Mordechai Richler’s book “Son of a smaller hero” Essay

If I were to base my opinion of Jewish people solely on Mordechai Richler’s â€Å"Son of a Smaller Hero†, I would probably start wearing a Swastika on my arm and pledging my allegiance to the fuehrer. Richler characterizes Jews as a people who have an enormous lust for money, women, and power. Richler delivers a piece that seems the complete antithesis of his origional novel. While he crammed his former novel with soft-spoken words, which displayed his passion to inform on useful subjects, â€Å"Hero† blows its readers away by its directness and disregard of political correctness. It tells the story of Noah Adler, a young Jewish man who feels trapped by his ghetto upbringing. He comes from a family controlled by his grandfather Melech Adler. Melech’s observance of the Jewish law turns Noah off of Judaism. He leaves the family and their business, to drive a cab and attend university. Noah’s departure from his family includes one from his religion as well. Once on his own, he is faced with a life unknown to him, and his morals and ethical standards are continually challenged. As he resolves his on going battles with his grandfather, he begins to realize that there is much more to Judaism then he originally though. Apart from Noah’s growing relationship with his grandfather, we see little character development among the novel’s main characters. We are subject to the same comments about the same characters, chapter after chapter. These monotonous descriptions of the characters, while emphasizing characters flaws excellently, become extremely humdrum halfway through the novel. Although Mordechai Richler did not write this as an autobiography, the book does include numerous elements of his life. He endured the hardships of St. Urban Street and the Montreal ghetto as well. This book, while the first in Richler’s series of â€Å"ghetto books†, is the most inclusive about all aspects of life there, from cheap pool room owners, to permanent signs in Jewish stores that read, â€Å"Half-Price sale†, or â€Å"going out of business, every item must go†. Noah’s relationship with his family also reflects that of Richler’s. His grandfather was a Hassid from Europe who could not accept the  new traditions of Canadian Jews, and thus ruled his family with an iron fist to keep them from veering off the path of Jewish morality. Not everything in the book works perfectly. Noah’s delinquent uncle Shloime, who joins the army does not follow with the description we were first presented with of him. The end of the book is oddly sentimental for a novel that has been occupied with ironical disorder. â€Å"Son of A Smaller Hero† is a unique accomplishment for a writer that thought to be perverse in thought. It’s humor and sadness are intertwined just enough to make this novel a one of a kind. I believe that no other can match Richler’s unique style of writing. â€Å"Son Of A Smaller Hero†, is an example of Canadian literature at it’s best. It is the kind of work that makes a nation proud to describe themselves as Canadians.

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Froes explains that the â€Å"One Lesson of Business† is that, â€Å"Wealth is created when assets move from lower to higher-valued uses. † (p. 12) Froes goes on to spend most of the chapter talking about how taxation destroys wealth and that government subsidies (and all government spending is a subsist) also destroys wealth. Apply Frost's â€Å"one lesson of business† to a specific government tax-and- spend decision that you support or else use the â€Å"one lesson of business† to explain why you are an anarchist.AY) If you are not an anarchist, then explain how the government creates wealth by axing-and-spending to produce some program somewhere that you support. Why do you think that the tax dollars are worth less to taxpayers than the value of the government program you selected? This can't be a zero-sum game that happens to benefit you personally. The â€Å"One Lesson of Business† is about wealth creation. For example, I can't simply defend Me dicare because I like that it pays for my mother's healthcare. That doesn't explain whether Medicare creates wealth.I would need to justify whether Medicare's total benefits to society are greater than its cost to society. If government doesn't create value somewhere, then we would be better off without it and we should be anarchists. AY) If you are an anarchist, then explain why all taxation and government spending (subsidies) should be eliminated. In particular, you should take on the biggest spending programs of government: defense, healthcare (mostly Medicare), pensions (mostly Social Security), and education.These programs account for over 2/3 of total government spending (including state and local government), so if you are an anarchist, you should focus on where most of the money goes. . Froes says that businesses that are less bureaucratic and more free-market will be more successful. For example, on page 16, Froes says that, â€Å"Organizations impose ‘taxes,' Ã¢â‚¬Ë œsubsidies,' and ‘price controls' within their companies that lead to unprofitable decisions. Pick one of the following questions and indicate whether you have chosen to address X or Y: X) How do corporations and other organizations â€Å"tax† the individuals, divisions, and/pr departments within the organization? Give a specific example. Do not use any government mandated taxes as your example. Would the organization be better off if it completely avoided the kind of ‘taxation' in your example? Y) How do organizations impose â€Å"price controls†? Give an example where a bureaucrat (manager) imposes a price control (a pre-determined, fixed price) upon the people in the organization.Explain whether it is better to eliminate this particular price control. 7. Suppose you have capital that is currently worth $1,000 and your cost of capital (WAC) is 10%/year. How much operating profit per year would you need to earn to be generating economic value by staying in business according to EVA? 8. Think of a pacific example outside of the textbook where someone in an organization (team, school, business, government, etc. ) made a bad decision and use Frost's rational actor paradigm to diagnose the problem. A) What is the problem (very briefly)? B) What caused the bad decision?C) How could you fix the problem? Could anyone change the organizational structure, information, incentives, (or culture)? How well would your proposed change solve the problem? 9. You traveled to Memphis over the weekend but need to return to work in Columbus early Monday morning. On Sunday afternoon, your flight is postponed until Monday night due to hurricane Eke. Since this is a pleasure trip, you bought a non-refundable ticket for $250. You can still get a ticket on a Greyhound bus for $90 and still get home by 6:AMA. Under what circumstances should you buy the Greyhound ticket and â€Å"ride the dog† overnight? 0. You are the production manager for Widgets, Inc . Current production is 1,000 widgets and all have been ordered by your regular customers. The phone rings and a new customer wants to buy 1 more widget and offers you $1,000 if you increase production to 1,001 widgets. Should you accept this offer? Remember that it is often harder to make decisions if you Just try o estimate the cost than if you figure out the total profit. You do not need to know what the other customers paid. Below are your average total cost which is the total cost divided by the quantity of widgets.Quantity Average Total Cost Current Production 1 ,oho $200 Make One More? 1,001 $201 A) What is the marginal revenue of selling one more? B) What is the total cost currently (selling 1000 units) C) What would the total cost be if you sell 1001 units? D) What is the marginal cost of producing the 1st widget? E) What do you tell the new customer? 11. A) Your firm received an REP (request for proposal) on a wire harness from GM hat will require an investment with fixed costs of $1 million and a constant marginal cost per unit of $1 with expected sales of 1 million units.What is the break-even price per unit that you will need to quote in order to avoid losing money? B) GM agrees to the price you quoted, and then hands you with a POP (purchase order) for 0. 5 million units, what do you say? Why? 12. You have fixed costs of $100/year, and you can produce and sell 100 units per year but you sell a commodity, so you are at the mercy of the going market price and you cannot raise your price above whatever price the market is currently at. Your marginal cost is $5. If the market price declines, what is your break-even price below which you will shut down?Note that there are two different answers for two different possible scenarios. Give both possible answers for full credit. Don't worry about the opportunity cost of capital (WAC). Assume that that is included within the fixed cost figure. 13. Suppose there are two technologies for producing pizzas in M acaque. The solar oven requires $100 in fixed costs, but $9 in marginal costs versus the electric oven which requires $50 in fixed costs but $10 in marginal costs due to the high cost f electricity.What quantity of production will make you indifferent between the two different technologies? This is useful because in making capital expenditure decisions there is often this tradeoff and finding the break-even quantity helps strategies about which investment will be most profitable. The idea is that for small quantities one technology will have higher total costs and for large quantities the other technology will have higher total costs. Your Job is to see what quantity makes you indifferent between the two technologies because they have the same total cost.

Creative ownership, rights, personal ethics Essay

Creative ownership pertains to the right of an individual to possess his creative works such as discoveries, know-how, art works and writings In such, creative works are subjected to intellectual property rights wherein the creators or the owners are granted the rights to reproduce, modify or make an adaptation of his work, display or perform publicly and distribute either by sale or donation. As the right owner, full credit will be given to him for his work allowing the general public to access his work. However, to maintain the balance, time limits are set on the creator’s control over a particular work. Levels of human intellectual activity, innovativeness and effort to produce creative works vary amongst individual and define the quality and depth of the creative works. It is but ethical to commend and attribute the creator of his personal portrayal and output. It will encourage the creators and authors to do more of the creative works and further develop their crafts. Although the copyright owner can sell the rights, he has the moral right to be cited as the original author, the right to object to distortion or defacement and the right to object to be named as the author of mutilated copy. Although the U. S. Intellectual Property Law keep on modifying especially to the number of years the creator have a full control of his creative work and the cost of the patent or right, it generally aims to protect the right of the creator and writer from piracy and false claims. Consequently, the benefits and the rights to own and sell the creative works awarded to him will be on his control and discretion. At that, proper acknowledgement and credit will be given to him coupled with the creator’s prestige and satisfaction which will contribute to his fulfillment. REFERENCES: http://web. mit. edu/tlo/www/community/guide1. html. Guide to the Ownership, Distribution and Commercial Development of M. I. T. Technology. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Five Cambridge Center, Kendall Square Madhavan, Mahesh. Intellectual Property Rights (Primer). JISC Legal. 2006 www. law. duke. edu/journals/dltr/articles/2005dltr0012. html

Financial Performance of Retail Banking in India Essay

Financial Performance of Retail Banking in India - Essay Example According to World Bank report of 2011, the value of the Indian economy is around $1.848 trillion, which can be considered as the tenth- major economy in terms of exchange rates (World Bank, 2013). However, the major challenge that the country faces is poverty. Though the country and its government has been successful in diminishing poverty from 55 percent in the year 1973, to around 27 percent in 2004, but around 1.1 billion citizens of the country are below the poverty line (Nayak, Goldar, and Agarwal, 2010). It has been noticed that 30 percent of the rural population are below the poverty line (Rural Poverty Portal, n. d.). Financial development is an integral factor for the growth of country’s economy. It has been proved through many studies that for any well-functioning fiscal system, mobilizing saving and allocating resources support functions such as risk management, economic growth, etc. This fact proves that financial development can be achieved through savings throug h establishment of proper banking system in the country, which in future would lead to elimination of poverty (Kapoor, 2011). Retail banking is not a fresh phenomenon in the country. It was prevalent in different forms previously, but in the last few years a phenomenal change has been seen and demand towards mainstream banking has increased. Retail banking is mainly facilitating the rural segment of the country and assisting them with loans for durables, educational loans, auto loans, etc. In the recent past it has been seen that the retail credit has been the major source of profit for the banks, which comprises of around 21.5 percent of the total outstandings. There are certain drivers which lead to the growth and development of retail banking in the country. Firstly, consistent increase in the purchasing power of the consumers and for economic prosperity. Secondly, the changing demographics of the consumers and vast potential of quantitative and qualitative consumption of the pop ulation was another reason for the growth of retail banking in the country. Thirdly, the demand for convenience banking increased due to the usage of mobile phones, internet, etc. fourthly, retail business has become good sources for profit maximisation. Lastly, declining level of interest rates is also the cause of growth in the retail credit, though the generation of demand for credit (R. Kapila, and U. Kapila, 2007). Retail banking is however, considered as a new concept because the functions within the banking framework were not segregated as retail, wholesale or corporate banking. Retail banking in modern terms comprises of asset based services and products, financial services that are designed for individual consumption or use. The concept of retail banking has been widespread with the increasing market share of private banks in the banking sector of India. Retail banking caters to the banking needs of the individual customer (Shrivastava,  Pandey,  and Vidyarthi, 2007). T he products that banks consider under retail banking are housing loans, education loans, car loans, personal loans, saving bank accounts, recurring deposit accounts, etc. The Indian retail banking system has seen a dramatic change over the last few years. It has evolved drastically from traditional debt averse, middle class mindset, to modern loan-taking, and risk inclined mind-set. In order to keep up with the latest trend of changing mind-set of the

Customer satisfaction and loyalty Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Customer satisfaction and loyalty - Assignment Example Once they enter the doors, it is the job of the front line employees (those who meet and greet the customers first) to keep them coming back by providing excellent customer service. Abildtrup states that businesses cannot depend on their employees to understand how to deal with customers on their own; instead, they must have the training they need to get the job done. Employees must understand that they are one of the reasons why people do come back to a business. If someone goes to a business for the first time, they are looking for something in particular that only that business can provide for them at that time. If customer service is genuine and happens quickly, people will remember this experience; they will also remember a bad experience.  Buchholz (2010) identifies four levels of interest that employees have who work in any business. These four levels are:1.  The survival level where the employee comes to work to do their job. They cannot be depended on to take on addition al work because they are only there to get a paycheck.2.  The acceptance level employee is open to new jobs and they believe in the philosophy and the goals of the organization. They are productive employees but they do not like to do more work, and if something else comes along, they probably will leave.3.  The merit level employee loves the company and adds to the company's mission. They love their job and they are the people who actually make sure that things are done. They are loyal employees.

Practicing I Messages Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Practicing I Messages - Coursework Example As such, I would ensure that the following responses and actions would be implemented to effect a needed change in the manifested behavior of Harry R.: (1) I would call in Harry R. on a one-on-one confrontation in my office to call his attention on his behavior; that is, upon observation and as disclosed by other employees, his long-winded talks on the phone contributes to low job productivity and low performance outcome as more time is recorded to be spent talking on the phone rather than complying with the expected job responsibilities; (2) I would relay how his behavior makes me feel: â€Å"I feel that your long talks over the phone are not serving the best interests and goals of the organization†; (3) I would seek a response from Harry R. on the rationale for his long talks over the phone, as needed; (4) I would enjoin Harry R. ... In this scenario, the â€Å"I† messages should focus on making Harry R. aware that his behavior makes his colleagues in the organization feel disrespected and bypassed and that he needs to change this behavior to serve the best interests of the organization’s stakeholders, more than his own personal interests (Mosley, Mosley, & Pietri, 2008). Situation 2: It is a requirement that waiters at the upscale restaurant you manage to wear white shirts and ties. One waiter has been loosening his tie, dropping the knot about two inches, and unbuttoning his shirt collar. Pursuant to the chapter on Coaching for Higher Performance (Mosley, Mosley, & Pietri, 2008), â€Å"I† messages would be applicable in this scenario in terms of identifying the expected or identified behavior within the organizational environment (upscale restaurant) and the particular deviant behavior that the specific waiter has been exhibiting (loosening his tie). In this scenario, the following response is proposed: (1) I will seek the attendance of the waiter in my office for a one-on-one confrontation for the aim of clearly relaying and stipulating the dress code or conformity to the manner by which waiters are expected to be dressed within the restaurant; (2) I will seek the waiter’s response as to his rationale for loosing this tie and dropping the knot to about two inches while also unbuttoning his shirt collar; (3) I would clearly indicate the following: â€Å"I am hereby making it clear to you, that pursuant to the policies of the restaurant regarding dress codes, each and every waiter is expected to adhere to uniform conformity to wearing white shirts buttoned to the top of the shirt collar and wearing the tie appropriately. This is explicitly

Marketing Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marketing Plan - Research Paper Example he strengths component of the SWOT analysis it is the case that internal environment of Chick-Fil-a has a number of factors that could be considered beneficial. Firstly it is the case that the company is often perceived as having healthier options over other fast food companies, furthermore the company has a long history of innovation as they were one of the first innovators in the chicken sandwich format. There is often a sense of family oriented atmosphere in a typical Chick-Fil-A insofar as they present a fun image (By using cows in their advertising). In this regard if the company were to move forward with an internet cafà © aspect of their business it may be beneficial because they have been innovators in the past and the internet format may help add to the ‘Fun atmosphere they tend to present. In terms of the internal weaknesses of the company, as anybody who has eaten at the restaurant can identify, the menu options are restricted to chicken and when the company engages in a price war with a traditional hamburger company one could argue that the additional cost of adding internet could negatively affect the price point of their product offerings. In terms of external opportunities, the company leads the way with healthy fast food options, with a high degree of customer loyalty. This in turn can help the company if they choose to implement an internet cafà © function to their business model as it may help gain and retain new customers with a faster paced (Healthy lifestyle). Lastly the external threats to the company are that a number of other fast food chains offer similar menu items and already have the internet cafà © function. Furthermore by being closed on Sundays there is the potential that this could turn away customers who would desire a more entertaining internet experience in their free time. In terms of competition in the fast food sector and internet sector it is the case that according to openwifispots.com (2010) several other companies

RHB Credit Card Marketing Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9750 words

RHB Credit Card Marketing - Dissertation Example Drugan, my project supervisor from The University for guiding me on the project proposal and widen my knowledge to compile the project. Many thanks to Mr. Vellan at RHB Bank Sales and Marketing, Bangsar ,Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for sharing vital information and helping me to solve many problems in the process of this project. I would like to convey my special thanks to my family who has always been behind me and without them, I would not be where I am today. Thank You very much. Contents Page 1. Introduction 1.1. Objective of the Study. 6 1.2. General Objective 6 1.3. Project Objective. 6 2. Literature Review 2.1 Significance of Study.. 6 2.2 Scope of Study.. 7 3. Methodology 3.1 Research Design 8 3.2 Type of Research 8 3.3 Research Approach. 9 3.3 Research Strategy 9 3.4 Identification of the Sample Population. 10 3.5 Sample Technique and Sample Size.. 10 4. Findings and Analysis 4.1 Classification of Data.. 10 4.2 Data Collection Method10 4.3 Data Analysis.11 4.4 Limitation of Study.. 11 5. RHB Bank and Credit Card Services 5.1 An Overview of Banking Sector in Malaysia 12 5.2 Company Description - RHB14 - 20 5.3 Strategic Plan and Focus.. 21 5.4 Core Competitiveness. 22-25 5.5 Product Market Focus 26 - 31 5.6 Marketing and Product Objectives 5.7 Marketing Program..31 5.7.1 Product Strategy 31 5.7.2 Pricing Strategy.. 33" 5.7.3 Promotion Strategy..34-36 5.7.4 Distribution Strategy. 37& 5.8 Financial Data and Projection 5.8.1 Past Projection 39-41... 2.1 Significance of the Study: I have referred to several journals and books to retrieve information about the international banking system. The performance and financial standing of RHB Bank has been borrowed from different banking reports, and the annual reports of the financial institute itself. The credit card banking system has been thoroughly reviewed and explained, and opinion of several Asian economists have been consolidated to develop firm understanding of the importance and advantages of banking through credit card. The article has hinted at evolution of modernized banking system, and it is hoped that RHB Bank shall be among leading institutes to take an initiative to modernize the banking system. At present, RHB Bank is operating in the country with huge number of credit cards holders. But the current trend of the credit card indicates a rising rivalry among the different competitor in the industry. Hence, a good number of RHB Bank card holders are not continuing with the bank but switching to its competitors mainly because of better facilities such as more credit limit, less fees and charges etc. This might not cause a great deal of losing profit of the RHB Bank however it is a matter of bank reputation. To have an insight from the practical credit cardholders of RHB Bank. At the same time, emphasize on the different existing product and services offered by the bank for their valuable cardholders. Therefore, this study tries to give some suggestion of new product introduction.

Californias System of Public Higher Education Essay

Californias System of Public Higher Education - Essay Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that Californias higher education system will help define the state's future too. Before California always posted in the top states, however as of now, it already ranked at the bottom 10. There are many reasons why this situation happened. One of the reasons to blame is the recession. However, this does not mean that the state of California should give up the support to higher education. Time will come that there will be a new California. As Douglass describe it, â€Å"one less educated, and therefore less innovative, less prosperous and less dynamic.†It is important that California should be assessed to be able to know which area the state should focus and improve. Based on Measuring UP, the state of California did well. California made it to the top 10 for both the public and private 4-year post-secondary results of the comparison to other states. California was assessed and should be still be assessed in 3 different areas. It is als o essential for the state to be able to provide affordability to the students. The website of the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO) provides State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) report to aid and assist officials and educators attend to public policy matters regarding financing higher education. California can be said to have done well in this area. When compared to Texas, California was able to post more than 2.5 million enrollees as compared to 1.2 million of Texas. The indicators used by SHEEO should be used by the state of California are presented in the paper.

Analysis of Sequential Lesson Plans Dissertation

Analysis of Sequential Lesson Plans - Dissertation Example ed within the classroom due to constraints of time and space, the teacher can present guidelines to students encouraging independent study, by setting take-home projects or library assignments in such a manner that the student can work individually. In this manner, classroom space is optimized so that the teacher can regulate and direct work done outside the classroom. 3. Compacting is a process which allows students "to demonstrate proficiency in curriculum outcomes, units or courses and progress to more appropriate/challenging instruction." (Bosch 2001). It is a system of evaluation which takes into account students' various skills and learning abilities, which "reduces redundancy and allows for advanced programming" (Bosch 2001). The analogy of computer programming is used in the understanding of classroom strategy and curriculum development to demonstrate that differentiation procedures have a well-defined goal and flowchart to direct the process of imparting learning. The process of differentiation may be differentiated from the federal government's initiation of the No Child Left Behind program, which is designed to ensure that the learning needs of every student are met during the process of pedagogical instruction. In his Foreword to the federal document profiling the designs and outcomes of the program, President Bush has said: The quality of our public schools directly affects us all - as parents, as students, and as citizens. Yet too many children in America are segregated by low expectations, illiteracy, and self-doubt. In a constantly changing world that is demanding increasingly complex skills from its workforce, children are literally being left behind. (Bush 2001) Thus President Bush links the process of classroom instruction directly to the overall... As the discussion declares a differentiated classroom is one in which the teacher focuses on optimizing the efficiency of each student’s strengths, thereby prioritizing different learning skills with each student, depending on his or her individual requirements. Bosch has observed that â€Å"in a differentiated classroom, teachers differentiate content, process and product according to a student's readiness, interest and learning profile.† Learning profiles are therefore constructed for each student on the basis of his or her individual needs, and the student’s readiness to learn and interest in the learning process are also factored in to the development of the curriculum, thus ensuring that the learning process is made holistic. According to the report findings one of the most seminal contributors to the filed of curriculum and classroom differentiation had been Carol Ann Tomlinson. She writes: â€Å"squeezing students into a one-size-fits-all curriculum has left many behind. By differentiating your instruction, you can meet the needs of every child. She implies, therefore, that the curriculums that do not differentiate among learning levels create a constricting mould that propagates a â€Å"one-size-fits-all† design for the curriculum, which causes many students to be left behind in the process of education. Cooper presents an invigorating account of a practical lesson he had with a class, and interprets the practical aspects of differentiation in terms of Tomlinson’s principles.

An Argument Against Platos Mimesis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

An Argument Against Platos Mimesis - Essay Example The reason Plato did not appreciate the value of literature was because it could not supply us with knowledge. Plato believed in what he referred to as true forms. Every object or idea had a true form counterpart, and all people had some innate sense of these forms. This was how Plato explained how we knew what a tree was. In other words, somewhere in the universe exists the true form of a tree in its most pure form, and we as humans all had some innate sense of what a tree is, and because we have an innate sense of what a tree is because of the true form, we are able to recognize a tree when we see it. The idea of true forms also pertained to notions such as justice, honor, beauty, and other intangibles. The way he applied this to literature was that he felt that literature merely was able to create a reflection, an imitation, of something like justice. Because it was merely creating an imitation, it was inferior to the true form, and because of this it was not able to supply us wit h true knowledge. Also, Plato argued against poets having any real knowledge of the true forms because of their actions. According to this argument, Plato stated that if poetry were to have a real sense or representation of, for instance, justice, then the poet would have to have real knowledge of the true form of justice. If, according to Plato, these poets had a real sense of the true form of justice, then they would not write poetry, which appeals to the emotions and leads people to an unhappy life. Rather, they would choose a course of action in their lives that would lead to this sense of the true form of justice being carried out.

The Gothic Horror genre Essay Example for Free

The Gothic Horror genre Essay With particular reference to the construction of Mr Hyde, discuss how portrayal of the character places the novella into the Gothic Horror genre. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde was written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1886, a time where the Gothic Horror story was at its fullest expression, and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde continues to remain one of the most well written, exciting and terrifying Gothic Horror stories to date. The Gothic Horror story has adapted over time, first being associated with dark, mysterious forces of the personality which were though of as uncivilised and therefore medieval and Gothic. However, it was then being used to describe the mysterious, the fantastic and occasionally, the horrific, appealing to the emotional side of human experience and throwing off the shackles of reason. Gothic Novels all shared similar settings, which were not just castles but anywhere that created a dark and mysterious atmosphere, and by the nineteenth century, Gothic Horror began to develop into ordinary human beings in familiar environments, to make the reader even more inclined to believe the unbelievable; that such dreadful events could actually happen; and this is exactly what Stevenson has done. Stevenson wrote Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at a time where science was still relatively new; Darwins theory of evolution had turned what was a very religious world upside-down, and that, combined with the discovery of electricity and other scientific breakthroughs, made people start to believe that anything was possible. It is this that makes the events in Stevensons novel, which consists of ordinary characters in familiar settings, that much more believable, and therefore even more terrifying. Stevensons Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde fits into this mould of a Gothic Horror story perfectly, and this is largely down to the construction and portrayal of the character of Mr Edward Hyde; the evil half of Dr Jekylls personality. Stevenson introduces the theme of their being two sides to everybodys personality with his opening description of Mr Utterson. Stevenson begins by creating a negative impression of the lawyer, that he is of a rugged countenance and that he is never lighted by a smile. This creates the impression that he is unfriendly and cold, and that he does not show his feelings, yet Stevenson manages to compensate for this by saying that Utterson is yet somehow loveable, and explains that he helped people rather than to reprove. Stevensons use a lot of pathetic fallacy throughout the novel is apparent, and this technique is a very strong and common factor displayed in a lot of Gothic Novels. Stevenson has used it to emphasise the horror that he is describing, and it helps to create a generally terrifying and Gothic atmosphere. An example of this is that Jekylls evil side only comes out at night, as this relates to Stevensons theme of good and evil, where evil is associated with darkness and mysterious atmospheres. The first we learn of Mr Hyde is through the very odd story that Enfield tells Utterson at the beginning of the novel. Utterson and Enfield are walking through a street, which Stevenson describes as having an air of invitation about it, and readers are led to believe that as they are walking, Utterson and Enfield are quite safe in their quiet, peaceful town. However when Enfield begins his odd story, it is about three oclock, of what he describes as a black winter morning. This gloomy atmosphere, where there was nothing to be seen but lamps, leads readers to believe that something odd is about to happen. The very first description of Hyde is that he is a little man who was stumping, which suggests that he is not as proper as the other characters in the novel, and that there is, perhaps, something different about him. Quickly, Stevenson lets the readers know that this inkling is right, as Hyde trampled calmly over the childs body, which is horrible enough, but readers then learn that Hyde left her screaming on the ground. This suggests that Hyde was not fazed by what he had just done, and walked off as if nothing had happened; this is almost evil. Although it is not a particularly horrific event, it gives readers a taste for what is going to come, and they can guess that this is not going to be the first of many such incidents, that can only get worse from here. When Enfield collared Hyde, Stevensons description of Hyde at this point already suggest that he is not quite human, and that although nobody can quite pinpoint it, he has a peculiar effect on all those who encounter him, and this is Stevensons way of conveying the sinister atmosphere that is so often created in a Gothic Novel. For example, Enfield describes that Hyde just gave him one look, so ugly that it brought out the sweat on me like running. Also, Enfield explains that the girl Hyde knocked over was screaming not because she was in pain, but because she was frightened; and Hyde had such an effect on the doctor, Sawbones, that every time he looked at Hyde, he turned sick and white with the desire to kill him. When Utterson asks Enfield what Hyde looked like, Enfield explains that he is not easy to describe, and that he gives the strong feeling of deformity, which suggests that his appearance is enigmatic, which backs up what I have already mentioned of him having a peculiar effect on all those who encounter him, and also that he is not quite human. All of this makes Hyde a typical Gothic character and he certainly fits into the tyrannical males mould that is often used to describe such Gothic characters. The house that Hyde goes into to get the gold and the cheque Dr Jekylls house showed no window and throughout the novel there are further references to this, as well as to locked doors, barred windows and a thick, muffling fog. All of this adds to Stevensons creation of a Gothic atmosphere of secrecy and mystery. Although Utterson and Enfield agree never to refer to this again (this being Hyde), Utterson makes it his mission to seek Hyde, and try to work out the mystery regarding him and Dr Jekylls will, and after nights of waiting for Hyde to appear at the door he was first associated with, Hyde does just that. It is always night time when Utterson waits for Hyde, and this particular night was accompanied by frost in the air and was very silent and very solitary, which puts readers on guard, as throughout Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Stevenson uses dark, silent nights as the setting for horrific events, such as when Hyde trampled calmly over the childs body. This use of pathetic fallacy makes it easy for Stevenson to make events instantly terrifying, as the recognition of this setting automatically frightens readers as they know that something bad is about to happen, and it adds powerfully to the brooding and menacing atmosphere he has successfully created. Stevenson represents the beast in man by referring to Hyde in a number of animal images, and when Utterson greets Hyde, Hyde shrank back with a hissing intake of breath, which shows his momentary fear, as if he has been caught off-guard. Hyde avoids showing Utterson his face, and only does so on request; this builds up the element of mystery that is sustained throughout the novella, and readers still do not know very much about Hyde. Further on in the novel Stevenson describes Hyde as moving like a money, by which, with reference to Charles Darwins theory of evolution, Stevenson is suggesting that by turning into the ape-like Hyde, Jekyll is evolving backwards. As the pair question each other, Hyde snarled into a savage laugh, which gives Hyde an element of terror about him. When Hyde is described for the second time this time from Uttersons own point of view he has the same dwarfish stance and gives the same impression of deformity without any nameable malformation of which Enfield emphasised when he tried to describe the character, which again adds to the air of mystery surrounding the character himself. Hyde speaks with a husky whispering and a broken voice, which although readers do not yet know, Stevenson is referring to the fact that Hyde is not a whole person. Utterson continues to be confused and frightened by Hyde even after he has disappeared, as he tries to describe the unknown disgust, loathing and fear that he senses from the character, which convinces the readers that Hyde is most certainly someone or something to be feared, and this is confirmed when Utterson links Hyde with the devil by saying he says that Hydes face was marked with Satans signature. Stevenson continues to leave readers in suspense until Hydes true identity is revealed to them in the ninth chapter, although he does drop clues along the way to allow readers to try and figure the mystery for themselves. The plot is eventually exposed by Dr Laynon, who witnessed Hydes transformation back into Jekyll for himself, and recalls his account in detail in the ninth chapter; Dr Lanyons Narrative. Lanyons first task is to recover, with all its contents as they stand, the fourth drawer down in Jekylls cabinet. Stevenson uses the recurring motif of the locked door to re-enforce the atmosphere of secrecy which pervades the Gothic novel; the lock of which was so strong that it took two highly skilled men two hours to open. Of the contents, Lanyon notices in particular a blood red liquor with a highly pungent smell; Stevenson has used this to suggest that Jekyll is involved in highly dark, secretive and dangerous practices, and that the reader is soon going to be dragged further than ever before into this terrifying mystery. Lanyon is told to meet Jekylls messenger at midnight, which adds to Stevensons creation of a Gothic atmosphere and adds mystery and suspense to the story. Stevenson is using his clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ setting of it being a dark, silent night, as he has throughout the novel, to build up to the main event. Readers will recognise this familiar setting and horror will rise inside them, as they do not know what is going to happen next; only that it will be terrifying and is going to involve the evil character of Hyde. When the messenger does appear, it is instantly recognisable to readers that it is Hyde through Lanyons use of Gothic vocabulary to describe the figure. The first description of him is that he is a small man crouching against the pillars, and Lanyon describes his disgustful curiosity at the sight of the man wearing a ludicrous accoutrement of oversized clothes which was far from moving [Lanyon] to laughter. Stevenson again refers to the beast in man by demoting Hyde to a creature that is seizing, surprising and revolting. This description of Hyde is sinister and grotesque, to make him fit even better into his Gothic role as a tyrannical male, which further builds up the Gothic atmosphere of mystery and suspense that Stevenson is trying to create as readers wait for Hydes true identity to be revealed to them. Stevenson lets readers know that something dangerous is about to happen as the policeman not far off causes Hyde to make greater haste. Hyde appears to be hysterical with sombre excitement, which leaves readers terrified as to what is going to happen when Lanyon gives him the contents of the drawer. Stevenson builds up the atmosphere of excitement, mystery and suspense by building up Hydes joy; he is so excited at the prospect of Lanyon having got the drawer for him that he has to put his hand to his throat to wrestle against the approaches of hysteria. When Lanyon does reveal the package to him, Hyde sprang to it, and this suggests that the contents are very exciting, yet dangerous and leads the reader to fear for Hydes life as Lanyon does. Stevenson suggests that Hyde is pure evil when he turned a dreadful smile and then when he opens the package he uttered one loud sob which was of such immense relief that Lanyon sat petrified. This event is building up the tension, and it appears that Hyde is getting so excited that he can no longer control himself; to Stevenson uses Lanyons narration to emphasise the horror of the situation and describe just how terrified Lanyon is. In turn, this makes the reader terrified, as they know that something dreadful and horrifying is about to take place. Stevenson is building up to the main event, and is using as much Gothic description as he can to terrify readers and get them gripped for what is about to happen; this is another classic sign of a Gothic novel. On pouring the potion, Hyde gives Lanyon a choice; this is that Hyde can either go home and drink the potion on his own, or he can stay for Lanyon to watch what is about to happen. This is clearly a challenge to Lanyon and everything he represents. Hyde obviously intends to teach the doctor, Jekylls ignorant, blatant pedant, a lesson; to him this would be to settle matters. He is in total command here, recognising that Lanyons greed of curiosity controls him. It is important to remember that Lanyon is given a clear choice, and it is in his own greed that he chooses to watch Lanyon drink the potion. Jekyll is obviously proud of his scientific achievement, and teases Lanyon that he has denied the virtue of transcendental medicine and ridiculed his superiors (by whom he is referring to himself), and readers know that something amazing and exciting, but at the same time horrific and terrifying, is about to happen once Hyde says behold! Stevensons use of Gothic language to terrify readers as Hyde reacts to the potion is particularly important, as he describes how Hyde reeled and staggered; he clutched at the table; he stared with infected eyes, gasping with open mouth, and suddenly the figure standing right in front of, and staring at Lanyon is no longer Mr Hyde, but Dr Jekyll. Stevenson continues to use Gothic language to describe Hydes metamorphosis to Jekyll which will particularly terrify contemporary readers as Stevenson was writing at a time that people thought anything was possible with science, and many believed that transcendental medicine, such as Jekylls own potion, was probable; therefore contemporary readers would think that the events in Jekyll and Hyde were not that unlikely, and could be happening on their street. Therefore they would have been more terrified at Hydes transformation than modern readers, and Stevensons Gothic description of the figures face becoming suddenly black and his features seeming to melt and alter as he is now half Jekyll, half Hyde, helps readers to really imagine the metamorphosis as if they were seeing it for themselves. Lanyons petrified reaction makes readers even more scared, as he sprung to his feet, raised his arm to shield himself from the prodigy, and his mind submerged in terror. This terrifies readers as they begin to imagine Lanyons reaction as their own, and they can see the figure staggering about, his features swelling, and they suddenly realise the truth of Jekylls two personalities. Stevenson describes Lanyon to have destroyed himself, and his life has been shaken to its roots, and this makes readers realise the full extent of what they have just witnessed. Overall, I think that Stevenson has portrayed Hyde to fit in with the typical Gothic mould of the tyrannical male, not only through his use of Gothic language, but through the horrific events themselves; the chilling, secretive, mysterious atmosphere; and the after-thought to contemporary readers that something like this is entirely possible to happen. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a lot more terrifying to contemporary readers for several reasons. One reason is that at that time of scientific breakthroughs and Charles Darwins theory of evolution, the world had been turned on its head, and people thought that anything was possible with science; they certainly believed in transcendental medicine, which would take human beings from beyond the realms of normal experience. Also, Stevenson has left clues throughout the novel to allow readers to guess the plot by themselves, which would lead to all sorts of wonders in their imagination; however the story is so well known now that modern readers know the plot, the twist and all events in-between the novel, that it would neither frighten nor surprise them. Also, Stevensons use of Gothic description is particularly terrifying as it allows readers to conjure all sorts of horrific images, however the play has been re-enacted in theatre and in film now so many times that there is not much left to imagine for modern readers anyway.

Different techniques of spread spectrum

Different techniques of spread spectrum CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION: The idea of this project is to study different techniques of spread spectrum. These techniques include the two processes of direct-sequence spread spectrum and frequency hopping spread spectrum. Both these techniques will be simulated in software called MATLAB. Also a brief mention will be there about the multiple access property of spread spectrum. This project deals with the implementation of spread spectrum using the techniques- direct sequence spread spectrum and frequency hopping spread spectrum. Spread spectrum is a new method of communication. It provides a jam-free network and prevents any kind on interference. It helps to provide immunity to channels by not allowing any kind of interference or disturbance. We will be discussing more about spread spectrum and its technique in the following chapters. The project has been divided into six chapters. The second chapter deals with spread spectrum. It starts of with the history of spread spectrum followed by a basic definition of spread spectrum. Certain characteristics of spread spectrum are discussed along with a mathematical explanation of advantage of spread spectrum over narrow band communication. It then describes the working of a spread spectrum and finally mentions how a spread spectrum can be demodulated. Chapter three describes different techniques of spread spectrum. There are four techniques of spread spectrum namely direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS), frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS), chirp spread spectrum (CSSS) and time hopping spread spectrum (THSS). Each of these techniques is described, with a brief mention about its basic mechanism.A brief comparison is drawn between FHSS AND DHSS. A mathematical explanation is given for DSSS under the conditions of noise (jammer). Chapter four discusses different multiple accesses of spread spectrum. These are frequency domain multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access(TDMA) and code division multiple access(CDMA). CDMA is dealt with in a more detail manner and is presented with a mathematical explanation. Chapter five presents a MATLAB simulation of direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS), Frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and Code division multiple access (CDMA). It discusses how a signal when multiplied with a pseudo random noise and put on a frequency wave gets spread. This technique is called direct sequence spread spectrum. Also this chapter presents the MATLAB simulation of Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum where four randomly carrier frequency waves are generated to form a spread spectrum and multiplied with pseudo random generator to determine the frequencies where the information has to be hopped. The information is sent in the form of a BPSK modulated signal. Also a MATLAB simulation on CDMA is presented .It basically shows how CDMA works. Three stations are taken and how they send codes through a single channel by using the property the CDMA. Finally, chapter six winds up the project with the conclusion from each chapter. It mentions in short what has been realized from this project. CHAPTER 2 SPREAD SPECTRUM 2.1 HISTORY OF SPREAD SPECTRUM This chapter talks about spread spectrum. It begins with a brief history behind spread spectrum. It also mentions about the various fields where spread spectrum is being effectively used. Certain characteristics of spread spectrum are also discussed.A basic definition of spread spectrum is discussed in this chapter which basically explains what actually spread spectrum and why is preferred over conventional wireless communication. A brief mechanism of how spread spectrum works is discussed. It also mentions the mathematical reason behind why a spread signal is an effective way to communicate. A comparison is drawn between spread spectrum transmission and fixed frequency transmission. Finally a demodulation technique is discussed mentioning about how demodulation can be achieved. Spread spectrum has become a new commercial communication technique over the past 8-9 years. However the first intentional use of Spread Spectrum came during the period of 1921-1930 by Armstrong. He had used wideband Frequency Modulation. The real use for Spread Spectrum how ever came in World War II. Both the allies and the Axis powers experimented with simple Spread Spectrum systems. The first publically patent on Spread Spectrum came from Hedy Lamarr, the Hollywood movie actress, and George Antheil, an avant gard composer. Lamarr had mentioned to Antheil about her idea for a Secret Communications System that could guide torpedoes to their target without being intercepted by the enemy. This could be done by sending messages between transmitter and receiver over multiple radio frequencies in a varied random pattern. The message would be transmitted at such a high rate that no one would be able to decode it. They sent their invention to National Inventors Council. Instead of developing the patent commercially, they gave it away to the government for the war effort. As a result of which the commercial use of Spread spectrum came many years later [1, 3, 19]. Spread Spectrum was first used for commercial purposes in the 1980s when Equatorial Communications of Mountain View used Direct Sequence for multiple access communications over synchronous satellite transponders [1]. Today, spread spectrum is being used to provide communications in a variety of commercial applications, including mobile communications and interoffice wireless communications. In the coming years hardly anyone will prevent themselves from being involved in one way or the other with spread spectrum communications as it will become an integral part of the communication world. [1, 4]. 2.2 DEFINITION OF SPREAD SPECTRUM Spread-spectrum is a technique by which electromagnetic energy produced over a particular bandwidth is spread in the frequency domain on purpose. Spread spectrum signals are used for transmission of digital information which are characterized by the fact that their bandwidth W is much greater than the information rate R in bits/sec. Hence the bandwidth expansion factor is always greater than unity. This results to provide a signal with a wider bandwidth and a lower power density. These techniques are used for a variety of reasons which include the establishment of secure communications, increasing resistance to natural interference and to limit the power flux density on satellite downlinks. Narrow band signal and spread spectrum use the same amount of power to transmit the same data. However the power density of the spread spectrum is lower as compared to narrow band and it is this property that makes spread spectrum achieve secure and jam free communication. Spread spectrum is a type of wireless communication in which the frequency of the transmitted signal is intentionally varied and changed to achieve a higher bandwidth. This results to provide a much greater bandwidth than that of the signal if its frequency was not altered [2, 5]. A spread spectrum should full fill the following requirements: 1) The message signal should undergo two modulations that produce the wideband spectrum having bandwidth much in excess of the minimum bandwidth needed to send the message. 2) The spreading ,that is the second modulation is caused by means of a spreading signal 3) The receiver should recover the message by the method of de-spreading the signal that is received by using the same spreading signal [23]. Spread spectrum is preferred over conventional wireless communication for many reasons; however there are at least a couple of problems associated with conventional wireless communication. First, a signal whose frequency is constant and not changing is subject to interference. This condition occurs when another signal is sent on, or very near to the frequency of the desired signal. Interference can be accidental (as in the case of amateur-radio communications) or it can be deliberate like during war time. Second, a constant-frequency signal is very easy to intercept or lock and reveal the information it is carrying and hence is not well preferred to applications where the information must remain confidential between the transmitter and receiver. [2]. To minimize troubles and to maintain the confidentiality of the information, transmitted signals frequency can be deliberately varied and changed over the large segment of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. This variation is done by using a specific and complicated mathematical function. This function is the most important part of the spread spectrum for maintaining the confidentiality. For intercepting the signal, the receiver must be tuned to frequencies that vary exactly to this function. The receiver must have the knowledge of the frequency-versus-time function employed by the transmitter, and must also be provided with the information about the starting-time point of the function. If someone wants to hack or intercept the spread-spectrum signal, that person must possess a transmitter that contains the information about the function and its starting-time point. The spread-spectrum function hence must be well protected for confidential information communication and it this feature of spread spectrum that helps maintaining the secrecy of information. If this function comes in the wrong hands, it can lead to the invasion of secrecy of the information [2]. 2.3 HOW SPREAD SPECTRUM WORKS Spread Spectrum uses wide band which is a noise-like signals and hence are hard to detect. These signals are also hard to lock on to or be tracked by any intruder. Spread signals are made in such a manner that their bandwidth is larger than the information they are transmitting to give them a noise like appearance, hence protecting the information it is carrying and maintain its secrecy and confidentiality [4]. Spread Spectrum signals use fast codes that have a high data rate. These codes are called Pseudo Random or Pseudo Noise codes. These are called Pseudo for the reason being that they are not real Gaussian noise [4]. Spread Spectrum transmitters possess similar transmits power levels to that of narrow band transmitters. Spread Spectrum signals are so wide hence they transmit at a much lower spectral power density which is measured in Watts per Hertz as compared to narrowband transmitters. This characteristic (lower spectral power density)gives spread signals a huge advantage in digital communication and it is this capability that is responsible for the rapid use of Spread Spectrum today [4]. The numerical advantage of wider bandwidth is obtained from the Claude Shannons equation describing channel capacity [4]. (2.1) Where; C=channel capacity of the signal, B=Bandwidth of the signal, S=signal power, and N=noise power. = (2.2) On Applying the MacLaurin series development for (2.3) is usually low for spread-spectrum applications. Assuming a noise level such that

Investment Decisions In Different Insurance Policies

Investment Decisions In Different Insurance Policies There are three types of investors: conservative, moderate, and aggressive. The different types of investments also cater to the two levels of risk tolerance: high risk and low risk. Conservative investors often invest in cash. This means that they put their money in interest bearing savings accounts, money market accounts, mutual funds, US Treasury bills, and Certificates of Deposit. These are very safe investments that grow over a long period of time. These are also low risk investments. Moderate investors often invest in cash and bonds, and may dabble in the stock market. Moderate investing may be low or moderate risks. Moderate investors often also invest in real estate, providing that it is low risk real estate. Aggressive investor is an investor who is willing to accept a higher degree of investment risk in exchange for a chance to earn a higher rate of return. Investment risk is the volatility of investment returns. A basic investing principle states that a higher degree of investment risk is required to earn a potential higher rate of return. What is insurance Meaning of Insurance Insurance provides financial protection against a loss arising out of happening of an uncertain event. A person can avail this protection by paying premium to an insurance company. A pool is created through contributions made by persons seeking to protect themselves from common risk. Premium is collected by insurance companies which also act as trustee to the pool. Any loss to the insured in case of happening of an uncertain event is paid out of this pool. Insurance works on the basic principle of risk-sharing. A great advantage of insurance is that it spreads the risk of a few people over a large group of people exposed to risk of similar type. Definition Insurance is a contract between two parties whereby one party agrees to undertake the risk of another in exchange for consideration known as premium and promises to pay a fixed sum of money to the other party on happening of an uncertain event (death) or after the expiry of a certain period in case of life insurance or to indemnify the other party on happening of an uncertain event in case of general insurance. The party bearing the risk is known as the insurer or assurer and the party whose risk is covered is known as the insured or assured. Definition A promise of compensation for specific potential future losses in exchange for a periodic payment. Insurance is designed to protect the financial well-being of an individual, company or other entity in the case of unexpected loss. Some forms of insurance are required by law, while others are optional. Agreeing to the terms of an insurance policy creates a contract between the insured and the insurer. In exchange for payments from the insured (called premiums), the insurer agrees to pay the policy holder a sum of money upon the occurrence of a specific event. In most cases, the policy holder pays part of the loss (called the deductible), and the insurer pays the rest. Examples include car insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and business insurance. Insurance, in law and economics, is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for a premium, and can be thought of as a guaranteed and known small loss to prevent a large, possibly devastating loss. An insurer is a company selling the insurance; an insured or policyholder is the person or entity buying the insurance. The insurance rate is a factor used to determine the amount to be charged for a certain amount of insurance coverage, called the premium. Cultural factor; Culture is fundamental determinant of a persons needs and behavior. People acquire a set of value, perception and behaviors through his or her family and other institution. Indian people want achievement and success, comfortable efficiency and practicality, freedom and youthfulness. In other word there are multicultural environment in India. Indian loves their family and they want to secure their family from unnatural event. Indian give first preference to his family after than others. They do not want to take loan and they want to invest their money in long-term investment for child education and marriage. When we say about metropolitan city, dependency on old age on son is decreasing. People want to accumulate some fund for old age so ICICI Prudential should concentrate on gratuity or pension plan. Indian people also affected from sub culture. Urban people want to take more insurance comparison than rural (due to high per capita income, insurance awareness, social security, investment purpose, tax saving purpose). Religion also effect on insurance. ICICI Prudential is using this thing very well. They use sinduor and marriage in their advertisement and show that when you marriage from someone, her all liabilities is your liabilities and we will help you in this situation. We will make relation as like as sindur (here means long term stable relationship). In other word ICICI Prudential want to say that we will cover you at every step in life (sorrow or happiness). Consumer behavior is also affected from reference group. Firstly, people see that which insurance is bestseller after that they purchase. They also influence from agent. People do not concentrate on their need due to agents influence. Social class also affect on consumer behavior. Lower class does not want insurance. Up per lower class wants insurance for saving purpose. Working and middle class want insurance for protection and saving purpose and lastly, upper class want to purchase insurance for investment tax benefit and saving purpose. Social factor; Consumers are also influenced by social factor for example; reference group, family, and social role and status. Consumer behavior is firstly influenced from membership group such as family, neighbor and co-worker. Insurance is such type of product where people awareness is very low so people do not very much about insurance. They think, insurance is only tax saving instrument so they fully dependent on agent for taking insurance. When agent say about any product, that time they inquiry from neighbor and co-worker about that product. If any body suggests that, this product and I have also taken this product. Individual think that, this product also best for him. He does not concentrate on his need and requirement. Secondly, he is influenced by information influences. If he goes to purchase insurance, he makes enquiry about this product from his personal sources. He study newspaper and search on Internet and gather all information related product. If he is satisfied from that information, he decides to buy insurance. People also influence from opinion leader, this opinion leader may be Mukhiya, or Surpanch in rural area or this may be any leader, actor or cricket player in urban area. If opinion leader say or advertise about any product, people are influenced from opinion leader because opinion leader keep good position in society. Family and household pattern also influence consumer behavior. Due to less security of individual family, people want to purchase insurance, but in joint family people give less attention in buying insurance. If all family are well earning, there are given less attention on insurance in such family. But if earning member is less and dependent is more in such type of family insurance is very important. Women want more security so women are taking main role in purchase decision where, women influence consumer behavior. Personal factor; A consumer decision is also influenced by personal characteristics for example the buyer age and stage in life cycle, occupation and economics circumstances, personality, self-concept, life style and value. When we say about age and life, first is bachelor stage. They are generally young independent and they are in early stage of his carrier and earning. They mostly think that they have no need of insurance because in that time they have no dependent. However, some people have some dream and dependent also. They are in such stage where they can take more risk so they mostly prefer to invest in ULIP. Second stage is newly married. In that stage people need and buying decision is influenced from their future plan and earning capability. If they have to plan for purchase flat that time, they will need term insurance. There after stage is one or two children after marriage, they will be influenced from future need. They will accumulate fund for children marriage and education, they can be plan time-to-time vacation. In forth stage, they want to accumulate for retirement. People want to live alone after old age or in peaceful place so they are ready to start saving for old age. Attitude also affect consumer behavior positive attitude (about his life) person will take pension plan because people think that they will live more. But negative attitude person will take life insurance because they worry about their life. Review of Literature Mehr and Cammack (1976) agrees that Insurance is usually thought of as a product that spreads the risk of serious, but low-probability, losses among a group of individuals, thus providing some financial protection to each individual. Kunreuther, (1979) said that his product makes good sense, particularly when the protection is purchased against potential losses so large as to be catastrophic, such as total destruction of ones home, a large accident liability judgment, or death of primary family breadwinner. However, it has long been recognized that this sensible product is difficult to sell.v Kotler, (1973) considers insurance to be in the category of unsought goods, along with products such as preventive dental services and burial plots.He notes that unsought goods pose special challenges to the marketer. Slovic, Fischhoff, Lichtenstein, Corrigan, and Combs (1977) found that subjects were more likely to buy insurance against small, high-probability losses than insurance against large, lowprobability losses, Hershey and Schoemaker (1980) reported the opposite result. Kunreuther (1979) It is not the magnitude of a potential loss that inspires people to buy insurance voluntarily it is the frequency with which a loss is likely to occur. Kahneman Tversky, (1979) reported a risk-averse individual, therefore, should avoid nearly all types of risk. Empirical evidence, however, suggests most people are risk averse for gains and risk seeking for losses. Kahneman Tversky, (1984) stated indeed, repeated demonstrations have shown most people lack an adequate understanding of probability and risk concepts Dhar, (1997) Greenleaf and Lehmann, (1995) Tversky and Shafir, (1992) have shown that offering more options can generate decision conflict and preference uncertainty, leading to decision deferral. Michael L. Smith (1982) said that a typical life insurance contract provides a package of options or rights to the policy owner that is not precisely duplicated by any other combination of commonly available contracts. Viewed from this perspecti ve, life insurance enjoys a unique position in the field of investments and should be judged in this light. The paper shows that an options viewpoint provides a more complete explanation of policy owner behavior towards life insurance than the conventional savings-and-protection view. Michael L. Walden (1985) told that the options package view of the whole life insurance policy suggests that a whole life policy is a package of options, each of which has value and is expected to influence the price of the policy. This viewpoint implies the general hypothesis that price differences between whole life policies can be explained by differences in policy contract provisions and differences in selected company characteristics. The options package theory was empirically investigated using regression analysis on data from a sample of policies marketed in North Carolina. The results suggest support for the options package theory. Kirchler and Angela-Christian Hubert (1999) found that the present study aims at describing spouses relative dominance in decisions concerning different forms of investment. As determinants of spouses dominance, partnership characteristics, such as partnership role attitudes, marital satisfaction and individual expertise in relation to different investments, were considered. A questionnaire on spouses dominance in making decisions on various investments, on the characteristics of particular investments and on partnership characteristics was completed by 142 Austrian couples. Basically, wives appeared to adapt to the dominance exerted by their husbands in savings and investment decisions. Wives dominance was highest in egalitarian partnerships, where autonomic and wife dominated decisions were reported m ore frequently than in traditional partnerships. Additionally, spouses relative expertise in relation to the investments in question showed strong effects on dominance distribution: Spouses with higher expertise than their partners exerted more dominance in decision-making processes. Amy Wong, (2004) empirically examined the role of emotional satisfaction in service encounters. Specifically, this study seeks to: investigate the relationship between emotional satisfaction and key concepts, such as service quality, customer loyalty, and relationship quality, and clarify the role of emotional satisfaction in predicting customer loyalty and relationship quality. In doing so, this study used the relationship between emotional satisfaction, service quality, customer loyalty, and relationship quality as a context, as well as data from a sample survey of 1,261 Australian retail customers concerning their evaluation of their shopping experiences to address this issue. The results show that s ervice quality is positively associated with emotional satisfaction, which is positively associated with both customer loyalty and relationship quality. Further investigations showed that customers feelings of enjoyment serve as the best predictor of customer loyalty, while feelings of happiness serve as the best predictor of relationship quality. The findings imply the need for a service firm to strategically leverage on the key antecedents of customer loyalty and relationship quality in its pursuit of customer retention and longterm profitability. Stephen Diacon (2004) presents the results of a detailed comparison of the perceptions by individual consumers and expert financial advisers of the investment risk involved in various UK personal financial services products. Factor similarity tests show that there are significant differences between expert and lay investors in the way financial risks are perceived. Financial experts are likely to be less loss averse than lay investors, b ut are prone to affiliation bias (trusting providers and salesmen more than lay investors do), believe that the products are less complex, and are less cynical and distrustful about the protection provided by the regulators. The traditional response to the finding that experts and non-experts have different perceptions and understanding about risk is to institute risk communication programmes designed to re-educate consumers. However, this approach is unlikely to be successful in an environment where individual consumers distrust regulators and other experts. Helmut Grà ¼ndl, Thomas Post, Roman Schulze, (2005) found that demographic risk, i.e., the risk that life tables change in a nondeterministic way, is a serious threat to the financial stability of an insurance company having underwritten life insurance and annuity business. The inverse influence of changes in mortality laws on the market value of life insurance and annuity liabilities creates natural hedging opportunities. Eva n Mills, Ph.D.(1999) Studied the insurance industry is rarely thought of as having much concern about energy issues. However, the historical involvement by insurers and allied industries in the development and deployment of familiar technologies such as automobile air bags, fire prevention/suppression systems, and anti-theft devices, shows that this industry has a long history of utilizing technology to improve safety andotherwise reduce the likelihood of losses for which they would otherwise have to pay. We have identified nearly 80 examples of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies that offer loss-prevention benefits, and have mapped these opportunities onto the appropriate segments of the very diverse insurance sector (life, health, property, liability, business interruption, etc.). Some insurers and risk managers are beginning to recognize these previously hidden benefits. Roger. A. Formisano (1981) examined, via consumer interviews, the impact of the National Associ ation of Insurance Commissioners Model Life Insurance Solicitation Regulation as implemented in New Jersey. A substantial portion of the insurance buyers sampled did not become aware of the provisions of the regulation aimed to improve their buying ability. Further, many life insurance buyers were not well informed concerning the nature and operation of life insurance contracts, and in particular, the life insurance policies that they had purchased. theory was empirically investigated using regression analysis on data from a sample of policies marketed in NorthCarolina. The results suggest support for the options package theory. Kirchler and Angela-Christian Hubert (1999) found that the present study aims at describing spouses relative dominance in decisions concerning different forms of investment. As determinants of spouses dominance, partnership characteristics, such as partnership role attitudes, marital satisfaction and individual expertise in relation to different investments, were considered. A questionnaire on spouses dominance in making decisions on various investments, on the characteristics of particular investments and on partnership characteristics was completed by 142 Austrian couples. Basically, wives appeared to adapt to the dominance exerted by their husbands in savings and investment decisions Wives dominance was highest in egalitarian partnerships, where autonomic and wife-dominated decisions were reported more frequently than in traditional partnerships. Additionally, spouses relative expertise in relation to the investments in question showed strong effects on dominance distribution: Spouses with higher expertise than their partners exerted more dominance in decision-making processes. Amy Wong, (2004) empirically examined the role of emotional satisfaction in service encounters. Specifically, this study seeks to: investigate the relationship between emotional satisfaction and key concepts, such as service quality, customer loyalty, and rel ationship quality, and clarify the role of emotional satisfaction in predicting customer loyalty and relationship quality. In doing so, this study used the relationship between emotional satisfaction, service quality, customer loyalty, and relationship quality as a context, as well as data from a sample survey of 1,261 Australian retail customers concerning their evaluation of their shopping experiences to address this issue. The results show that service quality is positively associated with emotional satisfaction, which is positively associated with both customer loyalty and relationship quality. Further investigations showed that customers feelings of enjoyment serve as the best predictor of customer loyalty, while feelings of happiness serve as the best predictor of relationship quality. The findings imply the need for a service firm to strategically leverage on the key antecedents of customer loyalty and relationship quality in its pursuit of customer retention and longterm pro fitability. Stephen Diacon (2004) presents the results of a detailed comparison of the perceptions by individual consumers and expert financial advisers of the investment risk involved in various UK personal financial services products. Factor similarity tests show that there are significant differences between expert and lay investors in the way financial risks are perceived. Financial experts are likely to be less loss averse than lay investors, but are prone to affiliation bias (trusting providers and salesmen more than lay investors do), believe that the products are less complex, and are less cynical and distrustful about the protection provided by the regulators. The traditional response to the finding that experts and non-experts have different perceptions and understandings 4 about risk is to institute risk communication programmes designed to re-educate consumers. However, this approach is unlikely to be successful in an environment where individual consumers distrust regul ators and other experts. Helmut Grà ¼ndl, Thomas Post, Roman Schulze, (2005) found that demographic risk, i.e., the risk that life tables change in a nondeterministic ay, is a serious threat to the financial stability of an insurance company having underwritten life insurance and annuity business. The inverse influence of changes in mortality laws on the market value of life insurance and annuity liabilities creates natural hedging opportunities. Evan Mills, Ph.D.(1999) Studied the insurance industry is rarely thought of as having much concern about energy issues. However, the historical involvement by insurers and allied industries in the development and deployment of familiar technologies such as automobile air bags, fire prevention/suppression systems, and anti-theft devices, shows that this industry has a long history of utilizing technology to improve safety and otherwise reduce the likelihood of losses for which they would otherwise have to pay. We have identified nearly 80 e xamples of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies that offer loss-prevention benefits, and have mapped these opportunities onto the appropriate segments of the very diverse insurance sector (life, health, property, liability, business interruption, etc.). Some insurers and risk managers are beginning to recognize these previously hidden benefits. Roger. A. Formisano (1981) examined, via consumer interviews, the impact of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Model Life Insurance Solicitation Regulation as implemented in New Jersey. A substantial portion of the insurance buyers sampled did not become aware of the provisions of the regulation aimed to improve their buying ability. Further, many life insurance buyers were not well informed concerning the nature and operation of life insurance contracts, and in particular, the life insurance policies that they had purchased. Description of factors 1. Company Loyalty This factor includes that this is the only company the consumer wants to associate himself with, in future .himself would purchase more policies from the same company , suggest friends and family to purchase policy from the same company , company able to fulfill expectation, , Policy benefits benchmarks . The highest Eigen value lies in this factor 35.213. So it is been considered as the highly contributing factor towards study. Therefore it is clear that company loyalty plays an important role in investment decisions of investors. 2. Services Quality This factor includes hassle free settlements , employees responsible towards customers agents respond promptly , investment in life insurance is more secure than stock market satisfy with relationship to company . . Ease of Procedures This factor includes the company provides claims on time cooperative and friendly agent , settlement of claims easy and timely , agent is well informed about policies. As we can see, that the Eigen value for factor ease of procedures is 5.830 , which is also a contributing factor towards the study, so it can also be considered as an important factor in the study. 4. Satisfaction Level This factor includes that the suggested benefits of Insurance Policy should be met to the investors, Company provides them satisfactory services , fulfill its promise about life insurance policy , Services should be provided on time, and awareness of terms and conditions of policies. As we can see, that the Eigen value for factor satisfaction level is 5.008 , which is also a contributing factor towards the study, so it can also be considered as an important factor in the study. 5. Company Image This factor includes that the insurance company should be well known in the industry , insurance provider should have goodwill in market (0.758),and company of high repute As we can see, that the Eigen value for factor company image is 4.878, which is also a contributing factor towards the study, so it can also be considered as an important factor in the study. 6. Company-Client Relationship This factor includes that the agent remind about premium installments. personal attention on every consumer and understand consumers financial needs . As we can see, that the Eigen value for factor company client relationship is 4.051, which is also a contributing factor towards the study, so it can also be considered as an important factor in the study. CONCLUSION In present Indian market, the investment habits of Indian consumers are changing very frequently. The individuals have their own perception towards various types of investment plans. The study of this research work was focused over consumers perception on investment towards Life Insurance Services. The consumers perception towards Life Insurance Policies is positive. It developed a positive mind sets for their investment pattern, in insurance policies. Still some actions are needed for developing insurance market. The major factors playing the role in developing consumers perception towards Life Insurance Policies are Consumer Loyalty, Service Quality, Ease of Procedures, Satisfaction Level, Company Image, and Company-Client Relationship. Insurance industry has to go ahead. A lot of opportunities are still waiting. This research will help in developing the market share, loyalty and further development in insurance sector. .

Graduation Speech: Make Your Own Rules :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Good evening my name is Ben Rood I would like to share with you something that Michael Konda once said: "The fastest way to succeed is to look as if you're playing by somebody else's rules, while quietly playing by your own." I couldn't agree more. I am standing here today because for the last four years I have unknowingly followed this advice. It started my freshman year when I was in the right place at the right time. Due to the overcrowding here at AHS the Microsoft Windows NT class was changed to an after-school class. This normally full class now had empty seats. As a freshman I did not meet the prerequisites for the NT class so I quietly slipped into one of the empty seats as a pass/fail student. As the year progressed I slowly moved away from the rules and took the class for a grade and as you can see it paid off with "A's". By the end of the year I was able to pass the Microsoft Certified Professional exam at age 14 and land a job at Microsoft. I would not have been able to do all of this and more during my freshman year had I "played by somebody else's rules." I continued to bend and break the rules both silently and blatantly. Through Microsoft I was able to participate in and manage conferences for any where from a hundred and fifty to 10,000 attendees. Interns are not generally invited to help with conferences, but I was fortunate enough to start with a manager who "(looked) as if (he were) playing by somebody else's rules, while quietly playing by (his) own." In school I broke away from the crowd a little more obviously. After individual debates in English class our teacher invited us to debate the different topics as a class. One of these topics was where our "new" school should be located. I was the only one in my class who didn't agree with the bond being presented to the public. While I listened to the points made by my peers and the teacher I still maintained my points and did not jump on the bandwagon. As many of you know I spend much of my time at a computer. Some would say that's because I'm a computer geek. Well I may be a computer geek because I spend lots of time at the computer, but I spend it there because it is much easier to bend the rules of the computer than it is to bend the laws of physics.

Evolution of Learning Ability in Fruit Flies Essay -- Biology Fly Dros

Learning & Memory in Fruit Flies Scientists have traditionally viewed learning and memory as "complex traits" in the sense that they are believed to be the net result of various different genetic and environmental factors interacting with one another. As it is not always practical or ethical to use human subjects in research, simpler "model" organisism are often used, and drosophila melanogaster (i.e. the fruit fly) is one of the most well known and well studied in the biological sciences. Abstract Two thousand fruit flies of the species Drosophilia melanogaster were maintained for six months before any experimenting began. Flies subjected to experimentation were 14 days old and were conditioned to be better learners. Petri dishes filled with pineapple juice and orange juice were used on which the flies could lay their eggs. Quinine was added to one of the juices to turn flies away from that medium. By selecting eggs from the juice that did not contain quinine, flies who had learned to avoid the juice with quinine passed on their learning ability. Subsequent generations of fruit flies did actually become "smarter" as demonstrated be their ability to more readily differentiate between the quinine medium and the regular medium as well as their ability to remember this association for a longer period of time. Methods Experimental Design Base Population All flies used in Mery & Kawecki's experiment were of the species Drosophilia melanogaster. The experimental population was derived from 2000 flies and maintained for six months before any experimenting began. All flies subjected to experimentation were 14 days old. Experimental Evolution Design Before any testing was actually con... ... the different genetics of every individual fly, but in general, it is possible to say that it did improve. This proves the point that learning is favored when environmental factors and other cues play a significant role. The experiment also showed that the learning ability to modify oviposition substrate choice has direct correlations with fitness. Single-locus large-effect mutants would be the best approach for this experiment, but the group wanted to simulate learning ability in a natural environment so they chose to use a variegated sample. References Mery, Frederic & Tadeusz J. Kawecki. "Experimental evolution of learning ability in fruit flies." Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. 99.22 (2002): 14274-14279. Papaj, Daniel R. and Emilie C. Snell-Rood. "Memory flies sooner from flies that learn faster." Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 104.34 (2007): 13539-13540.

American Tragedy: Self-Destruction in a Self-Indulgent Society Essay ex

American Tragedy: Self-Destruction in a Self-Indulgent Society  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     "The boy moved restlessly from one foot to the other, keeping his eyes down . . . . [and he] appeared indeed to resent and even to suffer from the position in which he found himself" (p.9). Clyde Griffiths always wanted to be somebody---anyone but who he was. Growing up in a poor home of evangelizing, exhorting missionaries, he was not drawn to God but pushed away from Him and his family. Clyde was looking for a way to escape from his haunting reality to both a place and position in life that were more attractive. He was ashamed of his looks, his attire, his social position and his poor education. American Tragedy (1925) by Theodore Dreiser is the tragic story of a man whose fate is sealed and ambitions are shaped by society's values. Clyde, in trying to fit in with the norms of society, gets into more trouble than he could ever imagine. His trouble begins in Kansas City, where he works at a hotel and runs with some boys who are not all bad, yet are not good either. When these rowdy boys "borrow" a car and pick up their girls for some fun, they hit and kill a little girl. Rather than remain at the scene, they all run. When Clyde finds himself with nowhere to go, he roams until he runs into an old friend from Kansas City. He gets a job at another hotel where he meets his rich uncle. Uncle Samuel tells Clyde that he can come up and get a job in his factory. While working in that factory, he meets Roberta and falls very much in love. However, their love affair must be a secret because he is not, as a department head, supposed to date an employee. As time goes on their relationship becomes physical. In the midst of this physical relationship, Clyde accid... ...ams of getting on and up, was in danger of death. . ." (p.623)! His mother has always known that he is driven to become more like the Griffiths of Lycurgus, but still never imagined that he would become a murderer with this drive. Clyde's desire and ambitions to be something great with the help of society's twisted thinking is what brought about Clyde's demise. The selfish, self-centered thinking of this "high society," and their teaching Clyde these thoughts makes him feel like he has no choice if he wants to obtain his goals. Being corrupted by values which he accepts in order to be successful does nothing more than seal his fate and send him to the electric chair. An American Tragedy is Clyde's story about vice and greed, and the resulting catastrophe.    Bibliography Dreiser, Theodore, An American Tragedy, N.Y., The World Publishing Company, 1953. American Tragedy: Self-Destruction in a Self-Indulgent Society Essay ex American Tragedy: Self-Destruction in a Self-Indulgent Society  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     "The boy moved restlessly from one foot to the other, keeping his eyes down . . . . [and he] appeared indeed to resent and even to suffer from the position in which he found himself" (p.9). Clyde Griffiths always wanted to be somebody---anyone but who he was. Growing up in a poor home of evangelizing, exhorting missionaries, he was not drawn to God but pushed away from Him and his family. Clyde was looking for a way to escape from his haunting reality to both a place and position in life that were more attractive. He was ashamed of his looks, his attire, his social position and his poor education. American Tragedy (1925) by Theodore Dreiser is the tragic story of a man whose fate is sealed and ambitions are shaped by society's values. Clyde, in trying to fit in with the norms of society, gets into more trouble than he could ever imagine. His trouble begins in Kansas City, where he works at a hotel and runs with some boys who are not all bad, yet are not good either. When these rowdy boys "borrow" a car and pick up their girls for some fun, they hit and kill a little girl. Rather than remain at the scene, they all run. When Clyde finds himself with nowhere to go, he roams until he runs into an old friend from Kansas City. He gets a job at another hotel where he meets his rich uncle. Uncle Samuel tells Clyde that he can come up and get a job in his factory. While working in that factory, he meets Roberta and falls very much in love. However, their love affair must be a secret because he is not, as a department head, supposed to date an employee. As time goes on their relationship becomes physical. In the midst of this physical relationship, Clyde accid... ...ams of getting on and up, was in danger of death. . ." (p.623)! His mother has always known that he is driven to become more like the Griffiths of Lycurgus, but still never imagined that he would become a murderer with this drive. Clyde's desire and ambitions to be something great with the help of society's twisted thinking is what brought about Clyde's demise. The selfish, self-centered thinking of this "high society," and their teaching Clyde these thoughts makes him feel like he has no choice if he wants to obtain his goals. Being corrupted by values which he accepts in order to be successful does nothing more than seal his fate and send him to the electric chair. An American Tragedy is Clyde's story about vice and greed, and the resulting catastrophe.    Bibliography Dreiser, Theodore, An American Tragedy, N.Y., The World Publishing Company, 1953.

Jazz concert

As much as I enjoyed attending a classical music concert in November, I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the Jazz concert I attended on Monday night. Though two vastly different types of music, the theory almost remains the same; variations on a theme. Since Jazz music is a little more my speed, I have to be honest when I say that I was looking forward to this assignment slightly more than the classical concert. I found a Jazz club called Zinc Bar on Houston in New York City that seemed to have reasonable prices and a wide selection of shows and musicians playing at ifferent times. We decided to attend the nine p. . show not knowing exactly who would be playing. Already this is a huge difference between the classical and Jazz concerts. Arriving early, we decided to eat some dinner at a restaurant called Arturo's right down the block from the club. As soon as we walked in, our first sight was a set of musicians and a singer playing live free Jazz music for the restaurant patrons. The band included an upright bass, a piano, and auxiliary percussion instruments and a male singer. They stuck to Jazz standards for the most part but eing that we were at an Italian restaurant we got a generous helping of Frank Sinatra.The musicians really set the tone for the entire establishment. Everywhere you looked, even though time with the music. Needless to say when we left the restaurant, we couldn't help but feel swept away by the entire New York Jazz experience. The ambiance continued inside of the Zinc Bar. The club itself was a small, very intimate setting, with a banquette and small tables on one wall and a long bar on the other. The band was positioned at the end of the bar facing out towards the entrance. The lighting was inimal save for a few candles and colored lights.There was a two drink minimum at the tables whereas the classical concert reserved the drinking to coffee at intermission. The crowd is sparse in the beginning but grows to a full bar towards the end, which we find out is a result of the main head-liner playing at 1 1 p. m. Ron Afflf. But we had very little regrets seeing this first band, the Alexis Cole Trio. The trio consisted of a singer, Alexis Cole, Ben Stivers on the keyboards, Bill Pace on the upright bass, Ryan Scott on guitar, and Greg Ritchie on drums.The lead singer would ntroduce all of the songs before they were played unlike the classical concert where listeners relied on their programs to inform them of the upcoming pieces. The first song they played was by Bob Marley and one of my favorite tunes, â€Å"Redemption Song†. The song was faster than Bob Marleys version and in the middle, Ms. Cole transformed her voice into many different instruments as she scatted her way to the final chorus. In this song, and in every song where the band was involved, each instrument had their own chance to â€Å"scat† and improvise on their respective instruments.After each musician finished their solo, the audience was encou raged to clap which is in stark movements. The second piece was an original composition by the keyboard player, Ben Stivers, called â€Å"East of the Sun† and again featured all members of the band. I found my feet really tapping to this tune and I really enjoyed the piano solo. It had Just the right rhythm and well-balanced solos that I never felt bored. The third and fourth songs were by Thelonius Monk and unfortunately Ms. Cole never mentioned the names. Ms. Cole almost took a back seat in these songs and really let usicians go to town.The solos were intricate and involved seemingly removing the musician from the room and into his heart and mind. The listener couldn't help but be totally transfixed. I also felt that in this section the bass player really took the most risk rhythm wise and possibly might have made a mistake. I say possibly only because if he did make a mistake, he recovered so well it's possible we were Just imagining things. The fifth song was by Billy Str ahorn called â€Å"My Little Brown Book† which Ms. Cole introduced as a song about regret. This tune was only or the singer and the keyboards and was extremely intimate.One really got the sense that Ms. Cole was trying to give you something. The sixth song was another original and by far the most experimental. It started slow and soft and grew into a myriad of sounds with the guitar player playing with certain pedals on the floor. The more they played and the more she couldn't help but feel like I was caught in a windstorm. It culminated into what sounded like a disorganized Jumble of chords and solo material but somehow ended up right back at the original melody and rhythm. It was impressive to say the least.For their last song they decided to take a request from the audience and after much heckling from the crowd it was decided that they would end with â€Å"My Funny Valentine† which the keyboard player had arranged in G minor and in 3. It was an interesting take on an old standard and done in a beautiful smoky tone. It was really a nice end toa perfect New York Jazz experience. As different as classical and Jazz are, I couldn't help but feel that Jazz had at least drawn on the basics of classical music. Start with a melody, make it your own, and then tell your story. I feel that music will forever enrich my story.