Monday, September 30, 2019

Spel Case

After killing the friend who was left with the shortest straw, the remaining plunders are rescued a couple weeks later and shared their story with their community. The friends are soon met with charges of homicide and disapproval from the public for their lack of moral awareness. This essay will argue that murder is Justifiable when the reality of grim conditions exists. Consequences from such an action do not come to mind when decisions are based solely on emotions and not made with morals and ethical obligations set by society.The spelunkers depended on the murder of one of their friends in order to survive. In a normal situation, these friends would never purposely hurt, let alone ill, one another. The Intent of the person killing Is something to consider. When confronted with the dilemma of having Limited resources, killing each other was the only option for food. The special circumstance these friends were faced with, led too violent act of survival. The spelunkers waited a week after being trapped before normally commit, but cannibalism is something they would not practice either.The thought of eating human flesh to the average person is not desirable. But when put in extenuating circumstances, the reasonable person would do anything in order to live. The immense amount of pressure the friends experienced in making this decision was heightened by the hunger in their bellies and the fear in their hearts. Still, aggression and violence is usually associated with murder. That is not the case in this situation. There was no plan to purposefully and maliciously kill one of their friends before they were trapped.Death was the inevitable future of the four friends and the act of killing the randomly chosen friend brought that reality forward. The system that the spelunkers chose in picking who would die for the greater good of the group was a fair method. One person was not singled out to be killed for any other reason besides having the shortest straw and to be the emergency food source. This is validates that killing one of their friends was only to increase their chances of living. Murder, even though a drastic measure to survive, was absolutely necessary due to the reality of their dire situation.Once the spelunkers were caved in, the reality of their fate was sealed and the probability of surviving this disastrous event was unlikely. The friends had no idea that a trip full of adventure and fun would lead to such a tragic decision. When the subject of reality comes up, the idea of life and existence follows. Human beings have instincts that help them adapt and thrive in unfortunate mishaps. When lives are threatened or challenged, the truth is, people will do anything in their power to save themselves. The case of the spelunkers is no different.Even though the idea of having to kill and eat their friend is unwelcome, it was the best option for survival. There are some things in life that are uncontrollable and the natural occurrence o f a cave-in is Just that. The spelunkers had no connection to the outside world and the session to kill and eat another human was made in the security of their own world, away from the rules of society. Though unintentional, the reality of the spelunkers' situation led to an irreversible decision, in which the consequences were an afterthought.Consequences usually have a negative connotation associated with them. The dire circumstances in which the friends were in, led them to make choices in order to survive. The repercussions the three friends would face were an afterthought in light of trying to survive. In the moment of making the decision to kill another human eyeing, the last thing on their minds was what people would think of them afterwards. They were simply trying to live. Instead of being regarded as brave and courageous in the eye of death, the remaining spelunkers were shamed and ostracizes from society for killing their friend.To be snubbed by the community where one li ves is very difficult to process, especially after the ordeal they Just went through. Then to be categorized as murderers and charged with homicide is unfair. The rules of law should not apply to special circumstances like the case of the spelunkers. If the here friends had not killed their friend and ate him, they would not be alive to tell their story. The consequences of being shunned by the community and being charged with murder, though unanticipated, undoubtedly stirred up emotions of guilt and shame for doing what they needed to do in order to survive. Tit feelings such as fear, despair, or hopelessness, the human mind can make decisions it would not normally. The spelunkers went through a spectrum of emotions before and after the killing of their friend. Being presented with such a calamitous situation, such as being trapped in a cave, can induce a state of panic and anxiety. As much as the four friends wanted to stay calm and wait patiently for help, the idea of dying was t oo frightening. The simple fear of not being able to survive due to limited resources prompted the idea of drawing straws.After the straws were drawn, reality set in that one of them would be eaten. And for the three friends to not feel remorse or guilt after killing their friend was nearly impossible. This act was not an easy one and the remorse and guilt will not go away. Without the sacrifice of the friend who died, none of the men would be alive. The friends are grateful and appreciative for their friend's sacrifice for them to live, yet sad and remorseful that their situation led them to that conclusion.Since the spelunkers were faced with fear they may not live, they acted with their emotions instead of the morals they would have normally abided by in everyday life. Having morals helps people chose from right and wrong doings. For the most part, the majority of humans would not result to violence or murder in a normal, everyday circumstance. There must be a catalyst for such b ehavior. In the case of the spelunkers, their feelings superseded moral consideration based on the fear of death. The emotionally charged spelunkers thought with their hearts and not with their minds.So is the difference between emotions and morals. The friendships that the four men shared were strong and the loyalty they had to one another was proven by the participation in drawing straws. This moral dilemma was the ultimate test of the bond the friends shared. The three friends should not be held responsible for murder based on their limited options of survival. The men's' morals did not come into consideration when trying to fight to stay alive. Though the decision to kill their friend for the benefit of the group's survival is questionable, the spelunkers should not be charged with homicide.Killing someone under any other circumstance is a plausible reason to arrest and charge someone of murder. But the reality of the situation is, if the spelunkers had enough resources and if e motions such as fear for survival did not exist, murder would not have occurred because their morals would tell them that the consequences for such action, such as the absence of their friend, being charged for murder, and being ostracizes, was not worth it. The truth is, the spelunkers had no other choice but to omit this powerful act if they wanted to stay alive.And, if they had not killed their friend, four people would be dead instead of Just one person. Every day, people are faced with moral dilemmas and controversial subject matters. Those people are no different than the spelunkers. Although the circumstances surrounding this controversy are not a normal, fear can drive people to do things they would not typically do. If the roles were reverse and if anyone else were in the place of the spelunkers, it would be a challenge for people to accept death without trying everything they could to survive.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Analysis of short stories by Thomas Hardy Essay

Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 and died in his late eighties. As a child Thomas Hardy spent most of his time in a small village near the edge of a wild moor land, which he called Egdon Heath in his stories. Hardy’s early years were spent at home in front of a warm fire with his grandmother and parents telling him stories about the neighbourhood that they had lived in for generations. Hardy’s â€Å"Wessex tales† and many other stories were all based on what he had seen through out his life and named his surroundings with what he wanted such as the nearest town, Dorchester, was changed to Casterbridge. Thomas Hardy created â€Å"Wessex†, and his short stories, like â€Å"Wessex Tales†. Wessex is based on a real worldly environment, an area in the South West of England that in real life includes counties such as Dorset, Somerset, Oxfordshire and Devon. In the days before televisions and films and in countries where many could not read, people still loved stories. Instead of seeing or reading them they heard them. People told each other stories and gossiped about what is happening around the neighbourhood, which was very small at the time. Since â€Å"The Superstitious mans story† is written in an anecdotal style it connects with how people used to gossip. At the beginning of â€Å"The Superstitious mans story† the words, â€Å"as you may know† are used giving readers an instant clue that this story is anecdotal. By using this anecdotal style Hardy immediately captures the reader’s attention by making them feel part the story. Hardy takes particular care to establish this style and uses dialect words to add authenticity such as, â€Å"he came near ‘ee;† and â€Å"who told me o’t,†. The text is written in the 3rd person, which gives the sense of a speaking voice with the narrator telling a past event to someone else about ‘William Privett’. â€Å"The Superstitious mans story† is set around l891, which was when it was written. Hardy creates suspense by the description of William Privett as a person who gave you â€Å"the chills† if he stood behind you, â€Å"anywhere behind your back†¦. close by tour elbow†. The general structure of â€Å"The Superstitious mans story† is episodical, and each one begrudges a totally different storyline than the next. The point of writing the story in episodes is to hold back certain information and, in turn increase tension and drama and keep us wondering what is going to happen next. In all of his stories the writer puts ‘little hints’ forward to make us vary of what is going to happen next and try and make us understand the true horror of the story. He uses them to suggest that something rather conspicuous is going to happen. Such hints as â€Å"William was in good health, to al in appearance†. The writer could have just said â€Å"William is in good health† but by adding â€Å"to all appearance† it makes us think more of what is going to happen. The Ending of â€Å"The Superstitious mans story† is predictable as you instantly expect that William Privett goes into the church on midsummer’s eve and does not come out again, he is going to die. According to superstitions anyone who goes to church on midsummer’s eve and not come out again is alleged to die in the near future. However what is not predictable is the anti-climax that the writer adds on to the story for effect. He states that William Privett is seen again, after he is dead at the spring where his son had died. This was rather unusual or strange in the context of the story because we did not know about his son dying and also did not expect William Privett to be seen again. Another of Thomas Hardy’s stories titled â€Å"The Withered Arm† is great in description as he uses this innate gift to express someone or something in the deepest form which could actually help the reader picture the person or object clearly. First of all, we can see clearly that marriages could only happen between people of the same class and that it could only be between social equals and this is one of the aspects of that the society judged a person on. Farmer Lodge was of a high class so married Gertrude, a beautiful young lady, also of high class. By doing this Farmer Lodge left Rhoda, who is of lower class. The reason why Rhoda sends her son to spy on Farmer Lodge’s new wife is to see if she is of equal society and is more beautiful, which was also looked on by society – the appearance of a person. Rhoda presumes Farmer Lodge married Gertrude because she is beautiful and well off. This can be proven by the quote, â€Å"And if she seems like a woman who has ever worked for a living, or one that has been well off, and never done anything, and shows marks of a lady on her, as I expect she do†. Another major point of society was their superstitions, and the effects they had on people’s character. Superstition is first introduces in â€Å"The Withered Arm†, is through the dream Rhoda Brook has, and how society made certain people victims of their superstitions making them victims of societies beliefs. This is proven by the quote, â€Å"she knew that she had slyly called a witch since her fall†. This is written when Rhoda Brook wonders if she did have powers after she had a dream of Gertrude where she hurts her and she finds out that she really is and begins to question. The impact of society can be seen when Gertrude finds out that her husband likes her less because of her withered arm and because of that, she longs and craves for a solution and tries many cures, which turns her into a superstitious person as she is willing to believe in any cure just to get her husbands attention and love back once more. In this story we see Farmer Lodge’s clothes as, â€Å"big great golden seals hung like a lord† while Gertrude wore a, â€Å"White bonnet and a silver coloured gown† showing Hardy’s descriptive talents, which makes one understand that the way they dressed, was with so much sophistication and this clearly showed their position in the neighbourhood. â€Å"The Withered Arm† tends to be based on unfairness in society as people are said to be hung for minor things such as, â€Å"horse stealing†, â€Å"arson† and â€Å"burglary†, and sometimes not for the genuine reason of committing a crime, but so that an example would be set for other people so as to not to make the same mistake. This is shown when Thomas Hardy writes, â€Å"they are obliged to make an example of him, there have been so much destruction of property lately†. Nevertheless, â€Å"The Distracted Preacher†, another of Thomas Hardy’s collection is tragic as it based on how pious people were in Victorian times about religion. â€Å"The Distracted Preacher† is set in a town called Nether-Moynton, which was recreated by Hardy from a place near Dorchester called Owre Moyne (Owermoigne). Again society shows how people reacted towards appearance. The minister was good looking so it caused people to say, â€Å"Why didn’t we know of this before he came, that might have gived him a warmer welcome! † With â€Å"To Please His Wife† Being bases on how a class in society and being well dressed can give you some powers over women and marriage. Overall I think that Thomas Hardy recreated his life time by using multiple storylines as â€Å"The Superstitious Mans Story† is based on superstition, and â€Å"The Withered Arm† based on how beauty and appearance affects status in society. â€Å"The Distracted Preacher† is based on, to some extent, religion and â€Å"To Please His Wife† is about authority and jealousy affecting true love. All of these ‘life-like’ events are events that take place in someone’s life, and some how these collections of stories are like a deeply evolved and highly detailed diary of Thomas Hardy’s life.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Discuss and compare the five market orientations that a company may Essay

Discuss and compare the five market orientations that a company may adopt when carrying out its marketing activities. illustrate your answer with examples - Essay Example To start there was the Production Orientation. The centre of this orientation is to mass-produce with ease. A well-understood sample of Product Orientation is the Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford added to the Model T Ford; an auto car that was quiet inexpensive during its production2. This item was mass created so that the creation expenses could be lessened empowering it to be more reasonable to clients. One of the constraints to this introduction is that new market contestants have the capacity to recreate the low-cost mass item turning out to be coordinate rivalry and at times very nearly kicking others out of the business arena. Moreover, General Motors had made this practicality real to the onlookers when it almost kicked Model T Ford out of business. Taking after the Production orientation was the Product orientation. This kind of orientation expects that shoppers will be attracted to an item that has the most positive execution, quality, and creative highlights. The orientation can in any case be seen largely at work aural the Apple Company. Apple is celebrated for its current innovation progress, continually presenting new patterns aural the cell telephone industry. Apple concentrates on creating new items that shoppers do see the significance, and afterward markets these items as excellent must-haves3. Likewise, with each orientation the item orientation has its burdens. An impediment to this orientation is it may prompt marketing myopia. Marketing myopia is the course in which organisations fizzle because of lack of concern and a foolish personality set of completely comprehension what business they are in. For example, rail lines; however, illustrations are obvious today all over, for example, the daily paper and phones. Following the Product Orientation was the Sales Orientation. The Orientation stipulates that with a specific end goal to accomplish vast volumes of yield it must concentrate intensely on sales promotion. This disposition created

Integration of the strategy components in achieving Broadway cafs goal Essay

Integration of the strategy components in achieving Broadway cafs goal - Essay Example This means that if the venture has a negative value of the returns or profitability, it is too risky or not profitable, and, the company should reconsider investing in the venture. Broadway Cafe has a rich history in the restaurant business. With modern technological development, the Business has to acquire a niche with the intent of competitively edging out its competitors in the business. IT strategies coupled with appropriate ethic codes would not only protect the older customer base but also introduce the new generation of internet accessible customers. The system also factors in the need to show employers that are not only IT compliant but also customer and environmental friendly. â€Å"Integration of the strategy components in achieving Broadway cafes goal† The Combined use of e-Business, employee ethics together with consumer confidence will provide synergy required in the management and daily operation of the Broadway cafe. This synergy provides a simplified and summar ized vision of the business. With the ventures primary customer base being the MSU students, (an IT compliant public) an e-Business would be more attractive to them. Broadway Cafe expects to acquire a facebook and twitter account as well as other social media sites to seek membership from this population as a way of expanding its customer base. This membership would raise home deliveries, online booking, gift vouchers, and other niceties to pull them. With the additional setting up of a website, it would be simple to reach more customers through advertisements. A broadband service would also be available to ensure that customers comprise time to enjoy their meals plus a moment to surf the Internet. This strategy aims at attracting and retaining clientele that are time conscious, Internet responsive, and also the holidaymakers who prefer their orders delivered to their localities (Amor 207). Eco-friendly clients would also have the opportunity to meet e-tickets and receipts while the business would cut down the costs of purchasing pare receipts. The development of updated customer friendly employee ethics would be manifest. This will ensure that the employees have not only real working conditions but also customer ethics that can attract and retain customers. Most of the other competitors fail to initiate established employee ethics and this situational strategy hopes to capitalize on this tool as a sense of outplaying the other competitors in the business. Furthermore, customer security would equally become crucial. Customers are currently conscious about their safety especially within populated areas such as eateries and other social places. This is as the result of terrorist threats, cyber crimes, and social safety concerns. Broadway cafe hopes to initiate work ethics codes, consumer welfare and employee protection. With the introduction of the Biometric system, customers would be required to provide individual information. It is fundamental to ascertain tha t the management and utilization of such information would be achievable through careful process. The customers will recoup their biodata at will to build their dependence on the business. The Estimated Returns The business expects to source for money in order to achieve these strategies. The financing classification that is most suitable incorporates loans. The company has sourced for a web developer and a forensic officer who are to start work quickly and continue through by the end of the coming week. The estimated costs amount to $ 5,000,

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Death and Dying Rituals in Islam Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Death and Dying Rituals in Islam - Term Paper Example In this paper we would be discussing about the third phase which pertains to death and afterlife. According to the Holy Koran, every person that dies would be judged by God and would receive their everlasting abode which could either be Heaven or Hell. According to Islamic traditions, after an individual’s life comes to an end, the corpse has to be buried and hence elaborate rituals involving the burying of the dead takes place when an individual is diseased. Death, according to Islam, is a passage from an earthly existence, to a pure and eternal sacred realm. (Kassis 51) Muslims believe that only God is permanent while all else perishes after a time. The Quran clearly states – â€Å"All that dwells upon the Earth is perishing, yet still abides the Face of thy Lord majestic and splendid.† (Kassis 50) According to (Chittick 126) in Islam, an individual fails to fulfill his existence on the Earth, if they follow their own desires, outside the boundary of Divine str ucture. Thus, such a failure causes a problematic condition for the human. Shedding light on this problematic condition, Streng states that â€Å"human life that does not duplicate the eternal structure of meaning and order as found in the Sacred Realm is merely a profane existence, characterized by weakness, ignorance, impurity, and meaningless.†(44).... he profane world is impure† (46) In Islam, the different customs and rituals during the burial incorporate the concept of purity and impurity of the individual’s existence. The ritual of ghusl according to Islamic culture is the preparation of the corpse for the day of resurrection. According to (Kassis 52), the corpse is washed an odd number of times to purify it from its earthly existence. During this ritual, a white shroud is wrapped around the corpse, demonstrating that though all individuals lead different lives on this earth, yet they leave this world as equals. Islamic traditions view the impure nature of the world and are emphatic about purifying the individual before entering the Sacred Realm. (Streng 46) is of the opinion that the impure nature of the person’s existence reflects the problematic condition he faces during judgment. F. Bird (35) discloses that the washing and purifying of the corpse according to the Islamic ritual in a regulative communicat ive manner symbolizes the washing ritual by the family members, to be the purification of the individual from the profane world and into eternal light. (Sacred Realm) Shedding light on the meaning of this ritual Bird states that partaking in this ceremony helps to reinforce the myths that surround it and reaffirm ‘the beliefs they embody.’ (Bird 35) According to Islamic belief man is created in the image and likeness of God and represents and reflects varying degrees of light and darkness (131) based on the quality of their existence. Human existence is provided a special place in the universe because they are created by God. Islamic traditions believe that â€Å"the structure of the universe is like a globe of infinite dimensions. The crust or outside shell is made of clay and is the visible universe

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Organisational Behaviour Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Organisational Behaviour - Assignment Example Over the past ten years, the company has expanded and improved its systems and structures over the years. This paper examines the elements of the commercial activities of Spinneys Lebanon. It examines an overview of the company, its characteristics, organisational structure and internal system. The paper examines the organisational philosophy and other relevant organisational analysis to establish the main structures and systems of the company. The paper will conclude with recommendations on improvements that need to be made to the supermarket based on the organisational analysis. In attaining the stated aim of the research, the researcher will conduct an extensive enquiry into secondary sources about important concepts and structures of business theory. This will lead to the identification of a framework for the analysis of the important elements and structures in the company. The researcher will also identify important internal features that exist through the use of primary sources that describe the company's operations and structures. Spinney's Overview Organisations are set up to achieve a definite purpose. Thus, it comes with important systems and structures that enables the components to take inputs from the external environment and process them to output (Perrow, 1970). Hence the term organisation is used to signify the machinery or system for the attainment of a given mission by an entity. Spinneys is a Lebanese supermarket chain which is a subsidiary of Spinneys Global which operates in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It is involved in the retail industry. As such, their business model involves the acquisition of foods and other goods from producers and wholesalers and selling them to the Lebanese public. Figure 1: Spinneys' Business Model From the diagram above, Spinneys makes its money through a system of acquiring goods and foods from three main sources; producers, wholesalers and other specialized Spinneys' factories around the worl d. They keep these orders in warehouses and storage centres. Most of these warehouses and storage centres are either on the premises of Spinneys or nearby. Spinneys operates different supermarkets around Lebanon. Each supermarket store has major facilities that allow the display of the products to be done. The premises are often very nice and comfortable. They allow for easy and convenient shopping by members of the Lebanese public. This allows the consumers to come and purchase goods and some service products as and when they want during appropriate times of the day. When stocks are exhausted, Spinneys' supermarket managers order new stocks either from the warehouses or from producers directly. These orders are presented to the shops and displayed for further purchases. Thus, on a basic level, Spinneys' operation is based on sourcing for products, 'processing' them by displaying them in their shops and allowing consumers to come and purchase them. This represents the crude business model. Since stocks represent the most important element of a supermarket like Spinneys, there is the need to ensure that the company holds optimal stocks. This is because if they hold too much stocks, it will be tantamount to locking up their working capital which will lead to slack and no returns on capital. However, if they do not hold sufficient stocks, they are likely to have stock outs and idle time that can have an impact on consumer confidence. As such, there is the need

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

The History of the United States Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The History of the United States - Research Paper Example The civil war arose when the US people fought over power, land. (Burke 12). The Southerners felt threatened since they were thriving well in the slave trade. They feared the north might interfere with the growth of the trade which was booming at that time. It might be said with conviction that it is indeed slave trade that leads to the division of America into two, but there are other reasons. At that time, the Southerners whose daily lifestyle relied much on plantation farming and could, therefore, not do without slaves and the slave trade. They wished that it could grow and even spread in the west. In the contrary, the northerners who were politically and economically doing well posed a threat to the Southerners. So for the survival of the union of the American state, it was necessary that the slave trade was not tempered with, but left to grow (Burke 27). However, in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln became president, the union of American states came to a point where enough is enough. Wh en he publicly made his intentions clear to stop growth of the slave trade but not slavery, he compelled South Carolina followed by six other American southern states to withdraw from the union. This lead to the Civil war that lasted for four years after the seven states united and named Jefferson Davis there president. On15th of April 1861 due to break up of the states there followed a lot of fights and states of unrest battles with the first reported incidence being on July 21st 1861. At this point nothing, much could be done to stop the war anticipated. President Lincoln gave a decree that soldiers be reinforced around Fort Caswell and Fort Johnson but was all in vain due to luck of cooperation from some of the states like Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee (Finney 33). There was some response to the president’s order from some companies from Pennsylvania who offered and provided soldiers on the 18th of April 1861. Between 18th and 19 of April soldiers managed a little to destroy points where weapons were kept in Virginia. At this juncture, President Lincoln pronounced the closer of states belonging to the Confederate. When the soldiers of the Union dared to pass through the Confederate states, Baltimore soldiers went on a rampage as a retaliate gesture. This made Lincoln add more closure by including Virginia and North Carolina in the list of sates closed. On the 20th of April 1861, there was an attempt by the Federal soldiers to Attack Virginia among other states. However, there was help by the Confederates who happened to save a lot of valuable staffs making the Federal soldiers retreat. On the seventh 25th of April the same year there was more reinforcement in Washington DC. On 29th, an election was held (Keifer 46). The governor was given the power to select commissioners by the Legislative body at Tennessee so the commissioners can be in accordance with the Confederacy. Voters who were supporting the re-evaluation of the conditions leading to the breakup of the United States Where joined hand in hand by The North Carolina legislative body. In May 17th North Carolina and Confederacy join hands. The voting was only restricted among the legislative body, and the citizens were not allowed to participate (Long 77). Conclusion A lot of activities was done at the legislative level most of which were being decided by the power of the ballot box. In the war, many civilian lost their lives; the national government became stronger

Monday, September 23, 2019

Compose own question Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Compose own question - Literature review Example In general, this study presumes that the potential success of Shangri-la hotel was very much dependent on the company’s ability to meet the needs and wants of prospective clients. Therefore, this study aims to address the following research questions: (1) What are the branding strategies currently being used by Shangri-la hotel?; (2) How does Shangri-la hotel benefit from its branding strategies?; and (3) What is the significance of brand positioning and branding within the modern international tourism industry? Chapter II – Literature Review 2.1 Current Branding Strategies of Shangri-la Hotel First of all, it is essential to take note that the target customers of Shangri-la are the influential people who are able to pay first-rate price for its food and lodging services. Meaning, this particular hotel company has positioned its brand as one that offers luxury hotel products and services (Shangri-La, 2013a). This explains why Shangri-la continuously serve the best quali ty products and maintains its stylish, modern, and motivational architectural and interior design (Shangri-La, 2013c). As a result, Shangri-la created a competitive advantage which allows them to charge its customers with hotel accommodation fee much higher than the fee of other hotels worldwide (Schmitt and Rogers, 2008, p. 79). Generally, multinational companies such as Shangri-la uses a global advertising strategy as part of their global campaigns (Jiang and Wei, 2012). To establish and reinforce Shangri-la’s brand image, the top management of this particular hotel group uses either social networking sites or e-mail when advertising and promoting their special offers on bridal packages among others (Facebook, 2013). In some cases, Shangri-la has posted its special offers on bridal magazines (Shangri-La, 2013d). Customers’ satisfaction is strongly influenced by its brand image. In most cases, customers who are satisfied with what they receive from the hotel may end u p developing a stronger brand recognition and eventually remain loyal to the brand (Clottey, Collier and Stodnick, 2008). To bring high quality service, Shangri-la offers important training and development programme for the benefit of its employees (Shangri-La, 2013e). Not all people can afford the high price of Shangri-la’s accommodation rate. Associated to the brand of Shangri-la, this particular hotel company created a separate brand and eventually positioned it as a hotel that offers cheaper and more affordable rate for its hotel service (Kerry Hotels, 2013). For example, â€Å"Traders Hotel† was established to serve the lodging needs of the price-sensitive clients worldwide (Traders Hotels, 2013). To serve the Chinese community in Beijing, Shangri-la established the â€Å"Kerry Hotel† sometime in 2011 (Kerry Hotels, 2013). 2.2 Advantages of Shangri-La’s Existing Branding Strategies Advertising is necessary to create brand familiarity or make Shangri- la’s target customers feel special and associated with the brand (Fuchs, 2008). Often times, brand familiarity increases not only the customers’

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Summary of IAS 18 Essay Example for Free

Summary of IAS 18 Essay Revenue: the gross inflow of economic benefits (cash, receivables, other assets) arising from the ordinary operating activities of an entity (such as sales of goods, sales of services, interest, royalties, and dividends). [IAS 18.7] Measurement of Revenue Revenue should be measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. [IAS 18.9] An exchange for goods or services of a similar nature and value is not regarded as a transaction that generates revenue. However, exchanges for dissimilar items are regarded as generating revenue. [IAS 18.12] If the inflow of cash or cash equivalents is deferred, the fair value of the consideration receivable is less than the nominal amount of cash and cash equivalents to be received, and discounting is appropriate. This would occur, for instance, if the seller is providing interest-free credit to the buyer or is charging a below-market rate of interest. Interest must be imputed based on market rates. [IAS 18.11] Recognition of Revenue Recognition, as defined in the IASB Framework, means incorporating an item that meets the definition of revenue (above) in the income statement when it meets the following criteria: †¢ it is probable that any future economic benefit associated with the item of revenue will flow to the entity, and †¢ the amount of revenue can be measured with reliability IAS 18 provides guidance for recognising the following specific categories of revenue: Sale of Goods Revenue arising from the sale of goods should be recognised when all of the following criteria have been satisfied: [IAS 18.14] †¢ the seller has transferred to the buyer the significant risks and rewards of ownership †¢ the seller retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the goods sold †¢ the amount of revenue can be measured reliably †¢ it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the seller, and †¢ the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably Rendering of Services For revenue arising from the rendering of services, provided that all of the following criteria are met, revenue should be recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the transaction at the balance sheet date (the percentage-of-completion method): [IAS 18.20] †¢ the amount of revenue can be measured reliably; †¢ it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the seller; †¢ the stage of completion at the balance sheet date can be measured reliably; and †¢ the costs incurred, or to be incurred, in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably. When the above criteria are not met, revenue arising from the rendering of services should be recognised only to the extent of the expenses recognised that are recoverable (a cost-recovery approach. [IAS 18.26] Interest, Royalties, and Dividends For interest, royalties and dividends, provided that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the enterprise and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, revenue should be recognised as follows: [IAS 18.29-30] †¢ interest: using the effective interest method as set out in IAS 39 †¢ royalties: on an accruals basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreement †¢ dividends: when the shareholders right to receive payment is established Disclosure

Saturday, September 21, 2019

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Example for Free

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay In a small town deep south in Alabama, two children reside in a house with their father Atticus. Maycomb was this town’s name, and within Maycomb lived the nastiest, most psychotic, recluse to have ever live, and it just so happens that this monster of a man is the neighbor of the two young children, at least this is how â€Å"Boo† Radley is perceived to be in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. â€Å"Jem† Jeremy Atticus Finch and â€Å"Scout† Jean Louise Finch, the two children, one four years younger than the other, the youngest being Scout, find themselves bound by curiosity to rip â€Å"Boo† Arthur Radley from his protective house. This is when the relationship of Boo Radley and the Finch children begin, but the relationship between Boo and the children change through the course of the novel. At first, the children both believe that Boo is a terrible monster and a prisoner within his own home. They, along with the entire town of Maycomb, believe he is a psychotic anger-filled maniac. The town even came up with rumors about him saying he stabbed his own father with scissors. The obsession with â€Å"Boo† begins when a young boy named Dill moves in with his Aunt who lives by Jem and Scout. Dill meets Jem and Scout resulting in Dill’s curiosity of meeting Boo Radley. That summer began the race to finally see Boo. At this time in the book the children describe Boo as a rodent-eating, drooling, ugly, tall, monster, hence the name â€Å"Boo†. They believed that everything about Boo and his house is haunted and would kill you. The children come up with different schemes to get Boo out of the house, but they all seem to fail. They continue to think of Boo this way until Boo starts to actually interact with the children. The transition of how Jem and Scout view Boo seems to happens quite rapidly, but actually takes a while for the children to realize Boo’s true personality. As Boo begins to leave gifts in the hole of a tree near the Radley house for them the children, starting with Jem, begin to think differently. He leaves gum, pennies, an old pocket watch, and more things he has to the children. It is then figured out that Boo is the one who put a blanket around Scout during the fire that occurred at Miss Maudies house. Th night was cold and that caring act seemed to give Boo a different sense of who he is to the children. The children are beginning to realize that maybe Boo isnt so bad. During Tom Robinson’s trial, an African-American man who is convicted of rape, it is said by Jem,â€Å"Scout, I think Im beginning to understand why Boo Radleys stayed shut up in the house all this time its because he wants to stay inside. Seeing the prejudice and racism that Tom suffered in his case makes the kids understand why Boo may have wanted to decide to stay in his house all these years. The kids come to see Boo as a real person when he saves them from Bob Ewell, the man who attempts to kill the children in revenge, and not the monster he was first portrayed as. Scout then treats him as she would any neighbor would. As Atticus said, â€Å"You never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them†. She now understands that Boo had been watching her and Jem the whole time, and that he was a true neighbor and was watching over them when they needed him. He was just a shy man who was very caring towards the children. Though she never sees Boo again after that night, Scout still thinks of him, as we can tell by her older selfs voice in this story. In this, the children’s maturity has definitely developed and it is evident in their relationship. By the end of the novel, they meet Boo and he is almost childlike in his mind due to lack of human contact over the past years, this may makes him almost closer to the children as he has a similar mental capacity. When they meet and Boo is about to leave to go back home he asks Scout if she could walk him home. This just goes to show how innocent and childlike Boo is. That he wants someone to walk him home as if he was scared to do so alone. Boo Radley and the children’s relationship had evolved from the beginning of the book to the end very dramatically from Boo being a monster to now his being a neighbor and a friend.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Identifying core competencies and capabilities

Identifying core competencies and capabilities Using McKinseys 7S for Identifying core competencies and capabilities, discuss the ability of your chosen company current CEO in improving the companys products and customers perception of the year 2009 as well as the group understanding of the approach to strategy development at Wal-Mart since 2003. A core competency differentiates not only between firms but also inside a firm, it differentiates among several competencies. In other words, a core competency guides a firm recombine its competencies in responds to demands from the environment. The McKinseys 7S framework offers a useful tool for focusing on certain policy areas which are vital in implementation and control. INTRODUCTION The purpose of this report is to identify the core competencies and capabilities of Wal-Mart using the McKinseys 7S framework as well as discuss how the current CEO is improving the companys products and customers perception by the year 2009. This report is also to analyse the 7S framework of McKinsey which includes 7 interdependent factors and they are categorized as either hard or soft elements. They includes: strategy, structure, systems, shared values, skills, style and staff and are useful in wide variety of situations, such as: Examine the likely effects of future changes within the company Improve the performance of a company Determine how best to implement a proposed strategy Align departments and processes during Merger and Acquisition FINDINGS/MAIN BODY HISTORY The McKinsey 7S framework was named after a consulting company, McKinsey and Company, which has conducted applied research in business and industry (Pascale Athos, 1981; Peters Waterman, 1982). All of the authors worked as consultants at McKinsey and Company; in the 1980s, they used the model to analyse over 70 large organisations. The McKinsey 7S Framework was created as a recognisable and easily remembered model in business. The seven factors or variables, which the authors term levers, all begin with the letter S: The McKinseys 7S framework is a value based management (VBM) model that describes how one can holistically and effectively organize a company and together, these factors determine the way a company operates. THE SEVEN ELEMENTS These seven elements or variables include structure, strategy, systems, skills, style, staff and shared values and are interdependent factors which as noted earlier are categorized as either hard or soft elements: This is shown below: HARD ELEMENTS:- Strategy Structure Systems SOFT ELEMENTS:- Shared Values Skills Style Staff HARD elements are easier to identify or define and management can directly influence them. These are IT systems and formal processes; strategy statements and organization charts. SOFT elements can be more difficult to describe, and are less tangible and more influenced by culture. However, these soft elements are as important as the hard elements for the success of the organisation. The way the model is presented in Figure 1 below shows the interdependency of the elements and indicates how a change in one element affects all the other elements, as such this explains why share values is placed in the middle. Figure 1: The McKinseys 7S Model The seven elements are briefly discussed below: SHARED VALUES: Here, all members of the organization share some common guiding concepts or ideas around which the business is built. This may be to make profits or to achieve excellence in their particular field. These values and common goals keep the employees working towards a common destination as a coherent team and are important to keep the team spirit alive. It is also called superordinate goals; these are the core values of the company that are evidenced in the corporate culture and the general work process. STRATEGY: This is the plan of action an organization prepared to maintain and build competitive advantage over the competition. It could also be defined as the plan of action set by an organization to achieve its aims and objectives. Simply put, strategy is planning of organizational goals. It deals with essentially three questions: 1. Where is the organization presently? 2. Where do the organization wants to be and 3. How do they get there? As such, strategy is designed to transform the organization from the present position to the new position described by objectives, subject to constraints of the capabilities or the potential (Ansoff, 1965). STRUCTURE: This is the way the organization is structured as well as who reports to whom. It is the way the organizational units relate to each other. Organizations are structured in different ways depending on their objectives and culture. The structure of an organization often dictates the way they operates and performs (Waterman et al., 1980). Businesses have been structured in hierarchy way with different departments and divisions, each responsible for a specific task such as human resources management, production, sales or marketing. Many divisions of the management controlled the operations, with each answerable to the upper division of management. Although this is still the most widely used organizational structure, the recent trend is increasingly towards a flat structure where the work is done in teams of specialists rather than fixed departments. The idea is to make the organization more flexible and devolve the power by empowering the employees and eliminate the middle management layers (Boyle, 2007) SYSTEMS: This is the daily activities, procedures, processes and routines that characterize how important work is to be done. These processes are normally and strictly followed and are designed to achieve the organizations effectiveness. For instance, a firm may have a particular way of recruiting. STYLE: This refers to the cultural style of leadership adopted by management in achieving the organizations goals and objectives. STAFF: This refers to the employees and their general capabilities to ensure that the organization is successful. The importance of human resources has the central position in the strategy of the organization, away from the traditional model of capital and land. All leading organizations such as Wal-Mart, IBM, etc put extraordinary effort on recruiting the best staff, providing them with required training and mentoring support, and pushing their staff to limits in achieving excellence, and this forms the basis of these organizations strategy and competitiveHYPERLINK http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/essays-and-dissertations/general-business/competitive-advantage/competitiveadvantage.php HYPERLINK http://www.coursework4you.co.uk/essays-and-dissertations/general-business/competitive-advantage/competitiveadvantage.phpadvantage over their competitors. SKILLS: This is the distinctive capabilities of employees and or organization as a whole. It is the actual skills and competencies of the employees working for the firm. That is, the core competencies, main or important activities of the employees. USING THE MCKINSEYS 7S MODEL TO ANALYSE AN ORGANIZATION The McKinsey 7S model is one that can be applied to almost any organizational or team effectiveness issue. If something within your organization or team is not working, this may mean that there is inconsistency between some of the elements identified by this classic model. Once these inconsistencies are revealed, you can work to align the internal elements to make sure they are all contributing to the shared goals and values. The process of analyzing where you are right now in terms of these elements is worthwhile in and of itself. But by taking this analysis to the next level and determining the ultimate state for each of the factors, you can really move your organization or team forward. The model covers almost all parts of business and all major parts of the organization as such it is very important to gather as much information as possible about the organization from all sources available such as press release, organizational news and reports, etc. Primary research such as interviews is more effective. CORE COMPETENCIES AND CAPABILITIES IN WAL-MART Core competencies are activities or processes that critically underpin the organizations competitive advantage. The primary aim for the firm is to recognize that competition between businesses is as much a race for competence as it is for the market power. Core competencies lead to the development of core products. Core products are not directly sold to end users but are used to build a larger number of end-user products. For example, motors are a core product that can be used in wide array of end products. The business units of the corporation each tap into the relatively few core products to develop a larger number of end user products based on the core product technology. The intersection of market opportunities with core competencies forms the basis for launching new businesses. Combining a set of core competencies in different ways and matching them to market opportunities, a corporation can launch different businesses. Without core competencies, a large corporation is just a collection of discrete businesses. Core competencies serve as the glue that bonds the business units together into a coherent portfolio. Core competencies arise from the integration of multiple technologies and the coordination of diverse production skills. Some examples include Wal-Marts Logistics and Hondas engines. There are three useful tests for identifying a core competence. A core competence should: Provide access to a wide variety of markets: This enables the creation of new products and services. For instance, ASDA has established a strong leadership in food retail industry. The core competence and capability that enable Wal-Mart to go into food and non food retailing products was a clear distinctive brand idea that focus on a well defined market segment. Contribute significantly to the end-product benefits: The organization makes a significant contribution to deliver customer benefit. To identify core competences in a market, the question of why is a customer willing to pay more or less for a product/service than another needs to be addressed. Difficult for competitors to imitate: There is need for core competence to be competitively unique; this shows the importance of product differentiation. For example, Wal-Mart has been recognised as a leading food retailer in UK and had a strong position within the retailing industry. To better understand how to develop core competencies, it is worthwhile to understand what they do not entail Outspending rivals on RD Sharing costs among business units Integrating vertically Applying this framework to Wal-Mart in order for the organization to be successful, has to base its business strategy on low cost leadership, they do not really differentiate themselves from competitors and provide no-frills self-service stores that provides lowest prices always. Wal-Mart has built enough power and influence with suppliers that they can dictates their prices and change suppliers manufacturing process so as to obtain with difficulty more and more savings for the consumer. They provide good customer service with low prices, in other words, Wal-Mart strength is low prices and no one allows such a supplier and distribution network like them that allows such low prices. When analysing Wal-Mart business and the 7S framework, they employ all the three hard elements: strategy, structure and systems, and due to their strength in these elements they have been so successful. As earlier mentioned, Wal-Mart overall strategy is to always provide lowest prices and they aim to provide a store that customers can shop under one roof and find everything they needed. This strategy of convenience shopping and lowest price has made Wal-Mart to be a business leader that it is. They also plan to continue to expand into markets not yet penetrated by major chains and some already saturated markets like California and New England. This strategy infiltrated the whole organization so that it encompasses all the other Ss and the other two Ss structure and systems support this strategy Wal-Mart has a system in place that helps it achieve its low price strategy every day. The most profitable and largest of these systems is Information technology system and it has employed computers, networking and internet to reduce inventories and waste and also speed deliveries. Wal-Mart also uses good structure that works with the systems to empower the low price strategy. Wal-Mart has design an efficient management structure that allows it to eliminate regional office, all its plan and operation is from the home of Bentonville, AR. Wal-Mart has designed an efficient management structure that allows it to eliminate the regional office.   Everything for Wal-Mart is planned and operated in their home of Bentonville, AR.   This structure alone has saved Wal-Mart millions of dollars a year.   When Wal-Mart places stores in strategic locations and drives traffic using convenience and then combines the sales with its systems and structure, you get a highly efficient and well-oiled corporation that can cut costs to a bare-minimum which are then passed along to the consumer, hence fulfilling the strategy.   If Wal-Mart continues to dominate these three Ss, it will continue to dominate the retail market. THE CEOS ABILITY TO IMPROVE WALMARTS PRODUCTS AND CUSTOMERS PERCEPTION BY 2009. In Wal-Mart international, Michael Duke CEO since February 2008 and his team continued to drive exceptional sales growth around the world, totalling $90.6billion at the end of the year. He said that Wal-Mart is well positioned for todays economy and future changing world with exceptionally strong management team and ability to execute the companys strategy, perform every day and deliver results, this success is attributed to the hard work of many people and the formal CEO, Lee Scott (2000-2008). Wal-Mart has a role to in terms of offering more efficient services to employers, helping customers save money through $4 prescription program, opening health clinics in our stores and engaging a broader public policy debate. Wal-Mart as a global company is better positioned today than ever before on its mission. By 2009, the Lee believes that customers everywhere in the world will continue to depend on Wal-Mart to save them money so they can live better, in respective of their age. The companys price leadership position helps those willing to improve their lives through hard work move up the ladder. The company owe every customer their very best lower prices, higher quality goods and a better store experience. Sustainability as a permanent culture in Wal-Mart has help t to remove waste, lower costs and provide savings to their customers. The CEO also ensure that Wal-Mart is committed to building more socially and environmentally responsible supply chain which will make a difference in responsible sourcing that no other retailer can make. THE APPROACH TO STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT AT WAL-MART SINCE 2003. Wal-Mart made strategic attempts in its formulation to dominate the retail market with its present growth by expansion in the United State and internationally through creating widespread name recognition and customer satisfaction in relation to brand name and branching into new sectors of retailing. It is observed that Wal-Mart strives on three generic strategies namely, focus strategy, Differentiation strategy and overall cost leadership. Wal-Mart has firm infrastructure, well equipped human resources with management professionals as well as technologically too. The company operates on low price strategy which operated as everyday low prices (EDLP) and this helps to build customers trust. this strategy involves Wal-Mart purchase goods at lower prices and sell the goods t customers at much lower prices, the price is cut as low as possible, this brought about an increase in the profit by increasing the number of sales. This causes increased market competition and makes Wal-Mart compete with all its competitors till it dominates the market. Wal-Mart is expanding seriously and rapidly which is also its strategic goal. Wal-Mart employs over 1.3 associates, owns over 4000 stores out of which 3000 are in US and serves around 100 million customers weekly.  Wal-Mart has acquired many international stores and merged with some super stores like ASDA in UK. Wal-Mart far flung network of retail outlets has ensured that Wal-Mart interacts with and has impact on virtually every locality within US. The expanded strategy has led the hunger of Wal-Mart to many European Countries. It is learnt that three countries with no Wal-Mart stores became part of corporations international presence wherein the domestic retail chains were taken over by Wal-Mart including 122 Woolco stores in Canada, 21 Wertkauf stores in Germany and 229 ASDA units in United Kingdom. The takeover strategy by Wal-Mart keeps the company at forefront when entering into the new market and the number of competitors is also minimized. The strategies have helped the Wal-Mart to remain in number one position in international countries making it the largest retailer in the world. It is seen that Wal-Mart has significantly the Porters five force model where through proper strategic planning and strategic implementation has led to removal of barrier entry, rivalry from competitors and pricing norms. Wal-Mart with its low cost and ever expanding strategy has made a dramatic impact since 1962 when Sam Walton first started his business. With this strategy, Wal-Mart has now over 4000 stores and outlets in US and other countries through acquisition and mergers. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY When you think of the discount retail industry, you think of the bigger name Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has built the industry into leader in a very competitive market, and has continue to set the bar for every company. But as of late Wal-Marts sales growth rate has been slipping, which is causing a major problem for them. For the past few years Wal-Mart has grown accustom to double digit sales growth rates, but recently they have been unable to match their previous success. Now Wal-Mart is faced with the challenge of regaining the success that they once had. To recapture these high growth rates it is important to understand what lead Wal-Mart to these high growth rates in the first place. When analyzing Wal-Mart externally you find that its 5 forces tend to have a positive effect on the company. The company has high barriers of entry, a moderate threat of rivalry with Target and incredible power over all its suppliers because Wal-Mart purchases so many products, the suppliers have little negotiating powers, and finally Wal-Mart technically has a great amount of power over its buyers because of its product variety and low prices. When analyzing Wal-Mart internally you discover may things that lead to their success. Probably the number one thing that led to success is their world class supply chain. Wal-Marts supply chain is remarkable and really allows them to cut cost by eliminating unneeded steps. For instance their supply chain is a high tech that can notify Wal-Marts suppliers directly (cutting out worker intervention) when inventory is low for certain products. Another internal strength that has lead to Wal-Marts success is its ability to focus on reducing costs to ensure everyday low prices. Wal-Mart has never drifted away from this motto which has led to Wal-Marts extensive self size and amount of products offered.

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Illegal Typography :: Graffiti Crime Papers

Illegal Typography Enter TAKI 183, a kid that lives on 183rd street in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. The number means just that, TAKI lives on 183rd street, therefore he chose his number street as a sign of location, as a base saying " yo' kid I'm from 183rd ". TAKI works as a messenger, going through all 5 boroughs of the city. When he travels he writes his name on all of the stations that he came upon, he was "up" (name being written everywhere). Which is an important part of graffiti, but this objective does not have any importance at this time. In 1971, a reporter from the New York Times looking for a story, tracked TAKI down and interviewed him. As a result the article was hot, this gave TAKI his 15 minutes, and sparked a citywide rush of all of these kids wanting fame that TAKI received. Kids were very impressed by the notoriety of a name that appeared all over the city, therefore they now realize the pride they felt in seeing and having their friends see and talk about whom they saw up.The kids also realized that in order to get fame they must go beyond the neighborhood. This began the frenzy of competition for fame. As hundreds of kids following what TAKI did, even though he followed someone named JULIO 204, that was writing graffiti for years, but never outside of his neighborhood. Realizing that they can use the transportation system for free advertising, is just what the writers needed for a mass audience. Their names traveled outside of the neighborhood, and increased their fame 1000 fold. Though I lived in Chicago I followed a similar path. New York is considered the birthplace of artistic graffiti, even though the act is preformed all over the world before 1960. The history of graffiti is recent and brief, but has a monumental place in the art world. It is the only art movement that is illegal. And it does not contain a series of welfare kids from torn and broken single-parent homes that are screaming for attention. The phenomenon differs from all other sorts of writing on the bathroom wall of a run-down bar. In New York 1960, teenagers began to write their names all over, I mean everywhere, soon are more surfaces written on then open space. All of these names are appearing, but they were nicknames, few choose to use their real names.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Essay --

BRASS MASTERS, INC. â€Å"Serving your brass needs since 1950† February 26, 2014 Ms. Sabrina Nilufar Talbot Laboratories, Inc. 104 South Wright Street Urbana, IL 61801-2958 Dear Ms. Nilufar, I am pleased to report that the testing of your brass wedges is complete. You will find included a summary of our findings along with charts and micrographs of our results. A full laboratory report is available upon request. You are free to use these results as needed and to publish them as documentation for your finished brass products. Four brass wedges were tested. Two were cold rolled to a thickness of 5.0 mm and two were cold rolled to a thickness of 2.5 mm. One wedge of each thickness was then annealed for 1 hour at 350  °C. Because the wedges varied in thickness across the length, multiple cold work values were able to be recorded. Hardness and thickness measurements were taken before and after the cold rolling and after the annealing as shown in Figure 1. Generally, as cold work increased, hardness increased. As the wedges were rolled, the width slightly increased and the length significantly i...

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Multicultural Art

The three artists, David Bradley, Richard Ray Whitman and Nikki S. Lee, produce images that depict traditional minorities in situations that somehow draw them into the main stream culture created primarily by Americans of European descent. In their respective works Native American Gothic, States of Pervasive Indifference, and The Hispanic Project, they do this through several means. These range from placing their subjects in universal contexts to comparing them with subjects of traditional European American art. However each artist chooses to depict the persons represented in his or her art, the effect is a complex blend of tension and harmony, as representatives of races that have sometimes in the past had uneasy relations seek unity and resolution. The traditional racial tensions are represented most strongly in the strategies of Bradley and Whitman, who both depict Native American Indians. In fact, both painters place these Native Americans as the sole subject of the paintings, yet each manages subtly to allude to their conflict with the white race through symbolism—that is, by using a symbol that represents the entire European American race. Bradley’s American Indian Gothic identifies a Native American couple wearing the clothes of the European American. Bradley uses this strategy to show an attempt by the Indians to conform to a society that has been imposed upon them. Yet the Natives retain their spears and their tepee, implying an unwillingness to let go of their lifestyle. Likewise, Whitman’s States of Pervasive Indifference shows a Native American wrapped in an American Flag. This underlines (or perhaps mocks) the idea of the melting pot as the Native American often finds himself marginalized by society—an idea which is in direct contrast to the picture of the American flag cradling this Indian. Despite the notes of tension, David Bradley’s American Indian Gothic also shows a strong reference to the similarities of the European and Native Americans through his parody of Grant Wood’s American Gothic (Hughes, 2005). The similarities between the two paintings identify fundamental similarities in humans regardless of their cultural origins. They all have need of food, protection, and shelter—as shown by the house/tepee and the spear/fork. This too is identified in Whitman’s photograph States of Pervasive Indifference on which is clearly printed the words, â€Å"earth, air, water, fire†Ã¢â‚¬â€elements on which all people depend. Nikki S. Lee’s work can also be brought in here, as in her work The Hispanic Project a group of teenage girls is seen experiencing and doing (it would seem) the things that are typical of their age. The girls’ attitudes are universal and they could easily have been a group of European Americans. Yet they are Hispanic—except, one Asian girl (Lee herself) is in the mix, and blends so well that her cultural and ethnic difference from the rest of the group is almost obscured (Sagrans). In this way The Hispanic Project, like American Indian Gothic and States of Pervasive Indifference, identifies the common traits of the members of the human race, highlighting the multicultural harmony of the United States. In an interview, Whitman speaks about his project States of Pervasive Indifference: â€Å"In indigenous cultures we're not only concerned with human to human relationships, but also our relationship with the environment† (Abbott). Interest in one’s relationship to the environment has been sparked across the United States in recent decades, and this identifies a ground on which the several cultures of the United States have merged. The â€Å"human to human† relationships of which Whitman speaks is also evident in the strategies of The Hispanic Project, in which teenagers are having fun with each other, and their racial and cultural differences melt into the background. Human relationships that exist across racial and cultural lines are also depicted in the strategies of American Indian Gothic, as the love and marriage between the man and his wife are clearly identified to exist within the Native American society independently of influence of the Europeans. The similarity of humans despite their difference in culture is highlighted in these works. Works Cited Abbott, Larry. â€Å"Richard Ray Whitman.† A Time of Visions: Interviews by Larry Abbott.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.britesites.com/native_artist_interviews/rwhitman.htm Hughes, Collin. â€Å"Crossing Boundaries.† Washington State University. WSU. 2005.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.wsu.edu/~hughesc/crossing_boundaries.html Sagrans, Erica. â€Å"Portrait of an Assimilitarist.† UTNE: A Different Read on Life.    Understanding the Next Evolution, 2002. Multicultural Art The three artists, David Bradley, Richard Ray Whitman and Nikki S. Lee, produce images that depict traditional minorities in situations that somehow draw them into the main stream culture created primarily by Americans of European descent. In their respective works Native American Gothic, States of Pervasive Indifference, and The Hispanic Project, they do this through several means. These range from placing their subjects in universal contexts to comparing them with subjects of traditional European American art. However each artist chooses to depict the persons represented in his or her art, the effect is a complex blend of tension and harmony, as representatives of races that have sometimes in the past had uneasy relations seek unity and resolution. The traditional racial tensions are represented most strongly in the strategies of Bradley and Whitman, who both depict Native American Indians. In fact, both painters place these Native Americans as the sole subject of the paintings, yet each manages subtly to allude to their conflict with the white race through symbolism—that is, by using a symbol that represents the entire European American race. Bradley’s American Indian Gothic identifies a Native American couple wearing the clothes of the European American. Bradley uses this strategy to show an attempt by the Indians to conform to a society that has been imposed upon them. Yet the Natives retain their spears and their tepee, implying an unwillingness to let go of their lifestyle. Likewise, Whitman’s States of Pervasive Indifference shows a Native American wrapped in an American Flag. This underlines (or perhaps mocks) the idea of the melting pot as the Native American often finds himself marginalized by society—an idea which is in direct contrast to the picture of the American flag cradling this Indian. Despite the notes of tension, David Bradley’s American Indian Gothic also shows a strong reference to the similarities of the European and Native Americans through his parody of Grant Wood’s American Gothic (Hughes, 2005). The similarities between the two paintings identify fundamental similarities in humans regardless of their cultural origins. They all have need of food, protection, and shelter—as shown by the house/tepee and the spear/fork. This too is identified in Whitman’s photograph States of Pervasive Indifference on which is clearly printed the words, â€Å"earth, air, water, fire†Ã¢â‚¬â€elements on which all people depend. Nikki S. Lee’s work can also be brought in here, as in her work The Hispanic Project a group of teenage girls is seen experiencing and doing (it would seem) the things that are typical of their age. The girls’ attitudes are universal and they could easily have been a group of European Americans. Yet they are Hispanic—except, one Asian girl (Lee herself) is in the mix, and blends so well that her cultural and ethnic difference from the rest of the group is almost obscured (Sagrans). In this way The Hispanic Project, like American Indian Gothic and States of Pervasive Indifference, identifies the common traits of the members of the human race, highlighting the multicultural harmony of the United States. In an interview, Whitman speaks about his project States of Pervasive Indifference: â€Å"In indigenous cultures we're not only concerned with human to human relationships, but also our relationship with the environment† (Abbott). Interest in one’s relationship to the environment has been sparked across the United States in recent decades, and this identifies a ground on which the several cultures of the United States have merged. The â€Å"human to human† relationships of which Whitman speaks is also evident in the strategies of The Hispanic Project, in which teenagers are having fun with each other, and their racial and cultural differences melt into the background. Human relationships that exist across racial and cultural lines are also depicted in the strategies of American Indian Gothic, as the love and marriage between the man and his wife are clearly identified to exist within the Native American society independently of influence of the Europeans. The similarity of humans despite their difference in culture is highlighted in these works. Works Cited Abbott, Larry. â€Å"Richard Ray Whitman.† A Time of Visions: Interviews by Larry Abbott.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.britesites.com/native_artist_interviews/rwhitman.htm Hughes, Collin. â€Å"Crossing Boundaries.† Washington State University. WSU. 2005.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.wsu.edu/~hughesc/crossing_boundaries.html Sagrans, Erica. â€Å"Portrait of an Assimilitarist.† UTNE: A Different Read on Life.    Understanding the Next Evolution, 2002.

Monday, September 16, 2019

Crazy Eddie, Inc. financial fraud case Essay

Crazy Eddie was an American retail store chain run by the Antar family, which was established as a private company in 1969 in Brooklyn, New York by businessmen Eddie and Sam M. Antar. The fraud at Crazy Eddie was one of the longest running in modern times, lasting from 1969 to 1987. Crazy Eddie became a known symbol for corporate fraud in its time, but has since been eclipsed by the Enron, Worldcom and Bernie Madoff accounting scandals. Commencement of fraud The fraud began almost immediately, with the management of Crazy Eddie underreporting taxable income through skimming cash sales, paying employees in cash to avoid payroll taxes and reporting fake insurance claims to the company’s carriers. Eddie Antar, the CEO of the company who was the mastermind in the fraud, was skimming money from sales taxes that he only partially remitted to the government, while using part of the money to give steep discounts to customers. Much of the rest of the money he used to fund a partying lifestyle, while secreting a fortune at home and abroad. He also repackaged used and damaged electronics and resold them to customers as new. When electronics companies refused to supply him because he was selling the products to his customers below list price, he instead sourced the products from suppliers in other countries on the gray market. He used massive sales promotion strategy to promote his company’s name and products. The television ad of the company was very much popular that time. The company began to grow rapidly and had several branches across the country. As the chain grew in size, the Antar family started planning for an initial public offering (IPO) of Crazy Eddie and scaled back the fraud so that the company would be more profitable and get a higher valuation from the public market. This strategy was a success and Crazy Eddie went public in 1984 at $8 per share. The final phase of the Crazy Eddie fraud began after the IPO and was motivated by a desire to increase profits so the stock price could move higher and the Antar family could sell its holdings over time. Management now reversed the flow of skimmed cash and moved funds from secret bank accounts and safety deposit boxes into company coffers, booking the cash as revenue. The scheme also involved inflating and creating phony inventory on the books and reducing accounts payable to boost profits at the company. Concealment of fraud The electronics chain used the young, inexperienced, undereducated and under skilled auditors for the audit purpose. The chain was able to fool young auditors by showing them inventory stock rooms filled with empty boxes of electronics gear, while distracting them with attractive female workers so they wouldn’t bother to look at what was inside or behind the stacks of boxes. They had a concept that if the auditor was wearing a suit, it was sure he wasn’t going to get it dirty by moving the boxes. Eddie Antar was the mastermind behind the various schemes and hired his relatives to work at the electronics chain to help aid and abet the fraud. Eddie Antar paid for his cousin Sam E. Antar to learn accounting so he could eventually work at the growing company’s small auditing firm, Penn and Horowitz. In 1981, Sam passed the CPA examination with a 90% and scored in the top 1% in the country. He later became the Penn and Horowitz Company’s CFO in 1986. All the family members were bound together by a culture of crime and were working as a team for commitment and concealment of crime. Exposure of fraud The company was making so much money that Eddie Antar was having trouble finding places to put it. He ran out of hiding places in his office and home, and eventually began traveling to Israel and Switzerland to stash the money in secret bank accounts. However, the scheme began to unravel when his wife found out he was cheating on her, and the family took sides in the dispute. The fraud was finally uncovered in 1987 after the Antar family was ousted from Crazy Eddie after a successful hostile takeover by an investment group. The acquirer found out how overvalued Crazy Eddie really was and hired another outside auditor to look closely at the books. Crazy Eddie limped along for another year before being liquidated to pay creditors. Eddie Antar, the CEO of Crazy Eddie, was charged with securities fraud and other crimes, but fled to Israel before his trial. He spent three years in hiding until he was eventually tracked down by authorities in 1992 and extradited back to the U.S. to face criminal charges. Antar and two other family members were also convicted for their role in the fraud. In 1997, Antar was sentenced to eight years in prison and paid large fines. He was later released in 1999. Crazy Eddie Red Flags The red flags in the Crazy Eddie, Inc. financial fraud case which could notify the potential fraud were as follows:- The tight knit Antar family ruling Crazy Eddie had virtual absolute control over all aspects of the business. Very poor audit trails and documentation. Major self-dealing transactions and related party transactions by family members. Substantial increases in wages from below market wages before the company went public. In 1985, an attempt was made to falsify certain store inventories which was uncovered by the auditors. The auditors accepted an excuse that it was not sanctioned by management. Substantial increases in gross margins, profits, inventories, debit memos etc. from prior periods for no logical reason. Significant volume of outstanding deposits in transit at fiscal year end. Individual deposits in transit extremely high in relation to normal amounts at fiscal year end. Unusually high inventory volumes in stores where physical counts were not observed by outside auditors. Inventories in many individual stores were in excess of space capacity. Major differences between amounts confirmed from vendors for accounts payable and amounts reported on Crazy Eddie’s books and records. Use of â€Å"gross margin method† to value inventories during interim periods instead of taking interim inventory counts. Change of accounting methods for purchase discounts and trade allowances in 1987 from cash basis to accrual basis noted in footnotes with no accounting adjustments. Small CPA firm that conducted Crazy Eddie audits before (then big eight firm took over audits) had a significant revenue base from Crazy Eddie. Controller and later CFO for Crazy Eddie (Sam E. Antar) worked for small CPA firm that audited Crazy Eddie books. Biggest Crazy Eddie Audit Errors The reason, Crazy Eddie was able to conceal and commit the fraud for such a long time could be the inefficiencies of the auditor and the government to uncover the fraud. The government, auditors and investors were fooled by the company’s flamboyant founder and CEO, Eddie Antar and his family. Some of the biggest Crazy Eddie Audit Errors were as follows:- Assuming a proper audit can be conducted in the absence of credible internal controls. Under  educated, under skilled, and under experienced audit staff. Over using audits as training grounds for inexperienced audit staff. Lack of investigative or forensic accounting skills by auditors. Failure to ask proper questions to the concerned persons. Assuming the answers to good questions as correct without verification. Failure to ask follow up questions. Lack of professional skepticism. Allowing company staff to distract auditors from doing filed work by engaging in social conversations, thereby wasting time during audits so they have to rush their work in the end to meet the audit deadline. Failure to simultaneously observe inventory counts in all locations. From 1984 to 1987, the auditors did not observe all store inventories or inventories at all locations. Failure to take copies of full inventories taken when leaving the premises. Failure to conduct proper test counts of inventories by relying on company staff to count boxes and allowing company staff to take possession of test counts to make copies on behalf of auditors. Failure to follow through on analytical test issues. Failure to conduct all required analytical testing. Failure to conduct sales cut off testing at year end. Failure to examine items listed as deposits in transit at year end. Failure to age accounts payable. Failure to conduct adequate verification of accounts payable balances. Failure to contact vendors when major discrepancies were identified as vendors sent back verification requests. Failure to secure audit work papers left on premises during the audit by leaving keys to trunks containing audit documents on company premises. Allowing company personnel to view audit work papers in process. Auditors signed off on financial reports to outside directors and allowed the issuance of financial statements before the fiscal year 1987 audit was completed and backed into the numbers. Auditors made misrepresentations to the outside directors about certain questionable practices and directions from the outside directors to investigate them. Auditors made misrepresentations to the SEC about directions from the audit committee to investigate questionable accounting practices. The auditors  failed to follow up on recommendations of Crazy Eddie’s outside counsel law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind to investigate irregularities concerning sales to a trans-shipper in 1987. The auditors disagreed with recommendations by Crazy Eddie’s outside counsel law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind to provide more detailed disclosure on Crazy Eddie sales to trans-shippers and other issues. The Fraud Triangle The Crazy Eddie, Inc. financial fraud case, if linked up with the fraud triangle, following result can be obtained:- a. Incentives/Pressures Greediness Desire of Luxurious Lifestyle Expensive extramarital relationships of Eddie Antar Pressure to maintain social status Pressure to sustain in competitive market b. Opportunities Lack of internal and external controls Lack of audit trail Inability of the auditors to judge performance quality Lack of outsiders’ access to information c. Rationalization Sam Antar, former CFO of Crazy Eddie gave a statement, – â€Å"we committed crime simply because we could. Criminologists like to analyze white collar crime in terms of the ‘fraud triangle’ — incentive, opportunity, and rationalization. We had no rationalization. Simply put, the incentive and opportunity was there, but the morality and excuses were lacking. We never had one conversation about morality during the 18 years that the fraud was going on.† This statement shows that there was no rationalization used while committing the fraud, we could assume that following rationalizations could have been used by them:- Whatever they were doing did not hurt anybody else. Whatever they were doing was not wrong. Moral justification like, â€Å"Everyone else is doing it, so it must not be so bad to do this† could have been used. References 4 Massive Frauds You’ve Probably Never Heard Of. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/12/four-unknown-massive-frauds.asp A Convicted Felon Speaks Out about White Collar Crime. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.whitecollarfraud.com/947660.html Crazy Eddie – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved May 6, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_Eddie Crazy Eddie Masterminds [Video file]. (2012, January 7). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP8iO5lvCoU Weirich, T. R., Pearson, T. C., & Churyk, N. T. (2010). Accounting & auditing research: Tools & strategies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Ghost Story Essay

Ghost Stories are really popular, and always have been for a very long time. Several reasons why ghost based novels and movies have been successful, is because many people like the thrill. People will pick up a novel or enter a cinema without knowing how you will fell after, kind of in a way†¦ similar to rollercoaster’s and why people go on them. People are just waiting for a break of normal day-to-day life and are craving some excitement. Nearly all ghost stories keep you suspended until the last moment, can’t wait to turn that hand and read the next page. This keeps the reader at there nerves, but still wanting to read the rest of the book, and finish it, then buy another, then do the exact same. People who sat that they have seen a ghost, just puts other people in a fixed mind set thinking how you would feel during a encounter with a ghost, how you would feel afterwards, would you tell anyone. People often say you get Goosebumps and go cold, and every noise you hear – you think someone is there, the fear factor is there. There is a number of factors to contribute to a good ghost story, a few of them are; Vocabulary – When the writer gives a good detailed account of what people are wearing, how the setting is, how the weather (is there pathetic fallacy? ). It will give the reader a better understanding of what’s actually going on and so they can then picture it in your head. Unpredictability – Twist’s in the story line, things to keep the reader asking questions after each page, and being answered at the end of the novel, twist’s that aren’t answered, sort of cliff hangers. Suspense and Development of Tension – this is a key factor because it’s mainly suspense and tension that the reader finds intriguing and what makes them turn the page. Being, again descriptive, going into every sentence as the reader was in the story not knowing anything. Build up of tension; writer would want the reader to feel agitated in specific parts, taking slow steps to describe things, keeping audience at the â€Å"edge of there seat†, and similarly the writer needs to develop the tension through his writing. There are Hundreds of Ghost Stories, old, modern, Traditional. The two Stories I am going to compare is â€Å"The Call†, and â€Å"The Old Nurse’s Story†, there are a few similarities, some of them are; The Ghost’s – In both stories, the ghosts are both lonely and seeking companionship, and they both got companionship in the end by taking over there victims. From The Call – â€Å"What the hell am I doing here? â€Å", Asked Meg, as if waking from a dream†. Meg was taken into a trance by the ghost, in this case by a telephone call. The ghost was pretending someone was down the River. â€Å"The Shepherds†¦ found Miss Maude sitting, all crazy and smiling, nursing a dead child†, – The child of Miss Maude taunts her mother. They take over venerable people, this is a way they trance there victims, after taking over victims, they take them away from there loved ones and family and follow orders from the ghost. This is effective because it adds a twist to the story, taking control over a special or loved person†¦ usually in some ghost stories they tend to take over total strangers and work from there, putting them into a trance and giving specific orders, Out of the ordinary. In â€Å"The Call†, the ghost died by her husband throwing her into the river. He threw her into the river because she had a bad leg and was no use to him. He wanted to see other women. In â€Å"The Old Nurses Story†, Lord Furnival wanted his wanted his daughter to marry a person of importance and wealth and to bring happiness into the house. She and her sister had started to take music lessons from a non-profitable tuition from Italy. They both fancied the tutor, but Mrs Maude decides that she wants more than that†¦ she loved him and wanted to marry him. The only thing that was stopping her was her father, Lord Furnival. The tutor is exactly the person he doesn’t want her daughter to marry. This is effective to the audience because the audience thinks there will be a standard ghostly plot, but this is different. This adds to the depth of the plot, it all based around the family and makes the reader want to know more, it is intriguing to the reader. †¦ Both of the victims are powerless against the ghosts. In â€Å"The Call†, the women with the dog, takes control of the wife working in the Samaritans Office. The husband and wife don’t do anything to stop the ghost; Harry just died and made the ghost go away. When the victims were put into a trance, they don’t want to fight it, rescue themselves†¦ in fact they want to be with the ghost more than their loved ones. This maybe the fact that the ghost just totally overwhelms them and takes 100% control over them. Meg went into a trance and didn’t come to tell her husband, that she was going to the river late at night. The women in both stories fall under the spell of the ghost. It was late at night and the phone rang. Meg answered it and it was a bit spooky because of the time and nature of the call; there was a mad woman on the phone and was saying that her husband’s going to kill her. The next couple of phone calls were getting Meg weirder and weirder. She snapped. She didn’t know what she was doing under the ghostly trance and she went to the river, towards the woman and dog. Both of the stories are set in very cold, bleak places, these give a kind of goolish, brutal and sick feeling. Most ghost stories are not set in cold, bleak places†¦ most likely an urban area. This is different. Both situated far from nothing with huge houses and massive land, Wealthy people. The coldness gives a sense of evil and dangerous. Pathetic fallacy is used to reflect the power of the weather, like when they are tranced, and taken over, the weather changes, gets colder, darker and mood and atmosphere changes. Something that was mentioned in the Introduction, about making a ‘good’ ghost story, was language. The language that both stories use a very descriptive language; so the reader knows/can imagine everything in there mind, â€Å"The bank is crumbling and the fence is rotting. â€Å", â€Å"The water stacked up, black smooth slightly steaming†¦ â€Å", â€Å"the stillness of the dead-cold weather†. Both writers use similes, metaphors and personification. â€Å"The Old Nurses Story† use’s old vocabulary, long sentences; this is more found of traditional old ghost stories. As for â€Å"The Call†, it uses simple vocabulary, not complicated to follow story line and modern with straight forward sentences.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

Faith Diversity Essay

The practice of health care providers at all levels brings you into contact with people of a variety of faiths. This calls for acceptance of a diversity of faith expressions. Research three diverse faiths. Choose faiths that are less well-known than mainstream faiths or are less known to you, such as Sikh, Bahai, Buddhism, Shintoism, Native American spirituality, etc. Compare the philosophy of providing care from the perspective of each of these three faiths with that of the Christian perspective and your own personal perspective. In 1,250 -1500 words, summarize your findings, and compare and contrast the different belief systems, reinforcing major themes with insights gained from your research. Some of the questions to consider when researching the chosen religions are: 1. What is the spiritual perspective on healing? 2. What are the critical components of healing, such as prayer, meditation, belief, etc.? 3. What is important to people of a particular faith when cared for by health care providers whose spiritual beliefs differ from their own? 4. How do patients view health care providers who are able to let go of their own beliefs in the interest of the beliefs and practices of the patient? Compare these beliefs to the Christian philosophy of faith and healing. In your conclusion, describe what you have learned from your research and how this learning can be applied to a health care provider practice. This assignment uses a grading rubric. Instructors will be using the rubric to grade the assignment; therefore, students should review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the assignment criteria and expectations for successful completion of the assignment. Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is required. Remember that Wikipedia is not considered a scholarly source.

Friday, September 13, 2019

Charles Mingus

Charles Minus Charles Minus is a very important and influential name in Jazz; however he is left out by many historians when talking about the history of Jazz. The main reason he is left out by so many historians, Mark Griddle in particular, is because of his attitude and ego. He Is clearly not the most pleasant person, and he surely does not display how a real Jazz musician should act, at least according to most historians.The way he acts during performances can be quite startling at first, If you are not familiar with is ways and methods of playing. For example, he was known for using profanity during performances, either geared at the audience if they were being too loud or the sound operators if the sound wasnt up to Minings expectations. That being said, Minus Is a great musician, and Just because he doesnt display the best of etiquettes while performing, doesnt mean he should be left out of the history books. Minus also has a very long list of accomplishments In his life. As a growing musician, he was most inspired by Duke Longtime, and he even got the chance to play side him at one point, even if only for a very short amount of time (Due to his demanding and not very pleasant attitude). Not only was Minus a very accomplished bassist, but he also went on to be one of the best and most known band leaders and composers in all of Jazz, with such an enormous amount of variety in his music.That being said, the only real reason historians have for choosing to exempt him from Jazz history books was because of the way he acted. If I were to alter Mark Griddles Concise Guide Tacoma, I would include Charles Minus in chapter 8, Hard Bop. Although Minings styles vary so much that it is hard to place him into one chapter, I feel like this chapter includes the most variance to do so in such an acceptable and correct way.This chapter includes many jazz sounds that spin off of many of the cool styles, as well as bop, bebop, hard bop, funky Jazz, mainstream, post-bop, and soul Jazz. These are all elements that Minus has displayed at one time or another during either his composing or bassist career. Another chapter I would also include him in would be Chapter 5, How Swing Differs from Early Jazz. I would include Minus in this chapter as well because it talks so much of his most influential Jazz artist, and at one point fellow band mate, Duke Longtime.I feel like Minus truly does have enough variance in his music to help point out and draw the flee line between early Jazz and the newer swing Jazz. The mall differences between these two categories of Jazz are that In early Jazz, you were a lot less likely to have the big ban d feel to the music, and soloist played a more important role in early Jazz, whereas in the swing era, you were introduced to more FAA variety of instruments as well as new techniques on how to play them. Minus puts out good examples and songs/performances that clearly display how things transitioned from early Jazz to swing, and then onto other evolutions of jazz as well. After learning and hearing many of Charles Minings music, I definitely feel It Is book writers to come take note of Minings accomplishments, and start to include him in the history books right up there with Duke Longtime, Miles Davis, and Louis Armstrong. It is only fair to him and his fellow band mates, however, only time will tell.