Ford Motor Company: The River Rouge Manufacturing Complex :: American America History

Ford beat back Company The River Rouge Manufacturing ComplexThe first paper of material I gathered was a picture via the internet. This picture is of the River Rouge assembly plant in Dearborn, Michigan. This picture shows the manufacturing of the fender for a Ford Motor Companyproduct. It also shows the facilities of the Rouge plant and how the plantitself was state of the art.This plant was the largest of its kind at the sequence of its construction. The Ford Motor Company at the time was one of the leaders in laborrelations. This picture shows the size of the plant as well as the workingconditions in the facility.When viewing the photograph you domiciliate see the array of pipes and collectiondevices to aid in the circulation of air and the collection of dust andother by products made in the plant.The contiguous component I found is another picture of the interior of the Rougeplant. This picture is one of many conveyer belts in the plant. This beltis moving locomotive pa rts from the engine assembly to the final assembly. Henry Ford was a pioneer in the use of the assembly line in the automobileindustry, and the Rouge plant was the supreme in that use of the assemblyline. This photo shows the depth of the plant, being able to manufactureall components of the cars without having to ship parts to or from otherlocations in the country.The next collection of photographs is of the exterior of the Rouge plant.These photos were obtained from the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.These pictures are of the Rouge during the switch of all production, fromthe Highland Park plant, to the Rouge. It was also the time that the stupefyA was beginning production.This collection shows examples of four exterior views of the plant, alludeto the many different factories within the Rouge plant. The Rouge was asteel mill, a foundry, a power producer and, an assembly line. This all include idea helped ford relegate all aspects of the production oftheir product.A long with the exterior, the interior showed the extent of the allencompassing Rouge plant. The interior photographs, which were also careof the Henry Ford Museum, show more factories within the factory. Forexample, the four photos in this collection display metal forming, and metallurgic operations. These pictures included forging, the blastfurnaces, removal of slag and, even salvaging scrap from metal ships.The interior had two collections to view and the second reaffirmed what the

Statue of Liberty: A Lie? Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Statue of Liberty A Lie?As I sit down on a park bench in the middle of Manhattan, eating a pack of stale peanut butter crackers, I couldnt keep myself from thought process about the woman I had met the day before. The lady I met seemed to be a strong woman of high morale, but after our interaction I came to the conclusion that she was living a lie. Well-known and noticeably the tallest female in the community, galore(postnominal) people looked up to her as somewhat of a motherly figure. Ill never forget the tattoo on her ankles that partially read . cries she with silent lips. Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. ventilate these, homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door She was a very old woman who really didnt look as old as she was. As we stood side by side, we had a long interesting debate about violence, values and where we thought the United States was headed as a na tion. She kept saying how she had been almost a long time and how she has personally witnessed the downfall of America however, she seemed unemotional. Suddenly, tears began to flow down her solid face or maybe it was rain? What daunted me the most was her body language, which spoke to me like a smart remark. At first, I couldnt quite put my finger on it, but something about her struck me as being hypocritical. She told me her name was Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is a national symbol of freedom for the people in America. Many Americans interpret Lady Liberty in different ways depending on their gender, ethnic, racial background and other social factors that influence our personal opinions of the United States. After personally evaluating how Lady... ...ican values, when at the time females werent steady allowed to vote. There it is Evidence shows that Lady Liberty is a contradiction because her message hasnt been consistent with societys beliefs. Most Americans firmly embrac e the Statue of Liberty, but never stop to misgiving its validity as a representation of America. Lady Liberty is portrayed as being an icon of America but I feel she is wizard of the largest unchallenged contradictions in our present society. The statue of libertys main objective depicts America as something it is not. At times I feel angry when looking at the statue because I feel as though we are lying to ourselves by accepting a false reality. Its very unfortunate that Americas ego is the cause of so many deaths. Personally, I feel that until we honestly accept the truth about ourselves, we will forever be a misrepresented nation.

Abortion is not Murder in the right circumstances Essay -- essays rese

Abortion Is Not Murder under the Right CircumstancesShe was only twelve, only for a walk on the street right by her house when he got to her. The experience was terrifying and all she wanted to do was forget about it, forget about him on top of her, making her do things that should only be done with someone she loves. The rape is finally over and he lets her go after making her promise not to tell. A hardly a(prenominal) weeks after the rape she still hadnt t old, but started feeling woozy and nauseous in the morning she went and consulted in her mother. After waiting out what she believes was a stomach flue for another few weeks she saw that her belly started to grow. She finally told her mother what had happen and the little twelve year old girl was 4 weeks pregnant. A heated discussion among students, parents and government officials is whether abortion should be legal. I recently read an article about a twelve year old girl who had been raped and had her child because no one ga ve her the option of abortion, her family felt that she would embarrass the family because it was morally wrong. Would it have been wrong for this child to theoretically murder her immature? Murder is the work out of taking anothers life with malicious thoughts it is also taking the life of another human being without medical supervision and by brutal ways. I believe that abortion is not murder if none of those three apply, in the right circumstance, abortion is not murder.Nuss-2Abortion is the act of terminating...

Gothic Culture Essay -- Goths Renaissance History Essays

Gothic CultureYoure walking down the street and all of a choppy you encounter a group of oddly dressed youngsters all in black, or perhaps wearing elaborate lace and brocade, looking strangely equal they came out of eighteenth century. You immediately feel a bit of apprehensions as you clutch your child closer to and wonder what exactly it is that these kids are up to. ar they part of a Satan worshiping cult, or just a band of traveling actors? In either case their strange dress and pale likenesses took you aback and made you a bit prone to prejudge. What you were probably looking at were a group of Goths. What exactly is a Goth you may ask, and why the eldritch dress and affinity for black. This along with the origins, and some of the trials and tribulations faced by this extraordinary group of individuals, along with dispelling some common misconceptions is the objective of my writings. First lets take a look at what Goth is and where it began.Gage Canadian Dictionary defines G oth. as an uncivilized person, barbarian.( 1975425) the origin of the record dates back to the third or fourth centuries when a Germanic tribe called the VisiGoths overran the Roman Empire and settled in what is now Sweden and the surrounding area (Shultz,1984325). The word gained its mod meaning during the Italian Renaissance when the word was used to describe the architecture that was emerging at the time. The architecture was considered barbaric because of its pointed arches and steep roofs, along with the frequent use of the gargoyle, which was thought to ward of evil spirits. The modern Gothic movement and its origins are not as easily defined, and varies according to your source. Ive combined the two to show an evolution of how it all... ...nformation has always been the key to help remainder prejudices and discrimination, by introducing the ideology behind the Goth culture and explaining the reason behind the dress I hope that it has brought about a better understanding o f these mess and their plight to a peaceful existence.BibliographyFulton, Ben Goths For Goodwill.City Beat (1998) 2p. Online. Internet. June 4,1998. www.slweekly.com/news/citybeat/cb 980604 a.htmlDictionary of Goth 6/24/98 httpwww.jesus.cam.ac.uk/vkc20/goth/qzhtmlShultz, James.(1975) Germanic Tribes (3rd ED), Published by Weber and Van Syckle BerlinSangange, Eretica Darkness Can be Felt(1999) Online.Internet. June 30, 1999.http//pages.prodigy.com/Fifth Dream/goth.htmYvain, Euphrosyne Origins of Modern Gothic Culture(1999) Online. Internet June 24,1999. httpwww.blood-dance.net/goth/origins.html

Death Penalty in Canada Essay -- Death Penalty

Canada as a country is always in constant change. Whether it is in g everyplacenment, physicality, entertainment, or economy, Canada is a nation that prides on being unique and receptive to change. But when do these advancements, these abnormalities in comparison to neighboring countries, begin to diminish us as a native land? Or is in that location always an up side to the refinements and revisions Canada continues to make? Would this question be easier to answer if the consequences of our decisions on change were instantaneously life or death? To most, it just makes it that much more complicated. However, the topic of capital punishment is a problem that countries have continued to agonize over for decades, including Canada. So in what regards is capital punishment, and the sentencing of execution a good thing, and is there a line in which first has to be crossed in tell to categorize the guilty? These questions have spun through the heads of the government and politicia ns before, and for now Canada stands on the against-side of the incredibly blurred line, but as a country always in constant change, should and will Canada ever bring back the death penalty?The death penalty, also frequently referred to as capital punishment is the sentencing of execution for a crime. The most common crime referred to as a capital crime is murder and more specifically, murder in the first degree. In the United States, there have only been two cases in which the convicted was not responsible for a murder (Death Penalty Information Center, 2010). In one of these cases, Patrick Kennedy was found guilty in the aggravated sexual assault case of his step-daughter in 2003, and is now awaiting execution for his actions (Death Penalty Information Center, 2010). Howe... ...out.com/od/deathpenalty/i/DeathPenalty_2.htm Bhatti, S. (2010, October 18). Death penalty pros. Retrieved from http//www.buzzle.com/articles/death-penalty-pros.html Amnesty world(prenominal) USA, . (2 010). The death penalty and deterrence. Retrieved from http//www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/death-penalty-facts/the-death-penalty-and-deterrence/page.do?id=1101085 Jami, . (2010, February 21). General deterrence and the death penalty. Retrieved from http//deathpen.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/chapter-5-general-deterrence-the-death-penalty/ Ontario Consultants on Religious Groups, . (2001, January 3). Policies of religious groups towards the death penalty. Retrieved from http//www.religioustolerance.org/execut7.htm St. Anthony Messenger Press, . (2010). The death penalty and the catholic church. Retrieved from http//www.americancatholic.org/ discussion/deathpenalty/

Death Penalty in Canada Essay -- Death Penalty

Canada as a country is always in constant change. Whether it is in government, physicality, entertainment, or economy, Canada is a farming that prides on being unique and receptive to change. But when do these advancements, these abnormalities in comparison to neighboring countries, begin to diminish us as a domestic land? Or is there always an up side to the refinements and revisions Canada continues to make? Would this question be easier to answer if the consequences of our decisions on change were now life or death? To most, it just makes it that much more complicated. However, the topic of capital punishment is a problem that countries have continued to agonize over for decades, including Canada. So in what regards is capital punishment, and the sentencing of execution a good thing, and is there a line in which first has to be crossed in order to categorize the finable? These questions have spun through the heads of the government and politicians before, and for now Ca nada stands on the against-side of the incredibly blurred line, but as a country always in constant change, should and willing Canada ever bring back the death penalization?The death penalty, also frequently referred to as capital punishment is the sentencing of execution for a crime. The most putting surface crime referred to as a capital crime is murder and more specifically, murder in the first degree. In the United States, there have lonesome(prenominal) been two cases in which the convicted was not responsible for a murder (Death Penalty Information Center, 2010). In one of these cases, Patrick Kennedy was found guilty in the aggravated intimate assault case of his step-daughter in 2003, and is now awaiting execution for his actions (Death Penalty Information Center, 2010). Howe... ...out.com/od/deathpenalty/i/DeathPenalty_2.htm Bhatti, S. (2010, October 18). Death penalty pros. Retrieved from http//www.buzzle.com/articles/death-penalty-pros.html Amnesty International USA, . (2010). The death penalty and deterrence. Retrieved from http//www.amnestyusa.org/death-penalty/death-penalty-facts/the-death-penalty-and-deterrence/page.do?id=1101085 Jami, . (2010, February 21). General deterrence and the death penalty. Retrieved from http//deathpen.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/chapter-5-general-deterrence-the-death-penalty/ Ontario Consultants on Religious Groups, . (2001, January 3). Policies of religious groups towards the death penalty. Retrieved from http//www.religioustolerance.org/execut7.htm St. Anthony Messenger Press, . (2010). The death penalty and the catholic church. Retrieved from http//www.americancatholic.org/news/deathpenalty/

Marriott Corporation: Business Overview

Harvard Business School 9-282-042 Rev. September 15, 1986 Marriott Corporation The idea of repurchasing make dos was no st poser to Bill Marriott by January 1980. Al approximately fivesome billion components of common striving had been repurchased on the open trade by Marriott Corporation during 1979 at a total cost of $74 million and an middling legal injury of $15. 16 in the belief that they were chthonianvalueda belief that still was not fully reflected in the market price. At $19 5/8, the stock was selling at only six measure gold track down per share and its price/earnings ratio of nine was a far bid from historicalal multiples as high as fifty times as recently as 1973.Its first price seemed to offer once again an open-and-shut opportunity to benefit shareholders. However, the proposal to repurchase 10 million of the 32 million still come onstanding shares aro roled some uneasiness. If successful, it had the potential of enhancing Marriotts EPS and of increasin g family and commission control from 20% to 29% of outstanding shares. However, it represented a move that was al near entirely financialone that would run the debt substantially above the levels advocated forrader the Board of Directors only two eld earlier.The repurchase would also necessitate renegotiation of restrictive covenants in existing loan agreements. Lastly, the huge size of the proposed program would enquire a tender price of $23 1/2, a hefty premium of $4 over the current market price. All of this seemed somewhat out of character for a corporation known for caution and stability. Background Marriott Corporation was founded as a nine-seat A Root Beer Stand in Washington, D. C. , in 1927 by J. Willard Marriott. Mr.Marriott had a gift for anticipating, or helping to create, trends in public eating habits. Shortly after the first stand opened, a second was built, and soon a chain of Hot Shoppes was underway. In 1934, industrial cafeterias were opened at a General Mot ors plant in Georgia and at the Ford Motor caller-up plant in Virginia. In 1937, the airline industry was subvertd when Mr. Marriott established an airline catering service, providing box lunches from a Hot Shoppe next to the old Hoover Airport, on the site of what is now the Pentagon. Seven years later, Mr.Marriott led the company into the hotel field, opening the Marriott Twin Bridges just over the Potomac River from Washington. It became known as a motor-hotel and helped to revolutionize the lodging industry, for it offered a drive-in registration desk, a restaurant on the premises, and a recipe center. By 1964, there were 77 restaurants, 4 hotels, and 9,600 employees generating total gross revenue of $85 million. This case was prepared for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of an administrative situation.Copyright 1981 by the electric chair and Fellows of Harvard College. To order copies or request permission to reproduce mat erials, call 1-800-545-7685, write Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02163, or go to http//www. hbsp. harvard. edu. No part of this effect may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, used in a spreadsheet, or transmitted in any form or by any tightselectronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or separatewisewithout the permission of Harvard Business School. 1 282-042 Marriott CorporationBill Marriott pre heart and soule the presidency from his father in 1964 and initiated further diversification into theme parks, canvas ships and international host services. In 1967 the company acquired the Big Boy Restaurants franchise based in the Los Angeles area. A year later, Marriott opened its first Roy Rogers Roast boot Sandwich outlet, which would grow into the Roy Rogers Family Restaurant chain. Since 1964, growth was little short of phenomenal. From deals of $85 million 16 years earlier, sales in 1979 exceeded $1. 5 billion.Operations expand to 476 company-ope rated restaurants, 55 hotels and resorts, a cruise ship line, two theme parks, and 66,000 employees. (See indicate 1 for financial information on Marriotts various businesses. ) Hotels (35% of sales)Marriott Hotels was one of the worlds leading and most successful operators of hotels and resorts. By 1980, more than 23,000 rooms were offered through 55 hotels and resorts located primarily in the U. S. Approximately 70% of company-operated rooms were owned by outdoors investors and managed by Marriott under agreements averaging 70 years in length.These commission agreements contributed approximately $40 million to operating profits in 1979profits that tended to rise with pompousness. narrow down Food Service (32% of sales)Marriott operated almost 300 contract viands units, providing a wide range of food service capabilities to a variety of clients. It was the worlds leading supplier of catering services to airlines, with 62 flight kitchens serving domestic and international air sparkers. The Food Service Management Division also managed restaurants, cafeterias, conference centers and separate facilities for over 200 clients, including business, health care, and educational institutions.Restaurants (25% of sales)Marriotts Restaurant Group consisted of 476 company-owned units offering a variety of popularly priced food in 46 states. Roy Rogers fast food restaurants and Big Boy coffee shops accounted for 92% of the total units. Theme Parks and Cruise Ships (8% of sales)The two Great America theme parks, located in Gurnee, Illinois, amid Chicago and, Milwaukee, and in Santa Clara, California, were opened in 1976. Both parks combined a wide variety of thrill and family rides, live musical productions and stage shows, arcades and games, swop and food.The attractions were set in five authentically recreated areas of Americas past and have strong appeal for the entire family. The Sun Line fleet, consisting of three vessels, offered luxury sailing in both the Aegean/Mediterranean and Caribbean cruise markets, and was widely recognized as the leader in quality in the Aegean market. Past Performance Marriott had everlastingly been a strong performer in profit terms. Over the entire 25 years ended 1979, there were only two down years and only three early(a) years in which earnings per share grew at less than a 15% rate.Profits doubled on average any 3 to 4 years. A major return on investment improvement program, initiated in 1975, accelerated the earnings growth. The program consisted of three parts (1) the sale or liquidation of $92 million of marginal assets, including land, 38 restaurants, a security services business, 2 European airplane flight kitchens, and a travel division, (2) a major effort to turn around the Sun Line operation and to develop volume in the recently opened Theme Parks, and (3) the duty period of Marriotts hotel strategy from ownership to leasing and management contracts.The shift in the hotel strategy reflected managements belief that its comparative advantage was in hotel development and management, and not in long-term hotel ownership. 2 Marriott Corporation 282-042 The results were dramatic. force out income as a percentage of sales rose from 3. 1% to 4. 7%. The companys return on average equity improved from 9. 5% in 1975 to 17. 0% in 1979. Earnings per share soared from 69? to $1. 95. (See Exhibit 2 for a summary of Marriotts historical performance. ) ProfitabilityAn Elusive NotionWhile the trend in profitability seemed clear and encouraging, the actual level was a matter of debate and uncertainty for Marriott, as well as for American business in general. Double-digit inflation cast doubts on the usefulness of numbers based on historical costs, and the monetary Accounting Standards Board (FASB) recently issued guidelines which ask firms to present, beginning in 1979, accessory financial information that reflects the effects of general inflation. Marriott even though they reported these adjustments as required by Financial Accounting Standards No. 3 matte up the numbers were misleading since they only adjusted for general inflation. Marriott also reported a second method of adjusting for inflation which they called Current jimmy and which they explained in the one-year report The Financial Accounting Standards Board has recently addressed the worry of financial reporting during inflationary periods. However, each industry and company is impacted variedly by inflation and the choice of measurement must reflect the specific situation. Current Value is the best method for tracking Marriotts economic performance, and it differs from either historic costs or the present FASB definition. accord to Current Value bill, the value of shareholders equity increased by $125 million in 1979 alone, and the increase would have been $199 million more if not for the $74 million share repurchase. (See Exhibit 3 for Current Value Figures). Current Value accounting differs from historic cost accounting in four areas. First, it values most fix assets on a discounted cash fall down foundation garment, net of anticipated future big(p) requirements, thereby eliminating the paygrade distortions caused by conventional depreciation accounting.In contrast with manufacturing facilities, Marriotts high-quality building structures, properly maintained, do not physically wear out at the depreciation rates assumed by industry accounting standards. In fact, Marriotts in truth estate assets actually increase in value during inflation, as demonstrated by actual place sales. For example, Marriotts Essex House Hotel is 50 years old, yet it remains one of Americas finest real estate values due to its location in New York City and its exquisite maintenance program.Second, Current Value reports an improved measure of annual economic profit Discretionary Cash Flowwhich disregards accounting depreciation and substitutes the actual required outstanding expenditure s made for maintenance of property, plant and equipment. Third, Current Value accounting recognizes the annual gains in purchasing power from repaying debt in cheaper, inflated dollars. Accounting convention charges the inflation component of interest against current earnings, but does not reflect the benefits of debt.Fourth, Current Value reflects the gains from holding debt borrowed at comparatively low interest rates. According to Marriotts calculations the current value price per share of Marriotts stock was $27. 83 versus the historic book value of $12. 88. Prospects Stock price, of course, is based on more than book or replacement value it is also based on future earnings potential. Marriotts prospects for growth and profitability seemed excellent. Marriotts major chain competitors were not expanding on an ownership basis and only selectively on 3 282-042 Marriott Corporation management basis and independents were unable to obtain financing for new hotels without a chain affil iation and a management contract from a successful national operator. This presented management with a major opportunity to accelerate the planned annual hotel room growth to 20%-25% per year. There were already over 50,000 hotel rooms, representing nearly 100 properties, in the development pipeline. This was 2 1/2 times the current number of company-operated rooms. Management was rose-colored about the future and expected profitability to improve from an aftertax return on assets of 6. 6% in 1979 to 8. 7% by 1983.Furthermore the company seemed ahead of schedule in achieving its goal of a 20% ROE by 1983. Main contributors would include a continued buildup of attendance at the two Theme Parks and a continued shift from hotel ownership to outside ownership and Marriott management contracts. All management contracts provided at a minimum a constant percentage of hotel profits, and most new contracts would provide Marriott with an increased share in profits after achieving certain ta rgeted levels. Financial Policies Marriotts success seemed certain to present management with a problem of too much cash and underutilized debt capacity. . . a situation almost totally the reverse of what Gary Wilson, chief financial officer, found when he joined Marriott as financial officer in 1974. At that time, he found a company with a high debt burden, heavy debt repayments due to short maturities, and access to only a extra number of funding sources. Wilson immediately went to work at broadening the potential lenders, opening up the commercial message paper market, refinancing with longer maturities, and reducing the total debt pack from 55% of total capital in 1975 to 41% at year-end 1979.His financial policy guidelines won approval by the board of directors in 1978 and include the following 1. Maintain senior funded debt to total capital in the 40%-45% range maintain this ratio including capitalized financing leases below 50%. 2. Maintain the P-1 Moodys commercial paper rating, as it lends credibility to Marriotts claim of prime credit worthiness and impacts the availability and rate of its commercial bank and privately placed bond debt. Among the d companies with P-1 rated commercial paper and rated bond debt, only one has a bond rating of less than A. ) 3. Position the company further in the domestic, unsecured, long-term, fixed-rate bond market as the principal source of future debt financing. 4. Issue no convertible debt or preferred stock. In addition, plot of ground Marriott had begun paying a cash dividend in 1977 and had increased it twice, the firms policy was not to increase payout substantially as explained in its Annual Report 5. The company has a good record of reinvesting cash flow at high returns.Marriott will continue this reinvestment strategy, so that shareholders should profit through share appreciation taxed at advantageous capital gains rates, rather than through higher(prenominal) dividends taxed at ordinary rates. Too Much Cash By 1979, Marriotts four-year-old program of improving its returns through hotel management fees and the divestiture of low return operations was running(a) so well that it was producing an embarrassment of cash-flow riches. The company was rapidly moving in the direction of unused debt capacity, which Wilson deemed imprudent in an inflationary environment. 4 Marriott Corporation 82-042 By 1983, the debt to capital ratio would fall to roughly 20% if the projected excess cash flow, $125 million over the 4-year period, were merely used to pay down debt while the equity base continued to grow through the retention of earnings. Wilson explained his dislike for low debt ratios Im a great believer in prudent leverage. Many other companies arent. But in the next decade, inflation will make them come around to my viewpoint. Leverage is attractive for a very simple reason. Capital, which is the stuff by which investments are made, is comprised of two componentsequity and debt.Equity in the case of Marriott costs about 17% after tax that is, the investor expects to earn 17% on an investment in Marriotts stock. Debt costs only about 5% after tax. Given an investment that earns 10% after tax, it is evident that the more debt that I have in my capital structure, the lower will be the cost of my capital, and the more return I will have left over for the holders of my common stock. Since debt is so cheap comparative to equity, it would seem attractive to use as much debt as possible in a capital structure. In fact, if cost were the sole criteria for selection, one would use 100% debt.This brings us to the second component of the determinants of capital structure and that is coverage. Debt unlike equity has a fixed interest charge that must be met or the equity holders investment will be jeopardized. It is common to speak of the firms ability to meet its interest payments in terms of coverage, or the number of times the pretax cash flow from the firm meets the interest charges. Coverage is probably the most important quantitative measure used in the rating of debt instruments by rating agencies as coverage rises, so does the bond rating.Highly rated firms also tend to have low debt ratios which are more representative of the fact that these firms tend to be exceedingly large, in mature industries, with limited reinvestment opportunities, rather than demonstrative of prudent financial policy. It can be reasonably argued that growth companies should be positioned in the triple-B range or lower, as opposed to the higher ranges. The firms annual report expanded on this theme by stating Maintaining excess debt capacity is inconsistent with the goal of maximizing shareholder wealth for three reasons (1) Unused debt capacity is comparable to unused plant capacity.Fully utilizing this capacity maximizes shareholders returns. (2) High proportions of debt reduce a companys weighted cost of capital and increase the real returns to shareholders. (3) Debt-fin anced real estate provides distinct advantages in an inflationary environment. Repurchase of 10 million shares would, with one move, eliminate Wilsons concern. In fact, it would push the debt ratio back above the 1975 high and also above the policy guidelines passed less than two years before. Further, it would result in interest coverage of less than three timeswell below the six times deemed necessary for an A rating. See Exhibit 4 for pro forma statements based on the proposed share repurchase. ). Bill Marriotts Concerns Bill Marriott had great respect for the judgment of his financial team. However, a $235 million debt issue used to repurchase 10 million shares would put Marriotts debt ratio well outside the range of other food and lodging firms, and would necessitate renegotiation of several restrictive covenants under existing loan agreements. (See Exhibits 5 and 6 respectively for financial information on competitors and for information on restrictive covenants. ) Repurchase also seemed to 5 282-042 Marriott Corporation be a negative move. . . a cutting back of resources . . . . very different from the tone of aggressive expansion of operations. Maybe Finance was right about the potential leverage benefits maybe the proposal to repurchase all shares held outside of the family and management was more than jest. But was it obvious that paying a premium of $4 per share to bring in 10 million shares was wise? What was the correct price for Marriotts stock and would a repurchase help increase it? The Street certainly seemed divided on the attractiveness of the stock at $19 5/8. (See Exhibit 7 for a summary of the forecasts and opinions of several leading analysts on Wall Street. 6 Marriott Corporation 282-042 Exhibit 1 Sales drumhead of Operations by Principal Business Segment (dollars in millions) 1975 $238 256 268 14 $776 1976 $281 289 296 64 17 $947 1977 $335 342 317 72 24 $1,090 1978 $408 388 347 76 31 $1,250 1979 $535 480 377 84 34 $1,510 Hotel group iron food Restaurants Theme parks Cruise ships and other center Operating Profit Hotel Group Contract food Restaurants Theme parks Cruise ships and other Total Interest (net) Corporate expenses Income before taxes $33 19 22 (3) 71 23 8 $40 $38 19 20 15 1 93 27 13 $53 $54 21 26 10 4 115 30 16 $69 $66 23 28 12 5 134 24 15 $95 87 32 29 17 6 171 28 20 $123 Net Assets 1978 Hotel Group Contract food Restaurants Theme parks Cruise ships and other Corporate Total $304 99 162 161 32 69 $827 Employed 1979 $372 124 175 158 32 31 $892 Capital 1978 $63 11 34 9 0 22 $139 Expenditures 1979 $81 20 45 6 1 5 $158 depreciation 1978 1979 $15 8 12 9 2 1 $47 $16 8 15 9 1 2 $51 7 282-042 Marriott Corporation Exhibit 2 Summary of Historical Performance (dollars in millions, except per share amounts) 1975 1976 $ 947 32 3. 4% $ 326 378 48% 3. 0 10. 4% $ . 86 0 8. 95 13. 54 36. 5 14,765 52,900 1977 $1,090 39 3. 6% $ 366 370 45% 3. 3 11. 1% $ 1. 04 . 03 10. 02 11. 75 36. 15,383 56,100 1978 $1,250 54 4. 3% $ 419 310 38% 5. 0 13. 9% $ 1. 43 . 13 11. 40 12. 13 36. 7 17,987 63,600 1979 $1,510 71 4. 7% $ 414 365 41% 5. 4 17. 0% $ 1. 95 . 17 12. 88 17. 38 32. 1 20,956 65,700 Sales Net Income % of sales Shareholders equity Senior debt and capital lease obligations % of total capitala times interest earnedb Return on average shareholders equity after taxes Earnings per sharec Cash dividends per share Book Value per share Year-end market price Number of shares outstanding (millions) Company-operated hotel rooms Employees $ 776 24 3. 1% $ 264 406 55% 2. 7 9. 5% $ . 69 0 7. 68 15. 46 34. 4 12,987 47,600 Total capital is defined as total assets less current liabilities. b Times interest earned is calculated by dividing earnings before interest and taxes by interest expense net of interest on projects under construction. c Fully diluted earnings per share based upon the average number of shares outstanding for the year. 8 Marriott Corporation 282-042 Exhibit 3 Current Value Statement (dollar fig ures in thousands) Changes in Shareholders Current Value Equity for 1979 Current value, declination 28, 1978 Increase in current value of assets Discretionary cash flow Reduction in current value of debt Cash dividends Purchase of sharesCommon stock issued Current value, December 28, 1979 Change in current value during 1979 Change in current value during 1979 before cash dividends, share repurchase and issuance of new common stock $ 767,719 77,227 99,123 25,287 (5,776) (74,187) 3,810 $ 893,203 $ 125,484 201,637 Shareholders Equity Historical Cost Non-monetary assets (primarily plant and equipment) little net monetary liabilities Senior debt and capital leases Convertible debt Other monetary liabilities Shareholders equity, December 28, 1979 $ 927,287 365,279 26,918 121,587 $ 413,503 Current Value $1,356,244 320,736 20,718 121,587 $ 893,203 282-042 Marriott Corporation Exhibit 4 Pro Forma Financial Statements Based on Repurchase of 10 Million Shares of Common Stock, Funded with a $ 235 Million Debt Issue (dollar figures in millions, except earnings per share) Year Ended December 28, 1979 substantial Pro Forma Earnings before interest and taxes Interest existing debt $235 million in new debt Profit before tax Income taxes Net income bonny number of shares (millions) Earnings per sharea $ 151 28 $123 52 $71 36 $1. 96 $151 28 31 $92 36 $56 26 $2. 14 unite Balance Sheet, December 28, 1979 ASSETS Cash & Mkt.Securities Accounts receivable Inventories Other Total current Net fixed assets Other Total Actual $ 21 100 47 10 $ 178 825 77 $1,080 Pro Forma $ 21 100 47 10 $ 178 825 77 $1,080 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Short-term loans Current portion, longterm debt Accounts payable Accrued liabilities Income taxes payable Total current Senior debt Capital lease Subordinated debt Other liabilities Equity Total a Fully diluted based upon the average number of shares outstanding for the year. Actual $ 4 10 72 80 22 $ 188 341 24 27 86 414 $1,080 Pro Forma $ 4 10 72 80 22 $ 188 57 6 24 27 86 179 $1,080 10 Marriott Corporation 282-042 Exhibit 5Financial Information on Competitors Holiday Inns $17 1/4 1. 75 9. 9 3. 50 4. 9 . 66 17. 50 Marriott Stock Price January 1980 1979 epsa P/E Ratio 1979 Cash Flow per share a Price/Cash Flow Dividend per share Book Value per share Avg. Annual Growth (1974-1979) Sales Earnings Return on Equity, 1979a Total Long term debt % Book Capital Times Interest Earned Rating of Senior debt Beta a Estimated Hilton $29 1/2 3. 75 7. 9 4. 80 6. 1 1. 09 14. 91 McDonalds $ 44 4. 70 9. 4 6. 80 6. 4 . 51 23. 69 Disney $ 45 3. 50 12. 9 4. 80 9. 4 . 48 29. 75 $19 5/8 1. 95 10 3. 80 5. 2 . 17 12. 88 18. 7% 23. 4% 17% 45% 5. 4 NR 1. 25 6. 2% 41. % 26% 24% 15. 0 NR 1. 30 2. 45% 11. 4% 9% 33% 5. 6 BBB 1. 45 21. 6% 22. 9% 20% 50% 5. 2 A 1. 05 13. 1% 18. 7% 12% 0% NR 1. 15 Note Yields on 91-day Treasury bills, 5 yr. Treasury notes and 30 yr. Treasury Bonds were 12. 5%, 10. 4%, and 10. 1%, respectively, as of January 1980. 11 282-042 Marriott Corpora tion Exhibit 6 Selected Restrictive Covenants Under the $40 Million Loan Agreement Dated 1977 With Six Life insurance Companies, 8-3/4% Rate, Due in 15 Equal Annual Installments Beginning December 15, 1983 1. Total book assets shall be at least 155% of the sum of consolidated funded debt plus consolidated capital leases.Funded debt shall mean all indebtedness having a final maturity of more than one year. 2. Consolidated net working capital shall be at least equal to $6 million. 3. Consolidated senior funded debt shall be less than the sum of 66 2/3% of consolidated net hotel assets plus 50% of all other consolidated assets. 4. Consolidated tangible net worth shall be maintained at all times in an amount of least equal to the sum of $240 million plus 25% of consolidated net income for the period from July 31, 1976. Tangible net worth shall mean shareholders equity minus all intangible items. 5.Net income available for fixed charges for the past year shall have been at least 175% of pro forma annual fixed charges. Net income available for fixed charges shall mean EBIT plus the imputed interest in all capital leases. Source Casewriter 12 Marriott Corporation 282-042 Exhibit 7 Summary of Forecasts and Opinions of Several Leading Analysts from Major Investment solids Firm A Est. 1980 eps Est. 1983 eps Est. 1980 return on equity Est. 1983 return on equity Est. long-term eps growth peril of stock $1. 95 3. 00 14% 14% 15% average Firm B $2. 20 3. 80 16% 17% 20% average Firm C $2. 0 3. 25 14% 15% 16% average Firm D $2. 10 3. 60 15% 16% 20% low Firm E $2. 15 3. 25 15% 15% 15% low Avg. $2. 08 3. 38 14. 8% 15. 4% 17. 2% Recommendation Long-term hurl Long-term Buy Long-term Hold Hold Long-term Hold Marriott and merchandise Information Marriott Return on Equity Earnings per share Dividends per share Price/Earnings (Average) Market value/Book value (Avg. ) Standard & Poors Industrials Return to Equity Earnings per share Dividends per share Price/earnings Market value /Book value Interest Rates (Year-end) 91-Day Treasury Bill 5-Year Treasury Note 30-Year Treasury Bonds 7. % 7. 2% 8. 0% 5. 3% 7. 4% 8. 0% 4. 4% 6. 2% 7. 3% 6. 3% 7. 5% 8. 0% 9. 6% 9. 3% 8. 9% 12. 5% 10. 4% 10. 1% 14. 8% $9. 69 4. 72 10 1. 4 12. 3% $8. 55 3. 78 11 1. 4 14. 5% $10. 68 4. 25 11 1. 5 14. 6% $11. 57 4. 96 9 1. 3 15. 2% $13. 12 5. 35 8 1. 2 17. 1% $16. 08 6. 04 7 1. 2 1974 10. 6% $ . 70 0 18 2. 1 1975 9. 5% $ . 69 0 17 1. 6 1976 10. 4% $ . 86 0 17 1. 8 1977 11. 1% $1. 04 . 03 12 1. 2 1978 13. 9% $1. 43 . 13 10 1. 3 1979 17. 0% $1. 95 . 17 8 1. 2 13

Nutritional Health Essay

Explaining the terms food, diet, meals and snacks, nutrients FoodFood is a nutritious substance that people or animals sw onlyow or drink in order to carry on life and growth. Food has been categorised as carbohydrates, including fibre, protein, fat and vitamins and minerals. Food allows us to keep on living. For example refined sugar contains carbohydrate, warmheartedness contains protein, milk contains fat but it depends what milk you reduce, fruit and vegetables both contain vitamin and minerals. Examples of non food argon tea, it has no nutritional value.DietDiet office the varied food types that impart been tuckeren regularly by a person. It doesnt always mean losing weight. A diet direction everything a person has eaten throughout the day. In the UK people might eat 3 meals a day breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can also have special diets such as losing weight which performer you atomic number 18 deprivationucing your fat on your body. Being more cargonful with suga r beca engross you are diabetic or because you are anaemic you impart get hold of to eat food with iron such as red meat and special K vegetables.Meals and snacksA snack is a portion of food which is smaller than a meal. Snacks are eaten between meals. Snacks designed to be small, quick and enjoyable. For example you have snack and jacks it doesnt contain fat or fruits such as bananas or apples.You eat a meal 3 times a day which are breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is reasonable amount of food in a day.NutrientsThe process by which people take in food and use it for growth and repair. Examples of nutrients are protein which you can baring in fish, fat which you can find in milk, carbohydrate which you can find in bread or pasta and minerals which you can find in spinach. Malnourished and undernourishedMalnutrition is a stern condition that comes when a persons diet does not have enough nutrients to meet the expectations of their body. This can affect the growth, your physical he alth, mood and behaviour. Being malnourish does not always mean that youre thin or underweight. It is possible to eat a diet which contains high calories but a few vitamins and minerals. This means that you can become malnourished when you are corpulent or overweight. Symptoms of being malnourished are Lack of strengths or vitality to do activitiesLack of energy and breathlessness because of anaemiaChanges of your shinny and nailsMood changesAn increase of illnesses or infectionsUndernourished is a lack of calories or nutrients from take not enough food or unable to break down nutrients from the diet because of medical condition such as Marasmus and Kwashiorkor. Marasmus means having problems withGrowingA huge amount of weight personnel casualtyMuscle wastingDiarrhoeaIrritabilityKwashiorkor means having problems withBad growingMuscle wastingA long time of diarrhoea and infectionsDeterioration of hair, skin and nailsA swollen liver and abdomenSwelling of the face, hands and fe etThe most common symptoms of being malnourished is unplanned weight loss. If your BMI is lower than 18.5 or you vex the symptoms you will need to contact your GP. To calculate your BMI you can use a chart or you can calculate it like this BMI = weight (kg) height (cm)BMI mapYoung children are taken to the health care centre at least once a week to look at their weight and height. They are looking if the baby is gaining weight in a healthy way or gaining weight too fast and also to check if the baby is growing. The babies are going to be compared to other babies of their age to see if their weight and height is normal. They mostly use growth charts too at the weight and height.GROWTH mapThey also look at someones gender and height to see what their weight has to be. For fe manlike the weight looking is different than that of a male because a male is builder than a female and also a man needs to take 2500 calories as to which a female has to take 2000 calories a day.MaleFemaleTo p revent yourself from getting malnourished and undernourished you will need to have a good diet which has enough vitamins, minerals, fat and carbohydrate. To conduct sure you take enough and healthy food you can use the eat well plate which shows varieties of food we need to eat and what proportion we should eat it, to have a good and balanced diet. You can also use the five-a-day which means eating 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. This makes sure you get all the right things your body needs. You can eat sweet things because your body needs fat but you will need to take a small amount. here are some easy and healthy recipes to harbour some ideas.A recipe for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacksBreakfast an avocado on toastINGREDIENTS2 avocados2-3 tbsp plain virgin olive oilJuice of 1 limeA little splash of Worcestershire sauce4 slices of sour dough/rye breadSalt and pourSmall bunch of basil, roughly chopped2 sweet tomatoes, roughly choppedMETHODHow to make simple avocado on toast breakfast1. Mash the avocado with a fork to a rough puree, adding the olive oil, lime juice, and Worcestershire sauce as you go. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 2. Toast the bread, drizzle a little olive oil over each piece hence spread over the avocados. Sprinkle with basil and the diced tomatoes. tiffin Italian turkey club sandwichINGREDIENTS2 tbsp olive oil4 turkey breast steaks3 tbsp fresh red or green pesto200g carton half-fat crme frache1 baguette, cut into 4 pieces4 ripe, plum tomatoes, slicedSmall bag baby leaf saladMETHODHow to make Italian turkey club sandwich1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a griddle pan. Season the turkey and cook over a medium high temperature for 8-10 minutes, turning, until lightly charred and cooked through. Set aside. 2. Meanwhile, lightly mix the pesto into the crme frache and season to taste. Split each baguette piece in half lengthways, to give 8 halves. Brush the cut-side with the remaining oil, then griddle or toast under a hot grill in batches until golden. 3. Assemble the sandwiches. Spread a little pesto and crme frache sauce on 4 baguette halves, then top with sliced tomatoes. Top with a turkey breast, add a smattering of salad leaves and another spoonful of the pesto and crme frache sauce. Top each sandwich and serve.Dinner chicken pasta soupINGREDIENTS56 chicken thighs1 massive white onion, sliced1 tbsp olive oil4 medium carrots, chopped into small dice68 closed cup mushrooms, quartered red pepper, seeds removed and chopped into small dice1 x 400g can chopped tomatoes600ml chicken stock175ml white wine100g frozen sweet gamboge (use tinned if you cannot find any frozen)Salt and freshly ground black pepper150g pasta shellsHandful of fresh coriander, choppedMethod1. Preheat the oven at 190C/gas mark 5. Place the chicken thighs on a baking tray and roast in the oven for approximately 3040 minutes, until cooked. supplant from the oven and leave to cool. Once cooled, remove the skin and separate the meat from the bones before cutting the meat into pieces. 2. Heat the oil in a darksome saucepan over a medium heat, add the onions and fry for a minute or two before adding the carrots. Cook until the carrots and onions start to soften, about 5 minutes, then add the mushrooms and red pepper. Mix thoroughly and continue to cook until the mushrooms have shrunk in size and begin to brown.3. Next, add the can of tomatoes, chicken stock, wine, sweet give and chicken pieces and season well with salt and pepper. Leave to simmer on a low heat, covered, for about 20 minutes. 4. Add the pasta to the soup and leave to simmer for a further 15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked, stirring occasionally to avoid the pasta sticking to the pan. Once ready, remove from the heat and set aside for half an hour, covered, to allow the flavours to infuse. When youre ready to serve, reheat the soup, pour into bowls and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh coriander.SnacksYou can have snacks such asBanan aAppleCookieSnack and jackOverweight and fatOverweight means that youre BMI is 25 or over 25. If you are overweight you will have a great risk of gettingArthritisType 2 diabetesHigh blood pressure.When people talk about being overweight they mean that the person is not eating enough healthy or they could eat healthy food but they will eat a big portion. It will not only affect somebody health but their self esteem as well. They wont be able to do activities when people of their same age can do all the things they wont and wear the clothes they want to wear. Obesity means that your BMI is 30 or over 30. Being obese increases your risk of getting honorable and life-threatening illnesss such asType 2 diabetesHeart diseaseSome types of cancer, such as breast cancer and colon cancer strokeObesity can affect your life in a serious way than being overweight it could damage the way life and it often leads to depression.There are simple ways for you can see if you are obese or overweight, for example you could go to the GP or to a dietician, they are able to give you advice at how you could live a healthier life. You could also use a BMI chart or you could look at the weight for height and gender. Dietary abduce Values (DRVs) is something that also could be use to see what you are recommended to take in. The DRVs shows you what your daily phthisiss should be, they have made charts to show you what you should take in. The charts are Chart made for age and genderChart made for ageReference Nutrient Intakes (RNTs) is part of the DRVs which shows the amount of nutrients each individual is recommended to take in to maintain good health. If you look at the backside of the product it shows you how much nutrients you take in per portion and per 100 g of food. It can help you see if you eat too much. You could also look at your actual food intake which means that you are looking what you eat everyday and compare it to you should have been eating every day. What I would reco mmended for people who are overweight or obese is to look at the portion of what you eat. Go to your GP or dietist they are able to help you make a diary of you should eat every day. excessively eat things of the food groups which are If you eat at least one of the things in each food group you will be able to hobble healthy. Examples of using the different types of the food group are In the morning drinking milk with bread and peanut butterFor lunch eating a fruit saladFor dinner eating vegetables with pasta and fish.Also using the right food preparations and processing methods will also make a huge inequality in your diet. Example of good preparations and processing methods is using fresh food. If you buy fresh it means that the vitamins and minerals are still in the food but if you buy old food it could be that the vitamins and minerals already left the food. Good ways of cooking your food is grilling and steaming it makes sure that every vitamin and mineral remain in the fo od.Make sure that there are varieties of colours on your plate which will make it more interesting for you to eat. Eat small portions which will make sure that you ate enough. Use small plates which will make it look like you are eating a lot. Not only eating healthy food is a good thing for you to stay healthy but also doing coiffure every day for at least 30 minutes. 30 minutes a day exercise is enough. A few examples of exercises you can do at home are You can also go to the gym and get a personal trainer who will help you do the right exercise every day. Eating healthy food and doing exercise will make your body stay fit.

Practical Demonkeeping Chapter 16-18

16HOWARDHoward Phillips, the owner of H.P.s Cafe, had ripe settled down in the study of his st bingle cottage when he looked show up the window and saw something moving by blind drunks of the trees.Howard had spent most of his adult life trying to prove three theories he had formulated in college one, that onward creation had walked the reality t present had been a kingful race of in orderigent beings who had achieved a high level of nicety, then for some un cheatn reason had disappe ard two, that the remnants of their civilization still existed underground or under the ocean, and through extreme cunning and guile had escaped detection by man and three, that they were planning to military issue as masters of the planet in a very unfriendly way.What lurked in the woods outside Howard Phillipss cottage was the first physical evidence of his theories that he had forever encountered. He was at once elated and terrified. Like the child who is delighted by the idea of Santa Cla us, then cries and cowers behind its mother when confronted with the corpulent red-suited reality of a department-store Santa, Howard Phillips was not fully prep bed for a physical manifestation of what he had long believed extant. He was a scholar, not an adventurer. He preferred his experiences to come secondhand, through books. Howards idea of adventure was trying whole wheat toast with his daily ham and eggs instead of the usual white bread.He stared out the window at the creature moving in the work. It was very much like the creatures he had read about in ancient manuscripts bipedal like a man, provided with long, apelike arms reptilian. Howard could go across scales reflecting in the moonlight. The one inconsistency that bothered him was its size. In the manuscripts, these creatures, who were said to be kept as slaves by the senile Ones, had always been sm solely in stature, no more than a few feet t each. This one was enormous four, maybe five meters tall.The creature stopped for moment, then turned slowly and looked directly at Howards window. Howard resisted the urge to dive to the floor and so stood staring straight into the eyes of the nightmare.The creatures eyes were the size of car headlamps and they glowed a give out orange some slotted, fe personal credit line pupils. Long, pointed scales lay suffer against its head, giving the impression of ears. They stood there, staring at each other, the creature and the man, neither moving, until Howard could keep it no longer. He grab behind the curtains and pulled them except, almost ripping them from the rod in the process. Outside he could hear the sound of laughter.When he dared to peak through the gap in the curtains, the creature was gone. wherefore hadnt he been more scientific in his observation? Why hadnt he run for his camera? For all his work at putting to cleaveher clues from esoteric grimoirs to prove the existence of the Old Ones, people had labeled him a crackpot. One photogr aph would hit convinced them. But he had missed his chance. Or had he?Suddenly it occurred to Howard that the creature had seen him. Why should the Old Ones be so careful not to be discovered for so long, then walk in the moonlight as if out for a Sunday stroll? Perhaps it had not moved on at all moreover was circling the house to do out-of-door with the witness.First he thought of weapons. He had none in the house. Many of the senior books in his library had spells for protection, barely he had no idea where to lower look for. Besides, the verge of panic was not the ideal mental state in which to do research. He might still be able to bolt to his old Jaguar and escape. Then again, he might bolt into the claws of the creature. All these thoughts p merchant shiped through his mind in a second.The phone. He snatched the phone from his desk and dialed. It seemed forever for the dial to spin, but finally there was a ring and a womans voice at the other end.Nine-one-one, emergen cy, she said.Yes, I wish to report a lurker in the woods.What is your name, sir?Howard Phillips.And what is the denotation you are calling from?Five-oh-nine Cambridge Street, in Pine Cove.Are you in any immediate danger?Well, yes, that is why I called.You say you have a prowler. Is he attempting to enter the house?Not yet.You have seen the prowler?Yes, outside my window, in the woods.Can you describe him?He is an abomination of such abysmal hideousness that the mere reminiscence of this monstrosity perambulating in the dark outside my domicile fills me with the preternatural chill of the charnel house.That would be about how tall?Howard paused to think of. Obviously the law enforcement placement was not prepared to deal with perversions from the transcosmic gulfs of the nethermost craters of the underworld. Yet he needed assistance.The fiend stands two meters, he said.Could you see what he was wearing?Again Howard considered the the true and rejected it. Jeans, I believe. And a leather jacket.Could you tell if he was armed?Armed? I should say so. The beast is armed with monstrous claws and a notched maw of the most villainous predator.Calm down, sir. I am dispatching a unit to your home. Make sure the limens are locked. Stay appease, Ill stay on the line until the officers arrive.How long will that be?About twenty minutes.Young woman, in twenty minutes I shall be infinitesimal more than a sliced memory Howard hung up the phone.It had to be escape, then. He took his greatcoat and car keys from the foyer and stood leaning against the front door. Slowly he slipped the lock and grabbed the door handle.On three, then, he said to himself.One. He turned the door handle. devil. He bent, preparing to run.Three He didnt move.All right, then. Steel yourself, Howard. He started the count again.One. Perhaps the beast was not outside.Two. If it was a slave creature, it wasnt dangerous at all.Three He did not move.Howard repeated the process of counting, over and ov er, each magazine measuring the fear in his nerve centre against the danger that lurked outside. Finally, disgusted with his own cowardliness, he threw the door open, and bolted into the dark.17BILLYBilly Winston was on the final stretch of the nightly audit at the Rooms-R-Us Motel. His fingers danced across the calculator like a spastic Fred Astaire. The quite he finished, the sooner he could log onto the computer and become Roxanne. Only thirty-seven of the motels one atomic number 6 rooms were rented tonight, so he was going to finish early. He couldnt wait. He needed Roxannes ego boost after being ditched by The Breeze the night before.He hit the total button with a flourish, as if he had just played the final note of a piano concerto, then wrote the pulp into the ledger and slammed the book.Billy was alone in the motel. The completely sound was the hum of the fluorescent lights. From the windows by his desk he had a 180-degree view of the highway and the parking lot, but there was nothing to see. At that period of night a car or two passed every half hour or so. Just as well. He didnt like distractions while he was being Roxanne.Billy pushed a stool up to the front counter behind the computer. He typed in his recover code and logged on.WITKSAS HOWS YOUR DOG, saintedIE? SEND PNCVCALThe Rooms-R-Us Motel chain maintained a computer network for making reservations at their motels all over the world. From any location a desk clerk could contact any of the two hundred motels in the chain by simply entering a seven-letter code. Billy had just sent a message to the night auditor in Wichita, Kansas. He started at the green phosphorescent screen, waiting for an answer.PNCVCAL ROXANNE MY DOG IS LONELY. HELP ME, BABY. WITKSASWichita was on line. Billy punched up a reply.WITKSAS MAYBE HE NEEDS A LITTLE DISCIPLINE. I COULD SMOTHER HIM IF YOU WANT. SEND PNCVCALThere was a pause while Billy waited.PNCVCAL YOU WANT TO shed HIS POOR FUZZY FACE BETWEEN YOUR MELONS UNTIL HE BEGS? IS THAT IT? WITKSASBilly thought for a moment. This was why they whopd him. He couldnt just throw them an answer they could take on from any sleazebeast. Roxanne was a goddess.WITKSAS YES. AND BEAT HIM SOFTLY ON THE EARS. BAD DOG. BAD DOG. SEND PNCVCALAgain Billy waited for the response. A message appeared on the screen.WHERE ARE YOU pricy? I MISS YOU. TULSOKL.It was his lover from Tulsa. Roxanne could handle two or three at once, but she wasnt in the mood for it right now. She was palpateing a shortsighted crampy. Billy adjusted his crotch, his panties were riding up a bit. He typed two messages.WITKSAS GO PET YOUR DOGGIE FOR A WHILE. AUNTIE ROXANNE WILL CHECK ON YOU IN A WHILE. SEND PNCVCALTULSOKL TOOK AN EVENING OFF TO SHOP FOR SOMETHING LACY TO WEAR FOR YOU. I HOPE YOU DONT FIND IT TOO SHOCKING. SEND PNCVCALWhile he was waiting for a response from Oklahoma, Billy dug into his gym bag for his red high slants. He liked to hook the stiletto heels into the rung s of the stool while he talked to his lovers. When he glanced up, he thought he saw something moving out in the parking lot. Probably just a guest getting something from the car.PNCVCAL YOU SWEET LITTLE THING, YOU COULD NEVER SHOCK ME. TELL ME WHAT YOU BOUGHT. TULSOKLBilly started to type in a modest description of a lace teddy he had seen in a catalog.To the guy in Tulsa, Roxanne was a shy little flower to Wichita she was a dominatrix. The desk clerk in Seattle saw her as a leather-clad biker chick. The old man in Arizona thought she was a struggling single mother of two, barely making it on a desk clerks salary. He always wanted to charge her money. There were ten of them in all. Roxanne gave them what they needed. They loved her.Billy heard the double doors of the lobby open, but he did not look up. He finished typing his message and pressed the SEND button. Can I help you, he said mechanically, still not looking up.You betcha, a voice said. Two spacious reptilian hands clacke d down on the counter about four feet on each side of Billy. He looked up into the open mouth of the deuce coming at his face. Billy pushed rump from the keyboard. His heel caught in the rung of the stool and he went over backward as the giant maw snapped shut above him. Billy let loose a long, sirenlike scream and began scrambling on his hands and knees behind the counter toward the back office. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw the ogre crawling over the counter after him.Once in the office, Billy leapt to his feet and slammed the door. As he turned to run out the back door, he heard the door fly open and slam against the wall.The back door of the office led into a long corridor of rooms. Billy pounded on the doors as he passed. No one opened a door, but there were angry shouts from inside the rooms.Billy turned and saw the demon filling the cold end of the corridor. It was in a crouch, moving down the corridor on all fours, crawling awkward and batlike in the confined sp ace. Billy dug in his discharge for his pass key, found it, and ran down the hallway and around the corner. Making the corner, he twisted his ankle. White pain shot up his leg, and he cried out. He limped to the appressed door. The images of women in horror movies who twisted their ankles and feebly fell into the clutches of the monster raced through his head. Damn high heels.He fumbled the key into the lock while looking back down the hallway. The door opened and Billy fell into the room just as the monster rounded the corner behind him.He kicked the stiletto heel off his good foot, vaulted up and hopped across the empty room to the sliding glass door. The safety bar was set. He fell to his knees and began clawing at it. The only light in the room was coming from the hallway, and suddenly that was eclipsed. The monster was working its way through the doorway.What the fuck are you Billy screamed.The monster stopped just inside the room. Even crouching over, its shoulders hit the c eiling. Billy cowered by the sliding door, still clawing under the curtains at the safety bar. The monster looked around the room, its huge head number back and forth like a searchlight. To Billys amazement, it reached around and turned on the lights. It seemed to be studying the bed.Does that have antic Fingers? it said.What Billy said. It came out a scream.That bed has trick Fingers, right?Billy pulled the safety bar loose and hurled it at the monster. The heavy steel bar hit the monster in the face and go to the floor. The monster showed no reaction. Billy reached for the latch on the door and started to pull it open.The monster scuttled forward, reached over Billys head, and pushed the door shut with one clawed finger. Billy yanked on the door but it was held fast. He collapsed under the monster with a long, agonizing wail.Give me a quarter, the monster said.Billy looked up into the huge lizard face. The monsters grin was nearly two feet wide. Give me a quarter it repeated. Billy dug into his pocket, came out with a handful of change, and timidly held it up to the monster.Still holding the door shut with one hand, the monster reached down with the other and plucked a quarter from Billys hand with two claws, using them like chopsticks.Thanks, it said. I love Magic Fingers.The demon let go of the door. You can go now, it said.Before he could think about it, Billy threw the door open and dove through. He was uprise to his feet when something caught him by the leg from behind and dragged him back into the room.I was just kidding. You cant go.The monster held Billy upside down by his leg while it dropped the quarter into the little metal box on the nightstand.Billy flailed in the air, screaming and clawing at the demon, ripping his fingernails against its scales. The monster took Billy into its arms like a teddy bear and lay back on the bed. Its feet hung off the end and nearly touched the dresser on the opposite wall.Billy could not scream there was no br eath for a scream. The monster let go with one arm and placed one long claw at Billys ear.Dont you just love Magic Fingers? it said. Then it drove the claw though Billys brain.18RACHELAfter Merle died and Rachel observed a respectable period of mourning, which was precisely the same amount of time it took the courts to transfer Merles property to her, she sold the Cessna and the trailer, bought herself a Volkswagen van, and on the advice of the women at the shelter, headed for Berkeley. In Berkeley, they insisted, she would aline a community of women who could help her stay off the wheel of abuse. They were right.The women in Berkeley welcomed Rachel with open arms. They helped her find a place to live, enrolled her in exercise and self-actualization courses, taught her to defend herself, nurture herself, and most important, to respect herself. She lost weight and grew strong. She thrived.Within a family she took the remainder of her inheritance and bought a lease on a small studi o adjacent to the University of California campus and began teaching high-intensity aerobics. She soon gained a reputation as a tough, domineering bitch of an instructor. There was a waiting list to get into her classes. The fat little girl had come into her own as a beautiful and powerful woman.Rachel taught six classes a day, putting herself through the rigors of each workout along with her students. After a few months of that regimen, she fell ill, waking one morning to find that she had just enough strength to call the women in her classes to cancel, and no more. One of her students, a statuesque, gray-haired woman in her forties named Bella, appeared at Rachels door a few hours later.Once through the door Bella began giving orders. Take off your clothes and get back in bed. Ill bring you some tea in a moment. Her voice was deep and strong, yet somehow soothing. Rachel did as she was told. I dont manage what you think youve done to deserve the punishment you are giving yourself , Rachel, Bella said, but it has to stop.Bella sat on the edge of Rachels bed and watched while Rachel drank the tea. Now lie on your stomach and relax.Bella applied fragrant oil to Rachels back and began rubbing, first with long, slow strokes that spread the oil, then gradually digging her fingers into the muscles until Rachel thought she would cry out in pain. When the message was finished, Rachel felt even more tire out than before. She fell into a deep sleep. When Rachel awoke, Bella repeated the process, forcing Rachel to drink the bitter tea, then kneading her muscles until they ached. Again, Rachel slept.When Rachel awoke the fourth time, Bella again served her the tea, but this time she had Rachel lie on her back to go her massage. Bellas hands played gently over her body, lingering between her legs and on her breasts. Through the drugged haze of the tea, Rachel noticed that the older woman was almost bleak and had rubbed her own body with the same fragrant oils that she used on Rachel.It didnt occur to Rachel to resist. Since Bella had come through the door, she had been giving orders and Rachel had obeyed. In the dim light of Rachels little flatbed they became lovers. It had been two years since Rachel had been with a man. Trading soft caresses with Bella, she didnt care if she was ever again.When Rachel was back on her feet, Bella introduced her to a group of women who met at Bellas house once a week to perform ceremonies and rituals. Among these women Rachel learned about a new power she carried within herself, the power of the Goddess. Bella tutored her in the machinations of white magic and soon Rachel was leading the coven in rituals, while Bella looked on like a proud mother.Modulate your voice, Bella told her. No matter what you are saying it should sound like a chant to the Goddess. The coven should be taken with the chant. That is the meaning of enchantment, my dear.Rachel gave up her apartment and moved into Bellas restored Victorian ho use near the U.C. campus. For the first time in her life, she felt truly happy. Of course, it didnt put out.One good afternoon she came home to find Bella in bed with a bald and bewhiskered professor of music. Rachel was livid. She threatened the professor with a fireplace poker and chased him, half-naked, into the street. He exited clutching his tweed jacket and corduroy slacks in front of him.You said you loved me Rachel screamed at Bella.I do love you, dear. Bella did not seem the to the lowest degree bit upset. Her voice was deep and modulated like a chant. This was about power, not love.If I wasnt filling your needs, you should have said something.You are the most howling(prenominal) lover I have known, dear Rachel. But Dr. Mendenhall holds the mortgage on our house. That loan is interest free, in case you hadnt noticed.You whoreArent we all, dear?Im not.You are. I am. The Goddess is. We all have our price. Be it love, or money, or power, Rachel. Why do you think the women i n your exercise classes put themselves through so much pain?Youre ever-changing the subject.Answer me, Bella demanded. Why?They want a sound body. They want a strong vessel to carry a strong spirit.They dont give a rats ass about a strong spirit. They want a tight ass so men will want them. They will deny it to the death, but its true. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you will realize your own power.Youre sick. This goes against everything youve ever taught me.This is the most important thing I ever will teach you, so pick up Know your price, Rachel.No.You think Im some cheap slut, do you? You think youre above selling yourself? How much rent have you ever paid here?I offered. You said it didnt matter. I loved you.Thats your price, then.Its not. Its love.Sold Bella climbed out of bed and strode across the room, her long gray hair flying behind her. She took her robe from the closet, threw it around herself, and tied the sash. Love me for what I am, Rachel. Just as I love you for what you are. Nothing has changed. Dr. Mendenhall will be back, whimpering like a puppy. If it will make you feel better, you can be the one that takes him. Maybe we can do it together.Youre sick. How could you even suggest such a thing?Rachel, as long as you see men as human beings, we are going to have a problem. They are inferior beings, incapable of love. How could a few moments of animal friction with a subhuman affect us? What we have between us?You sound like a man caught with his pants down.Bella sighed. I dont want you around the others until you calm down. Theres some money in my jewelry box. Why dont you take it and go down to Esalen for a week or so. Think this over. Youll feel better when you get back.What about the others? Rachel asked. How do you think theyll feel when they find out that all the magic, all the spiritualism you preach, is just so much bullshit?Everything is true. They follow me because they adore my power. This is part of that power. I havent bet rayed anyone.Youve betrayed me.If you feel that way, then perhaps youd better leave. Bella went into the bathroom and began drawing a bath. Rachel followed her.Why should I leave? I could just tell them. I know as much as you do now. I could lead them.Dear Rachel. Bella was adding oils to her bath and not looking up. Didnt you learn anything from killing your preserve? Destruction is a mans way.Rachel was stunned. She had told Bella about the accident but not that she had caused it. She had told no one.Bella looked up at her at last. You can stay if you wish. I still love you.Ill go.Im sorry, Rachel. I thought you were more highly evolved. Bella slipped out of her robe and into her bath. Rachel stood in the doorway staring down at her.I love you, she said.I know you do, dear. Now, go pack your things.Rachel couldnt bear the idea of staying in Berkeley. Everywhere she went she encountered reminders of Bella. She loaded up her van and spent a month driving around California, looking for a place where she might fit in. Then, one morning while reading the paper over breakfast, she spotted a column called California Facts. It was a simple list of figures that informed readers of obscure facts such as which California county produces the most pistachios (Sacramento), where one had the best chance of having ones car stolen (North Hollywood), and tucked amid a mlange of manifestly insignificant demographics, which California town had the highest per capita percentage of divorced women (Pine Cove). Rachel had found her destination.Now, five years later, she was firmly set in the community, respected by the women and feared and lusted after by the men. She had moved slowly, recruiting into her coven only women who sought her out mostly women who were on the verge of leaving their husbands and who needed something to shore them up during the divorce process. Rachel provided them with the support they required, and in return they gave her their loyalty. Just six mont hs ago she initiated the thirteenth and final member of the coven.At last she was able to perform the rituals that she had worked so hard to learn from Bella. For years they seemed ineffective, and Rachel attributed their disappointment to not having a full coven. Now she was starting to suspect that the Earth magic they were trying to perform just did not work that there was no real power to be had.She could lead the coven to attempt anything, and on her command they would do it. That was a power of sorts. She could extract favors from men with no more than a seductive glance and in that, there was a power. But none of it was enough. She wanted the magic to work. She wanted real power.Catch had sensed Rachels lust for power in the Head of the Slug that afternoon, recognizing in her what he had seen in his ruthless masters before Travis. That night, while Rachel lay in the dark of her cabin, contemplating her own impotence, the demon came to her.She had locked the door that nigh t, more out of habit than need, as there was very little crime in Pine Cove. Around nine she heard soulfulness try the doorknob and she sat upright in bed.Who is it?As if in answer, the door bent slowly inward and the doorjamb cracked, then splintered away. The door opened, but there was no one behind it. Rachel pulled the quilt up around her chin and scooted up into the corner of the bed.Who is it?A voice growled out of the darkness, Dont be afraid. I will not hurt you.The moon was bright. If someone was there, she should have been able to see his silhouette in the doorway, but strain as she might, she saw nothing.Who are you? What do you want?No what do you want? the voice said.Rachel was truly frightened the voice was coming from an empty spot not two feet away from her bed.I asked you first, she said. Who are you?Ooooooooooo, I am the ghost of Christmas past.Rachel poked herself in the leg with her thumbnail to make sure she was not dreaming. She wasnt. She found herself spe aking to the disembodied voice in spite of herself.Christmas is months away.I know. I lied. Im not the ghost of Christmas past. I saw that in a movie once.Who are you Rachel was near hysteria.I am all your dreams come true.Someone must have planted a speaker somewhere in the house. Rachels fear turned to anger. She leapt from bed to find the offending device. Two steps out of bed she ran into something and fell to the floor. Something that felt like claws wrapped around her waist. She felt herself being lifted and put back on the bed. affright seized her. She began to scream as her bladder let go.Stop it The voice drowned her screams and rattled the windows of the cabin. I dont have time for this.Rachel cowered on the bed. She was panting and felt herself getting light-headed. She started to draw back into unconsciousness, but something caught her by the hair and yanked her back. Her mind searched for a touchstone in reality. A ghost it was a ghost. Did she believe in ghosts? P erhaps it was time to start. Maybe it was him, returned for revenge.Merle, is that you?Who?Im sorry, Merle, I had toWho is Merle?Youre not Merle?Never heard of him.Then, who what in the hell are you?I am the defeat of your enemies. I am the power you crave. I am, live and direct from hell, the demon Catch Ta-da There was a clicking on the floor like a tap-dancing step.Youre an Earth spirit?Er, uh, yes, an Earth spirit. Thats me, Catch, the Earth spirit.But I didnt think the ritual worked.Ritual?We tried to call you up at the meeting last week, but I didnt think it worked because I didnt draw the circle of power with a virgin blade that had been quenched in blood.What did you use?A nail file.There was a pause. Had she anger the Earth spirit? Here was the first evidence that her magic could work and she had blown it by compromising the materials called for in the ritual.Im sorry, she said, but its not easy to find a blade thats been quenched in blood.Its okay.If I had known, INo r eally, its okay.Are you offended, Great Spirit?I am about to bestow the superior power in the world upon a woman who draws circles in the dirt with nail files. I dont know. Give me a minute.Then you will grant symmetry to the hearts of the women in the coven?What the fuck are you talking about? the voice said.That is why we summoned you, O Spirit to bring us harmony.Oh, yeah, harmony. But there is a condition.Tell me what you require of me, O Spirit.I will return to you later, witch. If I find what I am looking for, I will need you to drop by the wayside the Creator and perform a ritual. In return you will be given the command of a power that can rule the Earth. Will you do this?Rachel could not believe what she was hearing. Accepting that her magic worked was a huge step, yet she was speaking to the evidence. But to be offered the power to rule the world? She wasnt sure her life in exercise instruction had prepared her for this.Speak, woman Or would you rather spend your lif e collecting gobs of hair from shower drains and fingernail parings from ashtrays?How do you know about that?I was destroying pagans when Charlemagne was alive. Now, answer there is a hunger rising in me and I must go.Destroying pagans? I thought the Earth spirits were benevolent.We have our moments. Now, will you renounce the Creator?Renounce the Goddess, I dont knowNot the Goddess The CreatorBut the GoddessWrong. The Creator, the All-Powerful. Help me out here, babe Im not allowed to say his name.You mean the Christian God?Bingo Will you renounce him?I did that a long time ago.Good. Wait here. I will be back.Rachel searched for a last word, but nothing came. She heard a rustling in the leaves outside and ran to the door. In the moonlight she could see the shapes of cattle standing in the nearby pot and something moving among them. Something that was growing larger as it moved away toward town.

Formation of Construction Contracts

Table of Contents Table of Contents 1. Outline of the NEC Contract a) Summary of the ethos & key aims of the Contract i. Stimulus to profound management ii. Variations iii. Clear and simple language b) Strengths c) Weaknesses 2. Main survival Cla engagements a) List of chief(prenominal) Option Clauses b) Summary and Comparison of Option Clauses c) Recommendation 3. Secondary Option Clauses a) 15 X Secondary Options b) Two Y Clauses c) Discussion of Z Clauses d) Recommendation 4. Conclusion 5. References 1. Outline of the NEC Contract The NEC Engineering and winding Contract (error correction code) (previously the New Engineering Contract) has been developed to meet the current and future needs for a form of distill to be used in the engineering, edifice and construction industries. It is an improvement on existing standard gravels in a number of ways. (NEC, 2005). a) Summary of the ethos & key aims of the contract i. Stimulus to good management The use of the NEC ECC should s timulate good management between the employers, bearingers, contractors and the project managers, and in like manner make them work collaboratively to enable them to achieve their own objectives more consistently.It should also allocate the risks associated with the project between all parties clearly and simply to reduce the possibility of those risks occurring. The ECC focuses on real time management of the project kinda than looking back at what the parties should have d unmatched. This means the programme of works should always be up to date regardless of any changes. ii. Variations A variableness is a change to the contract/programme of works after the contract has been agreed. An example of a variation could be a modification to the original design of works.In this case, the designers of the works would have to issue an early warning nonification to all other parties involved to ensure they all know of any extra be or delays in works that could happen as a result of the change. After this, the parties be then required to meet, to seek mutually beneficial solutions to subordinate these problems, and to operate a formal Risk Register of notified events. (NEC, 2005). This change also results in a compensation event and a sum of money is usually paid to the effected parties. iii. Clear and simple languageThe NEC ECC is written in ordinary language which is clear and simple and only uses words which are in common use. This makes it easy for everyone to on a lower floorstand, especially those whose first language is not English or those who are not used to using formal contracts. This also makes it easier to translate into other languages. The NEC ECC also has fewer clauses than in many standard forms, uses short sentences and the use of subjective words is kept to a minimum. Also, there is no cross-referencing between clauses. b) Strengths ? ? It can be used in a wide variety of commercial situations, for any type of work and in any location. Clea r and simple document which is easy to understand and follow. Nothing is getting tested in the courts so no case law is be built. c) Weaknesses Aled Rhys Hughes 200714325 2. Main Option Clauses a) List of main Option Clauses ? ? ? ? ? ? A) impairmentd contract with activity agenda B )Priced contract with bill of quantities C) Target contract with activity schedule D) Target contract with bill of quantities E) Cost reimbursable contract F) Management contract. (NEC, NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract, 2005) b) Summary and Comparison of Option Clauses ? Option A Provides a priced contract where the total of the price tendered by the contractor against each activity represents the amount he will be paid for that work. (Rowlinson, 2011). Option B Provides a priced a priced contract but this time with a bill of quantities. Under this cream, the contractor is paid the actual quantity of work carried out at the rates in the bill of quantities. (Rowlinson, 2011). Option C The co ntractor tenders the prices (the target) backed by an activity schedule together with relevant percentages and rates. The percentages and rates are used in calculative the defined cost and price of work to date. (Rowlinson, 2011). Option D Main option D follows the same approach as main option C, omit that a bill of quantities is used against which the final total of the prices is re-measured. (Rowlinson, 2011).Option E The employer pays for all the resources utilised by the contractor to carry out the works, following a look employing various tendered rated and percentages, subject only to the disallowing of costs resulting from the contractors inefficient use of resources. (Rowlinson, 2011). Option F Provides a management contract option under which the contractor is paid a fee for carrying out prescribed duties. (Rowlinson, 2011). ? ? ? ? ? The main difference between each option clause is the risk associated with each one however the risk for the contractor and customer will differ for each option clause.The contractor faces high risk if option A is used decrease to low risk if option F is used. The client is the opposite where they face low risk if option A is used and high risk if option F is used. c) Recommendation The use of main option clause A should be adopted in the contract document for this project. This option minimises the risks associated with the project for the client and all responsibility is then placed on the contractors to complete the project on time and for the agreed price. Aled Rhys Hughes 200714325 3.Secondary Option Clauses a) 15 X Secondary Options ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? X1 Price adjustment for inflation X2 Changes in the law X3 Multiple currencies X4 Parent company guarantee X5 Sectional Completion X6 Bonus for early Completion X7 Delay restitution X12 Partnering X13 Performance bond X14 Advanced payment to the Contractor X15 Limitation of the Contractors liability for his design to reasonable skill and care X16 R etention X17 broken in performance remediation X18 Limitation of liability X20 Key Performance Indicators. NEC, NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A Priced contract with activity schedule, 2005) b) Two Y Clauses ? ? Y (UK) 2 The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 Y (UK) 3 The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. (NEC, NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A Priced contract with activity schedule, 2005) c) Discussion of Z Clauses Z clauses are intended for UK Government clients when using the NEC3 forms of contract. These clauses are additional conditions to the main NEC3 contract and are not intended for independent use. ) Recommendation An example would be for the contractors to request that the secondary option clause X6 Bonus for early Completion to be included in the contract to reward them for possible early completion of the project. However, the client might request to include the secondary option clause X17 Low perf ormance damages to make sure that the contractors do not rush the job in order to attain their bonus. Aled Rhys Hughes 200714325 4. Conclusion ? ? ? The use of the NEC3 Contract is an overwhelming form of contract favourite and is highly regarded within industry.The use of the NEC3 Contract should be used as a governing document for the tender and subsequent project. The use of the main option clause A should be adopted in the contract document for this project. 5. References ? ? ? ? NEC. (2005). NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract. NEC. (2005). NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract Guidance Notes ECC . NEC. ( 2005). NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract Option A Priced contract with activity schedule. Rowlinson, M. (2011). Practical Guide to the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract. Hoboken, NJ, USA Wiley-Blackwell.

Bridging Cultural Differences

WAYS ON HOW TO BRIDGE CULTURAL AND ETHNICAL DIFFERENCES. The world constitutes large number with dissimilar ethnic and ethnic accent. Culture refers to the beliefs, ideas, artifacts that make up a sh ared guidance of life while ethnicity refers to a shared cultural heritage (Macionis, 2007 page 60). at present when tribe differ in cultural and ethnic background at that place tend to be a gap or conflict between them. For This reason, there must be some ways of bridging this gap.Thus the essay outlines these differences and the ways on how to bridge them. To begin with, cultural difference is the distinction existing between cultures and it is as well c eached cultural conflict. On the other(a) hand, ethnic difference refers to the difference in cultural heritage that is to say members of an ethnic category have common ancestors, wording or religion that unneurotic confer a distinctive social identity (Macionis 2007 page 335). If people differ in some aspects of their cult ure are said to be in ethnic conflict.For instance, cultures and ethnic groups may differ in language, religion, marriage, food habits and dresing. To clarify on these differences, let us first look at language and symbols. Language refers to the method of human communication, either spoken or written consisting of the use of words in structured and conventional way (Google. Merriam Webster). It plays a great role in interaction between two persons, it helps to share thoughts, emotions and opinions, and it develops communities and knowledge.Basically, language and symbols intermarry in the way that a symbol is something representing an idea, a process and physical entities. As a result, people of the same language leave in harmony because they are able to communicate. For example, beating of a barrelful have different meanings according to the area it is done, for instance among the Chewa in the central region it means an invitation to bear in that area, while to other people of N thalire in Chitipa it may mean something else. The second cultural and ethnic difference between cultures is religion.This refers to a belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling origin especially a person, God and gods. Beliefs differ according to cultures and ethnic background that is why there are a lot of religions in the world. Just to lift a few, people from the Middle East believed in Allah while a white man believed in God and in Jesus Christ. This is because the founders of their faith were different Jesus was a Jew and Muhammad an Arabian. Muslims vehemently deny that Jesus is a son of God which is against Christians elief. In this situation people of these two religions depart always be in conflict if no ways are put to bridge their faith. The other cultural and ethnical difference existing between cultures is marriage,which refers to a ballock union of a man and a woman, typically rocognised by law, by which they become husband and wife(google, Merriam-webster) . As a result of differing in ethnic background and culture people in Malawi practices different kinds of marriages based on the region they belong.People of the north and southern end practices patrilinieal type of marriage while the remaining component practices matrilinieal type of marriage. Patrilinial is normal in the regions bieng practiced while to others is not normal just because it involves paying of a huge of money to the parents as apart of grateful talken in which to the other groups is like buying. Food habits in like manner plays a role in differing cultures and ethnic groups, a good example can be on the main meals that people value.A malawian citizen may find it difficult to accommodate rice in his daily meals which he may call it junky. This is so because in Malawian culture we value thick poridge (Nsima). The other example can be of Indians, they value putting mutch papper in their food in which other people can not manage. The last difference is dressing, dress ing may differ becuae of religion, cultural background and the environment in the individual resides.The putting on of trousers is diversion in other cultures which is also normal to other cultures. Muslim women are encouragide to be putting on long dresses even covering their faces. Following these differences further, we realy uplift a need of bridging these cultures and some of these ways may include education,democratic decision making policies,religion,national festivals,village transfers. Firstly, cultural and ethnic differences can be bridged through awareness.This can be achieved through education, involving agents of change such as traditional readers. Agents of change who are regarded as key people ,should be trained on the other cultures and tought to pass on the massage to their people. Secondly,syllubii covering information of all the cultures and ethnic groups should be impremented in the curricullum. This will enable students to know more of different cultures and as they grow will be able to interact with those with differing cultures.In addition to that, the government must imprement democratic decision making policies. In support of this point,policy makers should get the value of mixing people of different cultures in government institutions such as the army, police, universties, secondery schools and others. A good example of this policy can be under the late D. R Banda who introduced the Malawi institute of young pionneers, which was constituting young people from different angles of the country to be trained at a one centre.This in turn yielded intermarriage just because jejuneness could leave together for a long and understand each other. Furthermore,religion can also help to bring together people of differing cultures in one. For example churches,mosiqus and other worship centres consist peole of different cultures and ethnic groups, to shed more lights on this point let us have an example of st michaels and all angels C. C. A. P. People from all the regions of the country sharing seats, pastor and work together regardiless of their cultural gap.Not only does religion bring together different cultures only in this way, we can also look in the stuations of national crisis,national celebrations, people of different faith may come together to ask for Gods favor. A good example can be drawn from this years national independent day where by prayers were conducted on sixth july 2012 at comesa hall in Blantyre. Leaders from all denominations together with the leader of the country came together merged to pray for the national economic crisis. This leads us to conclussion tha we

Nick as reliable narrator Essay

I am wiz of the few h hotshotst people that I have ever known. Discuss. break off Carraway, the narrator of the great American novel The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is often heralded as one of the greatest narrators of all time. However, whether chip was a reliable narrator is an issue that is up for debate, with my personal belief being that gouge was not a reliable narrator, due to his fondness for exaggeration and contradiction, and his patent idolization of Jay Gatsby. Firstly, Nick is predisposed with a theatrical and exaggerated nature. This is visible from the very quote being discussed in this essay Nick states that he is one of the few honest people he knows. This shows clearly how Nick does not put much in store by modesty or restraint or objectivity, even when discussing his self. These theatrics furthermore lead to inconsistencies and further contradictions within the munimentNick states at one point that sometimes party guests came and went to Gats bys parties with a simplicity of mettle but that he, actually, was invited the honor would be entirely Gatsbys if I would attend his little party. However, its inviten later on in the narrative that condescension Nicks posturing, Gatsby does not recognize Nick at his own party. This therefore shows how Nicks theatrical and exaggerated nature occasionally compromises the objectivity of his narrative, and therefore, with his history of being distant (as evidenced in the previous paragraph) this therefore shows clearly that Nicks objectivity is not to be trusted, and that he is an unreliable narrator whose vanity supercedes his honesty.Furthermore, Nick exhibits his tendency toward contradiction with various points in the text. He states very early off in the text that hes inc taskd to reserve all judgment, when he, in fact, does nothing but pass (negative) judgment on other people repeatedly end-to-end the text he describes George Wilson as a spiritless man and Jordan Baker as being incurably dishonest, Tom as pathetic and Mr McKee as feminine. However, Nick lauds himself as being one of the few honest people he knowssomething his clearly judgmental behavior proves him not to be. This, in and of itself, is indicative of Nicks contradictory nature. The fact that Nick is so given to contradiction therefore casts doubts on whether his narrative is completely trustworthy. It is also important to note that Nick, as a narrator, does not seem to be intentionally malicious in making judgments of other peoplethese judgments instead seem tointegrate themselves effortlessly into the narrative in a way he seems not to notice (except in the case of Gatsby, as will be expounded upon later on in this essay). His contradictory nature kicks in mostly in his expansive descriptions of himself (his tendency toward exaggeration/theater, as explained above), in his describing himself as honest and, later, as an esteemed invitee of Gatsbys party, to name a few examples. This am biguous contradiction therefore blurs the line between fact and fiction as the reader, led through the story through Nicks perspective, is caught in the ambiguity of Nicks judgments and is unable to detach himself to decide whether they are, as unconscious as they seem, truth or critical fiction.In other words, the reader is made uncertain if Nicks contradictory narrative is purely a result of his exaggeration and his conceit, or whether a grain of truth lies in his judgments. Therefore, we can see how Nicks contradictory nature and his tendency toward ambiguity clearly makes Nick Carraway not an straightforward and objective narrator who is reliable in any way. Finally, Nick is an unreliable narrator due to his obvious partiality toward Gatsby. Nick states clearly at one point that Gatsby represents everything for which he has an unaffected scorn, and repeatedly expresses his good opinion of Gatsby through favorable descriptions of him and his actions (elegant young rough-neck). He also opens the novel with a line that seems to beg the readers good opinion of Gatsby, beseeching the reader to remember that all the people in the world havent had the advantages that youve had.This fairness is evident throughout the text, where Nick will repeatedly disregard right and wrong or the feelings of others to benefit Gatsby as evidenced by his assisting Gatsby with getting into Daisys favor. This shows clearly the extent of Nicks dedication to Gatsby, and the degrees to which Nick will go to protect him. This obvious and unflagging dedication to Gatsby therefore forces the reader to see the story through Nicks eyes of idolatry. Where the more ambiguous and offhand contradictions may at least provide the reader space to speculate, it is some impossible to imagine a story without Gatsby as how Nick portrays him a tragic, righteous heroand thus we can see that, in narrating Gatsbys story, Nick Carraway cannot be an objective narrator. Therefore we can see how, through various intervals in the text, Nick Carraway is actually not an unbiased and honest narrator as he is influenced variedlyby his contradictory and theatrical nature, as well as his obvious idolization of Gatsby.