Tuesday, December 31, 2019

The Allegory of the Cave by Plato Essays - 1111 Words

The Allegory of the Cave by Plato The Allegory of the Cave, by Plato, explains that people experience emotional and intellectual revelations throughout different stages in their lives. This excerpt, from his dialogue The Republic, is a conversation between a philosopher and his pupil. The argument made by this philosopher has been interpreted thousands of times across the world. My own interpretation of this allegory is simple enough as Plato expresses his thoughts as separate stages. The stages, very much like life, are represented by growing realizations and newfound pains. Therefore, each stage in The Allegory of the Cave reveals the relation between the growth of the mind and age. The first stage of the excerpt,†¦show more content†¦Although, when they do encounter new experiences, they sometimes learn that the experience has caused them great pain. In addition, teenagers may change their vision of life. Usually teens become hardened and more used to pain; they become more familiar with the real world. Even though many teenagers feel they have experienced a great deal of pain and think they know it all, they have not witnessed an extremely harsh life until completely on their own. Adult life is what Plato intends to symbolize in the next stage, when the people are forced to see the sun. In this stage, the people are brought up a steep ascent and forced to gaze into the sun. Once more, the people experience sharp pains as they are not used to the light of the sun. The pains of adulthood may be anything including relationships, jobs, and finances. After those who are forced to stare at the sun have grown accustomed to it, they see the big picture and have greater awareness. Adults too have to persevere through their own pains, but the reward is worth it: a family, job, house, etc.. And when he remembered his old habitation, and the wisdom of the den and his fellow prisoners, do you not suppose that he would felicitate himself on the change, and pity them?(6) After seeing the light of the sun and contemplating on previous stages in life, the people pity the time spent in theShow MoreRelatedAllegory Of The Cave By Plato1722 Words   |  7 PagesAllegory of t he Cave Human experiences are an everyday aspect of individuals lives. The way individuals see, touch, smell, feel, and even remember is through unique experiences. People do not realize it, but our everyday life and community shape how the mind experiences certain events. Because of these, the way individuals see the world is different from person to person. The mind interprets the world around the individuals, however, it can only interpret what it is exposed to. It is up to the individualsRead MoreThe Allegory Of The Cave By Plato1511 Words   |  7 PagesIn our class, we read three powerful and meaningful texts. We started by reading The Allegory of the Cave by Plato, a Greek philosopher who lived from 428-347 B.C.E. This text led to our reading of The Four Idols by Francis Bacon, an English philosopher who came much later than Plato and lived from 1562 to 1626. Lastly, we read The Word Weavers/World Makers by Neil Postman, who lived from 1931-2003. There seems to be a recurring theme in which they themselves deal with ideas of knowledge and illusionsRead MoreAllegory of the Cave Plato6021 Words   |  25 Pagescomfortable with this unawareness because it is all we know. Platos Allegory of the Cave† captures the essence of the journey to enlightenment. Clearly, the thought of sameness and normality thinking has transcended from Platos time to today. Thus, the allegory is relevant to contemporary essential life. Organizations are known for fostering a culture of group thinking. The danger inherent in group thinking is the object lesson that Plato tries to convey. When we refuse to engage in critical thinkingRead MoreThe Allegory of the Cave by Plato916 Words   |  4 PagesThe â€Å"Allegory of the Cave† by Plato represents the differences in the way we perceive reality and what we believe is real. In his story, Plato starts by saying that in a cave, there are prisoners chained down and are forced to look at a wall. The prisoners are unable to turn their heads to see what is going on behind them and are completely bound to the floor. Behind the prisoners, puppeteers hide and cast shadows on the wall in line with the prisoners’ sight, thus giving the prisoners their onlyRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave1093 Words   |  4 PagesPlatos Cave begins by explaining the conditions of the people inside the cave. The people inside sit side by side. Their hands and legs are chained to the ground. They face a wall in the cave. The cave is illuminated by a fire behind the people. On the wall, there are projections of shadows created by the fire and objects that passes by fire. The prisoners dont know this, of course, because they are bound so tight that they cant turn their heads. There are people that are carrying objects to createRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave.1145 Words   |  5 PagesIn Plato s The Allegory of the Cave, Socrates tells an allegory of the hardship of understanding reality. Using metaphors Socrates comp ares a prisoner in an underground cave who is exploring a new strange world he never knew of to people who are trying to find a position of knowledge in reality. Through it, Plato attempts to map a man s journey through education and describes what is needed to achieve a perfect society. According to Socrates, most people tend to rely on their senses excessivelyRead MoreAllegory Of The Cave By Plato974 Words   |  4 Pages Have you ever felt so trapped in a small space you began to lose your mind? In Plato’s short story, â€Å"Allegory of the Cave,† the author uses allegory as a means to justify that the world is a reflection of more perfect and ideal forms. As the story begins, Plato’s teacher, Socrates, presents a world of alternate reality to Plato’s brother Glaucon by telling him to imagine a cave full of prisoner’s who have been chained their entire lives. The shadows, voices, and figures given to them by the puppeteersRead MoreAllegory Of T he Cave By Plato934 Words   |  4 Pagesour lives, every person has asked themselves a varied version of the same questions: What is â€Å"reality†, moreover what determines our perception of reality, and what am I supposed to do with (or about) it? Throughout â€Å"Allegory of the Cave,† Plato attempts to answer these questions. Plato suggests that humans have a constrained view of the world, and that reality consist of two different perceptions, a bodily eye† and a â€Å"mind’s eye.† The â€Å"mind’s eye†, the hypothetical site of visual recollection orRead MorePlato s Allegory Of The Cave1716 Words   |  7 PagesIn Plato’s, Allegory of the cave, a key theory I found was the importance of education. Plato uses an â€Å"allegory to illustrate the dilemma facing the psyche in the ascent to knowledge of the imperishable and unchanging forms† (104) Based on my research of the republic, the allegory can reveal multiple h idden messages. Plato describes, ordinary mortals are chained within an underground chamber, which according to Fiero, represents the psyche imprisoned within the human body. These mortals can’t lookRead MorePlato s Allegory Of Cave1979 Words   |  8 PagesJaneva Walters December 6, 2016 Dr. T. Brady ENG 391 Plato’s Allegory of Cave The allegory of the cave is regarded as one of the most reputed and acclaimed works by the Greek philosopher Plato in modern literature as well as philosophy. First published and presented in his work known as a Republic (514a–520a), the dialogues that have been used as conversation can be regarded as fictitious as the main conversation takes place between Plato’s brother Glaucon and Socrates. First and foremost, allegorical

Monday, December 23, 2019

Road Rage Essay - 1743 Words

How can a normally patient person turn impatient behind the wheel? This is called road rage and it may not sound like much but it actually is deadly. According to RoadRagers.com road rage is â€Å"the informal name for deliberately dangerous and/or violent behavior under the influence of heightened, violent emotion such as anger and frustration, involving an automobile in use.† Throughout this paper I will be discussing road rage through the perspective of sociologists, psychologists, the causes of road rage, and signs of road rage so you can avoid them, avoidance of road rage and legal actions against road rage. Road rage does not discriminate; it happens to new drivers and veteran drivers. Before I discuss the first perspective; I am†¦show more content†¦This can manifest itself in a variety of different ways, including the abuse of alcohol and road rage (Mann). Also, people who have road rage are almost always involved in alcohol related accidents. People who e xperience road rage while under the influence of alcohol have no idea what they are doing. This brings us to the psychological view of road rage; because it is known that alcohol affects the body and brain whenever it is consumed. A psychologist would note that the cause of road rage is the car. Psychologist Leon James stated that a car â€Å"is also a cultural and psychological object, associated with the driver’s internal mental and emotional dynamics, our ego† (Schmitt). Cars are seen as powerful objects and when a person gets behind the will of a car they have a great sensation of control flow through their bodies. They feel that they are controlling such a powerful object that they are powerful; that feel as they are in control of the road and if anyone gets in their way, they have the right to put the other driver in their place. Most drivers that think of themselves as in control put other drivers in their place by using road rage. For example,Show MoreRel atedRoad Rage660 Words   |  3 PagesAnalysis 1 – Road Rage Road Rage has become a widespread hazard on the nation’s congested, fast-paced roads, especially on highways. In fact, Road Rage is a serious national problem. Do you curse and honk your horn if a driver tries to cut you off, or slam on your brakes to annoy someone who’s tailgating? Aggressive driving, better known as â€Å"Road Rage†, occurs when furious motorists lose their temper over traffic disturbances. Almost every day you hear of another incident involvingRead MoreEssay on Road Rage645 Words   |  3 PagesRoad Rage   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Road rage doesn’t just happen in the United States or just to people you don’t know. Road rage is widespread it happens all over the world where cars are used. Tt can happen to family members and friends. There are many different ways we can educate and help stop road rage occurrences. Some solutions would be to educate school students when they get their licenses. Also educate the public with billboards, commercials, radio commercials and others. To stop reoccurring road rage problemsRead MoreDriving On The Road Rage863 Words   |  4 Pagesdestination. When you are driving on the roads, you will likely encounter an aggressive driver. They usually make themselves noticeable by cutting people off and yelling at other drivers. They seem to always be in a rush to get to their destination so they will do what they need to do to get there. Other aggressive drivers can be the type to yell and curse at other drivers because of frustration which is known as road rage. Someone that has road rage typically will get upset over something thatRead MoreRoad Rage: Causes and Solutions Essay1419 Words   |  6 PagesRoad rage is a major problem in the United States, anger causes stress, fear , and accidents to our roadways everyday. In this essay we will define road rage, look at the causes and effects, and come up with solutions on how to avoid an altercation with an aggressive driver who has road rage. Road rage doesn’t always involve two drivers, sometimes it deals with a driver and a pedestrian. We need to learn to deal with the an ger, and prevent violence toward others on the road. Road rage affectsRead MoreRoad Rage in the United States: Causes, Effects, and Solutions1896 Words   |  8 PagesRoad Rage in the United States: Causes, Effects, and Solutions Thesis Road rage is a major problem in the United States, it causes anger, fear , and accidents to our roadways everyday. Introduction In this essay we will define road rage, look at the causes and effects, and come up with posssible solutions on how to avoid an altercation with an agresssive driver who has road rage. I will try to encourage you to learn how to share the road , with not only other drivers, but also pedestrainasRead MoreRoad Rage1514 Words   |  7 PagesThesis: Road rage is a major problem in the United States, it causes accidents, anger, fear, and danger to our roadways everyday. Audience: Anyone who struggles with anger management while driving, or the typical aggressive driver. Also teenagers, adults, and elderly people. Purpose: To inform all drivers of the unsafe and unpredictable behavior present on our roadways. Also to help understand road rage is a problem people have becauseRead MoreRoad Rage1653 Words   |  7 Pagesthe crematories (Wiesel 30). Elie Wiesel remembers when Mengele was selecting more victims but just by marking their number down. Luckily Wiesel was not selected but more or less hid his number from the doctor as he was running past. The end of the road was near for those who had gotten marked down in the doctors little book (Wiesel 68). Though selection was a big piece of the Holocaust so were the medical experiments held by Dr. Mengele on innocent victims of the Holocaust. His experiences are veryRead MoreRoad Rage870 Words   |  4 PagesA coin is tossed four times. The probability is  ¼ or 0.25 that all four tosses will result in a head face up. Answer Correct Answer: False A firm offers routine physical examinations as part of a health service program for its employees. The exams showed that 8% of the employees needed corrective shoes, 15% needed major dental work and 3% needed both corrective shoes and major dental work. What is the probability that an employee selected at random will need either corrective shoesRead MoreRoad Rage - Essay966 Words   |  4 PagesCan You Define Road Rage? It seems like you can#8217;t drive more than two miles today without encountering road rage. Some say that road rage is a national epidemic more dangerous than drunk driving. Others find it to be a perpetual but insignificant problem. Needless to say, almost everyone agrees that road rage is an actual attitude that can be observed on most American roadways. But what is road rage? Is it some kind of medical condition? A certain habit or behavior? Or maybeRead More Road Rage Essay1533 Words   |  7 PagesThesis:Road rage is a major problem in the United States, it causes accidents, anger, fear, and danger to our roadways everyday. Audience: Anyone who struggles with anger management while driving, or the typical aggressive driver. Also teenagers, adults, and elderly people.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Purpose: To inform all drivers of the unsafe and unpredictable behavior present on our roadways. Also to help understand road rage is a problem people have because of their attitude and they bring harm to others. Publication:

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Chula Vista Nature Center Free Essays

The Chula Vista Nature Center Tamitha Y Sprenger SCI 256 March 29, 2012 Tim Boyajian Chula Vista Nature Center San Diego, to many it’s a land of dreams from coastal backyards to mountain views as well as many areas that imitate the dessert like climates of Arizona. However, it is not just a home for people, but also for many animals and plants as well. California has partnered with the U. We will write a custom essay sample on Chula Vista Nature Center or any similar topic only for you Order Now S. Fish and Wildlife Service and California fish and game to help protect the diverse species of plants and animals that share the lush beauty of this land. One way they are striving to accomplish this task is through the Multiple Species Conservation Plan (MSCP). One organization that assists in the restoration of the native plant and animals of Chula Vista is the Chula Vista Nature Center. The Chula Vista Nature Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing environmental education on coastal resource conservation, and building a respect for wildlife in the lives of the people. It rests on the 316-acre Sweetwater March National Wildlife Refuge, and provides an interactive learning experience by introducing the guest to the way the native creatures live in their natural habitats. Some of the interactive exhibits include the turtle lagoon, the shark and ray experience, and the native plant gardens. One can even see burrowing owl nests and the bald eagle. At the native plant and garden visitors will be provided with staff fully knowledgeable on composting gardens. These staff members will then give a demonstration that will teach visitors how they can help make home gardens healthy and safe by reducing the use of toxic fertilizers that destroy the native plants. Some of these native plants guests will be able to enjoy are the Shaw’s Agave, Sagebrush, Coast Barrel Cactus, The California Wild Rose, and many more. With these beautiful and fragrant flowers guests will also enjoy butterflies, hummingbirds and other native birds. The Chula Vista Nature Center takes guests on an underworld adventure though the Discovery Center. Here, one will learn about the Rainbow Trout, California Lobster, Red Diamond Rattlesnake, Moon Jelly and more. Guest will find them selves traveling though the bay, to the marshlands and then into upland areas as they stroll through the Discovery Center. Interactions with humans for these plants and animals are beneficial to their survival. Without the knowledge of s disasters that put them in danger of extinction many of these creatures will have already been gone, and humans will only learn of them from books. With the help of The Chula Vista Nature Center, these native creatures will have a chance to grow, and live as they were meant to live. Humans will experience the beauty of the land, and the natural resources that are provided for them by the land. Human life does not come solely from their attempts to grow their own plants, or breed their own animals. It comes from working together with the plants and animals that naturally live and grow in the environment. References County of San Diego (2009). MSCP Biology. Received March 26, 2012 from http://www. sdcounty. ca. gov The Chula Vista Nature Center (2010). The Chula Vista Nature Center. Received March 27, 2012 from http://www. chulavistanaturecenter. org How to cite Chula Vista Nature Center, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Auditing and Assurance Services Liability Limitation

Question: Discuss about the Auditing and Assurance Services Liability Limitation. Answer: Introduction Qantas Airways Limited as nicknamed The Flying Kangaroo was founded in 1920 and is today the largest airline in Australia in terms of fleet size and international destinations. Qantas acknowledges that it has reached the heights due to the strong past of the staff, customers and the manner in which the partners of the business associated. It has a long history of events as it is tagged as a recognized brand and pioneer in the airline industry. The flawless service provided to its customers takes it to the apex of the aviation industry. Its principal competitors are Air New Zealand Limited and Virgin Blue Airlines Pty Ltd. Qantas has been posting good profits which are signs of the successful management action. It has entered into strategic partnerships with airline operators around the world with a view to retain its place in the global aviation industry. Qantas is also a member in the oneworld alliance that is led by British Airways and American Airlines (Kitney, 2014). Thus Qantas can be seen as spreading its wings to achieve growth and maintain the formidable position it has created in the market. The current report aims to shed light on Qantas Airways in terms of audit risk that the company faces in its course of activity. Audit Risk Areas Internal Control Description As per the Management evaluation, the risks that could potentially impact the results and performance are: Variations in the aviation fuel prices, Ever increasing competition by the operators both domestic and international, exchange rates fluctuations , Performance of the engine suppliers and key aircrafts, Industrial relations and regulations, Government and national aviation regulators, Outbreak of war or such other natural disasters, Weakening of the global or Asian economy, Technology updates in the operations, variations in credit rating, Any vital incident in the aviation industry, Operation of the alliance partners on the removal of the vital alliance of airline. The Management follows the Policy of Proactive preparedness for these risks and such other risks that concerns Qantas. The Management is responsible for the establishment of policies, procedures and internal controls. These internal controls are designed in a way that the group achieves its objectives of perfect work, operational efficiency, financial reporting reliability and legal and regulatory compliances (Kruger, 2015). As time, quality of services and safety are utmost essential while operating in the aviation industry, Qantas has designed the internal controls to cover the same. The constant review and update of internal controls is an ongoing process as the internal controls have to be in place for identifying, evaluating and managing the significant risks that the Group is likely to face. As risk cannot be completely eliminated, the internal controls are designed for the effective management of the ongoing risks (Lapsley, 2012). Risks are identified by different departments in a self-written assessment procedure carried out by the Group. The Risk Registers are updated accordingly and the Executive Management Committee makes the required changes in the internal controls to incorporate the same. The internal and external auditors assess whether the internal controls are satisfactory or not and advise the Board accordingly (Hoffelder, 2012). The Audit and Risk Committee has to act on the reports of the auditors with reference to the adequacy and effectiveness of the internal controls, summary of the key issues and work schedules, actions to be taken if any, so on and so forth. In terms of financial controls, adequate checks are established to monitor the pricing at various times and whether these fluctuations are a result of the changes in demand and supply (Ryan, 2015). The internal controls are also designed to monitor the market disclosures and communications regarding share dealing, data privacy, corporate social responsibility, business ethics and legal policies (Hoffelder, 2012). Health, safety and environment related audits are carried out and the required controls are placed. There are also various executives and designated staff at every level to eliminate the possibilities of any lapse or mishap. The Code of Conduct and Ethics is reviewed and revised on a time to time basis to incorporate the amendments and enhancements (Cappelleto, 2010). Thus it can be seen that internal controls almost cover the entire groups operational performance and the timely working of these controls increases the effectiveness and makes Qantas a trusted brand among its frequent flyers (Heeler, 2009). Impact of Audit Risk on companys financial statements The impact of audit risk on financial statements can be understood by first having a look at the business risks. As business risks are wide and diverse, the auditor has to use professional judgment in classifying the risks across various levels and then incorporate audit procedures for the mitigation of these risks. Audit risks are different from business risks in a way that the business risk is known to the owner of the business whereas audit risk can be defined as risk that the auditor provides an opinion that is inappropriate on the financial statements based on the analytical procedures and other auditing requirements complied by the auditor (Gay Simnet, 2015). Hence, the element of danger is contained in both. The audit risk can only be managed by an auditor while financial risks can be tackled by the company and does not necessarily need the presence of an auditor. A few such risks are discussed hereunder: The hedging contracts and programs are entered into on the basis of the management expertise and this is subject to the inherent audit risk of fuel and foreign exchange volatility. Hence the audit procedures should include the provision for inspection of these contracts and the inspection of the same with the risk management planning and procedures of the Group (Horngren, 2013). As technology is advancing, it is essential to be updated with the systems and incorporate the updates in the legal and regulatory framework in the hardware and software. This will help the business in the long term perspective. The IT contingencies and failures are also significant risks that can have an impact on the financial statements of the company. If the IT procedure is not able to meet the expectations then the business is bound to face crisis (Gilbert et. al, 2005). Hence the auditor has to obtain external confirmations and certification about the updated hardware and softwares operational effectiveness as information technology system failure is a significant risk. Variations in credit rating also have an impact on the financial statements. If there is a sudden change in the credit rating, it leads to lessening of the goodwill. Therefore, the companies try to maintain a stable credit rating because too much fluctuation is not a good indicator. For this reason, the inflows and outflows have to be inspected, financial agreements and liquidity positions have to be analyzed and the implications of the changes in credit rating on various avenues has to be studied (Kaplan, 2011). There could be a major withdrawal of investment or such other partnerships or alliances that pose significant risks. Human Resource is the most vital resource for any organization. Hence the worker and labor agreements have to be inspected. The working conditions have to be inspected from time to time to ensure that the environmental, health and safety standards are being met by the company always. The climatic conditions of countries all around the world also needs to be considered in the aviation industry (Livne, 2015). Unscheduled delays can lead to huge financial losses and also loss of reputation. This is because the work tends to stretch and hence, completion of the work does not take place at the accurate time. The economic trends of the company are significant in determining its future course of action. A trend determines the future course of activity and helps the stakeholders in knowing the potential of the company. Therefore, the trend is given strong emphasis. Unusual fluctuations from its known path can bring operations to a peril and so the risk is evident. The projects planned have to be assessed to find out the practicality of the same. Thus it can be seen that the financial statements can be affected by a lot of factors related to audit risk. For instance, if the company decides to sell of a subsidiary that is not performing very well and has a low market value, then the holding company might not be able to recover the complete sale amount in the transaction. The audit risk out here is the subsidiarys financial result that is altered to enhance the market value of its share before the occurrence of sale or the transactions that are related party. It happens with such a subsidiary might be tainted in such a way to enhance the subsidiarys market perception. There are similar kinds of risks associated with mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures (Manoharan, 2011). The auditor also has to determine if any of the risks are a threat to the going concern of the company. Though audit risks are different from business risks, it can be seen that the identification of business risks also leads to the potential for detection of audit risk (Roach, 2010). In the light of corporate scandals during the recent years, the responsibilities of the auditors are becoming more questionable. The scandals in the past have put enormous question on the skills of an auditor. Hence the Top down Approach has to be followed where the auditor has to gain understanding of the entity, its business risks and how these risks can turn out to be audit risks due to misinterpretation or lack of complete information or understanding. The auditor needs to gain an insight into the operation of the company so that an accurate view of the companys operation can be provided (Merchant, 2012). Thus audit risk on the financial statements cannot be quantified and can range from zero to maximum. Auditing Procedures of Qantas The Audit Committee has been established consisting of only Non-Executive Directors, at least three members, financially literate members and at least one member having financial expertise. The objectives of the audit committee are maintaining integrity in financial reporting, legal and regulatory provisions compliances, effectiveness of the risk management and internal control framework throughout the organization and overseeing the independence of the internal and external auditors (Messier Emby, 2005). The Committee also ensures to undertake the Principles and Recommendations laid down in the ASX Corporate Governance Council. Thus the audit committee assists in fulfilling the corporate governance objectives, financial reporting and audit risk management areas. The Audit Committee has to assess the draft in six months and annual financial statements of Qantas whether it represents the correct details about the company. The compliances of the company are verified with Standards of Accounting, unusual transactions that are vital and estimates of accounts, major changes in policies. The Audit Committee also reviews the Declarations signed by the Key Managerial Personnel with reference to the Corporations Act and ASX requirements. In the areas of legal and regulatory compliance, the audit committee along with the Board, CHESS and the management of Qantas monitors the compliance with reference to the Continuous Disclosure requirement by ASX and other legal and regulatory obligations. The internal policies and procedures are also tested by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will also consider the implications of any new or proposed accounting or tax practices, disclosure requirements, principles or developments as a result of the legal and regulatory pronouncements on the Group. Thus the Audit Committee is entrusted with the overseeing of the legal and regulatory requirements. The Risk Management and Control framework is audited by the Committee after taking into account the work done by the Management, CHESS and Board. The establishment, implementation and operation of the risk management systems are checked by assessing and monitoring the material business risks of the Group. The Audit Committee will also study the reports by the internal and external auditors regarding the deficiencies in the internal controls and the response of the management to such qualifications. The Committee also confirms if there are adequate provisions for receiving confidential anonymous complaints, retention and treatment of such complaints (Baldwin, 2010). The Audit Committee will also recommend the appointment, reappointment, replacement of the external auditors, and rotation of partners, review audit plans and engagement letters, review the identified risk areas and overall scope of the audit, review the overall independence of the external auditors and resolve conflicts between the Qantas Management and external auditors regarding financial reporting. The Audit Committee will ensure the approval of the appointment, remuneration and internal auditor replacement, review and approve the audit plans, audit budgets, quality control procedures and confirm the independence of the internal auditor. The Audit Committee also maintains a separate line of communication with the audit committee to ensure that there is full and frank disclosure of information. Recommendation There are many challenges ahead for Qantas in maintaining safe operations and world class product standards while building a competitive and viable position of the airline in the long term. Having developed a strong monopoly in the Australian market, it is time Qantas focuses on becoming global and increasing more international destinations. Also Qantas has to ensure that no other airline gets the majority market share in Australia. As it has a high growth rate and rich cash cycle, the global slowdown might not impact Qantas. It still has to increase the investments in Research Development to ensure that it stays updated with the technological advancements and does not miss out on the same. Qantas has to be prepared for increasing interest rates and raw material costs which might prove to be a financial burden or liability (Ryan, 2015). Thus it is recommended that Qantas continues operations at this rate with customer service being its top priority and it can retain its position. Conclusion The journey of Qantas has been thus seen and it takes a lifetime to build and run a successful aviation company. The challenges, ups and downs have to all be efficiently managed and monitored. As Qantas is in the hands of strong management and good governance, it has been able to build the positive image and stands a priority in customer choice. The strong image of the company is by dint of management that is able to meet the shareholder expectation and provide solidity to the working. Moreover, it meets the changing scenarios and competition in a strong fashion that highlights the efficiency of the management. Further, it needs to be noted that the role of an auditor is manifold when it comes to the success of the company. The identification of risk at an early stage highlights the skills of the auditor. It enables the company to succeed in the long run. Further, Qantas meet the expectations by dint of its operation and strong governance. The position is has attained highlights the performance and recognition it received from the customers. References Baldwin, S 2010, Doing a content audit or inventory, Pearson Press. Cappelleto, G. 2010, Challenges Facing Accounting Education in Australia, AFAANZ, Melbourne Gay, G; Simnet, R 2015, Auditing and Assurance Services, McGraw Hill Gilbert, W. Joseph J and Terry J. E 2005, The Use of Control Self-Assessment by Independent Auditors, The CPA Journal, vol.3, pp. 66-92 Heeler, D 2009, Audit Principles, Risk Assessment Effective Reporting, Pearson Press Hoffelder, K 2012, New Audit Standard Encourages More Talking, Harvard Press. Horngren, C 2013, Financial accounting, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W, Pearson Australia Group. Kaplan, R.S. 2011, Accounting scholarship that advances professional knowledge and practice, The Accounting Review, vol. 86, no. 2, pp. 367383. Kitney, D 2014, Qantas strikes joint venture deal with China Eastern, viewed 24 September 2016, https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/qantas-strikes-joint-venture-deal-with-china-eastern/news-story/20fd9b7a6466841aa9bfaa6725c78a36 Kruger, Philipp 2015, Corporate goodness and shareholder wealth, Journal of Financial economics, pp. 304-329 Lapsley, I. 2012, Commentary: Financial Accountability Management, Qualitative Research in Accounting Management, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 291-292. Livne, G 2015, Threats to Auditor Independence and Possible Remedies, viewed 23 Amrch 2016, https://www.financepractitioner.com/auditing-best-practice/threats-to-auditor-independence-and-possible-remedies?full. Manoharan, T.N. 2011, Financial Statement Fraud and Corporate Governance, The George Washington University. Merchant, K. A. 2012, Making Management Accounting Research More Useful, Pacific Accounting Review, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 1-34. Messier, W Emby, C 2005, Auditing Assurance Services: A systematic approach, McGraw-Hill. Parker, L, Guthrie, J Linacre, S 2011, The relationship between academic accounting research and professional practice, Accounting, Auditing Accountability Journal, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 5-14. Roach, L 2010, Auditor Liability: Liability Limitation Agreements, Pearson. Ryan, P 2015, Qantas defends safety record amid audit report, viewed 24 September 2016, https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2007-03-21/qantas-defends-safety-record-amid-audit-report/2222502.

Friday, November 29, 2019

Righting Wrongs through Writing an Example of the Topic Literature Essays by

Righting Wrongs through Writing German Nazis oppressed and murdered Jews by the millions. White slave masters oppressed their black slaves before slavery was abolished in America. Likewise, women have been oppressed in illiterate societies. And, the Darfur genocide story has been in the news for some time. In fact, oppression may be described as a sun that never seems to set. It happens around the world almost all of the time. Writers and poets take responsibility for describing the facts of oppression. But, there are various ways of righting wrongs by writing about oppression. Maxine Hong Kingstons (2006) short story, No Name Woman describes wrongs committed unto a Chinese woman in the 1920s. Langston Hughes poems, Negro and The Negro Speaks of Rivers also touch upon oppression; yet one of these poems offers hope to Africans that have suffered oppression in America, while the other simply asks the reader to understand the African American as a human being with his or her entire human baggage seeing that Africans h ad been dehumanized by the whites of America. The themes of Kingstons No Name Woman and Hughes Negro and The Negro Speaks of Rivers are based in stories of oppression. Need essay sample on "Righting Wrongs through Writing" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Undergraduates Usually Tell EssayLab writers: Who wants to write assignment for me? Specialists propose: Essaylab.Com Can Provide You With The Winning Academic Essay Writing Services Cheap Writing Service Reviews Custom Essay Order Review Essay Company Kingstons short story, No Name Woman, begins with the narrators mother informing her about her aunts suicide and asking her to keep it as a secret. The narrators family refuses to acknowledge the aunt as a part of their past lives. The narrators mother nevertheless tells the story of the no name woman, namely the aunt who committed suicide (Kingston). The no name woman was married in 1924 in China, as part of a ceremony that celebrated many marriages at the same time. When her husband left for work, as other husbands married during the same celebrations also left, she was expected to wait on money from him. But, she ended up getting pregnant many years after her husbands departure. When the baby was about to arrive, her family house was raided by angry protesting villagers. The no name woman gave birth to her first child in a pigsty. The following morning she was found dead with her child in the family well. Apparently, it was a suicide (Kingston). The narrators mother would like to warn her daughter about getting pregnant outside of marriage. After describing such warnings, the narrator explains certain aspects of her life as a Chinese American. She goes deeper into discussion about her aunt, too. According to the narrator, the no name woman must have been forced into adultery. The narrator also makes conjectures about why the no name woman was sent out of her in-laws home and whether the adulteror was one of the village raiders (Kingston). Some of the problems related to Chinese culture that the narrator raises include the loudness of their speech. Yet, the narrator must wonder about the silence that her aunt must have been forced to keep. The no name woman apparently committed suicide out of a sense of shame. Her people could not have tolerated an adulteress among them, which is why her family house was subjected to a raid. The fact that her family refuses to acknowledge her now that she is dead is another problem about Chinese culture that the narrator has set out to complain of. After all, the no name woman had been subjected to oppression, according to the narrators conjecture (Kingston). Punishing the woman for the crime of another is the main complaint about Chinese culture that Kingstons story raises. Kingston would like to shock her readers with her story of the oppressed aunt. Readers are supposed to understand the story as a warning against oppressive behavior. Although there is no clear warning in Kingstons story, the very fact that it is a story of oppression delivers it as a warning to readers. Oppression is bad the story states this loud and clear. It is injustice to commit acts of oppression Kingston would like her readers to know. Yet, Hughes does not only want his readers to understand oppression but also offer hope to the oppressed apart from his attempt to humanize those that have been dehumanized in the past. By writing about oppression that her aunt suffered, the narrator in Kingstons story also humanizes the dehumanized aunt. After all, once the reader has understood the dehumanization of the aunt in Kingstons story, he or she is expected to consider the alternatives in the aunts situation. In other words, it is inevitable for the reader of Kingstons story to ask, What could have been done better in the aunts situation? Moreover, once Kingston has analyzed the mindset of the oppressors of the aunt, she expects her readers to infer that theirs was inhumane behavior. Of course, Hughes played an important role as a writer and thinker of the Harlem Renaissance. This was an artistic movement of African Americans that arose during the 1920s to celebrate the lives and culture of Africans in the United States (Langston Hughes). Because most of the African Americans had been brought to the New World as slaves of white masters, it was poets and writers like Hughes, an African American man, that helped to change the perception of African Americans in the minds of the whites once slavery had been abolished. Hughes poems, The Negro Speaks of Rivers published in 1926, and Negro published in 1958, therefore depict African Americans as ordinary human beings like everybody else, and yet richer in culture and civilization than many others, seeing that they have participated in the construction of the great pyramids, mentioned in both poems. Hughes was direct and open about the fact that his writings were meant to uplift the conditions confronting Africans in the United States (Langston Hughes). Kingston merely describes the fact that it is illiteracy combined with poverty that must be held responsible for cultural customs that seem at odds with shared human values. The fact that Chinese people of the time of the no name woman would rather erase the memory of an adulteress than forgive her is horrific. Raiding her house at the time of her first babys delivery is even worse. But, then, there are plenty of problems connected with culture that transpire in villages of poor countries. An example distributed by the media is that of honor killings in the Indian subcontinent. These killings are based on the presumption of village elders that it is better to kill an adulteress than to bear her as a shame upon her entire family. What is more, it is a known fact that women are disproportionately hurt by such cultural traditions in far off places where human rights organizations may still not establish their presence as they would like. Kingston would like to right the wrongs in all such cultures. Unlike Hughes who writes for African Americans of his time, Kingston is not writing for the no name woman in her own time. Rather, hers is a generic story of oppression of women in poor countries where illiteracy is rampant. Africans of America had been slaves, so therefore the whites did not respect them enough even after the abolishment of slavery. Hughes The Negro Speaks of Rivers was published at the time of the Harlem Renaissance. His poem, Negro, on the other hand, was published at a time when racism was considered a huge problem to struggle against in the United States. Many battles were fought to set blacks equal to whites in the minds of all Americans. Hughes contribution of the 1950s, his poem Negro, was only different to the extent that it was a literary contribution. Countless other Africans were fighting on the streets of America to set things right once and for all. Both poems, The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Negro, are expressions of African American identity. The first poem begins thus: Ive known rivers (Hughes, The Negro Speaks of Rivers). In the second as in the first, although the poet has made clear that the narrator is a negro the poem, Negro begins with the words, I am a Negro (Hughes, Negro). Because the whites had been masters over African slaves, they were inclined to look down upon Africans. Since the whites were owners of property in America and certainly richer, the blacks longed to be like the whites. But, Hughes would like the Africans to feel at home in their own skins. With images of rivers as grand as of the Euphrates, the Nile and the Mississippi the poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, reminds the African of his or her historical roots or the history of the great African peoples who have traveled across all of these rivers adding value to the historical streams of cultures. The poem has irregular, long lines without rhythm bec ause it is making a basic point: the African soul is as deep as any human soul could be. The African individual indulges in deep thinking as he or she travels across ancient rivers. What he must dwell on is his own identity on foreign soil. Remembering the history of his or her civilization, he or she must keep in mind that life carries on. Whats more, even though Africans have traveled many lands, the poet reminds his fellow African that the black race has survived despite all odds (Hughes, The Negro Speaks of Rivers). Because The Negro Speaks of Rivers was published during the peak of Harlem Renaissance, it refers to depth of the African soul, given that art is often understood as the voice of the soul and the Harlem Renaissance was all about promoting African art and culture in the United States. Using gentle images such as the Mississippis bosom turning golden in the sunset, the poet uses his emphasis on rivers to stand as a symbol for the depth of the African soul (Hughes, The Negro Speaks of Rivers). Negro, published during the 1950s also mentions depths (Hughes, Negro). As in The Negro Speaks of Rivers, the depths mentioned by Hughes in both poems most likely refer to the depth of African knowledge too. After all, both poems refer to the history of Africans. Negro, with its sentence arrangements describing either what had happened to Africans or what they have done in the history of the African civilization also makes mention of the experiences and/or skills that set Africans apart, for exam ple, slavery and singing (Hughes, Negro). The poet represents all Africans in both his poems, The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Negro. What is more, both poems mention the fact that the Africans were part of the labor force that built the ancient pyramids. In The Negro Speaks of Rivers, it was the African who looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it (Hughes, The Negro Speaks of Rivers). In Negro, the pyramid is said to have arisen under the African hand, implying that the African was greatly skilled even at the time of ancient pyramid construction (Hughes, Negro). The main difference between the two poems, The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Negro is, undoubtedly, the spirit of hope felt through the first poem versus the sense of despair mixed with hope in the second poem. Hughes must have composed The Negro Speaks of Rivers in a different frame of mind altogether. The poem clearly promotes African American culture and art as originating in the deep history of humanity (Hughes, The Negro Speaks of Rivers). Although Negro makes mention of world history too, it does not necessarily promote African American art, apart from its reference to singing. The African American may be considered as more of a laborer or low paid worker than an artist in Negro (Hughes, Negro). Perhaps the poem was not written to promote African American art at all. As mentioned previously, the 1950s saw the whites and blacks of America fighting over the question of equal rights of Africans in almost all major areas of state functioning, including education. There were severe pro blems related to racism during this period of American history. Clearly, blacks were being dehumanized in the minds of the whites. It was in the mood of that hour that Hughes composed Negro. The poem speaks of the ordinariness of the African individual while describing the good uses that Africans have been made of, for example, in the construction of the Woolworth Building (Hughes, Negro). The Negro Speaks of Rivers is certainly not dismal or depressing like Negro, mainly because it does not make mention of slavery and victimization as the second. After all, Hughes is fighting against injustice toward African Americans in the 1950s. In the 1920s, his cause was entirely different. If The Negro Speaks of Rivers had made frequent mention of darkness as does Negro, the Harlem Renaissance could not have been considered a harbinger of hope (Hughes, Negro). Even so, both poems were composed around the story of oppression of Africans in America, just as Kingstons story of the no name woman revolves around the theme of oppression in poor cultures. If Africans had been treated as equals to the whites throughout the history of the United States, Hughes would not even have written these poems. Thus, Kingstons No Name Woman and Hughes poems The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Negro were written to right wrongs committed by human beings unto other human beings. Throughout the history of humanity, people have sought to appear strong by dehumanizing those that appear weak. Chinese women in the space and time of the no name woman must have been looked down upon even if they were innocent. Similarly, the whites of America continued to look down upon the blacks even after slavery had been abolished. Of course, there is no logic behind oppressive behavior. This is the reason why writers and poets such as Kingston and Hughes have built their writings around these stories. After all, if everybody had a clear idea about the ludicrousness of discrimination, writers such as Kingston and Hughes would have to consider other themes for their works. Clearly, the themes of Kingstons No Name Woman and Hughes poems The Negro Speaks of Rivers and Negro revolve around stories of oppression because such stories offer food for thought, not only for writers and poets but also their readers. References Hughes, L. Negro. Retrieved Dec 4, 2008, from http://amandafa.blogspot.com/2007/12/negro-by-langston-hughes.html. Kingston, M. H. (2006). No Name Woman. 1975. In J. Schlib & J. Clifford (Eds.) Making Literature Matter (pp. 1154-1163). 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. Langston Hughes. Americas Story from Americas Library.

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Brownie Camera Changed the Future of Photography

The Brownie Camera Changed the Future of Photography The next time you point your smartphone at a sunset, snap a group of friends on a night out or position yourself just so for a selfie, you might want to give silent thanks to George Eastman. Not that he invented the smartphone or the myriad social media sites to which you can instantly post your images. What he did do was set in motion the democratization of a pastime that prior to the turn of the 20th century  was solely reserved for professionals well-trained in the use of heavy large-format cameras.   In February of 1900,  Eastmans  company,  Eastman Kodak,  introduced a low-priced, point-and-shoot, hand-held camera, called the Brownie. Simple enough for even children to use, the Brownie was designed, priced, and marketed in order to bolster the sale of roll film, which Eastman had recently invented, and as a result, make  photography  accessible to the masses.   Snapshots From a Small Box Designed by Eastman Kodaks camera designer Frank A. Brownell, the Brownie camera was little more than a simple  black rectangular cardboard box covered in imitation leather with nickeled fittings. To take a snapshot, all one had to do was pop in a cartridge of film, close the door, hold the camera at waist height, aim it  by looking through the viewfinder at the top, and turn a switch. Kodak claimed in its advertisements that the Brownie camera was so simple they can easily [be] operated by any school boy or girl. Though simple enough for even children to use, a 44-page instruction booklet accompanied every Brownie camera.   Affordable and Easy to Use The Brownie camera was very affordable, selling for only $1 each. Plus, for only 15 cents, a Brownie camera owner could buy a six-exposure film cartridge that could be loaded in daylight. For an extra 10 cents a photo plus 40 cents for developing and postage, users could send their film to Kodak for development, eliminating the need to invest in a darkroom and special equipment and materials- much less learn how to use them. Marketed to Children Kodak heavily marketed the Brownie camera to children. Its ads, which ran in popular magazines rather than just trade journals, also included what would soon become a series of popular Brownie characters, elf-like creatures created by Palmer Cox. Children under the age of 15  were also urged to join the free Brownie Camera Club, which sent all members a brochure on the art of photography  and advertised a series of photo contests in which kids could earn prizes for their snapshots. The Democratization of Photography In just the first year after introducing the Brownie, the Eastman Kodak Company sold over a quarter of a million of its little cameras. However, the small cardboard box did more than just  help make Eastman a rich man. It forever changed the culture. Soon, handheld cameras of all sorts would hit the market, making possible vocations like photojournalist and fashion photographer, and giving artists yet another medium with which to express themselves. These cameras also gave everyday people an affordable, accessible way to document the important moments of their lives,  whether formal or spontaneous and preserve them for future generations.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Concepts and principles of emergency management Essay

Concepts and principles of emergency management - Essay Example In Australia, latest statistics on car accidents seem to indicate that road accidents are increasing in frequency; road deaths associated to such car accidents are also increasing. In 2005, Australia already ranked 7th out of 15 developed nations for road deaths per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled (Fallah, 2007). Emergencies -- are â€Å"incidents that threaten public safety, health and welfare (Department of Environmental Management, n.d, p. 1). Emergencies may also vary in size, location, causes, and effects; but regardless of differences in such elements, they all register with various environmental effects. They are also defined by the Emergency Management Institute (n.d) as unexpected incidents or events which endanger lives or property, consequently requiring urgent and routine responses through community resources and procedures. Examples include: road-blocking landslides, long power outages, forest fires, outbreaks of diseases, and heat waves (Central Coast Center Independent Living, n.d). There were two slides in Australia from 1939 to 2007; 28 were killed and about 101 individuals were affected (CRED, 2007). There were 28 wild fires from 1939 to 2007 and this caused the death of about 300 individuals and damages up to 1.2 million US dollars (CRED, 2007). There was one epidemic fro m 1939 to 2007. No deaths and no damages were reported but 6 people were affected (CRED, 2007). Disasters are defined by Emergency Management Australia (2004, p. ix) as â€Å"a condition or situation of significant destruction, disruption and/or distress to a community†. The United Nations (1992) define a disaster as â€Å"a serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread human, material, or environmental losses which exceed the ability of affected society to cope using its own resources† (UN Glossary, 1992).

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Mona Lisa Biography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Mona Lisa Biography - Essay Example Leonardo da Vinci started working on the on the portrait in 1503 through1506 but kept the portrait until he passed away in 1519. Since then, the portrait has gone round so many people, and presently resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris (Henry and Dana, 49). Da Vinci, an Italian, was an artist who lived during the renaissance period, and was also involved in mathematics, engineering and music among other disciplines. He painted various other pictures apart from the Mona Lisa. It is alleged that he worked on this painting until the time of his death in 1519. The painting was not acclaimed as a masterpiece immediately; it took about 300 years to be recognized outside Italy, the country of origin. In the painting, da Vinci has applied new and innovative techniques at the same time; among the techniques was sfumato and chiaroscuro. Using these techniques, Mona Lisa’s skin appears as if glowing from the oil layers. The anonymity in the portrait lies in the figure behind it, the background and the smile, that many state as iconic. The portrait was transferred to King Francois I after the death of Leonardo da Vinci. The King was an art lover who had collections in his room in the Palace of Fontainebleau. The room was eventually converted into a gallery. Afterwards the portrait was taken to Palace of Versailles, and later taken by King Napoleon for hanging in his bedroom in the Tuileries Palace. The Kings of France considered the Mona Lisa as a prized possession and the portrait was moved through various royal residences over time. In 1793, the Mona Lisa was taken to the Louvre in Paris, as part of the royal art collection. The painting has since had a lot of interesting escapades that have left me fascinated. In 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen by three men, Vincenzo Perugia and two others. The men gracefully removed the glass casing that was protecting the painting and tucked the painting in a blanket before leaving the

Monday, November 18, 2019

The Scottish Parliament Building Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Scottish Parliament Building - Essay Example This starts with creating a terms of reference or clear specification of the project. This is followed by the actual plan in this of the building process starting with assessing materials needed, cost of the project, to the actual laying the foundation until the last detail is achieved. The plan is then communicated to every member in the team. Teamwork is at the core of any successful construction project or any other project. Every supervisor in the project should have the plan in details and examine it at length and to modify where need be. The implementation of the project follows the planning; controlling is an ongoing process till the end. Follow up should be done after closing the project. The role of project management has been outlined as giving a clear guideline to follow in undertaking any project; it also helps the implementing to manage time and resources in an effective manner (Hans, 2010.34). The elements focused on in this essay are managing the scope of the project, time, costs, labour, the quality of the project, the risks involved, the integration process, the communication throughout the project and finally the procurement process. The Scottish parliament building was estimated at a very high cost from the initial assessment. The argument was behind the democratic approach towards the design. The cost so said at $600 million had to be justified by the overall result of the construction. The site selection feasibility study was carried out to assess the environment and the traffic of the location. The construction management was chosen as the procurement vehicle. This was a good managerial choice since it offered speed advantages towards progress of the construction. It had a disadvantage towards the uncertainty of price. This would have been determined only after the last contract had been leased out. Project procurement management was not thoroughly given thought and a comprehensive strategy document for procurement was not prepared. A syst ematic risk analysis was not done towards the chosen route of procurement indicating poor managerial practices in the whole project. The procurement process of the materials specified by the contractor was rested upon the contractor chosen. This would have jeopardized the overall quality of the procurement management process. Management of cost: - The initial estimated costs rose from the start of the project. Once the tenders were issued out, the contractor who came in with design projected an increase in costs estimate of the design (Jeremy and Philips, 2006, 100). The risk had risen from 80% to 100%. This was due to lack of a proper strategy ab-initio. The construction costs rose to 115 million pounds i.e. 86% a figure way above the budget. Value engineer was called upon to assess these figures and came up with a decrease of 25% which was adopted. This was explained towards construction delays and design process. The project was carried out towards achieving the quality of the fi nished work hence details of the design had to be altered. The materials so chosen for the construction took a better part of the whole cost estimates. This was in light of achieving the quality intended. A thorough costing should have been carried out and good decision made from the first debates in the year 1998. The delay to start the project took over two years and the value of money was rising. The cost objective was not at the end of the project since

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Astrology and Pagan Symbolism in Christianity

Astrology and Pagan Symbolism in Christianity Astrology and Pagan Symbolism in Christianity First of all we shall start the definitions of the key words as used in the research question. Astrology can be defined as the study of how events on earth correspond to the positions and movements of astronomical bodies which are the moon, sun, planets and the stars. Paganism in general is a term for the ancient and modern religions which identify nature as the body of the divine e.g. Taoism is the paganism of China, Hinduism is the Paganism of India, Shinto the paganism of Japan and Santeria, Voudon Macumba are the paganisms of the African Diaspora; etc On the other hand symbolism is the applied use of symbols i.e iconic representations that carry particular conventional meanings. Symbolism also refers to a way of choosing representative symbols that are in line with the abstract rather than literal properties, allowing for the broader interpretation of a carried meaning than more literal concept-representations can allow. A religion can be described as a language of concepts related to human spirituality. Symbolism hence is an important aspect of most religions. Christianity is the monotheistic system of beliefs and practices that are based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and that emphasizes the role of Jesus as savior and Christ. Discussion Zodiac is one of the oldest conceptual images in human history. It reflects the sun as it figuratively passes through the 12 major constellations over the course of a year. It also reflects the 12 months of the year, the 4 seasons, and the solstices and equinoxes. The term Zodiac relates to the fact that constellations were anthropomorphized, or personified, as figures, or animals. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary on December 25th/a> in Bethlehem, his birth was symbolized by a star in the east which three kings or magi followed to locate and adorn the new savior. He was a child teacher at age 12 and at the age of 30 he was baptized by John the Baptist, and thus began the ministry. Jesus had 12 disciples whom he traveled about with performing miracles such as healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water, he was also known as the King of Kings, the Son of God, the Light of the World, the Alpha and Omega, the Lamb of God e.g. After being betrayed by Judas his disciple and sold for 30 pieces of silver, he was crucified, placed in a tomb and after 3 days resurrected and ascended to Heaven. The birth sequence of Jesus is completely astrological. The star in the east is Sirius, the brightest star in the sky at night, which on December 24th aligns with the three brightest stars in Orions Belt. These three bright stars are referred today what they were called in ancient times, The Three Kings. The Three Kings and the brightest star Sirius, all point to the place of the sunrise on December 25th. This is why the Three Kings follow the star in the east, in order to locate the sunrise or the birth of the sun. Virgin Mary is the constellation Virgo, also known as the Virgo the Virgin which in Latin means virgin. The ancient glyph for Virgo is the altered m. This is why Mary with other virgin mothers, such as Adoniss mother Myrrha and Buddhas mother Maya begin with an M. Virgo is also referred to as the House of Bread, and the represents of virgin holding a sheaf of wheat. The House of Bread and its symbol of wheat represent August and September, the time of harvest. In turn, Bethlehem literally translates to house of bread. Bethlehem therefore refers to the constellation Virgo, a place in the sky, not on Earth. Another very interesting phenomenon that occurs around December 25th is that from the summer solstice to the winter solstice, the days become shorter and colder. From the northern hemisphere perspective, the sun appears to move south gets smaller and more scarce. The shortening of days and the expiration of the crops when approaching the winter solstice symbolizes the process of death to the ancients. By December 22nd, the Suns demise was fully realized, for the Sun having moved south continually for 6 months, makes it to its lowest point in the sky. And here a curious thing occurs, the Sun stops moving south, at least for 3 days. In the three day pause, the Sun stays in the vicinity of the Southern Cross, or Crux, the constellation. After this time on December 25th, the Sun moves 1 degree, this time north, foreshadowing longer days, spring and warmth. And thus it was said, the Sun died on the cross, was dead for 3 days, only to be resurrected or born again. This is why Jesus and num erous other Sun Gods share the crucifixion, 3 day death, and resurrection concept. It’s the Suns transition period before it shifts its direction back towards the Northern Hemisphere bringing spring and thus salvation. However, they didn’t celebrate the resurrection of the Sun until the spring equinox, or Easter. This is because at the spring equinox, the Sun officially overpowers the evil darkness, as daytime thereafter becomes longer in duration than night, and the revitalizing conditions of spring emerge. Therefore the obvious astrological symbolism around Jesus regards the 12 disciples. They are simply the 12 constellations of the Zodiac, which Jesus, being the Sun, travels about with. In fact, the number 12 is seen more often throughout the Bible which has more to do with astrology than anything else. Looking at the cross of the Zodiac, the figurative life of the Sun, this was not an artistic expression or tool to track the Suns movements. It is a Pagan adaptation of the cross of the Zodiac. That is why Jesus in early occult art is shown with his head on the cross the Sun of God, the Light of the World, the Risen Savior, who will come again, as it is every morning, the Glory of God who battles against the works of darkness, as he is born again every morning, and can be seen coming in the clouds, up in Heaven, with his Crown of Thorns, or, sun rays. Now, of the many astrological-astronomical metaphors in the Bible, the most important has to do with the ages. In the scriptures there are numerous references ‘Age’. To understand this, we need to familiarize with the phenomenon called the precession of the equinoxes. Ancient Egyptians along with cultures long before them recognized that approximately for every 2150 years the sunrise on the morning of the spring equinox would occur at a different sign of the Zodiac. This is concerned with the slow angular wobble that the Earth maintains as it rotates on its axis. It’s called a precession because the constellations go backwards, rather than through the normal annual cycle. The time that it takes for the precession to go through all 12 signs is roughly 25 to 765 years. This is also called the Great Year, and ancient societies were very aware of this. Each 2150 year period was called an age. From 4300 b.c. to 2150 b.c., it was called the Age of Taurus, the Bull. From 2150 b.c. to 1 a.d., it was called the Age of Aries, the Ram, and from 1 a.d. to 2150 a.d. it was called the Age of Pisces, the age we are still in to date, and in and around 2150, we shall enter the new age called the Age of Aquarius. The Bible reflects a symbolic movement through 3 ages, while foreshadowing a 4th. In the Old Testament when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the 10 Commandments, he was very upset to see his people worshiping a golden bull calf. He reacted by shattering the stone tablets and instructing his people to kill each other in order to purify themselves. I would attribute this anger to the fact that the Israelites were worshiping a false idol or something to that effect. The fact is that the golden bull is Taurus the Bull, and Moses represents the new Age of Aries the Ram. That is why Jews even today still blow the Rams horn. Moses represents the new Age of Aries, and upon the new age, everyone should shed the old age. Other deities mark these transitions as well, a pre-Christian god who kills the bull, in the same symbol. Jesus is the figure who ushers in the age following Aries, the Age of Pisces the two Fish. Fish symbolism is very repetitive in the New Testament. Jesus fed 5000 people with bread and 2 fish. When he began his ministry walking along Galilee, he befriends 2 fishermen, who followed him. I have seen Jesus-fish on the backs of peoples cars. Yet they do not know what it actually means. It is a Pagan astrological symbolism for the Suns Kingdom during the Age of Pisces. Also, Jesus assumed birth date is essentially the start of this age. In Luke 22:10 when Jesus is asked by his disciples where the next Passover will be, Jesus replied ‘Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you bearing a pitcher of water follow him into the house where he entereth in.’ this scripture is one of the most revealing of all the astrological references. The man carrying a pitcher of water is Aquarius, the water bearer, who is always seen as a man pouring out a pitcher of water. He represents the age after Pisces, and when the Sun leaves the Age of Pisces (Jesus), it will go into the House of Aquarius, as Aquarius follows Pisces in the precession of the equinoxes. Also what Jesus is that after the Age of Pisces will come the Age of Aquarius. We have all heard about the end times and the end of the world. Apart from the depictions in the Book of Revelation, the main source of this idea comes from Matthew 28:20, where Jesus says ‘I will be with you even to the end of the world.’ Otherwise, in King James Version, ‘the world’ is a mistranslation, among many mistranslations. The actual word being used is aeon, which means ‘age.’ ‘I will be with you even to the end of the age.’ Which is true, as Jesus Solar Piscean representation will end when the Sun enters the Age of Aquarius. The entire concept of end times and the end of the world is a misinterpreted astrological allegation. Lets tell that to the approximately 100 million people in America who believe the end of the world is coming. Furthermore, Jesus character, a literary and astrological hybrid, is most explicitly similar to the Egyptian Sun god Horus e.g., inscribed about 3500 years ago on the walls of the Temple of Luxor in Egypt are images of the enunciation of the immaculate conception, the birth, and the adoration of Horus. The images begin with Thaw announcing to the virgin Isis that she will conceive Horus, then Nef the holy ghost shall impregnant the virgin Isis, and then the virgin birth and the adoration. This exactly entails Jesus’ miracle conception. In fact, the literary similarities between the Egyptian religion and the Christian religion are staggering. The plagiarism is continuous. The story of Noah and the Ark is taken directly from the traditions. The concept of a Great Flood is common throughout the ancient world, with over 200 different cited claims in different periods and times. However, one needs look no further for a pre-Christian source than the Epic of Gilgamesh, written in 2600 b.c. In this story is told of a Great Flood commanded by God, an Ark with saved animals on it, and even the release and return of a dove, all held in common with the biblical story, among many other similar occurrences. Then there is the plagiarized story of Moses. Upon Moses birth, it is said that he was placed in a reed basket and set adrift in a river in order to avoid infanticide. He was later rescued by a daughter of a king and raised by her as a Prince. This baby in a basket story was lifted directly from the myth of Sargon of Akkad of around 2250 b.c. Sargon was born, placed in a reed basket in order to avoid infanticide, and set adrift in a river. He was in turn rescued and raised by Akki, a royal mid-wife. Furthermore, Moses is known as the giver of the Ten Commandments. However, the idea of a Law being passed from God to a prophet on a mountain is also a very old motif. Moses is just a law giver in a series of law givers in mythological history. In India, Manou was the great law giver. In Crete, Minos ascended Mount Dicta, where Zeus gave him the sacred laws. While in Egypt there was Mises, who carried stone tablets and upon them the laws of god were written. The Ten Commandments are taken outright from Spell 125 of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. What the Book of the Dead phrased I have not killed Thou shall not kill, I have not told lies became Thou shall not bear false witness I have not stolen became Thou shall not steal,† and so forth. In fact, the Egyptian religion is likely the primary foundational basis for the Judeo-Christian theology. Baptism, afterlife, final judgment, virgin birth and resurrection, crucifixion, the Ark of the Covenant, circumcision, saviors, Holy Communion, the great flood, Easter, Christmas, Passover, and many more, are all attributes of Egyptian ideas, long predating Christianity and Judaism. Justin Martyr, one of the first Christian historians and defenders, said: When we say that Jesus Christ, our teacher, was produced without sexual union, was crucified and died, and rose again, and ascended into Heaven, we propound nothing different from what you believe regarding those who you esteem Sons of Jupiter. In a different writing, Justin Martyr said He was born of a virgin; accept this in similarity with what you believe of Perseus. Its quite obvious that Justin and other early Christians knew how similar Christianity was to the Pagan religions and practices. However, Justin had a solution, as far as he was concerned, the Devil did it. The Devil had the foresight to come before Christ, and create these characteristics in the Pagan world. The Bible is just but an astro-theological literary fold hybrid, just like nearly all religious myths before it. In fact, the aspect of transference, of one characters attributes to a new character, can be found within the bible itself. In the Old Testament theres the story of Joseph. Joseph was a prototype for Jesus. Joseph was born of a miracle birth; Jesus was born of a miracle birth. Joseph was of 12 brothers, Jesus had 12 disciples. Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver; Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Brother Judah suggests the sale of Joseph, disciple Judas suggests the sale of Jesus. Joseph began his work at the age of 30; Jesus began his work at the age of 30. The parallels go on and on. At the time of Jesus, the Mediterranean world was ruled by the Roman Empire. The Romans were pagans, who had their own gods namely; Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and so on. The names of these gods have survived to date in the names of the planets, the days of the week, names of months and general linguistic usage. The other cultures in the area also had their own gods and goddesses, who corresponded more or less to the Roman pantheon. Greek was the language of culture in the Middle East; the main centre was Alexandria in Egypt and the Roman world was one in which trade and religion passed rapidly between the cities and towns along the marvello. Celebrating the Solstice was forbidden by the Church, but many customs survived anyway. In the 4th Century, Pope Julius I declared that 25th December was Jesus birthday and so celebrations were in order. This effectively transformed the Pagan occasion into a Christian holy day (holiday). This was not, however, merely a convenient way to Christianize a Pagan celebration. There is no historical evidence to prove what date Jesus was born on, or the season, or even the year. But after many years of calculation, contemplation and argument, 25th December was assigned. And since the why is more important than the when, that date has been good enough for Christians ever since. Conclusion Paganism has a wider influence on our lives than we might care to think. Take for example, the simple wedding ring. This has profound Pagan origins yet is considered an essential part of the wedding ceremony by many Christians. Overemphasizing the relevance and importance of religious symbols can lead to conflict. Consider the tensions that rose in France during 2004/5, following the banning of Muslim headscarves, Sikh turbans, Jewish skullcaps, large Christian crucifixes, and other conspicuous religious symbols that dont blend into secular state schools5. The headscarf issue resulted in just a handful of school expulsions but more damagingly generated ill-feeling, divided the country and achieved nothing positive. Paganism has had a wide influence on Christianity given the many examples of rites and regalia that support this assertion. And this raises the question: So what? Christians should be cautious about condemning practices as Pagan, just because of their origins. The origins may be interesting, but not so important. What is really important, however, is what we do with these things. References: J. G. Frazer (1993) The Golden Bough, Macmillan Co. Ltd, London R. Graves (1961) the white Goddess, Faber Faber, London A. His lop: (1990) The Two Babylon’s, Loizeaux Brothers; 2nd edition. M. D. Magee Sun Gods as Atoning Saviors an online resource investigating the origins of Christian and Jewish teachings Strabo:( 1982) The Geography of Strabo, Loeb Classical Library Tertullian:( 870) Adversus Judaeos, trans. Rev. S. Thelwall, 1870 B. G. Walker 🙠 1983) the Womans Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, Harper Row, NY

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Comparing the Andy Griffith Show and Plautus Miles Gloriosus :: Compare Contrast Comparison

Comparing the Andy Griffith Show and Plautus' Miles Gloriosus In The Andy Griffith Show and in Greek and Roman Comedy the viewer or reader, whichever the case may be, will notice the dominating fatherly male character, the male character who is always confused, the person who is in need of help or looking for answers, and the female who is needed for the male. The sitcoms of today are similar to some of the Greek and Roman comedies of the past. The reader or viewer may also notice that there are many differences between the two. The most dominating differences are the changes, which have taken place in society. The people of today are encountering some of the same situations, but the outcomes and solutions have changed. The roles of women and men have changed, and because of the changes the presentation of comedy to the public has been forced to change. In the play Miles Gloriosus by Plautus the reader will notice Palaestrio as the father character of the sitcom. Palaestrio is the mediator in the play. He is the one who has to help everyone else solve his or her problem. In The Andy Griffith Show the father character is Andy. Andy is the town sheriff, and he is also the father of Opie. The town of Mayberry never encounters many criminals, but the people often have life lessons to overcome and Andy is always there to help. Andy usually helps the townspeople indirectly. He tries to help them without their knowing that he is helping them. He wants the people to think that they came up with the idea on their own. Palaestrio does the same thing with Pyrgopolynices. Palaestrio convinces Pyrgopolynices that it is in his best interest to move Philocomasium out and date Acroteleutium. Palaestrio does this by tricking Pyrgopolynices into thinking that it is his own idea. Characters like Andy and Palaestrio are still needed for the plot of c omedies. Sceledrus, a slave, is like Barney, the deputy of Mayberry, they mean well but they might be easily tricked into believing something is not what it seems. Palaestrio tricked Sceledrus into believing that he was seeing two girls rather than one. When Sceledrus found the truth in the end and told his boss, Pyrgopolynices, Sceledrus did not seem surprised he acted like the truth had been obvious to everyone. Andy often tricks Barney, because he wants to help him solve a problem and think that he has discovered the solution on his own. Comparing the Andy Griffith Show and Plautus' Miles Gloriosus :: Compare Contrast Comparison Comparing the Andy Griffith Show and Plautus' Miles Gloriosus In The Andy Griffith Show and in Greek and Roman Comedy the viewer or reader, whichever the case may be, will notice the dominating fatherly male character, the male character who is always confused, the person who is in need of help or looking for answers, and the female who is needed for the male. The sitcoms of today are similar to some of the Greek and Roman comedies of the past. The reader or viewer may also notice that there are many differences between the two. The most dominating differences are the changes, which have taken place in society. The people of today are encountering some of the same situations, but the outcomes and solutions have changed. The roles of women and men have changed, and because of the changes the presentation of comedy to the public has been forced to change. In the play Miles Gloriosus by Plautus the reader will notice Palaestrio as the father character of the sitcom. Palaestrio is the mediator in the play. He is the one who has to help everyone else solve his or her problem. In The Andy Griffith Show the father character is Andy. Andy is the town sheriff, and he is also the father of Opie. The town of Mayberry never encounters many criminals, but the people often have life lessons to overcome and Andy is always there to help. Andy usually helps the townspeople indirectly. He tries to help them without their knowing that he is helping them. He wants the people to think that they came up with the idea on their own. Palaestrio does the same thing with Pyrgopolynices. Palaestrio convinces Pyrgopolynices that it is in his best interest to move Philocomasium out and date Acroteleutium. Palaestrio does this by tricking Pyrgopolynices into thinking that it is his own idea. Characters like Andy and Palaestrio are still needed for the plot of c omedies. Sceledrus, a slave, is like Barney, the deputy of Mayberry, they mean well but they might be easily tricked into believing something is not what it seems. Palaestrio tricked Sceledrus into believing that he was seeing two girls rather than one. When Sceledrus found the truth in the end and told his boss, Pyrgopolynices, Sceledrus did not seem surprised he acted like the truth had been obvious to everyone. Andy often tricks Barney, because he wants to help him solve a problem and think that he has discovered the solution on his own.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Accounting Research Paper

Accounting Research Paper Dr. Pepper Snapple Group vs. The Coca Cola Company Amanda Herring Tarleton State University Declaration Statement I hereby certify that this paper constitutes my own product, that where the language of others is set forth, quotation marks so indicate, and that appropriate credit is given where I have used the language, ideas, expressions or writings of others. Amanda Herring ID #000078948Zip Code 76707 Table of Contents Title Page1 Declaration Statement2 Table of Contents3Abstract4 Purpose & Objective5 Introduction6 Statement of Problem7 Financial Analysis8 SWOT Analysis13 Decision16 Implementation & Monitoring17 Conclusion18 Bibliography19 Appendix21 Abstract This paper will discuss the financial differences between the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and the Coca Cola Company, two drink manufacturing companies. It will take into account all of the financial information for 2010 and 2011 for each company, as well as current trends found for both of the companies.F inancial statements for both companies will be included, as well as analysis of both companies’ financial situations. A decision will be made at the end to determine which company is best suited to add to an investment portfolio and an explanation will be given as to why this company has been chosen. Purpose & Objective Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and The Coca Cola Company were chosen because of their sizes and product lines are relatively similar. They are both drink manufacturers with a wide array of different drink products under their label.It is hoped that with this research, one of these companies has a better market position than the other so that it can be recommended to the reader as an addition to their investment portfolio. Introduction The world is currently in a crisis like no other when it comes to the state of the global economy, as is the United States economy. There is always a need to analyze the current situation of companies so that investors and company exec utives know what is going on with the financials and what type of leverage the company currently has, as well as what type of leverage they will have in the future.There is also always a need to compare one’s company to that of similar companies who are competitors in the industry. The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and The Coca Cola Company, both drink manufacturing companies, so that a decision can be made about which one to invest in. â€Å"The Coca Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups† (Wikipedia. org) and was â€Å"founded and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia† (Cooper, Ford, & Stephens, 2007). In 1886, pharmacist John Pemberton created the soft drink Coca-Cola by combining soda water, lime, cinnamon, coca leaves, and Brazilian shrub weeds. The drink was originally sold in Atlanta in Jacobà ¢â‚¬â„¢s Pharmacy for five cents a glass as a soda fountain drink† (Cooper, Ford, & Stephens, 2007). â€Å"Today Coca-Cola’s reach spreads far beyond Georgia and even the United States; the company has become one of the world’s most recognizable corporations† and â€Å"the Coca-Cola brand is one of the five most recognized symbols† while the company â€Å"has early 400 brands in over 200 countries† (Cooper, Ford, & Stephens, 2007). The Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) is â€Å"an American soft drink company, based in Plano, Texas† that was â€Å"spun off from Britain’s Cadbury Schweppes† who â€Å"in 2006 and 2007†¦purchased the Dr Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Group† (Wikipedia. org). They are â€Å"the leading producer of flavored beverages in North America and the Caribbean† with their success being â€Å"fueled by more than 50 brands that are synonymous with refreshment, fun and flavor† having â€Å"6 of the top 10 non-cola soft drinks, and 11 of 14 leading brands are No. in their flavor categories† (investor. drpeppersnapple. com). Along with their â€Å"flagship Dr Pepper and Snapple brands†, their â€Å"portfolio includes Sunkist soda, 7Up, A&W, Canada Dry, Crush, Mott’s, Squirt, Hawaiian Punch, Penafiel, Clamato, Schweppes, Rose’s and Mr & Mrs T mixers† (investor. drpeppersnapple. com). Problem Statement The problem is deciding which of the two companies to invest money in their stock. With so many different stocks to choose from, there is a need to get the most out of investments these days.In order to come up with this decision, research is pertinent. Extensive research must be done by looking at both companies’ financial information in the form of statement analysis, ratio analysis, financial leverage, and comparative analysis, along with a SWOT analysis of both companies and comparing their strategies. The problem is havi ng two very similar companies to choose from, and deciding which is going to be worth investing in the short and long term. Financial AnalysisCommon Size Income Statements & Horizontal and Vertical Analysis Table [ 1 ]: Coca Cola Company Income Statement Analysis (dollars in millions except for per share data) Year Ended Dec 31,| 2011| Vertical Analysis| 2010| VerticalAnalysis| 2009| % Change 11/10| % Change 10/09| Net Operating Revenues| $46,542| 100%| $35,119| 100%| $30,990| 33| 13| Cost of goods sold| 18,216| 39. 1| 12,693| 36. 1| 11,088| 44| 14| Gross Profit| 28,326| 60. 9| 22,426| 63. 9| 19,902| 26| 13| Gross Profit Margin| 60. 9%| | 63. 9%| | 64. 2%| | |Selling, general and administrative expenses| 17,440| 37. 5| 13,158| 37. 5| 11,358| 33| 16| Other operating charges| 732| 1. 6| 819| 2. 3| 313| | | Operating Income| 10,154| 21. 8| 8,449| 24. 1| 8,231| 20| 3| Operating Margin| 21. 8%| | 24. 1%| | 26. 6%| | | Interest Income| 483| 1| 317| 0. 9| 249| 52| 27| Interest Expense| 417 | 0. 9| 733| 2. 1| 355| (43)| 106| Equity income (loss) – net| 690| 1. 5| 1,025| 2. 9| 781| (33)| 31| Other income (loss) – net| 529| 1. 1| 5,185| 14. 8| 40| | | Income Before Income Taxes| 11,439| 24. | 14,243| 40. 6| 8,946| (20)| 59| Income taxes| 2,805| 6| 2,384| 6. 8| 2,040| 18| 17| Effective tax rate| 24. 5%| | 16. 7%| | 22. 8%| | | Consolidated Net Income| 8,634| 18. 6| 11,859| 33. 8| 6,906| (27)| 72| Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest| 62| 0. 01| 50| . 001| 82| 24| (39)| Net Income Attributable to shareowners| 8,572| 18. 4| 11,809| 33. 6| | (27)| 73| Net Income per share| | | | | | | | Basic net income per share| $3. 75| | $5. 12| | | (27)| 74| Diluted net income per share| $3. 69| | $5. 6| | | (27)| 73| Retrieved from The Coca Cola Company’s 2010 and 2011 10k Reports The Coca Cola Company has seen an increase in revenues since 2009, though they seem to have higher prices when it comes to selling, administrative, and general expenses during the 2011 accounting period. This seems to be the trend throughout the world, though, as the economic situation has become sour again and prices seem to be rising on all products and services. The cost of goods sold is also higher in the year that has the highest revenues, though this can be attributed to the economic situation once again.The problem with the cost of goods, selling, administrative, and general expenses being so high is that net income has turned out lower, for the 2011 year thus causing the per share income to be significantly lower than that of 2010. Table [ 2 ]: Dr Pepper Snapple Group Income Statement Analysis (dollars in millions except for per share data) Year Ended Dec 31,| 2011| VerticalAnalysis| 2010| VerticalAnalysis| 2009| % Change 11/10| % Change 10/09| Net Sales| $5,903| 100%| $5,636| 100%| $5,531| 5%| 2%| Cost of goods sold| 2,485| 42. 1| 2,243| 39. 8| 2,234| 10| 0. 5| Gross Profit| 3,418| 57. 9| 3,393| 60. | 3,297| 1%| 3| Gross Profit Margin| 57 . 9%| | 60. 2%| | | | | Selling, general and administrative expenses| 2,257| 38. 3| 2,233| 39. 6| 2,135| 1. 1| 4. 4| Depreciation and amortization| 126| 2. 1| 127| 2. 3| 117| (0. 1)| 8| Other operating charges| 11| 0. 2| 8| 0. 1| (40)| 27| 84| Operating Income| 1,024| 17. 3| 1,025| 18. 2| 1,085| (0. 1)| (6)| Operating Margin| 17. 3%| | 18. 2%| | | | | Interest Expense| 114| 1. 9| 128| 2. 3| 243| (12)| (89)| Interest Income| (3)| (0. 1)| (3)| (0. 1)| (4)| | | Loss on early extinguishment of debt| -| -| 100| 1. 8| -| | | Other income (loss) – net| (12)| (0. )| (21)| (. 04)| (22)| | | Income Before Income Taxes & Equity| 925| 15. 7| 821| 14. 6| 868| 13| (5)| Income taxes| 320| 5. 5| 294| 5. 3| 315| 8| (7)| Income before Equity| 605| 10. 2| 527| 9. 4| 553| 13| (5)| Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries| 1| -| 1| -| 2| | | Net Income| 606| 10. 3| 528| 9. 4| 555| 13| (5)| Net Income per share| | | | | | | | Basic net income per share| 2. 77| | 2. 19| | 2. 18| 26| (. 01) | Diluted net income per share| 2. 74| | 2. 17| | 2. 17| 26| (. 01)| Retrieved from Dr Pepper Snapple Group 2010 and 2011 10k ReportsThe Dr Pepper Snapple Group definitely sees a significantly lower revenue standard than The Coca Cola Company, which can be seen as a bad thing because it means their market share isn’t near what Coca Cola Company’s market share is. Even though these companies are in the same industry, it seems that Dr Pepper Snapple Group just isn’t being able to keep up with the larger company that the Coca Cola Company is. Yes, Dr Pepper Snapple Group is also seeing the same added expenses in the cost of goods sold, selling, administrative, and general expenses, but nearly at the percentage rate that he Coca Cola Company is. This means that their net income and their per share net income has grown considerably from 2010 to 2011, but remained around the same the year before that. Comprehensive Financial Ratio Analysis Valuation Ratios| DPS| KO| I ndustry| Earnings per share| 2. 79| 3. 78| | P/E Ratio| 16. 37| 21. 17| 20. 9| P/E High| NA| NA| 2. 6| P/E Low| NA| NA| 0. 8| Price to Book| 4. 27| 5. 72| 5. 51| Price to Sales| 1. 63| 3. 87| 2. 93| Price to Cash Flow| 11. 3| 16. 8| 15. 4| Market Cap| 9. 60B| 180. 10B| | Dividends| 1. 21| 1. 88| |Dividend Yield| 2. 98| 2. 55| | Financial Ratios| | | | Current Ratio| 0. 92| 1. 05| 1. 2| Quick Ratio| 0. 7| 1| 0. 8| Leverage Ratio| 3. 9| 2. 6| 2. 9| Book Value per share| 10. 9| 14. 34| 13. 53| | 24. 3| 17. 08| | Total debt to asset| 29. 17| 35. 72| | Lt debt to equity| 99. 69| 43. 17| | Total debt to equity| 119. 66| 90. 31| 108| Operating Metrics| | | | Return on avg assets| 6. 67| 11. 29| 8. 9| Return on avg equity| 25. 67| 27. 37| 25. 74| Return on investment| 8. 13| 15. 77| 13. 7| Margins| | | | Net profit margin| 10. 25| 18. 55| 14. 16|Gross margin| 57. 9| 60. 86| 55. 48| EBITD margin| 20. 85| 27. 06| | Operating margin| 17. 35| 23. 06| | Retrieved from www. google. com/finance & www. investing. money. msn. com The Coca Cola Company has a higher return on investment percentage than Dr Pepper Snapple Group, which means that Coca Cola Company is generating more wealth out of the investments they are making. Both companies’ revenues are growing, though it seems that Coca Cola Company is again winning out in the growth category because they are growing at a larger percentage.Within the past two years Coca Cola Company’s revenue growth has been 13% and then 33%, which seems to mean that even through economically tough times, Coca Cola Company is still able to see larger revenue than the year before. The Coca Cola Company is trading at approximately four times their price/earnings ratio, which shows that it is a strong company which shareholders expect the price to go up. Although Dr Pepper Snapple Group is trading for around three times their price/earnings ratio, shareholders also agree that they have a strong company.If you look at all of the anal ysis ratios, The Coca Cola Company is outperforming the industry in a number of different ratios. These include, but not limited to, the average return on equity, average return on assets, book value per share, the quick ratio, the leverage ratio, net profit margin, and gross margin, just to name a few. It seems that because of this, barring something unforeseen, The Coca Cola Company will remain the leader in their industry, and a good solid investment for any investor. If you are just looking at these ratios, The Coca Cola Company would definitely be the investment choice you would want to go with.However, there are other factors to be considered still. The Coca Cola Company 5 year Stock Valuation Chart Retrieved from www. thecoca-colcompany. com Dr Pepper Snapple Group 5 year Stock Valuation Chart Retrieved from www. nasdaq. com In analyzing the two stock charts above, both are showing results for the past five years, it seems that the trends in both stocks are about the same. Th ere is a drop in October of 2009, which was the financial crisis that made all stocks drop, though both have bounced back up. Dr Pepper Snapple Group has seen an extremely higher stock price since before the crisis, though it s still not valued at what The Coca Cola Company’s stock price is valued. The Coca Cola Company’s stocks have bounced back up, as previously stated, though not at the expansive amount Dr Pepper Snapple Group has since the devastating financial crisis. The Coca Cola Company is valued more than the Dr Pepper Snapple Group because â€Å"although we think there may be a better time to dabble in the firm's shares based on our DCF process, the firm's stock has outperformed the market benchmark during the past quarter, indicating increased investor interest in the company† (Why Coca-Cola is worth, 2012).However, there is some estimation that â€Å"if recent commodity price trends hold over the next quarter, Dr. Pepper Snapple (ticker: DPS) should demonstrate significant earnings leverage in 2013 – well in excess of current Wall Street estimates† (Gerberi, Herzog, & Metrano, 2012). SWOT Analysis Strengths â€Å"Coca-Cola’s key strategy is its excellence in emerging markets. It has secured strong anchorage in emerging markets and in the event that the American market plummets, it will have a good fallback position† (Bazil, 2012).This is a great thing, along with the fact that they are a global company. This gives them a position to be at the forefront of the beverage industry and allows them to see better revenues than others in the beverage industry. Dr Pepper Snapple Group, on the other hand, has a strength in the fact that they have seen a smaller increase in the cost of goods sold and other expenses than The Coca Cola Company. This is a strength because it means that the company has been able to control costs, yet they still have the same quality of beverages they always have. WeaknessesDr Peppe r Snapple Group has continued to be an American-centric beverage company and could use a more global outlook to add to profits and up their stock performance. This is a weakness because The Coca Cola Company is already out in the global market and has become the face of the beverage industry from the United States. They are well known, and if Dr Pepper Snapple Group can’t keep up with this, they will never be able to achieve the same financial situation that The Coca Cola Company has. The Coca Cola Company has seen a weakness in the fact that they haven’t been able to control costs throughout the economic down recently.They are seeing more revenues, but revenues are not all that matter in the business world. The Coca Cola Company should try to maintain a lower cost structure so that they have a better advantage, and a larger net income. Opportunities Dr Pepper Snapple Group has a huge opportunity to go global with their beverages. They are currently thinking relatively small in the grand scheme of things and could use a global perspective to raise revenues and become a more comparative competitor to The Coca Cola Company. The Coca Cola Company has the opportunity to try to control costs.They need to be able to do this so they can see a larger net income and save money during these economically hard times. Companies that are not able to control costs will eventually not be able to make it in the business world because they will be paying prices that they sales cannot keep up with. Threats The Coca Cola Company has a big threat that could potentially affect them in the long run. If more of their competitors enter the global market, they could see huge competition in this market than ever before.They are the main beverage company that has a large global presence, but other beverage companies will be looking, if they already aren’t, into getting into the global market so that they compete with The Coca Cola Company revenue wise, and see the sa me larger revenue that global companies start see when they branch out to different areas of the world. Dr Pepper Snapple Group could see a threat of all others within the beverage industry catching on to their cost controlling methods. These methods would help other companies be able to compete better because they will be saving money and hopefully seeing higher revenues as well.This cost controlling, though now a competitive advantage, could very well become an industry norm in the future. Decision I feel that both companies should be invested in. There seems to be a relatively good stock market valuation for The Coca Cola Company and Dr Pepper Snapple Group, as well as good return on investment percentages relative to the beverage industry average. I think that half should be invested in The Coca Cola Company because it has a global presence and sees higher revenue and has a larger stock valuation, as well as a larger per share net income because of the larger revenues than that of Dr Pepper Snapple Group.I also think that the other half should be invested in Dr Pepper Snapple Group. I feel that this manufacturer only has greater heights to attain, seeing as they have yet to have a huge global presence since they are centered on their United States market. I feel that investing in their stock now, before they truly go global (which will happen because every company should start thinking on a global scale), would be the best case scenario because once they do start making a larger revenue due to global sales, they will probably see a higher return on investment, as well as a higher stock valuation.Implementation & Monitoring To implement this, you should contact your financial advisor. Your financial advisor will able to help you further assess the situation which I have laid out in this report. They will also be able to connect you with a stock broker, if you already do not have one. The stock broker will then help you invest your money in the way I have ex plained above. Then it would be advisable, in order to monitor your investment, that you also use your financial advisor who can better monitor the progress of your stock investment.If this is too expensive, then you could monitor the stock yourself through websites such as www. investing. money. msn. com, www. google. com/finance, or www. finance. yahoo. com. These, plus many more websites, are very helpful in monitoring your investment in the stock market. It is up to you whether you want to monitor it every day, once a week, twice a week, or once a month. Whichever you choose, make sure that you keep up with it and don’t fret when stock prices take a slight drop. Pulling money out too early, or when the stock is currently falling is never a good plan. ConclusionsWith this paper, I have learned that, contrary to my belief, The Coca Cola Company are not comparative in size when it comes to revenue, or even the amount of different beverages they sell. They both, though, have comparative ratio analysis. They both are around the industry average, sometimes one is a little above and the other is a little below and vice versa, but for the most part they are relatively close to the industry average. It seems that Dr Pepper Snapple Group has been able to control costs a little more effectively than The Coca Cola Company, but The Coca Cola Company has seen better revenues than the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.Both of these companies are on upwards trends in the stock market, even though they are not comparable by price. There is definitely a need to invest in both of these companies because each has their unique competitive advantage. The Coca Cola Company’s competitive advantage is the fact that they are the leaders in the global beverage market, while Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s competitive advantage is that is able to control costs more efficiently. They each have a large product line and could both benefit from learning from the other in different a spects of the business.Bibliography Bazil, M. (2012). Coca-Cola’s secret weapon. Retrieved from http://www. gurufocus. com/news/183815/cocacolas-secret-weapon. Coca Cola Company Form 10k, 2010. (2011). Retrieved from www. sec. gov. Coca Cola Company Form 10k, 2011. (2012). Retrieved from www. sec. gov. Cooper, L. , Ford, W. , & Stephens, W. (2007). Coca-Cola case study: An ethics incident. The Archive of Marketing Education. Retrieved from www. marketingpower. com. Dr Pepper Snapple Group. (n. d. ). Retrieved from www. wikipedia. org.Dr Pepper Snapple Group Form 10k, 2010. (2011). Retrieved from www. sec. gov. Dr Pepper Snapple Group Form 10k, 2011. (2012). Retrieved from www. sec. gov. Gerberi, J. , Herzog, B. , & Metrano, B. (2012). Beating the global heat with Dr. Pepper Snapple. Retrieved from http://online. barrons. com/article/SB50001424053111903857104577462982562697696. html Graph Data. (2012). Retrieved from www. google. com/finance. Graph Data. (2012). Retrieved from www. investing. money. msn. com. Graph Data. (2012). Retrieved from www. hecoca-colacompany. com. Graph Data. (2012). Retrieved from www. nasdaq. com. Graph Data. (2012). Retrieved from www. yahoo. com. Investors. (n. d. ). Retrieved from www. investor. drpeppersnapple. com. The Coca Cola Company. (n. d. ). Retrieved from www. wikipedia. org. Why Coca-Cola is worth $70 per share. (2012). Retrieved from http://seekingalpha. com/article/755581-why-coca-cola-is-worth-70-per-share? source=marketwatch Appendix A – Accounting Research Paper Supporting Files PDF Files Word/Rich Text Files