Alliance Mania

Alliance Mania On December 16, 1999, Best Buy Co. Inc and Microsoft formed a long-term alliance called ?comprehensive strategic alliance?.The existence of the complementary sales and distribution channels between those two parties was the main driving force of the alliance. According to Best Buy Chairman and CEO Richard M. Schulze, ?A deciding factor in forming this alliance is Microsoft?s ?Everyday Web? vision, making the web as prevalent as the telephone and even more useful in our customer?s daily lives.? (Roger Yu, 1999). Microsoft wanted to increase its customer base and narrow the gap with the ISP market leader American Online. Best buy, as the nation?s largest volume retailer of consumer electronics, computers, entertainment software and appliances, has the resources to help MSN to achieve its ?Everyday Web? vision. Under the alliance, Best Buy would promote Microsoft Network (MSN) through in-store instant rebates to new computer purchasers, and sell other Microsoft Digital products in its m ore than 350 electronics and office stores in 37 states.English:

The Color Chemistry That Makes Mars Red

The Color Chemistry That Makes Mars Red When you look up in the sky, you can recognize Mars by its red color. Yet, when you see photos of Mars taken on Mars, many colors are present. What makes Mars the Red Planet and why doesnt it always look red close-up? The short answer for why Mars appears red, or at least red-orange, is because the Martian surface contains a large amount of rust or iron oxide. The iron oxide forms a rust dust that floats in the atmosphere and sits as a dusty coating across much of the landscape. Why Mars Has Other Colors Up Close The dust in the atmosphere causes Mars to appear very rusty from space. When viewed from the surface, other colors are apparent, in part because landers and other instruments dont have to peer through the whole atmosphere to see them, and partly because rust exists in colors other than red, plus there are other minerals on the planet. While red is a common rust color, some iron oxides are brown, black, yellow and even green! So, if you see green on Mars, it doesnt mean there are plants growing on the planet. Rather, some of the Martian rocks are green, just like some rocks are green on Earth. Where Does the Rust Come From? So, you may be wondering where all this rust comes from  since Mars has more iron oxide in its atmosphere than any other planet. Scientists are not completely sure, but many believe the iron was pushed up by the volcanoes that used to erupt. Solar radiation caused atmospheric water vapor to react with the iron to form iron oxides or rust. Iron oxides also may have come from iron-based meteorites, which can react with oxygen under the influence of solar ultraviolet radiation to form iron oxides.

Australian economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Australian economy - Essay Example It has also been volatile. The high rate of the terms of trade plays its part in increasing the real income level. The rate also acts in keeping the rate of inflation at lower levels. The ratio between the prices of exports and the imports is defined to be the terms of trade. If the terms of trade rise Australia will have the potential to buy more imports with smaller amounts of exports. The volatility in the terms of trade can be used to define the ups and down in the expending capacity of the consumers. The terms of trade has been less volatile for Australia since the period of 1980s.The variety of goods that are offered to the consumers and the global prices for the exports as well as the imports comprises the two main components of terms of trade. The developments within the environment outside the geographical boundary of Australia can influence the terms of trade. The terms of trade can rise if the price of coal raises more steeply than the price other ICT goods since Australia is a net exporter of coal. The exchange rates and the terms of trade shares close relation. The nominal exchange rates got reduced after the financial crisis of 1990s. The volatility of the import prices can be influenced by the regional influences but changes in the global prices can affect to change the prices of exports. ... Over the last decade and a half Australia turned away from comparatively price impulsive properties and took the initiative towards moving towards exports of goods whose prices can be more predictable in the global market (Australian Government Productivity Commission, 2012). The rural goods now consist of a major proportion of goods that are exported. The wide ranges of exports that are practiced by Australia consist of rural goods like vegetables and dairy products. It can be experienced that the exports of such goods has grown in the recent months and can be thought as one of the reasons for Australia experiencing a high rate of terms of trade. In due course of time the exports of the rural goods have risen. The following graph will show the terms of trade for Australia over the period under consideration. (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2011, p. 5) Question b Economic growth is related with terms of trade. It can be witnessed that term of trade rises when an economy is experiencing economic growth while the terms of trade falls when the economy is stagnated and is not witnessing any growth. Under such cases the terms of trade will fall (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, 2011). Therefore in order to analyze the terms of trade of Australia it is necessary to judge the economic growth of the country for the period under consideration. The factors that have the potential to influence the terms of trade have been discussed below in bullet format. The shifts in the demand level on the global arena The commodity market shocks Globalization shocks The prices of exports are raised by the joint influence of fluctuations in global demand and commodity shocks in the market. The prices of imports are reduced

The Effects of Earthquakes on People and Property Essay

The Effects of Earthquakes on People and Property - Essay Example They believed that the earth floats on the sea and whenever it is agitated, earthquakes are produced. And, the best story that portrays the damages caused by earthquakes is that of the people from Peru. They believe that earthquakes occur whenever their god visits the earth to count the number of people in it. As he does so, the people leave their houses in order to help him finish his work faster and keep themselves safe at the same time. Even now, in the present, people have created some myths that describe the damages caused by earthquakes. One of them is that of the Swallowing Earth which theorized that a chasm can form along the fault and anything and anyone in that vicinity can be swallowed by the earth. No one, however, has been reported to have died from such a fate. Contrary to the myths that were presented in this introduction, this paper will focus on the documented damages caused by earthquakes. The two major effects caused by earthquakes are shaking and ground rupture. This can lead to damages to buildings and other rigid structures. The intensity of the damage is defined by the magnitude of the earthquake, the distance of the area from the epicenter or the origin of an earthquake, and the geological and geomorphological conditions of the location which can significantly increase or decrease the propagation of the waves generated by an earthquake. When there is an earthquake, the area where the epicenter is located is usually the most damaged. This can be clearly described by a graph made by a Japanese engineer, Shigeru Tani, that showed the relationship of the damage percentage of the fill dams in Japan to the distance of the epicenter. According to the graph, the farther the fill dams are from the epicenter, the lesser the damage is. There are some exceptions to this rule, however. There are times when the biggest damage can occur away from the epicenter. A very good example would be the Denali Fault Earthquake in Alaska which happened in November 3, 2002. In this case, the area 330 kilometers away from the epicenter received the greatest damage. Since the location was sparsely populated, there were no deaths and there was little damage on the structures. A facility which is 40 miles from the eastern part of the fault rupture was damaged such that it was no longer usable. This was the runway of the Northway Airport which was damaged by lateral spreading and sand boils. Fortunately, none of the oil pipes in the ruptured areas were destroyed during the earthquake. The worst thing about earthquakes is that they do not choose the structures that they bring down. Many buildings, dams and roads have been damage by earthquakes. Even historical sites are not saved from this disaster. In Israel, an earthquake which has an intensity of 5.3, shook the Temple Mount, opening up a large hole. In addition to the damages caused by shaking and ground rupture, earthquakes can also cause landslides and avalanches. A very good example of this is the January 13 earthquake in El Salvador which had an intensity of

Southwest airlines Essay Example for Free

Southwest airlines Essay Analyzing Southwest Airlines organizations harmony is very challenging. Using the Mckinsey 7S Framework will make this process easier. The Mckinsey 7S Framework is made up of hard elements and soft elements. The hard elements consist of strategy, structure, and systems. These are elements in the organization that can not be changed easily. The soft elements consist of shared values, skills, style, and staff. These are elements that can be changed easily. The strategy of Southwest is very nique. Southwest strategy focuses on provided their service with the lowest prices in their industry. They have a ten-minute turnaround policy which allows flights to board and leave very quickly. Southwest deals with competitive pressure by focusing on a greater competitor, the automobile. This focus keeps Southwest ahead of the other airlines. Changes in customer demand were softened by the unique staff that Southwest had. Customer service took the place of meals that would be served on short flights. Southwest has a functional structure with three levels of management. Decision making is decentralized at Southwest. This decentralized decision making is good for the organic cultural of Southwest. Southwest strives to keep its employees involved with decisions. The main system that keeps Southwest going is its Human Resources system. This system ensures that the culture of the organization remains strong. This is important because it is one of the factors that keep customers returning to Southwest for all their flight. The HR department makes sure that the people it hires are willing to have fun while on the flight as well as crack a few Jokes from time to time. There are some strong shared values within Southwest Airlines. Southwests values include quality, reliability, action, informal communication and feedback. All of these values contribute to the customer service orientation of their organization. Southwest has a very unique style that it as set for itself. Decisions at Southwest are made collectively. Employees seem to be more cooperative than competitive. Southwest is a family oriented organization that enforces its culture to the customers using its employees. There are nominal groups formed within the company. The employees get together voluntarily in order to do community service projects. The Southwest staff is like a family. Many of Southwests staff is classified as couples. This helps Southwest effectively promote its family oriented culture. Selected staff needs to be fun and outgoing. The strongest skills that are represented by the Southwest employees are customer service skills. Southwest prides itself on giving the customer a great flight experience. Their staff, as stated previously, is fun and family oriented. Judging by the 7S framework model, Southwest Airlines should not take on the extra flight it would get from LaGuardia. The extra flight will compromise the ten-minute turnaround that Southwest has praised itself on. This will negatively affects its customer service effectiveness which is the driving factor of Southwests culture and values. southwest airlines.

Analysis of The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers :: Carson McCullers Literature Love Essays

Analysis of The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers The Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Carson McCullers is a story of love illustrated through the romantic longings and attractions of the three eccentric characters; Miss Amelia, Cousin Lymon, and Marvin Macy. McCullers depicts love as a force, often strong enough to change people's attitudes and behaviors. Yet, the author seems to say, if the love is unrequited, individuals, having lost their motivation to change, will revert back to their true selves. The allure of the different characters, which is never revealed by the author, seems to indicate that feelings of love and attraction are not necessarily reasonable or understandable to others.Miss Amelia is self-reliant, outspoken and very much a loner. She stands six foot one inch tall and has a strong, masculine build. Her grey eyes are crossed, and the rest of her features are equally unattractive. Yet, the people of the small, southern town of Cheehaw accept her quirkiness because of the equisite wine that she sells in her store and for her free doctoring and homemade remedies. Still, everyone is shocked when the handsome outlaw, Marvin Macy, falls in love with her.Marvin is a "bold, fearless, and cruel" man who changes his unlawful ways to win Miss Amelia's love. Rather than robbing houses he begins attending church services on Sunday mornings. In an effort to court Miss Amelia, he learns proper etiquette, such as "rising and giving his chair to a lady, and abstaining from swearing and fighting". Two years after Marvin's reformation, he asks Miss Amelia to marry him. Miss Amelia does not love him but agrees to the marriage in order to satisfy her great-aunt. Once married, Miss Amelia is very aloof towards her husband and refuses to engage in marital relations with him. After ten days, Miss Amelia ends the marriage because she finds that she is unable to generate any positive feelings for Marvin. Several months after the divorce, Marvin reverts back to his initial corrupt ways and is "sent to a state penitentiary for robbing filling stations and holding up A & P stores".Just as love had changed Marvin, so too did it change Miss Amelia. In the mid 1930's, several years after Miss Amelia's divorce, Lymon, a hunchback, comes to Miss Amelia claiming to be a distant cousin. She readily provides Cousin Lymon with food and board, and eventually any material object that he desires.

Future of Investment Banking

Future of Investment Banks is extremely relevant topic for today’s studies. This type of banks institutions plays one of the main roles, being circulating element in the whole body of financial system. Vital role guaranteed by the abilities to help clients to raise capital through debts, equity or other potential deals. Needless to note that investment banks are those privileged institutions that are involved in processes of mergers and acquisitions. Concern about future of such an important investment banks are brought up by relatively recent events in bank sector of the economy.Even when BNP Paribas signaled that they had problems with properly pricing its book of subprime related bonds, a lot of experts were starting to worry. Chain of events is noticeable because of Lehman Brothers’ collapse as well. And nowadays questions of the development perspectives of investment banks increased dramatically. In attempts to describe possible development perspectives of investme nt banks, following picture can be drawn. First of all, it’s given that quantity of â€Å"investment banks† already decreased.It’ better to describe it as consolidation process with a lesser amount of big banks and more small boutiques. Acquisition of JP Morgan in massive less effective structure proves this argument. Second, the problem of maturity gap should be solved. Dealing with asymmetric by the means of Repurchasing Agreements is not acceptable anymore due to the lack of trust. Moreover, asset/liability mismatch is risky and hard to control. Therefore it’s important to relay on long-term funding such as deposits. The next gesture of brush is certainly about the regulation issue.Industry experienced some sort of deregulation caused by Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which had replaced Glass-Steagall Act. Thus, commercial banks with more conservative structure noticeably had gotten closer to investment banks with all their risk-taker items. Good example is i llustrated by Citigroup, where blend of banking, security and insurance may be observed. Separation should be supported for the purpose of avoiding conflicts of interests which incurred in internal environment of financial institutions.Next thing to observe in order to fulfill the forecast of development perspective of investment banks has to deal with bonuses in sector. There are no doubts, that people who worked on the field of investment are really hard-working folks, dedicated to their job more than ten hours a day including weekends. Nevertheless, they play with â€Å"other people’s money† which imposes responsibilities that cannot be overestimated. It means that extensive impact may occur in case of unsuccessful activities but not for the trader.Bonuses should be limited. Motivation program should involve not only bonuses for profits but also some sort of provisions/allowances in undesirable case of losses. Discretion will inevitably lead to more risk aversion be havior. Actually, risk conservative approach is required all around banking due to elimination of the financial crisis threats. Before summing up, all the activities, that should be done for the future of the investment banks, there is one thing that will occur no matter what.It is something about experience that of course deserves to be thought of. Lessons learned from the significant episodes of financial crisis are really valuable. People will become more rational, especially in terms of dealing with unknown instruments like CDOs, CDO^2s and others. Arguments presented in this paper are supposed to support the idea of investment baking’s evolution. Despite the common concerns, the industry will survive, because of the never-ending demand of raising money

10-Perseverance Essay

To our beloved President and Cavite School Life founder, Mr. Ernesto V. Yu, to our adorable Cavite School of Life director and Finance Officer, Ms. Maybelle O. Yu, to the man with a big heart, our Principal, Mr. Roberto G. Dumali, to our efficient student affairs coordinator Mr. Francis H. Mangrobang, to our handsome Discipline Coordinator, Mr. Rogelio T. Chavez, to our school board members, faculty and staffs, parents, family, fellow graduates, guests, ladies and gentlemen. Good day. There is a Latin dictum which says and I quote, â€Å"Ex abundancia cordis, os loquitur† which means, â€Å"From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!† Today, allow me to speak of Angelic words, of words of wisdom, of words of love and of words of joy and thanksgiving. For today, in this very historical place, and in this very important moment in our very lives as graduates of 2013, we have witnessed the fruits of our labor! Today, I stand before you not as a superhero, nor a genius, and not even the best of all but as one with you who can truly prove the proof of success despite of nothingness. See more: Analysis of Starbucks coffee company employees essay Yes, nothingness or poverty is never a hindrance to a true success! Once more, we have proven that. Once more, I have proven that. As you may all have known, my parents are never rich. You must have known and learned how my father, Papa Boy, labored so hard to send me to this wonderful and spirit filled school. You must have known as well, how my mother, Mama Paz has to give up some of her wants just so that I can pursue my studies. When Papa Boy got a stroke that almost send him to eternal rest, I almost lose hope for he is the only one who provides us with our basic needs especially my school needs. Thinking that I might stop from schooling really sends shivers down my spine. As I look at Mama Paz crying, I could not but feel the tremendous pain of a mother who was not only thinking of how could Papa survive much more to her fears of asking me to stop from schooling. Despite that, my family stood still with faith and trust and even inspired me more to study well. It took us months of really praying and holding of our hands together, sharing whatever little we have for none in my family would allow me to stop from schooling. Even if Mama Paz did not tell, I knew then that she had to do so many things (call it part time jobs) just to make ends meet. Papa Boy on the other hand fought so hard to regain health the soonest. â€Å"Alam kong nahihirapan ng husto si Papa pero nilalabanan niya ang kanyang sakit para maiwasan ang nag aambang kamatayan dahil alam ko sabi niya sa sarili niya, andiyan pa si Jasmine na kailangang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral.† Indeed I was and am so lucky to have parents like them—di man mayaman pero hindi nila ako pinababayaan. Papa Boy and Mama Paz, maraming salamat po sa lahat lahat. Hindi ako darating sa kinaroroonan ko ngayon kung hindi dahil sa inyo. I love you po! I am also grateful to Cavite School of Life because though my father was sick at that moment, they didn’t abandon him, they still gave him a chance and hope to live and work for his family, most especially for me, his daughter. This we owe so much to Mr. Ernesto V. Yu and his family, we will forever give thanks to them, Words are not enough to express how blessed we are to have you Mr. and Mrs. Yu in our life. Needless to say, how grateful I am too to all of my teachers, especially my adviser, Ms Maricar, my classmates and my friends who are so supportive and understand my situation. They have always been there in times when truly I needed them most. When I first came to Cavite School of Life, I didn’t expect that I will be changed and be improved for the better, because in my previous school, our Principal seems didn’t care about us, unlike here I really felt that I’m a part of the family and here, our teachers wanted us to learn not just for school but for life, I’m very overwhelmed by the people here, because they helped me to prepare not just for college but also for our future. I was a second year student when I started studying here in Cavite School of Life, at first I was only a girl in the corner, doesn’t care what around or what’s happening, I also can’t understand why I’m here in Cavite School of Life. A lot of questions in my mind such as why I’m studying? What’s God’s plan for me? I have no idea at all. But after two months, I just woke up then I realized that everything seems at place, I’m growing, I’m learning and I’m happy. The next thing I know is that, my relationship to God became better, and I found out that the school philosophy, â€Å"WE LEARN NOT FOR SCHOOL BUT FOR LIFE† is true. This school shelter and taught us not only for school, they also prepared us to live our life outside. After this night, we will be leaving the school but the lessons that we learned will remain in our hearts forever, Thank you Cavite School of Life for that. That is the thing we will surely treasure the most. Indeed my very own life is a living testament of success despite scarcity. That indeed behind the hills of sacrifices lay the valley of success. If we stand together as I, we could do anything. Now I could say that the greatest gift my parents give me, besides life, is education. The same thing I believe is what every parent here now is giving to each one of us. May I invite you all therefore to be one with me in giving the greatest and deepest expression of our gratitude to them who have labored so hard and worked so well so that we may become what we are today. Fellow graduates, let us all stand therefore and give the loudest and sincerest to our dearly beloved parents! As we leave the portals of our dear Alma Matter, let us always remember not only the good and funniest memories but life’s learning experiences we have gained. Let us treasure them and bring them to whatever we go so we can also become the bearers of light and life. Let us always remember that what we are now is God’s gift to us and what we became of ourselves is our gift to Him.

4 Great Quotes That Changed World History

4 Great Quotes That Changed World History These are some famous and powerful quotes that changed world history. Some of them were so powerful that World Wars took birth as they were uttered. Others quelled storms that threatened to wipe out humanity. Still, others inspired a change of mindset, and kickstart social reform. These words have transformed the lives of millions, and have etched new paths for the future generation. 1. Galileo Galilei Eppur si muove! (And yet it moves.) Every once in a century, there comes along a human being who brings about a revolution with just three words. Italian physicist and mathematician Galileo Galilei held a different view of the movement of the sun and the celestial bodies with respect to the earth. But the church held the belief that the Sun and other planetary bodies revolve around the Earth; a belief that made God-fearing Christians adhere to the words of the Bible as interpreted by the clergymen.   In the era of Inquisition, and a suspicious wariness of Pagan beliefs, Galileos views were considered heresy and he was tried for spreading heretic views. The punishment for heresy was torture and death. Galileo risked his life to educate the church how wrong they were. But the chauvinist views of the church were to remain, and Galileos head was to go. A 68-year-old Galileo could hardly afford to lose his head before the Inquisition for a mere fact. He, therefore, made a public confession that he was wrong:   I held and believed that the sun is the centre of the universe and is immovable, and that the earth is not the centre and is movable; willing, therefore, to remove from the minds of your Eminences, and of every Catholic Christian, this vehement suspicion rightfully entertained toward me, with a sincere heart and unfeigned faith, I abjure, curse, and detest the said errors and heresies, and generally every other error and sect contrary to Holy Church; and I swear that I will never more in future say or assert anything verbally, or in writing, which may give rise to a similar suspicion of me; but if I shall know any heretic, or anyone suspected of heresy, that I will denounce him to this Holy Office, or to the Inquisitor or Ordinary of the place where I may be; I swear, moreover, and promise, that I will fulfil and observe fully, all the penances which have been or shall be laid on me by this Holy Office.Galileo Galilei, Abjuration, 22 Jun 1633 The above quote, Eppur si muove!  was found in a Spanish painting. Whether Galileo actually said these words are unknown, but it is believed that Galileo muttered these words under his breath after he was forced to recant his views. The forced recantation that Galileo had to endure is one of the most significant events in the history of the world. It shows how free spirit and scientific thinking was always stifled by conservative views of a powerful few. Humankind will remain indebted to this fearless scientist, Galileo, who we regale the father of modern astronomy, the father of modern physics, and the father of modern science. 2. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working men of all countries, unite! These words are a reminder of the rise of communism under the leadership of two German intellectuals, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The working class had suffered years of exploitation, oppression, and discrimination in a capitalist Europe. Under the powerful rich class that comprised of businessmen, traders, bankers, and industrialists, the workers and laborers suffered inhuman living conditions. The simmering discord was already growing in the underbelly of the poor. While capitalist countries vied for more political power and economic freedom, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels believed that it was the time the workers were given their due. The slogan, Workers of the world, unite! was a clarion call in the Communist Manifesto created by Marx and Engels as a closing line of the manifesto. The Communist Manifesto threatened to shake the foundation of capitalism in Europe and bring about a new social order. This quote, which was a meek voice calling for change became a deafening roar. Revolutions of 1848 were a direct result of the slogan. The widespread revolution changed the face of France, Germany, Italy, and Austria. The Communist Manifesto is one of the most widely read secular documents in the world. The proletariat governments were elbowed out of their cushy positions of power and the new social class found its voice in the realm of politics. This quote is a voice of a new social order, that brought in a change of time. 3. Nelson Mandela I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. Nelson Mandela was the David who took on the Goliath of the colonial rule. The African National Congress, under the leadership of Mandela, held various demonstrations, civil disobedience campaigns, and other forms of non-violent protests against apartheid. Nelson Mandela became the face of the anti-apartheid movement. He rallied the black community of South Africa to unite against the oppressive regime of a white government. And he had to pay a heavy price for his democratic views.   In April 1964, at the crowded courtroom of Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela faced trial for charges of terrorism, and sedition. On that historic day, Nelson Mandela made a speech to the audience gathered in the courtroom. This quote, which was the closing line of the speech, evoked a strong response from every corner of the world.   Mandela’s zealous speech had left the world tongue-tied. For once, Mandela had shaken the foundations of the apartheid government. Mandela’s words continue to inspire millions of oppressed people of South Africa to find a new lease of life. Mandela’s quote reverberates in political and social circles as a symbol of a new awakening. 4. Ronald Reagan Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall. Though this quote refers to the Berlin Wall that divided East Germany and West Germany, this quote makes a symbolic reference to the end of the Cold War.   When Reagan said this highly famous line in his speech at the Brandenburg Gate near the Berlin Wall on June 12, 1987, he made an earnest appeal to Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev in a bid to thaw the frost between the two nations: East Germany and West Germany. Gorbachev, leader of the Eastern block, on the other hand, was chalking out a path of reform for the Soviet Union through liberal measures such as perestroika. But East Germany, which was governed by the Soviet Union, was stifled with poor economic growth and restrictive freedom. Reagan, the 40th US President at that time was visiting West Berlin. His bold challenge did not see an immediate impact on the Berlin Wall. However, the tectonic plates of the political landscape were already shifting in Eastern Europe. 1989 was the year of historic significance. That year, many things came crumbling down, including the Berlin Wall. The Soviet Union, which was a powerful confederation of states, imploded to give birth to several newly independent nations. The Cold War that had threatened a worldwide nuclear arms race was finally over.   Mr. Reagans speech may not have been the immediate cause of the breakdown of the Berlin Wall. But many political analysts believe that his words stirred an awakening amongst East Berliners that eventually led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today, many nations have a political conflict with their neighboring countries, but rarely do we come across an event in history that is as significant as the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Sample Short Answer Essay for a College Application

Sample Short Answer Essay for a College Application The Common Application no longer requires a short answer essay from all applicants, but many colleges continue to include the short answer as part of a supplement. The short answer essay prompt typically states something like this: Briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences. Colleges like this type of question because it gives their applicants the opportunity to identify an activity that is meaningful to them and to explain why it is meaningful. This information can be useful to colleges with holistic admissions as they try to identify students who will bring interesting skills and passions to the campus community. Sample Short Answer Essay Christie wrote the following sample short answer essay to elaborate upon her love of running: It is the simplest of movements: right foot, left foot, right foot. It is the simplest of actions: run, relax, breathe. For me, running is both the most basic and the most complex activity I perform in any day. While my body adjusts to the challenges of gravel paths and steep inclines, my mind is free to drift, to sift through whatever needs sorting or disposing- the upcoming days tasks, an argument with a friend, some nagging stress. As my calf muscles loosen and my breathing settles into its deep rhythm, I am able to release that stress, forget that argument, and set my mind in order. And at the midway point, two miles into the course, I stop at the hilltop vista overlooking my little town and the surrounding woodlands. For just a moment, I stop to listen to my own strong heartbeat. Then I run again. Critique of the Short Answer Essay The author has focused on a personal activity, running, not any history-making achievement, team triumph, world-changing social work, or even a formal extracurricular activity. As such, the short answer essay does not highlight any kind of remarkable accomplishment or personal talent. But think about what this short answer essay does reveal- the author is someone who can find pleasure in the simplest of activities. She is someone who has found an effective way for dealing with stress and finding peace and equilibrium in her life. She reveals that she is in tune with her self and her small town environment. This one little paragraph gives us the impression that the author is a thoughtful, sensitive, and healthy person. In a short space, the essay reveals the maturity of the writer- she is reflective, articulate, and balanced. These are all dimensions of her character that will not come across in her lists of grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. They are also personal qualities that will be attractive to a college. The writing is also solid. The prose is tight, clear, and stylistic without being over-written. The length is a perfect  823 characters and 148 words. This is a typical length limit for a short-answer essay. That said, if your college is asking for just 100 words or something longer, be sure to follow their instructions carefully. Role of Essays and Your College Application Keep in mind the role of any essays, even short ones, that you submit with your college application. You want to present a dimension of yourself that isnt readily apparent elsewhere in your application materials. Reveal some hidden interest, passion, or struggle that will give the admissions folks a more detailed portrait of yourself. The college has asked for a short essay because it has holistic admissions; in other words, the school tries to evaluate the whole applicant through both quantitative (grades, test scores, rank) and qualitative (essays, interview, extracurricular activities). A short answer essay gives the college a useful window into the applicants interests. Christie succeeds on this front. For both the writing and the content, she has written a winning short answer essay. You may want to explore another example of a  good short answer on working at Burger King  as well as learn lessons from a  weak short answer on soccer  and a  weak short answer on entrepreneurship. In general, if you follow the advice on writing a winning short answer and avoid common short answer mistakes, your essay will strengthen your application and help make you an attractive candidate for admission.

Are the virtues of justice, prudence, and beneficences suffient for a Essay

Are the virtues of justice, prudence, and beneficences suffient for a good life - Essay Example Secondly, it leads people to become biased to the attitudes and interests of the society rather than helping them to act impartially with all human beings. Lastly, the view of Adam Smith is unclearly justified. This essay will analyse Adam Smith’s views about living a good life and its criticisms. First, the essay examines Adam Smith’s view on the issue and its strengths and weaknesses. The essay will also highlight the criticisms of Smith’s view and their strengths and weaknesses. Lastly, it will provide my position about the issue. In this essay I will conclude that the virtues of justice, prudence, and beneficences are very essential; but they are not sufficient for a good life. Other considerations that need to be observed include rationality, human development and scientific approach of solving problems. These additional factors work with the moral virtues suggested by Adam Smith to enable the society achieve good life while meeting the interests of human beings without bias. Being happy is enhanced by living morally and having enough resources to support individuals and societies to solve their problems and resources. Therefore, human development in terms of soci al, economic and political advancement supports human life and enables people to live morally and happily. In the book The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Smith attempts to explain the source of morality, and why people exhibit virtues and decency even if they may conflict with their self-interest (Roberts, 2014). In the opening sentence of the book, Smith argues that even though human beings may be selfish, they still care about the happiness of other people (Roberts, 2014). Although one may not benefit from the happiness of others, they are usually pleased to see that they are happy. Smith argues that a human being should be totally virtuous in order for the economic system to function in such a way that it can maximize wealth. As a philosopher, Smith argues that there