Innovator of the Modern Art Essay

Jackson became one of the trendsetters of the modern art movement. His technique, materials and perception of art distinguished him from other equally talented 20th century artists. The artworks that he produced represented his enigmatic character. Though many were amused with his painting, there were also those who questioned his artistic talents and knowledge. But he did not let these criticisms compromise his distinct creativity. Pollock was categorized as an Abstract Expressionist artist primarily because of his infamous drip paintings including the â€Å"Convergence†. These drip paintings were painted on a large canvas on the floor. According to Pollock, painting on the floor made him feel closer to his painting. He was able to work on the different angles of the canvass by walking around it. This unusual technique was considered by Pollock as a way of being a part of the painting not just the typical creator of it. The act of letting the the paint drip into the canvass generated prolonged and continuous lines in which the paintings were dominated by white and black and sometimes there were hints of exciting bold colors. In addition, the drips of the paint were able to create a three dimensional effect making it tactile and visually appealing. With regards to the choice of materials, Pollock utilized uncommon paints and brushes. His paints were industrial and household paints that he described as the â€Å"natural growth out of a need † (Boddy-Evans, 2008, What Paint Did Pollock Use? ). Meanwhile, the brushes were deteriorated and hard to let the paint naturally drip down the canvas. Pollock explained his painting method as â€Å"new needs need new techniques† meaning the modern age requires new approaches to reflect its real essence (Boddy-Evans, 2008, What Paint Did Pollock Use? ). References Boddy-Evans, M. ( 2008). What Paint Did Pollock Use?. About Inc. Retrieved March 26, 2008, from http://painting. about. com/od/colourtheory/a/Pollock_paint. htm.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Fptp System

First Past The Post, like other plurality/majoriAdvantages and disadvantages of FPTP systemty electoral systems, is defended primarily on the grounds of simplicity and its tendency to produce winners who are representatives beholden to defined geographic areas and governability. The most often cited advantages are that: It provides a clear-cut choice for voters between two main parties. The inbuilt disadvantages faced by third and fragmented minority parties under FPTP in many cases cause the party system to gravitate towards a party of the ‘left’ and a party of the ‘right’, alternating in power.Third parties often wither away and almost never reach a level of popular support above which their national vote yields a comparable percentage of seats in the legislature. It gives rise to single-party governments. The ‘seat bonuses’ for the largest party common under FPTP (e. g. where one party wins 45 per cent of the national vote but 55 per cent of the seats) mean that coalition governments are the exception rather than the rule.This state of affairs is praised for providing cabinets which are not shackled by the restraints of having to bargain with a minority coalition partner. It gives rise to a coherent opposition in the legislature. In theory, the flip side of a strong single-party government is that the opposition is also given enough seats to perform a critical checking role and present itself as a realistic alternative to the government of the day. It advantages broadly-based political parties.In severely ethnically or regionally divided societies, FPTP is commended for encouraging political parties to be ‘broad churches’, encompassing many elements of society, particularly when there are only two major parties and many different societal groups. These parties can then field a diverse array of candidates for election. In Malaysia, for example, the Barisan Nasional government is made up of a broadly-based um brella movement which fields Malay, Chinese, and Indian candidates in areas of various ethnic complexions.It excludes extremist parties from representation in the legislature. Unless an extremist minority party’s electoral support is geographically concentrated, it is unlikely to win any seats under FPTP. (By contrast, under a List PR system with a single national-level district and a large number of seats, a fraction of 1 per cent of the national vote can ensure representation in the legislature. ) It promotes a link between constituents and their representatives, as it produces a legislature made up of representatives of geographical areas.Elected members represent defined areas of cities, towns, or regions rather than just party labels. Some analysts have argued that this ‘geographic accountability’ is particularly important in agrarian societies and in developing countries. It allows voters to choose between people rather than just between parties. Voters can assess the performance of individual candidates rather than just having to accept a list of candidates presented by a party, as can happen under some List PR electoral systems. It gives a chance for popular independent candidates to be elected.This may be particularly important in developing party systems, where politics still revolves more around extended ties of family, clan, or kinship and is not based on strong party political organizations. Finally, FPTP systems are particularly praised for being simple to use and understand. A valid vote requires only one mark beside the name or symbol of one candidate. Even if the number of candidates on the ballot paper is large, the count is easy for electoral officials to conduct. Disadvantages of FPTPHowever, FPTP is frequently criticized for a number of reasons. These include: It excludes smaller parties from ‘fair’ representation, in the sense that a party which wins approximately, say, 10 per cent of the votes should win approximately 10 per cent of the legislative seats. In the 1993 federal election in Canada, the Progressive Conservatives won 16 per cent of the votes but only 0. 7 per cent of the seats, and in the 1998 general election in Lesotho, the Basotho National Party won 24 per cent of the votes but only 1 per cent of the seats.This is a pattern which is repeated time and time again under FPTP. It excludes minorities from fair representation. As a rule, under FPTP, parties put up the most broadly acceptable candidate in a particular district so as to avoid alienating the majority of electors. Thus it is rare, for example, for a black candidate to be given a major party’s nomination in a majority white district in the UK or the USA, and there is strong evidence that ethnic and racial minorities across the world are far less likely to be represented in legislatures elected by FPTP.In consequence, if voting behaviour does dovetail with ethnic divisions, then the exclusion from represent ation of members of ethnic minority groups can be destabilizing for the political system as a whole. It excludes women from the legislature. The ‘most broadly acceptable candidate’ syndrome also affects the ability of women to be elected to legislative office because they are often less likely to be selected as candidates by male-dominated party structures. Evidence across the world suggests that women are less likely to be elected to the legislature under plurality/majority systems than under PR ones.It can encourage the development of political parties based on clan, ethnicity or region, which may base their campaigns and policy platforms on conceptions that are attractive to the majority of people in their district or region but exclude or are hostile to others. This has been an ongoing problem in African countries like Malawi and Kenya, where large communal groups tend to be regionally concentrated. The country is thus divided into geographically separate party stro ngholds, with little incentive for parties to make appeals outside their home region and cultural–political base.It exaggerates the phenomenon of ‘regional fiefdoms’ where one party wins all the seats in a province or area. If a party has strong support in a particular part of a country, winning a plurality of votes, it will win all, or nearly all, of the seats in the legislature for that area. This both excludes minorities in that area from representation and reinforces the perception that politics is a battleground defined by who you are and where you live rather than what you believe in.This has long been put forward as an argument against FPTP in Canada. It leaves a large number of wasted votes which do not go towards the election of any candidate. This can be particularly dangerous if combined with regional fiefdoms, because minority party supporters in the region may begin to feel that they have no realistic hope of ever electing a candidate of their choice . It can also be dangerous where alienation from the political system increases the likelihood that extremists will be able to mobilize anti-system movements.It can cause vote-splitting. Where two similar parties or candidates compete under FPTP, the vote of their potential supporters is often split between them, thus allowing a less popular party or candidate to win the seat. Papua New Guinea provides a particularly clear example. It may be unresponsive to changes in public opinion. A pattern of geographically concentrated electoral support in a country means that one party can maintain exclusive executive control in the face of a substantial drop in overall popular support.In some democracies under FPTP, a fall from 60 per cent to 40 per cent of a party’s share of the popular vote nationally can result in a fall from 80 per cent to 60 per cent in the number of seats held, which does not affect its overall dominant position. Unless sufficient seats are highly competitive, th e system can be insensitive to swings in public opinion. Finally, FPTP systems are dependent on the drawing of electoral boundaries. All electoral boundaries have political consequences: there is no technical process to produce a single ‘correct answer’ independently of political or other considerations.Boundary delimitation may require substantial time and resources if the results are to be accepted as legitimate. There may also be pressure to manipulate boundaries by gerrymandering or malapportionment. This was particularly apparent in the Kenyan elections of 1993 when huge disparities between the sizes of electoral districts—the largest had 23 times the number of voters the smallest had—contributed to the ruling Kenyan African National Union party’s winning a large majority in the legislature with only 30 per cent of the popular vote.

History †The American Revolution Essay

Throughout the colonial period, there were many factors that led to the Revolutionary war, and it was when Britain began passing increasingly oppressive restrictions that colonists began to see independence as the only alternative to British rule. More than anything else, the actions of the British government fostered the feelings of nationalism in the loose collection of isolated colonies. There were many classical examples of British encroachment against liberty in the eyes of the colonists. After the French and Indian War, Britain changed its policies regarding the colonies. These changes in policy, especially the British attempt to raise revenue through direct taxation aroused resentment and in the colonies. Because of the war, Americans gained self-confidence and military experience, saw the need for colonial unity to meet common problems, and had the danger of attack by the French and certain Indian tribes removed from their frontiers and thus become less dependent on Britain. The British policies enacted were meant to place the colonies under strict British political and economic control, compel the colonies to respect and obey British law, and make the colonies bear their part of the cost of maintaining the British Empire (Gordon, 1993). The series of British decrees that followed faced strong opposition in the colonies and did little but encourage nationalism. The Navigation Acts and Writs of Assistance greatly hindered the colonists’ freedom to pursue maximum profit from their labor, as well as freedom from unfair searches by British authorities. No single act did more to unify opposition to imperial rule as the Stamp Act, which led directly to colonists taking the name of â€Å"Patriots† to show their solidarity and opposition (â€Å"The American Revolution: Causes and Consequences,† p. 4). The Stamp Act was the first internal tax levied on the colonies and negatively affected influential lawyers, clergy, and printers, who would increase the sense of national unity and opposition to the crown. The Townshend Acts were a new tax levied on colonial imports, and those colonists in violation were forced to submit to a military trial instead of trial by jury in colonial court (Gordon, 1993). The Quartering Act also imposed upon colonists to provide food and shelter to British soldiers. These taxes and acts, mostly designed to create subordination amongst colonists, had the opposite effect. Colonist began to protest, and delegates from nine colonies even created a Stamp Act Congress in 1765 to protest British tax and boycott British goods. With widespread opposition continuing to grow, the Boston massacre enraging colonists, and the Intolerable Acts coming as the final blow, the First Continental Congress was formed in 1774 and the first steps towards complete national unity had been taken (Gordon, 1993). By 1776, the colonists were ready for a complete break from Britain, no matter the costs, even war against a world power. Despite being untrained and outgunned, the American colonists enjoyed many advantages that enabled them to win the war. The colonies were separated from Britain by 3000 miles of ocean with contacts maintained only by slow moving ships. This slow and sometimes non-existent communication only widened the gap between the genteel British nobility and forces in America. Although most colonists were British in origin, their environment had transformed them into Americans, with intimate knowledge of the makeup of the land. Interaction with Indians, the often difficult North American environment, and the feeling of independence from home rule created a situation in which the Americans were simply more motivated and willing to fight than their British counterparts. Furthermore, many Americans had come from countries hostile to Britain, contributing to the anti-British sentiment. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a small but highly active minority resented the British monarchy and desired independence which inspired the country to fight. Likewise, the British authorities failed to comprehend the seriousness of colonial resolve. King George III, seeking to revive executive power in Britain, considered the colonists ungrateful and disloyal, rejected efforts at compromise, and pursued a policy of suppressing the colony by force (Gordon, 1993). Presented with a harsh, growing opposition from Britain, colonists began to see themselves as something unique—Americans. Their European way of living was modified by the American environment, especially the frontier with its great tracts of available land, its danger from the Indians, and its challenges from Nature. In adjusting to the new environment, the colonists were forced to change and it only aided their separation from British rule. They developed a spirit of individualism, self-reliance, independence, and faith in the future. With the passing of time, a new person emerged that was no longer a European, but an American in character and outlook (Gordon, 1993). This independent spirit did echo many of the ideals that encouraged British peasants centuries earlier to challenge the monarchy for increased rights, and may have been inevitable. The former British quest for independence saw the creation of the Magna Carta, Parliament, the passage of English Common Law, and eventually the English Bill of Rights during the Glorious Revolution of the late seventeenth century. American desire for self-rule and democracy was uniquely British in that regard, and the distance from the kingdom allowed the colonists to actively seek full independence in a way that the British common man could not. And, through perseverance and high ideals, the colonies succeeded in uniting to defeat their common enemy and create the United States of America.

Introduction to Quality Assurance

One of the important aspects of any healthcare organization is the quality assurance mechanism.   Any healthcare organization would have to be professionally competent, ensuring that the processes in the organization would ultimately ensure the safety of the services provided.   The organization should develop an effective strategy of handling the quality issues. It is important that the administrators understand the importance of quality, develop a quality assurance program, implement it in a phased manner over a period of time, release resources needed for quality assurance, utilize appropriate quality tools, develop and maintain processes and develop an appropriate auditing system.   Some of the quality assurance tools utilized include management tools, presentation tools and statistical analysis tools.   Some of the process deployment tools include marketing tools, tools for changing behavior, etc (Software Certifications, 2006). As healthcare sector is a vital industry, it is very important that quality assurance is given prime importance by the organization.   One of the very important aspects is customer satisfaction and reducing risk.   Protection of patients is the most important aspect of quality assurance.   However, not less important is to ensure that cost-effectiveness and responsive attitude is maintained.   All these significantly contribute towards bringing about patient satisfaction (LRQA, 2003). Some of the measures that may be required for quality assurance include:- Having a quality assurance program in priority areas Responding to the needs of the public appropriately Identifying means by which costs can be reduced and implementing a strategy to save costs Developing best practices mechanisms Accreditation in order to improve quality standards Not only achieving certain quality standards but upgrading them frequently Having an effective decision-making and problem-solving process in the organization (Gonzalez, 2006). References: Gonzalez, M. (2006). â€Å"Health Care Sector Reform and Quality Assurance in Costa Rica.’ Retrieved on April 11, 2008, from QA Project Web site: http://www.qaproject.org/pubs/PDFs/costarica.pdf Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance Limited (2003). â€Å"Quality in the healthcare sector.† Retrieved on April 11, 2008, from LRQA Review Web site: http://www.lrqa.fr/frsite/content/pdf/rev0603.pdf Software Certifications (2006). â€Å"2006 CSQA Body of Knowledge.† Retrieved on April 11, 2008, from Software Certifications Web site: http://www.softwarecertifications.org/csqabok/csqa6cbok4.htm

Legal Foundations of the European Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Legal Foundations of the European Union - Essay Example ented by the Luxembourg veto – the right of a state whose interests is at stake in a Commission proposal to invoke its veto power – which then became the usual scapegoat of Member States out of an EC legislative proposal. In addition, the EC expansion from six to nine members as well as the worldwide recession in 1974 contributed to the stalling of the European integration. However, the EC integration was not totally stopped as the community spirit continued to linger in some form or another. The European Political Cooperation was eventually established, European Community meetings became regular and the elections to the European Parliament began taking place. In 1986, the Single European Act (SEA) was passed – a historical watershed in the European integration – where the then 12-member states committed themselves, among others, to become one common economic market.1 On December 10, 1991, the Treaty of European Union also known as the Treaty of Maastricht was passed and this treaty introduced three important policies into the EU: monetary policy; fiscal policy, and; structural adjustment policy. It amended and extended the earlier Treaty of Rome with respect to the areas covered by the EC like the creation of a central banking system called the European System of Central Banks and paved the way for the creation of a new currency, the ECU, for the region.2 From then on, European integration was well on its way albeit the emergence of certain obstacles along the way like the rejection France and the Netherlands of the Constitutional Treaty in 2005 and recently,3 by the non-ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Irish Republic citizens in a public referendum.4 On October 29, 2004, the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed but as earlier stated it met a tragic fate as the countries of France and Netherlands failed to ratify the same and since ratification by all member countries was sine qua non to its existence, the treaty was therefore

Core- Global issues Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Core- Global issues - Assignment Example There is a comparable example in numerous creating nations, where disparities have climbed pointedly to a great extent because of the reception of budgetary liberalization and modification strategies. In addition, as in praiseworthy economies, the ascent in income inequality shows up firmly connected with more continuous domesticated fiscal emergencies. As it were, there gives off the impression of being a solid connection between the ascent in income inequality and the expanding recurrence of financial emergencies over the world. (UNDP np) Despite the fact that the unfriendly impacts of fiscal emergencies on growth and neediness are overall reported, the way that budgetary emergencies additionally have a tendency to intensify income circulation in creating economies is less as often as possible recognized. As this happens and biases decline, they make the precise conditions that incite the following emergency. Consequently, climbing income inequality, be it in developed or creating economies, has turned into a vital driver of helplessness as of late. Moreover, the diligence of inequality at abnormal amounts in numerous creating economies has made it more troublesome to lessen neediness. It is well acknowledged at this point that the more amazing inequality makes it more improbable that financial development can decrease destitution—paying little mind to the rate of monetary growth. Also, there is a developing agreement that the unnecessary inequality can stunt growth itself. (UNDP np) High inequality can additionally have undesirable political and social results. Where the establishments of government are powerless, inequality intensifies the issue of making and keeping up responsible government, growing the likelihood of financial and social approaches that hinder development, and destitution lessening and where social organizations are delicate, inequality further disheartens the municipal and social life that undergirds

Event Study for Efficient Market Hypothesis- Ex dividend Data Dissertation

Event Study for Efficient Market Hypothesis- Ex dividend Data - Dissertation Example Anomalies in the expression of the standard, tax centric theory of stock performances have been noted and described. While a tax centric hypothesis has explanatory power, this study examines evidence that there are additional forces of corporate governance, ownership concentration, and market capitalization that can adjust the performance of dividends independent of taxation. This study is a meta-analysis describing the Western standard for market forces pertaining to dividend taxation, on the assumption that stock prices must be adjusted to less than the amount of the dividend in order to compensate for taxation. Yet comparison with Asian markets introduces exceptions to that premise. Ultimately, more data is needed in order to falsify the tax centric hypothesis, however this principle is a subject to modification and interference by other market forces that influence the behaviors of investors and the performance of stocks. EVENT STUDY FOR EFFICIENT MARKET HYPOTHESIS – EX DI VIDEND DATA Table of Contents Abstract †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. p. 2 Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. p. 4 Methodology †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. p. 7 Chapter 1: Literature Review †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. p. 8 Chapter 2: Korean Markets †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. p. ... 31 Introduction Since the advent of tradable stocks on the national and international markets there has been a great deal of calculation and speculation in regards to the relationship between stock returns and dividend yields, both in the informal imagination of financial advisors, as well as in the formalized literature therein. Decades ago, popularize models of tax effects created the presumption that higher risk investments were necessary to compensate for returns that incurred greater taxes. Returns on investments should be risk adjusted with respect to stocks. This would compensate the investor for higher rates of taxation through higher dividend yields. This is necessary due to higher levels of taxation of dividend income as compared with capital gains income. (Brennan, 1970 p.417-427) To be specific, dividend income refers to profits yielded by a publicly traded corporation. In which case of course, the profits can be turned back into the business, to invest in facility enhanc ements, or possibly salaries – in which case they qualify as retained earnings. Or they can be distributed to shareholders who provided initial investments that contributed to the company's initial success. All in respect to the initial contribution based upon the value and number of shares purchased by a particular investor. (Sullivan and Sheffrin, 2003) these may take a variety of forms, such as currency cash dividends, Stock/scrip dividends that constitute additional shares of the Corporation, or property dividends, which can take a variety of forms including shares of another corporation or other assets or services. (Sullivan and Sheffrin, 2003) In many cases, taxation rates are higher for dividend income compared with capital gains. To be specific, we are referring to capital