Kudler Fine Foods Essay Example Essay Example

Kudler Fine Foods Essay Example Paper Kudler Fine Foods Essay Introduction In this paper I explain what opportunities Kudler Fine Foods has in terms of information technology, and describe how the company might benefit from implementing enterprise-wide computer information system. Computer information system brief Kudler Fine Foods (KFF) is a local chain of gourmet food stores with annual sales of more than 10M offering specialized products to targeted customers. The company has three locations in the San Diego metropolitan area (La Jolla, Del Mar and Encinitas) and plans to add more stores soon (Kudler Fine Foods, 2008). As a typical mid-size food retailer KFF has following key accounting information system needs: †¢Inventory management and optimization †¢Customer and sales management †¢Revenue management (including bank reconciliations and cash ) †¢Reports and inquiries †¢Employees and payroll †¢Security Kudler currently has an individual point-of-sale (POS) computer system in every store. The elements of each store POS are c onnected through Ethernet. 56K modem provides an internet access. All Kudler’s hardware and software are outdated. Each store keeps data on a separate server, store’s systems are not connected and don’t share POS information. KFF computerized most strategically important operations, but didn’t integrate them in enterprise-wide information system. The reliance on manual processes for such important areas as cost management, inventory replenishes, and financial statements, as well as the lack of integration between store locations show significant room for improvements. The main disadvantages of a current Kudler’s information system are luck of integration between all stores and outdated hardware and software. Kudler Fine Foods Essay Body Paragraphs Current Kudler’s system should be replaced with new and effective enterprise-wide information system. Until such system is in place and fully functioning it is highly advisable for the company to not seek out new locations. Inventory management and optimization Inventory management is the most important part of a retail business. To satisfy customers supermarkets have to have big variety of perishable and not perishable items. Retail industry is very competitive. Storage place in a supermarket is limited and must be used as effectively as possible. If a retail store does not carry enough of a product, then there is a loss of potential customers. On the other hand, if a store is overloaded with perishable goods that are not selling, the business loses money. Keeping up with large quantities and varieties of goods can be difficult, even with the help of an automated system. Kudler doesn’t have a purchasing department and relies on each store manager to order inventory. Pu rchase order is the main document in replenishing an inventory for Kudler. Prepared purchase order forms are mailed, handed to supplier salesmen, faxed, or sent by e-mail. Each store manager has to perform manual work to prepare purchase orders, to check with counterparts at the other stores on the pricing, quality, and delivery. Store managers are encouraged to combine orders between their stores if they feel they can save from ordering a larger quantity of a particular item or multiple items. Current Kudler’s inventory system is vulnerable to human errors and is inefficient. Store managers have to perform theirs managing duties and at the same time to work as purchase agents. The company is not benefiting from it. The inventory management should be done through integrated computer system for all three stores and delegated to several individuals or a department who would take care about the entire chain. The whole process can be paperless by utilizing intranet and internet. Customers and sales management Price is not the primary differentiating factor for Kudler consumers; they are focused on quality and variety of specialized items. Customer satisfaction is directly related to inventories and quality of customer service. Current Kudler’s information system limits company’s ability to track customer purchase behavior. KFF tracks information such as dollar value and profit margin per transaction, dollar sales and profit levels by day, and dollar sales and profit margins by item (Kudler Fine Foods, 2008). However, in an effort to leverage the information to create a more intimate relationship with their customers, the firm is developing a system to track customer purchase behavior over time. Basically KFF is wasting recourses creating one more stand-alone module that is not integrated in nterprise-wide inventory system. It would be more cost efficient for Kudler to do some customization of inventory management to obtain information about cu stomer behavior. Company’s web site doesn’t provide customers with an opportunity to place online orders. The company would benefit from installing e-commerce software and connecting it to merchandise database. It would be beneficial for Kudler to run a blog on company’s web site where customers can give a feedback and learn about in-store events, cooking classes, gourmet recipes, etc. Revenue management POS system in every store provides daily sales report. This report is a starting point for each store manager to forecast future sales and cash flows. Sometimes stores have difficulties with cash purchases of large amounts of fresh locally grown produce, because of not sufficient cash on store’s bank account. If stores were able to have one consolidated bank account it would be easier to accumulate cash for purchases. The main obstacle to it is an absence of integrated computer information system for all stores. Cash deposits and bank reconciliations proc edures are performed manually by comparing deposits slips with bank’s recorded activity. Special employee has duties to perform daily and monthly reconciliations. The reconciliation process can be computerized and save the company’s recourses. Reports and inquiries Financial reports and inquiries are the most important documents for business decision making. KFF management has no ability to create a company-wide view of operations. There is no enterprise-wide approach to standard cost reporting, inventory management, cash and revenue management, financial reporting, and security. In essence KFF information system consists of stand-alone separate modules that need to be integrated to ensure a long term growth of the company. Lack of integration makes it difficult for management to get critical for business decision making information such as inventory turnover, return on assets, return on invested capital, cash flows forecast. Employees and payroll Kudler uses QuickBook s and outsources payroll to Intuit for annual cost of $8,500. At the same time the company has to do a lot of manual work related to payroll (Kudler Fine Foods, 2008): †¢Employees fill out time sheets manually each week These time sheets are faxed to accounting, where the data is entered for payroll purposes †¢Managers are responsible for tracking any requests for time off and vacation †¢Workers’ compensation is managed by a third party provider, which keeps its own records Kudler would benefit from updating its old version of QuickBooks to QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions and Time Clock Plus. Time Clock hardware is not expensive and can be installed in every store. Employees will not have to fill out time sheets manually, they only will need to clock in at the beginning of a shift and clock out at the end. If all three stores are connected, employee information can be automatically transferred into QuickBooks timesheets. Accounting clerk can process payroll on site. QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions payroll module is easy to use and can take care about all payroll needs including quarterly and yearly reports, W-2s, Workers’ compensation fees, etc. The entire process can be done automatically and save company’s recourses. Security Enterprise-wide information system must be protected from unauthorized use and fraud. This can be accomplished by incorporating password protection, firewall, daily backups, and proper employee training. Although a hacker attack is a very real threat to information systems, employees might be culprits in the destruction or alteration of company information. Former or disgruntled workers who want revenge on their employer or supervisor have been known to resort to computer crime. To prevent such damages to the company’s databases, employees need to have restrictive access based on their duties. Terminated employees must have their accounts removed immediately. All Kudler’s employees have to go through training how to use company’s computers. Conclusion Current KFF information system consists of stand-alone separate modules. The company computerized most strategically important operations, but didn’t integrate them in enterprise-wide information system. The reliance on manual processes for such important areas as cost management, inventory replenishment, financial statements, and the lack of integration between store locations show significant room for improvements. Investment in new hardware, software and network infrastructure between stores are essential to the future growth of the company. Until such systems are in place and fully functioning it is highly advisable for the company to not add new locations. References Kudler Fine Foods. (2008). Kudler Fine Foods. Retrieved from ://ecampus. phoenix. edu/secure/aapd/cist/vop/business/Kudler/KudlerHome002. htm Kudler Fine Foods . (2008). Finance Accounting. Retrieved from ://ecampus. phoenix. edu/secur e/aapd/cist/vop/business/Kudler/Finance/KudlerFinanc eProcPOS001. htm Kudler Fine Foods. (2008). Finance Accounting. Retrieved from ://ecampus. phoenix. edu/secure/aapd/cist/vop/business/Kudler/Finance/KudlerFinanc eProcPay001. htm We will write a custom essay sample on Kudler Fine Foods Essay Example specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Kudler Fine Foods Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Kudler Fine Foods Essay Example specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer

Frank Reade essays

Frank Reade essays In this interesting novel well worth the dime, our main character, Frank Reade, chases a gang of characters known as the James boys in a mechanical-horse drawn carriage. In this novel our characters are searching for the supposed hidden treasure of a wealthy family. In this time period novels cost a dime, and were written so they sounded believable. This story seems to me to be pretty believable, certain inventions seemed a little outlandish, but they did didnt seem to be ahead of there time. This was mostly because this was a pioneering period. Throughout the novel we come in contact with four important characters. One of which is Frank Reade, a young inventor and the main character is a character whom we are allowed to connect with on another level from most other main characters. The three other characters in this novel are Brass and Buttons who are two New York Detectives that act as Reades entourage. We also come in contact with the Professor who writes in his journal often. The Professor talks often of his dislike of violence but mysteriously has the best aim and shot out of the group. Two other characters we meet and no less about are Frank and Jesse James, otherwise known as the James Brothers. And they were not fond of the Reade posse, nor vise-versa. Though we never see a resolution, the plot is the suspenseful Reade-James Brothers chase. This novel like others seems to have sub-plot; such as digging for gold and the disbanding horses. Something interesting to me in this story was the interior monologues. This allowed me to feel connected to and with the character. There are many examples of this through out the novel, like when he grads the reigns of the James brothers horses. While hes hanging there we see his interior monologue as he plans ways to recapture the horses, stop the James brothers, and live to do all this. I also enjoyed the future resolutions ...

View of Toledo by El Greco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

View of Toledo by El Greco - Essay Example However after moving into the Spanish town of Toledo in 1577, where he spent the rest of his life, a spiritual dimension entered his works and a sublime aura of divinity can be seen in all that he was commissioned to paint. The View of Toledo cannot be stared at or its significance understood in a single glance, for it is to be contemplated upon and the seemingly dark spectrum riot of colors should be twirled within the mind, just like how several concoctions of heady liquors are tossed into a smooth cocktail. The storm that is about to break over the town is immanent with the deep spiritual force that seems to breach the heavens and take over the earth. There is an aesthetic element of how the lightning and thunder is not clearly seen or heard, yet brings about an electric tension over the horizon, where the sky is the darkest. The content of this painting maybe a simple landscape, but to what extent the painter's imagination has been affected is clear in the perception of a deep mystery surrounding the emptiness of the town, and from the feeling of vastness and volume, of space and time blending into the ethereal brink of an explosion. There is a three-dimensional quality to the picture plane because of the richness in color tone gradually increasing from left to right.

Auditing. The series of scandals caused a general crisis of confidence Essay

Auditing. The series of scandals caused a general crisis of confidence in the integrity of the entire system of corporate accoun - Essay Example Thereafter the author described financial scandals as those corporate scandals that involve misappropriation and misuse of money or economic resources. The chronicles of business history are filled with errors related to accounting, judgements, financial management and financial skulduggery. Over the last few decades unscrupulous entrepreneurs have been heavily involved in financial scandals where they allegedly diverted funds from one stated use to another, paid dividends out of borrowed money or capital, traded stocks on the basis of insider information as well as concealed vital information regarding those stocks, practiced creative account thereby altering the company’s records so on and so forth. Auditing failure has been a major concern over the last two decades with case of Enron and WorldCom coming into the limelight. According to Tackett, Wolf and Claypool (2004), a severe distortion in the financial statements that has not been reported in the audit report can be ter med as audit failure. Thus the auditor has committed a serious mistake while conducting the auditing process (Arens, 2002). Normally, auditing failure would not happen if an auditor is abide by the Generally Accepted Auditing Standards despite the fact whether the financial statement is accurate or fair. ... Thirdly, auditing failure occurs when the auditor is lured into committing such frauds by the company. Lastly, auditing failure might occur if the audit officer may commit fraud intentionally because of having some private relationship with the client beyond a certain level which is normally not expected in normal audit between independent parties. The following sections will highlight the integrity in the System of Corporate Accountability thereby commenting on the role of auditors and their effectiveness in the auditing process. The issues which undermine the credibility of audit reports will also be discussed. Thereafter, the changes that have been made in the auditing regulation will be explained followed by an explanation of the corporate governance framework that exists in Parmalat. Henceforth, the issues of audit reporting will be discussed and appropriate conclusions will be drawn. Integrity in the System of Corporate Accountability Corporate accountability is of utmost impor tance in debates around social issues, ethics and businesses (Brenkert, 2004). Accountability generally refers to the reliability and authenticity in the financial accounts reporting related to the financial status of any corporation. Integrity in the corporate accountability system should be maintained in order to reduce fraudulent activity within the financial reporting system. In the latter half of the twentieth century, the social and environmental issues were also brought under the financial accountability making them responsible for the environmental and social records. Linkage between the accountability and the integration of the Corporate Social Responsibility within the businesses helped to take the Business for Social responsibility to greater heights. It

Surrealism as a way of looking at life Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Surrealism as a way of looking at life - Essay Example The essay "Surrealism as a way of looking at life" states the surrealism. Artists were able to create strange creatures, from common objects. From this objects, Toman and JindrÃŒÅ'ich explains that artists were able to develop painting techniques that had the capability of allowing the unconscious self to express an idea, a concept, or even itself. Castant further explains that works of surrealism constantly feature elements of surprise, non sequitur, as well as unexpected juxtaposition. However, Greet denotes that majority of surrealist writers and artists normally regard their works of art as an expression of a philosophical movement, and this is before regarding these works as an artifact. On this basis, writers and artists of surrealism view this concept as a revolutionary movement. Brodskaiï ¸  aï ¸ ¡ traces the emergence of this movement to the Dada activities that were conducted during the 1st World War. Furthermore, Toman and JindrÃŒÅ'ich denotes that Paris played a great r ole in the emergence of this movement, because it was the center where artists were able to converge, and express their feelings and artistic works. From the year 1920, Surrealism was able to spread all over the world, affecting works in music, literature, film, as well as visual arts. Brodskaiï ¸  aï ¸ ¡ further denotes that surrealism has affected areas such as politics, philosophy, aesthetics, as well as other social elements of an individual’s life. Castant denotes that surrealism is an idea and movement that came to prominence.

My Papas Waltz Analysis

My Papas Waltz Analysis Upon first reading the poem titled My Papas Waltz by Theodore Roethke, a negative opinion could be formed. Due to some of the words in this poem, it is understandable why this kind of reaction could be evoked. Further analysis and critical thinking allows one to better understand what the writer may really mean. In the first line of the poem, The whiskey on your breath is descriptive enough to produce an image in ones mind of a man who is drunk. The words of Could make a small boy dizzy further illustrate the strong intoxication of the man. It is often not in good taste when an intoxicated adult presents him or herself to a child. The poem could be interpreted as a depiction of a childs experience of abuse from his father. But I hung on like death seems to convey a childs terrible feeling from having to face a drunken father. The image painted here is that of a child and his father waltzing around the house with the boy having to hold on like death. The word death could have been use d to emphasize the helplessness of the child against his drunken father. Indeed, a child waltzing with a drunken father could be a difficult task, as described in the line Such waltzing was not easy. My mothers countenance could not unfrown itself seemed to prove that the action of waltzing with a drunken father was inappropriate and causing a disruption. Breaking down the meaning of could not unfrown, one may conceive a thought of a mother who could not stop frowning, meaning the mother is unhappy about the situation and also perhaps about her husband being drunk. In the line We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf, this could indicate how the mother disapproves of the situation, for the child could get hurt and also because her kitchen is a mess. The hand that held my wrist was battered on one knuckle. The battered in this line is often a word that describes abusive situations. At every step you missed, my right ear scraped a buckle. The word buckle could be related to a belt buckle. This idea could add to the scenario of a father beating his child with a belt. The beat time on my head is another line that might lead the reader to think that the father is abusing t he child. The words that Roethke chose in describing the scene produce pictures of a violent kind of waltz. In this interpretation, the waltz was not a joyful one. The poem employs a sad mood and a somewhat satirical tone, suggesting that the person remembering his childhood is critical of his father. The smell of the whiskey, the roughness and the inconsiderate, reckless actions of the father were scrutinized and criticized. But there is another analysis of the poem that reveals a different line of ideas. The poem for others conveys a message contrary to the first impression that is often formed. The other interpretation of Theodore Roethkes poem suggests it is a dance, hence the name of the poem, My Papas Waltz. For other readers, the poem has evoked good, past memories. For example, an older man through the poem remembers his father who was a hardworking employee. A particular scenario could be the instances when his father would walk into their home after a days work with scraped hands. His father was a strong and tough man, yet a good man who provided for the needs of the family. For that person, the poem is a particular memory of a child that stood among the rest. This was a story of a boy reminiscing that instance when his father had returned home from work one late evening. He happened to be in a celebration along with his co-workers at a local pub. He excitedly waltzed while entering his home, an d proudly picked up his son, swinging him around in a dizzying waltz. Father and child playfully danced and wrestled in the living room, hence making this poem funny for some readers. A kid dancing with a drunken father would make readers think that the child is having fun with his dad. Topping the funny scenario is the expression of a mother getting peeved of whats going on in her kitchen: We romped until the pans slid from the kitchen shelf. The father and son romping typically arouse this kind of reaction from every mother, with her being the lady of the house. This is a positive bonding experience between a father and child and particularly between a father and a son. The poem is said to employ a winning tone that is light and almost comical. The constant rhythm throughout the poem endows it with a light beat like a waltz. It shows that the child was very fond of his father. Though the poem starts in a serious tone, it progresses into a playful one, reinforcing the caring regard of the child to the father. He really valued his father and the hard work that he did to provide for the familys needs. The line With a palm caked hard by dirt, then waltzed me off to bed, still clinging to your shirt suggests the loving bond between a son and his father. Through it all, the poem in its simplicity of delivery has managed to produce two completely different reactions. One either interprets the poem with a negative implication or a poem with a positive implication. A persons judgment would depend mostly on the experiences, the cultural, social, and psychological background among others of an individual. A boy indeed needs this kind of experience from his father for him to see not just the strong, matured, and responsible nature of his father. It is a joyful experience for a child to see his or her father in a light and playful mood, particularly when he has alcohol in his system. The poem does not explicitly state that the child is being beaten and physically hurt by the father. There is just this free-spirited form of dancing that could bring no harm to a boy. It is funny and sweet to be able to see a father out of his usual tough and matter of fact persona. It brings him closer to his children.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury :: Free Essay Writer

Fahrenheit 451 Imagine a culture where books are prohibited, where the basic rights illustrated in the First Amendment hold no weight and society is merely a brainwashed, mechanical population. According to Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, this depiction is actually an exaggerated forecast for the American future – and in effect is happening around us every day. Simply reading his words can excite theories and arguments pertaining not only to the banning of books but to our government structure itself. Age-old debates about Communism and equality are stirred by the trials of characters in Bradbury’s unique world. By studying the protagonist, Guy Montag, and his personal challenges we can, in a sense, evaluate our own lives to see that we don’t make similar mistakes. While the book is definitely a critique of society and of the government, readers are given many dominant themes to follow, and to find all of them requires several readings. The main plot, following Montag, illustrates the importance of making mistakes in order to grow. For example, at the very end of the book Granger (an outspoken rebel to the book-banning laws) compares mankind to a phoenix that burns itself up and then rises out of its ashes over and over again. Man's advantage is his ability to recognize when he has made an error, so that eventually he will learn not to make that mistake anymore. Remembering the faults of the past is the task Granger and his group have set for themselves. They believe that individuals are not as important as the collective mass of culture and history. The symbol of the phoenix's rebirth refers not only to the cyclical nature of history and the collective rebirth of humankind but also to Montag's own spiritual resurrection. Appropriately named, Guy is just a regular person who started out as a drone, following the dictations of his superficial leaders (his last name, Montag, is also ironic in that it is the name of a paper-manufacturing company). Eventually, however, he begins to realize that while reflecting the morals of equality in that no one was above the law, his society also takes away the power of an individual to make a difference. He starts out rash, inarticulate, self-obsessed, and too easily swayed. At times he is not even aware of why he does things, feeling that his hands are acting by themselves. These subconscious actions can be quite horrific, such as when he finds himself setting his supervisor on fire, but they also represent his deepest desires to rebel against the status quo and find a meaningful way to live.

Google Financial Analysis

Google Competitive Strategy: Financial Analsis 5. Have Google’s business model and strategy proven to be successful? Should investors be impressed with the company’s financial performance? How does the company’s financial performance compare to that of Microsoft and Yahoo? Please conduct a financial analysis to support your position—you may wish to use the financial ratios presented in the Table 4. 1 of the text as a guide in doing your financial analysis of the company.Throughout the course of its life thus far as an entity, Google has enjoyed great success as one of the world’s leading search engine giants. Although the company’s operations are extremely diversified, Google has taken strides since its initial offering in 2004 to establish its dominance over competitors in Internet advertising. Google continues to add products, services, and features to its arsenal, which in turn increases traffic to their websites and gives them increased o pportunities to advertise.Google’s original stock price on the date of their IPO was $85, fast forward eight years and the stock currently trades at $761. 78. Steps such as the acquisition of YouTube in 2006, the introduction of the Android in 2008, their Google TV initiative, and the continuing development and sophistication of Google Apps, have all contributed to this almost 800% appreciation. While all of these strategic maneuvers have been more than satisfying for investors’ pockets, the bulk of Google’s earnings remain in advertising. In 2009, 96. 8% of Google’s total revenue came from advertising, over half of which were ads outside the United States. It is misleading to compare Google’s stock (GOOG) to that of Microsoft (MSFT) and Yahoo (YHOO) solely on the basis of price, since their prices are exponentially lower than Google’s because investors rely on dividend payouts rather than stock appreciation to provide returns. However, a mo re accurate depiction of performance can be observed when comparing the stock value of the three firms on a percentage change basis.From January 2006 through December 2010, Google’s stock appreciated 44. 35%. Compare this to Microsoft’s 6. 5%, Yahoo’s -57. 22%, and the S&P 500 index’s -0. 86%. This shows that not only did Google significantly outperform its two major competitors; it left the entire S&P index in the dust as well. Some other financial measures to consider are return on equity (ROE), earnings per share (EPS), and the current ratio. Return on equity is a measure of the return shareholders are earning on their investment in the company. In 2010 Google reported ROE of 20. 8%, meaning that for every dollar of equity capital, they are earning over 20%. Compare this to Yahoo’s 9. 83% and Microsoft’s 43. 76%. Generally the higher the ROE, the happier the investors are. EPS on the other hand measures the company’s earnings for e ach share of common stock outstanding. In 2010 Google boasted an EPS of $26. 69, whereas Yahoo and Microsoft reported per-share earnings of $0. 91 and $2. 13 respectively. This large gap can be attributed to the fact that Google has significantly less shares of common stock outstanding than the two competitors.Finally, the current ratio is a measure of the company’s ability to pay short-term obligations with readily available assets. In 2010 Google’s current ratio of 4. 16 nearly doubled that of Yahoo and Microsoft who reported 2. 67 and 2. 13 respectively. This ratio demonstrates Google’s superior liquidity in comparison with its competitors Not only has Google dominated market share in the industry, in 2010 Google was the world’s most-visited Internet site, with close to 147 million views each month.This goes hand in hand with the fact that people â€Å"Google† things when they need an answer, they don’t â€Å"Yahoo† a question or à ¢â‚¬Å"Bing† it. Works Cited All historical stock prices, percentages, and figures were provided by Yahoo! Finance. â€Å"AAPL: Summary for Apple Inc. – Yahoo! Finance. † Yahoo! Finance. N. p. , n. d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. â€Å"GOOG: Summary for Google Inc. – Yahoo! Finance. † Yahoo! Finance. N. p. , n. d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. â€Å"YHOO: Summary for Yahoo! Inc. – Yahoo! Finance. † Yahoo! Finance. N. p. , n. d. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

To what extent and in what ways is Fitzgerald purely critical of Gatsby?

Dreams are a large part of â€Å"The Great Gatsby†, both in the wider sense and in terms of individuals, and Gatsby is the character whose dream is focussed on the most. It is difficult to tell what Fitzgerald truly thinks, due to the fact that he uses Nick as the narrator – meaning the reader finds it hard to separate their feelings. However, by looking at how he presents the characters in the novel, and the society as a whole, we can perhaps see what Fitzgerald thinks about Gatsby's dreams in the novel. Fitzgerald's views are presented ambiguously in the novel, with the comparison to the rest of society being the main point against the title views, and the presentation of Daisy and materialism perhaps being the main arguments to support the statement in the title. One way in which Fitzgerald shows his views to the reader is in his presentation of Gatsby's dream itself, otherwise known as Daisy. From the beginning of the novel, she is presented by Fitzgerald as a rather annoying, simple character who seems to have very few redeeming qualities about her other than her looks. From her simple and repeated dialogue â€Å"Do you always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it? I always watch for the longest day of the year and then miss it†, the reader is made to feel that Daisy has very little substance to her character, with the exception of her â€Å"low, thrilling† voice. Despite the reader having a screen in front of Fitzgerald's viewpoint in terms of Nick as the narrator, who clearly Fitzgerald intends to show as somewhat drawn to Daisy, we are still able to see that the only characteristics of Daisy's that are praised seem to be superficial. Therefore, when we are told that this woman has been Gatsby's dream and who he has built his life around for the past five years, it perhaps makes us question whether Fitzgerald is trying to portray Daisy as worthwhile of this dedication. This doubt arises I feel that if Fitzgerald was applauding Gatsby's dream of Daisy, he perhaps may have presented her as a more likeable, intelligent character with qualities that could easily be admired universally. As a result of this portrayal of Daisy, I believe it shows Fitzgerald to be mainly critical of Gatsby and his dream. However, this could depend on the era that the individual is based in – readers today could find Daisy as more of an annoyance due to the change in women's roles, in that today women are far more independent and take far more responsibility than they did in the 1920's. Daisy's apparent simple nature may therefore annoy modern readers more than in the past as we are less able to understand that this was how women were expected to be in the 1920's. Nevertheless, even taking these time changes into account I believe that Fitzgerald still intended Daisy to appear perhaps lacking in typical good qualities to highlight a potential point about Gatsby's dream. However, Daisy's apparent lack of appeal as a character could be used by Fitzgerald to portray Gatsby's dream in a better light, if we look from the angle of his loyalty to Daisy. The way that Gatsby has stayed so faithful and loyal to his dream to be with Daisy, despite (in our eyes) the fact that she is not worth it, could show that Fitzgerald is praising his dream as a cause of this admirable quality in Gatsby's character. This would go against the statement that Fitzgerald is purely critical of his dreams, as it would imply that they bring out the best in people. However, the other interpretation of Gatsby's loyalty could support the title statement, as Fitzgerald at times implies that Gatsby is foolish for holding on to the memory of Daisy, and building her up to such a high status in his mind. An example of this is when Fitzgerald writes â€Å"and forever wed his unutterable visions to her perishable breath†. Although it is implied that it is Gatsby who says the words, I still believe it shows Fitzgerald's dislike of Gatsby's attitude towards Daisy by making the phrase so exaggerated – it implies that he is blinded by his past perceptions of her, in addition to the actual phrase that seems to imply Gatsby is foolish for putting all his hopes into someone who could leave him. I believe that in this way Fitzgerald is criticising Gatsby's dream because of how he holds it in his mind and how it affects him. Another aspect that could show that Fitzgerald is critical is how he links Gatsby's dream of Daisy to material objects and status. Throughout the novel, he creates the impression that these two things are intertwined in Gatsby's mind with his dream of being with Daisy. He describes her voice as â€Å"full of money†, and shows off his house to her, lingering on his wardrobe with the â€Å"pile of shirts [†¦ ] in many coloured disarray†. The first quote shows how Gatsby links Daisy with money in his mind, and as a result of this Fitzgerald makes the reader question whether it is really Daisy he wants or if it is the social status that she represents to him. The close link to materialism in his dream can also be seen in the section where Gatsby shows Daisy his shirts, where he is literally trying to prove himself to her using what he owns. They are even described as a â€Å"rich heap†, which I believe could be a play on words by Fitzgerald – obviously â€Å"rich† in terms of the colours of the shirts, but also literally â€Å"rich† as perhaps this is what the shirts mean to the characters. The description is also given as a list – the frequent repetition of the word â€Å"and† in the paragraph also implies that Gatsby is showing off as much of his material worth as he can. I think both of these things are a criticism of Gatsby's dream by Fitzgerald, as it seems as if he is trying to say that this love he has had for Daisy all these years is really fuelled by status and money – a criticism because it therefore becomes even less of a worthwhile dream. It also appears to be critical as these links would imply that Gatsby has spent all this time chasing after a somewhat empty dream, as he has money and a certain amount of status in his community. It could also give the impression that Fitzgerald feels that Gatsby may never feel that his dream has been completely fulfilled if it is status that he wishes to have. This point could be linked to Fitzgerald's overall views about dreams in America at that point, as he could be trying to say that these people who think that material objects and status will make them happy (perhaps those people who were or are enticed by a vision of the American Dream) will never be truly happy as there will always be somebody richer, more popular or at a higher status than themselves. If the reader links this point to Fitzgerald's feelings about Gatsby's dream, it would indicate that he is critical of it for the most part. A second quote that could show that Fitzgerald is critical of this intense build-up of dreams is on page 93; â€Å"No amount of fire or freshness can challenge what a man can store up in his ghostly heart†. I believe that this quote is Fitzgerald telling the reader that what is there in reality can never match our dreams – in Gatsby's case, that the real life Daisy can never live up to the image he has stored of her in his heart and mind, the realistic approach being represented by the â€Å"fire† and â€Å"freshness†. Again, I believe that this is also referring to dreams in general, and how it is so often the case that dreams are not always so amazing in reality, and can often disappoint – and could perhaps be a specific reference to the â€Å"American Dream† and how, for many people, this is not as amazing as it is built up to be when achieved. This seems critical from Fitzgerald, both of Gatsby's dream and of dreams universally as he appears to be making the point that dreams are often built up and aimed too high – perhaps giving false hope. Although there are many aspects throughout the book that indicate Fitzgerald is solely critical of Gatsby's dream, by giving us the comparison to the rest of the East Coast society, parts of the novel seem to be suggesting that this is not the case. Throughout the novel, the residents of the East and West Eggs have been presented by Fitzgerald as very materialistic – living for objects, and trivial gossip, rather than people or feelings. Mrs Wilson describes how she knew Mr Wilson wasn't right for her when she discovered he had â€Å"borrowed somebody's best suit† to get married in – showing the focus on objects rather than feelings in the society. Therefore, amongst the gossiping and whispering (for example at Gatsby's parties), to have Gatsby focused on someone and loyal to someone for an extended period of time makes for a very refreshing comparison. Fitzgerald is therefore showing to the reader how having dreams can make you a better person, and almost more real in comparison to the rest of the society, which has been portrayed as somewhat fake by Fitzgerald. In this sense, it would go against the statement that Fitzgerald is purely critical of Gatsby's dream, as this seem to be a positive side to his dreams. Another element of the novel that could be seen to contradict the title statement is also a comparison between Gatsby and the rest of the East Coast society. We are shown throughout the novel how many of the residents do not seem to care about anything, anyone or consequences of their actions. An example of this is Jordan, who confesses to Nick that she feels she can avoid being careful whilst driving because â€Å"other people will keep out of† her way. This shows a disregard for the consequences of her actions and of other people and can be seen to be representative of many of the upper class people on the East Coast – expecting everyone else to comply with the rules and regulations but disregarding them themselves. Again, in this way Gatsby is definitely a contrast – he obviously cares about something, which is the first main difference that I believe Fitzgerald wants us to see. In addition to this, Gatsby has been shown to think very carefully about the consequences of his actions – for example when he re-enters Nick's house after Daisy arrives to make it appear as if he has not been waiting. Whilst this could be seen as somewhat calculating, I believe Fitzgerald intended it as another comparison to the rest of society, as it again uplifting for the reader to see that at least one character is concerned about the effect his actions might have on others. This once more shows that the effect of Gatsby having a bigger dream and ambition in his life has led to him seemingly being portrayed as a better person. This aspect of the comparison would also contradict the title statement, as to me it seems that Fitzgerald wished for this positive difference to be shown – meaning that he would not be purely critical of Gatsby's dreams. A view that Fitzgerald seems to put across to contradict the belief that he is purely critical is when he links dreaming and dreams to vitality and life. More than once in the novel he describes Gatsby in terms of the life Daisy seems to give him – describing the â€Å"colossal vitality† of his dream and the two of them as â€Å"possessed by intense life†. Both of these quotes seem to imply that Fitzgerald dreaming is natural, and is almost what makes you human. More specifically, the way that Fitzgerald implies that reaching his dream has given Gatsby life makes it seem as if we are completed by our dreams and that finally having Daisy in his life has completed Gatsby. Considering that Gatsby has already what many people might dream of – a lot of money and a mansion, the fact that it has taken his sentimental dream based on feelings and love to give him life seems a very positive view from Fitzgerald. It also links to the earlier comparison between Gatsby and the rest of the East Coast society that we view, as this clearly shows that Gatsby puts more emphasis on emotions and feelings than many of the other people. These quotes from the book could possibly be taken as negative, as it could perhaps be seen as somewhat pathetic that Gatsby relies on somebody else (and, as mentioned earlier, particularly Daisy) to complete his happiness, meaning that Fitzgerald would perhaps view Gatsby as foolish. However, I believe that the way Fitzgerald has tried to make Gatsby's dreams and feelings seem more natural are a direct pointer to how dreaming is a part of human nature, and as such, he is not criticising Gatsby's dream at this point. Due to Fitzgerald's seeming disregard for Daisy in the novel, I believe that he is critical of Gatsby's dream to be with her. However, I believe the other aspects of his presentation linking to dreams in a wider context prevent this view from seeming as if he is purely critical of it – the way that he suggests dreams are important to human nature and separate Gatsby from the crowd imply that Fitzgerald finds dreaming admirable, to an extent. For him to be purely critical I believe that he would have to feel purely critical of dreaming in general, which I believe not to be the case. Therefore, I believe the conclusion that Fitzgerald is critical to an extent is far more feasible and takes into account the more positive aspects of dreaming that he seems to incorporate and believe in.

Ethic of War as the Way Avoid the Conflicts

Ethic of War as the Way Avoid the Conflicts Introduction Since time immemorial, man has debated on whether warfare is a moral thing to do. Although it is common sense that peace is better than warfare, man has continually engaged himself in war with fellow men. Research has revealed the fact that the improvement of technology and the general progression of a nation does not improve the chances of that nation in the doing away with war (Arkin 1).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethic of War as the Way Avoid the Conflicts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More St. Augustine is acknowledged for bringing in Christianity values against war that convinced people to avoid unnecessary murders. He strongly condemned the cruelty that is experienced in the need to revenge due to having the power to do so (Arkin 2). From the 19th century, many countries have strived to formulate laws based on the guidelines presented earlier by St. Augustine. The laws that were formulated had t wo characteristics in general: they offered restrictions to the act of war and restrictions to the conditions that were needed before going into war. These laws ensured that the countries adopted the Just War tradition. This tradition adopted measures that ensured that any act of war did not end up causing damage beyond that which had been anticipate. The only condition which is acceptable when it comes to cases of harming a civilian in wartime is when it is done unintentionally or happened indirectly. Even those people who are actually directly involved in combat during war (enemies) have their own rights. When the lay down their weapons in surrender they are to be considered as non-combatants don’t stand a risk of attack (Arkin 2). The Laws of War (LOW) also stipulate that the agents of war must be held accountable for the results of their action during war. The Laws of War indicate what is acceptable and that which is not during war. The Rules of Engagement, which contain the Laws of War, are the orders which the military authority gives to the United States Forces indicating the conditions to which they are expected to engage in war or persist in combat. Over the centuries the laws of war have experienced significant developments which include the following: To consider the plea of combatants during surrender and the treatment of prisoners captured during war in a humane manner Protection of both the civilians and the non-civilians from unnecessary harm. Avoid causing damage to civilians and their property when it can actually be avoided. Not allow the attacking of persons or vehicles that has the Red Cross emblem or the Red Crescent or even those that bear a white flag. Agents of war to avoid using torture at all costs regardless of the situation or person. The law against use of weapons such as the blinding lasers or other weapons of mass destruction. The right to life-which is a fundamental human right-has respects for and values the human pers on both in war and in time of peace. This right is however challenged due to the need to have order in the society either within the country or outside. This can be evidenced when extensive force which can cause death or injuries is used during such occasions (Watkin 10). So as to demonstrate these acts of cruelty during war by nations of the world especially the super powers, some producers have created documentaries and movies based on actual events. This paper will look into the details of three such films so as to help come up with the necessary findings and conclusions as to what are the necessary and the morally-right things to do in times of war.Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Rules of Engagement Rule of Engagement is an American film that was written by James Webb and directed by William Friedkin. It stars two actors, Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson who plays a part as a Marine Colonel called Terry Childers is brought to court with charges of not obeying the rules of engagement in a certain military operation in Sana’a, Yemen which results in the slaughter of many civilians. The writer of this film is currently the United States Senator but is a former Marine combat officer and Secretary of the Navy. This explains the relevance of the film in finding the solutions to the question, what military behaviour is moral in war? The film begins on a high note where there was an advance in the Vietnam War which turns disastrous. One of the commandants, Terry Childers kills a prisoner who was not armed and this intimidates an NVA official who then calls off an attack on the American marines whereby Lt. Hays Hodges is rescued. Afterwards, there are riots and demonstrations that ensue at the embassy grounds against the American influence in the Gulf of Persia. It turns violent and demonstrators start throwing stones and starting fires. Childers then escorts the Ambassador to an awaiting helicopter and heads back to the embassy to retrieve the flag. Meanwhile, many marines are killed by snipers positioned at the top of the roofs. When Childers looked down at the crowd and notices something, he quickly orders his fellow marines to open fire and kill them. This led to the death of as many as eighty three civilians who were engaging in protests. This leads to the taking of Childers to the court-martial in the United States by the National Security Adviser. Childers is accused for causing the death of the many civilians so as to secure the international relations between them and the Persian Gulf. Childers then chooses Hodges-the person he saved during the war-to represents him as his attorney. Hodges became reluctant to take the position since he was aware that his record was not that impressive either and claimed that Childers needed a better lawyer (Webb 3). Childers however did not mind having Hodges represent him since he needed someone who had been involved in combat before since he would be in a better position to understand the pressure that comes with it. Most of the evidence point him out as guilty and a certain Bill Sokal did all he could to get him convicted. On a certain occasion, he burns a tape had recorded the crowd showing there weapons so as to make all the accusations appear to be true.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ethic of War as the Way Avoid the Conflicts specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More He also blackmails an Ambassador into lying in front of the court that the crowd had been peaceful and that Childers had shown violence towards his family when the time for evacuation came. Hodges however presents to the court a proof that a tape in the camera which had recorded the crowd during the riot had been burned and yet the camera itself was intact. At the end of the film, Childers is only charged of minor charges of that of disrupting peace but was not found guilty of anything serious such as those to do with conduct and murder. Sokal is however charged and found guilty of concealing evidence and is caused to resign and Mourain is also fired after being found guilty of some charges. Childers then retires honourably from the marine (Webb 6). Valley of Wolves Iraq The film Valley of wolves is set in northern Iraq and starts off as the United States forces take in to captivity thirteen civilians and eleven Turkish soldiers. This event is supported by other actual events for example, the Abu Ghraib prison scandal and the incident that had to do with the container where people who had been taken in to captivity were suffocated and killed. At first, the Turkish soldiers thought that it was a usual visit by the NATO friends. The soldiers were shown out of the headquarters with guns pointed to their heads and later detained for 60 hours before being set free. This was rather unusual since it was th e first time such an incident occurred between the two states. The United States later apologised for what had occurred and made statements of regret through Donald Rumsfeld. This was not appreciated by many Turks as took offense of the situation. One of the Turkish soldiers who had been captured was so humiliated by the event especially when they were hooded and this led him into committing suicide. Almedar, who is a friend of the deceased and a former Turkish intelligence, is determined to avenge for his dead friend. At some point he and his men kill three Iraqi troops. They later put explosives under the hotel where the commander, Sam Marshall was residing and ordered him out. When he was out he wanted him to be hooded just as his friend had been hooded so that it could be caught on camera but Marshall declines and uses some children to act as human shields which causes Almedar to give up but is later involved in a shooting at a wedding pretending to be hunting down terrorists (C roix and Doepke 1). The groom and other children are killed in the process and the rest were rounded up into a container truck that was airtight. In an act of vengeance, the father of the child who had died in the wedding becomes a suicide bomber and blows up at a meeting where Marshal had attended but Marshal survives. At the end Marshall is killed in a gun fire (Sasmaz 1).Advertising Looking for essay on ethics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More I am an American soldier This is a documentary film produced by John Laurence and is about the war in Iraq. A total of 92 American soldiers had been sent to Iraq to fight. They suffered and struggled to survive for a whole year. After the assignment in the Iraq, they are deployed and they return home to their families. Due to the experiences that they had, their lives were changed and began a task of trying to bring change to Iraq and in the process they were accompanied be filmmakers so as to examine the Iraq war critically and without any bias (Donohue and Wong 188). This documentary tries to show the struggles that the United States soldiers go through in their day to day activities in bringing peace in Iraq (Clark 570). It demonstrates how the environment there is becoming more deceptive and dangerous for missions to be carried out. The soldiers are faced with difficulties in their duties as drastic changes normally take place in those places (Pojman and Vaughn 4). The scenes in the documentary are filled with pictures that capture the emotions of people. There are scenes showing a soldier blowing up a vehicle full of people jus to realise later that it was actually full of innocent civilians. It also shows a case where soldiers trying to fight for their lives been blown into pieces in their armoured vehicles. Many scenes of mothers and family members gathering at a funeral and mourning the loss of the soldiers from Iraq are also seen (Laurence 6). Conclusion So as to avoid the conflicts such as the situation in Iraq, it empirical that they should abide by the Laws of War such as respecting the laws in the occupied territory and therefore making as few changes as possible (Roberts 1). There are three factors in the laws relating to the occupied territories that are highlighted: rules that limit the power and authority of the occupants, the prohibition against taking over new territories and the rules concerning respecting the structure of legislation in th at country (Roberts 3). It has also been agreed that occupancy in a certain country is not always the solution prior to engaging in war. The Laws of War are regarded as the main laws that apply to occupations. Research also includes the human rights law as fundamental and applicable. When all these considerations are taken into account then the inhumane nature of wars will be done away with. Arkin, Ronald. Governing Lethal Behaviour: Embedding Ethics in a Hybrid Deliberative/Reactive Robot Architecture. Georgia: College of Computing, 2007. Print. Clark, Burton. The Invasion. American Journal of Combat. 2009, 65(6), 569-576. Croix, David and Doepke, Matthias. Internal Affairs. New York: Sage, 2008 Donohue, Tambra and Wong, Eugene. Modern Warfare. Journal Article Excerpt. 2009, p.188-200 Laurence, John. I Am an American Soldier: One Year in Iraq with the 101st Airborne. 2007. 28 June 2011. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1002538/. Pojman, Louis and Vaughn, Lewis. The Moral Life An Intro ductory Reader in Ethics and Literature. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print. Roberts, Adam. Transformative military occupation: Applying the laws of war and human rights. Oxford: Oxford University, 2006. Print. Sasmaz, Raci. Valley of the Wolves: Iraq. 2006. 28 June 2011. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493264/. Watkin, Kenneth. Controlling the use of power: A role for human rights Norms in contemporary Armed Conflict. America: American Society of International Law, 2004. Print. Webb, James. Rules of engagement. 2000. 28 June 2011. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160797/.

Architecture of Al Andalus Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Architecture of Al Andalus - Essay Example The exposure to these buildings helped eliminate the previous prejudices, and valuing the art in respect to Islamic architecture, which is prevalent in Islamic countries and cities. The existence of an autonomous territory during the caliphate period called Ath-Thagr al-ala led to the use of the terms Thagr or Zagri to define the Islamic architecture in Aragon (Anderson and Rosser-Owen 73). The cultural manifestation of religion, nation and ethnic movement is expressed intensely in the city especially a strong sense of orientalism. One of the major contributors to the change in the architecture is mobility of the Islamic culture. The mobility led to the realization of orientation and freedom. The developed of attraction led to the increase in travelers which brought about change as a result of new intellectual artist arriving in the city. The combination of the Islamic and the Spanish Islamic culture in Al-Andalusia is an indication of the existence of movement between the towns and the integration of the various forms of architecture in designing of houses in the area (Eaves 165). However, the Spanish Islamic architecture has not been clearly studied leading to serious challenges in the evaluation of the changes in the new designs. The presence of the Caliphal art with formal characteristics of the mosque-Aljama of Cordova indicates the existence of integration between different forms of culture and architecture (Eaves 167). During the 10th and 11th century, systemic use of masonry and elegant use of Caliphal fabric was common because many inhabitants used horse shoe arch or the lobeled arc in the design process. However, the incorporation of the Granada kingdom into the Castile kingdom under the supervision of King Aragon Ferdinand led to the protection of all the Moslem building in Granada (Barnet 78). The approach

Ansel Adams Individual Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ansel Adams Individual Work - Essay Example Music turned out to be what he focused on in his later life. Adam’s father assigned him to teacher Butler who taught piano. After some years under Butler’s guidance, Adams was assigned to other teachers like Henry Cowell. Piano became Adams primary occupation for the next twelve years. As much as he traded music for photographing, the piano came with much structure, discipline and substance to his erratic and frustrating youth. Furthermore, the careful exacting craft and careful training needed by a musician deeply informed his artistry and his influential teachings and writings on photography. Adams first time to be in Yosemite park was in 1916 when he went with the family. Adam wrote on what he viewed about the valley and suggested that a new had begun for him. Adam’s father provided him with his first machine or camera, a Kodak box camera. Adams returned to that park the subsequent year with a tripod and better cameras. Adams learnt darkroom technique while working for photofinisher in San Francisco. He keenly studied photography magazines, went to art exhibits, camera club and photography exhibits. With Holman a retired geologist, Adams travelled to the Sierra developing the skill and stamina required to photograph in tough weather condition and high elevation. Adams turned himself to be precise than other photographers before having the visual understanding of particular light quality which fell on a place at a particular time. According to Adam natural landscape solid sculpture and not fixed though an insignificant image. The sensibility to light specificity was the intent that made Adams develop his technique in legendary photography. Adams fought for balanced growth after losing habitat and realizing development although he was anguished by progress ravages. Adams was stressed by an internment by Japanese America that took place after an attack on the Pearl Harbor. He asked for permission to go to the Manzanar war centre situated in Owens valley beneath Mt. Williamson.