Wednesday, December 25, 2019

1000 Splendid suns - 1913 Words

A.P. English 1 Pre- AP Ms. Gillis- Period 5th 23 March 2012 A Thousand Splendid Suns Research Paper The People of Afghanistan have struggled with invaders in there country for many decades. The intrusion of the soviets in 1979 was the first intrusion on the Afghan people. Many people were affected by the manifestation of the soviets and either ran away or lived in fear and war. Luckily, famous author Khaled Hosseini and his family were moved out of Kabul a few years before the Soviets invaded. Khaled Hosseini and his novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns, shows different types of people how life is for the people of Afghanistan. His book impacts the world with its intense descriptions of life, and effect on people. Khaled Hosseini†¦show more content†¦Women in Afghanistan are treated harshly by all men. The Taliban militias are known for raping women when they travel alone and/or beating them. If a women is raped some husbands kill there wives in shame of what has been done to them. In extreme cases some women live in abusive households were they are beaten and unappreciated everyday. Some women go through extreme cases were either their husbands burn them in rage or women burn themselves in order to make a statement and die with no more suffering from there husbands. A Thousand Splendid Suns is a story of an abusive husband. The impact on me from this story was immense. Living in the United States of America most people do not know what is happening in Afghanistan and/or the extent on what women are put through. Mariam is the perfect example of a life of suffering for women in Afghanistan. Dishonored as a child, she was forced to live in a clay kolba with her mother. Married off at the young age of 14, her story begins with the life style of an abusive husband. Laila, on the other hand, was raised in a family were female education was pursued and girls were aloud to attend school. Laila’s Father is a very loving man and a determined mother. These two lives help represent the different generation s and situations that have happened and are happening right now in Afghanistan.Show MoreRelatedSummary Of 1000 Splendid Suns By Khaled Hossieni1798 Words   |  8 PagesRecently, media had been continuously trying to stress this concept of privilege difference to the Public. Attempting to amplify the amount of gratitude and thankfulness that people express for the good life they have been given. The novel ‘1000 splendid suns’ by Khaled Hossieni is a wonderful written example of this, as it explores the lives of two Afghan woman and their everyday struggle with oppressing forces in every aspect of their lives. Visual representations that are similar in context toRead MoreDialogue At the Travel Agency1436 Words   |  6 Pagesand cons. And only after that we’ll be able to make a decision. So what is the price of the two-weeks’ leave in Brittany? L – Well, it depends on size of your tent and its location. The nearer to the lake the more expensive. But the average price is 1000 pounds for two people. S – And what about meals? We’ll have to cook ourselves, won’t we? Household chores on the holidays...what can be more awful? L – Well, camping offers great freedom. It’s up to you to decide at what level you want to live. YouRead MoreChristian Symbolism in Beowulf Essay1592 Words   |  7 PagesChristian symbolism in Beowulf within the poem Beowulf, the poet utilizes the Christian religion to symbolize the elements of good and evil and Heaven and Hell. Beowulf is the oldest known English epic poem. The manuscripts date back to about 1000 A.D., when two scribes wrote it down for posterity. The poem was handed down from the Anglo-Saxon period, and through the retelling of the poem, it changed a little each time. The poem creates an oral depiction of an epic hero who strived to fight againstRead MoreEssay about Christian Sybolism in Beowulf1598 Words   |  7 PagesChristian Sybolism in Beowulf Within the poem Beowulf, the poet utilizes the Christian religion to symbolize the elements of good and evil and Heaven and Hell. Beowulf is the oldest known English epic poem. The manuscripts date back to about 1000 A.D., when two scribes wrote it down for posterity. The poem was handed down from the Anglo-Saxon period, and through the retelling of the poem, it changed a little each time. The poem creates an oral depiction of an epic hero who strived to fightRead MoreThe Mythology Of Norse Mythology1944 Words   |  8 Pageswritten in Iceland. The Vikings brought Norse mythology to Iceland in the 9th century. When they spread to Iceland they brought wooden carvings of deities and a deep devotion to their religion. Norse Mythology was very popular in Iceland until about 1000 AD when lawmakers made Christianity the official religion. However, even though Christianity was the main religion, Norse Mythology survived thanks to 13-century Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson, who w rote many texts on the religion. The VikingsRead MoreMonarchy Vs. Constitutional Monarchy3315 Words   |  14 Pages† he declared. â€Å"It is now time that I govern them myself.† â€Å"I Am the State† Like his great-grandfather Philip II of Spain, Louis XIV firmly believed in his divine right to rule. He took the sun as the symbol of his absolute power. Just as the sun stands at the center of the solar system, he argued, so the Sun King stands at the center of the nation. Louis is often quoted as saying, â€Å"L’etat, c’est moi† (lay TAH seh MWAH), which in English translates as â€Å"I am the state.† During his reign, Louis didRead MoreTable Mountain National Park and Cape Town4533 Words   |  19 Pagesof the northern and eastern parts of the country) although for visitors planning to venture further north we recommend preventative medication which is obtainable at all South African pharmacies. Sun Protection: The South African sun is strong with a high ultraviolet rating, so screening products with sun protection factors of 15 and over are recommended. Visas: Passport holders from more than 80 countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan and the European Union countries can visit South Africa withoutRead MoreThe Mcdonald s : Introduction And History3453 Words   |  14 Pagescent hamburger. Ray Kroc, a business partner of the McDonalds, oversaw the restaurant’s process and made sure the employees were up to date and what was being served and what was popular at the time. Milkshakes. By the late 60s, McDonald’s grew to 1000 locations in America. It was around that time that the first international restaurant opened in Canada. Today, people go to McDonald’s to order a wide array of fuel: from salads to their famous McRib and with over 34,000 restaurants in 119 countriesRead MoreThe Formation of the English Nation and the English Language.6663 Words   |  27 Pagesclasses. The main classes were the slaves and the slave-owners. The Romans conquered all the countries around the Mediterranean. One of the last countries to be conquered by Rome was France, or Gaul as it was then called In 55 B.C. Roman Army of 1000 men crossed the channel and invaded Britain, but it had to return to Gaul. In the next year, 54 B.C., Caesar again came to Britain. This time with larger forces (25 000 men). The Celts fought bravely for their independence, but they were not strongRead MoreTop 40 Richest Families in Pakistan8594 Words   |  35 Pagesit was on the brink of default after the sanctions imposed due to the nuclear tests almost crippled Pakistan. Anyway, check it out if you have time, as it is quite a long post. 1. The Nishat Group Mian Muhammad Mansha Yaha is the captain of this splendid ship having around 30 companies on board. Mansha, who owns the Muslim Commercial Bank as well, is now setting up a billion rupee ($ 17 m) paper sack project too. He is one of the richest Pakistanis around. Nishat Group was countrys 15th richest

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

A Brief Look at Rashid Rana - 918 Words

Rashid Rana is a contemporary artist born in 1968 in Lahore, Pakistan. In 1992, he did his Bachelors in Fine Arts from the National College of Arts in Lahore, Pakistan, and received his degree of Masters of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, Massachusetts, US in 1994. Being one of the most influential artists in the country, his works have been displayed in many exhibitions here in Pakistan and abroad. He has worked on many different projects including photo mosaics and sculptures, photographic and video performances, collages using objects in the environment, and works using stainless steel. Looking for a new motive each time, he has also collaborated with billboard painters and has portrayed his ideas on canvas. The secret behind his success is using different channels to represent the originality of his works using visual language. Rana’s focus of work nowadays are large scale images made up of small pictures, which are at times in contradiction with e ach other, but sometimes also support the larger images. He is currently the head of the Fine Arts Department and one of the founding faculty members of the School of Visual Arts and Design (SVAD), Beaconhouse National University, Lahore. Rana’s works may not seem so comprehensive at first, but taking a closer look shows how detailed and subvert they are. He enabled his work to be more attractive and understandable by making it easy for an observer to comprehend by representing it with familiarShow MoreRelatedIntern Report on Credit Risk Management of Ncc Bank Limited8134 Words   |  33 Pagesto improve this condition is to develop and design the effective system for Management of Credit Risks which requires continuous study and research there-upon. ⠝â€" The study will help to understand the needs of Management of Credit Risks. ⠝â€" A brief but complete idea about Credit Risks Management (CRM) is provided in this study, which includes the problems and prospects in this regard. ⠝â€" The Knowledge as to Management of Credit Risks will be gained/ augmented. ⠝â€" The research has the potential

Monday, December 9, 2019

Audit and Assurance Business Investment Portfolio

Question: Describe about the Audit and Assurance for Business Investment Portfolio. Answer: Insurance as a business is intrinsically risky and has plenty of risks that the company needs to prudently manage in order to run the business in a profitable and sustainable manner. Some of the key risks in this regard are outlined as follows. (Gay Simnett, 2012). The investment portfolio that the company invest is exposed to continued market risk. Besides, due to human errors in the business processes and operations, there are operational risks. However, the greatest risk that the insurance business is exposed to is perhaps underwriting risk when the claims tend to exceed the premiums collected The above risks clearly indicate that the business risks are significant but these can be mitigated if managed well using appropriate risk management, One of the key strategies to manage the underwriting risk is to apply the prudential regulation norms but HIH does not follow these and instead practices a strategy that worsens the underlying risk which is reinsurance. On top of it, the company had expanded business into segments where the losses could be potentially huge such as aviation and money could be made only if sound risk framework is in place. However, HIHs internal working is extremely lousy and reckless. The group has embarked on acquisition without enough due diligence and thereby ended up acquiring a company which it should not and in the process inflated the pressure on the already deteriorating balance sheet. The company lacked sound risk management based on planning of adverse events and the nexus of the management with the auditor further prolonged these practices an d pushed HIH towards the brink of failure. Apparently, the business risk associated with HIH can be termed as high in wake of the arguments presented above. The various inherent risk factors that impact the HIH at the financial level are summarised below based on the information provided in the case. Lack of application of prudential norms It is known that the company did not apply the prudential norms despite having exposure to high risk sectors and instead opted for reinsurance which is widely believed to further increase the risk for insurance companies. Thus, this approach enhanced the inherent risk of the business and played a key role in the groups failure. Acquisition of FAI Insurance The acquisition of the above company was completed by HIH without even undergoing adequate due diligence and having enough consultations at the level of the board which is not acceptable. The end result was that the HIH group ended up paying a premium for a company they should have not even acquired as it did not make business sense for them. However, this deteriorated the financial position of the company and therefore increased the inherent risk. Management Auditor Nexus It is apparent from the information presented that there was nexus operation between the management and auditor where each party was serving each other interest so as to serve their selfish interest and in the process the investors and clients ended up as the loser. This nexus prolonged the reckless policies usage at HIH and thereby enhanced the inherent risk of the company (Gay Simnett, 2012). Independence of the Board of Directors compromised The company appointed three of the previous audit partners on the board which clearly had an adverse impact on the boards neutrality and prudence and ensured that the reckless policies and imprudent risk management policies continued unabated in the company without these coming to the notice of the external stakeholders. This evidently led to the rise in the inherent risk associated with the business (Arens et. al., 2013). 2. 1) The concerned case which the auditors counsel can quote to hint at liability of the directors of the partnership firm is Equitable Life Assurance Society v Hyman [2000] case. As per the case facts, the society sold an insurance policy with two variants i.e. a guaranteed annual return rate as against the market return. The premium associated with both these was the same so that investors can choose as per their risk profile. However, it so happened that whenever it was found that the guaranteed returns exceeded the market rate of returns, then the directors deployed their discretion to cause reduction in the terminal bonuses of the guaranteed returns policyholders. This resulted in lesser returns than promised and hence the court ruled the matter in favour of aggrieved policyholders holding the directors of the firm responsible for the losses borne by clients (Swarb, 2015). 2) For avoiding the liability from the creditors, the auditors counsel can bring to notice the Therapy Partners of America Inc v. Health Providers, Inc[1998] case. In case of a declaratory judgement, it is imperative for the court to ensure, if there is any existence of controversy between the parties and if the same is justifiable or not. From this case, it can be highlighted that it is possible for the partnership frim to defend a declaratory decision and take a stance in such cases which implies that liability of creditors is to be borne by the partnership firm (Findlaw, nd). For establishing negligence beyond any doubt, it is of utmost importance that the following three conditions need to be satisfied, Duty of Care It needs to be established that the defendant had a duty to care towards the plaintiff owing to the proximate relation to be tested through the neighbour test where it is seen whether the plaintiff would be impacted by the choices made by the defendant with regards to engaging or refraining from a particular activity. However, the contour of this duty to care is limited to only that danger or harm which is foreseeable by any reasonable third party in the given situation (Harvey, 2009). Breach of Duty The defendant owing to the duty to care is obliged to take relevant and reasonable measures to ensure that no damage is caused to the plaintiff and precautions should be taken. The level of care extended towards the plaintiff has direct relationship with the possibility of risk and the extent of damage to result from the same. However, if the defendant acts in a reckless manner and hence do not extend adequate care towards plaintiff so as to recharge his/her duty,, then breach of duty has taken place (Lindgren, 2011). Damage The breach of duty could cause damage to the plaintiff and this is wide in its meaning and includes not only physical or financial harm but extends in the domain of mental and emotional suffering as well. However, it is imperative to develop a causal link between the breach of duty by the defendant and the damage being suffered by the plaintiff. The recommended manner to establish the same is to prove that damage could have been prevented if the duty had not been breached (Pathinayake, 2014). The fulfilment of all the above conditions leads to negligence being conclusively established. 3. It is apparent from the information provided that the previous audit partners have been appointed to the board. The appointment of not one but three partners from one audit firm seems extremely dubious and by any stretch of imagination no justifiable reason emerges except the strong possibility of a quid pro quo relationship between the management of HIH and Arthur Anderson audit partners. The company rewarded the auditors with hefty fees through the consulting contracts where the auditors performed their jobs by being :cooperative and assuring by ensuring that the glaring discrepancies tend to continue without being reported in any report for the external shareholders. The current move to appoint the auditors at the board positions seems a symbolic gesture and a continued ploy of management auditor nexus where the mutual interests are served (Heeler, 2009). Even though there are issues with the concept of auditors also being involved in consulting on account of conflict of interests, however there are some obvious advantages due to which the idea is still muted in academic and professional circles. These are summed below. Audit Services Quality Enhancement The involving of the audit company in providing consulting services to the same client results in enhanced understanding of the companys business model coupled with potential risks. For an auditor, this information is highly valuable as the auditor also needs to critically determine the inherent risk of the business which requires a sound understanding of the underlying business. Also, the key risks and critical functions also become apparent which facilitates the process of audit planning and related formation of strategy to implement the audit work. Also, this enhanced understanding of the business is critical for the audit team with regards to application of requisite controls and procedures. Hence, the net impact of this is that there is material drop in the misrepresentation of financial statements as the audit quality witnesses an improvement (Gay Simnett, 2012). Consulting Services Quality Enhancement Further, the audit services experience and information aids in the consulting process which can provide solutions that are more pragmatic and take into consideration the clients needs. In this context, a pivotal role is granted by due consideration to the tax structures and the implications of the business decisions in this regard and ensuring tax effective solutions are proposed (Arens et. al., 2013). c) Currently, there is a trend where the audit providers are also venturing into consulting services and engaging in cross selling to the same client. While this may be permissible by law but clearly in the wake of the recent incidents, this is an extremely unethical approach. This is because acting in a dual capacity of auditor and consultant could result in conflict of interest. This risk is even compounded when the client associate lucrative consulting contracts with the auditing flexibility displayed by the auditor in provided an unqualified audit opinion (Clout, Chappelle Gandhi, 2013). With the investor confidence in audit services at the nadir after incidents such as Enron and HIH where the explicit involvement of auditors cannot be denied, it is imperative that the auditors should refrain from engaging in any activity that leads to suspicion in the mind of investors and other users. The practices adopted by HIH in the given case are testimony to how the dual provision of con sulting and auditing can be detrimental to the investors interest. This could potentially enhance the agency costs and pose doom for the profession of audit in the long run as investor confidence gradually erodes (Livne, 2015). d) The emergence of various reforms like Ramsay Report and CLERP assume importance in the wake of incidents such as HIH where it was clearly highlighted that lack of disclosures from HIH coupled with compromised independence of external auditor proved to be a nemesis for the investors (Arens et. al., 2013). The aim of CLERP 9 was to ensure that sound corporate governance policies be framed and implemented by the companies that would lead to greater transparency. Prominent recommendations are outlined below (Clout, Chappelle Gandhi, 2013). Increase the amount of disclosures in the annual report of the company. In this regard, particular emphasis was given on adding incremental sections such as Directors report and Remuneration Section which would enhance the overall information received at the end of investors. External auditors to be rotated on a periodic basis so as to avoid collusion of the management and auditor. On the other hand, the core focus of the Ramsay Report was to ensure external auditor independence for which the following measures were suggested (Parker, 2002). The internal audit committee to be strengthened with greater powers and scope of functioning. Proactive measures need to be taken to ensure that the relationship between auditor and client remains constrained. The annual report should contain declaration with regards to auditor independence and also board independence to be issued by the board and auditor respectively. It was suggested that a committee named as Auditor Independence Supervisory Board be put in place to ensure that independence of the auditor is not compromised. The steps taken above if implemented with full intent could potentially prove to a game changer and enhance the overall corporate governance standards thereby lowering the agency costs and also provide a new lifeline to the auditor profession which currently is facing a looming crisis (Gay Simnett, 2012). References Arens, A., Best, P., Shailer, G. Fiedler,I. 2013. Auditing, Assurance Services and Ethics in Australia, 2nd eds., Pearson Australia, Sydney Findlaw nd, THERAPY PARTNERS OF AMERICA INC v. HEALTH PROVIDERS INC, Findlaw Website, Available online from https://caselaw.findlaw.com/oh-court-of-appeals/1097866.html (Accessed on September 4, 2016) Clout, V, Chappelle, E Gandhi, N 2013, The impact of auditor independence regulations on established and emerging firms,Accounting Research JournalVol. 26, No. 2, pp. 88-108 Gay, G. Simnett, R. 2012, Auditing and Assurance Services in Australia, 5th eds., McGraw-Hill Education, Sydney Harvey, C. 2009, Foundations of Australian law. 3rd eds., Tilde University Press, Prahran, Victoria Heeler, D 2009, Audit Principles, Risk Assessment Effective Reporting. 4th ed., Pearson Press, Sydney Lindgren, KE 2011, Vermeesch and Lindgren's Business Law of Australia, 12th eds., LexisNexis Publications, Sydney Livne, G 2015, Threats to Auditor Independence and Possible Remedies, Finance Practitioner Website, Available online from https://www.financepractitioner.com/auditing-best-practice/threats-to-auditor-independence-and-possible-remedies?full. (Accessed on September 4, 2016) Parker, C 2002. Auditing at arms length, CACharter, February, pp. 38-40 Pathinayake, A 2014, Commercial and Corporations Law, 2nd eds., Thomson-Reuters, Sydney Swarb 2015, EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY V HYMAN; HL 20 JUL 2000, Available online from https://swarb.co.uk/equitable-life-assurance-society-v-hyman-hl-20-jul-2000/ (Accessed on September 4. 2016)

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Thales Ship At Sea Activity Purpose The Purpose Of The Activity Was T

Thales "Ship at Sea" Activity Purpose: The purpose of the activity was to learn that the Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles are Congruent (CPCTC), and how you can use it in different situations. We familiarized ourselves with the corresponding parts of congruent triangles. We also were supposed to find the distance to an object without actually measuring the distance to that object directly. Step one: Suzie Pipperno and I had to pick a concrete block about forty feet away from the sidewalk in back of the school. Step two: We then tried to align a cone with the cement block without getting close to it. Step three: We had to pace out a certain distance, 10 steps, from the cone, place a flag, the pace the same distance again, in a continuous segment, and place another cone. Step four: We walked at a right angle to the second cone until we had the cement block and the flag perfectly in line. Step five: We took a string and stretched it the distance from the second cone to the pla ce we stopped walking. Step six: We placed the string against a tape measure and found that the approximate distance from the cement block to the first cone was thirty eight feet-two inches. Step seven: We used the string to measure the exact distance from the cement block the first cone using the tape measure to measure the string, which was forty two feet-one inch. Step Eight: We used the string to get an exact measurement from the first cone to the flag. Then used the string to correct the distance of the second cone from the flag. Step nine: We walked at a right angle from the second cone until the flag and the cement block are lined up again. Step ten: We used the string and tape measure to measure the distance of the path we walked and came up with forty one feet-two inches. Conclusion: We were able to conclude, without directly measuring the distance to the cement block, that the distance to the block was approximately forty one feet-two inches. Relation: The way this activit y relates to our mathematical studies is that it familiarizes us with the congruent parts of congruent triangles, and teaches us that you can use the congruence of triangles in real life. How we proved the triangles congruent: If you look at the attached diagram you will see that there are 2 sides with a | through them. That means that those sides, or line segments, are congruent. You will also notice two angles with ?s spanning their angle measure. That means that that those two angles are congruent. Also you will see two sides with a || through them. That means the same thing as the first pair of segments with the | through them, but it signifies that those two line segments are congruent with each other and not the other two. These triangles are congruent by a postulate SAS (Side-Angle-Side). Which states that if two triangles have a Side an Angle and a Side Congruent then both of the triangles are totally congruent. Comments on Activity: I think that the activity was worthwhil e, because I learned how errors in measurement and sighting can cause inaccuracies in measured distences, and the larger the distances you are working with, the larger the errors. Idea to Improve or Extend: My idea is to do the activity three times, and in each have the block at a different distance. This would enable you to see how distance effects accuracy. Glossary Angle- an angle consists of two different rays that have the same initial point, the vertex. Congruent angles- two angles that share the same measure Congruent segments- two segments that share the same measure CPCTC- abbreviation for corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent Postulate-A statement accepted without proof as true SAS Postulate-If two sides and the included angle of one triangle are congruent to two sides and the included angle of another triangle, then the two triangles are congruent Triangle- A polygon with three sides