The Eye of the World :: essays research papers

The Eye of the World is the first book of the â€Å"The Wheel of Time† series which is already on its tenth book. Robert Jordan has followed the footsteps of J.R.R. Tolkien. Here he dominated the magical world that Tolkien had revealed in his â€Å"Lord of the Rings†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For us to understand this book clearly, an introduction is needed. It says that the so-called wheel of time is a wheel that rotates as time passes. Because of this wheel, ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Sometimes legends fades into myth which is long forgotten when the age that left it returns again. But the Aes Sedai remember what men forget. The Aes Sedai are those chosen individuals that can channel to the True Source. This True Source is the source of power. The male Sedai channel to the Saidin form of the source while the women channel to the Saidir form of the source. But due to a war very long ago, Saidin was tainted by the dark forces resulting for the men to go crazy or die if they channel. This is why only female Sedai are in the book. A champion of the war, Lews Therin Telamon ( the Dragon), trapped the Forsaken (Aes Sedai who went to the dark side) and Shaitan (Drak One) but became crazy. After his death, it was prophesized that a Dragon Reborn would be born and lead the forces of light. The first book narrates the adventure of three boys, namely Rand Al’Thor, Matrim Cauthon, and Perrin Aybara. Strangers have come to the Two Rivers during the Bel Tine holiday, and the three boys are all happy to live in peace with their families. With the mysterious travelers come strange stories of war and of a man named Logain, who claims to be the Dragon Reborn, the one prophesized to save the world, and also to destroy it in his madness. On the night before Bel Tine, Trollocs come and ransack the village where the young men live. Together with the mysterious Moiraine, an Aes Sedai, and Lan, a warder, the young men escape with a few other companions into the night and make their way toward Tar Valon, the city of the Aes Sedai. Dangers, such as Darkfriends, appear from many corners. Because of this, it becomes difficult to know who to trust. The boys can't escape the Dark One easily, for not only do his minions relentlessly pursue them, the Dark One even invades their dreams .

American Airlines and US Airway’s Merger Essay

Abstract American Airlines has suffered tremendous profit losses over the last few years. The losses have been so great that the company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The news for the Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection was a shock to many, considering the fact that they had enough money to operate and cover their losses through the following year. The merger indeed was great decision on behalf of American Airlines. The merger itself was questionable. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against regarding concerns that it could raise prices for consumers. A settlement was reached and the world largest airline has been formed. American Airlines has been suffering for many years. The company has suffered more losses than profits. Jobs have been cut; benefits have been scaled back, and the pilots of American Airlines are paid a lot lower salaries than their competitors. Many of them have been furloughed. All of these and many other factors have contributed to American deciding to create the world largest airlines with US Airways. In this essay I will discuss the circumstances that resulted in the merger, assess the significant positive (or negative) effects of the merger, and examine the organizational structure that has resulted from the merger. American Airlines filed for bankruptcy in November 2011. According to an interview with Richard Quest of CNN, Thomas Horton the new CEO of American Airlines stated that the company was forced into bankruptcy because of the cost disadvantages it faced compared to it’s competitors that had already gone through a bankruptcy. The news came as a shock to many. The company had enough money  to sustain the losses that it may incur through the next year. Although the company had the money to operate, the company still decided to go through with filing for bankruptcy (Isidore & Ellis, 2011). At one time American was the world largest carrier, it had dropped to third in the recent years. The company has reported only one quarter where a profit was made since 2007, and lost 4.8 billion over those three and a half years. The company was projected to continue to suffer losses. Now that the merger has been approved, American will be able to get themselves out of their Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (Isidore & Ellis, 2011). Now that the merger is complete, the new American Airlines has ordered over 600 new aircrafts that are updated and more modern. The new aircrafts will allow them to compete with their competitors. In the past they have lost a great deal of money from their business class travelers due to their lack of the amenities that their competitors carry on their aircrafts (American, US Airways reach merger deal., 2013). The two joining airlines will offer over 6,700 daily flights to 336 destinations in 56 countries. The merger will not distress any of the hubs presently served by American Airlines and US Airways. American Airlines has been in bankruptcy for a little over a year, and the merger will be effected pursuant to a plan of reorganization under Chapter 11. â€Å"The combination of American and US Airways brings together two highly complementary networks with access to the best destinations around the globe and gives us a strong platform to provide our customers the most connected, comfortable travel experience available,† Horton said â€Å"The operational and financial strength of the combined airline is expected to enable continued investment in new products and technologies and will create exciting new opportunities for our people, even as we deliver strong cash flow and sustainable profitability.† (American, US Airways reach merger deal., 2013). The merger with Us Airways allowed American Airlines to come out of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December. Being able to do so was the first time that a major airline has been able to satisfy a bankruptcy with a return on equity for its shareholders. By deciding to partner with a smaller, but stable US Airways, the company was able to raise the value of the combine stock. Pursuant to the plan of reorganization, so-called double-dip, single-dip, and intercompany claims were settled through a delivery process which distributed the proceeds of America Airlines’ estate based on the  trading price of the new company’s common shares. This quick fix solution lessens the opportunity of appraisal disputes by guaranteeing creditors got a current market value. When it was all said and done, American Airlines creditors, including its unsecured creditors were given payment in full. For the first time in a major airline reformation, shareholders were able to accept a return on their equity. The approved stock exchange merger left American Airlines shareholders with 72% of the new company and the US Airway investors with the lingering 28%.US Airways decided to do what most company who are going through a merger wouldn’t. They negotiated with American Airlines unions before finalizing the merger. This established a foundation of a cooperative negotiating agreement for the new company, so that labor disagreements would not disrupt or lengthen the merger development. Following numerous noteworthy airline merges it was predictable that the formation of one of the world’s largest carriers would raise some anti-tr ust hurdles. The first curtailed from the US government. The airline seized a proactive tactic, agreeing to surrender some of it apertures at airports around the US, leading to court approval of the merger (Thomas, 2014). Although the two companies have merged and are legally one entity, they have both agreed to operate separately until they can integrate both systems successfully. As with any merger, both sides will suffer losses of their employees. Majority of the top leadership positions will be held by US Airways top executives in the new American Airlines. US Airways CEO Doug Parker will head the merged carrier. Of the top eight executive positions, five of those positions come from the US Airways’ side. American CEO Tom Horton will be the chairman of the board, and will continue on through until the first meeting of the new board next year. Parker will keep the executives that he is more familiar with. The new leadership team includes US Airways President Scott Kirby and others who have worked alongside Parker for several years (American and US Airways name merged airline leadership, 2013). American Airlines has suffered tremendously over the last few years. Us Airway which is a smaller company, was in a better position financially than American. Although Us Airway was more stable, they didn’t have access to many of the locations that American Airlines did. The merger was a great idea for both. American was able to get out of their Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier than anticipated. They have switched over from the Star  Alliance and move to One world global alliance. The new company now has over a 100,000 employees worldwide. Nothing but positive results seems to be coming from the merger of the two. In the beginning, the merger was questionable, and the Justice Department along with six other states filed a lawsuit against the company. The reason for the lawsuit is that they were in fear of the creation of the world largest airline raising prices on travelers. The slight raise in ticket sales, fees for flight changes, check bags, would be detrimental to consumers. American Airlines and US Airways were able to settle the suit and bring everyone to ease. In summary, the merger has run smoothly thus so far and according to plan. Currently both companies are operating individually although they are legally identified as one entity. The companies are working to collaborate their systems together as well. At the point in time, they are honoring each other’s flier miles and plan. Some of them have been eliminated to coincide with the polices of the company. American Airlines decided to merge with Us Airways to regain its place as the world largest airline. The reason for the merger has been negative on American’s side, but will benefit their company in the long run. In my essay, I have attempted to explain In the circumstances that resulted in the merger, assess the significant positive (or negative) effects of the merger, and examine the organizational structure that has resulted from the merger.

Analysis Of Unequal Childhoods By Annette Lareau - 1629 Words

Critical Analysis Paper Unequal Childhoods is a book based on the study of a variety of families ranging in class, race and family life. The author Annette Lareau’s objective was to analyze and understand how and if social life impacts the children pertaining to these different classes. Lareau also examines the affect social class has on those interviewed by following up years later in their transitions to adulthood. Regardless of ones race, social economic status plays a role in how a child develops and learns the skills they will eventually grow up to use. Lareau argues that race plays almost no role in comparison to socioeconomic class in how children develop and gain the skill set they use as they get older. Lareau emphasis that parents from different classes use different tools and methods in order to raise their children such as concerted cultivation and natural growth. Annette Lareau argues that class influences both educational and work outcomes. The conclusions she ma de early on in her book had been proven when she went back a decade later. The majority of those interviewed who came from a working class or poor family had either dropped out of high school or graduated, but did not pursue higher learning education. Of those interviewed in these lower classes, a couple did attend college but never completed any course or obtained a degree (Lareau 274). Another interesting find was that the majority of the children in the working class and poor families obtainedShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Unequal Childhoods By Annette Lareau1640 Words   |  7 Pages Sarah Martinez Professor Sanchez Senior Seminar May 19, 2016 Critical Analysis Paper Unequal Childhoods is a book based on the study of a variety of families ranging in class, race and family life. The author Annette Lareau objective was to analyze and understand how and if social life impacts the children pertaining to these different classes. Lareau also examines the affect social class has on those interviewed by following up years later in their transitions to adulthood. Regardless of onesRead MoreAnalysis Of Annette Lareau s Unequal Childhoods Essay2261 Words   |  10 Pages In Annette Lareau’s study and subsequent book Unequal Childhoods, she examined the lives of twelve children of different social classes. In particular, she focused on parenting styles within their households and their effects on the children’s future and found a direct correlation. Two of the children from her study were Alexander Williams and Tyrec Taylor, both African-American nine-year-old boys. Alexander Williams grew up in a middle-class household. The Williams’ household was typical in comparisonRead MoreAnalysis Of Annette Lareau s Unequal Childhoods : Class, Race And Family Life1859 Words   |  8 Pages Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race and Family Life A book review by Luis Villadolid Luis Villadolid LCT375: Global Issues Dr. Dorothy Diehl October 2, 2014 Summary Annette Lareau’s Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race and Family Life seeks to educate and enlighten its readers of the constant and ever presence of poverty and how it drastically affects different individuals of society specifically, the children. Using observations from 2 elementary schoolsRead MoreAnalysis Of Unequal Childhoods1498 Words   |  6 Pages In her book, Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life, Annette Lareau argues out that the influences of people, in addition as race, end in unequal childhoods (Lareau 1). to grasp this, it s necessary to infer from the book and assess the way during which race and people tend to form the lifetime of a family. The manner during which a family lives are often virtually entirely be preset by the people and race of the family. because they demonstrate, every race and peopleRead MoreA Family s Class Background Can Have A Huge Effect On Child Rearing1539 Words   |  7 PagesLareau Reading Analysis A family’s class background can have a huge effect on child-rearing. The way a family raises a child can be dependent on the class background that they have. Often families with a substantial amount of money are able to provide their children with more opportunities than families with lower income. This can have a tremendous effect on how the child is raised and how much help/support a child can get from their families to become successful and educated. Families with differentRead MoreLareaus Unequal Childhood Paper Analysis1541 Words   |  7 PagesBefore critically discussing Lareau’s Unequal childhood’s paper, it is important to briefly mention a few conceptual terms in order to get the gist of what Lareau was trying to convey to her readers. First, according to Macionis (2004) the term family is defined as a social institution found in all societies that unite people in cooperative groups to oversee the bearing and raising of children. Same author also discusses several theoretical approaches have been identified that identifies the familyRead MoreChild Care For Single Mothers2773 Words   |  12 Pagesimportant factor to be taken into consideration when looking at obesity in low income families (Weatherspoon, et. at., 2013). Obesity is observed in higher rates among single, nonworking, and less educated mothers, and obesity in the toddler and childhood years often increases the likely hood of continued obesity in adults (Weatherspoon, et. al., 2013). A National Longitudinal Survey of Youth showed that children of less educated single mothers were at a higher risk for obesity over a six year periodRead MoreUnequal Childhoods : Class, Race, And Family Life1976 Words   |  8 Pagesmiss details that could play a major i mpact on our path to success. Details such as their upbringing, social class, and education are things we should take a closer peek at when comparing their lives to ours. In her book Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life, Annette Lareau follows Caucasian and African American subjects from poor, working, and middle class families to understand the influence of socioeconomic class and race on adolescents raised in various households. After studying her