Thursday, July 23, 2020

Is It Time for You to Buy a Home

Is It Time for You to Buy a Home Is It Time for You to Buy a Home? Is It Time for You to Buy a Home?Buying a home is a major financial decision, which means youll want to do plenty of research, saving, and preparation before taking the plunge.You’ll have to make some big decisions during your life. Two of the biggest decisions will likely be what career you choose to pursue, if any, and whether and when you plan to have children.Those two choices will have a huge impact on almost every other aspect of your life, like deciding whether or not to buy a house. Coincidentally, deciding whether it’s time to buy a house is what this article is about. Wow, how convenient!Whether you need a new place to live now or are anticipating needing a new place to live in the future, you may start wondering whether it’s time to buy a house. And if you are wondering, you’ve come to the right place.If you aren’t, consider reading the article anyway. You wouldn’t want our hard work and the thoughtful insights from our contributors to go to waste, would you?Ho w long would you be staying there?You can’t plan every aspect of your life. You might think you’re going to live in one home or even one city or even one country for the rest of your life, but life can change suddenly. Still, you’re going to want to be pretty certain about to settling down before you consider buying a house.“My number one piece of advice is to consider how long you are likely to stay in the property,” recommended James McGrath, co-founder of the NYC real estate brokerage Yoreevo (@yoreevo). “If theres a decent chance its going to be less than five years, they shouldnt buy.“The first reason is between the search and actually executing the transaction, buying is a long process. But thats only half of it. When the time comes to sell, you have to go through it all over again. Like all other costs, the longer you stay in the property, the less significant they become.“That leads to the second and more important reason which is the actual transaction costs . While every market will be different due to local taxes and other costs, in NYC, most owners will pay a total of around 10 percent to buy and then sell a property. Thats a huge amount of money and if you dont give the property enough time to appreciate youll lose money, even if it appreciates slightly.“Also related to this: One of the biggest benefits of owning a home is the ability to exclude capital gains on the sale of your primary residence. The longer you own your home, the more likely it is and the more you will take advantage of that.”Are your finances in a good place?You might have to get your financial house in order before you look into buying an actual home. And while that won’t necessarily be a fun or a quick process, it may be a necessary one.“Do you have your finances in order?” asked Ali Wenzke (@AliWenzke). “Check your FICO score and consider the stability of your job or other income streams. Budget 20 percent for your down payment plus additional money for closing costs, home inspections, and attorney fees.Also, realize that owning and maintaining a home can be expensive, so budget for property taxes, utilities, and general maintenance costs.”Can you qualify for a mortgage?Even if your finances are manageable month to month, if you can’t qualify for a mortgage and afford the accompanying costs, it’s not the time to get a house.“All other analysis regarding the feasibility of a property purchase is truly futile until a person has been pre-qualified for the acceptance of a mortgage,” warned Ron Humes, VP of Operations Southeast Region for Post Modern Marketing (@PostMM).“The lender will review a prospect’s credit scores, debt to earning (DTE) income ratios, and financial portfolio to determine if they are a good risk for a loan and how much they may borrow. This should be the very first consideration in the thought process, and no other time should be spent until they know they can qualify for a purchase if they choos e.“The next important consideration in the decision for a purchase is the minimal capital needed to complete the transaction. The money needed for the down payment to secure a mortgage is three percent to five percent depending on the loan type.There is a VA product available to veterans that still allows no down payment, but one must also consider the closing costs and prepaid items. The prepaid items are the taxes and insurance that will be collected at the closing. The closing costs are the fees charged by the lender, appraiser, and the closing attorney in the processing and completion of the loan.There are strict rules as to the source of the funding for the purchase, so the prospect should ensure that their source of funds will be acceptable to the lender before proceeding.”Are you willing to take a practice run?Even if you can get approved for a mortgage and you think your finances are in order, it won’t hurt to make a virtual attempt.“If you think you’re ready to bu y a home, or if you want to get ready to buy a home, you need to do a financial test-run,” suggested Certified Financial Education Instructor Amanda L. Grossman (@FrugalConfess). “Figure out how much your monthly home expenses are going to be (for your dream home, then for a less-than dream home).This needs to include costs like your mortgage payment, your homeowner’s insurance, property taxes (divided out by 12 months), and maintenance costs (industry estimates are one to three percent of your home’s total cost, each year, spent in repairs/maintenance).“Once you come up with a number, open up a savings account specifically for the purpose of doing your financial test-run. Then, each month for at least three months, ‘pay’ that amount of money into that savings account.“How does it feel to make that payment each month? Do you still have cash flow left to pay your other bills, and to live a little? Or do you feel financial strain? This will help you both in figuring ou t if you’re ready to buy a home, and in helping you save up for the down payment. Which is a win-win scenario.”Is there a better option available?Sometimes it just might make more sense to continue renting for the time being, rather than jumping into home ownership.“There are many factors that must be considered in the true cost of renting vs. owning,” explained Humes. “If we want to cut right to the chase, there is an easy way to understand this. No investor is going to purchase a property and rent it to another party without a built-in profit after all costs and expenses are paid.If an investor purchases a property and the total monthly payment for principal, interest, taxes, insurance, maintenance and management costs are $800 per month, the investor cannot lease that property for $800 per month because they have to calculate in a return on their invested money and a profit margin.“The investor may lease this property for $1,100 per month with the tenant paying all ut ilities and the investor retaining the mortgage interest deduction (MID) write-off on their taxes. In addition, an investor will have to pay, and pass along to the tenant, a higher interest rate on the mortgage since it is considered a non-owner-occupied property and mortgage product.Therefore, in our example, the tenant could have purchased the same property for perhaps $600 per month instead of $1,100 per month and retained the MID tax write-off for themselves. The person considering a purchase over lease still needs to consider if they have the time to oversee the maintenance on the property.”When you decide it’s time …OK, you’ve taken all the above factors into account. Now it’s time to find the house you want to purchase. So … how do you go about that?“After getting pre-approved for a mortgage, its time to look for a home youll love!” advised Luke Babich, CSO of Clever (@ListWithClever). “Make a list of variables you value: neighborhood safety, access to parks , proximity to entertainment, school district, the availability of public transportation, and rank how important each of these factors is to your home selection process.“While it is possible to buy a home without an agent, finding a real estate agent you trust can really help you find a home that meets your standards, as agents have invaluable experience and knowledge of local markets. Go to plenty of open houses to scout out the area, get a feel for whats on the market, and communicate your thoughts with your agent.”And if it isn’t time …Don’t get discouraged if it isn’t the time to buy a home yet. You can still begin preparing for when the time comes.“If you are not in a place to buy a home just yet but know it is something you want soon, review your finances and make adjustments to start saving up,” recommended Jared Weitz (@jaredweitz), CEO and Founder of United Capital Source Inc. “Cut spending in certain areas, pick up a side hustle or move into a smaller pla ce to rent and then allocate that money towards your down payment and investments.”And preparing isn’t just about the serious business and money aspect.“Begin making your dream home wish list,” advised Wenzke. “Would you love to live in a certain neighborhood or have an open floor plan or a gourmet kitchen? Once you have some ideas, use that list to find the perfect rental for you. You can test out your dreams before making a long-term financial commitment.”Buying a home may be a big decision, but taking the necessary steps and time to figure out what makes sense for you will allow that decision to be more manageable. If you do get around to buying a home, drop us a line and we’ll bring you a nice housewarming meal!To learn more about housing-related financial issues, check out these other posts and articles from OppLoans:So You Have a Bad Landlord … Now What?Is Rent-to-Own a Good Way to Purchase a Home?How You Can DIY Your Way to Cheaper Home MaintenanceHow Much Mon ey Do You Actually Need to Buy a House?Do you have a personal finance question youd like us to answer? Let us know! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.  |  InstagramContributorsLuke Babich is the Co-Founder and CSO of  Clever (@ListWithClever), the free online service that connects you with top Real Estate Agents who can help you save on commission. Luke is also an active real estate investor with 22 units in St. Louis and a licensed Real Estate Agent in the State of Missouri.Amanda L. Grossman (@FrugalConfess) is a Certified Financial Education Instructor at Frugal Confessions, where she helps Chief Family Officers (CFOs) control their finances so that they can save money to live their life by design. Shes a featured blogger at the Houston Chronicle, and winner of a 2017 Plutus Foundation grant to create the Mt. Everest Money Simulation: A Kids Money Educational Adventure.Ron Humes is currently the VP of Operations Southeast Region for  Post Modern Marketing (@PostMM); a f ull-service digital marketing company. He has been a realtor as well as an owner and principal broker of his own realty company for 20 years. He has been a custom home builder and owner of a remodeling company. He is an active investment property owner of flips and rentals. He has been a Property Manager for 20 years. He trains investors to purchase, flip and rent properties.James McGrath is a co-founder of  Yoreevo (@yoreevo), the tech-driven NYC real estate brokerage dramatically lowering transaction costs for buyers and sellers. Prior to founding Yoreevo, James worked in finance, most recently at Citadel where he researched the housing market.Jared Weitz  (@jaredweitz)  has been in the financial services industry for over 10 years. Due to his extensive work experience and deep network of close financial relationships, he handles a multitude of different finance options for his clients and contacts. Over the years, he has held positions in some of the largest business financing co mpanies in the U.S. Some of his roles have been: Underwriter, Director of Business Development, Managing Partner and currently, CEO of  United Capital Source, LLC.Ali Wenzke  (@AliWenzke), Moving Expert, moved 10 times in 11 years. Now she’s helping the millions of people who move each year by providing practical tips on how to make moving a happy experience at  The Art of Happy Moving. After calling seven U.S. states home, Ali is now happily settled in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and three children. She doesn’t plan on moving anytime soon.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Sexism, Language, And Language Essay - 843 Words

Sexism in Language Whether it’s in verbal or written expression, language is our everyday means of interaction. For years, there’s been an ongoing debate about the use of male-based generics and whether or not they promote sexism. Sexist language, as defined by yourdictionary.com, is language that excludes either men or women when discussing a topic that may be applicable to both sexes. Hence, sexist language describes the bias towards a certain sex in language. Importance lies in discussing issues concerning women, especially considering they make up 50% of the human population. Sexist language is strengthening sexism by discriminating against an inclusive society for both genders, affecting perceptions of gender roles in the workplace, and reinforcing the idea of male superiority. Douglas Hofstadter, a philosopher known for analogy-making, wrote a satirical piece entitled A Person Paper on Purity in Language. Here, he makes a mockery of articles that are against sexist language by replacing sex-based terms with race-based (Hofstadter 159 - 67). For instance, where one would place words such as ‘freshman’ or ‘guys’, the author used ‘freshwhite’ and ‘whiteys’. No one could deny that the writing came across as offensive to the African American community, so why are male-based generics not seen as an offense to women? It follows similar patterns. When we use ‘freshmen’, we might refer to both sexes, but the word itself seems to imply that men are more dominant. Say it were theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Sexism in Language 2512 Words   |  11 PagesLanguage refers to the method that humans use to communicate either through speech or written. It consists of the use of the word in a structured and conve ntional way. Language has been referred to as ‘our means of classifying and ordering the world; our means of manipulating reality. In structure and in its use we bring out the world into realisation and if it is inherently inaccurate, then we are misled. (Dale Spender, 1980).Language has power that allows us to make sense out of the reality weRead More Sexism in Language Essay1969 Words   |  8 PagesSexism in Language We all know that men and women are different. They look different, act different, walk, talk, and even smell different. In part, the simple fact that we are different explains why we sometimes have trouble communicating with and understanding the opposite sex. However, a close look at our language may show that there is more to the communication barrier between the sexes than meets the eye. I believe that the English language is very biased towards women. We live in a patriarchalRead MoreThe Value Of Chinese Language1322 Words   |  6 PagesThe value of Chinese Language The knowledge of Chinese language opens many new perspectives for the people who have good command of this language. First of all, Chinese language opens the way to different important fields. These include: Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology. The knowledge of Chinese language can help to study the unique culture of the ancient civilization. At the heart of Chinese civilization is its rich heritage of novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and other piecesRead MoreI Consider Myself A Feminist Essay764 Words   |  4 Pagesthe importance of language, a feminist is a person, regardless of gender, who believes in the equality and importance of all women in society. I am a feminist because I continue to educate myself to become more self-aware of the danger of sexism and inequality that thre atens women’s rights. 2. Sexism is wrong because it discriminates against people because of their gender. Women are the main group who suffers against sexism. It is safe to say that all women have confronted sexism. According to theRead MoreComparison of One is Not Born a Woman by Wittig and The Second Sex Simone De Beauvoir867 Words   |  4 Pagesimpossible ontologically speaking; because the humans are not divided, thus gender is merely an imaginary realm. It only exist in the language exercises, and the way that cultural products are conceived in them. This essay is a preliminary attempt to offer an analysis of ‘One Is Not Born a Woman’ by Wittig and ‘The Second Sex’ by Simone De Beauvoir holds on the language usage contribution to the creation of genders and the imagined femininity. Through the society imaginations of genders, the societyRead MoreMovies Control: Sex and Violence1436 Words   |  6 Pagespublic believes and accepts. Research shows that the amount and realism of violence and sex in movies has skyrocketed, influencing the views of our generation. However, little to no attention is placed on the effects of movies on our views of racism, sexism, classism, and heteronormativity. Before watching a movie, you can get a general idea of how much sex and violence it will contain, in order to decide if it is appropriate for you. However, how can one tell if a movie is too racist, sexist, classistRead MoreEssay on Alleen Pace Nilsens View of Sexism in English762 Words   |  4 PagesAlleen Pace Nilsens View of Sexism in English Alleen Pace Nilsen began a study of Sexism in American English after returning from a two-year stay in Kabul, Afghanistan. Trying to avoid social issues in her research, Nilsen used the dictionary, as her main source and guide, making note-cards on every entry that seemed to tell something about male and female. She soon discovered that language and society go hand and hand. Furthermore, that the language a culture uses is evident in itsRead MoreThemes of Sexism in Cleopatra and Plutarchs The Life of Antony967 Words   |  4 PagesSimilar to the 1963 film Cleopatra, in Plutarchs The Life of Antony, sexism is maintained in the passage and compatible with its message. Through the authors portrayal of Cleopatra and Antony, he spreads the message that obsession with power is bad and the idea that manipulation and attempts at domination are signs of a bad ruler. Sexism is compatible with such messages because as indicated by Plutarch, Cleopatra utilizes sexist expectations of women in order to manipulate Antony through her aspirationsRead MoreRacism And Racism732 Words   |  3 Pages Sexism, racism and heterosexism are happening in contemporary America till this day. The media reflects everyday struggles that Americans face based primarily on their gender, race and sexual preferences. Many innocent Americans are getting killed in protests and rallies while they defend their rights. Everyday millions of Americans are faced with backlash from their community, state and even their own country for who they are! Heterosexism is the prejudice against homosexuals.Read MoreSexism : Women Are Weak, Less Intelligent, And Less Important Than Men1399 Words   |  6 PagesSexism is â€Å"the belief that women are weaker, less intelligent, and less important than men† (Longman, 1995).Sexism is defined â€Å"as a negative attitude or discriminatory behavior based on the presumed inferiority or difference of women as a group† (Cameron, 2001).Cornell (as cited in Trujillo, 1991, p. 290) defines hegemonic masculinity as â€Å"the culturally idealized form of masculine character† which underlines â€Å"the connecting of masculinity to toughness and competitiveness† and â€Å"the subordination of

Thursday, May 7, 2020

The Legalization of Marijuana Essay - 1497 Words

Medical marijuana is one of the most controversial subjects in politics. Marijuana may be an addictive drug, but it has many medical uses. Many patients found it very effective, which trumped any other drug, whether by prescription or over-the-counter. Medical marijuana should be legalized in North Carolina, but should be regulated, because it has helped people with diseases such as Glaucoma, cancer and any physical or emotional pain. Cannabis has been known to man since as early as 7000 B.C. (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In 1619, the colony of Jamestown in Virginia passed the first cannabis-related law, stating that it is required for all farmers to grow cannabis sativa or hemp plant because of its strong fiber that they used to†¦show more content†¦In 1974, High Times magazine was founded (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In the 1980s, first lady Nancy Reagan started the â€Å"Just Say No† campaign to influence children to resist peer pressure to use illegal drugs (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In 1980, arrests were predominantly for marijuana (seventy percent); marijuana possession offenses alone accounted for fifty-eight percent of the total drug possession arrests (MacCoun 24-25). The price of marijuana has increased quite a bit since 1980 (MacCoun 31). For twenty years, seventy to eighty percent opposed marijuana legalization (MacCoun 48-49). In 1996, California became the fir st state to legalize the medical use of marijuana after marijuana became a controlled substance in the U.S. Marijuana has been shown to be therapeutic in treating patients with glaucoma, AIDS, and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (At Issue). In 1999, the Institute of Medicine conducted a review of the potential health benefits and risks (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). The report concluded that cannabis is useful for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). Despite this observation, marijuana is still stated to be harmful to the lungs (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). On March 19, 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Justice Department will not prosecute pot dispensaries that are operatingShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization1061 Words   |  5 PagesThe Legalization of Cannabis in Ohio Marijuana is a controversial topic all across the United States. Recently marijuana has been voted on, legalized, and denied legalization in multiple states. There are still more states trying to fight the green fight for marijuana. The fight for legalization hasn’t been an easy one for cannabis supporters; they have been fighting tooth and nail to make it happen. One of the main concerns in the marijuana debates are whether or not marijuana is a gateway drugRead MoreLegalization Of Marijuana And Marijuana1633 Words   |  7 PagesBalyuk March 8, 2016 Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana has a few different names that are commonly used in today’s society including weed and cannabis. Weed is smoked with joints, bongs, or pipes. Marijuana can also be mixed with foods usually brownies, cookies, and candy which are called edibles. The main chemical responsible for the high feeling is called THC but marijuana also contains over 500 chemicals. The chemical is found in resin produced by the leaves and buds. â€Å"Marijuana is the most commonlyRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization Essay2566 Words   |  11 Pagescurrent prohibition on marijuana reforms has put the United States in a similar situation. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, â€Å"95 million Americans age 12 and older have tried pot at least once, and three out of every four illicit-drug users reported using marijuana within the previous 30 days† (ONDCP). The decriminalization and eve ntually legalization for the recreational use of marijuana will bring forth benefitsRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization1282 Words   |  6 Pages On November 8th, 2016, the California Marijuana Legalization Initiative may be included on the ballot. The people of California will vote on whether to legalize the recreational use of cannabis for adults. The move targets at regulating the consumption of the drug and taxing it like other legalized drugs. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996 (National Institute of Drug Abuse). The state prohibited any legal actions from being taken on patients and recognized caregiversRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization1660 Words   |  7 PagesKyler Smith 9/15 â€Å"Marijuana Legalization† The legality of cannabis varies from country to country. Possession of cannabis is illegal in most countries and has been since the beginning of widespread cannabis prohibition in the late 1930s. However, possession of the drug in small quantities had been decriminalized in many countries and sub-national entities in several parts of the world. Furthermore, possession is legal or effectively legal in the Netherlands, Uruguay, and in the US states of ColoradoRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana And Marijuana Essay1314 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana or Cannabis is one of the bused drugs in America and the rest of the world. Interesting accumulating evidence show that the significant negative impact of this drug outweighs the positive effects. However, the medical benefits of the drug seem on the process of chemical compounds as compared to the drug itself. Medical debates show that chemical compound in marijuana are the problem as compared to the plant. The said chemical compound af fects the mental and physical health of the personsRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization996 Words   |  4 Pages the monetary gain of its legalization for most has been productive to say the least. For example, Denver Colorado is on track to more than triple the marijuana tax revenue this year alone. $44 million was collected in 2014. In July 2015, 73.5 million was collected, while 19.6 million went to schools. A place such as Chicago could really use the legalization to help with the school system infrastructure issues they have. With a deficit of over 1.1 billion marijuana sales could alleviate bothRead MoreLegalization of Marijuana1550 Words   |  7 PagesLegalization of Marijuana: Benefits and Statistics The topic of legalizing marijuana has been a topic of controversy for quite some time now not only throughout our local streets, but throughout the local and into the state government. The legalization of marijuana is such a controversial topic because some are for it and some are against it. People are for the legalization because of the great uses it has towards medicine, the money that could come from the taxation of legalized marijuana, andRead MoreLegalization of Marijuana972 Words   |  4 PagesOn January 1st the states of Colorado and Washington officially began the regulation of legal marijuana sales. Thousands of people from all over the country including tourists from Wisconsin, Ohio, Chicago, and even Georgia lined up out front of dispensaries to make a purchase. Recreational marijuana is being regulated and monitored like alcohol; you must be at least 21 years old to make a purchase. The drug, which is controversial in many states’ legislations, is currently l egal for medical useRead MoreThe Legalization of Marijuana628 Words   |  2 PagesThe Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana, the plant of the cannabis, has been around since the early 1900’s. Throughout history, marijuana has been used illegally, for both recreational and medical uses. Recently, marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes, like aiding HIV/AIDs patients, healing migraines and controlling nausea caused by chemotherapy. Today, there are currently 21 American states that have legalized medicinal marijuana including two states that have legalized recreational marijuana

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Semiotic Analysis of Barack Obama in Time Magazine Free Essays

SEMIOTICS ASSIGNMENT The front cover of TIME magazine, issued on December 10, 2007 was taken before the start of the presidential campaign in America, and the man on the front cover is Barack Obama – who was a favourite at the time. The bias of the picture, the cover’s anchorage and the article altogether show that the underlying purpose of this magazine’s issue was to influence readers to side with TIME and vote for this man. This cover resembles a famous picture taken of Martin Luther King Junior and serves to link Obama with the American Civil-Rights hero in order to influence the reader’s position towards Obama. We will write a custom essay sample on Semiotic Analysis of Barack Obama in Time Magazine or any similar topic only for you Order Now This cover can be seen as a metaphor of the rise of the African American in society, as well as politics. Semiotics is the study of signs and symbols and their use or interpretation (Oxford dictionary) and will be used to unveil the hidden meaning behind this front cover. This is a picture of a black man in a suit, who is standing upright with has his arms crossed. This man is neither smiling, nor is he frowning and is not looking directly at the camera. The background is multiple shadings of grey. The word â€Å"TIME†, as well as the anchorage is in white, and words â€Å"the contender† are in red. The outside rim of the magazine is also red, with a white border between the picture and the red rim. Obama’s suit gives off an impression that he is polished, prepared and serious. Obama’s suit also commands a sense of respect from the reader and a sense that he has etiquette as well as control. The man’s facial expression is neutral – which gives off the impression that he is stable, reliable and somewhat loyal. This is effective because one sees this control and presumes that this man is secure in who he is (he feels no need to make false pretences) and thus one can trust him with their vote in the coming presidential elections. The man’s upright posture illustrates a sense of strength because he looks anchored and thus powerful. The man is not looking directly at the camera which enhances his seriousness and creates a sense of intrigue within the reader – one can’t help but wonder what this man is thinking of, and why he is thinking it. The man’s posture makes him appear courageous and determined to handle the responsibility of anything (i. e. the presidential campaign). Obama’s body language of firmly folded arms insinuates that he is being defensive, ready to take on a boxing fight. The fight will be the upcoming presidential campaign which includes the â€Å"attacks† that he will get from the public and media being in the race (for example the media will be negative and pointedly highlight his inadequate characteristics). Therefore by looking just beyond the camera, Obama appears to be aware of what is coming and prepared to face the coming battle like a courageous boxing hero. The shaded grey background highlights the man’s power and illuminates him in a god-like manner. The light surrounding the man results in the reader’s eyes being drawn directly to him, and gives the the impression that he is â€Å"the light† and is like an angel in the darkness. The magazine name, â€Å"TIME†, is in white in order to contrast the grey background and highlight the magazine’s name. The anchorage on the front cover enhances the overall message of a sense of polish and control. â€Å"TIME† is written in Times New Roman, an old-fashioned and serious style of writing – which corresponds to the pieces of writing within the magazine. The name of the magazine is also not fully displayed (Barack’s head is blocking the â€Å"M† of TIME) and this demonstrates the popularity of the magazine because the magazine is so well known that people can immediately recognise it, without even displaying its full name. It also highlights Obama’s importance and prestige – the fact that the company are willing to be less recognised by their name is not an issue due to Obama’s great popularity and dominance, which will influence people to buy the magazine anyway because of him. TIME is in the colour white which makes it an arbitrary sign which represents goodness, peace and innocence. â€Å"The Contender† is also highlighted on the cover, and characterizes someone who is fighting for first place in a competition. Red attracts the reader’s eye to the title of the magazine’s issue, draws attention to the man’s face and highlights that he is in the running for something big. â€Å"The Contender† is in bold (which draws the reader’s attention to the words) and is in a very rich red – which is an arbitrary signifier that can represent passion, power and strength. This corresponds to the article’s position towards Obama which highlights his courage, ambition and dominance in the presidential campaign. It is also interesting to note the publisher’s use of â€Å"the† instead of â€Å"a† because Obama is a contender for the presidency of America, and is joined by many other contenders. However, by replacing â€Å"a† with â€Å"the† the reader is positioned to view Obama as the one and only competitor in the campaign. This therefore influences the reader to believe that he is going to be the ultimate winner of the competition because all other opponents are forgotten and will pale in comparison to his lead in the competition. The article inside the magazine talks about Obama’s â€Å"pledge to practice a new kind of politics† and how he managed to get â€Å"more money from small donors than all the other Democratic candidates combined† (TIME). This extract shows the biased approach that the author of the magazine, as well as the director of the photography for the front cover took with regards to Obama’s portrayal as an American politician. The article purposefully highlights the massive power that Obama and his organization has in the lives of many Americans, and this is linked to the light in which he’s portrayed in on the front cover – a portrayal of power and dominance. The article also speaks about the other political campaigners who are opponents of Obama’s (such as Hilary Clinton, Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld) – however Obama portrayed to be in a more dominant position than them. For example: â€Å"Obama has also begun to sharpen one of his strongest arguments – that experience is not the same thing as judgement – for which Clinton has not yet found a rejoinder†. When reading the article, it is very apparent that the writer is clearly in favour of Obama and his political campaign. This bias is also seen through the light that Obama is portrayed in the picture – a dominant, powerful and superior light, a sign that he is superior to all the other â€Å"contenders† in the presidential campaign. One can’t help but question if this magazine company’s political reliability due to their bias when it comes to the governance of the country. It is also interesting to note that Obama, who used to practise Civil Rights Law, is positioned to resemble Martin Luther King junior. O’Shaughnessy and Stadler (2008) define intertextuality as the process of knowingly borrowing and referring to other texts or interpreting one text in the light of other related texts. As you can see from the very famous above image, TIME very skilfully resembles the Front cover to this picture of the American hero, Martin Luther King junior. King was a peaceful Civil Rights leader who also refused to conform to the political practices of the time and created a peaceful yet powerful movement that America had never seen before. King is known as an innocent, equality-driven leader who made a big difference in a small amount of time. King’s portrait is a medium sized picture of him in a suit with his arms folded where he is also not looking directly into the camera – much like the portrait of Obama. The likeness between these two pictures therefore makes the reader assume these same quality traits of King, to that of Obama – which then makes the reader regard Obama to be a hero who will lead the country into equality and greatness, much like King did. This picture highlights the growth of the African Americans in society as well as politics because Obama is portrayed in a dominant light, instead of the inferior light with which the African Americans were portrayed in the previous century. TIME’s target market is success-driven, intelligent men (and on the rare occasion women) who are involved in business and take an interest in politics. This is therefore a successful front cover because it addresses all of those fields – politics, business, current affairs etc. Whilst most people would say this was a boring front cover – when correlated with their target market, it is clearly effective in convincing their desired consumer to choose their magazine from the rest. Even though this cover is severely biased, it is valuable because of its link with Martin Luther King Jr. nd its emphasis of the rise of the African American in not only society –but also politics. REFERENCES: BarackObama. Biography. 2010. [O] Available: http://www. biography. com/people/barack-obama-12782369? page=4. Accessed on 25/03/2012 Oxford Dictionaries. 2012. [O] Available: http://oxforddictionaries. com/definition/semiotics? q=semiotics. Accessed on 27/03/2012 Tumulty, K. 2 007. [O] Available: http://www. time. com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1689203-2,00. html. Accessed on 28/03/2012 How to cite Semiotic Analysis of Barack Obama in Time Magazine, Essays

Monday, April 27, 2020

The Republic of Mauritius (“Mauritius”) free essay sample

The Republic of Mauritius obtained its independence from Great Britain in 1968 and became a republic in 1992. Mauritius has maintained its membership to the Commonwealth after its accession to the status of republic. Mauritius has a ‘hybrid’ legal system; combining both the civil and common law practices. Its legal system is governed by principles derived both from the French Code Napoleon and the British common law. The Supreme Court of Mauritius is the superior court of the island, having unlimited jurisdiction to hear and determine any civil or criminal proceedings under any law other than a disciplinary law and such jurisdiction and powers as may be conferred upon it by the Constitution or any other law. Mauritius has, after acceding to the status of republic, retained the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, which remains the highest appellate court of the country. In the past ten years, the legal framework of Mauritius has seen dramatic changes as far as commercial legislation is concerned. We will write a custom essay sample on The Republic of Mauritius (â€Å"Mauritius†) or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Commercial activities are now regimented by targeted, incisive and comprehensive legislations which cater for the regulation and promulgation of commercial activities both onshore and offshore. To cite but a few examples, the Companies Act 2001 and the Securities Act 2005 which are inspired from their New Zealand counterparts, the Financial Services Act 2007 and the Insolvency Act 2009 have been promulgated to make Mauritius the jurisdiction of choice for potential investors. The Law Practitioners’ Act 1984 was also recently amended to enable local practitioners to practice via local and joint-venture law firms – a measure which has ensured that potential investors and service providers in the financial services and commercial sectors receive specialist legal support.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Free Essays on Maslow

Abraham Maslow Abraham Harold Maslow was born April 1, 1907 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the eldest of seven children born to his immigrant parents. While growing up, Abraham’s parents pushed their children hard toward academic success. He was very lonely as a boy, and sought refuge in his schoolwork. To please his parents, He went to study at the City College of New York. His father hoped he would study law, but he went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin to study psychology. While in attendance there, he met and married his cousin Bertha Goodman, and met his cheif mentor Harry Harlow. At Wisconsin, he began a study of primate dominance behavior and sexuality. He went on to further research at Columbia University, continuing similar studies. There he found a new mentor Alfred Adler, who was one of Sigmund Freud’s early followers. From 1937 to 1951, Maslow was an instructor at Brooklyn College. Here he met Ruth Benedict and Max Wertheimer, whom he admired g reatly. These two were so accomplished, and such wonderful human beings in his opinion, that he began taking notes on them and their behavior. This was the beginning of his lifelong research on mental health and human potential. He wrote a great deal about the subject, borrowing from other theorist but adding significantly to them, especially the concepts of a hierarchy of needs, met needs, self-actualizing person’s, and peak experiences. Maslow became the leader of humanistic school o0f psychology that emerged in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He spent his final years in semi-retirement California, until June 8, 1970, he died of a hear attack after years of bad health. During and after his death, Maslow has been very inspirational figure in personality theories. In 1960’s, people were tired of the reductionistic, mechanistic messages of the behaviorists and physiological psychologists. They were looking for meaning and purpose in their lives... Free Essays on Maslow Free Essays on Maslow Abraham Maslow Abraham Harold Maslow was born April 1, 1907 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the eldest of seven children born to his immigrant parents. While growing up, Abraham’s parents pushed their children hard toward academic success. He was very lonely as a boy, and sought refuge in his schoolwork. To please his parents, He went to study at the City College of New York. His father hoped he would study law, but he went to graduate school at the University of Wisconsin to study psychology. While in attendance there, he met and married his cousin Bertha Goodman, and met his cheif mentor Harry Harlow. At Wisconsin, he began a study of primate dominance behavior and sexuality. He went on to further research at Columbia University, continuing similar studies. There he found a new mentor Alfred Adler, who was one of Sigmund Freud’s early followers. From 1937 to 1951, Maslow was an instructor at Brooklyn College. Here he met Ruth Benedict and Max Wertheimer, whom he admired g reatly. These two were so accomplished, and such wonderful human beings in his opinion, that he began taking notes on them and their behavior. This was the beginning of his lifelong research on mental health and human potential. He wrote a great deal about the subject, borrowing from other theorist but adding significantly to them, especially the concepts of a hierarchy of needs, met needs, self-actualizing person’s, and peak experiences. Maslow became the leader of humanistic school o0f psychology that emerged in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He spent his final years in semi-retirement California, until June 8, 1970, he died of a hear attack after years of bad health. During and after his death, Maslow has been very inspirational figure in personality theories. In 1960’s, people were tired of the reductionistic, mechanistic messages of the behaviorists and physiological psychologists. They were looking for meaning and purpose in their lives... Free Essays on Maslow Abraham Harold Maslow Abraham Harold Maslow was born on April 1, 1908 in Brooklyn, New York. He was the oldest of seven children born to his parents, who were uneducated Jewish immigrants from Russia. His parents, wanting the best for their children in the â€Å"new world†, pushed him hard in his academic studies. He was smart but shy, and remembered his childhood as being lonely and rather unhappy. He sought refuge in his books and studies. His father hoped he would study as a lawyer, and Maslow enrolled in the City College of New York. After three semesters at CCNY, he transferred to Cornell and then back to CCNY again. He married his first cousin Bertha, against his parents wishes and moved to Wisconsin, where he would attend the University of Wisconsin for graduate school. Here he met his chief mentor Professor Harry Harlow, and became interested in psychology, and his schoolwork began to improve dramatically. He pursued a new line of research, investigating primate dominance behavior and sexua lity. He recieved his BA in 1930, his MA in 1931, and his PhD in 1934, all in the field of psychology, all from the University of Wisconson. Ayear after he graduated he returned to New York to work with E.L. Thorndike at Colombia, where he studied similar topics. From 1937 to 1951, Maslow worked full-time on staff at Brooklyn College. In NY he found two more mentors, anthropologist Ruth Benedict and Gestalt psychologist Max Wertheimer, whom he he admired both professionally and personally. These two people were so accomplished in what they did and such â€Å"wonderful human beings†, that Maslow began taking notes about them and their behavior. This would be the foundation for his lifelong research and thinking about mental health and human potential. He wrote extensively on the subject, taking ideas from other psychologists and adding significantly to them, especially the concepts of a hierarchy of human needs, metaneeds, self-actualizing per...

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Ideas for Thank You Card Quotes

Ideas for Thank You Card Quotes Do you say thank you to your host after attending a party? Do you say thank you to friends who bring you lovely presents? Sometimes mere thanks may sound insincere. Express your heartfelt gratitude by sending thank you cards. Use these quotes to make your cards really special. Quotations of Gratitude Irving BerlinGot no checkbooks, got no banks.Still Id like to express my thanks.I got the sun in the mornin and the moon at night.AnonymousI would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom.Oscar WildeThe smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.Ralph Waldo EmersonFor each new morning with its light,For rest and shelter of the night,For health and food, for love and friends,For everything Thy goodness sends.William ShakespeareI can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.G K ChestertonYou say grace before meals. All right. But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.James Russell LowellNot what we give,But what we share,For the gift without the giverIs bare.John Greenleaf WhittierNo longer forward nor behindI look in hope or fear;But, grateful, take the good I find,The best of now and here. Helen KellerI thank God for my handicaps for, through them, I have found myself: my work, and my God.Benjamin DisraeliI feel a very unusual sensation if it is not indigestion, I think it must be gratitude.George EllistonHow beautiful a day can beWhen kindness touches it!EE CummingsI thank you God I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.OvidThanks are justly due for boons unbought.Henry Van DykeBe glad of life because it gives you the chance to love, and to work, and to play and to look up at the stars.