Costco Case Study

Christopher GildeaÐ ¡ostco Case Study Seminar:   Business Policy and Strategy Professor Gregory P. Grogan Abstract ?Costco, a discount warehouse based in Issaquah, Washington, specializes in selling quality products at low prices. The company operates as a membership retailer, focusing its business on small and consumers with incomes averaging $75,000 with over 30 percent having incomes of $100,000 or more annually. The wholesale club segment of retailing in 2008 was estimated to be a $120 billion business in the United States, and it was growing about 20 percent faster than retailing as a whole (Thompson, 2010). The three main competitors were Costco Wholesale, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale. Costco has a majority of the warehouse club sales across the United States and Canada and is looking to keep its edge. ?The pricing strategy that Costco has implemented, focuses on the price-sensitivity of its consumers. The company has excelled in keeping its prices low by capping the markup on its merchandise. By keeping the markup lower than its competitors, Costco has provided its customers with deep discounts on over 4000 products within its stores. Sam’s Club, which offers the same number of products within its stores, earns half the income that Costco does at each store. Costco sales are even higher per store than BJ’s, which offers 7,300 items compared to 4,000 items at Costco and Sam’s Club. Costco has been very efficient at utilizing its floor space and generating high revenues from it products within its stores. ?Costco is trying to generate huge sales volume and quick inventory turnover by applying a business model that offers limited selections of nationally branded product in wide range of merchandise categories. Costco apply number of operating excellence such as efficient way of managing inventory and just in time inventory, efficient distribution, minimum merchandise handling, and volume purchasing to reduce the price of its product. One of the major benefits of high sales volume and rapid inventory turnover is that they can sell their inventory and receive cash that can be used to pay its vendors and take the advantage of early-payment discounts. ?Even with the low price strategy, Costco employee salaries and benefits are by far higher than its competitors. This compensation has motivated it employees and retain good workers in turn, Costco gets lower turnover and higher productivity. Combined with a smart business strategy that sells a mix of higher-margin products to more affluent customers, Costco actually keeps its labor cost lower that its competitors as a percentage of sales (Ampel, 2004). They are also retaining more employees than any of their peers. ?Costco has strong ethics within its company, developing a motivating workplace for its employees to flourish within the company. They prefer to develop their employees within the company. When doing this, they have turned down outsiders who may be able to bring in new innovations that can propel the company further ahead of its competitors. New recruits and experienced businesspeople have been overlooked. As the world becomes more globalized, the company needs to look at intelligent outsiders who can have a significant impact on the company. The strategy they have in place deters the company from accepting outside viewpoints, which could bring greater profits. ?One of the major strategic drawbacks of Costco is that they only carry a selection of 4,000 types of merchandise. This is less than most of their competitors, and may cause major problems in the future because most customers want choices. Costco has ignored many of its customers’ requests to stock certain goods in order to only sell products that will sell quickly. Though there method has been very successful, the company should increase it products that they sell in its stores. This increase could be between 1000 to 1500 products with the store brand Kirkland involved. ?Costco has some other operational level problems that in some extent hinder the overall companywide effectiveness and goals achievement. For example, they don’t accept all kinds of credit card from the customers (only American Express); though it is done to minimize the cost of overall operation. Their competitors are capitalizing on use all major card cards. Since November 10, 2006, Sam’s Club began accepting payment via MasterCard credit cards. The results with MasterCard were favorable; company officials reported that in the week following the MasterCard acceptance, the average ticker checkout at Sam’s Club was up 35 percent (Thompson, 2010). To allow their customers the use of different payment options will ultimately bring ore sales. Conclusion ?It is never acceptable to simply do business the way it has always been done because the market changes, the industry evolves, and numerous other external factors make it absolutely necessary for a business to evolve to retain or gain market share. This is particularly important in the industry Costco is in. The company needs to focus on it customer n eeds, its future hiring/company growth, and opening up to different payments. With an improved strategy in place, Costco can continue to service its customers, while satisfying the needs of its shareholders. ?Reference:Ampel, F. J. (2004, Embracing costco-ization — unlike most big-box retailers, costco's success is based on its high-quality service and superior product mix. Residential Systems, 5, 28-28. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/200686953? accountid=9997 BJ’s Wholesalers homepage, accessed at http://bjs. com on April 8, 2013 Costco homepage, accessed at http://costco. com on April 8, 2013 Sam’s Club homepage, accessed at http://samsclub. com on April 8, 2013 Thompson, A. A. , Strickland, A. J. , Gamble, J. E. (2010). Crafting and Executing Strategy. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. 17th ed. Costco Case Study What is Costco’s business model? Is the company’s business model appealing? Why or why not? The centerpiece of their business model involved generating high sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover by offering club members low prices on a limited selection of name brand and private label products. The Club members pay an annual fee, which was a very important aspect of their business model. These fees provided enough revenue to increase the company’s overall profit.Costco was also able to sell and receive cash for their inventory before it had to pay many of its merchandise vendors; even when vendors’ payments were made just in time for vendors to take advantage of early payment discounts. High sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover allowed the company to finance a large percentage of its merchandise inventory through payment terms provided by vendors rather than by maintaining large working capital to ensure timely payments of suppliers.Yes, the com pany’s business model is appealing because the company’s increased inventory turnover and low operating costs allowed it to maintain a profit, despite their significantly lower gross margins compared to the industry (traditional wholesalers, mass merchandisers, supermarkets and supercenters). What are the chief elements of Costco’s strategy? How good is the strategy? The chief elements are pricing, product selection, maintaining low operating costs and expansion. Pricing/Product Selection-The company philosophy was to provide high end quality product and/or services to club members but maintain low prices.Stores carry approximately 3,600 items, whereas, 85% is name brand and 15% Kirkland brands. These items range from perishables (food/drinks) to nonperishable household items. Costco also offers several services such as: one-hour photo, gasoline, pharmacy, optical, hearing aids, and travel services. Although the services remained constant, approximately 25% of i ts product offering were always changing. Buyers for Costco were making one-time purchases of items based on consumer taste and trends. These items would sell out quickly and were higher prices items such as: big screen TV’s and diamond rings.Costco purchased these â€Å"treasure hunt† items on the gray market from retailers and/or wholesalers who were looking to get rid of excess or slow selling inventory. Club members eagerly looked for these â€Å"treasure hunt† items because it was rare the items would be available again. For many years the company even had a 14% markup cap on name brand products compared to the industry at 20-50% markup prices. There was a 15% markup cap on their private selection of products (Kirkland Signature), which was 20% below to comparable name brands.Costco’s prices were slightly above break-even levels and sales revenues barely covered operating expenses. The company makes up for the modest contribution to operating profits with the membership fees, which attributes to over 70% of operating profits. Revenues from membership fees outweigh net income annually. Low Cost Leader/Company Expansion-Costco’s ability to maintain low operating costs is key to being able to offer club members with consistently low prices. They did not invest in amenities within their warehouses such as: shopping bags, decor, salespeople, billing, and accounts receivable.The building were strategically placed in high traffic areas but avoided prime real estate to avoid excessive land costs. The large metal buildings were designed for economy and efficiency. In addition to keeping overhead low, Costco had shorter hours of operation to reduce labor expenses as well. Costco’s growth strategy is to increase overall company sales by 5% and to open new stores within and outside of the U. S. The company spent 1. 3 billion to open 20 new stores and the average annual sales per warehouse was 103 million, which more than cove rs the company’s initial start-up costs.Do you think Jim Sinegal has been an effective CEO? What grades would you give him in leading the process of crafting and executing Costco’s strategy? What support can you offer for these grades? Refer to Figure 2. 1 in Chapter 2 in developing your answers. Mr. Sinegal has been an effective CEO by being fully committed to the Costco vision and business strategy. In this aspect Mr. Sinegal would receive an A because he was very much â€Å"hands-on† which ensuring that each facility operated according to Costco’s business model/strategy, mission, and philosophy.Sticking with the company’s present strategic course creates opportunities for growth and increased profitability as displayed in the opening of 20 new locations. The company does not engage in extensive marketing or sales campaigns and the CEO would receive a B. Communications are sent by flyers, via Costco website/email, in-store product sampling, occa sional direct mailers to potential new members, and special campaigns for new store openings. This process works well for keeping expenses minimal, however, implementing effective marketing practices would greatly benefit the company.Marketing can help Costco grow their business by focusing on their best customers (Executive members) and attracting more club members, in order to, boost their sales and increase profit margins. Mr. Sinegal refuses increased customer prices to increase company marginal profits or to provide senior management with salaries comparable to other executives within the same industry. He found it unnecessary for executives to make 100 times more than employees and insisted on paying employees higher wages and increased benefits, than the industry standards as well.This greatly reduced employee turnover and increased consumer loyalty with Costco, which would earn him an A. The company has some of the most affluent customers with incomes ranging from $75,000 to over $100,000 annually. There are Gold and Executive memberships of which 38% are Executive members. Executive members generally spend more than other members and they had an 89% membership renewal rate. The membership format facilitated strictly controlling the entrances and exits of warehouses, resulting in limited inventory losses of less than 2/10 of 1% of net sales-well below the industry standard.Although Executive members provide a substantial amount of sales, the company should get in line to service potential club members who do not have annual incomes within the $75,000 to $100,000 (median range $50,000 to $75,000), as well as, continue to market to the Executive club members. This will strengthen the company’s future prospects and increase competition, in order to reach the projected 5% increase in sales. Managers are delegated additional responsibilities and were held accountable for store operations, product selections and promotions.These individuals had to pro ve that they could function within a fast paced retail environment and be able to promptly find resolutions to multiple issues. They also had to stay in tune with their customer needs and/or wants (consumer trends), in order to, maximize sales and quick turnover. For the most part, the company promoted from within, which earns the CEO letter grade C. Approximately, 98% of management is selected from within and that can cause conflicts with the organization. There is no opportunity for innovation and/or change (fresh ideas) from the outside.Employees can feel entitled to certain positions because of their length of tenure with the company, instead of whether or not they can effectively do the job. It can also cause â€Å"hostile work environment† by increasing competition among employees. It can hinder the company from focusing on top senior level technical talent. They targeted local universities for new hires, in order to, engage educated and hard-working individuals whom ha d not chosen a specific career path yet. The company needs to find a balance between promoting from within and outside of the company.For items that were not practical to stock at the warehouses, members are able to obtain a wider variety of value-prices products and services on the company website. Yes, the company is being impacted growing technological advances and the CEO would receive a D. The company is being affected by their inability to provide Apple products and/or services to club members due to online restriction. Costco needs to seek resolution for the online restriction. Apple is a popular high end product that Costco would generate increased revenues for the company and the website can only be accessed within the U.S. and Canada.The company is faring well against their direct and indirect competitors with expansion (within and outside of the U. S. ) and increased sales growth. The company buys majority of its merchandise directly from the manufacturers which allowed t he company to have sufficient inventories to meet demand. The CEO would earn a C because management is not being proactive. They are â€Å"assuming† that if they were to encounter any issues with supply, the business could just switch manufacturers without disruption.If Costco is going to pursue overall company growth, the supply chain should be aligned with its core business strategy and value proposition such as their competition (Wal-Mart). Costco should continue with the company goals to expand international and needs to ensure their website is capable to service their consumer demand in these other countries. It will make the organization more competitive, considering many of Costco’s competitors have global operations setup already. With the market share Costco already has within the industry, Costco has an opportunity to capitalize on their expansion.What core values or business principles has Jim Sinegal stressed at Costco? He stressed five business principles: obey the law, take care of our members, take care of our employees, respect our suppliers, and reward stakeholders. Obey the law-Mr. Sinegal put strong emphasis on abiding by the laws of every community where Costco conducted business, which consists of any state or government laws and/or regulations. He had a strict code of ethics. Take care of our members-Sinegal believes in customer satisfaction period.This was displayed not only in the superior products and services being offered but with the company’s efforts within their local communities as well. Take care of our employees-In addition to providing higher wages and great benefits, Costco provides their employees with opportunities for advancement, volunteer activities, and a safe/healthy work environment. Respect our suppliers-Costco honors all commitments and protected supplier property. They did not engage in situations that would cause conflicts of interests such as not accepting gratuities of any kind from a suppli er.The company also reserved the right to utilize their better ethical judgment when in doubt regarding what course of action to take. Reward our stockholders-Costco is publicly traded and depends on shareholders (investors) to be successful. They are treated as business partners and it is essential the company provides a good return on their investments. What is the competition like in the North American wholesale club industry? Which of the five competitive forces is strongest and why? Complete a five forces analysis of competition in the North American wholesale industry?The competition is fierce to strong in the North American wholesale market. Costco largest direct rival is Wal-Mart but there are also significant indirect rivals such as Amazon. com and Target. Rivalry can be considered fierce to strong when the battle for market share is so vigorous that the profit margins of most industry members are squeezed to the bare minimum. The industry is growing 15-20 percent faster th an retailing as a whole. Costco had 57% share of warehouse sales across the U. S. with Wal-Mart having approximately 35%.We believe the threat of new market entrants is the strongest of the five forces because Costco is not just in competition with other warehouse clubs but other types of retailers Dollar General, Lowe’s specialty chains, gas stations, Internet retailers such as Amazon. com and Barnes and Noble whom hold substantial market share Strengths †¢3rd largest retailer †¢Has 57% share of warehouse sales across US †¢No one manufacturer supplies a significant percentage of merchandise that Costco stocks †¢Provide high end products and services at low prices †¢Rapid inventory turnover †¢Minimal overhead expensesWeaknesses †¢Profits (low profit margins) dependent on card membership fees otherwise operating costs barely covered †¢Websites only operate in US and Canada but company has expanded internationally/website also unable to c arry certain products such as Apple –technological advances †¢Price caps 14-15 percent on name brand and Kirkland Signature products †¢Promotes more than 98% from within Opportunities †¢To gain new memberships for potential customers with median incomes between $50-$100K annually †¢To open additional stores in other countries besides Japan †¢Increase marketing efforts Threats†¢Entrance of other retailers whom adopted the low cost strategy and have significant market share -increased competition †¢Lack of supply management How well is Costco performing from a financial perspective? What is happening to net sales, total revenues, and net income? What are their profitability and expense ratios? The company has been consistently improving company performance from years’ 2000-2011. Without the sales from the memberships, sales would not be enough to cover the operating expenses for Costco.Net sales, net income, and total revenue have incre ased from the years’ 2000 to 2011. Net profit margin is 16. 8% and company collects almost 17 cents for each dollar of sales. So while the company increased its net income, it has done so with diminishing profit margins. Merchandising costs are high and account for at least 89% of operating expenses. The CAGR performed on total revenue displays an approximately 11% increase in total revenue and 11. 5% increase to stockholders’ equity shows that investors are receiving substantial returns on their investments with Costco.Long term debt has more than doubled over than last 10 years, the calculation for long-term debt and capital clearly show that less than 15%. The company has established their creditworthiness and can borrow money if necessary. The company’s current ratio is 1. 14 which is stable because it is over 1. 0, however, ratios of 2. 0 or more are better. The return on assets and equity have fluctuated over the years. ROA was actually higher in the past compared to the most recent calculation. For example in 2005, ROA was 6. 4% and 7. 3% in 2000.The total assets accumulated over the years have increased but the return on those assets have not. ROE was 14. 9% in 2000 and 14% in 2008. Overall, Costco is doing well but the company could be doing better. Gross profit margin= 87,048 – 77,739/ 87,048 = 0. 1069 (10. 7%) Operating profit margin= 2439 / 87,048 = 0. 02801 (2. 8%) Net profit margin= 1462 / 87,048 = 0. 01679 (16. 8%) Total Return on Assets= 2439 / 26,761 = 0. 091140092 (9. 1%) ROA = 1462 / 26,761 = 0. 052663809 (5. 3%) ROE = 1462 / 12,573 = 0. 116280919 (11. 63%) EPS = 1462 / 443. 1 = 3. 299948093 (3. 30)Long Term Debt to Capital Ratio = 2153 / 14,726 = 0. 146203993 (14. 62%) Current Ratio = 13706 / 12050 = 1. 137427386 (1. 14) CAGR -10 year total revenue (88,915 / 32,164) = 2. 764426066-2. 77 rounded 1 / 10 = 0. 1 2. 77 ^ 0. 1 = 1. 107255833- 1. 1072 1. 1072 – 1 = . 1072 (10. 72%) CAGR- 10 year stockholders†™ equity 12,573 / 4240 = 2. 965330189 – 2. 97 rounded 1 / 10 = 0. 1 2. 97 ^ 0. 1 = 1. 115001996- 1. 1150 1. 1150 – 1 = . 1150 (11. 50%) Based on the data in case Exhibits 1 and 4, is Costco’s financial performance superior to that at Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale?Costco has a larger share of the wholesale club sales in the United States. In fact, they have over half. Sam’s Club is next in line and BJ’s Wholesale is much smaller. Costco is efficient and utilizes its resources in order to remain more successful and have a greater impact than other wholesale clubs. Even though their profit margin may not be as high, they prove to have a stronger customer base and greater sustainability overall. Does the data in case Exhibit 2 indicate that Costco’s expansion outside the U. S. is financially successful? Why or why not?This data does show that Costco’s expansion outside the U. S. is financially successful. Sales and operati ng income continue to rise on a regular basis for the warehouses. This proves stability and consistency. Revenue also continues to rise enabling growth and success. How well is Costco performing from a strategic perspective? Does Costco enjoy a competitive advantage? Does Costco have a winning strategy? Why or why not? From a strategic perspective, Costco is performing well. They have evaluating their strengths and weaknesses and are able to accentuate their strengths.They look for opportunities and focus on making the most out of what they have. They are not afraid to venture into new opportunities and stray away from threats. Market share is consistently on the rise and they are increasing their customer base. Customers are aware of the care they get from Costco and the good reputation is reflected in their success. The continuous growth in memberships displays loyal customers. Costco certainly does enjoy a competitive advantage of consistently providing low prices, customer servi ce, increasing market share, and maintaining a profitable reputation.This is also why they do have a winning strategy. They align their business strategy with their mission and push forward. Are Costco’s prices too low? Why or why not? Costco’s prices are not too low. By evaluating their financial statements and review customer satisfaction, they are on target. They are meeting their goals and making a difference while still pleasing their customers. This is a happy medium that is hard to reach. Because these prices are part of their competitive advantage, it would not be a good idea to change this.What do you think of Costco’s compensation practices? Does it surprise you that Costco employees apparently are rather well-compensated? The compensation package provided by Costco is essential to the way they run their business. It is much better than those of its competitors, creating an advantage. This is another way that Costco aligns their strategy with their mis sion and values. While executives are offered a smaller compensation package, regular employees can take advantage of a larger package. This shows that they are all working together and one is not better than the other.It takes all of them to successfully run the company. Again, this is an advantage because employees can make Costco their career reducing the turnover. While competitors go through many employees in a short amount of time, Costco has the same staff. It did surprise me before reading this case, but based on their strategy and focus, this is the right thing to do and they prove that it really does pay off in the long run. What recommendations would you make to Costco top management regarding how best to sustain the company’s growth and improve its financial performance?While Costco remains successful at this time, it is important that they maintain engagement from customers and employees. It could be beneficial to look into untapped markets within the United Stat es and overseas. As times change, they may need to update processes and goals. One suggestion would be online shopping. The transition to online shopping abilities could enhance their overall success. This could also benefit customers overseas and will increase the market of Costco. They must remain one step ahead of the competition in order to stay on top. By focusing on their strength of customer care overall they will sustain their advantage. Costco Case Study Christopher GildeaÐ ¡ostco Case Study Seminar:   Business Policy and Strategy Professor Gregory P. Grogan Abstract ?Costco, a discount warehouse based in Issaquah, Washington, specializes in selling quality products at low prices. The company operates as a membership retailer, focusing its business on small and consumers with incomes averaging $75,000 with over 30 percent having incomes of $100,000 or more annually. The wholesale club segment of retailing in 2008 was estimated to be a $120 billion business in the United States, and it was growing about 20 percent faster than retailing as a whole (Thompson, 2010). The three main competitors were Costco Wholesale, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale. Costco has a majority of the warehouse club sales across the United States and Canada and is looking to keep its edge. ?The pricing strategy that Costco has implemented, focuses on the price-sensitivity of its consumers. The company has excelled in keeping its prices low by capping the markup on its merchandise. By keeping the markup lower than its competitors, Costco has provided its customers with deep discounts on over 4000 products within its stores. Sam’s Club, which offers the same number of products within its stores, earns half the income that Costco does at each store. Costco sales are even higher per store than BJ’s, which offers 7,300 items compared to 4,000 items at Costco and Sam’s Club. Costco has been very efficient at utilizing its floor space and generating high revenues from it products within its stores. ?Costco is trying to generate huge sales volume and quick inventory turnover by applying a business model that offers limited selections of nationally branded product in wide range of merchandise categories. Costco apply number of operating excellence such as efficient way of managing inventory and just in time inventory, efficient distribution, minimum merchandise handling, and volume purchasing to reduce the price of its product. One of the major benefits of high sales volume and rapid inventory turnover is that they can sell their inventory and receive cash that can be used to pay its vendors and take the advantage of early-payment discounts. ?Even with the low price strategy, Costco employee salaries and benefits are by far higher than its competitors. This compensation has motivated it employees and retain good workers in turn, Costco gets lower turnover and higher productivity. Combined with a smart business strategy that sells a mix of higher-margin products to more affluent customers, Costco actually keeps its labor cost lower that its competitors as a percentage of sales (Ampel, 2004). They are also retaining more employees than any of their peers. ?Costco has strong ethics within its company, developing a motivating workplace for its employees to flourish within the company. They prefer to develop their employees within the company. When doing this, they have turned down outsiders who may be able to bring in new innovations that can propel the company further ahead of its competitors. New recruits and experienced businesspeople have been overlooked. As the world becomes more globalized, the company needs to look at intelligent outsiders who can have a significant impact on the company. The strategy they have in place deters the company from accepting outside viewpoints, which could bring greater profits. ?One of the major strategic drawbacks of Costco is that they only carry a selection of 4,000 types of merchandise. This is less than most of their competitors, and may cause major problems in the future because most customers want choices. Costco has ignored many of its customers’ requests to stock certain goods in order to only sell products that will sell quickly. Though there method has been very successful, the company should increase it products that they sell in its stores. This increase could be between 1000 to 1500 products with the store brand Kirkland involved. ?Costco has some other operational level problems that in some extent hinder the overall companywide effectiveness and goals achievement. For example, they don’t accept all kinds of credit card from the customers (only American Express); though it is done to minimize the cost of overall operation. Their competitors are capitalizing on use all major card cards. Since November 10, 2006, Sam’s Club began accepting payment via MasterCard credit cards. The results with MasterCard were favorable; company officials reported that in the week following the MasterCard acceptance, the average ticker checkout at Sam’s Club was up 35 percent (Thompson, 2010). To allow their customers the use of different payment options will ultimately bring ore sales. Conclusion ?It is never acceptable to simply do business the way it has always been done because the market changes, the industry evolves, and numerous other external factors make it absolutely necessary for a business to evolve to retain or gain market share. This is particularly important in the industry Costco is in. The company needs to focus on it customer n eeds, its future hiring/company growth, and opening up to different payments. With an improved strategy in place, Costco can continue to service its customers, while satisfying the needs of its shareholders. ?Reference:Ampel, F. J. (2004, Embracing costco-ization — unlike most big-box retailers, costco's success is based on its high-quality service and superior product mix. Residential Systems, 5, 28-28. Retrieved from http://search. proquest. com/docview/200686953? accountid=9997 BJ’s Wholesalers homepage, accessed at http://bjs. com on April 8, 2013 Costco homepage, accessed at http://costco. com on April 8, 2013 Sam’s Club homepage, accessed at http://samsclub. com on April 8, 2013 Thompson, A. A. , Strickland, A. J. , Gamble, J. E. (2010). Crafting and Executing Strategy. McGraw-Hill/Irwin. 17th ed.

Color Symbolism in Great Gatsby Essay

White: related to Jordon and Daisy, usually represents purity, ironically it represents the false purity and corruption of Daisy and Jordon. White is also related to dreams and fantasy, which ties into Gatsby and Nick because to them the girls were like fairies that seemed to float around. Daisy can be related to a white flower with a golden center because as you see in the novel she appears pure on the outside, but is corrupted by the golden money on the inside. Blue: related to Gatsby and his dream, numerous times Gatsby’s party is described as having a romantic blue aura around them. When Gatsby is with Daisy it’s a perfect blend of blue and white that blissfully make the area feel like a dream. Blue seems to represent success in this novel too because when Gatsby starts his new life with Dan Cody the first thing he buys is â€Å"a blue coat†. However, like most good things in this novel, once the party is over or Daisy leaves Gatsby; that’s when the mysterious yellow haze takes over the blue. Red: related to Gatsby and Nick, with Gatsby it symbolizes strongly the ugliness of reality and the masquerade of success. With Nick, it illustrated the dazzling world of the rich and the enchantment of material riches. However as the novel progresses red becomes grotesque and is related to violence and death. Yellow: related to money and wealth. This is the most widely used color in the novel; it’s usually used in conjunction with a demotion of something being gold to just plain yellow. A great example of this is Gatsby’s car, before it kills Myrtle it’s a â€Å"pristine cream colored car† however, after the murder it loses its luster and become a yellow car. Green: related to Daisy and encouragement of Gatsby, beckoned Gatsby to make Nick invite Daisy over so they could meet. However, Gatsby seeking the blue and green hue disregards the yellow that creeps in and ultimately leads to his tragic downfall.

Publius Virgilius Maro Essay

Aside from Christianity there is no other force that shaped Western civilization other than the Greco-Roman culture. And there is no better representation of that period in history other than Rome and Publius Viirgilius Maro, also known as Virgil. A closer examination of Virgil and his works made many to realize that Virgil was a byproduct of events and it is the twin forces of the Roman Empire and Greek history that prompted Virgil to write. This paper will look into the two factors that influenced the writing of Publius Virgilius Maro. This can be done by looking first at the events that transpired before Virgil began writing and this means tracing back Greek and Roman history. The second way of knowing the connection between history and Virgil’s writings is to dig into his works and of course this means analyzing the Aeneid. It will be shown later that it is Roman history and Homer that shaped Virgil to become the writer that he was destined to be. Rome After more than two thousand years the world is still mesmerized by Rome. It is because of its legacy, it military prowess, and form of government. Rome was without equal when it comes to how it help shape Western history. Yet in the early days of Roman history there is not much to see. There is nothing that could make an outsider ascertain its potential to be a dominant ruler of known world in antiquity. Ting Morris traced its early development in obscurity and he remarked, â€Å"Rome began around 2,800 years ago as a few small settlements on wooded hills overlooking the Tiber River† (4). But then Rome began to distance itself from the Latin communities from which it was supposed to be a part of. What happens next began a series of development that will catapult this small community into the world map, â€Å"†¦the roman Republic conquered first Latium, then all of Italy. The Romans annexed much foreign territory to their own state, but they also established a system of alliances with all other states. This gave the Romans a vast reserve of manpower that allowed them to overthrow every major power in the Mediterranean†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Mackay, 40). A new age has come and a new military superpower was born. But when the Romans began to assimilate remnants of Alexander’s Empire, the new European power came face to face with an ancient civilization whose insight into religion, politics, and philosophy was far ahead of its time. In short the Romans, â€Å"†¦ recognized something in Greek culture that was more impressive than anything Rome itself achieved, in spite of Rome’s unprecedented military success† (Cox). At this point Rome was all brute force. Yes the soldiers led by the Caesars were brave, strong and are very eager to make their mark in the battlefield but when it comes to culture, the Romans were barbarians compared to the Greeks. The Romans discovered an effective methodology in fighting wars and they even had the distinct advantage of knowing how to build an empire out of disparate tribes and nations. They were experts in campaigns that require traveling far from home and yet they lack one more thing. They did not have a good system that can be put in place after victory. This is similar to the idea that it is easy to start a war but the more difficult thing to do is how to end it. So when Rome began to feel the success of empire building the more that they felt the need for a way of life that will enhance their reputation in Europe while at the same time offer them an opportunity to enjoy life more. They found the answer from the sophisticated Greeks. Virgil The Romans had to learn from the Greeks and their history can be characterized not only by empire building but also by the why they incorporated Greek thought and the Greek’s way of life into their own unique system. Now there is none better who understood the need for assimilating Greek culture than the Roman intellectuals of that time. In fact, â€Å"Among the adaptors of Greek culture, none was more brilliant †¦ than the poet Virgil. He faced a formidable challenge. Everyone who encountered Greek culture recognized how much it was shaped by Homer† (Cox). This means that there is a great need to surpass Homer and if this is not possible then at least equal Homer’s genius. If this can be achieved then the Romans had done something which other Greek imitators failed to do and that is to provide a great explanation for their existence. A myth has to be created, a legend has to be made and the purpose for such an endeavor is obvious. There is a need for something that will hold the empire together. At the time of writing the Aeneid, Rome was again in the cusp of revolution. Julius Caesar was defeated by Augustus Caesar and so steps must be made to consolidate his power and to strengthen the arm of the new emperor. For a brilliant man like Virgil, times like this one is an opportunity that must be grabbed by both hands. Virgil proceeded to hit two birds with one stone. First he would write an epic that will explain the origins of Rome. He will do so by using stories that are already familiar among the people that he wants to see united under Augustus Caesar and during that time there was no other story quite like the one weaved by Homer centuries before. Virgil saw that epic struggle for good and evil; battles between heroes; and the self-sacrificial behavior of some heroes simply because they believe in something higher than themselves proved to be a formula hard to resist. Virgil was ready to accept the challenge. But it is clear from the beginning that it would not be an easy task. Aside from that Homer is a world unto itself. And as they say there is no way one can improve on perfection, the Iliad and the Odyssey are the blueprints for creating great epics and so what else can be done to make it better. Virgil was able to solve this problem by being inventive and by starting where Homer ended his story. When Troy fell, one of her sons went on to build another kingdom. But then again Virgil cannot escape the past. Virgil could not resist using a successful formula. As they say there is no need to fix what was broken. Judging from the power of the Iliad and the Odyssey to move people it is almost impossible not to use the same method and technique of telling a great story. And so Virgil copied many ideas from Homer. In the introduction to the Aeneid Levi Robert pointed out that: Virgil borrowed from Homer a great many items: his verse form, the division into twelve books, mythology, many episodes and similes. In the Aeneid Venus doubles for Nausicaa, Dido for Calypso and Circe, and Drances for Thersites. The funeral games the desecent into Hades, where Aeneas meets Dido as Odysseus met Ajax, the prophecy of Anchises, the catalogue of ships, Turnus attempt to burn them, a broken truce †¦ a quarrel of two Italian leaders †¦ and a final single combat (Robert, xiii). Aeneid The Aeneid is basically the story of Aeneas, the god-like leader of a band of Trojan refugees fleeing to Italy after the fall of Troy. In the beginning, Aeneas built a fleet with the goal in mind of settling in a foreign land and to finally establish a new nation of Trojans. In Virgil’s mind, he wanted the world to understand the basis for the establishment of the Roman Empire. And there is nothing as perfect as that. Hornstein, Percy and Brown’s book, The Reader’s Companion to World Literature, was very helpful in understanding the context from which Virgil’s Aeneid was written, and they said that it was written at a time of conflict. Italy was ravaged by more than fifty years of revolution and civil war. When the long-sought peace came, a new form of government was fashioned from a battle weary nation. And with the new set-up, ultimate power was in the hands of one man- Augustus Caesar. It was during this time that the Roman Virgil began working on the Aeneid. Hornstein, Brown and Percy wrote: Vergil began the poem in 29 B. C. , two years after the battle of Actium brought this period of civil war to an end. He had long been preparing for the task. His purpose was national: he desired to glorify the Roman people by his theme and exalt the Emperor in the person of his hero. (5) Homer Putnam acknowledge that Virgil is under the towering shadow of Homer when he made this judgment, â€Å"Homer himself, against whose essential insights into humanity, Virgil’s own achievement will always be measured. † Homer’s success allowed him to set the standard upon which others who will come after him will be forced to measure up. Allen Mandelbaum tells of how his previous study prevented him from fully appreciating Virgil’s works and he said, â€Å"One was a tag line of mark Van Doren that echoed through my youth with tenacious resonance: ‘Homer is a world; Virgil, a style’. † It also did not help that the critics saw Virgil as copying Homer, Gaskell said, â€Å"The overall plan of Virgil’s epic was plainly Homeric, with its main elements reversed: now the odyssey of the man comes first and the armed fighting follows it: but the Homeric parallels are many and obvious. † (161). The only major difference was that Homer was illiterate and therefore had to express the beauty of his poetry in oral reform. On the other hand Virgil was literate and he could study Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey in written form as well as compose his own epic and was able to write it down. This explains the difference in style but all the more strengthens the view that Virgil was strongly influenced by Homer. Conclusion Now the pieces of the puzzle begin to fall down into its proper places and one can now see the bigger picture. It was mentioned earlier that it was in 168 BC when the Romans began to conquer the remnants of Alexander’s Empire and it is through the conquest of former Greek states that the Romans saw first hand the beauty that was Greece. In short the highly militaristic Romans lacked the cultural refinements that one can find in abundance in Greek societies. It is through the process of incorporating Greek culture into the Roman’s way of life that they rediscovered the power of Homeric poetry. It took the genius of Virgil to use Homer’s works and use it as the foundation for his own epic. And so in 29 BC Virgil began writing the Aeneid with the purpose of emulating what Homer has achieved in Greece. Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey provided a sense of identity for all Greeks and Virgil was hoping to achieve the same results. But the desire to incorporate Greek life into Roman life is easier said than done. But everyone who will try to copy from someone begins by copying almost everything that one can see and the eye can appreciate. For instance the Romans copied the design of their temples and they also described their gods using the same attributes found in Greek society. But there is no need to worry because the Roman changed the Greek sounding names of their gods into Roman names for their statues. Virgil attempted to accomplish two major things when he wrote the Aeneid. He wanted to impress the new emperor (Augustus Caesar) and secondly he wanted to have a unique Roman epic that will help unite the people. Virgil was successful in achieving both. The hero of the Aeneid was behaving in much the same way as Augustus Caesar especially with regards to his conquest and the subsequent creation of a new nation out of that sheer determination to succeed. Now for the second part, Virgil was also able to create an epic that can be comparable to Homer. It is true that he copied many things from Homer and yet at the same time his stories were never simply a rehash of what Homer did. Virgil simply needed an inspiration to get going and he found it in the character of Aeneas whom Homer briefly mentioned in his work. From this little known character, Aeneid began to build a story that made the peoples pulse to race. It was indeed an epic story of battles, of struggle between good and evil, of heroes who most of the time failed to achieve their potential and sometimes die a tragic death. The Aeneid is basically an explanation as to the existence of Rome. For many there is a need to have that kind of idea, that kind of emotional anchor in times of trouble. And there is no way to fully understand the impact of Aeneid towards the people of Rome. But one thing is sure Virgil’s work was able to unite the whole of the empire and is instrumental as to why the empire endured for so long. It is now very clear that that Virgil was influenced by historical events and the circumstances that surrounded his life. If there were two streams where these influences came from then Homer is a mighty source of inspiration while the politics and warfare in ancient Rome provided Virgil with more materials to use. In Rome’s struggle to carve out a nation in Europe was evident in Aeneid where the hero had to travel and faced with numerous risks just so he can establish a new nation. It was Homer who provided much influence for Virgil. If Homer did not produce the Iliad and Odyssey it is hard to imagine Virgil able to make his own. This is not to take away anything form the accomplishments of Virgil but it would be almost impossible for him to write beautifully without Homer as guide. Homer did not only provide the seed from which Virgil will grow a powerful story, Homer also provided the correct format. And so putting it all together it is now very clear that Virgil was a byproduct of the events that surrounded him. Yet even before he was born, Homer’s influence and genius was already felt in many parts of the Western world. When Virgil was still very young it is easy to imagine that he was already familiar with the Iliad and Odyssey and no doubt the stories found in those epics help to shape the way he thinks. Works Cited Appelbaum, Stanley. Ed. â€Å"The Aeneid by Vergil† Trans. Charles J. Billson. Canada: Dover Publications, 1995. Cox, John. Introduction to Virgil, The Aeneid. 2008. General Education at Hope College. 03 April 2008. < http://www. hope. edu/academic/ids/171/Aeneid. html Gaskell, Philip. Ed. â€Å"Landmarks in Classical Literature† Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 1999. Hemminger, Bill. Exploring Ancient World Cultures: Rome. 1997. EAWC at University of Evansville. 02 April 2008. < http://eawc. evansville. edu/ropage. htm> Hornstein, L. H. , G. D. Percy, and Calvin S. Brown. Eds. â€Å"The Reader’s Companion to World Literature† New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc. , 1973. Knight, G. R. Wilson. Trans. â€Å"The Aeneid by Virgil† New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc. , 1956. Mackay, Christopher. â€Å"Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History. † New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Mandelbaum, Allen. Trans. â€Å"The Aeneid by Virgil† California: University of California Press, 1971. Morford, Mark P. O. and Robert J. Lenardon. â€Å"Classical Mythology† 7th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003. Morris, Ting. â€Å"Ancient Rome. † MN: Smart Apple Media, 2007.

Connection between `Bartleby the Scrivener` and Wall Street

The main character, namely Bartleby has been portrayed by the author as a weird person who is also an outcast. He is an overwhelmingly dejected and friendless man, who seems absolutely not capable of finding work that will keep him happy. He does not even like living and life itself is very tiring for him.According to sources, the world in which the central character lives is that where a man works and earns till the time that he is dead. For a number of reasons he is considered an outcast. The person who he works for who remains unnamed in the story is a lawyer. He makes a number of attempts to connect with Bartleby but fails.In some way, he is able to have compassion for the eccentric scrivener, but he just cannot or will not help him. Since the beginning of the book, the explanation of Bartleby is arresting. He is portrayed as a person who has already faced death, and is portrayed just the way a person would explain a dead body or as one would illustrate a ghost. â€Å"Pale from indoors work, motionless, without any expression or evidence of human passion in him at all, he is a man already beaten. Even his famous statement of non-compliance, â€Å"I would prefer not to,† is an act of exhaustion rather than active defiance† (About Bartleby the Scrivener, 1999).Going on, the author mentions Bartleby’s fondness of staring at the wall in front of his office. Wall Street has been defined by the author as a lonely, gloomy landscape both totally not natural and hopelessly empty, which perhaps resembles the nature of Bartleby himself. As is said by the narrator of the story, Wall-street is a place that is deserted all the way through the day as well as the night. It is just empty. The building where he lives too, which of week-days bustles with business and life, at dusk echoes with utter vacancy, and the Sundays are just despondent.This is the place which is chosen by Bartleby as his home; solitary observer of a seclusion which he has seen all heavily populated—a genus of naive and malformed Marius menacing amid the carcass of â€Å"Carthage! I now recalled all the quiet mysteries which I had noted in the man. I remembered that he never spoke but to answer; that though at intervals he had considerable time to himself, yet I had never seen him reading—no, not even a newspaper; that for long periods he would stand looking out, at his pale window behind the screen, upon the dead brick wall† (Melville, 2004).Bartleby has created his own safe heaven at Wall Street. He lives there all the time, perhaps trying to ignore the world and its conformities at all costs. Without the defensive wall, Bartleby would have to face the world outside, and Wall Street saves him from meeting the expectations of the entire society and joining a world where he could survive only if he became what the society would have made him. He must either do the accepted thing or die. Since Bartleby cannot be conventional, he has no othe r choice but to die.As is said by reviewers, the character under consideration is perhaps the most secluded character ever seen in literature. The environment that he lives in has cut him off from nature as well as from other human beings. â€Å"By day, Bartleby's window stares at a wall. Wall Street is a bleak and unnatural landscape, and Bartleby also stays there at night, when the bustling human population vanishes and the streets become desolately empty† (About Bartleby the Scrivener, 1999). ConclusionIn the light of the above discussion we can hereby culminate that the connection between Bartleby and Wall Street is perhaps the loneliness and gloominess that they both share. Bibliography About Bartleby the Scrivener. (1999). Retrieved on December 19, 2006 from: http://www. gradesaver. com/classicnotes/titles/bartleby/about. html Bartleby the Scrivener. (2008). Retrieved on December 19, 2006 from: http://www. enotes. com/bartleby-scrivener Melville, Herman. (2004). Bartleb y the Scrivener: A story of Wall Street. United States of America. The Art of Novella. ISBN: 0974607800

History of Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

History of Latin America - Essay Example he financial means for Spain that allowed it to dominate Europe for nearly one hundred years.4 Mining silver, however, was not an uncomplicated business undertaking and required planning and workforce management strategies. The Spaniards developed labor systems that were not beneficial to the natives, however. The discovery of silver in Spanish America changed the lives of natives through developing the mita service and importing black slaves, which transformed the latter’s socio-economic, demographic, and cultural characteristics. The industry of silver mining was the biggest and most complex industries in the Indies, which altered the economic and social infrastructures of the natives in different degrees through its innovations with the mita system. Silver mining was concentrated in north central Mexico and the highlands of Upper Peru.5 Mining it needed a massive workforce with a combination of skilled and unskilled laborers.6 The skilled laborers maintained the shafts, drainage, and ventilation systems, while the unskilled ones extracted the ore from the pits.7 The state changed the economic and social organization of the natives, in order to fit the labor needs of the silver mines.8 The Spaniards developed its specialized workforce system through combining private organizational efforts and state-controlled public services.9 In Peru, Don Francisco Toledo elaborated Spain’s forced labor system through combining Inca-based mita system and recently made Spanish labor practices.10 The mita system oblig ed native adult laborers to work at faraway mines. Miners received very poor remuneration and worked at perilous mine conditions. They were paid in silver, but the costs of food, lodging, tools, and clothing left them with nothing. The owners of the mines made extra money from selling these basic commodities to the natives, since the mines were far from communities. In Mexico, native families experienced socio-economic transition from being communal-work based

Sports Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sports Industry - Essay Example Different sports have become to be associated with the life of the people. Take the example of football game. Champion league has grown to be a famous sports event for many people all over the world which is bringing in millions of pounds to Europe. In England, the premier league is dear to the English people and attracts funs all over the world. Sports in England have grown to be a big business. (Bourke, 2003) With this growth, there have been many transactions that are going on. To promote honesty in the industry, it must be protected by laws that are enacted in the constitution of the individual countries. The industry has been streamlined by legal enactments which ensure that there are honesty deals going on in the industry. Football game has been one of the games that have been guarded by legislation that has enabled judgment of legal cases that has threatened to crumble the industry. Transfer of players from one club to another has been dodged by controversies which are always settled in the court. Match fixing scandals in have also been taken to courts. In Italy match fixing scandals has attracted the attention of the world and has consequently led to review of laws that govern sports in most countries. There has been other transaction in the industry which calls for legal enactment to protect them. Take example of intellectual property. Intellectual properties like trademarks, logo s, domain names, copyright and patents owned by individual and clubs needs to be protected. There has to be legal structures that support these intellectual properties. (Ben, 2006) Another aspect of the industry that has attracted legal enactments is contracts signed between different players in the industry. Clubs enter into contract with individual and sign them as part of their squads. Individual sport person enter into legal contracts with their promoters. The provisions of these contracts must be protected by the law of the land to make sure that none of the party exploits the other and no one bleaches the contract. Legal enactments have been crucial in ensuring that the industry is run smoothly in terms of signing of contracts between different individuals with individuals and clubs. To comply with the rising need for legal legislation in the sport industry, each individual authority overseeing a specific sport has move to draft laws that defines the operation in the industry. FIFA is the world body that governs football and has moved fast draft legislation that governs the football industry. The Judo association in the UK, the British Judo Association has its own legislation that governs the sport. Other legislations are meant to protect the identity of sport bodies in the United Kingdom. For example, The British Olympic Association has legislation that protects the use of five rings which are meant for Olympic. The use of the ring and other insignias is protected under the law where the association has exclusive rights of using these symbols. The association was give this right in 1995 through an act of parliament after a long debate. Another area in sports that is governed in the UK is the collective sale of sports and TV rights. This has been featured in the UK legislation. This legislation was meant of make the industry self sustaining by collecting fee from the sales in all major events. This has seen the emergence of British

Teaching of Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teaching of Psychology - Essay Example To understand the mind and its complications is not simple. But there have been attempts and many successful ones. In fact, the interpretation of the psyche has developed as a formal academic discipline - 'Psychology'. Psychology is an extensive field amd its ambit is an amalgam of research and teaching. Teaching of psychology becomes very significant in the contemporary individualistic and collective notions of this multi-cultural global society. Teaching is a very responsible activity. The teacher's words can make or mar perspectives. Therefore it requires a thorough expertise on the subject matter as well as the ability to put across the subject effectively. In the area of psychology, the teacher generally has to balance between his/her role of a psychologist and a teacher. The 'how of learning' becomes very important in the teaching of psychology. This is because it has to tread the path of commonalities differences, the impact of culture as well as the benefits and challenges that human diversity brings to relationships and communities. Psychology teaching should be a journey of insight, emotions and imagination. It is very important for the teacher to foster the development of independent, critical thought, evaluative skills, depth of learning, to explore ideas and questions. Teaching of psychology is better performed through demonstration.

William Harvey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

William Harvey - Essay Example Harvey is most famous for observing and putting forth the working of the circulation system. He outlined how the heart pumps blood and also traversed the path it takes. While the valves in veins were already hinted at, by earlier physiologists, Harvey took it up as a challenge to find out the real purpose of valves and its functioning in the circulatory system of the body. He also discovered the pulmonary circulation and the systemic circulation. He discovered that while the heart pumps blood through the arteries, that flow into the body, while the veins carried impure blood back to the heart. He experimented upon this by pushing in blood in the opposite direction, which certainly did not happen. En route to discovering and letting t he world know about his great discovery, Harvey did stumble upon great many stones, mainly critics! Harvey's ideas were eventually accepted during his lifetime. His work was attacked, notably by Jean Riolan in Opuscula anatomica (1649) which forced Harvey to defend himself in Exercitatio anatomica de circulations sanguinis (also 1649) where he argued that Riolan's position was contrary to all observational evidence. [www.wikipedia.com] Ha

Freedom Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Freedom - Research Paper Example The constitutional imperatives of the government are crucial mechanisms which may restrict personal freedom of individuals. They not only uphold law and order but also ensure development of societies across the world. Thus, absolute freedom for individuals is not possible. What is freedom? Meaning of freedom differs from place to place but can be broadly described as absolute right of individuals to control their lives and live in whichever way they want. People often expect that in a free State, one should have absolute freedom of expression vis-a-vis his/her behavior, speech and actions. In country like America, freedom of individuals has become more controversial and probably more intensely contested because of the diverse society and history of racial discrimination. Many a times, drugs, suicides, euthanasia etc. are construed as individual decisions and government restrictions are hotly contested. The interpretation of freedom, therefore, needs to be further explored for the wid er welfare of people. Patterson (1991) asserts that in contemporary times, freedom ‘stands unchallenged as supreme value in Western world’ (ix). It is explicit by its very connotation and needs to be experienced. Most importantly, he has differentiated freedom in three distinct parameters: personal, sovereign; and civic. Personal freedom is described as doing what one pleases without restrictions from government or anyone but within the broader precincts of ethical consideration. Sovereign freedom broadly enforces restriction on personal freedom for individuals’ own socio-economic benefits. The civic freedom defines guidelines and rights of individuals within society and conforms to prescribed community or group. This is interesting because it also shows that personal freedom or absolute freedom is not possible, as it is often constrained by politics and religiosity of region and place. Social structure and individual’s rights Social construction is a dist ributed network of human relationships that is inherently linked with its environment. The role of religion, culture and value system within the wider perspective of individuals’ life is a hugely critical factor. It not only promotes guidelines for peaceful social interaction, but it also defines individual’s rights and limitation of his/ her freedom to act as he/she pleases. The informal social control, exerted by various social paradigms of the system within which individuals co-exist, become strong tenets of restrictions on personal freedom of the people. At the same time, the social identities of individuals within the society also require modicum of social conduct that define and limit the extent freedom that individuals can enjoy. Within a family, parents or elderly behave in manner that serves as model for the younger generations. The same is true of children who have to follow certain rules which conform to the value system of the family. Hence, individual†™s right within the defined social structure is governed by many social imperatives. Law and individual’s right to freedom The law is an integral part of social structure and is primarily defined as a set of rules promulgated by the sovereign body to maintain law and order. Locke (1690) claims that State was created with the exclusive purpose of protecting the citizens’

Homeopathy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Homeopathy - Essay Example According to the Wurges, (2005) Arsenicum Album is one of the most commonly used homeopathic remedies with a high success rate. With its ability to treat indigestion, allergies, food poisoning and fevers, it was the most appropriate solution in my case. According to the British Homeopathic Association, a website created to help patient access information on homeopathy; it documents a series of several success stories of patients who used Arsenicum album and were cured, with a long list under those that were suffering from alimentary system disorders (Gibson). Although Arsenicum Album has been found to be poisonous in some cases, appropriate use with guidance from a homeopath, has shown greater success in its use. Various scientists such as Andrea Gescher have been skeptical on the effectiveness of Arsenicum Album (Bhattacharya, 2003), but other studies such as the one carried out by Clausen, van Wijk, and Albrecht, (2011), showed that the pophylactic and therapeutic applications of t he rememdy have a high success rate. The rememdy is grouped under the fifteen important rememdies in homeopathy and its application is widely used cure both psychological and physical problems. It is therefore, a recommended remedy when it comes to homeopathy. Bhattacharya, S. (2003, October 22). Homeopathy reduces arsenic poisoning in mice. Retrieved from New Scientist:

Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Education - Essay Example The hurdle ahead to making and cultivating of bright future leaders lie in the fact that there must be a solid, rational and foolproof system in place that ensures the supply of the best possible talent in a systematic manner for generations, just like the flow of fresh waters from glaciers, unconditional and superfluous. Young talent originates from the children of a nation. Indeed the birth of a â€Å"born brilliant† is the miracle of Mother Nature but the polishing of a gem till its transformation into a priceless jewel that the world can admire but cannot afford to buy is the duty of a jeweler. Similarly the states today need to nourish their children and develop them into accolades that honor the nation in the future with standout performances in the fields of military, science and technology. Perhaps this one of the most significant reasons that why developed countries spend large chunks of their budgets on the development programs for children; and why do they allocate high percentages of their budgets to educational and other development programs that are aimed at providing the best of the facilities and infrastructure to their children. Some Exemplary Moves It took United Nations (UN) not long to correctly identify the benefits and meaningfulness of children to the progress and success of the world in the long run. UN was proactive in addressing to the arrangements that were required to be made in order to provide a platform to children and adolescents to coin their opinions and voice their concerns on higher levels. Several resolutions have been passed in the UN as part of the process that ensures that member states provide bright and lucrative opportunities to the young members of their populations to be a part of the decision making process and of the work force (Harry Sheir, 2001). Inviting young individuals to higher platforms and including and considering their opinion and views into the final decision making has become the order of the da y in most developed countries as of today. Activation of youth parliaments and student convoys of International Relations and Law students travelling from one country to another in search for knowledge and solution to modern day political enigmas and scenarios is a rising trend. United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Children is also a great breakthrough in the right direction. In light of the articles and clauses of this convention the rights of children to participate in decision making were addressed and implemented in various countries. Developed nations like UK have adopted this convention as one of the primary guidelines to enhance the development of children in its territory and to give them more rights and space to work with (US Census Bureau, 2011). In United States of America, children development is a seriously considered issue and it entails a lot of policy making measures around it. There are several prominent state funded child care and development programs in the US that ensure that children are given the best possible facilities and infrastructure to grow and nourish and flourish. To ensure that children are taken care of well at all times programs such as Child Care and Development Block Grant is one example of state funded programs for children that cater to families belonging

Is Educating Rita a comedy of gender or social class Essay

Is Educating Rita a comedy of gender or social class - Essay Example The education she would receive there, she believes, would liberate and enlighten her; by way of which she hopes to move away from the social strata of her birth. Professor Frank Bryant, on the other hand, is a middle-aged alcoholic, who has no interest what so ever in his professorship. Instead he openly displays his melancholy and acts indifferent to the requirements of his work. So when these two characters from disparate social and economic backgrounds cross paths, new and interesting developments take place in both their lives. While comedy is used by the director as a suitable narrative implement, the recurrent theme is one based on class. In Educating Rita, â€Å"Ritas desire for self-discovery places her in conflict with her class background. She is, thus, a kind of female version of the 1950s scholarship boy whose involvement in education and middle-class culture inevitably takes her away from her social origins. In this respect, the film follows the older school of working- class films in placing particular emphasis upon cultural rather than economic divisions. Unlike many of the working-class films that follow it, there is little evidence of unemployment or poverty. What Rita (who is herself employed) aspires to escape is not so much economic hardship as cultural deprivation† (Kramp & Humphreys, 1993). It is true of Educating Rita too, that the British nation can stake out intellectual turf as they have always done with class warfare. Running all the way from Richard Sheridan through George Bernard Shaw and John Osborne, the theme of class-conflict has provided the staple of comedy of attitudes and manners. In Educating Rita, the lead characters Julie Walters and Michael Caine bring to screen contrasting but complementary kinds of energy. To their credit, the lead pair also makes life in British academia more interesting

Ernst and Young Tax Guide Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Ernst and Young Tax Guide - Essay Example It was also expected that the new institutions provided a better environment for integrity in revenue administration. Tax reform can therefore be seen as an attempt to achieve the larger goals of an accountable and transparent government through improved revenue collection and tax policies. Mr. Waweru said that the adoption of the revenue agency model has generally been successful in improving tax administration. Under the general direction of the East African Revenue Authorities Commissioners General Forum and the East African Revenue Authorities Technical Committee, the revenue authorities have managed to keep the regional tax administration reform agenda on track. The reforms focused on building integrated institutions for better synergies between the legacy revenue departments, rationalizing and lowering tax rates, introduction of VAT as a replacement of Sales Tax, automation of functions, meeting targets by enhancing revenue mainly from existing taxpayers, and adoption of a corporate planning approach to revenue administration. ACCA is the largest and fastest growing international accountancy body with over 345,000 students and members in 160 countries. ACCA has been active in East Africa for many years, and has offices in Nairobi, Kampala and Addis Ababa, and active student branches in Dar es Salaam, Kigali and Khartoum. The first ever ACCA East African Accountants Convention brought together members and other accountants from the Eastern, Central and Horn of Africa region. (Cheryl D. Block, Pub. Date: October2004) "The Convention is also part of ACCA East Africa's overall strategy to provide appropriate platforms for ACCA members to share professional knowledge and best practice, as well as to engage business, political and civil society leaders, as part of the wider community in which they live and work," says John Nyakahuma, the Head of Corporate Development, and ACCA East Africa. Mr. Chas Roy-Chowdhury, the Secretary of the ACCA Taxation Committee at the organization's London Headquarters spoke on the European perspective on tax reform, while Mr. Francis Kamulegeya, Tax Partner in the Kenya branch of international accounting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), spoke on Tax Reform: Issues and Challenges in East Africa. Mr. Kamulegeya works primarily with PWC Kenya's multinational and regional clients in the manufacturing and services sector, some of whom are the largest taxpayers in East Africa. In addition to his current role as the leader of the PWC indirect tax services group in East Africa, he helps clients in the areas of tax planning and compliance, and in particular advising companies wishing to invest in East Africa on aspects such as corporate structuring and financing in order to take advantage of the available investment incentives in the region. Lord Marshall concluded that a number of options should be considered. He stated that it was unclear

Businesses in the Long-run Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Businesses in the Long-run - Essay Example The original industry size can not hold the increased output. However, the size of the expanded industry has to be optimum to ensure that the business is able to avoid diseconomies of scale (Roncaglia 2006 p 582). There are many factors that may affect the effectiveness of a business in the long-run. For example, technological advancement may either improve the operations hence increased output and reduced cost of production, or it may lead to the obsolescence of the existing technology leading to an extra cost for the business. A business may experience falling long-run costs through changing the factors of production. There is an optimum level whereby the prices are expected to be maintained, or gradually begin to rise as the factors of production continue to be varied. However, there are situations when the long-run costs may continue falling even after this point is reached, which indicates the capacity of the industry to satisfy the market with greater variation of the inputs. This essay is a critique of why businesses might experience falling long-run costs as well as the effects of this on the competitive process and the structure of industries. It also critiques the reasons why long-run costs might begin to rise, and how a business can try to avoid the rise, to maintain competitiveness in the market. Businesses usually experience falling long-run costs after engaging in ... This occurs due to the fact that if a particular production system can produce more units when more inputs are applied, it would not be utilized maximally if only a few inputs are applied in the system (Roncaglia 2006 p 582). For example, if a sisal processing plant can produce 300 units of finished product from 700 units of raw materials and operates in an environment whereby the source of raw materials can only supply 400 units, it might benefit in the long-run if it moves to other regions where the raw materials are abundant. This would lead to a fall in the long-run cost since the same plant that was initially used to produce few products for a lower profit will be used to produce a larger quantity of output within the same premises for greater profits. This means that in the long-run, a firm is able to increase its efficiency through increasing the inputs. On the other hand, when inputs are variable, the firm will only maintain the inputs that can reduce the cost of production t o improve profitability. Market expansion is significant in leading to a fall in the long-run costs of a business. This is because as new industries are established in a particular region, the prevailing industries are likely to expand to match the emerging industries. Development of industries concentrated in a particular region attracts professionals in the appropriate fields of production; hence it becomes easy for organizations to access skilled labor thereby increasing productivity. The more an industry employs skilled workforce, the more the costs of production decrease. On the other hand, suppliers for raw materials are likely to lower their cost as a result of many suppliers competing

Tibet Civilization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tibet Civilization - Essay Example It was fused with imperialism and became the religion of the kings during the reign of Song Tsen Gampo who ruled from 617 AD to 650 AD. He married two Chinese princesses who were Buddhists. He had the holy book of Sutras translated into the Tibetan language and thus the common people were able to read and understand the Buddhist scriptures. In the 8th century, King Trisong Detsen brought in the great Buddhist scholars from India, Pandit Shantarakshita, Kamalasila and Padmasambhava to spread the word of Lord Buddha. The first spiritual community was set up as a Buddhist monastery in Samye. This helped the Indian version of Buddhism to be established in Tibet and not the Chinese version. In 842 AD, King Lang Dharma persecuted Buddhists and tried to uproot the religion as he tried to bring back the original Bon religion. By 978, during the reign of King Yeshe, Buddhism was revived and with the help of Indian pundits, Buddhism was brought back as the official religion. According to Smith (2001, p. 45-49), final product of Buddhism was a combination of Mahayana Buddhism and the Tantric movement. Mahayana actually began as a splinter group from the Buddhist Mahasangha and it prescribed a more liberal monastic tradition and attitude for the followers. The followers of Buddhism were used to the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and they had notions of heroes, evil sprits, good, bad and other folklore. Accordingly, Lord Buddha was represented as different godlike Buddha images in different stages. With this belief came the adherence to sutras that are holy utterances and scriptures. Tantras are holy scriptures and writings that explain the process of enlightenment through rebirths and the endless wheel of life. Tantra was practiced by the Siddhi, the expert who knows the secrets of Buddhism. The most important of the sutras are Prajà ±aparamita also called as the Perfection of Wisdom; Suddharma-pundarika or the true Dharma; Vimalakirti-nirdesha or

School bullying Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

School bullying - Essay Example The types of school bullying can be multiple and usually they are classified into the three which are verbal, physical and emotional offences. As far as kids are pretty inventive, the particular actions they do in order to offend someone can be various from spreading dirty rumors to straight hitting. Although, it is important to take note of the fact that not only school students are those bullies but even teachers and parents can become stakeholders of the conflict. In fact, this tendency is rather strange because adults are expected to be rational and moral but it turns out that grown up people can often use kids in order to boost their self-esteem. Indeed the cruel treatment of peers has always been a problem of children’s communities and, perhaps, the reason for this is that in such way kids learn how to survive later in adult society. The main issue here is that bullying might become rather contradictory thing and might play a role of social identifier of stronger and weaker personalities or even work like a kind of natural selection. On the other hand the kids being treated cruelly can gain many mental traumas and complexes which afterwards will influence their social functioning or even can destroy it. It is important to note that as far as the subject of the issue is actually the bullying that happens at schools, a reasonable conclusion is that bullying doesn’t let children study normally. It turns out that the main educational function of school is being interrupted because kids are simply scared of going to schools. The reason why the bullying should be prevented is because even though it can be a part of natural selection, still we don’t live in wild environment and the traumatized kids are going to stay in our society and form it. Thus, if their amount is growing every day, it is hard to imagine what our society will look like in a decade. Recent

Time constrained assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Time constrained assessment - Essay Example In economic terms the needs and wants of individuals, companies, organizations, and whole countries are transformed into demand. This law of society raises the basic economic problem, as all these needs and wants can be satisfied only to certain extent as the resources required for its satisfaction are limited. Scarcity occurs when people want more than can be satisfied with the resources they have (Wessels 2006 2). Therefore, in order to satisfy certain needs and wants people have to choose among alternative uses of their scarce resources, such, for example, as time or money (Wessels 2006, 1). However, the economics as a study embraces a broader picture of this issue, taking into consideration not only those who consume but also those who produce. In terms of this concept, there is naturally raised the whole set of questions, such as: what goods to produce, how to produce these goods, and for whom to produce it. These questions are known as Samuelson's three questions (Howarth 2013) and help to solve the problem of scarcity resources. What to produce? – Answer to this question helps people to decide the best combination of goods and services to meet their needs (Howarth 2013). ... For whom to produce? – This question makes people to decide who will get the output from the country’s economic activity, and how much they will get (Howarth 2013). For example, who will consume these grown vegetables or fruits that have been grown? This situation forces all actors to make choices and to prefer one choice to another one. In economics, this concept of the value, people refuse from, is known as the opportunity cost (Wessels 2006, 3). Opportunity cost, also known as economic cost, is the â€Å"cost of a scarce factor of production used to produce a good or service, as opposed to another that could have been used, instead of the one adopted† (Collin 2006, 58). To illustrate the concept of the opportunity costs there can be used the following example relative to student’s life and education. The opportunity cost of going to the university is the money a student would have earned if he worked instead during the 5 years of study. Here time is a s carce resource, which an individual can spend either by getting a degree or earning money. However, by graduating the university there is increased chance for a person to find a better paid job due to the professional qualification gained and thus to recover the lost wages (Investopedia.Com). Thus, an individual has to make a choice between going to university and being employed for a given period of time. The risk of achieving greater benefits with another option is the opportunity cost (Investopedia.Com). In order to illustrate the economic problem and opportunity costs faced by a person, company, or economy can be used the Production Possibility Frontier, also known as production possibility curve. Production Possibility Frontier is a graph

E-commerce Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

E-commerce - Assignment Example These pages can be viewed through an internet address known as uniform resource locator (URL). There are two main types of websites namely static and dynamic website. Static website offers limited opportunities for the clients or visitors control the information received. Dynamic websites on the other hand offers a dialogue platform between the buyers and sellers. Visitors or clients are informed to their specifications. This work is about alibaba.com. It entails the features that make it better than other electronic commerce website among other issues.Alibaba.com is a Chinese e-commerce website that provides a platform for online market place, payment platforms among other services. It is my favorite e-commerce websites due to the fact that it offers sale and purchase of a wide range of electronic products ranging from laptops, cameras, satellite decoders among others. It is simple to use with limited accounts verifications. Alibaba.com website has got several capabilities that favor the site from other competitors. The site contains contact information through which buyers and sellers can communicate. The contact information includes emails, phone numbers-both mobile and landlines. Further more it has social network tools like face book, twitter, YouTube, Google+ and MySpace among others which ease buyers and sellers interaction. Alibaba.com adopts different business strategies like operational business strategy which ensures; delivery of products to the buyer, operational electronic money transfer system, updated order list among other functions. Business unit strategy is observed by attractive advertisement and fair prices that attract and retain customers. A buyer pays the required amount through electronic money transfer platform, ‘alipay’ before goods’ delivery. Corporate business strategy applies with the website as different companies and individuals can do their business through the website. Security is a very important aspect in

Business Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 2

Business Strategy - Essay Example Best cost strategy combines strategic emphasis on low cost as well as focused differentiation. It focuses on giving its customers more value for money. For E.g. Kingfisher Red Airlines is an example of best cost airlines providing luxury of Kingfisher Airlines but at comparatively lower price than that of competitors in luxury segment. The product line of company employing best cost strategy has products with appealing attributes and assorted upscale features. The aim of focused differentiation strategy is to secure a competitive advantage through offering customers of niche market with a product that they perceive as vary well suited to their needs, tastes and preferences. The strategic target of focused differentiation strategy is a narrow market in which needs and preferences of the buyers are distinctively different. Attributes appealing specifically towards niche members forms the basis of competitive advantage in focused differentiation strategy. B. Explain in detail, IKEA†™s hybrid strategy? IKEA used a mix of low cost and differentiation strategies as a part of its hybrid strategy. They used innovative means for attracting customers and people who can become there prospective customers in near future. The company tried to create differentiation in the retailing industry it operated in. It could be taken instance from the fact that the company allowed its customers to relax in its western style stores in a view that they could be aspiring customers of IKEA in near future. The production emphasis of products in focused differentiation strategy depends on customization meeting the tastes and requirements of targeted customers. The marketing emphasis of this strategy is towards communicating that how the product offers all the requirements in meeting buyers’ expectation in target market. Commitment in serving to niche markets better than rivals remains the key of sustaining the strategy. C. Why is IKEA’s hybrid strategy is difficult for competitors to imitate? Hybrid strategy is difficult for imitate and lend IKEA to outsmart competition. This is because through hybrid strategy IKEA is created a mix of two competitive strategies i.e. low cost and differentiation and the mix of these two strategies becomes difficult to imitate. D. Explain 3 business risks that IKEA faces in its hybrid strategy? The three business risks related to hybrid strategy are: These strategies could lack flexibility for IKEA in the scenario of changing external environment. These strategies could lack specificity in a long run for IKEA. Hybrid strategies help a company majorly when the organization has resources and capabilities of employing the strategy and serving an attractive niche market. Question 2 Provide the explanation with two examples in each of the 5 macro environmental influences that IKEA face from operating internationally? Macro-Economic Forces This includes forces at national and regional level that affects the company. IKEA is retail chain build on a global platform where factors like inflation rates, interest rate and current exchange rates in bear some impact, but such impact can’t be considered influential. As the interest rates are slashed as a result of recession in the economy, the company could borrow money at a cheaper interest rate. Same is the case with changes in current

Ben Jonson Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ben Jonson - Essay Example Volpone used gowns, furs, night-caps to fool the men into thinking he was bedridden. Volpone ordered Mosca to: This disguise was perpetrated for Volpone’s sheer amusement. He never intended to give anyone his wealth. When he did turn over his wealth to Mosca, Volpone never really meant for his wealth to truly belong to another. Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino jumping through hoops seemed to amuse Volpone. Still they came bearing gifts as they are encouraged by Mosca. The disguises these three men use are that of concerning men. They are so concerned with Volpone’s wellbeing. All three men try to make Volpone’s last days more bearable. Corvino is even willing to let a sick man be in the company of his wife. Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino would do anything to be Volpone’s heir. These disguises show these men are greedy corrupt men. Most noble gentlemen, and my worthy patrons! It may seem strange, that I, your Scoto Mantuano, who was ever wont to fix my bank in face of the public Piazza, near the shelter of the Portico to the Procuratia, should now, after eight months’ absence from this illustrious city of Venice, humbly retire myself into an obscure nook of the Piazza. The last disguise is as a guard in Venice. Volpone fakes his death and allegedly leaves Mosca his money. In turn Mosca dons the disguise of a rich man. The guard disguise is so Volpone can flaunt his ingenious plan to Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino without their recognition. Voltore upon being taunted goes to court and tells the whole story of Volpone’s treachery. Volpone reveals himself after Mosca refuses to relinquish any of Volpone’s original wealth. Volpone and Voltore are arrested. Mosca is sent to a slave gallery. The other two were punished as well. In the end, Volpone was shown to be as much as a fraud as Voltore, Corbaccio, and Corvino. All of

Microsoft Environment Analysis Essay Example for Free

Microsoft Environment Analysis Essay Abstract Windows of Vulnerability is defined as the ability to attack something that is at risk. Hackers search and pride themselves on finding vulnerabilities or creating their own within a system. A few examples of vulnerabilities that will be covered in this paper are CodeRed, Spida, Slammer, Lovesan, and Sasser. The worm named Code Red was observed on the internet on July 13, 2001. Computers running Microsoft IIS web server were attacked with this worm. Code Red worm did not infect the largest amount of computers until July 19, 2001 with 359,000 hosts being infected. The worm would spread itself in a vulnerability known as a buffer overflow. It would do this by using a long string of the repetition of the letter â€Å"N† to overflow a buffer. Spida worm infects via Microsoft SQL installations with administrator accounts that have no passwords defined. Microsoft recommends the â€Å"sa† account be set upon installation but many servers are not properly secured after installation. The main purpose of the Spida worm is to export an infected server’s Sam password database. SQL Slammer worm caused a denial of service on Internet host and slowed down general internet traffic. On January 25, 2003 it spread rapidly and infected 75,000 victims in ten minutes. The worm exploited the buffer overflow and would generate random IP addresses, send itself out to those addresses. If one of those addresses happens to belong to a host that is running an unpatched copy of Microsoft SQL Server Resolution Service, the host becomes infected and sprays the Internet with more copies of the worm. Lovesan worm A.K.A. MSBlast or Blaster Worm was a worm that spread to computers running Microsoft operating systems Windows XP and Windows 2000. The worm spread using a buffer overflow. This allowed the worm to spreads without the users opening attachments simply by spamming itself. The worm would display a two messages reading â€Å"I just want to say LOVE YOU SAN!!Soo much.† This message gave the worm the name Lovesan; the second message read â€Å"Billy Gates why do you make this possible ? Stop making money and fix your software!!†. Sasser worm affects computers running Microsoft operating systems Windows XP and Windows 2000. Sasser spreads through a vulnerable network port. It is particularly easy to spread without user intervention but is also easily stopped by a  properly configured firewall. The worm received the name Sasser because it would spread through a buffer overflow in the component known as LSASS(Local Security Authority Subsystem). References Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Code Red (computer worm) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Red_(computer_worm) IBM X-Force: Ahead of the Threat Resources. advise118 . Retrieved from http://www.iss.net/threats/advise118.html Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. SQL Slammer Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL_Slammer Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Blaster (computer worm) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaster_(computer_worm) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Sasser (computer worm) Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasser_(computer_worm)

Ronald Reagan Essay Example for Free

Ronald Reagan Essay There are few people in this world that have a profound effect on it. There are even fewer with that can claim they’ve had as great an impact as Ronald Reagan. The 40th president of the United States, Reagan shot from a former Hollywood actor to become arguably one of the greatest politicians of all time. In a time where tensions were possibly never higher between the Soviets and the United States, Reagan was a calming force that provided stability to a world that was severely lacking. Reagan lived a long, and extremely prosperous life, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest presidents of all time. Ronald Wilson Reagan was born in an apartment on the second floor of a commercial building in Tampico, Illinois on February 6, 1911, to Jack and Nelle Reagan. (Ronald Reagan Biography) Reagan had one sibling, his older brother, Neil. Reagan and his family moved around often, before eventually settling in the town of Dixon. As a boy, Reagans father nicknamed his son Dutch, due to his fat little Dutchman-like appearance, and his Dutchboy haircut. Growing up, Ronald had a particular interest in the goodness of people, and had a strong religious faith. (Kengor) After graduating from Dixon High School, Reagan attended Eureka College, majoring in economics and sociology. (Ronald Reagan Biography) Extremely popular among classmates, Reagan was not only captain of the swim team, but was elected student body president. He even ran a revolt against the president of the school when he tried to cut back the faculty. Following graduation from Eureka, Reagan moved to Iowa, where he was hired as a radio broadcaster for the University of Iowa football team. Shortly after, he was hired as the play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs. Reagan was a traveling announcer with the Cubs, and while traveling in California, attended a screen test with Warner Brothers. Reagan performed so well, he left the Cubs and signed a seven-year contract with Warner Brothers. (â€Å"Ronald Reagan†) After signing the contract in 1937, Reagan was quickly assigned to the lower, â€Å"B† level movies. Ronald once joked by saying, â€Å"They didn’t want them good, they wanted them Thursday,† referencing the quality of some of the films he starred in. Often overshadowed by other actors in such movies, his first big role came in the film Love is in the  Air. Ronald’s favorite movie was King’s Row, in which he played double amputee Drake McHugh. His most famous line was in the movie comes when he realizes both of his legs are gone, saying, â€Å"Where’s the rest of me?† Reagan loved it so much he later used it as the title of his autobiography. Ronald’s film career was cut short when he was ordered for active duty in the United States Army in World War two. (â€Å"Ronald Reagan†) In 1940, Reagan married actress Jane Wyman, and together they had two children, Maureen and Christine, and adopted a third, Michael. Wyman filed for divorce in 948, after several arguments about his future political ambitions. It was in 1949 that Reagan met his true love, Nancy Davis. When asked about their first meeting, Nancy said, â€Å"She described their meeting by saying, I dont know if it was exactly love at first sight, but it was pretty close.† The Reagans often publicly displayed their affection for one another, as he often called her Mommy and she called him Ronnie. (â€Å"Ronald Reagan†) After the end of the war, Ronald began a career in what really made him a star; politics. Reagan’s political career was launched when he made his â€Å"A Time for Choosing† speech, which supported conservative presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. The California republicans were impressed with Reagan, and he announced his intentions to run for California governor in 1966. In Reagans campaign, he emphasized two main themes: to send the welfare bums back to work, and, in reference to burgeoning anti-war and anti-establishment student protests at the University of California at Berkeley, to clean up the mess at Berkeley. He was elected, defeating two-term governor Edmund Brown, and was sworn in on January 2, 1967. Reagan won a second term in 1970, but chose not to run again in 1974. (â€Å"Ronald Reagan Biography†) In 1976, Ronald Reagan moved on from governor of California to challenge for something even bigger; to be the president of the United States. He challenged incumbent Gerald Ford for the republican candidacy. Reagans campaign revolved around the thought of taking early primaries to damage the inevitability of Ford’s likely nomination. At first, the strategy appeared  to work, but Ford eventually won out, with Reagan even losing out on his home state of Illinois. In 1980, however, things worked out much better for Reagan, as he not only won the republican nomination, but obliterated Jimmy Carter with 489 electoral college votes to Carter’s 49. (Freidel) His campaign stressed some of his fundamental principles: lower taxes to stimulate the economy, less government interference in peoples lives, states rights, and a strong national defense. Reagan began his presidency on January 20th, 1981, and is the oldest president to ever assume office at 69. (â€Å"Ronald Reagan†) Just 69 days into his presidency, Reagan became the first president to survive an assassination attempt. After the event, Reagan’s popularity rose to a high of 73 percent. Perhaps Reagan’s greatest act as president came in his second term, when he helped end the Cold War. Reagan gave a speech at the Berlin Wall in 1987, in which he challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, saying, â€Å"General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization, come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! In November 1989, the Berlin Wall was torn down, and the Cold War was officially declared over at the Malta Summit on December 3, 1989. On November 5th, at the age of 83, Reagan announced that he had been diagnosed with Al zheimers disease, an incurable neurological disorder that destroys brain cells and ultimately causes death. (Library) Letters of well wishes poured into the Reagan’s California home, showing support for the former president and first lady. As the years went on, the disease slowly destroyed Reagans mental capacity, and he was only able to recognize a few people, including his wife Nancy. (â€Å"Ronald Reagan Biography†) Reagans public appearances became much less frequent with the progression of the disease, and as a result, his family decided that he would live in quiet semi-isolation with his wife. On the afternoon of June 5, 2004, Ronald Reagan died at his home at the age of 93. President George W. Bush declared June 11 a National Day of Mourning, and tributes came in from all over the world. (Ronald Reagan ) Three funerals were held for President Reagan, with his final resting place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley California. President Reagan’s legacy is that of a powerful and influential man, yet the most down to Earth, honest man you could possibly meet. Observers rank him as one of the greatest presidents of all time. Many think it was because of his joking and loving manner. President Reagan lived a full and prosperous life, and there are few that can argue they accomplished as much as he did in his time. Works Cited 1. Freidel, Frank. The Presidents of the United States of America. 13th. Collingdale: Diane Publishing Co., 1994. eBook 2. Kengor, Paul. God and Ronald Reagan. 1st. New York City: Harper Perennial, 2005. Print. 3. Ronald Reagan Biography. The Biography Channel website. 2011. 01 March 2011 Abraham Lincoln Biography. The Biography Channel website. 2011. 01 March 2011 http://www.biography.com/people/abraham-lincoln-9382540 4. Ronald Reagan. History Channel Website. N.p.. Web. 18 Nov 2013. . 5. Library, CNN. Ronald Reagan Fast Facts. CNN U.S.. N.p., 10 Sept 2013. Web. 1Dec 2013. . The Life and Times of Ronald Reagan Jordan Walters Mr. Clancy History of Western Civilization