Advanced entrepreneurship - legal and financial decisions Essay

Advanced entrepreneurship - legal and financial decisions - Essay Example Every year thousands of immigrants arrive in New York.The immigrants come with promising talent and academics,high hopes of living the American dream.Along with this,the natural increase in the population of a city resulted in a population growth rate of 5% The inhabitable land definitely does not increase with the same rate and this result into densification of population in the city centers. The two – bed room apartment, with all the traditional bulky furniture, that can be bought in no less than $500,000 can hardly accommodate a family of four, let alone allow them a comfortable living. Hence a problem exists and with it comes new opportunities to do business. The Industry: This business idea is related to furniture industry. A new product called ‘Space Saving Furniture’ is presented to Triangle Solutions as a prospective business opportunity in New York City, Manhattan and similar densely populated metropolitan areas. The art of furniture design combined with the latest technology in engineering yields a broad range of multi-purpose furniture products. The new designs are more comfortable, occupy lesser space, and can be easily modified to fit different needs throughout the day. The catalog of product includes a study table that turns into a two tier beds for kids at night, a superb sofa set that turns in to a double – bed when needed, a shelf that can be disassembled to give four small chairs if required and so on. The list includes a whole range of easy to operate furniture products that can fit into offices, bed rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, study rooms etc. and can serve at least two, if not more, functions at a time. Market Size: There are at least 2.14 million apartments in New York City alone according to a survey conducted in 2008 (DiNapoli, 2009, p. 1). Most of the residents of these apartments suffer with the problems of low accommodation. Compared with the real estate prices and monthly rents, space saving furniture is a financially feasible option for the apartment dwellers to increase their accommodation. Hence it is estimated that the product will be extremely popular with the majority of the population. Competition exists in this market as well. There are a few companies such as Resource Furniture which are already marketing the product. However, we believe that a strong marketing campaign can certainly attract the so far untapped customer base. Team Requirements: The team for this business must consist of following experts. Interior Decorator: To design the aesthetics of the furniture Product and Industrial Design Engineer: For general product design Mechanical Engineer: For material selection, load calculations and hydraulic system design etc. Marketing Manager: For devising marketing and sales strategy and its implementation Director Operations: To manage the production, inventory and general operations. Finance Officer: To manage finances. Scalability of the Product: The product is scalable over a good range of production and sales volume. Looking at the costs break down, we can observe that the product has very high initial, fixed costs and comparatively low variable cost. The initial cost includes the cost of equipments and machinery required for production and the design expenses. The variable costs include the materials, marketing and energy bills. Hence increasing the production and hence the sales volume will result in lesser payback time and greater profits. On the contrary, if low sales are forecasted for a particular product, then the costs can be reduced by using simpler production machinery instead of highly specialized machinery for each product. This machinery will have low initial and running cost but has more production time. Financials: The business can be started by establishing an office / display center at Furniture Market in New York. A small manufacturing facility will be set up close to the display center. The initial capital required for it is $2 5,000. All the

Benefits Project Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Benefits Project - Research Paper Example In addition to this the other facilities and discounts like Lifeworks, flexible working hours, education assistance, service appreciation awards, career growth and training programs for employees with growth and leadership potential have also been considered. This in my opinion would make Sodexo’s plans comparable to Google, Microsoft or any other Fortune 500 company. Basic Issue, Purpose and Relationships But as they say, the strength and efficacy of a plan lies in its weakest link, and in this case, the link was a service provider, namely Aetna. It has been shown that Aetna has been a preferred company for Sodexo’s Group Life Insurance Plan. Therefore I also assume that this company is involved in the administration and provision of services under its Short and Long Term Disability Plans. Interestingly this fact was uncovered by delving into the Exit Interviews of quite a number of employees who had been bitter and critical in their appraisal of the coverage and degre e of care administered by the insurance company even under the Business Travel Accident Plan. Further investigation into the matter by a combination of HR and Medical Staff determined that no less that 15 such instances had occurred in the last one and a half years. Since staff was enrolled in the insurance plans automatically and the coverage was renewed every year, Aetna considered that they simply could not lose. As far as the relationships between fraud in the medical coverage and employee dissatisfaction are concerned, a little analysis will put forth that since the Short and Long Term Disability Plans as well as the Benefits Travel Accident Plan were related, one often leading to another, the connivance and inefficiency of Aetna staff was often the culprit leading to improper and insufficient attention to non-managerial staff. In many cases, such staff had to resort to other or personal means to meet these deficiencies in care. Since the complaints were few and far between, Ae tna had managed to get away with it unscathed so far. The amazing thing is that these very staff took proper care of Sodexo’s managerial and higher level staff quite well in similar instances of accident and disability. Clearly they knew who was wielding the power here. The purpose of this paper is not only to highlight this deficiency but also its causes so that the erring staff is removed or the coverage is given to another insurance company. Such a state of affairs can hardly be tolerated. It is also desired to review the efficacy and management of all the different types of medical coverage so that similar or other deficiencies can be highlighted and corrected. Thus we will accomplish a thorough review of all types of medical coverage given by Sodexo, and by doing so positively impact employee satisfaction. It is also interesting that one or two lower level employees had highlighted these in their assessments of the available benefits at the company, and even made a remar k in their employee satisfaction surveys, but these were unfortunately overlooked by HR as being too unlikely to be true. It was assumed that the employees were over-reacting to an already bad or painful situation. For one thing, this state of affairs may indicate that HR has become too complacent and sure of itself and therefore it is suggested that future employee surveys and benefits assessments be independently

Doris Lessings Book Character Essay Example for Free

Doris Lessings Book Character Essay We are first introduced to Mary as being an independent young woman. However Lessing’s character soon shows signs of being an insecure woman, who cares deeply what other people think about her. The reader is forced to sympathise with this self-destructing character. Throughout the novel Mary is described as being in a state of tension and under strain. Mary is unable to adapt to her new life on the farm with Dick, she is constantly longing for the town she left behind. The linear plot is about Mary Turner’s life, going back to her childhood and progressing to her characters fatal ending. The narrator tells of Mary being raised by â€Å"frustrated parents† and the hatred she felt towards her father. Her body is treated with discust,†She smelt the thick stuff of his trousers†, a possibility that some sort of child abuse occurred, which would account for her arrested sexuality, the fear and repulsion of sex. Mary becomes a friendless character who receives no help from her Husband and no loyalty from the servant. However violent Mary becomes with her servant she never actually commits a crime. Mary is driven to marry Dick after she over hears people mocking her and she feels she is being ostracized. The reader views Mary as a heroine who has lost her struggle. We are told by the narrator that evil was not contained within this woman but that evil was all around her. Throughout the novel the author’s disapproval of sexual and political prejudice and the colonialism in South Africa is constantly reinforced. This in turn influences the reader not to adapt to the main characters viewing of the world. Lessing’s novel can be seen as Mary’s constant struggle to preserve her authenticity and sense of self but she fails to overcome her struggle due to the forces and conditions that surround her. Mary’s failures are rooted in her family and culture that in turn dooms her to her death. Although at the beginning of Mary and Moses’s relationship, Mary exerts all her power and authority, we soon see a role reversal and a curious relationship develop when Moses insists on being treated like a human. From the beginning of the novel we become aware of Mary’s family struggles of poverty. Lessing intentionally tried to make the reader constantly switch from sympathising with Mary to despising her. Both Mary and Dick are identified as being tragic figures because of their failure to communicate and to address the practical and emotional difficulties in their lives. Mary  believed that she was as a white person is superior to the black natives in every way. The relationship that Mary develops with her black servant Moses shatters the complacency of the whites in Africa. Moses’ power in the relationship is unquestionable and real. His action in murdering Mary is simply a demonstration of the control which he exerts over her and in general which the blacks have in their own country still. The whites only retain a hold based on lies and corruption The land is what kills Mary. Mary’s efforts to assert her white authority over a black man continually backfire and leave her with less control. â€Å"While it is never explicitly stated, the novel suggests that Mary succumbs to him sexually just as her mental faculties begin to disintegrate†(40) Mary’s cognizance of the murder as one compounded  by her own guilt and by vengeance, rather than unwarranted aggression, shows a strange ability to forgive her own murderer even as he performs the act that she knows he is compelled to do.(42) Theshadow of regret, followed by the desire to explain and to be absolved of guilt, marks the first and only moment in the novel in which Mary is conceived as a self-possessed agent of her own destiny(43) The reader never consent to Mary’s view of the world but they can relate to the traditions and cultures that she was raised in that influenced her behaviour. Mary had been brought up to be afraid of black men: â€Å"She was afraid of them [the natives], of course. Every woman in South Africa is brought up to be. In her childhood she had been forbidden to walk out alone, and when she asked why, she had been told in the furtive, lowered, but matter-of-fact voice she associated with her mother, that they were nasty and might do horrible things to her†(chapt4) â€Å"She hated their half-naked, thick-muscled black bodies stooping in the  mindless rhythm of their work. She hated their sullenness, their averted eyes when they spoke to her, their veiled insolence; and she hated more than anything, with a violent physical repulsion, the heavy smell that came from the, a hot, sour animal smell.†(chap.7) The reader identifies with Mary’s Emotional failure as a white woman, a wife that rendered from her childhood upbringing and formed her into this insecure woman.

Characteristics That Define Community Base Tourism

Characteristics That Define Community Base Tourism In any widely developed, competitive market, like ours, quality service delivery of a consistent and superb hospitality separates business that do well from those who struggles to keep their head above the waters. Quality service is about personalized connection. Its about how people feel after theyve purchased from you or spend days of their lives in your care whether is on a vacation or a business trip. Its about the closely developed bonds, the stunning relationships and the extra-ordinary and positive feelings between the team and the customers. Hiring the most exceptional individuals who understand this concept and delivering it naturally on a daily basis. Product or name aside, it is widely believed that service and hospitality accounts for seventy five (75%) of what is actually sold. Companies are therefore empowered to engage their teams driving them to understand both and responsibly delivering them at the highest possible standard. Hospitality industry is one of the service sectors, with relatively high level of customer contact. The higher the level of customer contacts the more numerous and higher the growth of the organization, quality services include but not limited to: Benefits Under-promise and over-deliver, this by all means should be the ultimate goal for every successful company in the hospitality sector, being attentive and passionate about their customer needs. Once a customers needs are satisfied, you automatically build the foundation and establish a relationship based on sincere trust and devoted loyalty. Collectively contributing to customers loyalty and hence retention which is integral for success and sustained growth in this industry. Feedback Always remain open to suggestions. Understanding what exactly your customers expect and desire from you. Placing a suggestion box in your reception area, cafà ©, air travel or tourism office so you can garner feedback from your customers. Furthermore, dont just gather customer recommendations, but expeditiously act upon them showing that you really care and appreciate their business and value their opinion. It is very essential to understand the importance of quality customer service in hospitality in order to make a positive difference to the business through active listening, learning and implementation. Prompt Service Providing the best service is only the first step, providing it above and beyond the required pace is most essential in achieving a desired goal. Not being fast enough may cause you to lose an important customer and several other referrals. Keep in mind that if your customer is not satisfied, he will knock on other doors until someone else will, constantly learning how to innovate, meeting high expectations and providing excellent service. Customers should be the center of your universe and your services should be designed and tailored to meet their needs. Convenience Both the hospitality and other service related industries thrives on convenience. If customers convenience is missing, this essential ingredient, your business wont last long unless numerous changes demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction. Service and hospitality industries were predominantly built to offer the basics of convenience to customers. Knowing that today the industry is expanding and the competition is rapidly expanding, hotel conglomerates are getting more and more innovative, thinking of various means to achieve highest possible standards in convenience offerings. Value Customer needs to be treated with priority no questions asked, and he should see superb value in the services received. Once a customer strongly believes he is getting a great value for the money he is paying, he will in no doubt keep coming back. On the contrary, dissatisfaction with your service will make him turn back and look for value offerings from your competition and paint a daunting picture of your business with his friends and associates. Without these essential tools and services no industry especially in the hospitality sector will survive and stay afloat. Community Based Tourism Community based tourism is tourism in which local residents  (often rural, poor and economically marginalized)  invite tourists to visit their communities with the provision of overnight accommodation. A community by definition implies individuals with some kind of collective responsibility, and the ability to make decisions by representative bodies. Community based tourism (CTB) enables travelers and tourists alike to discover local habitats, wildlife while celebrating and respecting traditional native cultures, rituals and norms. Communities will be fully aware of commercial along with social values placed on their natural and cultural heritage through community based tourism, hence fostering conservation and preservation of these resources. Nature lovers can visit naturally preserved areas accompanied by a local guide who explains traditional uses of the various plants and local forest lore, transmitting not just information but experience. CTB distinctively provides an excellent alternative to community development thats previously not sustained, giving both rural and urban communities an additional source of much needed income. In supporting community-based tourism, one can immerse themselves in the day-to-day living of the local and indigenous community members while helping to preserve their environment and rich cultural heritage. Community Based Tourism is normally a jointly planned and managed tourism activity of local groups: this new business never can be the main or only income source of the communities and cooperatives but can be an additional income possibility for locals while effectively reducing the impact on the environment. Characteristics that define community base tourism are: Seeks to integrate natural beauty and the daily life of communities. It promotes productive and sustainable practices It adapts itself to the dynamics of rural life making it more welcoming and relaxed. Is sustained by local initiative and participation, strengthening local organizations, which are made up of a wide cross section of families or of the community in general. Fosters participation of the locals in the economic activity, distributing the benefits evenhandedly, while supplementing income obtained by farming. Encourages land ownership by the local population. Local culture passed on to the next generation Build community management organization Environmental Encourage respect for different cultures Development in response to the community needs A percentage of profits from tourism is contributed to a community fund for economic and social development of the community Fostering a shared learning process between hosts and guests A local with organization or mechanism exists to manage tourism with the ability to link tourism and community development Benefits are fairly distributed to all. Educating and building understanding of diverse cultures and ways of life. Raising awareness of natural and cultural conservative among tourists and the local community Stimulated by the sight of tourists and increasing support from government offices and local business operators, development agencies along with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), communities are fast developing the infrastructure and services required for sustainable CBT. Rural community tourism in  Jamaica for example, is a showcase of conservation of large tracts of virgin rainforest, reforestation work and organic agriculture as now been explored by the cockpit country and also a showcase of the rich musical heritage and colonial occupation when we were once enslaved, Travelers support these work through their visits and purchases of memorabilias available on location. WHAT TRAVELERS CAN DO Successful community tourism is mutually beneficial for the communities and for the travelers. The big question is where to go? As some communities do have their negative side that spruce its ugly head every now and then. UNDERSTANDING FAILURE Community based tourism is not always successful; we could begin to look at these failures as pathways to great success. Rural community base tourism takes place in already marginalized areas. Created with great intentions, community-based tourism projects and activities are generally abandoned when political pressures arise, jealousies deeply intensify or the heralded ecotourism dont arrive. Many developers talk of integrating communities into tourism, but they rarely visit a community and ask what it is locals would want to see done or the main areas that needs urgent attention. Instead, operations are just imposed in an all too familiar top-down fashion. Likewise, many travelers may require to be graced with the experience community base tourism, but within two to four days they begin to complain that the services are not up to their standards or lack any form of professionalism. Greater time should be spent getting to know your guests. It normally pays off with a richer and more filling experience for all concerned. Successful community-based tourism succeeds when it achieves mutual benefits for  locals and visitors. Factors Influencing Caribbean Tourism Growth The Caribbean is experiencing a tourism boost. The Caribbean islands have historically been popular with tourists from America, Canada and Europe. During the global economic recession, tourism growth slowed but remained strong. And now, with the ongoing recovery, tourism numbers are steadily rising with a 4 percent increase in 2010 alone. Ease of Access For most people living in the northern hemisphere, the Caribbean is the quickest getaway destination where they can be on a beach with a colorful drink in one to four hours. The Bahamas, for instance, has islands that are barely 50 miles away from Florida. This has made the Caribbean a favorite of many travelers and contributes to tourist growth. Airlines continue to create more flights such as the Jetblue route from both Boston and New York to the Turks and Caicos. And for those who prefer not to fly, there are numerous cruise ship options. These include the Royal Caribbean Cruises that visit the Bahamas, St. Thomas and the Disney Cruise Lines, which are tailored for families and take them not only to islands like Antigua, but also privately owned islands such as Castaway Cay. Cost As noted above, there are many options for getting to the Caribbean. Consequently, reaching the region is equally affordable, especially when compared with other destinations in Europe, Asia and even parts of Latin America. You can find an affordable ticket for a quick trip during off season when there are less tourists. And for large islands with airports that are hubs for air carriers, like the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, cheap tickets are available almost year round. And upon arriving, visitors can enjoy themselves without going broke. Save, of course, if they opt to shop at prime luxury stores, which can be found on many islands. This affordability is an essential factor in the regions tourism growth. The Caribbean has a variety of accommodations from high-end luxury resorts to bed and breakfasts and everything in between. These options mean that visitors of all economic levels can come to the region. But in addition to the accommodations is the affordable cost. Resorts and hotels continue to present competitively priced accommodations that attract visitors. Reputation The Caribbean has been visited by tourists since the 1800s, and tales of its beauty and relaxing environment precede it. In fact, the Royal Victorian Hotel was built in the Bahamas during the American Civil War, one of the earliest such establishments in the region. This continuing good reputation makes it easy for tourists to visit for the first time or return for a repeat vacation. Also, the region is known for being safe, alleviating concern from families and single visitors. According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the Caribbean Basin in the most tourist-dependent region in the world. The regions tourism dollars exceed gross exports by about a third of total receipts, and about a million workers are employed in the tourism industry. Many factors influence tourism in the Caribbean Basin. Global Economics Since the global financial crisis, which began in 2008, the Caribbean Basin has seen a slight decrease in visitation due to higher unemployment, particularly in major markets such as the United States. Weather Patterns Hurricanes and major tropical storms impact tourism in the Caribbean a great deal. Hurricane season in the Caribbean is June1 to November 30. In Caribbean islands where major storms are rare, such as Curacao, tourism remains unaffected by weather. Oil Prices As the price of crude oil increases, airlines cut back on flights to the region. This reduces access to the Caribbean Basin, resulting in a lower tourism rate. Promotion The CTO has increased the marketing and promotion of the Caribbean region, with more emphasis on Internet social websites, online booking agencies and international marketing offices. Incentives More deals and incentives by host countries attract more visitors. The CTO aims to provide attractive vacation packages to travelers, especially during holidays and the off-season.

There Should Not Be Any Required Courses In College :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

There Should Not Be Any Required Courses In College There are many arguments to support the abolishment of core classes in college. One reason is a financial one: a great bulk of tuition money that the students pay to college is for their courses. It is not right to have the college take this money and make the student's decisions for them. The students should have the right to make this decision on their own. This does not only make for unwisely spent funds, but also unhappy students who are therfore not going appreciate a forced class. Secondly, college is where a person goes to discover him/herself. This is one of the many goals of the college system, and that discovery process is hindered by unneeded, mandatory classes. Students should be able to try many different classes to discover what interests them the most, not to be fed knowledge that they very well might know already (and is perhaps of no interest to them). If required courses were eliminated, it would free up much time that students could then use to pursue their own interests. College exists to help people become unique individuals, not to put every person into the same standard mold. Thirdly, college selection systems are designed to admit most students on the basis of what they know already (after all, the purpose of high school is to prepare you for college). If the selection system was actually accurate or efficient, they would have chosen students who already knew the material that was required, thus not needing to take the core classes. This would save funding for the university because they would not have to teach redundant classes that only review what a student knows. For an institution that promotes self discovery and educational freedom, mandatory courses seem to be dogmatically needless. There Should Not Be Any Required Courses In College :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays There Should Not Be Any Required Courses In College There are many arguments to support the abolishment of core classes in college. One reason is a financial one: a great bulk of tuition money that the students pay to college is for their courses. It is not right to have the college take this money and make the student's decisions for them. The students should have the right to make this decision on their own. This does not only make for unwisely spent funds, but also unhappy students who are therfore not going appreciate a forced class. Secondly, college is where a person goes to discover him/herself. This is one of the many goals of the college system, and that discovery process is hindered by unneeded, mandatory classes. Students should be able to try many different classes to discover what interests them the most, not to be fed knowledge that they very well might know already (and is perhaps of no interest to them). If required courses were eliminated, it would free up much time that students could then use to pursue their own interests. College exists to help people become unique individuals, not to put every person into the same standard mold. Thirdly, college selection systems are designed to admit most students on the basis of what they know already (after all, the purpose of high school is to prepare you for college). If the selection system was actually accurate or efficient, they would have chosen students who already knew the material that was required, thus not needing to take the core classes. This would save funding for the university because they would not have to teach redundant classes that only review what a student knows. For an institution that promotes self discovery and educational freedom, mandatory courses seem to be dogmatically needless.

50 Years of Speed :: essays research papers

The Goodyear Thunderdome was the first purpose built Oval speedway outside of the continent of America. Construction started in November 1984 and it was officially opened by the Mayor of Keilor on August 3rd. 1987 although it was christened by Americans Richard Petty, Bobby Hillin Jnr. and Rodney Combs along with local men Jim Richards,Graeme Crosby and Gary Rush. The first race was only a couple of weeks later when a 300 Km. Touring Car race was run on the combined Oval/road circuit.The race was won by Terry Sheil and John Bowe in a Nissan Skyline(the only time a Japanese car has won on the Thunderdome) from the Commodore of Larry Perkins and Bill O’Brien. Allan Grice had been quickest in practise with a lap of 1m.45.74s and he also set the fastest lap in the race with a time of 1m.46.17s. Later that year another race took place on the combined circuit and this was a round of the World Touring Car Championship.Pole position went to Klaus Ludwig in an Eggenberger Ford Sierra with a 1m.42.92s but in the race it was his team mates Steve Soper and Pierre Diuedonne who took the honours from Emanuelle Pirro and Roberto Ravaglia in a BMW M3. The race was not without problems as it began to rain very heavily just before the start and so for the only time a race was run on the Thunderdome in the wet. The other feature was that the combined circuit goes in a clockwise direction (same as for AUSCAR) which was fine for the locals but not so good for the European Fords and BMWs. The first Oval meeting was held on February 28th. 1988 and it was a mixture of Americans, mostly from the Winston West series,and Australians. A bonus for the organisers was that just 2 weeks before the event Bobby Allison, one of the imported stars, won the biggest NASCAR race of them all, the Daytona 500, giving the Thunderdome a huge publicity boost.

Good vs Evil Essay

Going back to as far as we can remember there has always been a battle between good and evil or right vs. wrong. At the end of the day we are all faced with a moment where we must make a decision. A series of made decisions will, as a result, mold our character to somehow define ourselves as either good people or bad people. It is no surprise that this very own reality is the focus on our entertainment as well. We lose ourselves in an action packed film about a superhero saving the world from a villain to spending an evening watching soap operas where Mr. Perfect goes through an injustice as Mr. Wrong in Every Sense takes his woman away from him. But before all of this technology took over, this scenery was given to us in a more witty and creative way. We will discuss these mentioned roles in two superb stories that until this day simply cannot be replaced by special effects and/or exaggerated and unnecessary stunts. Let’s begin by discussing this subject along with one of O’Connor’s masterpieces â€Å" A Good Man is Hard to find†. This is a story without restraint on going straight to the point. We may describe O’Connor’s style of writing as a no apologies type of writing. The story begins by portraying an almost ordinary family. There is a grandmother, who plays the main role, along with her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren. This family discusses the possibilities of taking a road trip to Florida whereas the grandmother tries her best to persuade them into not following along with the plans. Being the paranoid elder we read about, she brings up the recent release of a killer and saying how â€Å"I couldn’t answer to my conscience† (449) if her family came across him. Moving on to spoiling the finale, the story ends with every member of the family being shot and killed. Although brutal, it is tied completely to the title as the family comes across a cold hearted, merciless killer who did not care for the pleading of poor old grandma. As previously discussed, this is a classic case of the innocent (good) sadly falling under the mercy of a criminal (evil). O’Connor was an author that wrote with a purpose and meaning behind every story. Even though some may argue about this being simple a story for entertainment, we are able to take a look around and notice that scenarios like the one in the story happen around us sadly. Therefore, the reader can relate and surely sympathize for the family and what they went through. One of O’Connor’s greatest attempt in revealing the mindset behind a character like The Misfit is through one of his final words after killing the grandmother by saying â€Å"She would have been a good woman†¦if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life† (459). Moving along to Boyle’s â€Å"Carnal Knowledge† we will find a variation of the Right vs. Wrong scenario. In this story we will read about the common scenario of a man, Jim, doing whatever it takes with the purpose of pursuing love in the arms of a very selfish and egotistical Alena. Like many, Jim works hard and enjoys eating meat, as he would love nothing more than to have â€Å"Beef, mutton, pork, venison, dripping burgers, and greasy ribs† (569). But his whole world is turned upside down when he meets Alena, as he was laying on the beach feeling lonesome. In contrast to him, Alena is an animal rights fanatic. Regardless, cupid’s arrow had struck Jim from the moment he laid eyes on her. He tried changing everything about himself to try and win her heart. Jim lost his job, became a vegan, and became part of animal rights protests to impress her. The sad part of the story was not love striking Jim. Instead, Alena being as self involved as she was, did not reciprocate the feelings he had for her. She did not reciprocate anything at all for that matter. After all his effort and attempts, Alena ends up with Rolfe and leaving with him to Wyoming, Along with this devastating heart break for Jim, during their whole friendship he was mistreated and being unfairly dealt by the woman who stole his heart. This is another relatable topic as we see this happen all the time around us or to us in our daily life. We find a relationship where there is and abuser and an abused. There is a relationship where there is right vs. wrong. Good vs. evil and right vs. wrong. We learn about this endless battle through stories, poems, movies, etc. Most importantly, we must treasure the brilliant work from authors like Boyle and O’Connor, which show us some of these scenarios through some of their writing. The same way we recognize the faults and the attributes in these characters, we can learn a thing or two and avoid making the same mistakes or catching ourselves while we still can before we hurt someone or even ourselves. We can all agree that right is most important after all.