William Penn Essay -- essays research papers

William Penn William Penn was born and raised in England, but he is well known for what he did in the Americas. First and foremost, William Penn was a religious nonconformist and writer: he wrote numerous religious books over his lifetime. Second, Penn is responsible for the â€Å"holy experiment†: the colony of Pennsylvania. He was a Quaker advocate, and as a proprietor had the opportunity to practice the Quaker Peace testimony. Penn was interested in religion from the time he was a child. When he was twelve years old he had the opportunity to hear testimony from a traveling Quaker minister, Thomas Loe. Penn was touched by Loe’s message, and sought the ‘authentic Christian message’ rather then focusing on ‘institutional’ religion. At the age of 16, Penn started attending Oxford University. It was at Oxford University, that William began to reject Anglicanism and he began attending unauthorized prayer meetings. At this time, he was expelled for his â€Å"religious unconformity†. He then attended a Protestant school in France, where he completed his education. When Penn turned 23, he converted and became a Quaker after another run in with Thomas Loe. He then began to write down his religious ideas, and took a lot of criticism from other scholars. Penn wrote the book Sandy Foundations Shaken which was considered â€Å"controversial and superficial† and for this, was imprisoned in the Tower of London. While imprisoned, Penn kept writing. He wrote the book No Cross, No Crown, which was a ...

A Society Without Morals - The Great Gatsby Essay examples -- F. Scott

The streets are paved with gold has long been the allusion of the United States of America meaning that America is the land of opportunity and wealth for anyone. However what people fail to understand when they manage to get to America is that, although it is the land of opportunity, an individual is not able to magically go from dirt poor to filthy rich, they have to work for it. Even after working for it many people are disappointed not because they did not get more money, they just did not as much as the expected. In the 1920s this was because of all the illegal activity that was happening through out the country, mainly bootleggers such as Jay Gatsby. With illegal activity comes lack of moral conscience such as marrying for money or not staying faithful in a marriage like Daisy Buchanan, Tom Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson. F. Scott Fitzgerald clearly expresses the failures of American society during the 1920s in his novel The Great Gatsby through the characters of Gatsby, Myrtle, Tom, and Daisy. The fact that Gatsby was so desperate money in order for him to be able marry Daisy that he broke the law to get it and was able to avoid punishment is an obvious example of the failures of society. Gatsby has been in love with Daisy for five years and she has loved him, but because of his lack of money and him going off to war, Daisy picked Tom Buchanan, a wealthy man, instead. Once he returned to war, he realized he would have to make a great deal of money to win Daisy back. To do this, he decided to start up ?drug-stores? where he became a bootlegger. The reader knows that Gatsby is a bootlegger because of Tom Buchanan, who finds out excatly what Gatsby?s ?drug stores? really were. This is evident when Tom says, He...bought u... ...n world at the same time. The Great Gatsby conveys the message to the reader the many faults in American society during the Roaring Twenties. These flaws are quite evident throughout the novel but most strong through the character of Gatsby, Myrtle, Tom, and Daisy. Those four characters easily display to the reader just how much lack of care there was in during the 1920s. Failure in marriage and bootlegging, although just isolated examples, are very prevalent in The Great Gatsby . Of course, money is the center of every flaw, money causes Gatsby to break the law it causes Daisy to marry into unhappiness, and causes Tom to have a wife that has never love him. Just because The Great Gatsby is centered in a 1920s society, no one can overlook its importance on today?s society. Works Cited Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Macmillan, 2008.

Comparison of two computers Essay

The two computers I will be comparing are the Solo 1000 and the ProSentia 3000. The ProSentia is slightly more expensive than the solo at i 899 than the solo at i 589. The first computer, the solo, has an AMD Athlon 1000MHz processor but the ProSentia has a Pentium 4 processor 1. 4 GHz that is faster than the solo. The processor is the brains of the computer and carries out the tasks, so a faster computer would suite policies ‘R’ us because all tasks can be carried out quicker. The solo has a 40Gb hard drive compared to the ProSentia, which has a 20Gb hard drive, the size of the hard drive is important because this stores all of the programs and work files. The solo would have more space on it than the ProSentia, this also has a 128 Mb RDRAM which is the same as the solo, the memory isn’t as important because it is only used to run the programs, But Policies ‘R’ us will not need the memory to be to big because there programs wont be to complicated. The ProSentia comes complete with software including Microsoft Office that contains Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and Publisher. This would save the company buying it separately. It also comes with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, an anti-virus program and other software tools. Where as the Solo comes complete with Windows Millennium Edition and Cyber link DVD playback CD creation and copy soft ware (CD-Rw systems). I advise Policies ‘R’ us to pick the ProSentia 3000 because it has certain things that would be useful to Policies ‘R’ us. The ProSentia has a larger processor at 1. 4GHz. This means that they can do things Quick so things are more efficient. It does not have as much of a hard drive as the solo but Policies ‘R’ us will not need that much hard drive because they will not need to save that many programs only ones linked to work. They both have the same amount of memory they so this does not matter any way. The ProSentia is more money but it is definitely worth it.

From Leninism to Stalinism: A Logical Progression

The question of whether or not Stalinism was a logical continuation of Leninism is a difficult one. Stalinism did take significantly more drastic measures than Leninism did. There were differences in policy. But in spite of these, Stalinism still found its basis in Leninism. Even Trotsky, a friend of Lenin and a staunch opponent of Stalin, grudgingly admits that â€Å"Stalinism did issue from Bolshevism† (Trotsky). Stalin's policy of socialism in one country, his use of terror to eliminate opposition, and his suppression of democracy and the soviets were all characteristics of Lenin well before they were characteristic of Stalin. Although some of Stalin's policies were different from those of Lenin, what difference Stalinism did show from Leninism were either policies which Lenin had called for but never put into action, or logical continuations of Lenin's original principles, but modified to suit the demands of the time. One of Stalin's main focuses was on the concept of â€Å"socialism in one country† – that is, the focus on the betterment exclusively of his own country rather than on the international communist revolution. â€Å"Socialism in one country† began with Lenin. In 1918 Lenin signed the Treaty of Brest-Livtosk, which pulled Russia out of WW1 and surrendered much of the Ukraine to Austria-Hungarian forces (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). At this time, there was a revolutionary movement in the Ukraine composed of peasants and workers known as the Makhnovist movement. This group needed only the support of Lenin and Russia to launch their own socialist revolution. However, they were not given this support (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). Clearly, Lenin's focus was on the well-being of Russia rather than the International Communist Movement. He was focused on Socialism in One Country. Lenin's actions, compromising his political ideals for the sake of peace, would later be echoed by Stalin when Stalin signed a non-aggression pact with Adolf Hitler on August 23, 1939. In addition to a focus on socialism only within his own country, Stalin also focused on a concentration of governmental control of industry and agriculture. This policy, originated by Lenin under the moniker of state capitalism, was a clearly established goal of Leninism well before Stalin implemented it. Lenin said that â€Å"Socialism isnothing but state capitalist monopoly made to benefit the whole people† (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). It is clear that his idea of socialism was one of governmental economic control. Moreover, Lenin fully intended for this plan to be implemented. He said that â€Å"If we introduced state capitalism in approximately 6 months' time we would achieve a great success† (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). As the government gained more and more control over the economy, Lenin felt it necessary to defend his actions. He published an article in April of 1918 in which he stated that â€Å"Unquestioning submission to a single will is absolutely necessary for the success of the labor process†¦ the revolution demands, in the interests of socialism, that the masses unquestioningly obey the single will of the leaders of the labor process† (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). In addition to demonstrating the Leninist ideal of state capitalism, it also shows that Lenin viewed absolute governmental authority as necessary, a policy that would be further instituted during the totalitarian rule of Stalin. One aspect of Lenin's state capitalism was the forced collectivization of agriculture. In article six of his â€Å"April Theses,† Lenin called for â€Å"Nationalization of all lands in the country, and management of such lands by local Soviets of Agricultural Laborers' and Peasants' Deputies† (Russian History 1905-30†³). In 1929, when Stalin forced collectivization onto the agricultural workers, he was simply putting Lenin's concepts into action. Lenin had had the original idea, and had felt it was a necessary action, but he had been unable to put his plan fully into effect. Stalin was able to take a previously incompletely implemented Leninist policy and put it into action. In their attempts to bring the workers under governmental control, Leninists were willing to take drastic action. In May of 1918, a new decree stated that only one third of industrial management personnel could be elected, the rest being appointed to their positions. In April of 1920, Trotsky stated that â€Å"Deserters from labor ought to be formed into punitive battalions or put into concentration camps† (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). Arguments have been raised which state that Lenin's New Economic Policy is a demonstration of the fact that Leninism's goal was not one of total governmental control. However, the New Economic Policy was only instituted by Lenin when it became absolutely necessary for the survival of Russia, and even then it was only intended to be a temporary measure before returning to state capitalism. Despite the temporary nature of the New Economic Policy, it was still viewed by many leading members of the Communist party as being too drastic a departure from Leninist doctrine. When Stalin abandoned the New Economic Policy, he was not abandoning a part of Leninism. Rather, he was banning a policy that even Lenin himself had not intended to be permanent, and that many people viewed as being a policy contrary to the aims of Leninism (Wood, p. 23-26). Stalin was also characterized by his strong suppression of opposition, which is once again a Leninist trait. A decree of the Sovnarkom on December 20, 1917 called for the creation of a commission â€Å"to persecute and break up all acts of counter-revolution and sabotage all over Russia, no matter what their origin† (â€Å"Russian History 1905-30†). The decree further read that â€Å"measures [to be taken against these counter-revolutionaries are] confiscation, confinement, deprivation of [food] cards, publication of the names of the enemies of the people, etc† (â€Å"Russian History 1905-30†). While these actions were admittedly not as drastic as Stalin's, they do represent a strong, forceful suppression of opposition. In addition, Stalin was in power after these measures had already proven futile. Given the ineffectiveness of these methods, a logical continuation of these policies would have been to increase the severity of the suppression. In addition, other actions taken by Leninism were far more drastic. In a Cheka raid in Moscow in April 1918, 26 Anarchist centers were raided, killing or injuring 40 Anarchists and imprisoning over 500 more (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). Another feature common to both Stalin and Lenin was their attempts to eliminate any democratic or representative forms of government. This too was a continuation of a long-standing Leninist policy well before Stalin was in power. Starting in 1918, in elections for factory committees, an approved list of candidates was created beforehand, and voting was done by a show of hands while a member of the Communist cell read the names and armed Communist guards watched on. Voicing opposition to the proposed candidates would result in wage cuts (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). Lenin's suppressions were not limited to non-communists. As Stalin would later do, Lenin also worked to eliminate any possible sources of dissention within the Communist party. In 1918 there was a faction within the party that was critical of the new policy of Taylorism, a system used to measure the outputs of the workers in the country. This faction was centered around the journal Kommunist. At a Leningrad party conference, the majority supported Lenin's demand â€Å"that the adherents of Kommunist cease their separate organizational existence† (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). Three years later, the 1921 party congress issued a ban on all factions within the Communist party. Speaking regarding one of these factions, the Workers Opposition, Trotsky said they had â€Å"placed the workers right to elect representatives above the party. As if the party were not entitled to assert its dictatorship even if that dictatorship temporarily clashed with the passing moods of the workers democracy† (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). We can see the dark motivations behind Leninism's banning of factions: to keep the democracy from interfering with the dictatorship. Well before Stalin was using his power to eliminate any who might oppose him, Lenin was carefully and thoroughly removing the opponents to his power. In the trade union congress of April 1920, Lenin stated that in 1918 he had â€Å"pointed out the necessity of recognizing the dictatorial authority of single individuals for the purpose of carrying out the soviet idea† (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). This concept of a single absolute ruler that Lenin felt was so necessary was to become one of the points for which Stalin was later criticized. In setting himself up as an absolute dictator, Stalin was merely following what Lenin had said was necessary. Another aspect of Stalin's suppression of opposition was his violent suppression of workers revolts and the soviets. Stalinism crushed revolts in East Berlin in 1953, in Hungary in 1956, and in Czechoslovakia in 1968, as well as many other, smaller revolts (â€Å"How Lenin Led to Stalin†). This policy would seem to contradict the Leninist ideal, in which the government was built for the workers, and a revolt of the workers would have been something that occurred only as a step towards a communist society. However, we can find this policy originating from Leninism. The Leninist government itself often showed strong opposition to attempts made by the workers to increase their power. The first All-Russian Congress of Soviets, held in June of 1917, stated that giving full power to the soviets would have â€Å"greatly weakened and threatened the revolution† (â€Å"Russian History 1905-30†). In 1921, at the Kronstadt naval base, workers attempted to elect a soviet. They also issued a declaration which called for the reestablishment of the democratic soviets, and an end to censorship of speech and press. These actions were supported by the workers, the sailors, and many members of the Bolshevik party. However, official Leninist forces stormed the base, killing many of the rebels who were unable to escape. Leninism had demonstrated that it was opposed to a representative government designed with the wants of the workers in mind. All of the defining policies of Stalinism were either policies that had originally being instituted by Leninism, policies called for by Leninism but not put into action until Stalinism, or else Leninist policies modified to fit the needs of the situation. Stalinism was a logical continuation of Leninism.

Financial Analysis of AB InBev

The Anheuser-Busch InBev Company (AB InBev) was established throughout the years through mergers and acquisitions. AB InBev is the largest brewery in Jupille, Belgium. They operate in North America, Latin America, South America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Due to political upheavals in Germany and Bohemia in 1848, many German immigrants settled in St. Louis, Missouri (â€Å"Anheuser-Busch,† 2011). Eberhard Anheuser was a trained soap maker and became part owner of the Bavarian Brewery. By 1860, he bought the investors’ shares and the brewery name was changed to E. Anheuser & Co. Adolphus Busch married Lilly Anheuser, Eberhard’s daughter and later Adolphus purchased half ownership of Anheuser’s brewery, becoming a partner (â€Å"Anheuser-Busch,† 2011). Due to Busch’s innovations, the brewery became the first to use pasteurization, allowing the beer to be shipped long distances without spoiling. By the early 1880’s, the brewer introduced a rtificial refrigeration, rail-side icehouses, and refrigerated railcars. These innovations allowed the company to grow and distribute their beer across the country. To market the beers Busch used traditional selling methods; however, Busch’s methods were more organized and deliberate than his competitors. Busch â€Å"pioneered the use of giveaways and premiums, and used his brewery as a showplace for the public to visit† (â€Å"Anheuser-Busch,† 2011). The brewery company was renamed Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association in 1879 to recognize Adolphus’ efforts. The company became one of the nation’s leading breweries in 1901 when it broke the one million barrels of beer sales mark (â€Å"Anheuser-Busch,† 2011). Over the years, the company grew through acquisitions and mergers and became AB InBev. In 1989, a group of investors purchased Brahma, the number two beer in Brazil. In 1999, the brand took over the number one spot and was combined with its chief competitor to form AmBev. AmBev expanded throughout South America and became the third-largest brewer in the world. In 2004, Interbrew, the European beer company, acquired a majority stake in AmBev, which created InBev. In 2008, InBev purchased Anheuser-Busch; resulting in the new company AB InBev (Allen & Zook, 2012). Anheuser-Busch (AB InBev) The publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) is based in â€Å"Leuven, Belgium with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD)† (Anheuser-Busch InBev [AB InBev], 2011) and is not only the leading global brewer, but is one of the world’s top five consumer product companies. AB InBev’s portfolio contains over 200 brands of beer with fourteen brands that generate over $1 billion per year in revenue. The brewer invests in their greatest growth potential brands such as Budweiser with 45% of sales originating in North America. The company owns 50 percent equity interest in Mexico’s leading brewer and owner of the Corona brand, the subsidiary Grupo Modelo. With their approximate 116,000 employees based in twenty-three countries worldwide, AB InBev is geographically diversified, along with a balanced exposure to developing and developed markets, the company has a completive edge. AB InBev is a multinational beverage company and is the largest brewer, with almost 25 percent global market share. They are the third largest FMCG company by firm value (AB InBev, 2011). AB InBev was chosen for a financial analysis due to its longevity and innovated ideas and marketing. It is hoped that AB InBev’s financial records will show that their innovated methods will show a continuous financial growth. The Annual Report For this analysis, AB InBev’s 2011 annual report is used and it compares 2010 and 2011. The audit was performed by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. The report is in millions and AB InBev saw a $2,197m in profit gain from 2010 to 2011 and a $1,114m in cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital and use of provision. The change in working capital was $1,183m resulting in an increase of $2,581m of cash flow from operating activities. There was a negative increase in the investing and financing activities, $185m and $2,239m respectively. In 2010, AB InBev had a net increase in cash and cash equivalents of $602m and $759m in 2011. Overall, in 2011 AB InBev realized $39 billion revenue (AB InBev, 2011). The Balance Sheet When assessing the financial report, it may be difficult to see positive revenue. In order to understand, one must know how interpret the financial statement as a whole. The balance sheet provides information about AB InBev’s assets, liabilities, and shareholder’s equity. Assets are things that a company can sell or use. These items include physical property, inventory, equipment, etc. Intangibles are also assets – things that cannot be touched, but nevertheless have value, i. e. patents and trademarks, investments the company makes. And of course cash is the main asset. Liabilities are amounts that the company owes to others. These amounts can include a loan secured to launch a new product, rent for use of a factory, or money owed to a supplier, etc. Liabilities also include future obligations, i. e. goods or services promised to be provided in the future. Shareholder equity (or capital or net worth) is the money that would be left if a company sold all of its assets and paid off all their liabilities. Any money left over belongs to the owners (or shareholders) of the company. The balance sheet’s â€Å"equation† is Assets = Liabilities + Shareholders’ equity (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). The balance sheet is set up with the assets listed and tallied on the left side, while liabilities and shareholders’ equity on the right. The assets are usually listed in order of how quickly they can be converted into â€Å"real† cash. Current assets are things that the company plans to convert to cash within one year, i. e. inventory. Noncurrent assets are things that are expected to be converted to cash longer than a year. Noncurrent assets include fixed assets (not available for sale, i. e. office furniture). Liabilities are usually listed according to their due dates. Liabilities are either current or long-term. Current liabilities are debts that the company expects to pay off within a year; on the other hand, long-term liabilities are due in more than a year. Shareholders’ equity (SE) is the amount invested by the owners. SE is calculated by subtracting the company’s earnings or losses from the owner’s investment in the company’s stock (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). In assessing AB InBev’s balance sheet for 2011, the company had $39,046 million in revenues, a 4. 6% increase, and a gross profit of $22,412 million. It is stated in the annual report that a selective price increase was taken in the last quarter in anticipation of higher commodity costs. Cost of Sales (CoS) increased by 1. 6%. This increase was due; according to AB InBev in part to lower aluminum can costs in Latin America and procurement savings and implementation of their best practice programs in North America. The total operating expenses increased by 3. 7%. This was partly due to distribution expenses increasing by 9. 2%. Brazil had higher transportation costs, while Latin America South saw higher labor costs and higher transport tariffs in Ukraine and Russia. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 4. 1% because, specifically in North America, more investments in brand offset savings in non-working money. Administrative expenses increased by 0. % due to fixed cost savings in the United States offset by salary increases and expansion costs in China and Brazil. Other operating income was $694 million compared to $64 million in 2010 mainly because of tax incentives in China and Brazil (AB InBev, 2011). The Income Statement An income statement shows how much revenue a company earned and the costs assoc iated with earning said revenue. The bottom line of an income statement normally shows the company’s net losses or earning. This statement tells how much the company has made or lost over the accounting period, usually for a year or a portion thereof. Income statements reports earnings per share (EPS). (To calculate EPS, the total net income is divided by the number of outstanding shares of the company). An income statement also shows how much shareholders would receive if the company distributed all of the net earnings for the accounting period; however, most companies reinvest their earnings (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). Income statements begin with the total amount of revenue made during an accounting period and then deduct certain costs and operating expenses associated with earning said revenue. The bottom line tells how much the ompany earned or lost during the period. The beginning is the â€Å"gross† revenue (or sales). The next line is the amount the company does not expect to collect (referred to as allowances), i. e. discounts, or returns. After deducting these allowances from the gross revenues (or sales), the result is net revenues. The next lines are operating expenses. Although these expenses can be lis ted in various order, the line after net revenues is usually costs of sales. Costs of sales is the amount the company has spent producing the goods or services sold during the accounting period. Subtracting cost of sales from net revenues gives a subtotal of gross profit (also known as gross margin) (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). The operating expenses are listed next on the income statement. These expenses support a company’s operations, i. e. salaries, marketing, etc. Because operating expenses cannot be linked to the production of products or services being sold, they are different from costs of sales (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). Depreciation is also deducted. Depreciation is the amount of wear and tear on assets (machinery, tools, etc. ) that are used over long term. This amount is spread over the periods they are used and is called depreciation or amortization. After this deduction from the gross profit, the income from operations is arrived. This amount is before interest and income tax expenses (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). The next section allows companies to account for interest income and interest expense. Interest income is earned from interest-bearing savings accounts, money market funds, etc. Interest expenses are monies paid in interest on loans, etc. Some companies show these separately and some combine the two. The income and expenses are totaled and then deducted from the operating profit to arrive at operating profit before income tax (EBIT). Finally, income tax is subtracted and the bottom line of net profit or net loss (also known as net income, net earnings, or net operating income) is calculated (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). On AB InBev’s income statement, sales are the same as on the balance sheet. (AB InBev, 2011). In North America, EBITDA increased 1. 5%, $6. 573 million with a margin expansion increase up to 42. 9%, driven by growth in overhead cost reductions and gross profit. In the combined statement (the gathering of all AB InBev’s companies), the EBIT for 2011 is $12,607 million and an EBITDA of $15,357 million (AB InBev, 2011). Cash Flow Statements While a balance sheet is a snapshot and the income statement shows if the company made a profit or lost money, a cash flow statement shows if the company generated cash. Cash flow statements shows the inflow and outflows of the company’s cash. This statement is very important because it proves that the company has enough money to pay expenses, purchase assets, and stay competitively profitable. Whereas other financial statements shows an absolute dollar amount at a particular time, a cash flow statement show changes during the accounting period. The cash flow statement uses the information from both balance sheet and income statement. Cash flow statements are divided into three major sections: operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities. (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). AB InBev’s financial report consolidates the activities, followed by a breakdown of the activities including explanations. Operating activities rose from $9,905million to $12,486 million; investing activities increased from a negative $2,546m in 2010 to negative $2,731m in 2011; and financing activities rose from $6,757m to $8,996m in 2011. However, the net increase in cash and cash equivalents increased from $602m to $759m (AB InBev, 2011). Operating activities. The first section of a cash flow statement analyzes inflow from net income or loses. This section usually reconciles the net income (taken from the income statement) to the actual cash the company received from and used in its operating activities. This process adjusts net income for any non-cash items, i. e. adding depreciation expenses back, and for any cash that was a source or a use provided by other operating assets and liabilities (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). AB InBev’s financial report of cash flows shows an increase in operating activities. This increase is due to a higher profit and strong contribution from changes in the working capital. The increase in working capital is the result of on-going trade initiatives; furthermore, there is an increase in trade payables that are linked to higher capital expenditures. These expenditures have longer payment terms (AB InBev, 2011). Investing activities. Investing activities shows the inflow from all investing activities. These activities usually include purchases or sales of long-term assets, i. e. property, plant, and equipment (PPE) as well as investment securities. If a company buys machinery, this activity would be listed as a cash outflow because cash was used. However, if the company sold some investments from their portfolio the proceeds would be an inflow from investing activities because it is a source of cash (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). AB InBev’s investing activities were $2,731m in 2011, compared to 2010 which was $2,546m. This increase is by higher capital expenditures mainly in Brazil and China. To partially offset this increase, the company sold short-term debt securities. The company invested in 2010 to facilitate liquidity and capital preservation in Brazil. Net capital expenditures were $3,256m in 2011 and $2,123 in 2010. This increase is primarily linked to investments for expansion in China and Brazil in order to meet demands in the growing market. Approximately 57% was used to improve production facilities while 33% was used for logistics and commercial investments. Ten percent was used for purchase of hardware and software and improving administration (AB InBev, 2011). Financing activities. The last section is financing activities. This part of the cash flow statement shows the typical sources of inflow, including cash raised by selling stocks or bonds and borrowing funds from a bank (Garrison, Noreen, & Brewer, 2010). Cash inflow from financing activities was $8,996m in 2011, compared to 2010’s $6,757m. The 2011 amount reflects higher dividend payouts, net repayments, and settlements of derivatives that were not part of a hedge. AB InBev could borrow enough to meet its liquidity needs; the company’s policy is to rely on cash flows from operating activities to fund its continuing operations (AB InBev, 2011). Analysis of AB InBev’s Financials According to the 2011 annual report, Anheuser-Busch InBev saw a year of solid performance and progress. AB InBev experienced growth, expanded their EBITDA margin, grew EPS, and made strides in de-leveraging the balance sheet. AB InBev experienced a strong growth from their three well-known global brands: Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Beck’s. These brands were up by 3. 1%. Stella Artois volumes increased by 5. 9%, with a 24% surge in sales in the United States, 13% in Argentina, and 200% in Brazil. The company continues to expand and grow in China and Brazil. The company raised its dividends to 1. 20 euros per share, a 50 % increase. â€Å"These results were achieved despite weak consumer confidence in several markets and increases in commodity prices. Faced with adverse conditions, our people did what they do best. They took ownership of the situation, focused on what they can impact, and did not let short-term factors distract from our long-term goals of connecting with consumers, driving shareholder value, and working toward our dream: to be the Best Beer Company in a Better World† (AB InBev, 2011). The United States shows signs of an economic recovery. An increase in US profits are supported by the company's new NFL sponsorship. Felipe Dutra, AB InBev’s CFO said the increase could also â€Å"have something to do with the unseasonably mild weather† (AB InBev, 2011). The newly launched Bud Light Lime and Bud Light Platinum performed well. Dutra said â€Å"We believe we have the right brands to exploit that opportunity,† before, during and after the Olympic games. Budweiser has also extended sponsorship of the soccer World Cup through 2018. AB InBev will continue to rely heavily on their strategic brands (AB InBev, 2011). Conclusion A fundamental part of their culture is never being entirely satisfied with their results: â€Å"we always challenge ourselves to dream bigger and achieve more. . . † (AB InBev, 2011). With continued global growth and expansion and early payoffs of debt, AB InBev will continue to see profits. The company’s innovated thinking will carry it into the millennium.ReferencesAllen, J., & Zook, C. (2012, May 4). The strategic principles of repeatability: How nonnegotiable fuel growth. How can a company sustain profitable growth? [brief]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.bain.com/publications/articles/the-strategic-preincipels-of-repeatability.aspx Anheuser-Busch: Dedication to our craft . (2011). http://anheuser-busch.com/index.php/our-heritage/history/ Anheuser-Busch InBev. (2011). ABInBev Annual Report 2011 [Annual report]. Brouwerijplein, Leuven: AB InBev. Garrison, R. H., Noreen, E. W., & Brewer, P. C. (2010). Managerial Accounting (13th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.

Existentialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Existentialism - Essay Example Tragic Sense of Life by Miguel de Unamuno is a philosophical work that borders on the doctrines of existentialism. The author believes the philosophy of life should be based on the experiences of a person. This suggests there is a need to cultivate one’s personality and character as espoused in the writings. On that account, the author considers himself a man of contradiction because while he values the sense of individuality, he also supports the existence of God. This is in support of the creation theory and the primitivism of man to rely on a nature and consciousness (Unamuno 159). Additionally, he views himself as a man of contradiction because he supports both aspects of individuality and religious fanaticism towards a deity called God. Therefore, the contradictory, opposing elements in this case entail indoctrination of man toward nature and alienation toward God. Furthermore, it is important to prove the existence of God if one has to understand the being of God. Those philosophical elements are contradictory in terms of disputing the existence of God and the use of faith and reason to evaluate matters. There are also many rational reasons why he feels the opposition is the source of his life’s unity. For example, the unity of man emanates for the deep belief in a god that is in control of both humanity and nature (Unamuno 158). Similarly, there are guiding principles of faith and the reason that influence the choice of an individual in terms domination over personality and character. That is why it is a paradox that Miguel de Unamuno has total belief in the intricacies of the universe. In the same context, the paradoxical contradiction is because the divinity of man and human consciousness is not in harmony with nature. Alternatively, the feelings of God and external consciousness conflicts with the moral logic of a common man in terms of sustenance. The statement ‘we think because we live’ has several meanings according to th e context it is used the book. First, he begins by castigating the primitive man for overreliance in the forces that surround him such as nature and other fellow men. This suggests that both animate and inanimate things appeals to man without any reason or faith in the choice. That is why according to Miguel, humanity structures their lives depending on the given existence (Unamuno 152). Alternatively, the possession of the consciousness of nature ensures man does not break away from the confines of nature. In other words, divinity is not associated with rationale because there are objective and subjective point of views. This suggests that the decisions of man in the universe are guided by a supernatural being with divine powers. In other words, the thoughts and existence of man are controlled by one God. That is why ‘we think because we live.’ There are various relationships between theory, and practice (the practice of living) and it relates to action. In terms of th eory, there is the inherent attachment of the primitive man to both nature and fellow human being. On the other hand, in practice, man still possesses the consciousnesses of faith rather reason in the belief of a deity who is in control of the universe. This means the acceptance of a divinity is paramount in order to accept the infinite powers of God. Another fundamental relationship involves the humanization of God in order to counter paganism (Unamuno 161). In other words, it helps in

Healthy People 2010--Obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Healthy People 2010--Obesity - Essay Example But it also is the cause of many other diseases like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and some types of cancer. Because of its growing trend and dangers, it is extremely important to make it one of the most important health issues of the people of North Carolina. Obesity is the result of unhealthy food habits, lack of physical activity and lack of awareness of how it can be dangerous in the future. Out of the 27 nutrition objectives in the program Healthy People 2010, overweight and obesity are the two movements that are observed to be getting away from the targets. In particular, it has been noted that the proportion of adults and children who are obese has increased substantially, and this represents one of the biggest challenges for Healthy People 2010. This worrisome trend has led to set a goal to promote knowledge about healthy habits and reduce chronic disease associated with diet and weight. The study of the obesity issue from the past does not show a positive picture. It was noted that between 1976 and 1994, the number of cases of obesity alone have increased by more than 50 percent—from 14.5 percent of the adult population to 22.5 percent. Approximately 25 percent of U.S. adult females and 20 percent of U.S. adult males are obese ( Healthy People 2010). Overweight and obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories from food (energy) than he or she expends through physical activity. And looking at the fast paced mechanical life, where most of the work is done on computer and machines, there are no chances of people getting involved