Stopping By Woods Essays - Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Stopping By Woods The visible sign of the poet's preoccupation--the word is not too strong--is the recurrent image, particularly in his earlier work, of dark woods and trees, Often, as in the lyric with which we have begun, the world of the woods..., a world offering perfect quiet and solitude, exists side by side with the realization that there is also another world, a world of people and social obligations. Both worlds have claims on the poet. He stops by woods on this darkest evening of the year to watch them fill up with snow, and lingers so long that his little horse shakes his harness bells to ask if there is some mistake. The poet is put in mind of the promises he has to keep, of the miles he still must travel. We are not told, however, that the call of social responsibility proves stronger than the attraction of the woods, which are lovely as well as dark and deep; the poet and his horse have not moved on at the poem's end. The dichotomy of the poet's obligations both to the woods and to a wor ld of promises--the latter filtering like a barely heard echo through the almost hypnotic state induced by the woods and falling snow-is what gives this poem its singular interest.... The artfulness of Stopping by Woods consists in the way the two worlds are established and balanced. The poet is aware that the woods by which he is stopping belong to someone in the village; they are owned by the world of men. But at the same time they are his, the poet's woods, too, by virtue of what they mean to him in terms of emotion and private signification. . . . . What appears to be simple is shown to be not really simple, what appears to be innocent not really innocent.... The poet is fascinated and lulled by the empty wastes of white and black. The repetition of sleep in the final two lines suggests that he may succumb to the influences that are at work. There is no reason to suppose that these influences are benignant. It is, after all, the darkest evening of the year, and the poet is alone between the woods and frozen lake. His one bond with the security and warmth of the outer world, the little horse who wants to be about his errand, is an unsure one. The ascription of lovely to this scene of desolate woods, effacing snow, and black night complicates rather than alleviates the mood when we consider how pervasive are the connotations of dangerous isolation and menacing death. From From Woods to Stars: A Pattern of Imagery in Robert Frosts Poetry. South Atlantic Quarterly. Winter 1959. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffrey Meyers Like The Road Not Taken, it suggests vast thematic implications through a lucid narrative. . . . The most amazing thing about this work is that three of the fifteen lines (the last line repeats the previous one) are transformations from other poems. He gives his harness bells a shake comes from Scott's The Rover (in Palgrave): He gave the bridle-reins a shake.: The woods are lovely, dark and deep comes from Thomas Lovell Beddoes' The Phantom Wooer: Our bed is lovely, dark, and sweet. The concluding And miles to go before I sleep comes from Keats' Keen Fitful Gusts: And I have many miles on foot to fare. Though these three lines are variations from other poets, Frost, writing in the tradition of English verse, makes them original and new, and integrates them perfectly into his own poem. The theme of Stopping by Woods--despite Frost's disclaimer--is the temptation of death, even suicide Shakespeare Essays

Prehistoric Life During the Carboniferous Period

Prehistoric Life During the Carboniferous Period The name Carboniferous reflects the most famous attribute of the Carboniferous period: the massive swamps that cooked, over tens of millions of years, into todays vast reserves of coal and natural gas. However, the Carboniferous period (350 to 300 million years ago) was also notable for the appearance of new terrestrial vertebrates, including the very first amphibians and lizards. The Carboniferous was the second-to-last period of the Paleozoic Era (542-250 million years ago), preceded by the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian periods and succeeded by the Permian period. Climate and geography. The global climate of the Carboniferous period was intimately linked with its  geography. During the course of the preceding Devonian period, the northern supercontinent of Euramerica merged with the southern supercontinent of Gondwana, producing the enormous super-supercontinent Pangea, which occupied much of the southern hemisphere during the ensuing Carboniferous. This had a pronounced effect on air and water circulation patterns, with the result that a large portion of southern Pangea wound up covered by glaciers, and there was a general global cooling trend (which, however, didnt have much effect on the coal swamps that covered Pangeas more temperate regions). Oxygen made up a much higher percentage of the earths atmosphere than it does today, fueling the growth of terrestrial megafauna, including dog-sized insects. Terrestrial Life During the Carboniferous Period Amphibians. Our understanding of life during the Carboniferous period is complicated by Romers Gap, a 15-million-year stretch of time (from 360 to 345 million years ago) that has yielded virtually no vertebrate fossils. What we do know, however, is that by the end of this gap, the very first tetrapods of the late Devonian period, themselves only recently evolved from lobe-finned fish, had lost their internal gills and were well on their way toward becoming true amphibians. By the late Carboniferous, amphibians were represented by such important genera as Amphibamus and Phlegethontia, which (like modern amphibians) needed to lay their eggs in water and keep their skin moist, and thus couldnt venture too far onto dry land. Reptiles. The most important trait that distinguishes reptiles from amphibians is their reproductive system: the shelled eggs of reptiles are better able to withstand dry conditions, and thus dont need to be laid in water or moist ground. The evolution of reptiles was spurred by the increasingly cold, dry climate of the late Carboniferous period; one of the earliest reptiles yet identified, Hylonomus, appeared about 315 million years ago, and the giant (almost 10 feet long) Ophiacodon only a few million years later. By the end of the Carboniferous, reptiles had migrated well toward the interior of Pangea; these early pioneers went on to spawn the archosaurs, pelycosaurs,  and therapsids of the ensuing Permian period (it was the archosaurs that went on to spawn the first dinosaurs  nearly a hundred million years later). Invertebrates. As noted above, the earths atmosphere contained an unusually high percentage of oxygen during the late Carboniferous period, peaking at an astounding 35 percent. This surplus was especially beneficial to terrestrial invertebrates, such as insects, which breathe via the diffusion of air through their exoskeletons, rather than with the aid of lungs or gills. The Carboniferous was the heyday of the giant dragonfly Megalneura, the wingspan of which measured up to two and a half feet, as well as the giant millipede Arthropleura, which attained lengths of almost 10 feet! Marine Life During the Carboniferous Period With the extinction of the distinctive placoderms (armored fish) at the end of the Devonian period, the Carboniferous isnt especially well-known for its marine life, except insofar as some genera of lobe-finned fish were closely related to the very first tetrapods and amphibians that invaded dry land. Falcatus, a close relative of Stethacanthus, is probably the best-known Carboniferous shark, along with the much bigger Edestus, which is known primarily by its teeth. As in preceding geologic periods, small invertebrates like corals, crinoids, and arthropods were plentiful in the Carboniferous seas. Plant Life During the Carboniferous Period The dry, cold conditions of the late Carboniferous period werent especially hospitable to plantswhich still didnt prevent these hardy organisms from colonizing every available ecosystem on dry land. The Carboniferous witnessed the very first plants with seeds, as well as bizarre genera like the 100-foot-tall club moss Lepidodendron and the slightly smaller Sigillaria. The most important plants of the Carboniferous period were the ones inhabiting the large belt of carbon-rich coal swamps around the equator, which were later compressed by millions of years of heat and pressure into the vast coal deposits we use for fuel today.

Strategic Management Portfolio Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Management Portfolio - Case Study Example The company's unswerving concentration and consistent strategies on its retail activities are also noteworthy and undoubtedly one of the main reasons for the company's stellar performance records over the years. (Micha Gisser and Raymond D. Sauer) Nonetheless, Thorntons needs to keep tabs on its competitors at the top level. There is no mention of the margin of lead between Thorntons and its competitors whose performances are better than that of Thorntons. The company needs to put together its act on horizontal integration too. In the current market scenario of mergers and acquisitions, if aggressive policy of horizontal integration is not in place, the company is in danger of having the rug pulled from under its feet. And the threat is not always from the top players. The global economy is full of eyes waiting in the wings like a hawk to scoop down on its prey from unexpected regions. (Globalization Challenge) The company also needs to exploit its in-house manufacturing resources. There is no mention if this supply base is allowed to cater to competitors' requirements. Thorntons is sourcing some of its products from outside suppliers. Hence, it makes business sense to allow part of its manufacturing activities to be used to meet competitors' needs. (Michael Porter's Five Forces) Thorntons' strength lies in its popular brand name which it has assiduously built over the years. Its hold over its product ingredients, market maneuverability based upon differentiation, marketing and manufacturing expertise, influence over retailers and customers, ability to secure outlets at key locations, and traditional family ownership, albeit professional management policies play key roles in Thorntons' market presence as a worthy entity. The company has also done well in building up strong presence in Midlands and North England. Nevertheless, Thorntons must aggressively pursue its agenda in London and South England where its presence is vulnerable. There are strong contenders in the form of existing players such as Cadbury and Nestle, and potential competitors. The company has wisely invested in a strong in-house supply base in Midlands and North England. It can begin its marketing operations in London and South England on a stronger note to shore up its sales figures. It can supplement its inventories from its own manufacturing plants in Midlands and North England, keeping its options to begin manufacturing operations in London and South England as soon as opportunities unfold. (Carol Propper et al) Thornton must also begin its sales activities from its own retail outlets. Besides serving as deterrent to ever present threat from strong retailers and manufacturers as potential competi

Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 13

Psychology - Essay Example Likewise, if it is, as long as complete data sets, measurability, inference and hypotheses can be drawn, it is likely that the researcher is dealing with a form of science. However, the biggest obstacle to such measurability and data sets as a function of the field of psychology is the fact that such a great level of variance is oftentimes presented to the researcher. As opposed to a more environmentally centric approach or a more individualist approach (theology/religion), psychology works to explain both the external and internal determinants of human thought and behavior. In this way, a more complete understanding of what gives way to action and the causation of a multitude of factors is understood. Furthermore, through incorporating scientific approaches, psychology has a distinct advantage over the use of less structured and/or reliable means of understanding such as a theological approach (Haig 2008). Likewise, in the mind of this author, the practice and implementation of psychology should not be distinct from the other branches of science. Although its study deals with a divergent field of material, it is important that psychology work to minimize differences between itself and the other branches of scientific knowledge due to the fact that psychology actively employs the very same scientific methods as do the other forms of analysis and understanding of the other sciences. Likewise, with respect to the methodological approaches that should be employed, these will necessarily be based upon the particular field of specialty that is being analyzed and have a direct relation to what prior studies have concluded. Therefore, as long as the analysis is performed in a verifiably scientific and rigorous way, there is not one methodological approach that one can consider superior to another. Similarly, when a certain theory

Pricing and Quality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Pricing and Quality - Assignment Example g them to provide a top quality healthcare service, our healthcare organization can benefit as it fulfills the ultimate objective of a patient which is none other than obtaining a quality healthcare service and we are here to provide that quality service to every patient. There are different justifications for negotiating the rates with the managed care organizations such that a long term relation with those managed care organizations can ensured in future, assurance of charging high price from the customer but expecting an exchange of providing the top quality service from the managed care organization to the patients, ensuring the managed care organization to increase their share in the profits in the future if they kept providing higher quality services to both the healthcare organization as well as to the patients. As the healthcare organization is in its early stage therefore in order to make an impact upon the patients, initially higher quality of healthcare must be provided to them even at a lower cost, but as the healthcare organization will be gaining more popularity, the price charged from the patients can be

Choosing Between Debt And Equity Finance Essay

Choosing Between Debt And Equity Finance Essay In financial decisions, the choice between debt and equity financing is one of the most difficult ones. Both types of financing have its advantages and disadvantages. Debt financing is based on borrowing finance, and incurs debts that should be repaid in a certain time. The obligations of the company include repaying the loan and paying interest on the loan until its repaid. Debt financing does not impact the ownership of the business, but might cause high debt servicing costs. On the other hand, equity financing represents the exchange of finance to a part of business ownership; this is commonly done by issuing stocks. Equity financing allows to receive investments without additional payments and does not cause financial concern of investors, like debt financing does. However, since the ownership is shared, the owners have to dilute their decisive power (Grossman Livingstone, 2009), and might even lose control of the company. For the companies, the choice of debt or equity financing is based on many factors, such as size of the company, state and dynamics of the industry, perspectives of the company, debt-to-equity ratio, debt servicing costs etc. The purpose of this essay is to consider the decision of American Superconductor Corporation to shift to equity financing from debt financing, made in 2003. AMSC case American Superconductor Corporation is a company providing wind turbine design, electrical control systems, power systems and superconductive wires (Madura, 2008). It operates mostly in Europe, North America and Pacific Asia. Before 2003, the companys investment policy was based on debt financing; however, in 2003, the decision to forgo a secured debt financing and to adopt an equity financing strategy under current market conditions (Esposito, 2003) was made. The company experienced recession in 2003; in October 2002, its stock prices have fallen to the record level of $2.25, and in 2003, they constituted about $3.36, which was very low compared even to 2002 level of $12.26 (AMSC Stock, 2010). The company needed financing, and their choice was to issue a public equity offering instead of debt financing. This decision was explained as strategic solution based on the consequences of 2003 blackouts, and CEO of American Superconductor, Greg Yurek, forecasted an increased need for their power grids and public attention to better voltage support with dynamic reactive power compensation (Esposito, 2003). The results of first six months of fiscal 2004 year seemed to prove the efficient of the decision to pursue equity financing, since no long-term debt was reported, and $17.4 million revenue in the first two quarters of the year. The company also focused on wind turbines, which were gaining popularity. Wind power in 2007, for example, became the first $30B clean energy industry (Madura, 2008). Current financial position of AMSC shows that its total revenue and gross profit values have significantly increased during the last years (2008-2010 financial information available); the companys gross margin is 39.14% compared to 32.19% in the diversified electronics industry in general (AMSC Stock, 2010). The operating margin is also higher: 14.70% compared to 5.71% industrys operating margin, the EPS is also higher (0.64) than 0.08 average (AMSC Stock, 2010). Although the financial position of AMSC is weaker than that of main competitor, ABB. Ltd., the company managed to override another major competitor, SatCon Technology Corporation. The industry provides a significant development potential, and the stocks of the company were not priced less than $10 since 2007 (AMSC Stock, 2010). Analysis of financial decision The combination of debt and equity financing impacts the companys cost of capital. Debt financing is safer for investors, while equity financing is more risky for investors, but at the same time safer for the company (Grossman Livingstone, 2009). Since debt financing creates contractual obligations, the companies should carefully consider their ability to repay the debts. Debt servicing incurs higher costs than equity financing, and if the company experiences fast growth, it might suffer from high debt servicing expenses. It has also been shown that companies with consistent profit operating in low-risk and slowly growing industries more often opt for debt financing, while companies operating in risky and rapidly changing industries as well as in volatile ones, should choose equity financing since these companies have more opportunities for investments, and would not suffer from underinvestment (Grossman Livingstone, 2009). By 2003, AMSC experienced financial problems and its stocks have dropped in price, but the conditions of the environment indicated the quick growth of interest to AMSC production. It could be forecasted that in some time the company would need significant investments and 2003-2004 was the right time to expand. If AMSC continued debt financing, its growth would be hindered by debt servicing costs and worse stock dynamics. Thus, the decision of AMSC to replace debt financing with equity financing was very appropriate in this situation. Conclusion In order to perform the choice of business financing (debt versus equity), it is necessary to consider the perspectives of the company as well as the nature and dynamics of the industry. In 2003, AMSC was experiencing financial difficulties and its stocks have significantly fallen. However, there were many opportunities for development, and the 2003 blackouts increased the interest to AMSC production. Therefore, the company had strong potential for growth, and needed strong financing source without excess cost increase. Thus, American Superconductor Corporation performed a right decision to stop debt financing, and to issue a public equity offering. The correctness of the decision can be also traced looking at further financial development of the company: AMSC is stably growing, creates new products and shows good progress compared to its competitors.

Zoos: Pitiful Dirty Prisons Essay -- essays research papers fc

Zoos: Pitiful Dirty Prisons If you have ever stepped into a zoo, you have stepped into a prison in which the inmates are defenseless and innocent, the sentence is long, and the penalty is cruel and severe. Zoos are not made for educational purposes but for entertainment, they do not benefit animals but push them toward extinction. "Zoos range in size and quality from cage-less parks to small roadside menageries with concrete slabs and iron bars." (Zoos: Pitiful Prisons.) The larger the zoo and the greater the number and variety of the animals it contains, the more it costs to provide quality care for the animals. Although more than 112 million people visit zoos in the U.S. and Canada every year, most zoos operate at a loss and must find ways to cut costs (which sometimes means selling animals) or add gimmicks that will attract visitors. (Zoos: Pitiful Prisons.) Zoo officials often consider profits over the animals' well- being.(Zoos: Pitiful Prisons.) A former director of the Atlanta Zoo once rem arked that he was "too far removed from the animals; they're the last thing I worry about with all the other problems." (Zoos: Pitiful Prisons.) Zoos are nothing more than animal prisons maintained for human amusement, not for education. ("Zoocheck".) Most zoo enclosures are quite small, and labels provide little more information than the species name, diet, and natural range. (Zoos: Pitiful Prisons.) The animals' normal behavior is seldom discussed, much less observed, because their natural needs are seldom met. Birds' wings may be clipped so they cannot fly, aquatic animals often have little water, and the many animals who naturally live in large herds or family groups are often kept alone or, at most, in pairs. (Zoos: Pitiful Prisons.) Natural hunting and mating behaviors are virtually eliminated by regulated feeding and breeding regimens. (Zoos: Pitiful Prisons.) The animals are closely confined, lack privacy, and have little opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise. Animals forced to endure such confinement often display abnormal and self-destructive behavior called "Zoochosis".(Zo os: Pitiful Prisons.) Zoochosis is a mental illness; symptoms include pacing, neck twisting, and other repetitive behaviors.("Zoocheck".) &... ...oadside zoos at all costs. If no one visits these substandard operations, they will be forced to close down. Contact PETA and start your own "Zoocheck" program in your local zoo. Zoos claim that they are good for research, but the purpose of most zoos' research is to find ways to breed and maintain more animals in captivity. If zoos ceased to exist, so would the need for most of their research. The key to saving exotic animals lies in saving their habitat, not removing them from it only to be placed in an unnatural and abusive environment.("Zoocheck".) Works Cited Zoo Target of "Bloody" Protest Over African Elephants PETA News Release http://www.peta-online.org/news/basel199.htm Zoocheck PETA's Action for Activists http://www.peta-online.org/library/actionideas/zoo.htm 21, Nov. 1999 Zoos:Pitiful Prisons Campaigns http://www.peta-online.org/cmp/ccircfs3.-html 21, Nov. 1999

How war dehumanizes people Essay

During the war people were deprived of their everyday necessities and also their living conditions, They never got the luxury of sleeping in big warm clean beds or even clean clothes therefore changing the way they act and the way look at things such as murder. During the war you go through the trenches and fields watching people die, and even killing people themselves. Everyday people would not be able to just sit there and watch someone as they slowly die. The narrator of this novel, Charles Yale Harrison was enlisted in the war. Charles explained everything that went on during is outings, some of which were pretty harsh and intense I could only imagine some of the things that he probably was not allowed saying. Charles had a few main buddies whom stuck by his side and fought with him. In this novel he tells us the things he saw some of the things he explained were pretty gory, for example he watched people as their flesh tore off and blood gushed everywhere. War definitely dehumanizes people for the most part. Soldiers don’t have as much sympathy for the people who are dying it’s almost as if they really don’t care but being that must be kind of necessary for a soldier because you can’t really sit there and cry over a friend who is dying while your enemies were slowly creeping up on your base. During war you do things you never thought you could ever do in your lifetime such as stabbing someone in the stomach or shooting a man in the face. â€Å"I lunge forward aiming at his stomach. It is a lightning instinctive moment. The thrust jerks my body; something heavy collides with the point of my weapon.† Charles says. I doubt Charles would have ever been able to do this without spending months in war, with the same platoon and even watching them all slowly die.

Racial Discrimination Within the Gay Community Essay

My community is the most diverse of all. I am speaking of the gay community. Our community consists of people from every race, every religion, every gender, and every economic sector. We claim to be all-inclusive, embracing everyone despite our differences and celebrate our diversity with pride very openly. The issue of gay civil rights came to national attention on June 27, 1969. On that evening, police raided a small gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village called The Stonewall Inn, which sparked three days of rioting. The event is considered the single most important event that led to the modern movement for gay civil rights. The gay community’s perseverance has led to gay pride celebrations being held across the country. San Francisco is the considered the birthplace of pride celebrations, as a â€Å"gay-in† was held on June 27, 1970, to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Current pride celebrations often include themes such as inclusion and diversity, demonstrating the gay community’s beliefs that everyone should be treated equally, regardless of any differences. However, as Buchanan (2005) stated, â€Å"We claim to be the most maligned group in society, but when it comes to discrimination, some say that gays can give as good as we get† (Gays at receiving end of bias claim). The issue of racial discrimination in the gay community came to light when the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (HRC) issued their report on April 26, 2005 after an investigation of alleged discrimination at a popular bar in the Castro. The investigation was initiated by a group of citizens that claim the bar, SFBadlands, was practicing discriminatory acts in employment and patronage. I frequent the bar in question regularly and am personally acquainted with an African American who works there as a bartender. The group making the accusations, And Castro For All, alleged in a letter sent to the HRC June 22, 2004, that the owner of the bar implemented policies to discourage African Americans and women from patronizing the bar. The group also alleged that the bar owner practiced discriminatory hiring practices. Out of the forty-five employees of the bar at the time, only seven were â€Å"people of color† and none were women. The group requested the HRC investigate the bar owner and his business practices to determine if there were any â€Å"civil rights violations†. The group also requested the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to revoke the owners’ liquor license. Further allegations against the bar and it’s owner included unwarranted removal of African-American and other minority patrons from the bar, inferior service to minority customers and denial of entry of minority customers due to dress while white patrons dressed similarly were admitted. The commission found the bar and its owner discriminated against African-American job applicants and customers, however there was insufficient evidence to conclude any other wrongdoing. During the ongoing investigation, And Castro For All staged protests in front of the bar that caught media attention and sparked national conversation regarding the persistence of racism in the gay community (VanDeCarr, 2005). During these protests, the bar was busy as usual. The demonstrations, one of which was held during the Castro Street Fair, a popular street fair held every October, did little to diminish patrons to enter the bar. As I stood in line that day waiting to enter the bar, listening to the chant â€Å"Think before you drink† there was not much for me to think about. I had talked to the African-American bartender that I know about the allegations, and he responded that the allegations were false. The protests and demonstrations by And Castro For All have been compared to the civil rights and women’s movements of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The fight for gay marriage has also been compared to the civil rights movement. These comparisons have people of color raising an eyebrow, and have bred hostility where it should have sown solidarity. In Massachusetts shortly after gay marriage was legalized, Governor Matt Romney told city clerks they could enact a 1913 law forbidding out-of-state couples from marrying if their home states would not recognize the marriage. The law was written with the intention of barring interracial marriages. The Massachusetts Supreme Court made another equation when gay marriage was legalized. They referenced the historic cases that legalized interracial marriages to the case that led to the legalization of gay marriage by citing the difference as a single trait: skin color in the interracial cases, sexual orientation now. This â€Å"formula of gay = black has upset some Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) people of color† says Hernandez (2005 Gaily ever after 11). During the 1990’s when the gay movement went mainstream, LGBT people of all colors claim it became a mouthpiece for wealthy gay men. The reason the comparison of gay marriage to the civil rights movement has raised indignation say some LGBT people of color is because it does not account for the racial and economic privileges white gays have. In not being able to marry, some say this is the first time that white gays are feeling the effects of discrimination. Further accusations of racial discrimination in San Francisco’s Castro district disrupted a meeting of the Merchants of Upper Market and Castro (MUMC) on March 3, 2005. The subject of racial discrimination came to a head when the President of MUMC was accused of paying obligatory attention to the growing concerns of racism in the Castro. White males own most businesses in the Castro, a fact that many do not realize. In attendance at the meeting were about 25 members, five of which were either non-white or female. Thanks to a neighborhood economic development program organized by the LGBT Center of San Francisco, a yoga studio opened in October of 2004, which is the first black-owned business in the area in a few years. So, what does the future of the Castro look like? According to Bevin Duffy, an openly gay man on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is hopeful. Speaking after a mediation agreement was signed between the owner of SF Badlands and the group An Castro For All, Duffy is quoted: ‘This has been a painful process but it has created a great deal of awareness of the distance we need to go to be a truly inclusive community†¦. I hope for all of us it is an opportunity to heal now and to move forward, with each of us individually committed to be open, welcoming and accepting to people in our community who may be different. ’ (Bajko, 2006, p. 2). Not everyone shares Mr. Duffy’s optimism. Gomez (2006) states â€Å"Thirty years from now maybe queer will have evolved from a fashion statement†¦and retained its original connotations: progressive, independent, empathetic, activist. Colored queers will still be making the noise of protest†¦Maybe by then we’ll believe we’re stronger together than apart† (Race: the growing chasm, 10). I think Gomez is wrong, at least when it comes to my neighborhood. I have hope for my neighborhood. The Castro has long been seen as â€Å"gay mecca† to LGBT people the world over, and hopefully the racial scar isn’t too deep. At least the actions of a few people have paved the way to change. Until we can resolve the inequalities in our own backyard, will we then be able to achieve equality with our straight allies, such as equal marriage rights. Once we become the kind of people we say we are, then we can become a racially diverse role model for the world.

Wal-Mart Unethical Business Practices †Business Research Paper

Wal-Mart Unethical Business Practices – Business Research Paper Free Online Research Papers Wal-Mart Unethical Business Practices Business Research Paper Wal-Mart, the big giant, the place where a lot of people usually do their shopping for the low prices and the variety of products was founded by Sam Walton. Walton was an entrepreneur with an innovative vision, started his own company and made it into the leader in discount retailing that it is today. In fact, Wal-Mart is considered to be the biggest company in the U.S. and it has stores worldwide. According to PBS, â€Å"Wal-Mart employs more people than any other company in the United States outside of the Federal government, yet the majority of its employees with children live below the poverty line.†(www.pbs.org) In addition, Wal-Mart likes to portray itself as a seller of U.S. manufactured goods but in reality the company has products on its shelves made in foreign countries and at questionable workshops. It would seem that Wal-Mart encourages â€Å"made in the USA† but it really encourages products made outside the USA. As a result, Wal-Mart has forced many manufacturers out of business. As a matter of fact, this big giant is facing a significant amount of controversy for unethical business practices. In fact, some of these unethical business practices include the following. Labor Union Opposition: Wal-Mart is a non union organization that feels it does not need third party intervention. So, instead of unions, Wal-Mart has an open door policy that encourages employees to take their complaints beyond management. But, according to PBS, the open door policy does little to help its employees but gives the business the leverage it needs to terminate unwanted non compliant help. In addition, Employees start out at lower wages than unionized corporations and end up quitting by the end of the first year. Wal-Mart also prohibits employees from talking to union representatives. It is unethical for Wal-Mart to prohibit employees to talk to union representatives since according to the National Labor Relations Act, employers are not allowed to discourage employees from forming a union for they have that right. Therefore, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Wal-Mart. â€Å"The complaint, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, alleges that Wal-Mart violated federal labor law by bribing employees to report on co-workers who favored a union.† (www.washingtonpost.com). But Wal-Mart denied the charges that were brought against the company. Thus, Wal-Mart is wrong by bribing employees for it encourages dishonest behavior. If Wal-Mart wants to avoid a hearing or a lawsuit in this situation, they need to post notices saying the retailer will not oppose employees talking to union representatives. In addition, if Wal-Mart takes more seriously the employees’ complaints, it might encourage them not to unionize. Unfair Treatment of Employees: Wal-Mart has been accused of discriminating against women. Women had been denied training and promotion opportunities that are offered to men. In addition women are underpaid. That is, men are paid more than women. According to Hoover’s handbook of American business, â€Å"in June 2001 a group of six current and former female Wal-Mart employees filed a sex discrimination lawsuit (seeking to represent up to 500,000 current and former Wal-Mart workers) against the company.†(Hoover’s Handbook, pg.907) The suit was filed because Wal- Mart failed to provide equal employment for women. In fact, there are over 70 percent of women working at Wal-Mart, but only a small amount of those women are managers. So, men are holding more management positions than women. In addition, â€Å"Wal-Mart is the nations largest employer of women, but unfortunately they are being treated without dignity and respect. (www.arkansasnews.com)So it seems then that discrimination is a big pro blem at Wal- Mart. If Wal-Mart wants to avoid lawsuits they need to give more job opportunities to women and they should get paid as much as male employees. Even though Wal-Mart is such a successful company, they can do better if they put a stop to discrimination for it will save them money on lawsuits. In fact, â€Å"Wal-Mart recently introduced workplace diversity initiatives, intended to prevent further gender bias.†( usgovinfo.about.com) Another issue that Wal-Mart is facing right now is the fact that employees’ wages are very low. An average worker makes between $12,000 and 17,000 a year which is not much. As a result employees have to apply for public assistance and this public assistance comes from our tax dollars. Basically, one of the reasons for Wal-Mart low wages is because they want to cut operating costs and they want to continue offering low prices. So, â€Å"Wal-Marts ultimate defense is that it offers lower prices and somehow that justifies all sins. (www.usatoday.com)It seems that Wal-Mart cares more about keeping its prices low than to increase employee’s wages. Besides low wages, Wal-Mart’s health insurance is so expensive that some of the employees can not even afford to pay for it. So, those employees who couldn’t afford the health plan will probably have to get their health care benefits through their spouses or the state from our tax dollars. Wal-Mart responded to th is problem by offering discounts on health care coverage. â€Å"Members can save as much as 50% on services not normally covered by medical insurance.†(www.ufcw324.org) Discounts is not enough. Wal-Mart still has a moral responsibility to provide affordable health care to its employees not shift the cost onto the American taxpayers. Wal-Mart can also raise employees’ wages so they can afford to pay for their health plan. While wages are low at Wal-Mart, too often employees didn’t get paid at all for overtime. In fact, according to Wal-Mart’s policy, they are supposed to pay employees for every minute they work. But, since Wal-Mart is such a big company, there will be cases in which managers might do unethical things. For instance, employees were forced to work unpaid overtime. As a result, they filed a suit against Wal-Mart for not getting paid for overtime. So â€Å"in February 2004, a federal judge ruled that Wal-Mart should pay workers for overtime hours† (Hoover’s Handbook).But, the case is still pending. In fact Wal-Mart claimed their policy is against such work. So Wal-Mart’s managers who required overtime were disciplined and fired. In fact, it is Wal-Mart’s responsibility to make sure that people get paid. They should settle the suit by paying their employees for unpaid overtime. It seems that Wal-Mart needs to periodically examine its pay practic es to make sure that all employees are getting paid for all the hours worked. Finally, Wal-Mart was under investigation for the use of illegal immigrants as workers. In fact, â€Å"in October 2003 federal agents uncovered hundreds of illegal immigrants employed by outside contractors cleaning its stores.†(Hoover’s Handbook, pg907) As a result, the company became the target of a class action suit. So, Wal-Mart was accused of breaking immigration laws. In addition, according to Hoover’s Handbook, â€Å"Wal-Mart cheated immigrant janitors out of wages and the government out of worker’s compensation, social security payments, and federal payroll taxes.†(Hoover’s handbook, pg.907) But, Wal-Mart claimed they hired those particular jobs out to contractors and it was the contractors that were at fault for the use of the illegal immigrants. Even if the situation is as they describe it, they hired a contractor who failed to follow United States laws without questioning or researching them first. Thus, Wal-Mart failed to do a t horough background check of any potential employee. A background check would have helped determine the integrity of an employee for it includes job experiences, references, legal documents, etc. Thus, no company is immune to problems. The companies that survive are the ones that can spot ethical issues and correct them before they become problems. In this case Wal-Mart failed to acknowledge those potential problems and they are probably going to pay for it. Thus, Wal-Mart’s unethical business practices have hurt its company’s reputation. If Wal-Mart wants to survive they will have to try hard to improve their image. That is, they need to show that they care about ethics by treating employees fairly. As a result, it will attract good employees and people will have no reason to complain about the company. In addition Wal-Mart needs to be socially responsible in order to avoid economic harm and in order to maintain the legitimacy granted by society. Bibliography Walton, Samuel Moore. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopedia Britannica Online pbs.org/itvs/storewars/stores3.html The Record (Bergen County, NJ), Joan Verdon April 13, 2005 pB03 COPYRIGHT 2005 North Jersey Media Group Inc. Hoover’s Handbook of American Business 2005, Austin, Texas copyright 2004 http://kansascity.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2001/11/12/story8.html http://home.earthlink.net/~local1613/nlra.html washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48056-2005Apr12.html ufcw.org/issues_and_actions/walmart_workers_campaign_info/facts_and_figures/walmartandwomen.cfm The Guardian (London, England), April 14, 2005 p23 COPYRIGHT 2005 Guardian Newspapers ufcw.org/issues_and_actions/walmart_workers_campaign_info/facts_and_figures/walmartandwomen.cfm flagstaffactivist.org/fan/study.phtml walmartfacts.com/keytopics/default.aspx lieffcabraser.com/wal-mart.htm http://threehegemons.tripod.com/threehegemonsblog/id57.html ufcw324.org/3walmartstoriespage.html Research Papers on Wal-Mart Unethical Business Practices - Business Research PaperTwilight of the UAWMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaPETSTEL analysis of IndiaPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyResearch Process Part OneMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceOpen Architechture a white paperDefinition of Export Quotas

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Qualitative Interviewing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

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