Office Dakota Products Case Analysis

Office Dakota Products Case Analysis Course: BUSA 5061 Managerial Accounting Students Name: Teresa Willette Professors Name: Dr. Conner/Dr. Pollard Date 3/20/2011 Executive Summary The following analysis is written for Dakota Office Products to evaluate current business operations and recommend future actions necessary to ensure company success. In the analysis of the company we will identify inefficient business practices that have led to the companies first profit loss in its history. We will evaluate the companys current pricing structure, ordering methods, shipping and delivery process, and deficiencies in cash flows. For Dakota Office Products (DOP), its existing costing system was inadequate because it is incapable of accounting for even all of the known costs such as the desktop delivery service as well as hidden costs such as the ten percent DOP paid to maintain its working capital line of credit for accounts receivable. Using the Activity Based Costing(ABC) methodology can be utilized to also improve processes and identify opportunities to improve business effectiveness and efficiency by determining the true or real costs of a given product or service. ABC principles are used to focus management's attention on the total cost to produce a product or service, and as a basis for full cost recovery of a production or service process. Background Information The company under the study, Dakota Office Products, is an established and reputed player under this segment. They were regional distributors for office supplies and the major clientele served by the company included institutional and commercial clients. It dealt with all kind of office supplies starting from all kinds of writing equipment to papers and other office supplies. The company has been able to carve a good name for itself in the industry. The company had also arranged for several distribution centers where the shipments were required to be unloaded and packed into cartons meant to be delivered to the respective customers. In order to increase the utility for its customers, the company had introduced the desk top option for its valued customers. Under this option, the company will use its own fleet to directly deliver the goods at the customers premises. The company charged a small additional amount of upto 2% of the marked price for this additional value added service. This decision was made keeping in mind that such a decision could boost the margins of the company. The company had the policy of marking the sales price by 15% over and above the purchase price. This policy was framed o ensure that the overheads and transportation cost of the materials could be made up from the mark up. The company would then add another mark up to ensure coverage of general expenses and contribution of the company. The mark up decision was taken at the beginning of the year based on the projected cost of the different products of the company. Key Issues The management is faced with major pricing and costing issue for its products. The company has been using the traditional costing method to compute the cost of the product provided to the clients. The company then adds a mark up as per its policy to come up at the selling price of the product. As a result of not following the Activity Based Costing, the company has not been able to cost the products realistically. This has lead to mispricing of the products and resultant overall loss to the company. The fact that an increase in sales has not lead to an increased profits, instead, it has resulted in increased losses has exposed the limitations of the cost accounting system of the company. The company has not been able to increase its profits. This has led the management to believe that the existing cost accounting system has some serious flaws which needs to be rectified on an immediate basis so as to avoid making bad decision leading to losses to the company. The company should now be contemplating the implementation of Activity based costing system so as to ensure proper recording of information which will lead to optimum decision making for the company as a whole thus contributing to the growth of the company through increased profitability. The key issue presented in front of the management is the possible steps to be taken by the management in order to avoid such losses. Critical Thought The issue addressed by the accounting system of Dakota office products invites our attention to the premise of Activity Based costing methodology. We are certain about the fact that the accounting and reporting system at Dakota Office Product is inappropriate and is leading to the company making wrong decision ultimately leading to losses. This was apparent from the record where the company was able to increase its sales without a corresponding increase in the profits for that particular year. Activity based costing system is an approach which seeks to allocate the overhead cost to the products on a scientific and realistic basis. The existing system of allocating cost at Dakota Office products were inadequate in so much so that it was following an unreasonable basis for allocating the cost, which were known and visible, such as the desktop delivery cost. The existing system was suffering from oversight of some of the expenses. ABC costing system seeks to overcome the problem of oversight and make a more reasonable allocation of the costs. The distinctive feature of this method is the fact that the method can provide useful insights to the management as to the activities which are leading to the cost by identifying the cost drivers, rates and the number of activity undertaken. This can also help the management redesign the operational system such that the costs associated with the products are reduced. We must also note that the traditional method of costing adapted by Dakota Office Products are typically designed for companies who are dealing with only a single product, or homogeneous products. However Dakota Office Products have come to a stage that they are dealing in multiple products such as writing instruments to copier to pages, thus it makes the traditional costing method even more impractical to be followed by the company. This company was dealing in numerous products and was also making strides in adapting varied operational methodologies such as the desktop delivery or the sales through e commerce internet sites. The operations of the company are such that it would be apt for the company to establish a cost driver rates and apply those rates in the products of the company. The cost driver rates could also be used by the company while applying the cost overheads to some other products that the company may be planning in the future. The existing system of the company involves use of many activities and the company has been able to regularize the operations of the company and is clear about the operational goals that need to be fulfilled by the company. The company is dealing in an industry where the products are quite heterogeneous in nature and once the products are purchased there is very little scope of application of direct materials or labor. The major cost that is expected to be incurred is the overhead costs which are factual dependent upon the number of activities undertaken to accomplish the task. The cost drivers need to be ascertained before the application of the cost drivers to the number of activities attributable to the product as regards the particular activity. Alternate Solution A noteworthy fact is that the company has posted increased losses in spite of an increase in overall sales of the company. The objective of the exercise is to let the management be aware of the reasons as to why the company has osted losses even after an increase in the sales. Moreover, the management needs to be shown the way by which the company could remedial action so that the managements direction is towards the right direction. The alternate solution available to the company could be enlisted as follows Increase in selling price of the products Review the accounting procedures and implement the change required in accounting proc edures Discontinue the product which reports a loss We will make a brief study of the above alternatives before forming an opinion on any of the alternatives. As the company is operating in a competitive market, so an increase in selling price of the products is expected to have far reaching repercussions in the sense that the company could go on to lose clients and contracts which could lead to even lower sales and higher losses. Moreover, the existing accounting procedure is inappropriate to produce the actual cost of the product. The computation of actual cost of the product is important in the backdrop of the company policy to add a mark up on the cost price of the goods. If the accounting system is inappropriate to calculate the cost of the cost, then it would be inappropriate to add a mark up on the goods based on the cost as produced by the existing accounting procedure. A review of the accounting procedure is duly called for as the existing accounting procedure is not appropriate. The accounting procedure is not apt for a company having multiple products and multiple processes, and very little expenses on the direct materials and labor. Application and implementation of the ABC system will be able to contribute to the accounting procedure adapted by the company. A product which is not able to contribute to the overall profits of the company could be considered to be discontinued. However, the decision of the product to be discontinued lies with the management and the accounting system. As mentioned earlier, the accounting system is not fit, so the company should first implement an ABC costing system in order to make proper decision regarding the costing and pricing of various products as well as the costing of servicing various clients. Implementation Measures and Follow up Dakota was following the traditional method of allocating overheads across the product lines. The overheads were not allocated to the products based on the activity undertaken for the manufacture of the product. This led to mispricing of the product and also led to difficulty in taking optimum decision for the company as a whole. The company had incurred losses in spite of an increase in sales, because the company was selling a product at a loss (which was not detected by the traditional costing system). We need to identify the activities on which the cost is dependant, in order to calculate the cost driver rate. The following are the activities identified Processing of Cartons (Activity 1) Service Involving Desktop Delivery (Activity 2) Order Handling (Activity 3) Data Processing and Entry (Activity 4) Activity 1 Amount of Expenses = Warehouse Personnel Expense (90%) + Items Purchased = 90%*2400000+35000000 = 2160000 + 35000000 = 37160000. Activity Driver (Processing of Carton) = 80000 Cost Driver Rate for Activity 1 = 37160000 / 80000 = $ 464. 5 per carton. Activity 2 Amount of Expenses = Warehouse Personnel Expense (10%) + Delivery Truck Expense = 10%*2400000+200000 = 240000 + 200000 = 440000 Activity Driver (Desktop Delivery) = 2000 Cost Driver Rate for Activity 2 = 440000 / 2000 = $ 220 per carton. Activity 3 Amount of Expenses = Warehouse Expense + Freight = 2000000+450000 = 2450000 Activity Driver (Orders) = 16000+8000 = 24000 Cost Driver Rate for Activity 3 = 2450000 / 24000 = $ 102. 083 per order. Activity 4 Amount of Expenses = Order Entry Expenses = 800000 Activity Driver (Orders Line) = 150000 Cost Driver Rate for Activity 4 = 800000 / 150000 = $ 5. 3 per line. The implementation involves computing the profitability of the two clients A Sales Cost Gross Margin No of Cartons Ordered 464. 5 92900 9290 0 B 1040 103000 00 8500 85000 0 1900 18000 0 Desktop Deliveries 220 Order Handling 102. 083 1224. 996 Data Entry 5. 33 Total Cost 319. 8 94444. 8 959. 4 1095 67. 7 5567. 7 1020 8. 3 0 5500 Contribution 8555. 204 The following are t he main causes of difference in profitability between the two customers Customer B has a desktop deliver of 25 whereas customer A has none. The number of data entry for customer B is 180 whereas it is about 60 for customer A. References Michael H. Granof, David E. Plat, Igor Vaysman. (2000). Using Activity-Based Costing to Manage More Effectively. http://costkiller. net/tribune/Tribu-PDF/Using-Activity-BasedCosting-to-Manage-More-Effectively. pdf Rockford Consulting, retrieved March 21, 2011, from http://rockfordconsulting. com/activitybased-costing%20(ABC). htm Value based management, retrievd March 21, 2011, from http://www. valuebasedmanagement. net/methods_abc. html Dakota Products Case Office Analysis Course: BUSA 5061 Managerial Accounting Students Name: Teresa Willette Professors Name: Dr. Conner/Dr. Pollard Date 3/20/2011

Dysfunctional Behaviour Essay

A dysfunctional behaviour can be defined as â€Å"an inappropriate action or response, other than an activity of daily living, in a given social milieu that is a problem for the caregiver.† Dysfunctional behaviours commonly accompany cognitive impairment and are a significant source of burden to caregivers. Dysfunctional behaviours may be the first sign of a dementing illness, even before caregivers perceive changes in the patient’s cognitive abilities. Dysfunctional Behaviour has been called many things- abnormal, atypical and currently dysfunctional- which seem to reflect society’s view of the individual. If someone is not able to function as a normal human being, the label ‘dysfunctional’ carries less stigma than the label ‘abnormal’. It states that a person is clearly not functioning correctly and is therefore not leading what would be considered a ‘normal’ life. He or she may lack the full range of emotions or feelings and may participate in only a limited range of behaviours that does not allow for a fully functioning lifestyle. Approaches of Dysfunctional Behaviour * Behavioural The behaviourist perspective is that we are born blank slates and all behaviour is learnt. Therefore any dysfunctional behaviour is learnt, by operant conditioning, classical conditioning, or social learning. This places the responsibility on us to ensure that we do not ‘teach’ dysfunctional behaviours to others. * Biological The biological approach, which is part of biopsychology, would favour the nature side of the nature-nurture debate. Biological explanations of behaviour assert that something in our biology is the fundamental cause of dysfunctional behaviour. There could be genetic cause, or a malformation of brain structures. * Cognitive The third approach to explain dysfunctional behaviour is that of cognitive psychology, which sees our behaviour as being a consequence of some internal processing of information. Much like a computer, we take in information, process it and respond in some way. If however there is a problem with the circuit boards in a computer, the response may not be what we would expect, and this is the same with humans. If something goes wrong with what information we attend to, and how we perceive and store it, then the response may not be what everyone expects and this could lead to a label of dysfunctional behaviour.

Do Companies Have a Responsibility Not to Destroy the Environment or Should Profits Be Allowed at Any Environmental Cost Essay

We can see a change in every organizational activities, as in marketing, for example Mc Donald change their previous red logo, in green one, A new one, for a new eco-system protecting plan. In this research we are going to see many element, which will prove that companies have a responsibility to take care about the environment. In this research, a melting pot of arguments will be show, to understand if businesses and factories have to pollute instead of adapting their way to work in function of environment and sustainable development. Real fact will help to understand the point of view. Firm’s activities have big environmental impact, its take a major part of naturals resources and reject in the environment. Oil and chemicals industries are not the only companies, which polluted. Every single firm consumes raw material as water, energy and others. It’s also rejected some substances more or less harmful in the environment. More over the intensive consumption of raw material have big impact on the extinction many species, or animal can become endangered. Deforestation in some country appears because companies want to produce more and more, always more. If firms continue to take resources as now, there will be an exhaustion of raw material as oil and gas. Climate change is partly caused by every reject by firms, in terms of polluting gas, chemical stuff and pollution in the see. As â€Å"good planet† said in their article, a cellulose factory has been closed by the government because they notice that to much pollution as been providing by this factory. In fact, around this factory the Baikal lac was very pollute. The vice Prime Minister Arkadi Dvokovitch announces that the factory will be close as soon as possible: â€Å"We decided to close the plant cellulose Baikalsk†. As the government said, a care project is taking part in this area of Russia. The fact that firms do not respect the environment can be dangerous in different way. In this case, 1700 peoples became unemployed, because it shutting. Population becomes less and less happy because of the different ways of pollution of the country. That is why everyone losing something: government loses reputation, to let factories pollute in the country. Firms have to be shutdown because its disrespect the environment. The reputation is very important for a company; it is one of the most important things to maximize profit. People’s way to speak about a company makes it stronger, if its have a good reputation. More often companies can have a bad rap; When it is important to see what are peoples problems and what are the environmental problems, company are less fascinate. Furthermore, it is usually the bigger business, which pollute the most. It is possible to make profit, and make a maximizing profit not in spit of polluting. But head directors prefer giving money to government as fines, instead of polluting less and earn less money. Refers to the case of Pfizer industry, which is one of the biggest pharmaceutical firms from France. As Bschool wrote in an article, Pfizer has the most important record of polluting action in all categories: â€Å"Pfizer has a bad record on numerous fronts†. This big company has been fined many times by authorities, for environmental violations, in terms of air contamination, because rejected lots of hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere. After many recommendations by government, Pfizer industry did not take care about it, and preferred continued to earned money and maximizing profit. This unconscious act proves that head manager who where at the top of the firm did not think about environmental and social problem, and did not feel concerned by security. According again to Bschool, In 2009, the company became more open minded and aware of what she did, and try to reconsolidated the public opinion with an offer to charity: â€Å"In 2009, Pfizer gave more than $60 million to charity, amounting to an astounding 24,2% of its total net profits for the year. † Thanks to regulation and authority to act in this different case, because we all know that is not the only to act in this way with people and environment. Nowadays, people become more and more involved about the protection of the environment. People, company and government try to find together some alternative to stay on the road in term of ecology. At the begging of the XIX century, the industrial revolution and the economy are based on the absolute search of gain. It is difficult to get back and primary think to the development instead of maximizing profit. Therefore company and government had to make some agreement for sustainable development. For example, according to Jonathan Maxwell, SDCL’s CEO: â€Å"Reducing demand for energy is potentially the most cost- effective and rational way of reducing emissions and improving the security of energy supply. The UK regulator, Ofgem, recently predicted in its first annual Electricity Capacity Assessment that the amount of spare capacity in the system could fall from 14% to 4% in the next 3 years, raising the specter of outages and price rises. This ground-breaking agreement between SDCL, Kingspan and Johnson Controls represents a major step forward towards a scalable and replicable solution, funded through energy savings achieved†. This kind of action is present nationally and internationally. Government want to reduce a lot Co2e emissions in the world; that is why big action concentrate many countries all around the world. States have to sign a convention, and adopt comportment after that. The majority of restriction are involved by the OMC (World Trade Organization). Refers to the professor Michael Porter, teacher in Harvard Business School, the â€Å"Porter hypothesis† (citation). Supporting his thesis from 1991, the main idea of environmental regulation is to institute programs firms reducing some externalities. Mr. Porter said also if companies are doing it by themselves it is considerably normal that business’s profits, by definition necessarily decrease. So the profit of factory can decrease if companies are adopting new rules for sustainable development. In different case, it is better making profit than take care about the environment and sustainable development. The first of a company is to make profit, and more precisely a maximization of profit. A lot of Head business managers prefer pollute and make profit, rather than adopts rules for ecology, and change the global way of the firm. A survey on the green economy post show that around 34% of executives polled preferred to stay on a good move with their company and prefer see the whole economy of the business on prosperity: â€Å"According to this Survey, 34% of executives polled said that their firm’s immediate financial goals were of more importance than practicing sustainability  Ã‚ ». There are lots of problems in changing methods to produce for a company, the management of the polluting rubbish, change machine that will be less dangerous for the environment. So that is why manager do not care about nature and public opinion. Even if there are many inconvenient, it is possible to see company which was able to accept this change in term of environment protection. As we see in the introduction, Mc Donald changes many things in the company. For example the logo, to be in coherence with sustainable development, the logo was red and now its green, the environment color. After that, it is not only a picture of a good company, which wants to have a good behavior with environment; there are some benefits that Mc Donald can catch benefits. Referring to Bob Langert, who is VP, Corporate social responsibility at Mc Donald’s corporation: â€Å"Energy is really our No. issue,† he said. â€Å"When you look at the dollars we spend, and the impact we have on the environment, and the progress we can make to do better, and use our size and influence to make a difference, it’s energy. † Bob Langert tell us this information in an interview, in a US TV channel called alternative channel To conclude , we saw different aspect from making profit instead of taking care about the environment. Along this research it is prove that it is better to contribute to sustainable development and be aware of consequences of pollution. Even if it is hard to renounce to earn lots of money and make a maximize profit for business. Help nature and it will reward you. Bibliography * â€Å"McDonald’s Golden Rules for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability | Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Causes: The Alternative Channel Blog. † McDonald’s Golden Rules for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability | Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Causes: The Alternative Channel Blog. Web. * â€Å"The 10 Most Socially Irresponsible Big Brands | BSchool. com Business Schools Directory. † BSchoolcom Business Schools Directory The 10 Most Socially Irresponsible Big Brands Comments. Web. * â€Å"Une Usine De Cellulose Qui Pollue Le Lac Baikal Va Fermer. † Une Usine De Cellulose Qui Pollue Le Lac Baikal Va Fermer. Web. * â€Å"Corporations and the Environment. † – Global Issues. N. p. , n. d. Web. * â€Å"Sustainable Development Capital LLP. † Sustainable Development Capital LLP. Print 2012 * Robert A. G. Monks and Nell Minow, Power and Accountability, 1991 an on-line book, originally written 1991 * Richard Robbins, Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism (Allyn and Bacon, 1999), pp. 233-236 * â€Å"Resources for the Future – RFF. org. † Resources for the Future – RFF. org. N. p. , n. d. Web

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Econometrics Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

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Ppaper on Illegal Physical or Internet Intrusion Essay

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Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 110

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Learning Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Learning Theory - Essay Example ntually, examples of learning theories such as: (1) andragogy which is also known as the theory of adult learning; (2) connectivism which focuses on learning as making connections; and (3) the multi-media learning which focuses on the principles behind the effective use of multimedia in learning will be tackled prior to conclusion. In general, the main purpose of cognitive psychology is to enable psychologists to determine exactly what is going through with a learner’s mind. Cognitivism is actually focused on analyzing the mental processes behind a person’s behavioral changes. (Schuman and Ritchie) Aside from the importance of reinforcement, this type of learning is possible when practicing repetition and contiguity. (Good and Brophy, p. 187) For this reason, providing feedback on mental development of each individual is necessary in order to motivate the learner to undergo the same learning process over and over again. Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980) is one of the most influential and famous cognitivism theorists. (Huitt and Hummel) As part of examining the cognitive learning of human beings, he proposed the four stages known as: (1) sensory motor stage – infancy to 2 years old; (2) pre-operational stage (trial and error / intuitive thought) – toddler (3 to 6 years old); (3) concrete operational stage –school age (between 7 to 11 years old); and (4) formal operational stage – adolescence (12 years old and above) (Boeree). Based on these cognitive developmental stages, Piaget suggests that the standard cognitive learning development of each individual increases from infancy stage up to the point that we become adults. Likewise, Piaget also suggests the cognitive learning theory related to â€Å"assimilation and accommodation† (Atherton a). This particular learning theory complements the idea of adaptation. It means that increasing the learners’ awareness from the real world enables the learner to assimilate and accommodate newly learned ideas into

Low Cost Strategies of QuickFlight Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Low Cost Strategies of QuickFlight - Essay Example QuickFlight has no formal HR department and any room for staff development and training; this is something that the organization should look into, considering the increase in size will need an integration of forces. The expertise from Gone can help the organization streamline a strategic HR policy, including the personnel from QuickFlight as well to ensure proper representation of all stakeholders. To solve this problem, the organization should practice effective communication strategies in the company. In times of change management, effective communication plays a vital role in the success of the changing processes. Proper information dissemination to all stakeholders, equal intake for solutions from them would help the policy makers to gain knowledge from the valuable expertise of the Human Capital. In order to capitalize on the diverse features of both the organizations, the human resource should be encouraged to work in teams and work their way out of problems. Job rotation is an other management development that helps to train employees and provide them with exposure to the entire organization. All these activities will introduce a high sense of commitment in the employees towards the newly formed organization and will help fill the gap between the two cultures (Raymond, 2000). Â  With the addition of call center labor in the organization, the company should embark on formal training procedures to train the employees to boost their sales through call center bookings. Training and development in this area are bound to help the employees boost the sales; also, recognition for the hard work that they put in is important. Clearly, compensation that is being awarded can work as an incentive, along with recognition. Therefore, to reduce turnover and boost sales, the company should introduce a basic pay for all, adding performance-based rewards, depending on the sales that the personnel makes.

Childhood Obesity in Mississippi Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Childhood Obesity in Mississippi - Assignment Example Numerous and severe health issues are linked to obesity which include enlarged risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Significantly, overweight children are prone to become obese adults (statistically 80%), overlook schooling and academic performance, and develop chronic diseases and coronary heart disease in adulthood. To deal with the burning issue of overweight children in Mississippi, the state has undertaken several pertinent policy regulations, statutes and standards, including the Mississippi Healthy Students Act in April 2007. As a result of the various efforts to reduce the childhood obesity rates in the state, Mississippi has recently been recognized as one of the top states a propos school health policy implementation. â€Å"To raise awareness, encourage better health, and provide healthier environments across the state, government departments need to continue to work together, support each other, and coordinate their efforts to make a lasting impact.† (Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Healthy Schools, p. 5). Notably, the policy issue of childhood obesity in Mississippi has been of particular interest to the profession of nursing, because these policy matters are carried out at this level of health industry. This paper makes a reflective research on the issue of childhood obesity in Mississippi, including the policy analysis, in order to help the policymakers in finding the best-equipped programs to deal with the issue at hand. In a profound analysis of the policy issue of childhood obesity in Mississippi, it becomes lucid that the state has the highest rates of childhood obesity in the United States and this issue has invited serious attention to the health policy makers of the state and the nation. The issues related with childhood obesity are numerous and they include both health consequences and psychological problems. Thus, risk factors connected with

West Jet Case Study Essay Example for Free

West Jet Case Study Essay Strengths The greatest strength of WestJet is their brand image. Through their superior customer service, WestJet has become one of the most trusted brands as well as Canada’s preferred airline. (Anonymous, 2011), (marketing weekly news, 2012) One of the most important strengths of WestJet is their ability to provide low fares to consumers because of their low cost structure. (Yannopoulos, 2011) A key strength for WestJet has been the ability to achieve success through a great corporate culture, and using Strategic hiring, training, and rewarding service oriented employees. They understand the importance of top-down commitment by management. (Karp, 2011), (Ostrower, 2012), (Carr, 2011) Weaknesses By only having one size of airplane, WestJet is restricted to number of flight destinations. Consumers may find alternative options such as flying from the United States of America. (Sherlock,2012) Another drawback of having one size of airplanes limits the capacity of flyers. (Karp, 2012) Opportunities There will always be a reason for people to fly whether it’s for business or pleasure and they will always look for the lowest possible cost. In fact WestJet is actually seeing fewer empty seats. (The Ottawa Citizen, 2012) Increase international growth by acquiring more Code sharing partners. (Sorensen, 2010), (Transportation Business Journal, 2012) By agreeing with Bombardier to include smaller turboprop airplane WestJet can expand into smaller domestic markets without the risk of having to increase fees. (Ostrower, 2012), (Cameron, 2012), (David, 2012) Threats With Air Canada not performing so well, the Canadian government might allow foreign up-starts into the market. (Sorensen, 2012) Surface transportation (automobiles, buses, rail transportation) could take away customers for short-haul trips. A recession might slow the amount of people travelling. (Deveau, 2011) Price of oil could increase fees. (Cameron, 2012), (Deveau, 2011) Bad weather could prevent travel to certain destination. Issues Analysis 1. WestJet has been in the industry for over 15 years and has built its reputation giving customers great value by offering low fares with exceptional customer service. 2. Face competition from Air Canada and surface transportation services. 3. With only three kinds of airplane, maintenance cost remain low but WestJet can only offer economy class and can only fly to limited destinations. 4. Even though Air Canada is the leader in this market, WestJet is the favorite among flyers because of their superior customer service and added features (i.e. Seatback TVs, Web check-in, more legroom, etc) Recommended Alternatives I suggest that WestJet go after the business traveler because this segment spends a lot of money and has a high frequency of flying. However, it should not ignore the seasonal or occasional traveler because this is the segment does contribute to the growth of the company and has helped West Jet reach the level it’s at right now. Product: * Air service to 76 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean. (PR Newswire Association, 2012) * Increase the size of their aircraft and add other international destinations such as cities in Europe and Asia. (Transportation Business Journal, 2012) * Expand to other domestic markets that have not been reached. (Ostrower, 2012) Place: * Online * Travel Agencies Price: * Prices vary depending season, destination, and amount of seats left on the airplane * Domestic Flight (ex. Toronto to Montreal) $155 $200 * Domestic Flight (ex. Toronto to Vancouver) $400 $500 * US Flight (ex. Toronto to Orlando) $175 $400 * Sun Destination (ex Toronto to Kingston, Jamaica) $250 $500 (All prices are quoted for the summer of 2012 through westjet.com) Promotion: * Online * TV * Radio * Billboards * Sponsorship * Loyalty or Rewards programs such WestJet Dollars. (Cropp, 2012), (Braidwood, 2012) Selection of the best Alternatives Product: West Jet should try to increase their market share by getting into the smaller domestic markets. With the agreement with Bombardier to introduce a new set of smaller turboprops (propeller planes) that consumes less fuel and seats a lower amount of passengers is a great fit. This will help West Jet to keep their operating cost low and should keep fares low for the consumers as well. Place: Web booking and travel agencies are the best places to book a flight. Online gives the consumer convenience booking while travel agencies are good for those who prefer to speak a person and/or are uncomfortable booking online. Price: As mentioned above, prices do vary depending season, destination, and amount of seats left on the airplane. With the new smaller turboprops, West Jet should be able to maintain their low fares versus their competition. Promotion: With most people booking flights online, the best promotions should be right on the WestJet.com so that they can help drive traffic to their website. In addition, have special deals emailed to current base of customers or those who book a flight with WestJet. Conclusion I believe the greatest advantage that WestJet has is a positive image from both consumers and employees, they kind of go hand in hand. Because WestJet has great incentive program for their employees, it helps drive home the idea that great customer service is number one. When your front line workers (the ones that have the most interaction with your customers) are treated well and are recognized for their hard work, the company and customer both win. I think their model of low operating costs, between smaller hubs, with only one kind of airplane was a great strategy to get them where they are now. However, I can in vision in the next 10-15 years WestJet stepping up to include a larger airplane that can travel into more foreign destinations because long-haul flights generate the most amount of money. Work Cited Canadas most trusted brands in 2011. (2011). Marketing, 116(6), 17-21. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/920212383?accountid=3455 Yannopoulos, P. (2011). Defensive and offensive strategies for market success. International Journal of Business and Social Science, 2(13), n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/904511236?accountid=3455 Karp, A. (2011). WestJets VALUE PROPOSITION. Air Transport World, 48(1), 46-50. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/839037396?accountid=3455 Ostrower, J. (2012, May 02). Bombardier wins WestJet order for turboprop planes. Wall Street Journal (Online), pp. n/a-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1010422700?accountid=3455 WestJet; WestJet is canadas preferred airline. (2012). Marketing Weekly News, , 1282. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/964463239?accountid=3455 Sorensen, C. (2010, May 31). READY FOR TAKEOFF: WestJets big plans to conqure air canada and then the world. Macleans, 123, 35-35. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/757889199?accountid=3455 Carr, D. F. (2011). Westjet cuts costs with crowdsourcing. Informationweek Online, , n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/896003391?accountid=3455 WestJet ranks globally as a top 10 airline. (2012, Jul 10). Canada NewsWire, pp. n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1024241175?accountid=3455 Cameron, D., Pearson, D. (2012, Jul 09). Propeller planes, fueled by economics, take off; at current oil prices, props make more sense for carriers than smaller jets. Wall Street Journal (Online), pp. n/a-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1024003999?accountid=3455 Sherlock, T. (2012, Jun 18). Millions of canadians flying out of U.S. airports. The Vancouver Sun, pp. A.1. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1021240152?accountid=3455 Airlines, aviation; WestJet and korean air launch code-share agreement. (2012). Transportation Business Journal, , 109. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1015618972?accountid=3455 Deveau, S. (2011, Jan 20). Analysts split on investment merits of air canada vs. WestJet; labour talks ahead. National Post, pp. FP.14. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/846811799?accountid=3455 Canada; fewer empty seats at WestJet, air canada. (2012, Jul 06). The Ottawa Citizen, pp. E.3. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1024045691?accountid=3455

The Analysis Of The Crimson Shadow

The Analysis Of The Crimson Shadow The Crimson Shadow, by Walter Mosley, is a short story that depicts a lengthy morning encounter between two disparate, yet similar souls. It is a twining of events that connect and capture, evade, and then reunite under the bonds of commonality. The protagonist, an aging ex-convict who goes by the name Socrates, finds that a young man, a boy, really, has killed a rooster that resides across the alley, and someone he had considered his friend. Darryl, the boy who has committed the misdeed is an obvious product of his environment, struggling to survive the mean streets of Los Angeles, and who, at a very tender age, has also become its victim. The elements which make up this story are striking, and develop rapidly into a tightly woven interlude which allows the analysis of New Criticism to be utilized well, enabling an investigation which clarifies the components that help to create this piece. Both characters depict a sense of loss and tragedy, but also possess a keen intellect which helps them to overcome the depravity of their surroundings. When Socrates first realizes that Billy, the rooster to whom he had become attached-his crowing that had awakened him each morning for the past eight years has not been heard-he investigates by going out to where the bird lives, only to find that his head has been badly mangled by the serrated blade of a steak knife. When he sees Darryl move out of the shadows of the morning, he understands immediately that some wrong has been committed. The old man is, at first, justifiably angry at the fact that a senseless act of violence has been done, a crime committed by a troublemaking kid out to cash in on someone elses misfortune the boy has created; but the two have a shared past that connects them in more ways than either can initially appreciate. As the morning wears on, and Socrates gets to know the boy and his situation a bit better, the ex-con sees that the youngster and he have more in common than he would, possibly, like to admit. When Socrates gets the boy into his kitchen, and the two begin to talk, the elder sees how similar their situations are. Both have committed heinous crimes, that of murder, and he uses the time to try and reason with the boy as to the path hes headed toward, first, enticing him to open up when the man realizes his accusations of having killed his friend have the boy visibly nervous, and then understanding that its not only the rooster he has killed, but also another mentally challenged young man who wouldnt leave him and his friends alone. Although it was an accident, and Socrates tells him so, the older man sympathizes with Darryl, telling him that he is welcome in his home whenever he likes, this, an indication of his compassion, and perhaps of his empathy, with the boy. The setting of Crimson Shadow is marked by crushing poverty, the description of what is Socrates home scarred by time and neglect. Its depiction and its imagery are stark, as witnessed by the cabinets that are now simply shelves, the doors having been torn off, and the magenta tiles that have faded to grey. A red spider spins her web above a naked bulb that shines above a photo of a woman Socrates once knew. The use of sharp and focused vocabulary that prime colors and distinctive smells evoke is also prevalent and speaks of a harsh reality. When the boy enters the two room shack, he looks at the red spider, and the women in the picture who also wears a red hat and a red dress, which, as the sun shines down upon her, throws a similarly red, or crimson, shadow across her face, indicating heat, or maybe wrath at the wrong committed by Socrates. The picture also contains the primary colors of yellow and blue, as well, those of the sun and the sky, which can similarly indicate the simpli city of how these two must survive: only with the mixing of other elements can the blending and shading of emancipation occur. When the old man begins cooking the equally-aged rooster, the well-defined description of the ingredients used, tomatoes, basil, and garlic, each possess their own and equally pronounced hue and aroma, a luxury that both men revel in and that can help to begin to express a possible solution to their bleak existence. The tension is tightly woven into the Crimson Shadow, especially in the beginning, when Socrates confronts his much younger and much weaker opponent in the alley. His big hands, known as rock breakers, are seen as weapons, able to crush the young boy with a single blow, and his apparent time spent in prison is evidence enough that he is a disreputable man capable of both creating and enduring great harm. The story is immediately suspenseful when he realizes his friend, Billy the rooster, has been killed, but because he is an ex-convict who quickly acquires the position of a moral and upstanding citizen, a man who is eventually looked upon, ironically, as a role model, he is the protagonist, and as such, can be considered an anti-hero. This irony and its resulting paradox are, however, resolved in the end, when both boy and man agree, silently, to become friends in this hostile world they must both inhabit. The killing of the innocent rooster, as well as of the innocent young boy who would not leave Darryl and his friend alone, are both necessary catalysts for both Socrates and Darryl, for if the two are to survive at all, they need each other in an essential, yet obscure manner, a mirror in which Darryl is able to see himself, yet set himself apart from the man that Socrates has become. The name, too, that Socrates owns, is but a taunting mockery that he must live with, ever knowing, but forever damned. It is also essential for one to observe the discussion Socrates initiates when speaking to the young man, for this is indicative of a common theme seen throughout literature; that of the wizened elder, competent and worldly, offering advice to the younger, less experienced, and woeful Darryl. His advice, although unwanted and disregarded at first, is deemed highly authoritative and even indispensable later, when Darryl finds himself floundering at the mercy of his actions, a child in the hands of fate, ignorant and vulnerable. He decides that since Socrates might just well have power over his destiny, he might have power over his own. In the end, the utilization of the New Criticism theory in the analysis of the Crimson Shadow, by Walter Mosley, is quite effective in understanding the elements used in the creation of this work. Characterization, setting, imagery, theme, and dialog, all come together in unison to produce an effective tool in the dissection and ultimate recovery of this short story, especially taken individually, which allows the reader to view through a lucid and comprehensible lens, a work of innate truth and redemption.

Organ Black Market

Organ Black Market Response Paper 2 In the world of modern medicine, there is no question that organ transplants are capable of saving countless lives. However, a problem exists because there are not enough organs available to meet the existing need. The buying and selling of human organs is illegal around the world, and this has resulted in the creation of a black market in order to meet the demand. Basically, this black market consists of rich patients from developed countries using â€Å"brokers† to arrange for the purchase of organs from poor people in underdeveloped countries. Although a great deal of the black market activity has centered on the buying and selling of kidneys, there has also been extensive trading in other organs as well as in human tissues. This paper will argue that the best solution to the problem is to create a system for the legalized, regulated marketing of human organs. Such a system would help somewhat in alleviating the current organ shortage, while at the same time reducing the op portunities for corruption and exploitation that are found in black market practices. At the present time, the demand for kidneys and other organs far exceeds the available supply. In Western Europe, for example, approximately 40,000 patients are on waiting lists for kidney transplants; however, it is expected that only about 1 in 4 of these patients will be able to receive the organs that they need (Erin and Harris 137). Because of the current situation, it is evident that many patients will die before receiving a transplant. In 2001, it was claimed that â€Å"an average of 15 patients die every day in the US whilst awaiting an appropriate organ† (Weekes n. p.). Medical experts have also pointed out that organs from living donors are much better than those provided by cadavers (i.e., recently deceased persons). Because the blood flow is disrupted as a result of death, â€Å"cadaver organs are always, to some extent, damaged† (Munson 115). In spite of the urgent need, most of the worlds nations have laws that prohibit the buying and selling of human organs. In the United States, for example, the 1984 National Organ Transplantation Act prohibits the sale of human organs by both live donors and by the families of the recently deceased (Weekes n. p.). Many developing nations have likewise banned the commercial trading of human organs. However, this practice â€Å"has come at the risk of driving the trade underground† (Nullis-Kapp 715). Although the buying and selling of organs is illegal in most places, the demand for such organs has continued. In addition, many impoverished persons have shown that they are willing to sell a kidney or other non-vital organ for the sake of increasing their income. As a result of this situation, a global black market in human organs has developed. The problem of â€Å"transplant tourism† has emerged, in which wealthy patients travel to other countries that are lax in enforcing their laws in order to receive transplants using organs from desperately poor people (Scheper-Hughes 1645). For example, members of an international syndicate were arrested in South Africa in 2004 (McLaughlin, et al. 1). This syndicate had been bringing poor Brazilians to South Africa in order to buy their kidneys and then sell them to well-to-do Israeli patients. Many other illegal organ-trading rings are known to exist. Organ Watch, a project founded by Nancy Scheper-Hughes and Lawrence Cohen in 1999, monitors the illegal organ trade in order to uncover the human rights violations that result from it. This is accomplished by tracing the â€Å"routes† through which the sellers and buyers of human organs make their transactions. As reported by Scheper-Hughes, â€Å"in general, the circulation of kidneys follows established routes of capital from South to North, from East to West, from poorer to more affluent bodies, from black and brown bodies to white ones, and from female to male or from poor, low status men to more affluent men† (1645). In other words, the black market for human organs is contributing to the exploitation of the poor. Clare Nullis-Kapp, writing in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, has claimed that the illegal trade is based on the coercion of vulnerable Third World donors who are â€Å"frequently impoverished and ill-educated† (715). Organ Watch and other organizations have reported that more than 80 percent of the poor people who have donated organs in the international black market have experienced serious health problems as a result (McLaughlin, et al. 1). Furthermore, there is clear evidence that poor donors are greatly underpaid in comparison to the market value for their organs. There have also been allegations of unscrupulous doctors or authority figures abusing the system for their own profit. As an example, in 2001, â€Å"two Chinese government officials were charged with the sale of organs of executed prisoners† (Weekes n. p.). A proposed solution to this problem is to create a legal and tightly regulated system for the buying and selling of human organs. The advocates of this approach note that it would be a step toward meeting the demand that currently exists for organs from living donors. According to Ronald Munson, an expert in medical ethics, â€Å"the kidney shortage could be ameliorated, if not solved, by allowing people needing a transplant to pay a healthy and willing donor to supply a kidney† (116). In the Journal of Medical Ethics, Charles A. Erin and John Harris note that a legal market would help to increase the supply of other needed organs (and tissues) as well. According to these authors, â€Å"to meet legitimate ethical and regulatory concerns, any commercial scheme must have built into it safeguards against wrongful exploitation and show concern for the vulnerable, as well as taking into account considerations of justice and equity† (137). Erin and Harris further argue that t he system should consist of a single purchaser (presumably a government-based agency) and that there should be clearly defined penalties in order to help prevent abuse. There are various arguments in favor of having a legal, regulated system for the human organ trade. First of all, increasing the supply of available organs would help to save numerous lives. In addition, â€Å"legalisation of the sale of organs will eliminate the corruption that has led to reported executions and ‘thefts of organs† (Weekes n. p.). If the sale of organs were legal, there would be no need for a criminal market to exist in that area. In turn, a legalized system would result in the donors being more fairly compensated for their organs. In the black market, doctors and brokers make hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits as a result of their efforts (McLaughlin, et al. 1). By contrast, the impoverished donors are offered only a tiny amount of money for their organs; sometimes this is as little as a few hundred dollars. In the current legal system, which depends on the voluntary donation of organs, the donors are not given any kind of financial compensatio n at all. However, the doctors, nurses, and transplant coordinators are all paid for the roles they play in the process. This raises the question: â€Å"Why should the donor of the organs, arguably the most important actor in any transplant, not also receive remuneration?† (Weekes n. p.). One of the arguments against having a legal market for human organs is that it will do nothing to prevent poor people from being exploited by the processes of â€Å"financial coercion† (Munson 116). Scheper-Hughes, for example, has claimed that the poor, because of their desperation, are not in a position to make free and rational choices in such matters and that the legalization of organ selling merely creates â€Å"the semblance of ethical choice in an intrinsically unethical context† (1645). In fact, some opponents have argued that legalization would result in increased â€Å"discrimination between rich and poor† because â€Å"the opportunity for those unable to afford to purchase to receive a donated organ will be eliminated† (Weekes n. p.). In fact, however, poor patients as well as rich patients would benefit from a legalized system of organ purchase because â€Å"for each successful kidney transplant operation, valuable hours on a dialysis machine will be left vacant† (Weekes n. p.). Furthermore, it has been noted that it is â€Å"patronizing† to assume that individual donors (or the families of recently deceased persons) are incapable of making a reasoned decision about whether or not to sell their organs (Weekes n. p.). Some opponents of legalized organ selling have claimed that such a system would take away the â€Å"psychological benefits that reward a voluntary donor† (Munson 112). According to this viewpoint, being a living donor should be based solely on having a sense of altruism, and not on having a desire for financial compensation. In actuality, however, â€Å"sellers of organs would know they had saved a life and would be reasonably compensated for their risk, time, and altruism, which would be undiminished by sale† (Erin and Harris 137). After all, as Erin and Harris point out, â€Å"we do not regard medicine as any the less a caring position because doctors are paid† (137). Some have argued against the legalization of organ selling on the basis of the health risks that are involved. However, it is the illegality that increases such risks and, in a well-equipped hospital setting, â€Å"both a kidney and a piece of liver can be removed without a significant detrimentà ¢â‚¬  (Weekes n. p.). Yet another argument against a legalized organ trade can be seen in the claim of Scheper-Hughes that the legalization perspective is based on purely economic and rational claims as opposed to claims of â€Å"social justice.† According to Scheper-Hughes, the idea of an organ market creates â€Å"a medical, social, and moral tragedy of immense and not yet fully recognised proportions† (1645). Still others have expressed a sense of â€Å"revulsion† at the idea of buying and selling human organs (McLaughlin, et al. 1). Such moralistic arguments make use of emotional language (â€Å"tragedy,† â€Å"revulsion,† etc.). However, when the situation is viewed objectively, it can be seen that having a legalized, regulated system would be safer as well as making economic sense. As for the ethical issue, the black market shows that people are going to buy and sell organs anyway, despite the illegality of the practice. Obviously, it would be much better for the p ractice to be regulated, the donors fairly compensated, and the corrupt nature of the black market removed. As argued in this paper, a serious problem is found in the fact that the demand for human organs is much higher than the existing supply. This has given rise to a black market in which poor people are lured into giving up their bodily organs at a price that is far less than the organs actual â€Å"market value.† The best solution to this problem is to develop a legalized system for buying and selling organs, with various protections built into it. Although this would probably not result in the demand for organs being fully met, it would certainly be a step in the right direction. In addition, a legalized system would undermine the black market and help to prevent the types of abuses that can occur in an illegal trade situation. There is no good reason to not fairly compensate organ donors, especially in view of the fact that large sums of money are involved in the organ transplantation business. Some people have argued that poor people would be unjustly â€Å"coerced† b y the financial incentives of selling off their organs. However, this is a decision that they alone should make; furthermore, the loss of a single kidney or other non-vital organ is not particularly risky if it is done by a competent surgeon in a legal setting. Works Cited Erin, Charles A., and John Harris. â€Å"An Ethical Market in Human Organs.† Journal of Medical Ethics 29(3), June 2003, 137-138. McLaughlin, Abraham, Ilene R. Prusher, and Andrew Downie. â€Å"What is a Kidney Worth?† Christian Science Monitor, June 9, 2004, 1+. Munson, Ronald. Raising the Dead: Organ Transplants, Ethics, and Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Nullis-Kapp, Clare. â€Å"Organ Trafficking and Transplantation Pose New Challenges.† Bulletin of the World Health Organization 83(9), September 2004, 715. Scheper-Hughes, Nancy. â€Å"Keeping an Eye on the Global Traffic in Human Organs.† The Lancet 361, May 10, 2003, 1645-1648. Weekes, Rob. â€Å"Should We Legalise the Sale of Human Organs?† Debatabase International Debate Education Association, October 4, 2001. Available:

Theory and practice of group counseling Book Review :: essays research papers

Corey, G. (1999). Theory and practice of group counseling. (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This text was written for graduate or undergraduate students in any field involving human services but is especially suitable for students enrolled in any course of Theory and Practice of Group Counseling, practitioners who are involved in group work, and students who are interested in leading various types of groups. This text presents an overview of various theoretical models and describes how they apply to group counseling. The text outlines the basic elements of group process, deals with ethical and professional issues special to group work and presents an overview of the key concepts and techniques of ten theoretical models of group counseling. The text also attempts an integration of the ten theoretical models and emphasizes the practical application of the approaches with a focus on helping the reader develop his/her own synthesis of various aspects of the models.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Part I; Basic Elements of Group Process: An Overview is comprised of chapters 1-5. This section is obviously an overview of the various types of groups and discusses some general principles that can be applied in working with culturally diverse groups. Part I also covers some basic group leadership issues, ethical issues in group work, and the stages in the evolution of a group, from formation to termination and follow up.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Part 2; Theoretical Approaches to Group Counseling examines 10 theoretical approaches dealing with theory and practice of group work. The 10 chapters are as follows: The Psychoanalytic Approach to Groups, Adlerian Group Counseling, Psychodrama, The Existential Approach to Groups, The Person Centered Approach to Groups, Gestalt Therapy in Groups, Transactional Analysis, Behavioral Group Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy in Groups, and finally Reality Therapy in Groups. The aforementioned chapters follow an organizational pattern, this organization makes comparing the 10 theoretical approaches easier for the reader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Each chapter introduces the rationale for the theoretical approach and its unique characteristics, discusses the model’s key concepts and their implications for group process, discusses the approach’s basic procedures and techniques, defines the role and function of the group leader, and when applicable describes the stages of development of that particular group process. Finally near the end of each of the 10 theoretical chapters is an evaluation section. This section is devoted to Corey’s personal assessment of the approach.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Part 3; Integration and Application contains chapters 16 and 17.

Jim Morrison Essay example -- essays research papers

I don't quite recall when I first heard a Doors' song, but I could safely assume that it was Jim Morrison wailing the tune "Light My Fire" or "Break on Through". After all, these two anthems are the foundations upon which the Doors' legend was built, and to this day remain the band's gems. But as I have come to learn through the years of reading about and scouring over regurgitated bits of information of this group is that they are so much more than a member of the genre of those 1960s bands who musically fell in love with drugs, love, and repetitive choruses. Gathering knowledge from a countless number of books, newspaper articles, and documentaries about the band's lead singer, Jim Morrison, has led me to scorn the drunken, obnoxious hippie identity that a majority of the public has perceived him to be some thirty years after his passing. There was a time when I shared these prejudicial views with the casual listeners, but it's been quite a long road to persona lly come to the conclusion that Jim was a poet who had something valuable to say when he was performing. However, a public misconception of Morrison and the Doors still remains, and will linger for the simple reason that we cannot re-live the late 1960s and become acquainted with this rock n roll icon. Thus, this very fact incited me to gain a better understanding of the legend that's been bogged in criticism for the last thirty years. Now, before I commend Jim for all that he's accomplished in his twenty-seven years on this earth, it is only reasonable and fair to point out that he was not flawless. He was not one to compromise with authority, and undoubtedly expiremented in drugs and risky situations. Indeed, he often put himself in danger, and the result was a payment of the ultimate price: death. Death from years of alcohol abuse, late night partying, and frolicking around town. Death from a haggard soul that had done and seen almost everything that anyone could conceive. However, it should be cited that he had never purposely intended to harm another soul on his downward spiral through life. He would often saturate his mind with liquor, but consciously close the flood gates just as he was to plummet from the edge of sanity. The same "loud-mouthed, insane, drug-induced monster" who once sang with a straight face of killing his father and having sexual intercourse wi... ...e suicide of a twenty-seven year old rock star that at one time seemingly had it all. However, I wouldn't be doing my duty as a Doors fan if I were to simply accept the fact that Jim Morrison, the Lizard King, took his own life solely because of a disappointment with life. The critics; the media; the same people who adored and worshipped Morrison when he was a do-good American pop icon pushed their beloved son until he couldn't handle life any more. They criticized and publicly crucified Jim Morrison for having an open mind and expressing himself through his music. The same country that was built on the right that gave every citizen allowance to voice his or her opinion on the state of society killed Jim Morrison for doing just that. The land of the free....... Jim was led to his demise by the cruel surrounding we call our society. He couldn't take the pain anymore, so there was one surefire way to end it all. As he was notorious for doing, he worded it best in the Doors' classic "The Soft Parade" by surrendering himself: "Can you give me sancuary?/ I must find a place to hide.......Can you find me soft asylum?/ I can't make it anymore/ The Man is at the door."

The Life And Hard Times Of Grantly Marshall :: essays research papers

The Life and Hard Times of Grantly Marshall Could anyone imagine having no money, few friends, and no chance to succeed in life? Well, for one individual this situation is all too real. Grantly Reed Marshall, a 18-year-old high school student from Franklin Square, Ohio, had big dreams but little money. Grantly had reached a crucial time in his life. He desperately wanted to attend college. Grantly's siblings were much smarter than he was, as were his parents. None of his classmates expected Grantly to amount to anything, but this made him more determined. Grantly's family was very different. They had one light bulb in their entire house. Grantly got his name when his mother read the book Childbirth Without Pain, by Dr. Grantly Reed. His father ran for president in 1928 under the Communist Party. During this period in his life when they usually excluded him from the other kids, and was the poorest he would ever be, Grantly wanted most of all to go to college. The best things Grantly knew how to do was act and recite poetry. He would memorize poetry with more than twenty stanzas in a week and recite them to anyone who would listen to him speak. Finally, with scholarships, student aid and multiple jobs Grantly fulfilled his dream of attending college. Majoring in theater Grantly graduated Kent State University in 1972 with honors. After he graduated, Grantly did act in local theaters for a few weeks and then decided to do to the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Just weeks before he was to leave Grantly's father fell ill and died shortly there after. Grantly knew his father would want him to go to the Olympics anyway so off he went to Germany. Because he was such a passionate speaker Grantly could speak many languages and had no problems in Europe. A few people Grantly did know and was friends with began to wonder about him after the Summer Games ended and he did not return. Then, one day Gary Johnson, one of Grantly's only friend's received a phone call. It was none other than Grantly. It ended up that Grantly loved Germany and he got a job as a German Postal Worker. Gary had many more long talks with Grantly. These talks did not cost either of them a cent because Grantly always called from the post office. This did make Gary cautious but, they were never caught. Grantly, once again started acting and reciting poetry. People began to notice how good he was and Grantly began to make friends with more important people in Munich.

Points for Great Expectations Essay

Within Great Expectations, the conception of the contextual element concerning status and money is prominent, where Old Money Vs New money provides a division that separates the higher class from the lower class. Money becomes a standpoint in ‘determining’ ones belonging within the society say, for example, when we compare Pip and Bentley Drummele, we view the contrasting forms of old money (indicated as immediate and absolute according to society) and new money (the development of belonging, which according to society, is not a complete form) involving their overall sense of belonging. Pip comes from a family (or lack of thereof) which is associated with poverty and the lack of social belonging that is standardised by people such as Bentley Drummele. Pips ascent from the world of a blacksmith towards a world of a gentleman is exercised by the luxuries of money, and Magwitch’s generosity, as well as the idea of upperclass and middle class belonging, which is shown through his consideration of being the apprentice of a blacksmith, ‘Never has that cutain dropped so heavy and thick’. His belonging, as a result as become enforced upon him, both by himself and by Magwitch, which has led to his inability to gain complete acceptance and peace of his position, ‘It felt very sorrowful and strange that this first night of my bright fortunes should be the loneliest I had ever known’. Dickens use of emotive language envelopes an atmosphere of uncertainty and disturbance within Pips world as he propels himself from the ‘meshes’ of Kent to London, examining his incomplete sense of belonging, due to disturbance of the ‘Victorian Great chain of Being’. Money can buy status, as indicative through Compeyson and Drummle, but neither character is noble. Money is not an indication of character, as wrongly perceived by Pip. Pip and Estella, parts of what make the lower class, are given status when given money. Given by Miss Havisham and Magwitch, there are catches involving behaving in a certain way with the money. Eventually, understanding the true comprehension of money and nobility, Pip goes to work with Herbert, redeeming himself through commerce and hard work, as Estella, left poor and ‘bent and broken’, becomes a softer and stronger person. Pip fails emotionally and physically to assert his place in London’s society. Money buys Estella a place in higher society but has a loveless life and an abusive marriage, living through ‘wretched years†¦ and a long hard time’. Miss Havisham’s jewels and money have not brought Estella happiness, and eluded her for her whole life. Dickens attempts not to convey the luxuries of money, but rather the shallow fundamentalism of materialism which ultimately leads to an incapacity to gain belonging. Pip finds his belonging, not within the realms of his gentlemanly character, but rather, he reconnection to Joe as he re-enters the forge, leaving his regret and misery behind to venture to his real family, and a life of working hard. Through emotive language, Pip and joe are ‘both happy’, with the prospect of regaining Pip’s place within his world, as it is through Kent, and his hard work in Egypt which enable him to gain his exisential belonging and his identity. We see the social division between class through the discourse between Herbert and Mr Joe. Unlike Pip, Herbert was ‘born a gentleman’, whose belonging was not significantly thrust upon him in the same way as Pip. By asking Joe ‘What do you say to coffee’ we are compelled to develop a conclusion based on how Dickens portrays the distinguishing characteristics of the upper and the lower class. In Joe’s visit to London for Pip, Herbert puts Joe in his place through recognising that he can never truly belong within the world of the gentleman. Through colour symbolism, Dickens socially comments on the inferiority concerning the lower class, by Joe, as the colour of coffee itself is reminiscent of the labour and physical hard work that he, as well as others within his class, must face and never escape. On the contrary, Herbert positions himself as well as Pip (with irony indeed) to be more superior and valued through their associations with tea, as its clear iridescence becomes a representation of the ‘purity’ embedded within the views of the higher class. Joe’s inability to have tea is a symbol of his inability to join the higher class, simply because his place lies within the forge ,’I am wrong in these clothes and out of the forge’. By first person, he regards himself as a single entity, as he reflects on his existential belonging within Kent, where unlike Pip, Joe finds that he does not need to be of a higher class in order to gain belonging. What has driven Pip to consistently live a life of misery has led Joe to stray away from it. Unlike Pip, Joe affirms his place within the Victorian era, as being ‘Joe the Blacksmith, there, at the old anvil, sticking to the old work’, where he constructs himself in absolute terms to his blue collar existence, enabling him to belong amongst other things. Totally at home in the forge, with his bare essentials of food and shelter, Joe has found the place to which he belongs to. This is emphasised through his use of black smith jargon, ‘life is made up of ever so many partings welded together. One man’s a blacksmith and one’s a white smith and one’s a goldsmith and one’s a coppersmith’, where Joe describes the inevitability of belonging, regardless of whether one longs to belong to a particular sector or not. Joes mentality involving the development of belonging regardless of circumstance allows him to ‘perfectly’ weld in his own home. Rather than attempting to shape his own belonging, he leaves it be. Victorian England had a distinct class system, which was divided into categories which divided the upper class with the lower class. Transitioning himself from the lower class sector to the upper class, Pip has brought along the social pressures that are associated with his change into becoming a gentleman, and as a result, employed a servant called the avenger. The avenger plays no useful role in Pip’s life, other than to portray the idealistic views of what a gentleman should do, ‘which had a more expensive and a less remunerative appearance ‘. Pip’s own expectations involves the conception that money will bring acceptance, and ultimately, belonging, which is examined through his use of the avenger. The Avenger becomes an allusion for Pip’s vengeance against the higher class, whose belonging is based off the social mandates within the era. Romanticized by social perceptions, Pip has a misconceived idea on the brad picture of belonging to the gentlemanly class, ‘I want to be a gentleman’ meaning that he has a narrow idea that it is merely based on how much money and status that is earned. He believes that, if he becomes a gentleman, he will be Estella’s equal and obvious partner. This changes gradually, as Pip gains a familiarity of the range of people in London’s gentlemanly society, he begins to realise that belonging to such a group is not what he wants anymore. London At the time Dickens has written Great Expectations, London was a fast-growing and changing city of two million. Dickens uses London as an indictment of the flawed perceptions concerning belonging in regards to the higher class, as its physical description suggests that financial improvement and higher social class does not necessarily constitute moral, social and existential mprovement. Pip’s initial perception of London being the ‘foundation’ of his belonging is severely counteracted by what he views in reality. Through descriptive language, Pip examines London as ‘the dingiest collection of shabby buildings ever squeezed together in rank corner’. Rather than escaping from the doomed life of Kent, Pip has entered the damned life of London, which is fu rther reinforced by Wemmick’s claim ‘ Like is the same everywhere’. This epitomises the lack of change involving his belonging, as fate has provided a standard to which he is capable to obtain belonging, rather than forcing it upon himself, which eventually lead to his misery, and his failure to emotionally develop a connection to his own identity, leaving him as a wondering, ‘souless’ entity with a lack of human spirit. England Moreover, England as a whole also becomes a representation of the decay which pervades the Victorian society and their entire sense of belonging, as money and class becomes corrupting. This is examined through Mrs Pocket, who reflects the ideas which radiate from the upper class, the epicentre of London, as she is portrayed to be the ‘female gentleman’, having a useless life filled with self importance and ‘dignity’. Dickens uses her as a criticism on England’s obsession with titles in their class system, as she becomes so caught up with the idea of titles and class that she spends her whole day reading a book about them. Mrs Pocket is evidently disappointed by her own lot in life, even though she does not endure the same struggles as ,say, Biddy, by having almost no household duties and a good man for a husband. Being so caught up within her class system, as her grandfather is a knight, Mrs Pocket is oblivious to what is actually going on around her, preventing her from being the ‘Victorian’ mother, which foreshadows Pips future of laziness and moral decay. Through indignant language ‘am I grand papa’s granddaughter, to be nothing in the house? ’ she uses her belonging to her past as justification to her negligent ill-considered actions as a mother, which reflects her and England’s corruption through social class. Treatment of children In an era such as the Industrial revolution, the treatment of children differentiates from the modern era, which makes it a distinguishable component throughout the novel. The treatment of children becomes a social comment that Dickens attempts to elucidate, as the characters predicament becomes reminiscent of his own childhood miseries of working pasting labels on pots of boot blacking. By reflecting the struggle of all children who underwent suffering through labour, Dickens illustrates the enforced belonging of children towards the adult world, and how they are perceived by adults. This is examined through Pip, who is a shadow of Dickens character in his youth, where surrounded by adults, becomes criticised and scorned for something he cannot help, ‘What is detestable in a pig more detestable in a boy’. Through metaphor, Pip is likened to an entity that is worse than a pig, recollecting the distinct differences between the adult world, and the world of a child which has been forced into it. This is further emphasised through Mrs Joe’s treatment towards Pip. The repetitious ‘Brought you up by hand’, brings forth an indication on how children were physically abused, which becomes another motivation for Pip to leave the clutches of Mrs Joe and Kent into the ‘freedom’ of London. This is further emphasised through the appearance of the ‘tickler’ a wax-ended cane stick which Mrs joe uses to abuse Pip with. It appears that the era encourages such actions towards a child, due to the fact that they are shown as more vulnerable, weaker, and inferior, representing the lack of belonging children have within the era. Time The attachment towards a particular time, more specifically in the past and what lies there, possesses a different sense of belonging which may not even be fabricated within the decayed web of its lies. This is expressed through the character Miss Havisham, where her hold towards the past defines her belonging and identity, or rather, lack of thereof. Miss Havisham is a character who has been left at the altar by her fiancee Compeyson, and from this circumstance, attaches to it for the remainder of her life. Constantly holding on to her grief, as it becomes the only way she can deal with the harsh miseries of being unloved, she grows with the constant reminder that she has been abandoned and left behind, as it is examined by the appearance of the house. The satis (which is latin for enough, a symbol of the intellectual upper class) becomes a physical representation of the stagnant state of belonging Miss Havisham attempts to clutch on to with her bony ittle fingers. The transcendence of this belonging from matrimonious ( as it depicts her wedding day) to decayed is further illustrated by Dickens use of descriptive language ‘Bridal flowers in her hair, but her hair was white’. Pip’s initial impression of Miss Havisham draws from her appearance, classifying her as ‘pure’ and chaste, like an angel, which changes later on, as he sees her once, pure appearance changing into a ‘faded and yellow’ exterior. Her wedding dress is a symbol of the belonging which becomes diseased over time, as she finds herself in a predicament which prevents her from shifting her belonging according to her present, and rather, holding on to her past. Miss Havisham desperately wants to belong to one thing: her sad status as an aggrieved bride. This is further enhanced through descriptive language of what lies within the satis house as ‘I saw speckled legged spiders with blotch bodies running home to it†¦ Black beetles took no notice of the agitation’, which illustrates the creation of a mental and physical prision. Her environment becomes a constant reminder of the moment she was jilted, and it is derived from that moment which costumes her with an ugly sense of belonging, Wemmick The contrasting forms of belonging expounds from the different perspectives that permeate through their characters. We see that Wemmcks belonging is dependent on the place he lies in. Within London, he embeds the values of London belonging which evolves around business and finance, closing himself to emotion where his mouth is likened to a ‘post box’. We see that he becomes hardened, enclosed by the London shell, as he denounces whatever emotion that characterises a human being, and ironically earns his belonging through his emotional detachment. However, in Walworth, we view the transitioning character from one who is denied emotion to one whom expressed it. Wemmck has constructed his belonging through building his house to replicate a castle, as a means of creating a retreat away from the law office. The house connotates a true home, a warm place where a contented family creates a fulfilling sense of belonging.. Wemmick’s gentleness and love towards his father is reminiscent on how Pip should behave to Joe. Through descriptive language, Pip describes its atmosphere as ‘a pretty pleasure-ground’, which differs from the chaotic and dismal places of London, Satis house, and his descriptions of his childhood places; places which Pip yearns to belong to. Dickens implements warm and positive words creates a contrast between these two worlds; One which characterises familial belonging and the other which characterises social belonging. Estella Estella is the adopted daughter of Miss Havisham, whom has raised her for her own motivations. Another way of ‘dealing’ with her grief, Havisham employs Estella as a pawn for her vengeance, characterising and moulding Estella in order to suit Miss Havisham’s desires. In the midst of her own self destruction, Miss Havisham uses Estella to create a belonging need in all men who see her, a need so great that they will be destroyed by what they cannot have. Thus, the lack of existential belonging which is examined through Estella has become a work of miss Havisham’s ‘art’, as Estella states ‘We are not free to follow our own devices, you and I’. In her discourse with Pip, she uses inclusive language, as Estella relates her predicament with Pip by defining her instructions for the day and how they must not deviate from them. The statement, however, is a projection of how both of their lives are controlled in general. Estella is not free ‘to follow her own devices’ not only because Miss Havisham is her adoptive mother and she should do as she says, but because Estella has been raised to actually think, feel and act exactly as Miss Havisham wishes. In raising Estella, Miss Havisham has created a puppet, an individual who indeed cannot choose her own destiny nor character because she will act the way she has been conditioned to act. Miss Havisham’s divisive actions have deprived Pip and Estella from belonging to each other. This becomes a demonstration of he ‘forced’ belonging between Miss Havisham and Estella, revealing her real intentions of using Estella as a pawn in her vengeance, as well as the lack of love Estella has grown to possess. In the end of the novel, Her transition is illustrated through her language, ‘Be as good and considerate to me as you were, and tell me we are friends’. The once abrasive disposition which she conveys throughout the novel has altered in accordance to the miseries experienced by Miss Havisham and her marriage to Bentley Drummelle and years of suffering have forced her to see the value in Pip’s constant love and attention. Estella’s change in language from a biting tone to a softened one examines a softer, older and a much wiser character. Estella becomes the stimulant which drives Pip’s longing to become a gentleman. After Pip’s initial encounter with Estella in the Satis house, Pip becomes insecure about his speech, manners and appearance. Estella’s scorns and disdainful comments ‘what coarse hands he has, and what thick boots’, Pip begins to revaluate his current predicament and his future. His reappraisals enable him to think differently about himself, Kent, and his social status, as Pip develops a longing to lose his ignorance whilst improving himself educationally and socially, in order to win the love of Estella. Through repetition, ‘She had said I was common, and I knew that I was common, and that I wished I was not common’, Dickens emphasises the state of Pip’s mind, and the association of his new awareness and dislike of the ‘common’ belonging that he has been born into. As a result, he embarks on a journey to acquire snobbery through his becoming a gentleman, which is further induced by the arrival of his ‘great expectations’, and his transition to London, leading him to drop his old friends (Joe, Biddy) and pursue new, although occasionally pretentious acquaintances (with the exception of Herbert). Magwitch Magwitch yearns to find belonging in the same manner that Pip yearns to become a gentleman, being considerate that both these characters have not been exposed to these romantic conceptions. Magwitch’s life ‘in jail and out of jail’, consisted of a childhood memory which has been befitted with misery, as he ventures a life of slight criminality through his occupations, such as his association with Compeyson, which consequently lead to his time in jail (14 years). Belonging to a criminal society is all Magwitch has ever known before he meets Pip, yet he constantly finds himself in circumstances which are against the law. This is further examined through his trip to London to visit the new ‘expected’ gentlemen that is Pip, when previously, he was given specific instructions not to enter it with the consequence of execution. Magwitch further attempts to construct his belonging through building up Pip to become a gentleman, which is examined by his use of repetition, ‘That’s a gentleman I hope’, as he attempts to create belonging within an artificial family. Similar to Miss Havisham, Pip’s belonging has been moulded to suit Magwitch. His time in New South Wales being a drover as earned his belonging, which he fails to attempt to transfer it to Pip. However, Magwitch’s endeavours of gaining belonging have not been futile in the end, as Pip offers Magwitch it through telling him that Estella is his daughter. Through emotive language, we are exposed to the final conversation which has taken place between Pip and Magwitch, As Pip Tells Magwitch that Estella is his daughter, ‘She lived and found powerful friends. She is living now. She is a lady and very beautiful. And I love her’, ultimately, giving Magwitch the sense of belonging which he has sought throughout his whole life yet never received.