Discussion topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion topic - Essay Example Thus, it would be justified to say that Casey Martin should have been allowed to use the cart in the PGA tours but justice was sacrificed by denying Casey the freedom to use his cart at the expense of the golf fraternity that would have been affected by the golfers’ action. Indeed, the decision that was taken could also be defended on the basis that he was a physically challenged golfer and allowing him to use a cart could affect the outlook of the game. Thus, one may argue that justice may have been used accurately granted because the decision was reliant upon matching equal entities and equal people. All these give the impression that theory of distributive justice perpetuates impartial justice. One can explain justice in theoretical aspects by viewing it behind a curtain of ignorance, which means that our personalities, class, moral characters, luxuries and talents are not exposed. It is agreeable that justice was purposed at giving people what they deserve. However, as discussed, it does not give everyone what is

Stereotypes in the Media Essay Example for Free

Stereotypes in the Media Essay Over the past couple of decades the usage of offensive stereotypes have played a big role in popular films, TV shows, music videos, and comedy routines today. In fact one can only argue that these offensive stereotypes have increased considerably and will only continue to grow. There are many reasons as to why these stereotypes have only increased and have led to the creators of these films making millions and millions of dollars. The main reason behind this is making fun of race, color, poverty, and other cultures and using straightforward offensive words to do so is humorous to a large part of the US population. Although most of us would feel insulted if these offensive racial stereotypes were directed toward us. The purpose of comedy routines/films was to bring laughter for the media today, which was not the case decades ago. The reason why the media displayed much discrimination and stereotypes in the films was to portray minorities as dangerous, uneducated and unsuccessful. Though now the media has showed much improvement in how they portray minorities, there are many films showing Blacks/Hispanics being the main character and successful such as Will Smith has played the heroic and professional character in many films such as Independence Day, Men in Black, Bad Boys etc. This has helped pave the way for Black’s reputation on the big screen and real life. Antonio Banderas is another actor who has been very successful in his career and received awards and nominations for his roles in movies where he has played famous Latin artists. This is another positive way for minorities to be looked as equal to Whites in the media and not just be portrayed as the stereotypical characters. The media that helped make these diverse programs so successful for many years; the focus is on the entertainment rather than just the diversity and stereotypical views of minority characters. This has changed the mindset of many who thought that minorities were only to be displayed at delinquents on television. I believe Black and Hispanics characters will continue to grow on TV and the big screen. On the comedic perspective, perhaps people will be able to see past all the stereotypical and racial jokes because the media has gotten passed it. The film â€Å"Ethic Notions† was one of the first films that the media discriminated against black Americans from the early 1900s to the present. It showed the appalling ideas and thoughts that whites presented through the media about black people in America. As a result, blacks were depicted in the media as frightening savages. A Broadway play was introduced in which black males tried to attack young white virgins. Even black children were depicted as unruly savages. Whites created degrading nursery rhymes in which the children played violent games and accidentally killed each other. Such images were put forth to suggest that blacks needed to be controlled and that America should return to the good old times with slavery. 20th century the images and the depiction of black Americans didnt change at all. The only difference now is the hate is now on film. Blacks began to enter theater and they used it as a step in the right direction to get out of the south and start a new life with opportunities. Through the 1940s the blackface became discarded but its image left its mark on society. Soon cartoons became the voice for racism. This way when any violence or mistreatment were occurring it would be entertaining and humorous. The cartoons had the power to influence young minds to see stereotypes as being entertaining by making references to black. Movies and crime shows have often show Black and Hispanic males as the offender, running from the police, being disrespectful or involved in hostile situations. The problem is not that they show this behavior but they show it constantly, over and over again, overwhelmingly portraying negative images, and therefore, racial stereotypes of Black and Hispanic males. This, in turn, perpetuates racial stereotypes. Showing these images repeatedly creates a racial stereotype in the minds of those watching. Pretty soon the viewer believes all Black and Hispanic males act a certain way. Movies, in particular the ones about gang violence or living in urban areas, focus on black males committing crimes, running from the police, and being hostile or angry. A movie called Menace to Society, which was produced by Black men, was a complete disservice and totally negative portrayal of black men. These same producers could have produced a movie showing black men in a positive light, instead of getting caught up the desired â€Å"street life† and perpetuating the myth that there is something good and respectable about being a thug and involved in criminal activity. Other movies like Colors portrayed black men as animals, showing no emotion and knowing nothing more then to engage in violent, criminal behavior, a racial stereotype. They could be used to raise awareness for the following reasons: fight against the belief of these stereotypes, to show how hurtful these stereotypes can be, and the fact that they exist today and are causing harm one way or another. On the other hand in most music video and comedy routines they are used to bring laughter, to show that offensive stereotypes sell, and lastly to show that we should not be bothered by these stereotypes because it is only those who are ignorant and negative that use these stereotypes to cause harm. The first one is because humor keeps society entertained and shows individuals to not take the issue so serious, and humor breaks tension between different races to not make feel people inferior to others. The second one shows that inter-racial skits in movies/shows do well in box office/television. For example a hit show out now is Modern Family, they have a character played by Sofia Verger, who plays a Colombian woman and is married to a White man played by Ed O’Neil who is a remarried man alongside with her son from her previously marriage back in Colombia. This show demonstrated the life of an inter-racial marriage and their own comedic ways whether it be Sofia yelling at Ed and he does not understand a word she is saying because of her accent or Sofia dragging Ed to a Spanish fiesta also known as a Spanish formal party. This is a very popular show that has received high ratings and does well for the ABC network. The last one is to show we are all in this country for the same opportunities and there are many celebrities from different races who have done well for themselves. Ultimately it is up to us whether we blame the media for reinforcing these stereotypes or we thank them for bringing this to our attention through comedy or documentaries and it does not matter who is producing the content but how we are influenced by it in a positive way. Another hit show mentioned by S. Robert Lichter and Daniel R. Amundson, was I Love Lucy, with the character of Cuban band leader Ricky Ricardo played by Desi Arnaz and his wife played by Lucille Ball. This show was based on Lucy’s schemes and adventures going wrong with a touch of Ricky’s comedic way and displays of â€Å"Latin† temper. I Love Lucy was the most-watched show in the United States in four of its six seasons. Even though this was not the break-through for Hispanic characters on television it had high ratings and Ricky’s character was not displayed as a villain, criminal, or threat to society simply as an ordinary man trying to make a living as an up and coming Cuban singer in New York. Lichter and Amundson mentioned that this and other show shows with Spanish characters such as Chico and The Man did not explore the Latin culture or Hispanic contributions to American history, ethnic comedies became the hottest new TV trend in the 1970s. It is not surprising that Latinos were depicted in stereotypic negative ways by the mass media when they are also denied access to positions of employment where they might help to produce more realistic and humanistic portrayals of themselves. When the media refers to or are revolved around offensive racial stereotypes there will always be an argument as to whether the film should reinforce or subvert the stereotypes. It would be nice to think that we can all be influenced from childhood to not judge or take offense from stereotypes that have been made by the media but rather laugh it off and not take insult from it. Our nation abides by one of the most important amendments, which is freedom of speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States of America and by many state constitutions, state and federal laws. Judgment of the government and advocacy of unknown ideas that people may find offensive or against public policy, such as racism, sexism, and other hate speech are generally permitted in the media. There are many organizations that support the first amendment, one being The Creative Coalition, which was formed for the charitable and educational purposes of bringing together artists and entertainers to learn about pressing issues so they can better teach and influence the community and our nation. Their programs focus on their special services to its members to help prepare them for public roles as advocates and spokespeople for The Creative Coalition program. The Coalition believes informed advocacy is the way to be an effective advocacy, and encourages the continuing education of its members as they exercise their rights as citizens in public settings I must admit it does not help when the media focus on crime, drug use, gang violence, and other forms of anti-social behavior among African-Americans, it presents a misconception of all African-Americans. When a Black actor is chosen to play the villain in a violent movie, this plays into the hands of those who believe the stereotypes. The consequence of this; was that it brainwashed and influenced society to have their set perspective on Blacks/Hispanics on who they were in America. This was unfair and unreasonable for minorities; this left many to think whether it was safe to be around minorities. For example in the documentary â€Å"Ethnic Notions† it takes you back in time when Blacks were used as slaves, and why the evolution of racial stereotypes started in America. The media can have control of this stereotype that has grown into the minds of White American if they continue to use a diversity of actors/comedians and movies based on different cultural experiences from each individual. With the continuation of using a diversity of backgrounds in storylines of movies and educating our children to not fall into the racial stereotype beliefs, we can decrease this misconception portrayed in our media today. For example like Justin Lewis and Sut Jhally used The Cosby Show, as a form to reconstruct race and role of social class should be looked at in television. As Bill Cosby was a physical education teacher, which help pave the way for African Americans as he represented that his race can also become part of the middle class. The episodes brought some humor, but the show concentrated on bringing out intelligent character studies and real-life situations. The Cosby show was created to change the ways African Americans were portrayed on television and was the turning point for racial tolerance for white viewers that Blacks have become ordinary and could be successful professionals. The Cosby Show had much success with high ratings on television from 1984-1990. This show was a proof that the media did not need stereotypes to be funny it actually challenged stereotype. In the media today Hispanic characters were less likely to play the villain than they were in the 1992 network prime time schedules. On a positive note, according to Lichter and Amundson, the drop in criminal portrayals is down 63 percent, which is better than it was before 16 percent. For new reality series some of the highest changes were seen in shows such as COPS an America’s Most Wanted in 1994-1995 the crime rate for both Hispanics and Blacks lowered down from 45-16percent for Latinos and from 50-20 percents for Black criminals. This is a huge improvement for society and minorities. In conclusion, from the information provided above the media has came a long way from representing minorities on the big screen/TV as the typical stereotype such as the villain, criminal, or from the lower class. The media did help characterize minorities into a negative character on television but has also paved the way for much success for the minority celebrities in the media. Therefore we can sit and take offense on racial jokes or stereotypical characters but it should not be instilled in us to judge or take offense on this. The media has actors such as Ricky Ricardo and Bill Cosby who have shown much success in their careers; also two actors from different races such as Antonio Banderas to Morgan Freeman have shown success today. These actors today have been portrayed, as the heroic and villain character in movies but this should not give a reason to stereotype their race. As much as these stereotypical materials are used in the media, it is only used to entertain audiences and to continue to bring back their targeted audiences. The same also goes for comedians with their racial jokes, it is simply used to attract their audiences and keep them entertained through laughter, that why we have seen comedians such as Eddie Murphy, Dane Cook and George Lopez mocking not only those from their own race but from other races, because they know this will sell and bring back their audiences. Society has come a long way from setting stereotypes and making judgment on how minorities are portrayed in the media by the changes made in the media and the success it has brought to TV as well as to prove on reality shows. Bibliography 1. Freedom of speech that is protected by the First Amendment to the United States of America and by many state constitutions, state and federal laws ( First Amendment wikipedia 2010 par. 1) 2. Gallager, Charles A. (2008) Rethinking the Color Line: Television and the Politics of Representation, Distorted Reality: Hispanic Characters in TV Entertainment 302-320 3. Riggs, Marlon (1986) Ethnic Notions.

The Woman in Black Essay Example for Free

The Woman in Black Essay No reader of The Woman in Black Can be left in doubt about its conscious evocation of the Gothic. It is full of motifs and effects associated with that genre, How far would you agree with this statement of the novel? I agree undeniably, with the above statement, as the novel is a pastiche of the Victorian/Edwardian ghost story which is a sub-genre of the Gothic. Thus consciously evoking the Gothic. However, it could be argued that Susan Hill at times cleverly manipulates the motifs and effects associated with the Gothic genre. It is theses motifs and effects that are present in the gothic genre, which I will discuss in The Women in Black (1983). I will begin by briefly discussing this essay on the genre itself The Gothic genre is a genre that has been burning artistically for centuries, ever since it was more or less invented by Horace Walpole in the classical gothic novel The Castle of Otranto1765 possessed the indispensable and core elements of this genre, it was set to be a benchmark for following work in this field such as The Woman in White (1860) by Wilkie Collins, The Italian (1797) by Ann Radcliff, The Monk'(1796) by Mathew Lewis and Bram Stokers Dracula (1897). The Women in Black is full of Gothic elements and conventions throughout. The reader at first realises the effectiveness of the first person narrative of the novel; this is delivered by Arthur Kipps the main character of the story. Effectively, the reader gains a first hand insight of thoughts, feelings and emotions of Arthur instantly as they happen. Therefore, slowly but gradually the reader becomes attached to Arthur due to the sense of immediacy that they experience with the unfolding of emotions, thoughts and events when Arthur does. This is initially used in the opening chapter Christmas Eve when Arthur states; I was seized by something I cannot possibly describe, an emotion, a desire- no, it was rather more, a knowledge, a simple certainty, which gripped me, Indisputably, the Christmas Eve opening of The Woman in Black echoes the opening of Henry Jamess Turn of the Screw. It is a convention of the ghost Story were in the festive season people gather by the fire and make up lurid inventions about vampires to even rats and bats. In addition the intertextuality of the novel is emphasised with the striking resemblance between Arthur Kipps and Jonathon Harker in Bram Stokers Dracula (1897). Here both are lawyers and both are very rational which is exemplified when Arthur describes himself as a commonsensical man. Another example of the novels intertextuality is one of the chapters actual name; Oh whistle and Ill come to you which is taken from an M.R. James ghost story. These thoroughly present intertextuality continuously imprints on the reader the elements of the novel, the ghost story. This is also agreed by most Enlish critic like (1)Alan Jones who says; Hills novel also shows an eclectic indebtedness to other text. The referential quality of text like Walpoles The Castle of Otranto or Lewiss The Monk, with their nods in the direction of medieval manuscript, Shakespeare, graveyard poetry and so on, finds full measure in the pages of her text. The first attribute acknowledged by the reader as a common Gothic element is the setting of The Women in Black. overall, there are two main settings of the story, one being Monks Piece where Arthur begins the story of The Women in Black. Initially, Monks Piece is presented as place from out of reach from civilisation, an area of remoteness and isolation, a place really distant. Arthur describes its air of remoteness and isolation which makes us feel ourselves to be much further from civilization. The supernatural or otherwise inexplicable events are a key theme in the Gothic genre and The Woman in Black is no exception. In The Woman in Black is the constant emphasis of man versus nature that is repeated throughout. Susan Hill provides an undetectable malevolent and treacherous force, using nature, whether its a fog, sea-freats or a mist. The ultimate felling of supernatural is without a shadow of doubt, created by the fog, one of Londons deadliest peasoupers. The fog slowly, but gradually constructs the sense of the supernatural by creating an illusion of uncertainty for both Arthur and the reader. This is conveyed when Arthur describes the fog. Fog was out door, hanging over the river, creeping in the and out of alleys and passagessly entrance at every opening of a door. This idea of the fog suggests the fog has become an entity by technique of personification used by Hill. This projects the idea that the fog is more than a fog. In that way it is given a beastly presentation especially by the use of the simile like a furred beast. The distinct description of the fog provokes the inevitable thought of the supernatural with its ever-present malevolent force. This idea of the isolation and remoteness is often used in the Gothic. It gives a clear sense of eeriness and vulnerability about Monks Piece. This is the setting were Arthur begins his ghostly narrative in an attempt to Exorcise the haunting of his past. This brings to mind the idea that when Arthur dies, his accounts of events would be found by someone else like the traditional manuscript found by Jonathon Harker in Bram Stokers Dracula. The other main setting of the novel is Eel Marsh House. In comparison with Monks piece, Eel Marsh House has an air of strange sensation, an excitement mingled with alarm. Eel Marsh House is projected as a place that will have you startled with excitement but also vividly perceptive at the same time. This is illustrated in the description when Arthur initially sets eyes on Eel Marsh House by saying; it was a tall, gaunt house that is isolated and uncompromising but also on the other hand Handsome. Nevertheless, Eel Marsh house is so indistinguishable of Monks Piece in the sense of the sheer solitude and loneliness about the place. However, unlike Monks Piece there is evil with a touch of wickedness about Eel Marsh House, this illustrates that Eel Marsh House is an updating of the Gothic castle. It is this Gothic aura that seems to be seducing Arthur. This idea can be unmistakably recognised when Arthur mentions that; I was aware of a heightened of every one of my senses, and Conscious that this extraordinary place was imprinting itself on my mind and deep on my imagination too This cleverly hints the supernatural force that seems to be enveloping itself around Arthur, inevitably, he appears to be addicted to the place and not discouraged by eeriness incorporated by the satanic sea vultures and by the bleakness that is being hurled by the small burial ground near Eel Marsh house which is typical Gothic iconography. This is further emphasised by the condition of the decayed gravestone with patches of greenish-yellow lichen and moss. Moreover, its the indecipherable dates and names on the Drablows graveyard that create mystery, just like how the novels time period and place of setting is left ambiguous. An atmosphere of mystery and suspense is another key Gothic element in the gothic genre and The Woman in Black is no different. The presentation of London in A London Particular establishes the mystery and mood of the novel. The city is presented as dark, evil-smelling, with a foul gloom atmosphere, when these carefully constructed metaphors and adjectives bind, they do paint a vivid image for the reader. In addition, the true sense of mystery and suspense is cemented by the introduction of Jennet Humfrye the Woman in Black herself. At the funeral of Mrs. Drablow, she is described as a woman with some terrible wasting disease a woman with skin that is tautly stretched and strikingly, a woman only a short time away from her own death. This description deployed by Hill illustrates that this is no ordinary woman and inhuman in some sort even to the extent that she is a walking corpse, a curse on Crythin Gifford. Therefore, Hill sustains the key Gothic theme of death and curse in the novel. The novel itself is built around the mystery of the woman and the tragic death of her child. This unravels that Jennets separated from her son because of the social stigma associated with children being born out of wedlock. This is heightened by the inexplicable behaviour of the Woman in Black and more effectively the reaction of those who see and hear of her presence. This is conveyed to the reader when Arthur says I had never in my life been so possessed by it, never known my knees to tremble And my flesh to creep, and then to turn cold as stone. The absolute fear here is over-ridden by the total danger which she has caused him. This utter tantrum is fuelled by the unexplainable event of disappearance by the wasted woman. This high, even overwrought emotion is common in most Gothic novels; it clearly portrays the feeling of impending doom being experience by the character, in this case, Arthur when he is in intense fear and sense of shock as he witnessed the vanishing of The Woman in Black. It is clear that Susan Hill effectively deploys the basics of gothic elements of gothic fiction. However, these elements are altered to appeal to a more modern audience in the case the castle. Therefore it can be said that Eel Marsh House is an updating of the Gothic Castle. Hill effectively sustains her Gothic genre of Gothic horror of contracting the soul, freezing the faculties and nearly annihilating them. This is apparent in The Woman in The Black several times with excessive examples of Arthur and even other characters including Mr. Jerome, when he is in shock, paralysed by fear of the Woman in Black; Mr. Jerome grabbed my wrist and held it in an agonizingly tight grip or collapse with some kind of seizure. Or even more effectively when the sense of danger and horror is built up using Arthurs companion dog Spider, who becomes accustomed to the threat present; Every her of her body was on end, her ears were pricked, her tail erect, the whole of her tense, as if ready to spring This form of reaction defines gothic horror capturing the idea developed by Ann Radcliffe. Another Victorian/Edwardian convention of ghost stories that cements the pastiches of the novel is how the setting is kept ambiguous. This is shown when Mr Bentley sends Arthur to Eel Marsh in-shire? to represent the firm at Mrs Drablows funeral. Moreover, the context of the novel is kept unclear, because the story could be taking place after the First World War or more likely in the Edwardian period due to the lack of cars present and more significantly to the continuous appearances of a pony and trap in the novel as a leitmotif. Overall, Susan hill captures the mood of the Gothic genre and specially the sub-genre the ghost story. Hill shows a great variety of traditional gothic elements with a blend of originality and innovation by overturning the readers expectation of the genre inconsistently within the novel. In the woman in black the oppressor is a woman and the victim is a man, Arthur, threatened by a powerful, impulsive and a tyramical female, where on the other hand most gothic genre have a woman as a victim. Nevertheless, this ingenious thesis by Hill is a pleasant one because undoubtedly the novel is unpredictable while still consciously evoking the gothic.

Different Payment Methods In The Hotel Industry Finance Essay

Different Payment Methods In The Hotel Industry Finance Essay The forms of payment accepted in hotels have changed over the years. Most hotels still accept a variety of methods of payment mainly so as to provide a service to their clients and to generate additional earnings through exchange. A large number of independent travellers now use some form of credit or charge card. Hotels are now very familiar with a wide range of cards, often with dual ownership (e.g. the HCIMA have their own version of Barclaycard). There will always be a number of other transactions within the hotel regardless of the method of payment. These transactions will often be paid through a number of other methods. Upon departure, guests can settle their account in one of a number of different ways: †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Cash †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Foreign currency †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Cheque †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Travellers cheque †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Foreign cheque †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Debit card †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Credit card †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Charge card †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Ledger payment †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Voucher (e.g. travel agent, A TO). In dealing with each of these methods of payment, the hotelier must assess the impact of three major factors: liquidity, security and worth. Liquidity It is advantageous to the hotel if the account is paid in cash, as the hotel can immediately use the money to purchase goods itself, or bank the money and earn interest on it. Payment by ledger, however, will take much longer perhaps as much as two or three months may pass before the money can be re-used in the business. 2. Security The two sides to security are as follows: †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚   The likelihood of forgery or fraud by each of the payment methods. †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  The subsequent risk of theft once the hotel has the money. Payment by cheque is a greater security risk than accepting cash in Payment of the account. It would be difficult to trace stolen Currency if the hotel was robbed and cheques would unlikely is taken as they wont be of any value to a thief. Worth The total amount of money the hotel receives in payment will not be the same in every case. Handling charges, commission and delays in payment will cost the hotel money. But because of The extra commission, accepting payment in foreign currency will usually mean that when guests use this method of payment, the hotel gains an extra profit. Table 9.1 shows that the profitability of the hotel may be affected by the variety of payment methods used by the guests Method of Payment Security Liquidity Worth Cash The risk of loosing cash through theft is high, but the risk of forgery is low. Immediate 100 % Foreign currency The risk of loosing foreign currency through theft is high, but the risk of forgery is low. 1 Day 102 % Cheque Cheques carry a high risk of fraud e.g. non-payment. If security checks are carried out, risk of theft is low. 3 Days 98 % Travellers cheque Safe method of payment if control checks are carried out properly. Low risk of forgery. 4 Days 98 % Debit Card Safe method of payment if control checks are carried out properly. Low risk of forgery. 3 Days 99 % Credit card Safe method of payment if control checks are carried out properly. Low risk of forgery 3 Days 96 % Charge card Safe method of payment if control checks are carried out properly. Low risk of forgery 3 Days 96 % Ledger payment If creditworthiness is established before hand, it is a safe method of payment, however there is always a risk of non-payment of accounts 30 Days 98 % Voucher (e.g. travel agent, A TO) If creditworthiness is established before hand, it is a safe method of payment, however there is always a risk of non-payment of accounts 60 Days 89 % Table 9.1 Security, Liquidity and Worth of the various methods of payment Cheques Payment by cheque use to be one of the most common methods of payment. It reflected the decline of payment method in cash in recent years. Cheque guarantee cards guarantee the payment of the cheque to an agreed amount (usually  £50 or  £100). But there are a few simple rules that needto be followed. The guarantee provided by cheques guarantee cards are: †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Only one cheque is used per transaction †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  It is signed in the presence of the cashier †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  The bank code on the cheque and the guarantee card agree †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  The card number is written on the reverse side of the cheque †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  The card has not expired. A bank does not guarantee to honor a transaction where an account of is paid by issuing two cheques of  £50. The transaction is changed to a cash one by putting the card number on the back of the cheque. The customer will then not be able to stop the cheque later. It is crucial that the cashier watches the customer sign the cheque and then compares to the signatures carefully as to establish their similarity. Listed below are factors that need to be look into when handling cheques guarantee cards. 1. Code Number The bank sorting code number must agree with the code of the issuing cheque. 2. Card Number The card number is written on the reverse of the cheque by the accepting cashier. It does not correspond to any other number on the cheque. Expiry Date The card will not be valid if it is out of date. Signature The signature must be checked against the signature written on the back of the cheque. The card should be examined to make sure that the signature panel has not been tampered with. Crossed cheques are now mostly issued and therefore have to be paid into a bank account. With the signature of the payee at the back, it can be reassigned to a third party. In the case where a third party cheque is returned, the hotel has to contact the original drawer of the cheque to obtain settlement. It is for this reason that hotels do not accept third party cheques. Date When accepting a cheque, the cashier should check a number of points, one of the most important being the date. A cheque that has a date in the future on it (a post-dated cheque) will not become valid until that date. A cheque more than six months old (stale) is no longer valid. Crossing Cheques The two most important rules about crossing cheques are as follows: †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  A/c payee: this means that the cheque can only be paid into the account of the person nominated. It cannot be assigned to a third party. This is useful for cheques sent by post. †¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Not to exceed xxx: this is crossing establishes a maximum Value to the cheque and guards against fraud by making it more difficult to change the amount payable. Travelers Cheque Travelers cheques (Fig 9.4) are issued in fixed denominations by major banks, travel agents and now building societies throughout the world. The customer will need to purchase them (before leaving home) using their own currency, or in the currency of the country being visited. These cheques need to be signed when purchased. The serial numbers are then noted by the issuing bank cashier. A service charge of 1% is normally paid to the bank by the customer. It covers insurance against loss or theft. The issuing company will repay the customer within 24 hours should the travellers cheques be stolen. It is for this reason that travellers cheques are found to be much more secure than currency. It is essential that the cashier should watch the guest sign and date the cheque when accepting these cheques. Should there be any doubt or irregularities about the signature, the customer can be asked to sign on the reverse of the cheque. Proof of identity can also be verified by asking the guest to produce their passport before accepting the travellers cheque. Debit Cards, Credit Cards and Charge Cards Debit Cards The common alternative to cheques nowadays is debit cards such as Switch and Delta. The way that it works is similar to that of cheque whereby the outstanding sum is taken directly from the clients account. But the transfer is through an electronic point-of sale and no cheque is necessary. The cashier and the payer will receive a slip notifying them of the details of the payment. This is usually the same card that is used to guarantee a cheque or withdraw money from a cash point. Bank Credit Cards Visa and Access are the two major bank credit cards in the UK. These cards are usually issued for free and customers need not to pay for any annual subscription. The customer uses the card to purchase goods and services by signing a sales voucher for the total amount of the account. The card company will send a statement to the customer with information of all the transactions of the month before. The customer has the choice to pay the total owing or only a proportion of it. The rest of it may be paid over a period of time. As the cards constitute a form of credit, the minimum payment is fixed by the government. The customer will receive a personal credit limit which must not be exceeded in any one month. Visa is an internationally recognized name, and while most countries use an additional name (e.g. Barclaycard in the UK; Carte Bleu in France), all cards carry the name Visa and bear the distinctive blue, white and gold stripe logo (Fig. 9.5).

Hamlet :: essays papers

Hamlet Revenge For Your Father In Shakespeare's tragic epic Hamlet, one man is torn between loyalty of his new king or the revenge of his old king and past on father. Should Hamlet lose everything while his uncle controls what should be his? Many things led to the down fall of Hamlet some of them are the murderous acts of Claudius, the act loyalty to revenge the death of a king and father, and the great depression that Hamlet struggles to control. In Hamlet there are many unfortunate events. The start of the unfortunate event is when the king is brutally murder. Cluadius seemed to bring curse a pawn everyone around him. By the murder of Hamlet's father he was determined to avenge his death. Hamlet now had to avenge the death of his father and end the incestuous acts between a twisted uncle and mother. "He kills Polonius by accident, hoping that in a blind thrust through ther arras he might turn out at last to have dispatched the King..."(Murray pg131) Some may think that Hamlet let his emotions take over his actions in avenging his fathers' death , but Ophelia and Laertes also lots a father and they too acted like out of control. Laertes also look for revenge toward his fathers' killer just like Hamlet. Ophelia the sister of Laertes was unable to get revenge for her father Polonius lost her mind and committed suicide. Hamlet may too gone mad and taken his own life if he was unable to get revenge. The ghost of Hamlet's father give Hamlet the answer of revenge by telling him how the killer is. "The Ghost as a sort of symbol or allegory. Hamlet's character and situation were well conceived to base such a hallucination upon."(Santayana 128) The ghost gave Hamlet a great power inside to avenge his death. The ghost also to Hamlet of how the death of his father caused infinite damnation and led to corruption fo his other and Denmark. "If thou hast nature in thee bear it not, Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest"(I.5.81) Hamlet also is under great depression and constant internal struggle. The civilization was also coming down around him. He had no one to trust. Hamlet is expected to go alone the remarriage of his mother, and also after finding out that his fathers' murder was by his own uncle who married his mother and is now the new king of Denmark.

Software Patent And Copyright In India :: Technology Computers Software Essays

Software Patent And Copyright In India Introduction The 21st century is going to be completely depended on computers. The economy and revenue of the country will depend on software, as everything in the future will be controlled by computers. So it becomes very important for the countries all around the globe to follow rules and regulation. So that there is order in working for the welfare of the public. After the introduction of computers it has always been the need of the ideas so that it can be implemented. But every technology has pros and cons of its own. So many ideas started flowing in minds that ideas started clashing with others ideas. Earlier it wasn’t taken as the big issue. But with so many companies started getting affected in terms of revenue by this problem they had to come up with some law and order. The next step taken in saving someone’s work or idea was Software patent and Copyright. Many people confuse with these two things. Software patent and copyright are two different concepts. Copyright is a work usually written work but not necessarily that, which contains the contents of the work. Whereas the patent is the idea which individual thinks and it prevents others from claiming or implementing that idea. Copyright is about copying. Taking contents from any white paper or official document without quoting who did it is considered as copying. But if some one writes that material by his own without referring that content then it doesn’t violates copyright laws. But in case of the patent you cannot use a particular idea in any case. Overview of Software Patent and Copyright in India This paper gives brief description of the intellectual laws being followed in India. It gives description of laws regarding Software patent and copyright in India. In Indian law software patent was never given importance. The software patent and copyright issues in India started taking momentum recently when they progressed from mere service providers to developers.National Association of Software and Service Companies NASSCOM is the organization in India which enforces for the software laws. According to NASSCOM Patent are considered to be more protective than Copyright. It is the organization which is trying to enforce software laws in India. Indian government has been actively participating for protecting the rights of Copyright holder. The amendments made in the 1994 in Indian copyright act were made in association with Department of Electronics and Ministry of Human Resource.

George Catlett Marshall Essay -- essays research papers

George Catlett Marshall George Catlett Marshall served as a representative of the public service from 1939 to 1951, proposed the Marshall Plan, and was awarded the Nobel Prize. From 1924 to 1927, Marshall served in China and then successively as instructor in the Army War College in 1927, as assistant commandant of the Infantry School from 1927 to 1936. In 1936, Marshall was appointed commander of the Fifth Infantry Brigade. I July of 1938, Marshall accepted a position with General Staff in Washington, D. C (The Nobel Foundation 1). In September of 1939, President Roosevelt named George Catlett Marshall as Chief of Staff, which he took command of the army and its air forces on the day war began in Europe (Perkins 210). He became General of the Army in 1944. George Catlett Marshall built and directed the largest army in history. He became responsible for the building, supplying and recruiting over eight and a half million soldiers (The Nobel Foundation 1). Winston Churchill pronounced him â€Å"the true organizer of victory† for his work as trainer, planner, and strategist. Shortly after the war ended, Marshall decided to resign. He resigned in Novemb er of 1945 (Foner and Garraty 702). After his career in military ended, he pursued a diplomatic career. Marshall was sent to China to make peace between the Nationalists and the Communists, but the mission failed. On January 21, 1947, Marshall was named secretary of state (Luce 24). In 1950, after the outbreak of the Korean War, President Truman asked Marshall to return to the government as the head of the Department of defense. Page 2 In that year, Marshall increased the size of the army, promoted a plan for the universal military training, and helped to develop the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Foner and Garraty 703). As Marshall’s position as chief of staff, he urged military readiness prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. From 1941 he was a member of the policy committee that supervised the atomic studies engaged in by American and British scientists (The Nobel Foundation 1). President Harry Truman had many big decisions to make. Those decisions would greatly affect Americans and people around the world. In one of the most important of Truman’s decisions, he persuaded the American people to act generously to the defeated nations. What he had in mind had never been done before in the history of t... ...han brilliant, but his record of achievement stands almost unequaled. Primarily a military man, he served with immense distinction in other fields, and he had much to do with bringing out many of the distinguished soldiers of the war period,† says Dexter Perkins (Perkins 211). He was not only loved and respected by our nation and world, but also by his family and friends. Before Marshall’s death in Washington, D.C., on October 16, 1959, Winston Page 5 Churchill paid him the following tribute: â€Å"During my long and close association with successive American administrations, there are few men whose qualities of mind and character have impressed me so deeply as those of General Marshal. He is a great American, but he is far more than that. In war he was as wise as understanding in counsel as he was resolute in action. In peace he was the architect who planned the restoration of our battered European economy and, at the same time, labored tirelessly to establish a system of Western defense. He has always fought victoriously against defeatism, discouragement, and disillusion. Succeeding generations must not be allowed to forget his achievements and his example† (The Nobel Foundation 1)