Over Population :: essays research papers

Over Population The world’s population is approximately 5.9 billion, and it is still growing. It has just about doubled in the past forty years. We are now faced with the issue of over population. The problem is very severe, and important. It is controversial how many people this planet can hold. Some are arguing that we have plenty of room, and we could fit everyone on the state of Alaska, if we just put 10,000 people on each square mile. Alaska only makes up about one percent of the earth’s land mass. Other people argue that we need land to grow and supply all the resources we need, and we do not have enough for everybody. Either way the issue is looked at though, many people are being deprived of food, shelter and clothing because of the excess of people. Many countries are reducing their population by family planning. Family planning tries to promote the idea of using some sort of birth control such as condoms, the pill, sterilization, IUDs, or some other method. Over the past three decades, the global percentage of couples using some form of family planning has increased dramatically. It has changed from less than 10, to more than 50 percent. The amount of people who use family planning would increase if everyone had easy accessibility to it. In some rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa, it takes an average of two hours to reach the nearest contraceptive provider. Often, people cannot even afford some type of birth control. Also, many governments ban or restrict important methods of contraception. Japan, for instance, discourages the use of birth control pills over the condom. Also, 60 countries require a husband’s consent for all forms of birth control. Even though there are some conflicts with it, I think family planning seems like the best to solve the world’s over population problem. China’s one child policy is generally denounced by a majority of world nations. Many countries feel that it is not right to restrict the number of children a person can have. They believe it is a person’s freedom to choose how many kids they want. China hopes for their fertility rate to be 1 child per woman instead of the 1.85 rate they currently have. Even though China’s policy is very controversial, China thinks this is what they need to do in order for their population growth to drop.

Technology and economy

In his book Nomads of South Persia, Frederik Barth (1967) descibes the social, political and economic structure of the Basseri tribal group. This essay aims to summarize the details on the environment, technology, shelter, transportation, economy, and distribution and consumption of goods and services of the Basseri tribe as explicated by Barth (1961).First of all, the Basseri tribe of the Khamseh Confederacy occupies the region from the Persian Gulf to the desert ranges of Lar. The climate in these areas is hot and dry. However, during winter it is cold in the highlands while it is slightly cold in the grasslands. There are four seasons of the year such as winter, spring, summer, and fall in this part of the world.The geographical structure of the land is mountainous from 2,000 to 3, 000 feet above sea level and its mountains are as high as 13, 000 feet. Water in this area comes from rainfall. The amount of rainfall is higher during the winter unlike the amount of rainfall during sp ring. This water causes vegetation such as sugar cane, dates, fruits and vegetables to grow. These foods together with flour are consumed by the Basseri people.As nomads, the Basseri tribe raises animals such as sheep, goats, donkeys, camels and horses. This animal husbandry causes them to move from one place to another based on the needs of their animals. These animals have varied uses for the tribe. Goats and sheep are useful to the Basseri people for their milk, meat, wool and skin. On the other hand, camels, horses and donkeys are used for transportation especially during the time of migration. In addition to this, camels share a part of the tribe’s source of wool.Even when the Baserri ethnic group is nomadic, it uses technology in the form of its tools and systems. One system is in making butter and buttermilk out of sour milk. This process is done by storing milk in a goatskin placed on a tripod to churn milk into sour milk. Next is the use of wool in weaving and making of ropes. Another is when wool is processed by spinning it on spindle whorl. Lastly, a technology they utilize in continuously producing healthy milk is by placing a small stick through the mouth of a lamb to press down its tongue and is stuck in place with stings (Barth, 1961, 7).Likewise, the Basseri people live in tents which are considered the basic social and economic unit of the tribe. The tents are well-made and are woven out of wool. Tents are usually made when a man and a woman gets married. The mothers of the couple are the ones who weave the tent. Then, the couple begins their lives as a separate unit when they live in the tent.In addition, the Basseri use donkeys, horses and camels for transportation. Donkeys are used to carry women and children. Horses are ridden by men. Camels transport heavy objects or things. Consequently, when it is time for the Basseri to move out from one location to another, they use animals as means of transportation. These animals are the came ls, horses and donkeys. When they migrate, the family members ride on the donkeys, camels or horses which are already laden with the family’s belongings while one family member walks by foot in order to guide their herd of animals. Barth (1961) does not mention about the Basseri tribe travelling on water maybe because they are basically land-based.Furthermore, the Basseri’s economy is based on their cyclical migratory patterns. They are known to be â€Å"pastoralists† for they move to the high lands during the summer season and they transfer to the plains during the winter season due to the presence or absence of pasture that their animals need (Microsoft Student). As previously mentioned, they raise sheep, goats, camels, donkeys and horses which are done by the male members of the tribe.The women, alternatively, are the ones who plant vegetation. The division of labor in the tribe is grounded on the age and sex of the person. However, there are certain tasks wh ich are stereotypical to gender. Domestic work in the form of household chores is the task only for the girls and women of the tribe. These tasks may be preparing food, washing dishes, washing clothes, spinning wool and weaving tents. On the other side, boys and men are mainly assigned to provide water and wool, and to repair damaged equipment and tents. They also watch over the herd and they lead their animals and their family when migrating. They might be allowed to help prepare food, or wash clothes but are not allowed to participate in spinning or weaving.Just like any economic system, the people of the tribe distribute goods and services within its constituents. It employs a system of reciprocity where everyone works and contributes for the mutual benefit of everyone in the tribe. The distribution of goods and services similar to the division of labor starts within each household. In the family, each member, depending on the gender, has a task to accomplish and this task has an implication to economy. For example, when women or men milk the sheep, there is an effect to their economy or when the men look after the herd. There is also distribution of goods or services to outsiders as they trade off externally to other tribes and other markets. They also purchase or trade clothing materials, ready-made clothing and footwear, cooking tools, and glass (Barth, 1961, 9-10).Finally, the Basseri ethnic group is an egalitarian society because they do not put emphasis on material goods or wealth especially that they do not have a permanent place to stay. Their concept of wealth and property is focused on the livestock that a family possesses. They consume the meat of sheep and chicken and milk from the sheep.To sum it up, the Basseri tribal people dwell in areas where their animals can find pasture and they move out when this is no longer available. They have their own economic system and they use low technology. They are also not too concerned about their economic status due to their migratory life.ReferencesBarth, F. (1961). Nomads of South Persia. Waveland Press: Long Grove, IL.Pastoralism. (2007). Microsoft ® Student 2008 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation.

Writing the Parts of a Stage Play Script

If you have a great imagination and you think you would enjoy telling stories through dialogue, physical interaction, and symbolism, you should really try your hand at writing scripts. It could be the beginning of a new hobby or career path! There are several types of scripts, including scripts for dramatic plays, television shows, short films, and full-length movies. This article provides a summary of the basic steps you can take to write your own dramatic play. At the basic level, the rules for writing and formatting are flexible; writing is, after all, an art! Parts of a Play There are certain elements you’ll want to include if you want to make your play interesting and professional. One important concept to understand is the difference between the story and the plot. This difference is not always so easy to understand, however. Story pertains to the things that really happen; it is the chain of events that take place according to a time sequence. Some of the story is fluff—it’s the filler that makes the drama interesting and keeps it flowing. Plot refers to the skeleton of the story: the chain of events that shows causality. What does that mean? A famous writer named E. M. Forester once clarified a plot and its relationship to causality by explaining: â€Å"The king died and then the queen died is a story. The king died and then the queen died of grief is a plot. The time-sequence is preserved, but their sense of causality overshadows it. Plot The action and emotional ups and downs of a plot determine the plot type. Plots have been classified in many ways, starting with the basic concept of comedies and tragedies used in ancient Greece. You can make up any type of plot, but a few examples might help you get started. Episodic: Episodic plots involve episodes: several events are linked together with each event or â€Å"episode† containing a possible climax.Rising Action: This plot contains a conflict, tension, and climax to resolve the conflict.Quest: This type involves an adventurer who sets off on a journey and reaches a goal.Transformation: In this variety of plot, a person changes character because of an experience.Revenge or Justice: In a revenge story, a bad thing happens, but eventually everything works out evenly. Exposition The exposition is the part of the play (normally in the beginning) in which the writer â€Å"exposes† the background information that the audience needs to understand the story. It is an introduction to the setting and characters. Dialogue The dialogue of a play is the part that allows you to show your creativity. A play is carried along through conversations, called dialogue. Writing dialogue is a challenging task, but it is your chance to flaunt your artistic side. Things to consider when writing dialogue are: Habits or accents that provide insight into the characterActions or behavior the character displays while talking Conflict Many plots involve a struggle to make things interesting. This struggle or conflict can be anything from a concept in one person’s head to a battle between characters. The struggle can exist between good and evil, between one character and another, or between a dog and a cat. Complications If your story is going to have a conflict, it should also have complications that make the conflict even more interesting. For instance, a struggle between a dog and a cat can be complicated by the fact that the dog falls in love with the cat. Or the fact that the cat lives in the house and the dog lives outside. Climax The climax happens when the conflict is resolved in some way. It is the most exciting part of a play, but the journey toward a climax can be choppy. A play can have a mini-climax, a setback, and then a bigger, final climax. If you decide you enjoy the experience of writing scripts, you can go on to explore the art in college through elective or even major courses. There you will learn advanced practices and proper formatting for submitting a play for production someday!

It s More Than Just Baseball Essay - 1838 Words

It’s More Than Just Baseball The game of baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday, in 1839- 177 years ago from today. Baseball has been, and is still today, known as America’s favorite pastime; additionally, due to its extensive history and partaking it monumental events, it can as well serve as a great topic to use in a story or poem. Poet Dale Ritterbusch, uses the game of baseball along with metaphors in his poem as a vehicle to write about a more substantial subject in poetry, the Vietnam War. His poem, â€Å"Behind the Plate†, can be simply over-looked to one as just a poem about an overweight catcher; nonetheless, when closely examined, it has a deeper meaning. Authors Michael Cocchiarale and Scott Emmert, both agree with the statement that baseball is a great outlet for further analysis of a more important subject: â€Å"Writers have seen sports, particularly baseball, as a useful vehicle for cultural and epistemological analysis† (Cocchiarale). The poem, â€Å"Behind the Plate†, starts off with the line: â€Å"Always the dumbest and fattest kid played catcher† (Ritterbusch, â€Å"Behind†); however, Dale Ritterbusch chose to start this poem with that statement for a reason- it sets a tone for the rest of the poem to have a certain meaning. The fat catcher is known to specifically represent America in the Vietnam War; the catcher is fat because, well, in history catchers in baseball are often overweight. Additionally, in general- one who is fat in sports often has a disadvantage, even in theShow MoreRelatedBaseball Is America s Sport1505 Words   |  7 PagesBaseball has been around for centuries and is a sport that has been one of america’s most popular sport for a very long time. Filled with excitement,happiness and fans that absolutely love the game baseball can Arguably be america’s sport. Created in 1846 and having many changes that have bettered and the game more exciting. Some will s ay that it is boring and lost its cool but baseball is far from losing its cool. The beauty of baseball is that it has no clock just straight nine straight inningsRead MoreJackie Robinson : The Baseball Player978 Words   |  4 Pages Jackie Robinson is often seen as the baseball player to put blacks on the map. Though, what Troy argues in â€Å"Fences† is completely different. He believes that Jackie Robinson was the most successful baseball player not necessarily the best. Troy believed that he, in fact, knew teams that Jackie Robinson would not make. He also knew of many black baseball players that came before Jackie Robinson that simply did not a chance. This can relate to athletes that never made it to the big leagues becauseRead MoreThe Movie The Boys Of Summer 1440 Words   |  6 Pagesmovie about the all American sport baseball, but in reality it is a movie about relationships and it uses baseball to tell the story. The movie does shows many different relationship s some are unique to the 1960’s and some are timeless, some of the relationships shown include: a class struggle between the rich and the poor, changes in race relationships and, improvements in race relationships, it also demonstrates how poor kids can achieve success through baseball, changes in family structure, comingRead MoreBaseball Is America s Past Time Sport1588 Words   |  7 Pages Baseball is well known as America s Past-Time sport. It has been played the same for many years, and now all of a sudden some fans and the commissioner of baseball want to make such abrupt rule changes just to speed up the game itself. Those rule changes include possibly eliminating managers, introducing a time limit on mound visits, a pitching clock, also there has been talk about starting every inning with a runner on second base, and finally one of the most drastic changes is cuttingRead MoreBaseball : The Origin Of Baseball Essay1336 Words   |  6 PagesThe Origin Of Ba seball With upwards of ten million people participating in the sport of baseball in the United States alone, it is apparent that baseball is one of the world’s most popular sports. Throughout the years, the sport of baseball has evolved from a humble game played on empty sandlots to â€Å"America’s national pastime.† The game has come a long way, but how did this game come to be? Everything has its humble beginnings, and baseball is no different. Games that resemble baseball have been aroundRead MoreBaseball Games : A Special Place939 Words   |  4 Pagesthat are fortunate enough to have a major league baseball team. 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According to Jessie Jackson, A champion wins a World Series or an OlympicRead MoreThe Baseball Hall Of Fame1174 Words   |  5 Pages1989, a decision shocked the baseball community as one of the game’s biggest icons, Pete Rose, agreed to permanent ineligibility from major league baseball activities for betting on his own team as both a player and manager. As a result, he was also banned for life from the Baseball Hall of Fame. A month ago, in September 2015, MLB’s all-time hits leader met with the commissioner of baseball, Rob Manfred, regarding the possibility of being granted induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. This has onceRead MoreThe Unique History Of The Negro Baseball Leagues1379 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Negro Baseball Leagues. We will discuss how they were an integral part of the African American culture and what they meant to their communities. We will also discuss some of the more famous players of the Negro Leagues as well as take a look at what the i mpact of Jackie Robinson being the first African American to be signed to a professional Major League team was and how it affected the future of baseball. Black American men were banned from being able to play professional baseball from theRead MoreGreat Prosperity and Growth in Americas 1920s1431 Words   |  6 PagesThe 1920’s in America was a time of great prosperity and growth. Industries were booming, cities were growing, and people were changing. Americans were forgetting the old traditions and values that they used to live by. Americans were viewing and following new entertainments. Sports were one of these entertainments. Amateur and professional athlete’s performance in their own sport was key to the growth of athletics in the 1920’s, because they changed the American attitude towards sports, created

Drug Testing And The Welfare Program - 2065 Words

Welfare is a system of assistance that needs certain procedures put into place that will be beneficial to those people that use the program. Drug testing users of the welfare program can be seen as a violation of a person’s rights, can be costly and cause a burden on a family that uses the system mostly involving children, but some people feel is necessary to ensure that the government’s money is being used productively. Miriam Webster’s dictionary defines welfare as â€Å"aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need or an agency or program through which such aid is distributed† (2004). The welfare program that most people think of is the second definition that distributes cash or food vouchers to those that are less fortunate and require some form of assistance. The question of is it right to require drug testing for recipients will always be a question or morality, it can be construed as a violation of a person’s fourth amendment r ight in the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the United States. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides, [t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches† (U.S. Const. amend. IV ), which means a person does not have to fear having their life turned upside down for no apparent reason, and as Celia Goetzl states â€Å"A district court struck down the policy on Fourth Amendment grounds†(2013) in reference to Michigan trying to put welfare testing intoShow MoreRelatedDrug Testing : A Controversial Issue Right Now1439 Words   |  6 PagesRUNNING HEAD: Mandatorily Drug Testing Welfare Recipients Does More Harm Than Good Mandatorily Drug Testing Welfare Recipients Does More Harm Than Good Clare M. Pitlik Marist High School Author Note First paragraph: Introduction to history of drug testing welfare recipients Second paragraph: Explains why drug testing welfare recipients is unconstitutional Third paragraph: Explains why drug testing welfare recipients is costly Fourth paragraph: Rebuttals Fifth paragraph:Read MorePeople Collecting Welfare Should Undergo Testing804 Words   |  3 PagesPeople collecting welfare should undergo drug testing to get the money the government is giving them, because it makes welfare applicants go down at least 48 percent, it also will help the national debt go down and help people with their drug problems. There are many benefits of drug testing welfare recipients. Floridas policy of requiring drug testing for welfare applicants appears to have reduced new welfare enrollments by as much as 48 percent. 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This paper will discuss the opinions of individual’s within the country, the beneficial factors of drug testing welfare recipients as well as the unbeneficial factors, as well as who decides if drug testing welfare recipients goes into effectRead MoreMandatory Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients1526 Words   |  7 PagesMandatory Drug Testing for Welfare Recipients When the United States’ welfare program was created during the Great Depression, it was meant to temporarily relieve the burdens of the one-fourth of American families who were unemployed, and struggling financially. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Social Security Act in 1935, then amended it in 1939 to create programs to assist families with unemployment compensation, and to create government agencies to oversee these programs, includingRead MoreWelfare Recipients Should Be Periodically Tested for Drugs822 Words   |  3 Pagessupported by government welfare programs for help with their financial necessities. The argument everyone is making nowadays, is whether or not they should be drug testing recipients of welfare. I agree with this strongly because I know that if I were paying taxes on this program I would not want someone going out and abusing this privilege on drugs. People collecting welfare, or other government assistance, should be drug tested because if they are just going to spend money on drugs, they do not needRead MoreDrug Testing For Welfare Recipients1347 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Since the reformation of welfare in 1996, nearly all states have attempted to pass legislation to require the use of drug testing among welfare recipients. Thirteen states have passed legislation and there are currently seven states testing applicants for drugs. The results have been somewhat anticlimactic, as the number of positive drug test results is lower than the national average. 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Many indicate that if working class people are subject to a test prior to hire or randomly during the duration of employment, why should those that don’t have to work for money not have the same treatment? The government estimated that random annual drug testing for welfare recipients would cost each taxpayer an additional

A Game of Thrones Chapter Forty-nine Free Essays

Eddard The grey light of dawn was streaming through his window when the thunder of hoofbeats awoke Eddard Stark from his brief, exhausted sleep. He lifted his head from the table to look down into the yard. Below, men in mail and leather and crimson cloaks were making the morning ring to the sound of swords, and riding down mock warriors stuffed with straw. We will write a custom essay sample on A Game of Thrones Chapter Forty-nine or any similar topic only for you Order Now Ned watched Sandor Clegane gallop across the hard-packed ground to drive an iron-tipped lance through a dummy’s head. Canvas ripped and straw exploded as Lannister guardsmen joked and cursed. Is this brave show for my benefit? he wondered. If so, Cersei was a greater fool than he’d imagined. Damn her, he thought, why is the woman not fled? I have given her chance after chance . . . The morning was overcast and grim. Ned broke his fast with his daughters and Septa Mordane. Sansa, still disconsolate, stared sullenly at her food and refused to eat, but Arya wolfed down everything that was set in front of her. â€Å"Syrio says we have time for one last lesson before we take ship this evening,† she said. â€Å"Can I, Father? All my things are packed.† â€Å"A short lesson, and make certain you leave yourself time to bathe and change. I want you ready to leave by midday, is that understood?† â€Å"By midday,† Arya said. Sansa looked up from her food. â€Å"If she can have a dancing lesson, why won’t you let me say farewell to Prince Joffrey?† â€Å"I would gladly go with her, Lord Eddard,† Septa Mordane offered. â€Å"There would be no question of her missing the ship.† â€Å"It would not be wise for you to go to Joffrey right now, Sansa. I’m sorry.† Sansa’s eyes filled with tears. â€Å"But why?† â€Å"Sansa, your lord father knows best,† Septa Mordane said. â€Å"You are not to question his decisions.† â€Å"It’s not fair!† Sansa pushed back from her table, knocked over her chair, and ran weeping from the solar. Septa Mordane rose, but Ned gestured her back to her seat. â€Å"Let her go, Septa. I will try to make her understand when we are all safely back in Winterfell.† The septa bowed her head and sat down to finish her breakfast. It was an hour later when Grand Maester Pycelle came to Eddard Stark in his solar. His shoulders slumped, as if the weight of the great maester’s chain around his neck had become too great to bear. â€Å"My lord,† he said, â€Å"King Robert is gone. The gods give him rest.† â€Å"No,† Ned answered. â€Å"He hated rest. The gods give him love and laughter, and the joy of righteous battle.† It was strange how empty he felt. He had been expecting the visit, and yet with those words, something died within him. He would have given all his titles for the freedom to weep . . . but he was Robert’s Hand, and the hour he dreaded had come. â€Å"Be so good as to summon the members of the council here to my solar,† he told Pycelle. The Tower of the Hand was as secure as he and Tomard could make it; he could not say the same for the council chambers. â€Å"My lord?† Pycelle blinked. â€Å"Surely the affairs of the kingdom will keep till the morrow, when our grief is not so fresh.† Ned was quiet but firm. â€Å"I fear we must convene at once.† Pycelle bowed. â€Å"As the Hand commands.† He called his servants and sent them running, then gratefully accepted Ned’s offer of a chair and a cup of sweet beer. Ser Barristan Selmy was the first to answer the summons, immaculate in white cloak and enameled scales. â€Å"My lords,† he said, â€Å"my place is beside the young king now. Pray give me leave to attend him.† â€Å"Your place is here, Ser Barristan,† Ned told him. Littlefinger came next, still garbed in the blue velvets and silver mockingbird cape he had worn the night previous, his boots dusty from riding. â€Å"My lords,† he said, smiling at nothing in particular before he turned to Ned. â€Å"That little task you set me is accomplished, Lord Eddard.† Varys entered in a wash of lavender, pink from his bath, his plump face scrubbed and freshly powdered, his soft slippers all but soundless. â€Å"The little birds sing a grievous song today,† he said as he seated himself. â€Å"The realm weeps. Shall we begin?† â€Å"When Lord Renly arrives,† Ned said. Varys gave him a sorrowful look. â€Å"I fear Lord Renly has left the city.† â€Å"Left the city?† Ned had counted on Renly’s support. â€Å"He took his leave through a postern gate an hour before dawn, accompanied by Ser Loras Tyrell and some fifty retainers,† Varys told them. â€Å"When last seen, they were galloping south in some haste, no doubt bound for Storm’s End or Highgarden.† So much for Renly and his hundred swords. Ned did not like the smell of that, but there was nothing to be done for it. He drew out Robert’s last letter. â€Å"The king called me to his side last night and commanded me to record his final words. Lord Renly and Grand Maester Pycelle stood witness as Robert sealed the letter, to be opened by the council after his death. Ser Barristan, if you would be so kind?† The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard examined the paper. â€Å"King Robert’s seal, and unbroken.† He opened the letter and read. â€Å"Lord Eddard Stark is herein named Protector of the Realm, to rule as regent until the heir comes of age.† And as it happens, he is of age, Ned reflected, but he did not give voice to the thought. He trusted neither Pycelle nor Varys, and Ser Barristan was honor-bound to protect and defend the boy he thought his new king. The old knight would not abandon Joffrey easily. The need for deceit was a bitter taste in his mouth, but Ned knew he must tread softly here, must keep his counsel and play the game until he was firmly established as regent. There would be time enough to deal with the succession when Arya and Sansa were safely back in Winterfell, and Lord Stannis had returned to King’s Landing with all his power. â€Å"I would ask this council to confirm me as Lord Protector, as Robert wished,† Ned said, watching their faces, wondering what thoughts hid behind Pycelle’s half-closed eyes, Littlefinger’s lazy half-smile, and the nervous flutter of Varys’s fingers. The door opened. Fat Tom stepped into the solar. â€Å"Pardon, my lords, the king’s steward insists . . . â€Å" The royal steward entered and bowed. â€Å"Esteemed lords, the king demands the immediate presence of his small council in the throne room.† Ned had expected Cersei to strike quickly; the summons came as no surprise. â€Å"The king is dead,† he said, â€Å"but we shall go with you nonetheless. Tom, assemble an escort, if you would.† Littlefinger gave Ned his arm to help him down the steps. Varys, Pycelle, and Ser Barristan followed close behind. A double column of men-at-arms in chainmail and steel helms was waiting outside the tower, eight strong. Grey cloaks snapped in the wind as the guardsmen marched them across the yard. There was no Lannister crimson to be seen, but Ned was reassured by the number of gold cloaks visible on the ramparts and at the gates. Janos Slynt met them at the door to the throne room, armored in ornate black-and-gold plate, with a high-crested helm under one arm. The Commander bowed stiffly. His men pushed open the great oaken doors, twenty feet tall and banded with bronze. The royal steward led them in. â€Å"All hail His Grace, Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm,† he sang out. It was a long walk to the far end of the hall, where Joffrey waited atop the Iron Throne. Supported by Littlefinger, Ned Stark slowly limped and hopped toward the boy who called himself king. The others followed. The first time he had come this way, he had been on horseback, sword in hand, and the Targaryen dragons had watched from the walls as he forced Jaime Lannister down from the throne. He wondered if Joffrey would step down quite so easily. Five knights of the Kingsguard—all but Ser Jaime and Ser Barristan—were arrayed in a crescent around the base of the throne. They were in full armor, enameled steel from helm to heel, long pale cloaks over their shoulders, shining white shields strapped to their left arms. Cersei Lannister and her two younger children stood behind Ser Boros and Ser Meryn. The queen wore a gown of sea-green silk, trimmed with Myrish lace as pale as foam. On her finger was a golden ring with an emerald the size of a pigeon’s egg, on her head a matching tiara. Above them, Prince Joffrey sat amidst the barbs and spikes in a cloth-of-gold doublet and a red satin cape. Sandor Clegane was stationed at the foot of the throne’s steep narrow stair. He wore mail and soot-grey plate and his snarling dog’s-head helm. Behind the throne, twenty Lannister guardsmen waited with longswords hanging from their belts. Crimson cloaks draped their shoulders and steel lions crested their helms. But Littlefinger had kept his promise; all along the walls, in front of Robert’s tapestries with their scenes of hunt and battle, the gold-cloaked ranks of the City Watch stood stiffly to attention, each man’s hand clasped around the haft of an eight-foot-long spear tipped in black iron. They outnumbered the Lannisters five to one. Ned’s leg was a blaze of pain by the time he stopped. He kept a hand on Littlefinger’s shoulder to help support his weight. Joffrey stood. His red satin cape was patterned in gold thread; fifty roaring lions to one side, fifty prancing stags to the other. â€Å"I command the council to make all the necessary arrangements for my coronation,† the boy proclaimed. â€Å"I wish to be crowned within the fortnight. Today I shall accept oaths of fealty from my loyal councillors.† Ned produced Robert’s letter. â€Å"Lord Varys, be so kind as to show this to my lady of Lannister.† The eunuch carried the letter to Cersei. The queen glanced at the words. â€Å"Protector of the Realm,† she read. â€Å"Is this meant to be your shield, my lord? A piece of paper?† She ripped the letter in half, ripped the halves in quarters, and let the pieces flutter to the floor. â€Å"Those were the king’s words,† Ser Barristan said, shocked. â€Å"We have a new king now,† Cersei Lannister replied. â€Å"Lord Eddard, when last we spoke, you gave me some counsel. Allow me to return the courtesy. Bend the knee, my lord. Bend the knee and swear fealty to my son, and we shall allow you to step down as Hand and live out your days in the grey waste you call home.† â€Å"Would that I could,† Ned said grimly. If she was so determined to force the issue here and now, she left him no choice. â€Å"Your son has no claim to the throne he sits. Lord Stannis is Robert’s true heir.† â€Å"Liar!† Joffrey screamed, his face reddening. â€Å"Mother, what does he mean?† Princess Myrcella asked the queen plaintively. â€Å"Isn’t Joff the king now?† â€Å"You condemn yourself with your own mouth, Lord Stark,† said Cersei Lannister. â€Å"Ser Barristan, seize this traitor.† The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard hesitated. In the blink of an eye he was surrounded by Stark guardsmen, bare steel in their mailed fists. â€Å"And now the treason moves from words to deeds,† Cersei said. â€Å"Do you think Ser Barristan stands alone, my lord?† With an ominous rasp of metal on metal, the Hound drew his longsword. The knights of the Kingsguard and twenty Lannister guardsmen in crimson cloaks moved to support him. â€Å"Kill him!† the boy king screamed down from the Iron Throne. â€Å"Kill all of them, I command it!† â€Å"You leave me no choice,† Ned told Cersei Lannister. He called out to Janos Slynt. â€Å"Commander, take the queen and her children into custody. Do them no harm, but escort them back to the royal apartments and keep them there, under guard.† â€Å"Men of the Watch!† Janos Slynt shouted, donning his helm. A hundred gold cloaks leveled their spears and closed. â€Å"I want no bloodshed,† Ned told the queen. â€Å"Tell your men to lay down their swords, and no one need—† With a single sharp thrust, the nearest gold cloak drove his spear into Tomard’s back. Fat Tom’s blade dropped from nerveless fingers as the wet red point burst out through his ribs, piercing leather and mail. He was dead before his sword hit the floor. Ned’s shout came far too late. Janos Slynt himself slashed open Varly’s throat. Cayn whirled, steel flashing, drove back the nearest spearman with a flurry of blows; for an instant it looked as though he might cut his way free. Then the Hound was on him. Sandor Clegane’s first cut took off Cayn’s sword hand at the wrist; his second drove him to his knees and opened him from shoulder to breastbone. As his men died around him, Littlefinger slid Ned’s dagger from its sheath and shoved it up under his chin. His smile was apologetic. â€Å"I did warn you not to trust me, you know.† How to cite A Game of Thrones Chapter Forty-nine, Essay examples

Commonwealth Serum Laboratories

Question: Discuss about the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories. Answer: Company Description Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) is bio therapeutics company. It researches, manufactures new and innovative biotherapies used to save lives of people. Paul Perreault is the chief executive officer. The salary of Paul Perreault is $1771920 and he receives a bonus of 1139000 making the total compensation to be 2910920. The last dividend was paid by the company on 24th March of 81 cents AUD or 58cents in USD. The total assets of the company is $ 6401m in 2015. The company has more than 14000 employees and 1100 experts in the research and development areas. The 52 week high share price is 117.61 and the low share price is 85.40. Excel Spreadsheet Date Closing value CSL 4/29/2016 105.18 4/28/2016 103.94 4/27/2016 104.06 4/26/2016 104.38 4/25/2016 104.65 4/22/2016 104.65 4/21/2016 105 4/20/2016 104.25 4/19/2016 103.5 4/18/2016 103.37 4/15/2016 101.58 4/14/2016 99.93 4/13/2016 100.59 4/12/2016 100 4/11/2016 100.19 4/8/2016 101.25 4/7/2016 101.44 4/6/2016 100.35 4/5/2016 99.39 4/4/2016 101.31 4/1/2016 101 3/31/2016 101.44 3/30/2016 100.36 3/29/2016 98.57 3/28/2016 102.2 3/25/2016 102.2 3/24/2016 102.2 3/23/2016 100.63 3/22/2016 101.67 3/21/2016 100.5 3/18/2016 100.1 3/17/2016 101.85 3/16/2016 102.3 3/15/2016 102.35 3/14/2016 103.59 3/11/2016 103.58 3/10/2016 103.15 3/9/2016 104.7 3/8/2016 102.43 3/7/2016 103.15 Date Closing value of ASX 200 29-Apr-16 5,252.20 28-Apr-16 5,225.40 27-Apr-16 5,187.70 26-Apr-16 5,220.60 22-Apr-16 5,236.40 21-Apr-16 5,272.70 20-Apr-16 5,216.00 19-Apr-16 5,188.80 18-Apr-16 5,137.10 15-Apr-16 5,157.50 14-Apr-16 5,118.60 13-Apr-16 5,054.70 12-Apr-16 4,975.60 11-Apr-16 4,931.50 8-Apr-16 4,937.60 7-Apr-16 4,964.10 6-Apr-16 4,945.90 5-Apr-16 4,924.40 4-Apr-16 4,995.30 1-Apr-16 4,999.40 31-Mar-16 5,082.80 30-Mar-16 5,010.30 29-Mar-16 5,004.50 24-Mar-16 5,084.20 23-Mar-16 5,142.30 22-Mar-16 5,166.60 21-Mar-16 5,166.60 18-Mar-16 5,183.10 17-Mar-16 5,168.20 16-Mar-16 5,119.00 15-Mar-16 5,111.40 14-Mar-16 5,185.50 11-Mar-16 5,166.40 10-Mar-16 5,150.10 9-Mar-16 5,157.20 8-Mar-16 5,108.00 7-Mar-16 5,142.80 29-Apr-16 5,252.20 28-Apr-16 5,225.40 27-Apr-16 5,187.70 Overview It can be seen that the CSL shares performed similarly to the ASX200. With the decline of the ASX200, the share prices of CSL also declined till April and later both increased in similar proportions. 1. The major news for CSL for the given period are: 2. The company CSL Behring awards LEAD grants to help rare disease patient groups. The share price increased by 2.2% on 9th 3. The company announced dividends on 24th March and the share prices increased by 1.56%. 4. The share price decreased by 3.55% on 29th The ASX200 decreased by 98 points on the same day. 5. The company announced medicine for Hemophilia B in US on 21st The share prices increased after declining continuously for a week. 6. CSL Behring celebrates 100 years on 25th The prices increased by 1.1% on this day. The news have been published on Wsjcom. (2016). Wsjcom. Retrieved from https://quotes.wsj.com/AU/XASX/CSL Gain from shares Share Price on 7th March = $103.15 Thus Number of shares of CSL purchased for $5000= 48.47 ~48 shares The price of the shares on 29th April = $105.18 Thus the total price of the shares = 48*105.18 = 5048.64 Thus profit from the shares = $48.64 Buy/ Sell shares The company has started growing again with the increase in shares prices. The calculation of various ratios shows that the company has improved its profitability ratios and the net profits has also increased compared to previous year. The company is one of the biggest player in the industry and has huge growth potential. Also the company has acquired Novartis Influenza will help company increase sales and the company has planned huge investments in RD. Thus in the coming future, the company will be able to capitalize on these investments. Hence it makes more sense to hold on the current investments. Key Financial Data 2015 US$m Revenue 5458.6 Interest Expense 59.6 EBIT 1773.6 Net Profit Before Tax 1714 Net Profit After Tax 1379 Current Assets 3339.1 Total Assets 6401 Current Liabilities 936.1 Total Liabilities 3654.1 Total Equity 2746.9 Ratio Analysis Profitability Ratio The following are the profitability ratios Gross margin ratio = Gross profit/ Total sales Operating margin = Operating profit/ Total sales Return on Assets = Average total Assets/ Total sales For CSL, CSL 2015 2014 Gross Margin 0.522607 0.511884 Return on assets 1.161351 1.176745 Operating margin 0.314 0.300724 It can be seen that the gross margin of the company has increased since the last year. Thus the company has reduced the additional expenses and increased profitability. The operating margin has also improved. Thus the costs related to the sales and other administrative expenses are better utilized to improve profits. The return on assets tell the additionally increase in sales due to additional assets by the company. The return on assets has decreased. Thus the company should focus on utilizing its assets in a better way to improve the net profits. The biggest competitor of CSL is Baxter. The profitability ratios of Baxter are Baxter 2015 Gross Margin 0.415931 Return on assets 2.363212 Operating margin 0.045044 CSL has performed better than Baxter in case of profitability margin but the company needs to utilize its assets in a better way. Activity ratio The following are the Activity ratios Inventory Turnover ratio = Cost of goods sold/ Average Inventory Total assets turnover = Sales / Average total assets Accounts Payable to sales ratio = Accounts Payable/ Sales For CSL, 2015 2014 Inventory turnover 1.532 1.583 Total assets turnover 0.861 0.849 Accounts Payable to sales ratio 0.128 0.118 Thus the figures of activity ratio shows that the company has decreased inventory ratio compared to last year. Thus the company had more capital tied up in the inventory compared to last year. The accounts payable to sales ratios shows that the company has more creditors per unit of sale. Thus the creditors are willing to lend more to the company. Thus overall the company has improved since last year. Baxter 2015 Inventory turnover 3.660 Total assets turnover 0.423 Accounts Payable to sales ratio 0.267 Comparing with Baxter, it can be seen the company has better activity ratios than CSL. Liquidity Ratio The following are the Activity ratios For CSL, 2015 2014 Current ratio 3.567 3.795 Quick Ratio 1.692 1.848 Interest times earned ratio 29.758 31.270 All the ratios have decreased when compared to the previous year. The higher the current and quick ratio, the better it is for company to pay its current liabilities. The company should focus on improving its Liquidity ratio which might be low because of its acquisition of Novartis Influenza Baxter 2015 Current ratio 2.051 Quick Ratio 1.773 Interest times earned ratio 3.563 Comparing with Baxter, CSL has better interest earned ratio and current ratio than that of Baxter. However, the company has more investment in inventory which reduces its quick ratio References Accounts Payable (A/P) to sales ratio. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/accounts-payable-A-P-to-sales-ratio.html Profitability Ratios. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.myaccountingcourse.com/financial-ratios/profitability-ratios Liquidity ratios. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/liquidityratios.asp Activity ratios. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/activityratio.asp Profitability Ratios. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/profitabilityratios.asp Corporate Profile CSL. (n.d.). Retrieved from www.csl.com.au/s1/cs/auhq/1187378980806/content/1255929310417/content.htm Baxter annual report 2015. Retrieved from https://investor.baxter.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=86121p=irol-reportsannual Yahoo finance. (n.d). Retrieved from https://au.finance.yahoo.com/q/hp?s=ASX.AX