Machine Over Mind - Literature Essay Samples

The abstract notion of fulfillment is one that creates a never ending search. The issue that prevails is that it is intangible and therefore cannot be classified with the least bit of certainty. Society on the other hand, is run by the rule of mathematics, sciences and absolute answers. The intangibles are too philosophical and there are too many variables to account for, so in place of that the economic machine was created. American culture is driven by money, dependent upon success, and engulfed by tangible goods by which individuals can express their wealth to the rest of the world. Herman Melville explores this notion in â€Å"Bartleby, the Scrivener† as he criticizes the belief that financial success or an esteemed social status are synonymous with fulfillment. Melville uses the array of different characters to expose the internal struggles of society as it rages against the inner workings of the economic machine. The pressure to succeed and thrive in today’s world is one that can be overbearing for even the strongest of souls. Nippers, one of the clerks employed by the narrator, is a young man who is said to be the â€Å"victim of two evil powers – ambition and indigestion† (7). He constantly feels the urge to rise in the ranks of the legal world, yet this only strains his productivity and renders him unable to work in the mornings. Melville uses the term indigestion to represent uneasiness and anxiety that his dreams will never manifest into reality. Contrary to Nippers, Turkey is an elder fellow of 60 years-old who symbolizes the tendency to â€Å"burn out† after ambitions run dry. Each day Turkey shows up ready to work in the same meticulous manner he has in all the years prior. However, as soon as the clock hits noon he proves himself to be completely ineffective. Constant errors arise in his work in compliment to his irate outbursts. This is a result of not si mply a morning of work, but rather the culmination of tough working years with minimal salary. A once hopeful employee, full of ambition and glee, is now a bitter old man who is only reluctantly adding fuel to the machine. To add to this notion of burning out, Melville includes the character of Ginger Nut as a foil. Ginger Nut is merely 12 years-old, yet his father has already forced him to work in order to set him up for success. Earning only one dollar an hour, he does anything from cleaning to running errands for the law office. The sad reality is Ginger Nut does not know better, and from a young age is already beginning the process of running himself dry before he has even had the chance to develop his own unique passions. The pressure to succeed drives the characters to moral ruination. The split between the social pressure to succeed and moral pressure to do right is enough to buckle the narrator under the weight of social pressures. Charitable acts are a common theme that is strung out by the narrator to assure himself of his morally upright ways. The issue that arises for the narrator is these particular acts are not out of pure kindness, but rather to be deemed as kind by society. This clear distinction is proven by how the narrator immediately abandons Bartleby once he becomes the source of gossip among fellow Wall Street inhabitants. Upon Bartleby’s declaration that he will not be partaking in any more copying, the narrator notes that Bartleby â€Å"Not only disarmed me but unmanned me† (19). By unmanning the narrator, Bartleby has broken down his inner barriers. This creates a comfortable sensation within the narrator that he is obligated to care for Bartleby regardless of his eccentricities. This makes him feel like a grade A philanthropist as he should. Bartleby is causing no harm to anyone and even makes the kind remark saying he would â€Å"prefer not to quit you† (30). However, the allowance of Bartleby to remain on the premises is abruptly revoked when clients of the law firm begin to think of it as strange. The narrator’s social reputation is at stake and his acts prove that he values that over doing what is morally right. Although he mentions several times that we are all sons of Adam, that belief is pushed to the side when some begin to question his doings. The egotistical atmosphere of Wall Street has created a culture where doing the right thing is not always acceptable and has shifted the priorities to a place where being a prominent figure is more important than being thoughtful. This represents the cynical cycle of social interaction and eventually leads to Bartleby saying, â€Å"I know you, and I want nothing to say to you† (38). A world in which Wall Street’s critical perception of all is valued over a strong moral code is not sufficient. In fact, it will bleed into all facets of the working environment until utter despair sets in. The propensity to consume time with negligible tasks will create a sense of worthlessness. The concept of time is paradoxical in the sense that while it never ends, it is concurrently finite. Life’s clock will tick for eternity yet Melville uses the job of scriveners to show how easily this time can be wasted. Copying documents day in and day out for the duration of a career will damage anyone’s sense of self. If Turkey were to describe his life’s work to a jury, there would be a consensus that there is little to show for all his hard worked years. This in culmination with other short comings has made him feel inferior to others. When addressing the narrator, he uses the phrase â€Å"with submission† seven times throughout the text. Melville does this to strengthen his point that a minuscule job is simply just representative of the pointless acts that happen each and every day. Acts that add no value to life, but occur simply because there is a perception that they should be done. It is an ingenious criticism of how society manages to waste our finite time by mindlessly going through the motions rather than seeking out true happiness. The irony in how Bartleby is perceived versus what he is standing for is too much to ignore. For obvious reason, he is looked at as more or less of a charity case or someone who is mentally ill. However, putting his â€Å"eccentricities† aside, it is clear that he is the wisest of all. He understands how insignificant his tasks are and eventually comes to the conclusion that they are simply not worth doing. The narrator is befuddled by this notion as he still believes that his â€Å"most precious papers perfectly safe in his hands† (18). However, earning a mere four cents per every 100 words of copying is no where near the recognition needed to satisfy or fulfill an individual. For this very reason, Bartleby looks past what is thought to be normal and realizes he’d â€Å"prefer not † to do just about anything. The inability to reach a level of attainment renders an individual to do not much more than stare at a lifeless brick wall. A demoralizing end is in store for those who fail to discover a sense of purpose that is in alignment with society’s status quo. A false sense of acceptance and tolerance has never been more prevalent than it is today. All of the previous points conjoin under the belief that society has created a place where one’s purpose is predetermined and anyone who wishes to deviate from that will be shunned. Wall Street is the epitome of economic power and accomplishment. By making the choice to have Wall Street as the setting, Melville demonstrates that money certainly does not equal happiness. Bartleby is surrounded by success every day, yet it does not appear to be the least bit important to him. He feels alone in a crowded room as the narrator decides to â€Å"isolate Bartleby from my sight, though not remove him from my voice† (11). Money, popularity, or companionship did not give Bartleby a purpose in his life and for that reason he felt absolutely nothing. The machin e has brain washed society to the point where it is unable to accept anyone whose sole purpose is not to become wealthy or successful. Bartleby became just another example of how unforgiving the world can be as when the end came, he â€Å"preferred not to† take one more breath. Herman Melville depicts the erroneous nature of society to value money and power above all else. The economic machine fuels daily life further and further in the wrong direction by valuing physical objects over joy and fulfillment. No longer are people searching for what will produce happiness, but rather working themselves to death in attempt to make their wallets heavier. â€Å"Bartleby, the Scrivener† shows what will become of our generation if there is not a distinct shift in mindset over what is important in life. The characters within the plot so accurately depict the inner struggles of humankind to live life in the most outstanding manner. A harmonious heart filled with joy will always reign above the bank account filled with barren green paper.

Prehistoric Life During the Permian Period

The Permian period was, literally, a time of beginnings and endings. It was during the Permian that the strange therapsids, or mammal-like reptiles, first appeared--and a population of therapsids went on to spawn the very first mammals of the ensuing Triassic period. However, the end of the Permian witnessed the most severe mass extinction in the history of the planet, even worse than the one that doomed the dinosaurs tens of millions of years later. The Permian was the last period of the Paleozoic Era (542-250 million years ago), preceded by the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian and Carboniferous periods. Climate and Geography As during the preceding Carboniferous period, the climate of the Permian period was intimately linked with its geography. Most of the earths land mass remained locked up in the supercontinent of Pangea, with remote offshoots comprising present-day Siberia, Australia, and China. During the early Permian period, large portions of southern Pangea were covered by glaciers, but conditions warmed considerably by the beginning of the Triassic period, with the reappearance of vast rain forests at or near the equator. Ecosystems around the globe also became significantly drier, which spurred the evolution of new types of reptiles better adapted to cope with the arid climate. Terrestrial Life During the Permian Period Reptiles: The most important event of the Permian period was the rise of synapsid reptiles (an anatomical term denoting the appearance of a single hole in the skull, behind each eye). During the early Permian, these synapsids resembled crocodiles and even dinosaurs, as witness famous examples like Varanops and Dimetrodon. By the end of the Permian, a population of  synapsids had branched off into therapsids, or mammal-like reptiles; at the same time, the very first archosaurs appeared, diapsid reptiles characterized by the two holes in their skulls behind each eye. A quarter of a billion years ago, no one could have predicted that these archosaurs were destined to evolve into the very first dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era, as well as pterosaurs and crocodiles!Amphibians: The increasingly dry conditions of the Permian period were not kind to prehistoric amphibians, which found themselves out-competed by more adaptable reptiles (which could venture further onto dry land to lay their to ugh-shelled eggs, whereas amphibians were constrained to living near bodies of water). Two of the most notable amphibians of the early Permian were the six-foot-long Eryops and the bizarre Diplocaulus, which looked like a tentacled boomerang.Insects: During the Permian period, conditions werent yet ripe for the explosion of insect forms seen during the ensuing Mesozoic Era. The most common insects were giant cockroaches, the tough exoskeletons of which gave these arthropods a selective advantage over other terrestrial invertebrates, as well as various types of dragonflies, which werent quite as impressive as their plus-sized forebears of the earlier Carboniferous period, like the foot-long Megalneura. Marine Life During the Permian Period The Permian period has yielded surprisingly few fossils of marine vertebrates; the best-attested genera are prehistoric sharks like Helicoprion and Xenacanthus and prehistoric fish like Acanthodes. (This doesnt mean the worlds oceans werent well-stocked with sharks and fish, but rather that the geologic conditions didnt lend themselves to the fossilization process.) Marine reptiles were extremely scarce, especially compared to their explosion in the ensuing Triassic period; one of the few identified examples is the mysterious Claudiosaurus. Plant Life During the Permian Period If youre not a paleobotanist, you may or may not be interested in the replacement of one weird variety of prehistoric plant  (the lycopods) by another weird variety of prehistoric plant (the glossopterids). Suffice it to say that the Permian witnessed the evolution of new varieties of seed plants, as well as the spread of ferns, conifers, and cycads (which were an essential source of food to the reptiles of the Mesozoic Era). The Permian-Triassic Extinction Everyone knows about the K/T Extinction Event that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, but the most severe mass extinction in earths history was the one that transpired at the end of the Permian period, which annihilated 70 percent of terrestrial genera and a whopping 95 percent of marine genera. No one knows exactly what caused the Permian-Triassic Extinction, though a series of massive volcanic eruptions resulting in a depletion of atmospheric oxygen is the most likely culprit. It was this great dying at the end of the Permian that opened up the earths ecosystems to new kinds of terrestrial and marine reptiles, and led, in turn, to the evolution of dinosaurs.

How Hip Hop Connects With Many Different Real World Problem

Chang writes in his book about how hip hop connects with many different real world problem going on politically and socially in many different places. He tells a story of a beaten and battered area of South Bronx. In this small area there was no law or order since many jobs were lost and most of what was left there were people of color from different parts of the world, including Puerto Rico and Jamaica. Due to the lack of protection Chang tells us that gangs were created as a means of protection from the junkies and other scavengers. Their way of dealing with things was very violent in nature, later on when more and more gangs started popping up they became territorial. They attacked other members who wore their â€Å"colors† on another gang’s turf. South Bronx became a very dangerous place full of nothing but youthful gangs and gang related violence. Socially it was the lack of jobs and other necessities that led to the creation of hip hop. There became a treaty of so rts, although its terms weren’t really discussed, but the gangs decided instead of focusing on violence and other things maybe they could focus on music to show the world their struggle. So all the different gangs started producing different strands of what we call hip hop. Each had different roots in it that all became mixed into a sort of melting pot. The four elements are DJing, B-boying, MCing, and graffiti. The appeal of Hip-Hop was how it brought to light the struggle that was going on in South Bronx and allShow MoreRelatedHarlem Renaissance Essay1341 Words   |  6 Pages In the beginning of the chapter 3, Addison Gayle Jr., says that black critic today about how beautiful poem, melody, play, or novel had made single black man’s life. He also says that American writer an American for black honor attached. The one problem during the Renaissance was they had really short life there was no black people in it other than artists. Harlem Renaissance were first one to criticize black and white. They came to dominate Harlem Renaissance through creativity and culture. Madhubuti’sRead MoreThe Authenticity Of Hip Hop1891 Words   |  8 PagesAuthenticity of Hip-Hop Authenticity has been connected to hip-hop since the genre’s inception in the late 1970s. Claims to authenticity are widespread to an unparalleled degree throughout all types of hip-hop music, from â€Å"gangsta†, lyrical, and party. Why is hip-hop preoccupied to such a large extent with the notion of authenticity? What qualities creates authentic hip-hop? Despite the previous absence of scholarly attention given to hip-hop, there has been a recent growth in hip-hop academia as theRead MoreHip Hop Planet2869 Words   |  12 Pagesearth, music has been an important part of our culture and lifestyles. Each walk of life beats to a different drum. Different cultures use music for many aspects of their lives; for religious purposes, for celebrations, for comfort, for sorrow, for relaxation, for sports, for dances, for energy, for learning, for sleeping, and for sexual experiences. Everyone uses music for something. Music connects with people and reaches them in ways that w ords simply cannot. Music is a representation of what feelingsRead MoreHip Hop And Rap Music Essay2008 Words   |  9 Pagesexpress themselves. This is where, Hip Hop Based Education comes into play. Also known as HHBE, this a movement that helps bring hip hop into the classroom. â€Å"We are experiencing a generational shift in the U.S. teaching force. Because of this shift, along with the increased presence of hip-hop culture within American culture, many educators no longer view hip-hop culture with the same air of skepticism common in the early stages of HHBE† (Love). 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He has received 17 Grammy Awards as well as having sold more than 75 million records world-wide. These accolades and prolific record sales have made Carter one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. Carter’s love of rap, music and rhyme originatedRead MoreThe Art of Djing and Transgression to Digital Media Essay3502 Words   |  15 Pagesthe DJs who were responsible for popularization of unknown at the time music genres such as reggae, disco, hip-hop, house or garage. Record companies were not eager to release obscure artists playing unknown music until DJs introduced the various music styles to the audience and popularized it among their fans. Next, I would like to briefly outline the history of the DJ to help understand how playing records has evolved over time into an art form with a cult-like following we can observe today. Read MoreManagement7125 Words   |  29 Pagesoperating in and catering to a region renowned for reacting (and sometimes overreacting) negatively to controversial content.†1 - Dana El Baltaji, Special Projects Manager, Trends magazine in Dubai, in 2008. â€Å"In many ways (MTV Arabia) is the epitome of our localization strategy. It’s a different audience (in the Middle East) but this is what we do -- we reflect culture and we respect culture. The programming mix on this one is going to be a little more local than normal.†2 -William H. Roedy, ViceRead MoreMtv Arabian Challenge7403 Words   |  30 Pagesoperating in and catering to a region renowned for reacting (and sometimes overreacting) negatively to controversial content.†1 - Dana El Baltaji, Special Projects Manager, Trends magazine in Dubai, in 2008. â€Å"In many ways (MTV Arabia) is the epitome of our localization strategy. It’s a different audience (in the Middle East) but this is what we do -- we reflect culture and we respect culture. The programming mix on this one is going to be a little more local than normal.†2 -William H. Roedy, Vice ChairmanRead MoreAnalysis Of The Song That I Selected2664 Words   |  11 Pagescouple months, which caused them to move between areas on a regular basis. This meant that Marshall had to live in different places growing up, which had mostly included public housing projects. He has even gone on to state about this time, â€Å"I would change schools two, three times a year.† Thus, Marshall had a tough time making friends and was generally treated as an outsider by many other kids, even being bullied on multiple instances. Marshall went on to drop out of school at the age of 17, after

Richard Friedman s Seminal Work, Crime And Punishment Essay

Several themes emerge from the course Frontier Justice that match well with the major themes in Lawrence Friedman’s, seminal work, Crime and Punishment in American History. His main thesis is that judgements about crime and what to do about it come from a specific time and place. Part of his work addresses the history of criminal justice in which he calls, the history of power. He identifies the relationship between crime, criminal justice and American culture. When one looks at the frontier West and its dynamics, one can see how those in power bent and at times broke the law in order to achieve their aims. Culture played an important role in many part of the West which was a far different culture than the one found in the East. This different culture resulted from the dynamics of Westward expansion and had dramatic role in shaping the West. Certainly, the frontier West can be described as both a time and place. Many have romanticized views of what the West was like. The historian Robert Utley wrote, â€Å"historical reality lies somewhere between the extremes†. As one examines everything in between, what emerges from the comparison of Friedman’s work and that of frontier justice, is a question of what were the causes of violence in the West. Before the frontier closed, it could be described at times as a lawless land influenced by the lawful law and the lawless law. The causes of this violence are as diverse as the West itself. Several factors came together in a sort of perfectShow MoreRelatedOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagesa text that will give a good idea of the breadth and complexity of this important subject, and this is precisely what McAuley, Duberley and Johnson have provided. They have done some sterling service in bringing together the very diverse strands of work that today qualify as constituting the subject of organisational theory. Whilst their writing is accessible and engaging, their approach is scholarly and serious. It is so easy for students (and indeed others who should know better) to trivialize thisRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesbuilt-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Kim S. Cameron UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Prentice Hall Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul SingaporeRead MoreManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 PagesManagement for Business Growth in a Demanding Economy Text  © The McGraw−Hill Companies, 2004 4 THE POWER OF MANAGEMENT CAPITAL THE DEMANDS OF SUSTAINING PROFITABLE GROWTH IN A BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT WHERE THE FAST DEVOUR THE SLOW Our work in helping to increase the profitability of many of the world’s major companies (as well as our database surveys of many other companies) has made it clear that all this complexity has been changing the fundamental dimensions of business strategy and

Jfk And The Civil Rights Movement - 1980 Words

One of the most beloved president in the history of the United States is John F. Kennedy. JFK is revered and esteemed as a champion of racial equality. This perception of him was delicately and strategically crafted by him through his performances during his presidential bid. However, JFK did not contribute much to the civil rights movement per se (). JFK did not produce many historical achievements in his term, which includes civil rights achievements (). Many experts even argue that the crucial Civil Rights Act of 1964 would’ve been either watered down or not even passed if JFK was not assassinated (). But shockingly, he is still seen in the eyes of many Americans as one of the main propellers of the advancement of civil rights. However, this perception combined with his assassination helped his successor, LBJ, to advance the civil rights movement. The perception of JFK as an avid advocate of the civil rights movement was more impactful than what he accomplished, but the pe rception he created helped propel movement to new heights. The promotion of civil rights was in alignment with JFK’s goal of winning the presidency, so he crafted a perception of himself as a champion of civil rights in an attempt to win the presidency. He ran for presidency during the era of Martin Luther King Jr. It was an era where a majority of African Americans wanted equal opportunity. African Americans made up a sizable chunk of the electorate base at that time, so it was in JFK’s best interestShow MoreRelatedThe Assassination Of John Fitzgerald Kennedy873 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy, also known as JFK, is one of the most infamous and tragic events in American history. JFK was one of the United States’ most influential politicians, and in the year 1961 he was appointed to be president. 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Mcdonalds 10k Free Essays

Morningstar ® DocumentResearchS Table of Contents UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D. C. 20549 FORM 10-K FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 x ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 OR ? TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period fromto Commission File Number 1-5231 McDONALD’S CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) One McDonald’s Plaza Oak Brook, Illinois (Address of principal executive offices) 36-2361282 (I. We will write a custom essay sample on Mcdonalds 10k or any similar topic only for you Order Now R. S. Employer Identification No. ) 60523 (Zip code) Name of each exchange on which registered New York Stock Exchange Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (630) 623-3000 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Common stock, $. 01 par value Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None (Title of class) Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No ? Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Act. Yes ? No x Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yesx No? Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T ( §232. 05 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ? Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorpora ted by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of â€Å"large accelerated filer,† â€Å"accelerated filer† and â€Å"smaller reporting company† in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer xAccelerated filer ? Non-accelerated filer ? (do not check if a smaller reporting company)Smaller reporting company ? Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ? No x The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2010 was $70,073,280,631. The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock as of January 31, 2011 was 1,043,298,941. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates information by reference from the registrant’s 2011 definitive proxy statement which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 31, 2010. Source: MCDONALDS CORP, 10-K, February 25, 2011Powered by Morningstar  ® Document ResearchSM Table of Contents Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. McDONALD’S CORPORATION INDEX Page Reference Item 1Business1 Item 1A Item 1B Item 2Properties6 Risk Factors and Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements3 Unresolved Staff Comments5 Item 3 Item 5 Item 6 Item 7 Item 7A Item 8 Item 9 Item 9A Item 9B Item 10 Item 11 Item 12 Item 13 Item 14 Item 15 Legal Proceedings6 Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities7 Selected Financial Data9 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations10 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk27 Financial Statements and Supplementary Data27 Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure48 Controls and Procedures48 Other Information48 Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance48 Executive Compensation48 Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters48 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence49 Principal Accountant Fees and Services49 Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules49 52 53 Signatures Exhibits All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners and are used with permission. Source: MCDONALDS CORP, 10-K, February 25, 2011Powered by Morningstar  ® Document ResearchSM Table of Contents PART I ITEM 1. Business McDonald’s Corporation, the registrant, together with its subsidiaries, is referred to herein as the â€Å"Company. † a. General development of business During 2010, there have been no material changes to the Company’s corporate structure or in its method of conducting business. In 2010, the Company has continued the process it began in 2005 to realign certain subsidiaries to develop a corporate structure within its geographic segments that better reflects the operation of the McDonald’s worldwide business. . Financial information about segments Segment data for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 are included in Part II, Item 8, page 40 of this Form 10-K. c. Narrative description of business †¢ General The Company franchises and operates McDonald’s restaurants in the global restaurant industry. These restaurants serve a varied, yet limited, value-priced menu (see Products) in more than 100 countries around the world. All restaurants are operated either by the Company or by franchisees, including conventional franchisees under franchise arrangements, and foreign affiliated markets and developmental licensees under license agreements. The Company’s operations are designed to assure consistency and high quality at every restaurant. When granting franchises or licenses, the Company is selective and generally is not in the practice of franchising to passive investors. Under the conventional franchise arrangement, franchisees provide a portion of the capital required by initially investing in the equipment, signs, seating and de? cor of their restaurant businesses, and by reinvesting in the business over time. The Company owns the land and building or secures long-term leases for both Company-operated and conventional franchised restaurant sites. In certain circumstances, the Company participates in reinvestment for conventional franchised restaurants. A discussion regarding site selection is included in Part I, Item 2, page 6 of this Form 10-K. Conventional franchisees contribute to the Company’s revenue stream through the payment of rent and royalties based upon a percent of sales, with specified minimum rent payments, along with initial fees received upon the opening of a new restaurant or the granting of a new franchise term. The conventional franchise arrangement typically lasts 20 years, and franchising practices are generally consistent throughout the world. Over 70% of franchised restaurants operate under conventional franchise arrangements. The Company has an equity investment in a limited number of foreign affiliated markets, referred to as affiliates. The largest of these affiliates is Japan, where there are more than 3,300 restaurants. The Company receives a royalty based on a percent of sales in these markets. Under a developmental license arrangement, licensees provide capital for the entire business, including the real estate interest. While the Company has no capital invested, it receives a royalty based on a percent of sales, as well as initial fees. The largest of these developmental license arrangements operates more than 1,750 restaurants across 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Company and its franchisees purchase food, packaging, equipment and other goods from numerous independent suppliers. The Company has established and strictly enforces high quality standards and product specifications. The Company has quality assurance labs around the world to ensure that its high standards are consistently met. The quality assurance process not only involves ongoing product reviews, but also on-site inspections of suppliers’ facilities. A quality assurance board, composed of the Company’s technical, safety and supply chain specialists, provides strategic global leadership for all aspects of food quality and safety. In addition, the Company works closely with suppliers to encourage innovation, assure best practices and drive continuous improvement. Leveraging scale, supply chain infrastructure and risk management strategies, the Company also collaborates with suppliers toward a goal of achieving competitive, predictable food and paper costs over the long term. Independently owned and operated distribution centers, approved by the Company, distribute products and supplies to most McDonald’s restaurants. In addition, restaurant personnel are trained in the proper storage, handling and preparation of products and in the delivery of customer service. McDonald’s global brand is well known. Marketing, promotional and public relations activities are designed to promote McDonald’s brand image and differentiate the Company from competitors. Marketing and promotional efforts focus on value, food taste, menu choice and the customer experience. The Company continuously endeavors to improve its social responsibility and environmental practices to achieve long-term sustainability, which benefits McDonald’s and the communities it serves. The Company has disposed of non-McDonald’s restaurant businesses to concentrate resources on its core business. In February 2009, the Company sold its minority ownership interest in Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, and in April 2008, the Company sold its minority ownership interest in U. K. -based Pret A Manger. †¢Products McDonald’s restaurants offer a substantially uniform menu, although there are geographic variations to suit local consumer preferences and tastes. In addition, McDonald’s tests new products on an ongoing basis. McDonald’s menu includes hamburgers and cheeseburgers, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Filet-O-Fish, several chicken sandwiches, Chicken McNuggets, Chicken Selects, Snack Wraps, french fries, salads, shakes, McFlurry desserts, sundaes, soft serve cones, pies, cookies, soft drinks, coffee, McCafe? beverages and other beverages. In addition, the restaurants sell a variety of other products during limited-time promotions. McDonald’s restaurants in the U. S. and many international markets offer a full or limited breakfast menu. Breakfast offerings may include Egg McMuffin, Sausage McMuffin with Egg, McGriddles, biscuit and bagel sandwiches and hotcakes. Source: MCDONALDS CORP, 10-K, February 25, 2011Powered by Morningstar  ® Document ResearchSM Table of Contents †¢Intellectual property The Company owns or is licensed to use valuable intellectual property including trademarks, service marks, patents, copyrights, trade secrets and other proprietary information. T he Company considers the trademarks â€Å"McDonald’s† and â€Å"The Golden Arches Logo† to be of material importance to its business. Depending on the jurisdiction, trademarks and service marks generally are valid as long as they are used and/or registered. Patents, copyrights and licenses are of varying remaining durations. †¢Seasonal operations The Company does not consider its operations to be seasonal to any material degree. †¢ Working capital practices Information about the Company’s working capital practices is incorporated herein by reference to Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008 in Part II, Item 7, pages 10 through 27, and the Consolidated statement of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 in Part II, Item 8, page 30 of this Form 10-K. †¢ Customers The Company’s business is not dependent upon either a single customer or small group of customers. †¢ Backlog Company-operated restaurants have no backlog orders. †¢Government contracts No material portion of the business is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontracts at the election of the U. S. government. †¢ Competition McDonald’s restaurants compete with international, national, regional and local retailers of food products. The Company competes on the basis of price, convenience, service, menu variety and product quality in a highly fragmented global restaurant industry. In measuring the Company’s competitive position, management reviews data compiled by Euromonitor International, a leading source of market data with respect to the global restaurant industry. The Company’s primary competition, which management refers to as the Informal Eating Out (IEO) segment, includes the following restaurant categories defined by Euromonitor International: quick-service eating establishments, casual dining full-service restaurants, 100% home delivery/takeaway providers, street stalls or kiosks, specialist coffee shops and self-service cafeterias. The IEO segment excludes establishments that primarily serve alcohol and full-service restaurants other than casual dining. Based on data from Euromonitor International, the global IEO segment was composed of approximately 6. 3 million outlets and generated $868 billion in annual sales in 2009, the most recent year for which data is available. McDonald’s Systemwide 2009 restaurant business accounted for approximately 0. 5% of those outlets and about 8% of the sales. 2 Management also on occasion benchmarks McDonald’s against the entire restaurant industry, including the IEO segment defined above and all other full-service restaurants. Based on data from Euromonitor International, the restaurant industry was composed of approximately 13. 1 million outlets and generated about $1. 79 trillion in annual sales in 2009. McDonald’s Systemwide restaurant business accounted for approximately 0. 2% of those outlets and about 4% of the sales. †¢Research and development The Company operates research and development facilities in the U. S. , Europe and Asia. While research and development activities are important to the Company’s business, these expenditures are not material. Independent suppliers also conduct research activities that benefit the Company, its franchisees and suppliers (collectively referred to as the System). †¢Environmental matters Increased focus by U. S. and overseas governmental authorities on environmental matters is likely to lead to new governmental initiatives, particularly in the area of climate change. While we cannot predict the precise nature of these initiatives, we expect that they may impact our business both directly and indirectly. Although the impact would likely vary by world region and/or market, we believe that adoption of new regulations may increase costs, including for the Company, its franchisees and suppliers. Also, there is a possibility that governmental initiatives, or actual or perceived effects of changes in weather patterns or climate, could have a direct impact on the operations of our restaurants or the operations of our suppliers in ways which we cannot predict at this time. The Company monitors developments related to environmental matters and plans to respond to governmental initiatives in a timely and appropriate manner. At this time, the Company has already undertaken its own initiatives relating to preservation of the environment, including the development of means of monitoring and reducing energy use, in many of its markets. †¢Number of employees The Company’s number of employees worldwide, including Company- operated restaurant employees, was approximately 400,000 as of year-end 2010. d. Financial information about geographic areas Financial information about geographic areas is incorporated herein by reference to Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in Part II, Item 7, pages 10 through 27 and Segment and geographic information in Part II, Item 8, page 40 of this Form 10-K. e. Available information The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). The Company therefore files periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Such reports may be obtained by visiting the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D. C. 20549, or by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an internet site (www. sec. gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information. How to cite Mcdonalds 10k, Papers

Dead Poets Society Essay Paper Example For Students

Dead Poets Society Essay Paper Dead Poets Society Hysterical TextOne person’s interpretation of a story is always different than another’s. Some of us may see things that are not being shown to us. Dead Poets Society, in author Tania Modleski’s eyes has taken on a manifestation larger than the author herself. This story is not what the author will have you believe, whereas the true story was hidden in the misconception of Modleski’s beliefs. The sexual content, homoerotic tensions, and antiauthoritarian behavior, seemed to come from the author’s wishful thinking as opposed to the reality of the film. In the film a homosexual theme could not be seen. When Mr. Keating came to the school to teach, he did not insist on being called oh captain my captain. That phrase was used only three times in the movie, once by Mr. Keating himself. Oh captain my captain was used by two separate young men as a show of admiration and respect for Mr. Keating. In contrast Modleski sees oh captain my captain as a â€Å"pious deference to male authority†(Modleski â€Å" Dead White Male Heterosexual Poets Society† 315) because the very authority the film pretends to be challenging. One character that just enrolled at the school and was somewhat of a loner, and misfit, and is expected to achieve great success as his brother did before him. He is an example of how some families push one child to be exactly like another i.e. his older brother. When he first comes in contact with Mr. Keating he could not speak openly in front of a crowd. This is evident when he decides not to write a poem that is to be read in front of the class the following day. When Mr. Keating calls upon him to read and he cannot, he uses the technique of spinning him around while spewing out poetic phrases. This seems to work because he belts out some poetry from within and Mr. Keating says to him â€Å"don’t you ever forget this†, knowing that the technique had worked. There is one character that committed suicide according to Modleski because his father would not let him play a fairy in a play. What this character was trying to show was that he had finally broken free of his father’s decisions on how, and what, he should do. He auditioned for a play and got the part all by himself, without his fathers approval. This was something that he wanted to do, and was good at it. When his father forbid him to pursue acting, even second to him being a doctor, this was all he could take. Him putting his fairy crown on the open window ledge, just before committing suicide, symbolized the freeing of the actor inside, like an offering to a higher being. The boys in Welton Boarding School share what all boys their age share while at school. There are no signs of homoerotic tensions present. There are signs of groups forming and friendships being made. When they decided to form the Dead Poets Society it was a normal male bonding experience. An all male boa rding school does not mean that they are all homosexuals who are crying out for recognition. The movie did not illustrate any homosexual tension between the boys at any time in the movie. When Mr. Keating told the boys to rip out he introduction of the book he was trying to illustrate that writing poetry was not like reading a recipe. Poetry was feeling what you are writing, and it was from the heart not the mind. You cannot just put words down on paper they have to as Mr. Keating put it â€Å"Drip off your tongue†. .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 , .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .postImageUrl , .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 , .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4:hover , .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4:visited , .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4:active { border:0!important; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4:active , .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4 .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6d2098168cf9704d1018fba209e9b9f4:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Is There Another Earth Out There? EssayStanding on the desk in a nonconforming way illustrated that when you’re up there you see things in a different way. Do not follow the same old way of doing things because it stifles creativity. Mr. Keating wanted these boys to break through of their fears, and achieve more than just what was expected of them. This boarding school was very strict and old fashioned, and Mr. Keating knew this, once being a student himself. His way of breaking out was to be in the Dead poets Society were he could make-up, and read poetry without conforming to the conservative attitude of the school. When he came to this school he knew that he was going to encourage freethinking. This is why there is no explanation for him leaving the school in England. Mr. Keating probably was dismissed from the school in England for his freethinking ways. He may travel from school to school spreading the Dead poets Society way of free expression. This is illustrated when a boy returns to his room, and finds Mr. Keating’s book of poetry lying on his desk. When Modleski critiqued this movie, with good intentions in mind, somehow she lost her way. There are two sides to every story and these boys and Mr. Keating’s has been told. The illustrations, and aforementioned reasons, show that Dead poets society is a hysterical text. We may never know the real meaning behind this movie, but we all have our interpretations of it. There are no hidden or reclusive meanings being portrayed here, just a boarding school that suppresses freedom of thought, and creativity. This is why Mr. Keating’s character comes through loud and clear. English Essays