Is the norwegian language under threat?

Is the Norwegian language under threat†? More and more words from other languages is blending in, in the Norwegian language. The biggest threat† to the Norwegian language is English. As the English language slowly took over most parts of the world as the official language of several post-colonized country, it's on the way to take the Norwegian language completely our tongue. No one can deny the fact how much English has Influence our every day, It's a well-known fact that Norwegian words Is substituted with English. AmericanEnglish Is settling faster than British English on the Norwegian shelf. USA has basically been the most dominant force after the Second World War, they have expanded their businesses on a massive scale, they reign supreme on the entertainment and In term of science and technology field, USA Is one of, If not on top. These popular fields which they have exceeded on also bring their American- English on top, other businesses, entertainment Industries, an d the science- technological world must cope with them and, they have to use American-English more consistently on every day basis. They provide the information to the people. D people to tend to catch on words than can maybe explain a word on their mother tongue better or simply because it is a lot simpler to say that word, English tends to be not so difficult language to learn, even for young children, as they use technological devices and internet to read information, or to even play games, chic portrays a strong role, to learn young children into learning English. If this continues, American-English would eradicate the Norwegian language a lot faster than we think. As the linguistic Selfless Limier said, we have to find means to end this American-English language takeover, he mentioned that we need to convert basic English word back into Norwegian e. G bacon-O sidedness. This way we may stand a chance to preserve Norwegian. My thoughts on this matter is straightforward, American -English landed firmly on Norwegian soil and it's here to stay for good, the question remains is how long does it going to take before English becomes the official language of this country. A large number of well know industries which is located in Norway, do only speak English and you also have to apply for the Job on English, even though it means working onNorwegian land, I myself have experienced this. Remember what the history of the English language has done to the population of the world, slowly clawed Its way to the top the tongues of the inhabitants by certain ways, and drained the native language form their core and replaced It with English words and or as an official language Is history doomed to repeat Itself or does the Norwegian language stand a chance, our next generations will live to tell the tale. BY ibbi2206 our tongue. No one can deny the fact how much English has influence our every day, it's a well-known fact that Norwegian words is substituted with English.

Comparative Analysis †Elie Wiesel and Hilary Rodham Clinton Essay

The two speeches orated by Elie Wiesel and Hilary Rodham Clinton were delivered in 1995 to influence change. Wiesel’s, ‘Listen to the silent screams’ was delivered at Auschwitz. World leaders and survivors listened as he influenced the audience to act upon racial hatred and religious extremism. Clinton delivered her speech at the United Nations 4th conference on Women’s Rights Plenary Session in Beijing. This is ironic given China’s poor record for human rights violations, particularly against females. Delegates and women from all over the world came to hear her rebuttal, ‘Women’s rights are human rights’. Both Wiesel’s and Clinton’s speeches are relevant today as both their aspirations of human rights for all have not yet been fully realised. Both speakers broadcast their message by addressing the audience through exhibiting their authority and rhetorical devices. Both speakers establish authority and credibility for themselves as speakers and for their cause in different ways. Wiesel is authoritative as he has lived through the Holocaust, whereas Clinton is authoritative as she is an active feminist. Wiesel addresses his audience by using personal pronouns to create equality, â€Å"I speak to you as a man, who 50 years and nine days ago had no name, no hope, no future and was known only by his number, A7713†. This statistical information shows the formality of the occasion and establishes that being in Auschwitz has influenced his view on humanity. He â€Å"has seen what humanity has done to itself by trying to exterminate an entire people and inflict suffering and humiliation and death on so many others. Wiesel does not specifically identify one group of people for doing this; he influences the audience to understand whole of humanity was responsible for Auschwitz. Contrastingly, Clinton establishes her authority by being female, by being indefatigable, and by speaking to and for women from all over the world. She states, â€Å"Over the past 25 years I have worked persistently on issues relating to women, children and families. † This shows she is serious about women’s right, it is something she strongly believes in, and her commitment to the cause is absolute. Clinton has worked on women’s rights for â€Å"the past 25 years†. Not only is she committed, in addition she brings experience. By listing countries in which she has talked to mothers about their issues, â€Å"I have met new mothers in Indonesia†¦ Denmark†¦ South Africa†¦ India†¦ Bangladesh†¦ Belarus†¦ Ukraine†¦ Chernobyl†¦ †, she highlights her credibility to appear influential and qualified to act as a voice on their behalf. She has met mothers who are voiceless, now she has the responsibility to speak out, to be the one voice that is heard. Both speakers establish their authority by validating their cause and using rhetorical devices . Wiesel uses emotive language and imagery, whereas Clinton appeals to fact. Imagery is used in Wiesel’s speech to capture the surreality of the Holocaust. Clinton uses fact to update the audience with reality of the world, and influences the audience with statistical information. Wiesel uses representative figures of mothers and old men and women, â€Å"Listen to the silent screams of terrified mothers, the prayers of anguished old men and women. † The use of the emotively loaded adjectives ‘terrified’ and ‘anguished’ shows the reader their vulnerability. Prayers’, shows helplessness and desperation as there was nothing they could do but hope. Their prayers went unanswered, as did the silent screams. Wiesel uses anaphora and imperative to influence the reader the dead have never been laid to rest, â€Å"Listen to the tears of children, Jewish children, a beautiful little girl among them, with golden hair, whose vulnerable tenderness has never left me. † Wiesel influences the audience to pity the children, the most innocent of mankind. He achieves this by describing a representative figure who stands for all Jewish children. Through the description of, ‘vulnerable tenderness’ he emphasises the frailty and innocence of children, while showing that this was brutally crushed. There was no mercy. The weak were tormented, the most innocent were sentenced to a death both unimaginable and undignified, â€Å"Look and listen as they quietly walk towards dark flames so gigantic that the planet itself seemed in danger. † The metaphor shows the quantity and mass of the deaths, that people were being murdered on such a large scale that it seemed as if the whole world would be consumed. In contrast to Wiesel, Clinton used statistics throughout her speech to underline the importance of women’s rights. Statistics were used to give the reader an idea of scale, â€Å"Women comprise more than half the world’s population, 70% of the world’s poor, and two-thirds of those who are not taught to read and write. † Incorporating researched data gives realism and urgency. When statistics are used the audience is able to comprehend what is happening and who is involved. By using examples Clinton is telling the audience it should not be a problem as it involves at least half of the world’s population. Clinton gives examples from all over the world of what is happening, one of them being, â€Å"It is a violation of human rights when babies are denied food, or drowned, or suffocated, or their spines broken, simply because they are born girls†. Notice in this it is not only stated as a violation of women’s rights, but a violation of human rights. We are human, and we have rights. The violence needs to stop; in the name of humanity as a whole. Both Wiesel and Clinton are telling the world through the power of rhetoric, that change is needed. These speeches are relevant and persistent today. The issue of effectively opposing religious fanaticism, racial hate, and building gender equality have enduring relevance in all countries. With, â€Å"†¦ let us stop the bloodshed in Bosnia, Rwanda and Chechnia; the vicious and ruthless terror attacks against Jews in the Holy Land†, Wiesel is saying humanity has turned on itself before, and suffered before, yet we have not learned. He commands we must â€Å"reject and oppose more effectively religious fanaticism and racial hate†. Allow the Holocaust to be the past, Wiesel urges we must focus on a safer future for our children so that the millions who died in the Holocaust did not do so in vain. Clinton speaks to the world, urging the importance of gender equality, â€Å"Even now, in the late 20th century, the rape of women continues to be used as an instrument of armed conflict†. In this she gives an example of why gender equality needs to occur by giving an example of what is happening today. Both speakers influence the audience through exhibiting their authority and use of power, they show that these issues are pressing and cannot be ignored.

Being Safe Online

Computer Ethics Reflection Many people may think going online is safe, but it can be very hazardous at times. You need to know how to protect yourself online, and avoid cyber bullying. While you are writing a paper for school, you need to know what academic honesty is. Cyber bulling is the use of the internet and/or related technology to hurt other people, in a recurring, and aggressive method. Cyber bulling is very common these days. People do it to get a little laugh, but never think twice about what emotional impact it can have on the other person.Many people say, â€Å"Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. †, and it may seem like good advice but it isn’t. When people cyber bully someone, they think it is funny, and since words are just words nobody will get hurt, but they are very wrong. Cyber bulling is not harmless. People have committed suicide over it. Some people who cyber bully think that it is impossible to take it too far, becaus e they are just messing around.But the truth is cyber bullies take it to far when just the thought of cyber bulling runs through their heads. If you get cyber bullied, the first thing you should do is ignore it; maybe they are having a bad day. If it still continues you need to block them, for all you know they will not stop. The next step, if it still carries on, is to tell an adult. There might be times when you think you parents don’t know anything, but they are her to protect you. If you do not want to tell your parents, tell a teacher or you guidance counselor.Any adult can help you. Sometimes, it may still go on. In this case, you need to save it and print it up so you have proof. If you participate in cyber bullying, there will be consequences. Sometimes the person who you cyber bullied might commit suicide. If you get caught, you will be in massive trouble with the police. Keeping yourself safe online is very vital. Just by giving someone your first name, that person can track you down. Going online itself can always be dangerous.Do not give out your personal information. Personal information consists of your name, phone number, e-mail address, your parents name, your home address, and et cetera. When someone sends you a request, and you have never met them face to face, DO NOT accept them. This does not mean that you go and meet them somewhere! Always be respectful, and use appropriate language. Do not swear or call people out of their names. Passwords are also something you should not share with ANYONE besides your parents.

PROPOSAL ON CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

ON CLOUD STORAGE SERVICE - Research Proposal Example Moreover, the proposal further includes indication of the main idea of the Cloud Storage Service that will allow the individuals, professionals, and organizations to understand different technicalities and processes associated with the proposed service. Lastly, the research proposal includes identification and discussion of anticipated benefits for organizations along with brief conclusion of the proposal. It is anticipation of the researcher that the proposed idea will be very beneficial for organizations and will facilitate them in improving and enhancing their different processes and procedures by managing huge volumes of data effectively. INTRODUCTION Due to economics of scale, cloud storage is services that are inexpensive and more consistent than services directly controlled by the ‘end user’. Nonetheless, they as well raise several security and confidentiality issues, as big suppliers become entrusted with mass of potentially ‘sensitive’ records.... ier's resources to execute custom applications; and SaaS (Software as a Service), where clients utilize software that functions on the suppliers infrastructure† (Sandrs, p. 10). Cloud storage services generally come under classification as either private or public. Within a private cloud, the infrastructure is controlled and held by the client and positioned on-premise - to be precise, within the clients region of control. Especially, this indicates that access to customer records is within its control and is simply in the hands of trusted parties. Within a public cloud, the infrastructure is held and supervised by a cloud supplier and is positioned within the supplier's area of control. This indicates that client records are outside its control and un-trusted parties could potentially use it. Storage services founded on public clouds offer clients with scalable, as well as dynamic storage. Because of shifting their records to the cloud, clientele can avoid the expenditure of b uilding and keeping a private storage infrastructure, choosing instead to pay a supplier as a function of its requirements. For the majority of clients, this offers quite a lot of advantages together with accessibility - being capable to access records from everywhere - and trustworthiness - not having to be afraid of backups - at a comparatively lesser cost. Although the advantages of utilizing a public cloud infrastructure are obvious, it initiates considerable safety and confidentiality threats. Actually, it appears that the major obstacle to the implementation of cloud storage is concerned about the privacy and reliability of records. Whereas, until now, clients have been ready to trade privacy for the ease of software services, this is not the case for businesses and governments

Financial management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Financial management - Essay Example Dividends are the consequences of performances actual or expected. The market’s perception with regard to the change in dividend policy will have impact on the investment decisions of the investors which will reflect in stock prices. Therefore, dividend per se is not the dominant determinant factor, but it constitute as a signal to the performance of the company when it is changed and this perception is the key driver for performance of the stocks in the markets. Dividend policy The dividend decisions are guided by various factors relating to the business at the discretion of the management. Similarly, the motives behind the change in dividend policies could be influenced by taxation policies of the government, influence of major shareholders in dividend decisions, structure of the management, retention of management control, fulfilling the expectations of the market or simply meeting the guidelines already given. On many occasions the process of price discovery in market is f rustrated by earnings management or insider trading in relation to declaration of dividends. However the fundamental factors governing dividend policy in a company are stability in earnings, growth in profitability, opportunities available for reinvestment of the profits made based on marginal efficiency of additional capital and type or composition of the shareholders and their expectations. However, any increase in the rate of dividends is generally appreciated by the market and the prices of the shares react positively to such announcements. For a meaningful analysis of dividend policy the dividend history of the companies in relation to earnings (EPS) and dividend yield over years, leverage or debt to equity ratio and the management policy in distribution of earnings needs to be studied. Also, comparison with the industry standards will reveal the relative position of the company in the industry. Different types of investors will react differently to the dividend policy. For exa mple, retired people expect consistency in payment of dividends since they need regular income from their investments in the absence of earnings from employment or other sources. Therefore, any negative change in dividend payout will adversely affect the stock prices. Relevance of dividends to market value of the stocks highly correlated in such cases. Determinants of dividend policy The question of whether a company's dividend policy is relevant or irrelevant to its market value has implications in firming up the dividend policy of a company. Primarily the question has to be analyzed with regard to the motives behind the changes in dividend policy from the perspective of the management of the companies taking into account the market expectations, future capital investments proposed, the earnings guidance already given and the tax considerations involved. The companies have to formulate their dividend policies in tune with the needs for the development of the business since the shar eholders are the most important stakeholders in the business. Future expansions, mergers & acquisitions could be easily managed if the shareholders’ confidence on the company is maintained at the highest level. It is very important to note that the policy does not focus primarily on distribution of dividends per se. It is

Assessment Instrument for Assessing Autism Term Paper

Assessment Instrument for Assessing Autism - Term Paper Example This suggests that a system for eliciting parental views should be built into any assessment tool for autism, and that extra language support for non-native speakers of Spanish or English should be provided to ensure that this group is not left behind. There is a wealth of knowledge that parents can contribute if a method can be found to elicit their views and record them in a consistent and comparable way. Parallel to the input of parents, there is the standard procedure of child development screening carried out at specified stages during health and educational interactions. The BRIGANCE Standard Diagnostic Comprehensive Inventory of Basic Skills (Glasgoe, 1999) was first devised in the 1970s and has been refined and extended since then to cover a wider age range and a more clearly defined set of criteria. In its present form, it is widely accepted as a good standard instrument which allows both effective local assessment and wider collation of results across the United States which can be used to build a picture of changes in the patterns of child development as they emerge. This test certainly does pick up significant numbers of cases for further investigation but it is not specifically designed to screen for autism. Parents and broad-based standard testing are therefore a crucial first line and very basic level of screening which are effective for the majority of children. A screening instrument in the UK for very young children around 18 months of age called the â€Å"Checklist for Autism in Toddlers† or simply â€Å"CHAT† has a series of yes/no questions. The questions in section one are general, such as â€Å"does your child enjoy being swung, bounced on your knee† and these are answered by the parent.  

Business Plan - Entrepreneurship Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Business Plan - Entrepreneurship - Assignment Example In addition to this, we are also affiliated with networks of other businessmen and professionals in different areas of expertise who can give valuable advice and guidance to the starting entrepreneurs. Our affiliated network will also provide insights about the current market trends and key criteria in the market. This will be achieved on an ad hoc basis. Apart from this, the new staff will hired through recruiting agencies as it will ease our job or recruiting and selection. The company is planned to have a flat organizational structure as not much staffing will be required. The flat structure will also be viable for transparent and flawless communication. The structure can also help the employees and the top management be responsive to the needs of the customer and can provide the best service through the web portal. The main team will consist of the experienced IT professionals who would be responsible for the web management and content. Other employees will be related to the accounts. The business will consist of three main areas: CEO (partners), IT department, sales & marketing and Accounts. Each team will be led by one of the CEOs who are experts in the field. The details of the functionality of these areas are discussed below: The team’s focus will be the development and maintenance of the website as it is the vital portal for contact with customers. The team will ensure that the customer feedbacks are taken into consideration and the website is maintained such that is exceeds customer expectations. The team’s focus will be to handle the accounts in online as well as traditionally. The team will take care of the online transactions and make sure that these transactions are carried out safely and securely. Market positioning and branding will form the basics of the business giving it a competitive edge in the web based businesses. The team’s focus will be

Minimising the risk in shipping operation. A Case study comparing two Essay

Minimising the risk in shipping operation. A Case study comparing two shipping lines (Maersk and NYK) - Essay Example The risk of piracy has continued to dominate the list of shipping risks for most organisations, sometimes superseding other risks in terms of frequency of occurrence, and the intensity of loss or/and liability. As a direct result of piracy, the costs of operating shipping lines have significantly increased. Insurance costs for sea vessels, for example, have continuously soared to greater heights while vessels are required to install certain security features to help reduce the risk of loss resulting from piracy. Owing to the importance assigned to the shipping industry in international trade, and considering the risks it faces, it would only be wise to consider finding ways of mitigating the effects of such risks or altogether eliminating them. This work is dedicated to the analysis of piracy as a main shipping risk and is aimed at coming up with strategies and techniques for combating this specific risk. According to the International Maritime organisation (IMO), approximately 90 percent of the world’s trade is transported by the international shipping industry. Transportation of bulk raw materials and manufactured goods, and intercontinental trade would practically be impossible without international shipping. Better said, without the international shipping industry, one half of the world would ultimately freeze while the other half would starve. Under close analysis, ships are high value and sophisticated assets. Merchant ships in their annual operations generate income in excess of 380 billion USD dollars in freight rates alone. In reality, this accounts for about five percent of the world’s entire economy. This percentage no shows how vital the industry contributes to investors, governments, employees, organisations and by extension the global economy. In this sense, it is important for all stakeholders to join forces and

Discussion board forum Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Discussion board forum - Assignment Example Pedagogical approaches to learning perceive diminutive validity in the experience the student gains in previous learning sessions. Based on the pedagogical approach, the matter of concern is the teacher’s experience, as well as the content of the instructional aids (Bostock & Wood, 2012). On the contrary, the andragogical approach perceives the learner’s experience as a rich source of the ability to attain more information and thus, acts as a resource for successful knowledge processes in the future. Pedagogical methods use assigned readings, lectures, as well as passive methods in passing ideas to the students (Werner & DeSimone, 2012). On the other hand, andragogical approaches apply the use of experiential methods, such as problem-solving instances, lab experiments and simulation game. The two methods differ further in terms of predication. On one hand, educational methods assume that everyone is always willing to learn what their society dictates. Therefore, because everyone is always ready to learn, every learning exercise should apply a standardized curriculum. On the contrary, andragogy provides that learners acquire the readiness and urge to learn when they gain their initial experience to learn because of a need that arises requiring them to acquire some understanding in order to cope with some real-life problems (Bostock & Wood, 2012). In this view, information should emphasize on real-life situations and tailored to the real-life needs of the learners, as well as their call and readiness to learn. Pedagogical approaches to learning in addition make the assumption that knowledge possesses future orientation, and thus, what learners learn today may turn out to be beneficial at some later situations and thus, application may not be necessary for the same instance of learning (Vodde, 2009). On the other hand, andagogical styles assume learning to be a process involving the development of increased competencies and thus, the

Sustainable Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Sustainable Development - Essay Example Theoretically speaking, all developmental activities can be carried out in an entirely sustainable manner, and that is in no way a thing that is impossible to achieve. But the real-life scenario is something totally different. For the purpose of successfully implementing various measures that are aimed at bringing about sustainable development many political issues and other challenges have to be confronted. As a matter of fact, all such matters are chiefly responsible for the current state of affairs, where a lot is still undone in the realm (of sustainable development) (1)Sustainable DevelopmentEven though the concept of sustainable development is indeed a noble one, yet, much progress has not been displayed, till date. Perhaps, the chief factor for this is that, many people do not have a clear understanding of the term. Overall, the concept is rather ambiguous, conveying different meanings. (1)As mentioned earlier, several summits and conferences aimed at promoting sustainable dev elopment have been taking place, on the International landscape. For instance, the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and Development) came into existence in the year 1992. Apart from the European Union, a total of 192 countries were a part of that convention. A decade later, in the year 2002, all of those regions gave a solemn commitment that the rate at which the Globe is losing its biodiversity would be reduced, over the subsequent eight years. But that did not happen, as is evident by the corresponding scenario., even as the year 2010 came to an end. (1) The concept of sustainable development has both a strong point and also a shortcoming. Numerous political and economic entities of the World have been brought on a common platform, by sustainable development. That denotes the concept’s strong point. But at the same time, none of those parties have been successful in initiating any practical policies that substantially contribute towards the cause of sustainable development. (3) Sustainable Development and Economy Many people are having the misconception that, by adhering to the norms of sustainable development, a growth economy cannot be realized, and that it leads to a steady-state economy. That is nothing but just a myth, and the following would clearly explain this. It needs to be noted that sustainable development endeavors to meet the needs of the present, by fully keeping in view the well-being of the future. Here, the vital point worth mentioning is that, all those needs can be successfully met only by achieving required economic growth. Similarly, all the standards of this concept can be successfully implemented only when there is economic prosperity. To put the matter in a nutshell, economic growth and sustainability are strongly connected with each other. And meticulous adherence to the guidelines of the latter would

Strategic Plan Initiative Essay Example for Free

Strategic Plan Initiative Essay Starbucks is a fast growing coffee distributor around the globe. Starbucks is challenged to manage its business with strategic initiatives. This paper will discuss the relationship between strategic and financial planning efforts of the Seattle-based barista and initiatives outlined in the latest annual report. Also, how these initiatives affect the organization’s financial planning and what risks are associated with the initiatives will be reviewed. Understandably, in the highly competitive market of supplying customers with the best coffee products calls for calculated strategic and financial planning. Strategic Vs. Financial Planning Starbucks began as a lone coffee shop in Seattle, Washington; just 40 years later, Starbucks is now a leading competitor of coffee confections around the world (Starbucks, 2012). Because the ultimate goal is to be the best supplier of good coffee to coffee enthusiasts, having strategic and financial plans in place is crucial, since one is the basis for the other. Strategic planning is the guide for which all financial planning will follow suit. A â€Å"strategic plan defines, in very general terms, how the firm plans to make money in the future† (Titman, Keown, Marin, 2011, p. 564). The strategic plan is the backdrop that drives and guides financial planning. â€Å"Financial planning is all about allocating finite resources such as money, employees and equipment over time, to reach the broad goals set out in strategic planning. To do so involves measuring current performance against past data and trends for the future† (Boone, 2013, para. 3). There are four key compo nents to developing a financial plan which engages many different players. The four steps are: collect historical financial data, identify trends, adjust projections, and revise estimates (Titman, Keown, Marin, p. 564, 2011). But strategists cannot forget that financial planning can be divided into two components, short and long term planning. Long term planning is typically three to five years, whereas short term looks only one year ahead. Starbucks outlines both short and long strategic planning initiatives each year in annual reports and in turn gives the public and stakeholders the short and long term company initiatives. Starbucks Strategic Planning Initiatives and Financial Effects Starbucks has a number of creditors, investors, shareholders, and all around stakeholders that have a vested interest in viewing the success and vision of the company regularly. The latest annual report, 2011, speaks to these initiatives in great detail, outlining the successes and risks of chosen strategic path. According to the Starbucks Annual Report 2011, (2011), the c ompany â€Å"reported the highest annual revenue ever: $11.7 billion† (Starbucks Corporation Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report, 2012, p. 1). Clearly, the Starbucks leaders and family are doing something right, and most assuredly, the strategic initiatives are working. One key initiative was to increase earnings per share and return millions to shareholders; not an easy task given the troubled economy in the United States. Starbucks â€Å"ended fiscal 2011 with record earnings per share of $1.62, up 31 percent from last year’s $1.24 per share. Through share repurchases and dividends, we returned approximately $945 million to shareholders, more than doubling the amount returned in fiscal 2010† (Starbucks Corporation Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report, 2012, p. 3). According to Titman, Keown, Marin (2011), one key principal of the valuation of investment opportunities is made available through cash flows (p. 333). Looking at the cash flows data from 2010 to 2011, Starbucks decreased approximately $.1 billion cash flows from operations and increased capital expenditures by approximately $92 million (Starbucks Corporation Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report, p. 21, 2012). Starbucks actively manages these as short-term investments. Another feather in the Starbucks cap is payment of cash dividends to shareholders. In 2011, $.13 per share totaling $390 million was paid (Starbucks Corporation Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report, p. 21, 2012). Studies have shown that use of cash in this manner, paying cash dividends and share repurchases, has grown significantly from stating that â€Å"the proportion of firm earnings distributed through both approaches has grown from about 40% in the 1970s to near 80% by 2000† (Titman, Keown, Marin, 2011, p. 537). These Initiatives of this nature can affect the organization’s financial planning lending better cash revenues and fiscal statistics. More specifically, reducing the number of stocks increases the earnings per share. This was evident with the price per share increase of $.38 per share from 2010 to 2011, as noted above. However, companies cannot operate without caution; risks are associated with every financial planning endeavor and the initiative to pay out millions to shareholders is not without exception. Risks associated with the initiative. When conducting financial risk management, leadership and financial planners cognizant of market risks associated with the financial planning efforts and the long term effects of these short term goals. â€Å"Market risk is defined as the risk of losses due to changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, equity security prices, and interest rates† (Starbucks Corporation Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report, 2012, p. 37 ). Companies today must closely monitor market trends and risks alike. Starbucks is no exception, and significantly due to its dealings overseas and across varied currency rates and cultures. Although, market risks are not key player when discussing cash dividends and share repurchases. The main risk here is the long term impact of the payout strategy. It is commonly believed that just increasing earnings per share does not necessarily mean company success. â€Å"Companies shouldnt confuse the value created by returning cash to shareholders with the value created by actual operational improvements; moreover, a companys fixation on buybacks might come at the cost of investments in its long-term health† (Dobbs Rehm, 2005, para. 1, 3). Management must understand the pitfalls of creative financing and keep the benefits to shareholders as a key focus and paramount for longevity. Conclusion The Starbucks Corporation is committed to profiteering with short term investments and long term focus to remain competitive. Starbucks understands the relationship between strategic and financial planning and many initiatives are outlined in every annual report. In particular, the financial planning was clearly defined by a number of incentives, and the incentive to utilize cash flows to return a substantial allocation to shareholders and reduce shares through share buybacks created success story for the company. The coffee market is not without major competitors, however, the strategic vision, financial planning, and monitoring of financial risks allows Starbucks to not only stay afloat, but lead the coffee frontier. References Boone, B. (2013). What’s the difference between strategic and financial planning? Retrieved from http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/financial-planning/strategic-and-financial-planning.htm Dobbs, R. Rehm, W. (2005, August). The value of share buybacks. McKinsey Quarterly. Retrieved from http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/The_value_of_share_buybacks_1630 Starbucks Corporation Fiscal Year 2011 Annual Report. (2012). Retrieved from http://investor.starbucks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=99518p=irol-irhome Titman, S., Keown, A.J., Marin, J.D. (2011). Financial management: Principles and applications (11th ed.). Retrieved from University of Phoenix eBook Collection database.

Plato and Socrates Essay Example for Free

Plato and Socrates Essay Socrates, in his conviction from the Athenian jury, was both innocent and guilty as charged. In Platos Five Dialogues, accounts of events ranging from just prior to Socrates entry into the courthouse up until his mouthful of hemlock, both points are represented. Socrates in dealing with moral law was not guilty of the crimes he was accused of by Meletus. Socrates was only guilty as charged because his peers had concluded him as such. The laws didnt find Socrates guilty; Socrates was guilty because his jurors enforced the laws. The law couldnt enforce itself. Socrates was accused of corrupting Athens youth, not believing in the gods of the city and creating his own gods. In the Euthyphro, Socrates defends himself against the blasphemous charges outside the courthouse to a priest Euthyphro. Socrates looks to the priest to tell him what exactly is pious so that he may educate himself as to why he would be perceived as impious. Found in the Apology, another of Platos Five Dialogues, Socrates aims to defend his principles to the five hundred and one person jury. Finally, the Crito, an account of Socrates final discussion with his good friend Crito, Socrates is offered an opportunity to escape the prison and his death sentence. As is known, Socrates rejected the suggestion. It is in the Euthyphro and the Apology that it can be deduced that Socrates is not guilty as charged, he had done nothing wrong and he properly defended himself. However, in the Crito, it is shown that Socrates is guilty only in the interpretation and enforcement of Athens laws through the court system and its jurors. Socrates accusations of being blasphemous are also seen as being treasonous. In the Euthyphro, Socrates is making his way into the courthouse; however, prior to entering he had a discussion with a young priest of Athens, Euthyphro. This dialogue relates religion and justice to one another and the manner in which they correlate. Euthyphro feels as though justice necessitates religion and Socrates feels the opposite, religion necessitates justice. Euthyphro claims that religion is everything, justice, habits, traditions, customs, cultures, etc. all are derived from religion. Socrates went on to question what exactly would be the definition of pious. Euthyphro offered Socrates three definitions of pious and in all three Socrates was able to successfully find fault. The first definition Euthyphro offered was that piety is the life he lives (5e). Socrates disputed this definition because he said that Euthyphros way of life may be pious, but it is not the definition of pious. If it were the exact definition, only Euthyphro would be pious. He said that Euthyphro did not understand the difference between a definition and an example. Next, Euthyphro says that piety is found in things that are dear to the gods (7a). Socrates again rejected Euthyphros definition of piety. The Greek gods were anthropomorphic; therefore, another may despise what would be dear to one god. This definition offered was not distinct. Finally, Euthyphro said that what is pious is what loved by the gods (9e). However, Euthyphro cant answer whether something is pious because it is loved or it is loved because it is pious. He cant conceive the difference between cause and effect. It is in the Euthyphro that Socrates begins his defense of his actions and principles to the reader. A priest cant give him a concise answer as to what is religious; therefore, how can anyone else, especially one less religiously guided than a priest, accuse him of blasphemous actions? In the Apology, Socrates aimed to do three things: defend his ideas and principles, continue to teach those who will open their mind and state that he knew regardless of what he said he was aware that all five hundred and one jurors knew who he was and disliked him. Socrates was well aware of the fact that he had made multiple enemies, he knew that the politicians, poets, rich and craftsmen all had reasons to dislike his actions. Socrates went as far as to accuse the jury as not trusting the gods because they had not believed the oracle when it said that Socrates was the wisest in all of Athens (20d-e). If the jury and the people of Athens believed the oracle, the word of the gods, then Socrates would not be on trial. In the Apology, or defense, Socrates aims to legally justify his actions. He is accused of three things: corrupting Athens youth, not believing in the gods of the city and making up new gods. All three charges can be related back to treason and a large penalty. Socrates almost laughs off the first charge of corrupting the youth. He made a sensible argument as to why that charge made no sense and had no base. He said that willingly corrupting the youth of Athens would only make his living there more difficult. Logically, no one would aim to make his or her home a more dangerous, corrupt place to live (25d). He then asks his accusers to present some sort of evidence, a corrupted youth. Socrates knew that none of his students would speak out against him. To defend himself against the second and third charges, Socrates simply says that his belief in any new gods would necessitate believing in the old gods because the new gods are derived from the old gods (26c). In the Apology, conceivably, Socrates defended himself decisively against the three legal charges brought upon him. He was able to offer sufficient resistance, with a lack of prosecuting evidence, against the allegations. Plato uses the Crito, a discussion between Socrates and Crito, to display exactly why, even though innocent, Socrates accepted the penalties bestowed upon him. Socrates has thoroughly justified his own decision to obey the opinions of the majority and serve out the sentence that his own city has deemed appropriate for his crimes. Throughout the dialogue Socrates is explaining his reasoning for not running from the government. Crito does not understand the madness of Socrates, Crito will do whatever it takes to help his friend to flee, instead of being exiled by the government. I do not think that what you are doing is right, to give up your life when you can save it, and to hasten your fate as your enemies would hasten it, and indeed have hastened it in their wish to destroy you (58c). Throughout the Crito, two major ideas are established in the discussion of the two friends. The first being that a person must decide whether the society in which they live has a just reasoning behind its own standards of right and wrong. It is also examined whether or not the person has the option to leave if they dont agree with the laws of the city. Socrates has lived his whole life in Athens; therefore, he feels that there is an implied contract between himself and the laws of Athens. Not one of our laws raises any obstacle or forbids him, if he is not satisfied with us or the city, if one of you wants to go and live in a colony or wants to go anywhere else, and keep his property (63d). Socrates states; that making a conscious choice or effort to remain under the influence of a society is an unconscious agreement with that society to live your life by its standards and virtues. The second concept established between Socrates and Crito is that a person must have pride in the life that he or she leads. If Socrates does not face the penalties enforced, it would be the same as him disrespecting his own morals and principles. He would have followed them until they led him to hardships, and then abandoned them. In this, Socrates feels that escaping to survive would only result in the death of his teachings, the reason why he lives. I am the kind of man who listens only to the argument that on reflection seems best to me. I cannot, now that this fate has come upon me, discard the arguments I used; they seen to me much the same (59b). In establishing basic questions of these two concepts, Socrates has precluded his own circumstance and attempted to prove to his companion Crito, that the choice that he has made is just. He states that his decision is justified by the fact that the laws and governing agents of the society must command a certain degree of respect. Any person who would unjustly disobey these laws creates a deliberate attempt to destroy them, as well as, the society that has imposed them. However, that whoever of you remains when he sees how we conduct our trials and manage the city in other ways, has in fact come to an agreement with us to obey our instructions (63e). If the decisions of the citys governing agents are not thoroughly respected as just and cohesive parts of society, the very structure by which the society stands is subject to collapse. Socrates was not guilty as charged; he had done nothing wrong, as seen in the Apology. Not even a priest could tell Socrates what he had done wrong religiously, Euthyphro wasnt even able to give Socrates a precise definition of piety. It is then questioned by Crito why Socrates would remain to face a penalty for a crime he did not commit. In the Crito, it is explained why, although innocent, Socrates must accept the penalties his peers have set upon him. It is his peers that will interpret and enforce the laws, not the law which will enforce it. Even if the enforcers dont deserve attention and respect because they have no real knowledge to the situation, Socrates had put himself under their judgment by going to the trial. Therefore, Socrates must respect the decisions made by the masses because the decisions are made to represent the laws, which demand each citizens respect.

Ocean Acidification and Climate Change

Ocean Acidification and Climate Change Most of us have heard about global warming and what it is doing to our world, including our oceans. Global warming is simply a climate change. A slow and steady increase in the temperature of the earths atmosphere, environment, and its oceans is believed to be permanently changing the earths climate. Climate change involves rapidly changing temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns on huge scale. In addition, these changes cause an increase in concentrations of gases which trap heat in the atmosphere, often called greenhouse gases. The most commonly released gas is carbon dioxide. The increase volumes of carbon dioxide and some other gases released by the burning of fuels, clearing lands, agriculture, and other human actions are believed to be the most important sources of global warming. This has occurred over the past fifty years. Ocean acidification has destructive and harmful results to our earths underwater environment. The absorption of carbon dioxide by the earths oceans is increasing the acid levels, producing harmful and long-term destruction to our oceans coral reefs, which causes them to dissolve by reducing their calcification. Changes in the earths ocean environment is not often seen or felt, so it is essential to discuss the importance of this process on the coral reefs and the dangerous effects of global warming. Coral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystems of the oceans. Coral reefs are estimated to shelter around one-third of all marine species; about 500 million people rely on coral reefs for food, income, and medicine. Coral reefs also act as barriers during inclement weather. Human activity is causing the earth to get warmer and warmer, especially by the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, the clear cutting of forests. When we dig out and burn fossil fuels, like coal and petroleum, we cause the release of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere. Clearing of the forests also allows for large amounts of carbon dioxide to be released all over the entire world. The future of coral reefs is threatened by humans and natural disturbances. Typical ocean pH levels vary due to the effect of the environment. When the pH of water falls below 5.0 or rises above 9.6, harmful actions become obvious. pH levels below 7.6 will cause coral reefs to dissolve as a result of the lack of calcium carbonate. Efforts to alleviate global warming and ocean acidification by reducing emissions have been unsuccessful. Scientists have become more interested in climate engineering to prevent the dangerous outcomes of climate change. Artificial ocean alkalization is studied as a way to decrease local ocean acidification and to protect coral reefs ecosystems. Several readings focused on the possibility of changing ocean pH by increasing water alkalinity. In these studies, alkalizing agents, such as calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide, were used to increase the oceans alkalinity and the potential of protecting coral reefs against ocean acidification. This approach is logical but doubtful because of the constant changes (variation) of carbon dioxide concentration from season to season, day to night, and the species variety and ability to adapt. Also, increasing the oceans surface pH stimulates an additional absorption of carbon dioxide. In another study, a team of international scientists, including a Texas AM University researcher, examined the Tree Reef, bordering the Australian coast. The team added sodium hydroxide to the water to reverse acidity and increase alkalinity of the water. With the increase of water pH, the reef grew quickly as a result of the experiment. Scientists concluded that it is possible to increase the growth of coral reefs if ocean acidification is reversed. In addition, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Science Technology, blowing tiny bubbles though seawater could remove carbon dioxide from the water and help offset (counteract) water acidification. However, installing bubbles anywhere where coral reefs are present is expensive. The idea of increasing the alkalinity of ocean water to protect and preserve coral reefs is like turning back the clock hundreds of years. Back then, the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere was lower, and the oceans were much healthier. The best solution would be to stop emitting carbon dioxide and prevent ocean acidification.

A State Forest Essay -- Descriptive Essay Examples, Observation

A State Forest Last autumn, while on a trip, I decided to walk through a State Forest. This huge forest enriches the countryside not far from town and was a place where indians held hunting rights until recently. Little streams, ancient trees, shaded paths, and hidden places are some of the physical attributes which make the State Forest an enchanting place. I wandered leisurely along the shadowy paths, enjoying the peaceful surroundings. With only the songs of birds for company, I felt completely isolated from the crowds and traffic as I walked over the deep carpet of leaves. It had begun to rain a litt le when I first started my journey. However, small patches of sunshine soon began to filter through the giant oaks, promising that the rest of may day would be pleasant. I first reached the part of the forest known as Bellringer's Hollow. Colorful wildflowers were blooming in a patchwork of bright yellow, azure blue, deep rose, and dazzling orange. Bellringer's Hollow was a magical place where, it is said, bells coul d be heard from time to time. Because the summer residence of the monks of Waltham once stood there, the local villagers thought that the spirits of monks rang those bells and watched over the forest. I lingered there for a while, listening to the gentl e sound of a stream as it flowed over the corks nearby. I also listened for the bells, but the bells did not ring for me. Maybe it was because I was an outsider! I began to follow the meandering stream to Bell Common, which was a strip of thick, rough grassland. I was covered with blackberry bushes heavy with large, ripe berries. I stopped there to feast on as many as I could eat. Nearby were the remai... ...ernoon sun. London could be seen far o ff in the distance, reminding me that it would soon be time for me to return to the busy, crowded city. I made my way to a paved road which led from High Beech to State, and then caught a ride with a pickup to Harrisburg. The time had come for me to leave this quiet and peaceful place. Commentary on Essay 2 This essay received an "A." This essay's greatest strength is the writer's use of sophisticated syntax, employing phrases, and in dependent and independent clauses, modifying the main clauses, and creating a rhythmic reading pattern. The writer also displays an understanding of temporal relationships with her use of tenses. For example, in the first paragraph, she uses past tense to indicate actions from the past and present tense to indicate past conditions that still exist.

Essay --

There have been many instances in history where people have overthrown their current government in order to create a new, better government in its place; we can see this especially in the American and French Revolutions and even in the Communist Revolution in Russia. Revolution is â€Å"a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.† This type of behavior is intended by Thomas Paine and John Locke—who believed in recovering natural rights for all—but also by Karl Marx who strongly believed all institutions should be broken down completely; these influential leaders had opposite ideas for the future of not only their nations but the nations of the world, they both had supporters to spread and implement their ideas in society. Although both sides led significant revolutions, ultimately the revolution that recuperated self-evident truths prevailed over the revolution that’s intent was to destroy religion, family, and all other institutions. Karl Marx, the founder of communism, strongly believed that his revolution would be the last; he believed it would incorporate the whole world. According to Marx, four steps would take place for there to be total communism: feudalism, liberalism, socialist revolution, and then communism. Liberalism (and capitalism) would take the place of feudalism and would enrich the few at the expense of the working poor. After this, the socialist revolution would ensure that the proletariat (working poor) would seize all private businesses and redistribute the wealth equally among all. Only after this took place, could communist truly take reign at the global level. â€Å"The modern bourgeoisie society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class anta... ...pendence in the French revolution. The Declaration of Independence has served an important role in history as well as in modern society and uncovers the American values we still live by. Despite the ruthless attempt for complete communism, communism failed. It proved to be inefficient. Self-evident truths proved to be more successful in government and have lasted the test of time. Marx failed to understand the importance of institutions in society and the necessity of human values. By destroying family and religion, Marx is also destroying human desire to succeed. Society is always aiming to improve. If all were equal in the economic sense, society would be at a plateau because competition would seize. People want to work toward some goal or for a cause such as family or property. To recover self-evident truths is to ensure the growth and proficiency of society. Essay -- There have been many instances in history where people have overthrown their current government in order to create a new, better government in its place; we can see this especially in the American and French Revolutions and even in the Communist Revolution in Russia. Revolution is â€Å"a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.† This type of behavior is intended by Thomas Paine and John Locke—who believed in recovering natural rights for all—but also by Karl Marx who strongly believed all institutions should be broken down completely; these influential leaders had opposite ideas for the future of not only their nations but the nations of the world, they both had supporters to spread and implement their ideas in society. Although both sides led significant revolutions, ultimately the revolution that recuperated self-evident truths prevailed over the revolution that’s intent was to destroy religion, family, and all other institutions. Karl Marx, the founder of communism, strongly believed that his revolution would be the last; he believed it would incorporate the whole world. According to Marx, four steps would take place for there to be total communism: feudalism, liberalism, socialist revolution, and then communism. Liberalism (and capitalism) would take the place of feudalism and would enrich the few at the expense of the working poor. After this, the socialist revolution would ensure that the proletariat (working poor) would seize all private businesses and redistribute the wealth equally among all. Only after this took place, could communist truly take reign at the global level. â€Å"The modern bourgeoisie society that has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society has not done away with class anta... ...pendence in the French revolution. The Declaration of Independence has served an important role in history as well as in modern society and uncovers the American values we still live by. Despite the ruthless attempt for complete communism, communism failed. It proved to be inefficient. Self-evident truths proved to be more successful in government and have lasted the test of time. Marx failed to understand the importance of institutions in society and the necessity of human values. By destroying family and religion, Marx is also destroying human desire to succeed. Society is always aiming to improve. If all were equal in the economic sense, society would be at a plateau because competition would seize. People want to work toward some goal or for a cause such as family or property. To recover self-evident truths is to ensure the growth and proficiency of society.

Grapes Of Wrath And Of Mice And Men: Character Study :: essays research papers

Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men: Character Study The American Novelist, John Steinbeck was a powerful writer of dramatic stories about good versus bad. His own views on writing were that not only should a writer make the story sound good but also the story written should teach a lesson. In fact, Steinbeck focused many of his novels, not on average literary themes rather he tended to relay messages about the many hard truths of life in The United States. Upon winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 the Swedish academy introduced him by saying "He had no mind to be an unoffending comforter and entertainer. Instead, the topics he chose were serious and denunciatory†¦" This serious focus was not exempt from his two works "The Grapes of Wrath" and "Of Mice and Men". "The Grapes of Wrath" has been recognized by many as "the greatest novel in American History" and it remains among the archetypes of American culture. Although "Of Mice and Men" may not have received as much fanfare as the other it is still a great classic that was recently made into a motion picture. The focus of "The Grapes of Wrath" Is one family, the Joads, who has been kicked off their Oklahoma farm and forced to move to California to look for work. The story has historical significance as it is true that many families were forced, in the same way as the Joads, to leave their homes to look for work during the depression. It is in this fact that one can see how Steinbeck's intention in "The grapes of Wrath" was to depict the hardships people went through during an actual event in American history. Perhaps the most solemn message in this novel was the poor treatment of the dispossessed families as they reached California. In "Of Mice and Men" the reader is presented with a story that takes place in the same setting of "The Grapes of Wrath" This story details the hardships of two traveling companions while they are working at a ranch in California. The common thread between these two novels is not necessarily the plot or the setting rather, it is the way in which Steinbeck relays his message. That is to say that, although both novels carry different story lines they both portray hard truths about human suffering. Steinbeck reveals these truths through his depiction of characters. In each story it seems that the characters were crafted by Steinbeck in a bias manner so as to emphasize the overall message of the book. It is quite obvious that all of Steinbeck's characters are

Express Luxury Lines

Empress Luxury Lines Angela D. Davis Strayer University Management 500 Dr. Prakash Menon April 29, 2012 Abstract This critical analysis case of Empress Luxury Lines is based on circumstances of ethical dilemmas and challenges of top level managers and their employees faced with decisions on what anyone person or persons would do against making ethical decisions. In this case study, we note that the employee has to make choices for doing what he believes is right for him even though it may cause possible termination.Despite of the needed computer upgrade for the Empress Luxury Liner for Empress, top management issues was to find other ways to limit cost. The luxury liner had fallen on hard times due to numerous factors some of which was not controllable by this business. In this case analysis we will explore how right or wrong decision making can create ethical dilemmas for a business. Faced with such dilemmas, we will try to understand how in decision making for the employees, manage rs, CFO’s affects the business entity.Empress Luxury Lines ANALAYZE ANTONIO’S ETHICAL DILEMMA Antonio Melendez, a two year employee of Empress Luxury Lines was starting to feel as stated by Daft, â€Å"finally found a way to fund the computer system upgrade he’d been requesting ever since he’d taken the job two years ago† ( 2010, p. 150). Antonio, being that he was only on the job two years, and Kevin Pfeiffer, the new hire, the ethical decision dilemma for them was in facing the truth about the power surge damaged that struck the ship to its onboard computer system.Antonio knew that the risk in defrauding the insurance company of the true nature of what happened to the computer system onboard the ship could have dire consequences for him and Kevin. Kevin told the truth to his supervisor Phil Bailey, of the $15,000 computer damaged and was told to report back only to his boss Phil Bailey. Kevin did exactly what he believed would be great news of th e minimum fixable damage, but Phil was not happy. Instead, Kevin was instructed to remove and destroy all the wires and the cables and haul them elsewhere so that the insurance adjuster upon arrival would not know the difference in the damage.Kevin refused choosing to make the intelligent ethical decision to not due as instructed and to not become part of a fraud scheme or the culture of top management habitually submitting fraudulent claims. Antonio appreciated Kevin’s integrity of making the best decision to not do as he was asked to do for Empress and his boss Phil Bailey. Antonio knew of years before he was hired, Empress Luxury Lines in the 1990’s, were a healthy business. The cruise liner had unprecedented demand by consumers to sail on its luxury liner. Unfortunately, with external threats of unforeseen causes, such as the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. , the Hurricanes of 2005, and the Norwalk Virus outbreak, Empress’s volume of tourist booking travel by ship fell off drastically. Empress had to refund monies to its clients for cruises they could not use due to these uncertainties. In essence, contingency planning was enacted to respond to the unexpected conditions of weather, terrorism, and medical emergencies. The current rising demand of fuel cost to sail the cruse liner, slashed into the luxury liner’s profits. This is why Antonio could not or did not see his fervent request to have monies to upgrade the ships computer system was not accepted.Until the damage of the computer system was verbally reported to Bailey, then the accepted practices of Empress by top management of fraud which was readily the condone nature, the assurance of Kevin, or Antonio being protected under the Whistle-blower act was essentially an ignored, systemic practice and rooted in the business climate culture from top to bottom. CREATE AND DESCRIBE TWO STRATEGIES In this case analysis the strategies to best describe how to address Antonio’s ethica l dilemma would be by using two approaches in ethical decision making.The approaches that can best address Antonio’s in this case study are the Utilitarian Approach and the Individualism Approach. These approaches best describe how Antonio should handle the situation at hand. The utilitarian approach by definition Daft , â€Å" the ethical concept that moral behaviors produce the greatest good for the greatest number† (2010, p. 132). This approach Antonio is ethical decision maker and he understands the consequences of actions and plans to benefit for the greater good for Empress.If Antonio chooses to use this approach he has the pulse of the organizations systemic practices but he has to figure out how to lead by example while limiting potential dire results for Empress by reporting what really happened to the insurance adjuster and authorities. If Antonio decides to stay quiet and do nothing he knows the risk and the ethical investigation that could ensue by law. The decision to do nothing hurts but if this is his decision, to help defraud the insurance company, the upside is that Empress will have a upgraded and repaired computer system.I would equate the 2008 fraud case involving the SBA Program of widespread fraud with the HUBZone Empowerment Contracting program similar to how systemic practices of obvious fraud with rewarding contracts to business firms who were not eligible to receive such funding. Bruce Causseaux, a senior level specialist stated, â€Å"Three main factors worked to encourage the fraud, he says: the lure of several billion dollars of federal contracting, an SBA control process that largely relied on inadequately verified self-certified information and a clear message that, even if caught, the punishment would not match the crime† (Wilson, 2008 p. 0). This article exemplifies the seriousness that when it all goes wrong, in the utilitarian approach the benefit yielded still the lesser of a potentially disastrous resul t. The individualism approach’s by definition Daft, â€Å"the ethical concept that acts are moral when they promote the individual’s best long-term interest† (2010, p. 132). This approach helps Antonio because he believes in the fundamental rights of individuals in the ethical decision making process.If Antonio chooses to avoid the systemic behavior by Empress because it will impede on a persons right then he would be ethically deciding to go against the grain of behavior even though he knows he may lose his job by telling the truth. The issue with this approach who determines the legitimacy of what is ethical or not about the way the cruise liner decides to conduct its business. Antonio/s plan of action hangs on the real balancing act of being loyal only to himself, to the health of the company and or lastly, for the greatest good of Empress.Antonio has to really be comfortable in which ever decision ethically he will make. ASSESS THE PROS AND CONS The pros and cons of the utilitarian approach if Antonio so believes is the best approach he has the option to weigh the differences looking at how his decision will effect his fellow coworkers. For this case analysis, I believe the utilitarian is better suited for Antonio because this approach is not a selfish approach but more in line with having the thoughtfulness of care and concern for others and how his ethical decision could harm everyone.Antonio does not consider he is just a lone wolf in this decision process because he sees the dilemma as equal parts to be held by together by the belief of all. Antonio relies on the method of substance process quantitatively in his overall objective to be fair for the consideration of the whole in making a just, moral, and pro ethical decision. The utilitarian approach con is in understanding and recognizing the cost benefits of his decision. This approach does not allow for room to be appeasing to all of his coworkers and this approach can cause harm . The end does not always justify the means as this approach states.In the con of this approach, can Antonio assume the result of perhaps not being ethically honest could yield a positive result no matter of the facts presented to the insurance adjuster? This may happen and he is still left with the decision did he do his best in rising above the fray to do his ethical duty. The pros and con of the individualism approach on the pro side is Antonio will be respecting the rights of his coworkers and doing what is best for the common good of Empress. Antonio will also be protecting his rights as an individual which is a benefit for him.Antonio has to be careful in upholding for pro rights to not step over the rights of others. A con of the individual approach is could be the true meaning in defining a person’s fundamental rights. This is a con of this approach because in the U. S. we have included our U. S. Constitution the Bill of Rights. If Antonio thinks this is the best appr oach because the Empress sails in international waters Antonio has to have consideration for the international laws of other countries which the U. S. Constitution with the Bill of Rights won’t apply.Another con of this approach is that it is a selfish approach and can entice Antonio to consider only his needs and not the concerns of others. DECIDE ON WHICH STRATEGY TO TAKE Given the two approaches of utilitarian and individualism, I would choose the individualism approach for this case analysis if I was in Antonio’s position. I am not a selfish person by nature and in making business decisions I know that the ability to think in ethical decision making when a problem presents itself one has to be ready, willing and able to perform the task of airing on the side of fairness.I have had similar instances as Antonio in being the one who has to be concerned for his self but by being this way, you ultimately do decide for the good all in the process of ethically doing what is best for the future long term health of the company. Individualism by behavior alone can ensure fellow coworkers that action done ethically for the best business ethical decision outcome is in the best interest of the whole. This action inspires cohesiveness and conformity in our feelings of our behavior.In their book If Your Life were a Business, would you Invest in It? (2003), Eckblad and Kiel states, â€Å"When we acknowledge these feelings in ourselves and reflect on them, we often find their origin in one or more situations where we wish we had had the courage to have challenged someone or done something differently† and â€Å"businesslike thinking and planning are no guarantee that there will be â€Å"good† or courageous people in either jobs or our live† (Eckblad & Kiel, 2008, p. 37). The individualism approach has worked well for me in my business endeavors and personal life. My willingness to be fair, but yet knowing what ever decisions I make whethe r they are ethically based on a ethical dilemma or not, I firmly understand that not all decisions I chose to make was good for the whole and that you can not know the true value of the dilemma in your decision choice of how it will relate to other employees or coworkers. This is the dilemma for Antonio.I do think his best method of approach would be using the individualism approach for Empress Luxury Lines. He will not please all but he will be ethically making the best decision for the greater good of the company. References Daft, Richard L. (2010). Management. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Eckblad, John, & Keil, David (2003). If your Life Were a Business, Would You invest in It?. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Wilson, Sarah (2008, November), Fraud Rattles SBA Program. Entrepreneur, 30.

The Cask of Amontillado and A Rose for Emily

Edgar Allan Poe and William Faulkner are both prize-winning American authors and poets, who wrote some of the most memorable short stories, novels, and poems in the world. The two short stories that stand out the most to perhaps every student are titled The Cask of Amontillado by Poe and A Rose for Emily by Faulkner. Both of these stories include death, revenge, mystery, and murder. The Cask of Amontillado is about two men named Montreso and Fortunato. Montreso is seeking revenge on his friend, Fortunato. The only matter that is certain is that Montreso is angry with Fortunato, so angry that he seeks evil revenge. The story leads on allowing the reader to wonder will happen to Fortunato. Then there is the story, A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner. He tells the story of an old woman who has died, named Emily. She was the talk of the town for many years, and the secrets of her life are revealed as her funeral allows the townspeople to enter her home. A few particular ways that Poe and Faulkner’s stories compare and contrast each other is by point of view and how each story is or is not told in chronological order. Each piece of literature effectively uses literary devices and conventions to illustrate the main points of the story and theme. They are alike in many ways, as they are different. Setting, point of view, characterization, climax, imagery, mood, and other effective literary devices are used throughout each story. Additionally, Poe and Faulkner were two men quite similar to one another, as in the two authors are known for being â€Å"dark† individuals with especially unique literary styles. While these stories contain specific differences in plot, such as holding onto the past and revenge, Poe and Faulkner’s works are as similar as the authors themselves. Edgar Allan Poe and William Faulkner The two authors are quite similar to one another, as they were both private men who expressed themselves in their writings. They are so much alike that their stories are quite similar. Both stories are considered to be â€Å"dark,† while Poe was always viewed as a dark and disturbed man. Faulkner wrote many different types of stories and not only dark stories like A Rose for Emily. Since they were such amazing writers, they were forced to be figures of the public eye while they fought for privacy. In 1827, Edgar Allan Poe enlisted in The United States Army using the name Edgar A.  Perry. After two years of service, he was discharged and went back to his hometown, Baltimore (Wilson, 2004). William Faulkner also tried to join the U. S. Army Air Force, but was turned down because of his short stature (Padgett, 2008). Death and Despair/Culture and Identity Poe and Faulkner’s stories coincide with one another because they are about death and despair. The underlying theme in The Cask of Amontillado is about death and despair. By the end of the story, the author has the reader pondering whether or not it would be justified to murder someone. In A Rose for Emily, the main theme is about culture and identity. The town of Jefferson is described as a small city that knows everyone’s business. Additionally, it is also about letting go of the past. The people of Jefferson keep worrying about the past and not the present, and so did Emily. She kept her dead lover’s body in an upstairs room in her house and did not want to let go of the past. Poe and Faulkner’s stories are somewhat alike, as the authors are alike. They took various literature classes before they became famous authors. Poe joined the Jefferson Literary Society and was quite successful (Wilson, 2004). On the other hand, Faulkner never graduated from high school, and quit school for good in 1915. Edgar Allan Poe suffered from a tragic, mysterious death that is still unknown to this day. William Faulkner died from a heart attack at the age of 64 and is buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery in Oxford (Padgett, 2008). The â€Å"Murderers† in The Cask of Amontillado and A Rose for Emily The authors of these stories create their main characters to be murderers. Therefore, both stories contain death. Montreso and Emily are the main characters of The Cask of Amontillado and A Rose for Emily, and both characters murder another character in the plot. There is one aspect of both stories that are related to one another, which is that both characters are not punished for their crimes. The only difference is that Fortunato’s body is never found in Montreso’s palazzo, and Emily’s lover, Homer, is found years after his death, and after Emily’s death. Montreso’s crime never comes to light, as he is writing about the murder 50 years after the fact. However, the townspeople of Jefferson end up discovering Emily’s crime. Even though the crime was eventually discovered, Emily was already gone and she could not be punished for murdering her lover. The reader may also believe that Poe and Faulkner’s stories are about revenge. While analyzing each story, one may discover that The Cask of Amontillado is about revenge and A Rose for Emily is more about holding on to the past. William Faulkner’s symbolism in A Rose for Emily is Homer’s body that was never put to rest. Emily was so focused on the past and what she had with Homer that she could not let him go. Therefore, she murdered him and kept him close to her. Both of the murderers, Montreso and Emily, are portrayed as crazy individuals to the reader who use creative, untraditional ways of murdering their victims. For example, Montreso kills his victim by chaining him to the wall of his palazzo and blocking him in by building another wall, as to bury him inside. Emily murders her love by purchasing arsenic and fooling Homer into consuming it. In some cases, it may even seem as though the authors portray their fictional characters to the people that they know in their lives. Homer and Fortunato Fortunato’s insult to Montreso was obviously extremely hurtful, which caused Montreso to seek a creative way to hurt his friend. The Cask of Amontillado is centered on revenge and death, as Montreso murders Fortunato. This also seems true with the plot arrangement for A Rose for Emily. However, it could be evident that Emily did not want to be embarrassed in front of the whole town. It is apparent that Homer and Emily slept together, which would be considered shameful for a single woman to sleep with a man at this time in America. Perhaps Emily did not want the townspeople to discover that Homer was not going to make her an honest woman and marry her; therefore she did the unthinkable. Characters Related to Authors Edgar Allan Poe and William Faulkner are known for incorporating their personal friendships, and even their own personalities, into their writings. One thing that I noticed in The Cask of Amontillado is that Montreso resembles Poe in appearance and mannerisms. The reader never sees what Montreso looks like; however one can imagine that he looks like Edgar Allan Poe, and he seems to act just like him as well. Additionally, the language that is used in both stories majorly reflects the time difference, as they were written many years ago. In Poe’s short story, Fortunato is murdered because of an insult he told Montreso. Poe’s personal and social life did not seem to fit Montreso’s, as he did not seem to have many friends. The reasons being are Poe’s famous poems about despair, loneliness, and heartache. Relationship with the Setting William Faulkner also incorporates his personal life into his writings. It is said that Faulkner wrote A Rose for Emily based off the personality of Emily Dickinson. Additionally, Edgar Allan Poe definitely seemed to have a fascination of death, as it is displayed in many of his writings including The Tell-Tale Heart. William Faulkner also seemed to have a fascination with death when he wrote A Rose for Emily as well as when he wrote his popular novel titled As I Lay Dying. In this novel, Faulkner uses the town of Jefferson for the setting, which is the same in A Rose for Emily. Perhaps Faulkner had a special relationship with the fictional city of Jefferson, Mississippi, which was really a made-up town much like the city he grew up in, Oxford, Mississippi (Padgett, 2008). Literary Devices and Conventions The overall comparison of the two stories and authors has been discussed and analyzed. Both authors effectively use literary devices and conventions to illustrate the theme including imagery, setting, symbolism, irony, plot, and point of view. What makes The Cask of Amontillado and A Rose for Emily so similar is the point of view and the similarity of the authors’ personalities. Edgar Allan Poe and William Faulkner were private men who expressed themselves through their writings, both were apparently fascinated with death, they enlisted in the Army, and they have used literary devices and conventions effectively to provoke anticipation and mystery throughout the story. Additionally, The Cask of Amontillado and A Rose for Emily are centered on death, revenge, and looking beyond the past. Both of the characters in each story, Montreso and Emily, are alike in that they do not receive punishments for their crimes. While Emily is portrayed as a crazy person to the townspeople, Montreso is also portrayed by the reader as a neurotic madman. Additionally, the characters in both stories are related to the authors who created them, as Faulkner reflected his personal life in his writings, while Poe used his imaginative mind many times. Poe and Faulkner use effective literary devices and conventions in each story, which is extremely important for any piece of literature to obtain. Literary devices comprise the story’s elements, which is how readers gain understanding of and appreciation for an author’s works (Braiman, 2007). The Cask of Amontillado and A Rose for Emily does an immaculate job at using effective literary devices and conventions throughout each piece of literature. Edgar Allan Poe and William Faulkner are somewhat alike in literary style as well as their personal lives, which allow the popular stories they have written to be alike in many different ways. These stories are alike, as they are different because of the two authors, death and despair, and how the characters relate to the authors. Poe and Faulkner’s literary techniques and stories are famous for a reason, which is because they are unique and imaginative.

Delaney Mossbacher Characterization Essay

Delaney Mossbacher resides in the hills of Topanga Canyon, away from the rest of Los Angeles and its ethnic problems; he tells himself it is to feel at peace with nature. He disagrees with the idea of living in the seclusion of the white American neighborhood of Arroyo Blanco to escape ethnic disputes the city holds; he lives in Topanga Canyon to satisfy his environmentalist title. After letting Delaney’s character develop more to give further insight on who Delaney truly is, there is no need to address how one action of his gives him a specific trait. Delaney strongly stands by his liberal views when other characters criticize Mexican immigrants, but when he is faced with a situation possibly involving a Mexican immigrant his liberal views dissipate. Delaney can give off a sense of awkwardness when found in an uncomfortable situation, but he can’t be classified as being completely socially awkward. He does, however, possess an introverted personality. He will not be the type of person to take charge or one to freely initiate a conversation. At this point of his life Delaney is being bombarded with a number of incidents that cause him to formulate a dislike and anger toward Mexican immigrants. Delaney allows what occurs around him to dictate how he reacts to situations. This starts to promote contrast in his liberal views, making him a product of the society and cultural views that surround him. At first attempt to characterize Delaney it took a number of possible traits, and it summed up to: Delaney struggles to be a normal person due to his social awkwardness and lack of common sense, but that was only with part one of The Tortilla Curtain. After seeing further development of Delaney’s character, it is observed he does communicate well with others unless he’s uncomfortable, his marriage is normal and has its rough patches like most other relationships, and that Delaney isn’t completely irrational in the way he reacts in stressful situations. Delaney reacts on impulse and jumps to conclusions like most people do. â€Å"Delaney would be on his own. But Delaney didn’t want to be on his own (225). † In part one, solitude seems to enlighten Delaney, though he clearly states he doesn’t like being alone in part two. Yet he is alone for the majority of each day, Delaney enjoys the company of others and expresses how he eagerly waits for the Kyra to return at the end of each day. So Delaney keeps himself productive and finds things to do while Kyra is at work. So why did Delaney marry Kyra if she is a workaholic? Delaney finds happiness in his life by catering to Kyra, he feels she compliments him by completing everything he isn’t. Delaney is a proud liberal humanist, proud that he stands for the right for anyone to have to the right to pursue the American dream and pursue a better life. He is all for everyone having their rights when it best suits him, but where do these liberal views go when he assumes Mexican immigrants are camping in the canyon leaving their trash in attempt to make it a garbage dump, a little Tijuana (Boyle 11)? When he concludes Mexican immigrants stole his car? When he absolutely knows what Jose Navidad is doing in his neighborhood demanding the Mexican man to explain himself. Ever since he hit Candido, Delaney has sheltered inner conflict within him and doesn’t become apparent to what he is becoming until the incident in his cul de sac, â€Å"so devastated he couldn’t speak, what was happening to him, what was he becoming (229)? † Delaney is back and forth between two different people, he is not a liberal humanist he is a hypocrite. The Delaney that’s shows concern for the immigrants, like after the news that the corner of Shoup and Ventura had been cleaned up along with the labor exchange, his thoughts are, â€Å"Where were these people supposed to go (193)? † The Delaney that still has glimpses of his liberal views is contrast with the new Delaney. The Delaney becoming a product of the society that surrounds him is starting to shape his thoughts, thus the first impulses and conclusions he has are racist. Delaney is from New York. The east coast has a large diversity of ethnic cultures due to the many European immigrants that had immigrated generations before. Delaney’s liberal views could have been shaped by the culture he grew up in because of the large diversity of race after so long. There was not a large amount of racism on the east coast, and or he received the same kind of racial tension for being Irish-American. Now that he resides in California and he is now part of the white superior group, the people around him like to conservatively think they are better than anyone else. Whatever the underlying cause of his sudden change of feelings towards Mexican immigrants, it is do the influences that had started to take affect around him. Delaney channels his anger through his writing; he uses his articles Pilgrim at Topanga Creek to describe the coyote but the coyote is symbolic of much more than itself. It symbolizes the life of the Mexican immigrants. He uses the coyotes as metaphor to stand for Mexican immigrants, because like the coyote, the immigrants also coincide among the white American population, struggling to survive. There is a fence between the coyotes and the Mossbacher’s dogs but the coyotes still breach it. Just like there is a U. S. and Mexican border the Mexican immigrants find their way across in search of better lives. At first reading the second article on the coyotes just seemed as if Delaney was venting his frustration because another coyote had struck again. Then something stood out, â€Å"The coyotes keep coming, breeding up to fill in the gaps, moving in where the living is easy. They are cunning, versatile, hungry and unstoppable (215). † Delaney’s implicit thoughts could very well stand for his true feelings of the Mexican immigrants and all along his liberal views were all talk, never truly made to be put to action. He passes by the perfect opportunity to put his liberal views to action when Todd Sweet asks Delaney to intervene in opposition with the wall (227). So was Delaney Mossbacher ever a true liberal humanist at all? His racism had been dormant and it took the fire of hitting Candido, Jack’s influence, and the incidents that kept including Mexican immigrants, to somehow spark the same racism he could have possibly felt growing up as a child. The wall represents more than what Delaney and the citizens of Arroyo Blanco see it as. More than a distance between humans and nature and more than keeping the unwelcome out. The wall is a symbol of the strong separation between the prospering white Americans and the struggling Mexican immigrants. The Mexican immigrants that are working hard to achieve the American Dream, while the wealthy Americans feed them nonsense but know the immigrants will never amount to anything. Delaney describes the wall as not only â€Å"keeping them out, but look what it keeps in (224). † This refers to the racism Jack’s son displayed, concluding that walling in all the poisonous racism it would affect Jordan, just like it had already affected Delaney living in the seclusion of Arroyo Blanco. Delaney has become a developing product of his racist community and society. He fears the worst for Jordan to grow up around racial tension, but has not yet seen how much it already has affected him. Delaney is gradually losing his liberal views, while also losing control of his temper and his over morale he once held. It is only a matter of time until Delaney himself becomes a â€Å"Jack Jardine†

Liberal Education as a Livingstone

During a time when unemployment is at its lowest since World War II, one would think that finding a job would be easy. However, at this point in time, applicants for jobs are more qualified than ever. The competition for well-paid jobs is stiff, and in order to get ahead people need not only skill in one certain area, but a general intelligence of many subjects as well. A liberal education provides the general knowledge that gives job applicants an extra edge when applying for a job. With a base of knowledge in the liberal arts and a specialization in a certain area, people prove to be beneficial to employers. Throughout this paper, I will use the term â€Å"liberal education† not only in describing subjects like English, history, philosophy etc. , but as Livingstone describes a liberal education: an education which â€Å"aims at producing as perfect and complete a human being as may be. † In using the term â€Å"liberal education† I expect that all graduates of a liberal arts college have an expertise in rhetoric, as the art of speaking and writing well is a key focus in the curriculum. I will also use the â€Å"specialized education† in reference to Livingstone†s definition: an education â€Å"which aims at earning a living or making money†. Undergraduates pursuing a liberal undergraduate education have an advantage over people with a specialized undergraduate education because liberal education provides a greater versatility in terms of a broader base of knowledge so that finding a job and excelling in different areas is easier. Training in art of rhetoric, which today is defined as the art of speaking and writing effectively, is a valuable asset for job hunters. Specialized undergraduate curriculums focus less on rhetoric than liberal arts curriculums. A person with training in rhetoric would be hired over another applicant due to their expertise in communicating ideas effectively through speech and writing. Companies aim to employ intelligent people who can express themselves wisely and eloquently because in nearly every profession, writing well and persuading others to one†s opinion is essential: scientists have to apply for grants in order to fund their research and experiments; businessmen must present proposals and of course, columnists and authors who have not mastered the skill of rhetoric are less likely to find a job and be successful in terms of status and salary. Ability to express oneself clearly and effectively designates to what level one may raise in the corporate ladder, for people with refined writing skills benefit companies to a large extent, while people with less skill in writing have less influence, and therefore less power. People with a liberal education are skilled in multiple areas and therefore can be of more benefit to employers. Rather than a specialized study in one area, a liberal education provides students with a broad range of knowledge that attracts employers. As Virtruvius says, liberal education teaches the student the connection between different disciplines. Knowing and realizing the relationship between subjects, an employee can perform a greater number of tasks and learn new ones more rapidly thus being more valuable to a company. Should a man lose his job due to it becoming extinct or other reasons, a liberal education would provide a better cushion to fall back on because of the diversity of subjects studied. For example, if a court stenographer loses his job due to a new audio technology that records and word-processes court proceedings, he would not have to, in a sense, start over for lack of knowledge in other areas. Utilizing his knowledge in rhetoric, philosophy, history, and other humanities, he could find another job without going back to school. On the other hand, the opposition would report that a liberal education would not benefit many people because a curriculum based on the humanities repels many students. Rather than take courses that disinterest them, students should specialize in subjects they enjoy. One should not waste money on an education that does not focus on one†s interests; an education that does not stimulate the student is a failed education. In order to make the most out of undergraduate years, the students should study what interests them. In rebuttal, a liberal education does not suit every personality or preference. However, in the job market, having a liberal undergraduate education and a specialized graduate education gives people an advantage, for not only are they trained specially in their specific area, but they also have a general knowledge of the liberal arts. Students interested in areas such as technology and sciences should take classes that interest them. However, in addition to the sciences courses, rhetoric classes would prove beneficial even in a scientific line of study. Every occupation entails writing in some way, and sharpening one†s writing skills only reaps more benefits when searching for a job. Many people interested in the sciences and technologies specialize during their undergraduate years, and therefore miss out on training in rhetoric. Specialists who take classes to improve writing are better-prepared and more likely for find a job. Another argument of the opposition: people who start specializing during undergraduate years are better prepared for graduate school. They master and excel in one specific area of study. Whereas, it would take someone with a general undergraduate education a longer time to master a specific area of study because of the attention spent on a broad education during undergraduate years. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a general education, students could use the four years to specialize in the field that they enjoy. A liberal education may prove beneficial for students who are unsure about their major, but focused students should not waste their time on general education. Students who know what they want to focus on should specialize their education in order to expedite their college time and either start a masters degree or start their careers. It may take longer for a generally trained undergraduate to specialize in a certain area, but then again, if they are trained in understanding the connection between different areas of study, they may be able to pick up different subjects more quickly. There are really two issues here to refute. First, when studying, why is everything such a rush? People are in a hurry to enter the job force rather than to take their time during their schooling. I suppose the answer to the question is money. While people are in school they pay thousands of dollars and receive very little back in comparison. Once they start working they can begin the payback period. Sadly, those who enter the workforce first do win in the sense that they can start paying back their debt, while the people still in school keep accumulating debt. Second, even if people with a liberal arts education enter the workforce at the same time, they are not at a disadvantage in terms of knowledge capability as the previous argument concludes. In fact, liberal arts undergraduates may be at a slight advantage in terms of useful knowledge. For example, two applicants for a job have both had the same graduate education but one (person 1) had been trained in the liberal arts during undergraduate years, and the other (person 2) had specialized earlier. Assuming the two candidates preformed equally in gradate school, which may not be a fair assumption due to person 2†³s past knowledge and previous study, however, for argument†s sake, assume both were successful in graduate school. An employer would choose person 1 because of the liberal arts background on top of the specialized graduate schooling. An employer would know that people with a liberal arts background are not only intelligent in their specific line of study, but also understand the connection between disciplines, and would choose the person with the broad base of education. In discussing liberal arts training, one assumes that every student who graduates has a well-developed knowledge of all the subjects a liberal education offers. However, it is not fair to assume that every student attending a liberal arts undergraduate school explores each subject extensively and excels in every class. Many students take advantage of the time they spend in undergraduate school by partying on weeknights and coming to class so tired that they cannot concentrate on the lesson, or even worse, they skip class all together. This careless behavior towards schooling hurts not only the students† understanding of the material, but their grades as well. It is time that all upperclassmen graduate with honors rather than just slide by. The effect on the community and world would be astounding. Thousands of great minds graduate from college every year and become success stories like Bill Gates. Imagine every college student intellectually on par with the smartest graduate. Our world would be a different place. That is the place to which we should strive, and we have reached out goal when everyone achieves individual excellence.