Free Essays on Fedex Competive Postion

The understanding of your competitive position in the market and knowing your strengths and weaknesses can be a powerful tool for your company's strategist. With this information they are able to align their companies resources in a way that provides a competitive advantage. With up to date information a strategist can help a company respond quickly when opportunities present themselves in the market. If you do not know what you and your competitors are good and bad at, it will make it difficult to not only plan, but to be able to react quickly to the market changes. A competitive strength for FedEx has been the branding and reorganization of the business structure to better serve the needs of the customers. Before 2000 FedEx had multiple brands and separate sales forces under the FDX umbrella. Today they have a single brand and sales force with a standardized infrastructure to support them. Another strength comes from being a pioneer in the express delivery business. They have been in the business for close to 30 years now and have a blue chip brand identity. Another competitive strength has been the understanding and commitment they have made to technology as it relates to the logistics business. By applying IT to the business, FedEx has been able to jump in front of most of the competition. This has been a necessary investment since all transportation companies now depend greatly on technology as customer's expectations have increased. Without this IT investment FedEx would not be a market leader. A competitive weakness in the past has been the lack of a ground structure to support their home delivery business. Without this they have been struggling to achieve the level of success they have hoped for. Recently they have reached an agreement with U.S. Postal Service that has provided them placement of up to 10,000 FedEx Drop Boxes outside U.S. Post Offices. Another weakness has been their unwillingness to outsource aspects of th... Free Essays on Fedex Competive Postion Free Essays on Fedex Competive Postion The understanding of your competitive position in the market and knowing your strengths and weaknesses can be a powerful tool for your company's strategist. With this information they are able to align their companies resources in a way that provides a competitive advantage. With up to date information a strategist can help a company respond quickly when opportunities present themselves in the market. If you do not know what you and your competitors are good and bad at, it will make it difficult to not only plan, but to be able to react quickly to the market changes. A competitive strength for FedEx has been the branding and reorganization of the business structure to better serve the needs of the customers. Before 2000 FedEx had multiple brands and separate sales forces under the FDX umbrella. Today they have a single brand and sales force with a standardized infrastructure to support them. Another strength comes from being a pioneer in the express delivery business. They have been in the business for close to 30 years now and have a blue chip brand identity. Another competitive strength has been the understanding and commitment they have made to technology as it relates to the logistics business. By applying IT to the business, FedEx has been able to jump in front of most of the competition. This has been a necessary investment since all transportation companies now depend greatly on technology as customer's expectations have increased. Without this IT investment FedEx would not be a market leader. A competitive weakness in the past has been the lack of a ground structure to support their home delivery business. Without this they have been struggling to achieve the level of success they have hoped for. Recently they have reached an agreement with U.S. Postal Service that has provided them placement of up to 10,000 FedEx Drop Boxes outside U.S. Post Offices. Another weakness has been their unwillingness to outsource aspects of th...

John Adams †Great Man of History Essay

John Adams – Great Man of History Essay Free Online Research Papers John Adams Great Man of History Essay John Adams is often forgotten by history. The average person on the street if asked about him would know nothing or, simply that he was a president. John Adams had a much greater impact on America than that. John Adams played a pivotal role in America’s independence: before the war, during the war, and after the war. Without John Adams, independence would probably not have been achieved, and certainly could not have been maintained. John Adams was the most important founding father. John Adams did much before the Revolutionary War ever stated. Writing under the pseudonym Novangelus in early 1775, he asserted that parliament had no jurisdiction over the colonies. He wrote that, â€Å"’[T]wo supreme and independent authorities cannot exist in the same state’†¦And, therefore, I contend, that our provincial legislatures are the only supreme authorities in our colonies.† Also, even when he defended the soldier of the Boston Massacre, he blamed the forced quartering of soldiers as creating disturbances. Most Americans agreed that they disliked quartering the troops, but few would have imagined the defenders of the British soldiers indirectly blaming the British government instead. John Adams was in the first and second Continental Congress where he continuously lobbied for independence. In fact, he lobbied for it so much, his fellow congressmen encouraged him to shut up quite frequently. He was chairman of the War Committee and was the one to appoint George Washington to the head of the Continental Army. Research Papers on John Adams - Great Man of History EssayQuebec and CanadaAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeBringing Democracy to AfricaAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 219 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceTwilight of the UAWHip-Hop is ArtComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Ethical standards in business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Ethical standards in business - Essay Example 1987). Thus any virtuous manager aught to be particularly conscious about the validity and credibility of one's ethical affiliations and must ensure that the organization being managed and run by him/her abides by the time tested and authentic standards of integrity and propriety. It often gets difficult for the managers operating in the contemporary organizations to accurately identify the ethical standards, considering the deluge of ethical philosophies circulating in the academic and intellectual spheres. In the given context, it will be highly relevant to consider the opinions pertaining to ethics furnished by various schools of philosophy, which will go a long way in understanding the dilemma faced by the conscientious managers pertaining to the identification of appropriate ethical standards in a given situation. As per the theory of ethical relativism, there exist no universal norms pertaining to what is right or wrong (Ethical Relativism 2008). This gives every individual a free hand in deciding what is right or wrong as per one's discretion and understanding. ... As per the theory of ethical relativism, there exist no universal norms pertaining to what is right or wrong (Ethical Relativism 2008). This gives every individual a free hand in deciding what is right or wrong as per one's discretion and understanding. Ethical relativism holds that the meaning of 'right' and 'wrong' mostly depends on a society's dominant moral perceptions and thus the ethical standards can never be universal and may vary from place to place and from time to time. The confusion pertaining to ethics and in particular the business ethics gets further aggravated when one takes into consideration the consequentialist theories that tend to identify if an action is ethical or unethical on the basis of its final consequences. Utilitarianism is one such consequentialist theory that holds that any action is to be labelled as being truly ethical only if it succeeds in doing the "greatest good to the greatest number of people" (Ethics Matters 2006). As per this theory, an action aught to be considered to be ethical if the net happiness produced by it exceeds the unhappiness associated with it. Thus if any organization decides to build a dam to assuage the water shortages being faced by a state, utilitarianism will consider it to be ethical, even if it involves uprooting and displacing some historical monument situated in the vicinity of such a project. In contrast, the nonconsequentialist theories of ethics like Kantianism and the social contract theory totally negate the individual or group preferences in the overall process of judging the credibility of ethical or unethical actions and give predominance to the fundamental rules and principles cherished by the

The Philosophies of Plato Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Philosophies of Plato - Essay Example Plato was believed to have been born approximately 427 B.C., making his ideas, concepts, and theories well over 2,000 years old. Plato lived and died in Greece in approximately 348 B.C. making him about 80 years old. However, with little historical accounts of these dates, they are approximations but it is also believed that he was born unto a very political family that was also wealthy and it was his father who ensured that Plato received the top education by distinguished teachers during this era. It is during those approximate 80 years, mostly in Athens, where he developed many ancient philosophical concepts which contributed to Western philosophy and his teachings were often considered Platonism (Vaughn). With Socrates as Plato’s teacher, as well as another of Socrates’ famous students, Aristotle, they laid the groundwork for developing higher thinking in the foundations of Western science and philosophy in the Western world. Plato even founded an Academy in Athens which was considered to be one of the first of its kind to teach higher learning topics that included numerous topics and it was years later that his nephew (his sister’s son) would be the successor of being the head of the Academy. Some of these topics that were part of Plato’s dialogue, writings, and teachings were based not only on philosophy but also ethics, rhetoric, logic, mathematics, and even religion. Many of the themes behind his work included the theory of forms, innate knowledge, the five regimes and Platonic love.

Customer Service and Design Alternative Courses Essay Example for Free

Customer Service and Design Alternative Courses Essay Case 1. TECSMART ELECTRONICS Identify the problem: Formulate objectives: Design alternative courses of action: Analysis of the ACA: a. advantages b. drawbacks Conclusion: Recommendation: Case 2. CAN SIX SIGMA WORK IN HEALTH CARE? Identify the problem: New culturein the hospital Formulate objectives:  · To be able to make it easy to employees and all staffs the new framework to be used.  · Design alternative courses of action: Analysis of the ACA: a. advantages b. drawbacks Conclusion: Recommendation: Case 3. TOYOTA MOTO CORPORATION, LTD. Identify the problem: Losing quality products. Formulate objectives:  · To be able to consitently provide quality products.  · To be able to regain quality edge. Design alternative courses of action:  · Inspect every process in the production system to ensure delivery of quality products to customers. Analysis of the ACA: a. Advantages:  · High quality products.  · Customers satisfaction to products. b. Drawbacks:  · Costly  · Time-consuming Conclusion: Toyota became a victim of its own success. Because of its focus in becoming the number one auto maker in the world, it affected its product quality. Customers began to face safety related problems in Toyota vehicles. Toyota had sacrificed its legendary quality and ignored its own management principles and customers. Recommendation: I would recommend them to forget their own pride in having their own principles and management, if it will lead them to a low quality products and unsatisfied customers. It is good if they would focus on providing quality and always conduct an inspection before giving away products to customer to ensure quality. Case 4. THE NIGHTMARE ON TELECOM STREET Identify the problem: Inefficient customer service system. Formulate objectives:  · To be able to improve cutomer service experience.  · To be able to provide quality service to customers.  · To be able to provide efficient service.  · To be able to give fast transaction. Design alternative course of action:  · Recreate the customer service system  · Hire additional customer service representatives to entertain calls Analysis of the ACA: a. Advantages:  · Customer satisfaction to efficient service.  · The more the employess, the more persons can facilitate customers need to entertain their needs and concerns. b. Drawbacks:  · More cost is shouldered by the firm.  · Time-consuming. Conclusion: In order to satisfy customers need to be entertain, the firm is in a need of new employees. As a customer myself, I also get pissed of to systems like this because it is very time consuming. Recommendation: I would highly recommend to hire more employees in order for the customers need to be entertain urgently and efficiently. If it is possible to reform the system, it is much better.

Of Mice And Men :: essays research papers

â€Å"Of Mice and Men† was written bye John Steinbeck and is a fictional book. â€Å"Of Mice and Men† is a book about two life long friends named George and Lennie. They go to a farm to do some farm work after having to run away from their old town Weed. In their new farm, they meet many people including Curley, a little boxer guy who hates big guys like Lennie, and Curley’s wife, who is a tart. Lennie and George have many grand adventures on the farm, but one day while George is out playing horseshoes, Lennie accidentally kills Curley’s wife. Lennie runs away but when the guys come back to find Curley’s wife dead, George is forced to kill his friend. The four people responsible for Lennie’s death are George, Curley’s wife, Lennie, and Curley. The person most responsible for Lennie’s death is George. The reasons why I think this is mainly because George shot Lennie in the end of the book. Also George left Lennie alone in the barn giving Curley’s wife a chance to come and talk to him, and that is when Lennie killed her. George should have given Lennie more instructions on what he was supposed to do while George was out with his friends. The second most responsible for Lennie’s death is Curley’s wife. The reasons why I think this is because she provoked Lennie into talking to her and into petting her hair. She was lonely and wanted someone to talk to, but she also was very flirtatious with Lennie. When she yelled she scared Lennie which made him hold on to her neck harder. Curley’s wife shouldn’t have been flirting and seeking other men while she had a husband. The third most responsible person for Lennie’s death is Lennie himself. The reason I think this is because Lennie killed Curley’s wife, which made George have to kill Lennie. He also has no control over his strength since he was retarded, which is another reason why he died. And more importantly he disobeyed George by talking to Curley’s wife, which George told him absolutely not to do. The last responsible person for Lennie’s death was Curley. Curley was very mean to Lennie and was picking on him for only the reason that Lennie was bigger than Curley. Curley was also very possessive over his wife, which lead her to look for other men.

Measurement of Internal Consistency Software

Document analysis and fingerprint comparison are two of the most important tasks done by forensic experts in investigating a case. Documents and fingerprints related in a case make substantial evidences that can give progress to the investigation. With our ever advancing technology, new tools and equipments have been invented to help forensic experts in making these tasks easier for them. These tools, such as computer software, can give these people relevant information about certain documents, handwriting and fingerprint samples as evidences to a case they are examining. One company who specializes in this kind of tools and software is the Limbic Systems, Inc. Limbic Systems’ technologies improve image-based identifications by way of advanced utilization of image intensity signals.1 Limbic Systems released several products that are used for fingerprint identification, handwriting and document analysis, and other forensic or security application products. One of those products is the Measurement of Internal Consistency Software or MICS. The Measurement of Internal Consistency Software is an application that measures the intensity of the material (ink, for example) used and creates a three-dimensional model which can be likened to a topographic map complete with contour lines.2 This software had been developed by Limbic Systems, Inc. for 6 long years until the it was commercially released in 2003. MICS features 1. Limbic Systems, Inc. (Forensic e-symposium). [Online] available from http://limbicsystems.forensic.e-symposium.com/it/index.html; accessed 25 Mar. 2006; Internet. 2. Emily J. Will. MICS Program Brings 3D Modeling and Mathematical Information to Handwriting Identification and Document Examination. [Online] available from http://www.qdewill.com/mics.htm; accessed 25 Mar. 2006; Internet. Experts in handwriting identification very well know that handwriting is not just merely measured by its length and width, but it is also a three-dimensional product. The things visible to the human eye are just its length and width, but the third dimension is difficult to see, demonstrate or even quantify. But with the help of MICS, examiners can now easily visualize and measure the color density and other important aspects of handwriting and document examination. MICS can examine scanned or digitally photographed images of documents and handwritten name. In Emily Will’s article3, she showed how MICS works in determining the density of her handwriting sample. Looking at the handwriting with the naked eye, it is just a simple handwriting done using a normal pen. But when it was placed through the thorough scanning features of the software, it revealed the density of the pen used. Other than that, it also showed a gap somewhere in the handwriting sample that means there was a moment when the pen was lifted off the paper while she was writing her name. One could never have thought of that without the use of the software. Other than the gap, there are even more studies that can be done around the observation to gather more relevant information for the examiner. This kind of observation is definitely helpful for an examiner in identifying clues in an investigation. MICS makes it easier for them to closely examine different documents and handwriting samples in question. Aside from handwriting and document analysis, MICS can also be used to identify and compare fingerprints. MICS is a platform where other application-specific products of Limbic Systems are based. And one of those applications and the first extension of MICS is the product called PrintIQ, which is a solution to identify fingerprints. Just like how MICS works in documents, fingerprints are also identified and compare with another by measuring the intensity of the image between different points. MICS converts the fingerprint image into edge signals which are seen as the elevation in a three-dimensional surface map. With all these features of the Measurement of Internal Consistency Software, it can definitely be an indispensable tool for examiners and investigators. The software can easily help them gather more relevant information with the documents and fingerprints that what can only be seen by our bare eyes. The results that MICS will provide can give them important clues that can possibly lead them to the progress of the case they are investigating. 3. Emily J. Will. MICS Program Brings 3D Modeling and Mathematical Information to Handwriting Identification and Document Examination. [Online] available from http://www.qdewill.com/mics.htm; accessed 25 Mar. 2006; Internet. General Recommendation Measurement of Internal Consistency Software or MICS is indeed a valuable â€Å"invention† by the Limbic Systems, Inc. It can prove to be a very useful tool for examiners and experts to help them perform their tasks much faster. However, as with other applications and tools, this software can be incorrectly utilized by the user. Thus, it is required that the user of the software understands the whole program – its theories, potentials, assumptions, and limitations. Knowing these things will give the user a more reliable output data. The company, Limbic Systems, Inc, has also been collaborating with current MICS users to formulate mathematical associations to be able to draw up more reliable conclusions based on the information provided by the software. Bibliography Limbic Systems, Inc. (Forensic e-symposium). [Online] available from http://limbicsystems.forensic.e-symposium.com/it/index.html; accessed 25 Mar. 2006; Internet. Will, Emily J. MICS Program Brings 3D Modeling and Mathematical Information to Handwriting Identification and Document Examination. [Online] available ; accessed 25 Mar. 2006; Internet.      

From Data, Information and Knowledge to Wisdom

From Data, Information and Knowledge to Wisdom The data-information-knowledge-wisdom (DIKW) continuum is a concept of the transformation of data into wisdom through cognitive processes. DIKW was initially used to illustrate principles of information management for the designing of information systems (Davenport & Pursak, 1989)(Saltworks, 2009).DIKW models utilized by nursing such as the model by Englebart & Nelson (2002), incorporate principles of increasing complexity due to increasing interactions What is important and unique to nursing is the DIKW concepts and models also help describe the critical thinking processes that nurses use to transform knowledge into the delivery of patient care, into education and learning and also into nursing research (ANA-American Nurses Association, 2008).The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the progression through the four steps of the data, information, knowledge, wisdom continuum that occurs research information to answer a clinical questi on pertinent to nurse practitioner practice. Standardized N nursing Language in Nurse Practitioner Practice The use of electronic information and decision support systems in nursing practice has brought about the introduction of several standardized nursing languages to document and communicate patient care. (McGonigle & Mastria, 2012 ).The identity of the Nurse Practitioner is grounded in nursing practice but has also expanded to include the functions of a physician (O'Connor, Hameister, & Kershaw, 2000). Given the merged identity of the Nurse Practitioner the clinical question is :Would a standardized nursing language adequately document the patient care delivered by a nurse practitioner? The Search for Clinical Data Data are discreet entities that in of themselves have no meaning. The search for data related to the clinical question was conducted through the Walden Library Health Science and Nursing Databases.DATA TO WISDOM 3 Using the search words Nurse Practitioner and Standard ized Nursing Language, both the CINHAL/Medline and the OVID data bases were queried. The search identified 6 articles. According to Bernstein (2009), The Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom hierarchy is based on filtration and reduction, so to select the most relevant articles, the titles and the keywords of the articles were reviewed first. This resulted in one article that did not contain the search words to be elimiated from further review. Translating Clinical Data to InformationTo further evaluate the usefulness of the 5 remaining articles, their abstracts were read to identify any relevant information. Information is data that has some meaning to it. Davenport and Prusak (1989) describes information as data that makes a difference to the receiver of the data. The data which is now aggregated into informational sentences and paragraphs (complete thoughts) reveal that the NANDA Nursing Diagnoses, the Iowa Nursing Interventions, and Iowa Nursing Outcomes Classification SNLs have be en explored for use in Nurse Practitioner practice.This is information as it has context to the reason the literature search is being performed. Linking Information to Knowledge In the DIKW continuum, Knowledge is transformed from Information At the knowledge stage in Englebart's & Nelson's (2002) DIKW model, an increased level of complexity in thinking must occur as a result of the increasing occurrences of interrelationships between information and knowledge (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2012 ).Davenport and Pursak also describe the knowledge stage of the continuum as a level of higher order of thinking and go on to describe some of the higher level thinking actions that turn information into knowledge. DATA TO WISDOM 4 One such action is Comparison i. e. How does this information compare to other known facts ? In this case the information found was about one type of SNL, but it known that there are about 13 different SNLs in existence. Another action is making Connections i. e. How does this information relate to other pertinent topics? In this situation another pertinent topic in NP practice is e-Prescribing.How does the use of an SNL relate to e-prescribing? Thus far the knowledge gleaned is not enough information has been found to answer the clinical question as written. Wisdom—Knowledge Applied in Meaningful Ways. Can informatics be used to gain wisdom? Interestingly the concept of wisdom has been eliminated from many DIKW models (DIK models) because according to Davenport and Prusak(1989) there is â€Å"enough difficulty distinguishing among the three related concepts of data, information and knowledge† and so â€Å"higher-order concepts such as wisdom and insight have been lumped into the category of knowledge†.There are differences in defining what wisdom is. According to Bernstien (2009) â€Å"wisdom means an ability to see the long-term consequences of any act†. Or wisdom is knowing when and how to apply knowledge to complex pr oblems or needs (Englebart & Nelson, 2012). In this case Wisdom is knowing that more research needs to be done on the topic of SNL's and NP practice in order to determine if standardized nursing language adequately applies to NP practice. It is what nurses do with the information available or lack of information available in informatic systems that creates wise decision making.Summary In nursing, Data- Information- Knowledge-Wisdom continuum models help depict the critical thinking nurses use to provide patient care. In information science DIKW models depict information management systems. DATA TO WISDOM 5 Data and Information can be stored in the databases of information systems in the forms of numbers, symbols and words that in of themselves have no meaning. It is only when data and information have context and meaning and are correctly applied to a problem that they are transformed into Knowledge and Wisdom in the minds of the users of these information systems. DATA TO WISDOM 6 References American Nurses Association. (2008). Nursing informatics: Scope & standards of practice. Silver Springs, MD Bernstein, J. H. ( 2009) The Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom Hierarchy and its Antithesis.Retrieved from http://arizona. openrepository. com/arizona/handle/10150/105414 Davenport, T. , Prusak, L. (1998) Excerpt of Working Knowledge: How Organizations Manage What They Know. Retrieved from http://wang. ist. psu. edu/course/05/IST597/papers/ Davenport_know. pdf McGonigle, D. & Mastrian, K. G. (2012). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (2nd ed. ). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. O'Connor, N. A. , Hameister, A. D. , Kershaw, T. (2000). Application of Standardized Nursing Language to Describe Adult Nurse Practitioner Practice. Nursing Diagnosis Magazine. Copyright 1999 Nursecom, Inc. Retrieved from www. highbeam. com The Data-Information-Knowledge Continuum. The Saltworks Blog Archive. Retrieved from http://www. datamobilitygroup. com/saltwor ks/archives/76

Essay about Denton Cty Financial Report

Essay about Denton Cty Financial Report Essay about Denton Cty Financial Report Denton County Annual Financial Report Government for Non profit –ACC206 Professor Higgins July 29, 2012 The disclosure of contingency liabilities has posed some concerns in business practices as it relates to the accuracy of financial reporting. With the recent market decline, many businesses have substantial cash flow issues and have closed without notice resulting in investor loss as well as loss of pensions for employees. This has caused an excessive amount of debt to be absorbed by banks and the government. In the details of the proposed amendment to FASB Statement No. 5 regarding disclosure of loss contingencies (2008), an entity shall disclose information about the risks associated with loss contingencies that will effect the entity’s potential financial position, cash flows and results of operation. According to the FASB concepts Statement No. 1(2008), which states, â€Å"financial reporting should provide information to help investors, creditors, and others access the amounts, timing, and uncertainty of prospective net cash inflows as it relates to the enterpriseâ₠¬ . When financial statements fail to disclose any future liabilities in any current period, assets are overstated and therefore result in greater risk for investors. Any pending litigation against a company should be disclosed to protect the rights of employees, clients and investors from losses. Although contingent liability is a result of future events, it creates a misrepresentation of a business financial position. Businesses prefer not to disclose any litigation because they are seeking financial opportunities such as loans or investors and without contingency disclosure; there is a greater chance to obtain financial stability. While lawsuits can be lengthy, there are many risks of damaging businesses when a contingency loss is validated and the financial reports reflect understated liabilities from non-disclosure of this event. Company appearing in good financial position pose financial disposition for investors, government and employees are pressed to find involuntary new jobs such as the what happened in the last few years. Because contingency liabilities are based on future events with probable values of loss, SFAS No.5 was challenged because of the word â€Å"probable†. According to SFAS No 5 (1998), â€Å"probable† means â€Å"likely to occur† instead of â€Å"more likely than not.† This definition created objections by lawyers who insist that this is recording of a liability based on judgment and alienates the government’s ability to fairly defend the public interest (1998). The interesting part of this is that accounting is reliable data and is not based on judgment but can be estimated in any given period. The principles set for recognizing a contingent liability are as important as those for long-term liabilities. Since liabilities represent the amount of debt a business has incurred, it should be reported accurately as an offset to assets. When we think about business operations as expenses occur, liabilities absorb the resources to sustain the business. It is important for business to analyze the financial position of the company before obtaining any outstanding debt. A contingent liability can absorb the financial position and cause a business to liquidate. Consequently, banks, creditors, other investors and en employees lose out as a result of a valid contingency loss. The proposed Accounting Standards Update (2010) states that with regards to loss contingencies, â€Å"entity shall disclose qualitative and quantitative information to enable financial users to understand all of the following, the nature of the loss contingencies, their potential magnitude, and their potential timing (if known)†. The ASU also would require public entities to present a table reconciling the total aggregate amount of the contingencies recognized in the statement of financial position at

The Sound and the Fury Quotes

The Sound and the Fury Quotes The Sound and the Fury is a complex and controversial novel set in the Deep South. Its author, William Faulkner, is considered one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. The novel is required reading for many high school and college students as an interesting study of humanity. The quotes from the book below have been separated out by chapters for an easy way to get a sense of the storyline and characters. Notice how Faulkner developed his characters further through the use of intentional misspellings and poor punctuation. April Seventh, 1928 Youre not a poor baby. Are you. Are you. Youve got your Caddy. Havent you got your Caddy. Father and Quentin cant hurt you. Carry Maury up the hill, Versh. Versh squatted and I got on his back. They aint no luck on this place. Roskus said. I seen it at first but when they changed his name I knowed it. They aint no luck going be on no place where one of they own chillens name aint never spoke. We watched the muddy bottom of her drawers. You got him started on purpose, because you know Im sick. Caddy held me and I could hear us all, and the darkness, and something I could smell. And then I could see the windows, where the trees were buzzing. Then the dark began to go in smooth, bright shapes, like it always does, even when Caddy says that I have been asleep. June Second, 1910 I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all your breath trying to conquer it. Because no battle is ever won he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools. That never had a sister. Because if it were just to hell; if that were all of it. Finished. If things just finished themselves. Nobody else there but her and me. If we could just have done something so dreadful that they would have fled hell except us. I have committed incest I said Father it was I. Its not when you realize that nothing can help you- religion, pride, anything- its when you realize that you dont need any aid. Holding all I used to be sorry about like the new moon holding water. What a sinful waste Dilsey would say. Benjy knew it when Damuddy died. He cried. He smell hit. He smell hit. I didnt mean to speak so sharply but women have no respect for each other for themselves. Father and I protect women from one another from themselves our women. There was something terrible in me sometimes at night I could see it grinning at me I could see it through them grinning at me through their faces its gone now and Im sick. Purity is a negative state and therefore contrary to nature. Its nature is hurting you not Caddy. And maybe when He says Rise the eyes will come floating up too, out of the deep quiet and the sleep, to look on glory. And after a while the flat irons would come floating up. I hid them under the end of the bridge and went back and leaned on the rail. Only you and me then amid the pointing and the horror walled by the clean flame. I could not be a virgin, with so many of them walking along in the shadows and whispering with their soft girl voices lingering in the shadowy places and the words coming out and perfume and eyes you could feel not see, but if it was that simple to do it wouldnt be anything and if it wasnt anything, what was I. Ill tell you how it was it was a crime we did a terrible crime it cannot be hid you think it can but wait. Dont cry Im bad anyway you cant help it. Theres a curse on us its not our fault is it our fault. Listen no good taking it so hard its not your fault kid it would have been some other fellow. I hit him I was still trying to hit him long after he was holding my wrists but I still tried then it was like I was looking at him through a piece of colored glass I could hear my blood. I seemed to be lying neither asleep nor awake looking down a long corridor of gray halflight where all stable things had become shadowy paradoxical all I had done shadows all I had felt suffered taking visible form antic and perverse mocking without relevance inherent themselves. The dungeon was Mother herself she and Father upward into weak light holding hands and us lost somewhere below even them without a ray of light. A fine dead sound we will swap Benjys pasture for a fine dead sound. it was to isolate her out of the loud world so that it would have to flee us of necessity and then the sound of it would be as though it had never been. April Sixth, 1928 Once a bitch always a bitch, what I say. Ask her what became of those checks. You saw her burn one of them, as I remember. Im bad and Im going to hell, and I dont care. Id rather be in hell than anywhere where you are. I never promise a woman anything nor let her know what Im going to give her. Thats the only way to manage them. Always keep them guessing. If you cant think of any other way to surprise them, give them a bust in the jaw. I began to feel sort of funny and so I decided to walk around for a while. Mother was going to fire Dilsey and send Ben to Jackson and take Quentin and go away. Im glad I havent got the sort of conscience Ive got to nurse like a sick puppy all the time. If Im bad, its because I had to be. You made me. I wish I was dead. I wish we were all dead. Sometimes I think she is the judgment of both of them upon me. And just let me have twenty-four hours without any damn New York Jew to advise me what its going to do. I just want an even chance to get my money back. And once Ive done that they can bring all Beale street and all bedlam in here and two of them can sleep in my bed and another one can have my place at my table too. She had been a big woman once but now her skeleton rose, draped loosely in unpadded skin that tightened again upon a paunch almost dropsical, as though muscle and tissue had been courage or fortitude which the days or the years had consumed until only the indomitable skeleton was left rising like a ruin or a landmark above the somnolent and impervious guts. April Eighth, 1928 It was as different as day and dark from his former tone, with a sad, timbrous quality like an alto horn, sinking into their hearts and speaking there again when it had ceased in fading and cumulate echoes. I got de ricklickshun en de blood of de Lamb! I seed de beginnin, en now I sees de endin. harshly recapitulant, seeming to get an actual pleasure out of his outrage and impotence. The sheriff did not appear to be listening at all. Of his niece he did not think at all, nor of the arbitrary valuation of the money. Neither of them had had entity or individuality for him for ten years; together they merely symbolised the job in the bank of which he had been deprived before he ever got it. Caddy! Beller now. Caddy! Caddy! Caddy! There was more than astonishment in it, it was horror; shock; agony eyeless, tongueless; just sound, and Lusters eyes backrolling for a white instant. The broken flower drooped over Bens fist and his eyes were empty and blue and serene again as cornice and faà §ade flowed smoothly once more from left to right, post and tree, window and doorway and signboard each in its ordered place.

Drugs and Alcohol in American Popular Culture Essay

Drugs and Alcohol in American Popular Culture - Essay Example As for the authors’ credentials, Dr. Primack is a faculty of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania. He is also a faculty of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and therefore he has an authority regarding adolescent behavior in the context of medical science, for adolescent behavior is the main subject of this particular study. Moreover, he is also a recipient of the Physician Faculty Scholar Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The other author, Dr. Douglas is another faculty member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Dr. Kraemer is a third faculty member of the same medical school. Dr. Douglas and Dr. Kraemer are affiliated with the Center for Research on Health Care of the same educational institution, and so it implies that they already have considerable background on how to conduct research on health care. The authors, being experts in their fields, with their medical degrees, with Primack’s expertise with adole scent medicine, and with Douglas’ and Kraemer’s experience with research on health care, make up a team of researchers that possess full credibility. The study is published by the National Institutes of Health, particularly PubMed Central and the U.S. National Library of Medicine. This is a reputable institution when it comes to research on health. This source is barely 3 years old and is certainly not that old for it to be considered unreliable or obsolete. The thesis advanced by the authors based on the results of the study is that there is an â€Å"independent association between exposure to cannabis in popular music and early cannabis use among urban American adolescents†. ... authors based on the results of the study is that there is an â€Å"independent association between exposure to cannabis in popular music and early cannabis use among urban American adolescents† (Primack et al.). The objectivity of the presentation and analysis of data lies in three facts. First, the sample size of 1198 American and African-American students is large enough to become representative of the group of adolescents exposed to popular music with cannabis content. Secondly, the researchers used statistical analytical tools like multivariable regression, bivariate analysis, and additional analysis in the form of finding out whether there was a correlation between cannabis use and alcohol, but of which the researchers have not found any significant relationship. Thirdly, the study is objective and credible because the methods used in the study had been preapproved by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board prior to the execution of the study (Primack et al.). If the procedure had not been approved by the board, it would not have been published by the NIH and it would not have been considered credible and objective. On the support to its claims, On the subject of comprehensiveness, the study was actually able to find the differences when it comes to various variables vis-a-vis the degree of correlation between exposure to popular music and cannabis use among the respondents: â€Å"Current use of cannabis was associated with higher exposure to cannabis in music, having a favorite artist with a higher number of songs with cannabis references, older age, lower grades, less demanding parenting, less supportive parenting, higher sensation seeking, and higher rebelliousness [while] ever use of cannabis was associated with higher exposure to cannabis in

Existentialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Existentialism - Essay Example This begins with the aspect that religion is a problem that afflicts humanity in daily struggles of life. For example, he asserts that religion has played the fundamental role of brainwashing and confusing people instead of providing light. This suggests that it has stopped being a necessity for humanity in their common endeavors to find meaning. There is also a disconnect between religion and nature that affects the existence of human beings amicably (Nishitani 339). This means that religion has a contradictory spectrum that conflicts with its necessity for the masses especially the poor. The writer makes some implications that people can always do without religion in their regular roles and responsibilities. This is through seeking the purpose of religion and aligning it with the essential needs of humanity especially in the understanding of life. Learning and arts in some aspects are not necessities as viewed by humanity in the context of sociological indoctrination. For example, in existentialism, the concept of the absurd affirms that humanity has nothing to gain from the world except the meaning they attach to its happenings. Additionally, the concept continues to add that there is a lot of meaningless in most of the things people value. This is also reflected in the futility of life whereby tragic events occur at the split of seconds without any warning (Nishitani 340). Therefore, the obsession with arts and learning in the context of education should be dissociated with the meaning of life to help humanity cope. Alternatively, even in the concept of authenticity in existentialism, it is upon the individual to find him/herself without making attachments to creations of other human beings. This suggests that a person should exercise his freedoms according to his wishes without getting affected by the demands of humanity. There are several consequential effects of attempting to force religion in the view of its purpose for the masses. This implies that it is a case of futility in attempting to understand the meaning of religion because it is not a necessity. It is also sociologically incorrect to subject it an existentialistic argument because it is devoid of human appeal. Another perspective deals with the issue of evaluating the merits and demerits of religion because it is also useless. This is because the seeking of religious quest leads to confusion in the search of the meaning of life. In other words, according to most of the existentialism concepts, there is no rationality in reaching decisions based on things defined by man (Nishitani 340). These include religious devotion and its eventual evaluation to derive some of meaning for humanity. It also connotes the sense of anger and despair in human beings on things that lack meaning in their daily existence. Religious quest is also paramount in terms of helping people to define themselves within the broader spectrums of nature. However, there are certain conflicting obstacles th at deter people from attaining the level of religious horizon or pinnacle. This is known to breed a sense of nihility and the questioning of self-being through doubts and indecisive moments (Nishitani 341). Therefore, in Nishitani’s assumptions, the ways become unblocked through the comprehension of nihility in its sense of unblocking the sense of self. The author defines nihility as a thing that attaches meaninglessness to the