Wednesday, January 22, 2020

The Dialectic of Desire in the Films of Nicholas Ray Essay -- Films Mo

The Dialectic of Desire in the Films of Nicholas Ray Nicholas Ray's films frequently address a competition between a 'father' and 'son' (whether literal or figurative filial relationship). More importantly, Ray has an ideological approach to these struggles. In his films, homosocial struggles are always supplanted by Ray's desired outcome of an idealized heterosexual coupling. That is, the threat of prolonged homosocial desire between his characters is usually eradicated by the death of one of the dueling men. The deus ex machina nature of the deaths implies that the resulting heterosexual coupling is somehow the way things "ought to be". In Bitter Victory and The Lusty Men, the women are clearly the people over whom the men fight in their struggle to establish a 'home' or security (with that woman). In Rebel Without a Cause, however, the male-male-female love triangle is complicated by the on-screen presence of a nuclear family that effectively literalizes Freud's Oedipal conflict. Before examining homosocial desire in specific films, I must first outline the Freudian principles that gave birth to the term "homosocial". According to Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, Freud's Oedipal triangle is established at an early stage of life when a child attempts to situate itself with respect to a powerful father and a beloved, subservient mother (Sedgwick 22). As such, "homo- and heterosexual outcomes in adults [are] the result of a complicated play of desire for and identification with the parent of each gender: the child routes its desire/identification through the mother to arrive at a role like the father's, or vice versa" (Sedgwick 22). Richard Klein summarizes this argument as follows: In the normal development of the little boy's p... ...ti-war film; it was a private psychological duel. I liked the idea that the outcome of the mission was really nothing to do with how they performed it, but with what they felt about each other" (qtd. in Eisenschitz 293). 3. The title itself is indicative of the ensuing battle over the men's homosocial desires. 4. Tellingly, Horace McCoy, the second screenwriter of the film, was found by producers Jerry Wald and Norman Krasna in the RKO Studio's screenwriters' file under "masculine relationships" (Eisenschitz 176). 5. It is safe to assume that Plato has already fallen off the proverbial cliff. He, too, is alienated from his father-a wealthy man who has spent much of Plato's life off gallivanting with his wife, leaving Plato to be reared by a nurse and guardian. http://www.film.queensu.ca/Critical/PhelanCox.html The Dialectic of Desire in the Films of Nicholas Ray Essay -- Films Mo The Dialectic of Desire in the Films of Nicholas Ray Nicholas Ray's films frequently address a competition between a 'father' and 'son' (whether literal or figurative filial relationship). More importantly, Ray has an ideological approach to these struggles. In his films, homosocial struggles are always supplanted by Ray's desired outcome of an idealized heterosexual coupling. That is, the threat of prolonged homosocial desire between his characters is usually eradicated by the death of one of the dueling men. The deus ex machina nature of the deaths implies that the resulting heterosexual coupling is somehow the way things "ought to be". In Bitter Victory and The Lusty Men, the women are clearly the people over whom the men fight in their struggle to establish a 'home' or security (with that woman). In Rebel Without a Cause, however, the male-male-female love triangle is complicated by the on-screen presence of a nuclear family that effectively literalizes Freud's Oedipal conflict. Before examining homosocial desire in specific films, I must first outline the Freudian principles that gave birth to the term "homosocial". According to Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, Freud's Oedipal triangle is established at an early stage of life when a child attempts to situate itself with respect to a powerful father and a beloved, subservient mother (Sedgwick 22). As such, "homo- and heterosexual outcomes in adults [are] the result of a complicated play of desire for and identification with the parent of each gender: the child routes its desire/identification through the mother to arrive at a role like the father's, or vice versa" (Sedgwick 22). Richard Klein summarizes this argument as follows: In the normal development of the little boy's p... ...ti-war film; it was a private psychological duel. I liked the idea that the outcome of the mission was really nothing to do with how they performed it, but with what they felt about each other" (qtd. in Eisenschitz 293). 3. The title itself is indicative of the ensuing battle over the men's homosocial desires. 4. Tellingly, Horace McCoy, the second screenwriter of the film, was found by producers Jerry Wald and Norman Krasna in the RKO Studio's screenwriters' file under "masculine relationships" (Eisenschitz 176). 5. It is safe to assume that Plato has already fallen off the proverbial cliff. He, too, is alienated from his father-a wealthy man who has spent much of Plato's life off gallivanting with his wife, leaving Plato to be reared by a nurse and guardian. http://www.film.queensu.ca/Critical/PhelanCox.html

Tuesday, January 14, 2020

John Locke and Thomas Hobbes Essay

John Locke and Thomas Hobbes were two important philosophers from the seventeenth century. The two were born nearly 50 years apart – Hobbes in 1588 and Locke in 1632 – and yet, they each managed to have a major impact on their time and our own. The philosophical viewpoints of Locke and Hobbes are, in most cases, in strict opposition of each other. There are certain points at which the theories of both men collide; however, their synonymous beliefs are exactly the point at which their theories begin to diverge again. John Locke is considered to be the first of the British Empiricists, who believed that in order to truly gain knowledge of a certain thing, any individual would first have to experience something from which they would gain that knowledge. He is thought to be one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers and contributors to liberal theory. His writings influenced many other famous philosophers, such as Voltaire and Rousseau, as well as the American revolutionaries. The Declaration of Independence clearly shows his influence. Locke attended the Westminster School in London under the sponsorship of Alexander Popham, a member of British Parliament. He would later attend Christ Church at the University of Oxford. It was here that Locke became heavily interested in the works of Modern philosophers, such as Descartes. Locke and other Empiricists rejected the notion of innate ideas – that is, the belief that human beings are born with ideas that are â€Å"otherworldly,† or known to us before we enter this life. Locke indulged in a theory which he dubbed tabula rasa, or â€Å"blank slate† in Latin. Following this theory, an individual would be born knowing nothing, and would therefore, only learn and gain knowledge by living and experiencing many things in their everyday life. Thomas Hobbes was raised by his uncle, Francis, as were his three siblings. He attended the Westport Church at age four for education, and then moved to the Malmesbury school, and further, onto a private school kept by a man named Rober Latimer, who was a graduate of Oxford University. Hobbes later attended Hertford College, a constituent college of Oxford University. He became fast friends with the son of William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire, with whom he attended a grand tour in 1610. During the tour, Hobbes and Cavendish were exposed to European scientific and critical methods, which were in contrast to what Hobbes had been taught in his time at Oxford. Although Hobbes was closely linked to figures such as Francis Bacon, he did not become heavily involved in philosophy until after the year 1629. Hobbes lived during a time of great disturbance in Europe. The Thirty Years’ War lasted from 1618 until 1648. During this time, soldiers were rampant throughout villages, and they acted as they pleased –raping women, destroying entire villages and cities, and leaving any living beings who were lucky enough to live without shelter or sustenance. In consequence of the fact that Hobbes bore witness to these types of situations, his outlook on human nature was understandably somber. Locke and Hobbes were able to agree on one point: all men are equal by nature; yet, their reasoning for this statement varies. Like Hobbes, Locke believed that human nature allowed men to be selfish. However, in contrast to Hobbes’ theory that men will choose violence over peace, Locke insists that human nature is characterized by reason and tolerance. In his publication in 1651, Leviathan, Hobbes proclaimed that while man does voluntarily commit some acts of goodness, man is not, naturally, good. The object of those voluntary acts, he believed, was essentially to do some good to the individual who performed them. Locke’s outlook on human nature was somewhat optimistic. He believed that each individual person has the will and the freedom to think and do as they please, and that people are naturally inclined to live according to reason. Therefore, one can ultimately assume that Locke definitely believed in humans existing in harmony with one another. Locke believes that all men are created equal because they are born into a state of freedom that allows them to be equal; Hobbes believes that all men are equal because they are all equally despicable. Both Hobbes and Locke believed that there was a sort of â€Å"social contract† between individual citizens and the ruling government. This Leviathan, as Hobbes proposed, would define the rights and duties of each party. Hobbes believed that once the contract was instituted, it would be irrevocable. No individual would be able to change their individual rights at a later time, and the government would ultimately have power over them from then on. Locke saw the agreement as less binding. Because he believed that each individual was born with certain natural rights that no other human being could revoke, the contract between the individuals and the state would always be conditional – meaning that individuals retained the option to withdraw their consent and preserve those natural rights whenever they saw fit. I believe that Hobbes and Locke both had ideas that were based on their own experiences in their lifetimes. Being a person that has come after both of them, I have had the chance to read and try to understand both viewpoints, and I can see where their opinions would differ, and speculate as to why. Even today, living conditions in certain areas differ greatly, and can have a dramatic effect on a person’s view of things. It is even quite possible for two neighbors to have opinions differing as greatly as Hobbes’ and Locke’s. Because the majority of Hobbes’ life was spent experiencing pain and anguish inflicted by other humans, he believed other humans to be evil. Locke did not see such wrongdoing in his time; rather, he saw a time of peace and prosperity. Therefore, he would not have assumed that humans were naturally evil beings. I think that we are lucky to have lived after so many great thinkers have. Both Hobbes and Locke proposed viewpoints that we are free to combine and contort, if we so choose, and we already have some of the thinking laid out for us by those men. Humans may or may not be naturally good beings; we probably will not be able to say for sure until we have left this world. However, we may not have had much to ponder if it were not for John Locke and Thomas Hobbes.

Monday, January 6, 2020

A Strong Case For Legalizing Marijuana - 1096 Words

Despite the strong case for legalizing marijuana there is very little favorable press from the mainstream corporate media. Media companies make most of their money from advertising revenues and that results in a carefully crafted agenda dependent upon not offending their corporate sponsors. Alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs are some the media’s heaviest advertisers which creates an implied business partnership because of their aligned corporate interests. In 2007 alone, drug companies spent $3.7 billion in direct-to-consumer advertising. The media must not bite the hand that feeds them, yet the popular notion of â€Å"liberal media bias† still exists. Yes, the majority of media outlets give favorable press for Democratic politicians, but the corporate media isn’t hard hitting, grassroots, or very liberal, for that matter. After all, the United States ranks 46th in the World Press Freedom Index, behind Romania and ahead of Haiti. The television news industry is now primarily driven by Fortune 500 companies that are focused on profits, not independent journalism. That wasn’t always the case as television news wasn’t looked upon for driving profits in its pioneer days. It was considered a loss leader for the major networks. â€Å"The interests of the government, interests of the corporations, and the interests of the news media have kind of melded together whereby, I think in many instances, the news media isn’t doing that good old government watchdog job that it used to do,† saysShow MoreRelatedEssay on What If Marijuana Became Legal?623 Words   |  3 Pages Legalizing medical marijuana would reduce crime rates all across the United States. Marijuana is a widely used drug and a lot of crime revolves around it. A lot of money is spent on marijuana, whether it is at a dispensary in Colorado or police officers spending large amounts of money on drug busts. Police officers want a strong relationship with the community they serve. Police want to catch real criminals who hurt real victims. It would save departments a lot of money because they are wastingRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1474 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana has always been a big deal in society, ever since it has become known as a street drug. In the current year of 2016, not only citizens abuse marijuana, Celebrities, professional athletes, and college students all abuse the substance for its benefits. We are becoming more aware how recently this year that marijuana has been legalized in ten countries and twenty five states in the United States of America. That is one half of our country that is able to use this substance. By legalizing marijuanaRead MoreMarijuana Has Always Been A Big Deal In Society, Ever Since1477 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana has always been a big deal in society, ever since it has become known as a street drug. In the current year of 2 016, not only citizens abuse marijuana, Celebrities, professional athletes, and college students all abuse the substance for its benefits. We are becoming more aware how recently this year that marijuana has been legalized in ten countries and twenty five states in the United States of America. That is one half of our country that is able to use this substance. By legalizing marijuanaRead MoreMarijuana Legalization1424 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Marijuana Marijuana is the most common drug in America and all over the world. It is legalized in some countries, but most countries prohibit its use. It has proven medical abilities and was used for this purpose for a while before being federally criminalized. The United States has been debating on the legalization of marijuana with some states supporting the move and others against it. (10 Facts About Marijuana) Despite all these debates, the legalization of marijuana is the betterRead MoreLegalization Of Marijuana And Marijuana1633 Words   |  7 Pages8, 2016 Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana has a few different names that are commonly used in today’s society including weed and cannabis. Weed is smoked with joints, bongs, or pipes. Marijuana can also be mixed with foods usually brownies, cookies, and candy which are called edibles. The main chemical responsible for the high feeling is called THC but marijuana also contains over 500 chemicals. The chemical is found in resin produced by the leaves and buds. â€Å"Marijuana is the most commonly usedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1587 Words   |  7 Pages Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana is not a recent discovery, but the mysteries surrounding the controversial topic in question remains to be disputed since its prohibition. Classified as an illegal substance, cannabis has been restricted in Canada and around the world. Marijuana is a complex drug and its contradictory claims of medical purposes, and harmful destruction, fuel the debate on whether or not the legal constraints of consuming marijuana should be reconsidered. In consideration of academicRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1265 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana Legalize; Yea or Nay? Why is pot illegal? Kevin O’Leary an Entrepreneur, Investor, and TV Personality states, â€Å"You either make it illegal, in which case you support a huge underground economy, or you tax it within the limits people can afford.† The legalization of pot will give a wider access for medical use, it will give a boost to the economy, more effective criminal justice and law enforcement, and it has multipurpose value. The country is currently divided on the issue of legalizationRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1247 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana is a controversial topic within today’s society. It is commonly debated upon during election time. Many states are trying to legalize marijuana, while others are firmly against it. As people in the United States vote for their political leaders, they are also voting on whether or not to support bills such as those that legalize marijuana. There are several states that have already legalized recreation al use of marijuana such as Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, MaineRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1579 Words   |  7 PagesLegalize Marijuana Marijuana consumption has become a very prominent sub-culture within the United States with users including virtually everyone from teenagers to the elderly people. Some individuals use it because they enjoy the feeling they get from smoking or eating it, whereas others use it for medical reasons. Marijuana is starting to become decriminalized in most states, with Colorado and Washington having already made it legal for recreational use. Moreover, a handful of states throughoutRead MoreLegalizing Marijuan A Utilitarian Perspective1618 Words   |  7 PagesLegalizing Marijuana Legalizing Marijuana: A Utilitarian Perspective Whitney T. Hall SOC120: Ethic and Social Responsibility Tim Carter May 7, 2012 Legalizing Marijuana: A Utilitarian Perspective The legalization of marijuana in the United States remains a major issue and has caused much controversy due to opposing views. With the economy being in the state that it is, we need to utilize all available resources and set aside personal emotion regarding â€Å"smoking weed†. While some support decriminalization

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Who Invented Bathtubs, Toilets, Showers, and Fountains

Plumbing comes from the Latin word for lead, which is plumbum. Plumbing by definition is a utility that we use in our buildings consisting of the pipes and fixtures for the distribution of water or gas and for the disposal of sewage. The word sewer comes from the French word essouier, meaning to drain. But how did plumbing systems come together? Surely it didnt happen at once, right? Of course not. Lets go over the main fixtures of modern-day plumbing systems. These include  toilets, bathtubs and showers and  water fountains. Let There Be Water Fountains The modern drinking fountain was invented and then manufactured in the early 1900s by two men and the respective company each man founded.  Halsey Willard Taylor  and the Halsey Taylor Company along with Luther Haws and the Haws Sanitary Drinking Faucet Co were the two companies that changed how water was served in public places. Taylors interest in developing a fountain for drinking water began when his father died of typhoid fever caused by contaminated public drinking water. His fathers death was traumatic and motivated him to invent a water fountain to provide safer drinking water. Meanwhile, Haws was a part-time plumber, sheet metal contractor and the sanitary inspector for the city of Berkeley in California. While inspecting a public school, Haws saw children drinking water out of a common tin cup that was tied to the faucet. Because of this, he feared that there was a health hazard in the making because of the way the public was sharing their water supply. Haws invented the first faucet designed for drinking. He used spare plumbing parts, such as taking the ball from a brass bedstead and a self-closing rabbit ear valve. The Berkeley school department installed the first model drinking faucets. Toilets Were Seats Meant for Kings A toilet is a plumbing fixture used for defecation and urination. Modern toilets consist of a bowl fitted with a hinged seat thats connected to a waste pipe where waste is flushed. Toilets are also called privy, latrine, water closet, or lavatory. Contrary to urban legend,  Sir Thomas Crapper  did not invent the toilet. Heres a brief timeline of toilets:   King Minos of Crete had the first flushing water closet recorded in history and that was over 2,800 years ago.A toilet was discovered in the tomb of a Chinese king of the  Western Han Dynasty  that dates back to somewhere between  206 BC to 24 AD.The ancient Romans had a system of sewers. They built simple outhouses or latrines directly over the running waters of the sewers that poured into the Tiber River.Chamber pots were used during the middle ages. A chamber pot is a special metal or ceramic bowl that you used and then tossed the contents out (often out the window).In 1596, a flush toilet was invented and built for Queen Elizabeth I by her godson,  Sir John Harrington.The  first patent  for the  flushing toilet  was issued to Alexander Cummings in 1775.During the 1800s, people would come to realize that poor sanitary conditions caused diseases. Thus having toilets and sewer systems that could control human waste became a priority to lawmakers, medical experts, inv entors as well as the general public.In 1829, the Tremont Hotel of Boston became the first hotel to have indoor plumbing with eight water closets built by Isaiah Rogers. Until 1840, indoor plumbing could be found only in the homes of the rich and the better hotels.Beginning in 1910, toilet designs started moving away from the elevated water tank system and more toward a modern toilet with a closed tank and bowl setup. Toilet Paper and Brushes The first packaged toilet paper was invented in 1857 by an American named Joseph Gayetty. It was called Gayettys Medicated Paper. In 1880, the British Perforated Paper Company created a paper product to be used for wiping after using the toilet that came in boxes of small pre-cut squares. In 1879, the Scott Paper Company began selling the first toilet paper on a roll, though roll toilet paper did not become common until 1907. In 1942, St. Andrews Paper Mill in Great Britain introduced the first two-ply toilet paper. In the 1930s, the Addis Brush Company created the first artificial  Christmas  brush trees, using the same machinery for making their toilet brushes.  In general, the type of material used to make a brush and its design was dictated by its intended use. The hair of animals such as horses, oxen, squirrels, and badgers was used in household and toilet-brushes. Various types of plant fibers have also been used, such as the piassava obtained from a Brazilian palm and palmyra bassine derived from the palmyra palm of Africa and Sri Lanka. Brush bristles were joined to handles and backs of wood, plastic or metal. Many household and toilet-brushes were produced by inserting tufts of fibers into holes drilled in brush backs. One of the earliest and most elaborate of showers was the English Regency Shower developed around 1810.

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Disputes in the Legal System Essay - 853 Words

Disputes in the Legal System Businesses are formed to make money. In the pursuit of making money, businesses deal with consumers and customers and other businesses. In all things in life when you have more than one individual or entity there will be some form of dispute that will arises in the course of time. This paper will focus on purchasing agents and insurance claim agents on why they avoid conflicts in the courts. It will also address how purchasing agents and insurance claim agents access disputes, how they handle disputes and what their objectives are in avoiding such disputes. In all businesses one has to look at the bottom line. How does the business make money in the most productive manner? The usual way is that the†¦show more content†¦Discussion will only be focused around purchasing agents and insurance claim agents. Purchasing agents access their disputes in three ways. Customer satisfaction, business relationships and longevity of said relationships. All businesses want to produc e a product that fits the needs of the consumer, which enables the company to make money. If the purchasing agent is not happy with the product then more likely the case the purchasing agent will find another supplier. Stewart Macaulay states, Both business units involved in the exchange desire to continue successfully in business and will avoid conduct which might interfere with attaining this goal. He goes on to say, People in a sales department oppose contract. Contractual negotiations are just one more hurdle in the way of a sale. Holding customers to the letter of a contact is bad for customer relations. Suing a customer who is not bankrupt and might order again is poor strategy. It all boils down to this, if the customer is happy with his purchase then that customer will use that company again which means that the business will make money. The only time a purchase agent will file a legal complaint is if the customer is going out of business or is going bankrupt. The in surance claim agent access disputes in a different manner. To the insurance claim agent it depends on the size of the claim and the individual. Lawrence H. Ross explains, In small claims, aShow MoreRelatedLdcs’ Benefits And Wto Dsu . Trade Liberalization Has Been1714 Words   |  7 Pagesinternational trades. Increasing of trade laws in dispute settlement as trade-related intellectual rights, countervailing measure, national treatment, anti-dumping and safeguard measure are evidences of their hard works. These rules are enforced through the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding mechanism (DSU). Strong voice DSU has provide to less-developing countries encouragement to participate in order defend and pose their interests in international law system. Rather than controlled by the bias decisionsRead MoreEmerging Trends Of Lok- Adalat Essay1661 Words   |  7 Pagesconcept of Lok- Adalat is the ancient concept of settlement of dispute through Mediation, Negotiation or through other arbitral process popularly known as decision of ‘Nyay- Panch’ or ‘People’s Court’. Keywords Lok- Adalat (people’s court), Arbitration ,Conciliation, Dispute resolution, Legal aid. 1. Introduction The institution of Lok Adalat in India , as the very name suggest, means, People’s Court. The concept has been gathered from system of panchayat which has roots in the history and culture ofRead MoreLitigation704 Words   |  3 Pagesthe reader will be able to identify the legal disputes presented in the Litigation an Alternative Video. The paper will converse the difference between the traditional litigation system and the nontraditional forms of Alternative Dispute Resolutions (ADR) which will include the risks that a company may encounter should they proceed with traditional litigation, when nontraditional ligation is appropriate to practice to avoid those risk. Alternative disputes presented, such as arbitration, mediationRead MoreMediation as a Pre-Trial Civil Litigation Process849 Words   |  3 Pagesand make decisions about future actions†¦Ã¢â‚¬  . They also described mediators as the third party assisting the participants in reaching their decision. This proce ss should form a part of the pre-trial civil litigation process as its advantages on the legal system and the community outweigh its disadvantages. The distinguishing models of mediation make it a suitable approach for all or most civil cases. A problem that may be associated with mediation is power imbalance. Unfortunately, the mediator is onlyRead MoreBusiness: International Legal and Ethical Issues Essay1172 Words   |  5 PagesInternational Legal and Ethical Issues When businesses deal globally to expand their markets they may face dilemmas which must be dealt with to avoid conflict. The types of issues many companies encounter deal with legal, ethical and cultural encounters. From our example we see the legal issues in settling disputes for international transactions can become very complex. Ethical issues concerning the workers, the culture, and the environment are all contributing factors international companiesRead MoreThe Commercial Clause Of Interstate Business Transaction The Federal Government873 Words   |  4 Pagesalso helps in resolving disputes between two business entities and between people and business entities. For example the case of Cipollone vs. Liggett Group, Inc. The legal system has much influence in the business decisions (Heminway, 2013). The Purpose of Business Law Business law highlights regulations and statutes affecting the roles of business, individual and families. The global environment in which the business operates has a different government and judicial systems (Miller, 2016). The lawRead MoreQuestions On Parenting Agreements After Separation996 Words   |  4 Pages 2. What kinds of communication dynamics were evident in the interview? Communication skills are critical to law students . In completing the intake form, my objective was to understand the client’s situation and why they were presenting at the legal service . Closed questions were used to complete the intake form and to assemble the facts . Prior to the lawyer completing the advice stage, I summarised the information I had received from the client to confirm its accuracy . During the interviewRead MoreThe Legal System and Adr Analysis706 Words   |  3 PagesThe Legal System and ADR Analysis Debra Doe-Gonzalez LAW 531 October 6, 2014 David Weischadle, II The Legal System and ADR Analysis The two major court systems in the United States are the federal and state court systems. They are each set up review different types of lawsuits (Cheeseman, 2013). This memo will review the levels of the state court system as well as the various methods of alternative dispute resolution. The case of AMF Incorporated v. Brunswick Corp will be reviewed inRead MoreLaw Is A System Of Rules Designed By A Society979 Words   |  4 PagesLaw is a system of rules designed by a society to restrain unwanted behavior and maintains order. Law helps decide wrong and right in a society, gives voice to the weak and discourages the might-is-right philosophy. Nearly every state in this world has designed laws that help govern its people. The first set of written laws called ‘The Code of Ur-Nammu’ were designed during 2100-2050 BC. These laws, stated by the Neo-Sumerian King of a Mesopotamian city, proved to be pioneer in the formation of legalRead MoreLitigation vs. ADR1100 Words   |  4 PagesLitigation v. ADR There are many legal systems and measures that are available to people when they run into problems. These alternatives generally accelerate the resolution of disputes without the need for initiating or continuing the formal and costly process of litigation. These alternatives are generally referred to as that of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) (Sherman, 2012). Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) comprises the resolution of a matter by a method other than traditional litigation

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Social Traps and Attitudes Essay Example For Students

Social Traps and Attitudes Essay It is certainly hard to pick a particular attitude because I think that we all feel a little of each at different times. My Modern Environmentalist outlook is based on my Tech-Fix and Gloom-And-Doom attitudes. I think if we use science for the right reasons; such as finding natural energy sources (other than oil), or learning more about our earths past in astronomy or ecology studies. Although our atmosphere is heavily polluted we have come a long way since the 1970s as far as smoke filters, outlawing garbage and chemical smoke-stacks, and increasing the recycling of paper, plastic, and glass. Unfortunately I am a little pessimistic about our earths future because of the mass outbreak of recent warfare. I dont think our earth can handle the new wave of nuclear bombs (whether it be for testing of bombing). I dont know if it will happen in my lifetime, but as fast as science can start to clean and help our ecosystem, science can also destroy it. This seems to be earths inevitable fate as our home. I hate to be so depressing but Rosy-Optimism just seems too easy. It may have worked if everyone started that way. But it may be too late to keep ignoring our environmental problems. The frontier Attitude is my least favorite attitude, even though like many of us I use too much paper, forget to recycle, leave the water running while Im brushing my teeth. All of the simple things that some of us take for granted fall into the frontier attitude towards the environment. Some entrepreneurs also use the frontier attitude as they are more concerned about their profits than pollution the harm they are doing.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Conceptual Framework Standards System †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Conceptual Framework Standards System. Answer: Introduction The general purpose financial statements are developed by a business entity in order to provide information to end-users about its financial position. The IASB has developed and provided the standard guidelines for all business entities for developing the financial statements through the development of conceptual accounting framework. The conceptual accounting framework has stated the qualitative characteristics of relevance, reliable ad comparable to be adopted by businesses for financial reporting. This is done for improving the quality of financial reporting in order to meet the needs of end-users such as potential investors and creditors. The AASB (Australian Accounting Standards Board), in this context, holds the responsibility of ensuring the compliance of international accepted accounting standards and conceptual accounting framework principles by the Australian business entities (CCH Australia Limited, 2009). The present report has demonstrated the need of complying with conc eptual framework principles and AASB standards by demonstrating an example of Australian accompany who has failed due to its unethical and fraudulent accounting activities. The company selected for the purpose is 7-Eleven and its financial reports are evaluated for assessing the arsons if its failure. Analysis of Reason of Failure of 7-Eleven with Respect to its Accounts The 7-Eleven is a recognized Australian retail company that is widely known for operating chain of convenience stores across the country. The company is a franchise of US based 7-Elevne Inc and is involved in providing diverse products such as drinks, confectionary, gift card and others (7 -Eleven: Annual Report, 2015). The company has however being alleged of conducting corrupt and fraudulent activities in relation to its remuneration and financial reports. The screenshot of the remuneration report of the company as extracted from its annual report as follows: The remuneration report aims to provide information in relation to the accounting policies adopted for deciding over the matters of compensation provided to its directors and employees. The remuneration report of 7-Eleven has stated its effective compliance with the Corporations Act 2001 and AASB standards for developing and maintaining its remuneration policy. The remuneration report of the company has also stated the remuneration of its executive and non-executive directors is dependent on the operating profit of the company. This remuneration policy of the board has introduced an organizational culture within the company of driving the profitability by directors; in order to increase their compensation and as such promoting the occurrence of corrupt financial practices (7 -Eleven: Annual Report, 2015). The remuneration policy developed by the Board ensures that fair compensation is provided to all of its employees and has disclosed the information of employee benefits and expenses in its remuneration report. However, the company has faced allegations regarding the occurrence of unethical employee wage policies and practices. The company has been accused of forcing the employees to work till long hours and also providing them half pay. The management was accused of threatening the employees to work till extended hours by saying that they would be expelled of they complained to the parent company about their salary issue. The identification of the wage scandal in the company has resulted in paying heavy penalties for compensating the exploited workers and also negatively impacted the brand image of its parent company. This wage scandal has caused the parent company of 7-Elevne to adopt strict compensation policies and procedures for its Australia franchises as per the Fair Work Ombud sman (Ferguson, 2016). The company in its annual report has claimed of complying with AASB standards and Companies Act for valuing its inventories. However, the analysis of the directors report of the company has inferred that it has not defined the accounting policies adopted for measuring the inventories cost and recording the inventory losses. Thus, it can be stated that it does not comply with AASB standards for valuing its inventories (CCH Australia Limited, 2009). The screenshot of the inventories account maintained by the company as extracted from its directors report is depicted as follows: Accounts Receivables As analyzed from the accounts receivables financial position of the company, it has not developed proper provisions for recording bad debts. The estimated account of cash inflows from the accounts receivables is done on the basis of past events and this is not valued properly as per the AASB standards by not taking into account the current information about its receivables (Compiled Accounting Standard AASB 108, 2014). The company also possesses contingent liabilities as evident from its annual report analysis. The financial leases are valued at the fair value of the leased assets. The company however has disclosed all the pertinent information about the financial figures in relation to it total assets and liabilities in accordance with conceptual accounting framework. Also, the company does not have any contingent liabilities as evident from its directors report analysis (7 -Eleven: Annual Report, 2015). The principle of prudence was removed earlier from the conceptual framework of accounting as it was found to be in contradiction with accrual accounting concept. The concept states that businesses should maintain a provision of recording the financial transactions that have not year actually realized for developing hidden reserves to be used at contingent situations. However, the prudence concept is gain included in the conceptual framework due to increase in number of corrupt practices by business corporations by manipulating the accounts for their personal benefits as evident form 7-Eleven wage scandal. The inclusion of prudence ensures that business entities will record the financial transactions that have been occurred in reality with no overstatement of profits and understatement of expenses. This is required for protecting the investors interest and maintaining transparency in business operations (Hoffman, 2016). Conclusion As analyzed from 7-Elevnet accounting practices, the company has not adequately complied with AASB and conceptual accounting framework principles. The company needs to comply with all the principle of conceptual framework and include prudence at the time of financial reporting for ensuring its sustainable growth and development. References 7-Eleven: Annual Report. 2015. [Online]. Available at:https://www.7eleven.com.my/pdf/ar-2015.pdf[Accessed on: 6 April 2014]. Compiled Accounting Standard AASB 108. 2014. [Online]. Available at:https://www.aasb.gov.au/admin/file/content105/c9/AASB108_07-04_COMPdec09_01-11.pdf[Accessed on: 6 April 2014]. CCH Australia Limited. 2009. Australian Master Accountants Guide. CCH Australia Limited. Ferguson, A. 2016.7-Eleven's wage fraud sparks $170 billion blow back.[Online]. Available at:https://www.smh.com.au/business/retail/7elevens-wage-fraud-sparks-170-billion-blow-back-20160826-gr264h.html[Accessed on: 6 April 2014]. Hoffman, C.W. 2016.Revising the Conceptual Framework of the International Standards: IASB Proposals Met with Support and Skepticism.World Journal of Business and Management 2 (1), pp. 1-32.