The luncheon free essay sample

A friendly intention of taking an friendout to lunch can result in important situations about oneself not experienced in other events. This comes to the forefront in Somerset W. Maughams anecdotal short story The Luncheon. The young protagonist, a writer, learns he should not be too generous for fear of being taken advantage of after feeling humiliated and angry because he took a pretentious woman out to lunch. The elements of structure, vivid imagery, symbols and style help to develop the acquaintances personality and the protagonists feelings from excitement to anger while also delineating to which extent the protagonists perception of things has changed for his own good. Structure is important to the evolution of the protagonists personal feelings. Initially, the protagonists feels flattered and excited that he has been asked by an older woman to take her out to lunch in one of the fanciest and most expensive restaurants in Paris. We will write a custom essay sample on The luncheon or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Although his financial situation worries him, he wants to please his acquaintance. However, when she begins to order many expensive items, he first worries about how he will pay the bill. Then, he feels humiliated for being used to satisfy her expensive food tastes only. Next, her insensitive discourse angers him: I see that youre in the habit of eating a heavy luncheon. [the protagonist ate only a mutton chop]. Im sure its a mistake. Why dont you follow my example and just eat one thing? Im sure youd feel ever so much better for it. However, he replies sarcastically, I am only going to eat one thing. Finally, the only solution for him is to not care about her and to be as mean to her as she was to him, whenever possible. His final statement shows that he has had his revenge at last Today she weighs twenty one stone. Vivid imagery and symbols help reveal the protagonists feelings and his acquaintances personality. Several times throughout the story, his acquaintance states, I never eat more than one thing for luncheon. The luncheon is symbolic of the concept of the survival of the fittest. On the one hand, his acquaintance possesses a manipulating and insincere personality, while the protagonist is good, kind, and pleasing. As a result, she gets what she wants while the protagonist must pay the price for taking such a person out to lunch because he is a good person. the color white in  the image of her white large teeth and French white wines suggests her cold personality (Jobes 1676). The salmon she eats reveals an abundance in the food items she eats (Jobes 1391) pointing to her extravagant personality. The caviar represents her delicate connoisseur tastes (de Vries 89). Even her age she is forty is significant in that a woman is a devil at forty (de Vries 200), so that it can be concluded she possesses a devilish nature. The symbolic number one in the acquaintances ironic statement, I never eat more than one thing for luncheon possesses several qualities evident of her character. It suggests boldness, consciousness and self-centeredness (Jobes 1209). The latter is the most significant because all she cares about is getting the food she wants. By referring to the head waiter as having a priest-like face and a false face, the protagonist emphasizes his anger about his financial means. In essence, the waiter and the acquaintance are performing rituals and acting on behalf of their best interests. The acquaintance pursues eating while the waiter expects a fine tip. Style, too, confirms the acquaintances personality as well as the protagonists illumination. The protagonist, being a down to earth and honest man is not convinced by her contradictory statements and therefore, doesnt care about her. On the other hand, the protagonists style of speaking is sincere and honest even during his angry moments. At the end when the acquaintance says, Never eat more than one thing for luncheon he emotionally releases himself by retorting, Ill eat nothing for dinner tonight! His second release though less stormy, happens when he complacently says, Today she weighs twenty one stone. These statements confirm he is no longer flattered by her. Style, vivid imagery and symbols as well as structure help develop the protagonists initial child-like feelings of flattery and excitement to disgust and anger due to the unfortunate sequence of events causes by his insensitive acquaintance. These elements also create a cold picture of his acquaintances personality. However, as he realizes what is happening to him during the course of events, he matures. The moral implications behind the short story The Luncheon are the thoughtful steps involved when one  commits oneself to taking a stranger out to lunch. Works Cited De Vries, Ad. Dictionary of symbols and Imagery. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing Co, 1974. Jobes, Gertrude. Dictionary of Mythology Folklore and Symbols. New York: Scarecrow Press, 1962. The Luncheon by W. Somerset Maugham [Maugham, W. Somerset (1977). Collected Short Stories: Volume 1. Penguin Classics, pp. 97-100.

Manage Employee Relations - Click to Get Solution

Question: Discuss about theManage Employee Relations. Answer: Overview Long Term Plans The strategic plans of the organization are dependent on the analysis of the internal as well as external factors. The internal environment of Fynntown City Council is analyzed by SWOT analysis and the external environment is assessed by a PESTEL analysis (Shabanova et al., 2015). SwotAnalysis The internal factors such as strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats are analyzed by this tool. This tool gives an in-depth analysis of the internal scenario of an organization. Strengths The Fynntown City Council serves a large number of customers. It has a huge customer base. It has a young workforce who can adapt to new skills easily. Weakness The customer satisfaction level of Fynntown City Council is low, whereas it is the duty of the council to provide better support to the citizens. There is no evaluation of the human resource practices. The attrition of the older employees has created a knowledge gap for the organization. Opportunities There are advanced technologies that help in better management of the human resources. The council can create an integrated network for better customer service. Threats There are constraints with the full time employees and budget constraints of the organization. The Government is increasingly moving towards privatization. Pestel Analysis This tool would help Fynntown City Council to assess the potential influence of the external factors on the overall functioning of the firm. Political The government policy, stability, education policies and others shape up the organizational strategies. The organizational policies as well as the employment relation policies would be impacted by local government rules (Yksel, 2012). Economic The world economy as well as the local economy plays a major role in the organizational policies. There are factors like inflation, unemployment, interest rates and others that affect the human resource decisions of an organization, such as job cuts (Mankiw, 2014). Social The social factors like health, lifestyle, social mobility, education levels, attitudes to work and others determine the organizational policies (Shabanova et al., 2015). Technological The operational plans are made in accordance to the technological advancements such as new discoveries, research, new IT tools and others. Environmental The organizational regulations should also consider the waste disposal, resource consumption, energy consumptions and other environment related factors (Shabanova et al., 2015). Legal The employee welfare laws, employee protection laws and other statutory compliances should be considered while formulating human resource policies (Walsh, 2015). Recent Employee Relations Issues The employee relations of Fynntown City Council have not been good in recent times. The firing of the employees of the Council has led to serious malfunctioning of the organization as a whole. The elderly employees having vast experience levels are being terminated. There was a lack of proper documentation of the processes. The employees who were terminated did not get an opportunity to transfer their knowledge to the existing employees. This created a knowledge gap in the organization. The existing junior employees are facing anxiety and stress. This has led to a reduction of the productivity of the employees. Course of Action The organizational policies regarding termination of the employees should be revised. The wrongful dismissal of the employees should be avoided. The organization should give sufficient reasons to the employees before terminating them (Mowday, Porter Steers, 2013). The employees should be allowed to share their knowledge prior to the termination process so that their knowledge is preserved within the organization. There should not be partiality in the firing process. It is wrong to dismiss all the senior employees and retain the junior ones (Mowday, Porter Steers, 2013). There should be motivational sessions for the existing employees after the layoff process is over. This would help them concentrate on their work and avoid any negative emotions. Existing Employee Relations Performance The workforce objectives of Fynntown City Council conform to the organizational objectives. It states that the employees should be provided a suitable work environment so that they can deliver their best performance. There is increasing absenteeism rates in the Fynntown City Council. This is because of the lower motivational levels of the employees. They are having an inferiority complex as they felt that they do not possess sufficient knowledge to do the job. This hampered the performance of the employees, which in turn did not fulfil the organizational objectives. Performance ER Performance and ER Strategy The employee strategies in Fynntown City Council include coaching of the managers, development of the training solutions, organization of recreational as well as social events and others (Cummings Worley, 2014). There are, however, no suitable policies regarding the termination and absenteeism. The employees are not attending offices due to the lack of organizational policies. This is hampering the performance of the employees, which is affecting the organizational functioning. Alignment of ER Strategies There are strategies of employment relations that are interconnected with the strategic plan of the organization. There is an interconnection between the employee relation strategies and the labor relations strategies of the organization (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The salary structure of the organization is directly related to the satisfaction level of the employees (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). An increase in the salary structure would definitely lead to better employee relations. The operational plan that appreciates the performance of the employees is directly linked to the motivation of the employees (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The employee relations would be enhanced, if they are happy with the way, the management rewards their hard work (Dobre, 2013). The relationship between the employees and the organization should be honest, open, frequent and supportive (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The employee friendly strategies regarding the termination process would imply maximum employee sat isfaction. There are strengths of a positive interconnection between the strategic plan of the organization and the employee relations. If the organization is capable of producing a justified operational plan, then it is obvious that the employees would be happy (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The satisfied employees would give their best output at work. This would lead to an increase in their work effectiveness (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The employees would have a feel good factor and there would be an increase in their motivation levels (Fernet, 2013). The weakness of this interconnection would happen if there is a lack of conformity between the strategic plan and the employee relations. This would also happen if the organization feels that their policies are inclined more towards the employees (Armstrong Taylor, 2014). The high rate of absenteeism in Fynntown City Council indicates that the employees are not satisfied or motivated. This has impacted the organization. The sudden dismissal of the employees demonstrates the ineffectiveness of the strategic plan of the organization (Berglund, 2012). If the employees have a fear that they are contributing nothing to the organization, then they would lose the zeal to do the job (Berglund, 2012). The employees who attend offices everyday are motivated and love their jobs. Areas of Potential Industrial Conflict There can be issues with the compensation, termination, workplace safety, work hours and other issues. The employees occupy a strategic place in every organization (Landy Conte, 2016). They play a major role in the achievement of the objectives of the organization. There can be internal conflicts such as unfair policies of the organization such unfair dismissal of the employees (Saundry et al., 2014). There can be several categories of conflicts such as- wage demands, unsafe working conditions, unfair management policies, social concerns and political disputes (Saundry et al., 2014). Recommendations The employee relations should be improved in Fynntown City Council. There should be appropriate strategic plans of the organization. This would be highly beneficial for the organization. The employee friendly policies would delight the employees who can perform better in their job roles. The existing employees should be given trainings and self development techniques so that they can excel in their work performance. Their motivation levels should be increased by the senior management. The organization should conform to the statutory compliances and reduce the wrongful dismissal of the employees. The departments should function in close coordination with the senior management. There should be risk management strategies because the organization should not suffer. The employees should be motivated always so that their productivity doesnt suffer. There should be contingency plans for improving the employee relations. The management team should possess skills such as flexibility, adherenc e to the organizational goals, eagerness to enrich the employees and others. They should keep a balance between the organizational requirements and the requirements of the employees. Conclusion The employees are the assets of an organization. The success or the failure of an organization depends on the performance of the employees. Adequate attention should be given towards improving the employee relations. The organization should make appropriate strategic plans which improve the employee satisfaction. The strategies should be made in such a way that it meets the employee demands as well as fulfills the needs of the organization. If the employees are enriched then the organization would prosper and there would be organizational success. References Armstrong, M., Taylor, S. (2014).Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers. Berglund, T. (2012). Transformations of Swedish Labour Market Institutions. Effects on Employees Turnover Cognitions.Revista Internacional de Organizaciones= International Journal of Organizations, (9), 91-120. Cummings, T. G., Worley, C. G. (2014).Organization development and change. Cengage learning. Dobre, O. I. (2013). Employee motivation and organizational performance.Tabel of Contents. Fernet, C. (2013). The role of work motivation in psychological health.Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne,54(1), 72. Landy, F. J., Conte, J. M. (2016).Work in the 21st Century, Binder Ready Version: An Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology. John Wiley Sons. Mankiw, N. G. (2014).Principles of macroeconomics. Cengage Learning. Mowday, R. T., Porter, L. W., Steers, R. M. (2013).Employeeorganization linkages: The psychology of commitment, absenteeism, and turnover. Academic press. Saundry, R. A., Latreille, P., Dickens, L., Irvine, C., Teague, P., Urwin, P., Wibberley, G. (2014). Reframing Resolution-Managing Conflict and Resolving Individual Employment Disputes in the Contemporary Workplace.Acas Policy Discussion Papers, 1-21. Shabanova, L. B., Ismagilova, G. N., Salimov, L. N., Akhmadeev, M. G. (2015). PEST-Analysis and SWOT-Analysis as the Most Important Tools to Strengthen the Competitive Advantages of Commercial Enterprises.Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences,6(3), 705. Walsh, D. J. (2015).Employment law for human resource practice. Nelson Education. Yksel, I. (2012). Developing a multi-criteria decision making model for PESTEL analysis.International Journal of Business and Management,7(24), 52.

Tips for Writing a Sports Essay Sample

Tips for Writing a Sports Essay SampleSports essays are among the most important papers in high school. If you need help with a sports essay sample you will find that there are many choices.This type of paper is often used for college applications, or even an essay for a job interview. A lot of people do not realize that they can take a sports essay and apply it to multiple applications. This makes for a very exciting experience, as the student works through each form, trying to be the best person they can for the company.If you are writing a sports essay, you should keep in mind that this paper does not have to be written for high school students. You can even use it to get into college for adults. The key is to be original, and make sure that you choose a topic that you are passionate about.One way to come up with topics is to write down things that you like to do when you read about the teams or players. Try to write about what you would do if you were a fan of the team. When you are working on a sports essay sample, this type of writing is very helpful.Another idea for a good sports essay is to research the history of the team or player. Go online and learn about them. There are many resources available on the internet that will tell you all of the great things about the team. This is another great way to get ideas for a sports essay.Writing about an aspect of the team can also make the paper stand out from the rest. You might want to think about the greatest game or moment in the team's history. This makes for a great sports essay, and something that your reader will remember.Writing about the team in more detail is not always necessary. But if you feel that you need to include a little bit of background, then try to go as in depth as possible. It is a good idea to write about the history of the team and the players.The key to writing a great sports essay is to find something about the team that is interesting. With that information you can start thinking about how to include it in your essay.

Me Up at Does free essay sample

The Alternate Perspective E. E. Cummings invites readers to â€Å"put yourself in someone else’s shoes† in his 1963 poem, Me up at does. We will write a custom essay sample on Me Up at Does or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Though short and, when evaluated according to traditional English sentence structure, â€Å"grammatically incorrect,† the poem exhibits the same basic elements found within any other form of poetry. Included in these elements is a speaker who narrates the poetry to the audience; the author’s unique selection of words, otherwise known as diction; an original use of syntax; the inclusion of various forms of figurative language; the incorporation symbols and allegorical elements into the poem; the use of symbolism requiring an imagination of each individual reader; and, of course, an underlying theme, which this author leaves to our own interpretation. This seemingly-simple poem actually provides a variety of themes for exploration in seeking to determine the author’s overall meaning behind the composition of E. E. Cummings’s Me up at does. Me up at does introduces us to a 3rd person (limited) speaker, by which the audience is able to view the situation from the eyes of the narrator; but this knowledge of the ongoing situation is limited only to the information provided by the speaker themselves. We are then briefly introduced to the two major characters (and only characters, for that matter) in the poem— the narrator and the mouse. We can extrapolate many details of the situational structure presented in the poem- the narrator had set a â€Å"mouse trap† (likely within his own home) to poison and kill the mice living amongst him; the mouse, innocent and helpless, has recently consumed some the poison; as the mouse’s life is coming to a rapid end, it is able to send an unspoken message while staring up at the narrator; the message tells the speaker of his proclaimed innocence and struggle to understand what he did differently than anyone else (especially the narrator) to deserve such a punishment, especially such a punishment as harsh as death. The primary and most obvious conflict presented in Me up at does is that of the character struggle between the poem’s narrator and the poisoned, quickly-ailing mouse. In this particular poetic conflict, we can draw the conclusion that the mouse’s character takes on that of the protagonist— the mouse is identified as the â€Å"good guy† in this poem because he is presented as the innocent victim who has been unrightfully discriminated against without reason. The mouse could also be considered the static character in this poem because his character does not really change from beginning to end; he is more of a role-player used to provide a means for delivering the author’s message. Therefore, the antagonist (who is held accountable for the bringing about of conflict) can be identified to the character of the poem’s speaker, who is accountable for initially setting up the mouse trap and is ultimately responsible for putting a harsh and undeserved end to the life of the mouse. The narrator is also likely considered to be the more dynamic character of the two; this is because he or she is the one who shows the most notable demonstration of change by or within a character in the poem. While the mouse does not have much time or ability to change his poetic character before dying, the narrator has the ability to consider and dwell upon the attention that the mouse brought to his wrongdoings; not only during the time period presented within the poem, but also during the remainder of his or her [ongoing] life afterward. However, the struggle between the protagonist and antagonist analyzed above is not the only conflict developed amongst the characters within Me up at does. E. E. Cummings leaves open the potential to evaluate another struggle developed; this alternative poetic conflict is that by which the narrator faces an internal struggle with his own actions, and the possible feeling of regret and realization of wrongdoing that simply came too late. This allows the narrator to learn a lesson and thus gives the poem a â€Å"point† or lesson. In doing so, it not only allows the narrator to reflect on his or her own actions, but also for the reader to open their own mind to the possibility of a similar situation within their own life. This inclusion of the reader to the poem provides a base for interest of the audience, allowing readers to relate the lessons explored through the poetry and make these lessons applicable within their surroundings. It is important not to underestimate the struggles noted within a poem; as such, we must note that an inner struggle of both the narrator and the mouse is definitely possible. The inner struggle within the narrator has already been explained. The mouse, on the other hand, may be suffering an inner struggle dealing with self-esteem issues. Not only is the mouse confused as to what it has done so wrong that the narrator himself would not do, but the mouse could also be beginning a pattern of blaming this on himself and developing self-esteem issues that have been building up as a result of continued prejudice against the â€Å"mouse,† or whoever this mouse may be representing (but this is a matter of talked about in the themes of the poem, which will be discussed later). Perhaps the most notable detail of Me up at does is brought out in the syntax of the poem. The arrangement of words within the poetry seem to be strategically fixed; they seem to somewhat â€Å"mock† the setting and situation of the poem. For instance, the first half of the poem is very difficult to read. The last half, on the other hand, seems to flow as smoothly as any other poem. ‘Why is this? ’ a reader may wonder. One possibility of this arrangement is that E. E. Cummings intended for both the halves of Me up at does to be facing the center; that is, the first half of the poem can be read much more clearly when the poem is read from the center up to the top backwards. Then, the second half can be read straightforward from the center down. As mentioned before, this balance was likely used to â€Å"mock† the situation taking place during this poem- the narrator is intended to represent the first half of the poem, and the mouse is supposed to represent the second half; and the two are supposed to be facing each other. This creates a feeling amongst the poem’s words of representation of the poem’s current setting and perhaps makes the poem feel more alive or recent, and makes the reader feel more engaged in the poem- more like a participant than a bystander of the situation at hand. The possible symbols used within Me up at does are those of the mouse standing for one who has been discriminated against at any point in history, and the narrator may stand for one who experiences an epiphany or realization of guilt for the wrongdoing brought about by this discrimination exhibited. For instance, a possible example that may be suitable are Hitler standing for the narrator and his realization of wrongdoing; and the mouse representing the Jews during the Holocaust wondering what they had done that Hitler or any of the other Nazi would not have done. Or, the narrator could stand for a slaveholder during the time of segregation and the mouse may be a representation of an African American, also wondering what he had done so wrong- was the unfair treatment based solely upon his skin? Symbols such as these, and other similar relations, may be drawn from the poem with a sufficient amount of evidence to support an argument for distinct symbolism demonstrated within the poem. E. E. Cummings allows his readers to draw a variety of possible themes from his poem. Me up at does simply does not provide a message direct enough for all readers to draw the same conclusion about the author’s message. For instance, an animal rights activist may view this poem as a means to bring attention to the innocence of all animals, large and small. However, as open for interpretation the poem may be, performing a little background research on the author’s message lends somewhat of a bias toward one potential theme over another. Other readers of this poem have a more concrete interpretation of E. E. Cummings’s underlying meaning; one that includes a focus on those looked down upon by others who consider themselves to be of a higher ranking status. This interpretation common views the mouse’s death as a symbol of the product of undeserved prejudice, and the narrator’s nonverbal communication with the mouse as his or her first realization of this unwarranted discrimination. Upon reflection of Me up at does, one reader writes, â€Å"The poisoned mouse is a representation of a person, race, or someone from the lower status of society who is ostracized and experiencing diminution†¦ The mouse, I would say, is one who experiences exploitation and dehumanization by people and the social order under which he exists† (Alforte). The reader also addresses a view of symbolism, much like my own personal interpretation, used within this poem, â€Å"Why the mouse is poisoned is a symbolism of the many social insights and norms in his society, which the personal himself is a victim by believing and following them. ‘What have I done that you wouldn’t have? ’ is a query asked to those who regard themselves as normal and usual individuals under a normal society that punishes the non-normal and the usual, and treats them like a mouse— to be poisoned and eliminated, not to allow them to achieve equality with the rest of the members of the society† (Alforte). The essential theme of this poem, though still open for individual interpretation, seems to be about the human life experience and the opportunity to live that we have each been given; but with this opportunity comes hardships and it should be expected that, at some point or another, each of us will feel subjected and be treated unfairly by others.

Out of Pocket and Singing in Tune

Out of Pocket and Singing in Tune Out of Pocket and Singing in Tune Out of Pocket and Singing in Tune By Maeve Maddox When I heard someone on NPR say that someone â€Å"couldn’t hold a tune,† in the sense of â€Å"couldn’t carry a tune,† I assumed it was an isolated misuse of the more common expression. Then I did a Google search for â€Å"hold a tune† and got more than half a million hits. Here are a few: Oh, my God, can she really be so oblivious to the fact that she cannot hold a tune? –Otago Daily Times (New Zealand) Even if your child cannot hold a tune, the fact that he loves to sing and is showing an interest in music is wonderful! –LeapFrog advertising site (California company) But thats terrifying me. I cant hold a tune to save my life. God knows how Im going to do that. –Tom Hardy (London-born actor) If I could hold a tune, I’d probably sing to her. –lyrics, Fly Union (American hip hop group from Ohio) I scurried to the Ngram viewer and discovered that â€Å"hold a tune† has been making inroads since the 1960s, although it is still way below the more common expression, â€Å"to carry a tune.† Its use is more noticeable in British English than in American. For those unfamiliar with either idiom, the meaning is â€Å"to sing on key† or â€Å"to sing in tune.† Time will tell if the altered expression has staying power. â€Å"Hold† doesn’t work as well with the colorfully embroidered version that adds â€Å"in a bucket.† For example, â€Å"Florence Foster Jenkins couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.† out of pocket The first time I heard the expression â€Å"out of pocket† was when I lived in England. I’d bought something to use with my English class and the headmistress reimbursed me because she didn’t want me to be â€Å"out of pocket.† In this context, an â€Å"out-of-pocket† expense is something one pays for personally. For example, one might have an expense account that covered food purchases, but wine would be an â€Å"out-of-pocket† expense. When I returned to the United States, I was bewildered one day when the woman I was working for stopped at my desk to say that she’d be â€Å"out of pocket for about two hours† and walked out the door. As the expression was one she was fond of using, I soon figured out that by â€Å"out of pocket† she meant â€Å"unavailable, out of reach.† In browsing for â€Å"out-of-pocket† examples, I found that, although the â€Å"unavailable† meaning is of U.S. origin and may be found in some newspapers, the financial sense dominates with American speakers, especially on the topic of health care: After I pay $14,523, I’ll incur charges up to an out-of-pocket maximum of $12,700 for a total of $22,700. I wouldnt pay out of pocket for a test my doctor doesnt think I need. We paid out of pocket for a private nurse coordinator service in New Jersey. I rear-ended someone–Should I pay it out of pocket or let them report it to insurance? I went out of pocket for this treat. A Forbes commentator on annoying business jargon notes disapprovingly, â€Å"Many auto-reply e-mails now carry the phrase: Im out of pocket until next week.† The money-related â€Å"out of pocket† dates from 1679. The earliest documentation of the â€Å"unavailable† use is in an O Henry story: Just now she is out of pocket. And I shall find her as soon as I can. –â€Å"Buried Treasure,† 1908. Now that I have these two uses clear, I’ve come across an example that has me bewildered all over again: Youre talkin out of pocket when you told me that Ive changed –Mac Lethal Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:60 Synonyms for â€Å"Walk†Work of Art TitlesEpidemic vs. Pandemic vs. Endemic

Lehman Brother Collapse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Lehman Brother Collapse - Essay Example The news of its bankruptcy sent shock waves not only to the U.S. economy but also to the entire world. It faced around $600 billions of debt from mortgage back securities which caused a significant decline in its stock price. It is considered to be the most formidable case of bankruptcy in the corporate world. Before its bankruptcy, it was a profitable company. According to its 2006 annual Report, the asset under management had jumped to $225 million from the previous year’s $175 million. There were nearly 25936 employees working under the company. It shares were listed in New York stock Exchange and it was traded around $70 during that period. The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers can be attributed to the unfavourable market situation and also to its own policies. According to Luigi Zingale, the three main factors that were instrumental in bringing such depression in the market are market complacency, lack of transparency and bad regulations. Apart from these three market conditions, the financial policy adopted by Lehman was also responsible for its bankruptcy (Zingale. 2008). Delinquency rates dropped during the real estate boom and the banks started providing new innovative mortgage options which led to the decline in lending standards. Bad regulations of money market and The Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 accelerated the process. There was a lack of sufficient transparency in major markets. The market for credit default swaps (CDS) became unregulated and lost sufficient transparency. Lehman financial policy was not favourable for that period. Its asset to equity ratio (leverage) was abnormally high and it mostly relied on short term debt financing. However, the company tried to maintain its ratio before the crisis but it was too late to save the company from going bankrupt. The financial turmoil that originated towards the middle of 2007 has

School Finance Lawsuit on Track to Trial Date Essay

School Finance Lawsuit on Track to Trial Date - Essay Example This publication is about the Fort Bend ISD representing 84 school districts that are suing the state and also seeking massive education reforms.From the publication, we learn that fort bend ISD is representing a group of 84 other schools in suing the state and seeking massive education reforms.They argue that the state is not giving the schools adequate resources to meet the rising standards of education. Fort Bend ISD attorney describes the situation as being given a mission and not being given the tools to accomplish this mission.This publication points out that the mission set by the state for schools to meet cannot be accomplished if adequate tools to accomplish this mission are not provided by the state. It is, therefore, suggested that for 70 percent of pupils to meet the standards substantial additional funding per kid should be implemented. School superintendents suggest at least a couple of thousands of bucks per kid. This is according to fort bend ISD attorney David Thomps on.Thompson is taking four depositions a day from superintendents and experts for a week before the trial date. His firm is coordinating with lawyers representing the other petitioners to resolve who will take the lead on professionals, who will bear witness to the crisis they see with school financing. This means that the state should put more resources at the disposal of schools for them to meet the objectives and missions that they demand from schools.The reader should implement this experience in real life situations. Once the reader sets a mission there should be adequate resources to enable the achievement of this mission. For better education to be achieved in public schools, additional funding is essential to achieve this.