Ireland :: essays research papers

The Northern-Irish conflict Kort om konflikten i Nord-Irland. The Northern-Irish conflict dates back to not only one, but probably several historical incidents. 1170 In 1170, Henry 2 of England attempted to attach Ireland to his kingdom. He did not succeed, but established control in a small area outside Dublin. For the remaining Irish clans, England now became their major enemy and threat, against their customs and way of life. 1609 By the end of Queen Elisabeth’s reign, military conquests had established control in most parts of Ireland, with the exception of the northern province of Ulster. The Ulster clans had succeeded in creating an effective alliance against Queen Elisabeth’s armies, but was eventually defeated and brought under English rule. English colonists settled in these areas and by 1703 less then 5 per cent of the land of Ulster belonged to Catholics Irish. The native people of Ulster remained in the conquered areas, but were gradually expelled from the land that they used to own. The result of the settling of Ulster was the introduction of a foreign community, which spoke a different language, represented another culture and way of life. In addition, most of the newcomers were Protestants, while the native Irish were Catholic. This probably added a new dimension to the conflict. The next two centuries, differences between Protestants and Catholics increased. The Irish monarchy, parliament and government based in Dublin, enforced several new laws against Catholics. In 1801, in an attempt to increase the direct control of Ireland, the Irish government were abolished and it’s responsibilities taken over by England. During the 19th century several movements tried overthrowing the new government. Some using legal measures and some uses physical force to achieve their goal. During Easter week an armed rising attempted to overthrow the government, but failed. Their leaders were killed, creating sympathy for the IRA and Sinn Fein, its political wing. In the 1918 election, Sinn Fein replaced the old Irish parliamentary parties, and established its own Irish parliament. The following War of Independence between Britain and the IRA was eventually ended by a treaty signed in 1920. The treaty also confirmed the northern counties of Ulster as protestant land. Now, roughly speaking, the Catholics lived in the southern parts of the country and the Protestants in the northern. 1969 By the 1950s there were growing signs that some Catholics were prepared to accept equality within Northern Ireland. This, despite of the unfair treatment they had received from the Protestants during the last decades.

Citi Group Restructuring

Background It all began with the financial crisis of 2007-2008, a crisis which was of a scale that had never been seen before. Many economists called it even worse than the Great Depression. Whether it was or not, that’s something that could be argued. But everyone was of the view that the crisis is really very serious. As a result of it large financial institutions collapsed, banks were being bailed out by the national governments and stock markets tanked to their new lows.This caused the collapse of housing markets in many countries, consumer spending suffered immensely as a result, industries went bankrupt, businesses closed down and unemployment peaked. There were many reasons that were put forth by various economists. A report presented in the US senate called it as the â€Å"failure of regulators, credit agencies and markets†. Citigroup’s Sufferings According to a US government’s report which came into the light in 2011, Citigroup which was the third largest US bank in terms of assets at that time was on the verge of failure.Regulators were going to pull the plugs on it anytime as depositors were withdrawing their deposits and bank’s counterparties also declined to give credits to the bank. How Citigroup moved to new setup? Citigroup suffered losses for five consecutive quarters. In the fifth quarter, in fact its losses were to the tune of $ 8. 29 billion. Many in the Citigroup agreed to the fact that unless something is done to sharpen its strategy, Citigroup will never regain its glory and perform accordingly.As a result, Citigroup started analyzing its business and strategies. It was found that Citigroup was involved in too many business segments which stopped it from focusing on its core interest area. While analyzing, everything big or small was examined. Citigroup in its annual report called the analysis as â€Å"wide ranging and dispassionate†. The outcome of this analysis was that the Citigroup finally dec ided to realign the group’s various business interests in two broad segments: Citicorp and Citi Holdings.The thinking behind this new setup was that this structure will help the company focus on its core business areas which in turn would improve the overall performance, while at the same time realizing the value from its non-core assets. The new structure would look like this: In Citicorp, businesses which were core to the group’s strategy and which offered maximum earnings potential to its shareholders with appropriate risk parameters were placed. These businesses are: †¢ Global Transaction Services – Treasury and Trade Solutions Securities and Fund Services †¢ Securities and Banking – Global Banking – Global Markets – Citi Private Bank – Citi Capital Advisors †¢ Regional Consumer Banking – Four Regional Consumer Banks in North America, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), Latin America and Asia that each in clude retail banking, local commercial banking and Citi-branded cards (Source: http://www. citigroup. com/citi/investor/quarterly/2010) Citicorp, according to the new structure will be a relationship driven global bank, to serve both consumers and businesses.The assets of Citicorp include its core assets located across the globe with strong presence in emerging markets like India, China etc. Citicorp will have the capability to take deposits from customers throughout the world in a manner so that maximum return could be availed. Citicorp will have the capacity to serve local customers globally and global customers in a highly localized way. While in Citi Holdings, assets and businesses which were not central to Citi’s strategy were placed.But that does not mean that those assets were not good. Some have had very high value in their own right. Some were big iconic brands like Morgan Stanley Smith Barney joint venture. Citi Holdings includes: †¢ Brokerage and Asset Managem ent, which includes the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney joint venture †¢ Local Consumer Lending – North America, which includes residential and commercial real estate loans; auto, student and personal loans; and retail partner cards International, which includes Western Europe consumer banking and other consumer finance franchises around the world †¢ Special Asset Pool, which includes non-core assets, many of which are illiquid in current markets Citi Holdings will consist of non-core businesses which attract long term investments. But since those businesses are not the core one, therefore they do not enhance the performance of the group as a whole and in fact they compete for the limited resources that the company could employ in a highly risky and volatile situation.It was expected that the management team of Citi Holdings will restructure, divest and manage its business in a way that maximizes the value and will take the group forward in a tough economic situation Vi kram Pandit, then CEO of Citigroup in one of his interview talked about â€Å"accelerating the implementation of its newly evolved strategy to focus on its core business†. Given the market conditions and business sentiments, Vikram Pandit wanted to streamline the business of Citigroup as soon as possible to further strengthen its position and better serve its clients.

Much Ado About Nothing †Benedick and Beatrice Essay

Benedick and Beatrice have close connections in the play, Benedick is portrayed to be a staunch bachelor, whereas Beatrice a combative character, also ironically, due to this being set in the Renaissance era, outspoken. Benedick is seen as very misogynistic. Benedick is portrayed as a misogynistic character to the audience; this is presented on multiple occasions. Benedick inquires if Claudio would, â€Å"Buy† Hero. The verb â€Å"Buy† suggests that women were seen as objects in the Renaissance era. Claudio responds to Benedick, â€Å"Can the world buy such a jewel?† Benedick’s response also backs up the point that women were seen to be commodities in his view as he declares you can indeed buy her, â€Å"and a case to put [her] it in†. The noun â€Å"case† shows us that Benedick’s views are presented to the audience about his misogynistic sentiment. Benedick states that all women shall, â€Å"Pardon† him. He will do himself, â€Å"the right to trust none† explaining that he doesn’t trust women. Beatrice is presented to the audience as being a very witty character, this is shown at the ‘masked ball’ where Beatrice pretends she doesn’t realise that the man in the mask is Benedick. Beatrice’s crude comments towards Benedick such as he is the, â€Å"Prince’s jester, a very dull fool†, Incorporating a sardonic tone in order to incorporate excess agony for Benedick. Benedick is presented as a character that staunchly defends his decision to remain single, claiming he â€Å"will live a bachelor† forever. We can tell from the modal verb ‘will’ that he is in attempt to avoid women at all costs. Benedick’s explanation of a perfect women being, â€Å"fair†¦virtuous†¦ rich†¦ mild† is impossibly perfect, presenting him as not wanting a wife due to the fact there was no women with all these attributes in the Renaissance era therefore his status as a single man, a bachelor would remain unchallenged. Beatrice is presented as a combative and outspoken character; this is shown immediately at the beginning of the play where Beatrice challenges Benedick to an intellectual battle of wits. Beatrice inquires why Benedick is â€Å"still talking†, when â€Å"nobody marks [him] you. The pronoun ‘nobody’ reinforces her low regard for him however still ironically reveals that she is the only person still interested in what he is saying. This shows Beatrice is uncharacteristic of the Renaissance paradigm of virtue in a woman, also challenging men. In conclusion we can see the feelings regarding Beatrice and Benedick, and that they are portrayed towards the audience as argue mental towards each other. There conflicts may have a hidden meaning†¦ such as when Beatrice was the only one interested in what Benedick was saying after she referred to no one being interested. Benedick is presented to the audience as being misogynistic and a staunch bachelor however he may have deeper affections for Beatrice. Beatrice is presented to the audience as being witty, combative and outspoken however her combative attempts are to do with her inner affection for Benedick.

Free Essays on Transportation & Technology

How has technology transformed transportation? Over the years technology has made significant differences which effect today’s transportation. Technological development has affected the speed, tracking, communication, efficiency, and effectiveness of all modes of transportation. With the increasing use of computers, technology has made an increasing change to the speed of transportation. With the development of the EazyPass and MetroCard travelers have the advantage of waiting to get to toll booths. The EazyPass speeds up traffic which speeds up delivery times and improves efficiency. That is, time is not wasted waiting at toll booths rather it is used efficiently. The MetroCard provides a similar advantage in that subway and bus passengers avoid waiting on line to purchase tokens. It is also an advantage in that the passengers do not need to carry around heavy coin tokens. Thus, the process of traveling is faster, more convenient, and efficient. The development of the UPC barcodes has also transformed transportation in various ways. The bar codes are widely used for tracking not only packages as well ship containers, and documents. The UPC barcodes are widely used by freight forwarders. Each package can be easily tracked and located by the UPC code. Each shipment can be tracked online and located by both the shipper and the receiver by the â€Å"tracking number.† Cargo companies use the same system in tracking their load containers, trucks, etc. Communication system developments have made significant changes to today’s transportation. With the introduction of the cellular phones and satellite communication, forwarders such as UPS are able to provide real time tracking information about packages. Each driver, pilot, etc. is equipped with a cellular phone in order to provide delivery information to its customers. Radio frequency technology or (Automatic Equipment Identification) is yet another way of co... Free Essays on Transportation & Technology Free Essays on Transportation & Technology How has technology transformed transportation? Over the years technology has made significant differences which effect today’s transportation. Technological development has affected the speed, tracking, communication, efficiency, and effectiveness of all modes of transportation. With the increasing use of computers, technology has made an increasing change to the speed of transportation. With the development of the EazyPass and MetroCard travelers have the advantage of waiting to get to toll booths. The EazyPass speeds up traffic which speeds up delivery times and improves efficiency. That is, time is not wasted waiting at toll booths rather it is used efficiently. The MetroCard provides a similar advantage in that subway and bus passengers avoid waiting on line to purchase tokens. It is also an advantage in that the passengers do not need to carry around heavy coin tokens. Thus, the process of traveling is faster, more convenient, and efficient. The development of the UPC barcodes has also transformed transportation in various ways. The bar codes are widely used for tracking not only packages as well ship containers, and documents. The UPC barcodes are widely used by freight forwarders. Each package can be easily tracked and located by the UPC code. Each shipment can be tracked online and located by both the shipper and the receiver by the â€Å"tracking number.† Cargo companies use the same system in tracking their load containers, trucks, etc. Communication system developments have made significant changes to today’s transportation. With the introduction of the cellular phones and satellite communication, forwarders such as UPS are able to provide real time tracking information about packages. Each driver, pilot, etc. is equipped with a cellular phone in order to provide delivery information to its customers. Radio frequency technology or (Automatic Equipment Identification) is yet another way of co...

The Origin of Samuel Clemens as Mark Twain

The Origin of Samuel Clemens as Mark Twain Author Samuel Langhorne Clemens used the pen name Mark Twain and a couple other pseudonyms during his writing career. Pen names have been used by authors throughout the centuries for purposes such as disguising their gender, shielding their personal anonymity and family associations, or even to cover up past legal troubles. However, Samuel Clemens didnt appear to choose Mark Twain for any of those reasons. Origin of Mark Twain In Life on the Mississippi,  Mark Twain writes about Captain Isaiah Sellers, a riverboat pilot who wrote under the pseudonym Mark Twain, The old gentleman was not of literary turn or capacity, but he used to jot down brief paragraphs of plain practical information about the river, and sign them MARK TWAIN, and give them to the New Orleans Picayune.  They related to the stage and condition of the river, and were accurate and valuable; and thus far, they contained no poison. The term mark twain is for a measured river depth of 12 feet or two fathoms, the depth that was safe for a steamboat to pass. Sounding the river for depth was essential as an unseen obstruction could result in tearing a hole in the vessel and sinking it. Clemens aspired to be a river pilot, which was a well-paying position. He paid $500 to study for two years as an apprentice steamboat pilot and earned his pilots license. He worked as a pilot until the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. How Samuel Clemens Decided to Use the Pen Name After a brief two weeks as a Confederate enlistee, he joined his brother Orion in Nevada Territory where Orion served as secretary to the governor. He tried mining but failed and instead took up as a journalist for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise. This is when he began to use the pen name of Mark Twain. The original user of the pseudonym died in 1869. In Life on the Mississippi,  Mark Twain says: I was a fresh new journalist, and needed a nom de guerre; so I confiscated the ancient mariners discarded one, and have done my best to make it remain what it was in his hands- a sign and symbol and warrant that whatever is found in its company may be gambled on as being the petrified truth; how I have succeeded, it would not be modest in me to say. Further, in his autobiography, Clemens noted that he wrote several satires of the original pilots postings that were published and caused embarrassment. As a result, Isaiah Sellers stopped publishing his reports. Clemens was penitent for this later in life. Other Pen Names and Pseudonyms Before 1862, Clemens signed humorous sketches as Josh. Samuel Clemens used the name Sieur Louis de Conte for Joan of Arc (1896). He also used the pseudonym Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass for three humorous pieces he contributed to Keokuk Post. Sources Fatout, Paul. â€Å"Mark Twains Nom de Plume.† American Literature, vol. 34, no. 1, 1962, p. 1., doi:10.2307/2922241.Twain, Mark, et al. Autobiography of Mark Twain. University of California Press, 2010.Twain, Mark. Life on the Mississippi. Tauchnitz, 1883.

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 21

Assignment - Essay Example With this, an artist can choose a particular period of time which he wants to reflect in his art and his audience can easily identify this period of art by looking at his painting. Motion, on the other hand, refers to an artist’s ability to give the illusion of movement in his piece of art, even if in reality the piece of art is not moving. A closer examination of his art reveals that most of his work, though still expressed some form of motion. This can be attributed to his unique form of painting, which involved pouring, and dripping paint on canvas (Poich 1). By doing this, Pollock’s pieces of art, such as the Blue Poles (1953) and the Number 8 (1949), give a sense of motion as the paint seems as though it is moving across the canvas. While observing these two pieces of art, one can almost feel the frenzied energy of the different colors of paint as they are pulled by gravity. Pollock’s paintings can be assumed to demonstrate the interaction of the dripping paint to the canvas, which represents it’s surrounding. With relation to time, Pollock’s pieces of art were known to capture a specific period of time with which the artist had a passion towards. His painting, The Moon-Woman Cuts the Circle (1943), is an example of the artist’s use of time in his pieces of art. Based on a North American Indian myth, his audience can relate to the story of the Indian woman (Poich 1). The audience can see the vibrant nature of the woman in the painting, as well as, illustrates the power that she holds, and for that reason, examines femininity from a different perspective. Additionally, this is relatable to the story behind the woman in the painting, thus capturing a moment in time that was important to Pollock as an artist. In art, texture refers to the feel of a surface and can be either implied or actual. Most artists use texture to provide variation in their pieces of art, thus helping their audience in identifying the different components of a piece of art.

GLOBAL HEALTH CARE PAPER & PRESENTATION Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

GLOBAL HEALTH CARE PAPER & PRESENTATION - Essay Example By then, these efforts helped China achieve better results than those countries that they share the same level of economic development. One of the most remarkable health care reforms is patient-centered, which was introduced in 1997; the same reform agenda has formed the basis for hospital management reforms that have been introduced in China from 2005. This patient-centered approach has been promoted by improving the relationship between the doctor and the patient. Although the health care reforms in China have seen many positive results, it has also resulted to some negative impacts, which has threatened the country’s preventive health programs. Even the recent introduction of limited health insurance for preventative services and charges for immunization has not helped salvage the situation. The money that has been gotten from these schemes have proved insufficient to finance a preventative program, which currently uses 15 percent of the Ministry of Public Health’s r esources and barely 2 percent of the total health costs (Hillier & Shen, 2012). The main reason for introduction of reforms in China’s health care system was to relieve the government of some health care burden, which could be achieved by encouraging hospitals to make enough income to sustain their budgets. In this arrangement, the hospital fee is paid by labor insurance or the patients themselves through a straight fee-for-service program. The hospitals have, therefore, been forced to raise their prices in order to cover their charges and costs. In addition, the volume of healthcare services increased in the 1980s when the insurance increased their spending by 16 percent (Hillier & Shen, 2012). The health care in China has become ‘provider-led’ due to the self-financing system by the hospitals. This system has several shortcomings, including high cost of drugs and polypharmacy, longer in-patient waits for those who have an insurance cover, and inapt application of costly technology. The other major challenge of Chinese health care system is the inequalities that is introduced as a result of the reduced investment in township hospitals and the disintegration of rural health cooperatives. However, this system encourages CT scans such as the one belonging to those who have taken insurance cover for their health. In addition, this system ensures a detailed payment that encourages antibiotic injections, and infusion of intravenous vitamin among other forms of treatments (Hillier & Shen, 2012). Compare & contrast China’s health system with the American System before & after the implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act. In a bid to make healthcare affordable to the poor, who makes eighty percent of its population, China has made efforts to give them basic health facilities through a national strategy; even before the introduction of affordability policy. Unlike in the U.S., in China the accessibility of affordable healthcare has be en regarded as an essential human right and hence should be availed to the whole society. This shows that the Chinese healthcare is more equal than that of the U.S. especially considering that the cost of treatment is less than that of the U.S., although the GDP of America is larger than that of China by a large margin, China has experienced a greater growth in the rate of