Under Armour Case Analysis Essay Example For Students

Under Armour Case Analysis Essay Under Armour, Inc. is a well-known sportswear manufacturing company in the United States that competes with a number of different brands, such as Nike and Adidas, Converse and Puma, New Balance and Lululemon Athletica, that are recognized throughout the entire world. Even though a given business corporation is one of the leading manufacturers of sports apparel that get ground and enjoy a great success across the entire globe, there are some challenges they face as a result of the high, intense, and even aggressive rivalry among the competitors in the current sportswear market. In order to have a thorough understanding of company’s role in the current sports apparel industry, as well as to determine its’ market share, first of all, it is necessary to have good background knowledge about Under Armour. We will write a custom essay on Under Armour Case Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Additionally, a list of important criteria includes the issues of strategic planning, strategic management, and key factors for business success. In an attempt to evaluate the latest economic performance of the company, it would be advantageous to create the SWOT analysis and take into consideration the value-added chain of this particular brand. All the information that can be found in both types of business analysis helps the company’s stakeholders identify the major weaknesses of their corporation, and as a result, implement certain innovations to have a remarkable competitive advantage on the current market. Apparently, it is very important since every leading sportswear manufacturing corporation takes significant efforts to stay ahead of the companies developing the same product – a high-quality gear for athletes across the world. In this case, Under Armour, Inc. exerts the intensive efforts to be ‘one jump ahead’ of a variety of similar business compa nies that own the most popular sports apparel brands such as Nike and Adidas. Background Information 25th September 1996 is the official date of setting-up of a well-known American company that deals with manufacturing high-quality sportswear. The founder of Under Armour, Inc. is a former football player who is known as Kevin Plank. Being a 23-years-old student at the University of Maryland, the athlete was the captain of its football team during a long period of time. Despite the fact that this prominent figure was passionate about American football, he had the makings of developing in the entrepreneurship activities. During the first year, a small business owner managed to earn $17,000 even though he hadn’t a suitable workplace and spent long hours in the basement of his grandmother. Since Plank was a former footballer, he had a thorough understanding of the athletes’ basic needs; one of the examples is the creating of a new product on the sportswear market – a T-shirt made of a synthetic fabric that is known as great water-wicking material. Even though the prototype of the T-shirt invented by Plank was considerably successful, the head of the company continued to develop his product. In a few years, he began to manufacture the ‘football jersey’ using the microfibers; this particular textile material was a real catch for the athletes since they stayed dry and cool during football matches. The interesting thing is that this technology, which was introduced by the former captain of the students’ football team, was used by many companies owning the most valuable brands in the world. The first and foremost business deal that resulted in rapid growth of Under Armour in popularity was the sale of 10 T-shirts ordered by the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). After that, Plank got an opportunity to work with a variety of institutions and organizations related to the area of professional football. Among them, one can find Arizona State, NC State, and even National Collegiate Athletic Association. .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 , .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .postImageUrl , .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 , .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93:hover , .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93:visited , .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93:active { border:0!important; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 { 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; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93:active , .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .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; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93 .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5ce919e70a13fe9f7cdb248675101a93:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A Farewell To Arms Factual Error Analysis EssayCompany’s Current State of Market Taking into account the intense competition in the current sports apparel market, it should be noted that Under Armour, Inc. led by a prolific American businessman takes significant efforts in order to remain competitive in this specific apparel manufacturing industry. Even though modern economists make a point that Under Armour, Inc. experienced a remarkable sales decline over the last few years, the recent news report a great increase in the company’s capital stock. Currently, this corporation is frequently regarded as an outstanding upstart in the Sports Apparel Industry; even though Under Armour, Inc. has already been existing on the market for three decades, its market share still is not enough to sidestep the two leading athletic brands – Nike and Adidas. Despite this fact, Plank positions his corporation as one of the best clothing manufacturing companies that own the highest quality brands. According to the recent economic reports, Under Armour, Inc. followed an upward trend since its market shares have increased by 30 % over the last year. The rapid development in this particular industry is almost impossible since the rest of high-performance manufacturers do not forge ahead as well. For instance, some sporting goods retailers – like Amazon and Walmart – tend to develop an increasingly diversified product in order to drive extra business and fight off the existing competition. To minimize the adverse effects of the fast-growing retail sporting goods business, Under Armour, Inc. has implemented a range of strategic innovations through the complete business restructure. During the recent interview, David Bergman, the Chief Financial Officer of Under Armour, Inc. mentioned that they set some new objectives in the company’s business plan. Among them, one can find the issues of smart functioning, fast manufacturing, global shifting from ‘traditio nal’ human resources model, and efficient optimization of the additional costs needed to achieve the pricing perfection. In his statement, Bergman has admitted that he has no doubts regarding the full potential of Under Armour, Inc. that can be achieved as a result of the recent implementation of certain internal company policies and procedures. Basics of Strategic Planning and Strategic Management Despite the fact that the notion of ‘strategic planning’ is a considerably broad term that may refer to various functional areas of the business corporation, it lays the foundation of a company’s ability to generate cash. The most important changes implemented by the stakeholders of Under Armour, Inc. can be found below. Development of a Superior Product that Would Grab World Attention It is common knowledge that the modern youth evince great interest in the various types of athletic sports. As a result of such a growing tendency, the majority of experts forecast the higher demand for sports footwear, apparel, and equipment. Since Under Armour, Inc has already taken a different turn in the current world clothing industry, a ready market is a suitable condition for the enhanced performance of a company as well as for the rapid growth of the brand’s market share. Improve Business Image and Increase Brand Awareness Business image is one of the critical factors that influence the company’s popularity on the market. Therefore, it is required to develop a set of marketing strategies since the success of every business corporation depends on the promotional efforts taken by the stakeholders. Use the Recent Advances in Manufacturing Technologies In this case, all the technological innovations used in the manufacturing process not only contribute to the optimization of the workforce but also play a key role in enhancing the financial performance of the business corporation. Recently, the HR managers of Under Armour, Inc. have discharged 3 % of the company’s employees due to the issue of technological restructuring. At present, the major part of advanced manufacturing equipment provides business corporations with the numerous smart technological devices that are capable of replacing the employees and producing better results. Focus on Developing Women’s Athletic Apparel for Fitness .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 , .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .postImageUrl , .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 , .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216:hover , .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216:visited , .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216:active { border:0!important; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 { 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; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216:active , .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .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; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216 .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ucfc22316a6df7b2f01cbeba047979216:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Human Cloning Analysis EssayAccording to Chris Carroll, the former head of the marketing department of Under Armour, Inc., women who like buying sports apparel represent the key pillar needed for the future growth of their corporation. Having applied this particular marketing strategy, Under Armour introduced a few women-focused commercials featuring Gisele  Bà ¼ndchen and Misty Copeland. Since females are more likely to spend the enormous amount of money on clothing, shoes, and accessories, it is evident that creating the women’s clothing line may bring Under Armour, Inc. a significant market share in the current sportswear clothing industry. Concentrate on Current Footwear Industry Even though Under Armour, Inc. failed to design distinguishing athletic footwear in the past, this particular business corporation has made an attempt to create a unique model of sports shoes using several innovative technologies. Being focused on the athletes’ needs, such as comfort and motivation, one of the leading American manufacturers made a decision to apply the footwear cushioning technology. The recent development of Under Armour, Inc. is the pair of ‘super-soft’ sports shoes that can ensure the owner a great shock absorbing system. List of Key Factors Leading to Business Success Firstly, Under Armour, Inc. is acknowledged to be a reliable sports apparel manufacturer that creates a high-quality product on the current market. Secondly, the stakeholders of this particular business corporation are capable of satisfying the needs of their customers even though a significant part of their clients’ demands meeting the highest standard of quality. Thirdly, the use of technologically advanced devices in the manufacturing process plays a great role in the rapid development of Under Armour, Inc. Finally, stakeholders of Under Armour, Inc. focus their attention on the area of sports marketing; in this case, they are able to attract a greater number of potential customers through various marketing campaigns. SWOT Analysis of Under Armour The detailed SWOT analysis is a great tool that allows evaluating the performance of a business corporation as well as identifies its potential challenges and threats. Strengths It is a well-known fact that Under Armour, Inc. is positioned as a high-quality brand that can be positioned as the innovative one. What is more important, this particular brand was found as a result of the great innovation idea. Analyzing the current business industry, one may note that the use of innovative technology is always associated with numerous benefits, which include the diversity of product and services, a variety of customer segment, and the continuous product offerings. Weaknesses Despite the fact that Under Armour is a successful brand in the current sports apparel market, still, this particular business corporation has three main ‘soft spots.’ Among them, one can find the issues of outsourcing, geographical diversity, and athletic endorsement to the current market. Opportunities At present, the rapid development of the technology results in the adverse consequences for many companies and organization, Even though many business corporations have experienced the decline in sales recently, the field of sports apparel is not affected. Furthermore, the individuals’ interest in sports is a great opportunity for such businesses to advance their product and services. For instance, the development of different technology-based fitness devices will certainly have a resonance in modern society. Threats Firstly, high labor cost is one of the most important threats for Under Armour, Inc. Apart from that, this particular business corporation deals with manufacturing sports apparel; hence, it has a great number of competitors, such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, and many others.

Cellphones At School essays

Cellphones At School essays Cell phones should be banned from rural schools. There is no reason for them in rural schools, they are a distraction, and finally they could aid in violent First, there is no reason for them. There are ways of getting ahold of whoever you need(parents). If you need to call your parents; the office will be more than glad to let you use there phone. Also, there are Next, they are a distraction. You wouldn't like it in class if you were taking your finals phone rang in the middle of class. You wouldn't pay a bit of attention to what your were doing you attention on them. You would probably loss your Last, cell phones can aid into violent acts. People can call out alarm; it's time to come not think that can happen in your school but it really Finally, cell phone should be banned from rural schools. There is no reason for them; they are a distraction; and finally they can result into violent last minute book reports keep me surviving ...

Lexicology - Definition and Examples

Lexicology s Lexicology is the branch of linguistics that studies the stock of words (the lexicon) in a given language. Adjective: lexicological. Etymology From the Greek lexico- -logy, word study Lexicology and Syntax Lexicology deals not only with simple words in all their aspects but also with complex and compound words, the meaningful units of language. Since these units must be analyzed in respect of both their form and their meaning, lexicology relies on information derived from morphology, the study of the forms of words and their components, and semantics, the study of their meanings. A third field of particular interest in lexicological studies is etymology, the study of the origins of words. However, lexicology must not be confused with lexicography, the writing or compilation of dictionaries, which is a special technique rather than a level of language studies ...The essential difference between syntax and lexicology is that the former deals with the general facts of language and the latter with special aspects. . . . Syntax is general because it deals with rules and regularities that apply to classes of words as a whole, whereas lexicology is particular because it is concerned with the way individual words operate and affect other words in the same context. Although borderline cases do exist in both lexicology and syntax, e.g., in the case of grammatical or function words, the distinction between the two levels is fairly clear.  (Howard Jackson and Etienne Zà © Amvela, Words, Meaning, and Vocabulary: An Introduction to Modern English Lexicology. Continuum, 2007) Content Words and Function Words [T]eachers of English have customarily distinguished between content words, like snow and mountain, and function words, like it and on and of and the ...  Lexicology is the study of content words or lexical items.  (M.A.K. Halliday et al., Lexicology and Corpus Linguistics. Continuum, 2004) Lexicology and Grammar Both grammar and lexicology involve us in an indefinitely large number of superficially different units. In the case of grammar these are phrases, clauses, and sentences; in the case of lexicology the units are words, or more precisely . . . lexical items. It is typical of grammar to make general and abstract statements about the units concerned, showing a common construction despite formal differences. It is typical of lexicology to make specific statements about individual units. In consequence, while the grammar of a language is best handled in chapters devoted to different types of construction, it is normal to deal with the lexicon of a language in an alphabetical dictionary, each entry devoted to a different lexical item.  (Randolph Quirk et al., A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, 2nd ed. Longman, 1985) Lexicology and Phonology [I]t may be thought at first sight that phonology does not interact with lexicology in any significant manner. But a close analysis will reveal that, in many cases, the difference between two otherwise identical lexical items can be reduced to a difference at the level of phonology. Compare for example the pair of words toy and boy, feet and fit, pill and pin. They differ only in one sound unit (the position of which has been [italicized] in each word) and yet the difference has serious consequences at the level of lexicology.  (Etienne Zà © Amvela, Lexicography and Lexicology. Routledge Encyclopedia of Language Teaching and Learning, ed. by Michaà «l Byram. Routledge, 2000) Pronunciation: lek-se-KAH-le-gee

Financial Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Financial Economics - Essay Example ecent finance theory are applicable across countries, much is still to be done to bring out the effect of different institutional features on capital structure choices. Our knowledge of capital structures has mostly been derived from data from developed economies that have many institutional similarities. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the capital structure choices made by companies from developing countries that have different institutional structures (Artikis, 2007). The study also is to examine the determinants that can be used in capital structure choices of firms. This is mainly for small and private firms. In the study, there was use of data obtained from World Bank to determine the differences that exist in capital structure in the countries (DeMarzo & Sannikov, 2004). In accordance with the capital structure theory, the importance of firm level elements of capital structure, tangibility in terms of assets, and profitability of firms and size of companies are brought out. Results are healthy to the different descriptions of size. Large and listed firms can have easy access to finance in developing countries, thus they have higher leverage and higher debt maturities (Bierman, 2003). For small and private firms, access to finance is depended on the conditions of economic environment. Leverage and debt maturities are sensitive to macroeconomic factors. The knowledge on the capital structure in the essay was also used to analyse the choices that are made by institutions, mainly from developing countries that have different structures in their institutions. As in Gordon and Li (2005), profitability is measured using the return on sales (ROS), return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). With respect to leverage, there are several measures in the literature. Following Gordon and Li (2005), the paper considers the following ratios: Total Debt to Total Assets ratio and total debt to equity ratio. From analysis, it was found out that financial

The Impact of Technology on Today's Society Research Paper

The Impact of Technology on Today's Society - Research Paper Example The research is based on data gathered from secondary sources. Technology is the application of science to solve a problem. However, there is no definite definition of technology. As technology advances its definition changes. No one definition can describe technology without limiting it. This is because technology evolves each and every day to become more complex and sophisticated. Different types of technology work in different ways for example, we use information technology like the internet for creating and securing data, learning and communication. The scope of this paper is to establish the impact of technology on society.  As the report declares  the goal is to find out the impact of technology on society socially, politically, economically and its influence on health and the environment. The general thing about the different types of technology is that people use them to make life better.  Technology has existed for as long as man. The technology that existed in the pas t may not be as sophisticated and complex as it is today. The introduction of this paper defines technology as the use of science to solve problems and make life better. Computers and the internet may not have existed in the past but science was used to progress man, for example; pyramids of the Egyptians existed in the past.  The technology that exists today may not have existed in the past but there were innovations and inventions then that can also be termed as technology.

The Presidency of Thomas Jefferson Essay Example for Free

The Presidency of Thomas Jefferson Essay The perception that Federalists were loose constructionists and that Jeffersonian Republicans were very strict constructionists was very well founded, but not accurate 100% of the time. The presidency of Thomas Jefferson mainly supported the theory that the Jeffersonian Republicans were strict constructionists. James Madisons presidency supported that theory as well. Both presidents, however, made exceptions to their general policies when an issue was just too big to fit inside the tiny box of their shared school of thought. Jefferson proved himself a constructionist most of the time he was in office. In August of 1800, Jeffersons first year in office, he sent a letter to Gideon Granger (document A) stating his support for the constitution and its basic principles, and also stating that Federalists opposed those principles by their loose interpretation of the document. He implies that loose interpretation leads to change, and in this case, that will create a strong national government that resembles a monarchy and doesnt adhere to the rights of states as guaranteed by the Constitution. In another letter, this time to Samuel Miller (document B) during his last year holding office, Jefferson reinforces the image of strict constructionism by stating that he intends to break the precedent established by his predecessors to better adhere to the Constitutions policy on separation of church and state. Jeffersons widely known philosophy that the National Bank should not be established because the Constitution didnt say that it could was another example of his strict constructionism (Blum). Blum also mentions that even in his first speech to Congress, Jefferson put the constraint on the ideas he presented them with that everything had to be done within the limits of their Constitutional powers. Madison, also being a Democratic-Republican, supported the same principles as Jefferson. Speaking for President Madison, Daniel Webster (document D) questioned Congress right to a military draft on the sole argument that the power is not written in the Constitution, and stated that if Congress to did things that the Constitution did not explicitly give them the right to do, they would be creating a dictator. In his own address to Congress (document H), Madison says that funds cannot be set apart for the development of  transportation because such a power is not expressly given by the Constitution. Both of these documents show his very strict constructionist side, and support that common characterization of the Republicans. Blum informs us that Madison even went so far at the end of his presidency as to veto the Bonus Bill because it seemed to give the national government power that the Constitution had not granted. Both presidents supported the characterization of the Republicans as strict constructionists, but in the interest of political popularity, they were forced to compromise that ideal many times. Jefferson, for example, could not immediately abolish Adams national bank because it would be too drastic a move for someone with his popularity, despite the fact that it was established without the Constitution granting that power to the federal government (Blum). Jeffersons most grand defiance of his strict interpretation of the Constitution was his purchase of the Louisiana Territory. Even though he was not given the power to purchase land in the Constitution, Jefferson couldnt pass up the opportunity to double the nations size at a time of such large-scale westward movement. After his presidency (1816), Jefferson wrote a letter to Samuel Kercheval (document G) that gave his support for change to the Constitution with change to the times, which is a very far leap from claiming that nothing could be done in the national government without the Constitution granting them the power to do it. Madison is guilty of the same deviations from typical Republican strict constructionist policy. He was attacked by John Randolph (document F) for being too much like a Federalist, particularly when using the national governments power to set tariffs like the one proposed in 1816. This was not the first time Madison was attacked for his pseudo-Federalist policies. He received abundant criticisms for his establishment of the American System. That system was based on powers not granted by the Constitution like the establishment of a second Bank of the United States and the building of the National Road (Blum). When judged by the presidencies of Jefferson and Madison, it would appear that the idea that Jeffersonian Republicans were strict constructionists. It would also appear that they chose certain times to be extreme hypocrits;  Jeffersons Louisiana Purchase and Madisons re-establishment of a national bank are just two of those instances. In general, they established a precedent that presidents could challenge the philosophies that they were elected for if it was in the nations best interest, or in their own. This precedent is still being followed today, and though it may very well be hypocritical and/or self-serving, it has occasionally been very beneficial for the American people when individual reasoning reigns over party philosophy.

Be Quiet :: Bible Critics

Bible critics assert that the beloved apostle Paul was a male chauvinist. One might inquire, â€Å"How do they support such a claim?† Critics of the sacred writings often flee to 1st Corinthians 14:34-35 to buttress their accusations of apostolic misogyny citing Paul’s infamous command, â€Å"The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.† Let us employ some excellent, fundamental, Bible study techniques to determine the meaning of Paul’s words. First, Biblical passages do not contradict one another, â€Å"The sum of Your word is truth† (Psalm 119:160). 1st Timothy 2:11-12 states that edification for women in the assembly is allowable provided it’s accompanied by a quiet, submissive attitude. Also, women may prophesy as long as their head is covered (1st Cor. 11:5). Therefore, we must interpret the silence of 1st Cor. 14:34 with the former passages in mind. Moreover, let us remember the ancient Biblical real estate law, â€Å"Location, location, location, â€Å"Context, context, context.† Biblical passages must be interpreted with the context in mind, and the context of 1st Corinthians 14 is the Corinthian is authority and the abuse of spiritual gifts. Therefore, let us examine the word silence in its proper context. Silence is the Greek word sigao, and it’s not used to denote absolute, unqualified silence. Therefore, we must look to the context to determine the type of silence in view. Allow me to illustrate. Discussing the physical toll of refusing to confess sin, David wrote, â€Å"When I kept silent about my sin †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Psalm 32:3). The word silent doesn’t mean he never spoke, rather it means he never spoke or confessed his adultery. Let’s look at a New Testament example. Jesus took Peter and the sons of thunder, James and John, with him on the mountain to pray. The blessed trio witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, saw and heard his discussion with Moses and Elijah, and they heard God’s command from heaven to listen to his Son. How did the disciples respond? Be Quiet :: Bible Critics Bible critics assert that the beloved apostle Paul was a male chauvinist. One might inquire, â€Å"How do they support such a claim?† Critics of the sacred writings often flee to 1st Corinthians 14:34-35 to buttress their accusations of apostolic misogyny citing Paul’s infamous command, â€Å"The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.† Let us employ some excellent, fundamental, Bible study techniques to determine the meaning of Paul’s words. First, Biblical passages do not contradict one another, â€Å"The sum of Your word is truth† (Psalm 119:160). 1st Timothy 2:11-12 states that edification for women in the assembly is allowable provided it’s accompanied by a quiet, submissive attitude. Also, women may prophesy as long as their head is covered (1st Cor. 11:5). Therefore, we must interpret the silence of 1st Cor. 14:34 with the former passages in mind. Moreover, let us remember the ancient Biblical real estate law, â€Å"Location, location, location, â€Å"Context, context, context.† Biblical passages must be interpreted with the context in mind, and the context of 1st Corinthians 14 is the Corinthian is authority and the abuse of spiritual gifts. Therefore, let us examine the word silence in its proper context. Silence is the Greek word sigao, and it’s not used to denote absolute, unqualified silence. Therefore, we must look to the context to determine the type of silence in view. Allow me to illustrate. Discussing the physical toll of refusing to confess sin, David wrote, â€Å"When I kept silent about my sin †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Psalm 32:3). The word silent doesn’t mean he never spoke, rather it means he never spoke or confessed his adultery. Let’s look at a New Testament example. Jesus took Peter and the sons of thunder, James and John, with him on the mountain to pray. The blessed trio witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, saw and heard his discussion with Moses and Elijah, and they heard God’s command from heaven to listen to his Son. How did the disciples respond?

Animal Farm Analytics

Leaders use many tactics to withhold power and maintain control over the ignorant people. Joseph Stalin, the leader of the USSR from 1922-1952, used many clever and sometimes gory techniques to keep his power over the Soviet people. These strategies are shown in George Orwell's allegory of the Russian revolution, Animal Farm. Napoleon, the self-proclaimed leader of Animal Farm and allegorical representation of Joseph Stalin, has quite a few crafty and cunning ways to retain his authority over the animals. For example, by only educating the piglets and dogs, Napoleon keeps the majority of the animals uneducated and ignorant and therefore easier to manipulate. By blaming mistakes and wrongdoings on Snowball, an exiled pig who is an allegorical representation of the exiled Russian leader Leon Trotsky, Napoleon is able to create a common enemy. This takes the blame off of himself and instills a fear in the animals, making it easier for Napoleon to control the public. Finally, he trains puppies to become attack dogs and uses them as a police force, forcing the animals obey his every word by fear of bodily harm. By keeping the masses ignorant and afraid, Napoleon is able to retain his power over Animal Farm. Since he restricts formal education to the piglets and dogs, Napoleon is able to keep the remaining animals uneducated and docile, using their stupidity to his advantage. For example, after Napoleon murders many of the animals who are supposedly in league with Snowball, the animals are a bit uneasy because they recall a Commandment that states, â€Å"No animal shall kill any another animal† (Orwell 58). Muriel, a literate goat, reads the Commandment after the massacre, and it says, â€Å"No animal shall kill any other animal without cause† (151). She thinks that â€Å"somehow or other the last two words had slipped out of [her] memory. But [she] saw now that the Commandment had not been violated; for clearly there was good reason for killing the traitors† (165-166). Because Napoleon only educates the wealthy, the rest of the animals are oblivious to what is going on and believe everything that they are told. When Napoleon changes the Commandments, the animals blame their own faulty memories and proceed to believe whatever is written in the commandment because â€Å"Napoleon is always right†(111). Napoleon exploits the animals' gullibility when he modifies the Commandments to justify his atrocities and garner even more power. Since the animals only believe what they are told by Napoleon and the media, he is able to maintain his control over the farm. By limiting education to only a select few, Napoleon is able to manipulate the masses and get away with changing things to his benefit. Napoleon creates a scapegoat and common enemy for the animals by blaming everything that goes awry on Snowball. This, in turn, brings about a sense of fear that helps Napoleon strengthen his rule. One instance where Napoleon executes this strategy is early in the spring, when the animals receive news from Napoleon that Snowball is secretly frequenting the farm at night and disturbing the animals in their sleep. After hearing this news, â€Å"the animals [are] thoroughly frightened. It seemed to them as though Snowball were some sort of invisible influence, pervading the air about them and menacing them with all kinds of dangers† (147). Blaming Snowball for everything that goes askew is a good way for Napoleon to create a common enemy and inculcate fear in the animals. By putting Snowball under a bad light, Napoleon makes it seem as though he is the good guy and Snowball is the bad one. His actions make his reign seem â€Å"perfect† since everything is blamed on Snowball. This way, he will receive no opposition. Additionally, by depicting Snowball as the reason for all their troubles, the rest of the animals look up to Napoleon to make the right decisions and lead them through this time of crisis. Animals that are afraid are always easy to control. Creating a scapegoat allows Napoleon to deflect the blame from himself and create nationalism within the animals, making it easier for Napoleon to rule. Napoleon uses the dogs as a police force to control the animals through fear of bodily harm. After Jessie and Bluebell have nine puppies, Napoleon takes and trains them in seclusion. They soon grow into nine vicious killer dogs. One day, Napoleon assembles the animals in the yard to confess their crimes. Any animal who opposed or rebelled against Napoleon steps up, confesses his crimes, and is slain on the spot by the attack dogs, right in front of the other animals. The dogs are ruthless and tear the animals' throats out. After witnessing this bloody massacre, none of the animals know why â€Å"they had come to a time when no one dared speak his mind, when fierce, growling dogs roamed everywhere, and when you had to watch your comrades torn to ieces after confessing to shocking crimes. There was no thought of rebellion or disobedience†(161). Napoleon, by publicly executing anyone who happens to displease or disobey him, sets a precedent of what will happen if any of the animals rebel. The attack dogs are able to crush any signs of rebellion. This puts Napoleon in supreme power because every animal will do whatever he tells them to do, in fear of being kil led. By using the dogs as a means to control, Napoleon is able to crush any signs of rebellion and maintain his control on the farm through fear of physical harm. In Animal Farm, the public is uneducated and afraid, which makes them much more easily manipulated by Napoleon and the pigs. By only educating the wealthy, Napoleon makes sure that the general public is uninformed and therefore easier to control. Blaming Snowball for everything that goes astray creates a scapegoat and common enemy, which inflicts a fear in the animals. This also makes Napoleon seem more perfect, so the animals are more likely to listen to him and give him more power. Napoleon also creates a â€Å"police force† from the attack dogs, who help control the general public by fear of physical harm. In Animal Farm, Napoleon goes to extreme lengths to remain in power, much like other dictators around the world. In the 1900's, Stalin did many violent things to keep in control of the Soviet Union, including mass murdering innocent people who spoke up against the government. Leaders go to extremes and use oppressive tactics to remain in control of their land. In future circumstances, the public should be careful not to trust their leader too much or give them too much power, otherwise the leader will become the dictator of a totalitarian regime.

Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 56~57

56 Escape Kimi was trying to call up thunder and was having no luck at all. He'd been chanting and waving his arms for half an hour and there still wasn't a cloud in the sky. â€Å"You're not holding your arms right,† Sarapul said. He was lying under a palm tree, chewing a betel nut and offering constructive criticism to the navigator. Sepie lay nearby watching. â€Å"I am too,† Kimi said. â€Å"I'm holding them the same way you do.† â€Å"Maybe it doesn't work for Filipinos.† â€Å"It's because I'm shot,† Kimi said. â€Å"If I wasn't shot, I could do this.† Sarapul scanned the horizon. Not even a bird. â€Å"That's it. It's because you're shot.† He spit out a red stream of betel nut juice. â€Å"And you're not holding your arms right.† Kimi resumed chanting and waving his arms. â€Å"Hey!† Sarapul said. â€Å"What? Did you hear thunder? I knew I could do it.† â€Å"No. Be quiet. Someone is calling you.† Kimi listened. Someone was calling him, and they were getting closer. He limped down the beach toward the voice and saw Tucker Case coming around the island. â€Å"Hey, boss, what you doin' out here during the day? The Sorcerer gonna be plenty mad at you.† Tuck was out of breath. â€Å"He is mad. I need your boat, Kimi. And I need you to navigate for me.† â€Å"Not his ship,† Sarapul said. â€Å"My ship.† â€Å"The doc is going to kill me if I don't get off the island. Can I use your boat?† The old cannibal was silent for a moment, thinking. â€Å"Where you go?† â€Å"I don't know. Guam, Yap, anywhere.† â€Å"Can I come?† â€Å"Yes, yes, if I can use your boat.† â€Å"Okay, we leave five days. Right, Kimi?† Kimi looked at Tuck. â€Å"It not be good sailing for five days.† â€Å"I have to go now, Kimi.† â€Å"Can Sepie come?† Sepie stepped back, surprised. â€Å"You want to take me? Women don't sail.† â€Å"You come,† Kimi said. â€Å"Okay, boss?† he said to Tuck. Tuck nodded. â€Å"Whatever. Sepie, go tell Malink that I need everyone to bring drinking coconuts. Many drinking coconuts with the husks taken off. Bananas, mangoes, papaya, and dried fish if he has any.† â€Å"There is plenty shark meat,† Sepie said. â€Å"I need it now, Sepie. Go. Tell Malink that Vincent demands it.† Sarapul began to chop at the underbrush in front of the sailing canoe to clear a path to the water. â€Å"Put down palm leaf to slide ship on,† he told Tuck. Tuck began to gather long palm fronds and lay them down in a path to the water. â€Å"Kimi, can you go get the things from my pack? There's things we can use.† â€Å"What about Roberto?† â€Å"Call for him, but go get the stuff. The money too.† â€Å"Okay, boss.† Ten minutes later Tuck looked up to see Malink leading a line of Shark People through the jungle. All were carrying baskets of food and husked green coconuts. â€Å"You are leaving?† â€Å"Yes, I have to go, Chief.† â€Å"You are taking our ship and our navigator.† â€Å"And our mispel,† Abo added from behind Malink. â€Å"I have to go, Malink. The Sorcerer and the Sky Priestess are going to kill me.† â€Å"But Vincent send you. How they hurt you?† â€Å"They don't really believe in Vincent. They use him to get you to give up the chosen, Malink. They're going to start killing off your people too.† â€Å"They no kill the Chosen. Chosen are for Vincent.† â€Å"No. I told you before. They take out your organs and sell them to be put inside of other people.† Malink scoffed. â€Å"You can no put one man kidney in other man.† â€Å"It was in People magazine. Didn't you see it? Demi Moore, Melanie Griffith, Mariel Hemingway, all of them? You didn't read about it?† Recognition lit up Malink's face. â€Å"Boob job!† â€Å"Yes,† Tuck said. â€Å"Where do you think they get those boobs?† â€Å"Oh, no.† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"He speaks the truth,† Malink said to the islanders. â€Å"It was in People. Put the food in the boat.† He took Tuck aside. â€Å"You will come back?† â€Å"I'll try.† â€Å"And bring our navigator.† â€Å"I'll try, Malink. I really will.† â€Å"You try.† â€Å"Tide,† Kimi called. â€Å"We go now.† The center of the canoe was filled with coconuts, fruit, and bundles of dried shark meat wrapped in banana leaves. Kimi directed the men to get on either side of the canoe and push it over the mat of palm fronds to the water. When it was afloat, Tuck lifted Sepie in, then climbed in himself. Kimi, standing on the outrigger platform, started to hoist the sail. It was the shape of a tortilla chip stood on end with a bite taken out at the top. Tuck recognized the pieces of his pack sewn into the nylon patchwork. â€Å"Where is Sarapul?† Kimi said. â€Å"Here!† The old cannibal was running out of the jungle, seeming stronger now than Tuck had ever seen him. He had gone back for his spear, a long shaft of mahogany with a wickedly barbed metal tip. Tuck caught the old man by the forearm and pulled him out of the surf and into the canoe. The canoe was already fifty yards from the shore. Sarapul took the long oar at the rear and steered it toward the channel as Kimi stood on the outrigger platform and manipulated the sail. The Shark People stood on the beach looking stunned. A few waved. Malink looked forlorn, Abo heartbroken. â€Å"Thanks,† Tuck shouted over the wave. â€Å"Thank you, Malink.† â€Å"You will come back.† Malink said. It was not a question. Tuck turned to look out to sea, then looked back to see the Shark People wading into the water after them. Behind them he saw a dark figure come out of the jungle. There was no warning shot or demand to halt. Stripe came out onto the beach and opened up with the Uzi. Tuck pushed Sepie's head down under the edge of the gunwale just as a line of bullets stitched and splintered the wood. Kimi screamed and Tuck looked up to see a row of red geysers open in his back. He clung to one of the lines for a second, then fell into the sea. Another scream, this one from Sarapul, the hideous screech of a raging lynx, and the old man went over the side. The gunfire stopped and Tuck risked popping his head up to look back to the beach. Stripe was slamming a new clip into the Uzi as he waded after the canoe. The Shark People had fled from the water and disappeared into the jungle or were cowering on the beach, unable to move. With the sail loose, the canoe had swung around and was being carried by the tide toward the reef. They would miss the channel by only a few feet, but they would miss it and run aground on the reef. Tuck reached up to grab the steering oar just as Stripe let off another burst from the Uzi. At a hundred yards he was spraying a wide pattern, but Tuck heard a couple of bullets thunk into the side of the canoe. The normally crystal water near the shore was clouded with the sand and silt thrown up by the Shark People's retreat, so Stripe did not see the dark shape moving through the water toward him. He wanted a shot. He set the Uzi to semiautomatic and unfolded the stock to take careful aim. Tuck was standing now, leaning hard on the steering oar to bring the canoe around and through the channel. The outrigger scraped over the reef as the canoe approached broadside. Stripe lined up the sights between Tuck's shoulder blades, held his breath, let it out, then squeezed the trigger. Sarapul came out of the water like an angry marlin, spear-first. The metal point entered just under Stripe's chin and exited his skull at the crown, dragging brain and bone on its evil barb. As Stripe fell back, he emptied the clip into the sky. The canoe slipped through the channel into the open ocean. Out on the horizon, a small cloud appeared and dropped a mercurial lightning bolt into the sea, followed a few seconds later by Kimi's thunder. 57 West with the Bat The Sorcerer stood on the beach over the supine body of Yamata. The spear was still sticking out of the guard's skull like a gruesome note spindle waiting for a canceled receipt from the Reaper. â€Å"How did this happen?† the Sorcerer asked. Malink looked at his feet. The Sorcerer seemed more surprised than angry. A day had passed since Sarapul had killed Stripe, and Malink had waited in fear for the time when the Sorcerer would come looking for him. The other guards had torn the village apart looking for Tuck, and Malink had confessed that the pilot had left the island in an old canoe, but he had claimed ignorance of the whereabouts of the guard. Sarapul had been right. They should have pushed the body out to the edge of the reef for the sharks to eat. Actually, that had been Sarapul's second suggestion for the disposal of the body. â€Å"It look like accident,† Malink said. â€Å"Maybe he running and fall on his spear.† â€Å"I want the man who did this, Malink,† the Sorcerer said. â€Å"He is dead.† â€Å"The Filipino did this?† Malink nodded. The other guards had found Kimi's body in the village, where the Shark People had been preparing it for burial. â€Å"I don't think so. The Filipino took four bullets in the back. Whoever did this was very strong. Now you must tell me the truth or Vincent will be angry.† Malink was not afraid of Vincent's wrath. He only now realized that all the wrath his people had ever felt from Vincent had come by way of the Sorcerer and the Sky Priestess. He was afraid of the Sky Priestess. â€Å"The American do this before he leave in the canoe. The guard shoot the girl-man and the American kill the guard.† â€Å"Why didn't you tell me about this before?† â€Å"I am afraid Vincent will be angry.† â€Å"Where did they get a canoe? None of the Shark People know how to build a canoe.† â€Å"It was the girl-man. He know how. He build with Sarapul.† The Sorcerer balled his fists. â€Å"And Sarapul is gone too.† Malink nodded. â€Å"He sail away.† â€Å"Do you know where they were going?† Malink shook his head. â€Å"No. Sarapul is banished. We no talk with him.† â€Å"Where's the guard's weapon?† Malink shrugged. The Sorcerer turned his back and began walking up the beach. â€Å"Have your people bury this man, Malink. Don't let the other guards see him. And be ready. The Sky Priestess will visit you soon.† Sarapul crawled out from some nearby ferns and stood at Malink's side, watching the Sorcerer walk away. â€Å"We should have eaten this guy,† he said, kicking Yamata's body. â€Å"This is very bad,† Malink said. â€Å"He killed my friend.† Sarapul kicked the body again. â€Å"The Sky Priestess will be very angry.† Malink was, once again, feeling the weight of his position. The old cannibal shrugged. â€Å"Can I have my spear back?† Tuck knew that there was a way to use the hands of a watch in conjunction with the movement of the sun to determine direction, but since he wore a digital watch, it wouldn't have done him any good even if he knew the method, which he didn't. He guessed that Guam lay to the west, so he steered for the setting sun, spent the night guessing, and corrected his course to put the sun behind them at sunrise. He did know how to sail. It was required knowledge for a kid growing up in a wealthy family near San Diego, but celestial navigation was a complete mystery. Sepie was no help at all. Even if she knew anything, she hadn't said a word since Kimi had been shot. Tuck forced her to drink the water from a couple of green coconuts, but other than that, she had lain in the bow motionless for twenty-four hours. He was now looking at his second sunset at sea. He corrected his course and realized that they must have been traveling north most of the day. How far, he couldn't guess. He steered southwest until the sun lay on the water like a glowing platter, hoping to correct some of the damage. He really wished that Sepie would come around. He needed some sleep, and he needed some relief from his own thoughts. Thoughts of the Sky Priestess, of the Sorcerer, and of his dead friend Kimi. Despite the navigat-or's surly manner, he had been a good kid. Tuck, who had been brought up in relative luxury, couldn't imagine having endured the life that Kimi had lived. And the navigator had never given up. He had lived and died with courage. And he would still be alive if he hadn't met Tucker Case. â€Å"Fuck!† Tuck said to no one. He wiped his eyes on his sleeve and squinted at the gunmetal waves. There was a flapping noise up by the mast and Tuck adjusted the steering oar to catch the wind. The sail filled again, but the flapping continued for a second before it stopped. Roberto caught the shroud line that was secured to the outrigger and did an upside-down swinging landing that left him looking to the back of the canoe. Tuck couldn't have been happier if it had been an angel hanging from his shroud line. â€Å"Roberto?† â€Å"Yes,† the bat said. He was speaking in his own voice, not Vincent's. The accent Filipino, not Manhattan. Tuck almost burst out laughing. His mood swings were so rapid and wide now that he was afraid his sanity might be falling through the chasm. â€Å"I didn't recognize you without your glasses.† â€Å"I no like the light,† Roberto said. Tuck looked to Sepie, still lying in the bow. â€Å"Look, Sepie, it's Roberto.† The girl did not stir. â€Å"You are very sad about Kimi,† Roberto said. â€Å"Yes,† Tuck said, â€Å"I am sad.† â€Å"He tell you he was great navigator and you no believe him.† Tuck looked away. Something about bats increases shame by a factor of ten. â€Å"You are going the wrong way,† the bat said. â€Å"Go that way.† He pointed with a wing claw. The wind caught his wing and nearly spun him off the shroud line. He braced himself with the other wing claw and pointed again. â€Å"I mean that way.† â€Å"You're shitting me,† Tuck said. â€Å"That way.† â€Å"That's north. I'm going to Guam. West.† â€Å"That's west. I am born on Guam.† â€Å"You're a bat.† â€Å"You ever see a lost bat?† â€Å"No, but I've never seen a talking bat either.† â€Å"See?† Roberto said, as if he had made his point. â€Å"That way.† After all the evidence is in – after you've run all the facts by everything you know – and you're still lost, you have to do some things on faith. Tuck steered in the direction Roberto was pointing. A few minutes later he looked up to see Vincent sitting on the pile of coconuts in the center of the canoe. â€Å"Good call, listening to the bat,† Vincent said. â€Å"I just wanted you to know that the Shark People are going to build some ladders.† â€Å"Well, that's a useful bit of information,† Tuck said. â€Å"It will be,† Vincent said. Then he disappeared.

The Essay Experts New Years Ressaylutions- Completing 2011 and Creating 2012

The Essay Experts New Years Ressaylutions- Completing 2011 and Creating 2012 Last year at about this time, I wrote a list of six New Year’s Ressaylutions for 2011. Do you ever go back to your list from last year and check on whether you followed through on your resolutions, or whether you forgot about them the moment you put your pen down? I realized that with all my talk about New Year’s resolutions, I hadn’t gone back to check last year’s list.   I got brave and dug it up this week; the following is a report on how I did at keeping my promises!   I also make new resolutions for 2012. 2011 Ressaylutions  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1.   Convert my website to WordPress. DONE!   Not only is my site fully converted to WordPress, but I also have a funky cool new slider on my home page. I also created many new forms and downloadable documents that make it easier for clients to submit information and get the materials they need. 2.   Make it easier for my readers to choose the topic they want to read about. DONE!   I now have six separate e-lists: a) Job Search (Resumes Cover Letters) b) College Admissions c) LinkedIn Professional Writing d) Grammar Tips e) Newsletter only e) Everything. Choose the one that’s â€Å"write† for you! 3.   Create autoresponders. DONE!   And there is still so much more to do.   See Ressaylution #3. 4.   Guest blog. DONE!   My articles have appeared on CareerCast.com, Careerealism.com, CareerCenterToolbox.com and ilostmyjob.com, and I was quoted in Forbes.   Recently I wrote two articles for an American Bar Association publication about resumes and personal statements for applying to law school which will be published this summer. 5.   Start an Artist’s Way group. NOT DONE.   This one took a back seat to the business.   But I DID write my morning pages every day for three months like I said I would.   And I told everyone I was leading something, which made me act like a leader.   Perhaps that’s what inspired my article, Top 10 Ways to Be a Leader.   I’m content that this item did not come to fruition. 6.   Continue to write and share about writing issues, job search issues, and sometimes life issues that strike my fancy each week and that my readers care about. DONE.   I faithfully published either a blog article or a newsletter EVERY week in 2011, without fail.   Now THAT’s something to celebrate! Here are The Essay Expert’s Ressaylutions for 2012: 1.   Create a new template for my website that brings me more into the technology of 2012. Despite my successful WordPress conversion, there’s much work still to be done before I have the ability to edit my pages without â€Å"breaking† the existing code.   Look out for a new, more user-friendly interface in 2012 too! 2.   Create new e-lists for past clients, and survey past clients. I want to follow up better with The Essay Expert’s past clients and find out how they are faring with the documents we helped them prepare.   Did they get jobs?   Did they get into school?   Do they need more assistance?   My hope is that better e-lists will allow me to start providing concrete numbers about the results of the work that we do.   In service of this goal (as well as Ressaylution #3), I will be hiring a virtual assistant (VA)!   No more interns – The Essay Expert is getting down to business. 3.   Revise autoresponders from 2011. Right now most of my autoresponders are set up as summaries of my articles with links to the full article. It turns out that people don’t like to have to click on a link to read a full article!   So I will be putting complete articles into my autoresponders for your reading convenience and pleasure.   Thank you to my future VA for helping to make this happen! 4.   Publish my e-book on Kindle This one is in the works.   It will have a cool new cover and a clickable index for easy reference.   Let’s make it a best-seller! 5.   Report on and count success stories in 2012. My goal is to report 212 success stories in 2012.   My resolution is to keep doing great work and to keep marketing The Essay Expert’s offerings so we can create 212 positive results for job seekers, school applicants and businesses in the next year.   See 212 Success Stories for 2012. 6.   Continue to write and share about writing issues, job search issues, and sometimes life issues that strike my fancy each week and that my readers care about. No change here.   I’ll see you every week in 2012. How did you do on your New Years resolutions from 2011?   Do you dare to find out? Category:Life and LeadershipBy Brenda BernsteinJanuary 16, 2012 1 Comment The Essay Expert says: January 17, 2012 at 8:06 am LOL Jan perhaps theres room to start challenging yourself more! Log in to Reply

Bad Effects of Drugs Essay Example for Free

Bad Effects of Drugs Essay Bad Effects of Drugs Drugs are a problem in all societies around the world, and have been for centuries. Drug addiction causes many of social problems, and causes many people to suffer from its effects. The problems can be divided into three groups: personal, familial, and societal. The first effect of drugs is addiction. Most drugs cause a very nice feeling called a ‘high’, which makes the drug user do anything to get that feeling again. This is called addiction. On the other hand, many drugs such as cocaine and nicotine cause people to feel very sick if they stop taking the drug. This is the other side of the addiction. Addiction drives people to do bad things for a high. It makes it very hard for them to think about the future. Drugs can cause mental illness. Casual use of drugs like cannabis and ecstasy often leads to abuse, and people can get depression or other illnesses such as bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Addiction causes people to give up on life. They have no desire to work hard or achieve their goals. People who take drugs often lose their job, and their family, and sleep on the street. Some drugs, such as glue sniffing, cause a lot of damage to people’s brains. These people do not eat enough food, and become unable to think clearly. They become weak, and it is hard for them to ever get better. Many drug users are abandoned by their families, because the addict causes many problems for them. Addicts often steal to pay for their drugs, and the family can be held responsible. Drug users usually don’t help the family with money or cleaning, they can be dirty and aggressive, sometimes violent. They can also have friends who are criminals, who can cause further problems. When drug users already have a family, the family can suffer because the addict spends all the money, and sells and trades everything they can for drugs. Families of a drug user can lose their reputation, which can make it difficult for young people in the family to get married, and can even cause problems for the family business or the parents’ jobs. One of the worst problems of drugs is when drug users have children. The addicts often do not look after children properly, and the children do not get good food or go to school. Children need good parents to teach them how to be good people, to study hard and have good values. But children of drug users learn to beg and steal, and to never work, practice good hygiene, or be good to other people. Growing up that way, these children often become drug users like their parents. Drugs cause many problems for the whole society, such as crime, unemployment and homelessness. People who are addicted to drugs usually cannot work, so to pay for drugs, they steal or beg, which causes problems for the whole community. Sometimes drug users can be violent. Their mind is not clear because of drugs, and they can hurt or kill people for money, or even for no reason at all. The police must spend a lot of their time dealing with the crimes of drug addicts. But it is not just addicts that commit crimes. People who grow, manufacture, transport and sell drugs are committing crimes. In many cases, they earn very large amounts of money from drugs, and they will protect their income with threats, violence and corruption. They bribe police, judges and officials, so they can continue their illegal business. The fact that they are not working means that they are not providing any benefit for their community; they only take, they do not give anything. If they cannot afford somewhere to live, they sleep on the street, or break into empty houses or businesses to sleep. Often, they create damage and mess wherever they stay. When many drug users are in one area, they can make it not nice, so tourists and customers stay away, and businesses suffer. Bad Effects of Drugs. (2018, Oct 26).

Corporate Governance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Corporate Governance - Research Paper Example The present study would focus on corporate governance as the way in which companies are controlled and governed. It also entails relationships among stakeholders with the same goals to benefit the welfare. Corporate governance has several good components that ensure proper governance. To begin with, directors and senior officers take up the task of implementing new requirements that have been imposed by the Sarbanes- Oxley Act and associated SEC and stock market regulations. They need to stay in focus with the broader and strategic objectives of corporate governance. Businesses will grow stronger if they comply with legal and regulatory requirements. They should also maintain high profile risk management. The boards of directors are primarily responsible for ensuring there is effective governance. They not only have to ensure that sound systems of governance are in place, but also that such systems work effectively through evaluation of performance and thorough monitoring. On the sid e of legal and regulatory reforms, a lot of attention has been particularly, focused on boards and their performance especially when it comes to the independence of the board management. There also has to be a lot of scrutiny on the side of directors, they should be watched more closely to ensure there is a high level of transparency. Good corporate governance in a business will always translate to good financial performance. Profitable investment opportunities and increased reliance on external financing are attributes exhibited by firms with strong corporate governance, according to the University of Michigan Business School. Also, it is true that companies with high governance standards will always receive the best premium from investors. Good corporate governance defines the business strategy of a business, enhancing competitive positions. A company can therefore recruit and retain productive employees if it possesses a stable base of corporate governance (Julien & Rieger 8) Enr on failed greatly in corporate governance. From violating the recommendations by government reformers where Ken Lay served as CEO and chairman of the board, to having significant shares of Enron being owned by board members, and also the board members earning money working on Enron’s projects. Enron also suffered complicated accounting and finance transactions needed approval by an external auditor and lawyers even before getting to the board members. There was a major problem with Enron’s code of ethics, as senior stakeholders were prohibited from having any financial stake in organizations dealing with Enron. Corporate Governance has played a major role in the auditor’s evaluation of a company’s financial systems and internal control systems. Corporate governance ensure that that board members act transparently and maintain accountability in their actions, this greatly assists the auditors in ensuring that there is no fraud committed by the board member s thus reducing the overall task of auditing. Corporate governance also ensures that the senior members of the companies including the directors and managers are scrutinized, and thoroughly