Babylon Revisited

The question of whether or not Charlie Wales’ request to have his daughter returned to him is reasonable seems fairly clear. The fact that the story begins and ends in a bar, with the alcoholic protagonist struggling with his addiction seems an indication that his demon has not been slain. Ambiguities seen in the story lead a reader to think that perhaps at this point it is not reasonable.Charlie perceives his old haunts as less than glamorous in the cold light of sobriety, but still he feels compelled to go and look once more. Yet, while it seems that Charlie genuinely regrets his past the reader also is told that Charlie has lost his fortune, which could easily be the reason for his new mindset. One of the twin themes of this story is that a person is responsible for his own shortcomings, and must pay his dues, so to speak, being held accountable to others.Charlie says that he never had a problem with alcohol until he began to lose his fortune, appearing to be in classic den ial. Charlie does not accept that his bouts of drunkenness are the reason why people such as Marion behave toward him as they do. He faults Marion’s lack of compassion and her intolerance for their discord. Everyone is out of step but Johnny, so to speak, and Charlie is not willing to accept that is likely his own actions that cause the rift between them.The story ends with Charlie sitting in a bar with drink in hand, which is a dangerous act for a recovering alcoholic. Though he has refused a second one, it is clear that he is not over his addiction. His life is a tragedy, yet he has not demonstrated the ability, by story’s end, to take responsibility for his own inadequacies, so the question of his being able to care for his young daughter seems moot. For the stated reasons, Charlie is not being reasonable in asking for custody of the child. Babylon Revisited Babylon Revisited is an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, penned in 1930 Paris. It was then published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1931. The narrator speaks in third person, and from the point of view of Charlie, the protagonist. During his lifetime Fitzgerald was not recognized as a purely modernist author. It was after his death that this appellation was attached. Still, this short story has many features of the modernist movement, as can be seen in its theme, which is dark and fraught with conflict.The story is also written largely in the vernacular, which caused Fitzgerald to not be taken seriously as a writer early in his career. The protagonist is the character, Charlie Wales. The story opens and closes in a Paris bar. The conflict that Charlie finds is chiefly his struggle with alcoholism. He is in a battle of wills with his sister in law, who has custody of his daughter following the death of his wife. The twin themes of this story are that one must pay the piper if one has called the tune, as well as the idea that change is difficult to effect.The conflict is not resolved in the story and the reader is left to ponder the possibility that Charlie may or may not rise out of his sea of troubles. He is left sitting in a bar, but he has had a drink Still, he does some soul searching, and in the end refuses a second one. If he is to be considered a victim it must be understood that he suffers from a self-inflicted wound. The reader must decide if he feels sympathy toward Charlie. Charlie is the victim of forces outside his control but also a victim of his own weaknesses.My opinion is that the proof of the pudding is in the tasting, and we are known by our good acts and not our words. I have no sympathy for Charlie but I can see forgiving him if he keeps his pledge. Fitzgerald implies that he will. My hunch is that Charlie will find the dream of custody of his daughter stronger than the lure of alcohol. Reference Fitzgerald, F. and Bruccoli, M. (Editor) Bab ylon Revisited: and Other Stories Scribner 1996

Papers' Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Papers' Analysis - Assignment Example Economies of scale are the cost advantage that comes from a product’s increased output. They arise due to an inverse relation between fixed costs per-unit and quantity produced. The more cars produced in this case, the lower the fixed cost per unit, as the cost is shared among a larger quantity of cars. They may also reduce unit variable costs due to synergies and operational efficiencies. Economies of scale are in two major types; external that arises from industry size and other extraneous factors and internal that arises from inside the firm (Motavalli 1). While benefits of this concept are obvious, I think they also impact on such areas as finance. For instance, a company like Ford Group would have a lower capital cost compared to smaller firms due to their ability to borrow at lower rates of interest. However, I believe that, even with this advantage, I think there is a finite upper limit to how Ford Group can grow in achieving economies of scale. When the hybrid car prod uction reaches a specific number, it will be more expensive to manage due to bureaucracy, complexity, and operational inefficiency. The results from Ford Group are also hard to ignore. For instance, the model T line of production and task specialization were integrated with standardization, as can be seen in their hybrid plant. The specialization that will go with the hybrid car production will lead to productivity increase. The coupling of specialization and standardization will ensure that the model parts will be of universal size at all times, which greatly reduces costs of restoration. However, it can also be argued that the reduction of costs by specialization and increase in productivity is offset by huge human costs. While there is little evidence of how economies of scale impact organizations like Ford in the long run, the idea has become a hallmark of Ford Group and other similar companies because it can be used all manufacturing functions; for example, marketing, research and development, distribution, and sales force utilization (Motavalli 1). Analysis # 2 The Texas drought of 2011 is bound to have ripple effects across the globe, especially with regards to agricultural products. Texas produces approximately 55% of cotton crop in the US, supplying the same to mills around the world. Because of the drought’s effect on cotton, the prices are on the up. The drought has also affected beef prices with ranchers being forced to sell off their cattle due to dramatic reductions in water and animal feed. The selling of, off valuable breeding stock is expected to see a long-term increase in the price of beef. It is also expected that there will be a 50% jump in the prices of wheat in winter because of the drought, especially since Texas accounts for 20% of wheat production (Hylton 1). The FAO price index for food raised to 6% in mid-2012, which was attributed to the unfavorable conditions of weather, particularly the drought currently ravaging parts of the United States, which have driven the cost of agricultural products up. However, what is happening now is more a climatic transition than a random weather event. The consequences have been predicted to be especially dire for the poor population in the world (Hylton 2). However, in my opinion, the prices of beef, wheat, and cotton will be affected by other factors, rather than by drought alone. The use of biofuels

Continuos quality improvement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Continuos quality improvement - Essay Example Lack of information among patient is a leading cause of hostility to treatment or noncooperation. Thus, this is a problem that hinders quality healthcare. Upon defining the problem, I would collect the relevant data that would show this problem and hence support the need for patient education. Analysis of the collected data would show the current performance of the program (The National Learning Consortium, 2013). By so doing, CQI initiative would identify the main causes of the problem. Data analysis forms a basis for improvement. Improvement should be made if the results show low-quality indicators. A CQI process should identify the root causes of a problem and the alternative changes that can improve the process. About patient education, data may show that lack of information about treatment and aspects such as pain may lead to hostility to treatment among patients. After determining the necessary changes, control measures should be instituted. Control measures involve close monitoring of the initiative to ensure that it delivers the required objectives. In the end, the CQI initiate would be successful. The National Learning Consortium. (2013). Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Strategies to Optimize your Practice. Retrieved from

Operations Management at Amazon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Operations Management at Amazon - Essay Example The preceding discussion confirms the findings in the literature relating to the new and complex challenges facing e-commerce plays like Amazon, especially with regard to how its radically different strategy of optimizing operations efficiencies to execute a volume strategy in the online retail space needs new ways of managing operations. These new ways need to impute the opportunities provided by new technologies, but at the same time be mindful of the pitfalls of relying on old ways of thinking in order to solve problems that are unique to Amazon (Rao 2011; Karmakar and Apte 2007). One can see that aspects of process design, are intertwined with inventory management concerns. This is the case for inventory management considerations for digital content, for example, as those relate to the relative ease of handling virtual inventory on the one hand and the opposing difficulty and complexity of managing physical inventories. Here aspects of operations relate to optimizing warehouses a nd processes for managing inventories from the supplier to the warehouses, as well as those aspects of inventory management relating to the handling of physical goods at the fulfillment centers at Amazon (Rao 2014). A recommendation is to continue to use Amazon Prime as the benchmark for efficiency and success of the execution of the inventory management processes at Amazon, owing to the high bar it has set for orders fulfillment and the cost of fulfilling orders of physical goods (Graham 2013; Onetto 2014).

Torture of bomb suspect Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Torture of bomb suspect - Research Paper Example The main purpose of the research is to present that many cases of torture have been reported especially for terrorist suspects who are alleged to be involved in various bombings across the country and abroad. Abd al Rahim Hussein Mohammed al Nashiri is one of the victims of torture. Nashiri is the suspected terrorist bomber of the USS Cole bombing of 2000 in Yemen. The suspect who was detained in Guantanamo Bay was tortured by the military to an extent of admitting to the accusations. According to a report that the Pentagon released about the Nashiri torture, the suspect was tortured to a point that he could not take it anymore and thus admitted to have been responsible for the bombings so that he would be freed from the torture. This illustrates violation of professional ethics in the questioning of bomb suspects. Most of the suspects who are interrogated are normally tortured to a point where they would rather admit to have been involved in the bombings so that the pain they are su bjected into is put into an end. The legal-ethical rights of suspects are thus violated by such tortures because the interrogation processes are usually less objective. This is because the interrogators aim at eliciting responses from the suspects which makes them responsible for the crime. This is usually as a result of the fact that some suspects would refuse to say the truth regardless of the pain that the interrogation process puts them through.... After he admitted to the bombing, Nashiri’s captors became happy and stopped further interrogations. This shows that the captors of bomb suspects engage in unsupervised interrogation which leads to the violation of the constitutional rights of suspects who are legally considered innocent until proven otherwise by a court of law. Unnecessary torture is therefore a form of ethical malpractice because it causes a lot of dehumanizing pain to the suspects and thus violates their human rights (Lolita, 2007). Additionally, excessive torture of bomb suspects would lead to injustice because if victims are forced to admit to the crimes that they are not guilty of, then justice would not have been served. The fact that Nashiri was forced by the torture to admit into the responsibility of the Cole bombing shows that justice was not served because the actual bomber would be somewhere free and likely planning to commit other crimes. The bombing that led to the death of seventeen US sailors and injury to thirty nine others was blamed on Nashiri by the US military whom they considered to be an al Qaeda official who was responsible for arranging the Cole bombings. The evidence that the US military presented to the FBI revealed that Nashiri bought the explosives and the boat that was used during the bombings. The evidence that the military presented to the FBI is said to have been an adjunct of the admission of the suspect to the crimes when he was under torture (BBC World, 2007). This presents an ethical dilemma because the use of evidence that emanates from the response of the suspect at a time when he is subject to torture in prosecution leads to the questioning of the credibility

Commercial Photography Survey Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Commercial Photography Survey - Essay Example extremely well at commercial photography, it can be an extremely profitable market, and the profession of commercial photography is wide, with room for alternative and traditional photographs. Commercial photographs of individual products, or of product lines, can either center on the design of the good, for instance the neatness of a kettle, or the deepness of carpet threads. Also, it can focus on the use of the good like the utility on an iPhone or enjoying games on a PlayStation (Milich 34). A product-wise aspect of this photography shows the details, as well as the "feel good" of the product while advertising aspect of this photography is more likely to center on the attractions and status of the product. Some of the equipments needed are Camera Lenses, Lighting, Processing System, Tripod and Sundry Equipments, and a qualified photographer will be ready to move into commercial photography. Also, a recent trend that has been rising in the field of commercial photography is the rise of digital over film. The biggest trend in the past five years, with no doubt, has been the change from film to digital (Milich 34). Today, it is expected that each and every photographer who is projecting a commercial plan will have a complete understanding or comprehension of how flawlessly to produce or deliver a photo digitally. This technological revolution is also growing at a fast pace. It is evolving plus becoming even much cheaper and accessible to the general public. However, the technology also sadly downgraded the awareness of the skill of the photo taker, making it much harder to differentiate the specialised photographer from the â€Å"prosumer† (Milich 34). For a day of a commercial photo shoot, a photographer will charge US$ 100 per hour for a creative session. This is because the client will be paying for the talent and creativity of the photographer (Milich 35). However, if the client wants to dictate all the techniques, then the price will be pulled down to US$

Annoted Bibliography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Annoted Bibliography - Essay Example Napoleon asserts his leadership after the animals capture the farm from its former cruel owner, Mr. Jones. However, the satire of this novel is centered upon the pigs’ tyranny over the other animals. The novel is the basis of the famous idiom â€Å"all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others†. The novel was inspired by George’s experiences of communist behavior in Russia during the Spanish Civil War; it is a tale of the communist revolution in Russia. The novel addresses not only the corruption in leadership, but also the ignorance of the people; it exemplifies corruption and wickedness as the vice in rebellion, and not the actual deed of rebellion. This novel is dubbed the best analogy of political satire in the mid twentieth century as it exemplifies the gullibility of subjects and the dictatorship of leaders in contrast to the ideal society where all people are equal. Steadman, R. (1996) George Orwell: Animal Farm (50th Anniversary edition). USA : Signet Classics This variation of the original Animal Farm was done by Ralph Steadman to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the literary work. In the rendition, Steadman introduces some of Orwell’s proposed inclusion in the novel. ... Steadman exemplifies Orwell’s satirical outlook on the rebellion in animal farm which is a symbol of the rebellion against corruption and tyranny all around the world. This edition includes Orwell’s additions during a press interview, which were ignored in the previous edition. Moreover, Steadman analyses Orwell’s explicit fable of a browbeaten and overworked society and their pursuance of justice and equality. The author shows that such a paradise is feasible in the mind, but actual fulfillment is deterred by greed and corruption. The text illustrates the rise and gory fall of revolutionary animals and appreciates the abolitionism in most, if not all, societies by poking fun at the leaders and oppressors while at the same time drawing attention to the idealism they create but do not endorse. Secondary Sources Lake, P. (2010). The  Animal Farm  of the 21st Century. Arkansas: Arkansas Tech University. In March 2010, Paul Lake gave a lecture on George Orwellâ⠂¬â„¢s novels at the Arkansas Tech University and cited Animal Farm as Orwell’s book as the greatest allegory of the society. Lake associated the novel to the modern society as tyranny and corruption are witnessed on a daily basis. Lake, who is the author of Cry Wolf, drew attention to Orwell’s depiction of the down trodden members of society whose desire for a better future is unwavering. Lake exemplifies the twenty first century society as a modern animal farm where although the down trodden continue to suffer and be overworked for the benefit of a few; they still consider the leadership as upright and effective. He spoke of the ideal twenty first society as one which upholds all individual’s rights to expression and freedom from oppressive or slave driven rule. His talk seeks to educate on