With todays advances in the use of C.G.I. and digital imagery, will Essay

With todays advances in the use of C.G.I. and digital imagery, will the human actor eventually become obsolete - Essay Example a green grid and a few rudimentary objects; as he first enters the alternate universe represented by CGI animation, Homer Simpson says "this place looks expensive... I feel like Im wasting a fortune just standing here" (Treehouse of Horror VI). This was the attitude of many animators for years who struggled to advance their technology while battling financial constraints. In the last decade, however, great advancements have been made not only in the capabilities of computer graphic artists and software but in the ability of computers to animate more for less; it didn’t hurt that animation studios were granted larger budgets to explore CGI options. Feature films like the CGI breakout hit Toy Story paved the way for more investment in computer animation and now people in the film industry are beginning to wonder whether computer animation is destined to overtake the role of real, live actors. CGI is an acronym for computer generated imagery; this field encompasses many different specific computer graphics such as landscaping, people, animals, weather and other special effects (Pierson, 2002, 3). 3D computer graphics were primarily used for special effects in TV and movies before the trend of feature length computer animated films caught on, animators focused their efforts on creating new, and ultimately cheaper and less complicated, ways of dealing with onscreen special effects. Traditionally, special effects could include anything from a fire in a burning building to a full on explosion, or even the tricks of an illusionist which were too complicated to be performed in reality. With CGI animation, television and film producers can sidestep the often messy and unpredictable hazards of physical special effects and actually make the outcome closer to what they had envisioned to begin with. Specifically, special efforts on computer began to take the place of the creation of miniatures (used when large scale models are too cumbersome) and also to take the

Communicating Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Communicating - Essay Example Other barriers are physical such as media of communication, distance, time, noise etc. Semantic barriers include errors in the process of encoding and/or decoding the messages created mainly due to process, personal and physical barriers. Contrast the communication styles of assertiveness, aggressiveness, and non-assertiveness and discuss the primary sources of nonverbal communication. Assertive style in communication is expressive and self-enhancing and does not violate self or others’ basic human rights such as self respect and dignity. Aggressive style is quite opposite to this, wherein the individual tries to be over expressive and self-centered, and takes advantage of others. A nonassertive style is less confident, hesitant and defensive behavior; this style gives the other person to take unfair advantage of the communicator. Nonverbal communication refers to the messages sent out from actions, body language, tone, and gestures other than words or speech. Usually nonverba l cues can be derived from aspects such as dressing sense and color, gait, standing, positioning, seating arrangement, and ambience also.

Risks of Forex Investment

Risks of Forex Investment Currency market Introduction The foreign exchange market is a very liquid market; everyone can trade and sell, everyone has access to it 24/7. Unlike the stock exchange, where its centralised at a particular area, such as the New York Stock Exchange. But the currency market is an over the counter market; it can be traded in any geographic location. There is no broker fee, only a low-cost transaction fee, which makes it more accessible for people to invest in. To answer the assignment question, we will need to look at the risks associated with currency market, the potential returns and finally how to manage these factors. Risks When an organisation makes the decision to engage in international financing activities, the company also take on additional risk as well as opportunities. The most common risks are associated with businesses engaging in international finance which includes foreign exchange risk and political risk, such as Trump being elected the new president of United States of America. The dollar increased, and will continue to increase, depending on what political decision he makes, as Donald Trump plays a huge part of influencing the value of the dollar. These political risks may make it difficult to maintain constant and reliable revenue for the firm or could be a potential to make a profit. An investor could also invest in Forex, but there is always a risk that occurs when the value of investment vacillates. This is due to changes in a currencys conversion rate. When a native currency appreciates against a foreign exchange, profit or returns earned in the foreign country will decline after being exchanged back to the native currency. Numerous points of investment risks are inherent in overseas investing: political risk, local tax inferences and exchange rate risk. Exchange rate risk is particularly significant since the earnings associated with a foreign stock must then be transformed into U.S. dollars before an investor can spend the profits. Breaking down risks: The political environment of overseas countries generates portfolio risks because governments and political systems are continuously in change. Naturally this has a very direct influence on economic and business divisions. Political risk is considered a type of disorganised risk linked with specific countries, which can be spread away by capitalising in a broad range of countries, effectively accomplished with broad-based overseas mutual assets or exchange-traded assets. Foreign taxation poses another problem. Just as overseas investors with U.S. securities are subject to U.S. government taxes, foreign investors are also taxed on foreign-based securities. Taxes on overseas investments are typically withheld at the source country before an investor can understand any advantages. Returns are then taxed again once the stockholder exiles the funds. Finally, theres currency risk. Variations in the value of currencies can directly influence foreign investments, and these fluctuations interrupt the risks of investing in non-U.S. assets. Occasionally these risks work in the firms favour, other times they do not. For example, In the wake of Donald Trump winning the US election, the real 10-year Treasury yield climbed to a 2016 high of 0.74 per cent by mid-December. It has subsequently retreated since to about 0.4 per cent, and weighed on the dollar. (Khan, 2017). As Donald Trump won the election, the price of the dollar improved, this generates opportunities for investors, so they can make a profit.    Figure 1 Trump victory. (Cox, 2017) By looking at figure 1, since the Trump election victory, the dollar has increased by 4.46%, from 97.06 to 101.39 over a period of 55 days. The last time it happened, in January 1987, the Dow dropped 11 percent over the next year as the market endured one of its worst crashes. The previous occurrence in March 1964 saw the index climb 9.3 percent over 12 months. (Ciolli and Wang, 2017). This political event was one of the crucial days for investors in the currency market, but history suggests that the market might endure a bad crash. Thats one example, the Brexit event is another political example: If Britain stops sending money to the EU budget, they lose access to the single market. But they save  £350m every week, and they can easily renegotiate a trade deal with the EU for goods, as Britain already complies with the current regulations and there are no tariffs currently. (Cadman and Tetlow, 2016) After the decision to leave the EU, there have been several initial effects caused by Brexit. The FTSE 100 shrugged off a brief post-referendum dip and is now at levels that havent been seen since August 2015. The FTSE 250 suffered an 11.4 per cent fall just after the vote. (Belam, 2016) Figure 2 FTSE 250 The other effects of the Brexit vote were on the pound, on 23 June, it was worth $1.50. It is now trading around $1.30, down about 13%. This is the lowest it has been since the mid-1980s. (Belam, 2016) As the pound weakens, international companies with businesses both domestically and outside of the UK make profits this is due to the foreign currency being converted back into sterling. An additional effect of the Brexit was the PMI report submitted by Markits, and it shows that the UK economy is shrinking at a quarterly rate of 0.4%. (Belam, 2016) Services output and new business both fall at the fastest rates since march 2009, and the month-on-month decline in the index in the latest period, at 4.9 points, was the largest observed since the survey began in July 1996. (Martin, 2016) (Belam, 2016) By looking at the initial effects, we can undoubtedly see that the UK economy is suffering cause of the Brexit decision, and is shrinking its economy by a quarterly rate of 0.4%. Potential Returns The long-term returns of the currency market are engrossed in a few days. Javier Estrada of the IESE Business School showed that over a period of 40 years, missing only the best 10 days would have cost investors about half their capital gains, while avoiding the 10 worst days would have led to 2 ½ times the capital gains. (Authers, 2017). This tells the importance of being active and decisive in the currency market, missing a few crucial days can cost dearly. The clue behind this process is making fewer transactions that yield larger individual gains. Thats the long-term returns, the short term return however, is decided in seconds and minutes, quick thinkers and experienced stock investors make the quick decision, deciding whether it is worth investing or not.   Looking at political opportunities that can benefit both long term and short term returns, the example of Donald Trump winning the presidential election and Britain invoking article 50 are good examples that explain the impact the political decisions shaped on the currency market. Missing an event like that can cause the investor to lose a lot of capital. In a real scenario that should not happen, as the economists working for the investment firm shouldve predicted a jump in the dollar matrix due to the election and a drop in sterling after Brexit. Looking ahead to 2017, our experts argue a new investment phase has begun as the yield curve finally turns upwards. Flattened by years of ultra-low interest rates and monetary stimulus, world economies are gradually being weaned off quantitative easing. (Barret, 2017) Recommendations for investors Managing the risks of investing can be hard, but not if you take certain precautions before the investor makes the investment, such as carefully considering his investment objectives, the level of experience, and risk appetite. If the investor makes a loss, the investor/firm needs to have enough capital to invest in something else, rather than spending all the assets in one investment. A different way to manage risk is diversification and it is the most important component in helping the investor reach a long-range economic goal while diminishing the investors risk. At the same time, diversification is not a bulletproof assurance against a loss. No matter how much diversification you employ, investing includes taking on some risk. An additional way to manage the risk is hedging, but its not free, and if the investor isnt experienced enough about investing then it could have a really bad input to the investment, but it does reduce the risk of the investment. A question that often confuses investors is how many stocks should be bought in order to reach ideal diversification. According to portfolio theorists, adding about 20 securities to the investors portfolio reduces almost all of the individual security risk involved. This assumes that the investor buys stocks of different proportions from numerous industries. Conclusion The conclusion of this essay tells that, investing in forex is full of risk, but there are several ways of limiting the risks. But limiting risks can also create more risks, such as using hedging to reduce the risk. References: Authers, J. (2017). Timing the US market a big challenge for passive investors. [online] Ft.com. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/090e22ec-fa56-11e6-bd4e-68d53499ed71 [Accessed 26 Feb. 2017]. Cox, J. (2017). What is going to happen to the dollar under Trump, according to experts and investors. [online] The Independent. Available at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/donald-trump-dollar-pound-value-what-will-happen-rise-fall-currency-exchange-experts-economists-a7537041.html [Accessed 26 Feb. 2017]. Belam, M. (2016). One month on, what has been the impact of the Brexit vote so far?. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/22/one-month-on-what-is-the-impact-of-the-brexit-vote-so-far [Accessed 20 Feb. 2017]. Martin, W. (2016). Every part of the UK economy is suddenly shrinking. [online] Business Insider Australia. Available at: http://www.businessinsider.com.au/markit-services-pmi-for-the-uk-in-july-2016-8 [Accessed 20 Feb. 2016]. Cadman, E. and Tetlow, G. (2016). The EU single market: How it works and the benefits it offers. [online] Financial Times. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/1688d0e4-15ef-11e6-b197-a4af20d5575e [Accessed 22 Oct. 2016]. Cadman, E. and Tetlow, G. (2016). The EU single market: How it works and the benefits it offers. [online] Financial Times. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/1688d0e4-15ef-11e6-b197-a4af20d5575e [Accessed 22 Oct. 2016]. Ciolli, M. and Wang, M. (2017). Trump Is on the Verge of His Own Bull Market. [online] Bloomberg.com. Available at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-24/trump-at-brink-of-his-own-bull-market-as-dow-flirts-with-history [Accessed 28 Feb. 2017]. Khan, M. (2017). US 10-year treasury yields enjoy biggest monthly jump since 2009. [online] Ft.com. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/157e9c79-c708-3527-963d-58d918165261 [Accessed 28 Feb. 2017]. Barret, C. (2017). Where should I invest in 2017?. [online] Ft.com. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/df00d4da-c117-11e6-9bca-2b93a6856354 [Accessed 28 Feb. 2017].

Essay --

Introduction Approximately 1,000 brain and nervous system disorders are directly responsible for more hospitalizations and lost productivity than any other comparable disease group. (Shen, 2013, p. 655). In addition, these disorders restrict criminals from refraining to engage in malicious activity. This inability to distinguish right from wrong is a result of the individual’s consciousness being disorientated while committing a crime. Neuroscience, the study of nerves and how nerves affect learning and behavior, is a relatively new science that can provide the justice system with insight on why criminals act differently from law abiding citizens in particular scenarios. Research in neuroscience shows a strong correlation between brain function and a human’s personhood which includes individual characteristics and cognitive thinking patterns. Neuroscience is capable of providing evidence of a person's â€Å"future dangerousness† in order to deter future altercations. The und erstanding of a human’s thought process through neuroscience should be permissible in the courtroom for more informed court rulings and to transition in to a more progressive approach of criminal punishment. Background of Neuroscience Neuroscience consists of an extensive background of research that has led to various discoveries regarding the human brain. The human brain is the mediator for every aspect of the human body. The brain dictates a wide range of functions spanning from emotion and memory to heart rate and blood flow. The brain is also responsible for how we think, believe, dream and even aspire. A human’s reactions to medical treatments are even processed through the brain. The brain is the sole organ that provides all of the functions that comprise a... ...ails about the brain but will not improve the existing legal principles. It is assumed that the current legal principles in place are still in effect because they provide us with a sensible version of justice. Some fear allowing neuroscience in the courtroom may alter traditional methods that the system has used consistently. The new discoveries in neuroscience will not change the law; they will simply transform the public’s opinion on civil responsibility leading to more effective court rulings and how to approach a more progressive punishment that benefits society. The prosecutors and defense attorneys will both have the ability to benefit from neuroscience. The main factors lie predominately in the history of the criminal, the thoughts and recollections of the judge and/or jurors, as well as the lawyers’ abilities to apply the best case possible for their client.

Critique of Stuff Is Not Salvation

Valued Possessions vs. Insignificant Desires Anna Quindlen, a novelist, social critic, and journalist wrote an intriguing essay â€Å"Stuff is Not Salvation† about the addiction of Americans, who splurge on materialistic items that have no real meaning. The ability to obtain credit is one of the main reasons to blame for society’s consumption epidemic. However, Quindlen feels the economic decline due to credit card debt is insignificant compared to the underlying issues of American’s binging problems. Quindlen’s essay gives excellent points regarding the differences in America’s typical shopping habits. Additionally, she mentions how people acquire all this â€Å"stuff† but seem to never realize, â€Å"why did I get this? †(501). Quindlen makes her audience visualize a world where we acquire our needs versus our meaningless desires. Yet, she fails to mention people who could live a life of happiness through the possessions they acquire. In summary, Quindlen supports her point of view with examples of American spending habits in the past decades of depression compared to now. She mentions Black Friday and how people become enthralled by cheap bargains (Quindlen 500-501). In Quindlen’s essay, she refers to an accident in which a worker at Walmart was trampled to death by a mob of shoppers and despite the horrific incident people kept shopping (500). With the U. S. depression, Black Friday brings hopes of more money spent, therefore a rise in the markets. The dream of an uplifted economy became unrealistic as people began to realize they could not afford their desirables, not even at a low cost. Today, Americans have an exorbitant amount of credit debt so they can acquire items that they want, without actually paying for them outright, for example, the Chatty Cathy doll Quindlen wanted in her childhood compared to the orange her dad received that had to be paid for (500-501). According to Quindlen, a family having less means they can appreciate possessions more and what they possess therefore has real meaning (502). Quindlen’s essay gives strong points about America’s addiction to consumption, the economic decline, and the necessities of life. There are plenty of examples that Quindlen gives to make her point across, that American’s spend money unwisely. For instance, in one of the examples, she mentions how every 16 months a person replaces a cell phone because it’s not as new anymore, and how toys are forgotten that eventually end up being junk (501). Quindlen then states the obvious â€Å"stuff does not bring salvation† (501). However, she lacks examples of cases where people’s wants actually provide the happiness they usually expect. Rich people, for example, have an extra sense of security because the worry and stress that belong to the poor is something the rich don’t have and don’t want. Plus, who wouldn’t want to afford desires such as not living pay check to pay check or putting their kid(s) through college? Sometimes not being able to afford these items can bring on depression or verbal abuse into a home. The reader’s would have a better understanding of the essay if she included some of these situations. Overall, Quindlen portrays her idea of happiness not being the materialistic things in life, but by the things that have true meaning. By true meaning, I believe she means items such as photographs that have a significant memory attached to it. She jokingly states, â€Å"Ask people what they would grab if their house were on fire, the way our national house is on fire right now. No one ever says it’s the tricked-up microwave they got at Wal-Mart† (502). She brings her essay together nicely by asserting examples from her childhood, the U. S. depression, and a family that is happy with what little they have. The essay brings belief to the reader that in today’s society many people spend money on things that end up being junk and take for granted the needs they should possess. People make investments that they later come to realize have lost their value because they did not really need it. Even though she made some valuable points in her essay, more than likely America will still make unnecessary expenditures. Therefore, with Quindlen’s idea that â€Å"stuff is not salvation,† there needs to be more examples shown of people who can afford their wants and with that they are still able to obtain happiness (501). She does however prove her point that the items we possess should have more of a priceless value rather than items we could live without. If stuff is not salvation why do so many of us seek more income to possess more items? This question is simple to answer with more research on people that don’t have the worries of the less-fortunate. Again, while we shouldn’t be materialistic, we shouldn’t just settle for less, nor should we be greedy and keep wanting more. Quindlen’s views made me reevaluate my spending habits and hopefully the next time I purchase something I can answer the question â€Å"Why did I get this? †(501). Ultimately, Quindlen’s essay is interesting and worth the read. WORD COUNT: 865 Work Cited Quindlen, Anna. â€Å"Stuff is Not Salvation. † Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Readings Across the Disciplines. 6th ed. Ed. Katherine Anne Ackley. Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2012. 500-02. Print.

Jay Gatsby

Jay Gatsby Jay Gatsby, the main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, is a materialistic man, trying to live out the American Dream in the 1920’s. But, his way of life does not get him the woman of his dreams, and eventually leads to his death. He is an extremely wealthy man, but despite all of his money, is very lonely. Although he never gets the woman he wants, Gatsby was a dreamer. He was motivated to reinvent himself and buy his way through life, with a dream to recreate the past.Jay Gatsby was materialistic from the beginning. From his childhood, to his adult life, he dreamed of being rich. His parents were not wealthy and he grew up in the middle class, but he had always wanted lots of money. Nick Carraway states, â€Å"He was a son of God—a phrase which, if it means anything, it means just that—and he must be about His father’s business, the service of a vast, vulgar, and meretricious beauty† (Fitzgerald 104). No matter how he did it, Gatsby was going to be rich.From age seventeen he was determined and he would stick with his goal. According to critic Chikako D. Kumamoto, Gatsby’s â€Å"vast, vulgar, and meretricious† dream was shared by a social climbing. Nick finally figures out Gatsby’s plans with Daisy Buchannan and says, â€Å"He had waited five years and bought a mansion where he dispensed starlight to casual moths—so that he could come over some afternoon to a stranger’s garden† (Fitzgerald 80). Everything Gatsby did was to win back Daisy’s love.Being a materialist caused him to throw outrageous parties in hopes that one day, Daisy would show up to one. He believed that his money was the only way to win her over. Jay Gatsby was clearly a lonely man. He had all the money in the world to buy anything except for the woman of his dreams, Daisy. Throughout the whole novel, The Great Gatsby, he appears to be bored and alone. â€Å"Your place looks like the World’s fair† Nick Carraway says to Gatsby (Fitzgerald 86). Even to his death, no one cared enough about him to come to his funeral.Carraway tells us, â€Å"but neither a wire nor Mr. Wolfshiem arrived; no one arrived except more police and photographers and newspaper men† (Fitzgerald 110). Striving for only two things in his life never made him very popular. He threw extravagant parties, but no one knew who he was or even liked him for that matter. According to critic Brian Sutton, Gatsby goes to spectacular lengths to try to achieve what Nick Carraway calls â€Å"his incorruptible dream† (Fitzgerald 155). But, unfortunately Gatsby never gets the woman he longs for.Nick tells us, â€Å"After his embarrassment and his unreasoning joy he was consumed with wonder at her presence† (Fitzgerald 99). While Gatsby may have loved the real Daisy, the love that survived over time was of his dream-like conception of her. Jay Gatsby lived a life he dreamed of having but, he dreamed of getting Daisy back and never actually did. Nick tells Gatsby, â€Å"You can’t repeat the past† and Gatsby, being the stubborn man he is, says â€Å"Can’t repeat the past? Why of course you can! † (Fitzgerald 117). His dreams got in the way.Critic Brian Sutton states that Gatsby’s chances of winning Daisy were dead. Finding out the way Gatsby got his money ruined everything he could have had with Daisy. Throughout his whole life, Jay Gatsby would do anything to achieve â€Å"his incorruptible dream† (Fitzgerald 155). Daisy’s marriage seems so awful during most of the novel; it is almost like Gatsby is going to make his dreams come true. His efforts are so unimaginable and Daisy appears to be looking for a way out. Because Jay Gatsby is materialistic, lonely, and a dreamer, he is killed.His own attitude caused his death. Living out the American Dream, trying to become wealthy, and striving to win Daisy’s love did not pay off for Gatsby in the end. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2004. Print. Kumamoto, Chikako. â€Å"Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. † Explicator 60 (Fall 2001): 37-41. Literature Resource Center. Web. 09 Nov. 2012. Sutton, Brian. â€Å"Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. † Explicator 59 (Fall 2000): 37-9. Literature Resource Center. Web. 09 Nov. 2012.