Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Free Essays on The Renaissance

â€Å"The Renaissance† This research Term Paper will attempt to prove that one may truly call Donatello a Renaissance person. What is a renaissance person? A Renaissance person can best be described by the following terms Greco-Roman and Judea-Christian. Greco-Roman is not only the Greek culture but also the cultures from Mesopotamia, India, China, and Egypt. Romans had a world wide culture. Jude-Christian is two different cultures: Jewish and Christian. Judeo-Christian combines both the sacred Hebrew Scriptures and sacred Christian scriptures along with the old testaments and new testaments. To begin to understand the Renaissance person, one must understand the Greek ‘view of man’. The Greeks viewed man on earth as being the apex of life because only man can produce civilization and culture and that man should be free. Donatello, real name Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi was born around 1386 and died in 1466. Donatello was an Italian Renaissance sculptor. He was â€Å"generally considered one of the greatest sculptors of all time and the founder of modern sculpture.†1 Donatello was born in Florence, Italy. He started to paint at a young age. He mostly painted nature and people. It is not known when he started to sculpt, but he sculpted both marble and bronze. His lifetime in the arts was separated into three stages; his early Career, Panduan period, and the Late Florentine Period. He had many influences on his work such as Ghiberti, another Florentine artist, and Brunelleschi. Not only did he get influenced by other artists he influenced others after him. Famous artists that Donatello inspired were Michelangelo. â€Å"When he was 17 years old, he assisted the noted sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti in constructing and decorating the famous bronze doors of the baptistery of San Giovanni, Florenc e. Later, Donatello was also an associate of the noted architect Filippo Brunelleschi.†2 He is known to be one of the hardest working artis... Free Essays on The Renaissance Free Essays on The Renaissance â€Å"The Renaissance† This research Term Paper will attempt to prove that one may truly call Donatello a Renaissance person. What is a renaissance person? A Renaissance person can best be described by the following terms Greco-Roman and Judea-Christian. Greco-Roman is not only the Greek culture but also the cultures from Mesopotamia, India, China, and Egypt. Romans had a world wide culture. Jude-Christian is two different cultures: Jewish and Christian. Judeo-Christian combines both the sacred Hebrew Scriptures and sacred Christian scriptures along with the old testaments and new testaments. To begin to understand the Renaissance person, one must understand the Greek ‘view of man’. The Greeks viewed man on earth as being the apex of life because only man can produce civilization and culture and that man should be free. Donatello, real name Donato di Niccolo di Betto Bardi was born around 1386 and died in 1466. Donatello was an Italian Renaissance sculptor. He was â€Å"generally considered one of the greatest sculptors of all time and the founder of modern sculpture.†1 Donatello was born in Florence, Italy. He started to paint at a young age. He mostly painted nature and people. It is not known when he started to sculpt, but he sculpted both marble and bronze. His lifetime in the arts was separated into three stages; his early Career, Panduan period, and the Late Florentine Period. He had many influences on his work such as Ghiberti, another Florentine artist, and Brunelleschi. Not only did he get influenced by other artists he influenced others after him. Famous artists that Donatello inspired were Michelangelo. â€Å"When he was 17 years old, he assisted the noted sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti in constructing and decorating the famous bronze doors of the baptistery of San Giovanni, Florenc e. Later, Donatello was also an associate of the noted architect Filippo Brunelleschi.†2 He is known to be one of the hardest working artis...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Harold Coward Book Review Essay Example

Harold Coward Book Review Essay Example Indian Critiques Of Gandhi By Harold Coward Book Review Indian Critiques Of Gandhi By Harold Coward Book Review In regard with the life of Mahatma Gandhi, Coward argues that the ideology that this great person propagated across India and the world as a whole was formed under the influence of other significant historical figures. Mahatma Gandhi had not only supporters and admirers but also critics who had different perspectives. By considering the arguments of both the legendary leader and his critics, the author in this piece decisively and authoritatively allows the reader to appreciate the strengths and the weaknesses of Mahatma Gandhis real contribution to the Indian nation, as well as the rest of the world. The main arguments revolve around independence and Indian nationalism assuming that Gandhis ideology is seen as not always immaculate contrary to what his supporters may think. Harold Coward Book Review This book plays a significant role in the history of India and its politics as it enlightens the reader as to the pluralist opinion that engulfed and possibly continues to engulf this nation in such aspects as independence, democracy and religion, among other things. In the book Indian Critiques of Gandhi, Harold Coward manages to present Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals in a manner that has been overlooked by most history scholars who have a keen interest in learning Gandhi’s contribution to the enlightenment and independence of India. In addition, Harold portrays Mahatma Gandhi as a magnanimous leader who later worked with his fierce critics to secure his country’s independence; however, the author failed to explore the characters of Gandhi’s critics in full to establish their motives. In Distinct Worlds, the author argues that despite his relationship with Gandhi, Nehru was a very dynamic political activist who did not avoid stating his disagreements and often his disappointments with Gandhi’s ideologies. He saw Gandhi rather differently and considered his views to be rather simplistic and non-political, which made the leader being unable to ride the Indian nation at the next level. India was on the verge of a new awakening while the rest of the world and Nehru believed that Gandhi would have to change his perspective and anti-technological philosophies in order to move in the right direction, with the Indian population behind him. It can be noted here that Nehru is not only a friend and possibly a confidant but also a strong critic who was always willing to express his concerns about India under the guidance of Gandhi (Coward 2003). Untouchability is in this case a key point for Gandhi’s criticism. He may not have believed in untouchability, but he certainly did not dedicate himself to dissolving the caste system that at the time was perceived as a problem. In this argument, the author portrays Gandhi’s inadequacy with respect to fighting for the cause of the untouchables in a manner that would have appeased them. However, he employed a different tactic that did not involve dissolving the caste system but elevated the status of the untouchables giving them equal rights instead of the intended autonomy and privileges that they felt they could have. In Indian Nationalism, Gandhi fails to see the significance of requesting for self rule rather than independence. The non-cooperation ideology here is heavily criticized based on its unsettling nature that would create a rift with the colonial masters. In this case, Annie Bensant is seen trying to convince Gandhi of the evils of fighting for independence through non-cooperation; however, he does not heed her arguments, and in the end, the Indian people get their independence. On one hand, Gandhi was right to fight for India’s independence, but as Annie Bensant had predicted, there was a heavy cost to pay, and in this case, it was the war with England. Nonviolence as a central concept in Gandhi’s philosophy is criticized in the context of its limitations with respect to solving the problems of the Indian people and humanity’s struggles in general. On one hand, Nonviolence may be considered as a positive concept for maintaining peace; but with the extremist sentiments of the Gandhian ideologies, it becomes the vulnerability that would expose the Indian nation to so many adversaries. The remainder of the book then argues about the various groups that had issues with the Gandhian philosophy including the Hindu Mahasabha, the Christian community, the Sikhs and the Indian Muslims. Gandhi is also criticized based on his handling of the Hindu Urdu Question, with a special emphasis on the relevance of his actions considering that he is blamed for the separatist mindset that divided the Muslims and the Hindus in India in the first place. From this book, it can be distinguished that the authors are generally looking for the distinctions in Gandhi’s relationship and perspectives within his circle. Although most of his critics are seen as close friends and acquaintances, it can also be noted that some of these individuals never met him in person, and thus their criticism was based purely on rational reasoning but not on personal connections and sentiments. Nevertheless, some of his close friends also offer very strong critique that contains a generally close argument, which, however, did not affect Gandhi’s opinion or conduct. Evaluation and Analysis Distinct Worlds Jawaharlal Nehru was a close friend and admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, but he did not share the legend’s viewpoint in a number of subjects. In the book, it can be seen that Nehru had a radically different mindset, especially in matters such as technology and reality. He considered Mahatma Gandhi a common man who had rather antitechnological and thus pre-modern views. Nehru especially disagreed with Gandhi on the anti-British mentality that demonized all foreign influences brought about by the country’s colonization by the British Empire. In the book, Harold Coward claims that Nehru saw Gandhi as a rather unpolitical person with a simplistic approach. This did not depreciate his admiration for Gandhi’s heroic actions within India and beyond it, but it does prove the fact that Mahatma Gandhi indeed surrounded himself with people from other philosophies and schools of thought. Coward also argues that Nehru’s deep ideological differences shaped the history of Indi a in that it allowed Gandhi to see the other side of his ideology. He may not always have heeded Nehru’s counsel, but he was able to listen to the counterarguments whenever he could. Some of the credible examples provided by the author include non-violence and the suspension on non-cooperative movements in India. Untouchability Dr. Rao Ambedkar is another outspoken critic of Gandhi who is discussed in the book. He is an untouchable who seeks to fight for the oppressed in the Indian society. It can be appreciated that Mahatma Gandhi did not believe in untouchability and that he himself was a great revolutionary for the causes of equality and the eradication of outcasteness. Thus, it is interesting why an untouchable individual would criticize this great mind. The author explains that Dr. Rao Ambedkar’s quarrel with the Gandhi was based on the fact that Gandhi’s interests went beyond the needs of the outcastes (Coward 2003). He did not devote himself to fighting for their equal rights but rather sought to eliminate their oppression. Dr. Ambedkar wanted Gandhi to empower the oppressed classes by giving them privileges that would ensure they had a political power and social strength regardless of the caste they belonged to. However, Gandhi believed in a complete social democracy where castes were not eliminated, but rather outcasteness became history. The author also argues that this particular critic was fastidious in his call to Gandhi’s championing the rights of the oppressed classes and becoming their hero instead of appearing to fight for the larger society. In regard with untouchability and social equality, it can be noted that a number of people at the time considered Gandhi as a spokesperson for the upper classes that were comfortable with the status quo. Nevertheless, it is more appropriate to see Gandhi only focusing on the sustainability of his actions and legislations. He did not need the laws to acknowledge and respect the untouchables but rather the people to be willing to embrace them and see them as a part of the mainstream society. Indian Nationalism Annie Besant was a pro-nationalist from England whose interests centred around supporting England’s influence on India but fighting for the self-rule such that the Indian government would be able to deal with their own matters as they saw fit. However, this contradicted Gandhi’s dream of independence from the British Empire. The author here argues that being a woman in power in India at a time when orthodox Hinduism oppressed both the women and children, Annie was a great mind and her opinion was highly appreciated in Indian political class. She may have been infamous for her revolutionary views, but she was a very powerful person within her circles. In this case, Home Rule as advocated for by Besant was a way to establish sovereignty in a gradual and rather peaceful way as compared to the revolutionary and chaotic way that Gandhi was promoting. Her ideas in this regard went unheeded, and in the end, it was Gandhi who finished leading the nation to independence despite the chaos and disagreements that arouse between India and England. Another aspect of Annie Besant’s contribution to India’s nationalism would be the connection between religion and politics. Gandhi can hardly be called a very religious man (Coward 2003). He believed in the supernatural, but he did not consider religion to play an important role in matters of the state. However, his interaction with Annie Besant changed this perspective and enabled Gandhi to appreciate the role of religion thus redefining Indian nationalism. Nonviolence Sri Aurobindo Ghose is a renowned Indian nationalist who openly criticized the Gandhian concept of nonviolence. Sri Aurobindo was a guru who never actually met Gandhi in person although the two men knew each other given that they were both popular and their ideologies were widespread. In this book, the author points out the fact that Sri Aurobindo Ghose was not a Gandhian, and thus, his criticism of Gandhi’s ideology is rather rational and not sentimental or biased in their inspiration. According to Sri Aurobindo, Gandhi’s stand and emphasis on nonviolence was rather limited in its potential for aiding humanity in its real struggle. As explained by the author here, nonviolence was totally acceptable in the context of a growing nation that still had much to learn. However, its centrality to the Gandhian philosophy hoever made humanity seem very simplistic and their struggles extremely easy. In his wisdom as a guru, writer and later yogi, Sri Aurobindo was able to study t he subject of humanity in depth and breadth, and in the end, he concluded that the consideration for nonviolence in the Gandhian philosophy is noble in the context that it is peaceful. However, the Indian people need to know and understand that they have to fight for their rights and sustain their position even if it meant walking the line between life and death. In this case, his criticism is based on the significance of circumstances that can only be surmounted practically. In this case, nonviolence would make the people vulnerable to their violent adversaries who have proven to advocate against the Gandhian philosophy. The author here argues that Sri Aurobindo’s perspective brings to light the flaws in Gandhi’s emphasis on nonviolence, especially in the way that it opens the nation to destruction by external enemies who do not subscribe to the same ideology. Hindu Mahasabha The Hindu Mahasabha was a group of Hindu leaders who opposed to the idea of a separate state based on religion. They recognized India as a Hindu state and were thus more comfortable if it remained that way. When Muslims were given a separate political leverage with the backing of Mahatma Gandhi, this group strongly criticized the move. They were not in support of a separate political outfit aimed at appeasing the other religions. In this book, the author argues that the Hindu Mahasabha was a group of Hindu leaders who had the interests of the Indian populace at heart. As one would expect, they were fighting for a united India that did not in any way recognize other religions as part of the political leadership. Rather than the separate electorate created for their Muslim brethren, they wanted a united India where all the people had the same level of power. The Hindu Mahasabha specifically blamed Gandhi for the formation of Pakistan, a separate Muslim state that had the audacity to mo ve away from the Hindu roots of the larger India. It is this criticism that later led to the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi whose appeasing tendencies towards the Muslims and the British were seen as those misguiding the nation and leading the Indian people to their doom. Christian Community Mahatma Gandhi’s view on Christianity was rather stubborn and persistent, and it never changed even considering the deep friendship he had with some of the Christian missionaries. At the time, Christians in India were seen as denationalized individuals who could not demonstrate their nationalistic views (Coward 2003). At some point, the Indian-Christians were publicly known to oppose the idea of self-rule to the point that they were publishing in newspapers in pursuit of the colonial powers to object to the idea. Gandhi’s view on Christianity was mutually exclusive with nationalism. Owing to its foreign origin, the Christian faith was heavily associated with foreign domination in all aspects of life including politics and society. The irony is that Gandhi himself believed in making personal sacrifices and practicing strict discipline in all aspects of one’s life. However, he did not consider Christianity as a way of life that also respected the concept of making the same sacrifices and following a set order in terms of morals and social relationships. In this book, it is argued that the Christian community did not appreciate Gandhi’s philosophies on a number of subjects including the significance of their faith in their life as Indians. The Christians were especially distraught by the way Gandhi saw them as less Indians due to the fact that they subscribed to Christianity as their chosen religion. The criticism of the Christian community often went unheeded despite the closeness that some of the missionaries enjoyed in their relationship with Gandhi. Some of them even took their time to study his ideas, but he never listened to their concerns. It can be observed in this book that Gandhi is portra yed in his rigidity with respect to ideas and perspectives as a man who barely changed his mind. Sikhs The Sikhs were generally disappointed with Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology. Gandhi was known to endear himself to the Sikhs often referring himself to one of them. He was a disciple of the Guru Granth and he even borrowed numerous Sikh influences for his own prayers and arguments. However, the book here indicates that his affiliation for this group could hardly be called mutual. They considered him a man with no conviction seeing as he was claiming to belong to all religions at the same time. He also broke a number of promises, one of which was the deep Sikh blue that was expected to feature in the Indian flag upon its independence. It can be seen that in as far as religious groups go, the Sikhs significantly influenced Gandhi’s views, but they remained silent or rather mildly critical of his ideas and actions. On the other hand, Gandhi was growing increasingly suspicious of the Sikhs as they seemed to be intending to become an exclusive community within India. Their demands for autonomy in matters of culture and religion were in some ways intriguing, and they managed to distinguish his suspicion, which probably lead to his withdrawal from supporting their cause. At this time, the government had only increased their repression of the Sikhs, and it can be noticed that they lost their faith in Gandhi’s ability to champion their cause and get them the kind of power and recognition that they were fighting for. Indian Muslims In regard with this aspect, the author considers only the Indian Muslims who had known and worked with Mahatma Gandhi in person. It can be appreciated that the opinions of the Muslims with respect to Gandhi’s ideology is somehow torn in the middle. The Muslims generally appreciated the fact that Gandhi had provided them with some level of autonomy in terms of their political position within the Indian nation. However, they were also aware of the amount of division that had been cultivated as a result of this miscalculation. There were so many divisions in India, for example, those between the Muslims and the Hindus, and even Muslims and other Muslims based on Gandhi’s ideas. The author here argues that there were four categories of criticism that Gandhi got from the Indian Muslims including those friendly disagreements, varying policy convictions, direction of Gandhi’s leadership for India, and the continuing shift in Gandhi’s stand on a number of issues. It can be noted here that the book presents Gandhi as a dynamic leader who sought to embrace everyone who he found agreeable but was unable to take a stand and support one specific group at the expense of another. In general, he is seen fighting more for India as a whole than for any specific group. The Hindu Urdu Question Mahatma Gandhi can be especially commended for his efforts towards bridging the Hindi-Urdu rift although he found it already in existence. With the creation of Hindustan, he attempted to incorporate aspects of both Hindu and Urdu in the mainstream Indian society, but he failed miserably. This attempt is known to fuel the separatist policies that engulfed the nation drawing a distinct line between Muslims and Hindus at the time. In regard with the Hindu-Urdu question, Gandhi is widely criticized for enabling a further differentiation between the two languages by trying to bring them together in one language. As people sought autonomy and distinction from the others, they continued to develop their chosen language thus straying further from a united language. This means that the Indian people in general viewed the Hindu Urdu controversy’s escalation in Gandhi’s time as a product of his own miscalculations with the Hindustan creation. While Hindustan became popular in the Hindu speaking parts of the country, it was ignored mostly by the Hindus and Muslims of India as a distraction from their deep seated divisive politics. From the author’s perspective, one might agree here that Gandhi should not have attempted to create a uniform language for these communities. He had already done the damage by allowing political autonomy for the Muslims in India, and his efforts to get them back into the mainstream society were viewed as a feeble attempt to correct his initial grave mistake. Harold Coward’s book is a great insight into the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi and especially into the direction of his leadership. This man has been lauded for bringing India to independence, and that is the story that is commonly told from generation to generation. However, the truth behind this story seemingly differs from the common perception as he was not always the ideal leader that one may view him to be from the history books. His critics highlight the strengths and the weaknesses of his ideas and actions, especially in seeking to solve the challenges of the Indian people as a whole. In this book, Gandhi registers more failures than successes as is the truth in reality. The reason is that he believed in simplicity and can somehow be considered as a simple-minded man who thought everything could be solved by making personal sacrifices and practicing moralist ideas. In this book, one is able to understand why India did not prosper as much as it could have if the leade rship had focused on fostering unity more than in dividing the citizens. It can be appreciated that in contrast to the Gandhi who is discussed in most history classes, Harold Coward’s Gandhi is a phenomenal leader with an equal share of phenomenal critics who elicited the flaws in his mindset and in most cases managed to enlighten the public as to the problems that Gandhi created in India’s future.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

History and Political Science Exam Questions Essay

History and Political Science Exam Questions - Essay Example The case study countries can be said to relatively conform to the ideal model of liberal democracy. The three constitutional forms mentioned above are depicted in the case study countries. Political competitiveness is observed in the U.S, Nigeria, France and Russia. Elections are held after a specified period of time, and constitutional provisions allow for free and fair elections. Spain on the other hand practices democracy through a constitutional monarchy. While such a political process may not be competitive, transparency in governance is provided for by political laws. Q2 The growth and development of the civil society is an important aspect of the larger population within a country or a state. The management of human capital in the civil service is primarily undertaken by the civil society, and it therefore accounts for the major needs of the larger society. The development of the civil society and its influence to the state are intertwined. A developed civil society is one tha t accounts for the diversity and dynamisms realized in the state and one that further seeks to match this trend with the performance of the state. It therefore stands a strong ground to significantly influence the state. Q3 Centralization of legislation is the basis upon which unitary states function. This is form of legislature is however not necessarily the best in the contemporary world. Political systems and governments seek to uphold efficiency and effectiveness of governments, thereby delegating legislation duties. The concentration of authority and power to a single unit of governance is longer deemed as an aspect of democracy. As a result, political systems and governments of the modern times tend to create organs of governance that function just as the overhead arm of government. Decentralized legislature is thus a key defining factor of democracy. EXAM 2 Q1 The Rational Actor Model makes four assumptions that fail to conform to the real world phenomena. As a result, the us e of this model in the evaluation and assessment of foreign relations is limited, and to a more extent unrealistic. The model assumes that governments are unitary in nature, cost and benefit analysis is the mode of policy formulation, actors execute decisions faithfully and ineffective policies are optimized through adjustment (Held, 2006, p.329). These assumptions are unrealistic since they do not account for the ulterior motives of actors in foreign relations. On the same note, policy formulation keep conflicting with other policies already in place, and therefore optimality of policies is not realistic. Q2 Foreign policy making is subject to both rational processes and political influences. The extent to which these two factors affect foreign policy formulation and implementation is crucial in determining whether the goals of foreign policy reflect political interests. Foreign policies are formulated and implemented by states that identify foreign relations issues that need to be addressed by these policies. Due to this aspect, the rationality of foreign policy making is lost. This is due to the fact that the emerging foreign policies reflect collaborative political interests, and are therefore deemed to serve purposes that are beneficial to the formulating agencies even when the rationality of these policies is questionable. EXAM 3 Q1 States are endowed with powers within their jurisdiction to formulate and implement policies, among them

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Business strategy in transport Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Business strategy in transport - Essay Example In this context, it can be observed that the economic recession alike many other industries had affected airline industry as well. It can also be observed that apart from a number of benefits prevalent in the EU for starting a new airline service provider, there are certain difficulties that requires to be considered such as uncertain economic scenario, credit crunch, fluctuating fuel price and unpredictable environmental and climatic conditions. Due to these uncertainties, a few full-service airlines in the EU had suffered losses. Despite these certain hindrances the growth prospects which have been observed in the EU region has opened up opportunities for low cost service providers such as Ryan Air and EasyJet. In the EU there is a tremendous prospect of improvement in travel and tourism sector which will provide added growth prospect for a new airline service provider. Low cost operators can make the most of the existing and prospective scenario to leverage benefit out of it (Case Study, n.d.). Therefore, it can be observed that in the existing scenario in the EU, the low-cost operators are being able to earn profits for the shareholders. In this context, the research paper intends to critically examine the prospects of an entrepreneur who endeavours to set up a low cost scheduled airline within the EU. The route that has been selected is between London and Amsterdam. It is identified to be one of the most popular routes on a worldwide basis (Patrikarakos, 2009). The research paper will subsequently attempt to analyse the existing business environment to identify potential barriers to the intended business venture. Critical Analysis of the Business Prospect The intended business venture of the optimistic entrepreneur is towards starting a new low-cost scheduled airline service. From the provided case study, it can be observed that in the present economic context (post-recessionary period), there is a substantial growth prospect for establishing business in t he new venture. It can also be identified that in the present context, in the EU region, there are certain obstacles and losses faced by full service carrier due to few prevailing conditions. Therefore, the most promising growth prospect that can be identified is for the low-cost service carriers. The intended business venture can be started in not only the EU but also throughout the world i.e. Amsterdam to London route, which can be one of the most growth prospect oriented routes According to the intention of the entrepreneur, the new scheduled service will provide low-cost airline service in this particular route only at the inception. It can also be stated that the demand for service is at the optimum level in this route. Thus, a new service has tremendous opportunity to acquire benefits out of the growth prospect which can be from business travellers as well as leisure travellers who are likely to use the services provided by the new low-cost scheduled airline service (Patrikara kos, 2009). The two airports that can be selected for the scheduled airline service are Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which is the prime international airport of the Netherlands, and Heathrow Airport of London, which is one of the busiest airports in not only the UK but also in the world (ACI World, 2011). In this context, it can be identified that the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is situated mere 14 km outside the city of Amsterdam. The

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Qantas Essay Example for Free

Qantas Essay Qantas Airways is an Australian based airline and is a subset of the Qantas Group. It is a public-listed company in the ASX (Australian Securities Exchange). The purpose of this research is to provide information of the Qantas Group focusing on its profitability, efficiency and liquidity for the last 3 years. This research paper also examines the financial analysis and provides other relevant information to support in the evaluation of the company. 1 Company Profile 1.1 History Qantas is the world’s second oldest airline. It was founded in the Queensland outback in 1920 and has been in continuous operation since that date. Qantas is Australia’s largest domestic and international airline and is recognised as one of the world’s leading long distance carriers. The name comes from the initial letters of the words in the original registered title – Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. 1.2 Qantas Group Strategy Safety remains Qantas’ first operational priority and they are committed to maintaining the position as the leading Australian domestic carrier and one of the world’s premier sustainable long-haul airlines through the dual airline brands – Qantas and Jetstar. Qantas aim to maintain customer loyalty by delivering exceptional experiences through these dual brands, in conjunction with Qantas Frequent Flyer. The operating strategy is complimented with a prudent approach to capital management as they seek to deliver sustainable, long terms return to the shareholders. The Qantas Group strategic priorities are illustrated below. 4 1.3 Qantas Overview Qantas is Australia’s largest full service airline carrying 28 million passengers in 2011/2013 on 5,050 flights per week in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Europe. It is a founding member of the oneworld alliance. Qantas is a single integrated airlines providing airline transportation through its two Qantas brands – Qantas and QantasLink Main Markets Qantas’ main markets are domestic and international traffic to and from Australia. Qantas, a wholly-owned group of subsidiaries including QantasLink and Network Aviation, services 57 metropolitan and regional regular passenger transport destinations across Australia and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, as well as 19 dedicated fly-in-fly-out charter destinations. 2011/2012 Passenger Distribution Passenger Revenue Australia domestic 78% 51% International 22% 49% Customers Qantas carries business and leisure passengers Product Qantas offers passengers a premium network product on its extensive domestic and international network and through it oneworld membership, accessing 24 bilateral codeshare agreements (excluding Jetstar and Jetstar Asia with whom Qantas also has codeshare agreements), over 870 destination and 550 lounges. Passengers also have the opportunity to earn and redeem frequent flyer points across its global network. Qantas is focused on both business and leisure travellers by offering a one or two class product on domestic routes and a two, three or four class product for international services. 5 1.4 Jetstar Overview Jetstar commences operations in May 2004. It is the Qantas Group’s low fares airline and the largest low cost carrier in the Asia Pacific region. Jetstar comprises of Jetstar Domestic, Jetstar International and holdings in Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, Vietnam-based Jetstar Pacific and Jetstar Japan. In 2011/2012, its operations carried 18.7 million passengers to over  50 destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Asia Pacific. Jetstar also recently announced its intention to invest in a new airline, Jetstar Hong Kong, with China Eastern Airlines in 2013. Main Markets Jetstar’s main markets are domestic and international traffic to and from Australia. Pan-Asian expansion has strengthened through Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Pacific and Jetstar Japan. New Zealand operations encompass both trans-Tasman and domestic New Zealand markets. 2011/2012 Passenger Distribution Passenger Revenue Australia domestic 57% 51% International 43% 49% Customers Jetstar focused on providing consistently low fares to predominantly leisure travellers. Product Jetstar offers domestic and international passengers a value based product with the flexibility to select additional operations in relation to seating, entertainment, catering, baggage and premium seating on long haul. Jetstar’s continual focus on leading online technology has enabled more innovative ways to book, check-in and board. 6 1.5 Fleet Qantas Group operates fleets comprises of Boeing 737-800, A330-200, A380-800 Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Bombardier Q400 and Boeing 717. Over the next 10 years, the Qantas Group has committed capital investment worth US$23 billion in more fuel efficient, next generation aircrafts such as A380-800, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A320 neo. 1.6 Corporate and Social Responsibilities The Qantas Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 2008. It forms part of the Qantas Group’s commitment to operating in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. The Qantas Foundation focus on two key areas: ï‚ § Initiative that provide an immediate experience for those in need (Changing lives) ï‚ § Experiences and opportunities that empower the next generation of Australians to make a difference in community (Empowering change) To deliver this vision, the Qantas Group leverage off the diverse resources of the  Qantas Group – from their employees, diverse network of suppliers and partnerships, and the use of their own airline. Another initiative that the Qantas Group took on is aiming for a world class performance by protecting the environment for the generations. They aim to reduce their carbon footprint through several proven measures such as: ï‚ § Aircraft weight reduction initiatives ï‚ § Efficient ground power units in lieu of jet fuel driven auxiliary power units ï‚ § Using GPS-based navigation technology to improve operational efficiency ï‚ § Investing in a fuel efficient fleet such as Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 ï‚ § Facilitating a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia On ground, together with their partners, innovative projects and partnerships were set to achieve this goal. One example is the Clean Up Australia campaign; started since 1996, the Qantas Group have been a key corporate partner for the Clean Up Australia Foundation. Key Successes 1. Maintained a downward trend on electricity, water and waste-to-landfill consumption since 2006, despite operational growth. 2. Reduced environment impact between 2005 and 2011: Reduced electricity consumption by 8% Reduced water consumption by 19% Reduced waste-to-landfill by 21% 3. Maintained a downward trend on jet fuel emission intensity 7 2. Key Strategies The Qantas Group has a broad portfolio and a clearly defined strategy with the following core goals: ï‚ § Build on the Groups domestic businesses through a clear focus on the customer ï‚ § Strengthened Jetstars presence across Asia to capture the full benefits of the regions low-cost leisure travel boom. ï‚ § Continue to expand Qantas Frequent Flyer by adding new partners and increasing ways for members to earn and spend points. Some of the changes seen were introducing a new tablet-based in-flight entertainment system called Q Streaming that received outstanding feedback from passengers. New order for 10 Fokker 100 aircraft were placed to extend Qantas reach into Western Australias mining centres as part of the Groups fly-in-fly-out strategy. Jetstars focus in the domestic market remained on building up  capacity on core leisure routes with modern fleet such as the A320 aircraft, adding almost 16,000 extra seats during the year. Qantas Group also expanded alliance with Am erican airlines, attracting consumers from the America regions. 8 2.1 SWOT Analysis on the Qantas Group STRENGTH Strong partnership with other alliance through its oneworld membership; accessing 24 bilateral codeshare agreements over 870 destination and 550 lounges. Passengers also have the opportunity to earn and redeem frequent flyer points across its global network which attracts consumer to choose the Qantas Airways over other airlines. Operate and fly in to many destinations such as Australia (Domestic), New Zealand, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Europe making Qantas Airways the ideal airline to consumers. WEAKNESS Qantas do not have many direct routes and depend heavily on its other airline partners. For example to get across to destinations such as Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, consumers have to transit at Dubai and change airlines to the Emirates to get to their final destination. This turns away consumers who prefer to fly in direct to the country. OPPORTUNITY Qantas subsidiary Jetstar announced its intention to invest in a new airline; Jetstar Hong Kong, in partnership with China Eastern Airlines this year. This expands the flying business into the Chinese market. THREAT The global fuel price increase affects the airline industry. With higher fuel prices, the airlines operating cost increases. To compensate, airline raise ticket prices to generate more revenue which in turn, turn away consumers and force them to look at other airline that provides competitive or even lower prices. Introduction of more low cost carriers from established airlines such as Scoot, a subsidiary airline of the Singapore Airline. 9 3. Ratios 3.1 Profitability Ratio (%) Profitability ratio is used to measure a company’s ability to generate revenue in relation to sales, assets and equity (i.e. often the sum of monies invested). It also shows how effective the company is being managed to stay profitable. Some commonly used profitability ratios include return on equity, return on investment, return on total assets, gross and net profit margins and return on capital employed. Profitability ratios provide investors guidance in their assessment of the company’s financial health and performance. For example, return on investment indicates whether the company is generating enough profits for its shareholders. Net profit margin declined by 0.52% in 2012 while an increase of 0.53% occurred in 2011 as seen in Table 1. It is slightly lower than the industry averages of 1.737% by 0.377%. The decline in net profit margin may be attributed to rising fuel costs, fall in freight, tours and travel revenue. In 2012, Qantas incurred restructuring costs of AUD376 million compared to nil in 2011, which is in relation to their initiative to reduce costs and improve business in the international segment. The other ratios such as Return on assets (ROA) and return on equity also declined to 2.12% and 3.38% respectively in 2012. Profitability Year/Ratio 2010 2011 2012 Industry averages Return on total assets (ROA) 1.76% 2.28% 2.12% 2.630% Return on equity 2.88% 4.26% 3.38% 5.290% Net profit margin 1.35% 1.88% 1.36% 1.737% 10 3.2 Efficiency Efficiency ratios are used to show how well a company uses its assets and liabilities efficiently to be able to earn significant amount of profits. Examples of efficiency ratios include asset turnover, inventory turnover, receivables turnover and payables turnover. Qantas may be considered as efficient in utilizing its resources to generate revenue, with asset turnover showing an increase to 252 days in 2012 compared to 245 days in 2011. Generally the higher a company’s asset turnover, it means the assets have been used more efficiently. From table 2, the number of days taken for creditors to be paid fell to 45.41 days in 2011, however a modest increase of 1.45 days was experienced in 2012. Compared to industry averages, Qantas took a longer time to pay their creditors. On the other hand, number of days debtors took to pay was shortened by 2.09 days in 2012 while there was an improvement of 1.62 days in 2011. However the receivables turnover is a little higher at 19.83 days co mpared to industry averages of 18.45 days. Inventory turnover shows the frequency a company’s inventory is sold and replaced over a period. A high turnover indicates strong sales while a low turnover may imply poor sales and hence excess inventory. Inventory turnover fell to 9.39 days in 2012 compared to 9.72 days in 2011. However the ratio is higher than industry average of 8.52 days. Table 2 Efficiency Year/days 2010 2011 2012 Industry averages Days payable 50.43 45.41 46.86 43.90 Days receivable 23.54 21.92 19.83 18.45 Days inventory 9.19 9.72 9.39 8.52 Asset turnover 234 245 252 284.70 11 3.3 Liquidity Liquidity ratio measures the company’s ability to pay its short term liabilities when due. It is calculated by dividing cash and other liquid assets by the short term borrowings and current liabilities. This will show the number of times the short term obligations are covered by the cash and liquid assets. The short term obligations are considered fully covered and the company is in good financial health if the value is greater than 1. The higher the liquidity ratio, the higher the capability the company possesses to meet its current liabilities. Examples of liquidity ratio include current ratio and quick ratio. Current ratio for Qantas was 0.90 in 2011 and 0.77 in 2012, near industry average of 0.81. In comparison to Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd whose current ratio is 0.65 in 2011 and 2012 (See table 4), Qantas appears more stable though the values of its current ratio are less than 1 for both years. Quick ratio also known as the acid-test ratio focuses on the most liquid as sets, leaving inventory out which may be hard to turn into cash in a timely manner. In the case of Qantas, the quick ratio was 0.71 in 2012, 0.14 drop from 0.85 in 2011, while industry average is 0.75. As compared to Virgin whose quick ratio was 0.61 in 2012, the company seems to be in a stronger position to meet its short term commitments. Table 3 Liquidity Year/Ratio 2010 2011 2012 Industry averages Current ratio 0.93 0.90 0.77 0.81 Quick ratio 0.88 0.85 0.71 0.75 12 Table 4 Growth Profitability and Financial Ratios for Virgin Australia Holdings Limited Liquidity/Financial Health 2010-06 2011-06 2012-06 Current Ratio 0.76 0.65 0.65 Quick Ratio 0.75 0.62 0.61 Financial Leverage 4.15 4.15 4.3 Debt/Equity 2.3 3.21 3.96 Source: 2013 Morningstar, Inc. 13 3.4 Gearing Ratio Gearing ratio compares owners’ equity or capital to borrowings. Gearing is a measure of financial leverage showing the extent to which a company’s activities or operations are funded by owners’ funds against borrowed funds. A high gearing ratio indicates that a company is using debt to pay for its operations and may risk inability to meet repayments in an economic downturn. The situation could be made worse where rates move upwards suddenly. Lenders are generally concerned about excessively high gearing ratio that may put their loans at risk for non-repayment. Some examples of  gearing ratio are debt equity ratio and net interest cover. For Qantas, the gearing ratio increased to 111.21% in 2012 compared to 98.05% in 2011. This means the company used debt instead of equity to fund its continuing operations. However, this ratio is lower that industry average of 130.547%. Net interest cover ratio refers to the ease a company pays interest expenses on outstanding debt. The lower the ratio, the more the company is burdened by debt expense. The company’s ability to meet interest payments may be doubtful when the ratio is 1.5 or lower. In Qantas case, the net interest cover ratio dropped sharply to 1.54 in 2012 against 3.96 in 2011. This ratio of 1.54 is close to the threshold of 1.5 and is indicative that Qantas may face cash flow problems and inability to meet interest expenses should rates increase suddenly. Table 5 Gearing Year/days 2010 2011 2012 Industry averages Net Interest cover ratio 4.16 3.96 1.54 2.35 Gross Gearing (D/E) 95.600% 98.050% 111.210% 130.547% 14 3.5 Investment ratio A shareholder can analyse the financial information available to determine if the investment in a company is of value and quality. The price/earnings ratio is the best known investment valuation indicators and used widely by investment professionals and investors. Generally the stock with a high price earnings ratio indicates that investors expect higher earnings growth in the future. The price earnings ratio for Qantas was 12.23 in 2012, 15.90 in 2011 and 29.14 in 2010. A sharp decline of 13.24 was recorded in 2011 due to market confidence in this stock prior to 2011. However the industry average is 12.25 which may suggest that investors may be less likely to

Friday, November 15, 2019

Essay on Themes of The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome :: comparison compare contrast essays

The Underlying Themes of The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome Two of Edith Wharton’s greatest novels, The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome can be seen to have similarities in the situations the characters go through and themes that are used.   Each of these novels has it’s own themes and traits that makes it great, but  after examining each novel it is evident thatthere are underlying themes that link the two stories together.   Perhaps the most obvious   is the weakness that both Ethan Frome and Newland Archer seem to have in there lives.   The feeling of being trapped, and wanting that sense of freedom is also an important part of both novels.   Of course there are themes and symbolisms within each that contribute to the great differences between the two.   In The Age of Innocence, mortality and immortality is one of the greatest aspects or themes; and in Ethan Frome the weakness of Ethan’s character can be seen as one of the main focus’.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To understand the background on either of these novels, it is best to understand a little of Wharton’s biographical background (this helps to see why similar situations are portrayed in both novels).  Ã‚   Wharton lived in New York city and was raised to be a "daughter of society", always putting forth her best manners and showing   respect to the rituals of society.   This attributed greatly to The Age of Innocence which has been described as "a masterful portrait of desire and betrayal set in New York City of her youth."    Her marriage   to Teddy Wharton is said to be where the basis of thought came from for the novel Ethan Frome.  Ã‚   She discovered that her husband had been cheating on her and supporting a mistress living in Boston, and she soon met and fell in love with someone else too.   In Ethan Frome   the book is viewed by many people as a novel about an affair and the love that Ethan finds in another woman, not his wife.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethan Frome takes place in the small New England village of Starkfield Massachusetts and the scenery and natural surroundings are great aspects of the book.  Ã‚   It is just a boring cold farm town, and often enough the harsh winters cause the people there to become very ill.   The eerie cold helped to create the solemn and tragic mood of this novel, and was a part of the symbolism.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Final Test Review

With respect to sales at those locations, Roz is a. an independent contractor. . ot Trina's agent or employee, or an independent contractor. c. Trina's agent and employee. d. Trina's employee only. 2. Refer to Fact Pattern 17-1. At the shop, Roz and Sara are a. independent contractors. b. not Trina's agents or employees, or independent contractors. c. Trina's agents and employees. d. Trina's employees only. 3. Refer to Fact Pattern 17-1. Trina hires Unity Cleaning Company to clean the carpets of her shop. Trina gives Unity instructions as to what needs to be cleaned and when. Unity is 4. Cody contracts with Drew to act as her agent in a fraudulent marketing scheme.Cody does not successfully complete the scheme. Drew can re cover from Cody for a. breach of contract. b. breach of implied warranty. c. breach of the duty of performance. d. none of the above. 5. Irma retains Jerry as her authorized agent, unaware that Jerry is a mi nor. Jerry enters into a contract with Ken on Irma's be h alf. The contract is a. binding on Irma. b. binding on Jerry and Ken, but not Irma. c. binding on Ken, but not Irma or Jerry. d. void. 6. Jill introduces Kelly to her friends as â€Å"my associate. † Kelly purports to act as Jill's agent in several business transactions with those friends.If Jill is liable for Kellys actions, it will be under . the equal dignity rule. c. the fiduciary principle. d. the good faith statute. 7. Macro Corporation and National Purchasing Company may create an agency agreement a. by conduct, in writing, or orally. b. by conduct or orally only. c. in writing only. d. under no circumstances. 8. Jay holds himself out as possessing special accounting skills. As an agent, he must exercise the degree of skill or care expected of a. a person having those skills. b. an average, unskilled person. c. a reasonable person. d. the principal. 9.Dan, an agent for Eve, signs an agreement with Fred on Eve's behalf but ne glects o tell Eve that the agreement require s the payment of a certain tax. The government prosecutes Eve for failing to pay the tax. Eve is a. liable, because Dan's knowledge is imputed to Eve. b. liable, because Fred's knowledge is imputed to Eve. c. not liable, because Dan did not tell Eve about the tax. d. not liable, because Fred did not tell Eve about the tax. 10. Prospective Enterprises (PE) employs Quinn to buy property for a possible com mercial development. Quinn secretly buys some of the property and sells it to PE at a profit.Quinn has breached a. no duty. b. the duty of accounting. c. the duty of loyalty. d. he duty of notification. Internet Services, Inc. , employs Joe as an agent. During the agency, Joe acquires 11. new skills. After the termination of the relationship, Joe uses those skills in a new Job. Joe has breached a. no duty. b. the duty of loyalty. c. the duty of notification. d. the duty of performance. 12. Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) hires Sam, a real estate agent, to locate investment prop erties for RIC. Sam learns of a warehouse avail able for $100,000, buys it himself, and offers it to RIC for $200,000.Under the reasoning of the court in Case 17. 3, Cousins v. Realty Ventures, Inc. , Sam a. reached the agent's fiduciary duties to the principal. b. did nothing wrong. c. failed to take advantage ofa business opportunity. d. set an unreasonable price based on current market value. 13. Pam is an agent for Refined Chemicals Corporation. Refined Chemicals owes Pam the duty of a. accounting. b. obedience. d. safe working conditions. 14. Regional Products, Inc. , hires Sam to act as its agent. Tina sues Regional for Sam's negligent conduct. Regional's right to sue Sam for an equal amount of damages is the right of a. voidance. b. cooperation. c. indemnification. d. reimbursement. 15. Glen is an agent for High Flight, Inc. On High Flight's behalf and at its request,Glen pays ‘Isa for certain plane maintenance and repair serv ices. Glen's right to obtain the amount of those payments from High Flight arises under the principal's duty of 16. Ann is a businessperson acting as an agent for Business Sales, Inc. (BSI). In an ordinary business situation, Ann a. can contract on BSI's behalf without further authority or ratification. b. cannot contract on BSI's behalf. c. must obtain BSI's written authority to enter into a contract for BSI. . must obtain BSI's later ratification ofa contract entered into for BSI. 17. Lyn may hire employees to work in the Main St. Computer Store that she manages de spite the fact that her employment agreement with Main St. says noth ing about her being able to hire employees. This is a. apparent authority. b. equal authority. c. express authority. d. implied authority. 18. Quick Supplies Company (QSC) requires its customers to pay by check. Ron, a QSC driver, tells customers on his route that they can pay him with cash. When QSC learns of Ron's collections, it takes no action to stop it.Ron steals some of the cash. QSC may be suffer the loss under the doc trine of a. apparent authority. 9. Alpha Sales, Inc. , employs Britney as a sales agent. Alpha gives Britney a furnished office and an expense account. Consumer Retail Company (CRC) orders goods from Britney, who fills the order with goods from Deal EZ Corpora tion. The goods are defective. CRC may recover damages from Alpha on the ground of a. apparent authority. 20. Elin, an agent for First Credit Corporation (FC), enters into an unau thor ized contract with Great Expectations, Inc. (GE), purportedly on FC's be half.This contract a. b. 21. any third party. Elin. Carol hires Dick to act as her agent in the purchase of an office building. Carol does not want the seller to know that she is the buyer, so she asks Dick to epresent that he is buying the building for himself. Carol is a. a disclosed principal. b. an independent contractor. c. an undisclosed principal. d. a partially disclosed principal. 22. Jack says that he placed an order with Internet sales. com, which did not fill it, causing Jack to lose money. If the order was taken via an e-agent, under the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), Internetsales. om can a. claim it did not receive the order but at any rate the risk was Jacks. b. claim it did not receive the order if the firm was not yet aware of it. c. claim it did not receive the order if the order had ot yet been reviewed. d. not claim it did not receive the order. 23. Bizonline. com uses an electronic agent, or e-agent, to perform certain tasks in e-commerce.With respect to the e-agent's actions, Bizonline. com is bound by a. all of the actions. b. only those actions of which Bizonline. com is aware. c. only those actions that Bizonline. com does not refute within ten days. d. nly those actions that Bizonine. com ratifies. 24. Aron, an agent for Bright Sales, Inc. (BSI), enters into an unauthorized contract with Consolidated Corporation (CC) purportedly on behalf of BSI, which refuses to perform. Aron is liable to . BSI and CC for breach of contract. b. BSI for misrepresentation. c. CC for misrepresentation. d. no one. 25. Agnes is a salesperson for Beta Technical Instruments, Inc. (BTI). She misrepresents to Curt, a customer, that a certain device has a certain ca pability. In reliance, Curt buys the device. Liable for this misrepresen ta tion is a. Agnes and b.Agnes only. c. only. d. neither Agnes nor BTI. 26. Elle is an agent for Fresh Food Corporation. Elle makes a mis representa tion when entering into a contract on be half of Fresh with Gala Grocery Stores, Inc. Gala a. is estopped from performing the contract. . may rescind the contract. c. must perform the contract. d. must ratify the contract. 27. AAA Auto Sales, Inc. , employs BBB Collection Company as a collection agent. injures Cathy. Cathy can recover from a. AAAonly. b. AAAor BBB. c. BBB only. d. Cathys insurance company only. 28. Eve hires Frank to do some remodeling work in her office.The relation ship be tween Eve and Frank is client and independent contractor. While working, Frank drops a tool on Gary, Eve's customer, causing an injury. Eve is a. liable to Gary because he was injured on Eve's property. b. liable to Gary unless Franks act is intentional. . not liable because Frank is an independent contractor. d. not liable to Gary because Frank is Eve's employee. 29. Common Carrier Corporation (CCC) employs Don as an agent. Without CCC's knowledge but otherwise acting within the scope of em ployment, Don commits a crime. The state can successfully prosecute a. ccconly. b. CCC or Don. . Don only. d. neither CCC nor Don. 30. Gil is a purchasing agent for H;H Ranch with the authority to buy cat tle at a certain auction. After the cattle have been bought, the agency rela tionship terminates a. automatically. b. following notice to all actual cattle sellers. c. ollowing notice to all potential cattle sellers. d. following published notice in a local newspaper. 31. Myra, an agent for National Buys , Inc. , has often done business with Owen on National's behalf. Myra and National terminate their agency. For Myra and National to avoid liability for later deals, Owen must be no tifled by a.Myra only. b. National only. c. Myra and National. d. neither Myra nor National. 32. Ida hires Jim, a real estate broker, to act as her agent to sell her land for $10,000. Oil is discovered beneath the land, causing its market value to in crease one hundred-fold. The agency agreement is likely . still in force if Ida gives Jim additional consideration. b. still in force if Jim does not mention the oil to prospective customers. c. terminated by mutual consent of the parties. d. terminated by operation of law. Fact Pattern 17-2 (Questions 33-34 apply) Quinn employs Roy as his authorized business agent on April 1.Quinn's son Stan peti tions a court to declare Quinn mentally incompetent. The court grants Stan's request on May 1 . 15. After May 1, the contract, which has not been performed, is a. b inding on Quinn. b. binding on Roy. c. binding on Stan. 34. Refer to Fact Pattern 17-2. Roy enters into a contract on Quinn's be half on May 15, before Roy knows of the court's action. The contract is 35. Mary hires Nina, a real estate broker, to sell her warehouse. The ware house burns down be fore being sold. Nina is a. Marys agent until Marys insurer pays Nina's commission. b. Marys agent until the burnt warehouse is sold. c.Marys agent until the warehouse is rebuilt and sold. d. no longer Marys agent. MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS-Bustness Entities 1. Fred starts up, and assumes the financial risk of, Graphic Ads, a new en terprise. Fred is a. a franchisee. b. a franchisor. c. an agent. d. sole proprietor. 2. Jody owns Kappa Sales, a sole proprietorship. Jodys liability is a. statute and varies from state to state. b. limited to the extent of capital expenditures. c. limited to the extent of his or her original investment. d. unlimited. limited by state 3. Bree, who runs a livestock breeding business, owes the Circle C Ranch $400,000.Bree agrees to pay the Circle C a percentage of her profits each month until the debt is paid. Because of this agreement, the Circle C is a. Bree's creditor and partner. b. Bree's creditor only. c. Bree's partner only. d. neither Bree's creditor nor her partner. Adam, the owner of Adam's Apples, a sole proprietorship, wishes to in crease his busi ness capital. This objective can best be accomplished by a. issuing additional stock. borrowing funds from lenders. . bringing in additional partners. d. none of the above. 5 unlimited. limited to the amount of his or her original investment. capital expenditures. d. imited by state statute and varies from state to state. 6 Amy wants to go into the business of construction contracting. Among the reasons that would probably convince Amy to set up her business as a sole proprietorship would be a. its greater organizational flexibility. . its limited liability. c. its perpetual existence. d. the ease of transferring the business to other family members. 7 Owen and Paula agree to operate an espresso stand. They purchase their supplies and split the costs equally. They agree to share profits equally, and decide that each of them will have an equal say in how the stand will operate.Nothing is put in writing. Owen and Paula have formed a. a partnership. b. a sole proprietorship. c. a corporation. d. nothing because their agreement was not reduced to writing. 8 Computer Networks, LLC, is a limited liability company. Unless indi cated otherwise on Computer Networks' federal tax form, the firm will be taxed as a. a corporation. b. a partnership. c. a sole proprietorship. 9 General Construction, LLC, is a limited liability company. Among the members, a dispute arises that their operating agreement does not cover. The dispute is governed by a. the applicable state LLC statute. b. the federal Uniform LLC Law. c. he International LLC Governing Resolution. 10 Computer Games, LLC, is a limited liability company. Among the mem bers, a dispute arises that their operating agreement does not cover. No statute applies. The dispute is governed by the principles of a. orporate law. b. partnership law. c. sole proprietorship law. 1 1 Sue is considering forms of business organization for her construction-equipment business. For purposes of owning property and being a party to litigation, the form that is not a legal entity separate from its owner is a. a corporation. b. a limited liability company. 12 Tasty Pastry, a retail bakery, is a partnership.In terms of the firm's in come taxes on its profits, each partner is liable for a. a pro rata share only if the profits are distributed. b. a pro rata share whether or not the profits are distributed. c. the entire amount. Dean starts up E-Sites, an Internet service, and leases office space in a build ing owned by Fred. The lease requires Dean to pay Fred a base rental of $250, plus 10 percent of E-Sites' profits, each mont h. The term is two years. Dean hires Gina to work at E-Sites' tech support desk at an hourly wage of $9. 00, plus a commis Sion of 10 percent of the prof its. The term is also two years. 13 Refer to Fact Pattern 19-1.Dean and Fred are a. not partners, because Fred does not have an ownership interest or manage ment rights in E-Sites. b. not partners, because the lease includes a â€Å"base rental. † c. not artners, because the rent includes only 10 percent of the profits. d. partners in a partnership for two years. 14 Refer to Fact Pattern 19-1. Dean and Gina are a. not partners, because Gina does not have an ownership interest or manage ment rights in E-Sites. b. not partners, because the pay includes an hourly wage. c. not partners, because the pay includes only 10 percent of the profits. d. partners in a partnership for two years. 5 Quik Pizza is operated as a partnership. For tax purposes, Quik Pizza a. is a tax- paying entity. b. is required to file an information return but is not a tax-paying entity. . pays 1/2 of the taxes if there are two partners. d. pays 1/4 of the taxes if there are three partners. 16 Jay is a member of Kappa, LLC, a limited liability company. Jay is liable for Kappa's debts a. in proportion to the total number of members. b. to the extent of his capital contribution. c. to the extent that the other members do not pay the debts. d. to the full extent. 17 Dan is considering forms of business organization for his financial advisory firm.Like most states, Dan's state requires that to form a limited liabil ity company, he must file with a central state agency a. rticles of certification. b. articles of formation. c. articles of organization. d. no specific documents. 18 Computer Games, LLC, is a limited liability company. Among the mem bers, a 19 Accounting Applications, LLC, is a limited liability company. Unless indi cated otherwise on Accountings federal tax form, the firm will be taxed as a. a corporation. d. a syndicate. 20 American Products, LLC, is a limited liability company. Rather than dis tribute its reason, American may prefer to be taxed as a.MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS-corporanons a corporation. 1. American Goods, Inc. , is a corporation. Responsibility for the overall management of American Goods is entrusted to a. the board of directors. b. the corporate officers and managers. c. the owners of the corporation. d. the shareholders. 2. Statewide Distributors, Inc. (SD'), is a corporation. Owen is an SDI off cer. Which of the following possess Fifth Amendment rights in a crimi nal case? a. SDI only b. Owen only c. SDI and Owen d. none of the above 3. Federal Home Products, Inc. (FHP), is a corporation. The implied powers of FHP are powers necessary to a. mend the corporate charter. b. bring a derivative suit. c. declare dividends. d. erform all acts reasonably appropriate and necessary to accom plish its corporate purposes. 4. Web Design, Inc. , is a close corporation. Web Design is a. eligible t o make public offerings of securities. b. exempt from corporate duties such as filing a certificate of incorporation. c. generally allowed to restrict transfer of stock. d. taxed in the same manner as a partnership. 5. Acme, Inc. , is incorporated in the state of California and is doing busi ness in the state of Nevada. In Nevada, it is properly referred to as a. an alien corporation. . a foreign corporation. c. a close corporation. d. national corporation. 6. Eve and Fran want to market a new line of cooking appliances. To be taxed the same as a partnership but enjoy limited liability, they should form a. ac corporation. b. a close corporation. c. an S corporation. d. a private corporation. 7. Jean and Nathan want to incorporate to market DVD products. The first step in the incorporation procedure is to a. file the articles of incorporation. b. hold the first organizational meeting. c. obtain a corporate charter. d. select a state in which to incorporate. 8. Ron and Nancy form Eagl e Equipment Corporation.Eagle has a board of directors, overned by its a. board of directors. b. incorporators. c. officers. d. shareholders. 9. Bart and Cary are directors of Digital Designs, Inc. Voting by Bart and Cary at corporate directors' meetings a. may be cumulative. b. may be done by proxy in all states. c. must be done in person. d. all of the above. 10. Intech Corporation makes and sells computer chips. In most states, the minimum number of directors that must be present before Intech's board could transact its business is a. all of the directors authorized in the articles or bylaws. b. a majority of the number authorized in the articles or bylaws. any odd number (so that tie votes are avoided). 11. Joe and Diana form Consumer Goods, Inc. Ultimate responsibility for policymaking decisions necessary to the management of corporate affairs rests with Consumer's a. board of directors. 12. James and Quincy are directors of Monroe Investments Corporation. Monroe has fifty-two shareholders. A dividend on Monroe stock can be declared by a. one member of the board. b. a majority vote of the board. c. a majority vote of the board and majority vote of the shareholders. d. a unanimous vote of the board and majority vote of the shareholders. 13. Visual PlayCompany makes DVD players. Visual Play is like most cor porations in that its officers are hired by the firm's a. board of directors. c. other officers. 14. Frosty Drinks Corporation distributes soft drinks in the Midwest. Frostys board of directors can delegate some of its functions to the firm's a. incorporators. b. officers. c. shareholders. 15. Coast-to-Coast Distribution, Inc. , is a direct-mail distribution company. Like most corporations, Coast-to-Coast's employees include its a. board of directors. 16. Fran is a director of Global Enterprises, Inc. To the corporation, Fran owes a duty of a. care only.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

What Gives Us More Satisfaction: the Pursuit of Our Desires?

What gives us more satisfaction: the pursuit of our desires or the attainment of them? People have diverse definitions of happiness. Psychologists relate happiness to emotions and feelings of gratification. Economists define happiness in terms of wealth of individuals. Some people attribute happiness to attainment of desires. Some others believe that satisfaction lies in accepting the fact that human life is miserable and expectations just betray men. But where does real happiness and satisfaction lie?Although attainment is the objective of every pursuit and sense of accomplishment is an ingredient for further progress but still desires and destinations don’t completely satisfy humans yet it is the pursuit which instills a positive attitude towards life and struggle, makes the process enjoyable, it explores ones capabilities and eventually enables humans to transcend from petty pleasures to the higher purposes of their life. Happiness is not something to be derived from achiev ements as such; rather it comes after the pursuer who knuckles down for his desires.The proponents of attainment of desires say that achievement of desires, the motive of every pursuit, is the only way to happiness. They support their claim by saying that achievement is the final point of all human actions done in regard to pursuit of particular desire and outcome is what determines happiness not the pursuit. They exemplify that people and nations who have attained more are better than those who have attained less. Some economists went so far to claim that GDP and GNP can also measure the happiness level of nation. However, supporters of this point of view fallaciously ascribe happiness and pleasure to attainment.Attainment does not necessarily give us happiness and contentment. Furthermore, the example that they cite to support their point is hardly persuasive. This can be proven by the recent study conducted by WHO on over 90000 citizens of various countries. The study found that affluent nations like France (21 percent), New Zealand (18. 2 percent) and the United States (19. 2 percent) had the highest depression rates and people are unsatisfied for their lives, while lower-income countries such as China (6. 5 percent) and Mexico (8 percent) had the lowest incidences of depression. This discontentment is ecause the man, who acquires things easily, cannot stay satisfied and contented for long. Pursuit is better than attainment in the sense that they keep a person alive and satisfied in his work and also synergize his desires in accordance to his pursuit and eventually give him a bigger reward. Sense of accomplishment no doubt comes with attainment of desires and tangible success. Humans feel confident when they have success. Their achievement brings a positive attitude, and proud feeling. Still it would be quite superficial to say that attainment can give a kind of lasting happiness.In fact accomplishment and the happiness associated with it are based little on the net outcome but the way we reach our outcome. Thomas Paine rightly says, â€Å"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly† (qtd. in Bogle 36). It is our pursuit and hard struggle that gives everything its meaning and contribute to human happiness. For instance, Sir Edmund Percival Hillary would have no charm in conquering Mount Everest if he could do it by an elevator; similarly there is no point in conquering moon and mars if humans could do it as easily as climbing on the roof of house.The greater the pursuit involved in any achievement the greater the charm, thrill and pleasure of doing it. Furthermore, it is human nature to want what we don’t have. Human brain values distant things very attractively and our imagination also magnifies the importance of that particular desire in our mind. We struggle for things but once achieved they lose their fervor. This is the time when the person who exclusively focuses on attainment realizes that human life is a wretched life and desires don’t satisfy us. These are mere illusions which keep us busy.However, the person who has struggled for the thing has enjoyed the whole pursuing process and he is satisfied because his struggle, irrespective of outcome, has proved his capabilities and hard work. Pursuit of goals provides humans with real pleasure by giving him bigger success. Pursuit is not only the struggle but it is a whole paradigm which can inspire a person to keep working hard to achieve his goal and redefine the new goals after the achievement. Pursuit oriented persons dream bigger in life and they are more idealistic in their approach.It’s in fact the unending pursuit that bears the sweet fruit of extraordinary success and satisfaction. For instance, Alexander Fleming, Nobel laureate in medicine, never knew that he would win Nobel Prize. He even never aimed at discovering the Penicillin. He was just pursuing his inter est of studying microorganisms with devotion. The discovery of Penicillin, the noble prize and the title ‘Father of Biology’ were the by-products of his pursuit (Sir Alexander Fleming – Biography). Another point illustrating importance of pursuits is that pursuit has many gains in addition to the goal. It has content in itself.It is human nature that he finds himself satisfied in efforts towards his goals. â€Å"The human animal, like others, is adapted to a certain amount of struggle for life, and when by means of great wealth homo sapiens can gratify all their whims without effort, the mere absence of effort from his life removes an essential ingredient of happiness† (Russell 30). Thus, people enjoy the hard work only when they are interested in pursuits rather than in desire. History shows various relevant examples, â€Å"Louis Pasteur was so buried in his work on his wedding day that he entirely forgot the ceremony and had to be fetched by a friendâ⠂¬  (Avery).Similarly, John Nash, a great economist, found that his interests, fun and pleasure lie in Economics and its understanding. It is the pursuit which gives Stephen Hawking enough pleasure and happiness that despite of all his physical disabilities he is still living a contented, meaningful and productive life. Famous American philosopher and poet, Henry David Thoreau, says, â€Å"Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder† (qtd. n Brentar 36). An attainment oriented person always focuses on the upcoming excitement and pleasure because the purpose of his attainment is neither struggle nor pursuit. But do excitements and luxuries give us happiness? â€Å"A life that is too full of excitement is actually an exhausting life in which continually stronger stimuli are needed to give the thrill that has come to be thought as an essential part of pleasure† (Russell 62). And a time comes when it becomes almost impossible for humans to satisfy themselves with attainment of desires and excitements.For instance, Maharaja Patiala in spite of having all the luxuries and attainments could not withstand boredom and died of unhappiness and discontentment (Collins and Lapierre). For a happy life it is necessary to pursue for desire, as pursuit is never ending and it also modifies your goals and desires. This brings us to conclude that all the extra ordinary successes have been made possible by the great pursuit undertaken by human beings.Pursuit by virtue of stretching the human capabilities beyond their limits, enriching human personality with positive attitude and by creating a balance in life provides us real imperishable happiness. A pursuer finds contentment, learning and development for him in every struggle irrespective of the result. On the other hand an attainment oriented person is more interested in net outcomes, therefore, he finds his happiness confined and diminishing. It is pursuit which makes human entity superior to his attainments and transcends his happiness beyond his desires.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Free Essays on A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal

show that the mourner’s view of death is the same as nature’s view of death and different from a human’s view of death. Nature does not fear death; it uses death as a tool to grow, whereas humans view death as being finality, the ending of a life, not continuing to add to the growth of anything. The next stanza depicts his beloved’s current position. Lines 5 and 6 describe the things that his love is no longer able to do. The negation ... Free Essays on A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal Free Essays on A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal The Meaning of â€Å"A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal† Usually any writing on the topic of death, from a novel, to a newspaper article, is written in a negative light. But an eight line poem written by William Wordsworth titled, â€Å"A Slumber Did My Spirit Seal† shows death in a positive light. Even during one of the most depressing types of deaths, the death of a loved one, the mourner of this poem finds the positive aspects of his lost. The poem is divided into two stanzas. The first stanza merely states the obvious, the fact that his sweetheart is now dead. The first line of the poem is confirmation of this fact, his sweetheart is his spirit, and now his spirit is sealed in slumber, in other words, dead. But the fact that the poet chose the word seal to describe the death suggests that even though she is dead she will always be sealed within is heart. The second line gives the reader a glimpse into his view of death. The writer had no â€Å"human fears† which implies that he did not fear what humans feared, which is death. He is stating that he does not fear death. The next two lines describe her condition. She can no longer age because she is now dead. But the word Evans 2 earthly implies that she can no longer feel the touch of nature aging. The use of the word earthly also uncovers the mourner’s view of death as being merely a part of nature. The adjectives in front of the rhyming words fears and years in Lines 2 and 4 place a significance on the meanings of those lines. These words show that the mourner’s view of death is the same as nature’s view of death and different from a human’s view of death. Nature does not fear death; it uses death as a tool to grow, whereas humans view death as being finality, the ending of a life, not continuing to add to the growth of anything. The next stanza depicts his beloved’s current position. Lines 5 and 6 describe the things that his love is no longer able to do. The negation ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Proud and the Prudish

The Proud and the Prudish The Proud and the Prudish The Proud and the Prudish By Mark Nichol This post discusses two words that because of their disparate meanings are not easily recognized as cognates, as well as a couple of others that are, as a result of disguised spelling, perhaps equally unlikely to be associated. The words detailed here derive ultimately from the Latin verb prodesse, meaning â€Å"useful,† by way of prode (â€Å"advantageous†). The descendant French adjective prud, meaning â€Å"valiant,† was borrowed into English as proud but came to refer not only to esteem of oneself or another but also arrogance. It also pertains to exultation or spirited behavior or to magnificent display. (By extension, it also refers to a raised or swollen prominence, such as when referring to a scar.) The state of feeling proud in the senses of both reasonable and excessive esteem is called pride, and one considered to have too much pride is called prideful and suffers from pridefulness. (In addition, inspired by the regal bearing of lions, a group of these animals is called a pride.) Meanwhile, prowess, meaning sometimes â€Å"bravery† but usually â€Å"skill† (generally in physical feats), derives from prud. Prude, referring to a person of excessive modesty, also stems from prud. In that word’s sense in French of â€Å"brave,† it became part of the compound prudhomme, or â€Å"brave man.† The feminine equivalent, prudefemme, referred to noblewomen, who were expected to demonstrate propriety, but the first element came to pertain to an excess of that quality to the point of priggishness. The quality of being a prude is prudery or prudishness, and such behavior is described as prudish. A related word not easily recognized as such is improve, stemming from prode and meaning â€Å"make better† or â€Å"make good use of.† An act of improving, or something improved, is an improvement, and something that can be improved is improvable. Self-improvement, meanwhile, is an act or process of attempting to improve one’s circumstances in life. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Idioms About TalkingYay, Hooray, Woo-hoo and Other Acclamations20 Classic Novels You Can Read in One Sitting

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Identify one problematic aspect of Human Resource Management that Essay

Identify one problematic aspect of Human Resource Management that related to your organization - Essay Example On their way to becoming a part of the team, there can be many conflicts, disagreements, and unfortunate events. One major hurdle in achieving harmony among the members is the diversity that they have. The diversity involves age, education, religion, ethnic background, gender, pay scale, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation etc. Like any modern organization, oil & gas companies also seek diversity in their workforce in order to bring a variety of skills. Diversity in a workplace inevitably entails some problems. The biggest problem is created because of prejudices and lack of acceptance. The world consists of many cultures which are very different from each other. People have developed types and they identify other people using stereotypes. People are classified as Americans, Asians, Africans, Indians, Mexicans etc., and these classifications are so diverse that it is almost impossible to number them. Also, there are classes within classes. For instance, there are diff erent types of Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and Jews etc. People are also discriminated against if they are homosexuals. Further, when people come from diverse cultures, they are bound to have different lifestyles. Little appreciation is shown in today’s world for each other’s lifestyle. ... When people are from different cultures, they might speak different languages. With English having become an International language, this problem is solved to a great degree. However, there is also a non-verbal communication and certain gestures are only understandable by a certain culture. They have different values, beliefs, behaviors and assumptions about the world (Alexander, 1988). The more the people are different from each other, the harder it is for them to communicate. In oil & gas companies in The Middle East, recruitments are made from almost all over the globe. The personnel consist of people from the Far East and the sub-continent to workers from Europe and the US. In a professional organization, people learn to respect each other and they try their best to get along. However, there are certain values that are not commonly believed. For instance, the workers from the West have the habit of having platonic relationships with women. In their society, it is very common that a man and a woman are friends. However, platonic relations are very uncommon in Muslim cultures. The Arabs and other Muslims frown upon the platonic relations that the others have. Following the lead of the West, some Muslims may also have platonic relations but they are then questioned by their own communities. Therefore, a web of sophisticated problems is weaved. Drinking wine or alcohol is also prohibited for the Muslims in their religion. They stay away from alcohol but the non-Muslims do not do the same. While sitting in a mixed gathering, it often happens that a non-Muslim unknowingly offers a drink to a Muslim but the offer is rejected in a very emotional manner. This can lead to a verbal or a physical altercation. Even if it does not, it gives

Friday, November 1, 2019

Using Critical Thinking Effectively as a Leader Essay

Using Critical Thinking Effectively as a Leader - Essay Example Without critical thinking, chances of success as a leader are minimal. In this paper COBOL Systems, a fictitious IT company which deals in software and hardware, will be used as a reference point. The paper will focus on the critical thinking problems plaguing COBOL and how they can be solved. COBOL Systems manufactures and distributes computer software and hardware. It deals with several high-profile companies in the United States, taking care of their IT needs and offering technical support. The company was formed in 2002 by two young IT graduates with ambitious ideas on how to approach the IT segment. COBOL has since grown to become one of the largest IT firms in the United States. Revenues have grown and new branches have been opened to cater to serve their expanding clientele. It is not all good news however. The last 2 years have seen the company lose out on major deals to rivals, suffer a decline in market share, and launch underwhelming products. In January the board hired an auditing and consulting firm to help it determine what the problem was. There was a problem, that much was clear, but what was it? COBOL has a hierarchy-oriented culture. This means the company is structured, controlled, and leans heavily towards stability, efficiency and doing things right. This is not surprising considering COBOL is run by young, dynamic and highly-educated people who know what to do and how to get it done fast. However, this culture is unbalanced and lacks a quality desirable in all successful firms. Efficiency is not effectiveness, and quick execution does not mean excellent execution. The company lacks critical thinkers who can combine dynamism and efficiency with analytical sharpness to harness its potential. For instance, COBOL recently launched new risk management software that increased efficiency by 20 percent. However, the presentation and marketing of this software was so poor