Gay Marriage in China Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Gay Marriage in China - Research Paper Example This paper examines the positions of those who deny gay rights as well as those who claim that these rights should be recognized with a view to establishing whether these rights should be recognized. Drawing on an international survey of basically English language literature, the paper will conclude that the Chinese government has no reason whatsoever not to recognize gay rights and then finally examine the role of the government in the gay debate. There are many reasons that are presented on the need to legalize gay marriages in China. To begin with, those who support gay marriages claim that recognizing marriage rights is a pointer of the realization of human rights and equality in China. This means that recognizing these rights is the only sensible thing to do. This reality has been epitomized by the Taiwanese President Ma, who once said that Gay rights are a part and parcel of human rights. This claim has also been supported by human rights activists who point out that the struggle for the recognition of gay rights is the remaining major human rights struggle. In the nations where gay rights have been recognized, the association between gay marriage and full citizenship rights for gay men and women has been the driving force (Harvey 101). In addition to this, given that marriage is seen as an attractive institution in the society and the ideal thing for grown ups to do, for gays couples to be able to marry makes their relationship normal and as a result, enables positive recognition of their unions. Analysts have continuously pointed out that lesbians and gay operation comes as a result of the condition of lesbians and gays as outcasts especially in relation to marriage and family. The ability to enter the marriage and family institution without a doubt raises their status in a considerable manner and as a result may improve the strength of those bodies (Harvey 102). Another argument that has been presented as a reason why China should recognize gay

An Insight into Academic Writing Essay Example for Free

An Insight into Academic Writing Essay Authors Gerald Graff and Cathy Berkenstein claim in their book, They Say, I Say, that academic writing is not about â€Å"playing it safe and piling up truths and bits of knowledge,† like many people assume. Rather, it is about the dynamic interaction between other people’s points of view and the author’s response to those perspectives. In chapter one of Graff and Berkenstein’s book they emphasize the necessity of balance when implementing certain writing â€Å"moves,† specifically, when introducing a counter-view, summarizing other’s arguments, and when quoting someone else’s words. Graff and Berkenstein contend that by opening an argument with an explanation of what the thesis is responding tointroducing a counter-viewgives the main point clarity and relevance. They encourage stating the opposing view or assumption initially so that it will define and explain what the thesis is addressing. But, they also caution the writer not to bloat their introduction with extraneous information for fear of losing the audience’s focus and engagement. What Graff and Berkenstein suggest, then, is that â€Å"as soon as possible you state your own position and the one it’s responding to together, and that you think of the two as a unit. † Basically, they insist that the best way to give a â€Å"genuine response to other’s views† during academic writing is to have a balance between introducing what â€Å"They Say† (the opposing point of view) and what â€Å"I Say† (the writer’s response). If being in a constant dialogue with others’ positions is essential to arguing persuasively, as Graff and Berkenstein claim, â€Å"then summarizing others’ arguments is central to [the writer’s] arsenal of basic moves. † All too often during a summary, writers will provide their own opinions on an article’s topic rather than revealing what the article is actually stating. On the opposite extreme, there are the writers who â€Å"do nothing but summarize,† which dilutes their own views in an ocean of someone else’s ideas. Graff and Berkenstein remind us that a â€Å"good summary requires balancing what the original author is saying with the writer’s own focus. † In other words, an exceptional summary contains the perspective of the original author, while emphasizing the points the responding author wants to address. One of the best ways to initiate an effective argument is not only to summarize what they say, but to quote their exact words. According to Graff and Berkenstein, â€Å"Quoting someone else’s words gives a tremendous amount of credibility to your summary and helps ensure that it is fair and accurate. † By quoting someone else’s exact statement it serves as a proof of evidence that you are not just fabricating another’s claim, but that you are disclosing their true ideas. Like introducing a counter-view and summarizing, quoting requires that you find an ideal balance between the quantity of quotes and content of commentary. A common issue with quoting is when the author assumes the quote speaks for itself. As Graff and Berkenstein, quotes are like literary orphans that have been taken from their original context, â€Å"they need to be integrated into their new textual surroundings. † In simpler terms, a quote needs to be introduced, interpreted, and then connected to the central idea. I found chapter one of Graff and Berkenstein’s book, â€Å"They Say,† to be extremely interesting and useful. The way they tied all their information to a central idea, while explaining how to do just that fascinated me. I felt like their writing had a constant flow from introduction of a move, to implementing balance, to common problems, how to fix those problems, and then to exercises that would reinforce their primary concepts. Their style and content kept me engaged and focused. Also, I learned a handful of writing tactics, like introducing a counter-view, summarizing, and inserting quotes, that I was not one-hundred percent sure on how to do prior to the reading. Overall, I found the chapter to be engaging, informative, and beneficial to me and my writing style.

SWOT Analysis Of Parle Products

SWOT Analysis Of Parle Products The intent of the assignment is to analyse the operation process of manufacturing or service organisation, thriving to achieve the efficiency and productivity in the operations process, through various organisational and operational strategies carried out on a short term or a long term basis. The analysis of the report is based on the various key finding which determines the success of organisation and how company manages between the quality, cost, speed, dependability and flexibility of its products using the key competitive factors such as order winner and order qualifiers to sustain in the market. The process design used by the organisation is to improve competence and effective inventory management style with help of suppliers and distributors; analysing the problems faced by the organisation and solution for the same. INTRODUCTION Parle is one of Indias largest biscuit, confectionery and snacks manufacturer it has been set-upped in vile Parle Mumbai in 1929. As a organized segment of the FMCG (Fast moving consumer goods) industry, FMCG products are generally replaced within a year and include a range of product provided to the consumer that may be Durable e.g. Food, soap, cosmetics, tooth cleaning products, shaving products and detergents and non-durable products such as glassware, bulbs, batteries, paper products, and plastic goods. Babaria, M. and Dharod, M. (2009) Parle Operation Management is to manage of resources and delivery system and the duties entitled to the operation manager control of the cost, monitoring the efficiency of the production and asset management, The viewpoint of Parle Company is to attract as much of youth and grown-ups through its product with the mission to provide happiness among children and adults not only in the metro cities but also tier 2 and tier 3 cities in the country. On a short- term basis the company objective is to create awareness about the products among the youth and on long-term duration is to be the market leader. Major competitors of Parle are the ITC sun-feast ltd, Britannia, Nestle HUL (Hindustan unilever ltd). Parle provides a range of biscuits such as Parle-G, krackjack, Hide and seek, Milano etc. confectionery like melody, mango-bite, orange candy etc. and snacks like Jeffs, cheese ling etc. Parle are market leader and in their category and own 40% share of the biscuit market share and 15% share of the total confectionary market in India, Parle has transformed into a multimillion company over the years. Based on the product variation provided by Parle the customer are not bound by age they can be consumed by people of all age group even the adults or senior citizens. E.g. Parle G is widely excepted product, the customers of Parle are not restricted to the local or regional tier1, 2 3 markets but also on a global scale by implementing top down approach strategy in the organization. (parleproducts., 2012) Macantosh HD:Users:pagdant:Downloads:1.png TRANSFORMATION PROCESS FEEDBACK INPUT TRANSFORMATION PROCESS RAW MATERIAL Wheat flour, sugar, hydrogenate vegetable oil, salt, milk, added flavors PRODUCTS Biscuits, snacks confectioneries OUTPUT Transformation process is activities involving no. Of input, this adds value and transforms into output for customer. (Openlearn.open 2003) Through the transformation process various raw material used at input at Parle, which goes through the transformation process and made into biscuits, snacks confectioneries for the consumers. SWOT ANALYSIS OF PARLE PRODUCTS STRENGTH WEAKNESS Low price Irregular supply Distribution system Dependent on Parle-G brand Wide range Delivery system OPPORTUNITY THREATS Export potential Competitors (Britannia, ITC) Untapped Rural market Substitutions (toast) Retain of loyal customers Bakery products Suppliers. The above analysis reflects strength of the company lies in its low price technique, wide range of products and distribution system of Parle, opportunities prevailing are the export potential, untapped rural market, due to increase in the purchasing power of the consumer retention of loyal customers, Threats faced by Parle are from the competitors, substitutes available in the market and the bakery products whereas the weakness posses are the irregular supply, dependency on the brand Parle-G and weak delivery system to penetrate in rural areas. Babaria, M. and Dharod, M. (2009) STRATEGY Strategy adopted by any organization is develop the capabilities required to reflects the needs of the customers and market, direct how to spend key resources like time and money and to cope up with the greater level of complexity different business units are maintained in the organizations. Different types of strategy used at different levels in the organization. 1. Corporate level strategy is decided by the company where to invest the funds of the organization in order to meet the business demand of todays and the future.eg. E.g. increase in the volume of sales through sales staffing, increase in sales by increasing the number of factory floor. 2. Business unit strategy is implemented by different part of organization to achieve the desire objective in a specific market based on the present and the future market. E.g. marketing, finance, sales and marketing and operations departments. 3. Functional strategy is to maintain the key resources using the strategic and the day-to-day task. E.g. Market requirement and function of operation manger in monitoring the line of production. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) The word strategy signifies direction and how one should implement it. Strategies adopted by Parle are the business unit strategy where range of product is sold to identify group of customers in competitive market and functional strategy where decision of key resources such as the raw material required for the production is done on day to day basis by a operation manager to compete in the market, to expand in the market, to have an insight of the competitors. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011). Macantosh HD:Users:pagdant:Downloads:attachments:2.png Macantosh HD:Users:pagdant:Downloads:attachments:10.png CAUSE EFFECT Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) Process Producing mass product irrespective the taste Diminish of market share of Parle Competitors Due rise in growing Competition. Fluctuating demand Due to high competition the demand for parle product is not constant. Innovation Using same raw material over the Years PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVE Performance Objectives are key measures to align the needs of the customer with the desired effectiveness of the overall business. Performance objectives are Quality, Speed, Dependability, Flexibility and Cost. Each of these dimensions adds its twist to the value proposition. Each dimension hypothetically appeals to different customers. Delivery each objective simultaneously at their highest levels of all these product attributes, operations mangers need to organize objectives based on priority, also identify which are an order winners and qualifiers of the targeted critical customers, Operation management (2012). Quality Quality is fitness for consumption in terms of meeting customers needs and desires. Quality can either be an order winner or order qualifier for customer based on the quality maintained. Quality conformance, which means to consistent delivering services based on design specification which, in turn, needs to reflect customer needs. Operation management (2012). To maintain good quality companies like Parle need to maintain and manage quality gaps. Hygiene is the precursor of every process in Parle. Every batch and confectionery is thoroughly checked by an expert staff by adopting Quality conformance level after every stage maintain similar quality throughout all nations neglecting quality control system. Cost Cost is one of the major contributions in business welfare since products that cost less but have good quality attract customers. Operation managers try to reduce costs and also maintain quality so the company profits. Operation management (2012). Parle as a company tends to maintain quality and keep a low purchase cost. Parle follows a policy of Kaizen, which means to produce more and more value with less wastage attaining better environment and developing stable process by standardization. Macantosh HD:Users:pagdant:Downloads:attachments:3.png Buthmann, A. (2010) describes that Quality cost is the Cost caused through producing of defects. Quality cost is most expensive concept used at Parle to cover the good and poor quality cost. Buthmann, A. (2010) describes that External failure is the cost associated to the external deficit of the product received by the consumer at Parle external cost is to maintain the quality cost is spend on the complaints received from consumers through online feedback, losses occurred due to reduction in sales due market acquisition by the competitors and environmental cost. Internal failure occurs before the product is delivered to the customers, not confirming to requirement of customers through the product leading to less satisfied customers, Internal quality Cost at Parle is due to shortage of raw material is due to smaller storage capacity limited to only 3 days. Buthmann, A. (2010). Appraisal cost occur in-order to maintain quality in all stages, conformance to quality standard Through Quality storage condition, maintaining Hygiene and monitoring quality by expert staff adopted at Parle. Buthmann, A. (2010). Prevention quality cost is to prevent poor quality of product is provided to consumer Buthmann, A. (2010). Parle spends in Quality improvement in staff inspection, Quality planning of new product and Quality improvement in team decision. Dependability Dependability is a degree of availability of the product when the customer needs or requires product. Operation management (2012). Parle is a multination company it deals with multiple nations it has a constant management of products regarding demand and supply. To cope with demand Parle produces 13 billion biscuits in a month. Flexibility Operations ability is to respond efficiently to changes in products, processes (including supply chain relationships), and competitive environments. Operation management (2012). Flexibility differs in companies but companies like Parle have a standardized approach and there is less change in the operations of the company. Speed It means by doing things faster to minimize the time between the order and the availability of the product to give a speed advantage to the wholesaler, retailer which ultimate the benefits to the customers. Slack, N. et al. (2004) Parle maintains their speed through their wholesalers who deliver their products to the retailers, which are finally received by the consumers. Parle maintain the speed by keeping a systematic approach to the system. POLAR DIAGRAM The polar radar chart depicts the priority of the performance objectives Slack, N. et al. (2004) in Parle. Parle as a company strives to produce the best material with minimum wastage. After quality Parle looks at customer benefit and cost management. By producing in bulk Parle maintain availability of products increasing dependability. Parle maintains standard procedure to increase operation speed. COMPETITIVE FACTORS Macantosh HD:Users:pagdant:Downloads:attachments:4.png ORDER WINNER Order winners The competitive characteristics possess by Parle are both time-specific and market-specific to Parle product are most economic since their products are starting at a price range of Rs2 Rs 25, Product range of Parle are into 3 categories Biscuits having 18 varieties of biscuit in the Indian market making them the largest biscuit manufacturer in the country. Sweets- Parle has 11 varieties of chocolate and candies in its product line-up. Snacks- fairly new to the market Parle have only 4 varieties of snacks in the market. Product design quality is initiated by Parle product by making use of automated packaging facilities and all the Parle product are manufactured under hygienic condition and maintaining quality standard at each stage of biscuits and confectioneries are thoroughly checked by expert staff using modern equipment at Parle they follow the seven HACCP principles for total quality management. Great care is exercised in the selection and quality control of raw materials; packaging materials and rigid quality standards are ensured at every stage of the manufacturing process (parleproducts, 2012) ORDER QUALIFIER Certain characteristics indicates that certain qualifiers are same for the entire market Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011), which was seen also seen in Parle competitors where delivery speed plays a crucial role in providing the product to its end consumers and packaging of the product is done to attract the customers. LESS IMPORTANT FACTORS There are certain factors at Parle, which does not affect the production of the product irrespective of the located weather it is in tier1, tier2 and tier3. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011), Parle factory situated in teir1 and Promotion activates of Parle is not considered the unique selling point since to create hype in the market its mandatory to use various promotional activities to create awareness among consumers. ORDER WINNER ORDER QUALIFER LESS IMPORTANT FACTORS Order Winner is quality that helps companies win markets. In case of Parle policy is to strive to provide consistently nutritious and quality food products to meet customers satisfaction by using quality material and by adopting appropriate processes. Therefore Quality is an order winner for Parle. While, also producing the finest quality for customers like to sell it at convenient or cheap prices that are affordable by all people. This makes Purchase Price an order winner for Parle also. Whereas the delivery system and packaging is similar as their competitor therefore it is an order qualifier. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011). PEOCESS Macantosh HD:Users:pagdant:Downloads:attachments:6.png Most manufacturing organisations provides standard product in high volumes. The repeat, mass production and standardization of the product indicate a need of process design that would benefit these characteristics. Batch process seems to be feasible choice as it simplifies, automate and reduces manufacturing cost. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011). The designing of batch process can be such that it can be used and reused for manufacturing of range of products, hence enabling companies to reduce cost by investing in equipments. The downside to this process is that for manufacturing each product the process line has to be reset, it is costly and skilled officials can only make changes. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011). At Parle manufacturing is based on batch process to manufacture their products; as mass production is possible without hampering the quality standards of the product. Being cost effective is one of the major criteria at Parle as it uses the same line to manufacture more 33 varieties of products. Parle do not make specialized product, as their main target are the masses. Standard products are expensive and not in mass production by Parle. Mass products are cheap and manufactured in large quantities. VOLUME PRODUCT VARIETY VARI Milano, Hide Seek, Bourbon. STANDARD PRODUCTS None MASS PRODUCT Parle-G, Krack-Jack, Milk Shakti. SPECIAL PRODUCTS Untitled.png Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) argues that volume variety demonstrations relationship between the product categories and volume of the product to be produce at Parle which shows the manufacturing is based on standardize and mass production. LINE OF FIT The above graph depict the line of fit maintain by parle in order to survive in the market through the availability of the products in the range of the line of fit. Kaul, D. (2012) MANUFACTURING FLOW CHART RAW MATERIAL TESTING MIXING MOULDING BAKING COOLING PACKAGING The manufacturing process flow chart illustrates how the production process is carried at Parle, In the initial stage, Testing of raw materials is carried out, which is sent for moulding through the conveyor belt the unfinished product goes through oven for baking and then to cooling of the product and later for packaging through machines like box tapping and sealing machine and forward to dispatched section for the whole sellers to channelize to the retailer for the customers to buy. PACKAGE AND PROCESS Macantosh HD:Users:pagdant:Downloads:attachments:7.png The physical resource used for Packaging of the finished goods at Parle is done through the help of box tapping and sealing machines while facilitating packaged goods and finished product. The activities required during the process is done in front office i.e. administration room coordinating with the back office i.e. the storeroom, dispatch section and production area in addition to the process Parle also provides flow of material, information to the customers with the help of implicit service where visitors are allow to visit the factory by arranging a visit at the production section at the front office. Kaul, D. (2012) LAYOUT Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) argues that process or functional is an arrangement of process and function at a particular area. The layout used at Parle is a process or functional layout reflecting that the layout is made in such a manner that similar operations are used in one areas where large batched of goods are produced. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011). This type of layout is suitable for Parle where large batches of production is done with help of various functions where layout reflects the stages involved in the making of the Parle products that is the product making is started with the testing of the raw material then moulding and mixing machine goes to oven and then for cooling before going to the packaging and then finally as a finished product. Functional layout advantages 1. Wide range of products Parle as brand itself produces around 33 different varieties of products for consumption at its Parle factory at vile-Parle. 2. Lower capital cost -The infrastructure at Parle used for the production i.e. the autonomous machine helps in reduce the capital cost incurred in making of the product. 3. Utilization of processes since all the resource used in the making of the Parle product are group in the factory itself helps in proper utilization of all resources e.g. Equipments and skilled staff. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) Functional layout disadvantages 1. In-process inventories at Parle are the cost of the direct material, direct labour, and factory overhead placed into the products on the factory floor. 2. Material handling can be costly and inefficient handling of inventories at Parle are costlier since storeroom are made to accommodate these inventories in proper conditions, which add to the cost and are inefficient when the sales revenue is not up to projected mark. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) The production process followed at Parle is Repeat (standard) Product where the making of product is done a repetitive basis designed for functional layout where high volume of production is done using batch and mass production. INVENTORY Inventory comprises of the input which is part of the unfinished goods goes through various operational process stages know as work in progress for a desired output in the form of finished products to sold to the customers. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) The inventory type adopted by Parle is the process inventory where the raw material for 3 days is store in the warehouse from where they are sends for testing the raw material weather it is meeting required standards for the production. After testing raw materials are sent for production. Where the raw material goes through various stages of baking and cooling and shifted to the dispatched room where they are stored and delivered to their distributors and the end customers. The raw material used in the product can be stored roughly for 3 days because the plant is designed in such a way that the raw material cannot be stored more than 3 days. INVENTORY FLOW CHART STORE ROOM WORK IN PROGRESS SUPPLIER DISPATCHED SECTION CUSTOMERS The inventory flow chart depicts the form of inventory present throughout the three-process stages i.e. input, operation process and output at Parle. The inventory such as raw material like wheat flour, sugar, hydrogenate vegetable oil, salt, milk and added flavours are stored in the store room from where they used in the process stages for the manufacturing of biscuits, sent to the dispatched section where the packaging takes place and distributed to the wholesaler and then to retailers for the end consumers. Due to limited duration of the storage capacity there are certain issues that have to be dealt such as to meet the global requirement and the diminishing demand for the products from local markets. SUPPLY CHAIN Before maintaining the supply chain has to decide whether to make the raw material or buy the material. Every manufacturing unit has different benefits if they make in-house / outsource. Advantages for making in house are that company has more control over the material it is more flexible and last minute adjustments are possible. The advantages of outsourcing are that cost is easier to manage and increases focus on final product. In case of Parle, raw material is outsourced and the final product is made in house. This is depicted through their supply chain. Supply Chain comprises all the steps required to supply a service or product to a customer. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011). Parle has many products, which have multiple raw material requirements. Multiple suppliers of provide these materials as their tier 1 supplier. Tier 1 supplier such as Godrej, Gurgaon Sugar Mill, Kopoli Flour mill, Wallace Flour Mill and Ahmed Bhai Sugar Mill. Tier 1 Tier 1 Godrej sugar mills Tier 2 Tier 3 Retailor Wholesaler Final Customer Kopoli flourmill INTERNAL OPERATIONS Retailor Wallace Flour mill Wholesaler Ahmedbhai sugar mill WHOLESALER, Retailor CUSTOMER INTERNAL SUPPLY CHAIN PROCESS SUPPLIER Delay in Inventory The above figure reflects how inventory at parle are buffered and maintained at each stage through the gap in the supply chain. But with proper co-ordination with the activities in the supply chain helps parle to build a products design, customer management and final delivery of the product to be consumed. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) Conclusion The report covers Distinctive features of Parle operation process through operation analysis of the organisation by taking an overview on the potency of distribution system and lower price advantage of Parle over it competitors, tremendous measure are taken to maintain quality and at the same time be cost effective, which can be reflected from their quality control methods and the way factory is designed to carry out operations and buffer their inventory through various stages of the operations and maintaining integrated supply chain management with the coordination of their suppliers parle develop a products design, customer management and final delivery of the product to be consumed, with the help of analysis carried out on parle we were able to identify the operational problems and provided with appropriate recommendation, which has assisted our group to know the functioning of an operation management and how the operational surrounding play a vital role in manufacturing of a prod uct or service delivered to a customers, which was the motive of our assignment. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011) RECOMMENDATION TYPE OF PROBLEM RECOMMENDATION A) STRATEGY MARKET SOLUTION Fluctuating in the demand. Rise in competition, Lack of innovative ideas (Same Use of raw material.) Diminish market share of parle. Parle should invest in capacity or inventory for fluctuating demand. Parle can improvement by using passive or proactive approach for better innovation and sustenance against rise in competitions. Parle should Constantly compare their order-losing sensitive qualifiers with their competitors, since a slight change in the environment can cause them to start losing market share. B) PROCESS PERFORMANCE SOLUTION Lack of flexibility Costlier to maintain the equipments Reset of process line. Operation volumes. Quality conformance level after every stage. There should be constant change in operation for better improvements. Equipments, which are not essential should be should out or should be leased rather buying the equipments. Different operation should be maintained line for different range of product instead of reset after the end of the every process. Reduction in depletion and the changeover and set-up times for manufacturing process. To maintain the operation volume labour and material should be properly utilised. Parle should build control system rather than conformance at each stage C) INVENTORY SOLUTION Cost of in-process inventory Handling of inventory Storage capacity Holding of inventory To reduce cost of the inventory Casual analysis should be done and inventory should be group into corporate, decoupling, cycle, pipeline and buffer for better handling and increase in the storage capacity to hold the inventory. D) SUPPLY SOLUTION Fluctuation cost of raw material E.g. sugar. Maintaining loyal suppliers due rise in demand. Slow technological up gradation compared to competitors. Parle should adopt the release cash method where they should delay the payment to suppliers leading to improvisation in operation. Build better relationship for constant supply of raw material, which will help to maintain loyal suppliers. To avoid cost on up-gradation of the technology it should be outsourced. Hill, A. and Hill, T. (2011)

Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The second movie report I chose to do was The Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers. This movie is a sequel of the first and is the second of three. It continues the long and interesting story about two young men who set out to safe their country of Middle Earth. Everything relies in their hands and the Ring of Sauron must be destroyed. The second movie left off right where the first ended and it was even better than the first I thought.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Frodo and Sam find themselves lost in the rocky hills west of the river and know that Gollum, the creature wanting the Ring, is following them closely. They manage to capture the corrupt creature and keep him with them for a while. Since Frodo is carrying the Ring as Gollum once did, he pities and feels sorry for the ugly creature. Frodo agrees to let Gollum go and Gollum agrees to guide Frodo and Sam to the Black Gate, the entrance to Mordor. It is in these gates and up in the mountain where the Ring must be destroyed. Gollum swears by the Ring to obey its master which is Frodo and Frodo accepts the promise. Sam by the way is worried and remains suspicious. Frodo begins to call Gollum by his true name which is Smà ©agol. Smà ©agol seems very eager and willing to please Frodo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gollum leads them through hills and swamps that were all haunted and not safe for them, especially for Frodo who possesses the Ring. During some time, Sam overhears Gollum talking to himself saying how he was going to kill the Hobbits and take the Ring from Frodo. As the viewer, you begin to see two sides of Gollum. One side he wants to obey Frodo while the other side he wants the Ring for himself and that is where he is pure evil.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Once Sam and Frodo reach the Black Gate as Gollum promised to take them to, they begin to realize that it is hopeless to go through the gate and continue their quest. There is no way to approach unseen and it is too dangerous for Frodo with Orcs and Sauron being so close. Gollum begs them not to enter and reveals that there is a better way to get into Mordor safely. Even though it is difficult and dangerous, it is much safer keeping away from the enemy.

The Society of Egypt Essay -- Egypt Cairo Culture Environment Climate

The Society of Egypt Works Cited Not Included The cultural traditions, social behavior and practices of any society in history are inextricably linked to the weather and climate of its region. River mouths have always been popular settling spots, even dating back to the ancient civilizations; these water sources provided life, transportation, and basic survival for these communities. Cairo was founded below the delta on the Nile River in Egypt because of the existence of the Nile. Today, this region is hot and dry with the exception of the land directly bordering the Nile. The climate and current weather in Cairo have a substantial impact on everyday life and society in this region. Unfortunately, because of the harsh environment of this northern African region, Cairo society as it is currently is unsustainable. The northern African Nile region was once a fertile, green, moist area of the world in post-glacial years (Lamb p90-91). Certain species existed in this area because of the moisture the Nile created in the region. Ancient Egyptian civilization in fact thrived because of the predictable and expansive flooding of the river that allowed for innovative irrigation and agricultural techniques necessary to create and maintain a stable and thriving civilization. Because of the initial success of the civilization in this region people continued to settle in Cairo as well as along the entire span of the Nile. Over the centuries however, as worldwide climate has changed and been altered by the increasing world population, the climate and weather in the Nile region as changed dramatically both naturally as well as resulting from human behavior. Desertification, overpopulation, and excessive and rapid industrialization have... ... the boundaries of everyday life for most people. Even the most affluent population of the world cannot always buy its way out of issues caused by climate change and environmental degradation due to human behavior. Conclusion Despite the socioeconomic and environmental issues of Cairo, Egypt continues to be a popular tourist destination because of its rich history. Although the region is suffering dramatically in current years from desertification and pollution from its overpopulated urban centers, the government and environmental groups are making a substantial effort to address underlying social issues and environmental concerns that can be improved with regional cooperation. International education regarding these issues will help to alleviate the strains on Cairo’s natural resources as well as create a model for a more environmentally sustainable society.

Dustin (Narration) Essay -- essays research papers

Composition One: Narration   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I can remember receiving the news like it was yesterday even though it feels like a lifetime since I last heard Dustin’s high pitched laugh. It’s still hard for me to talk about his suicide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Even though Dustin had angelic features, such as light green eyes, dark blonde hair, and a smile that would get him out of anything, he was no angel. I remember the time he shot the windows of the bus with his B.B. gun or the time he put a flower in the ditch then gave it to the bus driver. He wasn’t too fond of the bus driver.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He was always the first to try something new. when we went to San Antonio for vacation, there was a cliff that over looked the water and we were all scared to jump. Well, everyone except Dustin that is. I guess that’s the ironic part of his death, he was the first person almost everyone at school knew who had committed suicide.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It was no later than 10:30 when, I was sitting in my Health class. I just opened the Health book, was flipping through the pages and I wasn’t paying much attention to Coach Andree’ when the intercom came on. â€Å"Coach Andree’,† the secretary announced. â€Å"Yes,† he answered. â€Å"Would you please send Dara Wilson to check out?† â€Å"Sure will.† he responded.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I got up, packed my bag, and started walking out. I smiled at my friend Beau who said â€Å"you’re so lucky.† I had no clue why I was checking out, but I knew something wasn’t right. I started thinking of all the bad things that could have possibly gone wrong. I knew my brother went out the night before and he hadn’t come home when we left for school that morning, so I was worried about that. Maybe something had happened to him was all that was racing through my mind. I didn’t even notice that Dustin was absent that day. I walked up the hall to the office, a walk that was prolonged by the impatience of my curiosity. I wanted to know why I was leaving, especially so early in the school day. When I got to the office, I saw my Nanny Lisa there, all I could think was something was wrong with my mom or dad. I could read the sadness on the secretaries faces. Nanny Lisa was facing towards them and all I could see was her wavy fire red h air. Once she realized I was behind her, she turned to me and said the words that cha... ... a prayer for him and his family. It was a great amount of people in that hall, but not even one-fourth of the amount of people they had at the wake.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The wake was held two days later. There were hundreds of people, I never even realized how many people he had affected. Dustin’s family insisted on an open casket, to show all the children the effects of suicide, the reality of suicide. It was the saddest experience of my life. I didn’t feel as though I lost a friend, I felt like I had lost a family member.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I once thought of suicide when I was depressed, but I have now seen the tolls that suicide takes on loved ones. I now realize that life is precious and I realize that all actions have consequences. Dustin was always the first to try something new, different, or scary. His death helped me grow up, and stop being as superficial. It helped me change my opinions on suicide. I once thought of it as an only escape from life or hard times. I now see that suicide only causes more problems. I now realize that suicide is the most selfish act a person could do. Dustin taught me that and I wish I could thank him personally for that.

Insider Trading and Martha Stewart Essay

Martha Stewart, homemaker turned media mogul, spent time in 2004 and 2005 in jail for illegal insider trading. While insider trading is not necessarily illegal if reported properly, more often insider trading is done in a fraudulent manner. This paper will examine insider trading and discuss the Martha Stewart case in regards to fraudulent insider trading. Insider trading is when corporate insiders such as officers, directors, or holders trade more than 10% of the corporations stocks or securities (wikipedia, 2006). Insider trading is legal as long as the transaction is reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and not based on material non-public information. Insider trading is illegal when a corporate ‘insider’ is misappropriating private information, and trading on it or secretly relaying the information (wikipedia, 2006). Illegal insider trading is considered a violation of trust to the shareholders and destroys the level playing field for all investors to make decisions based on the same information. In the Martha Stewart case, Stewart received information from her friend Sam Waksal that his company, ImClone’s cancer drug had been rejected by the FDA before the information was made public (Rasmussen, 2006). The rejection by the FDA caused ImClone’s stock to drop sharply. Before this news was made public, Martha Stewart had her stockbroker sell her 4000 shares of ImClone. The ‘inside’ information saved Stewart a lot of money when she sold her shares premature of the bad news going public for ImClone. The Martha Stewart verdict was justified because Martha was not forthcoming with the information she knew and her motives to sell the stock. Martha and especially her stockbroker knew they were taking advantage of what seemed like ‘lucky’ information. Although Martha felt like a scapegoat, there are many others that have probably committed the same crime of insider trading and hopefully this case has helped deter further violations of the law in the future.