Mega Banks vs. Community Banks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mega Banks vs. Community Banks - Essay Example They play a crucial role in development of economy across length and breadth of the US. They remain very important in small-business sector and agricultural lending. The paper aims to explore the contrasting roles played by Community banks and large banks in the national economy and the regulatory burden that â€Å"Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010† is likely to put on them impacting their performance in the national economy. Small Business Lending Small businesses account for a huge share of total economic output and employment. Small business with fewer than 500 employees, account for more than 50 percent of private sector employment and output. Community banks are better placed in making loans to small businesses. Small bank officials can review the small business loan applications taking local perspectives and the nature of business. That is usually not possible for large banks as they do not have so much autonomy at local levels and it is n ot feasible for the large banks to review the myriads of small business applications that closely. Another advantage with community banks to deal with small business loans is that often it is required to maintain a close relationship with the borrower. It is possible for community banks to closely monitor the borrower, sitting locally, over the course of the loan; the bank needs to maintain a close knit long-term relationship with the firm. Large banks find it inefficient and unfeasible to maintain such close relationship with small businesses. Large banks will rely on phone and mail to communicate with small clients in contrast to community banks who will often have face-to-face meetings. That is to say community banks have their own niche area to cater to where large banks do not have access (Keeton, 2004 p.24) Loans on Nonresidential Real Estate by Community Banks Community banks drive advantage in extending loans backed by nonresidential real estate and they account for over 60 percent of all loans of $100,000 or less and over 40 percent of all nonresidential real estate loans of $1 million or less. Community banks earn higher rates of return on small business loans than large banks (Keeton, 2004 p.26) Farm Lending By virtue of having located at the rural areas, Community banks are important farm lenders. They account for 65 percent of all farm real estate loans; particularly, smaller the amount of loan more are the chances of that being extended by community banks. Large banks are not interested in serving such small farm loans. Community banks are more risk takers while lending to small businesses in contrast to large banks that depend upon neat credit history of the client (Keeton, 2004 p.26). Retail Deposit Services Community banks are more eager to provide personalized services to depositors of moderate to low wealth holders; the reason being that community banks are more dependent on small depositors for their funds requirement where large banks are not found to chase small depositors (Keeton, 2004 p.27). Profitability Earnings on average assets for last 7 years with reference to large and community banks have been reported in the following table. Banks 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 March-2012 Over $ 50 billion 1.41 0.92 0.18 -0.07 0.77 0.94 1.06 Under $10 billion 1.26 1.06 0.05 -0.29 0.16 0.66 0.96 Source:

Human smoke by nicholson baker Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Human smoke by nicholson baker - Essay Example The book ends in 1941. The aim of this paper is to produce a summary of the book that records a timeline in the world history for about fifty years. Human Smoke talks about almost every country that was involved in wars of the early twentieth century in one way or the other. The book also talked about the stories of people that played active roles in the two world wars. From the likes of Winston Churchill, a well-known figure to the likes of Jeanette Rankin (Montana legislator), whose impact in the US declaration of war against Germany in the First World War seem to have been forgotten. Human Smoke explained that Jeannette Rankin was the only legislator in the United States House of Representative that voted against the participation of the US forces in the First World War and she was also the only legislator that voted against the Second World War. The book also discussed the roles played by people like Theodore Kaufman and Henry Emerson Fosdick during the war. Kaufman was a ticket seller at Brooklyn that wrote a tract on the purification of Germany, while Fosdick was an advocate for war that later turned to be an advocate for peace (pacifist) (Baker). Baker tried to work on the intellect of the readers by presenting readers with data, thus causing them to draw inferences from these data. Baker is not explicit in the presentation of his argument and the implication of this is that readers would have to draw conclusions from some of his implicit statements. Baker actually gave an outstanding account of the events of these world wars in a way that it has not been given before by any historian and this is actually what distinguishes the book from other works. The unique thing about the book is that it is more like a dedication to the British and American pacifists that stood against the war. Baker explains that these pacifists tried to restore peace to the world by resolving the differences between Japan and the United States of America. They also tried to

Culture and Disease Essay Example for Free

Culture and Disease Essay Human body consists of organs which each plays a role in a coordinated system to facilitate the normal function ability of the body. Sometimes the body might function abnormally due to failure of proper function of an organ or organs. In such a situation the organ might be affected by a disease which might inflict pain to the body, damaging it and often might result to total failure and eventually death. Diseases are common to human beings, animals and even plants. Diseases in most cases are preventable and curable although some diseases may cause permanent injuries and disability to the patient. Some several factors are related to various disease which might also dictate the extent on which it spreads and causes the effect. Diseases are classified according to various factors like what are the causes, the type, and means of contracting the disease, the affected species and many other factors (Cooter, Roger, and John Pickstone, eds. (2000). Human beings are vulnerable to majority of diseases which falls in different categories. Some of them are contagious which falls in different diseases have drastic effects and may cause death easily while others are easily curable and they cause no extensive damage to our body so long as they are treated. Depending on the kind of diseases, some are related to a particular culture. Examples of some diseases are like the heart diseases which affect the heart and its blood vessels tampering with the normal functioning of it. Heart diseases fall into different categories which include heart failure which involves the being unable to pump blood in the entire body which causes insufficient blood to reach all the targeted organs in the body well. Sometimes some organs malfunction due to less blood supplied to them. The other type of heart disease is the heart arrhythmias which cause the heart beat pace to change. The heart might beat faster than the normal pace or sometimes slower. Third type of disease is canomy artery disease which commonly causes the heart attack. This disease causes the heart to receive less blood than unaccepted due to the naming of the blood arteries hence the slow movement of the blood to the heart. The narrow artery tends to restrict sufficient flow of the blood to the heart. Sometimes the arteries are fully blocked leading to heart attack. Circumstances that cause the heart disease may differ depending on the conditions under which a person lives and the situation in which a person lives and the situation in which he or she is involved in. one of the conditions that might cause heart disease is the high blood cholesterol. Liver is the organ in the body that is responsible for producing the cholesterol which is essential in the body system. The cholesterol is delivered to the rest of the body cells through blood flow. Considering the substantial composition of the cholesterol and the fact that it comes from the animal ft and other saturated fats then there is a high risk when it is in high content in our bodies. Excessive cholesterol then sticks on the wall of the blood vessels like pulmonary arteries which narrows the passage hence insufficient blood reaching to the heart. This eventually might lead to a condition such as heart attack. Another way in which heart disease are caused, is through high blood pressure coupled with the problem of obesity. This situation is much contributed by obesity or overweight which may also lead to high blood cholesterol as previously discussed. Stress is also considered as another factor that contributed to the heart disease. This is a situation that affects someone’s emotions due to various reasons based on economic status, social status are psychological maters that concentrates on the thinking capacity of someone’s brain. According to () the blood pressure and the heart beat is mostly increased by the stress which can also increase the release of hormones of heart disease are increased. In this paper the concentration of heart diseases is focused on the African American race. Currently the cardio-vascular disease is more prevalent in the blacks than on the case of white people. This can be associated to several factors which causes or facilitates the dominancy of the heart disease. One of the factors is obesity. Being among the risks that leads to obesity, in United States African Americans have been found to be mostly affected by obesity in comparison to the white people. This might be as a result of eating habits and the lifestyle which in mot cases differs depending on the locality and the age. Physical inactivity may also attribute much in obesity and overweight which eventually contributes to heart diseases. Another factor is high rate of smoking among African American as compared to the white people. The smoke that is inhaled in the body is explained biologically on how it raises the heart beat and also it is responsible in raising the blood pressure. Nicotine and other compounds found in the cigarette also cause harm to the heart and also may lead to heart attack. Diabetes is another disease which is common to African Americans as compared to white people. Those suffering from the disease have bigger probability of contracting heart disease. In such situations the patient therefore needs more attention in order to reduce the risk of heart disease. Hypertension can also be considered as another factor among the African Americans which contribute to the development of heart diseases. African-American people have a different lifestyle from the white people which can easily be related to the individual health status. African Americans are exposed to the heart disease due to several environmental factors. Pollution of air is among the environmental factors that can contribute to the heart disease. African-Americans live in environment which is badly polluted with gases like carbondioxide and others which may directly or indirectly facilitate to the heart diseases (Rosenberg et al 1992). Smoking can be considered in the air pollution which exposes non smokers to the risk of being affected through breathing the smoked provided by smokers. This habit which is common to African American contributes to the factor that leads to heart diseases. Considered to be minor race in United States, African American find themselves in an environment whereby they feel isolated and sometimes there some unfavorable conditions like job strains etc. these factors may subsequently lead to a lot of cases of stress in individuals which might be related to the heart disease. According to Holman, C. D. J. , and B. K. Armstrong (1984), although not a major determining vulnerability to heart diseases. Delicate newborn babies can easily be exposed to the cause of heart diseases. From the research carried out African American who was born in southern part have higher rates of heart diseases than the whites born in the northern part. Food when eaten unselectively can pose a danger to the human health. Obesity which is common to African Americans is as a result of inconsiderate eating habits. Availability of fatty foods in African American locality can be an influential factor to such conditions which may lead to them consuming those foods unselectively hence leading to undesirable condition like obesity and over weight and eventually to heart disease. Heart diseases are mostly not contagious as compared to other diseases like flu, (Rosenberg et al 1992). One of the methods under which the heart disease can be transmitted from are person to another is through heredity. According to () in a situation whereby parents suffer from heart disease, there is always a likelihood of the disease to be passed to the generation that follows. Biological intervention has indicated that the heart disease can be transmitted from one person to the other genetically. This has been explained through the cardiology study and genetics. Various methods can be applied to control the heart disease. Among them include the client observation which may ensure that feeding habits are regulated to avoid obesity and overweight which is among the major contributing factors to the disease. Fatty foods especially from animal products which might cause the high levels of cholesterol should be regulated while feeding on them. Smoking and excessive intake of alcohol which have been considered to be directly or indirectly cause of heart disease ought to be critically regulated in order to minimize the vulnerability of heart diseases. As a way of reducing the chances of getting heart disease people should attempt to live a stress free life in order to avoid unnecessary hypertension which may result to heart diseases. Heart diseases among the African Americans can be treated through lipid modifying. Under this concept it’s biologically explained on how the lipid can be lowered in the body through lipid lowering therapy which is best explained biologically. The other method used is through lowering the level of the cholesterol in the blood. This is very effective in the sense that the arteries can be repaired from the narrow shape they had taken due to the elimination of the cholesterol in the arteries. African Americans also use the medications which are provided in the hospital which involves intake of prescribed medicine by a doctor or practitioners. Due to their social economic status, the African Americans are vulnerable to the prevalence of the heart disease. This depends on the background they come from and settled in the United States. Most feel that they still want to maintain their culture including even in clients. But still the consumption of these traditional foods also has the positive side to it on the side of medication. Culture has been seen to play a big part in influencing people’s ways of life. This is especially true when it comes to dietary constitution for different groups. Additionally, distinct lifestyles may be attributed to cultural groups and this also determines the nature of disease that the said group is exposed to. More cultural based research is therefore necessary to establish the practices that promote health so that they may be encouraged while discouraging those practices that increase groups risk of getting some diseases. References Cooter, Roger, and John Pickstone, eds. (2000). Medicine in the Twentieth Century. Amsterdam: Harwood,. Holman, C. D. J. , and B. K. Armstrong. 1984. Pigmentary traits, ethnic origin, benign nevi, and family history as risk factors for cutaneous malignant melanoma. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Rosenberg, Charles E. , and Janet Golden, eds. (1992). Framing Disease: Studies in Cultural History. New Brunswick, N. J. : Rutgers University Press.

Kirkpatricks Evaluation Of Training Management Essay

Kirkpatricks Evaluation Of Training Management Essay Kirkpatricks model of evaluation is being applied. This model consists of four levels of evaluation. The first level is the reaction level in which the reactions of the trainees are understood to mean the way in which they perceive and subjectively evaluate the relevance and quality of the training. It attempts to answer questions regarding the participants perceptions Did they like it? Was the material relevant to their work? This type of evaluation is often called a smileysheet. According to Kirkpatrick, every program should at least be evaluated at this level to provide for the improvement of a training program. At this level, evaluation measures the satisfaction of the people who followed the training. In conjunction with that, positive reactions are of critical importance in creating sufficient learning motivation. In this sense, the participants reactions have important consequences for learning (level two). Although a positive reaction does not guarantee learning, a negative reaction almost certainly reduces its possibility. Learning can be described as the extent to which the attitudes of the participants change, their knowledge increases or their skills are broadened as a consequence of the training. This is a second level of evaluation of learning behavior whereby evaluation is intended to measure the progress made in terms of knowledge, skills or attitudes. In other words, evaluation tests the participants to see whether new skills have been acquired. At this point, evaluation can relate to the method used to transfer the knowledge, skills and attitudes. To assess the amount of learning that has occurred due to a training program, level two evaluations often use tests conducted before training (pretest) and after training (post test). Assessing at this level moves the evaluation beyond learner satisfaction and attempts to assess the extent students have advanced in skills, knowledge, or attitude. Measurement at this level is more difficult and laborious than level one. Methods range from formal to in formal testing to team assessment and self-assessment. If possible, participants take the test or assessment before the training (pretest) and after training (post test) to determine the amount of learning that has occurred. A third evaluation level is that of changes in job behavior or performance. This involves studying the change in job behavior which takes place as a result of the training. Evaluating at this level attempts to answer the question Are the newly acquired skills, knowledge, or attitude being used in the everyday environment of the learner? At this point, evaluation sees whether tasks are performed differently before and after the training. In order for positive reactions and learning effects actually to lead to changed job behavior, the transfer of acquired skills to the work situation must especially be ensured. The quality of this transfer is strongly dependent on the support the participant receives after the training, especially from his immediate supervisor or coach. From a study by Bergenhenegouwen, which explain the low effectiveness of training courses, are found in this area in which immediate bosses who have more of a discouraging effect, who themselves do not set a satisfact ory example or provide insufficient supervision. For many trainers this level represents the truest assessment of a programs effectiveness. However, measuring at this level is difficult as it is often impossible to predict when the change in behavior will occur, and thus requires important decisions in terms of when to evaluate, how often to evaluate, and how to evaluate. Level four evaluation attempts to assess training in terms of organizational results. At this point, evaluation checks how the results are evaluated at the end of the training initiatives. An evaluation of the results therefore measures the progress made at organizational level. Frequently thought of as the bottom line, this level measures the success of the program in terms that managers and executives can understand increased production, improved quality, decreased costs, reduced frequency of accidents, increased sales, and even higher profits or return on investment (ROI). From a business and organizational perspective, this is the overall reason for a training program, yet level four results are not typically addressed. Determining results in financial terms is difficult to measure, and is hard to link directly with training. According to Kirkpatrick, the subject of evaluation or the level at which evaluation takes place is dependent on the phase during which the evaluation takes place. In Kirkpatricks four- level model, each successive evaluation level is built on information provided by the lower level. Assessing Training Needs often entails using the four-level model developed by Donald Kirkpatrick. According to this model, evaluation should always begin with level one, and then, as time and budget allows, should move sequentially through levels two, three, and four. Information from each prior level serves as a base for the next levels evaluation. Thus, each successive level represents a more precise measure of the effectiveness of the training program, but at the same time requires a more rigorous and time-consuming analysis. 3.2. Transfer of Training Training transfer generally refers to the use of trained knowledge and skills back on the job. Baldwin Magjuka mentioned that for transfer to occur, learned behavior must be generalized to the job context and maintained over a period of time on the job. Meanwhile, Saks Haccoun views training transfer is the generalization of knowledge and skills learned in training on the job and the maintenance of acquired knowledge and skills over time. According to the transfer of training framework by Saks Haccoun, the transfer of training activities could be segregated into three phases which is before, during, and after training to facilitate and improve the transfer of training. However, for the purpose of this study, only transfer of training after training is being applied. In this case, the management must ensure that trainees have immediate and frequent opportunities to practice and apply what they learn in training on the job. The management should also encourage and reinforce trainees application of new skills on the job. There are many other things that managers do to facilitate transfer such as develop an action plan with trainees for transfer and show support by reducing job pressures and workload, arrange practice sessions, publicize transfer successes, give promotional preference to employees who have received training and transfer, and evaluate employees use of trained skills on the job. The trainer should conduct follow-up or booster sessions following a training program. Trainers should maintain their involvement in the training and transfer process by conducting field visits to observe trainees use of trained skills, provide and solicit feedback and provide continued support and assistance to trainees. Trainees should be able to use new knowledge and skills on the job as soon and as often as possible. At the same time, trainees should meet with their supervisor to discuss opportunities for transfer. Trainees might also establish a network of peers who also attended a training program that can provide assistance and support each other for using their trained skills on the job. Trainees should also set goals for practicing their newly acquired skills on the job. 3.3. Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Training and Development In the real world, there are some other factors that influence the effectiveness of training and development in an organization. One of them that have been identified by Haywood is the human resource policy of training and development. He mentioned that too many training program place emphasis on ease and the very purpose behind the design of programs namely, learning, skill development and behavioral change, has defeat the original purpose and goals of training are lost and the means all too readily becomes the end. Furthermore, the human resource policy would determine a clear link between training and an organizations career development and reward system in which training might leads to recognition and advancement. Indeed, the trainers capabilities as a subject matter expert would determine the effectiveness of training and development. Training programs can be trivialize if the organization hiring unqualified trainers that could defect the transfer of learning to the employees. In addition, employees attitude and motivation are one of the factors that might influence the effectiveness of training and development. Therefore, the positive attitude should be foster through the constant emphasis on team building program to enhance the employees motivational effort. In relation to this, the employees motivation in transfer and transfer climate are crucial to ensure the effectiveness of training and development. Finally, the commitment of top management to the training and development is critical to its success. Organizations whose top management view training as a way to meet organizational goals by making sure that employees take an active part in the delivery of training and in the planning of training objectives; and by maintaining a financial commitment to training.

Comparing Othello and Volpone Essay -- Comparison Compare Contrast Ess

Similarities in Othello and Volpone      Ã‚  Ã‚   Upon reading Shakespeare's l604 tragedy, Othello, the Moor of Venice and Jonson's l606 comedy, Volpone, or The Foxe, a reader will notice both similarities and differences.   In both plays, we meet characters of "rare ingenious knavery." Indeed, Iago, Volpone, and Mosca are uncommonly similar in nature. An elaborate "con game" is practiced in each play through intriguing dramatic inventiveness. However, the focus of Shakespeare's tragedy is upon a noble and heroic figure; the focus of Jonson's comedy is upon a monster of depravity, a genius in crime. Comparisons between these great plays continues to pale when Jonson's script is held up to scrutiny. Whereas Shakespeare's seventeenth century work in comedy would turn continually toward soft edges, romance, and the pastoral, mixing both the serious and the humorous, Jonson established a reputation as one of the major social satirists of the English dramatic tradition. In fact, Jonson's comedies establish the tradition of social comedy on the English stage. In Volpone, although the satire is ultimately moral, its immediate aim is mostly social or legal. The play unmasks the artificial features of respectability, exposing vice and the manipulations of hypocrites. To his credit, Jonson did not altogether excuse the imperceptiveness of the victims in the play. Jonson's central characters are among the early models of "anti-heroes," a term generally restricted to characters found in Dostoevski, Sartre, or Camus. The specimens dramatized in Volpone are not merely fools, but money-hungry, lustful, morally despicable knaves. Their names immediately suggest their depravity because they are identified with the world of beasts. Thus, the lawy... ... Now, though the Fox be punish'd by the laws, / He yet doth hope, there is no suff'ring due, / For any fact which he hath done 'gainst you; / If there be a censure him; here he doubtful stands. / If not, fare jovially, and clap your hands." Works Cited and Consulted Barish, Jonas A. Ben Jonson: A Collection of Critical Essays. Prentice-Hall Inc.: Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1963. Campbell, Lily B. Shakespeare’s Tragic Heroes. New York: Barnes and Noble, Inc., 1970. Dessen, Alan C. Jonson’s Moral Comedy. Northwestern University. Press, 1971. Kermode, Frank. â€Å"Othello, the Moor of Venice.† The Riverside Shakespeare. Ed. G. Blakemore Evans. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1974. Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.   

French and European Architecutre in 1600 :: essays papers

French and European Architecutre in 1600 The Baroque style of painting during the 1600 and 1700’s reflects an intense interest in expressing human emotion through art. Biblical scenes and representations of biblical characters are a common link between art works of that time throughout the different areas of Europe. Caravaggio represents the typical Italian Baroque artist at that time but possesses many artistic qualities uniquely his own. Bartolome Eseban Murillo, represents the typical Spanish Baroque painter. Both these painters demonstrate Baroque style, yet they have truly unique styles from each other. Caravaggio’s St. John the Baptist in the Wilderness is typical of Italian Baroque style during the 1600s and 1700s. Characteristics of Italian Baroque style are sharp contrasts of light and dark, violent movement created through the use of diagonals, and intense emotional expressions of theatrical scenes. Caravaggio’s style exhibits many of these same characteristics. The painting was originally intended for an altarpiece in a small oratory in a town west of Genoa. The massive size of the canvas leads to the belief that this painting would have been the focus in the oratory. The size of St. John is extremely large in comparison to the size of the canvas. His presence encompasses most of the canvas making him the focus of the piece. The actual iconography of Caravaggio’s painting is typical of it’s time period, yet the portrayal of John the Baptist is what makes this piece unique. Unlike most portrayals of biblical figures, that St. John appears naturalistic and not idealized. Caravaggio expresses this naturalism in the dirty, grimy feet of St. John. The fact that St. John is p ictured alone is also nontraditional for this time period. He appears to be resting, his head hung slightly down, in the desolate wilderness, appearing defeated and worn out. The atmosphere intensifies his loneliness. The wilderness behind him feels dark, morose, and lonely. Details are absent from the atmosphere except for a small plant which sits on the ground by itself. The plant echoes the loneliness of St. John. The atmospheric presence enhances the feel of the subject but is not the focus. Caravaggio possesses a unique style in which he manipulates lighting to create a vivid visual effect. The lighting starkly focuses on St. John, putting him into the direct line of view. Caravaggio’s creative use of lighting also becomes apparent in the sharp contrasts of light and dark in this painting.

Effects of Television on Modern Society Essay

Upon its introduction up until the dot com era television was the most popular medium. The ability for news and events to be televised and viewed instantly around the world has given our society the ability to connect with the world by the push of a button. Although TV has made information more assessable it has its weak points as well. Over the years violence on television has become more common and more acceptable. Until the recent push for TV ratings it was difficult for parents to ensure their children were viewing material they deemed appropriate and even so some may not agree with the rating system. I remember as a young child watching â€Å"Power Rangers† which was rated â€Å"TV-Y7†. That meant the youngest viewer watching should be at least seven years old. Kids mimic their heroes and act like they do. I don’t think it’s in the best interest of any seven year olds parents to allow for the child to take in such brutal shows. I am sure that within the next ten years television will either become much more liberal, or much more conservative, but not anywhere in between. Less and less people seem to care what is broadcast on cable TV, while the ones who do care seem to have a dying voice. The effect on our society is rather mixed and it will be a few decades before we see any real effects on our youth.