D’Leon Inc. Case Study Essay

D’Leon Incorporated is a small food producer that specializes in high-quality pecan and other nut products sold in the snack-foods market. In 2004, D’Leon’s president, Al Watkins, decided to undertake a major expansion to become more competitive within their market. The following report describes some of the financial effects that this expansion has had on the company. D’Leon began its expansion by doubling its plant capacity, opening new sales offices, and investing in an expensive advertising campaign. Watkins felt that they had superior products to the competition and that he could charge a premium price for their products to result in increased sales, profits, and stock price. The results, however, were unsatisfactory. Sales were below and costs were above all initial projections. These results have raised questions about the expansion and also caused concern among the Board of Directors and the major shareholders about the future of the company. Part I of this report analyzes D’Leon’s financial statements from 2004 and 2005. It describes some of the effects of the expansion on the financials of the company and some of the problems that have arisen with their current financial position. Net operating profit decreased, but operating working capital and total operating capital have shown increases. Sales had a considerable increase, but net income decreased. D’Leon’s financials also indicated a decrease in cash flow due to the company spending more cash than they were taking in. These changes are subsequently resulting in decreased stock prices and a deteriorating financial position which is concerning both management and shareholders. Part II of this report discusses the ratio analysis of D’Leon’s financial statements. It begins by explaining the five major categories of financial ratios: Liquidity, Asset Management, Debt Management, Profitability, and Market Value. While most of the 2005 ratios have shown significant declines and are below industry averages, the 2006 projections look promising for the company and are showing significant increases. Part II continues with a discussion of some of the limitations of financial ratios as comparison tools and concludes with a brief discussion of D’Leon’s credit issues and a  summary of the company’s 2006 projections. It is recommended that D’Leon Inc. conduct in-depth financial research and perform an extensive ratio analysis of their financial position before deciding to undergo any further expansions. Doing this could greatly help the managers in their decision-making and aide in determining the effects of any future expansions on the financial stability of the company. Sales In addition to expanding the company, D’Leon’s president, Al Watkins, felt that the company’s products were of a higher quality than the competitions and that he could charge a premium price, resulting in greatly increased sales and profits. Following the expansion, D’Leon did see a sales increase of $2,602,000 , a 75.8% increase over the previous year. Even though the company did experience a sales increase, liabilities such as accounts and notes payable increased, resulting in decreased profits. Net Operating Profit after Taxes Net Operating Profit after Taxes (NOPAT) is a company’s after-tax operating profit for all investors, including shareholders and debt holders. NOPAT represents the company’s operating profit that would accrue to shareholders if the company had no debt. Unfortunately, due the increased debt and liabilities associated with the expansion, D’Leon’s NOPAT experienced a significant decrease of 168.8% from $114,257 to -$78,569. Net Operating Working Capita lNet Operating Working Capital (NOWC) is a financial metric representing the amount of day-by-day operating liquidity available to a business. NOWC is calculated by subtracting a company’s non-interest bearing current liabilities from their current assets. An increase in working capital indicates that the business has either increased current assets by receiving cash or other current assets, or has decreased current liabilities, by possibly paying off some short-term creditors. As a result of D’Leon’s increased sales from the expansion, the company has experienced an increase in NOWC from $842,400 to $913,042. This is an increase of about 8.4%. This increase is good because it’s a positive indicator that the firm is able to continue its operations and that it has sufficient cash flow to satisfy both maturing short-term debt and upcoming operational expenses. Total Operating Capital Total Operating Capital is simply the addition of a company’s net fixed assets to the NOWC. D’Leon’s expansion generated a significant increase in the company’s net fixed assets of almost three times the previous years. This figure added to the NOWC generated a 56.1% increase in total operating capital from $1,187,200 to $1,852,832. Net Income Net income, or profit, is the income that a firm has after subtracting costs and expenses from the total revenue. It can be distributed among holders of common stock as a dividend or held by the firm as retained earnings. Once again, however, due to the significant increase in costs and expenses such as notes and accounts payable, D’Leon had a negative net income in 2005. They experienced a decrease of 282.1% from $87,960 to  -$160,176. Cash Flows Cash flow refers to the amount of cash being received and paid by a business during a defined period of time. The measurement of cash flow can be used to determine and evaluate such things as problems with liquidity and the state or performance of a business. It can also be used to generate project rate-of-returns and to examine income or growth of a business when it is believed that accrual accounting concepts do not represent economic realities. In this report, cash flows will be categorized into three components: net cash flow, operating cash flow, and free cash flow. †¢Net cash flow (NCF), the measure of a company’s financial health, equals the cash receipts minus cash payments over a given period of time. It can be considered money that is available for expansion, research and development, or retained as cash reserves. From 2004 to 2005, D’Leon’s net cash flow decreased dramatically by 140.4%. This decrease in funds needed for the expansion is causing great concern with the major shareholders of the company over the future of D’Leon Inc. †¢Operating cash flow (OCF) is the cash flow from operating activities. It refers to the amount of cash a company generates from the revenues it brings in minus the costs associated with long-term investment on capital items or investment in securities. The company experienced a 71.2% decrease in OCF from the previous year. †¢Free cash flow (FCF) is the cash flow actually available for payment to investors. The value of a company’s operations depends on its expected future free cash flows. This is another cause for concern for D’Leon’s major shareholders because, following the expansion, the FCF decreased dramatically to -$744,201. Market Value AddedMarket Value Added (MVA) is the difference between the current market value of a firm and the capital contributed by investors. If MVA is positive, the firm has added value. If it is negative, the firm has destroyed value. The expansion of D’Leon has decreased their MVA. This can  be seen in that the stock price has decreased over the past year by about 73.5%. In order for MVA to increase, the amount of value added needs to be greater than the firm’s investors could have achieved investing in the market portfolio. SECTION 2: Working CapitalA good indicator of a company’s health is its working capital. The working capital represents the amount of operating liquidity that is available to a business and is calculated as current assets minus current liabilities. A company can be endowed with assets and profitability, but short of liquidity, if these assets cannot readily be converted into cash. Section 2 of this report focuses on the three components of current assets: sales, receivables, and purchases. SalesThe objective of any business is to create or increase profits through sales. One way that D’Leon might increase sales would be to offer 60-day credit terms to their customers rather than the 30-day credit terms that they currently offer. If sales were to double as a result of the change in their credit policy, the cash account would initially decrease because they would have to build up their inventory to support the increased sales. This would result in an increase in accounts receivable. Over time, D’Leon’s cash account would eventually begin to rise as collections increased. One downfall to this option, however, would be if the competitors learned of the change and began to offer similar credit terms to their customers. If this were to happen, D’Leon’s sales would remain constant, resulting in its cash account decreasing and its accounts receivable increasing. ReceivablesDay-to-day business at D’Leon, just as in any other business, consists of them spending money. They spend money for labor, materials, and fixed assets needed to make products to sell. The sale of these products result in receivables, which are simply the billing of customers who owe money to the company for the goods that have been provided. The receivables eventually generate cash as the outstanding bills are paid by the customers. Because of this process, D’Leon’s cash account has decreased dramatically due to the company spending more cash than it is taking in. Because of this, it appears that the sales price does not exceed its costs per unit sold.  This has a negative effect on the cash balance because, as stated above, more cash is going out than is coming in. PurchasesD’Leon purchases its materials on 30-day terms, meaning that it is supposed to pay for its purchases within 30 days of receipt. Judging by D’Leon’s 2005 balance sheet , its suppliers probably do not get paid on time. This conclusion can be made from the fact that sales have only increased by about 76% over the past year while accounts payable have increased by about 260%. SECTION 3: Problems AnalysisAdditional questions and problems have raised concern among the board members and the major shareholders of D’Leon Incorporated. Section 3 of this report focuses on these issues as well as options that the company might pursue to ensure a healthy financial future. Cash ProblemsThe expansion at D’Leon weakened their financial strength. Because the company issued long-term debt rather than common stock for the funding, it appears that it has financed its expansion with external capital rather than with internally generated funds. Due to the significant increase in receivables, even if it had broke even in 2005, D’Leon would still experience a cash shortage requiring it to raise external capital to finance its increase in assets. Regarding the company’s physical stock, the question has been raised to depreciate them over 7 years rather than 10 years. Unfortunately, this change would not affect the physical stock. The balance sheet account for fixed assets, however, would decrease due to the increasing accumulated depreciation. The company’s reported net income would decrease and the decrease in tax payments would result in an increased cash position. Stock IssuesEarnings per share (EPS) are the earnings returned on the initial investment amount. It is calculated by dividing net income by shares outstanding. Dividends per share are calculated by dividing dividends by shares outstanding. Book value per share is calculated by common equity divided by shares outstanding. The market price per share of a stock does not equal the book value per share because the market value reflects future  profits, while the book value per share represents historical cost of the stock. Tax IssuesFor businesses, interest paid is tax deductible. This is because it is considered an expense and is paid out of pre-tax income. Dividends paid, however, are paid out of after-tax income. Interested earned is subject to income taxes because it is part of the company’s taxable income. Dividends received are also taxed as part of the ordinary income. For corporations, Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income. D’Leon was able to use Tax Loss Carry-Back and Carry-Forward Provisions to receive a tax refund because of its net loss of -$160,178 in 2005. PART II:Financial StatementAnalysisSECTION 1: Ratio AnalysisThe primary goal of any business is to maximize its value. In order to do this, it must take advantage of its strengths and correct its weaknesses. Businesses do this by first comparing their performance to other businesses in the same industry and secondly by evaluating trends in their financial position over time. This evaluation is done through ratio analysis . Ratio Analysis is simply a tool used by individuals to conduct a quantitative analysis of information in a company’s financial statements. These ratios are calculated from current year numbers and are then compared to previous years, other companies, the industry, or even the economy to judge the performance of the company. These calculations provide assistance in decision-making, reduce reliance on guesswork and intuition, and establish a basis for sound judgment. The following section discusses the five major categories of financial ratios. LiquidityLiquidity refers to an asset’s ability to be easily converted through the act of buying or selling. A liquid asset can be bought or sold rapidly without causing a significant movement in the price and with minimum loss of value. Liquidity ratios are calculations that show the relationship of a company’s cash and other current assets to its current liabilities. These ratios include the current ratio and the quick ratio. By looking at D’Leon Inc.’s quick ratio for 2004 and 2005, it is clear that their liquidity has decreased, but it is projected to increase in 2006. Asset ManagementAsset management ratios are another group of financial calculations that measure how effectively a company is managing its assets. These ratios attempt to answer the question â€Å"Does the amount each type of asset seem reasonable, too high, or too low in view of current and projected sales?† If a business has too many assets, its cost of capital will be too high and its profits will be depressed. If assets are too low, however, profitable sales will be lost. Asset management ratios include inventory turnover, days sales outstanding (DSO), fixed assets turnover, and total assets turnover. D’Leon’s inventory turnover and total assets turnover are below the industry average, but their DSO is above the industry average. Their fixed assts turnover, however, is above the industry average. By the inventory turnover ratio being low, it appears that the firm either has excessive or obsolete inventory. If inventory were reduced, their current asset and turnover ratios would improve and the debt ratio would reduce even further, increasing D’Leon’s profitability. If D’Leon were to improve its collection procedures and lower its DSO to the 32-day average, the effects would ripple through the financial statements and free up over $250,000 in cash that would, in turn, raise their stock price. Debt ManagementDebt management is also referred to as financial leverage. Financial leverage is the using of given resources in such a way that the potential positive or negative outcome is magnified. It most generally refers to using debt, or borrowed funds, in an attempt to increase the returns to equity. Financial leverage can allow greater potential returns to the investor than would have otherwise been available. The potential for loss is also greater, however, because repayment of the loan principle and all accrued interest is still required if the investment becomes worthless. Debt management ratios include times-interest-earned (TIE) and EBITDA coverage. D’Leon’s expected TIE for 2006 is much improve over its 2004 and 2005 levels and is above the industry average. Their EBITDA has also improved, but is still below the industry average. ProfitabilityProfitability ratios reflect the combined effects of liquidity, asset management, and debt. It measures a company’s use of its assets and  control of its expenses to generate an acceptable rate of return. For most of these ratios, having a higher value relative to a competitor’s ratio or the same ratio from a previous period is indicative that the company is doing well. Profitability ratios include profit margin on sales, return on total assets (ROA), basic earning power, (BEP), and return on common equity, (ROE). D’Leon’s profit margin is above 2004 and 2005 levels and is slightly above the industry average. Their BEP, ROA, and ROE ratios have also increased from the previous year, but are all still below the industry average. Market ValueMarket Value Ratios are the calculations that relate a company’s stock price to its earnings, cash flow, and book value per share. These ratios give management an indication of what investors think of the company’s risk and future prospects. If all of the previously discussed ratios look good, and if these conditions have been stable over time, then the market value ratios will be high, the stock price will probably be high, and management has been doing a good job. Market value ratios include price/earnings (P/E), price/cash flow, and market/book (M/B) ratios. All of these ratios at D’Leon Inc. are above the previous years level, but are all below the industry average. SECTION 2: Financial Ratio LimitationsWhen evaluating a company, analysts recognize that they must consider certain qualitative factors . These factors are:†¢Are the company’s revenues tied to one key customer?†¢To what extent are the company’s revenues tied to one key product?†¢To what extent does the company rely on a single supplier?†¢What percentage of the company’s business is generated overseas?†¢Competition†¢Future prospects†¢Legal and regulatory environmentWhile these factors must be considered for all company’s alike, not all company’s can be compared equally when it comes to their financials. There are a number of limitations to using financial ratios as a tool for comparison. One such limitation is that company’s use different operating and accounting practices and procedures. This could cause distortion in comparisons. Another possible cause of distortion between ratio comparisons is seasonal factors. Industry average comparisons can be made difficult if company’s operate many different divisions. Another  major issue is that a company may not always know whether the ratios that they are comparing theirs with are good or bad because some company’s use certain techniques to make their financial statements and ratios appear better than they actual are. SECTION 3: Problems and DiscussionCredit IssuesIn 2005, D’Leon paid its suppliers much later than the due date, and it was not maintaining financial ratios at levels called for in its bank loan agreement. There was concern that this behavior would lead to the suppliers cutting the company off and refusing to renew the loan when it comes due. Even though the company’s projected ratios appear to be improving, the credit manager will most likely not be able to extend credit to it. However, the bank will mostly likely not demand repayment because this could for D’Leon into bankruptcy. Financial ProjectionsUsing the extended Du Pont equation, we find that D’Leon has an ROE of nearly 13%. Looking at the 2006 projections in Appendix F on page 16, we see that the company’s strengths include above industry average fixed assets turnover and profit margin. D’Leon also significantly reduced it debt ratio, resulting in a decreased interest expense and improved TIE ratio. Some of the company’s weaknesses include poor asset management ratios, EBITDA coverage, profitability ratios, and market value ratios. I would have recommended that the company perform an extensive ratio analysis of its current financial position before taking on any expansion plans. This could have immensely helped managers to determine the effects of the expansion on the financial stability of the company. Brigham, Eugene F., and Joel F. Houston. Fundamentals of Financial Management. â€Å"D’Leon Inc., Chapter 4 spreadsheet module†. Made available on July 1, 2008 by Dr. Richard Constand. Brigham, Eugene F., and Joel F. Houston. Fundamentals of Financial Management. Thomson: South-Western Publishers, Eleventh Ed. 2007.

Why is it that we spend our time on the most useless things?

Why is it that we spend our time on the most useless things? We keep on hoping that somehow, our efforts are all going to be worth it. We keep on surviving knowing that in the end we die. And the worst of these is the fact that we keep on falling in love even if we will eventually get hurt. Do you believe in angels? Well if you do, how would you feel if I told you that there aren't any? What would come into your mind if I told you that angels do not exist? Will you hate the one who told you of them, just in case? It doesn't really matter what you believe in. What matters is that you know how you feel and that you'd stand proudly for your principles. And the most important thing is that you learn to accept the ideas of others no matter how much they might contradict yours. Keeping that in mind, I'd like to share an idea I have regarding these supernatural beings. Although I know it might be a total contradiction to a whole lot of standards set by the world, I still am hoping that you might find it worth your fancy. Life? What is it? You can't see it neither can you grasp it. You can't even control it. So why is it that we spend so much time trying to achieve longevity knowing that the future is uncertain? But is it really how long we live or how we live? To make the best out of every moment is the best way of taking advantage of such a situation. When would you most probably have your first experience of true love? It might sound corny but it's true that all of us would definitely come to that point. Why is it so difficult to expound on something that you would understand subconsciously, but can't find the right words to explain it? High school was rough. It might sound unbelievable but it's true. I couldn't hardly breath the first time I got in through the iron gates. I felt the weight of every eye scrutinizing my form. I guess it would appear to be nothing more than an example of a hyperbole. But the thought of all the prejudices being made about you is enough to make you feel uneasy. My freshman year isn't worth the time recounting. However, during my second year in school, whose name I care not mention, things took a different turn. Although it might sound like a total clichà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ but my experience with this girl changed my life forever. How? I'll tell you in the simplest way I can. At first I thought she would just be another passing face. I did see her once during my first year. It was during a program where she received an award as the captain of her volleyball team after winning in the inter high school competition. I didn't even notice her. So, by now I guess you have an idea of how awkward it was for me to admit I liked her. To admit something that would mean weakness is definitely not my line. We became classmates as sophomores and that was the time I really gave her the attention she deserved. I mean she's smart, beautiful, talented and rich. It's her right to demand respect. Her genius truly gained my admiration. It was kind of funny how something so innocent as admiration could turn into something as cruel and evil as lust. Although lust was not the first feeling I felt. She intrigued me entirely. Her ways caused such curiosity within me that I took time to study her. I wanted to know her. I wanted to understand the way her mind works. However, she definitely did not feel the same about me at first. Actually, she could care less if I felt anything towards her. She never gave me the slightest bit of attention she could spare. In fact, she didn't spare any at all. I could never really ask for any considering the fact that the law banned my deep admiration for her. Unfortunately, I have to leave this portion up for you to find out just how much trouble I was in. Another aspect of my humanity was about to be revealed. My body began to change rapidly as though I were taking some sort of drug. However, I did not let this get in the way of achieving my goal. I wanted supremacy, power and most of all, her. These changes never did cause that much trouble until my unfortunate demise came to pass. I wanted her so much that I broke all the rules and told her of how I felt. At first, I thought she felt at least a tiny bit of love for me. But my suspicions were proven wrong. She hated me for it. She even thought it was a joke. She made my disclosure nothing more than a laughing matter. And for this, I hated her. She tore my soul apart. She stepped on my ego like it was nothing more than a rag. I felt the rage burning up inside me. I wanted revenge. The night after the incident, I felt something inside me begin to swell. I felt a burning sensation in my back that seemed to consume my entire being. The combination of my broken heart and the excruciating pain made me want to die on the spot. I had nothing to live for anyway. It seemed like all those years of strife were for nothing.

Angina Pectoris Care Plan

Care Plan For Angina Pectoris Angina Pectoris Chief Complaint: Patient complains of having tightness and pain in his chest that seems to move down the left arm. Patient describes the pain as being sharp and can be sometimes a mild pain or an immobilizing pain. Medical Diagnosis: Coronary Artery Disease Pathophysiology of: Angina Pectoris Angina Pectoris develops when coronary blood flow becomes inadequate to meet myocardial oxygen demand. This causes myocardial cells to switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism, with a progressive impairment of metabolic, mechanical, and electrical functions. Angina pectoris is the most common clinical manifestation of myocardial ischemia. It is caused by chemical and mechanical stimulation of sensory afferent nerve endings in the coronary vessels and myocardium. These nerve fibers extend from the first to fourth thoracic spinal nerves, ascending via the spinal cord to the thalamus, and from there to the cerebral cortex. (http:// emedicine. medscape. com/article/15021 5-overview, 6/1 5/10 12:30 pm) Medical Interventions: Diagnostic Tests: 1. Coronary intravascular ultrasonography A coronary intravascular ultasonography is an invasive ultrasound performed rom a transducer within the lumen of the coronary arteries. (Laboratory test and diagnostic procedures, By: Cynthia Chernicky, 5th Edition 2008). Electrocardiography is a noninvasive acoustic imaging procedure that determines the size, shape, position, thickness and movements of the heart valves, walls, and chambers during each cardiac cycle. (Laboratory test and diagnostic procedures, By: Cynthia Chernicky, 5th Edition 2008). Lipid Profile; Blood 3. Lipid profile; blood is a test to check the units of each of the following: Total lipids, A. Triglycerides B. HDL Cholesterol C. LDL Cholesterol D. E. Total HDL Cholesterol ratio. 4. Stress Exercise Test Stress exercise test measures the efficiency of the heart during a period of physical stress on a treadmill or on a stationary bicycle. Medications: 1. Nitroglycerin Tablets: Classification: Vasodilator, antihypertensive. Action: Reduces preload and afterload, decreasing myocardial workload and oxygen demand. Uses: To prevent or treat angina pectoris, hypertension, and heart failure. Contraindications: Acute Myocardial Infarction, angle- closure glaucoma, cerebral hemorrhage, concurrent use of phosphodiesterase inhibitors, constrictive ericarditis. Route and Dosage: Adults: PO 1 mg. tablet every 5 hours while awake. (Buccal) 0. 1 To 0. 8 mg. hr. worn 12 to 14 hours at a time. (Transdermal Patch) Adverse Reactions: Some side effects of this drug that should be reported to a healthcare provider if they become severe are as follows: headaches dizziness flushing lightheadedness reported to a healthcare provider immediately. The adverse effects of nitroglycerin are: Nausea vomiting Weakness blurred vision fainting spell abdominal pain sweating chest pain pale skin rashes Ђ peeling of the skin blisters on the skin hives itching difficulty breathing Surgery: 1 Transluminal coronary angioplasty Your hearts arteries can become clogged from a buildup of cholesterol, cells or other substances. This can reduce blood flow to your heart and cause chest discomfort. Sometimes a blood clot can suddenly form or get worse and completely block blood flow, leading to a heart attack. Angioplasty opens blocked arteries and restores normal blood flow to your heart muscle. Angioplasty, a type of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is not major surgery. It is done through a small puncture in a leg or arm artery and opens a clogged heart artery by inflating a tiny balloon in it. Assessment: Subjective: Patient is a 68 year old male with a history of coronary artery disease, and hypertension. Vital Signs as follows: -r: 986 R: 25 p: 102 Objective: Patient seemed to be crying and in severe pain. Skin was flushed, and clammy. Right hand was over left shoulder as if he were trying to relieve the pressure of the pain. Nursing Diagnosis: 1 Physical: 1. Acute pain related to decreased oxygen supply to the myocardium. Nursing Intervention: . Patient will remain on oxygen as ordered for the next 12 hours. 2. Give Nitroglycerin Tablets sublingually every 5 minutes for the next 1 5 minutes. . Patient will sleep for at least 30 minutes every 2 hours for the next 8 hour shift. Nursing Evaluation/Outcome: 1. Patient was able to be taken off of oxygen after the first 12 hours. 2. Patients pain had stopped after 1 5 minutes of administration of the nitroglycerin tablets. 3. Patient was able to sleep for 30 minutes every 2 hours with no interruptions in the last 8 hour shift. Nursing Diagnosis: 2 Psychosocial: 1. Anxiety related to change in lifestyle. Nursing Interventions: 1. Patient will be informed of the importance of taking the nitroglycerin at first sign of pain within an 8 hour shift. 2. Patient will learn how to decrease personal activities within 30 days. 3. Patient will Join a stress management course within the next month. 1. Patient was able to better understand the use of the nitroglycerin tablets after an 8 hour shift. 2. Patient was able to decrease physical activities in the last 30 days. 3. Patient was able to Join a stress management course in last month. Potential/ Risk: 1. Deflecient Knowledge related to coronary artery disease. . Patient will learn the causes of angina pectoris within an 8 hour shift. 2. Patient will learn the importance of side effects to medications within 8 hours. 3. Patient will make sure to get all information of medications before leaving the hospital. 1. Patient was better able to understand what caused the angina pectori by the time he left the hospital. References 1. Laboratory test and diagnostic procedures, By: Cynthia Chernicky, 5th Edition 2008. 2. http://emedicine. medscape. com/article/1 5021 5-overview, 6/1 5/10 12:30 pm

Existentialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Existentialism - Essay Example In that case, there are elements of existentialism in both pop and high culture such as films, novels and paintings among others. Existentialism is a cultural and philosophical movement that the experiences of an individual are the defining point of all philosophical thinking (Flynn 145). Therefore, in a short story such as ‘To Build a Fire’ by Jack London, it is about the unfortunate tale of a man who falls victim to the power of nature. This happens when he goes for an expedition to a wild environment in Yukon with sub-freezing temperatures. The man struggles against the hostility of the weather when his feet get wet through the ice that is found in water including a hot freezing point. Therefore, in order to save himself, it is upon man to generate some warmth by lighting a fire to prevent his feet from freezing. On that brief account, the theme of existentialism is depicted in the inability of man to extricate him from the turbulent forces of nature. In other words, the man is in a cruel habitat with indifference in terms of according him peace and harmony. It thus compels him to accept the meaningless and indignity of nature. The man finally resigns to fate and discovers that nature is powerful and the only mercy is to play his role of protecting himself. Alternatively, it is imperative to note that there are several existentialistic themes discussed by Jack London in the short story. For example, there is the theme of despair that is apparent in the inability of the man to control nature. The man develops a deep dread of lighting a fire after his legs become wet because the forces of nature are extremely powerful. However, in the philosophical study of existentialism, despair is an inborn part of a human being despite the motivating forces of the feeling. In his book Works of Love, Kierkegaard notes â€Å"†¦Lovingly to hope all things is the opposite of despairingly to hope nothing at all† (Flynn 246). This suggests that irrespect ive of the feelings of the man at the moment of being overwhelmed by nature, there is nothing substantial he can do to avoid the feelings of despair. Furthermore, the state of despair is noted when the raging snow in Yukon extinguishes his fire and becomes apprehensive that he may lose his toes because of the tormenting frostbites. Afterwards, he decides to gather grass and twigs to try and light another fire despite the numbness of his frozen fingers. Later, the man lapses into a state of angst that leads him to do some desperate moves to help him. Therefore, this leads to another fundamental theme of existentialism that deals with anger or angst. According to the famous proponents of existentialism such as Camus and Sartre, angst may also take the designs of anxiety or anguish, and it means the freedom to do anything because the choice is human responsibility. In the story, after the man discovers that he cannot light a fire with frozen fingers, the available freedom of choice com pels him to collect all his matches and set them all ablaze. This angst also leads him to raze a piece of bark including his own hands in the last anguish to save him from the terrible desperation. This is what Jean Sartre notes in his essay â€Å"Existentialism is a Humanism† as â€Å"†¦man is in anguish, meaning that he who chooses cannot escape a deep responsibility

What would you do if you knew someone was not inspecting an aircraft Essay

What would you do if you knew someone was not inspecting an aircraft properly (a mechanic or pilot) How would you handle it as a manager What about as a co-worker - Essay Example I will make sure that this issue does not remain subdued but receives as much attention on the part of the higher authorities as possible (Tsang 2003). This is a very important thing and one should be on guard to report such basic mistakes that the mechanics and pilots commit on and off. As a co-worker, I would also do the same thing. I would speak to the mechanic or the pilot later but before that report the same anomaly to the higher authorities because it is my ethical responsibility and I must guarantee that I come equal to it no matter how difficult or strenuous the circumstances and situations turn out to be. In essence, my focus would be on maintaining close ties with my seniors so that no issues creep up at a later stage. These mistakes can cause fatal aircraft problems and thus proper care and attention must be paid beforehand to avoid any such mistakes and

Homework Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Homework - Assignment Example The article is intended for handicapped hunters so they can continue hunting with the use of the Liberator. As reported, the Liberator â€Å"contains a movable mount that can be fitted with a single shot rifle, shotgun, or a cross bow. Odland and Schafer modeled the joystick control which moves the gun or bow up and down or side to side after the joystick found on modern wheelchairs. There is a tiny camera mounted behind the scope of the gun which projects the image of crosshairs and the target onto a video monitor the hunters can easily view from their wheel chairs† (Yankovich, 2010, par. 6). The author is actually an entrepreneur who owns a jewelry shop in Lowell, Michigan. He had first hand access to the information knowing Pete Odland personally from their common demographic location. The article provided relevant information as a unique and useful design to assist handicapped hunters in regaining mobility to enjoy what they love most. The innovative design was able to hel p hunters regain â€Å"the freedom for physically challenged people to â€Å"do it themselves†.

Obama's Full 2013 State of the Union Address Essay

Obama's Full 2013 State of the Union Address - Essay Example Minimum wages were raised to $ 9 as a social security measure. Gun control laws will be strengthened. War on terror will be ended in soon and America will take only a supporting role in future in Afghanistan. Obama seems to be particular about the development of manufacturing sector as a measure to boost America’s economic progress. In his opinion, manufacturing sector is the key in reducing unemployment and directing the country towards prosperity. Obama seems to believe in the economic principle of produce more and develop rapidly. In my opinion, Obama has used this opportunity to give more emphasize to the actions taken in the past to boost America’s progress. He had not said much about his future plans. Some of his claims in the speech were slightly exaggerated. For example, he proudly announced that minimum wages were raised to $ 9 per hour. However, he had forgotten that this slight increase in minimum wages is nothing considering huge expenditure an average family faces daily. Moreover, he announced that the oil production has increased a lot in the recent past. However, still America is the second largest importer of oil resources from external countries. China like countries has already implemented big efforts to exploit renewable energy sources such as solar energy. However, Obama is still reluctant in spending much on developing renewable energy sources. It should be noted that China is the number one exploiter of solar energy at present and their progress is causing big concerns to America. Ho wever, Obama has not said anything about the challenges from China and India like Asian countries. Even though Obama talked about war on terror and withdrawal of American forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, he said not much about America’s foreign policies on Middle East issues. Even though plenty of people expected a

Culture of Tears Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Culture of Tears - Research Paper Example The word cry has been mentioned in 168 verses in the bible and a total of 181 times. Crieth is a word that has been mentioned 17 times each in a different verse from the other, while the word cry appears once within the bible. That is not the end. The word cried has been mentioned in 195 verses and the total number of times it is mentioned adds up to 199 times. For 49 times, the word weep has been mentioned within 45 bible verses while weepest appears 3 times each in a different bible verse from the other. Weepeth appears in 41 verses of the Bible and total number of times t has been mentioned is 44 (Donald, 2008). All these words mean the same thing, to sum up, it is evident that the term tears and other words that are associated appear 534 times in the bible in 354 verses of the bible. This information gives people a very familiar theme of tears that is found all through the bible. In fact, weeping is associated with notable God’s servants explained in the bible (Donald, 200 8). The Lord himself happened to be a man of tears. Today Jews and other societies have adopted a different culture where crying portrayed to be a girlish thing. It is acceptable for women and girls. This is by far different from what is seen in the bible. It is an incorrect teaching since within the bible tears are accepted and highly praised or much admired. The heavy, as well as the continued trials through which many God’s people have gone through, are teachings of the believers on the need to be patient and silent under light suffering. Yet believers are even tempted to repine as well as despond. David comforts himself, at the time of fear and distress that God took notice of all his griefs as well as all his grievances. â€Å"You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? God has book and a bottle for the tears of his people, both the tears for his people’s sins as well as those for their suffering.  

Hospitality Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Hospitality Management - Essay Example This is to be able to understand how they make their workers committed to the organization. This will be useful in determining the appropriate methods for their organization. One way of increasing workers’ motivation is by building trust between the workers and the management. Also, there should be trust between the worker and the company as a whole. Enhancing both of these trusts leads to employees feeling secure about working for the organization and thus increasing their commitment. A manager can increase the commitment of employees by encouraging their motivation. Most of the workers enjoy working in an environment that is progressive and promotes personal innovations, as well as creative ideas. Employees, who have a feeling that they are contributors to the strategic direction of an organization may have a bigger ownership of their work. This always results to improved organizational commitment (Bulut, Cagri, and Osman, 311). A manager ought to communicate often with his employees. Many workers will appreciate a management that is transparent as it keeps them informed on the administrative decisions that may have an effect on their jobs. Consistent corporate communication helps in lowering rumors that are negative, which would lead to the damage worker loyalty (Filstad, 378). The manager should take steps that would lead to retaining of employees. He should let them know that he appreciates their efforts. This can be done by instituting organizational loyalty programs and visibly honoring and promoting workers who work hard and show commitment to the company. Term timetables can also be instituted and the rewarding the commitment of the old workers can also be used to these ends (Meyer, John and Natalie, 1). A manger can apply the history of the organization in instilling a corporate culture that is wanted. Some organizations have extensive history that is full of stories that are inspiring and add to the culture of the company and encourage

BUS599 - Integrative Project, Mod 1 Case Assignment Essay

BUS599 - Integrative Project, Mod 1 Case Assignment - Essay Example They have a well stretched network covering almost places in North America and United Kingdom housed just there. The company faced great success during its tenure over the past couple of years which was result of great devotion and dedication of a hardworking staff and consistently managing high standards of quality at a fairly acceptable price. Organic food is eco friendly and plays its part to reduce pollution as well as save water and mineral soil. It also helps in maintaining your health and provides a safe and nutritional food intake leading to a healthy digestive tract therefore this approach has led to the consumption of organic and natural food thereby increasing the sales of whole foods which is a great competitor for all others organic and natural foods in the mainstream market (Staff, 2012). Whole foods market has maintained its standard and has influenced the mindsets of many by diverting them towards nutrition filled healthy food. They are well known for their freshness a good example of their maintaining quality is that even the flowers they are selling are fresh and their scent can be smelt as soon as one enters their store. Another example of how they have revolutionized the conventional style of growing banana's; they have converted it to a proper science by studying the change of colors to deal with it life cycle yet maintaining its freshness. They sell everything fresh without any delay in delivering the food from the farms to the markets. Even their packed ready to go meals are really fresh (Lindstrom, 2011). The mission of whole foods market is to provide their customers with a hustle free shopping experience, to play its part in helping and caring about the community and preservation of nature, they intend to develop good habits of eating and enlightens through education to all its stakeholders, provide healthy and good quality of organic foods and developing continuing win-win deals or partner based relation with their providers. The core values of whole foods market are primarily based on five main components: firstly standard quality and their ongoing efforts to carry on with them. Secondly, to produce only organic form of food without any harmful chemicals used. Thirdly, producing ecologically certified sea food, which has "Responsibly Farmed" label which clearly indicates that it’s the highest quality which restricts use of growth developing hormones, antibiotics etc. to ensure good standards. Fourth is that they couldn’t compromise on quality by using proper breeding techniques and not incorporating such harmful methods which tend to be inorganic. Lastly, they are firm believers in community service leading to prosperity and happiness by changing lives globally (Drell, 2012). The important information related to the shares of whole foods market is described here, industry capital is $k 16,923,590 whereas the arrears remaining on shares are $k 185,520, those internal stakeholders are 8.8% and insti tutes which are stakeholders are 79.98%. It was observed that the return and growth in percentage fluctuated the following ways (it should be kept in mind that it is the percent change) the return for the first year was 14.76% and the fifth year growth by the generated revenue was 77.48%. The third year return was 84.23% and the growth in the five year earning tenure became 96.15%. It is surprising that the fifth year for the return became 156.13%

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior Essay Example for Free

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior Essay IN THE ARTICLE ‘WHY CHINESE MOTHERS ARE SUPERIOR’ AMY CHUA, WHO IS PROFESSOR AT THE LAW SCHOOL IN YALE, WRITES IN THE ARTICLE ABOUT HOW TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN, AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOW THE WESTERN AND CHINESE PARENTS RAISES THEIR CHILDREN, BY COMPARING CHINESE AND WESTERN KIDS. THE COMPARISONS GIVE US A VIEW OF WHAT THE GOOD AND BAD CONSEQUENCES ARE, WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND STEREOTYPICAL RAISED KIDS. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VIEWS ON WHICH WAY IS THE RIGHT, BUT AMY CHUA IS COMPLETELY SURE, THAT HER METHOD IS THE MOST SECURE WAY TO MAKE HER CHILDREN SUCCESS. AND THAT’S ALSO WHAT SHE IS ARGUING FOR IN THE ARTICLE. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE READ IN THE ARTICLE IS A LIST OF WHAT AMY’S CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO. HER CHILDREN ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THINGS LIKE: SLEEPOVERS, HAVING A PLAY DATE OR WATCHING TV AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES. IN THE WESTERN WORLD IT IS VERY NORMAL THAT KIDS PLAY VIDEO GAMES, SLEEPOVERS AND WATCH TELEVISION, BUT IN CHINA IT IS NOT THE KIDS WHO DECIDE WHAT TALENT THEY WANT TO CULTIVATE, BUT THE PARENTS. FOR AN EXAMPLE AMY TELLS IN THE TEXT THAT WHEN LULU WAS ABOUT 7 SHE COULD PLAY TO INSTRUMENTS WHICH WERE CHOSEN BY HER MOM. SHE COULD PLAY PIANO AND LULU WAS WORKING ON A SONG CALLED ‘THE LITTLE WHITE DONKEY’. IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT FOR YOUNG PLAYERS TO LEARN BECAUSE THE TWO HANDS HAVE TO KEEP SCHIZOPHRENICALLY DIFFERENT RHYTHMS. LULU COULD NOT DO IT, SO AMY WORKED ON IT NON-STOP FOR A WEEK, DRILLING EACH OF HER HANDS SEPARATELY, OVER AND OVER. BUT LULU COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO PLAY THE SONG. SO SHE GAVE UP AND TOLD HER MOTHER THAT SHE DID NOT WANT TO PLAY ANYMORE. BUT AMY FORCED HER TO PLAY. IT COMES IN THE TEXT â€Å"GET BACK TO THE PIANO NOW, I ORDERED† â€Å"YOU CAN’T MAKE ME. † â€Å"OH YES, I CAN† EVEN THOU LULU CANNOT PLAY THE SONG SHE IS FORCED. AND AFTER MY MEANING I THINK IT IS WRONG AND THAT A WESTERN PARENT WOULD NOT FORCED THEIR KIDS TO DO ANYTHING THEY DO NOT WANT TO WHICH AMY ALSO SAYS IN THE TEXT. AMY ALSO SAYS IN THE TEXT â€Å"EVEN WHEN WESTERN PARENTS THINK THEY’RE BEING STRICT, THEY USUALLY DON’T COME CLOSE TO BEING CHINESE MOTHERS. FOR EXAMPLE, MY WESTERNS FRIENDS WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES STRICT MAKE THEIR CHILDREN PRACTICE THEIR INSTRUMENTS 30 MINUTES EVERY DAY. AN HOUR AT MOST. FOR AN CHINESE MOTHER, THE FIRST HOUR IS THE EASY PART. IT’S HOURS TWO AND THREE THAT GET TOUGH. † IT IS LONG QUOTE BUT IT REALLY TELLS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WESTERN AND CHINESE MOTHERS. AS AMY SAYS IN THE QUOTE EVEN WHEN WESTERN PARENTS ARE STRICT IT IS NOT CLOSE TO BE AS STRICT AS CHINESE MOTHERS. ANOTHER STATEMENT THAT AMY USES IS: â€Å"CHINESE PARENTS DEMAND PERFECT GRADES BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THEIR CHILD CAN GET THEMâ€Å" AND LATER SHE ADDS: â€Å"CHINESE PARENTS CAN ORDER Taha Hussain, 3. u Engelsk a? evering Frederiksberg Gymansium THEIR KIDS TO GET STRAIGHT AS. â€Å" â€Å"WESTERN PARENTS CAN ONLY ASK THEIR KIDS TO TRY THEIR BEST†. I THINK THAT INDIRECTLY SHE IS SAYING THAT WESTERN PARENTS ARE WEAKER THAN CHINESE PARENTS. THEY DO NOT REALLY BELIEVE IN THEIR KIDS, LIKE CHINESE PARENTS DO. INSTEAD OF ALWAYS BEING CAREFUL AND LOVING, WESTERN PARENTS SHOULD USE PUNISHMENT AND MAKE THEIR CHILD FEEL ASHAMED INSTEAD OF BEING AFRAID OF THE CHILD’S MENTALITY. THEY SHOULD BE MORE LIKE AMY AND USE THE SAME METHODS AS HER. WESTERN PARENTS HAVE TO MORE STRICT. AMY TELLS IF A THEIR CHILDREN KIDS B, THERE WOULD FIRST BE A SCREAMING, HAIR-TEARING EXPLOSION, THEN THE CHINESE MOTHER WOULD GET DOZENS MAYBE HUNDREDS OF PRACTICE TEST AND WORK THROUGH THEM WITH HER CHILD FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET THE GRADE UP TO AN A. SO FROM THESE QUOTES WE CAN COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT CHINESE MOTHERS’ THINKS THAT TO MAKE THEIR CHILDREN ACHIEVE ANYTHING FURTHER IN LIFE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO PUSH THEM FROM THE BEGINNING AND HAVE SOME STRAIGHT AND STRICT RULES. AFTER READING THE ARTICLE I CAN CONCLUDE THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS OF RAISING YOUR CHILD, SOME BETTER THAN OTHERS, AND THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT WHICH METHOD IS THE BEST ONE. WHEN IT COMES TO SUCCESS, CHINESE PARENTS WILL ALMOST DO EVERYTHING TO REACH THEIR GOAL. THEY ONLY WISH THE BEST FOR THEIR CHILD, AND THEY ONLY WANT THEM TO HAVE THE BEST FUTURE, BUT THEY MIGHT FORGET THAT THEY ARE NOT DEALING WITH A ROBOT OR A THING THEY CAN BRAINWASH, BUT THEY ARE DEALING WITH AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS NO LESS WORTH THAN THE PARENTS, THEMSELVES. I THINK THAT EVERY KID NEED TO NEED SOME SPARE TIME WHERE CAN WATCH TELEVISION, PLAY VIDEOGAMES AND SLEEPOVER. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE KIDS HAVE DISCIPLINE, BUT AS I MENTIONED BEFORE THEY ARE NOT ROBOTS. THE KIDS ALSO HAVE SOME NEEDS, THEY WANT TO PLAY AND HAVE SOME FUN. AND AMY CHUA DOES NOT MENTION HOW THE CHINESE WAY OF PARENTING AFFECTS THE INDIVIDUALS; I DO NOT THINK THAT IT CAN BE POSITIVE, BECAUSE EVERY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS VALUES AS LOVE, FRIENDSHIP AND FREEDOM. SO I WOULD PREFER THE WESTERN PARENTS ABOVE THE CHINESE, BUT I THINK IT IS BECAUSE I LIVE IN DENMARK, IN CHINA IT IS NORMAL, AND THEY WOULD OF COURSE PREFER THEIR OWN METHODS. SO IN A WAY IT IS FAIR ENOUGH, THAT’S THEIR WAY TO LIVE THEIR OWN LIFE. AND AS WE CAN SEE THE CHINESE PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF SUCCESS IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, SO MAYBE THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

Pre-1914 literature Arthur Conan Doyle Essay Example for Free

Pre-1914 literature Arthur Conan Doyle Essay The previous pair of quotes significantly carries the Victorian assumption of evil and mysterious foreigners. Victorians associated drugs with the Far East: As I entered, a swallow of Malay attendant, and the rascally Lascar who runs it has sworn to have vengeance upon me. Both these quotes suggest similar nature in the Victorian attitude to others of different origins. The drugs and alcohol is unfairly associated with Malaysia being a Far Eastern country, this unfairly creates unnecessary judgements about the atmosphere of the country. Lascar was a Victorian term used to label an East Indian (Pakistani) sailor army servant. The Lascar in The Man with the Twisted Lip was described as rascally Lascar, although this indicates that the den runner is Asian but also the description creates an image of a mischievous person. We have seen how Arthur Conan Doyle has used stereotypical thoughts in his work to satisfy the aristocracy. The Victorians feared that the culture and customs of non British people, they felt threatened by foreigners; Sherlock Holmes was a method of reassurance in which the Victorian culture and values were still respected. During the Victorian era there were three sets of class between people. The highest class were called the Aristocracy, the middle class were called the Merchants, and the lowest class were known as the poor. The aristocracy lived a life of luxury and had huge amounts of materialistic wealth and possessions. The aristocracy were all educated and had a high status amongst all people. The merchants could have possibly been literate, but they were not as highly renowned compared to the aristocracy, but they were better off compared to the poor. The merchant class would do a certain job for a living. Lastly, the poor were very uneducated and lived in awful conditions. They were detested by the aristocracy because of their lack of hygiene and also because of their class. The aristocracy at the time of the Victorian era were seen as the most intelligent, in The Speckled Band we are clearly shown that Holmes is of the upper class: Very soon to knock you up Watson; he uses upper class speech. Holmes in The Speckled Band also shows his intelligence No, but I observe the second half of a return ticket; this quote shows the wise and intelligent remarks Holmes uses. The upper class were also shown to be very respective and polite, in A study in Scarlet, Holmes shows his upper class etiquettes: His eyes fairly glittered as he spoke, and he put his hand over his heart and bowed, as it to some applauding crowd conjured up by his imagination. The upper class would help and always relate to each other, in The Noble Batchelor: I presume they were hardly from the same class of society, No I am descending, My last client of the sort was a king. Holmes tells a client that he has worked for a King. In another Sherlock Holmes novel The Adventure of Black Peter: he frequently refused his help to the powerful and wealthy where the problem made no appeal to his sympathies. These quotes show how Holmes who is of the upper class helps the upper class only if the problem is actualy a valid one for him to have nay interest in. In the customs of Victorian culture Victorian gentlemen were intelligent and rational thinkers and also family leaders and role models. If a man of the upper class fails to acquire these fundamental aspects of a well character gentleman they would be known as a fallen gentleman. In The Speckled Band Dr Roylott is a perfect example of a fallen gentleman: he beat his native butler to death and narrowly escaped a capital sentence, he shut himself up in his house and seldom came out save to indulge in ferocious quarrels with whoever might cross his path. Violence of temper approaching to mania. Dr Roylott is a fallen gentleman, some aspects which make him one is that he is a murderer and has a violent nature. Another perfect example of a fallen gentleman can be found in The Man with the Twisted Lip, the character Mr St. Clair displays clear characteristics of a fallen gentleman: to my relief, that instead of being identified as Mr Neville St. Clair, I was arrested as his murderer. Mr St. Clair has been caught acting as a beggar to earn money when he seemed to be a of the higher class standards. Doing such things was an obvious big offence to the Victorian customs. The aristocracy thought of themselves as supreme and pure, they never did any physical work that could discolour their skin: a pale face (From The Man with the Twisted Lip). The aristocracy tend to have very pale skin, indicating that they do not work, because work can causes skin discolouring. Hygiene was a very important aspect of everyday aristocracy life, in The Speckled Band, it is very unusual that Holmes packs a toothbrush when he is off to investigate an incident: That and a toothbrush are, I think, all that we need. As well as hygiene, appearance was obviously a very important item addressed in everyday upper class life. From The Man with the Twisted Lip we are shown: such as he had started to town in, he has on neither collar nor necktie. This quote reveals to us how important this was to the upper class. This is demonstrating that a man of high class would never be seen without a tie around his neck. The merchant class were not as intelligent and as respected as the aristocracy. The middleclass were not better than the upper class. As justified by the following quote from The Scandal in Bohemia, it displays a very basic outline in what Holmes does: he was still, as ever, deeply attracted by the study of crime, and occupied his immense faculties and extraordinary powers of observation in following out those clues and clearing up these mysteries, which had been abandoned as hopeless by the official police. Not only does this quote demonstrate the powers and qualities of Holmes, but in meaning it also shows us that the police who are the working class are being outsmarted by Holmes who is of the upper class, which suggests that the upper class is better than the merchant or working class. The aristocracy also control the middleclass: if you leave it to a court of law to clear the matter up on the other hand, if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible case against you (From The Man with the Twisted Lip). This quote shows us the Victorian thinking that a person belonging to the aristocracy will always have power and manipulation over the lower classes. The poor were hated by the upper classes. The higher class hated them for many reasons, one being there appearance, and extract from The Man with the Twisted Lip: He was, as the inspector said extremely dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its repulsive ugliness. This reveals that the Victorian upper class thought the poor as being very ugly, disgusting and dirty, this was the stereotype that all poor people were ugly and dirty. The lower class were seen as the worst of all people; the gypsies were hated just because they lived in a different way. In The Speckled Band, the Ms Stoner states: sometimes it may have referred to some band of people, perhaps to these very gypsies in the plantation might have suggested the strange adjective she used. This demonstrated the class differences, Ms Stoner feels superior to the gypsies, also revealing that the Victorian aristocracy though themselves as being superior to all other classes. Victorian assumption to crime mysteries is that if there was a person out of the upper class or the poor they were the criminals. From The Man with the Twisted Lip, this attitude is clearly shown: wash his hands, and his face is as black as a tinkers. Well once his case is settled he will have a regular prison bath. This quotes significance is that the poor people were always the assumed of committing crimes, because that is the only way they can survive. When someone decides to change their class it is seen as the worst possible thing that could happen in the view of Victorians. The poor cannot be changed to the aristocracy because of their past and their low status. The same way a man of the aristocracy cannot become lower than his usual class, if this does happen then this is seen as the most shameful situation. Prime examples are Dr Roylott from The Speckled Band and Mr St. Clair from The Man with the Twisted Lip. From analysing mainly the two novels; The Speckled Band and The Man with the Twisted Lip that were both written by Arthur Conan Doyle, the Victorian attitudes towards gender, ethnicity and class are revealed. In terms of gender these points have been discussed and proven; Men were fare more intelligent and rational than women. Women were over emotional; they also had authority over domestic matters. However, men were in control over all aspects of Victorian life. Points concerning ethnicity were; Victorians felt threatened and also hated foreigners (Xenophobia). Victorian saw foreigners and animals as dangerous and mischievous. Victorian towards class was that the Aristocracy were very wealthy, the working class worked for their wealth and the lower class was just poor. Someone transferring classes was not acceptable in Victorian society, the Victorians held a strong belief that someone should stick to their status and class. From the previous Victorian assumption we can conclude that the Victorian morals, values and thinking were much contrasting than what the present views on society are, and things have changed in a positive way.   Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Arthur Conan Doyle section.

Weapon Trafficking When Will It End Politics Essay

Weapon Trafficking When Will It End Politics Essay The news that people hear coming from Mexico, especially in recent times have not been very positive. The continuing violence along the U.S.-Mexico border has escalated even more dramatically within the past few years, mainly because of the Mexican governments constant efforts to cut off Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTO). The violence associated with Mexican DTOs continues to hurl major challenges and obstacles towards U.S. law enforcement, while at the same time threatening the citizens on both sides of the border. Drug trafficking may be the root to these problems, but the firearms used to perpetrate crimes in Mexico are being illegally trafficked from the U.S. across the southwest Border and is causing serious problems as well. There needs to be a complete removal, or at the least a reduction of the illegal arms passing through the border, but this can only occur through an improved sense of security and supervision and regulation of the arms market. Not only will the f ailure to bring improvement to this situation raise the level of violence and deaths along the U.S.-Mexico border, but will further diminish what the border was made to stand for, in promoting free trade and globalization. To start off, Mexico itself has very strict gun laws, especially the gun-ownership regulations. Very rarely will you witness citizens carrying guns with them or around the house, because of the serious issues that revolve around the possession of these weapons. Since the countrys already existing constitution makes it legal for the citizens to bear arms, the conditions it places on the actual ownership, through amendments to the constitution prove to be much more strict and limiting. The fact that only one body is permitted to sell weapons, and it is run by the army makes it even harder to attain or own these weapons (Ellingwood). Although these rules and regulations are given to the citizens of this country, it does not mean that the weapon-smuggling situation is completely under control and taken care of; as you will learn later on, there are definitely a few ways around any law or institutional arrangement, and the involving parties definitely know how to make the most of the ways around the system by utilizing many types of illegal trade. Yet the violence in the northern border states of Mexico seems to be produced not only by weapons being brought illegally from Mexico, but also by those weapons trafficked illegally from the United States. Since these dangerous firearms are still not legally available for sale in Mexico, it leaves it up to the various drug cartels to smuggle them through the U.S. or Guatemalan borders, or even by sea as a last resort (Money, Guns). A good number of these firearms are brought in by foreign countries by cartel members that participate in these illegal trades and theft and then they are smuggled to Mexico a few at a time. Now in a neighboring country, such as our very own, where most people who own guns have the right to bear arms and are protected by the rights, a small number of gun shows are put together and showcased nearly every weekend of the year. States like Texas, Arizona and California are considered to be the three main source states and hotspots that supply for the vast majo rity of the guns that are bought and snuck into Mexico (Gunrunner). To be able to absolutely prevent these guns from making their way south is a pretty tough battle that challenges the power of the second amendment rights of US citizens against the ever so bloody battles and increasing numbers of Mexican victims of these mini wars that are killed everyday by these brutal weapons that are bought here in the US (Gun Control). As far as the locations where these guns are purchased from, the Gun shows that are put on by the source states take place a couple of times a year, as mentioned earlier. For example, in Arizona, the gun shows occur almost every weekend. They are often times organized by a variety of different groups and unified organizations. One of the well known organizations goes by the name of the Arizona Arms Association, and since they are a group that is most importantly legal and allowed, they are given the power to partake in private transactions between gun owners and citizens. In being able to utilize such a network of these strawmen, the native Mexican arms traffickers have the potential to collect over a dozen of different weapons each weekend (Cartel). After they gather these weapons each week, their next move is to smuggle them into Mexico, which is usually executed using over land routes with a wide range of vehicles and means of transportation that are able to hold a quantity of weapons that are much smaller across the various border crossings. This type of smuggling, in which smaller groupings of guns are smuggled across the border, is known to be called ant trafficking, and continues to serve as one of the biggest reasons why it is so hard to actually detect these weapons that are being pushed down south from the U.S. region of the border. Now focusing back on the gun show, in the positions of the vendor, some private vendors are often entered into the world of the gun trade by taking on the role of a supplier, where he/she takes the orders ahead of time and to make deliveries at a later time, which would most likely take place at an upcoming gun show or event (Gun Control). These people then round up the repeat clients and gradually produce the majority of the supply source for the arms traffickers which have been reported by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives also known as the (PAYAN). Once again, as mentioned earlier the main issue with this is that these transactions are not always closely and precis ely monitored, and so more times than not it puts the salesperson in a position where he/she is able to recognize interested buyers who are likely to be purchasing weapons for a third party. These so-called strawmen who serve as salesmen are the main suppliers and catalysts of these illicit and dangerous weapons that flow southbound, which they sell off to or illegally hand to gun traffickers who then round up and separate into groups and categories of the shipments at certain border crossings. Once they reach their destination in Mexico, the weapons smugglers are ready to make thousands and thousands on their merchandise (Gun Control). For example, an already used AK-47 assault rifle may sell for around 400 U.S. dollars and possibly more. In addition, an AR-15 rifle also has the potential to sell for 800 U.S. dollars up to 2,000 U.S. dollars, but that depends mostly on the model number of years it has been in production for that specific weapon as well as other options and accessories such as the scope or trigger. In Mexico, these weapons start to become more valuable and rocket in re-sell price, and in some rare cases as much as a whopping triple or more, according to the ATF (Gun Control). So an AK-47 rifle that has been purchased in Arizona for about 500 U.S. dollars might go for as much as 1,500 U.S. dollars or more once it crosses the border (Gun Control). At border crossings, Mexican customs agents are usually in the perfect position to interrogate and have the right to detect all smuggled weapons, but their can be a gut-wrenching one at times. Many times, these agents are given a pretty harsh ultimatum which goes by the name of Plata o plomo, meaning silver or lead which then translates into take the bribe or take a bullet. This message, is often times sent by Mexican organized crime groups and targeted to those who patrol the Mexican side of border crossings, known as plazas (Cartel). So here is another factor in why it may be difficult at times to put a halt to the weapon trafficking. Since these Mexican cartels are so menacing and uncooperative, the custom agents who are given the task to detect weapons, are presented with life and death decisions. Certain happenings like these just add on to the fact that it will be difficult to put an end to this war. These kinds of encounters are vital in understanding the rise of violence along the borders, because agents should not be in a position to be fearing of their lives. In the US, the second amendment advocates and supports the gun shows that many people consider an excuse to make weapon smuggling allowed and operating. While the political views surrounding tracing and information sharing can be a bit complicated, the procedure of buying the guns and the required background checks has been reorganize and restructured. These background checks are not required at gun shows because the sales are oftentimes considered to be made between two private and unlicensed individuals instead of a licensed dealer and an individual, which usually takes place in legitimate gun stores where a background check is indeed mandatory. Even the background checks that are made in gun stores are simple and quick (Gunrunner). For example, when a customer at a store is ready to make his/her purchase, the seller of the product is supposed to make a phone call to an ATF hotline, where the person gives out the proper information to the person talking on the other end of the hotl ine. Usually, this process should take less than five or ten minutes, but within the past couple of years, this background check has transformed into a slow and grueling process (Gunrunner). As for the strawmen, who buy off the weapons from law abiding gun merchants serve as a stepping stone into the crooked world of the grey market, where the weapons stay put until they are smuggled into Mexico and then resold. Before these guns are let into the hands of others, usually for criminal use, expert gunsmiths thoroughly check and inspect the working parts, and clean them for the necessary adjustments to transform a usual semi-automatic into a dangerous fully automatic assault weapons. They tweak parts of the gun and make them stronger. Once the strawman flees the scene of the store with gun in their hand, or leaves the show area in the case of a gun show or event, it becomes pretty much impossible to trace the weapon until it is picked up or discovered at a crime scene or if it has been seized. Often times, the weapons that have been captured in Mexico are able to be traced back to gun stores in the US, but the only pieces of information the gun dealer is allowed to legally share with is the information that has already been attained and solidified by the background check. As you can see, the tracing of the weapons captured in Mexico back to the US is proves to be a very complicated and frustrating matter. Due to this complicated process, a large number of weapons usually remain untraced due to the fact that the agents do not want to harass or bother with the bureaucracy (Cartel). In the U.S., there are approximately 2 million guns owned currently, and at any given time, any one of these guns has the potential to be sold to both men and women who will then smuggle them to Mexico. Reasons can range from personal use and self-defense while others for recreational or criminal use. When put together, the mixture of such a enormous supply with demand mixed in with the ant-trafficking produces a countless number of opportunities and possibilities, variables and pretty much leaves the ATF and others with only a limited arsenal of legal tools and, most importantly, gives them the constitutional rights to respect and defend (Gunrunner). As you can see, the conflict here resides in the fact that there are so many possible ways for these weapons to be smuggled, and with all the underground activity that is going on, it can be a very difficult task for the ATF to track down these trades at times. In a sense, the amount of illegal trafficking that is being presented here c an also be overwhelming to the forces that are trying to prevent the illicit trafficking of these weapons. As far as the types of guns that are smuggled, the most popular, or common smuggled firearms include the AR-15 and AK-47 type rifles, FN 5.7 caliber semi-automatic pistols and a variety of .50 caliber rifles and machine guns (AK-47). About a fourth of these AK-47 assault rifles that have been seized have also been created and fixed up to select fire weapons, which then allows for the assault rifles to be used by the cartels (AK-47). In the past, there have been a great number of reports regarding grenade launchers being used against security forces, and at least a dozen M4 Carbines with M203 grenade launchers have been confiscated (AK-47). It was believed that a lot of these lethal and high power weapons alongside their related accessories were actually stolen from U.S. military bases. However, the majority of these military grade guns and heavy duty weapons like grenades and light weight rockets are brought in by the cartels via the humongous supply of arms that remained after the w ars in Central America and Asia. The weapons that are being smuggled are serious weapons that can cause heavy damage and harm, so just the fact that the weapons talked about in this arms trafficking war are heavy duty once again reminds us of how dangerous this situation can get. This constant flow of arms between groups has lead to what has been dubbed the iron river of guns, because of the pouring amount of ammunition and light weapons that have been in flow southbound into Mexico, and how the organized crime hit men and others then use them in order to fight off the Mexican military and police. More times than not, innocent civilians are caught in the midst of shoot outs and random collision between the opposite groups and that is what leads to the rising number of deaths and high volume of violence throughout the years. The resulting body count that is the end product of this violence has greatly pressured the Mexican government over time to call for additional help from the U.S. capital, but these leaders have continued to remain silent and stubborn to put forth a strict gun control legislation. Many have waited and waited for someone to step up to the plate and address the problems along the border, but the subject has been ignored time and time again. Finally, in April of last year, a statement was made by U.S. President Barack Obama regarding the ongoing arms trafficking situation between the U.S. and Mexico, and to no surprise it sparked a serious and very much heated debate. The President, who referred to the data gathered from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (A.T.F.), stated that 90% of the weapons that were seized in Mexico could be traced back to the U.S. (ATF) In concurrence with supporters of putting forth a stricter gun regulation and opponents of the so-called War on Drugs, this information helped their cause and pushed to strengthen their cases. On the other side of the table, the statistic of 90% was greatly criticized and put down by the people who were against the finding of new or alternative solutions to the current situation in Mexico and also to any thoughts or ideas of making some changes regarding gun ownership in the U.S. Out of all the top news corporations, Fox News projected that the percentage of arms that could be traced back to the U.S. was actually closer to 17% percent (Gunrunner). This is a prime example of how things can get taken out of context and a serious issue at hand can be mistaken or overlooked because of little details that are misrepresented or reported. Not only does this add more unnecessary nonsense to a situation and blow it up bigger than what it already is, but it makes the already existing problem a dragging subject. In order to give the material substance and to enhance its rich meaning, all data must be presented in its original context; otherwise, statistics risk becoming meaningless sound bites and generalizations. In the Firearms Trafficking Report, given by the American Government Accountability Office (GAO), they explain the importance that even though it is pretty much impossible to know the exact number of firearms that are illegally smuggled into Mexico in a certain year, roughly 87% of the firearms that are obtained by the Mexican authorities and traced within the past couple of years originally started off in the U.S., according to the data that was gathered from Dept. of Justices Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Also, according to the Mexican and U.S. officials, these firearms have been increasingly more powerful and lethal in recent years. The report continues to polish and purify its data and information, by pointing out that between 2005 and 2008, more than 90% of the firearms that were obtained in Mexico and traced have once again, come from the United States (Gunrunner). When put together, there are a couple of elements that make the overall presentation of thi s data more convincing than just some random statistics put together because there was limited time frame, there was a specific set of weapons seized and traced, which applies to all illegal trade, and that the truth of the matter of the arms trade was imprecise. With all that being said, besides all the conditions and uncertainties that the percentages hold in these reports, there is no denying that there is a considerable amount of movement of weapons from the U.S. to Mexico that, to the dismay of many people, find their way into the hands of the people that are involved in this problematic drug trade. The G.A.O. report makes note of the fact that this trafficking is certainly not new to officials on the border, explaining that the U.S. and Mexican government and law enforcement officials did not see any reason why the drug cartels would go through so much hassle and endure the difficult task of obtaining a gun somewhere else in the world and then transporting it to Mexico when it is so easy and so simple for them to do so from the U.S. (Ellington). This proves to be in unison with the reports statement that even though the eTrace data only corresponds to data from the gun trace requests that were turned in from confiscation in Mexico and n ot all the guns seized, it is currently the only methodical and precise data available. Furthermore, the conclusions that the majority of firearms seized and traced were originally in the United States were consistent with the final conclusions reached by U.S. and Mexican government and law enforcement officials personally involved in the prevention and reducing of arms trafficking to Mexico (Cartel). The G.A.O.s data proves to be pretty clear and straight forward in its presentation. Although, the 90% figure that is being brought up constantly in these reports is just an extra number that creates a shock factor to an already stirring issue. Still, while discussions continue as to the appropriate use of this number, the reality is still readily apparent: there is an important and undeniable illegal market of weapons at the U.S.-Mexico border that fuels the violence between different drug-trafficking organizations. In Loreys book The U.S.-Mexican Border into the twenty-First century, he argues that the long-term objective of thinking and policymaking should be to overcome the U.S.-Mexican border (Lorey 12). When he says this, it could mean resolving material inequalities between the two sides of the boundary and more importantly, reducing conflict between the nations. Weapon trafficking is a serious issue that has been lingering for many years, and in order to cooperate with Loreys arguments, the weapons that are short in Mexico need to be dealt with in a different manner. Also, the violent conflicts between the government and drug cartels need to be put to rest. The task at hand may be difficult and long, but there are blueprints to solutions that can be implemented. The main obstacle and challenge that lies ahead in the fight against trafficking, and also where the conversation should be the focus of, is to address the different flaws in the system that ultimately makes way for such arms-trafficking to happen. The G.A.O. report makes not of certain factors that make trafficking possible, including faults and weaknesses found in both the Mexican and U.S. dealings, as well as the system of government: Uncontrolled and universal corruption in the Mexican government; Fragile and weak institutional links and information sharing between A.T.F. and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that lead to incomplete data; The absence of a Spanish language version of the eTrace program to be utilized by the Mexican authorities. Focusing in on these issues will help improve the quality of information being received by both U.S. and Mexican authorities, which can also lead to a much more informed and knowledgeable anti-arms trafficking strategy. This do es not mean that there must be a complete stop in the ongoing actions and efforts to reduce the weapons trafficking, but that the information gathering and collection and sharing between the countries and institutions must get better. There is hope in finding solutions to these weaknesses in the system. In efforts to help improve information collection and sharing, the ATF is hopeful that future funding and increased cash flow will eventually allow for these manuals (eTrace program) to be translated into Spanish, and also to put in a greater number agents on the border alongside an expansion of real-time intelligence sharing between the ATF and the many agents in Mexico. But besides the obviously simple and easy task at hand of translating English to Spanish, the new plans of the Merida Initiative, which is the name of the new proposal brought forth, guarantees to give the Mexican authorities scanners. These scanners, which will be planted at or near the main border crossings, will then be set up completely in order to detect and locate the drugs in traffic moving north and guns in traffic moving south (Mex). There are little things that can change that can help lead to the ultimate goal of reducing the smuggling of these weapons into Mexico, and it is reassuring to hear that after so many years, things are starting to progress and advance in putting an end to a situation that has caused so many problems for so many years. But it is also very important for us not to lose sight of some of the larger issues at hand surrounding arms trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border. We must keep in mind that in both countries, even with the few restrictions, the weapons markets are legal. And as it applies to all kinds of markets, it is in the interest of those that are involved in the business to keep it alive and running. Being a weapon dealer, especially in the U.S. it is a very vital role they play in the market. For example, according to a 2006 report, the Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, also known as the CATDN put together and produced by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (C.R.S.), which is an office of the Library of Congress, the United States was by far the leading supplier of weapons to the developing world (ATF). Furthermore, in a report that came out in more recent times, the C.R.S. reported that for a 3 year span for the 2005-2008 timeframe, the United States and Russia st ood tall and completely took charge of the arms market in the developing world in the value of arms transfer agreements. These statistics may seem honor worthy and impressive, but when considering the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, the statistics seem to diminish in value and glory as the weapons that are being brought to Mexico from the U.S. is doing more harm than it is doing good. These reports have also made it clear that is it the eighth consecutive year in a row that the United States has been a leader and top force in worldwide arms deliveries (Gunrunner). And even though the report does not really break down the information for the Latin American region, the report also makes clear note that the U.S. and Russia are the regions two biggest suppliers of these weapons. Even though the U.S. is the world leader in weapons agreements according to these reports, there are indeed other countries that also sell and re-sell weapons. While the data from the reports seems to confirm that the vast majority of these weapons are found and captured in Mexico make their expedition into the country over the U.S. border, it is also most likely that many of these weapons travel through different routes as well. A good number of the arms seized could have also arrived in Mexico through legal transactions that occur time to time between governments but somehow have found their way into the illegal market coincidentally and ultimately into the hands of these drug cartel members. The data from reports may explain general facts and information, but sometimes things can happen without any documentation, and that is where the information gathering and collecting, and addressing of these actions needs to shape up. In conclusion, the ongoing discussion and debate on the U.S.-Mexico border and also on the future of the relationship between these two countries is not an easy one to put to rest or come up with a solution. There are so many important subject matters that are also in need of attention: immigrant migration (legal and illegal), the drug policy, border communications, homeland security, and a mutual environment, just to name a couple. It is clear that, although the tiniest details have the ability to offer a foretaste into the bigger picture, to rely and base the conversation purely on the immediate, just like the debate over Obamas use of the 90% statistic, is to completely lose focus of the much greater and more significant debate that holds the future of a complex and vibrant relationship. The reality of all this is that an illegal arms market is one discussion that fits that description and will be a hot issue for many more years to come until the problem is fixed permanently. In t his circumstance, it is clear that the number of illegal weapons passing through the border every year must be significantly and immediately reduced, and this can only happen through tighter supervision and adjustment of the arms market.

The Book Lolita Essay example -- Literary Analysis, Vladimir Nabokov

Lolita The book Lolita is a highly controversial novel written by Vladimir Nabokov. Lolita tells the story of a man, Humbert Humbert, and his utter infatuation with a young â€Å"nymphet† named Lolita. The book and subsequent film adaptations, specifically Stanley Kubrick’s 1962 adaptation and Adrian Lyne’s 1997 adaptation aim to create a feeling of sympathy for the protagonist, Humbert Humbert. Through the use of first person narration, Humbert Humbert is able to manipulate readers with simple inaccuracies, making him an unreliable narrator. The term unreliable narrator was famously coined by Wayne Booth in Rhetoric of Fiction. Booth defines the reliable and unreliable narrator in the following way: â€Å"I have called a narrator reliable when he speaks for or acts in accordance with the norms of the work (which is to say the implied author’s norms), unreliable when he does not† (158-59). In other words, when a narrator expresses values and perceptions that strikingly diverge from those of the implied author he is deemed unreliable. Moreover, once a narrator is deemed unreliable, then this unreliability will be consistent throughout the work, according to Booth (158). When a narrator is unreliable, there is a conflict between the narrator’s presentation and the rest of the narrative, which makes readers suspect his sincerity. There are three sources of unreliability; the narrator’s limited knowledge, his personal involvement, and his questionable morals. When narrators display a personal involvement the story, they portray characters or events in a subjective way Lastly, if the implied author does not share the narrator’s moral values then his morals are considered questionable. If they do share moral values then the narrator is un... ...asserting his claims of illness. The notion of an unreliable narrator can also be seen in Kubrick’s 1962 Lolita. There are ways in which Kubrick plays with the gap between perception and reality. There is a quite masterful moment when Charlotte, Lolita’s mother and recently Humbert’s wife, discovers Humbert’s true desires upon reading his journal. Humbert, believing Charlotte to be upstairs, yells bald-faced lies at the ceiling while he prepares his wife a conciliatory martini. He then receives a phone call telling him that Mrs. Humbert has been struck by a car. The timing is set up so perfectly that it seems ridiculous to us, too, that Charlotte, who was last seen fleeing into her room, could have just been killed, yet she was. However, Kubrick’s film provides an objective view of the events occurring in the novel by refusing to rely heavily upon voiceover. â€Æ'

Male Dominance Over Women Traced Back to Roman Times :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Male Dominance Traced Back to Roman Times Women are enigmatic. Their complexity is evident in their very anatomy; at least it was according to Plato. Therefore, as what is alien is often feared and what is feared is often subject to aggression, perhaps the men of Rome attempted to dominate women in every facet of life because they feared the possibility of women usurping power. Gender, as suggested by Women's Life in Greece and Rome and "Elite Male Identity in the Roman Empire," is not anatomy but power. Yet how can one be more powerful than an unknown entity? Men can only hope to dominate a species they do not even understand through carefully crafted treatises on anatomy, laws, education, and the unbreakable chains of culture and tradition. Plato boldly states that women are simply underdeveloped men. He does this through the argument that blood creates heat in the body and heat sustains and strengthens the body; so, because women lose blood through regular menstruation, women are cold and therefore weak. Moreover, women are created through a "deficiency of heat" in conception (qtd. in Lefkowitz et al. 228). Plato asserts that because "all concoction works by means of heat" and "some of the body's parts are 'principles'" (qtd. in Lefkowitz et al. 229), a lack of heat will affect concoction which will, in turn, affect a principle body part. This is crucial to the development of the body as "once a principle has been 'moved' (i.e. changed), many of the parts which cohere with it must of necessity change as well" (qtd. in Lefkowitz et al. 229). Therefore, no heat in concoction, or conception, creates a woman, and a woman, subsequently, has no heat in her body. Plato reinforces his theory of heat's effect on the body with o bservations of other body parts. For example, humans go bald on the front part of their head only because, "the brain is there" (qtd. in Lefkowitz et al. 229), and the brain's fluid absorbs the very little heat necessary for hair to exist. Women cannot go bald, on the other hand, because they are incapable of creating the most heated substance that the body can produce: "seminal secretions" (qtd. in Lefkowitz et al. 229). This argument makes logical sense within its own confines, and Plato is able to successfully defend his assertion that "a woman is as it were an infertile male" (qtd.

ph levels Essay -- essays research papers

Introduction: In 1909 S.P.L. Sorensen published a paper in Biochem Z in which he discussed the effect of H1+ ions on the activity of enzymes. In the paper he invented the term pH to describe this effect and defined it as the -log[H1+ ]. In 1924 Sorensen realized that the pH of a solution is a function of the "activity" of the H1+ ion not the concentration and published a second paper on the subject. A better definition would be pH=-log[aH1+ ], where aH1+ denotes the activity of the H1+ ion. The activity of an ion is a function of many variables of which concentration is one. It is unfortunate that chemistry texts use a definition for pH that has been obsolete for over 50 years. Because of the difficulty in accurately measuring the activity of the H1+ ion for most solutions the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) has defined pH as the reading on a pH meter that has been standardized against standard buffers. The following equation is used to calculate the pH of all solutions: The activity of the H1+ ion is determined as accurately as possible for the standard solutions used. The identity of these solutions vary from one authority to another, but all give the same values of pH to  ± 0.005 pH unit. The historical definition of pH is correct for those solutions that are so dilute and so pure the H1+ ions are not influenced by anything but the solvent molecules (usually water). In most solutions the pH ...

Love’s Bond – Robert Nozick

Love’s Bond – Robert Nozick In this writing assignment I will be giving a detailed interpretation on Robert Nozick’s writing, â€Å"Love’s Bond†. First I will give an explanation on Nozick’s account of the nature of love. Secondly, I will explain why Robert Nozick believes that in love there is no desire to trade up to another partner. Lastly, I will also explain why he says that it is incoherent to ask what the value of love is to an individual person. The nature of love according to Nozick is the desire to form a â€Å"we† with the person you feel romantic love for, the desire to become one with the loved one.When two individuals are mutually in romantic love with one another, they both desire to form a â€Å"we† with each other. Once two romantic partners form a â€Å"we† they subconsciously agree to make life decisions together because now they are one and what affects one affects the other equally. Any type of life e vent good or bad that affects one person affects the other person equally because once they form a â€Å"we† they are like one. Nozick explains that when two individuals form a â€Å"we† they share a new identity.According to Nozick this new formation completely takes over of the individuals and they become something new, something transformed in a way. This desire to form a â€Å"we† with another is something magnificent and great. He explains that, â€Å"the desire to share not only our life but our identity with another marks our fullest openness. To Nozick, forming a â€Å"we† is a really big deal. Forming a â€Å"we† is a complete transformation of what a person used to be when they were and individual. According to Nozick, when a person is in love, they do not have desires to trade up to a different partner.Nozick says, â€Å"In the view of a person who loves someone romantically, there couldn’t be anyone else who was better as a par tner. † This quote gives support to his idea that a person in love would not desire to trade up. The person in love does not believe in their heart that anyone could be better than the person they are in love with. According to Nozick the thought of trading up to a different partner would not even cross the mind of a person who is in love. Nozick goes on to explain that a person in love might sometimes want to make a few changes on their mate; however, this does not imply that the person in love wants a different mate.Nozick believes that a person in love loves very specific qualities in their mate. For this reason, even if a person in love wanted to make their loved one better this would not mean they want a different person. To the person in love â€Å"no other person could have precisely those traits; therefore, any imagined person will be the same mate (perhaps) somewhat changed, not somebody else. † Nozick believes that when a person is in love, they love the very specific ways that their partner radiates a specific traits, not the trait itself.They love the person, â€Å"for his or her own particular and non-duplicable way of embodying such general traits, a person in love could not make any coherent sense of his â€Å"trading up† to another. † According to Nozick a person who is even considering trading up is a person who is no longer in love. He does not feel that the thought of trading up is a thought that an individual in love could even think about. Nozick feels that it is incoherent to ask what the value of love is to an individual person because there is no individual when you form a â€Å"we†; there is this new identity.Like the example that was given in class regarding the sperm and egg, once the sperm and the egg have joint, you do not ask how the sperm is doing because it no longer exist. In the same way it does not make sense to ask the value of love to an individual because the individual no longer exists on ce the â€Å"we† is formed. According to Nozick when two individuals join and form a â€Å"we† this new identity completely takes over and creates a new shared identity. To Nozick, it would be completely irrational to even think of the person of an individual and to ask what the value of love is to them.It is something that is just not possible when a person has formed a â€Å"we† with another. In conclusion, I have given my complete interpretation on Robert Nozick’s writing, â€Å"Love’s Bond†. I have explained to the best of my knowledge the nature of love, the reason why in romantic love there is no desire of trading up, and lastly why it is incoherent to ask what the value of love is to an individual. Works Cited 1. Nozick, Robert. â€Å"Love's Bond. † Philosophical Perspectives on Sex & Love. New York: Oxford UP, 1995. 231-39. Print.