Myth as a Mirror of Conflict and Violence Essay

Myth as a Mirror of Conflict and Violence - Essay Example For the first century and a half of our national existence, our relations with the people of the Middle East were largely beneficent and protective, not withstanding our conflict with the Barbary Pirates in North Africa. But Islamic civilization was on a downward trajectory that could not be arrested. Its social and economic structures, its values, its neglect of education, its lack of scientific curiosity, the indolence of its ruling classes and its inability to produce a single modern state that served its people all guaranteed that, as the West's progress accelerated, the Middle East would fall ever farther behind. The Middle East has itself to blame for its problems. Conflict and violence are common concerns to whether it was the story of Cain Killing Abel, the start of World Wars I and II or the Trojan War and The War of the Spartans. As a result of the influence of myth, these cultures have used violence as a means of resolving conflict. For the myth makes war palatable. It giv es war a logic and sanctity it does not possess. It saves us from peering into the darkest recesses of our own hearts. And this is why we like it. It is why we clamor for myth. The myth is enjoyable, and the press, as is true in every nation that goes to war, is only too happy to oblige. One of the first conflicts known to mankind that resulted to a violent demise was that of Biblical times between two Middle Eastern brothers' Cain and Abel. Cain and Abel were brothers who both developed different attitudes. One brother felt acknowledged more than the other. As a result Cain began to "[grow] hot with anger, and his countenance began to fall which eventually led to him developing a bad heart and cold blooded murder" of his brother Abel (Bias (2006), p. 22). ). In myth "creation is an act of violence" so the myth's perception would have perceived that when Cain and Abel were created they were meant to be created with violent tendencies (Wink, 45). Cain's actions were a result of jealousy and because humans are usually confronted with issues that are out in the open, we sometimes don't want to deal with the issue when confronted with our actions. In Cain's case after killing his brother Abel he became unremorseful and heartless when God confronted him and asked "where i s Abel

The Game of Pig Portfolio Essay Example for Free

The Game of Pig Portfolio Essay To play the game you need a regular 6-sided die. Each turn of the game consists of one or more rolls of the die. You keep rolling until you get a 1 or decide to stop. You may choose to stop rolling at any time. If you stop rolling before you get a 1 your score for that turn, your score is the sum of all of the numbers you rolled that turn (e. g. if you roll a 4, 6, 3, and 2 your score is 15 pts. ). But, if you roll a 1 in that turn your turn is over and you receive 0 pts. for that turn. The central problem in the unit is finding strategies for several different probability games. The key ideas were developed in the unit through the presentation of many games and variations of those games to us. The key ideas helped us to solve the central problem by giving us many opportunities to learn how to solve strategies for probability games. In each different game there was a new game or variation in which we could find a new way to find optimal game strategies for probability games. Why I chose each item: Homework 27: The Pig and I: This piece of work begins to explains the basics of what we learned in the unit. Homework 28: Beginning Portfolio Selection: The pig and I: This explains the main points of the unit (Theoretical and experimental probability) and also begins to show the reasons to choose certain pieces of work. Spinner Give and Take: This was chosen because it shows the basics of theoretical probability in great detail. The Game of Little Pig: This was chosen to show the many variations of games we learned to play, and the beginning steps of finding a strategy. POW 7: Make a Game: This was chosen to show how to make a game based off of the basic principles of probability games, it also shows how to make strategies for new games. Homework 7: Portraits of Probabilities: This was chosen as a basic block that began the whole unit and how to show probability in many different models. Homework 9: Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’: This was chosen to show the basics of dice probability, a very important section of this unit. Homework 11: Two Dice Sums and Products: This was chosen to show the many types of probabilities in dice probability, it also shows how to find what is most likely to happen. POW #4: A Sticky Gum Problem: This was chosen to show in depth theoretical probability. POW #6: Linear Nim: This was chosen to show in depth experimental probability, as well as strategies to find the best strategies to win probability games. It was also chosen to display my best work. Homework #25: Should I go on? : This was chosen to show how to make decisions in probability games as well as to display some of my better very thorough work. Personal Growth: For me I feel that the core ideas of this unit will make me think twice on my strategies in probability games before playing using them. I learned a lot about probability in this unit; it’s not as simple as I thought. There are many calculations you must learn how to do and there is obviously so much more behind the strategies and probabilities that I am yet to discover, for example, statistics class. Best Strategy: The best strategy is to get to 20 points and end your turn. This should take roughly 5 rolls of the dice seeing as the expected value per roll is 4. Four multiplied by five is 20. You should take 5 rolls because after five rolls the expected value of points begins to go up by smaller and smaller margins.

Threat Of New Market Entrants Management Essay

Threat Of New Market Entrants Management Essay For this assignment, we have chosen Rehm Grinaker Construction Company Ltd and have identified its strategic marketing strategies. The Construction industry plays a major role in transforming the wants and needs of people into reality; they are realised through construction projects which includes infrastructure such as roads, schools, houses, hospitals, airports, factories and dams. At present, the Construction industry in Mauritius is booming; many construction projects are being developed. Rehm Grinaker is considered as one of the leading construction company in Mauritius. Companys Profile REHM-Grinaker Co. Ltd is a renowned construction company in Mauritius and it was founded in 1991. Over the years, REHM-Grinaker has grown from modest beginnings into being a well-recognized, leading multi-disciplinary construction company reputed throughout Mauritius for delivering quality work on time.  REHM-Grinaker has a permanent workforce of over one thousand five hundred well qualified Mauritian staff.  In its 20 years of operation REHM-Grinaker has played a role in all sectors of the thriving Mauritian economy through the construction of commercial and office buildings, hotels and leisure facilities, stadia, luxury villas, industrial buildings, roads and bridges, healthcare facilities, the renovation of historical buildings, the construction of golf courses, marine works, water and sewage treatment plants, power plants, pipelines, and all types of major infrastructure and building works. REHM-Grinaker is a majority Mauritian shareholder company, with the added advantage of being able to access the expertise and resources of shareholder Aveng Grinaker-LTA, one of the largest Construction companies in Africa. Research Methodology The Construction industry has been facing a lot of issues, particularly when it comes to the marketing of their products because of the little significance given to the Marketing philosophy. Hence, the research methodology has helped to gather the required data for the research in order to better understand how REHM-Grinaker designed its marketing strategies to better sell its products. In an attempt to analyse the Strategic Marketing Management of REHM-Grinaker, an appointment was made with Mr P. Moothien Pillay, HR Manager at REHM-Grinaker in Arsenal on Monday 27th September 2012 at 10.00 a.m at the headquarters itself. All members of the group attended the in-depth interview. The latter covered various areas of the Strategic Marketing Management process, namely: Business Definition, Mission, Vision and Goals of REHM-Grinaker Marketing Audit: Internal and External Audits Marketing Objectives Marketing Strategies Marketing tactics/mix decisions Marketing Ethics and Social Responsibility Strategic Planning Evaluation and Control processes A short questionnaire (see Appendix 1) was designed as a guide in order to establish a flow in the way the questions were asked to the interviewee. The interview lasted for one hour and thirty-seven minutes and was recorded. From this interview, a proper analysis of REHM Grinakers marketing strategies was possible. Analysis of Findings The analysis and findings part will enable describe the information gleaned at REHM-Grinaker during the interview. All relevant data pertaining to the marketing strategies of this company will be studied thoroughly and commented on. Business Definition, Mission, Vision and Goals of REHM-Grinaker Business Definition Rehm Grinaker is a well known company in Mauritius providing construction services to firms and the government. It is among the leading companies in Mauritius since it has gained the reputation for delivering quality work on time.   Therefore, Rehm Grinaker particularly deals with big companies who can have the means to pay for the premium services it offers and hence the projects on which the company has worked are important ones and it uses the latest technology available to facilitate construction. For example, building the biggest shopping mall in Mauritius, that is, Bagatelle, on the Ring Road Phase 1 and the overlaying of the runway at the SSR International Airport. Mission Rehm Grinaker has five core values and for the company abiding by these is fundamental. The five core values are listed below: Safety Accountability Integrity Client satisfaction Employee fulfilment Hence, by implementing these values the company has been able to have a clear insight to develop its mission efficiently. Rehm Grinaker focuses immensely on providing quality service on time to its clientele to gain client satisfaction. However, achieving client satisfaction for Rehm Grinaker also means that this is done in accountability and integrity whereby its employees are safe and they are satisfied with their work. Thus, employees of Rehm Grinaker know these values and its importance and abide by them. Vision Build a better future. Rehm Grinaker has the above as its vision and this means the company wants the countrys advancement and by providing premium construction services it is contributing towards achieving its vision. Converting Environmental Opportunities into Organizational Opportunities This refers to fulfilling the unmet or changing customer needs; satisfy the unsatisfied buyer groups or using new means or technology for delivering value to prospective buyers. At Rehm Grinaker, the service that they provide to their customers is always up to date since they focus on delivering quality service. For instance, the company tries to minimum damage as much as it can pertaining to the environment and also tries to use eco friendly materials. Hence, its clientele are satisfied and the case whereby there are unsatisfied customers is quite rare. Nevertheless, if it happens then the company tries to find out the reasons which has caused dissatisfaction and takes the necessary actions to remedy the situation. As well, Rehm Grinaker uses the latest technology regarding its machines and equipments to facilitate the tasks of its employees and also to deliver premium construction services. Hence, the company invests in technology so that it is able to use the most efficient means in construction. Additionally, Rehm Grinaker is known to deliver quality service on time; this means the company respects the deadline given to complete its work and the latest technologies as well as the qualified labour force helps to achieve this goal. Marketing Audit Swot analysis of Rehm Grinaker Strengths The Rehm Grinaker has trained and motivated staff to serve its customers. This can benefit the organization in terms of greater productivity and serving customers better. It helps to improve the organisations image when dealing with customers. Rehm Grinaker offers specialized construction schemes to its customers. Therefore customers are now faced with greater choice and may customize what they want to build. in this context Rehm Grinaker is more customer focused. The organization operated in an environmental friendly way. The quality of service is provided at its highest. Since the organisations main motto is Quality on time, the organization makes sure that any project is being delivered on time with the highest quality. Weaknesses The cost of production is increasing every day. The cost of materials such as cement and iron bars are examples amongst others. It is difficult for the company to keep in touch with technological advances due to high cost of investment. Opportunities Rehm Grinaker can take advantage of government projects such as the building of new road networks and other projects. Expatriated labour is available at cheaper rates from countries like China and India. This can bring a decrease in the labour cost resulting in lower costs of production. Financial support is provided by banks. This can be used to improve the companys financial position. Threats There is existence of other competing firms in the construction industry such as Gamma Civic, Padco, and General Construction amongst others. Internal Audit of Rehm Grinaker This includes the objectives of Rehm Grinaker that is, it has evolved to become one of the leaders in the multidisciplinary building and civil engineering construction services. Structure of Rehm Grinaker: The management team comprises of the following: Managing Director Executive Director Financial Director Construction Manager Commercial Manager Rehm Grinaker has achieved many successes for instance it is known to have built Bagatelle Mall, and Caudan Phase II. It is presently involved in the construction of Ring Road Phase I, overlaying of the runway at SSR International Airport among other projects.  Moreover, it also provides a quality service to its clients on time and it is also considered to be a profitable and well known construction company since it originates from one of the largest construction companies in South Africa. External Audit of Rehm Grinaker The external audit comprises of the following: Micro environment-Consists of employees, customers, suppliers, competitors, intermediaries who are involved with production and sales. Employees-Rehm Grinaker Construction Ltd provides its employees the necessary tools and equipment for them to carry out their tasks effectively and efficiently. For instance, the workers wear reflective vest, hard hat, gloves, safety glasses and security shoes. Safety and security facilities are provided to the workers and in order to motivate them to work in difficult conditions incentives are also given to them. Customers-Rehm Grinaker delivers its projects on times to satisfy its customers and to maintain a good Customer Relationship Management. It also makes follow ups with its clients due to the rising customer expectations and increased competiveness has become a key feature of the construction industry. Suppliers-Rehm Grinaker buys construction components from Gamma Civic Ltd and Betonix Ltd. The company focuses on quality and prompt delivery in order to meet customer expectations that is raw materials need to be provided on time and it also believes in maintaining good Supplier Relationship Management. Competitors-The competitors in the construction industry are differentiated in terms of brand name, quality, and price and among others. They influence the factors when making tenders and bids to obtain a construction contract. Intermediaries- Rehm Grinaker engages only in offering construction services to clients. Hence, when Rehm Grinaker needs to buy construction materials for its construction projects it negotiates directly with Gamma Civic Ltd. External audit Porters Five Forces Model The importance of designing competitive strategy is to relate REHM-Grinaker to its environment in which it is operating. The strategic marketing manager seeking to develop an edge over rival firms can use the Porters model to better understand the industry context in which the construction firms operate in Mauritius. Michael Porter provided a framework that models an industry as being influenced by five forces: Threat of new market entrants The barriers to entry into the current Mauritian construction markets is not high, because there are common technology used, access to distribution channels and low scale investment. The only possible barrier is the goodwill that the current companies have established. Hence, the corporate image in the construction market is one competitive advantage. With the development of the current economic globalisation, more and more foreign companies are entering the Mauritian construction market. Furthermore, Mauritius forms part in the World Trade Organisations, SADC, and COMESA. These multinational organisations, either developed countries (e.g LAXCON Construction from Kenya) or from industrialized countries such as Colas Ltd is from France; these companies have an upper hand in terms of technology, management skills or capital as well as costs. This will bring a serious threat to the current companies, including REHM Grinaker. Threat of substitute products In the construction industry, the threat of the substitute can be assumed not existent, because of the non-substitutional nature of products or services provided by the industry, for instance there will be the absolute use of cement, rock sand, hollow concrete blocks, aggregates, iron bars and other such materials during the construction of any building, and so the question of having close-substitutes does not arise as such. Bargaining Power of Buyers In the construction industry, customers choose the contractor through a tender system. For instance, they will prefer the contractor offering the lowest price for its service and as REHM Grinaker wants to position its service as a quality service rather than relying on a penetration pricing strategy to win a bid. It somehow wants to differentiate itself from competitors like IREKO which offers a poor service at a much lower cost. Therefore, to REHM Grinaker, customers satisfaction is very important to build its repute across Mauritius and will hence comply with each and every of their exigencies (for instance, changing the whole architecture while construction is already underway, short notice deadlines) to avoid switching to competitors. Bargaining power of suppliers REHM Grinakers main suppliers are Gamma Materials Ltd, UBP. The latter are well known for providing quality products and have a considerable impact on the final delivery of REHM Grinaker to its clients. So, REHM Grinaker has no other choice but rely on these specific suppliers. Unlike Gamma Civic, it does not have the possibility of cutting on the buyer by going forward vertical integration that is produce its own raw materials itself. Hence, it is compelled to keep a good relationship with its suppliers. Existing competitive rivalry between competitors As in any industry in Mauritius and abroad, there is rivalry among competitors and the construction industry is not left out. For instance, the main rivals of REHM Grinaker are: General Construction Co Ltd, Gamma Civic, PAD Co., and BCE. So according to the strategies used by its main competitors, REHM Grinaker has to tailor-make and thus differentiate its strategies in order to outmatch them and be a leader of this market. PESTLE Analysis of REHM GRINAKER Political and Legal factors According to the manager of REHM Grinaker, the government focuses heavily on foreign contractors which impacts negatively on REHM Grinaker in the form of competition. Moreover, certain companies in the construction sector are more privileged when compared to Rehm Grinaker since they got high political background. On the other hand, for the legal factors, REHM Grinaker needs to agree upon several binding laws such as the labour laws and safety laws impose by the government. For example according to the safety law, it is recommended to have one full time registered safety officer and for REHM Grinaker it employs one senior safety manager, two safety managers and six trainee safety officers. Economic factors For the economic factors, the manager of REHM Grinaker believes that the construction sector in Mauritius is fluctuating. The demand is falling and according to him investors also are not investing their money as they are looking for the stability of the Mauritian economy. He also mentioned that due to the recent downturn, the economic situation is unstable for the construction industry as a whole. Social and Environmental factors As for the social factors, 2% of REHM Grinaker profits go for the CSR fund where the bulk of the money goes mainly for the unprivileged and disable children. For example they donate funds to APEIM and to several schools for disabled children. On the other hand, for environmental factors, the manager believes in building what is designed. He pointed out they do care for the environment when they are undertaking construction work and for each project they undertake, an environment management plan is prepared whereby according to him it consists of how to promote a safe environment that is not to harm the environment. A plan for management of waste also is prepared and strategies on how to avoid less pollution such as noise and air pollution while working. Technological factors Nowadays REHM Grinaker is engaged into the construction of huge buildings such as Bagatelle and SIT business and knowledge centre with the help of new and modern equipments. According to the manager, REHM Grinaker makes use of big cranes to facilitate and makes it easier to work. They also make use of reusable equipment, such as metal which is more flexible instead of wood which were used long ago. Moreover, one example of new equipment that was used in the construction of Bagatelle is the post tension cables. THE BCG MATRIX In the light of the information obtained from the interview with Mr Moothien Pillay, it could be deduced that REHM Grinaker is found in the Star segment of the BCG Matrix. The organization is one of the market leaders in the construction sector with so many outstanding projects in the pipeline. THE ANSOFF MATRIX As from the Ansoff Matrix, and according to the interview, it could be deduced that REHM Grinaker is actually in the Market development section. Since its 21 years of existence, it has not quite diverted from its main activity which is the construction of infrastructures. However, this company has been trying to capture new markets at all times. It is going for more prominent projects. From the extension and renovation of small buildings, it has of late been involved in the construction of Bagatelle and Cascavelle Malls, which are, if not, the biggest projects REHM Grinaker has ever embarked on. Marketing Ethics and Social Responsibility One of the most important marketing assets of REHM Grinaker, according to the Manager, is its corporate image. As far as ethical considerations are concerned, integrity is one of the main core values of REHM Grinaker. Personal relationships with suppliers, clients and project managers are always managed in an ethical manner and the organization does not run on bribes. There is no preference for family members of employees in the organization and a decent salary is given to all employees. No one worker on sites is exploited. Therefore, REHM Grinaker makes it an adage to work in the cleanest environment. And if anyone is aware of any unethical behaviour, it is the onus of that person to report it. Therefore, REHM Grinaker wants live up to its good reputation and this is the best marketing strategy it can possibly flaunt. Furthermore, as any organization, REHM Grinaker does not fail to contribute 2% of its profits to the CSR Fund. Nonetheless, it has also engaged itself in many social work activities. Since its headquarters is found in a poverty-stricken area, REHM Grinaker has chosen to help the underprivileged children living in the vicinities. The company namely invested in education training as well as in organizing events for them during the festive season. Again, through this endeavour, REHM Grinaker wants to differentiate itself and improve its corporate image. STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS In todays highly competitive business environment, organisations must engage themselves in strategic planning that clearly defines the mission, objectives and assesses both the internal and external situation to formulate strategy, implement the strategy, evaluate the progress and make adjustments as necessary to stay on track. THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS Mission Objectives Situation /Strategic Analysis Strategy Formulation/ Strategic Choice Strategy Implementation/Control Strategic Analysis/Situation analysis The environment Pestle analysis of Rehm Grinaker Strategic Capabilities Swot analysis of Rehm Grinaker Stakeholders expectations The stakeholders of Rehm Grinaker expects that the management and the employees perform their duties conscientiously, honestly and in accordance with the best interests of them and the company. Moreover, Rehm-Grinaker is a preferred contractor for most of the major stakeholders in the industry because the company has built its success on achieving quality on time not only to the final construction product but when dealing with partners in the construction process as well. Organisational Culture The organisation culture of Rehm Grinaker is to deliver quality work on time. Strategy Formulation/Strategic Choice Given the information from the environmental scan, the firm should match its strength to the opportunities that it has identified, while addressing its weaknesses and external threats. In addition to that to have superior profitability, firms seek to develop a competitive advantage. In the case of Rehm Grinaker, it can be seen that the company has competitive edge in providing sustainable construction works and the most important competitive advantage that the firm has over its competitors is the accessibility to the expertise and resources of shareholder Aveng Grinaker-LTA, one of the largest Construction companies in Africa. Strategy Implementation/Control The selected strategy is implemented by means of programs, budgets and procedures as well as the implementation of the strategy must be monitored and adjustments made as needed. In the case of Rehm Grinaker, the company must assess their actual performances and have detailed specifications on contracts completed such as Bagatelle Infrastructure, La Croisette Bulk Earthworks, Terre Rouge Verdun, and among others.

Gender Roles and Hypnosis :: Barker Regeneration papers

"Gender Roles and Hypnosis" Pat Barker's Regeneration explores the internal struggles of WWI soldiers, and their attempts to overcome the trauma of war experiences. One way in which soldiers were treated for psychological trauma was with hypnosis. Hypnosis is introduced to the reader on page 51. In this particular scene, Billy Prior is attempting to convince Dr. Rivers of his specific need for hypnotherapy, in order to recall his repressed memories. By recovering these painful memories through hypnosis, Barker's male patients find themselves able to embrace emotions rather than repress them. Prior is one particular example of the need to alter masculine gender roles in order to embrace emotions and be healed, a theme present in Regeneration. Hypnosis is derived from the Greek word hypnos, which means sleep ("Hypnotism"). However, the patient does not sleep during hypnosis. It has been described as a therapeutic method, which uses the "technique of inducement of trance, which is a state of semi-conscious relaxation, at the same time maintaining sensory contact with the environment" (Bernik). Hypnosis can produce various levels of perception, increased memory, increased attention and motor functions, and "higher intellectual functions" (Bernik). Historically there have been many uses for hypnosis, as David Deegan describes. The most general is to relieve all types of physical pain. During hypnosis, many patients have described their physical pain as feeling closer to a warming sensation. Another use involves the treatment of diseases such as asthma and irritable colon. Hypnosis can also be used to control various impulses that can contribute to anorexia, obesity, chemical addictions, and sexual impulses. Finally, hypnosis can be used to treat phobias such as panic disorder and anxiety. It was widely used in this manner in WWI due to a shortage of psychiatrists, mostly for the treatment of physical pain, itching, anxiety, and the "restoring of repressed traumatic experiences which could them be dealt with and understood, helping soldiers come to terms with dreadful events" (Deegan). Coming to terms with traumatic events through hypnosis is a positive consequence of restoring memory. Barker first refers to hypnosis and its assistance in restoring memory on page 51, where hypnosis represents proof of Prior's desire to be healed. Prior is arguing that he does in fact want to get better, but he does not agree with Rivers' psychoanalytic treatment. He claims he does not remember the latter part of his service in France, and he wants Rivers to try hypnosis so that he can recall his repressed memories.

Credit and Debit Cards Pros and Cons

DEBIT CARD A debit card (also known as a bank card or check card) is a plastic card that provides the cardholder electronic access to his or her bank account(s) at a financial institution. Some cards have a stored value with which a payment is made, while most relay a message to the cardholder's bank to withdraw funds from a payee's designated bank account. The card, where accepted, can be used instead ofcash when making purchases. In some cases, the primary account number is assigned exclusively for use on the Internet and there is no physical card.In many countries, the use of debit cards has become so widespread that their volume has overtaken or entirely replaced cheques and, in some instances, cash transactions. The development of debit cards, unlike credit cards and charge cards, has generally been country specific resulting in a number of different systems around the world, which were often incompatible. Since the mid 2000s, a number of initiatives have allowed debit cards iss ued in one country to be used in other countries and allowed their use for internet and phone purchases.Unlike credit and charge cards, payments using a debit card are immediately transferred from the cardholder's designated bank account, instead of them paying the money back at a later date. Debit cards usually also allow for instant withdrawal of cash, acting as the ATM card for withdrawing cash. Merchants may also offer cashback facilities to customers, where a customer can withdraw cash along with their purchase. ORIGIN The First National Bank of Seattle issued the first debit card to business executives with large savings accounts in 1978.These cards acted like a check signature or a guarantee card, where the bank promised the funds would cover the transaction without the customer needing a check to complete the transaction. The bank only issued debit cards to those customers who had a long history with the bank and were in good standing, because like a check, the funds were no t immediately removed from the account. In 1984, Landmark implemented the first nationwide debiting system, built on the credit card infrastructure and ATM networks already in place.By 1998, debit cards outnumbered check usage around the world. Its preference over checks continues to grow every year. HISTORY The history of debit cards is an interesting one. Debit cards helped to change the way that people used money and bank accounts. Debit cards are used to pay for purchases at stores and other locations around the world. A debit card works by debiting the money from your checking account. For many people debit cards have taken the place of cash and checks. However, debit cards are still a relatively new banking tool.Credit cards paved the way for debit cards. Many people used credit cards to pay for transactions. This also put in place the infrastructure that debit cards needed to be practical as a method of payment. Seattle's First National Bank offered the first debit card to bu siness executives in 1978. Initially they were like a check signature or guarantee card, with which the bank would guarantee that the fund would be paid, but you did not need a check to do the transaction. They also required a large savings account be kept at the bank to cover the funds.These cards were only issued to people who had a long and good standing with the bank, because the funds were not directly debited from the account. These types of cards generally come with the Visa or MasterCard symbol on them. In 1984 Landmark created the first nationwide debit system, using ATMs and other networks that allowed debit cards to be used nationwide. This allowed the smaller banking systems within states to connect with banks systems outside of states. As technology improved the debit cards moved to a system that was able to directly debit the money from a checking account.When this happened the debit cards became available to more and more consumers. These types of debit cards may have the Plus symbol or other similar symbols on them. However many banks will also use the Visa or MasterCard symbol for a direct debit card because they are accepted at so many different places around the country. In 1998 debit card transactions first outnumbered the use of checks around the world. This number has continued to grow over time. Debit cards are now commonly used for most transactions at stores in the United States. Debit cards are more convenient to use than a check.Debit cards speed up transactions at stores. Additionally debit cards are safer than carrying cash, because banks can stop fraudulent purchases and consumers are not held liable for purchases made when the card is stolen. Debit cards have made banking a much easier process for many people. In the future transactions will continue to move away from cash and check. Debit cards may be left behind as well as banks move to using one card that you can quickly scan at a variety of locations. This will speed up trans actions as well as virtually eliminate the need for cash in the future.Over time the history of debit cards may be one step to moving to a completely cashless system. FUNCTION Although debit cards look like credit cards, they do not function like credit cards. Debit cards connect to the available balance contained in the holder's checking account. If the funds are not available, the debit card cannot complete the transaction. Unlike a check, the money does not float until the bank completes the funds transfer. Rather, the funds transfer from the customer's account to the seller's account in real time, providing the seller with a guaranteed exchange for their goods for money.Debit cards with the logo of a major company imprinted on them, such as Visa or MasterCard, can function like a credit card where the transaction does â€Å"float† for two to three business days after the transaction, until the bank can transfer the funds TYPES Debit cards began as a convenient method to e xchange money for goods or services in the late 1970s and early 1980s, over writing checks. There are several types of debit card available. One type of debit card is a tangible card that resembles a credit card. Historicallly, banks and credit unions only have issued these cards.Retailers now issue prepaid debit cards in specific amounts, similar to gift cards, imprinted with Visa or MasterCard. These debit cards, unlike gift cards, can be used anywhere. There are also intangible debit cards that transfer money from your bank account to a seller's bank account, like an ATM card. Advantages of debit cards * A consumer who is not credit worthy and may find it difficult or impossible to obtain a credit card can more easily obtain a debit card, allowing him/her to make plastic transactions.For example, legislation often prevents minors from taking out debt, which includes the use of a credit card, but not online debit card transactions. Research has shown that consumers with lower cred it scores use debit cards more intensively than those with higher credit scores. * For most transactions, a check card can be used to avoid check writing altogether. Check cards debit funds from the user’s account on the spot, thereby finalizing the transaction at the time of purchase, and bypassing the requirement to pay a credit card bill at a later date, or to write an insecure check, containing the account holder’s personal information. Like credit cards, debit cards are accepted by merchants with less identification and scrutiny than personal checks, thereby making transactions quicker and less intrusive. Unlike personal checks, merchants generally do not believe that a payment via a debit card may be later dishonored. * Unlike a credit card, which charges higher fees and interest rates when a cash advance is obtained, a debit card may be used to obtain cash from an ATM or a PIN-based transaction at no extra charge, other than a foreign ATM fee.Disadvantages of de bit cards * Use of a debit card is not usually limited to the existing funds in the account to which it is linked, most banks allow a certain threshold over the available bank balance which can cause overdraft fees if the user's transaction does not reflect available balance. This disadvantage has lessened in the United States with the requirement that an issuer obtain opt-in permission in advance to allow an overdraft on a debit card. Lacking this opt-in, overdrafts are not permitted for electronic transactions. Many banks are now charging over-limit fees or non-sufficient funds fees based upon pre-authorizations, and even attempted but refused transactions by the merchant (some of which may be unknown until later discovery by account holder).* Many merchants mistakenly believe that amounts owed can be â€Å"taken† from a customer's account after a debit card (or number) has been presented, without agreement as to date, payee name, amount and currency, thus causing penalty f ees for overdrafts, over-the-limit, amounts not available causing further rejections or overdrafts, and rejected transactions by some banks. In some countries debit cards offer lower levels of security protection than credit cards. Theft of a user's PIN using skimming devices can be accomplished much easier with a PIN input than with a signature-based credit transaction.However, theft of users' PIN codes using skimming devices can be equally easily accomplished with a debit transaction PIN input, as with a credit transaction PIN input, and theft using a signature-based credit transaction is equally easy as theft using a signature-based debit transaction. In many places, laws protect the consumer from fraud much less than with a credit card. While the holder of a credit card is legally responsible for only a minimal amount of a fraudulent transaction made with a credit card, which is often waived by the bank, the consumer may be held liable for hundreds of dollars, or even the entire value of fraudulent debit transactions.Because debit cards allow funds to be immediately transferred from an account when making a purchase, the consumer also has a shorter time (usually just two days) to report such fraud to the bank in order to be eligible for such a waiver with a debit card and recover the lost funds, whereas with a credit card, this time may be up to 60 days, and the transactions are removed without losing any credit. A thief who obtains or clones a debit card along with its PIN may be able to clean out the consumer's bank account, and the consumer will have no recourse. CREDIT CARDSA credit card is a payment card issued to users as a system of payment. It allows the cardholder to pay for goods and services based on the holder's promise to pay for them. The issuer of the card creates a revolving account and grants a line of credit to the consumer (or the user) from which the user can borrow money for payment to a merchant or as a cash advance to the user. A cre dit card is different from a charge card: a charge card requires the balance to be paid in full each month. In contrast, credit cards allow the consumers a continuing balance of debt, subject to interest being charged.A credit card also differs from a cash card, which can be used like currency by the owner of the card. A credit card differs from a charge card also in that a credit card typically involves a third-party entity that pays the seller and is reimbursed by the buyer, whereas a charge card simply defers payment by the buyer until a later date. HISTORY The concept of using a card for purchases was described in 1887 by Edward Bellamy in his utopian novel Looking Backward. Bellamy used the term credit card eleven times in this novel, although this referred to a card for spending a citizen's dividend rather than borrowing.The modern credit card was the successor of a variety of merchant credit schemes. It was first used in the 1920s, in the United States, specifically to sell f uel to a growing number ofautomobile owners. In 1938 several companies started to accept each other's cards. Western Union had begun issuing charge cards to its frequent customers in 1921. Some charge cards were printed on paper card stock, but were easily counterfeited. The Charga-Plate, developed in 1928, was an early predecessor to the credit card and used in the U. S. from the 1930s to the late 1950s.It was a 2 ½ in Ãâ€" 1 ¼ in rectangle of sheet metal related to Addressograph and military dog tag systems. It was embossed with the customer's name, city and state. It held a small paper card for a signature. In recording a purchase, the plate was laid into a recess in the imprinter, with a paper â€Å"charge slip† positioned on top of it. The record of the transaction included an impression of the embossed information, made by the imprinter pressing an inked ribbon against the charge slip. Charga-Plate was a trademark of Farrington Manufacturing Co.Charga-Plates were i ssued by large-scale merchants to their regular customers, much like department store credit cards of today. In some cases, the plates were kept in the issuing store rather than held by customers. When an authorized user made a purchase, a clerk retrieved the plate from the store's files and then processed the purchase. Charga-Plates speeded back-office bookkeeping that was done manually in paper ledgers in each store, before computers. In 1934, American Airlines and the Air Transport Association simplified the process even more with the advent of the Air Travel Card.They created a numbering scheme that identified the issuer of card as well as the customer account. This is the reason the modern UATP cards still start with the number 1. With an Air Travel Card, passengers could â€Å"buy now, and pay later† for a ticket against their credit and receive a fifteen percent discount at any of the accepting airlines. By the 1940s, all of the major domestic airlines offered Air Trav el Cards that could be used on 17 different airlines. By 1941 about half of the airlines' revenues came through the Air Travel Card agreement.The airlines had also started offering installment plans to lure new travelers into the air. In October 1948, the Air Travel Card became the first inter-nationally valid charge card within all members of the International Air Transport Association. The concept of customers paying different merchants using the same card was expanded in 1950 by Ralph Schneider and Frank McNamara, founders of Diners Club, to consolidate multiple cards. The Diners Club, which was created partially through a merger with Dine and Sign, produced the first â€Å"general purpose† charge card, and required the entire bill to be paid with each statement.That was followed by Carte Blanche and in 1958 by American Express which created a worldwide credit card network (although these were initially charge cards that acquired credit card features after BankAmericard de monstrated the feasibility of the concept). However, until 1958, no one had been able to create a working revolving credit financial instrument issued by a third-party bank that was generally accepted by a large number of merchants (as opposed to merchant-issued revolving cards accepted by only a few merchants). A dozen experiments by small American banks had been attempted (and had failed).In September 1958, Bank of America launched the BankAmericard in Fresno, California. BankAmericard became the first successful recognizably modern credit card (although it underwent a troubled gestation during which its creator resigned), and with its overseas affiliates, eventually evolved into the Visa system. In 1966, the ancestor of MasterCard was born when a group of banks established Master Charge to compete with BankAmericard; it received a significant boost when Citibank merged its proprietary Everything Card (launched in 1967) into Master Charge in 1969. Early credit cards in the U.S. , of which BankAmericard was the most prominent example, were mass produced and mass mailed unsolicited to bank customers who were thought to be good credit risks. But, â€Å"They have been mailed off to unemployables, drunks, narcotics addicts and to compulsive debtors, a process President Johnson's Special Assistant Betty Furness found very like ‘giving sugar to diabetics'. â€Å"[8] These mass mailings were known as â€Å"drops† in banking terminology, and were outlawed in 1970 due to the financial chaos they caused, but not before 100 million credit cards had been dropped into the U.S. population. After 1970, only credit card applications could be sent unsolicited in mass mailings. The fractured nature of the U. S. banking system under the Glass–Steagall Act meant that credit cards became an effective way for those who were traveling around the country to move their credit to places where they could not directly use their banking facilities. In 1966 Barclayca rd in the UK launched the first credit card outside of the U. S.There are now countless variations on the basic concept of revolving credit for individuals (as issued by banks and honored by a network of financial institutions), including organization-branded credit cards, corporate-user credit cards, store cards and so on. Although credit cards reached very high adoption levels in the US, Canada and the UK in the mid twentieth century, many cultures were more cash-oriented, or developed alternative forms of cash-less payments, such as Carte bleue or the Eurocard (Germany, France, Switzerland, and others).In these places, adoption of credit cards was initially much slower. It took until the 1990s to reach anything like the percentage market-penetration levels achieved in the US, Canada, or UK. In some countries, acceptance still remains poor as the use of a credit card system depends on the banking system being perceived as reliable. Japan remains a very cash oriented society, with credit card adoption being limited to only the largest of merchants, although an alternative system based on RFIDs inside cellphones has seen some acceptance.Because of strict regulations regarding banking system overdrafts, some countries, France in particular, were much faster to develop and adopt chip-based credit cards which are now seen as major anti-fraud credit devices. Debit cards and online banking are used more widely than credit cards in some countries. The design of the credit card itself has become a major selling point in recent years. The value of the card to the issuer is often related to the customer's usage of the card, or to the customer's financial worth.This has led to the rise of Co-Brand and Affinity cards, where the card design is related to the â€Å"affinity† (a university or professional society, for example) leading to higher card usage. In most cases a percentage of the value of the card is returned to the affinity group. Advantages of credit card s * Purchase Power and Ease of Purchase – Credit cards can make it easier to buy things. If we don't like to carry large amounts of cash with us or if a company doesn't accept cash purchases (for example most airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies), putting purchases on a credit card can make buying things easier. Protection of Purchases – Credit cards may also offer you additional protection if something we have bought is lost, damaged, or stolen.Both our credit card statement (and the credit card company) can vouch for the fact that we have made a purchase if the original receipt is lost or stolen. In addition, some credit card companies offer insurance on large purchases. * Building a Credit Line – Having a good credit history is often important, not only when applying for credit cards, but also when applying for things such as loans, rental applications, or even some jobs.Having a credit card and using it wisely (making payments on time and in full each m onth) will help us build a good credit history. * Emergencies – Credit cards can also be useful in times of emergency. While we should avoid spending outside our budget (or money we don't have! ), sometimes emergencies (such as our car breaking down or flood or fire) may lead to a large purchase (like the need for a rental car or a motel room for several nights. * Credit Card Benefits – In addition to the benefits listed above, some credit cards offer additional benefits, such as discounts from particular stores or companies, bonuses such as free airline miles or travel discounts, and special insurances (like travel or life insurance. ) While most of these benefits are meant to encourage us to charge more money on our credit card (remember, credit card companies start making their money when we can't afford to pay off our charges! ) the benefits are real and can be helpful as long as we remember your spending limits.Disadvantages of credit cards * Blowing Your Budget à ¢â‚¬â€ The biggest disadvantage of credit cards is that they encourage people to spend money that they don't have. Most credit cards do not require us to pay off our balance each month, so even if we only have $100, we may be able to spend up to $500 or $1,000 on our credit card. While this may seem like ‘free money' at the time, we will have to pay it off — and the longer we wait, the more money we will owe since credit card companies charge us interest each month on the money we have borrowed.High Interest Rates and Increased Debt — Credit card companies charge us an enormous amount of interest on each balance that we don't pay off at the end of each month. This is how they make their money and this is how most people in the United States get into debt (and even bankruptcy. ) Consider this: If we have a $100 in savings, most banks will give us at the most 2. 0 to 2. 5% interest on our money over the course of the year. This means we earn $2. 00 – $2. 50 a year on our $100 savings. Most credit cards charge us up to 10 times that amount of interest on balances.This means that if we have $100 balance that we don't pay off, we will be charged 20-25% interest on that $100. This means that we owe almost $30 interest (plus the original $100) at the end of the year. A good way to look at this is in comparison to what we would earn in interest from a bank or owe in interest to a bank loan: Savings accounts may pay us around 2% interest; if we have a loan from a bank we may pay them around 10% interest (5 times as much as our earn off our savings); if we owe money to a credit card company, we may pay them around 20% interest (10 times as much as you earn off our savings.* Credit Card Fraud – Like cash, sometimes credit cards can be stolen. They may be physically stolen (if we lose our wallet) or someone may steal your credit card number (from a receipt, over the phone, or from a Web site) and use our card to rack up debts. The good n ews is that, unlike cash, if we realize our credit card or number has been stolen and we report it to our credit card company immediately, we will not be charged for any purchases that someone else has made.Even if we don't realize our credit card number has been stolen (sometimes we might not know until we receive our monthly statement), most credit card companies don't charge us or only charge a small fee, like $25 or $50, even if the thief has charged thousands of dollars to our card. There are several things we can do to prevent credit card fraud: * If we lose our card or wallet, report it to ur credit card company immediately. * Don't loan our credit card to anyone and only give out our credit card information to trusted companies or Web sites. * Check our statement closely at the end of each month to make sure all charges are ours. we can find out more about protecting our personal information by visiting our Personal Safety course.Credit cards can make life easier and be a gr eat tool, but if they aren't used wisely they can become a huge financial burden. If we decide to use credit cards, remember these simple rules: * Keep track of all our purchases. * Don't spend outside our budget. * Pay off our balance on all of our credit cards at the end of each month. * Don't loan our credit or give out our credit card information to anyone but reliable companies. TYPES OF CREDIT CARDS Credit cards have come to the rescue of people with hot pockets.They, nowadays, put their trust in the innovation of credit cards where they need not carry large sums of money with them; instead simply carry a credit card which is linked up with their bank account enabling them to make payments without batting an eye. It is a trend, now, to make payments at a hotel, restaurant or a departmental store/ mall using a credit card. Because of the fear of one's bank account details being swiped and stolen, more and more credit cards are made secure so that even if a credit card is stolen , the money in one's bank account stays safe.Credit cards now are of various types with different fees, interest rates and rewarding programs. When applying for a credit card, it is important to learn of their diverse types to know the one best suited to their lifestyle and financial status. Different types of credit cards available by banks and other companies/organizations are briefly described below. Standard Credit Card: This is the most commonly used. One is allowed to use money up to a certain limit. The account holder has to top up the amount once the level of the balance goes down. An outstanding balance gets a penalty charge.Premium Credit Card: This has a much higher bank account and fees. Incentives are offered in this over and above that in a standard card. Credit card holders are offered travel incentives, reward points, cask back and other rewards on the use of this card. This is also called the Reward Credit Card. Some examples are: airlines frequent flier credit card , cash back credit card, automobile manufacturers' rewards credit card. Platinum and Gold, MasterCard and Visa card fall into this category. Secured Credit Card: People without credit history or with tarnished credit can avail this card.A security deposit is required amounting to the same as the credit limit. Revolving balance is required according to the ‘buying and selling' done. Limited Purpose Credit Card: There is limitation to its use and is to be used only for particular applications. This is used for establishing small credits such as gas credits and credit at departmental stores. Minimal charges are levied. Charge Credit Card: This requires the card holder to make full payment of the balance every month and therefore there is no limit to credit.Because of the spending flexibility, the card holder is expected to have a higher income level and high credit score. Penalty is incurred if full payment of the balance is not done in time. Specialty Credit Card: is used for bu siness purposes enabling businessmen to keep their businesses transactions separately in a convenient way. Charge cards and standard cards are available for this. Also, students enrolled in an accredited 4-year college/university course can avail this benefit. Prepaid Credit Card: Here, money is loaded by the card holder on to the card. It is like a debit card except that it is not tied up with a bank account.

Role of Computer in Education

Patrick Brown is one of the Caribbean’s most talented writers. He is responsible for creating some of the most poignant and hilarious moments on stage and the small screen. A successful. Civil Engineer, he has managed to transfer the principles of precision and economy into his works for stage and television. accessible to general audiences. Brown has written some fifteen (15) full length stage plays including award-winning productions like â€Å"Cornflakes†(a 1982 production), â€Å"Yard 89†, â€Å"Yard ‘90†, â€Å"Yard ‘99†, â€Å"Stillborn† and â€Å"December†. The latter was Jamaica’s stage presentation at the 1991 Carifesta in  Trinidad.Though not yet published, â€Å"December† is now being studied in West Indian Literature at the University of the West Indies. His plays have been showcased all across the Caribbean, Canada, London as well as several states across North America, including: New York, Conn ecticut, Florida, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. He wrote the definitive episodes of †Oliver at Large† a local television sitcom, which propelled the lead, Oliver Samuels, to stardom within the Caribbean region and among the large Caribbean immigrant population.Having whetted the appetite of the local television viewers with humor extracted from its own experience, Mr. Brown went on to create, write and produce â€Å"Titus in Town†, another popular television sit-com. Mr. Brown’s work â€Å"Stillborn† was the recent recipient of an award in the island’s most respected national literary competition – The NCB Literary Awards. In addition to the several awards for his writing, Mr. Brown has won awards for set designs, theatrical production and musical lyrics.