Compare and contrast two Jazz Big Bands Research Paper

Look into two Jazz Big Bands - Research Paper Example With these components Jazz music presented another ‘Swing Style’ which spread the nation over creation Jazz considerably increasingly famous and pleasant. In this examination paper I have decided to talk about two significant Jazz groups †The first is the ‘Benny Goodman and his Orchestra’ and the second is an advanced Jazz band which is the ‘Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. 2 The long stretches of Jazz that followed held incredible importance as significant Jazz figures with their own matchless style, stylish sense and specialized aptitudes rose. A portion of these greats on the Jazz scene were †Louis Armstrong (1932), Duke Ellington and other people who set up for the advancement of Jazz music. (Schuller, Gunther, 1989, pg.3) The financial scenery with the Depression on one hand and the Wall Street Crash on the other gave powerful ground to the thriving of Jazz. (Schuller, Gunther, 1989, pg. 4) The monetary conditions were poor and joblessnes s was widespread and performers thought that it was difficult to make a decent living. It was during this troublesome period that the ‘Swing Era’ rose when Jazz got equal with American Popular Culture. Benjamin David ‘Benny’ Goodman, clarinetist and bandleader of the gathering, was delegated the ‘King of Swing’ in History during this period. Conceived in Chicago on May 30th, 1909, Benny proceeded to lead one of America’s most well known Jazz symphonies. (Benny Goodman-The King of Swing, www.bennygoodman.com/) It was his prevalence that encapsulated the Swing Era since his music was heard by both the Blacks and Whites similarly as he strived difficult to extinguish the hunger for Jazz music for the new mass crowd lastly rose as a ‘symbol of the era’. (Schuller, Gunther, 1989, pg. 6) Benny Goodman’s vocation started when he joined the Henderson band which was probably the best band of that time whose structure, style an d sound was so noteworthy and interesting. A coalition was framed and the Benny Goodman band proceeded to make history by forming the fate of Jazz. 3 Teenagers were deeply inspired as they desired for swing music and very soon they had a decent fan following of Jitterbugs who went insane for his music. (Benny Goodman, www.jazzhotbigstep.com/45801.html) One of his mainstream numbers that I tuned in to was ‘Swingtime in the Rockies’. It was a fascinating move number that was so foot tapping that I wanted to move myself. It was cadenced from start to finish loaded up with staccato grabs from the clarinets and trumpets which were participate by the trombones. The drums kept a consistent cadence directly through the organization which was so fiery as it was satisfying. (Benny Goodman, www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL47798F00A3AF3280 The music of Benny Goodman and his Orchestra is unquestionable on the grounds that the majority of the structures are so exuberant and fiery. On e of different melodies I tuned in to is ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ which included in a film named ‘Hollywood Hotel’. Other than Goodman, different players were Gene Krupa on the drums and Harry James †Trumpet. The tune was quick paced and cadenced and the symphony played it immaculately with the whole gathering participating in the last piece. (Sing, Sing, Sing’, www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mJ4dpNal_k The Benny Goodman Orchestra was the most mainstream swing

Freud and the Oedipus complex essays

Freud and the Oedipus complex papers How persuading do you discover Freud's depiction of the Oedipus' phase of advancement? The possibility of childish sexuality has consistently been fundamental to Freud and early he has begun to take a shot at an essential hypothesis for the Oedipus complex: the craving for the parent of the other sex and threatening vibe towards the other.The first name picked is 'atomic complex', at that point 'fatherly complex'.It is just in 1910 that the term 'Oedipus complex' is first utilized. In a first methodology that doesn't offer an away from of the distinction between the kid and the young lady, by connecting the Oedipus complex to the mutilation complex, breaks the evenness between male Oedipus and female Oedipus and gives a genuine measurement to the psychoanalytic hypothesis. In any case, this distinction in the clairvoyant advancement of the kid and the young lady shouldn't pulled back the way that for the kid as much for the young lady, the primary love object is the mother. Pre-genital sexuality is a significant reality in adolescence and grown-up sexuality is fundamentally founded on it. As indicated by Freud, the kid has various phases of advancement before pubescence; every one is part organic, social and forming one's personality. He has generally expounded on the ubiquity during youth of a sexual inclination, basically auto-sensual, right off the bat oral (the youngster is sucking his mom's bosom), at that point butt-centric (improvement of erogenic), lastly phallic inside which the Oedipus complex begins to create. For the kid, around the age of three, unconstrained and attractive sensations around the penis show up. The kid has instinct for sexual games prone to incite these sensations, within the sight of an accomplice, as he guesses that it occurs between his folks. He begins to want his mom and to feel loathe towards his dad, there is particularly an extraordinary change in his conduct when he understands that his folks have intercourse togeth er: He (the youngster) starts to want his mom herself in the sense with which he has as of late become air conditioning ... <!

How to Make Money from Gengo as a Translator and Work from Home

How to Make Money from Gengo as a Translator and Work from Home When you start work online then you may not find any good guideline specific guideline to do a suitable job. There are many paths where we can go through for making money online. One of the good sources of online income is online translation job. This is really a big industry but most of us dont know how to make a full income working from home from translation industry. If you have good knowledge about multiple languages or you have love about foreign language then you can become a translator and work from home for earning money. This job is not required any higher degree on language. There are many multinational also working as an online translator even they didnt think about this job before. You can make some cash by doing translation job from Gengo beside of your current job. What is Gengo? Gengo is a Tokyo based translation business organization founded in 2008 but now they have office around the world. The word Gengo derives from Japanese word. Gengo provides online translation service where people get translate service from various translator from around the world. In their network over 10,000 translators currently working and all of them are working from Home. How to become eligible for Gengo as a Translator? In Gengo you have to do usually small jobs which mean you dont have to translate a lot of words at once. But their work deadline is very short. So you have to work quickly. If you want to work from home for Gengo then you have to register with their website first. But you have to pass through their language skill test to become eligible for Gengo as a translator. Step #1: You can simply go through below URL and go through their signup process. https://gengo.com/auth/signup/ Step #2: After completing the signing up process you will need to complete the Gengo Test, this is for testing your translation capability and your test will review by a Senior Translator. After passing on Gengo Test you will able to begin translation jobs right away. Brief Concept of Gengo Test. You might become nervous about the test but this is not so tough for you if you have good knowledge about foreign language. I am sharing a brief about Gengo Style Guide. You have to give test on Gengo through online and it uses concept of Major and Minor errors. So it will count your each minor and major error while they check your answers. You can apply for Standard Translator but this is bit tough for you until you have good command in foreign language. Under Standard Translator test you make only 3 minor mistakes. But if you have any technical difficulties during test then you should raise a support ticker to redo the test. Test result will be process within 7 days after submission. However you can give test 3 times to pass the test. So this is brief concept about Gengo test. Wish you best of luck for the test. After passing the test you can star work right away. How to Get Paid from Gengo? Gengo will make payment for translator job twice in a month. And you can receive payment from PayPal. For better earnings you should become a Standard translator to Pro translator and for this test you have to go through a pro test in Gengo. Their minimum payment for translator job is $0.03 per word, so more words means more income, but if you can become a Pro translator then you can earn more. Final Verdict Gengo has great reputation in online translation industry. There are more than 10,000 translators working worldwide and numbers of contributors are increasing day by day. If you are looking for a good job from your home which can be done in your leisure time then translation job in Gengo Is ideal for you. How to Make Money from Gengo as a Translator and Work from Home? Much translator state that, Gengos payment is very poor but for earning more money you should become a pro translator, otherwise you wont able to earn much. However senior translators are benefited from Gengo from a monthly allowance.

The Purge violence in horror films increasing violence in the real world - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 344 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2018/12/28 Category Psychology Essay Type Research paper Level High school Tags: Emotion Essay Movie Essay Did you like this example? Psychological theories explaining media violence, threats and the effects have been established and they try to create awareness on the demerits of exposing the society to violent content. ?The Purgefor example as a movie could have numerous effects on the viewers mostly the younger generation. These effects could either be long-term or short-term. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Purge: violence in horror films increasing violence in the real world" essay for you Create order These short-term effects include priming, arousal and finally the affected individual starts to mimic the behavior observed.The purge for example containing numerous violent scenes sparks priming of the events observed by the observer. Priming entails the spread and activation of the brain in response to the stimulus observed which excites the brain. This excitement could be due to the mere sight of some weapon like a gun. Arousal develops after priming, this could be characterized by aggressiveness of the observer as observed from a scene in the movies. These aggressiveness is noted in the manner that the individuals emotionally react to provocations. For example after watchingThe Purge where the viewer is exposed to strong abusive words and extremely violent behavior and therefore the manner in which one responds to encounters and provocations is more aggressive as compared to a neutral individual not exposed to these content. Mimicry comes in as the individual tries to imitate violent actions observed. Perception of particular social practices around kids improves the probability of kids aping such practices. In particular, as youngsters watch brutal conduct they are inclined to emulate it. Long term effects that accrue watching of violent content includingThe Purge included behavioral change. Repeated exposure to these content causes mutation of character and behavior if not monitored. Emotional activation or desensitization are also long term effects of exposure to content such as those contained inThe Purge. Desensitization is when negative emotions are automatically experienced as response towards an event or scene observed. Work cited. Pandeya, N., Sahdev, S., Virmani, V. The Impact of Media Violence: An Overview of Theory and Research. Bushman, B. J., Anderson, C. A. (2001). Media violence and the American public: Scientific facts versus media misinformation.? American Psychologist,? 56(6-7), 477.

Orwell s Animal Farm, By George Orwell - 856 Words

Stultifying to self-delusion In novel â€Å"Animal Farm† by George Orwell, he mentions the animals in the farm they all have the vision of freedom after Old Major’s prediction. They rebilled against the farmers and after their victory they tasted the revolution. The farm was renamed â€Å"Animal Farm† and made the constitution of the manor – â€Å"the seven commandments.† Soon there is a split on the revolution between the pigs, Snowball was declared as an enemies of the revolution. Since then Napoleon and Squealer obtained the leadership of the farm, immediately they have more power and more preferential treatment, they gradually moved away from other animals, and eventually become exploiters for exactly the same as humans, the original ideals of animal farm name is also be abandoned. One theme of animal farm is that we need to have a clever mind to see through unfair trick, before it is too late. One way this theme is introduced is through the characterization of intellectual animals. The animals have poor intelligence development can never understand which way are the right thing and which are not, their world view are small, and just like a frog living at the bottom of a well. In a year the animals live like a slave, but they enjoy it, not afraid of hardship, and not afraid of sacrifice. Because they are deeply aware of: that everything they do for their own interests and their own future, but not for those idle, lazy humans. But is that really true? In all animals Boxer became theShow MoreRelatedGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1361 Words   |  6 Pagesfarmer, but of late he had fallen on evil days†(Orwell 38). In Animal Farm George Orwell describes life for the animals on a farm in the english countryside during the mid to early 20th century before, during and after a revolution against their master Mr.Jones in order to represent the russian revolution and describe to p eople throughout the free world how leaders in both capitalist and communist societies oppress the working class as a result Orwell s tone throughout the novel is concerned. TsarRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1392 Words   |  6 Pages George Orwell Never Misuses Words In what was a vastly controversial novel published in 1945, George Orwell’s Animal Farm describes the horrific brand of communism in the Soviet Union and the conscious blindness that most of the West accepted at that time. Although Orwell labeled Animal Farm as a fairy tale, this historically parallel novel branches into the genres of political satire, fable, and allegory as well. What made Animal Farm so controversial among the â€Å"British socialists† and WesternRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm958 Words   |  4 PagesImagine that you were an animal s or citizen living under Napoleon or Stalin rule and the fear that your life can be taken always from you at any time. In the novel of Animal Farm, George Orwell he wanted to show how a book is a sarcasm of the Russian Revolution during the communist years and the satire of that time between Trotsky and Stalin. Where Orwell chose to create his character base of the common people of Russia at the time of the Revolution. Animal Farm is a social or allegory about NapoleonRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm922 Words   |  4 Pages In the novel Animal Farm, by George Orwell, the wisest boar of the farm, Old Major, mimics Karl Marx, the â€Å"Father of Communism,† and Vladimir Lenin, a Russian communist revolutionary. George Orwell introduces direct parallels between the respected figures through their mutual ideas of equality and profoundly appreciated qualities. Furthermore, his utilization of dialect and descriptions represent the key ideas of the novel. Throughout the novel, Orwell continues to show comparisons betweenRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1395 Words   |  6 PagesGeorge Orwell’s Animal Farm: The Power of Corruption In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Orwell illustrates how power corrupts absolutely and how Napoleon degrades the structure and stability of Animal Farm because of the decisions that he makes. I will also expand on the idea of how Old Major’s ideas for an organized society get completely destroyed by Napoleon’s revolutionary actions. It was ironic and satirical that Napoleon’s own power annihilates Animal Farm. The satire in George Orwell’s AnimalRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1463 Words   |  6 Pagesbut of late he had fallen on evil days†(Orwell 38). In Animal Farm, George Orwell describes life for the animals on a farm in the English countryside during the mid to early 20th century before, during and after a revolution against their master, Mr.Jones. Orwell does this to represent the Russian revolution and describe to people throughout the free world how leaders in both capitalist and communist societies oppress the working class. As a result Orwell s tone throughout the novel is concernedRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1360 Words   |  6 Pagesquestion minus the answer.† In George Orwell’s â€Å"Animal Farm†, the author raises the question whether the type of government, communism, is feasible in a community without leading to a type of dictatorship or totalitarianism. Orwell presents the idea that communism is a good idea in theory, but it always leads to corruption by the people who take power. The author presents the novel as an entertaining fable featuring an animal revolution; however, beneath this storyline Orwell utilizes literary devicesRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1255 Words   |  6 Pagesrebellion in history. With these principles at heart, it only seems logical that human society should become utopian. Despite the principles, the French revolution paved the way for the autocratic rule of Napoleon. History repeats itself; George Orwell’s Animal Farm follows the rise of Animalism which serves as an allegorical reflection of the 1917 Russian revolution that led into the Stalinist era. Many revolutions throughout history follow the same path as the newly installed government always becomeRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1403 Words   |  6 PagesGeorge Orwell believes â€Å"What you get over and over again is a movement of the proletariat which is promptly characterized and betrayed by astut e people at the top and then the growth of a new governing class. The one thing that never arrives is equality† (Letemendia 1). Orwell simply loathes revolution and thinks it is unfair to the majority, for the people. He thinks that while individuals change, the people in power are always corrupt and they will corrupt any attempt at change. He communicatesRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1449 Words   |  6 Pagesconcept that the animals in George Orwell’s novel Animal Farm crave. The animals of Animal Farm want freedom from their â€Å"dictator† Farmer Jones and the rest of humanity. Their problem is that Farmer Jones and humanity are still in power. With the bravery of two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball, the animals overthrow their human oppressors and free themselves from humanity. With his new freedom Napoleon craves power and expels Snowball. He becomes the dictator of Animal Farm and makes the farm a place where

Joe Hockey s Impact On The Australian Economy - 2465 Words

Whilst Joe Hockey has attempted to replace the age of entitlement â€Å"not with an age of austerity, but with an age of opportunity,† by taking extreme fiscal measures, the government have focused the 2014-15 Budget on pulling the economy out of deficit in the future, they have not looked at how the Budget is affecting people at this present moment. As a result, Joe Hockey has failed to show fairness in this years’ budget. Current State of the Economy Where did the Labor Government leave Australia’s Economy? The Labor Government have had a major impact on the Australian Economy, which has made it quite difficult for the Coalition to inherit. Joe Hockey stated that â€Å"Sixteen years of deficits without a recession, without any significant†¦show more content†¦Over the four years from 2009-10 to 2012-2013, Labor had met its fiscal rule of keeping the average spending growth rate to less than 2% a year (Musgrave, R. A. n.d). This was the lowest period of spending growth in 23 years, meaning that not enough money was being injected into the circular flow of income. This reduced aggregate demand as consumer spending was low. In order to ensure that key spending was sustainable, structural improvements were required for the 2014-15 Budget. Overall, the Labor government has left a disastrous legacy of high debt for the Liberal government to try and overcome. 2014-15 Budget Allocation Resources Revenue Expenditure Education †¢ Gonski Education funding reforms to be unwound, saving the commonwealth up to $30 billion †¢ University students to repay HELP loans earlier †¢ Subsidies extended to private institutions, given the ability to set their own fees †¢ Funding commitments are honored Health †¢ Rudd-era hospital funding deal with states to be unwound, saving the commonwealth up to $50 billion †¢ Patients will pay a fee of $7 for every GP visit- capped at 10 payments a year for children and concession-card holders. †¢ $5 of the fee will fund a new medical research fund that will grow to $20 billion †¢ Medicare safety net will be cut for most people †¢ No expenditure Welfare †¢ Family Tax Benefit Part B means-tested at $100 000 and removed once children turn six †¢ Under 30’s will have to wait six months

Business Process Mapping Workbook Customer Satisfaction Samples

Question: Diacuss about the Business Process Mapping Workbook : Customer Satisfaction. Answer: Introduction Generally, this research paper is based on the Heartland Equestrian Centre App Project. Moreover, this research study is provides information on roles, concepts and importance of project methodologies in the IT (Information Technology). This study is also analyzes how to align IT project with the organizational objectives. Moreover, it will also provide a clear description about the various strategies for coordinating IT project change, project planning, selection techniques, decision making and problem solving approaches in the context of IT projects. Additionally, it is also analyze systems thinking approach to managing IT projects. In the same way, the project management concepts and methods with regards to the IT project would be discussed in order to attain the objectives of the study. The company Heartland is expecting to develop a most appropriate and suitable app to attain the objectives and overcome the current business challenges. This app would help the company in motivating and encouraging the clients. The company is developing this app because to optimize for Android as well as iPhone devices. Additionally, it is decided by the company that, the responsible people and specialist would adopt a development approach to effectively and successfully execute this new app for Android and iPhone instruments. The mission statement of the company is to provide a full range of services (riding, training, jumping, etc.) to their clients in more appropriate and innovative manner. Additionally, the key objective of the project is to develop a suitable app that can be used in the Android and IPhone devices. Moreover, to help the clients in enrolling and paying for their riding lesions, retraining, and booking trail rides and horse boarding. Furthermore, to help the clients of company in subscribing the newsletters and various upcoming events is also other objective of the project. In addition, the new app must also provide an album of photo so that the client can capture their memories. The overall objective of the project is to attract customers and improve customers services by enhancing full range of services (Harper-Smith, Derry, 2010). Outline of Problem/Opportunity Statement The given case clearly indicates that, currently Heartland is facing several problems. For instance, the profit and revenue level of the company are decreasing day by day due to fall in the private lessons, boarding horses, no of trainer etc. For example, the highly respected and professional trainer had left the company. Moreover, by developing new app the company would be able to gain various business opportunities. For case, the new app would improve current services and bring innovation within the business process and results in increase of number of customers (Jacka, Keller, 2009). The company and its management would need to think strategically and innovatively to align the project objectives with the organizational vision. Moreover, the time period to develop the new app is the main constraint of the project (Dow Taylor, 2010). Preliminary Project Requirements The project would require various specific and systematic development approaches for the project. Moreover, there would also be requirements for the special experts to get the suggestion about the development of new app. On the other hand, a team of programmers as well as digital image specialist would also be required to work on the app (Pemsel Wiewiora, 2013). The company may face several risk related to hacking, data security, unexpected results, busy servers etc. The company would also have to invest billions of dollars to modify the current app (Kerzner Saladis, 2013). The new app would help the company in bringing innovation within the current business process, systems and strategies. Moreover, the company can be able to provide more innovative services to their clients (Kerzner, 2013). On the basis of above analysis, it can be recommended that, the top management of the company should provide needed and appropriate support to their teams to develop the app. References Dow, W. Taylor, B. (2010). Project Management Communications Bible. USA: John Wiley Sons. Harper-Smith, P. Derry, S. (2010). Project Management: Fast Track to Success: The low down on the top job. UK: Pearson UK. Jacka, J.M. Keller, P.J. (2009). Business Process Mapping Workbook: Improving Customer Satisfaction. USA: John Wiley Sons. Kerzner, H.R. Saladis, F.P. (2013). Project Management Workbook and PMP / CAPM Exam Study Guide. 11th ed. USA: John Wiley Sons. Kerzner, H.R. (2013). Project Management: Case Studies (4th ed.). USA: John Wiley Sons. Pemsel, S., Wiewiora, A. (2013) Project management office a knowledge broker in project-based organisations. International Journal of Project Management, 31(1), 31-42.

Nature Essay Example Essay Example

Nature Essay Example Paper Nature Essay Introduction Nature Essay Body Paragraphs Nature Nature has always been a force to reckon with because of the power it has to either create or destroy. Despite humans being ecologically dominant in the world, their survival has always been connected to nature. This connection originates from the interaction that humans have with nature, which constantly surrounds them. For instance, humans need air, water and food for their survival. All these factors are part of nature, and it is because of this fact that it is crucial for man to attempt and understand his natural surroundings. The understanding of nature is beneficial because it enables one to gain an understanding of one’s self and the dynamics of human society. Nonetheless, a conflict usually arises among freethinkers when the power of nature over man is questioned. However, historical events often suggest that it is impossible for man to conquer nature. The book Into the Wild by John Krauker is a perfect example of the man vs. nature conflict. The book is based o n the account of Chris McCandless life and death as he attempted to conquer nature. It highlights the story of a 24-year-old college graduate who after renouncing most of his possessions including his vehicle and life savings, decides to explore nature and the experiences it presents. He sets out from home leaving his family behind to accomplish his quest, which was inspired by his heroes Jack London and John Muir. This book attempts to analyze the relationship between man and nature by following the trail left behind by Chris McCandless during his adventure while putting emphasis on his tragic death. While this book is a good literal material, its analysis is relevant in revealing the power of nature and its relation to the survival of man. In the book Into the Wild by John Krauker, Chris McCandless has an interesting relationship with nature. His interpretation of nature conceives society as not part of nature. The separation of society from nature in his mind is evident when he d ecides to live in the wilderness because of his contempt towards the society, which had caused him too much pain and disgust. He believes that nature is a different entity as compared to society. It is because of this reason that he sees the decision to seclude himself from society as an action that will give him the self-awareness and social progress that is lacking in the confines of society. To him, nature is a retreat that has already been explored by denouncers of the society like Henry David Thoreau and John Muir. In addition, Chris McCandless is in constant conflict with himself on whether he can conquer nature. It is evident from the beginning of the book that Chris McCandless had the urge to prove to himself that he had power over nature. It is partly because of this unsettling urge that he decides to live in the wilderness. However, through out history nature has always bested man except for isolated cases where man chose to work according to the fundamental principles of nature. This is evident in the book when he changes his ideology and decides that nature is only a refuge for a short while and that true happiness can only be shared. This change of mindset by Chris McCandless shows how his relationship with nature had evolved since he first set foot into the wild. Apparently, he seems to agree with the fact that nature is a dominant force that has power over man. One dominant perception about nature in the book â€Å"Into the Wild† is that nature is neither benevolent nor nurturing. This is a fact that is in perfect agreement with reality with an exception of isolated cases. It is well known that nature’s principle of natural cause and effect can work against man or for man depending on the circumstances presented by a situation. A majority of people share the misconception that nature is kind and caring but only because they have no first hand experience of life in the wilderness. Life in the wilderness can be chaotic and threatenin g to human beings especially if the human being is isolated from the society. This is because nature is composed of uncontrollable and powerful forces that often create an environment that reduces the odds that favor human survival. These forces include weather, natural calamities and the environments natural inhabitants like disease causing microorganisms. In the book, certain instances clearly elaborate on the harshness of nature to man. When Chris McCandless first comes up with the idea of retreating to the wild, his views towards nature are of positive form. He sees the wilderness as an environment that is pure and free from the evils that are present in the modern society. However, as the tale unravels in the subsequent chapters, the true nature of the wilderness is revealed. In October 1990, Chris McCandless encounters a flash flood while driving across the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This force of nature forces McCandless to abandon his vehicle and part of his luggage , which were very crucial for his survival in the wilderness. Another extreme example that can be used to show the cruelty of nature is the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Chris McCandless. Apparently, McCandless suffers from food poisoning after eating poisonous potatoes because he was starving. His demise in the hands of nature acts as proof that nature is the least bit benevolent or nurturing. Moreover, the author of the book strives to portray nature as unpredictable. Given the technological advancements made in the field of science today, it is possible to predict certain elements of nature like weather and natural calamities like earthquakes. However, nature still has some sense of unpredictability. It is not possible to predict the specific conditions that nature will present at a certain specific time. For instance, earthquake-warning systems can only manage to provide warnings within a few seconds of a severe earthquake. Therefore, this shows that science has not adequately captured the dynamics by which nature functions. In the light of this fact, it is virtually impossible for an individual isolated from society to survive in the confines of nature if he does not understand nature itself. This lack of understanding amplifies the extent to which nature can present itself to an individual as harsh. In this book, the unpredictability of nature has been featured well by the author. In chapter one, Jim Gallien tries to convince McCandless to reconsider his plan to live in Denali National Park in Alaska. Gallien tries desperately to make McCandless understand that nature is unpredictable because in his mind he is certain that McCandles is not ready for the harsh conditions of life in Alaskan outdoors. McCandles even goes as far as declining Gallien’s offer to buy him decent gear and in the end, McCandles dies in the hands of nature because he thought he could easily predict and adapt to nature. Apparently, his body is discovered on th e sixth of September in1992 at a broken down bus in Denali National park. The police department found the body of Chris McCandless, 5 rolls of exposed film, the SOS note that he had written and a diary with 113 entries. Later an autopsy revealed that McCandless starved to death with his corpse weighing only sixty-seven pounds. Even though nature may be unpredictable, the book also uses other examples to show that man can indeed triumph over nature. A good example is the story of John Waterman, which shows how he triumphed over nature against all odds. John Waterman successfully climbs Mt. Denali in Alaska with very little gear despite being diagnosed with a mental condition that forced him to spend time in a psychiatric hospital. The isolated case of John Waterman can only be explained by speculating that he was lucky or that he was in harmony with the principles of nature. Other examples include Jack London and John Muir who were popularly known denouncers of society. It is from th ese two people that Chris McCandles drew his inspiration. Nature can indeed be tamed through scientific methodologies. This enables man to improve his relationship with nature and creates further understanding of the phenomena that nature possesses. Like all species, humans have exercised their impulse to interact with nature. In doing so, man has been able to domesticate landscapes and ecosystems in ways that enhance food supplies while at the same time reducing exposure to predators and natural disasters. The net results of the domestication of nature have been mostly positive with man finally having the ability to harness nature’s full potential. Taming of nature is indeed beneficial to humans because they can eliminate the factors in nature that they do not prefer, therefore, shaping the universe to their own liking. Although nature can be tamed, it is usually wiser to preserve with exception to adventurous exploration. The use of science to tame or domesticate nature oft en presents challenges. There are usually significant and unforeseen changes in the ecosystem’s attributes, which can lead to natural disasters. Natural disasters like earthquakes and landslides are in most cases a result of unsuccessful attempts by humans to domesticate nature. For instance, scientists often make unwise decisions while quantifying the tradeoffs among ecosystems, which cause the imbalance of nature. It is because of this reason that nature should be preserved for the purposes of distant or close exploration. It is only through close exploration that nature can be properly tamed for the benefit of man. In this book, the author uses the attempts by McCandles and others like him to explore nature as illustration that the idea is always unwise. A good example is the story of Gene Rosellini who was commonly known as the Mayor of Hippie Cove by Alaskan locals. Rosellini tried to explore the wild while independent of modern technology. She later concluded that his a ttempt to live off the land was a failure after thirty years and then committed suicide. McCandles is also a good example because his story resonates perfectly well with that of Gene Rosellini. McCandles who had been driven to the wilderness by his contempt towards the society tried to explore the wild to no avail. His entire life in the wild was marked with tragic incidences like the flash flood incident, which robbed him of his car and personal belongings. He later succumbed to death when he tried to prove that he could triumph over nature by trying to explore the harsh conditions that existed in Alaska with very little gear. In conclusion, nature remains a mystery that is beginning to unravel due to the influence of technological developments in the field of science. However, its strong forces continue to dominate man due to their ambiguity and unpredictability. The book â€Å"Into the Wild† by John Krauker has perfectly captured this fact by broadly addressing the man vs. nature conflict through real life accounts of people who had first hand experience with nature. Through the illustrations in this book, one can be able to analyze whether nature is a phenomenon that can be tamed by man. One can also be able to determine if the preservation of nature for adventure or observation has any advantages to man. Despite the answers to those questions, it is clear that the human vs. nature conflict is not over, at least not yet.

Argentina Essays (1061 words) - Demography, Population, Free Essays

Argentina Essays (1061 words) - Demography, Population, Free Essays Argentina For my case study on demographic transition Ive chosen the well-known country of Argentina, which is located in South America. I decided to conduct my study from 1936 to 1960. For this 25-year period I found all the statistical data which I need to actually complete population growth analysis. In the demographic transition model of Argentina we can see that the crude birth rate (CBR) is almost always double or higher then the crude death rate (CDR). This allows the natural rate of increase (NRI) to be higher than the CDR. NRI reflects how fast population is growing. In the demographic transition model of Argentinas CBR per 1000 (blue line) is the highest line relative to the origin. We can see that the line stays very steady from 1936 to 1943, at about 22 to 23 live birth per thousand. In 1944 we see a gradual increases of live birth per thousand. By 1946 the CBR is at one of it highest points. This line fluctuate from 24 to 25 per thousands range for approximately twelve years to 1956 until it gradual decrease to it original state, back to 22 per thousands. The ten to twelve years peak period of CBR helps to increases NRI for Argentina in the mid 40s and into the 50s. (We will see how this effects the NRI later) The CDR (pink line) is the lowest line in the model. In the beginning of the line (1936) we see the CDR start to rise and reach it highest point at 11 per thousand in 1938. From then on it stay steady at 10 per thousands for nine years. After 1948 we can see the line slowly decreasing to 8 per thousand by 1960. This slow drop in CDR also effected the NRI (which we will see later). Both CBR and CDR effect how well a country like Argentina population is growing both factors relate to the natural rate of increase. This is the middle line in the model (yellow line). The NRI is determined by subtracting the CBR by the CDR. In the model Argentinas CBR is fairly high and CDR is less than half of it. This allows the NRI line to stay between them. We can see from the model that the NRI starts to decrease from 1936 to 1938. This is happens because the CDR rises and the CBR remands steady. In 1938 the NRI reaches it lowest level at 11 per thousand. From that point on we see an increase of the NRI. NRI increase because of the growth in CBR and the slow decrease in CDR. The NRI reaches it highest point of 16 per thousand in 1950 and from than on decrease gradually. It gradually decreases because both CBR and CDR are also decreasing. By looking at NRI we see point of high population increase was from 1944 to 1956 this time period is better known as the baby boom. From the m odel we see that Argentinas NRI is in the middle range of population growth from 12 to 16 per thousand, which is 1.2 to 1.6 percent increase per year. Form the demographic transition model of Argentina I see no discernable pattern. But I do feel that by looking at the demographic transition model of Argentinas that it falls under the second stage of the model. This stage is where growth potential is realized and where CDR drops before CBR, which allow for rapid population growth. I also found it not to fit the pattern of the pioneer countries. The reason for this is that Argentina didnt keep fertility and the mortally level relatively low like the pioneers. We can see this by have the NRI over one percent. The demographic gap is the gap between the live birth rate and death rates in the demographic transition model. The larger the gap between lines (providing CBR is high the CDR) will determine the growth rate of a country. In my case study of Argentina as a developing country it imply that the future growth will remain relatively the same. The reason for this is that even though the CDR is dropping, death rates cant fall forever and it will eventually level off. Another

Stock Price and Information Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Stock Price and Information - Essay Example This will benefit existing shareholders.however; the potential new shareholders are not stupid. They will infer overvaluation from the new issue, thereby bidding down the stock price on the announcement date of the issue. So, for the information asymmetry stock price is raised.therefore, information affects stock price in many way. There is substantial evidence of short-term stock price continuation, which the prior literature often attributes to investor under reaction to new information. 1 By information uncertainty, it is meant that ambiguity with respect to the implications of new information for a firm's value, which potentially stems from two sources: The volatility of a firm's underlying fundamentals and poor information. Here, main hypothesis is that if investors under react to public information, they will under react even more in cases of greater information uncertainty. The testable implication is that greater information uncertainty about the impact of news on stock value leads to higher expected stock returns following good news but lower expected stock returns following bad news relative to the returns of stocks about which there is less information uncertainty. ... Several papers including Chan, Jegadeesh, and Lakonishok (1996) attribute price continuation to a gradual market response to information. Hirshleifer (2001) and Daniel, Hirshleifer, and Subrahmanyam (1998, 2001) posit that psychological biases are increased when there is more uncertainty. New information is public, easily categorized as good or bad, and occurs fairly frequently. There are six proxies for information uncertainty: Firm size, firm age, analyst coverage, dispersion in analyst forecasts, return volatility, and cash flow volatility.2 For each of the six proxies, greater information uncertainty leads to relatively lower future stock returns following bad news and relatively higher future returns following good news, suggesting that uncertainty delays the flow of information into stock prices. In other words, the market reaction to new information is relatively complete for low-uncertainty stocks, and there is little news-based return predictability. For high-uncertainty stocks, on the other hand, the market reaction is far from complete. Good news predicts relatively higher future returns and bad news predicts relatively lower future returns. This relation between information of uncertainty and future returns has used in prior empirical studies. Further assu rance that is missing risk factors does not drive the results by documenting a similar return pattern around subsequent earnings announcement dates. The opposite effects of information uncertainty on stock returns following good vs. bad news amplify the results of trading strategies. As a result, trading strategies that buy good-news stocks and short bad-news stocks work particularly well when limited to high-uncertainty stocks. For example, a momentum

3.1 reading report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

3.1 reading report - Essay Example Direct sales continue to be a growing phenomenon in all parts of the world. This is partly because of the intensity of competition between various manufacturing companies. It would be noted that marketing is the middle entity that comes between manufacturing and consumption (Krause, 2009). This means that if good and products that are produced are not marketed, they remain liabilities for their producers. But it has never been easy for producers to get their produces marketed because of competition. It is against this background that several companies have devised what may be described as non-orthodox means of marketing. This non-orthodox means is to get people who sell products on a face-to-face basis to consumers (Fox, 2008). As direct selling gained prominence, another component of it, which has to do with multi-level direct marketing, emerged. It is for the sake of the difference in approaches namely single-level and multi-level that researchers have often tried to investigate th e impact that these difference create. The study was conducted through a survey research design whereby the researcher formed a sample size from 22 different companies. The researcher proceeded to design a data collection instrument in the form of a questionnaire, with which data were collected from respondents by the use of mailed questionnaire. With the fact that the research design was influenced by survey, it means that the researcher was to generalize all data collected from respondents with the larger direct sales population within the setting of the research. The major managerial implications deducted from the study have to do with the trend of recruitment of marketers. This is because the study showed that the best group of population to take up single-level direct selling is people who would want to hook unto those jobs as permanent workers. For this reason, it is best to recruit young people who

Acc 556 Essay Example for Free

Acc 556 Essay Faculty and students/learners will be held responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies contained within the following two documents: †¢University policies: You must be logged into the student website to view this document. †¢Instructor policies: This document is posted in the Course Materials forum. University policies are subject to change. Be sure to read the policies at the beginning of each class. Policies may be slightly different depending on the modality in which you attend class. If you have recently changed modalities, read the policies governing your current class modality. Course Materials Louwers, T. J. , Ramsay, R. J. , Sinason, D. H. , Strawser, J. R. , Thibodeau, J. C. (2011). Auditing assurance services (4th ed. ). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Mulford, C. W. , Comiskey, E. E. (2002). The financial numbers game: Detecting creative accounting practices. New York, NY: John Wiley Sons. Silverstone, H. , Sheetz, M. (2007). Forensic accounting and fraud investigation for non-experts (2nd ed. ). Pearson. Singleton, T. W. , Singleton, A. J. (2010). Fraud auditing and forensic accounting (4th ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Wells, J. (2011). Principles of fraud examination (3rd ed. ). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. All electronic materials are available on the student website. Supplemental Resources Apollo Shoes Casebook Web-Based Version http://highered. mcgraw-hill. com/sites/0078136644/student_view0/apollo_shoes_case. html Week One: Overview of Fraud and Abuse DetailsDuePoints Objectives1. 1Identify the impact of occupational fraud and abuse on the organization. 1. 2Describe U. S. governmental oversight of accounting fraud and abuse. 1. Define categories of corruption. 1. 4Assess the types of accounting evidence. ReadingRead the section â€Å"Fraud Examination Methodology† in Ch. 1 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingRead Ch. 10 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingRead Ch. 16 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingRead Ch. 4 of The Financial Numbers Game. ReadingRead Ch. 11 of Fraud Auditing and Forensic Accounting. ParticipationParticipate in class discus sion. See Policies2 Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. DQ1 – Day 2 DQ2 – Day 4 DQ3 – Day 62 Individual Internal Accountant’s Report to ManagementYou are the internal accountant at a company that is preparing for an upcoming government contract bid. The management in your company is deciding if it is necessary for the company to perform a full financial status review prior to the bid. As an internal accountant, prepare a report for management that provides supporting information for a full financial status review prior to the bid. Write a paper of no more than 1,050 words that includes the following sections: †¢Section I: The effect of occupational fraud and abuse on the company †¢Section II: U. S. overnmental oversight of accounting fraud and abuse and its effect on the company †¢Section III: Potential corruption schemes to be aware of in the company †¢Section IV: Recommendation of types of accounting evidence and methods of gathering such evidence to support the financial status review Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines. Day 714 Week Two: Fore nsic Evidence DetailsDuePoints Objectives2. 1Explain procedures for collecting accounting evidence. 2. 2Explain the use of sampling in performing an examination. 2. 3Evaluate accounting evidence using analytical and inferential tools. ReadingRead Ch. of Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation for Non-Experts. ReadingRead Ch. 9 of Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation for Non-Experts. ReadingRead Ch. 10 of Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation for Non-Experts. ReadingRead Ch. 11 of Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation for Non-Experts. ReadingRead Ch. 12 of Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation for Non-Experts. ReadingRead Module E of Auditing Assurance Services. ReadingRead Module F of Auditing Assurance Services. ReadingRead Module G of Auditing Assurance Services. ReadingRead the Apollo Shoes Casebook Road Map. ReadingReview the Apollo Shoes Casebook. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. See Policies1. 5 Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. DQ1 – Day 2 DQ2 – Day 4 DQ3 – Day 61. 5 Individual Procedures in Collecting Forensic EvidenceAs corporate controller for Apollo Shoes, you are tasked to find and explain any irregularities in the Apollo Shoes Case. Resource: Apollo Shoes Casebook Define the process you will use and address the following questions: †¢What procedures will you use to collect accounting evidence? †¢What sampling tools and techniques will you use for the examination? How will you use analytical and inferential tools to evaluate accounting evidence? Submit your assignment to the facilitator. Note. APA formatting is not required for this assignment. Use a title and reference page where appropriate. Consider using a checklist or flowchart to outline your process. Day 78 Learning Team Weekly ReflectionDiscuss this wee k’s objectives with your team. Your discussion should include the topics you feel comfortable with, any topics you struggled with, and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field. Prepare a 350- to 1,050-word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. Day 71 Week Three: Substantive Procedures for Cash Outflow Irregularities DetailsDuePoints Objectives3. 1Design substantive procedures for detecting irregularities in cash. 3. 2Design substantive procedures for detecting irregularities in accounts payable. 3. 3Design substantive procedures for detecting irregularities in payroll. ReadingsRead Ch. 2 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead Ch. 3 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead Ch. 5 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead Ch. 6 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead Ch. 7 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead Ch. of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead the sections â€Å"Audit Programs† â€Å"Audit Procedures for Obtaining Audit Evidence† in Ch. 3 of Auditing Assurance Services. ReadingsReview the Apollo Shoes Casebook. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. See Policies1. 5 Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. DQ1 – Da y 2 DQ2 – Day 4 DQ3 – Day 61. 5 Individual CPA Examination ReviewResource: Week Three Student Guide Access the Wiley CPA Examination Review website from the link on the student website. Use the Week Three Student Guide to complete the Wiley CPA Examination assignment. Day 72 Learning Team Substantive Procedures for Cash Outflow IrregularitiesResource: Apollo Shoes Casebook Outline substantive procedures by using the Apollo Shoes Casebook for detecting irregularities in each of the following audit cycles: †¢Cash †¢Accounts payable †¢Payroll Design an audit program for the cycle in no more than 1,050 words. Consider using a checklist or flowchart to outline your process. Format your audit program consistent with APA guidelines. Day 712 Week Four: Substantive Procedures for Cash Asset Irregularities DetailsDuePoints Objectives4. 1Design substantive procedures for detecting irregularities in accounts receivable. 4. Design substantive procedures for detecting inventory irregularities. 4. 3Design substantive procedures for detecting irregularities in fixed assets. ReadingsRead Ch. 4 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead Ch. 9 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead Ch. 7 of The Financial Numbers Game: Detecting Creative Accounting Practice s. ReadingsReview the Apollo Shoes Casebook. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. See Policies1. 5 Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. DQ1 – Day 2 DQ2 – Day 4 DQ3 – Day 61. 5 Learning Team Substantive Procedures for Asset IrregularitiesResource: Apollo Shoes Casebook Outline substantive procedures by using the Apollo Shoes Casebook for detecting irregularities in each of the following audit cycles: †¢Accounts receivable †¢Inventory †¢Fixed assets Design an audit program for the cycle in no more than 1,050 words. Consider using a checklist or flowchart to outline your process. Format your audit program consistent with APA guidelines. Day 711 Week Five: Financial Statement Fraud DetailsDuePoints Objectives5. 1Analyze the relationship between financial accounting principles and fraud. 5. 2Analyze schemes used in financial statement fraud. ReadingsRead Ch. 11 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsRead Ch. 12 of Principles of Fraud Examination. ReadingsReview the Apollo Shoes Casebook. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. See Policies1. 5 Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. DQ1 – Day 2 DQ2 – Day 4 DQ3 – Day 61. 5 Individual Financial Statement Fraud SchemesYou are the investigator assigned to Apollo Shoes. Based on the nature of the company and the evidence provided to you, you must determine which financial statement fraud schemes would likely be present in the company. Resource: Apollo Shoes Casebook Identify potential financial statement fraud schemes by using the Apollo Shoes Casebook. Describe the types of evidence you would look for to determine whether fraud is occurring. Write a business brief of no more than 1,050 words that outlines how you will use the substantive procedures discussed in Weeks Three and Four to analyze potential schemes. Format your business brief consistent with APA guidelines. Day 720 Learning Team Weekly ReflectionDiscuss this week’s objectives with your team. Your discussion should include the topics you feel comfortable with, any topics you struggled with, and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field. Prepare a 350- to 1,050-word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. Day 71 Week Six: Examination Reporting DetailsDuePoints Objective6. 1Create documentation to present investigation findings. ReadingsRead Ch. 13 of Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation for Non-Experts. ReadingsRead the section â€Å"Attestation Engagements† in Module A of Auditing Assurance Services. ParticipationParticipate in class discussion. See Policies2 Discussion QuestionsRespond to weekly discussion questions. DQ1 – Day 2 DQ2 – Day 4 DQ3 – Day 62 Individual CPA Examination ReviewResource: Week Six Student Road Map Access the Wiley CPA Examination Review website from the link on the student website. Use the Week Six Student Guide to complete the Wiley CPA Examination assignment. Day 72 Individual Report on Financial Statement Fraud SchemeResource: Ch. 12 of Principles of Fraud Examination Choose one of the following financial fraud scheme cases from Ch. 12 of Principles of Fraud Examination. (You may also choose a fraud scheme case that is not in the text, with instructor approval. ) †¢Case Study: That Way Lies Madness †¢Case Study: The Importance of Timing †¢Case Study: All on the Surface Write a letter or memo in no more than 1,050 words to the organization’s management and communicate the examination findings explained in the case. Refer to this week’s assigned readings for assistance with formatting a letter or memo to management. Include the following in your letter or memo: †¢A summary of the matter under investigation †¢The scope of the examination †¢A summary of conclusions †¢The factors that aided the examination †¢The limitations on the examination Format your assignment consistent with APA guidelines. Day 78 Learning Team Weekly ReflectionDiscuss this week’s objectives with your team. Your discussion should include the topics you feel comfortable with, any topics you struggled with, and how the weekly topics relate to application in your field. Prepare a 350- to 1,050-word paper detailing the findings of your discussion. Day 71 Copyright University of Phoenix ® is a registered trademark of Apollo Group, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft ®, Windows ®, and Windows NT ® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Use of these marks is not intended to imply endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation. Edited in accordance with University of Phoenix ® editorial standards and practices.

The Enron Implosion and the Loss of Respect for the Accounting Professi

The Enron Implosion and the Loss of Respect for the Accounting Profession On the surface, the motives behind decisions and events leading to Enron’s downfall appear simple enough: individual and collective greed born in an atmosphere of market euphoria and corporate arrogance. Hardly anyone—the company, its employees, analysts or individual investors—wanted to believe the company was too good to be true. So, for a while, hardly anyone did. Many kept on buying the stock, the corporate mantra and the dream. In the meantime, the company made many high-risk deals, some of which were outside the company’s typical asset risk control process. Many went sour in the early months of 2001 as Enron’s stock price and debt rating imploded because of loss of investor and creditor trust. Methods the company used to disclose its complicated financial dealings were all wrong and downright deceptive. The company’s lack of accuracy in reporting its financial affairs, followed by financial restatements disclosing billions of dollars of omitted liabilities and losses, contributed to its downfall. The whole affair happened under the watchful eye of Arthur Andersen LLP, which kept a whole floor of auditors assigned at Enron year-round. In 1985, after federal deregulation of natural gas pipelines, Enron was born from the merger of Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth, a Nebraska pipeline company. In the process of the merger, Enron incurred a lot of debt and, as the result of deregulation, no longer had exclusive rights to its pipelines. In order to survive, the company had to come up with a new and innovative business strategy to generate profits and cash flow. Kenneth Lay, CEO, hired McKinsey & Co. to assist in developing Enron’s business strategy. It assigned Jeffrey Skilling to the task. Skilling, who had a background in banking and asset and liability management, proposed a revolutionary solution to Enron’s credit, cash, and profit worries in the gas pipeline business: create a â€Å"gas bank† in which Enron would buy gas from a network of suppliers and sell it to a network of consumers, contractually guaranteeing both the supply and the price, charging fees for the transactions and assuming the associated risks. Thanks to the young consultant, the company created both a new product and a new paradigm for the industry—the energy derivative. Lay was so impressed with Skilling’s ... ... excellence stand in satirical contrast to allegations now being made public. Personally, I had referred several of our best and brightest accounting, finance and MBA graduates to Enron, hoping they could gain valuable experience from seeing things done right. These included a very bright training consultant who had lost her job in 2000 with a Houston consulting firm as a result of a reduction in force. She has lost her second job in 18 months through no fault of her own. Other former students still hanging on at Enron face an uncertain future as the company fights for survival. The old saying goes, â€Å"Lessons learned hard are learned best.† Some former Enron employees are embittered by the way they have been treated by the company that was once â€Å"the best in the business.† Others disagree. In the words of one of my former students who is still hanging on: â€Å"Just for the record, my time and experience at Enron have been nothing short of fantastic. I could not have asked for a better place to be or better people to work with. Please, though, remember this: Never take customer and employee confidence for granted. That confidence is easy to lose and tough—to impossible—to regain.†

Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor

Introduction to Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor by Karen L. Enz Though a short novel, Wise Blood is a dense and complicated one with various levels of meaning. Many readers are confused and shocked by the novel as there is a distinct lack of likeable characters and there is much violence. A key element in understanding the novel’s construction and meaning is to understand the literary influences on Flannery O’Connor. Flannery O’Connor was deeply influenced by Roman Catholicism that informed her own religious sensibility which echoed in her literary voice.Her religious views envisioned a deeply flawed world that could only be redeemed by the intercession of grace. Her Southern origins brought that vision into high relief with her use of casts of grotesque characters who were often involved in violent incidents. She subjected her characters to microscopic evaluation of their religious and existential obsessions. To lighten its dark tone, Flannery O’Co nnor utilized her masterful satiric wit to increase the spectrum of the colors in her literary canvass.A second influence was O’Connor’s intense exposure to the predominant literary style, New Criticism, which was at its apex during the middle of the twentieth century. New Criticism was a complicated formulaic style that often utilized dense symbolism, paradox, irony, tension and ambiguous meaning, all hallmarks of O’Connor’s writing. New Criticism also professed that a work was to have a high degree of unity and self-containment. If we see Wise Blood through both O’Connor’s religious sensibility and its permeation in New Criticism, the structure and meaning of the novel fall more easily into place.Haze Motes, (note the symbolism of his name hazy vision and mote in the eye) is a the epitome of the religiously obsessed individual. The more he professes unbelief, the more unsure and shortsighted he becomes. The ultimate paradox occurs in his b linding, when he finally realizes his need for redemption. The text is rife with symbolism, much of it religious. The sky is permeated with clouds that look like a simplified God’s beards and curls, roadside pigs that are symbols of the devil, a shrunken man who was a symbol a false idol, an old Essex which was symbolic of a search for meaning and homecoming, and glasses that obscure vision.Some critics see the novel as a condemnation of modernity in its cult of shallow self-absorption and nihilistic pursuits. Haze is so focused on his pursuit of unbelief that he fails to see anything around him, including the needs of Enoch (who is driven by instinct â€Å"wise blood†) and Sabbath. A satiric note is sounded in Chapter 7, which can serve as a microcosm of the novel, when Sabbath receives a letter from Mary Brittle (note the symbolic nature of the name) who advises Sabbath â€Å" Perhaps you ought to re-examine your religious values to see if they meet your needs in Li fe.A religious experience can be a beautiful addition to living if you put it a proper perspective and do not let it warp you. Read some books on Ethical Culture. † Sabbath, though she is trying to seduce Haze, can be seen as a Christ figure in that mentions â€Å"I can save you, I got a church in my heart where Jesus is king. † Haze is unconvinced and he drives off leaving behind a blinding white cloud that turns into a bird with long wings that disappears in the opposite direction. Wise Blood is a complicated and multi-faceted novel that is not for the faint of heart. For those who can plumb the novel’s meaning, it can challenge and inform.

What Is Philosophy - A Brief Introduction

Literally, it means â€Å"love of wisdom.† But, really, philosophy begins in wonder. Thus taught most of the major figures of ancient philosophy, including Plato, Aristotle, and the Tao Te Ching. And it ends in wonder too, when philosophical taught has done its best – as A.N. Whitehead once suggested. So, what characterizes philosophical wonder? How to achieve it? How to approach reading and writing philosophy, and why studying it? Philosophy as an Answer To some, philosophy’s goal is a systematic worldview. You are a philosopher when you can find a place to any fact, in heaven or earth. Philosophers have indeed provided systematic theories of history, justice, the State, the natural world, knowledge, love, friendship: you name it. Engaging in philosophical thinking is, under this perspective, like putting in order your own room to receive a guest: anything should find a place and, possibly, a reason for being where it is. Philosophical Principles Rooms are organized according to basic criteria: Keys stay in the basket, Clothing should never be scattered unless in use, All books should sit on the shelves unless in use. Analogously, systematic philosophers have key principles around which to structure a worldview. Hegel, for instance, was well known for his three-steps dialectic: thesis-antithesis-synthesis (although he never used these expressions). Some principles are specific to a branch. Like the Principle of Sufficient Reason: â€Å"Everything must have a reason† - which is specific to metaphysics. A controversial principle in ethics is the Principle of Utility, invoked by so-called consequentialists: â€Å"The right thing to do is the one that produces the greatest amount of good.† Theory of knowledge centers around the Epistemic Closure Principle: â€Å"If a person knows that A and A entails B, then that person knows that B as well.† The Wrong Answers? Is systematic philosophy doomed to failure? Some believe so. For one, philosophical systems have done lots of damage. For example, Hegel’s theory of history was used to justify racist politics and nationalistic States; when Plato tried to apply the doctrines exposed in The Republic to the city of Syracuse, he faced sheer failure. Where philosophy has not done damages, it nonetheless at times spread false ideas and spurred useless debates. Thus, an exaggerated systematic approach to the theory of souls and angels led to ask questions such as: â€Å"How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?† Philosophy as an Attitude Some take a different route. To those, the gist of philosophy lies not in the answers, but in the questions. Philosophical wonder is a methodology. It does not matter which topic comes under discussion and what we make of it; philosophy is about the stance we take towards it. Philosophy is that attitude which brings you to question even what’s most obvious. Why are there spots on the surface of the moon? What creates a tide? What is the difference between a living and a non-living entity? Once upon a time, these were philosophical questions, and the wonder from which they emerged was a philosophical wonder. What Does It Take to Be a Philosopher? Nowadays most philosophers are found in the academic world. But, certainly, one does not have to be a professor in order to be a philosopher. Several key figures in the history of philosophy did something else for a living. Baruch Spinoza was an optician; Gottfried Leibniz worked – among other things – as a diplomatic; David Hume’s main employments were as a tutor and as a historian. Thus, whether you have a systematic worldview or the right attitude, you may aspire to be called ‘philosopher’. Beware though: the appellation may not always carry a good reputation! The Queen of Sciences? Classic systematic philosophers – such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Hegel – boldly affirmed that philosophy grounds all other sciences. Also, among those who see philosophy as a method, you find many who regard it as the chief source of knowledge. Is philosophy really the queen of sciences? Granted, there was a time in which philosophy vested the role of protagonist. Nowadays, however, it may sound exaggerated to regard it as such. More modestly, philosophy may seem to provide valuable resources for thinking about fundamental questions. This is reflected, for instance, in the growing popularity of philosophical counseling, philosophical cafà ©s, and in the success that philosophy majors seem to enjoy on the job market. Which Branches for Philosophy? The deep and multifarious relationship that philosophy bears to other sciences is clear by taking a look at its branches. Philosophy has some core areas: metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, aesthetics, logic. To these should be added an indefinite amount of branches. Some that are more standard: political philosophy, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion, philosophy of science. Others that are domain specific: philosophy of physics, philosophy of biology, philosophy of food, philosophy of culture, philosophy of education, philosophical anthropology, philosophy of art, philosophy of economics, legal philosophy, environmental philosophy, philosophy of technology. The specialization of contemporary intellectual research has affected the queen of wonder too.