Summarize Perform Comparison Between Imax Corporation And Reald Finance Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1940 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Compare and contrast essay Did you like this example? The purpose of this report is to summarize and perform a comparison between the financial information of IMAX Corporation and its expanding competitor RealD Incorporated by examining the most recent financial statements. Please note that more emphasis was given to the 9 month period income statements as the 3 month periods may not portray a true picture of the company operations. Financial performance Return on Equity (ROE) IMAXs ROE for the 9 month period ended September 30, 2010 is approximately 64.1% which looks solid compared to RealDs ROE of approximately -24.7%. RealD suffered a loss for the 9 month period ended December 24, 2010 which is why the ROE is negative. The total revenue for the 9 month period between 2009 and 2010 increased by 98.6%, during this time the cost of revenue also increased by 76.8%. The increase in revenue can be attributed to new licensing arrangements with its customers. The total operating expenses during these two 9 month periods increased by 80.8%, out of which the general and administrative expense increased by 155.3%. On July 21, 2010, RealD completed its initial public offering (IPO) which generated $81.9 million in net proceeds. Out of this amount, it repaid $25.1 million under its previous revolving credit facility. If the cash generated from the IPO is excluded from the calculation of ROE, the value would have been an even larger negative percentage. IMAX is profitable and effective in using the capital provided by the shareholders to generate net income. One possibility that the ROE for RealD is not as good as IMAX is because the company recently went public. If the company recently issued common shares that would make the equity part of the ratio larger, and since they just received financing, they have not had a chance to put the money to work yet to start earning revenue. Return on Assets (ROA) The ROA for the period 2010 for IMAX is 18.1% while that of RealD is -4.9%. The negative v alue for RealD is again because of the $11.1 million loss for the period. RealD is currently in a growth phase compared to IMAX as it just went public. Since the company purchased $63.9 million worth of new assets in 2010, the potential revenues that will be earned by these assets might be in the works. The revenue for IMAX increased by 53.4% between 2009 and 2010. The increase in revenue from rental and services (joint revenue sharing arrangements) was 135.9% and 68.8% respectively. Since the joint revenue sharing arrangements are non-cancellable for 7 to 10 years with provisions for renewals, IMAX will continue to enjoy similar revenues for the next few years. It should also be noted that the cost of revenues only increased by 23.5% during this time. Based on the above, it is evident that IMAX is efficiently able to use its assets to generate profits Earnings Per Share (EPS) IMAXs EPS showed a significant increase between the period 2009 and 2010. The EPS for 2009 was $0.02 while that for 2010 was $0.73 cents. RealDs EPS also rose from -$1.24 to -$0.43. The reason for RealDs increase can be attributed to the fact that during 2010, the number of outstanding shares increased by 58.2% due to the IPO. It should be noted that a negative EPS might be detrimental to a company like IMAX that is a more mature company, however for a new company like RealD it might be more acceptable as it is just went public. Profit Margin Percentage The profit margin percentage for IMAX for the two 9 month periods ending 2009 and 2010 are 0.8% and 26.0%, while that of RealD are -23.1% and -5.9%. IMAXs significant increase in net income caused the profit margin to increase during 2010. Similarly, RealD increase in net income also increased the profit margin. IMAXs profit margin percentage was 23.9% and 31.9% higher than RealD in 9 month period ending 2009 and 2010 respectively. Gross Margin Percentage The gross margin percentage for IMAX for the two 9 month periods e nding 2009 and 2010 are 45.9% and 56.4%, while that of RealD are 10.3% and 20.2%. In both cases, the increase in gross margin percentage owes to the smaller increase in the cost of revenues compared to the large increase in revenues earned period over period. This may suggest improved management of costs. IMAXs gross margin percentage was 35.6% and 36.3% higher than RealD for the 9 month period of 2009 and 2010 respectively. Financial position Current Quick Ratios IMAXs current ratio increased from 0.64 to 0.89 from 2009 to 2010 while that of RealD also increased from 0.7 to 1.28 during the same period. IMAXs increase in the current ratio can be attributed mainly to the 126.6% increase in cash and cash equivalents, 76.2% increase in inventories and a 56.3% reduction in bank debt year over year. RealDs increase in the current ratio is also due to the increase in total current assets such as a 170.1% increase in cash and cash equivalents and a 558.7% increase in inventory ye ar after year. The increase in inventory for RealD, which is mainly 3D glasses, is due to the cancellation of the Harry Potter movie. Overall, the current ratio of RealD was superior compared to IMAX for the period ended 2010. The main reason for this is the extra cash flow from the IPO mentioned previously. If this extra cash from the IPO is ignored and the current ratio is calculated, it can be seen that the current ratio for 2010 is approximately the same as that of 2009. This means that RealDs ability to meet its current obligations would have been the same for both periods without the IPO. Since IMAXs cash is mostly generated from operating activities, it is most likely that it will perform better than RealD and improve its current ratio in the future periods. It can be inferred that RealD has adequate resources to meet its current obligations for the period ending 2010 since for every $1.00 of current liabilities it has $1.28 worth of current assets. For the same period, IMAX has $0.89 current assets for every $1.00 of current liability. If the inventories are ignored and the quick ratio is computed, it can be seen that IMAXs quick ratio increased from 0.59 to 0.79 from 2009 to 2010 while that of RealD also increased from 0.57 to 0.81 during the same period. The quick ratios for 2010 are comparable for IMAX and RealD. Average Collection Period of Accounts Receivables On average, IMAX was able to collect receivables in 154 days while it took RealD 81 days. On surface it appears that it took 73 more days for IMAX to collect its receivables compared to RealD. However, IMAX and RealD have different types of inventories. While RealDs inventory mainly consists of 3D glasses, IMAXs inventory is large theatre equipment that is either sold or leased to customers, therefore a comparison between the average collection period of account receivables account payable and the cash lag may not be appropriate. On a side note, IMAXs cash lag (period of time it must self-finance its inventory and accounts receivable) is also significantly longer, because of the complex nature of its inventory. Average Collection Period of Accounts Payable Considering the nature of products that IMAX purchases from its suppliers, it would be expected that the accounts payable period to be significantly long than RealD. However, the average collection period of accounts payable for IMAX and RealD are comparable and are 67 and 70 days respectively. Average Number Of Days Inventory On Hand IMAX and Real had similar values of 49 and 46 days respectively. This suggests that the both companies are comparable with respect to being able to sell their inventories. Debt to Equity Ratio IMAX has significantly improved it debt to equity ratio from 4.50 to 1.84 between 2009 and 2010. This is mostly due to the $28.1 Million debt settlement. In addition, IMAX was able to decrease some other liabilities such as the $14.7 million lump sum payment to Mr. Wechsle r, the CEO of the company in August, 2010. RealDs debt to equity ratio increased from an equity deficit (-4.87) in 2009 to 1.07 in 2010. This increase is again attributed to the IPO. RealD may have more flexibility to take over more debt for financing future growth opportunities. Long Term Debt to Equity Ratio IMAX has reduced its long term debt to equity from 1.29 to 0.72 between 2009 and 2010. The equity for IMAX has increased by 123.2% between 2009 and 2010. RealDs also reduced its long term debt to equity from -0.05 (equity deficit) to 0.004 between 2009 and 2010, by reducing its long term debt and also eliminating its equity deficit because of the proceeds from the IPO. Interest Coverage Ratio (Cash Accrual Basis) The interest coverage ratios for IMAX significantly increased from 1.16 to 32.14 (accrual basis) and 2.15 to 35.40 (cash basis) between 2009 and 2010. This increase can be attributed to the 86.5% decrease in the interest expense period over period. IMAX n ow has a better ability to meet its fixed financing charges- interest payments. Furthermore, IMAX can even obtain more debt financing as it will not have trouble paying interest charges. On the other hand, since RealD had net losses for 2009 and 2010, its interest coverage ratio (accrual basis) has improved but is still negative. The accrual basis interest coverage ratios for RealD are far better, but overall IMAX outperforms RealD in the ability to meet its interest payments. Cash Flows In the case of RealD the net cash provided by operating activities increased by 412.5% during the 9 month periods 2009 and 2010. RealD went generating a negative cash flow in 2009 to generating a positive cash flow from by operations in 2010. As discussed previously, RealDs increase of 274.8% in cash flows from financing activities are attributed to the $81.9 Million IPO. RealD might be able use the cash flow from the IPO to increase its cash from operations in the future. There was an increas e of 251.2% in cash out flow in investing activities for the purchase of cinema systems and related components for RealD, which indicates that it is expanding. During the same periods, IMAX experienced a 304.4% increase in the net cash from operations. Most of IMAXs net cash increase of $40.4 million is attributed to the large increase in the net income (4647.4%) between the 9 month periods ending 2009 and 2010 due to the Joint Revenue Sharing and the IMAX DMR arrangements. Since, IMAX paid back $28.1 Million as a one-time debt settlement during the period ended 2010; this reduced its cash by 52.5% but at the same time helped it reduce its debt by 56.3%. It should be noted that this type of cash outflow is not expected to happen in the future. Looking at the balance sheet for both companies, it can be observed that the cash and cash equivalents have increased year over year for the period ended. For IMAX the increase is 126.6% while that for RealD is 170.1%. IMAX can significantly i ncrease its cash flows if it tries to clear its large and growing sales back log. Weaknesses RealD offers stock options to its employees, exhibitors and consultants. If the stock options are exercised it would mean that there are more common shares outstanding in the market. If RealD wants to issue common shares as a means of financing, the increased common shares that resulted from the stock options combined with the new common shares could significantly dilute the EPS and drive down the share price. IMAX can potentially purchase a significant amount of these outstanding common shares and take over RealD. In Canada, if a profitable company purchases a company that experiences a net loss, it can use the losses to offset the profits and reduce taxable income and therefore taxes paid. Assuming that the tax loss rules in the US are similar to those in Canada, IMAX can exploit this opportunity and reduce the taxes it pays until RealD ceases to incur losses. Additionally, since Rea lD has significant investments in research and development activities, IMAX can capitalize on this to improve its own products. Another area of weakness is the large backlog of RealDs inventory that has yet to be sold. If IMAX can out-compete RealD with new sales, RealD will have to hold its large inventory for a longer time, thereby causing it to depreciate. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Summarize Perform Comparison Between Imax Corporation And Reald Finance Essay" essay for you Create order

Globalization Good or Bad - 1133 Words

Globalization: Good or Bad Plamen Peev peev.pl@gmail.com Augustine Worth ENG 290 – Advanced Writing Argumentative Essay November 30, 2010 â€Å"I, Pencil, simple though I appear to be, merit your wonder and awe, a claim I shall attempt to prove. In fact, if you can understand me—no, thats too much to ask of anyone—if you can become aware of the miraculousness which I symbolize, you can help save the freedom mankind is so unhappily losing. I have a profound lesson to teach. And I can teach this lesson better than can an automobile or an airplane or a mechanical dishwasher because—well, because I am seemingly so simple. Simple? Yet, not a single person on the face of this earth knows how to make me.†(Read, 1958) In his classic essay â€Å"I,†¦show more content†¦Second, local small and mid-sized businesses are being taken over by big multinational corporations. There is now a McDonnalds in most big cities in the world, and people are eating junk food instead of small restaurant food. Last, but not least, globalization has a negative effect on the environment. More world trade means t hat the goods sold must be transported, and transport pollutes the air. Also, some environmentally irresponsible companies are opening factories in less regulated countries, so they can pollute the air without sanctions. If the choice was up to the consumers, many will deny to buy products from such companies, but the bad news is that these are mainly steel or metal producing companies or chemical producing companies, which sell to governments and other big corporations, and are hidden from the ordinary consumer. Thanks to globalization geographically and culturally separated, historically distinct markets are now interconnected in a big, all-world global marketplace. The benefits to businesses are huge. There is one thing essential to all businesses – you have to have clients! No clients – no business, more clients – more business, and where could you possibly find more clients, than in the whole world. Besides clients, most businesses need suppliers. Again, one best place to look for the best suppliers – the whole world. Businesses also benefit from the globalization of production – an iPod is designed in California, butShow MoreRelatedGlobalization Is It Good Or Bad?1719 Words   |  7 Pages Abstract Globalization is the word of the XXI century, which become more and more recognized and has been present in our life for a many decades. Most people have heard that term, but far fewer people are aware of what it really means. How does it affect the public?, is it good or bad?. These types of questions everyone should ask in order to investigate the positive and negative effects of globalization. What exactly is globalization? 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Internet its effects in our lives and the future Essay Example For Students

Internet its effects in our lives and the future Essay of the InternetInternet, its effects in our lives and the future of the Internet:The Internet is, quite literally, a network of networks. It is comprised of ten thousands of interconnected networks spanning the globe. The computers that form the Internet range from huge mainframes in research establishments to modest PCs in peoples homes and offices. Despite the recent hype, the Internet is not a new phenomenon. Its roots lie in a collection of computers that were linked together in the 1970s to form the US Department of Defenses communications systems. Fearing the consequences of nuclear attack, there was no central computer holding vast amounts of data, rather the information was dispersed across thousands of machines. A set of rules, of protocols, known as TCP/IP was developed to allow disparate devices to work together. The original network has long since been upgraded and expanded and TCP/IP is now a de facto standard. Millions of people worldwide are using the Internet to share information, make new associations and communicate. Individuals and businesses, from students and journalists, to consultants, programmers and corporate giants are all harnessing the power of the Internet. For many businesses the Internet is becoming integral to their operations. Imagine the ability to send and receive data: messages, notes, letters, documents, pictures, video, sound- just about any form of communication, as effortlessly as making a phone call. It is easy to understand why the Internet is rapidly becoming the corporate communications medium. Using the mouse on your computer, the familiar point-and-click functionality gives you access to electronic mail for sending and receiving data, and file transfer for copying files from one computer to another. Telnet services allow you to establish connections with systems on the other side of the world as if they were just next door. This flood of information is a beautiful thing and it can only open the minds of society. Wit h the explosion of the World Wide Web, anyone could publish his or her ideas to the world. Before, in order to be heard one would have to go through publishers who were willing to invest in his ideas to get something put into print. With the advent of the Internet, anyone who has something to say can be heard by the world. By letting everyone speak their mind, this opens up all new ways of thinking to anyone who is willing to listen. Moreover, the Internet is an information resource for you to search, gathering new data on key search aspects of your market. Perhaps most importantly, the Internet offers a new way of doing business. A virtual market-place where customers can, at the push of a button, select goods, place an order and pay using a secure electronic transaction. Businesses are discovering the Internet as the most powerful and cost effective tool in history. The Net provides a faster, more efficient way to work colleagues, customers, vendors and business partners- irrespec tive of location or operating system harnessing this powerful resource gives companies strategic advantages by leveraging information into essential business asset. The technology of the future here today. This is a fact. Businesses making the transition will, and are prospering; however those that do not will most certainly suffer the consequences. One of the most commonly asked questions is, Will the Net help me sell more product? The answer is yes, but in ways you might not expect. The Internet is a communication tool first, not and advertisement medium. Unlike print or broadcasting media, the Internet is interactive; and unlike the telephone, it is both visual and content rich. A Web site is an excellent way to reduce costs, improve customer service, disseminate information and even sell to your market. Perhaps, the most important facts about the internet are that it contains a wealth of information, that can be send across the world almost instantly, and that it can unite people in wildly different locations as if they were next to each other. The soundest claims for the importance of the Internet in todays society are based upon these very facts. People of like minds and interests can share information with one another through electronic mail and chat rooms. E-mail is enabling radically new forms of worldwide human collaboration. Approximately 225 millions of people can send and receive it and they all represent a network of potentially cooperating individuals dwarfing anything that even the mightiest corporation or government can muster. Mailing-list discussion groups and online conferencing allow us to gather together to work on a multitude of projects that are interesting or helpful to us. Chat rooms and mailing lists can connect groups of users to discuss a topic and share ide as. Materials from users can be added to a Web site to share with others and can be updated quickly and easily anytime. However, the most exciting part of the Internet is its multimedia and hypertext capabilities. The Web provides information in many different formats. Of course, text is still a popular way to transmit information, but the Web also presents information in sound bites, such as music, voice, or special effects. Graphics may be still photographs, drawings, cartoons, diagrams, tables, or other artwork, but they also may be moving, such as animation video. Hypertext links allows users to move from one piece of information to another. A link might be an underlined word or phrase, an icon or a symbol, or a picture, for example. When a link is selected, usually by clicking the mouse on the link, the user sees another piece of information, which may be electronically stored on another computer thousands of miles away. Of major importance is the fact that the Internet support s online education. Online education introduces unprecedented options for teaching, learning, and knowledge building. Today access to a microcomputer, modem, telephone line, and communication program offers learners and teachers the possibility of interactions that transcended the boundaries of time and space. Even from an economic standpoint, the costs of establishing a brand new educational program for a few thousand students are far less than the cost of a building to house the same number of students. New social and intellectual connectivity is proliferating as educational institutions adopt computer-mediated communication for educational interactions. There are many school based networks that link learners to discuss, share and examine specific subjects such as environmental concerns, science, local and global issues, or to enhance written communication skills in first- or second- language proficiency activities. Online education is a unique expression of both existing and new attributes. It shares certain attributes with the distance mode and with the face-to-face mode; however, in combination, these attributes form a new environment for learning. Online education, on the other hand, is distinguished by the social nature of the learning environment that it offers. Like face-to-face education, it supports interactive group communication. Historically, the social, affective, and cognitive benefits of peer interaction, and collaboration have been available only in face-to-face learning. The introduction of online education opens unprecedented opportunities for educational interactivity. The mediation of the computer further distinguishes the nature of the activity online, introducing entirely new elements to the learning process. The potential of online education can be explored through five attributes that, taken together, both delineate its differences from existing modes of education and also characterize online education as a unique mode. They may learn independently, at their own pace, in a convenient location, at a convenient time about a greater variety of subjects, from a greater variety of institutions or educators/trainers. But no matter how great and significant the effects of the Internet in our lives might be, there are some quite considerable consequences and drawbacks. A very important disadvantage is that the Internet is addictive. One of the first people to take the phenomenon seriously was Kimberly S. Young, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. She takes it so seriously, in fact, that she founded the Center for Online Addiction, an organization that provides consultation for educational institutions, mental health clinics and corporations dealing with Internet misuse problems. Psychologists now recognize Internet Addiction Syndrome (IAS) as a new illness that could ruin hundreds of lives. Internet addicts are people who are reported staying online for six, eight, ten or more hours a day, ev ery day. They use the Internet as a way of escaping problems or relieving distressed moods. Their usage can cause problems in their family, work and social lives. They feel anxious and irritable when offline and craved getting back online. Despite the consequences, they continue using regardless of admonishments from friends and family. Special help groups have been set up to give out advice and offer links with other addicts. Internets Anonymous and Webaholics are two of the sites offering help, but only through logging onto the Internet. The study of 100 students by Margaret Martin of Glasgow University found:h One in six (16%) felt irritable, tense, depressed or restless if they were barred from using the Internet. h More than one in four (27%) felt guilty about the time they spent online. h One in ten (10%) admitted neglecting a partner, child or work because of overuse. h One in twenty five (4%) said it had affected their mental or physical health for the worse. Another Ph.D. psychologist Maressa Hecht Orzack posits that people use the Internet compulsively because it so easily facilitates the reward response common to addictive behavior. If they are lonely and need compassion, camaraderie or romance, it can be found immediately. If they are looking for sex or pornography, they need only to click a button. They can experience the thrill of gambling, playing interactive games from the comfort of their chairs. They can entertain fantasies by pretending to be other people, or engaging interactive, role-playing games. The reward received from these activities can manifest itself physically, so that the person begins to crave more of it. The effects lead to headaches, lack of concentration and tiredness. Addicts must not cut off access altogether but they should set time limits and limit Internet usage to a set number of hours each day. Robert Kraut Doctoral Psychologist says referring on the subject: We have evidence that people who are online f or long periods of time show negative changes in how much they talk to people in their family and how many friends and acquaintances they say they keep in contact with. They also report small but increased amounts of loneliness, stress and depression. What we do not know is exactly why. Being online takes up time, and it may be taking time away from sleep, social contact or even eating. Our negative results are understandable if peoples interactions on the net are not as socially valuable as their other activities. Another considerable drawback of the Internet is that it is susceptible to hackers. Hackers are persons that have tremendous knowledge on the subject and use it to steal, cheat or misuse confidential or classified information for the sake of fun or profit. As the world increases its reliance on computer systems, we become more vulnerable to extremists who use computer technology as a weapon. It is called cyber-terrorism and research groups within the CIA and FBI say cyber-warfare has become one of the main threats to global security. But how serious is hacking? In 1989, the Computer Emergency Response Team, a nonprofit organization that monitors security issues throughout America from its base at the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh reported 132 computer intrusions. Last year they recorded 2341! And in recent months, a few celebrated cases have shed a new light on the hackers netherworldly activities. One notorious hacker is American Kevin Mitnick, a 31-year-old computer junk ie arrested by the FBI in February for allegedly pilfering more than $1 million worth of data and 20.000 credit-card numbers through the Internet. Still, the new wave of network hacking is presenting fresh problems for companies, universities and law-enforcement officials in every industrial country. In July, John Deutch, head of the CIA, told Congress that he ranked information warfare as the second most serious threat to the national security, just below weapons of mass destruction in terrorist hands. The Internet suffers around a million successful penetrations every year while the Pentagon headquarters of the US military has 250.000 attempts to hack into computers. A piece of my heart (book) EssayMany individuals and organizations are now relying more heavily on digital networks as they routinely communicate by e-mail, post messages to electronic bulletin boards on the Internet and visit Web sites. But in the process they become more exposed and vulnerable to those seeking to collect and sell their personal data. When users visit Web sites they often fill out detailed personal profiles that become grist for marketing lists sold to third parties. Digital networks have also made consumer information even more widely and easily available the use of these networks greatly expands the capability of checking up on someones personal background or receiving an electronic list of prospective customers quickly and inexpensively. Indeed we are moving perilously close to the reality of immediate online personal data. More disturbing than the loss of our privacy as consumers is the loss of privacy about our financial affairs. Once again government data ba nks have usually provided the building blocks for these records. Certain financial information that was always in the public domain, such as real estate and bankruptcy records, is now treated as a basic commodity. Data brokers such as Information America, Inc. allow their subscribers quick online access to the county and court records for many states. Their vast databases contain business records, bankruptcy records, lawsuit information and property records, including liens and judgement. By computerizing these real estate records, liens, incorporations, licenses and so on, they become more than public documents. They are now on-line commodities, more easily accessed and distributed than their physical counterparts. In addition, this data can be recombined with other personal and financial background. The most recent assault on privacy has developed in the health care industry, in which patient records have also become commodities for sale. These records, containing highly sensitive and revealing information, are being collected and stored in databases maintained by hospitals. Thus, medical privacy seems destined to be another victim of our evolving information technologies. By putting so much medical data online without proper safeguards the Government, the Health Care Industry and the Information Industry are clearly undermining the foundation to the confidential doctor-patient relationship. It seems quite evident that our right to informational privacy- the right to control the disclosure of and access to ones personal information- has been sacrificed for the sake of economic efficiency and other social objectives. As our personal information becomes tangled in the Web of information technology, our control over how that data will be utilized and distributed is notably diminished. Our personal background and purchases are tracked by many companies that consider us prospects for their products or services; our financial profile and credit history is availabl e to a plethora of legitimate users, and our medical records are more widely accessible than ever before. The Net effect is that each of us can become an open book to anyone who wants to take the time to investigate our background. Another adverse consequence of all these is that we can be more easily targeted and singled out either as individuals or as members of certain groups. Data based technology makes it easy to find and exploit certain groups based on age, income level, place of residence, or purchasing habits. At the same time online data banks now make it especially simple to pinpoint individuals electronically. If public polity makers do become convinced that privacy is worth preserving, what should be done? Are there any viable solutions? Further complicating the issue, of course, are legitimate economic considerations. Privacy can not be accomplished without incurring some costs. And we can not ignore the economic benefit of acquiring and distributing information and usi ng data as a commercial tool to target the right customers. If the information flow about consumers is overly constrained, a substantial negative economic impact can not be discounted. In addition, there must be stricter controls for an especially sensitive information such as medical data. If a centralized national database becomes a reality, it will be necessary to achieve a broad public consensus on the definition of the health care trustees who should have access to that data. In summary, then, if informed consent is made mandatory for the reuse of consumer data and there are stricter safeguards for more critical information such as medical data, we can begin to make some progress in protecting privacy rights. But unless we should come to terms with this problem the boundaries between what is public and private could become much more tenuous. A world where privacy is in such short supply will undermine our freedom and dignity and pose a great threat to our security and well bein g. But what is the future of the Internet? The Internet is moving from a relatively passive publishing medium to a truly interactive application deployment platform. It will clearly continue to grow at a fast pace as more and more businesses and individuals discover its power. According to Dataquest, the market analysts, a new Internet account is added every two minutes. Whilst there is no guarantee that the businesses connecting to the Net will make it big, it is obvious that those which dont will be left behind. But one thing is certain: The Internet is dynamic, will sustain high growth rates and will serve as the platform for international commerce well into the foreseeable future. Today the Internet is a highly effective tool for communicating, for gathering information and for cooperation between dispersed locations. There is continuous development and improvement. The growing list of applications serves as testament to this: advertising, communication, shopping, banking, to name just a few. Many businesses are discovering new ways to reach their customers, new ways to improve efficiency, new products and services to sell. The future is limited only by your imagination. The Internet needs content. Its a medium in desperate need of something to say. In the next 10 years, somebody will figure out how to charge for information on the Net, so you wont get things necessarily for free. That will have several good effects, including a way to pay authors for their work. And because of the economic incentive, it will become easier to filter out the good from the bad. The Web is like a library that many people access for the sake of ease. They do this rather than go to the library. Therefore, whoever needs to get this information does not have to leave the house. It starts with information, then goes to groceries, furniture, even real estate. Will it ever end? Will it get to the point where people will never have to leave their computers? And why not? If everything you ever needed was at your fingertips, why not just pull a chair up to the computer that lays back into a bed and park it right in front of the bathroom? No one will ever have to leave his or her house. People will become socially inept. Is this the perfect future we are all heading towards? Questions similar to these have come up every time new sources of information have come around. However, at this point, people still get out and about to find information. We are not recluses yet. Do we have to be? In my opinion, we certainly seem to be heading in that direction and no one is to be blamed but technology itself. Technology can be a good thing, but when traditional ways are given up completely, technology can be a completely bad thing. Many people predict that it will make the world a better and more globally oriented place, but this is hard to say because we can not exactly define what constitutes of a better world. Arguments can be made for the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet, but most people will agree that the Internet is a boon for technology, the likes of which have not been seen since the advent of the Personal Computer. It is not a question of whether or not the advantages of the Internet outweigh the disadvantages. Rather it is an understanding of the risks and implications of pursuing the use of this type of technology when working to achieve corporate strategic goals. Once the security problems are handled, the costs are streamlined, and the searching algorithms are perfected, the possibilities are endless. We know that this technological wonder, every bit as revolutionary as the light bulb or the telephone, is going to shape all our lives in the century ahead. The Internet is as persistent as it is potent, an indelible and uncontainable presence in the culture. Despite of all the doomtalking the future is hopeful. However, governmental action cant really make any difference, because the Internet is too diffuse, too international, too much the cat that long ago escaped the bag

Throughout history Writers have been writing fictional novels based on Essay Example For Students

Throughout history Writers have been writing fictional novels based on Essay real historical events. The Godfather by Mario Puzo is such a book in which Puzo portrays Mafia life and business starting at the late 40s. The Corleone crime Family in this novel is shown having troubles with the other organized crime syndicates concerning drugs. Many of the other families are pushing the idea of joining the narcotics market, however the Corleones do not want to intervene in such a disagreeable business. Much tension forms as mobster wars starts within the syndicates and most favor drugs. My purpose of this paper will be to analyze whether Mario Puzo the author of The Godfather , represents an accurate portrayal of narcotics as a major part of Mafia business. As the demand for illegal narcotics rose in the United States, it was the Mafia who would jump on it as they did all other illegal activities, such as gambling operations, prostitution, extortion, and loan sharking. The whole drawback to this was, from where could they get it. Depending on what it was, it had t o be found and brought in from over-seas. From Ecuador they could obtain opium poppies with which to make heroin, and virtually unlimited supply of coca leaves, with which to make cocaine from Bolivia and Peru. Plus their smuggling routes and expertise were solidly established. Hence, the first drug laboratories were established in Medellin, supposedly with Mafia money (Eddy and Hugo, 45). The New York Mafia as well as other American crime families, would buy the drugs from Colombian drug lords. One of the major Colombian syndicates- commonly referred to as the Medellin Cartel. As opposed to actuality, in the Godfather, poppies, mainly used to make heroin would be ha! rvested from Turkey (not the major supplier of opium in the 40s and 50s), then processed into heroin in Sicily. Drugs have been appealing to any crime syndicates since the Chinese crime world that started way back in the 1800s. Opium was the number one wanted drug as wars started by the Ching Dynasty in 1839 to stop th e illegal importation by smugglers form Britain (Britanica, 552). But why wouldnt any crime syndicate want to invest in illegal drugs as portrayed in The Godfather? Heroin these days for example, has been estimated that for approximately four hours each day three hundred sixty five days a year, four hundred dollars worth of heroin is sold every minute on one hundred and fifteenth street New York City resulting in a financial exchange amounting to twenty four thousand dollars an hour, ninety six thousand a day and six hundred seventy two thousand dollars a week. Annual gross sales of heroin alone exceed thirty billion a year.(Messerchmidt, Piers, 220). Of course many Mafia families would want to wager into such a profitable business as portrayed in The Godfather, the same is true about real life. However, in most crime families including the five New York families drugs were considered to be, as the Corleones put it evil and inappropriate for the familys need and most families in rea l life agreed to this unlike Mario Puzos novel, in which all the families except the Corleones wanted to enter drugs. In 1931, a mob boss in Chicago by the name of Salvatore Maranzano made five families in New York City and five bosses as they called them to lead. The five in New York would belong to a ruling body, like a council, including such Chicago mob bosses as Al Capone, and New York bosses like Joe Bonano. La Cosa Nostra as it was called this thing of ours(Roemer, 63). La Cosa Nostra was set up as the high council, it was in charge and had the last word in all of the major Mafia activities. La Cosa Nostra particularly the groups in New York, did not favor drugs they too felt it was not a right business for organized crime to go in to, it was dirty. Anyone caught dealing drugs or racketeering drugs, would be shot and killed. In fact, involvement in narcotics in any way continues to be reason for severe disciplinary action from leadership should any member be caught. This was proven many times in the passed. Chris Cardi who was soon to be a made Man went where the money was- ! into dealing drugs. This was a strict violation of the strict edict of Tony Accardo(mob boss) and La Cosa Nostra. Chris Cardi Served his sentence after being caught, on July 14, 1975, he went inside Jims Beef Stand at 1620 North River Road in Melrose Park. Two ski-masked Gunmen snuck up behind Cardi, his wife and three kids. They used .45s this time. Eight times in the back, naturally. Then for good measure, while the wife and kids screamed, they rolled him over and put one in his face. Tony Accardo was pleased. good job. That will teach anybody wants to go into drugs a good lesson.(Roemer, 327). As one can see drugs were very tempting but was not permitted in the real Mafia life. Later drugs went out of hand and many wise guys wanted to make the extra money, even the superiors would want to get in on the action. For this reason in 1931 drugs were included in the oath of Omerta nob ody in the honored society dealt drugs period(Roemer, 405). The Omerta ritual was a secret pledge that all newly made men would have to swear while holding the hand of his mob boss and swear never to cross anyone in his family, to keep our thing in good name and secrecy and to do all that his superiors tell him. Such things as Omerta and Cosa Nostra were no mentioned in The Godfather and there was more of a disjunction and separation from all the other families. Since the 80s, there was much corruption in organized crime, syndicates have changed their ideas of staying away from drugs to investing more in it. This happened as the power of La Cosa Nostra diminished and was less strict. The ritual of Omerta meant much less and many crime Families went into drugs despite the diminished authority of The Committee. There were much fewer crime bosses who resembled Don Corleone in Puzos book who was not opened to the idea of narcotics. One that too was not was Tony Accardo, William F. Roene r the author of many true crime books wrote in 1987 in one of his books: Accardo has kept the Chicago outfit out of drugs. Where as other families or organized crime around the country have in recent years failed to resist the big temptationThis portrays exactly the personality of Don Corleone in Mario Puzos book The Godfather. More corruption within families are occurring and even the mob bosses and heads are getting involved. John Gotti too did his amount of drug dealing despite higher authorities. Gotti would limit his exposure in heroin to investor and let the men he trusted most- Angelo, Gene, Willie Bay, Corneglia- do the dirty work on the condition that they never ever mentioned his name(Capeci, Mustain, 70). When John Gotti became Mafioso boss and he claimed that he would not deal with drugs and would punish anyone that went into it. The warnings however sounded as hollow as they did in the early 1970s, when Gotti assembled the Bergin crew and delivered an anti drug message from Carlo- at a time when everyone knew his brother Peter was dealing cocaine and Rampino, heroin.(Capeci, Mustain, 71). Soon major drug operations were taking affect without the consent of the major Mafia bosses. The Pizza Connection case, extended to rural Illinois, where a pizza parlor like so many involved in ! this case across the country, dealt drugs. They were caught by the FBI and went to trial. The case began in 1984 when the justice department indicted thirty one people in the operation of this international drug ring. It was charged that in over five years the ring had brought into this country 1,650 pounds of heroin, with a street value of 1.6 billion, then sold the drugs through pizza parlors in the Northeast and Midwest. The New York office found that the Catalano faction of the Bonano family, led by Salvatore Catalano , was deeply involved in massive heroin importation and distribution in the United States, all charged in the indictment later. Although Catalanos orga nization was located in New York City, the investigation by the FBI revealed that Catalanos heroin business was tied directly to organized criminal groups in Sicily.(Roemer, 406). Another way they would try to cover up or pay someone elsoe to do all of the work. Delgiorno and other members of his family w! ould loan a drug dealer to finance the importation of fifty to a hundred gallons of p-z-p(pheno- two- propane, used to make a drug called Meth). Since Delgiorno dealt with loan sharking and this was a loan sharking deal it technically skirted the mob prohibition on dealing drugs.(Anastasia, 114). If any of these acts would have happened a decade earlier it would not have been let go so easily and all of these would have been punished by death. .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 , .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .postImageUrl , .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 , .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67:hover , .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67:visited , .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67:active { border:0!important; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67:active , .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67 .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ube068b0832bc1d7b5fe16a8ffc7bae67:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: It Happens Once a Month Essay We will write a custom essay on Throughout history Writers have been writing fictional novels based on specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

Declaration of Independence

Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence is a document that is most treasured in United State since it announced independence to American colonies which were at war with Great Britain. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson back in July 1776 and contained formal explanation of the reason why the Congress had declared independence from Great Britain.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Declaration of Independence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, the document marked the independence of the thirteen colonies of America, a condition which had caused revolutionary war. America celebrates its day of independence on 4th July, the day when the congress approved the Declaration for Independence (Becker, 2008). With that background in mind, this essay shall give an analysis of the key issues closely linked to the United States Declaration of Independence. As highlighted in the introductory part, there was the revolutionary war in the th irteen American colonies before the declaration for independence that had been going on for about a year. Immediately after the end of the Seven Years War, the relationship between American colonies and their mother country started to deteriorate. In addition, some acts which were established in order to increase tax revenue from the colonies ended up creating a tax dispute between the colonies and the Government (Fradin, 2006). The main reason why the Declaration for Independence was written was to declare the convictions of Americans especially towards their rights. The main aim was to declare the necessity for independence especially to the colonist as well as to state their view and position on the purpose of the government. In addition, apart from making their grievances known to King George III, they also wanted to influence other foreigners like the France to support them in their struggle towards independence. Most authors and historians believe that the main influence of Je fferson was the English Declaration of Rights that marked the end King James II Reign. As much as the influence of John Locke who was a political theorist from England is questioned, it is clear that he influenced the American Revolution a great deal. Although most historians criticize the Jefferson’s influence by some authors like Charles Hutcheson, it is clear that the philosophical content of the Declaration emanates from other philosophical writings. The self evident truths in the Declaration for Independence is that all men are created equal and do also have some rights which ought not to be with held at all costs. In addition, the document also illustrated that government is formed for the sole purpose of protecting those rights as it is formed by the people who it governs. Finally, if the government losses the consent, it then qualifies to be either replaced or abolished. Such truths are not only mandatory but they do not require any further emphasis. Therefore, being self evident means that each truth speaks on its own behalf and should not be denied at whichever circumstances (Zuckert, 1987). The main reason why they were named as self evident was to influence the colonists to see the reality in the whole issue. Jefferson based his argument from on the theory of natural rights as illustrated by John Locke who argued that people have got rights which are not influenced by laws in the society (Tuckness, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the truths in the Declaration for Independence is the inalienable rights which are either individual or collective. Such rights are inclusive of right to liberty, life and pursuit of happiness. Unalienable rights means rights which cannot be denied since they are given by God. In addition, such rights cannot even be sold or lost at whichever circumstance. Apart from individual rights, there ar e also collective rights like the right of people to chose the right government and also to abolish it incase it fails achieve its main goal. The inalienable goals are based on the law of nature as well as on the nature’s God as illustrated in the John Locke’s philosophy. It is upon the government to recognize that individuals are entitled to unalienable rights which are bestowed by God. Although the rights are not established by the civil government, it has a great role to ensure that people are able to express such laws in the constitution (Morgan, 2010). Explaining the purpose of the government was the major intent of the Declaration for Independent. The document explains explicitly that the main purpose is not only to secure but also to protect the rights of the people from individual and life events that threaten them. However, it is important to note that the government gets its power from the people it rules or governs. The purpose of the government of protectin g the God given rights of the people impacts the decision making process in several ways. To begin with, the government has to consider the views of the people before making major decisions failure to which it may be considered unworthy and be replaced. Therefore, the decision making process becomes quite complex as several positions must be taken in to consideration. The declaration identifies clearly the conditions under which the government can be abolished or replaced. For example, studies of Revolutionary War and Beyond, states that â€Å"any form of government becomes destructive of these ends; it is the right of the people, to alter or abolish it and institute a new government† (par. 62010). Therefore, document illustrated that the colonists were justified to reject or abolish the British rule. The declaration was very significant especially due to the fact that it illustrated explicitly the conditions which were present in America by the time it was being made. For ex ample, one of the key grievances of the thirteen colonies was concerning the issue of slave trade. The issue of abolishing slavery was put in the first draft of the declaration for independent although it was scrapped off later since the southern states were against the abolishment of slave trade. Another issue which was illustrated in the declaration was the fact that the king denied the colonists the power to elect their representatives in the legislatures. While the colonists believed that they had the right to choose the government to govern them, in the British government, it was the duty of the King to do so.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Declaration of Independence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Attaining land and migrating to America was the right of colonists to liberty and since the King had made it extremely difficult for the colonists to do so; the Declaration was very significant in addressing such grievances. There are many more problems that were present that were addressed by the Declaration as it was its purpose to do so. References Becker, C. L. (2008). The Declaration of Independence: A Study in the History of Political Ideas. Illinois: BiblioBazaar, LLC . Fradin, D. B. (2006). The Declaration of Independence. New York : Marshall Cavendish. Morgan, K. L. (2010). The Declaration of Independence, Equality and Unalienable Rights. Web. Revolutionary War and Beyond. (2010). The Purpose of the Declaration of Independence. Web. Tuckness, A. (2010). Lockes Political Philosophy. Web. Zuckert, M. P. (1987). Self-Evident Truth and the Declaration of Independence. The Review of Politics , 49 (3), 319-339.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Free Essays on The Storm

â€Å"The Storm† In the short story â€Å"The Storm† the major components that are emphasized are plot, character, and setting. These components work together in order to make the reader visualize life from the characters’ point of view. The author, Kate Chopin, tells the story in a unique way that helps the reader understand the main characters’ attitudes. The title of the story, â€Å"The Storm†, has a twofold meaning. An actual storm that takes place in the remote Louisiana country sets off a chain of events that contributes to the passionate storm that occurs between the two main characters. The events that make up the plot begin when bad weather forces Bobinot and his son, Bibi, to remain at the store until it passes. This leaves Bobinot’s wife, Calixta, home alone. The bad weather also forces Alcee, Calixta’s old boyfriend, to seek shelter under her gallery. As a result of the driving rain, Alcee and Calixta went inside the house. A loud burst of thunder sent startled Calixta staggering backwards into Alcee’s arms. The physical contact between the two â€Å"aroused all the old-time infatuation and desire for her flesh† (97). They gave in to temptation â€Å"that unconsciously betrayed a sensuous desire† (97). Soon afterward, the storm passes and Alcee was on his way. Bobinot and Bibi return home where Calixta was preparing supper. She â€Å"seemed to express nothing but satisfaction at their safety† (98) and pretended that everything was just fine. That night, Alcee wrote a letter to his wife, Clarisse, telling her n ot to hurry back from her vacation in Biloxi. Clarisse was glad to receive her husband’s letter, and was willing to stay where she was. The locale is set in the southern Louisiana countryside; this is shown from the dialect that is used throughout the story. The setting is a very important factor in this story. Because it was set in an isolated area, where there was little... Free Essays on The Storm Free Essays on The Storm The title, of â€Å"The Storm,† has connotations of a universal swell of energy and fervor of the natural world that is obvious during the encounter of Calixta and Alcee. Just as the storm matures from the first spark of energy, likewise, Calixta is a sexually mature woman, claiming her part in the natural world. Unfortunately, as a consequence of the times, society’s attitude is intolerant of a woman’s expression of sexuality. Furthermore, Calixta’s commitment to her marriage forces her to be oppressed from expressing the sexual being within herself. During the rage of the storm’s fury, intense with the explosion of energy flowing from the storm, the escalating passion and energy also swells between Calixta and Alcee; â€Å" they seemed to swoon together at the very borderland of life’s mystery†(492) while Calixta and Alcee break free from the constraints of their marriage vows. Giving into the storm of passion that until now, neither Calixa nor Alcee has ever experienced, they give into the sexual energy and release the passion that is presently hindered in both of them. As a result, Calixta’s â€Å" the generous abundance of her passion, without guile or trickery, was like a white flame which penetrated and found repose in depths of his ow n sensuous nature that had never been reached†(492). The final line of â€Å"The Storm† is a metaphor for the relationships between Calixta, Bobinate, Clarissa and Alcee, and is positioned to create an uncertain ending of the encounter between Calixta and Alcee: â€Å"So the storm passed and everyone was happy†(493). One may see the storm’s passage as implying a happy ending or one may see it as implying that the storm will eventually return, possibly with the intent to express the fervor and powerful energy that may eventually destroy families or lives. As the nature of recurring storms, Calixta’s new founded sexual desires will return with powerful forces of energy and chemis... Free Essays on The Storm â€Å"The Storm† In Kate Chopin’s short story â€Å"The Storm†, we are introduced to two families: Calixta, Bobinot and Bibi; Alcee and Clarisse, and are asked to take a look at a moment in their lives during a severe storm. What parallels the storm as it builds to a climax and then recedes is an intimate passion between two past loves, Calixta and Alcee, but what does this moment of intimacy really mean to them and their families? We must first take a look at each family and get an understanding of how they relate to each as a family member. The father son relationship between Bobinot and Bibi appears to be one of a strong mutual trust and love for each other. As we are learning that there is a storm â€Å"rolling with sinister intention from the west† (32), we see how with great concern their safety is for one another. Bibi places â€Å"his little hand on his father’s knee† (32) as to console him and protect him from the building storm. We also know that at home Calixta, who is busy with her homemaking â€Å"sewing furiously† (32), takes a moment to think about Bobinot and Bibi and has â€Å"no uneasiness for their safety† (32). She knows that together they are safe because of the strong bond they all share. When we take a look at Alcee and his wife Clarisse, we only get a small window into their relationship, but enough to understand their deep love for one another as well. Alcee writes to his wife, â€Å"a loving letter† (35), to where she is vacationing in Biloxi to inform her to stay longer and enjoy being with her friends and the children. Alcee realizes that â€Å"their health and pleasure were the first things to be considered† (35) and will endure his separation from them in order to bring them happiness. Clarisse was â€Å"charmed† (35) to receive the letter from her husband, maybe this is the first time in a long time Clarisse has been able to see old friends and reminisce, she enjoys â€Å"the first free breath since her marri... Free Essays on The Storm â€Å"The Storm† In the short story â€Å"The Storm† the major components that are emphasized are plot, character, and setting. These components work together in order to make the reader visualize life from the characters’ point of view. The author, Kate Chopin, tells the story in a unique way that helps the reader understand the main characters’ attitudes. The title of the story, â€Å"The Storm†, has a twofold meaning. An actual storm that takes place in the remote Louisiana country sets off a chain of events that contributes to the passionate storm that occurs between the two main characters. The events that make up the plot begin when bad weather forces Bobinot and his son, Bibi, to remain at the store until it passes. This leaves Bobinot’s wife, Calixta, home alone. The bad weather also forces Alcee, Calixta’s old boyfriend, to seek shelter under her gallery. As a result of the driving rain, Alcee and Calixta went inside the house. A loud burst of thunder sent startled Calixta staggering backwards into Alcee’s arms. The physical contact between the two â€Å"aroused all the old-time infatuation and desire for her flesh† (97). They gave in to temptation â€Å"that unconsciously betrayed a sensuous desire† (97). Soon afterward, the storm passes and Alcee was on his way. Bobinot and Bibi return home where Calixta was preparing supper. She â€Å"seemed to express nothing but satisfaction at their safety† (98) and pretended that everything was just fine. That night, Alcee wrote a letter to his wife, Clarisse, telling her n ot to hurry back from her vacation in Biloxi. Clarisse was glad to receive her husband’s letter, and was willing to stay where she was. The locale is set in the southern Louisiana countryside; this is shown from the dialect that is used throughout the story. The setting is a very important factor in this story. Because it was set in an isolated area, where there was little... Free Essays on The Storm Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Storm† takes place in a town somewhere in New Orleans, Louisiana. The setting of this story, forces the main characters Calixta and Alce to rediscover feelings they had for each other, and reveal hidden aspects of themselves. The omniscient author emphasizes the elements of the storm that takes place in the story, because the storm itself forced the plot to take place. The events leading up to the plot of the story, had a domino effect on each other. Each event contributed to the following, which made the plot inevitable. Timing is the most important element that is responsible for the development of this story. If the events in the story did not happen with such time accuracy, then the story may not have been a story or it may not have turned out the way it did. So timing is the building block for plot and the events leading up to the plot of the story. The fact that Bobinot and Bibi, Calixta’s husband and son respectively, stayed at the store until the storm was over, was the second element that contributed to the main characters Calixta and Alce having sex. If Bobinot and Bibi were home at the time of the storm, Calixta and Alce would not have had an opportunity to have sex. She would not have gravitated towards Alce for comfort during the storm if her husband and son were at home. She would have found refuge in her husband, not Alce. Another domino to add to the trail was when the winds were so strong and Calixta had to go outside to retrieve Bobinot’s clothes off of the line. At that time Alce was passing by on his horse, he saw her, and then stopped. If Alce did not see Calixta, he probably would not have stopped. And when he stopped and decided to seek shelter on Calixta’s porch, the winds were so bad, that he had to go into the house. â€Å"â€Å"Come ‘long in, M’sieur Alce.† His voice and her own startled her as if from a trance, and s...

A Moral Dilemma Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

A Moral Dilemma - Assignment Example In addition, education also causes people from different backgrounds to interact and socialize. In this way, education works to promote diversity and intrapersonal understanding among human beings. People from different backgrounds meet and socialize in learning institutions where individuals learn socialization skills, which also enhance problem-solving abilities. From the above perspectives, education is an important aspect of human right that everyone should obtain up to the highest level possible. With regard to the moral dilemma scenario above, the girl was right in making the steps she undertook in various ways. To begin with, education is a fundamental part of life that promotes enlightenment of individuals about world issues (Cox & Klinger, 2004). Education brings about exposure and enables understanding of general environmental concepts unknown to uneducated persons. Adequate understanding of various global concepts is important in fostering and enhancing problem solving and decision-making skills of individual learners (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2013). The move by the parents to prevent their daughter from continuing with her education in favor of caring for the younger siblings would hamper the girl from gaining the knowledge about various world concepts. Education is an important tool in enhancing individuals’ and social security. Through education, a person is able to gain sufficient self-awareness and self-concept, which are important in enabling nurturing individuals’ relation with the environment and other people (Ungar, 2011). Denying the girl opportunity to continue with her education would compromise the quality of her self-awareness and understanding. Since it was her life and she might have had the desire to relate positively with the environment, the girl had the right to apply every possible technique to persuade her parents let her