News Paper Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

News Paper Summary - Essay Example They further project the net U.S. farm income to fall by 27% to $95.8 billion. The article concentrates on investors who are selling jumble bonds resulting from fears of fresh interest rates and geopolitical turmoil. Borrowers have reacted by delaying debt sales and negating scheduled deals. Investors doubt adding to their holdings resulting from the Federal Reserve winding down the monthly stimulus. According to analysts, investors are not being compensated the risk in high-yield bonds effectively. They further state that investors sell the high-yield bonds because the look expensive and their performance have been weakening. Investors have responded by steering clear of high-yield exchange-traded funds because of rising worries about how they will fare in a slump. Financial firms are planning an exit strategy for Argentina, which is involved in a legal stalemate with some hedge-funds bondholders that intend to rug the country into default. Argentina, Wall Street best client for the past 10 years, is receiving several deals from banks, but none has won the approval of Argentine officials. Banks stand to benefit greatly at a time when revenue is under pressure from soft economic growth, stiffer rules, and regulatory review. Negotiations with banks are on a standstill following a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that the country might be on the danger of breaking a clause in its bonds that capacities equal treatment to all bondholders. The officials refused to negotiate with the holdouts claiming they refused to accept the reformations that most bondholders had agreed to. The country faces $14.5 billion claim from bondholders, but the country project to raise billions of dollars through bonds to repay the holdouts. AbbVie seeks to expand its stock in a deal worth $54 billion by acquiring Shire PLC. The firm compares it

American Dream Essay Example for Free

American Dream Essay Another prop used to represent the truth is the flowers. This makes the ending of Death of a Salesman effective because when Happy and Biff come home after leaving their dad alone in the restaurant they were meant to eat in but instead left with some girls, Happy comes home with some flowers for his mother, Linda. Linda knocks the flowers out of Happys hands out of anger. Linda starts to clean up the mess she has made then realises she has cleaned up enough of her sons messes Pick up this stuff, Im not you maid Linda says. Then the stage direction says Happy turns his back to her in refusal. Biff slowly moves over and gets down on his knees, picking up the flowers which explains another failure of the American Dream. I think this proves the difference between the two brothers and how Biff kneels indicating that he can accept the truth and knows that he cant achieve the American Dream whereas Happy is more stubborn like Willy into believing the dream so Miller intends he is destined to go in the same direction as Willy, which is another failure of the American Dream. Another failure of the American Dream is that Happy follows in his fathers footsteps after he knows what happened to him which led to his suicide which makes the ending of the play effective because this play about Willy could repeat it self but would be about Happy. Happy in a way is brainwashed into thinking that he can reach the American Dream easily because Willy said you just need to be well-liked and masculine when he was younger. Happy is trapped in his own world creating the same tragedy which has already been lived by his father Willy Loman. It also makes the ending of the play effective because Happy still believes in this dream when it might not even be real as he doesnt know anyone who has achieved it. On a materialistic basis, Willy has worked all his life to realize the American Dream but still fails to do that which makes the ending effective. Willy purchases some seeds for his garden and begins to plant them late at night which is another prop which represents the truth. I think Millers intention here was to show the audience that he is close to his suicide but realises that he needs to leave something real and living behind for his family to remember him by. We also know that Willy is close to his suicide because he is planting the seeds at the wrong time of the day, which again I think Millers target here was to give more clues to the audience that Willy was very serious about committing suicide soon. I also think that the seeds that Willy plants are symbolic in a way to another failure of the American Dream because this was Willys desire to grow big and tall ironically just like the plant eventually would. At the end of the play Willy is talking to Ben while he is planting the seeds. He talks about how big his funeral will be before he is even dead making the end of the play effective because hes dreaming about depressing things that will happen after his death for example what his funeral would be like. To be more specific how many people there would be from all over America. This is another failure of the American Dream because Willy shows that he has definitely given up on this dream that he had talked about all his life implying that he is going to kill himself. He is selling himself off and valuing himself and he acts as if he is making a business deal with himself. He also talks about how much money Biff will get and that he will be in front of Bernard again in terms of money. Bernard was their neighbour who was a clever boy and went to the same school as Biff and Happy. But back then, in the past Willy influenced his sons to just concentrate on being popular so they could accomplish the American Dream as soon as possible which is a failure of the American Dream because there is a lack of personality from both Biff and Happy. The stage directions are another significance in the play to represent the failures of the American Dream. At the very end of the play it mentions that the hard towers of the apartment buildings rise into sharp focus. I think Miller illustrates that even though Willy has now gone forever and is dead, the things that Willy hated the most will still be there and the society will move on which is a failure to achieving the American Dream because he has given up on himself and letting society win over him. In the video each time Willy went back into the past it was always set in the garden where it was bright. The contrast of colours between the clothes that were worn were the colours of the American flag. But in the past the colours were bright colours of red blue and white whereas in the present the clothes worn were more faded and dull colours. I think the costumes designers purpose here was to show the difference between the present and the past. I also think that the costume designer used bright colours in the past to illustrate that there was more hope for Biff and Happy to achieve the American Dream back then. I believe that the audience might respond to the faded colours of clothes worn in the present meaning that the clothes were old, demonstrating that the family could not afford to buy new clothes and other luxuries and this reflects a failure of the American Dream in the film. The ending of the play is effective because its a tragedy how Willy still believes in the American Dream after all he has been through and all the lies he has made up to accomplish this dream. There are many failures of the American Dream which makes the ending of Death of a Salesman effective because all these failures are revealed at the end of the play. Overall I think that Arthur Miller makes Death of a Salesman an effective ending in terms of presenting the failures of the American Dream by revealing the truth at the end of the play. The ending of the play is appropriate because it unravels all the unknowns throughout the play explaining why things happened and reasons why Willy, Biff and Happy had failed the American Dream .

The Wife Of Bath English Literature Essay

The Wife Of Bath English Literature Essay Writer Geoffrey Chaucer was born in 1342, when he was born is still unknown. Chaucer became a knight and a member of the kings home. Chaucer ran many errands all around Europe. With increased knowledge of society, it paved the way for The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer died in October 1400 and buried in Westminster Abbey. Chaucer was one of the first to have gathered in what is now known as the Poets Corner in Westminster Abbey. The Canterbury Tales were written sometime between 1387 and 1400. Coming from all walks of life; It is a tale of a numerous of people traveling together, portrayed as pilgrims, to Canterbury. The Canterbury tales were incomplete even the completed tales were not revised. There is also no order to how the tales are to be told. As the printing press had not been invented, The Canterbury Tales have been read as hand written manuscripts. The Wife Of Bath She initiates her story by telling of her experiences she has had in her life. The Wife of Bath begins her story by making it clear that she has always followed the rules of experience. The wife could easily be classified as an expert (for lack of better words); because she has had five husbands consecutively, she surely has had enough experience to classify her as such. To her there is nothing out of the ordinary with having had five significant others and has a very hard time understanding Jesus rebuke to the woman at the well. In her own defense, the Wife refers to King Solomon, who himself had many wives, and as for the admonishment of St. Paul that it is better to be married than to burn in sin. Sexual organs are created for their normal functions and for the purposes of pleasure. And unlike many senile women, she has always been one to constantly have sex on her mindà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦naturally. She then goes on to tell of her past husbands and allows for how she was able to reign supreme when it came to each of them. Unfortunately, when she does thisà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦he dies. She then goes on to tell of how she gained control over husband number five. At the funeral of husband number 4, she carried a lot of lust for a young man by the name of Jankyn, for which she had already had eyes on prior. They dated for a short period, she and Jankyn were married quickly as well, even considering the fact that she was much older than he. At the end of the honeymoon, she was taken back when she found out that Jankyn spent a lot his time reading, specifically from a set that downed on women. One night in particular, from this collection, he began to read aloud, He was reading the story of Eve, he read about all that he could find, like unfaithful women, murderesses, prostitutes, and so on, the wife of bath was unable to tolerate these stories for long, before she became enraged, took the book and hit Jankyn with it. She hit him so hard that he fell from being unbalanced, and into the fire he went. As he hopped up and he lunged at her, she fell to the floor from the strength of his hit, when she hit the ground she acted as though she were dead. When jankyn leaned over her, to examine the damage, she hit him one more time and once again acted as though she were dead. Infuriated, he promised her anything if she just would live, and this is how she was able to have control over husband number five. From that very moment until the day he passed away, she was the best possible wife she could be to him. Her story, restates her belief that a successful marriage is one in which the wife is to have complete control. In King Arthurs court there was a handsome yet deceitful young knight, who comes to and rapes a beautiful young woman. People are very angered at the young knights actions and vowed for the justice of the young lady. The law states, is written and demands that the perpetrator has his head cut off. For their own reasons the queen herself and some other maidens of the court pleaded for permission to have control over the fate of the knight. Inevitably, the queen gives the knight one year to figure out what the average womans wildest desires are. The time passes very quickly. The knight comes back to the court already knowing that he is going to die, He then sees a group of young maidens mingling around. As he gets closer to them, the run in fear, the only one left is an old angry woman, and she comes to him and is wondering what it is that he wants. The knight goes on to tell of his endeavors to her, and the woman guarantees him the exact response, he should give to the court, in return, he must do what she asks she saved his life. He obliges, and later, the queen asks him to respond, he comes forward with the right answer on that of what womens wildest desires are; it beingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦total control over their husbands. Because the old woman ended up giving the knight the right answer, she insists that she be his lover and his friend. The knight, hesitantly, obliges. The wedding night approaches, and he pretty much ignores his new wife, who is right next to him. He eventually lets her know that her age, as well as some of her other physical attributes disgust him. She reminds him simply that love is not pinpointed on how one looks but of true and honest understanding. The old woman tells him that her looks can be seen as an only a physical assetperiod. Now if she were good looking, plenty of men would be after her; with her existing state, just as she is, he can rest on the fact that he has an all-around good partner. The Wifes tale is quite interesting in the fact that it is lengthier than the actual story itself. The Wife of Bath uses the story to define knowledge about experience versus authority as well as igniting the points that she wishes to reveal in her story: What women really want is total control over their significant other. Due to the fact that she has had five husbands one right after the other, she feels as though when she talks it is with authority from all of the experience. In the prologue, she tells how she gained control over them all. In the church, antifeminism was a large contributing factor. Women were portrayed as almost like demons; they were very sexual, greedy, clingy, and a nagging pain and they were looked down on by the spiritual church. Women were unable to participate in church functions by any means. Also multiple marriages were considered suspicious. The Wife of Bath carefully remembers the words of the lord as stated in his written scripture. With her knowledge of his word, it shows that she is not a mindless human being. Furthermore, in Chaucers time, if you still had your virginity, you were highly thought of, especially when it comes to the church. Saints were glorified because they would rather be dead then to their lose virginity, or some suffered badly to keep their virginity later being considered as martyrs and at that point were blessed. After the Wife of Bath reserves from the word of the lord, she appears to gain common senseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦asking if all were virgins, she questions, then who would give birth to more virgins? This allows for the sexual organs to be used for pleasure as well as for the birthing end of it: She admits that she is full of life that enjoys sex and by no means is ashamed by it. The interesting part of story of the Wife of Bath is by far her argument on traditions or with the church, but the portrayal a living being. The wife is a woman of great emotion, and character. Preceding her five husbands and all of her hardships she has unfortunately lost her looks and her young nature yet, still she still lives on. With ease, he now has the ability to thoroughly enjoy her life. All throughout the Wifes tale, values and headships, are taken back or dismissed. During the start of the tale, King Arthur bows down to the ruling of Guinevere .Alternatively the women, over the men, are judges; and the knowledge of the books and the scriptures signifies a lot of experience. The knight, who was the rapist that jeopardized the purity of a young womans virginity, is saved by another woman, an old ugly woman at that. Lastly, the old woman gives the knight a choice, yet both choices are unbearable. When he allows her make the choice, he inevitably abandons his own freedom in courtesy of the womans power. Work Cited Reynolds, George Fullmer. The Staging of Elizabethan Plays at the Red Bull Theater 1605-1625. New York: Modern Language Association, 1940. Print. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Wife of Baths Tale. Canterbury Tales. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Major Authors. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt. 8th ed. New York: Norton, 2006. 226-234. http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/canterbury-tales/geoffrey-chaucer-biography.html

Cyberpunk and Science Fiction Essay -- Cyberpunk Computers Technology

Cyberpunk and Science Fiction Science fiction can be defined as a method of story telling that steps outside of the box of life as we know it and into the realm of the impossible. Science fiction works are often designed to be only truthful in the eyes of the author and the reader. However, there are times when either a science fiction work parallels closely to the future of our world and therefore becomes a possibility or life pursues a science fiction-like ideal making the quest heroic in itself. The latter of the two can describe the viewpoint of our growing cyberpunk culture and its belief that technology is the end no matter what means be. The stories in the book Cyberpunk seems to focus on the life of a hacker. The book follows the life events and trends that a hacker typically goes through. Individuals who are impressed by technology often become wrapped into a technological advancement such as the computer or telephone, and become engulfed in curiosity. However, at this point, these individuals are nothing more than a target market for the product. They not only test the power that comes from understanding what they have in their hands, they become obsessed with it, and even begin to abuse it. Now the person has crossed the line of a fan of a product and entered the realm of hackers. In well-known cases, the individuals who manipulate todays technology for personal gain or pleasure can be related to the villains in science fiction works. Todays hackers are the new generation of pioneers whom we fear because their knowledge gives them control over us. They rationalize their abuse and control over us for the good of t echnology and feel little or no remorse for any such unscrupulous actions. In most cyberpunk nov... ... with an ultimatum, villains would surely choose their evil profession over a life full of love and emotions. The world of science fiction is just a fantasized portrayal of our non-fictitious world of today. However, there is a significant relation among the innovators of our world and the inhabitants of the science fiction world. Their mentalities are equal; their intentions similar; their idea of a new world realized. One fears what one fails to understand, and there will always be those who test others fears. These are the characters of the science fiction novels; these are the characters of the world we live in. Works Cited Markoff, John and Hafner, Katie. Cyberpunk: Outlaws and Hackers on the Computer Frontier. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1991. Gibson, William. Johnny Mnemonic. Composing Cyberspace. Ed. Richard Holeton. Boston: McGraw Hill, 1998.

Elder Abuse and Neglect: Trends and Implications Essay

Considering the growing number of elder population in the world, and more specifically in the US, the reality of elder abuse or mistreatment has increasingly become a cause of concern specially for the health sector. Political and social forums have lent a stage for policy debates related to elder abuse. Though statistics show that elder abuse is common in many households and health care facilities, it is still considered as an underreported type of family violence. The International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization define elder abuse as â€Å"a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action occurring within a relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person† (as cited by Perel-Levin, 2005). Abuse of elderly people occurs in several ways, and often the types of abuse overlap with one another. The five commonly identified categories of elder abuse are physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, financial or material abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. (Bergeron, 2005; Dyer and Rowe, 1999; Kingston & Penhale, 1995; Perel-Levin, 2005). Elder abuse is a violation of human rights Perel-Levin (2005) and it constitutes potentially serious health and social problems (Kingston & Penhale, 1995). Perel-Levin (2005) assert that because of the speed of population ageing worldwide, elder abuse will also increase unless interventions are done to address it. A study made by the National Center for Elder revealed that 1996 saw more than 500,000 victims of elder abuse in America and that the great majority (84%) were not reported. This implies that there are several millions of elder abuse victims who continue to suffer in silence and without due recourse or help from authorities (NCEA, 1996). In the UK, at least half a million older persons are abused each year, yet it is believed that most such abuse remains unreported because its victims are too frightened, ashamed or embarrassed to come forward (Department of Health, 2007; as cited in Cronin, 2007). Health professionals as well as researchers agree that elder abuse and neglect often take place in the context of illness and caretaking issues (Bergeron, 2005). It is ironic because these facilities should instead safeguard the welfare and well-being of patients and wards instead of condoning abuse and neglect or turning a blind eye. It is commonly believed that the risk factors for elder abuse are present caretaking facilities that are tasked to safeguard the welfare of the elders. These settings include home health care, mental health clinics, emergency departments, and acute settings, as well as in long-term institutional care (Bergeron, 2005). These contentions support the critical argument of this paper that the reality of elder abuse and its still blurred status in institutional policy orientations augurs many pejoratives and adverse implications for older adults particularly those residing in nursing facilities. A victim of elder abuse would most likely suffer from worsening health condition which could very well adversely affect his social relationships, mental health and life endeavours. Trends Various sectors of the society have taken the cudgel to win the battle against elder abuse, mistreatment and neglect. Heading the cry for eradication of the problem is the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) which is under the auspices of the US Administration for Aging. It is working closely with many other advocates. NCEA is composed of a consortium of professionals and experts from various disciplines, most of them being researchers, practitioners and educators (NCEA website). Addressing the elder abuse dilemma has also been pacing up at the World Health Organization and has commissioned researches to gather information about the problem for it to come up with working solutions and interventions on a global scale. The mandate of the NCEA gives an overview of the efforts of practitioners and advocates to solve the problem on elder abuse and to promote the dignity of elder persons. Elder abuse is studied and dissected in many aspects focusing on 1) causes and risk factors, 2) prevalence and incidence of elder abuse in various contexts (e. g. , the home and health care facilities), 3) clinical screening and abuse identification, 4) evaluation of risk assessment tools and elder abuse instruments, and 5) prevention and treatment protocols with emphasis on evidence-based practice, among others (NCEA website). In a research partly sponsored by the Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education and the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, it is asserted that family violence which includes child abuse, partnership violence and elder mistreatment has become a â€Å"major social, health and law enforcement issue† as it continues to impact on policy directions as well as strain the capability of law enforcement agencies, judicial bodies, social service agencies, and health care centers (Chalk & King, 1998). Elder abuse and neglect issues have been taken in political agenda. In a remarkable eye-opening testimony by Catherine Hawes (Professor and Director of the Southwest Rural Health Research Center at the School of Rural Public Health, Texas A&M University System Health Science Center), she confirmed to the US Senate that indeed elder abuse is a sad reality in residential long-term care settings. The gist of her testimony contends that patients in such residential facilities are very vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse, that the problem elder abuse and neglect are caused by â€Å"low staffing levels and inadequate staff training†, that evidence suggests to the effectiveness of existing guidelines and practices to minimize the problem in residential facilities, and that the elder abuse problem in such settings have not been given the right attention (Hawes, 2002). Elder abuse and neglect has also become a critical issue in the fields of criminology and law enforcement. The number of elder abuse related studies in the field of criminal justice have escalated. A project conducted by the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, with the assistance of the University of California , Irvine School of Medicine by virtue of a grant made by the National Institute of Justice, highlights several recommendations relating to medical forensic issues on elder abuse were presented and which may be used as a guide in research and policy endeavors of other practitioners. In another research, Blake & Dolon (2006) gives a comprehensive and methodical approach to the abuse and neglect issue that will be of great use to the criminal justice system and the social services sector, among others. Practical examples and situations are given to illustrate their concepts and to describe proposed interventions in the legal context (e. g. , establishment of guardianship), for the health sector (e. g. , diagnosis and treatment), and in the social services sector (e. g. , home care or counselling). Forensic studies also provide guidance in conducting research-based forensic interviews. One such study is that Cooper and King (2006), which set up clear interview guidelines in aid of forensic investigation of an offender who committed sexual assault against an elderly. An evaluation of the criminal justice response to elder abuse in nursing homes was conducted by Payne & Gainey (2006). Analyzing 801 cases of elder abuse in nursing homes revealed that physical assault is the most common form of abuse and that work stress contributes to elder abuse incidence. The researchers suggest that preventative measures should be implemented forthwith in nursing homes. Implications The health and medical sciences as well as occupational science are linked together because they focus on the health and well-being of human beings. Implications of elder abuse to the health sector come from different perspectives, but the essence of occupational science and justice are mostly integrated in these perspectives. For health care providers, they are not only in an ideal position to engage in early identification, support and referral of persons experiencing elder abuse but should also recognize and accept it as their responsibility to address the risks of elder abuse (Kingston & Penhale, 1995). However, Fulmer, et al (2004) say that the health care sector experience difficulty fulfilling these roles. Citing several studies, it was asserted that elder abuse treatment attitudes among nurses with older patients tend to be negative (McLafferty & Morrison, 2004) and that ignorance in hospitals of the problem of elder abuse is characteristic of the situation in general (Cohen, et al, 2006). Richardson, et al; (2002) found that at baseline, staff often do not recognize, record and report abuse. Still, Nahmiash and Reis (2000) found in their study that the most accepted and successful strategies for abused older adults are concrete: nursing and other medical care and homemaking assistance, thus health professionals, especially nurses, are likely to be among those accepted by abused adults. Accident and emergency departments are often the first point of contact for an abused older person (Dyer & Rowe, 1999). Notwithstanding the problems in recognising abuse and the complexities of dealing with older people, emergency nurses need not prove or disprove it is present; it is their responsibility though to act if they suspect it (Cronin, 2007) and they should not be afraid to seek help if they are suspicious of abuse, lest they fall short of their responsibility. (Dyer and Rowe, 1999). For the occupational therapist, an acute understanding of elder abuse and its symptoms could help him screen and identify elder abuse, refer incidence to authorities or to enhance therapeutic protocols to restore health and well-being of an abused elder. Knowledge of the experiences of an elderly patient will give the practitioner valuable insights on the patient’s physical state and mental condition and which will help the patient-therapist partnership in designing and implementing therapeutic programs. Conclusion The sad reality of elder abuse stares us into the face and we can’t help but stare back in terror and fear. The face of an old person with beaten black and blue or a disposition that showed the heartbreaking misery of being attacked or robbed by one’s own family are indeed not only poignant pictures but terrifying as well. Imagine millions of faces like these. It would be a terrible world to live in. As already underscored earlier, elder abuse is underreported. Even as statistics show that millions of abuse cases have been reported, there are millions more who are hidden and kept secret. The reported statistics is just the tip of the iceberg. As also discussed, elder abuse is committed in residential facilities by no less than the health professionals who are supposed to be the protectors of their health and well-being. This is a cause of panic. This is an issue that should not escape the judicious eyes and ears of law and government. Occupational science could contribute so much in policy-making as well as designing protocols to prevent or treat elder abuse. References Bergeron, L. R. (2005). Elder abuse: Clinical assessment and obligation to report. In K. A. Kendall-Tackett (Ed. ), Health consequences of abuse in the family: A clinical guide for evidence based practice.. Washington DC: American Psychological Association. pp. 109-128. Blakely, B. & Dolon, R. (2006). Elder mistreatment (from Crisis Intervention in Criminal Justice/Social Service). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas Publisher Ltd. Chalk, R. and King, PA, eds. (1998). Violence in families: Assessing prevention and treatment programs.. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Cohen, M. , et al. (2006). Risk of abuse by their caregivers: development of a screening tool for identifying elderly people at risk of abuse by their caregivers. The Journal of Aging and Health. Retrieved Sept 25 2008 from ttp://jah. sagepub. com/cgi/content/abstract/18/5/660 Cronin, G. (2007). Elder abuse: the same old story? Emergency Nurse. Vol 15, No 3 June 2007. Dyer, C. & Rowe, J. 1999. Elder abuse. Trauma 1999; 1: 163-169 Arnold Publishers Fulmer, T. (2004). Progress in elder abuse screening and assessment instruments. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Vol 52, No 2. Retrieved January 10, 2009 from http://www. hartfordign. org/publications/trythis/issue15. pdf. Fulmer, T. , Paveza, G. , Abraham, I. , & Fairchild, S. (2000). Elder neglect assessment in the emergency department. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 26, 436-443. Hawes, Catherine. (2002). Elder abuse in residential long-term care facilities: What is known about prevalence, causes, and prevention. Testimony before the U. S. Senate Committee on Finance, June 18, 2002. Retrieved April 13, 2009 from http://finance. senate. gov/hearings/testimony/061802chtest. pdf.

Using the Spanish Word Claro

Using the Spanish Word Claro Other than sà ­, the word for yes, claro is the word most commonly used in Spanish for expressing agreement, either with something someone has said or with a statement expressed earlier by the speaker. As an intensifier, claro can be translated in a variety of ways, depending on the context. Common translations include of course, evidently, obviously and yes. In such usages claro usually functions as a sentence adverb or an interjection. Claro also has uses as an adjective and noun. Claro as an Adverb or Interjection When expressing the idea of obviousness or certainty, claro frequently is followed by que. However, it can also be used in other ways as shown in the examples . Note that as an adverb or interjection, claro always takes the form of claro; there is no change for gender. Claro que esto no es bueno. (Clearly this isnt good.)Claro que no todo es un lecho de rosas. (Obviously not everything is a bed of roses.)Sà ­, claro, quiero saber dà ³nde ests, cà ³mo ests. (Yes, of course, I want to know where you are, how you are.)-  ¿Me reconoces? -  ¡Claro que sà ­! (Do you recognize me? Of course!) ¡Claro que no puedes! (Of course you cant!)Claro que tienes pruebas. (Surely you have proof.) ¡Claro que no! (Of course not!) ¿Salimos?  ¡Claro! (Are we leaving? Sure!)Sabemos lo que sabemos, claro. (We know what we know, evidently.)Nunca lo creà ­, pero ahora lo veo claro. (I never believed it, but now I see it clearly.) Claro as an Adjective As an adjective, claro varies in form with number and gender. It has a variety of meanings including light in color, clear, evident, weak or thin (in the sense of being watered down), and frank. Either Est claro que or Es claro que can be used as the equivalent of It is clear that. The former tends to be more common in Spain, the latter in Latin America. El cristalino es la parte clara del ojo que ayuda a enfocar la luz. (The lens is the clear part of the eye that helps focus light.)Muchas personas prefieren las explicaciones ms claras. (Many people prefer the simplest explanations.)Est claro que vamos a sufrir. (It is obvious we are going to suffer.)No es claro que pueda sortear este problema sin ayuda. (It is not clear that she can navigate this problem without help.)La pulpa de esta fruta es verde claro y muy dulce. (This fruits pulp is light green and very sweet.)Quiero comprender, pero no es clara la oracià ³n. (I want to understand it, but the sentence isnt clear.)La solucià ³n filtrada adquiere consistencia de jarabe claro con pelà ­cula viscosa en la superficie. (The filtered solution acquires the consistency of clear  syrup with a thick film on the surface.)La actriz es muy clara sobre su vida amorosa. (The actress is very frank about her love life.) Claro as a Noun Un claro is a clearing (as in a forest) or some other kind of empty space. Los fotos muestran un claro en la jungla con rboles ennegrecidos por el fuego. (The photos show a clearing in the jungle with trees blackened by the fire.)Se abrià ³ un claro entre las nubes. (A break in the clouds opened up.)Hay un claro en la pared para las ventanas. (There is an opening in the wall for the windows.) Moonlight is claro de luna. El claro de luna era nuestra mejor compaà ±Ãƒ ­a. (The moonlight was our best company.)

Executive pay and salary secrecy

Executive pay and salary secrecy "I'll show you my salary if you show me yours," the corporate vice president told his female colleague. She felt uncomfortable sharing her information but was too curious to pass up the chance.They ducked into an empty conference room and closed the door. Like two five-year-olds exchanging notes, they scribbled their secrets on two pieces of paper, folded and swapped them."I felt awful," she recalls of the moment she unfolded the paper and peered at the number. "I didn't realize I was making so much more than he was."After gossip about romance and layoffs, perhaps the most provocative topic on any office grapevine is salary. The reason is simple: "It's the final, indisputable word on what you're worth to the company," says Mari Mineta Clapp, a vice president at a Silicon Valley electronics firm who has been repeatedly approached by salary snoops. "And it's very personal.US Congress Salary 1860-2000[It comes down to] how you feel about the fact that others are perceived as more or le ss valuable than you are."Most companies try to keep salary talk a taboo, discouraging even disciplining workers for sharing pay information with other employees. And workers want it that way, companies argue. "All personnel are trained to keep [salaries] confidential," says Bruce Bunch, a spokesman for General Electric Co. "It reflects the desire of the mass of employees."In truth, however, discouraging salary talk isn't merely a matter of privacy. Public disclosure risks exposing unfair wage practices, giving underpaid employees ammunition to fight for raises. It also uncovers wage discrepancies created when new workers are hired at market rates, which are typically above those of same-level workers who have risen through company ranks.Some employee advocates even encourage sharing salary information as a way to promote fair pay practices. "The...