Buffys Deeper Meanings Essay - 744 Words

With Buffy the Vampire Slayer taking the Australian television market by storm, it is becoming increasingly obvious that Buffy does more than just kick vampire butt. Star Sarah Michelle Gellar not only entertains teens nation wide, but also questions morals and values – the same values that have been plaguing the gothic genre since Bram Stoker’s Dracula – and socialises with the majority of young Australians’ lives. Popular culture is becoming increasingly consumed by a moralistic tone, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the perfect example. Ever since Stoker wrote his highly publicised novel in 1897, Dracula has had a large effect on today’s society. The classic good versus evil morals that Stoker introduced in his book is highly evident in†¦show more content†¦When the good guys in Dracula are up against the odds, the odds of a stronger and smarter enemy, the faith they have in the good fight get them over the line. The message this conveys to audiences worldwide is both strong and important. Buffy might be all about entertainment and appealing to the emotions, yet clearly the series does more than just entertain. And yet the meaning behind Buffy doesn’t stop there. One of the most recognisable features of the gothic genre is also evident throughout the series. Bram Stoker was the first to publish a book that questioned the morals of an individual, the idea that every person had two sides – that of a light side and a dark side, or a good and evil personality. The idea of a vampire’s bite, created in the novel Dracula, is completely based around the value of turning to the dark-side. Star Wars and Hitchcock’s Psycho are also highly-rated films that have questioned the same notion. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is another in a series of followers who have dealt with the same morals of the individual. Yet while the idea was first raised in the sixteenth century, it still very much applies to today’s young society. This is where Buffy steps in and leads Aussie teens down the right path. In the episode ‘Buffy vs. Dracula’, Gellar’s vampire-slaying character is struck with the allure of the dark side. The dark side is very evident in today’s society, although it comes through different forms. Teenagers face many choicesShow MoreRelatedEducation Is A Difficult One For Many People Define Essay1239 Words   |  5 Pagesor financial markets or chemical combinations- thinking in order to create new knowledge that others will the explore.† This kind of education takes place all the time in many different forms. Learning is seen not only in everyday life, but also in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Learning and education aren’t exactly the same thing. According to Webster’s dictionary learning is â€Å"the activity or process of gaining knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, being taught, or experiencing something: the activityRead MoreInterpretation And Comparison Of Online Digital Objects1594 Words   |  7 Pageslarger bodies and have attached screenshots that directly relate to my points. OBJECT ONE: ‘Projector Scene’ from the episode Hush, of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, occurring approximately 27 minutes in. I have chosen to scrutinize this particular scene as its complete lack of dialogue allows us to closely examine how non-verbal communication is used to convey meaning. â€Å"Nonverbal communication between people is communication through sending and receiving wordless cues† (Stephen W. Littlejohn 2009). WhenRead MoreEssay on Buffy the Vampire Slayer5067 Words   |  21 PagesBuffy the Vampire Slayer Mentors feature prominently in the Gothic genre. From Dr Van Helsing in Bram Stokers Dracula, who leads the young heroes into their quest to annihilate the Count, to Rupert Giles, the Watcher in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, older and more experienced adults have provided essential guidance for the younger protagonists of the genre. The differences in media of expression and the subsequent adaptations from novel to television series has not affected the presence of thisRead MoreSexual Transgression in Monster and Vampire Movies Essay1906 Words   |  8 Pagesgenre, the element most to be feared, is not the vampire himself, but the horror towards sexually independent women. Whatever the ruling for the film to carry these tones of patriarchy, it is nonetheless carried through in other, deeper contexts of the narrative. Take for example the scene in which Dracula is seducing Mina on the bed. â€Å"This point would appear to erase the former reading of ‘enforced fellatio’ and the equation between blood and semen; it draws attention Read More Makeover Feminism Essay2037 Words   |  9 Pagesattractive women as stupid and/or incapable. Although women obtain cultural power through beauty, and have every right to do so, it is nonetheless a contradiction in terms to call such tactics feminist. Makeover Feminism fails to construct political meaning or power for women, either psycho-socially or semantically. The core ideologies of feminism are stood on their heads by apologists for the multi-billion dollar cosmetic industry, at the expense of a rich and valid feminist intellectual canon.Read MoreMarketing and Lush Fresh Handmade7455 Words   |  30 Pagesconversational aspect of the Lush family is directly translated on the facebook profile. To add to this, Lush even has a separate Facebook group, Lush Times, where users can post pictures of them using the products, drawings and reviews, thus building an even deeper relationship with the fans. Statistics as shown below clearly indicates how Lush has faired over Body shop in terms of social interaction between their consumers.[5] Lush also scores points as it is environment friendly and its popularity is widespread

Essay American Women of World War II - 1120 Words

Before 1939, women were looked at as weak, incompetent and incapable of doing a man’s job. However, when World War II broke out, women were called to maintain the jobs that the men once occupied and t became evident that America’s best chance for success in World War II would have to include the efforts of American females. Women played a key role during World War II in the U.S. More than six million women took wartime jobs in factories, three million volunteered with the Red Cross, and over 200,000 served in the military. Through these jobs women were able to show society that they were capable of doing bigger and better things. Women also realized that they enjoyed this taste of freedom and wanted to continue this lifestyle even after†¦show more content†¦Partly based on a real-life munitions worker, but primarily a fictitious character, the tenacious Rosie became one of the most iconic images of working women in this time period. Instead of being seen as we ak and inadequate, Rosie showed women as being tough and equal to men. She symbolized the woman worker and illustrated that she was a strong and capable woman, which is why so many women decided to follow her. In movies, newspapers, posters, photographs and articles, the Rosie the Riveter campaign stressed the need for women to enter the work force and take part in war efforts. After the war, Rosie was still used to promote the feminist movement in the 1980s. She still remains a symbol of women empowerment and stresses the idea that women deserve equal opportunities. After the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on America at Pearl Harbor, the U.S. was thrust into World War II and the daily lives of Americans across the country were drastically altered. Women were now responsible for most jobs on the home front. They were called upon to take over the roles formerly held by men when so many of them were overseas. World War II opened up tremendous opportunities for women because so many jobs were opened that were previously unavailable to women. People just assumed that women wouldn’t be able to do them. During the war the demand for raw materials was rapidly increasing, which made their job that much moreShow MoreRelatedAmerican Women During World War II990 Words   |  4 PagesIt was the year 1940, during World War II, where Hitler is his allies controlled most of Europe and threaten to control the world. Since Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the United States congress finally agreed to enter the war against Germany and its allies after having remained neutral during the war. On October 16, 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Selective Service and Training Act, which required all male citizens between the ages of 26 and 35 to register for the militaryRead MoreAmerican Women in World War II Essay1752 Words   |  8 Pages At the start of World War II the American people had a sense of unity. Men chose to leave their jobs and families to join the front line, while women, for the first time, were leaving the home and taking over those jobs that their husbands left behind. In 1943, many magazines chose to paint a picture of women hard at work. These articles focused their stories on working women, and glamorized the untraditional jobs they held. They thought perhaps, that if they made these smaller, hardRead MoreRoles of American Women During World War II1144 Words   |  5 Pagessegment Women and World War II) Roles of American Women in World War II Essay Two During World War II, Hollywood films strongly influenced the roles American women played, both while men were away and directly after they returned. These films often sent the message that while their men were away, women must be romantically loyal and keep a secure home for the men to return to. The films also often encouraged women to do their patriotic duty and their part in the war effort by doing war work. Read MoreEssay on The Effect of World War II on American Women869 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effect of World War II on American Women America entered the 2nd World War in December 1940 after the Japanese Air force attacked American war ships at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii. They fought alongside Britain and France against Nazi Germany and her allies. Although many American soldiers were injured and killed in the war, the impact on Americans back home was generally positive, as the US was too far away from Europe to suffer from bombing etc. America was far betterRead MoreEssay on American Women and the World War II Factory Experience5647 Words   |  23 PagesAmerican Women and the World War II Factory Experience After much consideration, I decided to write about American women on the home front during World War II. The work done by these brave women was astounding. In order to narrow the scope of my historical survey, I chose to focus particularly on the factory experience of these women, because the female factory worker challenged the existing societal belief of separate sex roles. In this sense, the female factory worker became a pioneerRead MoreRole Of Mexican American Women During World War II1980 Words   |  8 PagesMexican Americans March 3, 2015 The role of Mexican American Women during World War II 1. - The beginning of World War II 2. - Mexican American society before World War II a) The role of the Mexican American woman b) The job opportunities for Mexican American women 3. - Changing roles during World War II a) The job opportunities for Mexican American women during the war b) Leaving the family to go to work 4. – Effects of the World War II experience on Mexican American women 5. -Read More World War II as a Time of Opportunities for American Women Essay2234 Words   |  9 PagesWorld War II as a Time of Opportunities for American Women World War II was the catalyst that changed the opportunities available to women and eventually the way they were regarded as a viable workforce. Suddenly women throughout the United States were pushing themselves to their limits to support the war effort. Women were fulfilling jobs and responsibilities that many previously believed to be impossible for their gender. Opportunities were opened in steel plants, ammunition factoriesRead MoreChinese American Women Defense Workers During World War II912 Words   |  4 PagesIn Xiaojian Zhao’s essay, â€Å"Chinese American Women Defense Workers in World War II,† the author focused on the development of Chinese American women’s accomplishments during World War II. Initially, after reading the essay, I felt a sense of pride and empowerment in my heritage as a half Chinese American woman. Zhao clearly states her thesis as the essay â€Å"focuses on the unique experience of Chinese American female defense workers in the San Francisco Bay Area.† I believe the author’s purpose is toRead MoreWomen s Impact On The World War II1361 Words   |  6 Pagesafter the Second World War, people created uncountable numbers of historiographical research on various topics related to the war, such as military tactics in battles, individual groups of men during their time in service, and other such subjects. Not much surprise exists then, that women’s actions in World War II eventually would also gain interest and publication for the public, though it did not gain an undivided focus until the advent of women’s and social history grew momentum. Women, despite beingRead MoreMexican American Forgotten in History1392 Words   |  6 PagesWorld War II brought forward the opportunity for many Mexican Americans to show their commitment to this country . United states was lacking men labor because of the recruitment of men for the army. This gave hope for many that wanted to escape their harsh lives back at home. This war was a fight for power and United States needed more support, which led them seeking help. Latinos made great contributions in World War II efforts but still are those like Ken Burns who believes otherwise . World

Hamdi vs Rumsfeld Free Essays

Hamdi v. Rumsfeld Yaser Esam Hamdi, an American citizen, was captured in Afghanistan shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11th. Hamdi was classified as an â€Å"enemy combatant† by the United States. We will write a custom essay sample on Hamdi vs Rumsfeld or any similar topic only for you Order Now His father filed a petition of Habeas Corpus that his fifth and fourteenth amendments were in violation. Although the petition did not specify on the actual circumstances of Hamdi’s capture and detention, the record indicated that Hamdi went to Afghanistan to do â€Å"relief work† less than two months before September 11th and could have not received military training. The Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Michael Mobbs, issued a response, outlining the Government’s position. The district court found the â€Å"Mobbs Declaration† insufficient in supporting the Government’s case. The Mobbs Declaration provided details regarding Hamdi’s trip to Afghanistan, his affiliation with the Taliban during a time when the Taliban was battling U. S. allies, and lastly his surrender of an assault rifle. The District Court found that the Mobbs Declaration, standing alone, did not support Hamdi’s detention and ordered the Government to turn over numerous materials. The Fourth Circuit reversed, stressing that it was undisputed that Hamdi was captured in an active combat zone, no factual inquiry or evidentiary hearing allowed Hamdi to be heard or to rebut the Government’s claims were necessary or proper. If the Mobbs Declaration was accurate, it provided a sufficient basis upon which to conclude that the President had constitutionally detained Hamdi, the court ordered the habeas petition dismissed. The appeals court held that, â€Å"no citizen shall be imprisoned or otherwise detained by the United States except pursuant to an Act of Congress†. This provides that The AUMF’s â€Å"necessary and appropriate force† language provided the authorization for Hamdi’s detention. Also that Hamdi is entitled only to a limited judicial inquiry into his detention’s rationality under the war powers of the political branches, and not to a searching review of the actual determinations underlying his capture. The results in the judgment were quitted, and the case is remanded. Justices O’Connor, Kennedy, and Breyer, concluded that although Congress authorized the detention of combatants in the narrow circumstances alleged in this case, due process demands that a citizen held in the United States as an enemy combatant be given a meaningful opportunity to contest the factual basis for that detention before a neutral decision maker. First, the Government urges the adoption of the Fourth Circuit’s holding that because it is â€Å"undisputed† Hamdi’s seizure took place in a combat zone, the habeas determination can be made as matter of law, with no further hearing or fact finding necessary. This argument did not hold, and the circumstances surrounding Hamdi’s seizure cannot in any way be characterized as â€Å"undisputed† because Hamdi has not been permitted to speak for himself or even through legal counsel. The â€Å"facts† that constitute the alleged concern are insufficient to support Hamdi’s detention. Under the definition of enemy combatant, Hamdi would need to be â€Å"part of or supporting forces hostile to the United States or coalition partners† and â€Å"engaged in an armed conflict against the United States† to justify his detention in the United States for the duration of the conflict. The habeas petition states only â€Å"when seized by the United States Government, Mr. Hamdi resided in Afghanistan. A claim that one resided in a country in which combat operations are taking place is not a concession that one was â€Å"captured in a zone of active combat operations in a foreign theater of war,† does not mean that â€Å"part of or supporting forces hostile to the United States or coalition partners† and â€Å"engaged in an armed conflict against the United States. † So the argument that Hamdi has made concessions that eliminate any right to further process is rejected. The Government’s second argument requires that further factual exploration is inappropriate in light of the extraordinary constitutional interests at risk. Under the Government’s argument, â€Å"respect for separation of powers and the limited institutional capabilities of courts in matters of military decision-making in connection with an ongoing conflict† ought to eliminate entirely any individual process, restricting the courts to investigating only whether legal authorization exists for the broader detention scheme. The government argues, courts should review its determination that a citizen is an enemy combatant under a very deferential â€Å"some evidence† standard. A court would assume the accuracy of the Government’s expressed basis for Hamdi’s detention, as said in the Mobbs Declaration, and assess only whether that expressed basis was lawful. Hamdi’s response emphasizes that the court consistently has recognized that an individual challenging his detention may not be held at the will of the Executive without alternative to some proceeding before a neutral hearing to determine whether the Executive’s asserted justifications for that detention have basis in fact. He argues that the Fourth Circuit wrongfully â€Å"ceded power to the Executive during wartime to define the conduct for which a citizen may be detained, judge whether that citizen has engaged in the proscribed conduct, and imprison that citizen indefinitely,† The District Court, agreeing with Hamdi, believed that the appropriate process would approach the process that accompanies a criminal trial. It disapproved of the Mobbs Declaration and anticipated various military affairs. Both of these positions cause concerns, and both emphasize the tension that often exists between the autonomy that the Government asserts is necessary in order to pursue effectively a particular goal and the process that a citizen argues that he is due before he is deprived of a constitutional right. The process due in any given instance is determined by weighing â€Å"the private interest that will be affected by the official action† against the Government’s interest, â€Å"including the function involved† and the burdens the Government would face in providing greater process. How to cite Hamdi vs Rumsfeld, Papers

Bikin for Bruises free essay sample

â€Å"Oh man,† my friend moaned. â€Å"Look at her bike!† He motioned towards a girl in a bright yellow running shirt, obviously one of the more experienced bikers. She was walking a shiny, expensive blue bike through the parking lot. But the entire left pedal was shattered†¦completely gone, except for a stub of black metal. â€Å"Geez†¦are you sure we’re up for this?† I ask. It was our first time mountain biking. We had no idea what we were getting into. â€Å"I dunno, man,† he said. â€Å"Let’s try it out. How hard could it be?† I climbed into the back of his beat up, silver pickup to unload the bikes. â€Å"I think we might need these,† he said, emerging from the truck with our helmets. â€Å"Haha, I hope not.† After making sure the strap was tight enough, I climbed on my green Trek and set off down the beaten path. We will write a custom essay sample on Bikin for Bruises or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The forest rushed past as we bumped along the dirt trail. For a half-mile, my eyes were set on my friend’s back tire and the occasional rock. Then, the trail got narrower and the turns became sharper. The first hill rose ahead, its top barely visible through the foliage. But after sweaty palms and burning thighs, we finally clambered to the summit. â€Å"You ready for this?† I ask, observing the trail ahead. It was no more than two feet wide and followed a slight curve with rocks, roots, and squirrels all over. â€Å"No turning back now, bro. Ladies first.† â€Å"Ha, funny,† I said sarcastically, â€Å"See you at the bottom†¦if you’re lucky.† I pushed of the forest floor and started down the slope. The trees raced past as I picked up speed. I felt every rock and root through my bike, through the seat and through the handlebars. Suddenly, I was jamming the brakes the whole way, doing everything in my power to not wipe out. Standing o n the pedals moved my center of balance forward, so every bump threatened to buck me off. Finally, the end of the hill approached. The ground flattened and I stopped accelerating. I could hear shouts of adrenaline as my friend started the decent. In the middle of the path, about 20 feet ahead, there was a stone. Three inches in diameter, it was no different than all the others on the way. I ignored this particular rock, because I figured I could handle it. It was just another bump. But this was a BIG MISTAKE. I hit the rock, still crouching on the pedals, close to the end of the hill. And then I went right over the handle bars. The world spun as my bike vanished beneath me. Somehow I ended up clearing the bike and landing on my feet—perfectly fine, but shaken. My friend cheered. â€Å"Hey, you okay?† he asked. â€Å"That looked nasty from back here.† He sounded concerned, but I can tell he’s still laughing on the inside. â€Å"Yeah, I’m alrigh t. Let’s do it again.† Whether on the mountain bike course, in the classroom, or at work, I bring a strong work ethic, adventurousness, and, most importantly, the ability to get back on the bike and keep going.

The Pact Book Review Essay Example

The Pact Book Review Paper Name: Instructor: Course: Date: We will write a custom essay sample on The Pact Book Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Pact Book Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Pact Book Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The Pact Book Review Plot Summary The Pact is the story of three young men who made a promise to each other that they would go to college and succeed in life. This seemed impossible considering where they lived. They did not have anyone in their lives that they could look up to and consider role models. They encountered many challenges in their lives before they realized their goals. They lived in a dangerous neighborhood, where they had to contend with violence, drug dealers and drug addicts. One of the men had a childhood dream of becoming a dentist, and he convinced the others to study hard for the scholarship Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Plus Program offered at Seton Hall and become doctors. The book reveals how the young men continued facing challenges in school, how they almost gave up their dreams, and how they finally managed to overcome those challenges and realize their dream, thus fulfilling their pact. It is a story of friendship, and it shows the importance of having role models and good social support systems so that one can realize his or her dreams in life. Opinion I was inspired and impressed by the friendship and determination of the three young men. I believe that this kept them focused and it gave them the strength they needed to overcome obstacles. It is often rare to read of young men who influence each other positively. In many cases, people in similar situations often end up falling to negative peer influences. The three decided to support and encourage each other, and this made them realize their goals. I was emotionally moved by the people who decided to make positive changes in the men’s lives and encourage each other. George talks of his friend’s father who treated him like one of his sons. He believed in George’s dreams and he never discouraged him from achieving his goals. Some of the teachers and counselors acted as role models for the boys. They encouraged them in pursuing their goals and they gave them the morale and inspiration they needed in life. It was interesting to read that the men made bad decisions in their lives but they did not let that determine their future. Two of them had already faced the criminal justice system even before they were eighteen years. They committed some offences, which could have destroyed their future. The men had friends who were not positive influences in their lives. However, the pact that they had made and the fact that they continued making their friendship stronger, made it possible for them to get on the right path. They admit that it was not easy for them to go to college and become doctors. They faced hard situations, which almost made them give up in life and forget their dreams. I was angered by the social and economic systems in our country, which force some people to live in abject poverty as others live in extreme wealth. The families living in the projects were poor. Most of the people involved in dealing drugs did not do so out of choice but they were forced by their circumstances. Poverty has led to many social ills and disadvantages in the country. Many children are forced to live without their fathers around because they are serving time in prison, while others have decided to abandon their families. I was also angered by the fact that some children are exposed to so much violence when they are young. The men had grown up in tough and rough neighborhoods. They committed crimes and offences such as stealing and beating other people. However, they managed to change their negative ways and they became positive influences and role models to other people in their community. Another thing that made me angry was the discrimination that continues to plague t he society. People continue to be defined by the color of their skin and not by their abilities. This has often discouraged many from achieving their dreams. Had it not been for the support that the young men received from few individuals, then they would not have reached where they are today. Although I liked all the characters because of their determination, my favorite was George. I think that it would not have been possible for the three to become doctors had he not held the dream he had of becoming a dentist. His fascination in dentistry made him have a dream. Not many people enjoy dentist visits, but George seemed to enjoy them when he was young. He urged the others to join medical school and this contributed to positive changes in their lives. Although George’s mother, Ella Jenkins Mack, is not one of the prominent characters in the book, I admire her persistence and courage in bringing up her children. She was resilient and she managed to discipline and provide for her children. It was not easy bringing up two boys with no other source of support. She ensured that she got her family out of the projects. She did not let the fact that she was a single mother discourage her from hoping for a better life. Overall Evaluation I would recommend this book to a friend and to people who have to face challenges in their lives. The book remains relevant because many people continue experiencing the same situations that the young men went through in their lives. Many people still live in the ghetto, and they continue to experience hardships and challenges in life. They continue living in violent environments and they have to deal with many social ills. This is an inspirational book and it shows that one does not have to conform to his or her environment. The three young men could have decided to become part of the statistics, as is often the case with many African American men and other people living in the ghetto. They could have felt sorry for themselves and given up on their aspirations just because they did not have role models around. However, they made a different decision. The book is written in such a simple and engaging way. The book also describes the events that happened plainly. The authors do not tr y to hide some of the information or exaggerate other details. This book is both engaging and entertaining, and it promotes the values of true friendship, hard work, discipline, and positive influences in life.

Alices Adventures In Wonderland Essays - Alice In Wonderland

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland Essays - Alice In Wonderland Alice's Adventures In Wonderland An analysis of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland The following text is a small part of a project from: Jerry Maatta, HII, Katedralskolan, Uppsala, Sweden Written in March 1997 Interpretations and opinions It is important to bear in mind that Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, however special it may seem and however many different interpretations one thinks one can find, is, after all, but a story written to entertain Charles Dodgson's favourite child-friends. It is very obvious in the story that it was written for the three Liddell girls, of whom Alice was the closest to Dodgson. In the introductory poem to the tale, there are clear indications to the three, there named Prima, Secunda and Tertia Latin for first, second and third respectively in feminized forms. The part considering rowing on happy summer days was derived directly from reality. It is said that he used to row out on picnics with the Liddell girls and tell them stories. On one of these excursions it started raining heavily and they all became soaked. This, it is said, was the inspiration to the second chapter of the book, The Pool of Tears. The ever-occurring number of three points out Dodgson always having in mind the three girls he tells the story to. It could, of course, having in mind the fact that he was a cleric, be the Christian Trinity or something completely different. Many people have seen Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as a prime example of the limit-breaking book from the old tradition illuminating the new one. They also consider it being a tale of the variations on the debate of gender and that it's continually astonishing us with its modernity. From the looks of it, the story about Alice falling through a rabbit-hole and finding herself in a silly and nonsense world, is fairly guileless as a tale. The underlying story, the one about a girl maturing away from home in what seems to be a world ruled by chaos and nonsense, is quite a frightening one. All the time, Alice finds herself confronted in different situations involving various different and curious animals being all alone. She hasn't got any help at all from home or the world outside of Wonderland. Lewis Carroll describes the fall into the rabbit-hole as very long and he mentions bookshelves on the sides of the hole. Perhaps it is an escape into literature he hints at. Carroll is an expert at puns and irony. The part with the mad tea-party is one of the best examples of this. There's a lot of humour in the first Alice book, but in the second the mood gets a bit darker and more melancholic. The theme with Alice growing and shrinking into different sizes could reflect the ups and downs of adolescence with young people sometimes feeling adult and sometimes quite the opposite. The hesitation so typical of adolescent girls is reflected in Alice's thoughts: She generally gave herself good advice (though she very seldom followed it). Many short comments point to teenage recklessness, restlessness and anxiety in all its different forms. One other example of maturing is Alice getting used to the new sizes she grows. She talks to her feet and learns some of the new ways her body works in. Her feelings are very shaken from her adventures and she cries quite often when it's impossible to obey the rules of the Wonderland or is it adulthood? Everything is so out-of-the-way down here, as Alice often repeats to herself. Alice doesn't like the animals in Wonderland who treat her as a child, but sometimes she gets daunted by the responsibility she has to take. The quote Everyone in Wonderland is mad, otherwise they wouldn't be down here told by the Cheshire Cat can be given an existential meaning. Is it that everyone alive is mad being alive, or everyone dreaming him- or herself away is mad due to the escape from reality? Time is a very central theme in the story. The Hatter's watch shows days because it's always six o' clock and tea-time. Time matters in growing up, I guess, but further interpretations are left unsaid. The poem in chapter 12 hints at forbidden love, and it is entirely possible that it is about his platonic love for children, or Mrs. Liddell, for that matter. Considering the fact, that the first manuscript was called Alice's Adventures

Trends and Challenges Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Trends and Challenges Paper - Essay Example It is a classic case of finding out where the performance management system competes with the annual performance appraisals because the latter do not give the exact details as far as an employee is concerned whereas the performance management system is more comprehensive than anything else. Since the annual performance appraisals are more aligned towards providing value keeping note of how well the employees have fared over the year, the performance management system is more elaborate since it gives each and every instance of the employee’s domains and tells the management whether or not the performance bonus or the increments are due for a certain employee (Schoch, 2011). This is a better indicator of how well the employee is faring and what his expectations are from the organization in the long run scheme of things. Also the employees know that they are being judged for each and every act of theirs within the organization which is a significant understanding that once reache d, can have long-lasting effects and consequences on their work realms. This is such an essential comprehension that will eventually make the performance management systems more effective and compatible with any business as compared to the annual performance appraisals due to their limited scope and usability issues. Evaluate the effectiveness of various performance appraisal methods and possible problems affecting performance appraisals The effectiveness of various methods of performance appraisals lies more on the shoulders of the human resources management department within an organization. It is this department that eventually finds out where the problems actually exist and how these could be overcome within the related settings. Having said that it is significant to note that the performance appraisals are effective only when they are being followed to the core, which speaks for their legitimacy issue since they are at times being seen only as a barometer for finding out whethe r or not an employee has been punctual at work or has been able to complete certain tasks within the set timelines. This is a very wrong precedent because the performance appraisals can do much more than they are thought out to be. What it will eventually tell one and all is the fact that these performance appraisals would not be able to derive value if they are being judged on these points alone (Buckley, 1998). The possible problems that affect the performance appraisals are concerning the change in personnel and improper documentation of employees over a period of time. If the employees keep on coming in within an organization and leaving it on a constant basis, then there is a problem that needs to be addressed and more so with the understanding reached upon with regards to the performance appraisals. The performance appraisals are therefore being seen as a thing of the past when such issues come to the surface and it is about time that the employees seriously start searching fo r better alternatives which they can give to the management regimes. One such is the performance management system which can help their course and allow them to pace ahead with the guarantee that each and every task of theirs is being

Risk Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Risk Assessment - Essay Example Pesticides sprayed on plants are not just sprayed on plants, but soak into the soil on which we walk and get into the underground water supply, contaminating it so that it becomes unsafe to drink. I also do not want to put anything into my body that I cannot read on a label and pronounce and understand, and speaking from the heart, I cannot understand the name of any pesticide, except to tell you that anything ending in â€Å"zine† is bad. Pesticides and herbicides should be tested for their potential to harm humans by putting them into a controlled sample of water and observing changes over time. If the water were to turn an unnatural color, such as brown or gray, the pesticide would then be deemed unsafe. It should also be tested on samples of soil by placing the controlled pesticide sample into the soil and monitoring plant growth throughout the sample. For further testing, we should introduce fish into a larger, yet still controlled sample of water, and if the pesticide sample introduced to that environment caused any harm to the fish, then we would know it would be unsafe for humans. As a consumer, we have a responsibility to not only read labels on the food that we purchase, but to know where our food comes from. Simply choosing to buy organic is not enough. We must know, at all times, if the can of corn or the bag of onions that we are about to pick up in the grocery store came from a place where chemicals are used on the food. This is our responsibility as a consumer, to make sure that we are aware of what is going into our

Capital punishment and the death penalty Annotated Bibliography

Capital punishment and the death penalty - Annotated Bibliography Example They explain the stand of the church on the matter with supportive information from the bible. The author of this book discusses death penalty, providing an overview of its execution and a critically analysis this form of punishment with the question whether it is a fair solution or a moral failure. At some point, he looks at it as a government/state-sponsored killing and argues that it has a net brutalization effect of killing of more innocents. This book looks into the universal abolition of death penalty and the importance of abolishing it, evaluating it against human life (i.e. death penalty versus human life). It also looks into the families of both the condemned and the homicide victim. The author of this article tries to evaluate the forces that account for the legality of death penalty including social and political sources. By evaluating racial/ethnic threat theories, he explains why death penalty is present in some jurisdictions and absent in others. This article looks into two aspects of the question whether it is okay to implement death penalty: the ethical aspect and the epistemological one. That is, the morality of executions and the necessary burden of proof/the epistemological argument. This book critically evaluates capital punishment, which it presents as a form of punishment that follows the rule: ‘an eye for an eye’. It also offers statistical information on the support that death penalty receives from various regions. This article features the Council of Europe’s view on death penalty. The views are that death is not justice; death penalty is not a deterrent against crime; the justice system can and does make mistakes; human rights apply to everyone; and murderer should not be made into martyrs. The authors of this article attempt to answer the question whether capital punishment is morally required. They do so by narrowing down into the acts,

What Caused The Korean War History Essay

What Caused The Korean War History Essay The North Korean leader, Kim Il Sung invaded South Korea on 25th June 1950, with about 89,000 of his troops and tanks achieving total tactical and strategic surprise against only 38,000 South Korean soldiers. They were fully armed with heavy weapons and equipment supplied by Stalin and the Soviet Union.  [1]   The war that started in 1950 which lasted for three years can be analysed under two aspects: political and ideological. Analysing ideologically, communist within the region of China, Soviet Union and North Korea, desired to secure the Korean Peninsula to be a part of communist bloc. Politically, the West and the USSR growing tensions and the emergence of the cold war intensified the stability that stemmed from a divided Korea. This essay will examine the causes of the Korean war including factors such as the historical, ideological differences and the primary causes of the war which are believed to be the division of Korea in 1945, the character of both leaders, kim II Sung and Sungman Rhee, as well as the influences of International actors, in particular capitalist West (namely the US) and the communist East (namely the Soviet Union but to a lesser degree, China), and the difference in policies of the United States and the Soviet Union toward North and South Korea. In order to understand the causes of the war in Korea, it is essential to look at the history of the country. When in the 1880s Korea opened its gates to the western world, pro-Chinese, pro-Japanese, pro-Russian and pro-American factions all emerged, It is also to be kept in mind that Japan ruled Korea for more than 40 years from 1904 to 1945 until the USA and Soviet Union agreed to expels the Japanese territory by the USA taking over the southern region of Korean to the 38th parallel whilst the Soviet Union would occupy the northern part.  [2]   In 1910, when Japanese ruled Korea and established a rough direct over its people, It was then that the elite class such as businessmen, landowners and manufacturers were not irritated but merely continued to do their jobs as the circumstances facilitated them. Conversely, the lower and workers class emerged in opposition and demanded urgent reforms in the country. The Japanese plan was to defend home islands by maintaining control of Korean Peninsula which resulted in political and cultural repression, there was also growth of Communism and Conservative nationalism at that time. As soon as World War II ended the tension was clear, one of the most important features of the post-world war was the appearance of a clear and obvious global competition for spheres of influence between the Soviet Union and the USA. The division of the country by 38th parallel by US and USSR had implicit the continuation of the civil tension as the people were divided politically and ideologically.  [3]  The Koreans were not trusted to rule Korea independently. The region being separated by the USA and USSR was the reason that the country had to remain separated into two halves as both super power countries had their own way to set up the legitimacy and execution of the political and economic issues of the country. These changes having being occurred in the region came to the situation that the regions could not be joined again as a single territory.  [4]   William Stueck argues convincingly;Soviet-US occupation of Korea, especially without precise agreements on its nature and duration, greatly reduced Koreas prospects for a smooth transition toward independence and unityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦[and furthermore] the division of the independence movement into Communist and anti-Communist groups compounded the potential problems in constructing a unified, indigenous government.  [5]   This division was possibly the most significant event in the history of Korea, as, if the country had not been separated by force by the outside powers, arguably there would not have been a Korean War. Of course, this is debateable as, when the Japanese surrendered, the possibility of a civil conflict due to those inequities and imbalances Koreans had suffered historically, was in fact defeated by the involvement of the Soviet Union and the USA.  [6]   The division had many consequences on the economy, one of the most pressing issues was the economic crisis between the two territories following a mass departure of around 2 million Koreans from the North to the South, today the South Korean population is double that of North Korea. This mass exodus was due to the fact that resources were also divided, the North gained in natural resources, whereas the South now had two-thirds of the workforce and the country was in crisis, Therefore, civil tension continued between varying ideologies in the two territories throughout. Furthermore, this division affected the cultures of both Koreas especially in regard to military, political, ideology and foreign alliances. On both sides the tension caused by division meant that the military became important.  [7]   The USA established a military government in South Korea whereas Soviet Union did so in North Korea. The region rule by the Americans was given to 24th corps US Army headed by General John R. Hudge whereas; the Soviet Union gave this responsibility to the 25th Army, the 1st Front of Soviet Far Eastern Front Forces (under Col. General Ivan M. Chistiakov). The masses of Korea opposed the military rule in their respective countries, which caused a high level of dissatisfaction, especially in the South. Furthermore, the US Army was unprepared for the mission to rule South Korea as compared to the Soviet Union.  [8]   The Moscow agreement was a great shock to the Korean people, who expected independence. They directly launched a nationwide movement opposing the trusteeship. The communist initially opposed trusteeship, but quickly changed their attitude later under a directive from the Russians. After Moscow conference divisions deepened between North and South, resulted in an economic, political and social unrest in South. The USA support was wavering and hesitate to support South who wanted a change in their political and economic position. However, the Soviet determination for North was to dominate through Communism. The USA still kept on safeguarding its own interest and tried every way in which Communist party could be stopped to come into power if Korea was reunited.  [9]   The United States policy toward Korea was non-ideological, at that time, the US considered Korea nothing more than a secondary objective to the security and defence of Japan. Korea continued to be a secondary objective because partly of the great distance between the two countries and partly because the US thinks that Korea is a minor strategic value.  [10]   On the other hand, the Soviet Union had a historical interest in Korea, North Korea was vital to the ideological interests, and strategic objectives of the Soviet Union to safeguard the rights obtained in Manchuria in return for the declaration of war against Japan in the final days of World War II, This was all the more so because of their need to cope with the American influence in South Korea, and the growing communist influence in China. Therefore the policy of the Soviet Union toward North Korea was constantly strong from the start.  [11]   With the rise of Marxism- Leninism in Russia in 1917 and the emergence of the struggle between Nationalists and Communists in China in the 1920s, Korean exiles inevitably took sides, with traditionalists of a Confucian stripe looking to the Nationalist Chinese, Liberals of a capitalist, democratic bent appealing to the Unites States, and radicals casting their eyes toward the Soviet Union and/or the communist Chinese.  [12]   Americans entered South Korea to keep Japan disarmed, but it was clear that they were unaware of the development they had to make in the region. The United Commission as forced by the USA voted for elections in Korea, the communist bloc of the region boycotted the elections and Syngman Rhee was declared as the President of South Korea.  [13]  It can be argued that the UN intervention is a fledging organisation which been forced into action. There was a little credibility due to alignment with the US. South Korea was not fully prepared for the war because the South Korean leader had not been much aware of the war issues as compared to North Korean leader Kim II Sung who appeared to be in power assisted by Colonel Alexandre Ignatiev and General Ternetiv Shytykov who were a part of the Soviet occupying force. Communism was quickly spread throughout the country by the police oppression, pressure and violence.  [14]   There was no attempt to examine closely the communist ideology of the leftists, to discover how far they were the creatures of Moscow, and how far they were merely vague socialists and nationalists who found traditional landlordism repugnant. No allowance was made for the prestige earned by the communists dominant role in armed resistance to the Japaneseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Given time and encouragement, [the KPR]..might have offered South Korea its best prospect of building a genuine democracy.  [15]   The failure then, ultimately of the US in Korea, was to side with reactionary, conservative factions who were inextricably linked to the period of Japanese colonial rule. In their view, they found it easier to deal with the ones that have had been for the same tasks and orders at the times when Japanese used to rule the nation, as opposed to helping to organise and mustering a viable future leadership from the many leftist factions, which though often divided among themselves nevertheless had the genuine support of a significantly large section of the Korean population. But if this was a US failure then it was also a failure of the Soviets as both countries chose to exclude the Korean leaders from any representation of the country, aimed at setting up a five-year trusteeship for the nation in question, prior to free elections being held. In the meantime, it was decided that the US and USSR, respectively, would take responsibility for governing the two halves of the country: in the s outh General Hodge led a US military government, and in the north the Soviets oversaw a communist-style rule.  [16]   It was decided in 1946, that the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) would start to shape her military in order to protect her interdependence, this idea was urgently shaped into reality and at the end of that year they had created two divisions. North Korea kept on doing reforms in the army so that the South could find no way to harm it. By 1949, the military was equipped with a tank brigade, engineers, signals, anti-aircraft artillery, and one more infantry division. They were also on the initial stage to create their navy and air force, furthermore they sent two infantry divisions to fight in Manchuria against the Chinese Nationalists specifically in order to gain experience needed to be ready for any offensive attack against South Korea.  [17]   The main aim of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea was to safeguard the workers republic and the acts and the efforts of the Workers Party as well as the creation of forces was the reason why the government remained active. In the meantime, Kim II Sung kept on getting stronger and appeared as the Premier of DPRK in 1948 and was nominated as the Chairman of North Korean Workers Party in 1949.  [18]  He was Known as great leader in North Korea. Conversely, Rhee appeared as a leader of South Korea who was anti-communist. He wanted the China civil war to end in favour of the Nationalists. Among his concern was to wash away the Communist and demolish any Communist power or influence in Korea before the situation get worse and developed into a civil conflict. He, as with the Americans, believed that the Communists in Korea were a puppet of the Soviets; therefore, he believed that some kind of police intervention was needed to limit their influence. As his thoughts involved any actions that kept the communists away, he ideologically influenced the minds of people and made certain reforms to forcefully strengthen the country which drew an ideological line between North and South Korea.  [19]   The USA did not seem to back any actions or thoughts of Rhee as they were aware of the fact that Rhee attempts to attack the Northern part, the circumstances would not appear in favour of either. The USA could not be seen to be supporting any attack against the North as it would be regarded as an attack against the Soviet Union. South Korea was somehow in control of Rhee and he kept on using the force against the communists especially after 1946 elections.  [20]  South Korea was blamed for the start of the conflict. Rhee prompted border clashes prior to the invasion from the North such as that he executed some of the Northern civilian because they were spying and this was the ignition of the war. This idea that South Korea began the war was also insisted by Cummings who said that Rhee deliberately went for such actions so that the USA would support and intervene which will allow Rhee and his forces to invade North Korea.  [21]  On the other hand some argue that it was indeed North Korea who began the war and therefore had to plan the situation before hand and did such actions to initiate the war. Nonetheless this does not mean that Kim II Sung from North Korea was the one who necessarily caused the war. In May 1950, the strengths and weakness of North Korea and South Korea described as follows: It says that North Korea had organised areas with strong military and efficient divisions. North Korea had the potential that if guerrilla war started, it would be able to defeat the other side. Conversely, the South Korea did not have much potential to fight against the North as it was politically bent into conflicts and was equally losing its economic grip. Moreover, the military was far less efficient than that of the North. Tension along the 38th parallel had been serious since 1947 but was worse on some cases. It was assumed that any time the civil war could begin nevertheless the tactics that were to be used in the war were still unknown.  [22]   To understand the reasons for the escalating hostility between the super powers countries over Korea, related in developments in China. As the year 1949 was marked with the independence of Peoples Republic of China, it was then that the communist leader Mao Zedong appeared as victory over Nationalists forces on the country.  [23]  The Chinese were fully supporting the Communists in North Korea, Furthermore, tens of thousands of North Korea troops were receiving their military training and equipment from China. Mao Zedong also attempted to insist for a reunite of Korea in which communist will rule and the whole region will appear as a strong communist bloc of the region. South Korea and the USA were totally aware of the developments and were really concerned about the strong communist being spread in the area.  [24]  It worth mentioning here that North Korea assisted Maos communist during civil war. From UN perspective, UN refused to accept Legitimacy of communist rule and sus pended Chinas membership. As the communists gained strength in the region, the Americans and South Korea feared that this will end in a complete failure of the Nationalists. For this reason, Taiwan was used as a final weapon to weaken the communists. It is evident that the inhabitation and alteration in Taiwan were clearly tied to the Korean issue as the Nationalists could only be strengthened in that way. The Nationalists on Taiwan heartedly supported South Korea and showed full opposition to the emergence of communists strengths. The USA feared that having communists spread in the region means that the full control of region will be under the Soviet Union or China power, For the Americans, the advantage they feared which could be gained by Stalin in case the Taiwan was occupied or won by communist and therefore made them decide better defensive action for the stabilisation of South Korea.  [25]   In terms of President Truman involvement and the USA, it is obvious that they were awkward as they had not completely closed the chapter of World War II and still feared the Communist lobby to overrule them. As McCarthyism spread and communism kept on making its roots stronger across the world. This fear was also felt in Trumans government and they were afraid of the spread of communist around the world. As Mao Tse-tung gained power in China and the Soviet Union went for nuclear tests in 1949, the USA was even worried about communism and altered their foreign policy which was deeply dependent on the developments of Asia.  [26]   The Soviet Union did not cooperate with the USA and did not answer any attempts that the USA military governments in South Korea made. For this reason, the problem of solving the dispute between the North and South Korea was moved to the back row. The Americans tried to discuss and come up with an agreement to solve the economic and refugee problems and establish political measures for the future of Korea. The first priority of both super power governments was to have their own problems solved.  [27]   Developments in Asia were the reason that the USA feared the world to a large extent depended on the South Asia politics and the decisions that the countries in South Asia made. North Korean invasion made the USA redesign their thoughts about Asia. The American foreign experts thought that the Soviet Union has somehow lost some power in the region and it is China that gained power gradually and become a danger in South east Asia.  [28]   Americans at that point realised significance importance to remain in the scenario. It argued that Domino principle of Stalins communism had to be stopped in the region and if not urgently brought to a halt, communism will influence the Western Europe and therefore will be a great danger to invade Europe as well. Analysing all the circumstances, it was decided that the USA start aiding South Korea which was formally announced by President Truman on 27th of June 1950.  [29]   In Conclusion, it is illustrated that no one can ignore the differences in the ideology and political affiliation of North and South Korea; this was not necessarily the basis for the conflict in Korea. It is evident that the attempt of North Korea to invade the South ignited war, but the attempts of South before invasion could not be simply ignored. The situation that created instability from 1945 to 1950 was because of South Koreas attempts to stop communism from being spread at any cost. Before being invaded, Korea as a country had many social and political issues that needed to be dealt with sincerity. The activates and policies of the two super power are the reason that Korea could not be reunited afterwards. The United States did not wish to see South Korea incorporated within the communist sphere but would make the defence of South Korea a priority. It was the Soviet Union that supported Kim II Sung to act against South Korea from April 1950 to June 1950. It was perceived by Russia that it will result in support of North Korea from inside the Southern part and that the USA might not be able to handle the issue. China was involved deeply before June 1950 and Kim II Sung told Mao Tse-tung that it would be necessary for China to intervene. The Korean War was both a civil and an international war. The two Korean states failed to resolve the issue. 38th parallel kept on bearing tensions ignited by both North and South Korea for many years which finally made North Korea to start war against South in which the Soviet Union completely supported North Korea. Kim II Sung and Syngman Rhee equally heated the issue and remained the centre of wrong activities from 1948 to 1950.  [30]   The Korean issue could not be tied to just one actor; it had many actors that acted for their own benefit with non-playing role for the benefit of united Korea. It is understood that the international powers played their role as per the wishes of Kim and Rhee but more specifically all the super powers deep inside wanted their own interests to be safeguarded behind the curtains of Korea. The Soviet Union and the USA never purely identified that reunited Korea as the major cause but their failure to understand the issue and act accordingly brought the situation to such an extent where war continuously emerged. North and South Korea both are to be blamed for making matters worse as well as the super powers that did not understand the conflict from its soil. After Chinese military intervention, the USA was more concerned about communism being spread. Korea was a victim of her own leaders and of the mutual suspicions and hatreds of the superpowers in the Cold War. Finally, it is very vital that this essay has shown the international and historical context of the conflict. However, due to the conflicting ideas from revisionists and traditionalists it is difficult to establish a clear blame here. Although, North and South leaders were not passive in this war, they had a very strong military and political role to play. Both Kim and Rhee managed to use their international actors. James Matray argues that ultimately Soviet- American failure to co-operate prevented Koreas peaceful reunification  [31]  which is a major factor to cause the war.

Failure of a Marriage Depicted in Ibsens A Dolls House Essay

A House in Ruins In Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House", the subject most important to the story is marriage. "Until death do us part" well, not always. Everywhere one looks, divorce is plaguing society. The treasured marriage vows have become nothing but a promise made to be broken. A Doll's House is a prime example of a relationship that didn't work. To keep a marriage alive and well it must hold onto certain qualities: love, communication, trust and loyalty. With these qualities, any marriage is bound to work. Without love a relationship would never even begin. The basis for Nora and Torvald's relationship appears to be centered around love, but this was not exactly obtained. Torvald doesn't really love Nora in a mature way; he just looks at her as another child. He has many nicknames for his wife including "lark" and "squirrel" which are small animals and used as symbols of foreshadowing. By using these symbols, Torvald looks at his wife as being smaller than himself and therefore easy to control. He always refers to Nora as my something. "Is that my little lark twittering out there?" and "Is it my little squirrel bustling about?" (438) He emphasizes the ‘my' which makes him think that he owns his wife and he is in control of her. Calling his wife names such as ‘skylark', ‘squirrel', and ‘spendthrift', Torvald does not love his wife with the respect and sensitivity a man should. He gives Nora an allowance but thinks she spends it frivolously. "What are little people called that are always wasting money? It's a sweet little spendthrift. One would hardly believe how expensive such little persons are" (439) Here, Nora is referred to as a small subordinate creature once again. Torvald is so concerned about... ... for his wife. Nora and Torvald's marriage fails because they lack in all of the qualifications for a successful marriage and because of Torvald's control over his family. Before Nora leaves, she tells Torvald, "But our home has been nothing but a playroom. I have been your doll-wife, just as at home I was papa's doll-child; and here the children have been my dolls. I thought it great fun when you played with me, just as they thought it great fun when I played with them. That is what our marriage has been, Torvald." (491) Nora wants change. Marriage is a two-way street and in order to ensure a wonderful and happy life together, any sort of doll house must be torn down. Works Cited Ibsen, Henrik. "A Doll's House." Literature the Human Experience. Shorter 8th Ed. Eds. Richard Abcarian and Marvin Klotz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. 2004. 437-495.

Objectives of the Firm Essay

The standard economic assumption underlying the analysis of firms is profit maximization. Real world firms, however, might not, and many times do not, make decisions based on the profit-maximization objective, or at least exclusively on the profit-maximization objective. Other objectives include: (1) sales maximization, (2) pursuit of personal welfare, and (3) pursuit of social welfare. Although firms are assumed to make decisions that increase profit in standard economic analysis, real world firms often pursue other objectives on a day-to-day basis. Some firms set their sights on maximizing sales. For other firms the owners or employees are inclined to enhance personal living standards. And more than a few firms take steps that promote the overall welfare of society. In some cases, these other objectives help a firm pursue profit maximization. In other cases, they prevent a firm from maximizing profit. Profit Maximization Profit maximization is the process of obtaining the highest possible level of profit through the production and sale of goods and services. This is the guiding principle underlying the analysis of short-run production by a firm. In particular, economic analysis is assumed that firms undertake actions and make the decisions that increase profit. Profit is the difference between the total revenue a firm receives from selling output and the total cost of producing that output. Profit-maximization means that a firm seeks the production level that generates the greatest difference between total revenue and total cost. Consider how profit maximization might work for The Wacky Willy Company. Suppose that The Wacky Willy Company generates $100,000 of profit by producing 100,000 Stuffed Amigos, the difference between $1,000,000 of revenue and $900,000 of cost. * If profit falls from this $100,000 level when The Wacky Willy Company produces more (100,001) or fewer (99,999) Stuffed Amigos, then it is maximizing profit at 100,000. Alternatively, if profit can be increased by producing more or less, then The Wacky Willy Company is NOT maximizing profit at the current level of production. Suppose, for example, that producing 100,001 Stuffed Amigos adds an extra $11 to revenue but only $9 to cost. In this case, profit can be increased by $2, reaching $100,002, by producing one more Stuffed Amigo. As such 100,000 is NOT the profit maximizing level of production. * In contrast, suppose that producing 99,999 Stuffed Amigos reduces cost by $11 but only reduces revenue by only $9. In this case, profit can also be increased by $2, reaching $100,002, by producing one fewer Stuffed Amigo. As such 100,000 is NOT the profit maximizing level of production. Sales Maximization A reasonable, and often pursued objective of firms is to maximize sales, that is, to sell as much output as possible. Clearly sales lead to revenue, meaning that maximizing sales is also bound to maximize revenue. But as the analysis of short-run production indicates, maximizing sales does NOT necessarily maximize profit. So why do firms do it? Are firms unreasonable? Are they irrational? Do they NOT understand the basic economic principles of short-run production? For some firms, the answers to these questions could be yes. But for other firms, sales maximization is actually a reasonable, even better, alternative to profit maximization. Consider, the day-to-day production of Wacky Willy Stuffed Amigos. Suppose the President of The Wacky Willy Company, William J. Wackowski, issues a corporate directive to sell as many Stuffed Amigos as possible, to maximize sales. Is Willy Wackowski wacky? It might be that Mr. Wackowski has no knowledge of basic economic principles. Alternatively Wacky William might have more business sense than it appears. In particular, if the price received from selling Stuffed Amigos is greater than the cost of producing each one, and looks to remain that way regardless of the quantity produced, then a reasonable goal is to maximize sales. If sales are greater, then so too is profit. Wacky Willy does NOT maximize profit under these circumstances. That is, it does not produce the quantity that achieves the highest possible profit. However, with each Stuffed Amigo produced, profit increases. In fact, Wacky Willy might not KNOW the profit-maximizing production level. All it knows is that selling more Stuffed Amigos, increases profit. While sales maximization can serve as a means of pursing profit maximization, it can also prevent a firm from maximizing profit. The reason, of course, is that if sales become so large that the cost of production increases such that marginal cost exceeds marginal revenue, the maximizing sales does not maximize profit. Pursuit of Personal Welfare The people who make decisions for a business are, in fact, people. They have likes and dislikes. They have personal goals and aspirations just like people who do not make decisions for firms. On occasion these people use the firm to pursue their own personal welfare. When they do, their actions could enhance the firm’s profit maximization or, in many cases, prevent profit maximization. How about a few examples? Once again, consider William J. Wackowski, the president of The Wacky Willy Company. Perhaps Willy enjoys the finer things in life–a large house, fancy cars, and expensive vacations–which require a hefty income. As the primary stockholder of The Wacky Willy Company, when the business maximizes profit, then William J. Wackowski benefits with more income. In this case, the pursuit of personal welfare coincides with profit maximization. Alternatively, suppose that the Mr. Wackowski hates the color purple. He simply refuse to produce ANY purple Stuffed Amigos. However, market studies clearly indicate that buyers want purple Stuffed Amigos. Moreover, the purple fabric that would be used to produce purple Stuffed Amigos is significantly less expensive than other colors. Mr. Willy clearly is wacky in this case. His purple-phobia prevents profit maximization. William the Wackster might also decide to enhance his corporate lifestyle at the expense of corporate profit. He could, for example, give himself a bigger, more luxurious (but unneeded) office, a higher (but unneeded) salary, a company jet (also unneeded), season tickets to Shady Valley Primadonnas baseball team (clearly unneeded) and other (unneeded) amenities that are NOT needed to profitably produce Stuffed Amigos. These improve William’s personal welfare, but at the expense of corporate profit. Pursuit of Social Welfare The people who make decisions for firms also have social consciences. Part of their likes and dislikes might be related to the overall state of society. As such, they might use the firm to pursue social welfare, which could enhance or prevent the firm’s profit maximization. How might William J. Wackowski’s pursuit of social welfare enhance or prevent profit maximization of The Wacky Willy Company? Suppose that William wants a cleaner environment. As such, he might implement more costly environmentally â€Å"friendly† production techniques and materials. He does his part to â€Å"clean the environment,† but at the expense of company profit. Then again, Mr. Wackowski might feel that government environmental quality regulations restrict capital investment and economic growth. As such, William might have The Wacky Willy Company use part of its advertising budget to promote this view point. He might even use company revenue to set up the Wackowski Foundation for Policy Studies that is both a scientific think tank and a special interest lobbying organization with the goal of reducing environmental quality regulations. While the pursuit of social welfare is likely to reduce company profit, it could have the opposite effect as well. Such activities could give The Wacky Willy Company a likeable public image that motivates people to buy more Stuffed Amigos than they would otherwise. In fact, some firms use the pursuit of social welfare as one aspect of their overall advertising efforts. They enhance their public image at the same time they do something â€Å"good† for society. Natural Selection Whichever objective a firm pursues on a day-to-day basis, the notion of natural selection suggests that successful firms intentionally or unintentionally maximize profit. That is, the firms best suited to the economic environment, and thus generate the most profit, are the ones that tend to survive. The natural selection of business firms is an adaptation of the biological process of natural selection, in which biological entities best suited to the natural environment are the ones that survive. The concept of economic natural selection means that those firms that generate the greatest profit are the ones that avoid bankruptcy and survive to produce another day. While firms might pursue sales maximization, personal welfare, or social welfare, only those firms that also maximize profit remain in business. 2) The following   is from chapter one in the text   Financial Management and Policy, by James C. Van Horne, Copyright 1974 by Prentice-Hall. It is classic finance. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE FIRM In this [course], we assume that the objective of the firm is to maximize its value to its shareholders. Value is represented by the market price of the company’s common stock, which, in turn, is a reflection of the firm’s investment, financing, and dividend decisions. Profit Maximization vs. Wealth Maximization Frequently, maximization of profits is regarded as the proper objective of the firm, but it is not as inclusive a goal as that of maximizing shareholder wealth. For one thing, total profits are not as important as earnings per share. A firm could always raise total profits by issuing stock and using the proceeds to invest in Treasury bills. Even maximization of earnings per share, however, is not a fully appropriate objective, partly because it does not specify the timing or duration of expected returns. Is the investment project that will produce $100,000 return 5 years from now more valuable than the project that will produce annual returns of $15,000 in each of the next 5 years? An answer to this question depends upon the time value of money to the firm and to investors at the margin. Few existing stockholders would think favorably of a project that promised its first return in 100 years. We must take into account the time pattern of returns in our analysis. Another shortcoming of the objective of maximizing earnings per share is that it does not consider the risk or uncertainty of the prospective earnings stream. Some investment projects are far more risky than others. As a result, the prospective stream of earnings per share would be more uncertain if these projects were undertaken. In addition, a company will be more or less risky depending upon the amount of debt in relation to equity in its capital structure. This risk is known as financial risk; and it, too, contributes to the uncertainty of the prospective stream of earnings per share. Two companies may have the same expected future earnings per share, but if the earnings stream of one is subject to considerably more uncertainty than the earnings stream of the other, the market price per share of its stock may be less. For the reasons above, an objective of maximizing earnings per share may not be the same as maximizing market price per share. The market price of a firm’s stock represents the focal judgment of all market participants as to what the value is of the particular firm. It takes into account present and prospective future earnings per share, the timing, duration, and risk of these earnings, and any other factors that bear upon the market price of stock. The market price serves as a performance index or report card of the firm’s progress; it indicates how well management is doing in behalf of its stockholders. Management vs. Stockholders In certain situations the objectives of management may differ from those of the firms stockholders. In a large corporation whose stock is widely held, stockholders exert very little control or influence over the operations of the company. When the control of a company is separate from its ownership, management may not always act in the best interests of the stockholders [Agency Theory]. [Managers] sometimes are said to be â€Å"satisficers† rather than â€Å"maximizers†; they may be content to â€Å"play it safe† and seek an acceptable level of growth, being more concerned with perpetuating their own existence than with maximizing the value of the firm to its shareholders. The most important goal to a management [team]of this sort may be its own survival. As a result, it may be unwilling to take reasonable risks for fear of making a mistake, thereby becoming conspicuous to the outside suppliers of capital. In turn, these suppliers may pose a threat to management’s survival. It is true that in order to survive over the long run, management may have to behave in a manner that is reasonably consistent with maximizing shareholder wealth. Nevertheless, the goals of the two parties do not necessarily have to be the same. Maximization of shareholder wealth, then, is an appropriate guide for how a firm should act. When management does not act in a manner consistent with this objective, we must recognize this as a constraint and determine the opportunity cost. This cost is measurable only if we determine what the outcome would have been had the firm attempted to maximize shareholder wealth. A Normative Goal Because the principal of maximization of shareholder wealth provides a rational guide for running a business and for the efficient allocation of resources in society, we use it as our assumed objective in considering how financial decisions should be made. The purpose of capital markets is to efficiently allocate savings in an economy from ultimate savers to ultimate users of funds who invest in real assets. If savings are to be channeled to the most promising investment opportunities, a rational economic criteria must exist that governs their flow. By and large, the allocation of savings in an economy occurs on the basis of expected return and risk. The market value of a firm’s stock embodies both of these factors. It therefore reflects the market’s tradeoff between risk and return. If decisions are made in keeping with the likely effect upon the market value of its stock, a firm will attract capital only when its investment opportunities justify the use of that capital in the overall economy. Put another way, the equilibration process by which savings are allocated in an economy occurs on the basis of expected return and risk. Holding risk constant, those economic units (business firms, households, financial institutions, or governments) willing to pay the highest yield are the ones entitled to the use of funds. If rationality prevails, the economic units bidding the highest yields will be the ones with the most promising investment opportunities. As a result, savings will tend to be allocated to the most efficient users. Maximization of shareholder wealth then embodies the risk-return tradeoff of the market and is the focal point by which funds should be allocated within and among business firms. Any other objective is likely to result in the suboptimal allocation of funds and therefore lead to less than optimal level of economic want satisfaction. This is not to say that management should ignore the question of social responsibility. As related to business firms, social responsibility concerns such things as protecting the consumer, paying fair wages to employees, maintaining fair hiring practices, supporting education, and becoming actively involved in environmental issues like clean air and water. Many people feel that a firm has no choice but to act in socially responsible ways; they argue that shareholder wealth and, perhaps, the corporations vary existence depends upon its being socially responsible. However, the criteria for social responsibility are not clearly defined, making formulation of a consistent objective function difficult. Moreover, social responsibility creates certain problems for the firm. One is that it falls unevenly on different corporations. Another is that it sometimes conflicts with the objective of wealth maximization. Certain social actions, from a long-range point of view, unmistakably are in the best interests of stockholders, and there is little question that they should be undertaken. Other actions are less clear, and to engage in them may result in a decline of profits and in shareholder wealth in the long run. From the standpoint of society, this decline may produce a conflict. What is gained in having a socially desirable goal achieved may be offset in whole or part by an accompanying less efficient allocation of resources in society. The latter will result in a less than optimal growth of the economy and a lower total level of economic want satisfaction. In an era of unfilled wants and scarcity, the allocation process is extremely important. Many people feel that management should not be called upon to resolve the conflict posed above. Rather, society, with its broad general perspective, should make the decisions necessary in this area. Only society, acting through Congress and other representative governmental bodies, can judge the relative tradeoff between the achievement of a social goal and the sacrifice in the efficiency of apportioning resources that may accompany realization of the goal. With these decisions made, corporations can engage in wealth maximization and thereby efficiently allocate resources, subject, of course, to certain governmental constraints. Under such a system, corporations can be viewed as producing both private and social goods, and the maximization of shareholder wealth remains a viable corporate objective.

Free Essays on Global Warming And Public Policy

When too much carbon dioxide is omitted into the Earth’s atmosphere, the condition known as Global Warming occurs. Global Warming is the rising of the Earth’s surface temperature due to chemicals in the atmosphere. Global Warming has many threats on the climate and even the health of the people on this planet. Some of these threats include the altering of crop seasons and can even affect the way organisms survive on the planet. I chose this subject because it is extremely interesting, scary and a bit of a shock as to how much we have abused and taken advantage of this Earth. So, then how can we prevent the destruction of our climate? The side I’ am taking is to focus on how we can change or stop the damage which has been done to our environment. This issue is very controversial because we are aware of the consequences and effects of Global Warming in the future and we recognize this as a serious problem, yet we do not consider it as an immediate threat to our lives, because we are in denial of this climate change, we don’t take responsibility for controlling our emission of Carbon Dioxide and take our time devising possible solutions to the problem. Several questions that I hope I will answer in this paper include what are the consequences and effects of Global Warming in the future and what solutions are there for the problem? Though progress as far as technology has been something we make use of and enjoy, we are paying for it in ways I had never thought after researching this topic on my own. The first thing I think I should discuss when talking about global warming is what causes it to occur. Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are known as greenhouse gases, all build up in the atmosphere of the earth. It is important to know that the "greenhouse effect" is not a bad thing in itself. In fact, this planet would be a life-less waste land without its natural green housing. Without the natura... Free Essays on Global Warming And Public Policy Free Essays on Global Warming And Public Policy When too much carbon dioxide is omitted into the Earth’s atmosphere, the condition known as Global Warming occurs. Global Warming is the rising of the Earth’s surface temperature due to chemicals in the atmosphere. Global Warming has many threats on the climate and even the health of the people on this planet. Some of these threats include the altering of crop seasons and can even affect the way organisms survive on the planet. I chose this subject because it is extremely interesting, scary and a bit of a shock as to how much we have abused and taken advantage of this Earth. So, then how can we prevent the destruction of our climate? The side I’ am taking is to focus on how we can change or stop the damage which has been done to our environment. This issue is very controversial because we are aware of the consequences and effects of Global Warming in the future and we recognize this as a serious problem, yet we do not consider it as an immediate threat to our lives, because we are in denial of this climate change, we don’t take responsibility for controlling our emission of Carbon Dioxide and take our time devising possible solutions to the problem. Several questions that I hope I will answer in this paper include what are the consequences and effects of Global Warming in the future and what solutions are there for the problem? Though progress as far as technology has been something we make use of and enjoy, we are paying for it in ways I had never thought after researching this topic on my own. The first thing I think I should discuss when talking about global warming is what causes it to occur. Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are known as greenhouse gases, all build up in the atmosphere of the earth. It is important to know that the "greenhouse effect" is not a bad thing in itself. In fact, this planet would be a life-less waste land without its natural green housing. Without the natura...

The secret life of Walter Mitty Essay Example

The secret life of Walter Mitty Essay Example The secret life of Walter Mitty Paper The secret life of Walter Mitty Paper He is shopping in town while his wife is at the hairdressers. He has five daydreams during the story; he imagines that he is the commander of a warship (while driving), he imagines he is a surgeon who saves a millionaires life (while driving), a defendant in a courtroom who is accused of shooting someone (after reading a newspaper report on a similar trial), he imagines he is a pilot in the Second World War (whilst reading a Liberty magazine), and he imagines he is in front of a firing squad (whilst he is waiting for his wife). This story mentions the armed forces on more than one occasion, as an important part of American culture is the military. Americans are proud of their technological advances in the sea, in the air and on land. This story has reference to a US navy vessel, an eight-engined Navy hydroplane. Walter Mitty is the captain of this until his wife informs him that he is going too fast. Navy vessels are an important part of American culture as they rely on them heavily, they helped them to win both world wars, and are important in reminding the world who the most powerful country in the world currently is. In conclusion, the Americans like weapons to be mentioned, as they show Yankee genius. This story, like My Father, illustrates dominant women, although both are set in completely different periods. Walter Mittys wife keeps ordering him about, and complains to him whenever he does anything wrong, e. g. Why dont you wear gloves? Ive been looking all over the hotel for you. Why do you have to hide in this old chair? There are many other similar quotations in this story that demonstrate that Mrs. Mitty keeps bossing Walter Mitty around. This shows the fact that in American society, the women are often generally strong characters (as they are descended from women who were pioneers and had to spent a lot of the time travelling across unknown territory) Walter Mittys third daydream is in a courtroom, after he read a headline about the Waterbury trial. In his daydream, Walter Mitty is accused of murder by shooting them. This illustrates the gun culture that is and was present in the United States. Many people in America have the opportunities to get a gun, and many have done this and used it to result in deaths. This is what the trial is about. The author is illustrating the gun culture operating in America. Walter Mittys fourth daydream is about a heroic captain in the air force who is brave enough to try and fly an aircraft that needs two pilots in order to destroy a German ammunition dump. The heroes of any war that America fought in are still important in American culture today, as they are proud of what they achieved. They are so proud of their fellow countryman who have fought for their country, they have made numerous films on the subject, most of which are based on true stories. In many cases, they often change the nationality of the heroes in the film to American. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty shows us culture in the Second World War in America and how it has affected the modern American culture. A couple of Hamburgers, by James Thurber This story is about a man and his wife who are travelling by car over a long distance, and the wife wants to stop at a diner. The man finds a few diners, but she does not approve of them, and a disagreement breaks out. Throughout the whole journey they have been annoying each other. They find a suitable diner, but then the wife discovers that this is not suitable, and her husband becomes even more annoyed at her for this. He refuses to leave this diner, so orders a couple of Hamburgers, while she smokes in the car. To annoy her further he starts singing to her in the car as they continue their journey and the story ends. This story again illustrates strong women, although to a less extent than in The secret life of Walter Mitty and My father. The wife in this story (who is nameless) firstly says that she is hungry, implying that she wants him to stop, which he agrees to do. Any of the places that he finds are not suitable, for various reasons, e. g. because the diners have nicknames, or if they are owned by Greeks. They do not stop here, as she does not want to, as she is a strong woman. The couple in this story do not get on particularly well. They argue about many things, e. g. she keeps hearing a funny sound in the car, which they argue over, they argue over where to stop to eat, he starts singing to her songs that she detests. This illustrates that perhaps many married couples in the USA are not happy with their life, and the hint of perhaps divorce lurks in the air. Divorce in America has now become very common, in fact nine out of ten marriages in the USA end in divorce, so it is very important. Divorce probably started to become more popular in the period that this story is set (post Second World War). This story, like Jeremy Rodock and My Father has references to pioneers, both the husband and the wife have ancestors who are pioneers, and the husband likes to use pioneer expressions that she thinks are crude, such as sow belly, sticking to your rib, dog wagons, and stay our stomachs. He likes to use these expressions, as he is very proud of his ancestry, and likes to remind people of this fact. She is too, although to a less extent. The car is very important part of American culture, as it is to most countries, but the USA especially. The United States is a very large country, and many people need to travel from one part of the country to another. Before aircraft were commercialised, and even afterwards, the car was the main way to travel interstate. In this story, the couple are on a long journey and are travelling by car, without the invention of the motorcar; this journey would not have been possible. The interstate roads are also very important, unlike many European countries, the roads are mostly straight and direct as the towns grew up on the roads, then mainly used by horses. This story does exemplify that America grew with immigration, people from all over the word migrated to the USA to lead a better life. As a result, the diversity of culture in the USA is enormous. This story mentions Greeks particularly; the wife will not stop at a Greek diner. The hamburger, mentioned in the title of this story is not of American heritage, it is, as the name suggests, from the German city of Hamburg. People from Hamburg migrated to the US and spread their Hamburgers around, and the idea spread, and the Americans developed it to a national food. People from most countries in the world have immigrated to the USA, creating a unique country with unique cultures. The story is about Hamburgers. Hamburgers are fast food, which has become a major part of American culture, and a massive industry in the USA and worldwide, due to chains such as MacDonalds, etc. Fast food is such an important part of US culture as the Americans like food very quickly, and they like the taste of the food, and as many do not have much time to spare, they need food quickly, and as fat food satisfies all of these requirements, it has become very popular. There is not much slang or difference in language to the English language in this story, as the wife speaks quite good English, as well as the husband, but he does use pioneer expressions already mentioned. There is the use of American terms in this story that are presumably not of Pioneer origin, e. g. diner, tumbler, slosh, folks, etc. The only slang used in this story are: aint, and swell, (which is used in a different context to its proper meaning). The language difference in this story illustrates the difference in culture between the USA and the UK In conclusion, A couple of Hamburgers sheds light on culture in post war America. By reading these four stories, we have discovered the diversity of culture in the United States of America, in the periods between 1850-1960; we have seen cultures from pioneers to fast food and the difference of the role of women in society, among many other important factors.

United states Today Economic Situation and its Credibility around the Essay

United states Today Economic Situation and its Credibility around the world - Essay Example However, while reading the comments section of every online news report, I realized that it was not just Americans who were keeping themselves informed of the latest developments on the matter but also foreigners as well. Aside from this, I also read several news reports in which officials from other countries also expressed views on the subject. As I encountered more of such articles, I began to realize that the highs and lows of the American economy do have profound impacts on other countries. Because of this, it is only expected that they have their own views of current economic conditions of the US. It is also apparent that while the US boasts of still being the most powerful nation on Earth, the cracks on its walls have shown and grown worse through the years as its economy continues to remain in deep crisis. This can be observed by the international community who could only express negative opinions on the matter. For more than a century, the US has long held the title as a dominant global superpower. The two most compelling factors regarding this matter are its economic superiority and military strength. In the 1900s, US dominance was ostensibly challenged by the Soviet Union. It was after World War II that the contest between the two superpowers became more intense. However, the Soviet economy was not match to that of the US. Apparently, while the Soviets continued to espouse a closed-door socialist economy, America was extending it market on a global scale. I find this action not as a reflection of the benevolence or generosity of the country’s big business but simply a result of the drive to accumulate more profits from less saturated markets abroad. To some extent, the economic superiority of the US then had managed to scale down the impression that it too was trying to domin ate the world with its military strength just as the Soviets did. From my point of view, this prompted the development of the concept that economic relations with America make other nations richer too even as it is also making infractions on the sovereignty of other countries through military intervention. When a superpower lavishes a poor country with imported products, it could hardly be considered as a bully by the people. This was definitely not the case with the Soviet Union, which only focused on asserting military superiority. The current economic crisis that the US is facing has proven to be disastrous not just to the average American citizens but also to many other countries in the world. This is naturally the result of several decades of dominance also of the country in the sphere of international trade and global economy, in general. Through all those years, especially after the World War II until recently, the US is a major trading partner of a good number of economicall y more backward countries. These had established relations with the US as their largest market of raw materials and, at the same time, supplier of capital goods and other high-value added finished products. With the crisis besetting the US economy though, it has become a less attractive market from the perspective of those countries that export their raw materials to it. Apparently, the crisis has also led to slower production of capital goods and finished products in the US, while countries like China and India are showing successes in coming up with commodities that are competing with those it had been manufacturing. If I were to be the an