Coleridge :: essays research papers

The Qualities of Writing     I have come to notice through my coursework that writing well is a tool that everyone can value from. Good writers will tell of many occasions where their talent has earned them advancement an advancement that comes not only in the job market besides also for personal gratification. Fortunately, writing is a skill that can be both taught and practiced to where virtual perfection is reached. The many facets of writing can front quite overwhelming to the novice. The two basic principles that stem good writing together are proper voice and thesis development. Nevertheless, Coleridge states, If men would only severalise what they have to say in plain terms Coleridge that people should not write beyond their limits because just being themselves can produce the best line of descent of good writing     Voice in a piece of writing can bring rewards like nothing else can. Voice can be termed as the key to getting the r eader involved in an essay. Without it, the reader becomes passive and the essay cannot be comprehended. Most essays have the essential material, so the manner in which the material is presented can make a difference. When voice is properly executed, the reader can interact with the writing and make the necessary connections. When properly executed, voice is a logical facet of writing and leads to effective writing.     The actual development of the thesis is yet another key to effective writing. The writing mustiness adhere to what must be said. The thesis statement provides a basis for the essay a basis for the reader. Once this is established, it must be developed throughout the paper.      Coleridge is so oft described as "explosive," and by all accounts he was at times an unusually dynamic, charismatic and unpredictable person.

How To Enter A Nine-ball Tournament :: essays research papers

How to Play Tournament Nine-ballPeople may think that spending eight dollars on a tournament is a waste of money. Every Sunday I go to Millertime Billiards and enter a nine-ball tournament. I never go in thought that Im going to win at least my entry fee back, although it would be nice. On the other hand, I always go in knowing that I will walk out understanding more about the game then the night before. The tournament starts at 730 p.m., but the entry fee must be paid before that. After paying, all there is to do is wait. When they call your name and table its time to play. Its a race to four wins. To keep track of the games place a coin under the middle diamond. Every game win constitutes a move of the coin one diamond. The succeeder goes to the front counter and gives them the results.The loser of the first game doesnt have to go home. The tournament is twin elimination. After the first game is lost, the player goes down to the losers bracket. One loss in there means its time to go home, or at least sit down and wait for the nine-ball break. The winner of the losers bracket is guaranteed second place. To get first place the winner of the loser bracket will have to beat the winner of the winners bracket twice.After they establish and record all the winners and losers for the forth enlarge they call all the people who entered the tournament down to table 5 for the nine-ball break. The racks are usually set up by an A player or better. Three names are drawn out of a box. Everybody that got there name picked gets two chances to drop the nine-ball on the break unless the person before them already hit it in. Two dollars of the entry fee go toward the pot for the winner.

Capital Punishment Is Murder :: essays research papers fc

All throughout the media, one hears of murders and homicides. It is a crime to kill someone, notwithstanding the regimen "murders" good deal all the cartridge holder without thinking twice. There is a risk when pulling the trigger that this horrible fate will happen. If it is not decent to kill someone, why does the government kill people all the time?In The Bible, there is a statement that says "Thou shalt not kill," and yet the government believes it can punish for what it already does. It is a crime within a crime and the government should "Practice what they preach." This has been going on for so long that around nations have created a numbness to goal.One whitethorn believe he is a law abiding citizen and follows the law to e genuinely word. This same innocent idividual could very well be put to death by the gas chamber. People ar framed for crimes every day and noone notices. Naturally, people in court or in prison will go on and on about their innocence when they know well that they did it. This causes the innocent peoples claims of innocence to be discarded. One may then spend half of his life in prison or be put to death. No normal people ever take the time to think that they may be next. If the death sentence was discarded, a few lives could be saved. Technology is advancing everyday and with DNA samples and other high-tech equipment, people could be proven innocent. Most people believe that the "bad goof" kills illegally and the "good guy", or the gas chamber, kills legally.Children in some neighborhoods are exposed to death and murder everyday. They think nothing of it after a while. The children grow up into gun-bearing citizens with the idea that killing the "bad guy" makes him the "good guy". This is often known as "taking the law into his own hands." So, if the government can kill legally, why cant a teenager take revenge for the death of his father?

A Study of a Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Essay -- essays research

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a master of magical naive realism, twist our minds eye in the story A VERY OLD MAN WITH ENORMOUS WINGS. Our perspectives are lost as we are enchanted with beautiful prose and appaled by peoples actions.Through the use of percpective and magical realism Marquez conveys mob mentality and peoples reactions to something unusual.Through the use of magical realism, Marquez shows us the absurdidity of peoples actions. The large gay with enormous wing converys peoples misunderstanding of the unknown. Although the large man is thought to be an angel, because of his grotesque ports and awkward nature the townspeople treat him poorly. They shame the creature in various ways. This shows peoples inability to look past somethings cover and into what it really is. Upon the entrance of the angel, the one expects some type of epiphany to occur. Early in the story, the people of town along with pilgrims from afar furnish to find miracles in the angel. The angels novelty soon wears off and the angel actually ends up a spectacle to the townspeople. They treat it like a circus freak throwing cast aside of food to it and housing it in a chicken coup. Thoughts even cross their mind such as clubbing him to death (Sic). (Marquez) Through magical realism he separates the angel from the rest of the world in a way which could not be shown without the angel being such an outlandish being. The use of the erratic creature makes the absurd actions and mistreatment of the angel exaggerated. Because of the angels appearance the referee is put into the same position as the characters in the story. The angels wings are said to be huge buzzard wings, dirty and halfpluckedforever tangled in mud. Marquez puts the reader into the same position as the townspeople. We, as readers, question the same things the people of the town. Once again, the absurdidity of the character presented exaggerates the situation.A circus coming to town shows the reader the mentality of the mob. Upon hearing of a tarantula fair sex coming with the circus, the townspeople lose interest in the angel. The mob has gone elsewhere. The once ridiculed angel becomes nothing to them. The people acted as a whole alternatively of individuals when one decided to forget the angel, the whole forget the angel. They move on to the tarantula woman as the spectacle to now admire. The ... ...btitled a Tale for Children, stands as an big piece. The confusing nature of the story definitely does not lend itself to being read by a young audience. Marquez is telling the reader that even as adults, we sometimes act like children. We gawk at the bizarre and push it away from us. We mistreat what we do not understand. Marquez calls us all children and reminds us of the lessons we well-read at a young age and how we need to remember them.Gabriel Garcia Marquezs story A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings makes the reader think about peoples reactions and natural tendencies by distorting our vie ws through magical realism and awkward perspective. The wonder prose and outlandish characters are just a small part of the wonderful story told by the great author. Through the use of percpective and magical realism Marquez conveys mob mentality and peoples reactions to something unusual.http//www.questia.com/popularSearches/gabriel_garcia_marquez.jspAnderson, Perry A Magical Realist and His reality. Natioin, 1/26/2004Mcfarland, Ronald Community and interpretive communities in stories by Hawthorne, Kafka, And Garcia Marquez Studies in Short Fiction, Fall92, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p551

Charcuterie Essay -- Food, Delicacy

Charcuterie runs the entire gauntlet of cookery. It represents an ancient culinary science that hallmarks the advent of a civilized mankind. Charcuterie is a fifteenth-century French precondition derived from the root words chair, which translates to flesh and cuit, meaning cooked. Charcutiers are in a specialty class of their own, distinguished from the classic butcher as a crafted meat preserver and engineer of flavor (Doherty, 2009). American consumers commonly misconceive charcuterie as a novelty or delicacy that is not readily available, when in fact charcuterie is everywhere. Oscar Mayer c senior cuts, a modern day American staple, are produced by a preservation technique used before the concept of refrigeration. From the sink isle ways of local supermarkets to the posh pantries of restaurateurs and the finest charcuteries, a primitively hold slab of hog is an ode to any carnivorous appetite. Charcuterie is mastery of the art of creating sausages and other cured, smoked and preserved meats (Ruhlman and Polcyn, 2005). Charcuterie mimics the dynamic trends of the culinary arts and continues to garner new delectable spin on time-tested classics. Preservation was cookings catalyst and in perfume conjured the concept of a chef The distinct flavor of charcuterie is as rich as its heritage. The origin of charcuterie is saturated with traditions, controversy and has stood the test of time in a private-enterprise(a) industry with rivaling styles. Charcuterie is both art and a science the mechanics should be explored in order to appreciate the relevance of a taste that is as old as humankind. Remnants of charcuterie date back to the origins of Homo sapiens. Charcuterie was the groundwork for human survival in virtually every culture. ... ... been rehabilitated through consumer awareness and activism that led to better sanitization practices, overall care and slaughter. Swine is the reigning creature of charcuterie, palatable from head to tail Charcute rie is an intricate part of the culinary scene. Chefs have implemented exquisite adaptations of preservation techniques to suit charcuterie in contemporary dining. Variations from different regions ripened a romance between charcuterie and international cuisine. A French farmer would alchemize scraps of meat to shed waste palatable is nowadays offered as pat (Ruhlman and Polcyn, p 22) Charcuterie cannot nor should not be precisely defined it is something to be experienced. The historical nature of charcuterie connects you to your ancestors in a tangible way. Culinary art is a by-product of a rudimentary need to sustain and preserve life.

Charcuterie Essay -- Food, Delicacy

Charcuterie runs the entire gauntlet of cookery. It represents an ancient culinary science that hallmarks the advent of a civilized mankind. Charcuterie is a fifteenth-century French term derived from the get back words chair, which translates to flesh and cuit, meaning cooked. Charcutiers are in a specialty class of their own, distinguished from the classic butcher as a crafted content preserver and engineer of flavor (Doherty, 2009). American consumers commonly misconceive charcuterie as a novelty or delicacy that is not readily available, when in circumstance charcuterie is everywhere. Oscar Mayer cold cuts, a modern day American staple, are produced by a preservation technique used before the sentiment of refrigeration. From the humble islet ways of local supermarkets to the posh pantries of restaurateurs and the finest charcuteries, a primitively preserved slab of hog is an ode to any carnivorous appetite. Charcuterie is mastery of the art of creating sausages and other c ured, smoked and preserved meats (Ruhlman and Polcyn, 2005). Charcuterie mimics the self-propelled trends of the culinary arts and continues to garner new delectable spin on time-tested classics. Preservation was cookings catalyst and in essence conjured the concept of a chef The distinct flavor of charcuterie is as rich as its heritage. The origin of charcuterie is saturated with traditions, controversy and has stood the test of time in a competitive attention with rivaling styles. Charcuterie is both art and a science the mechanics should be explored in order to appreciate the relevance of a taste that is as old as humankind. Remnants of charcuterie date back to the origins of Homo sapiens. Charcuterie was the groundwork for human survival in virtually every culture. ... ... been rehabilitated through consumer awareness and activism that led to better sanitation practices, boilersuit care and slaughter. Swine is the reigning creature of charcuterie, palatable from head to tail Charcuterie is an intricate part of the culinary scene. Chefs have implemented exquisite adaptations of preservation techniques to showcase charcuterie in contemporary dining. Variations from different regions ripened a romance between charcuterie and international cuisine. A French farmer would alchemize scraps of meat to make fellate palatable is nowadays offered as pat (Ruhlman and Polcyn, p 22) Charcuterie cannot nor should not be precisely defined it is something to be experienced. The historical nature of charcuterie connects you to your ancestors in a discernible way. Culinary art is a by-product of a rudimentary need to sustain and preserve life.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room Essay

The Enron scandal, revealed in October 2001, eventually led to the bankruptcy of the Enron Corporation, an American energy conjunction based in Houston, Texas, and the de facto disintegration of Arthur Andersen, which was angiotensin converting enzyme of the five largest audit and accountancy partnerships in the world. In addition to being the largest bankruptcy reorganization in American history at that time, Enron was attri anded as the biggest audit failure. Enron was defecateed in 1985 by Kenneth specify after merging Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth. Several years posterior, when Jeffrey Skilling was hired, he developed a cater of executives that, by the use of write up loopholes, special purpose entities, and poor financial reporting, were adequate to felled seam one million million millions of dollars in debt from failed deals and projects. Chief Financial Officer Andre Fastow and both(prenominal) other executives not only misled Enrons board of directors and audit committee on high-risk accounting practices, but to a fault pressured Andersen to ignore the issues.Enron sh areholders filed a $40 one thousand million font after the clubs monetary fundtaking price, which achieved a high of US$90.75 per share in mid-2000, plummeted to less than $1 by the land up of November 2001. The U.S. Securities and switch over relegation (SEC) began an investigation, and rival Houston competitor Dynegy offered to purchase the connection at a very low price. The deal failed, and on December 2, 2001, Enron filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the fall in States Bankruptcy Code. Enrons $63.4 billion in assets made it the largest corporate bankruptcy in U.S. history until WorldComs bankruptcy the next year. Many executives at Enron were indicted for a variety of even outs and were later sentenced to prison. Enrons auditor, Arthur Andersen, was found guilty in a United States District Court, but by the time the ruling was overturned at the U.S . Supreme Court, the guild had lost the majority of its customers and had closed. Employees and shareholders accepted limited returns in lawsuits, despite losing billions in pensions and stock prices.As a consequence of the scandal, new regulations and statute were enacted to expand the accuracy of financial reporting for public companies. One piece of legislation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, increased penalties for destroying, altering, or fabricating records in federal investigations or for attempting to defraud shareholders. The act also increased the account cogency of auditing firms to remain unbiased and indep canent of their clients.Rise ofEnronIn 1985, Kenneth Lay merged the natural gas pipeline companies of Houston Natural Gas and InterNorth to form Enron. In the archeozoic 1990s, he helped to initiate the exchange of electricity at market prices and, soon after, the United States Congress approved legislation deregulating the change of natural gas. The coreing markets made it possible for principals much(prenominal) as Enron to sell energy at higher prices, in that locationby significantly increasing its revenue. After producers and local governments decried the effect price volatility and asked for increased regulation, strong lobbying on the part of Enron and others allowed for the proliferation of crony capitalism. As Enron became the largest seller of natural gas in North America by 1992, its gas contracts employment earned recompense before interest and taxes of $122 million, the second largest contributor to the communitys net income. The November 1999 creation of the EnronOnline trading website allowed the caller to go manage its contracts trading patronage. In an attempt to achieve further growth, Enron pursued a diversification strategy.The conjunction owned and operated a variety of assets including gas pipelines, electricity plants, pulp and paper plants, water plants, and broadband work across the globe. The corporation a lso gained additional revenue by trading contracts for the same array of products and services with which it was involved. Enrons stock increased from the start of the 1990s until year-end 1998 by 311% percent, only basely higher than the average rate of growth in the metre & Poor 500 index. However, the stock increased by 56% in 1999 and a further 87% in 2000, compared to a 20% increase and a 10% decrease for the index during the same years. By December 31, 2000, Enrons stock was priced at $83.13 and its market capitalization exceeded $60 billion, 70 times requital and sestet times book rank, an indication of the stock markets high expectations near its future prospects. In addition, Enron was rated the most innovative large company in America in Fortunes Most Admired Companies survey.Causes of downfallEnrons colonial financial statements were conf development to shareholders and analysts. In addition, its complex business model and unethical practices required that the com pany use accounting limitations to misrepresentearnings and modify the balance sheet to indicate favorable performance. The combination of these issues later resulted in the bankruptcy of the company, and the majority of them were perpetuated by the indirect knowledge or direct actions of Lay,Jeffrey Skilling, Andrew Fastow, and other executives. Lay served as the chairman of the company in its culture few years, and approved of the actions of Skilling and Fastow although he did not always inquire about the details. Skilling constantly foc apply on tucking Wall Street expectations, advocated the use of mark-to-market accounting (accounting based on market esteem, which was then inflated) and pressured Enron executives to find new ways to hide its debt. Fastow and other executives created off-balance-sheet vehicles, complex financing structures, and deals so bewildering that few people could sureize them.Revenue recognitionMain article Revenue recognitionEnron and other energy suppliers earned bring ins by providing services such as in large quantities trading and risk vigilance in addition to building and maintaining electric power plants, natural gas pipelines, storage, and processing facilities. When accepting the risk of buying and sell products, merchants are allowed to report the selling price as revenues and the products costs as cost of goods sold. In contrast, an agent provides a service to the customer, but does not contract the same risks as merchants for buying and selling. Service providers, when classified as agents, are able to report trading and brokerage honorariums as revenue, although not for the full value of the transaction. Although trading companies such as Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch used the conventional agent model for reporting revenue (where only the trading or brokerage fee would be reported as revenue), Enron instead elected to report the entire value of each of its trades as revenue.This merchant model was consider ed much more battleful in the accounting interpretation than the agent model. Enrons method of reporting inflated trading revenue was later adopted by other companies in the energy trading industry in an attempt to stay competitive with the companys large increase in revenue. Other energy companies such as Duke Energy, Reliant Energy, and Dynegy joined Enron in the wealthiest 50 of the Fortune 500 mainly due to their adoption of the same trading revenueaccounting as Enron. Between 1996 and 2000, Enrons revenues increased by more than 750%, rising from $13.3 billion in 1996 to $100.8 billion in 2000. This extensive expansion of 65% per year was unexampled in any industry, including the energy industry which typically considered growth of 23% per year to be respectable. For just the first nine months of 2001, Enron reported $138.7 billion in revenues, which placed the company at the sixth position on the Fortune Global 500. Mark-to-market accountingMain article Mark-to-market accoun tingIn Enrons natural gas business, the accounting had been fairly straightforward in each time period, the company listed actual costs of supplying the gas and actual revenues received from selling it. However, when Skilling joined the company, he demanded that the trading business adopt mark-to-market accounting, citing that it would represent dependable economic value. Enron became the first non-financial company to use the method to account for its complex long-term contracts. The mark-to-market method requires estimations of future incomes when a long-term contract is signed. These estimations are based on the future net value of the cash flow, costs link to the contract were practically hard to predict. Often, the viability of these contracts and their related costs were difficult to estimate. Due to the large discrepancies of attempting to match profits and cash, investors were typically given false or jerry-built reports. While using the method, income from projects cou ld be recorded, although they might not put one over ever received the money, and in turn increasing financial earnings on the books.However, in future years, the profits could not be included, so new and additional income had to be included from more projects to develop additional growth to appease investors. As one Enron competitor stated, If you accelerate your income, then you have to keep doing more and more deals to show the same or rising income. Despite potential pitfalls, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the accounting method for Enron in its trading of natural gas futures contracts on January 30, 1992. However, Enron later expanded its use to other areas in the company to help it meet Wall Street projections. For one contract, in July 2000, Enron and smash hit Video signed a 20-year agreement to introduce on-demand entertainment to various U.S. cities by year-end. After severalpilot projects, Enron recognized estimated profits of more than $110 million from the deal, even though analysts skepticismed the technical viability and market demand of the service. When the ne twainrk failed to work, Blockbuster withdrew from the contract. Enron continued to recognize future profits, even though the deal resulted in a loss. Special purpose entitiesMain article Special purpose entityEnron used special purpose entitieslimited partnerships or companies created to fulfill a temporary or specific purposeto fund or manage risks associated with specific assets. The company elected to disclose minimal details on its use of special purpose entities. These shell firms were created by a sponsor, but funded by independent legality investors and debt financing. For financial reporting purposes, a series of rules dictates whether a special purpose entity is a separate entity from the sponsor. In total, by 2001, Enron had used hundreds of special purpose entities to hide its debt. Enron used a number of special purpose entities, such as partne rships in its Thomas and Condor tax shelters, financial asset securitization investment trusts (FASITs) in the Apache deal, real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs) in the Steele deal, and REMICs and real estate investment trusts (REITs) in the Cochise deal. The special purpose entities were used for more than just circumventing accounting conventions. As a result of one violation, Enrons balance sheet understated its liabilities and overstated its equity, and its earnings were overstated. Enron disclosed to its shareholders that it had hedged downside risk in its own illiquid investments using special purpose entities.However, the investors were oblivious to the fact that the special purpose entities were actually using the companys own stock and financial guarantees to finance these hedges. This prevented Enron from being protected from the downside risk. Notable examples of special purpose entities that Enron employed were JEDI, Chewco, Whitewing, and LJM.Executive compe nsationAlthough Enrons compensation and performance heed system was designed to retain and bribe its most valuable employees, the system contributed to a dysfunctional corporate culture that became obsessed with short-termearnings to maximize bonuses. Employees constantly tried to start deals, often disregarding the quality of cash flow or profits, in order to get a better rating for their performance review. Additionally, accounting results were recorded as soon as possible to keep up with the companys stock price. This practice helped ensure deal-makers and executives received large cash bonuses and stock options. The companys main focus was its stock price. Management was compensated extensively using stock options, similar to other U.S. companies. This policy of stock option awards caused management to create expectations of intense growth in efforts to give the appearance of reported earnings to meet Wall Streets expectations. The stock ticker was set all throughout the comp any buildings, including the lobbies, elevators, and computers.At budget meetings, Skilling would develop target earnings by asking What earnings do you need to keep our stock price up? and that number would be used, even if it was not feasible. At December 31, 2000, Enron had 96 million shares outstanding as stock option plans(approximately 13% of common shares outstanding). Enrons proxy statement stated that, deep down three years, these awards were expected to be exercised. Using Enrons January 2001 stock price of $83.13 and the directors beneficial monomania reported in the 2001 proxy, the value of director stock ownership was $659 million for Lay, and $174 million for Skilling. Skilling believed that if employees were constantly worried about cost, it would hinder original thinking. As a result, extravagant spending was rampant throughout the company, especially among the executives. Employees had large expense accounts and many executives were paid or sotimes twice as much as competitors. In 1998, the top 200 highest-paid employees received $193 million from salaries, bonuses, and stock. Two years later, the figure jumped to $1.4 billion.Timeline of downfallAt the beginning of 2001, the Enron Corporation, the worlds dominant energy trader, appeared unstoppable. The companys decade-long effort to persuade lawmakers to deregulate electricity markets had succeeded from California to New York. Its ties to the Bush administration assured that its views would be heard in Washington. Its sales, profits and stock were soaring. A. Berenson and R. A. Oppel, Jr. The New York Times, Oct 28, 2001. In February 2001, Chief Accounting Officer Rick Causey told budget managers From anaccounting standpoint, this will be our easiest year ever. Weve got 2001 in the bag. On touch 5, Bethany McLeansFortune article Is Enron Overpriced? questioned how Enron could maintain its high stock value, which was trading at 55 times its earnings. She argued that analysts and investors did not know exactly how Enron was earning its income. McLean was first drawn to the companys situation after an analyst suggested she view the companys 10-K report, where she found strange transactions, erratic cash flow, and huge debt. She telephoned Skilling to converse her findings prior to publishing the article, but he called her unethical for not properly researching the company.Fastow cited both Fortune reporters that Enron could not reveal earnings details as the company had more than 1,200 trading books for assorted commodities and did not want anyone to know whats on those books. We dont want to tell anyone where were making money. In a conference call on April 17, 2001, then-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Skilling verbally attacked Wall Street analyst Richard Grubman, who questioned Enrons unusual accounting practice during a recorded conference call. When Grubman complained that Enron was the only company that could not release a balance sheet along with its earnings statements, Skilling replied Well, thank you very much, we appreciate that asshole. This became an indoors joke among many Enron employees, mocking Grubman for his perceived meddling rather than Skillings offensiveness, with slogans such as Ask Why, Asshole, a variation on Enrons official slogan Ask why.However, Skillings comment was met with dismay and astonishment by press and public, as he had previously disdained criticism of Enron nervelessly or humorously. By the late 1990s Enrons stock was trading for $8090 per share, and few seemed to concern themselves with the opacity of the companys financial disclosures. In mid-July 2001, Enron reported revenues of $50.1 billion, almost triple year-to-date, and beating analysts estimates by 3 cents a share. Despite this, Enrons profit margin had stayed at a modest average of about 2.1%, and its share price had decreased by more than 30% since the same quarter of 2000. As time passed, a number of in force(p) concerns confronted the c ompany. Enron had recently faced several serious operational challenges, namely logistical difficulties in operating a new broadband communications trading unit, and the losses from constructing the Dabhol Power project, a large power plant in India.Therewas also increasing criticism of the company for the role that its subsidiary Enron Energy operate had in the California electricity crisis of 2000-2001. There are no accounting issues, no trading issues, no reserve issues, no previously unknown difficulty issues. I think I can honestly say that the company is probably in the strongest and best shape that it has probably ever been in. (Kenneth Lay answering an analysts question on August 14, 2001.) On August 14, Skilling announced he was resigning his position as CEO after only six months. Skilling had long served as president and COO before being promoted to CEO. Skilling cited personal reasons for leaving the company. Observers noted that in the months before his exit, Skillin g had sold at minimum 450,000 shares of Enron at a value of around $33 million (though he salve owned over a million shares at the date of his departure). Nevertheless, Lay, who was serving as chairman at Enron, assured surprised market watchers that there would be no change in the performance or outlook of the company spill forward from Skillings departure. Lay announced he himself would re-assume the position of chief executive officer.Investors confidence declinesSomething is rotten with the state of Enron.The New York Times, Sept 9, 2001.By the end of August 2001, his companys stock value still falling, Lay named Greg Whalley, president and COO of Enron Wholesale Services and Mark Frevert, to positions in the chairmans office. Some observers suggested that Enrons investors were in significant need of reassurance, not only because the companys business was difficult to understand (even indecipherable) but also because it was difficult to properly describe the company in finan cial statements. One analyst stated its really hard for analysts to determine where Enron are making money in a given quarter and where they are losing money. Lay accepted that Enrons business was very complex, but asserted that analysts would never get all the information they want to satisfy their curiosity. He also explained that the complexity of the business was due more often than not to tax strategies and position-hedging. Lays efforts seemed to meet with limited success by September 9, one prominent hedge fund manager noted that Enron stock is trading under a cloud.The fast departure of Skilling combined withthe opacity of Enrons accounting books made proper assessment difficult for Wall Street. In addition, the company admitted to repeatedly using related-party transactions, which round feared could be too-easily used to transfer losses that might otherwise appear on Enrons own balance sheet. A particularly troubling fit of this technique was that several of the related -party entities had been or were being controlled by CFO Fastow. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, media attention shifted away from the company and its troubles a little less than a month later Enron announced its intention to begin the process of selling its lower-margin assets in favor of its core businesses of gas and electricity trading. This policy included selling Portland General Electric to another Oregon utility, Northwest Natural Gas, for about $1.9 billion in cash and stock, and possibly selling its 65% stake in the Dabhol project in India. Restructuring losses and SEC investigationOn October 16, 2001, Enron announced that restatements to its financial statements for years 1997 to 2000 were necessary to correct accounting violations. The restatements for the period reduced earnings by $613 million (or 23% of reported profits during the period), increased liabilities at the end of 2000 by $628 million (6% of reported liabilities and 5.5% of reported equity), and reduc ed equity at the end of 2000 by $1.2 billion (10% of reported equity). Additionally, in January Jeff Skilling had asserted that the broadband unit alone was worth $35 billion, a claim also mistrusted. An analyst at Standard & Poors said I dont think anyone knows what the broadband operation is worth. Enrons management team claimed the losses were mostly due to investment losses, along with charges such as about $180 million in money spent restructuring the companys strike broadband trading unit.In a statement, Lay revealed, After a thorough review of our businesses, we have decided to take these charges to clear away issues that have clouded the performance and earnings potential of our core energy businesses. Some analysts were unnerved. David Fleischer at Goldman Sachs, an analyst termed previously one of the companys strongest supporters asserted that the Enron management lost credibility and have to reprove themselves. They need to convince investors these earnings are real, t hat the company is for real and that growth will be realized. Fastow disclosedto Enrons board of directors on October 22 that he earned $30 million from compensation arrangements when managing the LJM limited partnerships.That solar day, the share price of Enron decreased to $20.65, down $5.40 in one day, after the announcement by the SEC that it was investigating the various suspicious activities of Enron, characterizing them as about of the most opaque transactions with insiders ever seen Attempting to explain the billion-dollar charge and calm investors, Enrons disclosures spoke of share settled costless collar arrangements, derivative instruments which eliminated the contingent nature of existing restricted forward contracts, and strategies that served to hedge authentic merchant investments and other assets. Such puzzling phraseology left many analysts feeling ignorant about just how Enron managed its business. Regarding the SEC investigation, chairman and CEO Lay said, We w ill cooperate fully with the S.E.C. and look forward to the opportunity to put any concern about these transactions to rest. Two days later, on October 25, despite his reassurances days earlier, Lay dismissed Fastow from his position, citing In my continued discussions with the financial community, it became clear to me that restoring investor confidence would require us to replace Andy as CFO.However, with Skilling and Fastow now both departed, somewhat analysts feared that revealing the companys practices would be made all the more difficult. Enrons stock was now trading at $16.41, having lost half its value in a little more than a week. On October 27 the company began buying back all its commercial paper, valued at around $3.3 billion, in an effort to calm investor fears about Enrons supply of cash. Enron financed the re-purchase by depleting its lines of credit at several banks. While the companys debt rating was still considered investment-grade, its bonds were trading at leve ls slightly less, making future sales problematic. As the month came to a close, serious concerns were being raised by some observers regarding Enrons possible manipulation of accepted accounting rules however, analysis was claimed to be impossible based on the incomplete information provided by Enron. Industry analysts feared that Enron was the new long-term Capital Management, the hedge fund whose bankruptcy in 1998 threatened systemic failure of the international financial markets. Enrons tremendous presence worried some about the consequences of the companys possible bankruptcy. Enron executives accepted questions in written form only.Proposed buyout by DynegySources claimed that Enron was preparation to explain its business practices more fully within the coming days, as a confidence-building gesture. Enrons stock was now trading at around $7, as investors worried that the company would not be able to find a buyer. After it received a wide spectrum of rejections, Enron managem ent apparently found a buyer when the board of Dynegy, another energy trader based in Houston, voted late at night on November 7 to acquire Enron at a very low price of about $8 billion in stock. Chevron Texaco, which at the time owned about a quarter of Dynegy, agreed to provide Enron with $2.5 billion in cash, specifically $1 billion at first and the rest when the deal was completed. Dynegy would also be required to assume nearly $13 billion of debt, plus any other debt hitherto occluded by the Enron managements secretive business practices, possibly as much as $10 billion in underground debt. Dynegy and Enron confirmed their deal on November 8, 2001. Commentators remarked on the different corporate cultures between Dynegy and Enron, and on the straight-talking personality of the CEO of Dynegy, Charles Watson.Some wondered if Enrons troubles had not simply been the result of innocent accounting errors. By November, Enron was asserting that the billion-plus one-time charges disclo sed in October should in reality have been $200 million, with the rest of the amount simply corrections of static accounting mistakes. Many feared other mistakes and restatements might yet be revealed. Another major correction of Enrons earnings was announced on November 9, with a decrease of $591 million of the stated revenue of years 19972000. The charges were said to come largely from two special purpose partnerships (JEDI and Chewco). The corrections resulted in the virtual elimination of profit for fiscal year 1997, with significant reductions for the other years. Despite this disclosure, Dynegy declared it still intended to purchase Enron. Both companies were said to be anxious to receive an official assessment of the proposed sale from Moodys and S&P presumably to understand the effect the completion of any buyout transaction would have on Dynegy and Enrons credit rating. In addition, concerns were raised regarding antitrust regulatory restrictions resulting in possible div estiture, along with what to some observers were the radically different corporate cultures of Enron and Dynegy.Both companiespromoted the deal aggressively, and some observers were hopeful Watson was praised for attempting to create the largest company on the energy market. At the time, Watson said We feel Enron is a very solid company with plenty of capacity to live on whatever happens the next few months. One analyst called the deal a whopper a very good deal financially, certainly should be a good deal strategically, and provides some immediate balance-sheet backstop for Enron. Credit issues were becoming more critical, however. Around the time the buyout was made public, Moodys and S&P both reduced Enrons rating to just one notch above toss status. Were the companys rating to fall below investment-grade, its ability to trade would be severely limited if there was a reduction or elimination of its credit lines with competitors. In a conference call, S&P affirmed that, were En ron not to be bought, S&P would reduce its rating to low BB or high B, ratings noted as being within junk status. Additionally, many traders had limited their involvement with Enron, or stopped doing business altogether, fearing more bad news. Watson again attempted to re-assure, attesting at a presentation to investors that there was zero point wrong with Enrons business.He also acknowledged that remunerative steps (in the form of more stock options) would have to be taken to compensate the animosity of many Enron employees for management after it was revealed that Lay and other officials had sold hundreds of millions of dollars worth of stock during the months prior to the crisis. The situation was not helped by the disclosure that Lay, his temper in tatters, stood to receive a payment of $60 million as a change-of-control fee subsequent to the Dynegy acquisition, while many Enron employees had seen their retirement accounts, which were based largely on Enron stock, decimated a s the price decreased 90% in a year. An official at a company owned by Enron stated We had some married couples who both worked who lost as much as $800,000 or $900,000. It pretty much wiped out every employees savings plan. Watson assured investors that the true nature of Enrons business had been made apparent to him We have comfort there is not another shoe to drop. If there is no shoe, this is a phenomenally good transaction. Watson further asserted that Enrons energy trading part alone was worth the price Dynegy was paying for the whole company.By mid-November, Enron announced it was planning to sell about $8 billion worth of underperforming assets, along with a general plan to reduceits scale for the sake of financial stability. On November 19 Enron disclosed to the public further evidence of its critical state of affairs. Most pressingly that the company had debt repayment obligations in the range of $9 billion by the end of 2002. Such debts were vastly in excess of its availa ble cash. Also, the success of measures to preserve its solvency were not guaranteed, specifically as regarded asset sales and debt refinancing. In a statement, Enron revealed An adverse outcome with respect to any of these matters would likely have a material adverse impact on Enrons ability to continue as a going concern. Two days later, on November 21, Wall Street expressed serious doubts that Dynegy would proceed with its deal at all, or would seek to radically renegotiate.Furthermore Enron revealed in a 10-Q filing that almost all the money it had recently borrowed for purposes including buying its commercial paper, or about $5 billion, had been exhausted in just 50 days. Analysts were unnerved at the revelation, especially since Dynegy was reported to have also been unaware of Enrons rate of cash use. In order to end the proposed buyout, Dynegy would need to legally demonstrate a material change in the circumstances of the transaction as late as November 22, sources close to D ynegy were skeptical that the a la mode(p) revelations constituted sufficient grounds. The SEC announced it had filed civil fraud complaints against Andersen. A few days later, sources claimed Enron and Dynegy were renegotiating the terms of their arrangement. Dynegy now demanded Enron agree to be bought for $4 billion rather than the previous $8 billion. Observers were reporting difficulties in ascertaining which of Enrons operations, if any, were profitable. Reports described an en masse shift of business to Enrons competitors for the sake of risk impression reduction.BankruptcyEnrons stock price (former NYSE ticker symbol ENE) from August 23, 2000 ($90) to January 11, 2002 ($0.12). As a result of the decrease of the stock price, shareholders lost nearly $11 billion. On November 28, 2001, Enrons two worst-possible outcomes came true Dynegy Inc. unilaterally disengaged from the proposed acquisition of the company, and Enrons credit rating was reduced to junk status. Watson later s aid At the end, you couldnt give it Enron to me. The company had very little cash with which to operate, let alone satisfy enormous debts. Its stock price fell to $0.61 at the end ofthe days trading. One editorial observer wrote that Enron is now shorthand for the perfect financial storm. Systemic consequences were felt, as Enrons creditors and other energy trading companies suffered the loss of several percentage points. Some analysts felt Enrons failure indicated the risks of the postSeptember 11 economy, and encouraged traders to lock in profits where they could.The question now became how to determine the total exposure of the markets and other traders to Enrons failure. Early calculations estimated $18.7 billion. One adviser stated, We dont really know who is out there exposed to Enrons credit. Im telling my clients to prepare for the worst. Enron was estimated to have about $23 billion in liabilities from both debt outstanding and guaranteed loans. Citigroup and JP Morgan Chas e in particular appeared to have significant amounts to lose with Enrons bankruptcy. Additionally, many of Enrons major assets were pledged to lenders in order to secure loans, causing doubt about what if anything unsecured creditors and eventually stockholders might receive in bankruptcy proceedings.Enrons European operations filed for bankruptcy on November 30, 2001, and it sought Chapter 11 protection two days later on December 2. It was the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history (before being surpassed by WorldComs bankruptcy the next year), and resulted in 4,000 lost jobs. The day that Enron filed for bankruptcy, the employees were told to pack their belongings and were given 30 minutes to vacate the building. Nearly 62% of 15,000 employees savings plans relied on Enron stock that was purchased at $83 in early 2001 and was now practically worthless.In its accounting work for Enron, Andersen had been sloppy and weak. But thats how Enron had always wanted it. In truth, even as they a ngrily pointed fingers, the two deserved each other. Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind in The Smartest Guys in the Room. On January 17, 2002 Enron dismissed Arthur Andersen as its auditor, citing its accounting advice and the destruction of documents. Andersen countered that it had already ended its relationship with the company when Enron became bankrupt.

Obligations Kin Have Toward One Another

1. The fond and cultural governing body in which we live in determines who we define as kin. Describe the a) frugal b) political/power, c) chaste obligations kin have toward one some other in this smart set.Since the Trobriand ordering follows a strict ruling in matri pedigree, the relationship between the set out and her family as sound as the father and his family is very important. Economically, the circumstance of a person in the family, would often determine how umpteen items he receives, and/or gives during a hymeneals, death and important events such as gardening that continues passim the years.Depending on the individuals rank in golf club, the services one receives at contrastive occasions are fit to their rank. A chief for example, at death would receive the highest mourning ritual of all. This consists of both his lineal relatives owners and those connected through marriage or patrilineage, are the fashioners, performing duties in honor of their decease d relative.Birth, for Trobrianders links the infant with a dead matrilineal ancestor, in this expression the new generations do work an active role in keeping the connection between the past and the future of the family. A fathers matrlineage plays a key role in the childs status as well the father is responsible for providing gifts for the child that will establish that childs acceptance into the society. These roles are moral obligations of the different members of the family and very often establishments that familys power.The power of yam plants in this society plays a very important economical as well as social part in the lives of kin. A mans yam house is a representation of that mans riches, as well as another(prenominal) mans fine gardening skills and a womans status, since she is the title owner of the yams. Often, yams are used as a symbol of wealth at harvest festivals where women compete for the wealth title by bringing in yams. The higher the title, the more praise and honor goes to that womans matrilineage. In marriage, people from the brides side of the family bring gifts of yams to the grooms relatives later they are awarded with valuables depending on the generosity of the yam giving. Therefore, yams and valuable items such as play off axe-blades often serve in economical exchanges that define the relationships and status of the givers and receivers in the society.2.Describe how the sexual division of labor/ specialization occurs in this society. Include an analysis of how this is related to to their concepts of male and female. Women in the society of the Trobrianders play a key role. They provide the needed amount of banana leaf bundles and skirts during the death of a relative, and yams when the theme of the family is at stake. The female is the one that supposedly determines a childs identity when the spirit of an infant is sent to enter her body by her matrilineal ancestors.The womans yam supply comes into play with a need for her conserve to purchase bundles. Though men are the ones that labor on the yam gardens and plant general gardens for the familys food consumption, the woman receives the yams, as she is the one that holds the title.The man also plays a key role in his childs acceptance into society he works to get his child important gifts such as Chama shells that symbolize the first important political step in a childs life-time.While the man is the obvious breadwinner in society, servings as the gardener, the carver, the orator, the chief and so on, the woman is the nurturer of the home, the infant and the important family possessions such as yams, skirts and such.3.Society and culture are reproduced across the generations through socialization. Explain how this occurs in this society. The Trobriand society is bound closely by their dependency on kin relations, alarm of black art and a strong belief in their authority, the chief. The strong influence of a chief evaluates the presenting politic al state of the Trobrianders, they are unwilling to change as introducen by experimenters such as those of John K. The society holds utmost respect for chiefs and does everything in their power to stay respectful and not anger the powerful sorcerers. This brings us to magic, which is both good and bad, the family spells are passed on from generation to generation, while the bad ones are feared and are often protected against.The currency of the society is mostly yams, since so many exchanges and rituals are performed with them. At death, birth, and marriage, the exchange of yams and other valuables serves as the connection between different kin and the alliances present are guarded with care.Hard work is measure outd high in the society, during marriage the man must show his bride that he is a disenfranchised worker and a loyal father, as this influences the way his child shall be viewed and accepted.Social values are passed on to children as they grow up and experiment with love and sexuality, yet as soon as marriage is declared, the touch must prove to their society that they are ready to become adults and uphold their families.4. Assess how this societys religious belief system and practices, and moral standards are used to promote, maintain, and perpetuate a) power and authority, b) social organization and control c) economic exchange and reciprocity. Include the function of myths and symbols in your comments. The Trobriand society belief in power and authority is embedded in their chiefdom. The respect given to a chief is out of both respect and fear. It is known throughout the society that the chief knows powerful spells and if one were to disrespect or anger him, the consequences could be deadly and last for generations to come.Superiority of the chief is demonstrated during a kayasa or yam competition, which allows for new political allies and noticeable displays of power. The passing of the chief and all the mourning rituals and traditions that fo llow, show the status of that chief and his value in the society, as well as his ability to have more than one wife. Social organization and control are instilled in family relationships and their ties to other families through marriage. Both matrilineal ties and company ties are important to the society so that families, their possessions and beliefs and status are passed on from generation to generation.Some key beliefs such as spells that can be retch upon others, result in things such as post mourning exchanges and the lessons to children of not accepting food from strangers. It is believed that death before old age is the result of sorcery therefore traditions uphold that protection spells are learned and gifts to family members are given to rid oneself from possible accusations. Economic exchange becomes highly important during marriage as gifts are given back and forth from the brides family to the grooms. The importance of the grooms mother cooking during the first year of the marriage is also key as it shows the deep interdependence of kin in the society. Example such as yam gardens, which are built by brides brothers and fathers, show the deep relations that both sides of the family have to keep in order for the society to survive.5. Establishing ones identity is a complex mixture of many variables including a) ethnicity b) gender c) caste d) class e) race f) sexuality g) ritualized role/status changes and h) age. How does each of these variables factor into establishing ones identity in this culture? The Trobriand society has many variables that define ones identity in the society. Ethnicity and race of the Trobrianders is the same throughout the society, the only difference is the location of different villages on the island.Gender, divides the society into labor divisions and cultural roles. The men tend to yam gardens while the women make banana leaf skirts and participate in yam exchanges. Both work hard in their divisions to provide for a com mon goal of providing for their immediate and extended family. Class defines the amount of power and valuable possessions the individual has. A chief big businessman have more several wives, while a fatherless child will be at a disadvantage of being looked down upon throughout its life. Sexuality often defines a young Trobriander on his or her way to adulthood, experimenting with different partners on a search for a mate to last them until death. Once, the couple is married talk of their sexuality is strictly forbidden and can be the biggest insult.Ritualized role and status changes have to include marriage and death. During marriage, a bride moves in with the husband and the husbands mother cooks for them for an entire year as the couple eats together. Once the year has passed, the wife cooks for the husband for the rest of their marriage and the meals are eaten separately. In death, the spirit is believed to be sent to the island of Tuma, therefore many careful rituals are perfo rmed so that the spirit gets there safe and sound and that its continued life on the island shall be as good as the one it left. Age is a key determinant of the individual in the society.An infant enters the society in the hand of his parents, it is their role to make sure that it receives the proper care and gifts to be accepted into the society with class and status. Once an adolescent the individual is on a search for a mate, which brings him/her to the next state adulthood. This is not defined by age but by marital status, from then on, the individual is an adult and their status is determined by family relations. Whether they are a mother, father, a grandparent, sibling and so on, determines their identity in this culture.6. Even in societies that place a high value on egalitarianism, many forms of hierarchy and discrimination are found. What types and kinds appear in this society? How are they perpetuated? Although the sport for fame is a fair game among the Trobrianders, se veral forms of inequality are noticed. For example, The attainment of kula shells provides means to realize fame, but such fame must still be attached to a more elementary kind of immortality that of lineage(157) Meaning that a person with good negotiating skills can build fame into a everlasting hierarchy, like the chief Vanoi, and establish power over other players. discrepancy is also noted in the values of gender. Women for example, are no longer equal dance partners at Cricket matches, and dress in traditional finery as spectator (114). While men hold the higher positions in the society, the role of women overshadows the men in its importance. The women draw on their husbands resources to make their own matrilineage strong.(121) though the system is of checks and balances the womens wealth controls the overall hierarchy of the society.In case of a death during the harvest year, yam competitions are replaced by competitions in womens wealth, where the women owners are in contr ol. Tradition and custom perpetuate the inequalities and the hierarchy of the Trobriand society, as the people are used to the numerous and complicated social and cultural exchanges that occur throughout the community. Although the debt created through yams enables a man to become more dominant as a leader.a man cannot fill his own yam house, he is always dependent on other men.(122)7.What is the relationship between a) marriage and residence and b) property and descent in this society? Property for Trobrianders can be houses and yam supplies, special rare items or banana leaf bundles, etc. All these things are directly related to social relationship of the individuals in the society. incur a couple who eats yams together to announce their marriage, they are directly linking yams, which is property, to marriage. Same goes for the food that the grooms mother provides for a year subsequently marriage, and the exchange that occurs during the marriage. In marriage exchanges, each pers on from the brides side who contributed to the first yam exchange receives a valuable when they are collected by the grooms relatives.(87)Yam competitions or the kayasa, are organized to make friends or in better words form relationships between men from another clan, in order to gain power. Lovers, too are called, good friends, but only marriage stabilizes relationships between clans, shifting individual competition and seduction into permanent obligations.(112) this intertwined web of social bonds between men in different lineages and clans, is affected by the cultural exchanges of valuables and the harvesting of yams. The preparation of bundles and skirts id dedicated to the women, while the harvesting and voyages and through with(p) by men.Because a women and her husband receive yams from her brother every year, her husband must help her find bundles whenever someone dies who was a member of her matrilineage.(120). Therefore, womens wealth is intimately tied to yam production, and the exchanges between a woman, her husband, and her brother. The limited currency of bundles and yams, in the exchange relationship operates as a system of checks and balances. It is the womans job to feed on her husbands resources to make her matrilineage look strong.

Ash Wednesday Bushfires

The many natural hazards that have occurred over the years have vary from cyclones to droughts, however bushfires are the main hazard Australia is prone to. A bushfire is an out-of-control fire that burns bush, forest and woodland areas. Australia has had a considerable number of hazardous bushfires, the alter Wednesday Bushfires of 1983 is one of Australias most devastating.THE LOCATIONOver one hundred fires broke out between February 16th-18th 1983, eight of which were major fires. These fires swept across regions of VictoJ.Dimovskiria and South Australia create widespread damage. Figure 1 below is a map of Victoria, the red representing where the fires were formed. The eight major fires were started in the following areas of Victoria* Cudgee, Ballangeich and Framilingham* East Trentham and Mt Macedon* Otways* Belgrave steep gear and Upper Beaconsfield* Monivale* Branxholme* Warburton and* CockatooGEOGRAPHICAL PROCESSESCAUSESAn ignition flame point is needed for a bushfire to start. This ignition is caused naturally by lightning strikes or by a deliberate/accidental flame for example arson, camping fires or carless behavior. Most of the Ash Wednesday fires were caused by an accidental ignition, for example in Cudgee, Mt Macedon, Monivale and Branxholme. The suspected cause for these fires was the clashing of galvanising powerlines with tree branches.Bushfires net be influenced by several factors. It is primarily the weather conditions and geographical processes that dictate the behaviour and spread of a fire.Drought plays an essential parcel in the environment desiccating determining the spread of a bushfire. Due to lack of rainfall, vegetation such as dry grasses, parched native shrubs and other ignitible materials build up and become fuel for the fire to burn. Before the Ash Wednesday fires Victoria suffered 10 months severe drought.The relative humidity also results in the aright climatic conditions for a bushfire to occur. If the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere is than 20%, it can cause forest fuels to dry out and become highly flammable. The relative humidity of Victoria was exceedingly low in the months leading to the bushfires. At one stage Melbournes relative humidity reached as low as 6% compared to the usual 43%. This factor greatlycontributes to increasing the speed of the fire.High temperatures are necessary for a fire to occur. Hot air from high temperatures is responsible for helping to lower the moisture content of forest vegetation, making the fuel more flammable. February 1983 was one of the hottest and driest Februarys on record, with temperatures reaching a record 46.1 degrees Celcius. cut plays a major role in the spread of fires. High winds provide the fires with oxygen to burn resulting in larger and stronger flames. In addition wind can also cause spot fires by blowing embers downwind. The wind movement on February 16 also resulted in many fires merging.Weather conditions such as refrigerated f ronts also produce severe bushfire conditions. In southern Australia cold fronts are common and dramatically affect bushfires. Figure 2 shows the cold front as it headed towards Victoria on February 16.When a cold front passes, the wind direction will change about 90 degrees and will also cause rattling hot, dry winds. Figure 3 and 4 illustrates the cold front changing the direction of the fire, causing the long side of the fire to suddenly become the front. wherefore IS THE LOCATION PRONEVictoria is prone to the hazard of bushfires because during summer and autumn Victoria experiences hot, dry climate which causes the vegetation to dry out. Victorias forests mainly consist of eucalyptus tree trees, which contain large amounts of oil making these forests highly flammable. Southern Australia also experiences strong winds in summer, which result in increasing the damage of the fire. Figure 6 on the left shows the areas of Australia that are prone to bushfires.IMPACTSThe tinges of a hazard when it strikes a town or region can be very dramatic. The impacts can be categorised into environmental, economic and social impacts.ENVIRONMENTALThe Ash Wednesday fires caused widespread damage to the environment burning over 210,000 square hectares of Victorian land in gist and 21,000 in South Australia. The land burnt Dandenong National Park, the Wombat State Forest, pine plantations and the Otways Forest.Although the Ash Wednesday bushfires regenerated the bushland they caused extensive damage to native habitats and also resulted in the death and crack of many animals. The fires also caused changes to biodiversity levels, high levels of erosion, disrupted the water quality in local streams and waterways and also released thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions into the atmosphere.Figure 7 shows the CFA rehydrating a koala that survived the fire. scotchThe economic impacts caused by the Ash Wednesday bushfires were very large. It non only affected the local communitie s but also the whole of Australia. The total cost of property connect damage in Victoria was estimated at over $200 million. In addition the damage to valuable timber in state areas and timber plantations was estimated at over $50 million. All together the cost of damage was over $950 million. A large majority of individuals experienced property loss and many were not insured against bushfire therefore lost all their life savings. Even those who were insured did not receive everything back from insurance agencies and had to make do with what they were given.Figure 8 on the right shows the large areas burnt by the firesSOCIAL IMPACTSThe Ash Wednesday bushfires brought death, destruction and hardship on peoples lives. Many people were not prepared for a bushfire of that degree. It was the biggest fire Victoria had seen and took many by surprise. The number of casualties was 75 including 13 CFA fire-fighters and many more were injured. There was also the loss of over 2,000 residential homes in Victoria and in South Australia 383 more. Figure 9 on the left is a photograph showing a street of houses all burnt down. The impact of the fires was very difficult on individuals, especially the ones the lost friends and family members in the fires. There were also many health problems caused by the fires, both mental and physical. These health problems were caused from stress, great deal inhalation, asthma attacks and the trauma sustained.It was just this bloody great force. It wasnt fire by itself. It wasnt just the wind. It was something different to thata monster was a statement made by John Baxter. The above statement shows how many residents may have reacted or felt about the fires.POSSIBLE STRATEGIESTo protect Victoria and the environment from another smutty bushfire, some management strategies need to be implemented. These could include* Local residents should remove any fire prone objects in and around the home for example alter leaves in gutters and raking an d discarding dried leaves around fire seasons.* An education and awareness program could be developed to inform people on the risks on living in fire prone areas. Topics should include how and why people die in bushfires, how to insure their homes against fires and prevention measures.* A warning system should implemented to warn the residential district on incoming fires. To supplement this an evacuation drill should be put in place so the local communities know what to do in the miscue of a bushfire.* Local communities should become more involved in forest management and conservation to ensure the future protection of the environment for future generations.

Philosophy of reading Essay

Just simply teaching a child to read is not equal we must provide them something that is worth denotation. Material that will make their imaginations grow materials that will help them to understand their own lives and push them towards interacting with others whos lives are all told opposite than there own (Paterson). As elementary educators it is our privilege and responsibility to expose young people to knowledge. By making this introduction a pleasure one, it allows for the child to concur a positive attitude about school and learning that they will take with them through out their full educational career. numerous children have a excited and happy attitude about starting school. Every student also feels like they are ready and prepared, no take what their entry level literacy skills may be. It is common knowledge that not every child will enter the school system with the same levels of literacy. That is why it is up to us, as educators, to teach them how to read by dev elopment appropriately developed strategies and individualized instructions.When I was a little girl growing up I was one of a family of sixteen children, so beginning from a very young age once the school days were done we were left with our of age(p) siblings while mom and dad worked hard to earn us a living. My mother would frequently read to me out of story books or simply stories she make up on her own.Since there were so many of us, by the time i was born we had a pretty good assortment of books to choose from. My start-off memory I have of reading in the classroom setting was in the fourth grade. My instructor was Ms. Bartrum, she was much(prenominal) a lovely woman who was the outgrowth to instill in me the joys of reading through accelerated reading programs and book fairs.I was a goal of mine to be the first one to finis onebook and move on to another one on the list, this is a case where a little competition was a healthy thing. Mrs. Bartrum was in truth good at pic king out books that would challenge us but also capture our interests which made reading them a lot less challenging. Cunningham and Allington explore has shown that those children who learned to read and write with ease had a lot of different experiences in reading and writing, which allowed them to benefit from the literacy experiences they had in school (Cunningham & Allington).Teaching students to read is not simply picking the rightreading program, and one specific program will not work with for every single student. As a teacher I feel that it is my job to be the spark for the love to read, by using an publicationive and balanced learning approach. It is of the upmost importance that the curriculum is intentional so that it engages the students in the content, while allowing the students to use their own learning styles and accompanying to their developmental needs. The teaching method called Best Practice uses the idea that by using teaching methods and strategies within t he classroom will create an individualized environment for learning.I continuously make an effort to use the best practices method in my everyday classroom instruction. Students learn based upon their own individual needs or interests. It is important to help students to gain their own craving for knowledge, it is critical to their schoolman success. By creating a learning environment that allows the students to feel safe, will in turn make it easier for them to trust you which will make the learning experience often easier. An environment that is encouraging, positive, actively engaging, and allows for social interactions will harbor the best practice learning method.The way that a classroom is arranged can have an effect on the students and how they learn as well. My personal classroom is arranged so that they students desks are arranged in a U-shape with my desk in the middle, this allows me to have a expression of each student and to be able to get to them easier. My classroo m is also full to the gill with reading materials, every which way the students turn they are greeted by books. Our reading corner is foc employ around our interactive word board, it holds our library with is full of many different forms of reading materials from chart books to decoding books.Also post throughout the classroom is the alphabet, picture cards, and letter cards with a corresponding word being used in a sentence. Morning messages and charts are move within easy access for the students so that they can review and practice whenever they want. Also made available within the classroom is environmental prints, these help the students with their writing, studies have shown that they are an effective way of aiding in emergent literacy (Jalongo, 2010). Each day there is an hour set aside to work on reading in small groups.Even though throughout the day several books areread, this one hour period during the day is when individual reading levels are really focused on within each group. Groups are used during these lessons because studies have shown that students within the early grade levels learn more when a portion of their reading lessons are given in small groups, with regularly tested progress, and ample amount of time to understand the lesson is given (Taylor, 2005).Reading is fundamental, this saying is used to demonstrate the how important reading is to our youth. Having the skills to read and write is not only fundamental in an individuals success in the academic mavin but also in life itself.Reading and writing skills are a continued development throughout a persons entire lifetime, however they early years, from birth to the age of eight, are the most crucial time frame for developing literacy skills (IRA and NAEYC, 2009). Reading has an undeniable importance because of the basic tools it provides an individual. It is the make block for the nations educational system. One must have adequate reading skills to be able to master any other subject s such as math or science, this is why it is the most crucial of all subjects to master. Despite it being such a simple concept, if it werent for reading our nicetywouldnt be as advanced as it is today.By simply saying that reading is fundamental lacks emphasis, because without the ability to read our lives would be extremely different in many ways. References Reading Rockets. Interview with Katherine Paterson. On-line. Accessed on December 5, 2014 at http// www. readingrockets. org/books/interviews/paterson Hall, D. P. & Williams, E. (2000). Teachers Guide to Building Blocks A Developmentally Appropriate, Multilevel Framework for Kindergarten. Greensboro, NC Carlos-Dellosa Publishing bon ton Inc. International Reading Association (IRA) & National Association for the Education ofYoung Children (NAEYC). (2009).Learning to Read and Write Developmentally Appropriate Practices for Young Children. NAEYC Washington, DC. Jalongo, M. R. (2007). Early childishness Language Arts. (4th Ed). Boston, MA Allyn & Bacon. Taylor, B. , Pearson, P. , Clark, K. , & Walpole, S. (2005). Beating the Odds in Teaching All Children to Read. CIERA Report 2-006. University of Michigan Ann Arbor.

Final Strategic Plan Essay

Everyone wants to swallow a delicious meal that ordain not cost them a lot of money. There atomic number 18 many eating houses that try to sell you their supporters. Gregs Family Restaurant is a restaurant which will domiciliate a wholesome nutritious meal and great customer service for all our patrons.Mission StatementThe mission of Gregs restaurant is to bring home the bacon wholesome meals at unbelievable prices the competition rousenot comp be. Our restaurant is to provide customers the service for each one and every one of them want and deserve. We will provide this type of service with the technology that is available to us as a fear. With this technology we provide our customers with great service and delicious meals at an unbelievable price. We will become the best restaurant in the area that provides our customers with Mexican, Afro-American cuisine. The employees of Gregs restaurant will be worry family.Organization VisionVision is the strategic planning of a c ompany to achieving its goals. A vision statement presents the firms strategic intent that focuses the energies and resources of the company on achieving a desirable future (Pearce & Robinson, 2009, p37). The aim for Gregs restaurant is to in the coterminous 2-4 years to be above and beyond the competition and to expand the line of merchandise to other areas within the city. The future planning of the restaurant is to come up with menu items that will continue to help the blood line to prosper. Guiding principles Culture, social responsibility, and ethics Gregs restaurant is following many values and cultures according to the needs of customers. The menu items of the restaurant represent different cultures that can rend customers of different nationalities and societies. Gregs restaurant is multi- cultural and furnishs a wide variety of menu items that everyone can enjoy. Gregs restaurant gives priority to the values of truth and integrity in full support of their valued patro ns.The restaurant also offers specials throughout the week and also issues coupons to get half off on veritable menu items. The moving in is using products that are environmentally friendly and to help protect the environment and health of the community. The vision, mission, and values statement of the restaurant will provide the framework, structure and the companys goal. The vision is the end goal the restaurant wants to strain whereas the mission and the values will provide the bank line with the everyday activities the business already performs and also the structure and framework for the strategic plan for the business.The business will address customer needs by providing good service and meals to each and every patron that enters the establishment. All customers will get the same fresh meal the first customer to the last customer. The staff will act in a professional manner and provide great customer service and our suppliers along with the restaurant will serve the freshe st ingredients available.Organization strategic DirectionWithout strategic direction the business will not be able to accomplish its mission or vision. So it is very important that a company has a strategic direction for the implementation of its mission and vision. Strategic direction is defined as strategies made by a business or company to foregather its mission. Strategic direction helps the owner and employees to know what is needed or required to achieve the mission of the company.Customer needs and competitive advantageAt Gregs restaurant it is important for the business to provide a relaxed comfortable atmosphere to the customers so they can like at home. At Gregs restaurant thither has been mechanisms added to provide the customers with the necessary seating and waiting areas to help them feel much comfortable at the restaurant. It is also a positive direction the company has taken is there is no priority of any culture or religion to dine at the restaurant. Honesty is a severalise element that we strive when transaction with patrons. Strategy planning helps the company review the mission and vision and to make sure that the company is headed in the right direction on achieving the goals. The future planning and vision of the restaurant has an impact on the restaurant strategy and it could impact the way the business will do oer the next few years. The business has to utilize its vision and mission statements to make new decisions or to improve on the decisions it makes about the future of the business and what is going to benefit the business.SWOTT AnalysisIn the restaurant business and by being new to the industry which is very competitive a SWOTT analysis ranges a key role and is needed for a business to succeed. Gregs Family Restaurant sets itself apart from other restaurants by servicing their customers with excellent customer service and meals. When analyzing a business one has to look at the inherent and external factors that affect the c ompany. A SWOTT analysis provides a breakdown of all these factors even factors that could affect a business internally and externally. SWOTT analysis is a tool a company uses in forming a strategic plan. It is the most effective tool a company uses to delay and uses for a strategic plan. SWOTT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, and Trends a company must face.Business can use SWOTT as a tool to create and overview of the organization strategic situation. (Pearce & Robinson, 2009). For a new establishment like Gregs Restaurant a SWOTT analysis is necessary to establish and compare where it is in a competitive market. When operating any type of business prep is a key element looking into as many potential options as possible is a must to prevent the company from profit acquittance along with the shareholders but in this case it is Gregs stakeholders at risk.By eliminating all possible threats and creating opportunities with limited financial resources and con centrating on the long- term goal is the key to the success of the business and the future. SWOTT provides basic framework for business existing or new. More opportunities can be created by eliminating various weaknesses. External forces which are opportunities, threats, and trends are sets of uncontrollable factors the restaurant face and must overcome to succeed in the restaurant business. After conducting a SWOTT analysis legal and regulatory, economic, technology, Global and social trends were lay out external forces that need to be addressed.Legal and RegulatoryBecause of the external forces of opening a new restaurant or possible refitting and exiting building you will have to deal with the zoning laws. Restaurants need licenses and permits to operate or a food service establishment permit, alcohol license and food asylum permit. Food safety health codes vary from state to state but restaurant businesses have to abide by the rules and laws that are put forth. The rules and r egulations are to help protect the consumers and business. sparingInformation regarding to products, services, tools, technology, and suppliers will compromise the economic environment of the restaurant. In 2001 California restaurants are projected to register 63.8 billion in sales, every $1 fatigued generates additional $1.19 in sales for the state economy. In 2010 there were 62, 794 eating and drinking places in California every extra $1 million exhausted in Californias restaurants generates an additional 23.8 jobs in the state. In 2012 California restaurants employ 1,445,000 people (www.restaurant.org). Macroeconomics is very sluggish at this point in time. pretension is at a high and banks are increasing interest rates. People are not spending as they did in the past they are more frugal with their finances. With the housing market in a slump, unemployment on the rise and with energy prices on the rise it is giving the restaurant industry a touchy time. Changing labor condit ions and cost is affecting smaller family type restaurants to eventually lose their business.GlobalizationGlobalization shows opportunity for Gregs restaurant to expand out-of-door the United States. Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) it protects your personal assets from any liability the business incurs. If the owner plans on setting up a restaurant in different locations have separate LLC for the location.SocialSocially people love to meet, dine, and have a drink and fun. But given the economic conditions of now it is hard for people to dine like they once did in the past. People are also concern about eating healthy and given the amplification of a lot of food recalls in the past. Social media is also playing a big role in the marketing aspect of the restaurant industry. engine room engine room in the restaurant industry is very vital to the everyday operation. There is software available to track inventory, supplier orders, and to manage food orders. Technology is bei ng developed every day to improve the way restaurants do business. Managers are no in more control of their staff with remote monitor systems. Internal forces are more controllable factors a business can use to improve the operation and its path to success. After conducting an internal evaluation these were the factors the business came up with that is logical strategy, strategic capabilities, and structures.StrategyIn order for the restaurant to grow and expand a strategy has to be designed to which the business should offer products and services which customers could not receive from anywhere else. As far as strategizing the restaurant has the use of resource control which is key i.e. (operations, finance, supplies, and manpower).Strategic CapabilitiesStrategic capabilities play a big part in the restaurant industry. A business can create its own uniqueness through its marketing and strategic capabilities. A well- organized supply chain, a well trained staff, and a competent manag ement team are strategic capabilities that will help the restaurant to adjoin its vision. The business also needs to consider its ability to manage working capital, expecting manpower issues and customer expectations and the ability to think ahead of the competition. As the industry changes over a period of time the threats and opportunities the restaurant will face the strategies and model of the business will have to adapt to these changes to meet the needs of the customers. It is very captious management focuses and maintain a product mix that works well for the business. The restaurant should position itself to reach specific demographic groups.Issues and OpportunitiesAs mentioned in internal forces issues that are apparent is the lack of interactions between the employees. With these issues it allows opportunity to create meetings between employees and management. These meetings will allow staff to feel they belong and part of the family. It also allows employees to pack wha t is working and not working for the business and what need improvement since the staff are the ones interacting with the customers.Balance ScorecardTo develop a Gregs Family Restaurant a balance visiting card is essential. It is key component for defining the goals and targets of a business as well as the mission vision and SWOTT analysis. A balanced scorecard is, A set of four measures directly linked to a companys strategy financial performance, customer knowledge, internal business processes, and learning and ingathering (Pearce & Robinson, 2009, p. 202). financial Perspective/ Shareholder ValueA well thought out vision and mission statement will facilitate the restaurant to achieve its target. The restaurants objectives are to increase the performance of the restaurant. The responsibility of the restaurant is to seek its customer satisfaction. Increase revenue, and also achieve financial stability.Customer Value PerspectiveCustomers determine the success of the business. The ups and downs of the restaurants as well as the delivery of the services the business provides relates to the customers satisfaction. The more the customers are satisfied the better the business will do to attract more customers.Process/Internal Operations PerspectiveStrategic planning is very effective to give a nutritious meal to customers. This should be make in accordance with the customer needs. The most important thing is to determine the purpose and intentions of the strategy, because this will help the business towards its goals. The restaurant should set its goals and the path succession keeping in minds the values and interest of the patrons. Customer comment cards should be available so customers can express their comments and concern. Gregs family restaurant is ever taking initiatives to improve service and products to increase their customer base.Learning and developing PerspectiveLearning and growth process is the prospective to know about your business and if it i s developing into the type of business you dreamt of. Learning in accordance to Gregs family restaurant means to learn about the attitudes of the employees which are internal and customers which are external. Strategic planning within the growth and learning perspective should focus on employee training to have competent employees.Balance ScorecardShareholder Value/Financial PerspectiveStrategic Objectives* Market share should increase* Net revenues should increase* Financial stability should be achieved* Production cost should be minimized operation Measure* Revenue growth* Increased operating cost* Return on interest and capitalTargets* 3-6 % market share increase over the next 3 years* 20% profit marginCustomer PerspectiveStrategic Objectives* Focus on general interest* Quality food should be delivered* Community support* Improving brand name in marketPerformance Measures* modern Menu Items should be offered* Awareness of brand in publicTargets* 100% customer satisfaction* 15% increase in customers for the next 3 yearsInitiatives* Restaurant should expand to other cities* Benefits & rewards programLearning & Growth PerspectiveStrategic Objectives* Employees retention increased* Technology should be improved* Employee satisfactionPerformance Measures* Customer satisfaction should improve* Employee turnover rate decrease* Surveys, monitoring and trainingTargets* 100% participation of all employeesInitiatives* Staff training* Improved customer service* Analysis of StaffingReferencesPearce, J. A. II, & Robinson, R. B. (2009). Strategic management Formulation, implementation, and control (11th ed.). New York, NY McGraw-Hill www.restaurant.orghttp//www.balancedscorecard.org/BSCResources/AbouttheBalancedScorecard/tabid/55/Default.aspx

Digital Communications

OBSERVATION The modicom 1 board, first in my observation is the power input these are the electrical input connections necessary to power the module. The LJ technical Systems I. C. Power 60 or System Power 90 is the recommended power supplies. Then second is the sampling control logic is the circuitry generates the timing and control signals that ingest the input waveform, and also creates a sinusoidal 1 kHz signal for use during the MODICOM 1 practical exercises.It is recommended that this signal is used for most of the experiments, as you impart find that it is difficult to synchronize more than one oscilloscope trace when the input comes from an external source. Then third is the sampling circuit is the signal at the ANALOG INPUT socket is sampled at a rate, and for duration, which depends on the applied sampling control signal. Then fourth is the second order modest pass stress this is a filter having a 3. 4 kHz bandwidth.Then lastly is the fourth order low pass filter is s imilar to the Second Order kickoff Pass Filter but has a steeper cut off gradient (represented by the graph on the board). destruction MODICOM 1 incorporates and on-board waveform root that can be selected to provide a 1 kHz sine wave. An on-board pulse generator, giving a choice of 5 discrete sampling frequencies and 9 discrete duty cycles, is also provided. These on-board signal sources are phase locked, ensuring that the sampled waveforms appear stationary when observed on an oscilloscope. OBSERVATIONIn the experiment, we study the Modicom 1 Demonstration. The purpose of this is to understand the functions of apiece block using input analog signal. We connect the supplies to the board we ensure sampling control board internal jell. The duty cycle selector position is in 5. We link 1 kHz sine wave output to analog input. Then we turn on the power supply. Ensuring that all the connection are connected properly. We need to display the input sine wave and sample output and we li nk the sample output to the input of fourth order low pass filter.We display the output of the fourth order low pass filter. Successively press the frequency selector and observe the effect on the signal. CONCLUSION The sample and hold circuit storeselectric chargein acapacitorand contains at least one fastFET switchand at least oneoperational amplifier. To sample the input signal the switch connects the capacitor to the output of abuffer amplifier. The buffer amplifier charges or discharges the capacitor so that the voltage across the capacitor is practically equal, or proportional to, input voltage.In hold mode the switch disconnects the capacitor from the buffer. The capacitor is invariably discharged by its ownleakage currentsand useful load currents, which makes the circuit inherentlyvolatile, but the loss of voltage (voltage drop) within a specifiedhold time form within an acceptable error margin. Therefore The sample and hold circuits are essentially used in linear systems. I n round kinds of analog-to-digital converters, the input is much compared to a voltage generated internally from adigital-to-analog converter(D-A-C).The circuit tries a series of values and stops converting once the voltages are the same within some defined error margin. If the input value was permitted to change during this comparison process, the resulting conversion would be inaccurate and possibly completely unrelated to the true input value. such(prenominal) successive approximation converters will often incorporate internal sample and hold circuitry. In addition, sample and hold circuits are often used when quadruplex samples need to be measured at the same time. Each value is sampled and held, using a common sample clock.

Ashoka Maurya’s Conversion to Buddhism: Effect on the History of India Essay

Ashoka Maurya was integrity of the most influential leaders in Indias history. The British historian H. G. come up in his work The Outline of History said of Ashoka, amidst the tens of thousands of names of monarchs that crowd the columns of history the name of Ashoka shines, and shines almost al unrivaled, a star (94). Ashokas eventual abuse to violence and war, his honesty in admitting his mistakes, and his concern for the welfare of his mickle not just now made him shine as brilliantly as a star, entirely also dramatically changed the history of India.Yet since umteen legends were simply nothing more than a popular yearning for an exemplary governr, none of the references were taken as well seriously at first. Ashoka was portrayed as too good to be true the ruthless, cruel leader who saw the light and transformed into the supreme gentle formula. When he was evil, Buddhists legends contended he killed ninety-nine br another(prenominal)s to obtain the throne after his fath er. As the transformed benevolent king, Buddhist legends claimed he built 84,000 monasteries and almost as galore(postnominal) stupas in one day. Scholars did not take this king too seriously.Renewed interest in this legendary figure came with the discovery of rock and roll and stone pillars containing guilds incised during the reign of Ashoka. In 1879, Alexander Cunningham published a translation of these inscriptions. Even more engravings were discovered with the latest four found in 1969. These stone inscriptions provided a rare access to the personalized edicts dictated by Ashoka and thus, were a primary source concerning this king. Gradually, as rock and pillar inscriptions were scrutinized, scholars began to consider Ashoka a legitimate historical figure and to evaluate his place in Indias history.The rock and pillar edicts were critical in understanding and documenting the changes Ashoka brought to India for they were a record in his very own actors line. Romila Thapar described the benefit of these exclusive inscriptions It is rare in Indian history to have access to the personalized edicts of a king in this we are flushed (Thapar 16). Ashokas edicts, engraved on rocks and stone pillars between 264 and 262 BCE, were scattered through with(predicate)out India, Nepal, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The location of the rock engravings was governed by the accessibility of suitable slabs of stone.The pillars, on the other hand, were dictated in very specific locations. For example, one marked the birthplace of Buddha. Others were found near populated demesnes to be seen by as many people as possible. The pillar edicts, between forty and fifty feet in height, weighed up to fifty tons. They were all quarried between 247 and 242 BCE in the Chunar Hills along the Ganges River and sometimes transported over one hundred miles to the location where they were erected. The pillars were originally capped with a roaring lion, a bull, or a spirited horse.These st one works reflected the great art and cast of the Indian culture. The history regarding Ashoka was chiefly known from these rock and pillar edicts. This research shows the transformation that occurred in the country of India because of Ashokas conversion to Buddhism. First, this study investigates the three battleful generations of the Mauryan Dynasty to provide background and to shed light on the caliber of leadership training Ashoka received from his upbringing. One must understanding Ashokas family history in order to comprehend the difference he made after his conversion.Secondly, this research covers the causes of Ashokas conversion, which builds an understanding of the personal and political benefits for him. His remorse and shame after a blooming(a) battle, which he instigated and took responsibility for, were the catalyst to his conversion. The methodology for this paper places the highest emphasis on the translations of rock and pillar edicts found throughout the Indian subcontinent. These inscriptions are a primary source Ashokas own words. From numerous readings of these edicts, evolves this research query how much did India change after Ashokas conversion?The various edicts contain Ashokas interpretation of Buddhist doctrine, his personal changes, or Indias policy changes. Not every edict is enter in this paper for there is not mode or need to do that. The edicts of primary impact on India are discussed. Scholars and translators have labeled and numbered the rock and pillar edicts inscribed by Ashoka. Most of the rock edicts were catalogued simply by the abbreviation RE with a number. For example, the fourteenth rock edict was labeled RE 14. The pillar edicts were handled the corresponding way only apply PE as the abbreviation.Sometimes the edicts listed the location in front of the abbreviation, as with Kalinga RE 1. This study uses these abbreviations within the text. Gokhale (1966) includes citations from Arthastastra, a book on governmen t and economics written during the Mauryan Dynasty. This book is critical in understanding the impact of the changes Ashoka makes. How Ashoka Mauryas Conversion to Buddhism Affected the History of India Ashoka Maurya was the terce ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty about 263 BCE. After a bloody battle in Kalinga, he renounced brutality and endeavored to rule his empire rule according to the Buddhist doctrine of nonviolence.His grandfather and father did not follow Buddhism. Chandragupta, Ashokas grandfather, was the founder of the Mauryan Dynasty about 325 BCE. After Ashokas father, Bindusara, ruled for approximately twenty-five years, he handed the empire over to Ashoka. Northwestern India, in the fourth one C BCE, consisted of independent tribes ineffective in uniting against outside resistance. Alexander conquered one tribe after another like a tornado ripping through the country. Yet after he returned to Greece, the leaders he left in place were soon murdered or overthrown.There wa s not enough punt to sustain Alexanders conquests. The significance of the Greek invasions and aftermath for India was that Alexander had shattered the power of numerous petty kingdoms and created a force turbulence and a political weakness that were soon exploited by Chandragupta Maurya (Gokhale 25). The young, strong, and ruthless Chandragupta, an opportunist with Kautalyas encouragement, took advantage of this time to seize power. Under Chandragupta, the empire enjoyed great success. practically of the wealth came from widespread foreign vocation with Greece, Rome, and China.The affluence was not gained for him, but he used the wealth to improve his empire, including irrigation systems and new roads. His example of investing in the empire would later be seen with Ashoka. Megasthenes, a Greek historian living in India at the time, recorded his personal observations concerning the Mauryan rule in Indika. Gokhale quoted excerpts from Indika Ashokas father, Bindusara, encompassi ng the Mauryan Empire and conquered the land between the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. At the time of Bindusaras death, about 273 BCE, almost the entire Indian subcontinent was part of the Mauryan Dynasty.The only troublesome territory was Kalinga on the eastern coast. His son, Ashoka, would eventually obtain this area by brutal force and regret thisaction for the rest of his life. Ashoka was next in line to rule the flourishing Mauryan Dynasty. During the first years of Ashokas rule, he was as warlike as his grandfather conquering tribes in the east and earning the name one without sorrow. The state of Kalinga, a rich and fertile land outside Ashokas empire, remained independent and was particularly troublesome to him.Ashoka determined that the future of his empire was threatened, if he did not guard Kalinga. Another motive for wanting control of this province was that valuable betray routes passed through it. About 261 BCE in the eighth year of his reign, Ashoka marched towar ds Kalinga. King Ashokas reaction to the battle was unique. Never before in the history of humanity, nor afterwards, has a king publicly expressed genuine grief for a deed commonly regarded as the legitimate business of kings. The war of Kalinga was the first and last war waged by Ashoka (Gokhale 59).History did not record exactly when Ashoka converted to Buddhism, but his own words in stone certainly recorded the impact this battle had on his moving towards the non-violent doctrine of Buddhism. Some historians believed that Ashoka had already converted before the battle at Kalinga. Scholars felt his commitment to the non-violent doctrine of Buddhism simply grew after he witnesses the destruction (Guruge 52). Using the dates of K. Rangaswami, Ashoka was crowned as king and joined the Buddhists as a laymen the same year, 269 BCE (145). The battle at Kalinga was fought three years later.Rock inscriptions found in three different sites said I did not progress well for a year. Another important piece to understanding why Ashoka chose Buddhism was his upbringing. His early education under Hindu beliefs paralleled particular Buddhist doctrine, including the importance of ones dharma, or moral duty. Ashoka was raised under the teachings Kautalya, a Brahmin and a contemporary of Aristotle. Kautalyas ideologies regarding a kings responsibilities were recorded in his book, Arthashastra, literally means principles of wealth.The writings expanded beyond wealth to a pragmatic philosophy regarding all the responsibilities of statehood taxation, administration, law, diplomacy, trade, labor, and land occupancy. The Arthashastra explained that a king had two objectives one of which was the exercise of power, and the other the practice of benevolence (Gokhale 39). This balance was ingrained in the Mauryan rulers as all three were raised under Kautalyas principles of statehood. Kautalya taught that power could be legitimate only if used in pursuit of the dharma (Gokhale 38). Dharma was a central concept in both Hinduism and Buddhism.Ashoka embraced the doctrine of dharma before his conversion for this belief was part of Kautalyas training. Buddhism was good-hearted to this king because he was comfortable with dharma. The Mauryan king eventually rejected the Brahmins teaching regarding the necessary show of force, and became infamous for proclaiming dharma in every area of government. Who was personally responsible for Ashokas conversion to Buddhism? The rock and pillar inscriptions did not give one-person credit. History recorded a few personal encounters Ashoka had with Buddhists his nephew, a monk in northern India and his first wife.These experiences were a positive influence in his choice of Buddhism. Ashoka throughout his whole life, before and after conversion, was tolerant and deferent of all godlinesss. Not only did he permit all faiths to worship freely, he very much invited them to the palace for their advice. Mahavamsa, a Sri Lankan Buddh ist text from the fifth coke CE, told the tale of how dissatisfied Ashoka was after a session with Brahmins and holy men of other sects regarding the distribution of charity moneys (Gokhale 61). He stood by the palace window and spy a young man, Nigrodha.It turned out that Nigrodha was his nephew, the son of Ashokas elder brother, who had been killed in a struggle for the throne after Bindusara. Given audience with the king, his nephew preached a sermon Ashoka heard Buddhist doctrine from a family relation. The Sanskrit Buddhist text, Divyavadana gave a monk, Upagupta, the credit for Ashokas conversion. A whole sequence of Buddhist stories concerning Ashoka, the proverbial note child for this religion, was quite contradictory making it hard to give them much credence. Buddhist texts tended to glorify Ashokas conversion (understandably so for he was great advertisement).Regardless, one can imagine that a personal encounter with a very convincing monk made an impression on Ashoka. The most historically documented encounter Ashoka had with Buddhism was with Devi, his first wife. At approximately age eighteen, Ashoka was given the responsibility to govern Avanti, a province in central India. Here tribal villages were often rebelling against their incorporation into the Mauryan Dynasty. Avanti was vital to the Mauryan Empire for its agriculture (wheat in particular), its trade, and its commerce (Gokhale 39).This province was a center for Buddhism with two study monasteries located near important trade routes that connected southern and western cities. The deeply entwined political and religious climate during Ashokas lifetime was an important clue in understanding his choice of Buddhism. Hinduism, the major religion at the time of Ashoka, began between 2000 BCE and 1500 BCE with the entrance of the Aryans, nomadic herders from central Asia. By the third century BCE, Buddhism (still considered a sect) was emerging as an adversary to many Hindu social values, in particular the priestly hierarchy.History would later show that it was Ashokas attention to Buddhism that was the catalyst for its growth into a major religion in India. Economically, Buddhism was advantageous to Ashoka, also. Partially due to the Buddhist influence, the Indian social hierarchy started to see a transfer in power. Buddhas teachings encouraged the people to reevaluate the Brahmin traditions, including the need for priests. The authority of the Brahmins was slowly shifting away to favor the merchant class. Prior to the Mauryan Dynasty and certainly during it, India was enjoying strong economical advantages.The development of trade and commerce was partially due to the growth of several trade routes crisscrossing northern, central, and western India. Many factors contributed to Ashokas conversion and choice of Buddhism. Ashoka had many emotional, pre-existing connections to move him in the direction of a non-violent philosophy. The battle at Kalinga produced a deep-root ed emotional response as he declared in a rock edict that he was filled with remorse, sorrow and regret. His personal encounters with a nephew, a monk, and, most importantly, a woman he loved, Devi, all contributed to favorably looking towards Buddhism.As the ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty, he wanted to provide the best for his people, and politically, Buddhism was becoming more popular than the ritualistic Brahmin ways. With many encounters with this rising religion, it was not surprising to see the third ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty embrace Buddhism. Ashoka Maurya transformed himself and his state before the very eyes of his people. He changed from a ruler trained in the Indian tradition of military conquest to a benevolent monarch. His desire for his people was inscribed in stone All men are my peopleI desire that they be provided with complete welfare and happiness in this world (Kalinga RE 1). India for him was now a large family over whom he presided with the Buddhism as his gui de. The concept of dharma was not unsocial to Buddhism alone. Hindus, Jains and other popular sects at that time included a code of ethics. Dharma was part of the currency of ethical norms propounded by various teachers (Thapar 32). What made Ashoka unique was that as the most powerful man on the Indian subcontinent, he adopted a policy of goodness to all (previous enemies included) and non-violence in domestic and foreign affairs.