Intelligence and Creativity Guarantee Nothing †Philosophy Essay

Intelligence and Creativity Guarantee Nothing – Philosophy Essay Free Online Research Papers Intelligence and Creativity Guarantee Nothing Philosophy Essay One of the realities of human society is that crude intelligence and creativity do not guarantee success. On the other hand, persistence on a certain matter does, as the long fight of women’s rights activists demonstrates. In addition, continuous effort to better one’s self is crucial, as the experience of talented authors like Jane Austen, whose works are products of revising and polishing, show. First of all, the prolonged plight of women’s rights activists clearly suggests that, in order to achieve success, one requires primarily insistence and patience. The cause benefited from the assistance of many intelligent and sophisticated women, but no insightful newspaper article or well-crafted slogan could bring about such a groundbreaking change in society. Conversely, progress was made over time, as the public opinion needed to be re-educated, to be taught to put their entrenched prejudices to the test of reason. Therefore, it was not the spark of genius that the cause needed, but persistence. Or, as Thomas Edison puts it, 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. Another example of the need for effort to polish talent, much like an uncut diamond requires a lot of attention to show its full brilliance, is the renowned writer Jane Austen. A variant of her most famous novel, â€Å"Sense and Sensibility†, was given to editors in 1797. But the then â€Å"First Impressions† was not commendable/satisfactory yet, and Jane Austen knew it, so that the universal rejection did not surprise her. However, the writer came back to her novel in 1811, and the revised â€Å"Sense and Sensibility† was now good enough to become a favorite. Consequently, even if the dedication of suffragettes and the talent of a great author like Jane Austen is undisputed, success is not certain. It can be concluded that success does indeed require a spark of genius, but the massive contribution of effort is undisputed. Research Papers on Intelligence and Creativity Guarantee Nothing - Philosophy EssayThe Fifth HorsemanResearch Process Part OnePETSTEL analysis of IndiaHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

How to Make Your Own Baking Powder at Home

How to Make Your Own Baking Powder at Home You can make baking powder yourself using other common kitchen ingredients. Heres a simple homemade recipe you can use in place of commercial baking powder for cooking. Baking Powder Ingredients 2 teaspoons cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate)1 teaspoon baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) Using Baking Powder Baking powder produces bubbles that cause baked goods to rise by making carbon dioxide gas as soon as the dry and wet ingredients are mixed. Ensure success by preheating your oven. Dont overmix your ingredients or wait to bake your recipe or the bubbles may have a chance to dissipate, causing your recipe to fall flat. Storing Homemade Baking Powder The homemade baking powder will clump together if it isnt used right away, but you can prevent this by adding 1 teaspoon of cornstarch to the baking powder mixture. Store the baking powder in an airtight container. Commercial baking powder preparations often contain undesirable ingredients (such as aluminum compounds). By making your own baking powder, youll have complete control over your ingredients. You can test the baking powder before using it to make sure it is still fresh.

Surviving a JCAHO Audit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Surviving a JCAHO Audit - Essay Example One of the most important of those regulatory bodies is the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). JCAHO is a not-for-profit organization operating with the preliminary purpose of providing voluntary accreditation to healthcare organizations. Over the course of eighty-eight (88) years, it has evolved from its humble beginnings when the first hospital inspections were performed by a single body, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in 1918. The ACS utilized a very rudimentary system for inspecting hospitals whereby minimal standards were utilized as a means of setting the standards for accreditation. The ACS served as a solitary regulatory board from 1918 until 1951 when the ACS joined forces with the American College of Physicians, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, and the Canadian Medical Association to establish what was known as the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH). The JCAH soon replaced the ACS as the organization responsible for setting the standards for the delivery of safe and appropriate care for patients within t hose organizations. This commission was responsible for the publication of the first Standards for Hospital Accreditation (AORN Journal, 2002). In 1965, under the leadership of President Lyndon B. Johnson, the Medicare Act of 1965 was passed. This meant a drastic shift in the role of JCAH. For the first time, JCAH became closely aligned with the federal government and facilitated an inalienable relationship with governmental funding and JCAH accreditation. For the first time, the law made provisions for hospitals which were accredited by JCAH wherein those hospitals were automatically viewed as being in compliance with most of the provisions of the Medicare program and were eligible to participate in the Medicare program. As such, the accredited hospitals were able to reap the monetary rewards of being active Medicare participation (AORN Journal, 2002). In 1975, JCAH expanded its scope by becoming the main accrediting body for ambulatory health care facilities. This expansion was facilitated by an involvement with Accreditation Council for Ambulatory Health Care. Over the next decade, JACH established a series of committees which were known as the Professional and Technical Advisory Committees (PTAC) for each program it was responsible for accrediting. Finally, in 1987, JCAH changed its name to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as a means of reiterating its large range of accreditation activities. To date, JCAHO has established a large board of commissioners which includes a nursing representative who provides input with regards to nursing policy (AORN Journal, 2002). Functions of JCAHO JCAHO is responsible for evaluating and accrediting over 15,000 healthcare institutions and individual programs throughout the U.S. In so doing it provides services to the following general class of organizations: Hospitals [including general medical, psychiatric and pediatric hospitals as well as rehabilitation hospitals]. Nursing homes Hospices Home care organizations Addiction services Laboratories Rehabilitation centers Ambulatory care providers Independent laboratories Group practices In addition to accrediting the aforementioned organizations, JACHO also awards certification to health plans, hospitals and other institutions which provide disease management services as well as

Statistics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Statistics - Assignment Example Although, the banks are willing to provide the needed investments, it is the decision of the finance manager and the CEO to determine whether such type of activities really help to enhance the company’s performance. Importantly, from the analysis, it can be understood that the company would do well even if it postpones drawing money from the bank. The analysis utilizes various statistical tools to determine the normal probability distribution as well as find the various probabilities asked in the questions. Introduction If the organization having already achieved sizable success in a particular market or captured the majority market share there, they will venture into new markets. On the other hand, if the currently operating market becomes saturated with heavy competition, then also organizations step into newer markets. Whatever be the motivations, organizations could enter or expand into newer markets with a basic wish to grow further and beat off the competition. When the organization makes that move, apart from fully studying the entering market, it needs to study its strengths and weakness in its various operational sectors. On those lines, it needs to focus on its financial resources. If the organization has optimal financial resources, it can confidently invest while entering the newer markets. However, when it is deficient in its financial resources, it needs to generate or facilitate flow of funds from external sources like banks in the form of loans. Although, loans from banks can provide the needed impetus for the organization to enter the market, it has inherent risks. This is applicable to USASuperCars as well, as its decision to get loan from the HSBC bank could have risks. At the same time, USASuperCars could have a strong financial status, and also could have taken the finance based decision based on strong analysis. Thus, this report mainly emphasizes on the development of a suitable suggestion which would help USASuperCars to make fina ncial decisions based on statistical analysis. This report will use proper statistical methods in order to get a better understanding of the decisions that the company needs to undergo. Background Supercars are the term given to a fast  sports car, with stunning looks, optimal specifications and very expensive in nature. As Cheetham (6) stated, although there is no definitive answer, yet the term Supercars â€Å"is widely accepted by car enthusiasts to describe an exotic, powerful and expensive car that represents the ultimate performance, styling and pure unadulterated driving thrills.† Due to the elite nature, these cars are not mass produced by the organizations and have exclusive clientele. Considering this elite and exclusive nature of super cars, organizations manufacturing and selling these types of cars have to be very specific and clear cut in the decision they make not only in the internal functioning but also in the strategies, they come up in the external enviro nment. â€Å"Supercars are showcases of a manufacturer's technological ability in design and in performance. They are cost-no-object exercises, built in editions often limited to the marketing department's ability to sell.† (Martin 7). Considering these perspective, the USASuperCars Company is planning to sell minimum number of its cars in four different countries. The company is

Monetary and Fiscal Policy Essay Example for Free

Monetary and Fiscal Policy Essay 1. Monetary and fiscal policy and its impact on business decision making 2. Open economy macroeconomics-Mundell –Fleming Model and its application FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICY IN INDIA AND ITS IMPACT ON Business Decision Making. What is monetary policy? Monetary policy is the management of money supply and interest by central banks to influence prices and employment. Monetary policy works through expansion or contraction of investment consumption expenditure. Monetary policy is the process by which the government, central bank (RBI in India), or monetary authority of a country controls 1. The supply of money 2. Availability of money 3. Cost of money or the rate of interest, in order to attain a set of objective oriented towards the growth and stability of the economy. Monetary theory provides insight into how to craft optimal monetary policy. Monetary policy is referred to as either being an expansionary policy, or a contractionary policy, where an expansionary policy increases the total supply of money in the economy, and a contractionary policy decreases the total money supply. Expansionary policy is traditionally used to combat unemployment in a recession by lowering interest rates, while contractionary policy involves raising interest rates in order to combat inflation. Monetary policy is contrasted with fiscal policy, which refers to government borrowing, spending and taxation Why it is needed? What monetary policy – at its best – can deliver is low and stable inflation, and thereby reduces the volatility of the business cycle. When inflationary pressures build up, it is monetary policy only which raises the short-term interest rate (the policy rate), which raises real rates across the economy and squeezes consumption and investment. The pain is not concentrated at a few points, as is the case with government interventions in commodity markets. Monetary policy in India underwent significant changes in the 1990sas the Indian Economy became increasing open and financial sector reforms were put in place. In the 1980s, monetary policy was geared towards controlling the quantum, cost and directions of credit flow in the economy. The quantity variables dominated as the transmission Channel of monetary policy. Reforms during the 1990s enhanced the sensitivity of price signals from the central bank, making interestrates the increasingly Dominant transmission channel o f monetary policy in India. WHEN WERE MONETARY POLICIES INTRODUCED? Monetary policy is primarily associated with interest rate and credit. For many centuries there were only two forms of monetary policy: (i) Decisions about coinage (ii)Decisions to print paper money to create credit. Interest rates, while now thought of as part of monetary authority, were not generally coordinated with the other forms of monetary policy during this time. Monetary policy was seen as an executive decision, and was generally in the hands of the authority with seignior age, or the power to coin. With the advent of larger trading networks came the ability to set the price between gold and silver, and the price of the local currency to foreign currencies. This official price could be enforced by law, even if it varied from the market price. With the creation of the Bank of England in 1694, which acquired their responsibility to print notes and back them with gold, the idea of monetary policy as independent of executive action began to be established. The goal of monetary policy was to maintain the value of the coinage, print notes which would trade at par to specie, and prevent coins from leaving circulation. The establishment of central banks by industrializing nations was associated then with the desire to maintain the nations peg to the gold standard, and to trade in an arrow band with other gold-backed currencies. To accomplish this end, central banks as part of the gold standard began setting the interest rates that they charged, both their own borrowers, and other banks that required liquidity. The maintenance of a gold standard required almost monthly adjustment of interest rates. During the 1870-1920 periods the industrialized nations set up central banking systems, with one of the last being the Federal Reserve in1913.By this point the role of the central bank as the lender of last resort was understood. It was also increasingly understood that interest rates had an effect on the entire economy, in no small part because of the marginal revolution in economics, which focused on how many more, or how many fewer, people would make a decision based on a change in the economic trade-offs. It also became clear that there was a business cycle, and economic theory began understanding the relationship of interest rates to that cycle.(Nevertheless, steering a whole economy by influencing the intere st rate has often been described as trying to steer an oil tanker with a canoe paddle.) Research by Cass Business School has also suggested that perhaps it is the central bank policies of expansionary and contractionary Policies that are causing the economic cycle; evidence can be found by looking at the lack of cycles in economies before central banking policies existed. OBJECTIVES OF MONETARY POLICY The objectives are to maintain price stability and ensure adequate flow of credit to the productive sectors of the economy. Stability for the national currency (after looking at prevailing economic conditions), growth in employment and income are also looked into. The monetary policy affects the real sector through long and variable periods while the financial markets are also impacted through short-term implications. There are four main channels which the RBI looks at: †¢Quantum channel: money supply and credit (affects real output and price level through changes in reserves money, money supply and credit aggregates). †¢Interest rate channel. †¢Exchange rate channel (linked to the currency). †¢Asset price. Monetary decisions today take into account a wider range of factors, such as: †¢short term interest rates; †¢long term interest rates; †¢velocity of money through the economy; †¢exchange rate †¢credit quality †¢bonds and equities (corporate ownership and debt) †¢government versus private sector spending/savings * International capital flow of money on large scale * Financial derivatives such as option, swaps and future contracts etc. Types of monetary policy: In practice, all types of monetary policy involve modifying the of base currency (MO) in circulation. This process of changing liquidity of base currency through the open sales and purchase (government-issued) debt and credit instrument is called open market operation. Constant market transactions by the monetary authority modify the supply of currency and this impacts other markets variables such as short term interest rates and the exchange rates. The distinction between the various types of monetary policy lies primarily with the set of instruments and target variables that are used by the monetary authority to achieve their goals. A fixed exchange rate is also an exchange rate regime; The Gold standard results in a relatively fixed regime towards the currency of other countries on the gold standard and a floating regime towards those that are not. Targeting inflation, the price level or other monetary aggregates implies floating exchange rate unless the management of the relevant foreign currencies is tracking the exact same variables (such as a harmonized consumer price index).Inflation targeting Under this policy approach the target is to keep inflation, under particular definition such as Consumer Price Index, within a desired range. The inflation target is achieved through periodic adjustments to the Central Bank interest rate target. The interest rate used is generally the interbank rate at which banks lend to each other overnight for cash flow purposes. Depending on the country this particular interest rate might be called the cash rate or something similar. The interest rate target is maintained for a s pecific duration using open market operations. Typically the duration that the interest rate target is kept constant will vary between months and years. This interest rate target is usually reviewed on a monthly or quarterly basis by a policy committee Price level targeting Price level targeting is similar to inflation targeting except that CPI growth in one year is offset in subsequent years such that over time the price level on aggregate does not move. Something similar to price level targeting was tried by Sweden in the1930s, and seems to have contributed to the relatively good performance of the Swedish economy during the Great Depression. As of 2004, no country operates monetary policy based on a price level target. Monetary aggregates In the 1980s, several countries used an approach based on a constant growth in the money supply. This approach was refined to include different classes of money and credit (M0, M1 etc). In the USA this approach to monetary policy was discontinued with the selection of Alan Greenspan as Fed Chairman. This approach is also sometimes called monetarism. While most monetary policy focuses on a price s ignal of one form or another, this approach is focused on monetary quantities. Fixed exchange rate this policy is based on maintaining a fixed exchange rate with a foreign currency. There are varying degrees of fixed exchange rates, which can be ranked in relation to how rigid the fixed exchange rate is with the anchor nation. Under a system of fiat fixed rates, the local government or monetary authority declares a fixed exchange rate but does not actively buy or sell currency to maintain the rate. Instead, the rate is enforced by non-convertibility measures (e.g. capital controls, import/export licenses, etc.). In this case there is a black market exchange rate where the currency trades at its market/unofficial rate. Under a system of fixed-convertibility, currency is bought and sold by the central bank or monetary authority on a daily basis to achieve the target exchange rate. This target rate may be a fixed level or a fixed band within which the exchange rate may fluctuate until the monetary authority intervenes to buy or sell as necessary to maintain the ex change rate within the band. (In this case, the fixed exchange rate with a fixed level can be seen as a special case of the fixed exchange rate with bands where the bands are set to zero.) Under a system of fixed exchange rates maintained by a currency board every unit of local currency must be backed by a unit of foreign currency (correcting for the exchange rate). This ensures that the local monetary base does not inflate without being backed by hard currency and eliminates any worries about a run on the local currency by those wishing to convert the local currency to the hard (anchor) currency. These policies often abdicate monetary policy to the foreign monetary authority or government as monetary policy in the pegging nation must align with monetary policy in the anchor nation to maintain the exchange rate. The degree to which local monetary policy becomes dependent on the anchor nation depends on factors such as capital mobility, openness, credit channels and other economic factors Gold standard The gold standard is a system in which the price of the national currency as measured in units of gold bars and is kept constant by the daily buying and selling of base currency to other countries and nationals. (I.e. open market operations cf. above). The selling of gold is very important for economic growth and stability. The gold standard might be regarded as a special case of the Fixed Exchange Rate policy. And the gold price might be regarded as a special type of Commodity Price Index . Today this type of monetary policy is not used anywhere in the world, although a form of gold standard was used widely across the world prior to 1971. For details see the Breton Woods system. Its major advantages were simplicity and transparency. Monetary policy tools monetary base monetary policy can be implemented by changing the size of the monetary base. This directly changes the total amount of money circulating in the economy. A central bank can use open market operations to change the monetary base. The central bank would buy/sell bonds in exchange for hard currency. When the central bank disburses/collects this hard currency payment, it alters the amount of currency in the economy, thus altering the monetary base. . Monetary policy in different years The monetarist statistical regularities have weakened for the 1970-90 period, in comparison with the 1960-79 where the influence of current and past business activity on the money supply were weak, while the predictive value of changes in the money stock for future output was large National income and saving play vital role on formulation of monetary policy. As the income increases the spending will also increase, thus monetary will be less intensively required and same is the case with increase in saving .chart shows how the finance systems generate the real money and nominal money .The existence of long-run equilibrium relationship among money and income represented by a money demand function also has significant implications for monetary policy. The kind of economy India has, it is effected by the dollar rate .India has Services led growth is getting reinforced by a sustained resurgence in industrial activity after a long hiatus of slow down and restructuring during the period 1976-1987.Thus India contribute much too the imports and exports, thus it have impacted by dollar price.

Intelligence Reporting and Security :: essays research papers

INTELLIGENCE REPORTING AND SECURITY Intelligence report writing takes a lot of preparation before finalizing or conducting a brief. There are many different techniques that can be used to present information that has been discovered during an intelligence investigation. Various charts can be used to analyze the timelines, criminal activities, financial activities, or biographical profiles to prove or disprove lawful conduct of the individual or the organization. The activity flow chart shows the different steps that have been taken in a complex operation. By breaking the steps down, it becomes easier for the analyst and law enforcement organizations to identify the misconduct of a complicated operation. The activity flow chart is also used along with other charts to help further demonstrate probable activity. Assessments are made after and during a strategic investigation. These assessments help to move from a broad or well-defined position and further investigate closer to the source(s). There are two types of assessments: General and Specific. A general assessment provides an overview while a specific assessment can disclose threats and vulnerabilities. An Association analysis is used to show the relationships between people, groups, or organizations to show criminal or non-criminal activity. The association matrix is used as an interim product that includes police reports, surveillance reports, field interviews, corporate records, testimony, informant data, public record data, and other information. The association analysis can be used to indicate other possible criminal activity. The association chart is used in conjunction with the association analysis to depict relationships. The way that the chart is used can provide new information about a network or the operational mode of a conspiracy. In order to interpret the association chart, a few mechanisms must be understood. First, the person in the center of the chart may not be the head of the criminal activity or conspiracy. More likely than not, this person may merely be the easiest person to contact and track by the analyst. Second, the association chart is only a snapshot and relationships may change from day to day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An association matrix is chart made up of rows and columns depicting every relationship that an individual has. Information is taken from investigative reports, public records, and testimony. Each person that is associated will also have as many known other relationships as well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another type of an analysis that can be utilized is the bank record analysis. This is simply following the money trail and tracking how much money is being spent.

Coke’s 1999 Issue Essay

What seemed like an isolated incident of a few bad cans of Coca-Cola at a school in Belgium turned into near disaster for the soft drink giant’s European operations. In June 1999, Coke experienced its worst nightmare a contamination scare resulting in the recall of 14 million cases of Coke products in five European countries and huge blow to consumer confidence in the quality and safety of the world’s most recognizable brand. After the initial scare in Bornem, Belgium, Coke and Coca – Cola Enterprises (CCE), a thought they had isolated the problem. Scientists at the CCE bottling plant in Antwerp found that lapses in quality control had led to contaminated carbon dioxide that were used in the bottling of a recent batch of Coke. Company officials saw the contamination as minor problem and they issued an apology to the school. At the same time that the problems were being dealt with in Antwerp, things were breaking down at Coke’s Dunkirk, France, bottling plant. In Belsele, 10 miles from Bornem, children and teachers were complaining of illnesses related to drinking Coke products. The vending machines at the school were stocked with Coke from the company’s Dunkirk plant’s practices were being questioned. What initially seemed like an isolated incident was now a crisis. Immediately following the second scare, Belgium’s Health Minister banned the sale of all precuts produced in the Antwerp and Dunkirk plants. Things got worse when Coke gave an incomplete set of recall codes to a school in Lochristi, Belgium, resulting in 38 children being rushed to the hospital. Immediately following this incident, French officials banned the sale of soft drinks produced in the Dunkirk plant. It was believed that fungicide on wooden shipping pallets were the cause of the illnesses at the Dunikrik plant. On June 15th, 1999, 11 days after the initial scare in Bornem, Coke finally issued an explanation to the public. Most Europeans were not satisfied. Coca – Cola officials used vague language and often contradicted one another when making statements. France’s Health Minister, Bernard Kouchner, stated, â€Å"That a company so very expert in advertising and marketing should be so poor in communication on this matter is astonishing.† After three weeks of testing by both Coke officials and French government scientists, it was concluded that the plants were safe and that there was no immediate threat to the health of consumers. Coke has destroyed all of the pallets in Dunikirk and tightened quality control on CO2. How could this happen to the company that is revered worldwide for its quality control and the superiority of its products? Coke has spent decades building its reputation overseas and the European market now represents 73% of total profits. While the scare has had some effect on Coke’s profits in Europe, the company is more concerned with damages to its reputation and consumer confidence in its products. Many critics say that Coke’s slow response time, insisting that no real problem existed and belated apology have severely damaged the company’s reputation in Europe. Some would disagree and feel that Coke handled the situation as best it could. â€Å"I think that Coke acted in a responsible, diligent way,† says John Sitcher, editor of Beverage Digest. â€Å"Their first responsibility was to ascertain the facts in a clear and unequivocal way. Any as soon as Coke knew what the facts were, they put out a statement to the Belgium people.† The character and quality of a company can often be measured by how it responds to adversity. Coca-Cola believes that this crisis has forced the company to reexamine both its marketing and management strategies in Europe. Coke executives in Brussels are predicting that the company will double its European sales in the next decade and that this setback will only make the company stronger. Wall Street analysts seem to agree. Only time will tell.

My Mom is My Hero

There are many other definitions of what a hero may be. Some may say heroes are noted for their â€Å"feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life†. Some may often see them as mythological legends, â€Å"endowed with great courage and strength, and celebrated for their bold exploits. † In my personal view a hero can be anyone of who you could relate to, and also more importantly stands up for what they believe. Does everyone have a hero? I don’t know but all I could say is that I do.And she is not found in a comic book or in the TV she is found right here at this little warm place that I call home. Who could this hero be? It’s my mom, Lucia Espinal. She is my hero because she works hard, is a family woman, and more importantly she believes in me. First, heroes are hard to find all because they are diligent workers. My mother is very hard working. She has worked her whole life to get where she is now. For many years my mom has been the only provider for this family. After dad left us home without a cent to feed us, she went out to work each day to support this growing family.Second, In order to be a great hero, one must be likeable and family oriented. Family is very important to my mother. When I think of my mom I think of how strong she is and how she has helped me throughout my 15 years. There hasn’t been a time in my life where I was going through a hard time and my mom wasn’t there, guiding me through it. My mom is a very selfless person. She is always sure to make sure other people’s needs are full-filled before hers are. She cares for her 4 children as if we were the most valuable thing to the world. To her, we are the most valuable thing in the world.Furthermore, my mom is my hero because she was always there for me when I was feeling down and out. She would try to cheer me up and she usually did. She knew what kind of medication to give me when I was not feeling well or when I was hurt. My mom is my hero because she has been only one who stays when the people I think are my friends leave. She is my hero because she has always been there just in case u needed someone to talk to and she would always listen to me. My mother is my hero because she is hard working and cares for her family.

How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Essays

How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Essays How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Paper How far is friar Lawrence to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet Paper Essay Topic: Romeo and Juliet Friar Lawrence is the local Roman Catholic priest who is also an apothecary. He is the confident of both Romeo and Juliet and plays an important role in the fate of both. He is more than aware of the familys feuding and seems to be well thought of by everybody. Romeo respects Friar Lawrence very much and sees him as a father figure. When Romeo feels suicidal when he has just been banished from Verona, the Friar tells him to straighten up. `This is dear mercy, and thou seest it not. ` When Romeo confesses that he wants to marry Juliet, Friar Lawrence teases Romeo about how fickle in love he is. `Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, So soon forsaken? ` But in spite of this he still agrees to marry the young couple as he hopes it will end the familys feuding. `For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households rancour to pure love. ` He only agreed to it because he had their best interests at heart. I dont think he is to blame for marrying them as he did what he thought was right. And even if Friar Lawrence hadnt married them, whos to say that another Friar wouldnt have married them? Romeo and Juliet both feel as if they can turn to him when they are in trouble. We see this when Romeo has been banished, because he stabbed Tybalt and Juliet has been told that she must marry Paris. Romeo doesnt seem as if he is very close to either of his parents but Juliet usually has her nurse to turn to, but even the nurse, in the end the nurse rejects her too. `I think it best u married with the county. ` So in desperation each one goes to Friar Lawrence for help. Romeo is helped by being giving him a hide out in Mantua until Juliet can meet him. Juliet, being ordered to marry Paris, has gone to Friar Lawrence in desperation and has asked for help. First of all the Friar has to help Romeo escape. He allows Romeo to spend one night with Juliet, but before dawn he must leave. It is at this time that Juliet has been told to marry Paris. So she goes to the Friar. Friar Lawrence then devises a plan that will ensure Juliet and Romeos happiness. In some ways this shows us the Friars cunning, we are also shown that he is quite a smart man. We know that the friar is also an apothecary, so he gives Juliet a potion, which will make Juliet look as if she is dead. When she is taken to the family tomb, the friar will wait until she awakens, and by which time Romeo will hopefully already be there and take Juliet away. While devising this plan he still has the families interests at heart. He is only doing this in the hope that the two families, Montague and Capulet will reconcile. Although it could be argued, that he only helped them because he wanted to save himself. I personally dont think so. I think he would have known that he would have had to `cover his tracks` before he married the couple. He seems like a prudent man, one that will think things through; he would never have married them and helped them elope for selfish reasons. But the Friar did deceive both the Capulet and Montague parents. And although this was wrong, it was also, in my opinion justified. I think this because he didnt really have much choice. If he had wanted to succeed with his plan then they would have had to be kept in the dark, there was no other way round it. If they had been told, neither parent would have agreed to let their child associate with the child of the enemy. Priests do have the best interests of their parishes at heart and they do not lie and deceive people needlessly, but I think in this case it was allowed. Even though everything didnt turn out the way it should have, it achieved the one thing the Friar wanted: peace between the families. And although the price paid was very high, almost too high, the motivation was honourable he genuinely didnt act selfishly. I think everyone, in the play recognised this including the prince.

Aristotle on Democracy and Government

Aristotle on Democracy and Government Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers of all time, a teacher of world leader Alexander the Great, and a prolific writer on a variety of subjects we might not think related to philosophy, provides important information on ancient politics. He distinguishes between good and bad forms of ruling in all the basic systems; thus there are good and bad forms of the rule by one (mon-archy), a few (olig-archy, arist-ocracy), or many (dem-ocracy). All Government Types Have a Negative Form For Aristotle, democracy is not the best form of government. As is also true of oligarchy and monarchy, rule in a democracy is for and by the people named in the government type. In a democracy, rule is by and for the needy. In contrast, rule of law or aristocracy (literally, power [rule] of the best) or even monarchy, where the ruler has the interest of his country at heart, are better types of government. Best Fit to Rule Government, Aristotle says, should be by those people with enough time on their hands to pursue virtue. This is a far cry from the current U.S. drive towards campaign financing laws designed to make the political life available even to those without well-endowed fathers. It is also very different from the modern career politician who derives his wealth at the expense of the citizenry. Aristotle thinks rulers should be propertied and leisured, so, without other worries, they can invest their time in producing virtue. Laborers are too busy. Book III - But the citizen whom we are seeking to define is a citizen in the strictest sense, against whom no such exception can be taken, and his special characteristic is that he shares in the administration of justice, and in offices. He who has the power to take part in the deliberative or judicial administration of any state is said by us to be a citizens of that state; and, speaking generally, a state is a body of citizens sufficing for the purposes of life.... For tyranny is a kind of monarchy which has in view the interest of the monarch only; oligarchy has in view the interest of the wealthy; democracy, of the needy: none of them the common good of all. Tyranny, as I was saying, is monarchy exercising the rule of a master over the political society; oligarchy is when men of property have the government in their hands; democracy, the opposite, when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers. Book VII The citizens must not lead the life of mechanics or tradesmen, for such a life is ignoble, and inimical to virtue. Neither must they be farmers, since leisure is necessary both for the development of virtue and the performance of political duties. Sources Aristotle PoliticsFeatures on Democracy in Ancient Greece and the Rise of DemocracyAncient Writers on Democracy AristotleThucydides via Pericles Funeral OrationIsocratesHerodotus Compares Democracy With Oligarchy and MonarchyPseudo-Xenophon

Tom's of Maine toothpaste 4 P's of marketing Research Paper

Tom's of Maine toothpaste 4 P's of marketing - Research Paper Example om’s of Maine’s business, these include general concepts or ideas about everything in business, including its products and their prices and place or distribution, and promotional activities. In the creation of their products, Tom’s of Maine included the idea of values and quality standards. This is clear from the words of Tom’s of Maine claims support leader and natural standards advocate, Pam Scheeler, saying, â€Å"At Tom’s of Maine, we believe one thing that makes our products good is how we make them. That’s why we’ve always been committed to high quality standards and never use artificial colors, flavours, fragrances, preservatives or animal testing. You deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing the products you choose not only work, but also share your values† (Tom’s of Maine, 2015). Tantamount to the quality standards of their products, Tom’s of Maine chooses to highlight the importance of research and choosing the best ingredients of their products that will adhere to the values or specific requirements for the health safety of their potential customers. This is the area where they have created a un ique specialty for their product offerings, particularly in its segment for toothpaste. â€Å"Our customers prefer the fresh, natural taste and smell of herbs, fruits, and flowers (no fragrance added).†, as stated in Tom’s of Maine’s website. This means that Tom’s of Maine’s potential customers are looking forward to what is healthy and natural choice of toothpaste. Considering that it has highly specialized its products like toothpaste, it is also implied that the firm sets a remarkably special price for it. In some reviews of the price of its products, some customers find the price point to be high. Considering that Tom’s of Maine is maximizing profitability, skimming as a pricing strategy particularly on its specialized toothpastes has become its wide option in order to deliberately achieve its goals towards

Acquisition of Merril Lynch by Bank of America Essay

Acquisition of Merril Lynch by Bank of America - Essay Example The self-serve bias, one of the strongest biases faced in organizational decision-making, is a tendency to favor oneself. Generally people taking decisions with this kind of bias, credit themselves for success of their decisions while blaming others for their wrong decisions (Tosi, Mero & Rizzo, 2000, p.79). The aim of this essay to analyze if the decision taken by Bank of America’s executives was a result of self-serving bias. Background of the Problem Bank of America acquired the almost collapsed Merrill Lynch in January 2009 with the approval of shareholders of both the companies. The deal was worth $50 billion. The acquisition made the bank world’s largest financial service provider. However, the earnings released in the same month revealed losses of $21.5 billion in the fourth quarter of Merrill Lynch. The executives of BOA in the announcement before the voting by shareholders provided an unjustified and randomly projected losses rather than the actual analysis of Merrill Lynch. This called for two times infusion of money by the government. However, the executives of BOA in November testified in a Congressional Hearing that they relied on faulty data in order to gain shareholder vote on the acquisition. The forecasts of losses were faulty and some of the losses from collateralized debt obligations for the month of November and December, and various other illiquid assets were omitted. This omission of losses from the financial model used by Merrill Lynch, led to around $9 billion losses where the actual pre-tax losses should have been $18 billion (Cohan, 2009). The carelessness and absence of due diligence on part of BOA executives has had cost its shareholders and resignation of the chairman of BOA Kenneth D. Lewis who also happened to be the chief executive of the bank. However, there is another aspect of the situation faced by BOA i.e. the executives in their testimony also provided the reason for ignoring the significant losses to be press ure from the government to acquire Merrill Lynch before it declares bankruptcy. Analysis of Executives’ Behavior The BOA executives’ testimony in case of Merrill Lynch’s acquisition shows that they deliberately ignored to make a careful analysis of the accounting books of Merrill Lynch. The possible reason for this could be that they had already made up their minds about the acquisition and so ignored the basic principle of investment decision-making i.e. due diligence (Stowell, 2010, p.71). The motivation could be from the fact that the acquisition made BOA world’s largest financial services company and this could have been linked with the compensation and bonuses of the executives. BOA was also interested in buying the bankrupt Lehman Brothers, which was eventually taken over by Barclays. Moreover, BOA executives’ over confidence stems from another recent successful acquisition of Countrywide Financial Corporation that made BOA America’s b iggest home lender (Mildenberg & Keoun, 2008). At the time of acquisition announcement it was believed by many analysts that if BOA was able to restrict the bad assets, then Merrill Lynch’s retail distribution with sales force of 16,690 brokers managing $1.6 trillion of assets, could be the most profitable deal the bank had got during the financial crisis (Mildenberg & Keoun, 2008). Unlike Barclays’ acquisition of Lehman without its bad assets for a much smaller amount, the Merrill Lynch deal was a hasty decision by BOA’s chief executive Kenneth D. Lewis. Lewis had been the driving force of BOA’s success around the nation (The New York Times, 2009). In a study of self-serving bias in managerial decision-making, it