“Fat Tax” brings Fat Benefits Essay

Junk food. Do any of us know the meaning of the term? Do the consequences of developing lethal diseases not concern us? Apparently, today’s society is well aware of what it is, (food with a low nutrition value and is usually processed or ready-prepared (Junk Food)) and what it can do, yet they prefer not to have truth repeatedly slapped in their face by the media. The way I see it, that’s exactly what these individuals are asking for. They say diets are productive, but it’s based off of self-encouragement which can only take you so far. According to an article composed by William Dietz, Obesity is a matter of personal responsibility. Poor dietary decisions cost individuals the expansion of their waist lines. What many do not realize is that as they continue to visit fast food restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, they develop an addiction. Sooner or later, they find themselves wrapped around junk food’s salty fingers and haven’t bothered to n otice that they no longer can see their toes standing upright. Higher taxes should be imposed on processed goods because it could lower death rates and medical bills that tie into obesity, encourage the consumption of healthy products, and educate American’s about adapting correct eating habits. Americans today are consuming 20% more calories than they did in the early 1980’s,† (â€Å"Would Imposing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  par. 3). Also, during that time period, only one third of American’s populace were identified as obese which is equivalent to 13%. However, over the past 25 years, America has exceeded to about 60% of the population being fat (Oliver par. 8). Due to the continuous establishments of fast food restaurants, Americans have noticed that their waist lines have expanded substantially. Hundreds of years ago, McDonald’s, Jack in the Box, Wendy’s, and Burger King were non-existant. With McDonald’s Big Mac meal containing approximately 1,300 calories, it’s no wonder America has been suffering an obesity epidemic. It’s because of these successful  companies that we have to pay for the over flowing stacks of health expenses they’ve created for us. Comparing Americans then with Americans now, you could literally see the difference without the need of any statistical information from surveys, documents, and whatnot. One of the many reasons why the government is taking this â€Å"fat tax† into consideration is due to the overwhelming figures of premature deaths and medical bills occuring across the nation. According to studies, officials are hoping that taxation on junk food could â€Å"†¦avert 2,600 deaths, 9,600 heart attacks, 240,000 new cases of diabetes every year,† (Chan par. 2). That’s not the end of it. These numbers are ascending as I we carry on with our normal daily lives. For all I know, 2013’s statistics for premature deaths due to obesity could escalate to 3,500! Almost every year, America’s government is burdened by the stunning $117 million in debt they have to pay because of people becoming diagnosed with multiple heart diseases thanks to the consumption of fast food. With that being said, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) informed the public that too much of today’s society relies on the cheap and convenient take outs our restaurants provide us. They encounter at least 400,000 individuals with health problems, charging them almost $100 million a year (Lewis par. 4). For this reason, it is why unhealthy grubs are purchased regularly. If people were to choose between a $2 cheeseburger and a $10 salad wrap, what are the chances of them picking the $10 salad wrap? That’s what I thought. It’s disappointing knowing that profits made from fast foods are used to assist our nation’s debt. Why can’t the money derive from potent nourishments? Why do we allow the selling of unsalutary meals, knowing we are feeding them death munchies? In Addition, America has judgement skills that are completely frail and incompetent. Here we are placing exorbitant prices on healthy products when it should be the life-threatening comestibles that should be prohibited. A hand full of officials in the country have required several fast food restaurants to display â€Å"calorie-count labels† to drive individuals’ taste buds from convenience food. But even that won’t prevent obesity (Mozes par. 7). Nevertheless, even a simple a simple label couldn’t stop the hungry beasts of America from  gobbling down chunks of blubber. Due to these astonishing numbers, Americans are looking towards taxing junk food similarly to â€Å"sin taxes†. It’s a tax on harmful items (such as alcohol, tobacco, etc.) that could reduce its consumption. Officials have been pushing for states to insitute a â€Å"fat tax† and consider it as a â€Å"sin tax†. According to several smokers in New York, they discovered that paying a total of $14.50 for one pack of cigarette wasn’t worth their money. Some of them knew that complaining wouldn’t get them anywhere, so they eventually â€Å"ditched the dependency† (Sutherland par. 2). With the assistance of this sin tax, â€Å"smoking rates dropped by 12%,† (â€Å"Would Imposing†¦par. 3). This specifically proves to opponents that bomming junk food tariffs can depreciate premature death percentages and medical expenses as well. Obviously, pricey items attract less customers nowadays; so the higher the taxes, the lower the consumption. Plus, our government could distribute these taxes to health services and programs that illustrate the essence of corpulence. Also, whether the populace continues to ignore the government’s warning through tariffs, either way the tariff generated †¦$30 million in new revenue, tax records show. Basically if fast food customers wish to pursue their daily routine visiting McDonald’s, it’ll still bring the economy extra dough to support the country. Even if our main focus is to sever society’s tongue from higher cholestrol levels, we can only succor those who wish for assistance. Moreover, authorizing taxes on fast foods could subsidize the nutritional products that actually supply our physiques with the appropriate energy it naturally pines for. Knowing that the â€Å"†¦poorest in the country rely on cheap junk food,† (Lewis par. 5), automatically discloses that this necessitates more natural resources. However, in America it’s vise-versa. The more nutrition an item contains, the more you have to pay. With higher taxes on junk food, there would be no need for the federal to tax our fruits and vegetables. Society will eventually quit their whining and chase cheaper alternatives. Representatives throughout the country have â€Å"†¦calculated that an 18% tax  on junk food would result in a 56-calorie decline in total daily intake†¦along with significant reductions in the risks of most obesity-related chronic diseases,† (Fiore par. 12). Doctors have stressed that the recommended calorie consumed should be in the range of 2,000 calories. By the looks of it, American’s today are exceeding these limits. And they wonder why they are experiencing strokes, heart attacks, and becoming diagnosed with diabetes. Lastly, more health education could influence the population’s mindset about the need to eat sugary items. Media has played a huge role in advertising greasy items. Instead, we could use this strategy to discourage our customers from purchasing fast foods, stressing our concerns of obesity. Our targets would be the same audience that was exposed to fattening commercials. Raising awareness within our communities, and then our country is what the U.S. lacks today. It has been said that â€Å"You are what you eat,† but are any of us aware of exactly what we are putting in our mouths? They may display what supplies make that particular meal, but do they show how much butter they use to cook steaks? Apparently, the â€Å"U.S. Department of Agriculture says hamburgers have been growing from 1 ounce in 1957 to 6 ounces in 1997,† (Oliver par. 11). If 1997 was sixteen years ago, just imagine how hefty burgers are today? Notifying our customers about junk food should be our leaders’ priority. â€Å"It would be irresponsible not to try everything we can to save lives†¦People are dying everyday due to sugary products,† (Bloomberg qtd. in Heaton par. 5). I couldn’t agree more with Mayor Bloomberg of New York. He is probably the only official that wants to institute a fat tax to give back to the people he represents. American’s are self-centered, and their main focus is money. No one cares if they’re putting one’s life in jeoparady by creating harmful grubs. If one was to take a stand against these fast food companies, it’ll have to start with our leaders. On the other hand, controversies have made society equivocal about the implementation of taxation on packaged foods. As expected, citizens of America claim that the government is becoming too controling, and their freedom of choice is being stripped from them. While our officials’  intensions are to perpetuate the corpulence widespread, others feel provoked because they believe the government is trying to dictate their intellect (Lewis par. 3). Our leaders stress that taking care of the well-being of our internal organs should be our priority. However, the public refuses admit to the valuable advice they articulate. Many feel as if they were to say, Who are you to tell me what I can eat and not eat? It’s only fair that the people have the last say. After all, this country was established fighting For the people, by the people†¦ (Star Spangled Banner). On top of that, as stated in an article by Jen Kalaidis, tax also costs [the] country an estimated 1,300 jobs because employees would no longer be needed in food retail sectors. Although an collection of occupations would be lost, many tend to give in and develop the mindset of a pessimistic. As Alexander Graham Bell, (an eminent scientist, engineer, innovator, etc.), proclaimed, When one door closes, another door opens. The message he speaks of is about preserverence and circulating nothing but positive thought within your mind. American’s who fear losing their jobs should realize that plantation fields and factories will demand more and more employees once the fat tax is instituted. The fields will require more man power for labor work, and for manufacturing purposes as well. You will soon after notice that grocery markets will have job oppertunites. It’s actually a ripple effect, and once the economy is back to the way it was before the nation debt came about, the unemployement will be no more. Therefore, it is essential to communicate the outweighing benefits of a fat tax to the public now, before America begins to hit a downfall in the next five years. Junk food should not be outlawed, nor should it be cheap. If American’s want to continue this portliness evolvement, they can expect to see excessive aftermath in death rates. These unhealthy eats are about to rebuild our country’s values soon enough. However, with the assistance of this Twinkie Tax, I believe we could expect a tangible decline in America’s death progression and health expenses, a promotion of organic products, as well as more programs raising awareness of corpulence. Works Cited Chan, Amanda L. â€Å"Raising Junk Food Prices Could Spur People to Consume Less: Study.† The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post.com, 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. Dietz, William. â€Å"Obesity ProCon.org† Obesity ProCon.org. Search Engine Optimization, 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. Elder, Larry. â€Å"Just How Fat Are We?† WSJ: World Stream. WND Commentary, 1997-2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. Fiore, Kristina. â€Å"Junk Food Tax Could Improve Health.† ABC News. ABC News Network, 10 Mar. 2010. Web. 06 May 2013. Heaton, Richard. â€Å"NYC Soda Ban Overturned then Appealed.† Digital Journal (2013): n.pag. Print. â€Å"Junk Food.† Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. n.d. Web.05 May 2013. Kalaidis, Jen. â€Å"Should the U.S. Adopt a Fat Tax?† The Week [New York] 25 Feb. 2013: n.p. Print. Lewis, Catherine. â€Å"The Junk Food Tax: How Much are We Willing to pay to get America Healthy?† Your Health Information Center. Insider’s Health, 2011. Web. 5 May 2013. â€Å"Medical Weight Loss Resources.† Top 10 Obesity-Related Diseases. American Heart Association, Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, 23 Apr. 2013. Web. 16 May 2013. Mozes, Alan. â€Å"The Fat Tax.† A Controversial Tool in War Against Obesity. (23 May 2005): 2-3 Print. Oliver, J. Eric. â€Å"A Big, Fat Problem.† Fat Politics: The Real Story Behind America’s Obesity Epidemic. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006. 1-4. Print. Sutherland, Amber. â€Å"Smokers Huff & Puff Over New Cigarette Tax.† New York Post. New York. 3 July 2010: 1-2. Print â€Å"Would Imposing a High Tax on Fast Foods and other Unhealthy Foods Help Combat Obesity Issues in U.S.?† Debate.org. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 22 Nov. 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.

Applied Concept Paper Essay

Executive Summary The purpose of this paper is to help me to fully understand and expand my knowledge of the concepts four in our textbook. By performing research about recent business world activities, I will be able to link the terms learned in the lecture in order to get the full picture. Although I chose terms that are found in both chapter 6 and chapter 7, most of my terms come from chapter 7, which talks about corporate strategy. Our textbook Strategic Management and Business Policy textbook by Thomas L. Wheelen and J. David Hunger is a great source of information for anyone interested in learning more about business. According to our textbook, the three key issues that corporate strategy deals with are: 1. Directional Strategy – The firm’s overall orientation toward growth, stability, or retrenchment. 2. Portfolio analysis – The industries or markets in which the firm competes through its products and business units. 3. Parenting strategy – The manner in which management coordinates activities and transfers resources and cultivates capabilities among product lines and business units. From the readings, I chose the terms that I found most interesting. The concepts that I chose from my readings are acquisition, joint venture, licensing agreements, long-term contracts, and strategic alliance. After doing extensive research, I came upon recent articles that have helped me to understand the book and help me to incorporate the knowledge that I have gained in this class with the real world. In this paper I fully explain how the terms learned in the textbook relate to recent articles. Abstracts 1. Delphi Automotive closes on FCI unit acquisition, by the Associated Press, Published on Friday October 26, 2012 This article announces the completion of an acquisition deal that was announced in May of 2012 by the company Delphi Automotive. This deal was for the acquisition of FCI motorized vehicles unit, which manufactures auto connection systems. The deal cost Delphi Automotive 765 million euros ($987.5 million). Delphi Automotive has its headquarters in Troy, Michigan. It was saved by the United States Government in 2005. Since then, the company has recuperated; however, it has done so by decreasing its costs, such as, massive layoffs and downsizing its manufacturing business. With this merger, Delphi expects to increase its future earnings gain an approximate $0.24 per share. 2. Clariant AG : Clariant and Wilmar establish Joint Venture for amines and selected amines derivatives, by Thompson Reuters ONE, Published on Friday, October 26, 2012 This article announces the joint ven ture between two well established companies: Clariant Ltd. and Wilmar International Limited. Clariant Ltd. is a specialty Chemicals Company based out of Swtizerland. It is the parent company to over 100 companies worldwide. As of December 2011, the company had an approximate 22,100 employees. Clariant specializes in growing its business by partnering or acquiring a variety of firms that will help the company maintain profitability and create a steady growth. Wilmar International Limited is a leading competitor in the agribusiness field of Asia. The company was formed in 1991 and it is based out of Singapore. Some of Wilmar’s business activities include, oil palm cultivation, oilseeds crushing, edible oils. In addition, the article goes into detail of how the companies will both benefit from this joint venture. Further detail will be discussed later in this paper. 3. Hyrax Energy and WARF enter into licensing agreement, by Bret Williams, Published on October 26, 2012. This article explains the licensing agreement deal between Hyrax Energy and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). This licensing agreement is geared toward finding alternative fuel choices for consumers. Researchers from both Hyrax Energy and WARF have already found new technology that can be used to produce alternative clean fuels and plastic materials. Furthermore, this licensing agreement allows WARF and Hyrax Energy to commercialize the new alternative fuel and generate profits not only domestically but also in the global market in the near future. In addition, the development of this new technology shows that the economy of the United States can be affected positively with the creation of new jobs and also with increased consumer demand for clean biofuels. 4. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Healthways Announce Extension of Contract for Disease Management Services Through 2015, by Business Wire, Published on October 17, 2012 This article is in regards to the extension of a long-term contract between the companies CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield and Healthways. The companies have been working together for a few years and they have been serving about 600,000 members. The extension of this contract signifies that together these two companies are able to partner to offer their clients better healthcare services and preventative disease solutions. CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield has been in business for 75 years and Healthways is a company dedicated to create healthier human beings. It also serves about 40 million customers in four continents. 5. PepsiCo and Suntory Agree to Form Strategic Beverage Alliance in Vietnam, by Pepsi Co., Published on October 22, 2012 This article discusses the strategic alliance formed by PepsiCo and Suntory Holdings Limited. This strategic alliance will help PepsiCo increase its business in Vietnam. Although both companies have both experienced success in this country, their strategic alliance will catapult both companies to new heights. PepsiCo will be in charge of marketing its strong products which include Pepsi-Cola, 7-UP, Sting, Mirinda, Tropicana Twister, Lipton and Aquafina. At the same time, Suntory will be in charge of bringing its ability to successfully meet the demands of its Asian customers. These companies have successfully worked in the past in other countries, such as, the United States, Japan, and New Zealand. PepsiCo has been able to grow in the Vietnamese market since entering it in 1994. For Suntory, it is hoping to achieve one of its long-range plans, which is to expand in to Vietnam. Concepts 1. Acquisition According to Wheelen and Hunger an acquisition is a growth strategy that occurs when a company absorbs another (usually smaller) company as an operating subsidiary or division of the acquiring corporation. Acquisitions usually take place with companies of different sizes and they can be hostile or friendly. Acquisitions can also be a good way to grow into an international market. For example, a domestic company can purchase another company that is already established and operating in a different country. This benefits the purchasing company by reducing the amount of time and money it needs to spend on acquiring documentation to enter into such country. 2. Joint Venture A joint venture is one type of horizontal growth strategy that companies use in order to penetrate international markets. This usually takes place between a domestic company and a foreign corporation. Joint ventures are created when companies wish to combine their resources in order to create new products and/or technologies. Joint ventures can be made among companies or companies with a government agency. By forming a joint venture, companies usually save themselves the possibility of expropriation in a new country by its government. In addition, a joint venture can also help companies penetrate countries that do not allow foreign vendors. (Wheelen & Hunger, 2012) . 3. Licensing agreements A licensing agreement is another growth strategy that companies use in order to increase their profitability. According to Wheelen, under a licensing agreement, the licensing firm grants rights to another firm in the host country to produce and/or sell a certain product. The licensee pays the licensing firm in return for technical expertise. This strategy is particularly beneficial when the licensing company is well-established but lacks the resources to enter a new market in a different country. 4. Long-term contracts According to our textbook, long-term contracts are a type of vertical integration strategy by the formation of agreements between two firms to provide agreed-upon goods and services to each other for a specified period of time. In order to be considered a type of vertical integration, long-term contracts must specify that the contract is mutually exclusive and that neither firm can enter into the same or a similar contract with a third party. 5. Strategic Alliance Long-term cooperative arrangements between two or more independent firms or business units that engage in business activities for mutual economic gain. In order to keep up with the continuing growth and demand from consumers, strategic alliances have become a part of modern business. The length of strategic alliances may vary from a few months to a few years. Although companies benefit mutually from these alliances, conflicts often arise over the companies’ objectives and control issues. This conflict therefore leads for about 50% of strategic alliances to fail in both domestic and international markets (Wheelen & Hunger, 2012). Analysis 1. Acquisition In the article â€Å"Delphi Automotive closes on FCI unit acquisition,† I learned how an actual acquisition takes place in the business world. One company, in this case Delphi Automotive, which is larger than FCI Group, acquired and completely absorbed FCI Group’s motorized vehicle unit. This friendly takeover will allow Delphi to expand its global reach and its ability to make electronic connectors for vehicles. In addition, this acquisition will also help Delphi Automotive increase its earnings per share in the coming year. 2. Joint Venture In the article â€Å"Clariant AG: Clariant and Wilmar establish Joint Venture for amines and selected amines derivatives,† we see an example of a joint venture. From our textbook we have learned that a joint venture is a type of international entry option for horizontal growth of a company. Both Clariant and Wilmar are well established companies. With the formation of this joint venture, they will influence each other with each company’s individual strengths in order to increase their growth opportunites. Furthermore, the benefits that Clariant will bring to the joint venture are: â€Å"its Industrial & Consumer Specialties (ICS) Business Unit’s sales activities of relevant amines and defined derivatives to the joint venture as well as its amines plant in Germany and production output from its amines plant in Brazil.† At the same time, Wilmar will contribute the venture with the use of its plant in China and also the company’s expertise in oleochemicals and renewable raw materials. The article ends by stating the following: â€Å"Due to its strong roots in Asia combined with plans to expand the business globally, Wilmar is an excellent partner for Clariant to support our customer base in all parts of the world†, said Michael Willome, Head of Business Unit ICS. 3. Licensing agreements This article explains that the companies Hyrax Energy and WARF have entered into a licensing agreement. According to our textbook, companies enter into licensing agreements both domestically and internationally. In this case, the licensing agreement is domestically. Hyrax is a company that emerged from Department of Energy funded Great Lakes BioEnergy Research Center (GLBRC) and has now entered into a licensing agreement with Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) (Hyrax Energy, Inc., 2012). Hyrax’s strategy is to be able to use the latest technologies in order to develop alternative biofuels. In addition, Hyrax hopes that the licensing agreement helps it commercialize its biofuels in the United States and with the long term goal of expansion into the global markets. 4. Long-term contracts According to the article â€Å"CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Healthways Announce Extension of Contract for Disease Management Services Through 2015,† the companies mentioned decided to extend their already prosperous long-term contract. This was an agreement previously made by both firms. This allowed them to provide each company’s goods and services to their customers. This way, the companies are successful at reaching more customers and providing better services while reducing their costs. Since the cost of healthcare is rising, the companies are interested in offering preventative solutions in order to minimize future high healthcare costs. Although our book states that recently, companies have moved away from long-term contracts, which is a form of vertical growth strategy, in this case both companies benefit from having contracts since they offer different services to their customers, however, such services complement one another. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield offers health insurance while Healthways offers its consumers preventative ways to stay healthy and thus helps keep the costs minimum for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield . 5. Strategic Alliance In the article, â€Å"PepsiCo and Suntory Agree to Form Strategic Beverage Alliance in Vietnam,† we learn how two successful companies decide to join their resources to form a strategic alliance in order to gain market share and mutual economic gain. This strategic alliance will help PepsiCo build on its current position in the Vietnam market, while utilizing Suntory’s strong brands and recognizable ability to cater to the Asian market. The strategic alliance by these two companies in Vietnam is expected to have a positive effect for both companies and will help them increase their profits. Alone each company is already successful; however, together they expect to grow their business exponentially. Conclusion Research and reading the book have taught me to better understand strategies and different techniques that companies use in order to expand their businesses. Companies are in business to create profits; they do this by thinking outside the box. Through the articles, I learned that a variety of companies in today’s market are constantly searching for ways to succeed. In addition, they must seek new ventures in order to enter both domestic and international markets. Where companies choose to join their competitors in a strategic alliance, or a joint venture, long-term contract, or simply by signing a licensing agreement, these are good options for companies to try in order to succeed in the market and avoid a potential acquisition by their biggest competitor. References Associated Press. (2012, October 26). News. Retrieved from Yahoo Finance: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/delphi-automotive-closes-fci-unit-123219090.html Business Wire. (2012, October 17). CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Healthways Announce Extension of Contract for Disease Management Services Through 2015. Rock Hill, South Carolina, Unite States. Hyrax Energy, Inc. (2012, October 27). About. Retrieved from Hyrax Energy: http://hyraxenergy.com/ Pepsi Co., I. (2012, October 22). Media – Press Release. Retrieved from Pepsico: http://www.pepsico.com/PressRelease/PepsiCo-and-Suntory-Agree-to-Form-Strategic-Beverage-Alliance-in-Vietnam10222012.html Press Release. (2012, October 26). Clariant AG : Clariant and Wilmar establish Joint Venture for amines and selected amines derivatives. Muttenz, Singapore. Wheelen, T., & Hunger, D. (2012). Strategic Management and Business Policy Toward Global Sustainability. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson. Williams, B. (2012, October 26). Alte rnative Energy. Retrieved from Hydrogen Fuel News: http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/hyrax-energy-and-warf-enter-into-licensing-agreement/856496/

In the Words of Frank Lloyd Wright

American architect  Frank Lloyd Wright was known for his Prairie Style house designs, his tempestuous person life, and his prolific writings, including speeches and magazine articles. His long life (91 years) gave him time to fill volumes. Here are some of Frank Lloyd Wrights most notable quotations—and our favorites: On Simplicity In contrast to his tumultuous personal life, Wright spent his architectural life expressing beauty through simple, natural forms and designs. How does an architect create beautiful yet functional forms? Five lines where three are enough is always stupidity. Nine pounds where three are sufficient is obesity....To know what to leave out and what to put in, just where and just how, ah, that is to have been educated in knowledge of simplicity—toward ultimate freedom of expression.The Natural House, 1954 Form and function are one. Some Aspects of the Future of Architecture (1937), The Future of Architecture, 1953 Simplicity and repose are qualities that measure the true value of any work of art....An excessive love of detail has ruined more fine things from the standpoint of fine art or fine living than any one human shortcoming; it is hopelessly vulgar. In the Cause of Architecture I   (1908) Organic Architecture Before there was Earth Day and LEED certification, Wright promoted an ecology and naturalness in architectural design. The home should not be on a plot of land but be of the land—an organic part of the environment. Much of Wrights writings describes the philosophy of organic architecture: ...it is in the nature of any organic building to grow from its site, come out of the ground into the light—the ground itself held always as a component basic part of the building itself. The Natural House (1954) A building should appear to grow easily from its site and be shaped to harmonize with its surroundings if nature is manifest there, and if not try to make it as quiet, substantial, and organic as she would have been were the opportunity hers. In the Cause of Architecture I   (1908) Where does the garden leave off and the house begin? The Natural House, 1954 This Architecture we call organic is an architecture upon which true American society will eventually be based if we survive at all. The Natural House, 1954 True architecture...is poetry. A good building is the greatest of poems when it is organic architecture. An Organic Architecture, The London Lectures (1939), The Future of Architecture So here I stand before you preaching organic architecture: declaring organic architecture to be the modern ideal... An Organic Architecture, The London Lectures (1939), The Future of Architecture Nature and Natural Forms Some of the most famous architects were born in June, including Wright, born in Wisconsin on June 8, 1867. His youth on the prairie lands of Wisconsin, especially the times he spent on his uncles farm, shaped the way this future architect incorporated natural elements into his designs: Nature is the great teacher—man can only receive and respond to her teaching. The Natural House, 1954 The land is the simplest form of architecture. Some Aspects of the Past and Present in Architecture (1937), The Future of Architecture, 1953 The prairie has a beauty of its own.... In the Cause of Architecture I   (1908) Primarily, nature furnished the materials for architectural motifs...her wealth of suggestion is inexhaustible; her riches greater than any mans desire. In the Cause of Architecture I   (1908) ...go to the woods and fields for color schemes. In the Cause of Architecture I   (1908) I have never been fond of paints or of wallpaper or anything which must be applied to other things as a surface....Wood is wood, concrete is concrete, stone is stone. The Natural House (1954) The Nature of Man Frank Lloyd Wright had a way of seeing the world as one whole, not differentiating between the living, breathing home or of the human being. Human houses should not be like boxes, he lectured in 1930. Wright continued: Any house is a far too complicated , clumsy, fussy, mechanical counterfeit of the human body. Electric wiring for nervous system, plumbing for bowels, heating system and fireplaces for arteries and heart, and windows for eyes, nose, and lungs generally. The Cardboard House, the Princeton Lectures, 1930, The Future of Architecture What a man does—that he has. The Natural House, 1954 A house that has character stands a good chance of growing more valuable as it grows older...Buildings like people must first be sincere, must be true.... In the Cause of Architecture I   (1908) Plaster houses were then new. Casement windows were new....Nearly everything was new but the law of gravity and the idiosyncrasy of the client. The Natural House, 1954 On Style Although realtors and developers have embraced the Prairie style home, Wright designed each home for the land it was on and the people who would occupy it. He said: There should be as many kinds (styles) of houses as there are kinds (styles) of people and as many differentiations as there are different individuals. A man who has individuality (and what man lacks it?) has a right to its expression in his own environment. In the Cause of Architecture I   (1908) Style is a byproduct of the process....To adopt a style as a motive is to put the cart before the horse.... In the Cause of Architecture II   (1914) On Architecture As an architect, Frank Lloyd Wright never wavered in his beliefs about architecture and the use of space inside and out. Homes as different as Fallingwater and Taliesin have the same natural, organic elements he learned about as a boy in Wisconsin. ...every house...should begin on the ground, not in it.... The Natural House (1954) Form follows function is mere dogma until you realize the higher truth that form and function are one. The Natural House (1954) The house of moderate cost is not only Americas major architectural problem but the problem most difficult for her major architects. The Natural House (1954) Had steel, concrete, and glass existed in the ancient order we could have had nothing like our ponderous, senseless classic architecture. The Natural House, 1954 ...architecture is life; or at least it is life itself taking form and therefore it is the truest record of life as it was lived in the world yesterday, as it is lived today or ever will be lived. So architecture I know to be a Great Spirit. The Future: Valedictory (1939) What is needed most in architecture today is the very thing that is most needed in life—integrity. The Natural House (1954) ...architectural values are human values, or they are not valuable....Human values are life giving, not life taking. The Disappearing City (1932) Advice To The Young Architect From the Chicago Art Institute Lecture (1931), The Future of Architecture The influences of the old master, architect Louis Sullivan, stayed with Wright all of his life, even as Wright was more famous and became the master himself. Think simples, as my old master used to say—meaning to reduce the whole to its parts in simplest terms, getting back to first principles. Take time to prepare....Then go as far away as possible from home to build your first buildings. The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his clients to plant vines. ...form the habit of thinking why....get the habit of analysis.... Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. The size of the project means little in art, beyond the money matter. So, architecture speaks as poetry to the soul. In this machine age to utter this poetry that is architecture, as in all other ages, you must learn the organic language of the natural which is ever the language of the new. Every great architect is—necessarily—a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter of his time, his day, his age. An Organic Architecture, The London Lectures (1939), The Future of Architecture Quotations Popularly Attributed to Frank Lloyd Wright Frank Lloyd Wright quotes are as abundant as the number of buildings he completed. Many quotations have been repeated so many time, its difficult to accurately source when they were said, or, even, if they are accurate quotes from Wright himself. Here are some that often appear in collections of quotations: I hate intellectuals. They are from the top down. I am from the bottom up. TV is chewing gum for the eyes. Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose honest arrogance and have seen no occasion to change. The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen. The truth is more important than the facts. Youth is a quality, not a matter of circumstances. An idea is salvation by imagination. Get the habit of analysis—analysis will in time enable synthesis to become your habit of mind. I feel coming on a strange disease—humility. If it keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push-button finger. The scientist has marched in and taken the place of the poet. But one day somebody will find the solution to the problems of the world and remember, it will be a poet, not a scientist. No stream rises higher than its source. What ever man might build could never express or reflect more than he was. He could record neither more nor less than he had learned of life when the buildings were built. The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life. The present is the ever moving shadow that divides yesterday from tomorrow. In that lies hope. I find it hard to believe that the machine would go into the creative artists hand even were that magic hand in true place. It has been too far exploited by industrialism and science at expense to art and true religion. The screech and mechanical uproar of the big city turns the citified head, fills citified ears—as the song of birds, wind in the trees, animal cries, or as the voices and songs of his loved ones once filled his heart. He is sidewalk-happy. Note: Frank Lloyd Wright ® and Taliesin ® are registered trademarks of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

Gandhis View On Homosexuality - 2295 Words

A2. So one day I was hanging out with Gandhi, Muhammad, and Fred Phelps. We all decided that we were hungry, so we stopped by the closest restaurant, which happened to be McDonalds. So, we all ordered our food, found a place to sit down, and started to eat. As we were eating, we were just making casual conversations and having fun, then we some how got on to the topic of homosexuality and this was everyone’s opinion on it. Gandhi’s view on homosexuality is that he is accepting of it, but would not be about it himself. He said that Hindus are not very judgmental at all of homosexuality. He also stated if someone is trying to attain kama, which is pleasure, then homosexuality has actually been seen acceptable. He then went on to say that there was even one person within Hindu mythology that was involved in homosexual activities and behaviors, and that he even dressed as a girl, this person is Samba, who is the son of Krishna. Hijra, which is the third gender role in Hindu ism, are men who dress as women. Even though they dress as women does not mean that they are actually trying to be viewed as a women. Hijras actually are important to Hinduism, they are used in certain rituals and ceremonies. According to him, there are half of a million hijras in Inida today. Homosexuality is accepted in Hinduism, but it is not viewed as something that should necessarily be done. This is because it does not allow someone to fulfill their dharma or duty. It prevents that because they are notShow MoreRelatedBayard Rustin was a nonviolent activist who advocated for societal change during his life that1800 Words   |  8 Pages and rather, he embraced his homosexuality. Rustin’s pacifism and acceptance of his gay identity was rooted in his Quaker roots. Rustin found motivation and strength within his Quaker upbringing, motivating him to be an out-and-proud gay man of color, rallying for social change on all fronts until his death. This paper analyses Rustinâ₠¬â„¢s upbringing in relation to his Quaker values and how his life-long conviction to promote pacifism and egalitarianism shaped his views and actions, and the outcomeRead MoreGandhi s Self Awareness And Courage1977 Words   |  8 Pagesinstance, in Hinduism, one’s main goal is to perform one’s actions or works with one’s duty in mind. The varna that one is born into or the occupational caste gives one religious and social duties. This idea that everyone has their own duty has affected Gandhi’s determination in promoting non-violence. Gandhi believes that his duty in life is to promote and practice non-violence. He believes in bhakti, conscious participation in the divine, and for Gandhi non-violence is his action in regards to the divineRead MoreThe United Declaration Of Human Rights1878 Words   |  8 Pagesfined or jailed. This bill has been proposed in the communist fear of individualism and expression of anything â€Å"nontraditional†. The c ommunist culture has deemed homosexuality â€Å"socially infectious† though dozens of American studies conclude no such thing. Russia attempts to justify such a bill by saying that they associate homosexuality with pedophilia and outlawing it could only be beneficial in protecting their society, particularly young children. But their current laws and potential new onesRead MoreBible Versus the Toran12356 Words   |  50 PagesCOMPARING THE LIFE OF TWO AFRO-AMERICANS (1) MALCOM X - ISLAMIC MUSLIM/QURAN PAGE 35-43 8 (2) MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. - CHRISTIAN/BIBLE PAGE 44-48 9 (3) BOTH MENS POLITICAL VIEWS ON VIOLENCE AND PAGE 49-56 CHANGE IN SOCIETY (4) THE STRONG CONNECTION BETWEEN BOTH MEN PAGE 57 (1) I am writing this paper based on the comparsion of two religions; the Islamic faith and Christianity, alsoRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesrecent phase of the human experience is usually covered only at the end of a multiterm sequence of world history units has meant that it often ends up becoming a rushed add-on of rather random, abbreviated capsule summaries and general overviews. In view of the fact that no phase of history can begin to match the twentieth century in terms of the extent to which it has shaped the contemporary world, this marginalization is particularly pernicious and has been at times literally lethal. The unmatchedRead MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 Pagesother subject, and it is not a book about what you ought to believe about some subject. Although many scientific studies of decision-making have shown that people tend to sift sources of information looking to reinforce existing views rather than to accept the view that is backed up with the better argument, our course is designed to combat this tendency. Facing a Decision as a Critical Thinker Imagine this situation. You are on a four-day backpacking trip in a national wilderness area with

Feminism, Pregnancy, And The Workplace - 1068 Words

Throughout North American history, women have been struggling to integrate themselves into a male dominated society. The earlier struggle was to be recognized as people, and fighting for the right to vote. While the status on the former has yet to be resolved, modern-day feminists have shifted their view to fight for equality in the workplace. Today, women can face an undefinable number of obstacles in the workforce, from unequal pay, to sexual harassment, lack of representation, and little to no accommodation for maternity status. In the articles Engineering Ignorance and Debating Difference: Feminism, Pregnancy, and the Workplace, authors Suzanne Franzway, Rhonda Sharp, Julie E. Mills, Judith Gill, and Lise Vogel, respectively explore issues women face in their workplace. Franzway, Sharp, Mills, and Gill used Engineering Ignorance to speak about the lack of gender equality in engineering. Vogel explores issues surrounding maternity in the workplace. Though both articles have come t o the consensus that women face more obstacles in the workplace than men do, the two speak of two completely separate issues that feminists are attempting to eradicate. Most who have looked into the issue of feminism in the workplace understand that women must overcome many more struggles that men would in the workplace. The article, Engineering Ignorance (2009) states in the introduction that much of the work that women have done seems to become invisible to the eyes of society. ItShow MoreRelatedFeminism : An Definition Of Feminism1281 Words   |  6 PagesWhen one hears the term â€Å"Feminism†, she/he may have the idea that it is the urge and desire to gain rights for women. While that is true, it does not describe feminism in its entirety. Many people misinterpret what this term means based on media and people who do not know better. Many people who may misinterpret feminism may describe it as a movement to make women superior to men. They may say that those who claim to be a feminist are ones who hate men and strive to assert themselves aboveRead MoreWomen s Rights During The 20th Century1302 Words   |  6 Pagesis today. Some of the biggest movements to fight for women s equalities happened in the 20th century. People like Betty Friedan, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony helped to make it possible. In the 20th century there were two waves of feminism and third started in the 80’s but still continues today. I talk about the first and second wave in this essay. Then how these waves have changed the role of women in society. 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Course Code: HUMA 1951 Course Name: Introduction to Gender: History, Culture and Ideology TA: Catherine Swenson Student Number: 214474803 The concept of second wave feminism has constructed progressing ideologies that attempted to help women overcome gender constructed norms they have faced throughoutRead MoreThe Law That Can Not Discriminate Against Hiring An Individual Due For Pregnancy Related Illness1439 Words   |  6 Pagescompany, or even the taxpayer. In addition, it is now law that employers cannot discriminate against hiring an individual due to pregnancy, or pregnancy related illness, or disability. In ATT v. Hulteen, the Supreme Court heard of a case in which four workers claimed that they were discriminated against and that their pension was illegally reduced because of their pregnancy. The Court ruled against the four workers claiming that the Act protecting pregnant workers does not constitute redressing pastRead MoreGender Discrimination And Its Impact On Society1231 Words   |  5 Pagescertain opportunities. Discrimination, in one way or another, then becomes the stem of inequalities in certain areas - such as the workplace. Specifically for the female population in several countries. Gender discrimination has been documented in many cases around the world, notable situations such women fighting for the right to vote. This opened up a path of feminism that would come to influence future generations on gaining equality. Other cases including the amount of income and job opportunitiesRead MoreFeminism : Women And Women1316 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"I need feminism because my mother prays that I marry a successful man more than she prays that I become successful† (Unknown). 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This theory supports the idea that there are biological differences between men and womenRead MoreThe Three Waves of Feminism1223 Words   |  5 PagesThe Three Big Waves of Feminism First-Wave Feminism: Women’s Right to Vote In 1776, the then First Lady of the United States was the first to raise her about women’s rights, telling her husband to â€Å"remember the ladies† in his drafting of new laws, yet it took more than 100 years for men like John Adams to actually do so. With the help of half a dozen determined, and in this case white upper-middle-class, women the first-wave feminism, which spans from the 19th century to the early 20th centuryRead MoreFeminist Theory1248 Words   |  5 PagesFeminism refers to political, cultural, and economic movements aimed at establishing greater rights, legal protection for women, and or womens liberation. It includes some of the sociological theories and philosophies concerned with issues of gender difference. 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The Activity of Piracy Leaves a Negative Impact on the Society

Questions: 1. Analyse the article/case study from the perspective of at least two different classical ethical theories, one of which must be that of "Just Consequentialism". Present well reasoned arguments for your assessments and recommendations. 2. Write an overall conclusion that justifies your recommendations made in your essay. Answers: The Scenario: From the research and case study we have concluded that the piracy of movies, music and TV shows is going on increasing at high extent. The participants are unaware of the unethical deed which they are performing against the laws of ethics. They think that they are not stealing the video tapes from the showroom. They are just downloading the movies and TV shows from the internet and want to enjoy without paying the cost for it. They are unaware of the intangible theft which they are performing. The government of Australia has passed a copyright law in 1968 to stop the activity of piracy. The copyright act states that if the right owner successfully placed the victim in front of the court then he will be penalized for his deed. But there is a complication in predicting the hacker of the movies and TV shows from the long list of IP address which performs the activity of piracy. The government of Australia has measure the act of piracy as a criminal offence on the same platform of the c ase of theft. The stakeholder: There is a long list of people who get affected by the act of piracy which is given below: The right owner is the main stakeholder who gets affected on his profit earned by the movies, music and TV shows. The common people because the time will come when there will be no medium for the entertainment with the increasing activity of piracy. Hackers or copyright holder who conduct the activity of piracy Internet provider because they can help in banning the site from downloading. Ethical Issues: The activity of downloading of movies and TV shows is surrounded by many cyber issues. These issues can be categorized as below: Proper maintenance of the data and information confidentiality Management of security with the activity of downloading of the movies and TV shows. Accuracy in identification of the user for providing the authorization of watching movies Restriction on the easy accessibility of the movies and TV shows on the internet Emphasize on the ICT activities Give birth to the social Issues Activity of Governance Non-ethical issues: Misusing of the internet for giving rise to the activity of piracy Misbehaving in doing the theft of intangible property Consequences: There is a long list of consequences which can takes place with the increasing activity of piracy which is given below: Copyright holder is the term used for pointing out the downloaders Downloaders are unaware of the intangible theft which they are performing. The court will penalized for the deed of downloading of movies and TV shows With the passage of time and increasing activities related to the piracy will make the day come when there will be no medium for entertainment even after paying a reasonable amount. The increasing activity of piracy will result in the decreasing profit of the entertainment world With the activity of downloading movies and others, the viruses and worms are also get installed into the system of recipient The replication of copies takes place with the attack of viruses and worms. They can even harm the software and hardware of the recipient It is an unethical activity which is against the legislation This activity is treated as a civil offence Ethical Analysis: Consequentialism: Consequentialism is also known by the term classical theory. The theory states that if the activity of piracy satisfies all the principle of classical theory then it can universally accept. The theory of Consequentialism measures the rightness and wrongness of the activity by focusing on the character rather than the result of the activity of downloading of movies and others. It helps in predicting that the activity of piracy provides benefit to the society or not. It focuses on the welfare of the society. It helps in maintaining a common link between all the component of the system. It focuses on determining the moral values from the outcome of the unethical activity of downloading of movies and TV shows. Just Consequentialism: Just Consequentialism is also known by the term Modern approach theory. According to this theory if activity of piracy leaves a positive impact on the society then it should be universally accepted. It focuses on resolving the solution to the problem created by the activity of downloading of movies and TV shows. It makes significant use of computer and internet for coming to the solution of problem created by piracy. It works by implementing the core values such as the right owner, common people, hackers or copyright holder, security, and much more. Option: The restriction should be placed for stopping the increasing growth of the piracy. The role of the internet provider is to ban the sites of movies and others from downloading. Whenever the user clicks on the option of downloading, an error message should be generated on the computer screen of the recipient. We should deny from watching the pirated movies The copyright holder should be heavily penalized The industry and the internet provider should collaborate in banning the most viewed sites. Conclusion: The research and survey shows that the activity of piracy leaves a negative impact on the society. The persons are not aware of the intangible theft which they are doing by giving support to the activity of piracy. The activity of downloading is looking to be very small but it can give rise to the activity of hacking on high extent and also it is putting restriction on the growth of profit of the entertainment world. The government of Australia has passed a copyright law in 1968 to stop the activity of piracy. For the welfare of the entertainment world we should restrict the habit piracy. With the passage of time and increasing activities related to the piracy will make the day come when there will be no medium for entertaining even after paying a reasonable amount. References: Fischer, E. (2014). Cybersecurity Issues and Challenges: In Brief (1st ed.). Pasternak, S. (2012). The role of ethical theories in ethical reasoning a nd behavior within organizations (1st ed.). Powell, R. (2014). Downloading movies and TV is not a crime Read more.

The Meaning of Life free essay sample

I believe the meaning of life is to give life a meaning. Throughout my entire life, I have wondered what the purpose is. Why am I and every other human being even on this planet in the first place? That brings me to my next question. Is there a God? If there is, why did he put us here? Any Christian asked will say our sole purpose is to serve God. First of all, what does that even mean? And second, I must ask why? Why would a supernatural being place us strategically on this planet strictly to serve him? That sounds pretty selfish to me. There has to be something more. Something concrete. Something greater. How could there not be? All my life I have worked hard to succeed. I have challenged myself and fought to do better than my best. Why? I asked myself. Why stress so much when I’m only going to die in the end? Pessimistic, I know. We will write a custom essay sample on The Meaning of Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Finally, I thought, maybe the meaning of life doesn’t have to be so complex. Maybe the meaning of life is whatever we want it to be. Maybe the meaning of life is to give life a meaning. I do what I do because I want to do it. It’s that simple. I do it because it means something to me. Everyone adds their own meaning to life. The meaning of life is never universal. The meaning of life is never complex. The meaning of life is actually quite simple to think about. Many people help the needy. Others play sports. Both activities add meaning to those lives involved. Purposes change, but the overall meaning of life will always stay the same. The meaning of life is simply to give life a meaning. This I believe. The Meaning Of Life free essay sample â€Å"The Meaning of Life† is an excerpt from Richard Taylor’s book Good and Evil: A New Direction, with this book Mr. Taylor was thought to have adopted a radical subjectivist view of ethics. In this excerpt he explains why existence and life is meaningless and he sheds light into the meaning of life. Throughout his explanations Richard uses an example from an ancient Greek myth. The myth is about Sisyphus a Greek man who offended the gods and was sentenced to roll a large stone up a hill for all of eternity. We will write a custom essay sample on The Meaning of Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Richard starts his explanation of the â€Å"Meaningless of Existence† with the toils of Sisyphus. Sisyphus is forced to roll a stone up a hill, when it is near the top the stone will roll back down and he is forced to roll it up again, only to have it fall once more to be rolled up again and again for all of eternity. It is Sisyphus’ punishment that we will focus on. Sisyphus is the picture of a â€Å"meaningless, pointless toil of a meaningless existence that is absolutely never redeemed†(Taylor, Richard). He has lost all purpose in life except to roll a stone; it is a never ending nightmare that he will never awaken from. Taylor gives other examples of meaningless tasks, a relay styles race with a precious gem transported back and forth in a never ending cycle, and a digging hole only to be refilled with the same earth. The points to all this is that all these tasks are pointless and without meaning. The story could be different and Sisyphus can have meaning if he circumstance were different, if Sisyphus rolled stone to the top and all the stone accumulated into a wonderful and enduring temple, he would have some meaning to his labors. If the gods as an after thought made it so that Sisyphus’ only will and desire was to roll stone, then Sisyphus would perhaps take enjoyment in his task. This change in his perception does not change his task at hand; it only changes his perspective. His is still condemned to an eternity of meaningless and pointless labor. Therefore the existence of Sisyphus is meaningless, the labor that he performs leads him nowhere, and everything that he does is in vain. The world would be the same with or without his presence. The next section deals with the meaningless of life, he begins this section by explaining what meaningless and meaningfulness is: â€Å"Meaningless is essentially endless pointless and meaningfulness is therefore the opposite. †(Taylor, Richard) for this section he cites ugly blind worms in a New Zealand cave. These worms have the soul purpose of waiting, feeding, transforming into winged adults only living a day or two, mating, laying eggs and finally dying. This example shows us the meaning of life, an endless cycle that accumulates to nothing, and the â€Å"point of living is evidently nothing but life itself. † (Taylor, Richard) We as humans differ form this only a little. We have goals that we work for; once they are completed we set off after another goal, all this work goes to family and home, only to beget others who will follow in the same foot steps in a cycle. Even though we are stuck in a cycle of endless meaningless toil we look to religion, universal justice, brotherhood or any sort of ever lasting good that we may aim for. The last part of this excerpt is the â€Å"meaning of life† we return to the story of Sisyphus who in this example has completed his beautiful tower and is now faced with eternal boredom, before he was faced with the nightmare of pointless activity now he is faced with the hell of eternal absence and boredom. This leads into his explanation that the meaning to our lives is â€Å"our own wills, our deep interest is what we find ourselves doing†(Taylor, Richard). Even though our existence is short and our toils fade we can hold memories of the past. The point of living is to continue what we are doing because giving up and doing nothing would be no salvation. The resolution to this excerpt is that we live life because our will is to live and build castles for our children so they can build castles for theirs. This question of living has puzzled philosophers for centuries, I have also come across this question, with my reasoning I could not figure it out, for if, great philosophers couldn’t then how could I? Mr. Taylor’s views are interesting and some of what he says does make sense. The myth of Sisyphus is the focal point of Richard Taylor’s reasoning the meaning of life; he explains Sisyphus eternal punishment in detail. Richard also gives other scenarios of Sisyphus’ task, if his labors accumulated into a beautiful tower or if he was some how made to enjoy rolling stones. I agree that in a way all ours lives are like that of Sisyphus’ toil. A cycle of endless toil, we work towards our little goals and glimpse of happiness, which are sure to fade over time. The meaningless of life is explained in the second section; Richard uses two insects to show the meaningless of life, the glow worms and the cicadas. Richard states that there is no meaning to life because it is an endless cycle of pointless and meaningless events. At the moment our goals may seem a great deal of importance in our lives but in the end all our toils are pointless and meaningless in the end. I understand this point in his explanation but I disagree, I think a person can find meaning in every ting they do. It is true that this meaning doesn’t last forever but the pleasure we take from everyday life and experience is well worth it. I don’t believe that everything is meaningless in life just because we all die in the end. I believe that it’s not the end of ones life that is important; it’s the journey that one takes through life. It is the accumulation of everyday happiness that makes our lives worthwhile. There is an old saying that the end of a journey is not important, it is the lessons we learn along the journey that counts. In the last section of the excerpt is the meaning of life, Richards explains that we live life because of our own will. I also agree with this, living life with a purpose and a will is much better compared to living a life of doing nothing and boredom because we know it eventually ends. I have very optimistic views of human life; I believe that everyone’s life has a meaning and a purpose. If a person is dying of cancer and has only a few months left, but a doctor performs an operation and saves him, he will have meaning to live again and he will cherish the rest of his life, sure he will die eventually but presently he will be grateful to live and he will give the doctor a reason to continue what he is doing. In my opinion the reason we live is for experience, we live to learn and experience new things. Like that old saying about the journey and the end, it is the process of the journey that is important. We live life not thinking about our deaths, we live it for the experiences that each day brings.