The Reasons for the Collapse of WorldCom in 2002 Coursework

The Reasons for the Collapse of WorldCom in 2002 - Coursework Example Corporate governance is known to entail associations amid the board, other bodies involving an indirect form of engagement with the organization, management and stakeholders of the organisations. The mentioned aspect is even supposed to present a comprehensive composition from which the intentions of that particular organization are believed to descend. However, it becomes imperative to mention the procedure through which the behaviours of the directors in a particular organization are supervised and controlled. The process is also learnt to entail the factor of decision making, supervision and responsibility and is termed as corporate governance on the whole (Monks & Minow, 2011: 433). Brief Background of WorldCom WorldCom was founded in Mississippi. The nature of its business operations was telecommunications and the company was learnt to have surfaced from murkiness in a period of rage in relation to corporate behaviour with regard to the mentioned sector. The rage was measured to be let loose as a result of deregulation in the telecommunications sector in the United States (US). ... It i worth mentioning that Bernard Ebbers was selected as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company in the year 1985 and was considered to be majorly responsible for the progress as well as for the downfall of the company. The progress of WorldCom attained its zenith with the acquirement of MCI Communications in the year 1998 which was recorded to be the biggest and most noteworthy corporate merger (Ngoda, 2011). The Reasons behind the Collapse A huge amount of accounting misstatements was identified as the major reason that triggered the collapse of WorldCom. The accounting misstatements were found to conceal the progressively grave situation of the mentioned company. Fake or rather unproven accounting entries involving a huge amount were learnt to be made in the financial methods of the company with the intention of attaining the aspired record of financial results. The major contributor to trigger such a fraudulent activity was stated to be the pursuance of a particular bus iness strategy by the CEO, Bernie Ebbers. During the period of 1990s, the only focus of the CEO was supposed to be on the attainment of remarkable progress with the help of acquirements. The company was learnt to be making aggressive moves towards acquiring other companies with the aid of the stocks held by the company. The stocks of the company called for the requirement to record a constant rise in terms of their worth in order to carry out the acquiring spree. However, this particular aggressive strategy followed by Bernie Ebbers witnessed a halt when the company was compelled to discard a planned unification with Sprint owing to antitrust oppositions (Berglund, n.d.). This definite halt triggered a strong influence over the CEO to project a picture

Visual analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Visual analysis - Essay Example The advertisement is in the most appropriate color palette. Red is the dominant color, which stirs up the piquancy of the paint. It is a vibrant color that gives a fine texture especially with the mixture of grey and black. The blend of color brings an atmosphere of calmness and creativity, which easily sells the brand to customers. The paint clearly uses a balance of color in the cartoon drawings, words and the color of the drink. The black merges well with red, whereas grey and white adds some lure to the advertisement. The shape of the bottle, drawings and the cartoons also give an impression of fine art. They bring a balance of different forms of art that produce a wholly captivating paint. The rhythm of the clouds surrounding the bottle give the feeling that once a person takes the drink, then they will be in a jovial mood occasioned by the positive energy. This advertisement is a paint that aims at marketing Coca-Cola drinks. It is a design that evokes the positive energy that a person can get when they take the drink. The perfection in display is one of a kind, the type of advertisement that makes a person buy something because of the beauty in the advertisement. It is only fair to say that the paint convinces a person to take the drink and get the energy. Still, the drink in the bottle just looks as sweet as the mixture of colors used to paint it. The paint tells people that Coca-Cola is also an energy-drink. People love drinks that are exceptionally good to their health. Thus, it is with no doubt that, the artistic work exhibited in the advertisement gives the idea that it is the most appropriate drink to take and build energy to undertake different activities. This advertisement is visibly a heart-winner and effortlessly influences people into drinking Coca-Cola. However, if they would use a photo of a person taking the drink, it would be more appealing than it is now. The target

Determining Ones Fate :: Autobiographies Writing Literature Papers

Determining One's Fate In his preface to Portrait of a Lady (New York Edition) James commends Turgenev's method of first inventing a character which subsequently offered that character's fate (4). It can be said that James applied this procedure to his own autobiography. Having completed every novel he would ever write, he was, theoretically at least, in full possession of his character as a great novelist and therefore able to impose the pattern of this fate on his personal history as a small boy. As he reviewed his past writing A Small Boy and Others, James consciously "read into it" certain recurring motifs, aided by the power of retrospect to see what was formerly not observable, if even extant at all. Although James's definite interest in writing does not emerge until much later, in the second volume of his autobiography The Middle Years, James as a small boy is presented as a writer, albeit yet unformed, a writer in the embryonic stage. It is only because the mature autobiographer is provided with hindsight that he is able to cast the small boy in this light, the small boy whose existence while limited to a meaningless present was not, apparently, directed. James contrives to demonstrate that his early life was not spent idly, however much it might have seemed so to the "others." He offers an apology for the fact that at the time of his boyhood his fate was not at all obvious and he had nothing "to show" but appeared like "some commercial traveler who has lost the key to his packed case of samples and can but pass for a fool while other exhibitions go forward." James's family and friends, it seems, observed him from perspective of readers of a novel whose point of view is limited first or third person and whose solution is kept till the end. The autobiographer's conceit is to indicate the clues which might have revealed his character even then if only one had been an imaginative enough "reader" to see these clues, clues such as his preference for observation and his interest in art. James supports the conceit that he was always a writer by sometimes referring to "Fate" which seems, at first, to be at odds with James's acknowledgement that during the process of writing it was his hindsight that imposed the pattern. In any autobiography there is tension involved in the desire to depict life in all it realistic messiness while giving that representation artistic shape.

Beliefs of Islam Essay

The central beliefs of Islam are summed up in the Five Pillars. These pillars express obligations imposed on Muslims in order to live in accordance with the will of Allah and set requirements for everyday Muslim life. They are the foundation of Islamic faith and reflect its basic tenets. The first Pillar is Shahada, or Iman, believing in God’s oneness. The essence of the first Pillar is reflected in the saying: â€Å"There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His prophet† (University of Calgary). All Muslims pronounce this simple formulation that embraces the basics of what they believe in. The saying also means that the only worthy purpose in life is to serve and obey Allah and to do so through learning and following the teachings of Muhammad who the Muslims treat as the Last Prophet. Another Pillar is the prayer, or Salah, which the Muslim is supposed to perform five times a day. The prayer establishes a direct connection between the praying person and God. As Islam does not have a hierarchy of priests typical of other religions, â€Å"prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Qur’an and is generally chosen by the congregation† (Islam 101).   The times for prayers are morning, noon, later afternoon, evening and sunset. In this way, prayers accompany Muslims the whole day and remind them of the need to worship God. The next pillar is Zakat, or the obligation to give charity. This demand, â€Å"originally a free-will donation†, has now turned into a compulsory demand to direct 2.5% of one’s annual income for charity or religious purposes (University of Calgary). Muslims in this way purify their wealth by setting aside a portion of it for the poor. Those willing to give more than required by Zakat can do so in secrecy, allocating a portion of their income as sadaqa-h, preferably in secrecy from other Muslims. Fasting (Sawm) relates to the obligation to abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse in the daytime in the month of Ramadan. The requirement does not refer to those who because of health problems cannot give up eating in the daylight hours. Their fast is transferred to another time, or they have to compensate for it in other ways. Each evening of the Ramadan, Muslims meet to â€Å"break† the fast together when the sun sets. Hajj (Pilgrimage) refers to a trip to Mecca, the holy place to all Muslims. The trip has to be undertaken in an â€Å"egalitarian atmosphere, Ihram† including â€Å"donning of simple white garments, refraining from sex, haircuts, jewelry, arguing† (University of Calgary). During their trip, Muslims circle the Ka’ab, the holy stone. Walking counterclockwise around the stone, they underscore the centrality of the stone in their beliefs. In general, the pilgrimage is arranged in such a way as to commemorate the prophets Abraham, Hagar Ishmael and Muhammad. For example, Sa’y, â€Å"running seven times between hills and drinking from Zamam spring† symbolizes â€Å"Hagar’s running for water† (University of Calgary). The Hajj is not really binding on Muslims since they only have to do this trip if they are physically fit to do it and financially able to afford it. The Five Pillars effectively capture the basic beliefs of Islam: belief in the one-ness of God and the fact that Muhammad was the Last Prophet, centrality of Islamic faith in everyday life, moderate life, sharing of wealth between the rich and the poor. In my opinion, the first Pillar, Iman, is the easiest to realize since it only involves repeating the words over and over again. This is an effective way to remind a person of the nature of one’s beliefs; however, it does not take too much effort. Ramadan, on the other hand, is extremely challenging both to health and will power. At one point I had a good friend who was a devout Muslim and I could observe how staunchly he resists eating and even drinking during the Ramadan. Such abstention can only be withstood by someone who is really devoted to one’s principles and has strong faith in religion. References Islam101. The Five Pillars of Islam. Retrieved June 16, 2006, from http://www.islam101.com/dawah/pillars.html University of Calgary. (n.d.). The Five Pillars of Islam. Retrieved June 16, 2006, from http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/I_Transp/IO5_FivePillars.html

The Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini - 1141 Words

The Kite Runner, a novel by Khaled Hosseini, is a story about a Pushtun boy who experiences a life full of guilt after consciously betraying his best friend. Several minor characters serve dramatic roles that contribute to the development of the novel. These supporting characters include Rahim Khan, Soraya, Sohrab, Sanaubar and Assef. Rahim Khan serves as a mediator and liaison between Amir and Baba throughout their life in Kabul. Rahim Khan divulged the veracity regarding Hassan’s true father, through the readings and understanding of Hassan’s letters. Khan, in addition, becomes the motivation for Amir’s return to the Taliban controlled Afghanistan; he promised Amir that, â€Å"There is a way to be good again†. (Hosseini 202). Rahim Khan is precisely the virtuous voice of wisdom in The Kite Runner. Not only does he give advice to Amir, but also acts as a second parent to him. Whenever Baba ignored Amir, Rahim was consistently present to provide propitious advice. This is proven as Amir remarks, â€Å"As always it was Rahim Khan who rescued me.† (Hosseini 43). This shows that Rahim Khan is always there for Amir and is a loyal and supportive guiding character in Amir’s life. Soraya’s role, like the role of all Afghan women under the Taliban, is minor from a plot perspective, yet the significance that she has on Amir’s character growth proves to be instrumental. Soraya provides the good and bad in Amir’s life and she is what drives him to be a better person, however, she continuesShow MoreRelatedThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini883 Words   |  4 Pagesregret from past encounters and usually feel guilty and bitter about the situation. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, revolves around the theme of redemption. Redemption can be used as a cure for guilt. Throughout the novel, the author shows that redemption requires some sort of sacrifice and the only way that is possible is if you can forgive you rself from the mistakes you have made in the past. Khaled Hosseini effectively portrays redemption through motifs such as rape, irony and flashbacks, symbolismRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1651 Words   |  7 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel â€Å"The Kite Runner† by Khaled Hosseini describes the life of a boy, Amir. Amir’s best friend and brother (although that part isn’t known until towards the end), Hassan, plays a major role in Amir’s life and how he grows up. Hosseini portrays many sacrifices that are made by Hassan and Amir. Additionally, Amir seeks redemption throughout much of the novel. By using first person point of view, readers are able to connect with Amir and understand his pain and yearning for a way to be redeemedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1655 Words   |  7 PagesSarah Singer Major Works Data Form Title: The Kite Runner Author: Khaled Hosseini Date of Publication: 2003 Genre: Historical Fiction Historical information about the period of publication: Since the September 11th attacks in 2001, the United States has been at war with Afghanistan. Their goals were to remove the Taliban, track down those in charge of the attacks, and destroy Al-Qaeda. Biographical information about the author: Khaled Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. HIs motherRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1098 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, we learn a lot about Amir the main character, and Hassan his servant/brother. In the beginning Hassan and Amir’s relationship was one of brotherly love despite the fact that Hassan was a Hazara and Amir a Pashtun. Back in the 1970’s race and religion played a big part in Kabul and these two races were not suppose to have relationships unless it was owner (Pashtun) and servant (Hazara). Baba Amir’s father had an affair with Hassan’s mother, but it was kept aRead MoreThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini1313 Words   |  5 Pagesis not unique to just J.K. Rowling. Khaled Hosseini also incorporates life experiences into some of his novels. A prime example of this is The Kite Runner. The storyline of this novel reflects his past to create a journey of a young Afghanistan boy, whose name is Amir. This boy changes drastically throughout his lifetime from a close minded, considerably arrogant boy to an open hearted and minded man. This emotional and mental trip is partially based on Khaled Hosseini’s own life. Throughout Hosseini’sRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1908 Words   |  8 Pages​In the novel, â€Å"The Kite Runner†, written by Khaled Hosseini, was taken place in Afghanistan during the 1970’s to the year of 2002. Many historical events happened during this time period and Hosseini portrayed it into his novel. Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan, was a free, living area for many Afghanistan families to enjoy the life they were given. Until one day, Afghanistan was then taken over and attacked. In the novel, Amir, the protagonist, must redeem himself and the history behind his actionsRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1050 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"There is a way to be good again.† (Hosseini 334). This quote given by Rahim Khan to Amir holds a great amount of force and symbolism. In theory, this quote symbolizes the beginning of Amir’s path to redemption. The eye-opening Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini tells about the struggles of Afghanistan before and during the Taliban, and one’s struggle for redemption and acceptance. With regards to the opening quote, some see Amir’s actions as selfish. However, others may believe that Amir truly changedRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini1583 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel the Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Amir, the main character, shares his thoughts and actions due to his poor decisions. The problems he encountered were all because of the sin committed in his youth. His sins taunted the beginning of his life and gave him a troublesome memory full of guilt. As the novel continued, Amir attempted to disengage the memory of his sin and forget about it. Amir then faced the long bumpy road to redemption. Khaled Hosseini’s novel the Kite Runner is about sinRead MoreThe Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini871 Words   |  4 Pagesthat person is trying to fix that mistake. This also applies to the novel The Kite Runner. The story revolves around the main character Amir, and his childhood friend, Hassan. After Amir came to America with Baba, his father, he still regrets the things he had done to his childhood friend. He left Hassan getting raped by Assef in a small alley in 1975. Thereafter, Amir always feel regret and seeks for redemption. Hosseini -the author, argues that redemption can be achieved by helping others, teachRead MoreThe Kite Runner By Khaled Hosseini3402 Words   |  14 Pagestitle â€Å"The Kite Runner† is symbolic as fighting kites and the kite runnings are impacting moments in the novel. Hassan was the best kite runner in Kabul, if not the whole country, after Amir won the kite fighting the running of that last blue kite triggered the monumental changes for Amir. For the beginning of the story the kite running was associated with Hassan’s rape and Amir’s grief. As kites appear throughout the story, they begin Amir’s story and also end it. Amir flying the kite with Sohrab

Andreas and Nadelmanns Ideas on Policing the Globe, Criminalization and Crime Control Free Essay Example, 1500 words

One of the points made in the book Policing the Globe, Criminalisation and crime Control in International Relations" is the fact that while some activities, such as smuggling or piracy have traditionally been regarded as crimes extending past national borders, there have developed other crimes which have made it necessary to move beyond the traditional definitions of crime. The increasing growth of international crime over the past half a century has come to play a role in the resulting of defining more and more international activities as crimes, for example, money laundering, which is considered to be an integral component of the War on Drugs that has been led by the United States. The authors make the argument that international attitudes toward criminalisation and the control of crime have been shaped to a large extent by the attitudes formed towards it by the United States as well as its security needs and welfare to the exclusion of all other countries that do not share the same interests. While it is a fact that the European Union is currently attempting to develop and grow certain uniformity in its criminal law and practice within its territory, most of this has largely been through the influence of the United States (Nadelmann, 2007). We will write a custom essay sample on Andreas and Nadelmanns Ideas on Policing the Globe, Criminalization and Crime Control or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page

Essay about The Color of Water - 7106 Words

The Color of Water Introductory Note 1. What framework does the author give the story? * The author gives the story from two different perspectives one from the mother’s perspective, Ruth, and the other from the son’s perspective, James. 2. What is the ethnic background of the author? * The ethnic background of the author is Caucasian and African-American. Chapter 1: Dead 1. Why is this chapter written in italics? * This chapter was written in Italics because it was written from a different point of view which was Ruth’s perspective who talks about her past as a child. 2. Why is the mother reluctant to talk about her family? * Ruth is reluctant to talk about her family because she felt that was†¦show more content†¦This was a reward to James because he never had the opportunity to be with his mother alone since she always occupied with something. 10. What does the author notice about his mother’s appearance, and what advice does she give him when he asks her about different looks? * James notices that his mother’s skin color than his friends’ mothers’ skin color are different, so Ruth tells him â€Å"Who cares about your friends’ mothers’ skin color? Just educate your mind.† 11. What effect does this advice have on the author when Mommy is not at the bus stop one day? * This advice ma kes James as a child not to talk to ANYONE when his mom is late at the bus stop one day. Chapter 3: Kosher 1. What piece of paper did the author’s mother carry for twenty years, and why did she carry it? * Ruth carried a legal paper that says the date when she arrived in America. She carried it everywhere because she didn’t want to be thrown out if she was questioned. 2. Where did the author’s mother first live in America? * Ruth first lived on 115th street and St. Nicholas in Manhattan with her grandmother, Bubeh. 3. What does the author’s mother say about Bubeh’s wig? * Ruth says her grandmother, Bubeh, was bald under her wig, or Shaytl, the religious custom. 4. How does Mommy describe the kosher rituals of her grandparents? * Ruth described the kosher rituals of her grandparents as aShow MoreRelatedThe Color of Water1735 Words   |  7 PagesSome children have difficulties accepting their race. In â€Å"The Color of Water† written by James McBride covers the story of a biracial man that is trying to find out more about his white mother. Thr oughout the book James McBride discusses how racism and acceptance from people can be difficult. In the text â€Å"The Color of Water†, racial tensions has had an effect on James mother Ruth’s along with James and other individuals who have dealt with being biracial while looking to being accepted in theirRead MoreColor of Water972 Words   |  4 PagesThe Color of Water: A Black Man s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride Discussion questions Discuss Ruth McBride s refusal to reveal her past and how that influenced her children s sense of themselves and their place in the world. Why was she reluctant to tell her children about her background? How has your knowledge—or lack thereof—about your family background shaped your own self-image? Do you get a sense of life under the old Jewish traditions? How does that compare to theRead MoreThe Color Of Water And Night1378 Words   |  6 Pages In Race and Ethnicity Class we read two books. We read The Color of Water and Night. I really liked both books. They are informative on two different races. They are interesting and emotional. Color of Water is about a black Jewish man (James) and his relationship with his white Jewish mother (Ruth). In the story the man did not realize growing up that he and his mother are different races. He is mix, both black and white, and his mother is white. This causes him to spend much of his life questioningRead MoreThe Color Of Water Summary1108 Words   |  5 Pages In the book â€Å"The Color of Water† by James McBride, Chapter 5 mainly focuses on Ruth’s father (Tateh) and his connection towards his family. In this chapter the author creates how her father only cared about money, his business, and being an American, it also develops the ways he treated his family by treating his wife badly, sexually abusing Ruth, and demanding the kids to work at his shop. The whole chapter comes together to realize Ruth’s fathers true characteristics of being greedy, unlovingRead MoreEssay on The Color of Water1893 Words   |  8 PagesAt the beginning of The Color of Water, James McBride’s mother Ruth goes on to introduce particular aspects about her upbringing. She mentions how she grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family and begins to describe both her parents. Ruth’s father was a very cold and hard individual who didn’t care too much for his children’s overall well-being, while her mother was very sweet and k ind in nature. She also goes on to talk about how her family was originally from Poland but decided to move to the UnitedRead MoreThe Color Of Water By James Mcbride Essay1250 Words   |  5 Pagesread the book, The Color of Water by James McBride. I learned several things about what life was like in the mid-1900’s and in which may be why we still face issues with racial differences. McBride does a great job of illustrating his internal and external challenges that he faces throughout his life. I also learned more about African American culture in the United States and gave me a desire to be a part of positive change to this particular racial group. The Color of Water, written by James McBrideRead MoreThe Color Of Water By James Mcbride1514 Words   |  7 PagesThe Color of Water Comparison Essay When people are treated unfairly or unjustly, how should they perceive it and how do they generally react to this? In The Color of Water by James McBride, prejudice shapes James and Ruth in many ways, James has different stories than Ruth, due to the fact that he lived in a different time period, which makes his scenario different from Ruth’s. Both faced adversity, and stood up for themselves and defended themselves in many different ways just to make sure thatRead MoreThe Color Of Water By James Mcbride1549 Words   |  7 Pageswas black or white, she replied â€Å"†¦. God’s not black. He’s not white. He’s a spirit†. â€Å" What color is God’s spirit†? â€Å"It doesn t have a color, she said. God is the color of water. Water doesn t have a color† (pg. 50-51). It means that a persons race or religion shouldn t be a deciding factor on the way a person is viewed. Water has not set color. It is clear. We should all be seen a s the color of water which could possibly bring peace to our fellow citizens. It could even wash away other problemsRead MoreThe Color of Water Essay examples843 Words   |  4 PagesSara Knigge The Color of Water Essay Racial Identity The Color of Water by James McBride was a story about a young boy trying to figure out his racial identity but his mother would not talk about her past or what race she was. All James knew was that she was white living in a black power neighborhood and that fact terrified him. He thought that to grow up he had to know his racial identity but through all the trouble and hard times he went through he learned that his race did not matter. ItRead MoreThe Color of Water Thematic Essay1142 Words   |  5 PagesIn The Color of Water, author James McBride writes both his autobiography and a tribute to the life of his mother, Ruth McBride. In the memoirs of the author’s mother and of himself, they constantly face discrimination from their race in certain neighborhoods and of their religious beliefs. The trials and tribulations faced by these two characters have taught readers universally that everyone faces difficulties in life, but they can all be surmounted. Whenever Ruth or James McBride face any forms