around 10-30 seconds or longer depending on the design you want to portray. Set the camera to about ISO 100, and close your aperture as much as possible. This prevents over exposure. If there is still too much light, you might have to use a filter for better results. In order to take the picture you need to find a source of light. Finding a source of light is easy, just about any light will work, but the best tolls have tight focused light that lets you create precise patterns. LED flashlights are among the best for light writing, for they are compact, super bright and come in all sorts of fun colors. Glow sticks are also perfect for light writing images. Before moving and waving the light you need to count off to your partner so that he/she will click on the capture button in the exact time you wave your light, but if you are using a tripod you will need to count off by yourself according to how many seconds you placed on the timer. Once the capture button is clicked begin moving or waving the light to draw shapes and patterns in the air. If you move too quickly enough, the camera will not record a person, only the patterns of light you leave behind. The camera may also record the background if it is spotlighted by other light sources, such as t he moon or a streetlight. I challenge everyone who is interested in light writing photography to create masterpieces in light, to go beyond the expected to create more designs or ideas, to keep on practicing until the perfect design is reached, and to share their knowledge to the people around them to continue the art of light writing. Now, after reading my essay, would you too be interested in light writing photography, to share and to have fun with the picture you make with your friends and family? I recommend people who take photography or to those who are interested in art to take light writing photography to the next level, to improve their skills and share it to other people so that the next generation will already have an idea on how light writing works and to continue the art of light writing.

Examinations on the Dismantling of Canadian Multiculturalism in Rawi Ha

Rawi Hage’s Cockroach focuses on an unnamed immigrant of unclear, perhaps Lebanese, origin as he struggles to fit into his new life in Canada. The protagonist throughout the novel struggles to assimilate into Canadian culture, undermining people’s desire for him to integrate through imagining himself as a cockroach that scurries beneath society. By doing this, and through showing memories of his character’s traumatic past, Hage signifies the struggles, which many immigrants from warring countries face, in migrating to North America, contrasting the image Canada mostly promotes as being multicultural. Jesse Hutchinson proposes that the space created by Hage where the immigrant exists between the cultures of their homeland and their new country’s, is one of possibilities and where the protagonist can retain his cultural freedom (11), while Domenic A. Beneventi examines the class divides present between the privileged and the poor, noting how the latter exper iences the city space as a place of poverty (263). Indeed, I am interested in the concept of multiculturalism through how Hage represents his immigrant characters, demonstrating that idea of Canada’s multiculturalism as flawed. Syrine Hout discusses trauma and its lasting effects on immigrant Lebanese writers and how their writing of traumatic events creates a lasting memorial to the Lebanese civil war effects (330), which I will draw upon to study how Hage gives voice to immigrants who struggle with memories of their old culture as well as fitting into their new country. This paper will examine the techniques used by Hage to give representation to the turmoil faced by struggling immigrants as they attempt integration into the supposed multiculturalism of Canadian society. Exami... ...s on much of the time. While there are many immigrants who arrive and assimilate easily into Canada, Hage gives voice to the ones who do not, the ones most often overlooked. This creates a novel that maybe speaks to all identities of immigrants, creating a work that can truly be called multicultural. Works Cited Beneventi, Domenic A. "Montreal Underground." Journal of Canadian Studies 46.3 (2012): 263-286. Web. 24 March 2014. Hage, Rawi. Cockroach. Toronto: Anansi Press, 2008. Hout, Syrine. "Cultural hybridity, trauma, and memory in diasporic anglophone Lebanese fiction." Journal of Postcolonial Writing 47.3 (2011): 330-342. Web. 24 March 2014. Hutchinson, Jesse. "Immigration and Liminality in Rawi Hage’s Cockroach." Veljanova, Irena C. . Perception, Meaning and Identity. Ed. Irena C. Veljanova. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press, 2010. 1-14. Web. 24 March 2014.

Mark Twain and William Hazlitt’s Comparison

Ideas can be conveyed in many different ways dependant on the tone, style and diction of the piece. Both William Hazlitt and Mark Twain present a very similar topic in two very different ways. Hazlitt†s â€Å"Education of Women† speaks of how classical education is not proper for women. Twain†s â€Å"Female Suffrage† reiterates the idea that women should not be able to vote or hold public office. Hazlitt†s 1815 essay is a true opinion of his own feelings against having educated females. 1867, a different time with similar ideas, is the setting of Twain†s piece. He portrays how the relationship between suffrage and women is completely ridiculous. These authors use different styles to display completely opposite points. Hazlitt wastes no time getting to his point in order to drive it into the minds of the readers. He intends that his audience is only the educated male society. Hazlitt feels that women do not need to be anything more than generally educated. He attempts to convince his audience to accept his views and practice them. Twain, on the other hand, is creating a humorous situation which picks at the number of crazy positions that his wife holds in the community. He is not trying to make the audience think that female suffrage is bad. Twain intends that all people will read his piece for comic relief. Hazlitt uses a very straightforward type of diction in his essay. He explains his points and backs them up with his own opinions and observations. He is very authoritative and arrogant in the way he speaks. â€Å"They are mere egoists. They have no passion for truth, nor any love of what is purely ideal† He feels that his way is the right and only way to think. Since he speaks unto the educated community, he uses well-accepted ideas to communicate his points. Twain uses hyperbole, an approach very different from Halzitt†s style. Twain takes the offices held by his wife and exaggerates them to a humorous level. His diction is very relaxed and calmed. The tone Twain tends to adopt can be misinterpreted as self-centered, but his intent is only to bring a sense of fun to the audience. Hazlitt†s effect of style is very powerful. The essay is very convincing and if it is read to establish ideas, it is nothing short of excellent. The way he compiles the words with his diction, makes the points in his essay incredibly moving. When read by the desired audience, this piece is quite moving and powerful. If a female reads this, the expected reaction is a sense of loathing. Twain accomplishes his goal of being humorous and entertaining. His combination of creative ideas with a serious topic displays his great deal of writing skills. The reader is torn between believing what Twain writes and seeing the humor of hyperbole. The reader is very amused by the decisions that have to be made on interpretation. Hazlitt and Twain use different style, tone and diction to explain to readers their feelings on touchy issues. Hazlitt uses very powerful and persuasive ways of speaking to convince his readers that the education of women is completely unnecessary. Twain is quite entertaining to read because he pokes at his wife†s positions. He assumes that the reader will identify that he is only attempting to entertain his audience. Both authors are very different in style but by using different types of writing, they prove totally different points with the same subject.

Effective Speakers Essay

President William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States is a prime example of what it means to be an effective speaker. Although George H. W. Bush and Bob Dole were highly qualified opponents in the 1992 and 1996 elections, it was Clinton’s presentation skills and ability to work an audience that earned him his back-to-back terms in office. President Clinton â€Å"owned the room† from the beginning of his first presidential debate. Upon being asked his first question, Clinton walked up to the lady seeking answers, squared his shoulders toward her, looked her straight in the eye, and asked her to repeat her name. As soon as she responded with her name, Clinton repeated her name back to her and answered her question passionately and confidently. (Koegel, 2007, p. 06-07). Effective speakers can walk into a room, take the audience by surprise, and deliver a presentation that is both passionate and natural. A presenter does not have to be perfect, nor does the audience expect him or her to be so. According to Henninger (2010), making a mistake, forgetting a segment of your speech, or falling speechless for a moment is okay as long as your presentation has value. An effective speaker knows how to avoid gestures and facial expressions that point out his or her mistakes. Public speaking skills are not inherited. It is a talent and a technique that has become second hand to a speaker through a great deal of practice. Can anyone be an effective speaker? The answer to this question is yes; with sufficient knowledge, tools, and practice, anyone can stand up and â€Å"own the room. † Be Organized An exceptional presenter is one who is organized and an organized presentation is one that has a developed structure. The average human being has a very small attention span; therefore a speaker’s best speech is one that is short and to the point. At most, a good presentation only needs two or three main points. That’s really all the audience wants to hear anyway (Henninger, 2010). The audience is also more obligated to listen to a presenter who looks organized. First impressions are crucial when a presenter is trying to sell his or her ideas, services, or products. Thirty seconds of floundering before the audience can send a negative signal that suggests that the presenter is unprepared and can also create question as to whether or not the presenter is even confident in what it is he or she is trying to promote (Koegel, 2007, p. 45-46). A speaker only gets one impression, so he or she should strive to make it a positive one by looking and being organized. Speak Passionately A presenter must be passionate about his or her topic in order for the presentation to be persuasive. If a presenter is not passionate about the topic, then why should the audience even care about it? Many presenters are guilty of delivering lengthy presentations that painstakingly reinforce their topic. According to communication experts, the time on a presentation should be slimmed down and the energy should be boosted up (Layman, 2011). A presenter should be aware of his or her voice when delivering a speech. If one’s tone is droning and monotone, then the presenter can likely expect to look out into an audience that is either asleep or captivated with something other than the presentation on point. Speak up, speak from the heart, and speak with conviction. In keeping with Koegel (2007), a presenter’s voice is an outward expression of his or her passion. Engage the Audience A powerful speaker is one who can engage his or her audience. People do not particularly care to sit silently through an exhaustive presentation. Most audiences want to participate and be a part of it. One way to engage with the audience is to encourage audience participation. Meet with the audience before the presentation, learn a few of their names, and listen to comments that are being made. When delivering the presentation, the presenter can address these comments and call on audience members by name. Addressing the audience’s issues and demonstrating that time was taken to know them by name builds a relationship with the audience. It is significantly important to make eye contact with the audience as well. By looking people in the eye, a presenter enhances two-way communication as well as encourages and establishes trust and a congenial give and take relationship (Downey, 2011). Many speakers have been given the advice at one time or another to find an inanimate object, such as the wall in the back of the room, and focus in on it when delivering a presentation. By looking over the audience, the presenter can alleviate the anxiety that he or she may be experiencing, correct? Unfortunately, the wall in the back of the room is not going to be the one making the business decisions that day. The audience makes the decisions and if a speaker cannot talk to the audience, then the audience will more than likely seek business with someone who can. Act Natural An exceptional speaker always appears natural. If the speaker looks confidant and relaxed, then the audience will be relaxed. A presenter should stray from giving formal presentations overflowing with facts and statistics; try leaning towards a style that is more conversational, engaging, and full of illustrative stories and current events that relate to one’s topic. Telling a story or beginning a presentation with an anecdote is a good way to break the ice, ease a presenter’s anxiety, and engage the audience at the same time because telling stories is something that comes naturally to humans. However, be sure that the story or anecdote flows with the topic on point. An effective presentation should not sound scripted. Writing out the presentation is okay, but the speaker must then fight the temptation to read it word for word. The written word does not flow nor does it have the same approach as the spoken word. If a presenter feels obligated to write out his or her presentation and follow scripts, then he or she should be sure to lose the official tone and write in the manner that he or she speaks (Koegel, 2007, p. 122). Understand the Audience An effective speaker is one who can connect with his or her audience. According to Koegel (2007), understanding the business, issues, and concerns of the audience is an excellent way to achieve this goal. Before pitching a sales presentation, a presenter should research and thoroughly understand his audience. There are a number of ways one can achieve this, such as researching the company’s website to understand a firm’s morals, beliefs and objectives or another option would be to speak with employees within the organization prior to a meeting. As you present, you should look for opportunities to add value. Researching and understanding your audience is imperative and can present opportunities in which value can be added. An organization is more likely to listen and do business with a speaker who has demonstrated his or her knowledge of the company more so than a salesperson whose only preference is to acquire another sale. Once a speaker becomes familiar with the wants and needs of the audience, the presentation becomes much easier to craft (Mackay, 2011). Practice to Improve Humans are creatures of habit. The human body seeks comfort when placed in an uncomfortable situation. An example of this can be putting one’s hands in his or her pockets or looking down towards the floor. These minute gestures speak on behalf of the presenter and inform the audience that the speaker is uneasy about something. Without practice, a speaker cannot improve on these habits. There are many opportunities during the day to put into practice various speaking techniques. These skills should be practiced during one’s daily routine and not in â€Å"live† win-or-lose situations (Koegel, 2007, p. 6). If a speaker is in need of further assistance, he or she can hire a presentation coach. Effective speaking is not something one inherits at birth; it is a talent that is achieved through hard work and consistent practice. There is no reason to feel ashamed for asking for external help. Baseball great Hank Aaron batted cross handed until a batting coach corrected his style that led him to break Babe Ruth’s home run record. To Aaron and his colleagues, his hitting style before was satisfactory, yet it is often easier and beneficial to receive constructive criticism from outsiders instead of one’s own employees or colleagues (Porro, 2011). The point of this story is that even when someone is good at something already, that person is still not perfect. Practice, whether it is on one’s own time or through the assistance of a presentation coach, may not make a presenter a perfect speaker, but it opens the door for improvement and will make delivering a speech second nature to the presenter. By allowing one’s self to practice these techniques, it is then that the speaker becomes effective.