Comparing Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac Essay -- Authors Writers Big S

Comparing Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac I. Introduction It has never been an uncommon thing for one to retreat to nature in an attempt to ‘find one’s self,’ and somewhat clichà © these days is the retreat to nature to ‘find God.’ Hundreds of books, essays, seminars, and retreats devote themselves to helping one understand how to find enlightenment and healing through connecting with nature. It is a phenomenon that transcends religious boundaries—everyone, from Buddhists to Christian Mystics to Quakers, seems to think that the key (or, at least, one of the keys) to enlightenment lies in nature. As one may suppose, this is not a new concept. Throughout literary history, there is a distinct trend of authors praising the virtues of nature, singing of the peace that it brings and the enlightening attributes of these places away from the noise and clutter of the cities. Shakespeare tells of finding â€Å"tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, [and] sermons in stone†(Shakespeare); William W ordsworth implores us to let nature be our teacher; Goethe claims that there is rest and respite on the mountain top; and George Washington Carver admits that he tries commune with nature everyday. It seems that from Henry David Thoreau right down to contemporary authors, no generation or writing period has been devoid of at least one prolific author who takes to nature in order to find the answers. Two such authors, searching for†¦well, searching for that certain enlightenment and repose that can only be found in nature, were Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac. And despite the fact that Big Sur, California, is the chosen destination for revelation for both authors and that both authors are torn between the introspective qualities of being ‘secluded,’ and the desire for connectedness to society, they were from (moderately) different lifestyles and backgrounds and viewed the revelations that nature bestowed to them individually quite differently. By contrasting the situations and temperaments of the two authors, one can begin to see why their experiences differed so greatly. II. Henry Miller Henry Miller, born in December of 1891, spent the majority of his childhood in Brooklyn (†Henry Miller† 1). He attended high school, but never finished college; instead, he worked a variety of jobs that never lasted long, from driving a cab to working in a library (ibid.). In 1917, he ma... ...city (thus, they are very occupied with what is happening in their community.) This seems to be Miller’s salvation, while at the same time being Kerouac’s downfall. Regardless of why it worked for one and not the other, it is evident that both sought what so many today seek: to connect themselves with God and to find peace by submersing themselves in nature. Bibliography â€Å"Beat Page, The.† Rooknet.com. 4 December 2004. Ferguson, Robert. Henry Miller: A Life. New York: W W Norton & Co Inc, 1993. â€Å"Henry Miller.† 1. Levity.com. 7 December 2004. â€Å"Henry Miller.† 2. Literary Kicks. 7 December 2004. â€Å"Jack Kerouac.† Literary Kicks. 4 December 2004. Kenedi, Aaron and John Miller, eds. â€Å"Henry Miller-Big Sur.† Where Inspiration Lives: Writers, Artists, and Their Creative Places. Navato: New World Library, 2003. Kerouac, Jack. Big Sur. New York: Peguin Books, 1992. Miller, Henry. Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch. New York: New Direction Publishing Corporation, 1957. Shakespeare, William. â€Å"As You Like It.† 1623. Literature Online. Proquest Learning and Information Company. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, MT., 2 January 2005.

Meaning of Life Essay

We ask ourselves everyday if our life has meaning. We view our lives and others’ lives in different ways. I agree with life being viewed as a game, and life as learning is adding meaning to our life. I disagree with life having no meaning at all. Every human being views life differently and believes your life is influenced by different ideas and lessons. Life as a game creates a theory that we can’t just take our lives too seriously or else we won’t be happy and feel as if we have fulfilled our lives and/or our purpose on earth. In our textbook it says if you believe your life is a game, you must pick the type of game you wish to play in your life. You can play games that are purely for fun, for superiority, social, hurting your opponents, or to help others. If you pick to have your game of life to be played just for fun then this could possibly be the happiest way to play your game of life. When being able to play a game for fun it excludes the worry of being judged and having to conquer other opponents to become the â€Å"winner† in your game of life. Your opponents could be your friends, family, co-workers, peers, mentors throughout your life and this could make you a miserable person if they turn their backs on you, or fight against your game of life. If we pick to play our life in a game to hurt our opponents then do we decide who our opponent is? Our opponents could be people in our lives who we do not like. They could become our friends and family and if we disagree, then do they become an opponent to us because we don’t see eye to eye? There are so many different ways you could pick to play your game of life. And only you can pick your game, but others around us do influence our choice of what we choose for a game. We don’t want to pick a game to which we are setting ourselves up to become targeted as a â€Å"loser†. We all want to be the â€Å"winner†. I believe in our game of life we should be able to choose if we are going to be the â€Å"winner† in our game of life and who the â€Å"losers† will be. Or should everyone be a winner? Some games in particular could cause chaos in our lives. If we choose to play our life as a competitive game then this could end up giving us enemies, and then what is life really about when you have people against you. In a competitive game it is hard to see the ending outcome of the game, so it is always a gamble to what your life or even the next day might bring. When you don’t know what the next day will bring, does the rules in your game of life change? It is possible when playing a game, the rules will change and new ones can be created and taken away. As little kids playing games, when they don’t like a rule, or merely forget a rule, this changes the game. And these changes affect the outcome of your ending result. Unfortunately I think the rules of your game can change because you learn new things and new technology comes out every day. Life as learning is something we all are introduced to throughout our lives. But do we pay attention to the things life is trying to teach us? Our textbook refers to having a bad experience and turning it into a situation we can learn from. I think we take all situations we are put into and get some kind of lesson or moral meaning out of it. If you view life in different ways then it could change how you react to your life lessons and the idea you should get out of the story. I believe we should all try everything once if it is presented to us and it is morally right. If you can’t live your life to the fullest, then are you actually learning everything you can from your life? Do we encounter things in our life because we should learn from them? Is life supposed to have flaws so we can become a better person and make ourselves better prepared for the next time the problem arises? We can ask ourselves all theses questions and if we listen to the ending result and want to understand then we will take something out of the issue as a life learning situation. But can we shut the ideas and ending decisions out, and ignore the life lesson? I think that each and every event that happens in our life was presented to us to teach us a new life lesson and prepare us better for the next time if it comes up in our life again. These life lessons can hurt us but if life was perfect all the time, then when faced with a flaw in our life we wouldn’t know how to respond and cope with the problem. Some people in life can’t face their flaws of life and walk away or give up. People might do this because they can’t deal with the pain and suffering they believe they are being faced with. With the two philosophies above I do agree that our life is a game, and life is learning. We pick what we want to believe and understand. And in our life we play a game where we can pick the â€Å"winners† and â€Å"losers†. We believe that we make the ending decision in our life and pick what our life stories and experiences actually mean. When we are surprised with conflict and a sudden problem, we might not be able to control our life until we can understand what is going on. And if we take time to understand, then aren’t we still controlling our life? We could always walk away and ignore the new problem. The idea I disagree with the most is life has no meaning at all. Albert Camus said in his book The Myth of Sisyphus that â€Å"the absurd had become a widespread sensibility in our times. † He also relates life having no meaning at all to atheism. If there is no external meaning, then he believes there is no point in life. If life had no meaning then wouldn’t we careless about our future and live for that moment. If life has no meaning then would we be in school trying to receive a quality education? Albert Camus believes that most humans are frightened by the idea of living on earth with no purpose to life. And this allows humans to create a purpose to live. In our textbook it states a quote from his book, â€Å"The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of it own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor. † This to me means that when you are asked to conquer something that is impossible for you to accomplish, then it is the worse thing that would happen in your life. This makes you feel like you have failed at what god has asked you to do. I believe we all have a meaningful life. Each and every one of us affects someone in the world, either if it’s a positive way or sometimes in a negative way. We won’t always realize our affect on others unless it is pointed out to us. As we discussed in class, a drug addict might share his story, and affect children and teenagers and show them the life they lived and how they are now. I think as a teacher you add meaning to your life by teaching others about a variety of topics in life and history. The question does life have a meaning is worth answering. Each and every one of us has our own opinion of life and if it has meaning. We truly can’t look up the definition in the dictionary and believe that is what life is. We need to look at our personal situations, as well as experiences to see how it molds our view of what life means. The definition of life from The American College Dictionary states â€Å"a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived as belonging to the soul. † This to me means that as long as we have a presence on earth they have life on earth. This definition isn’t the only one about life; we create our own meaning which is molded to our life. If life is just about existence, then life may have no meaning. We are here on earth to impact people in same way and form. If we are here just for existence then we aren’t living life. In reality I think life can be looked at in many different ways and there is not just one definition. Is their just one definition and would this change the way we live our lives? Would we be different people than who we are today? Life is a special thing, and we can view our life in different perspectives. As mentioned in my paper we can view life as a game, as learning, and life can have no meaning at all. I don’t agree with all the ways we can view our life, but each and every one of us can pick our own way to view life. For me I agree with the fact that life is a game. We pick if we want to play a game for fun, or to be the king of the world. The way we decide to play our life game determines who we are as a person and it helps affect the mood we are in. I also believe life as learning. In life we are given many different life lessons. And what we take from these life lessons is teaching us life. If we don’t take the time to learn, then our life isn’t complete. Or we at least aren’t living our life to the fullest. I disagree with the fact that our life has no meaning. We make our having meaning, and if we don’t put meaning in our life, then it will be meaningless. You might view your life as meaningless, and to others your life could be filled with meaning. Your view of your life can be different than the way others view your life. Life can have many different meanings and can affect our lives in different ways. In the end we choose what our life will be, and how we will live our life. No one else can choose how you should live your life. In the end it is your choice and your choice alone. We can be influenced by others, but they can’t make the final decisions.

Alexander Hamilton - 1051 Words

â€Å"[T]he man on the ten-dollar bill is the father of the American treasury system, a signer of the Constitution, one of the primary authors of the Federalist Papers, and the loser of the infamous duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. Alexander Hamiltons earlier career as a Continental Army officer is less well known. Yet Hamiltons first experience in public service is important, not only because it was the springboard to his later career, but because it also deeply influenced his values and thinking† (Hamilton). Alexander Hamilton was born as a British subject on the island of Nevis in the West Indies on the 11th of January 1755. His father, James Hamilton -- Scottish merchant of St. Christopher – was the younger son of a minor Scottish†¦show more content†¦For the next five years, Hamilton put his writing skills to work. He wrote Washingtons critical letters, and composed numerous reports on the strategic reform and restructuring of the Continental Army†. As Hamilton was serving as an adviser for Washington, he realized the weaknesses in the Congress, including jealousy and resentment between states. These weaknesses stemmed from the Articles of Confederation – he believed that these Articles separated the nation rather than unified (Alexander). Hamilton left his adviser post in 1782, convinced that establishing a strong central government was the key to achieving Americas independence. It would not be the last time that Hamilton worked for the U.S. Army. In 1789, Hamilton was appointed inspector general and second in command, as America geared up for a potential war with France. In 1800, Hamiltons military career came to a sudden halt when America and France reached a peace agreement† (Alexander). â€Å"In November 1782, Hamilton was elected to the Congress of the Confederation, as a New York representative. While he was there, several Congressmen from that area, including Hamilton, Gouverneur Morris, James Wilson, and James Madison, were trying to provide the Congress with an independent source of revenue, which it lacked under the Articles ofShow MoreRelatedAlexander Hamilton : The Influence Of Alexander Hamilton1102 Words   |  5 Pagesthe box. Although an individual that has influenced millions of people would be Alexander Hamilton. Alexander Hamilton is influential because he was one of Washington’s most trusted soldiers, his outlook on life inspired many people, and he created the first national bank. Alexander Hamilton is influential because he was one of Washingtons most trusted soldiers. For example, an article called Alexander Hamilton Biography states, â€Å"He drafted many of Washingtons important letters, he was sentRead MoreAlexander Hamilton990 Words   |  4 PagesAlexander Hamilton When producing something as important as the document outlining an entire nation’s culture, it is helpful to have inventive and innovative thinkers; however, it is necessary to have leaders with experience and knowledge. The United States needed a strong leader who stood for his beliefs and could execute them to their full potential. When Alexander Hamilton entered Independence Hall on May 14, 1787, that was exactly what he was willing to do for his country. He helped withRead MoreAlexander Hamilton1725 Words   |  7 PagesConsider Napoleon, Fox, and Hamilton the three greatest men of our epoch, and If I were force to decide between the three, I would give without hesitation the first place to Hamilton (Kaplan 284)†. Those are the words of prominent French diplomat Charles Maurice De Talleyrand after spending a year in the United States. Those words of respect came because of the actions and influences that Alexander Hamilton had on a young United States that still have an effect today. Hamilton helped shaped and interpretRead MoreThe Accomplishments Of Alexander Hamilton1188 Words   |  5 PagesAlexander Hamilton was one of the youngest founding fathers. He was the chief staff aide to George Washington. In his early life, he was born in the West Indies. Alexander had a lot of family problems between his father and mother and had a rough childhood. He wanted to make a change and start his life in a better direction, so he got his first job at the age of 11 as an accounting clerk. He very quickly impressed his employer by his knowledge of international commerce and how to handle money. AtRead MoreAlexander Hamilton Essay784 Words   |  4 PagesAlexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton was a great man that will be remembered for being a great major general of the armed forces of the United States of America. As well as the secretary of the treasury. In 1769, at twelve years old he had a job as a clerk in a general store and Alexander dreaded spending the rest of his life there. He wanted something more for his future. He wished for a war to occur. He wanted to prove himself to be more worthy then a clerk. To his thinking, only some brilliantRead MoreAlexander Hamilton ( 1755-1804 )860 Words   |  4 PagesAlexander Hamilton (1755-1804). Born 1755 in the British West Indies In 1774, he wrote his first political article defending the Patriots cause against the interests of pro-British Loyalists.In 1775, at the beginning of the Revolutionary War Hamilton became part of the New York Provincial Artillery Company and fought in the battles of Long Island, White Plains and Trenton.In the year of 1777, Hamilton became General George Washington s offici al assistant. In 1781 George Washington s granted HamiltonRead MoreEssay on Biography of Alexander Hamilton 1054 Words   |  5 PagesBiography of Alexander Hamilton Summary Alexander Hamilton was most likely born on January 11, 1757, although the exact year of his birth is unknown. Hamilton was born onRead MoreAlexander Hamilton, The Unknown Hero921 Words   |  4 PagesAlexander Hamilton, The Unknown Hero An ordinary teenager or adult would address Alexander Hamilton as an arbitrary founding father on the ten dollar bill, for they do not acknowledge the great achievements that Hamilton completed throughout his short life. Alexander Hamilton changed America. To start with, Hamilton was an immigrant from the Caribbean. At the age of seventeen, a hurricane destroyed his town. Hamilton wrote his way out of the madness he was facing. He wrote his first essay, a testamentRead MoreThe Federalist Papers By Alexander Hamilton778 Words   |  4 PagesWritten by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, the Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were created in order to defend the Constitution against claims that stated it threatened the freedom and liberty of individuals, and gave too much power to the national government. The 78th essay of the Federalist Papers was written by Alexander Hamilton in efforts to address one of these concerns, that anti-federalists feared the in dependence of the Judiciary. In this paper, Hamilton recognizedRead MoreThe Forgotten Founder : Alexander Hamilton1196 Words   |  5 PagesAriel Fisher College Composition 3M Mr. Claxton December 10, 2015 The Forgotten Founder Alexander Hamilton was one of the founding fathers of the United States, but little to no people recognize the accomplishments he made. As a young man he fought in the Revolutionary War under the command of George Washington and later went on to become the first Secretary of the Treasury. With a multitude of other achievements under his belt, it’s hard to comprehend how this amazing man became a forgotten figure

Qasr Al Hosn Free Essay Example, 2500 words

It is significant to note that during the rule of Sheikh Zayed the Great, stability and peace reigned the Abu Dhabi with the castle becoming an administrative center. Sheikh Shkhbut Bin Sultan used the money from the first oil to construct a significant place in 1940, around the original fort. Later, when Sheikh Zayed ascended to the throne in 1966, he changed the role of the castle from that of a royal residence to a research center and a museum of the Gulf. This marked the Qasr Al Hosn to be today’s Abu Dhabi’s iconic landmark that symbolizes the city’s traditions, culture, and origins (Hellyer and Ziolkowski 6). The Qasr Al Hosn have been used for national processions in Abu Dhabu, for instance, the staging of magnificent celebrations to symbolize the journey of Al Nahyan family to Abu Dhabi from Liwa in the Western region in the 250th anniversary celebration. The celebrations are normally marked with display of traditions, culture, and origins of Abu Dhabi s ociety. The Qasr Al Hosn is a significant symbol of heritage due to its architectural example that commands respect across cultures. We will write a custom essay sample on Qasr Al Hosn or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page The exhibitions displayed in the Qasr Al Hosn reflect on the historical significance on the fort in the history of Abu Dhabi. It is also important to point out that the festival activities in the Qasr Al Hosn Festival involves storytelling, live demonstrations, historic images and footage, and performances that shows the rich historical significance of the Qasr Al Hosn (Hellyer and Ziolkowski 6). It is significant to point out that sea stones and coral stones covered with render from crushed seashells, lime and local sand that were used to construct the fort offered the region’s merchants a welcoming tool during their navigations. The historic significance of the Qasr Al Hosn called for its conservation. This was initiated five years ago aimed at removing the white render on the walls of the fort that were discovered to cause a corrosive moisture that could get   trapped on the original coral stone bricks.

Factors That Affect Population Growth - 1616 Words

Introduction- Tribolium confusum, more commonly known as the confused flour beetle, is frequently used in scientific observations typically regarding population growth with experiments using these beetles dating back decades ago (Medici and Taylor, 1966). The beetles are relatively easy to handle, cheap to feed, and provide a short reproductive cycle allowing for multiple experiments in a short time span (Park, 2013). Tribolium confusum’s dietary habits consist of mainly grain based products such as wheat and flour. Therefore, these fast reproducing beetles embody the type of organism this research project requires. The nature of the experiment is intended to study, analyze, and calculate the differences in population growth between†¦show more content†¦Finally, vial four became known as treatment three and acquired both ten grams of the growth medium and two grams of the potting soil. Following this, the vials were capped with a soft cork and were stored in a dark closet. Data was collected on a weekly basis where each group member was responsible for counting one vials worth of beetles and larvae. The vials were dumped out and sifted through a screener so that only the organisms remained. They were then dumped into a petri dish to allow for easier examination. The beetles were counted individually while the larvae dish was divided into quarters, counted in sections, and then multiplied by four to come to an estimated total larvae population. Once the final week’s information was collected, all data was averaged between six groups showing how each treatment illustrated differences in population growth. Results- Table 1 – Group Beetle Population Growth Table 2 – Average Class Beetle Population Growth Table 3 – Group Larvae Total Table 4 – Average Class Larvae Population Table 1 shows the groups beetle population as the experiment progressed. In week one, the control group, (C), started with 22 beetles, Treatment 1, (T1), started with 25 beetles, Treatment 2, (T2), started with 24 beetles, and Treatment 3, (T3), started with 23 beetles. In week four, all vials showed population growth. Group C showed the least amount of growth with a population of 159, while T1 had 141, T2 had 120, and T3 had 78. In week six,Show MoreRelatedEconomic Factors That Affect Population Growth1676 Words   |  7 Pagesof the Economic Factors that Affect Population Growth in Dubai This essay forms a discussion about the economic factors that affect population growth, in Dubai. According to McGinley (2013), there are two factors that contribute to population growth: high birth rates and immigration into a country. Births add more people to the country’s total population, thus increasing the total population. Deaths, on the other hand, reduce the population size, thus decreasing the total population. Further, immigrationRead MoreThe Scope Of Population Ecology1637 Words   |  7 Pages1. Define the scope of population ecology. †¢ The scope of population ecology is the study of populations in relation to the environment, including environmental influences on population density and distribution, age structure, and variations in population size. 2. Distinguish between population and density. †¢ Population is a group of individuals of the same species occupying a good given area, like the population of America. Population density is the number of individuals in some specified areaRead MoreEssay on Mark: Biology and Population Growth Rate890 Words   |  4 Pagesindividuals/authors. Author: Mark Cooper Jr. Date: 10/24/12 Lab Instructor: Katherine Hovanes Lab Section # 12 Population Ecology Experiment Background: Phosphate is an abiotic factor; therefore, it is a nonliving factor that affects living organism. In this experiment we prose to test the whether variation in environmental phosphate levels affects autotrophic organisms. We ran a lake and Chlamydomonas experiment in order to determine a solution for this question. In our lakeRead MoreChapter 46 Ecology Of Populations943 Words   |  4 PagesKatie Smaldone Ms. Foco AP Biology: Textbook Questions July 24, 2016 Chapter 46 Ecology of Populations 1.Ernst Haeckel contributed much to the scientific world with the creation of the word â€Å"ecology† opening the door to a whole new branch of science. He kicked off the study of ecology when he explained how ecology and evolution revolve around one another. 2.Define the following: a.Ecology-the study of interactions among all organisms and with their physical environment b.Habitat-theRead MoreDemecology – the Ecology of Populations1574 Words   |  7 PagesDemecology – the ecology of populations The main idea: Note how mathematical models are used to examine variation in growth of a population. Lecture outline: 1. Statistic and dynamic characteristics of population. 2. Growth curves patterns: J-shaped curve and S-shaped curve 3. Population regulation: Density-dependent and density-independent factors. 4. Human population patterns: - Population numbers. - Demographic transition and structure - Population urbanization 1. StatisticRead MoreDemand Side Factors For The House Prices1493 Words   |  6 Pages Discuss the extent to which demand side factors as well as supply side factors are likely to influence house prices. Lauren Gurnaud Student Number: 3500136 MSc Real Estate – Real Estate Economics and Finance Module Contents Page 1. 1 Introduction 1. Introduction The housing market affects both consumers and economic stability, as it is a key component to the economy. Barrell, Kirby and Whitworth identified that UK house pricesRead MoreGlobal Environmental Issues Of The World1540 Words   |  7 Pagesbecomes more intense as the world s population—and our use of natural resources—keeps booming(1). It should be noted that there are 7 continents (Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Europe, Australia and Antarctica) and 196 countries without including sub-nations and islands in the world. This is not shocking to people as the world dynamics cannot be completely studied as population trends change from time to time due periodic occurrences. Population debates like this are why, in 2011, NationalRead MoreGlobal Environmental Issues Of The World1605 Words   |  7 Pagesbecomes more intense as the world s population—and our use of natural resources—keeps booming(1). It should be noted that there are 7 continents (Asia, Africa, South America, North America, Europe, Australia and Antarctica) and 196 countries without including sub-nations and unoccupied islands in the world. This is not shocking to people as the world dynamics cannot be completely studied as population trends change from time to time due periodic occurrences. Population debates like this are why, in 2011Read MoreThe Importance Of Saguatus Life853 Words   |  4 PagesBased on that graph we can also see a drop in frequency of saguaro in age range of 81-90 and then an increase between 91-110 which doesn’t fit with the trend model found on Tumamoc Hill (from Pierson and Turner 1998). This could be due to environment factors. Based on a PDSI reading of climate history in Tucson from Pierson and Turner 1998 we saw that roughly in 1925 a little over 90 years ago there was a severe drought and a harsh winter. This information tells us that the cacti that would be sproutingRead MoreFactors That Affect The Growth Of A Country Essay1108 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the world, the growth of a country fluctuate every year. Many factors that affect the growth are population, income, and poverty. These factors can make the different economies to become competitive, especially when each economy want to be on top. With this being said, it leads to inflation. Inflation is an important factor that influences to country to become better or not. Although, inflation can be a scary thought, many countries has to balance inflation with each other in order to

Analysis of Financial Statement

Questions: a). Provide a brief outline of the company in terms of the products or services they provide and the industry and market in which they operate. b).Comment on the financial performance of the company for the year ended 31 March 2014. As part of your answer you should make reference to the relevant financial statement and use no fewer than two performance ratios. c).Comment on the capital structure of the company as at 31 March 2014. As part of your answer you should make reference to the relevant financial statement and use no fewer than three ratios. Answers: a. Outline of the company Z Energy is fuel distributor located in New Zealand that has service stations of high class. It consists of former assets of Shell. It has been listed on the ASX since August 2013 and even on the NZX with the code ZEL. The biggest shareholders include Infratil and the Super annuation fund of New Zealand. The main subsidiaries include Mini Fuels Oils Ltd, Harbour City Property Investments Ltd, Z Energy ESPP Trustee Ltd and Z Energy LTI trustee Ltd. It is in a cut throat competition with BP, ExxonMobil and other smaller groups that are independent in nature like Gulf. The former rivals include Caltex that were acquired by Z Ebergy in 2016. Z Energy limited caters to the market of New Zealand and sell fuel over there. The supply of fuel is done to the retail customers and commercial customers like airlines, mining companies, vehicle operators, etc. The company even offers services of Z card so that fuels can be purchased, diesel refuelling can be done with ease and flexibility. It owns, as well as manages around 214 service stations, 92 truck stops, terminals, etc. The company was formed by the name of Greenstone Energy Limited and changed the name to Z energy Limited in 2011. The main challenge is the volatility that is evident in the prices of oil. This has even impacted the regional supply. Moreover, when volatility is present it affects the momentum and brings a lot of uncertainty that the business is unable to face. b. Financial performance As a listed company, Z energy achieved a significant achievement. It earned a Historical cost net profit after tax for the year 2014 and the figure came to be $95 million. The financial results were boosted by the success of the IPO and the listing in NZX and ASX in 2013. The financial performance was in tune with the prediction made by the investors at the initiation of the IPO. The Replacement cost operating EBITDAF appearing at $219 exceeded the forecast of $207 million. The Replacement cost EBITDAF of $218 million was influenced by the strong management of the equity stake in refining company of New Zealand. The gross refining margin appeared to be volatile over the time because it is influenced by the prices of oil and its regional supply. The revival activity in the US because of shale oil production has influenced the margin on a global note. The year 2014 financial result projects the skills to continue the operations in earnings growth and the way in which the company can meet the adverse circumstances in various parts. Year 2014 witnessed growth in fuel, as well as non-fuel gross margin contributions. Even the food, as well as coffee operated in a profitable manner providing revenue growth of 45%. It invested $73 million in capital expenditure in the period and the capital expenditure was less than the forecast. The earnings enhanced by 39% and NPAT enhanced by 51%. Return on Capital Employed ROCE 2014 2013 ROCE PBIT 139.00 169.00 Total assets - current liabilities 1,097.00 1,065.00 ROCE 12.67 15.87 This ratio is even tagged as the primary ratio that connects the income reaped by the company with the resources that the company employs and have under possession. A higher ROCE is an indicator of a stronger utilization of the capital and hence favours the organization. In the case of Z Energy, a drop is seen in the ROCE and this is owing to a drop in the PBIT. The revenue dropped and hence, there is a difference in the figure. Return on assets 2014 2013 Net Income 100.00 136.00 Average Assets 1,546.00 1,726.00 Return on Assets [(Net Income/Average Assets)*100] 6.47 7.88 This ratio signifies the profitability of the company in tune to the total assets of the company. The ROA for Z Energy decline as compared to 2013 because there is a fall in the net income. Therefore, the decline is not a good indication for the future prospects of the company. Net Profit Margin Net Profit Margin 2014 2013 Net Income 100 136 Sales Revenue 3371 3547 Net Profit Margin [(Net Profit after tax/Sales Revenue)*100] 2.96647879 3.834226 The net profit margin for Z Energy Ltd has declined as compared to 2013. It is net profit to sales and hence, there is a strong influence of the revenue. The Net profit margin declined in 2014 as the sales revenue declined. The dent in the sales revenue leads to a low net profit margin. Hence, the return in lower in 2014 as compared to 2013. Gross Profit Margin Gross Profit Margin 2014 2013 Gross Income 208.00 164.00 Sales Revenue 3,371.00 3,547.00 Gross Profit Margin [(Gross Profit /Sales Revenue)*100] 6.17 4.62 The ratio is termed as gross profit divided by sales. The gross income of the company enhanced despite the drop in the sales revenue. This indicates that there is a strong arrangement for cost of goods sold and reflected by the GP margin. As per the annual report, it is witnessed that there was a drop in the revenue or sales and contrary to it; there was an increment in the operating expenses. The increment should be supported by the increment in sales that will justify the expenses and will not be a burden for the company. The taxation expense declined and this is due to a drop in the net profit before taxation. The drop in the taxation expenses is justified by the drop in the sales. Taxation contains both current, as well as deferred tax. Deferred tax is considered in lieu of the difference that that arises in the difference between the assets carrying amount and liabilities for financial reporting. Here deferred tax is reduced to the level that is non recurring. The deferred taxation has been deducted from the taxation expense. It is offset on the face of the financial statements and showcased either as a deferred tax asset or liability. c. Capital structure Increment/ Decline in total assets 2014 2013 Total assets 1,546.00 1,906.00 Decline in total assets 44.79 55.21 Increment/ Decline in current assets 2014 2013 Total current assets 887.00 1,563.00 Decline in current assets 36.20 63.80 The total intangible assets increased and this is due to acquisition by the company. The acquisition are done for that intangibles that have indefinite life over a long span of time and measured at cost eliminating the impairment losses that is accumulated. It was $25 million at the beginning of 2013 that ultimately increased to $35 million in 2014. The debt structure of the company contains bank facilities that are secured against specific class of assets of the group. This particular condition needs Z security to maintain specific level of shareholder funds and function with strong performance and gearing ratios. The arrangements also contain limitations over the sale of specific assets without any agreement from the bank. The secured bank debt facilities stood at $400 million. The debt-equity ratio points out that the ratio is over .50 that stress on the fact that the company has a major reliance on debt and hence, it is an alert for the management to look into the matter. Debt to Equity Ratio Debt Equity Ratio 2014 2013 Total liabilities $ 949.00 $ 1,313.00 Total Equity $ 597.00 $ 593.00 Debt Equity Ratio 1.58961474 2.214165261 Debt equity ratio is an important indicator of the debt component of the company. This ratio sheds light on the fact that whether the overall equity of the company is adequate to meet the obligations. Higher proportion of debt more than .50 is risky because a major chunk of the profit will go towards interest payment. Though the dent equity ratio of the company declined in 2014 yet 1.5 debt ratios is high this is an alert for the management. Working capital ratio Working capital ratio 2014 2013 Current asset 887 1,563 Current liabilities 449 841 Working capital ratio 1.975501114 1.858501784 The working capital ratio reflects that whether the company have sufficient assets of short-term nature that will enable to meet the short-term debt. Ratio that is below one is negative while above 2 states the idle nature. Working capital for Z Energy is adequate as it is not above 2 and below 1. It indicates that the needs of the company are meeting with ease and flexibility. Comment From the above computation it can be commented that the companys funding is done by way of debt and have a major reliance on debt. This is indicated by the debt equity ratio. Moreover, for the equity holder it is of major concern as the claims of the creditors will be more and a major chunk will go towards payment of interest. This means the creditors claim s will be entertained initially. The management should look for a policy that will enable to have a balance between equity and debt.

Letter to Congressman Vito .J .Fossilla an Example of the Topic Economics Essays by

Letter to Congressman Vito .J .Fossilla Dear Congressman Vito J. Fossella, Need essay sample on "Letter to Congressman Vito .J .Fossilla" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed I am congratulating you for your major achievements in representing the 13th Congressional District Staten Island and Brooklyn and the American people at large in the 110th US congress. You have successfully opposed plans to eliminate federal tax deductions for mortgage interest and state and local tax payers, defeated the Brooklyn Veterans Affairs Hospital recommendation of its closure, saving the Fort Hamilton military base from its closure by BRAC and helping secure $21 billion in rebuilding and securing lower Manhattan in the wake of 9/11 terrorist attacks. This is a show that you have effectively accomplished your legislation priorities which were on reduced taxes, improved national and social security. However, there are many issues that need to be put forth as legislative proposals that will further contribute to the betterment of our country. The economic performance of our country is particularly vital. According to some recent polls, majority of us view the current economic crisis as a serious matter that broadly needs stimulation. Economic development is essential as it will bring forth improved social services, education, infrastructure and availability of quality jobs but recently a surprisingly high number of Americans have lost their jobs. The collapse of major banks such as Wachovia Bank which is one of the biggest banks shows there is need for congressional Act. Dexia and Fortis banks had to be also rescued from bankruptcy. This economic crisis is even affecting the stock market. Dow Jones Industrial plunged an average record of 777.68 points in one of the worst drops in one day in the history of this country. More bail outs aimed at securing the economy need to be put in place. (Telegraph Media Group Ltd (2008). In a report by the Worlds Economic Forum on latest Global Competitiveness Report on October 7, 2008, the US economy still remains the most competitive in the world. To hold this superiority, the congress needs to come up with unique measures. Some developing economies like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China and India are posing a major threat with their rise as more preferred destination for global investors. The government requires regulating the legal environment to attract these investors. The major worry slowing this countries economy is the publics debt that the government owes. It may limit the fiscal policy in the near future. Just like Klaus Schwab, the executive chairman of the World Economy Forum said, it is more important than ever for countries including US, to put into place the fundamentals underpinning economic growth on development at this wake of uncertainty in the global economic environment. (Werdigier. J, 2008) The issue of a weakening US dollar against the Euro and other currencies of emerging economies is scaring. Growth in this country has been projected to 1.9% in 2007-2008 which is below potential. Root causes like the housing market needs attention. (Hemispher. W, 2007). Arising issues affecting this countries economy like energy crisis should be focused. Regulations should be made and long time solutions arrived at. Issues like foreign policy should be restricted from affecting the economy. In recent polls, majority of Americans want the next leadership to be in place to respond to the economic issue. They feel the vying leaders should prioritize this issue to win the November elections. (Chicago Tribune, 2008). UBSs Magnus felt that this economic crisis will continue for months generating new problems until a new man occupies the white House (Telegraph Media Group Ltd, 2008) You should put forth legislative proposals aimed at ensuring that the economic supremacy of US is maintained. Bail out that will offer financial security to global investors in our banks would be important. Other bails aimed at lifting security of the economy in times of crisis should be lifted. Insurance policies should be reached at for the compensation of the laid off worker in collapsing financial institutions. The government should impose measures on its public debts which is causing a major threat on our economy. It is unfortunate that the intervention through our public servants is badly needed for us to have any hope of returning to our once active economy. Please take a moment to review my proposal. Thank you very sincerely for your consideration and support. References Telegraph Media Group Limited (2008) financial crisis in America. Retrieved on Thursday, October 09, 2008 from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/3136744/Financi al-crisis-America-and-Europe-attempt-to-stave-off-financial-meltdown.html Werdigerier, J. (2008) International Herald Tribune. Economy remains the most competitive: Retrieved on Thursday, October 09, 2008 from http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/08/business/compete.php Chicago Tribune. (2008) CT Conventional centre Hartford. Retrieved on Thursday, October 09, 2008 from http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc- campaign1009.artoct09,0,1715750.story Hemispher, W. (2007), International Monetary Fund Regional. Economic Outlook: International Monetary Fund.