Chapter 18 Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

It took a few seconds for the absurdity of this statement to sink in. Then Ron voiced what Harry was thinking. â€Å"You're both mental.† â€Å"Ridiculous!† said Hermione faintly. â€Å"Peter Pettigrew's dead!† said Harry. â€Å"He killed him twelve years ago!† He pointed at Black, whose face twitched convulsively. â€Å"I meant to,† he growled, his yellow teeth bared, â€Å"but little Peter got the better of me†¦not this time, though!† And Crookshanks was thrown to the floor as Black lunged at Scabbers; Ron yelled with pain as Black's weight fell on his broken leg. â€Å"Sirius, NO!† Lupin yelled, launching himself forwards and dragging Black away from Ron again, â€Å"WAIT! You can't do it just like that — they need to understand — we've got to explain –â€Å" â€Å"We can explain afterwards!† snarled Black, trying to throw Lupin off. One hand was still clawing the air as it tried to reach Scabbers, who was squealing like a piglet, scratching Ron's face and neck as he tried to escape. â€Å"They've — got — a — right — to — know — everything!† Lupin panted, still trying to restrain Black. â€Å"Ron's kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don't understand, and Harry — you owe Harry the truth, Sirius!† Black stopped struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still fixed on Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched, and bleeding hands. â€Å"All right, then,† Black said, without taking his eyes off the rat. â€Å"Tell them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You're nutters, both of you,† said Ron shakily, looking round at Harry and Hermione for support. â€Å"I've had enough of this. I'm off.† He tried to heave himself up on his good leg, but Lupin raised his wand again, pointing it at Scabbers. â€Å"You're going to hear me out, Ron,† he said quietly. â€Å"Just keep a tight hold on Peter while you listen.† â€Å"HE'S NOT PETER, HE'S SCABBERS!† Ron yelled, trying to force the rat back into his front pocket, but Scabbers was fighting too hard; Ron swayed and overbalanced, and Harry caught him am pushed him back down to the bed. Then, ignoring Black, Harry turned to Lupin. â€Å"There were witnesses who saw Pettigrew die,† he said. â€Å"A whole street full of them†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"They didn't see what they thought they saw!† said Black savagely, still watching Scabbers struggling in Ron's hands. â€Å"Everyone thought Sirius killed Peter,† said Lupin, nodding. â€Å"I believed it myself — until I saw the map tonight. Because the Marauder's map never lies†¦Peter's alive. Ron's holding him, Harry.† Harry looked down at Ron, and as their eyes met, they agreed, silently: Black and Lupin were both out of their minds. Their story made no sense whatsoever. How could Scabbers be Peter Pettigrew? Azkaban must have unhinged Black after all — but why was Lupin playing along with him? Then Hermione spoke, in a trembling, would-be calm sort of voice, as though trying to will Professor Lupin to talk sensibly. â€Å"But Professor Lupin†¦Scabbers can't be Pettigrew†¦it just can't be true, you know it can't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Why can't it be true?† Lupin said calmly, as though they were in class, and Hermione had simply spotted a problem in an experiment with Grindylows. â€Å"Because†¦ because people would know if Peter Pettigrew had been an Animagus. We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall. And I looked them up when I did my homework — the Ministry of Magic keeps tabs on witches and wizards who can become animals; there's a register showing what animal they become, and their markings and things†¦and I went and looked Professor McGonagall up on the register, and there have been only seven Animagi this century, and Pettigrew's name wasn't on the list.† Harry had barely had time to marvel inwardly at the effort Hermione put into her homework, when Lupin started to laugh. â€Å"Right again, Hermione!† he said. â€Å"But the Ministry never knew that here used to be three unregistered Animagi running around Hogwarts.† â€Å"If you're going to tell them the story, get a move on, Remus,† said Black, who was still watching Scabbers's every desperate move. â€Å"I've waited twelve years, I'm not going to wait much longer.† â€Å"All right†¦but you'll need to help me, Sirius,† said Lupin, â€Å"I only know how it began†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Lupin broke off. There had been a loud creak behind him. The bedroom door had opened of its own accord. All five of them stared at it. Then Lupin strode toward it and looked out into the landing. â€Å"No one there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"This place is haunted!† said Ron. â€Å"It's not,' said Lupin, still looking at the door in a puzzled way. â€Å"The Shrieking Shack was never haunted†¦The screams and howls the villagers used to hear were made by me.† He pushed his graying hair out of his eyes, thought for a moment then said, â€Å"That's where all of this starts — with my becoming a werewolf, None of this could have happened if I hadn't been bitter†¦and if I hadn't been so foolhardy†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He looked sober and tired. Ron started to interrupt, but Hermione, said, â€Å"Shh!† She was watching Lupin very intently. â€Å"I as a very small boy when I received the bite. My parents tried everything, but in those days there was no cure. The potion that Professor Snape has been making for me is a very recent discovery. It makes me safe, you see. As long as I take it in the week, preceding the full moon, I keep my mind when I transform†¦I'm able to curl up in my office, a harmless wolf, and wait for the moon to wane again. â€Å"Before the Wolfsbane Potion was discovered, however, I became a fully fledged monster once a month. It seemed impossible that I would be able to come to Hogwarts. Other parents weren't likely to want their children exposed to me. â€Å"But then Dumbledore became Headmaster, and he was sympathetic. He said that as long as we took certain precautions, there was no reason I shouldn't come to school†¦.† Lupin sighed, and looked directly at Harry. â€Å"I told you, months ago, that the Whomping Willow was planted the year I came to Hogwarts. The truth is that it was planted because I came to Hogwarts. This house† — Lupin looked miserably around the room, — â€Å"the tunnel that leads to it — they were built for my use. Once a month, I was smuggled out of the castle, into this place, to transform. The tree was placed at the tunnel mouth to stop anyone coming across me while I was dangerous.† Harry couldn't see where this story was going, but he was listening raptly all the same. The only sound apart from Lupin's voice was Scabbers's frightened squeaking. â€Å"My transformations in those days were — were terrible. It is very painful to turn into a werewolf. I was separated from humans to bite, so I bit and scratched myself instead. The villagers heard the noise and the screaming and thought they were hearing particularly violent spirits. Dumbledore encouraged the rumor†¦Even now, when the house has been silent for years, the villagers don't dare approach it†¦.† â€Å"But apart from my transformations, I was happier than I had ever been in my life. For the first time ever, I had friends, three great friends. Sirius Black†¦Peter Pettigrew†¦and, of course, your father, Harry — James Potter.† â€Å"Now, my three friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappeared once a month. I made up all sorts of stories. I told them my mother was ill, and that I had to go home to see her†¦I was terrified they would desert me the moment they found out what I was. But of course, they, like you, Hermione, worked out the truth†¦.† â€Å"And they didn't desert me at all. Instead, they did something for me that would make my transformations not only bearable, but the best times of my life. They became Animagi.† â€Å"My dad too?† said Harry, astounded. â€Å"Yes, indeed,† said Lupin. â€Å"It took them the best part of three years to work out how to do it. Your father and Sirius here were the cleverest students in the school, and lucky they were, because the Animagus transformation can go horribly wrong — one reason the Ministry keeps a close watch on those attempting to do it. Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius. Finally, in our fifth year, they managed it. They could each turn into a different animal at will.† â€Å"But how did that help you?† said Hermione, sounding puzzled. â€Å"They couldn't keep me company as humans, so they kept me company as animals,† said Lupin. â€Å"A werewolf is only a danger to people. They sneaked out of the castle every month under James's Invisibility Cloak. They transformed†¦Peter, as the smallest, could slip beneath the Willow's attacking branches and touch the knot that freezes it. They would then slip down the tunnel and join me. Under their influence, I became less dangerous. My body was still wolfish, but my mind seemed to become less so while I was with them.† â€Å"Hurry up, Remus,† snarled Black, who was still watching Scabbers with a horrible sort of hunger on his face. â€Å"I'm getting there, Sirius, I'm getting there†¦well, highly exciting possibilities were open to us now that we could all transform. Soon we were leaving the Shrieking Shack and roaming the school grounds and the village by night. Sirius and James transformed into such large animals, they were able to keep a werewolf in check. I doubt whether any Hogwarts students ever found out more about the Hogwarts grounds and Hogsmeade than we did†¦ And that's how we came to write the Marauder's Map, and sign it with our nicknames. Sirius is Padfoot. Peter is Wormtail. James was Prongs.† â€Å"What sort of animal –?† Harry began, but Hermione cut him off. â€Å"That was still really dangerous! Running around in the dark with a werewolf! What if you'd given the others the slip, and bitten somebody?† â€Å"A thought that still haunts me,† said Lupin heavily. â€Å"And there were near misses, many of them. We laughed about them afterwards. We were young, thoughtless — carried away with our own cleverness.† â€Å"I sometimes felt guilty about betraying Dumbledore's trust, of course†¦he had admitted me to Hogwarts when no other headmaster would have done so, and he had no idea I was breaking the rules he had set down for my own and others' safety. He never knew I had led three fellow students into becoming Animagi illegally. But I always managed to forget my guilty feelings every time we sat down to plan our next month's adventure. And I haven't changed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Lupin's face had hardened, and there was self-disgust in his voice. â€Å"All this year, I have been battling with myself, wondering whether I should tell Dumbledore that Sirius was an Animagus. But I didn't do it. Why? Because I was too cowardly. It would have meant admitting that I'd betrayed his trust while I was at school, admitting that I'd led others along with me†¦and Dumbledore's trust has meant everything to me. He let me into Hogwarts as a boy, and he gave me a job when I have been shunned all my adult life, unable to find paid work because of what I am. And so I convinced myself that Sirius was getting into the school using dark arts he learned from Voldemort, that being an Animagus had nothing to do with it†¦so, in a way, Snape's been right about me all along.† â€Å"Snape?† said Black harshly, taking his eyes off Scabbers; for the first time in minutes and looking up at Lupin. â€Å"What's Snape got to do with it?† â€Å"He's here, Sirius,† said Lupin heavily. â€Å"He's teaching here as well.† He looked up at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. â€Å"Professor Snape was at school with us. He fought very hard against my appointment to the Defense Against the Dark Arts job. He has been telling Dumbledore all year that I am not to be trusted. He has his reasons†¦you see, Sirius here played a trick on him which nearly killed him, a trick which involved me –â€Å" Black made a derisive noise. â€Å"It served him right,† he sneered. â€Å"Sneaking around, trying to find out what we were up to†¦hoping he could get us expelled†¦.† â€Å"Severus was very interested in where I went every month.† Lupin told Harry, Ron, and Hermione. â€Å"We were in the same year, you know, and we — er — didn't like each other very much. He especially disliked James. Jealous, I think, of James's talent on the Quidditch field†¦anyway Snape had seen me crossing the grounds with Madam Pomfrey one evening as she led me toward the Whomping Willow to transform. Sirius thought it would be — er — amusing, to tell Snape all he had to do was prod the knot on the tree trunk with a long stick, and he'd be able to get in after me. Well, of course, Snape tried it — if he'd got as far as this house, he'd have met a fully grown werewolf — but your father, who'd heard what Sirius had done, went after Snape and pulled him back, at great risk to his life†¦Snape glimpsed me, though, at the end of the tunnel. He was forbidden by Dumbledore to tell anybody, but from that time on he knew what I was†¦.† â€Å"So that's why Snape doesn't like you,† said Harry slowly, â€Å"because he thought you were in on the joke?† â€Å"That's right,† sneered a cold voice from the wall behind Lupin. Severus Snape was pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his wand pointing directly at Lupin.

Oil Drilling and Gas Extraction Industry in the US Analysis

DATE: September 16, 2012 TO: Patricia Bennett, Supervising Principal FROM: Connor Sims, Associate SUBJECT: Oil Drilling & Gas Extraction Industry in the US Analysis (21111) This report presents information regarding the industry, the primary operator of oil and gas field properties. The industry fuels its key buyers, the Natural Gas Distribution (22121) and the Petroleum Refining (32411) industries, with crude oil and natural gas. The industry continuously battles a shortage of available oil. In addition, many major oil fields have been in use for decades, slowly waning.Currently, the industry grosses among the most profitable in the US despite these and similar obstacles. The benefits of investing here potentially outweigh concerning risks. Because of the esteemed value of the industry’s products, consistent demand for its products, and its positive near-future outlook, diversification into this industry may produce rewarding profitability in the short-term. High Product Valu e Crude Oil Prices The key economic driver for the Oil Drilling & Gas Extraction Industry, crude oil prices, determines much of its profitability according to supply and demand.Price trends in West Texas Intermediate, a grade of crude oil used as a benchmark in oil pricing, display the growth of its value in the past 3 years and past decade. An average barrel of crude oil grew from $26. 18 in 2002 to $61. 95 in 2009, $79. 48 in 2010, and $94. 87 in 2011 (Airlines, 2012). JP Morgan analysts project average annual prices above $99 in upcoming years (Sethuraman, 2012). Such upward growth points to lucrative profits. Natural Gas Outlook Natural gas production accounts for 41. 6% of industry revenue in 2012. Prices n natural gas reached a 10-year low in April this year, but have erupted by more than 70% since (Hargreaves, 2012). Natural gas has seen an abundantly large output due to recent discoveries of natural gas in the Appalachian Basin; this large supply has kept prices relatively l ow recently, leaving opportunity for even higher profitability in future years. Consistent Demand Fueling US Industries The Oil Drilling & Gas Extraction Industry is the sole supply industry for its two demand industries, Petroleum Refining and Natural Gas Distribution (Hersch).The US internally consumes 19,150,000 barrels of oil per day, doubling the world’s second largest consumer, China (Index, 2012). IBIS World describes the industry’s demand industries as â€Å"mature,† assuring the stable demand for our industry’s products (Hersch). Rising Exports, Foreign Buyers Current international relations appear conducive to this industry’s profitability. In 2011, for the first time since 1949, the US exported more refined oil than it imported (Winters, 2012); this evidences the success between the supply industry and its demand industries detailed above.Additionally, oil exports to China will surge as it industrializes quickly. China’s exponenti ally growing demand leads to worldwide price increases (Hersch). Any increases, particularly increase this substantial, raise the WTI average price per barrel, increasing profitability. Positive Current Standing Favorable Market Concentration The four largest firms in the industry comprise of approximately 30. 0% of total revenue (Hersch, 2012). Market share concentration is low, allowing firms of any size to portion the industry’s $345. 9 billion revenue this year.The competitive aspect of entering this industry would not be a difficult obstacle to overcome. Profit Margin The Oil Drilling and Gas Extraction Industry reels in a significantly larger margin in comparison to related industries. 46% of all industry revenue goes to profit, higher than the average for the entire mining sector, 39. 2% (Hersch, 2012). In 2008, the industry returned the 7th highest profit margin among US industries (Hargreaves). Profit margins have increased in the past 5 years as result of rising cru de oil prices. Risks and Concerns Barriers of EntryMost major oil and gas producers integrate services beyond drilling and extracting; many dualize as refining or distribution firms, circumventing demand industries en route to more direct profitability. New firms lacking this versatility may find an obstacle upon entry to the industry (Hersch, 2012). Additionally, firms in this industry must specialize in exploration and discovery for oil and gas resources. Firms may struggle finding initial success in this role due to the limited nature of resources. Long-term Resource Depletion ‘Peak oil’ refers to the prime of any field’s production, after which goes into terminal decline.Most major US oil fields are beyond peak oil. The largest US oil field, Prudhoe Bay, has been depleting since 1979 (Prudhoe, 2012). The US Energy Information Administration indicates much production, particularly in the Alaskan North Slope, depends on world oil prices (Energy, 2012). Geophysi cists and politicians debate over specifications regarding overall US peak oil, arguing the year in which US peak oil occurred. International Comparison In addition to the US peak oil situation, the US Oil Drilling and Gas Extraction Industry faces heavy foreign market competition.In 2011, the US ranked 3rd in oil production, behind Saudi Arabia and Russia (Energy, 2012). Saudi Arabia’s OPEC governor expects Saudi output to rise steadily beyond 2030 with a 1. 5 million barrel per day spare production capacity then (Energy, 2012). Russia holds the world’s largest natural gas reserves, and its fuel exports have steadily increased since each year since 1999 (Energy, 2012). Conclusion Despite entry risks and threats of limited resources, evidence supports the likelihood of success for us to diversify into the industry under certain stipulations.A new firm will implicitly face the challenge of exploring for land not already claimed by another firm. Additionally, alternative methods of energy will irrefutably have to replace oil drilling and gas extraction within an uncertain future; the remaining supply simply cannot match the demand forever. Two central obstacles hesitate immediate diversification: a barrier of entry and a negative long-term outlook. However, we must decide whether the benefits outweigh the concerns. World prices of oil and gas and China’s growing demand directly affect profitability.Because evidence above shows substantial progress in both of these drivers with a very positive short-term outlook, diversification must be considered. If presence in the industry can be established quickly and will remain only until profitability falls, I recommend diversification. References Airlines For America (2012). Annual Crude Oil and Jet Fuel Prices. http://www. airlines. org/Pages/Annual-Crude-Oil-and- Jet-Fuel-Prices. aspx.. Retrieved September 16, 2012. Energy Information Administration (2012). Project Alaska North Slope oil production at risk beyond 2025 if oil prices drop sharply. Today In Energy. http://www. ia. gov/todayinenergy/detail. cfm? id=7970 Retrieved September 16, 2012. Prudhoe Bay Fact Sheet (2012). British Petroleum. www. bp. com/assets/bp†¦ us†¦ /A03_prudhoe_bay_fact_sheet. pdf Retrieved September 16, 2012. Hargreaves, Steve (2012). Natural gas prices surge 70%. CNN Money. http://money. cnn. com/2012/07/24/investing/natural-gas- – prices/index. htm. Retrieved September 16, 2012. Hersch, Laura. (2012). IBIS World Industry Report 21111. Oil Drilling & Extraction In the US. Retrieved September 16, 2012 from IBIS World Database. How the US Uses Oil (2012). Alternative Energy. Retrieved September 16, 2012. ttp://alternativeenergy. procon. org/view. resource. php? resourceID=001797 Index Mundi (2012). http://www. indexmundi. com/g/r. aspx? c=us&v=91. Retrieved September 16, 2012. Sethuraman, Nathan (2012). Poll: Increasing numbers see oil below $100 in 2013, 2014. Reuters. http://www. r euters. com/article/2012/06/27/us-oil-poll- idUSBRE85Q14720120627. Retrieved September 16, 2012. Winter, Michael (2012). U. S. Exported more gasoline than imported last year. USA Today. http://content. usatoday. com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/0 2/us-exported-more-gasoline-than-imported-last-year/1#. UFav7BhGhgI

Atticus Equality

Atticus FCA’s 1. Effective Introduction and Conclusion _________/ 10 Points 2. The character’s point of view of equality is supported with relevant direct quotes from TKAM and explained in writer's own words (body paragraphs)  _______/ 25 1. Topic sentences 2. Two direct quotes (examples) integrated with signal phrases 3. Two direct quotes are thoroughly explained/connected to thesis and topic sentences 4. MLA in-text citation for each direct quote from text 3.Present-tense verbs; no I/You statements; comma usage   _________/ 5 Equality is being equal in status, rights, and opportunities. In the novel â€Å"To Kill a Mocking Bird† written by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch a father of two children, plays an important role in the story. He sets an example for his children who are beginning to grow up. Atticus doesn’t believe all men fit the description of being equal in America. Although no one is born equal, he decides to treat everyone equal.Atticus believe s that men aren’t equal; he feels men aren’t born equal at all. Some are born having more opportunities. â€Å"We know all men are not created in the sense some people would have us believe-some people are smarter than others, some people have more opportunity than others, some ladies make better cakes than others-some people are born gifted beyond the normal scope of most men† (Lee 205). Atticus shows that there is no such thing as men being equal. He explains that life isn’t the fairest thing and it will always be that way.He then goes on and explains that men aren’t equals in life, but in court they are. â€Å"But there is one way in this country in which all men are created equal-there is one human institution that makes a pauper the equal of a Rockefeller, the stupid man the equal of an Einstein, and the ignorant man the equal of any college president. That institution, gentlemen, is a court† (Lee 205). He says this to prove his point t o the jury that Tom Robinson should be treated equally in this case, and the case should be taken seriously.He knows Tom isn’t considered an equal to a white female, to the jury. He doesn’t believe he is either, but in court he should be. Atticus has a certain point of view on equality. He knows not everyone is equal in life, and no one is born equal. He believes the only time men are equal is in the courtroom. Equality affects the story based off how many times it is used and exemplified. It shows how people should be treated in real life situations.

John Locke and Land Ownership Essay

John Locke in The Second Treatise of Civil Government makes several key arguments about what makes land ownable, these ideologies differ from how land ownership works in America but it is easy to see how America’s early days could have aligned with this ideology. In this paper I will focus on two key principles that Locke believed in that are basic requirements for land ownership. The first of these is that land ownership is obtained through labor and that items on the land have no value until labor is applied and the second describes government’s role in land ownership as simply being that the labor applied to land precedes government and government cannot dispose of the estates of the subjects arbitrarily and instead should be limited to securing the life and property of its citizens, and is only necessary because in an ideal, anarchic state of nature, various problems arise that would make life more insecure than under the protection of a minimal state. These two principles allow for the easy identification of claimed lands. While at the same time provide the motivation and encouragement to individuals so that they will want to find land that they can then harness through labor and thus make their own land. It is because of these reasons and more that land ownership through labor is a must for a successful society and a functioning government. In order to ensure that these principles are being viewed and judge from the same sense of meaning a few key words need to be defined as used in this paper. The term land ownership is vital to this paper and its meaning will be defined as, â€Å"the owner of contiguous property that has been improved upon from nature to provide for one’s living†. The term labor will only be used in reference to labor upon an individual’s land and will reference, â€Å"human time and effort put in to a particular task†. The term government will reference only the actual ruling body that â€Å"influences daily life based on policies and procedures they enact†. At the last term reward will refer to, â€Å"an item or exchange of labor promised or normally expected given in exchange for labor or with no expectation of any kind of return. The principle that labor is a prerequisite to land ownership fits in perfectly with the needs and situation of the early American nation. Outside of key city areas a majority of this nation’s land was unclaimed and unused bearing none of the fruits of labor and essentially leaving all of its value unclaimed and untouched. With a bounty of land larger than anyone person could actually work and apply labor to, it made sense to encourage land expansion. With land expansion individuals could claim land through labor and the value and goods on that land would no longer go to waste as unused items that could have benefitted society as a whole. The second principle helps to place limits on what the government can do once a parcel of land is owned by an individual. It is safe to say that any reasonable person would not like to see their possessions and livelihood wiped away with one fell swoop, but if governments have no restrictions in the use of their power it would be all too easy to force someone from their land, effectively robbing them of all their possessions and the livelihood that past labor has brought them. This is why Locke insisted that the government role in land owner ship remain limited in scope only to the extent that is needed to ensure this doesn’t happen. Without this assurance from governmental takeover acts similar to his could become standard practice. An unjust government might routinely perform these actions, unjustly claiming the land. This would result in a diminishment of the value of labor and would remove the incentives to work land and would result in a decrease in goods. Because of this looming threat it is clear that government must have some restrictions on acquiring land to avoid unjust actions and encourage a general sense of trust and security in the government. A government that is without citizens that have some sort of trust and security provided by having a reliable, continual and trustworthy shelter is bound to fail since this is a basic need of humans in general. Modern science can help prove the stress and additional energy expenditure humans endure if they can’t find a sense of comfort, safety and belonging a study performed by Dr. Gilman while at Princeton University showed, â€Å"humans that are in constant fear of loss of shelter expend an average of 2900 calories daily† (Gilman 03/01/2012), along with this extra energy expenditure a lack of shelter creates stress that in turn creates a reduction in productivity. This stress can actually change the human brain reaction method resulting in it , â€Å"going from more sophisticated but slower modes to the faster behaviors of the older brains when we are under stress† (Gilman 03/01/2012). This change in brain behavior limits creative thinking and essentially devolves human thought to a lower state this combined with the increased calories expenditure creates a vast pool of diminished talent that when viewed in a large scale population level, results in a huge waste of resources that could be easily reduced by the assurance of land ownership and security. The easiest way for a government to meet this need is to let individuals provide additional goods to society by applying labor to their land thereby reducing their energy requirements and providing goods for the benefit of all. With all the complications that are possible when it comes to providing for the needs of the many, it only makes to allow individuals the freedom of land ownership that will help reduce their needs while simultaneously benefitting others. This notion of having some sort of fruit from your labor is fundamental to increasing one’s value and having a desire to perform work that can be beneficial to all. A study from Yale University performed by Dr. Greene helps to illustrate just how deeply rooted this concept is into human psychology, an individual will work perform work equivalent to their valuation of a reward. The study was meant to determine the amount of work an individual would perform without a reward versus the amount of work performed for a reward. The study concluded that, â€Å"any individual who was assigned a tasked performed that task to completion with more detail and more efficiently when rewarded as compared to no reward† (Mark et al. 1978). This study helps to demonstrate that human psychology insists that any individual will perform more work and therefore be a more productive member of society if only that individual receives something for the labor they put in. As mentioned earlier if an individual lives under constant threat of having everything taken from them it is essentially making them perform labor on their land without a reward resulting in less work being performed and less goods for all of mankind, the only solution that removes this fear is placing limits on when and if a government can take someone’s land from them. With removal of this fear an individual can and likely will utilize labor to its fullest extend thereby adding value to the land. It is clear that the benefits of land ownership as defined through the use of labor allows for the creation of the best society possible, one that can help to provide for mankind as a whole, increase the value and abilities of its citizens that actively partake and utilizes the resources at hand to the best of its abilities without waste and undue stress. A society that is free of these constraints and provided with the best possible reward for work and sense of security can only flourish and enjoy the fruits of their labor helping to create the best future possible. Works Cited: Gilman, Robert. Context Institute, â€Å"The Inside Story Understanding the structure of the brain. † Last modified 03/01/2012. Accessed September 22, 2012. Mark, Lepper, and Greene David. Lawrence Erlbaum, â€Å"The Hidden costs of reward : new perspectives of the psychology of human motivation. † Last modified 1978. Accessed September 22, 2012.

Balance Theory Essay

Introduction Good Evening ladies and gentlemen my name is xxxxx and today I shall enlighten you about a very interesting theory concerning consumer behaviour and Marketing. As practicing marketers, we are well aware of the impact that a celebrities endorsement can have on consumer behaviour but I am pretty sure most of you wouldn’t know the reasoning behind such a phenomenon. What is the Balance Theory? Ever wondered why firms use celebrities to endorse their products? Well wonder no further because Fritz Heider proposed with his Balance theory that people attempt to maintain a psychological balance and form relationships that balance out their likes and dislikes. For example if Person A likes a celebrity and the celebrity likes a product but Person A originally disliked the product, then Person A is likely to end up increasing his enjoyment of the product or decreasing his liking of the celebrity or both. All these options create equilibrium. As marketers, it is our goal to achieve market the product successfully to the target audience. For example if we were to use Michael Jordan to market golfing products, then the target consumer would most likely end up disliking the product. However, if we were to use Tiger Woods to market the golfing products, then consumers of golfing products would most likely end up liking the products. The Balance Theory Explained So the Balance Theory is made up of a Triangle that consists of 3 elements. The relationship between these 3 elements is known as sentiment relations. So the first element is PO, the second element is PX and the third element is OX. If the results of the multiplication of the positive or negative signs of any 2 elements yields a positive result, then the consistency in the triad is maintained and vice versa. This model may seem complicated but it is in essence very basic. So let me simplify this for you with an example. Positive Example Let us assume P is John a basketball fan, O is Michael Jordan a celebrity Basketball player and X is the product being marketed and in this case let’s assume it is a limited edition basketball. So if John is a fan of Michael Jordan, then the sentimental relation PO will be positive. Since Michael Jordan is approves of the product he endorsed, the relationship OX is positive too. Therefore, by default, PX would be positive too. Negative Example However, say if P were to remain John, O were to become Tiger Woods and X were to become a golf set, then PO would become negative since Tiger Woods is a golfer and hence John would not be able to relate to him, OX would remain positive since Tiger Woods loves the product he is endorsing and the eventual result of this would be a negative PX which would mean consistency in the Triad is not maintained and that the celebrity endorsement has not been successful in promoting this product to the consumer. Importance of this theory to us This theory is of interest to us as future marketers as it helps us understand consumer behaviour and psychology with regards to mascots used to endorse/market a product. It also educates us on the 3 way relationship that transpires between product, celebrity and consumer and in turn, we would be able to market our products using the correct celebrities for the correct product. The End And that ladies and gentlemen concludes my presentation on Fritz Heider’s Balance Theory. Thank you all for your kind attention. Bibliography 1. http://www.investorwords.com/15193/balance_theory.html 2. http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/balance_theory.htm 3. Roy, Subhadip, Gammoh, Bashar S., Koh Anthony C. (2012). Predicting the effectiveness of celebrity endorsements using the balance theory..Journal of Customer Behaviour. 11 (1), p33-52.

Tasty Meals Ltd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Tasty Meals Ltd - Essay Example In these regards, investors worry that eventually severe regulations may be enacted against the company. In terms of ethical responsibility to labor rates, this is a complex issue, as one must consider that market forces in the Philippines have led to people in the region working for this rate; still, it ultimately seems that Tasty Meals Ltd. should take a more responsible approach to employee safety and broader human rights concerns. 2. To an extent Tasty Meals Ltd. should be held accountable for their high-calorie foods. When customers visit the restaurant, especially as these restaurants contain come-ons to children through toys, they expect a reasonable expectation of health and safety. While in a free market customers have unlimited options, this does not necessitate that organizations can completely neglect health. Ultimately it seems that at the least Tasty Meals Ltd. should provide healthy options on the menu for customers. 3. It is not reasonable to demand that Tasty Meals L td. give up disposable tableware and containers because it is unfriendly to the environment. It is the government’s responsibility to place regulations on the use of such materials. Still, the backlash the organization has received is a fair reflection from the public and constitutes a level of the invisible hand of the market regulating such unethical practices through a deterioration of image. 4. It is reasonable for Tasty Meals Ltd. to demand from their suppliers that they impose its code of conduct directives to the suppliers it works with. In terms of market considerations, it is possible that severe punitive fines be placed upon the organization for engaging in unsafe market considerations. In terms of ethical responsibilities, organizations have a utilitarian ethical responsibility to consider human rights concerns. Tasty Meals Ltd. has neglected this responsibility. 5. Overall Tasty Meals Ltd. has complied with corporate governance principles, as they have not broken any government laws. Still, this organization is by no means an ethical and socially responsible corporation. They have taken every opportunity provided to ignore human rights and health concerns as a means of achieving higher profits and market expansion. 6. I would believe that the proposed measures may be too stringent. Still, I recognize that a change must be made. While ethical and social concerns are important, the ultimate considerations are in terms of profits. It seems apparent that if the organization does not adopt a reasonable amount of these measures they will experience a public backlash that could cause a severe decline in profits. 7. I believe if Tasty Meals approved and implemented the proposals it could improve their profitability as it would improve their image in the public. It would also ensure that the organization does not face future fines from disregarding regulations. 8. I don’t think ethical and socially responsible business practices are always in conflict with profitability. To an extent I believe that ethical business practices are appreciated by the public and through aspects such as corporate image and branding pay dividends. One considers an organization such as Ben & Jerry’s that has made corporate responsibility a major aspect of their business. This organization has in-turn developed a strong and loyal customer base. While in some situations unethical practices increase profitability, this does not mean that social responsibility and profitability are always in conflict. 9. As a shareholder of Tasty Meals I would be greatly concerned about the company’s long-term sustainability. While they are currently operating within corporate governance, it’s clear that they are operating directly on the border. If government

Why does the financial industry need to be regulated Research Paper

Why does the financial industry need to be regulated - Research Paper Example A sound financial industry primarily involves deep, efficient markets, solvent, operational financial intermediaries and a legal framework that clearly defines the rights and obligations of all participants. Financial markets are the core of any financial system architecture, holding a central position as they are a real catalyst for the overall economic activity. Depending on country-specific factors, culture and historical traditions, but also on the globalization of markets, national financial systems have both special features and common elements. Academic literature provides a classification of financial systems as follows: Bank-dominated financial systems (the German-Japanese model); Capital-market dominated financial systems (the Anglo-American model). If analyzing the characteristics of the financial systems over the past 30 years, we note the shift from the traditional bank-based orientation towards capital markets. Crucial elements of this change are monetary and financial integration processes and financial innovation. As part of financial industry, the US financial companies enhance money flows by offering various services in different areas: accounting, bank and credit unions, consultancy, insurance agencies, investment banking, professional services, security brokers, venture capital. With combined annual revenue of almost $65 billion, the US accounting and fiscal industry sums more than 90,000 companies (Richardson). The leading players providing accounting services include Price Water House Coopers, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, Ernst & Young, KPMG and H&R Block. The same recent statistical data reveal the structure of the US banking system shaped by 8,000 commercial banks, 1,400 savings banks and 10,000 credit unions with combined annual revenue of $600 billion. Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, and Wachovia are the most powerful commercial banks. The US banking market is highly concentrated, 50 largest institutions spreading more than 60% of the financial industry. The credit union environment displays a fragmented anatomy with 6% of industry revenue, much lower than commercial banks percentage (80%) and closer to savings banks, with a share of 14%. Financial planning and consultancy services shape an industry with annual revenue of $15 billion split between 10,000 US firms. Morningstar, Value Line and units of financial services companies are in the top. In the field of insurance services, the 130,000 US units generate annual revenue of $85 billion, having as market leaders March & McLennan, Arthur J. Gallagher and Aon. Investment banking is served by 2000 companies with annual revenue of almost $110 billion, with the largest 50 firms holding 90% of the sector. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are the key competitors. The securities brokerage industry includes less than 4000 bodies, while the major players in investment companies are Merrill Lynch, Charles Schwab, AG Edwards, and brokerage companies like Citigroup and Fidelity. Venture capital industry generates annual revenue of about $26 billion and has more than $250 billion under management. The most important companies include New Enterprise Associates, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, and Technology Crossover Ventures. Why does the financial industry need to be regulated? The empirical literature (Goodhart et al.) and practical experience point out three main reasons that justify government intervention in the financial industry: 1). Information asymmetry: unlike financial institutions, customers are much less informed, so that financial supervision aims to balance the situation; 2). Externalities: the collapse of an