How Strong Is Your Faith Religion Essay

How Strong Is Your Faith Religion Essay Biblical character Job placed much faith in his lord. He kept his faith despite some of the harshest of circumstances. Job had immense resources that provided for him and his family until Satan challenged God to a test of Jobs faith. It was then that great tragedy befell Job and his family. Further testing his faith, God disfigured Jobs face by giving him welts. Through this entire calamity, Jobs faith grew even stronger, proving Satan wrong. God then replaced Jobs health, job, land, and even provided with him a better wife. Confused, Job wondered why he experienced such a dramatic rollercoaster of life. Job asked God why did this all happen?, and God replied: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Because Im God. Thats was all the answer he needed. God can easily take back everything that he created at any time, which causes man to fear God. People of the purest faith realize this and repay God with a lifetime of homage and servitude. This is usually the key behind all religions were theres a God. For example, in the Hindu faith they have a God in which goes by the name of Shiva, believed to be the restorer and destroyer of worlds, which gives Shiva the persona of being one of the most temperamental gods of any faith. Shiva has the power to destroy the world on a simple whim. To prove his power, Shiva once cut his own sons head and replaced it with an Elephants head. Once there was a story of a man whom desired power more than anything in the world. He had to obtain sacred weapons from Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page3 which were created by Shiva. Through deep meditation that went on till he clouded the heavens that eventually angered Shiva. Shiva then challenged the man to a battle, in which he was easily conquered. Shiva was still impressed by the will and determination of this man, so Shiva ended providing him with the weapons that he desired so much. Shiva requires the type of faith that is strong enough that man would even challenge God himself, which would make him the ideal Hindu. Religion is a part of everyones life; throughout history, in art, in music, and especially in literature. Its something that could even be traced back to mans earliest presence in this world. Some peoples faith extends further than others, but does this really matter? When comparing the stories of Job and Jonah, faith seems to no make a difference to God. Job being someone who had strong, pure, and unfaltering faith, and on the other hand, Jonah had such faltering faith. Yet Job was punished when God tested his faith, and at the same time Jonah just fled from God, and yet he was forgiven. Faith seems not to really matter to God in the long run. Between these stories it seems that the good man ends up getting screwed in the end, while the bad guy seems to be rewarded. With that being said, does one man who truly worships God and pure end up weighing more in the eyes of God than an apathetic Hindu? Man having the need to believe that there is something out there that might superior to him with some type of explanation for our presence on this world. God having such an unimaginable popularity to mankind makes him necessary to mankind, definitely having lasted this long. We want to believe and find something that proves there is something more than just a void when its all over. Subconsciously, we even realize there actually was no God, and no afterlife, there would be no consequences, and the basic goodness within man would come to a fault which would take away from us maintaining the little order we have, and would promote chaos all around. Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page4 The amazing part of our world is that everyone has unique gifts, skills, and abilities. One man may end up as smart as Albert Einstein with a body like the Hulk, and his brother would have the mind of the Rain-Man and the body of Moby Dick. God seems to rewards us in a variety of ways. Some of us are blessed spiritually, some physically, some mentally, when some are all rounded. Rewards could be proportional to faith. A man with wealth may be a strong believer, while a man with nothing may be a blasphemer. But there might be no connection between the amount of faith you have and how youre rewarded. This would make it much easier to believe, when some of the wealthiest people out there are usually sinful or have their hands something that is. People who believe might not be any better off than people who dont believe. But theres a question that still remains; is religion actually good or bad? In Moby Dick, questions of faith, reward, and reason, floats about subliminally in the lives and fates of all the players. The Pulpit: At my first glimpse of the pulpit, it had not escaped me that however convenient for a ship, these joints in the present instance seemed unnecessary. For I was not prepared to see Father Mapple after gaining the height, slowly turn around, and stooping over the pulpit, deliberately drag up the ladder step by step, till the whole was deposited within, leaving him impregnable in his little Quebec. Things like isolation, and alienation could end up being the result of strong faith. This causes you to be set apart from the crowd, making you an outcast. Father Mapple being one of the truest believers in this novel Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page5 sets himself up at a distant, higher, and more protected place. Mapple believes he is a direct messenger from God. In this chapter The Pulpit is built unlike any other. According to Mapples specifications, it was extremely tall with a long rope ladder leading to his platform; this setup was very similar to boarding a vessel. Once Mapple withdrawals the ladder, he goes to an isolated world of his own, taking him away from the city where hes an extremely popular whale man. He feels to have such a necessity of going away to an isolated island away from the real world so then he can communicate with God. Being on a nearly empty, isolated ship seems to be all thats left of his religion. This can be taken to mean that while Mapple is alone on his vessel and silence is surrounding him, he must climb up the simple ladder toward heaven in order to escape the land of the sinners so he can communicate Gods word. He then pulls up the ladder to prevent any distractions, visitors, or invaders. Usu ally a real vessel would be set off to sea, which spiritually Mapple has to do. He then stands up high, looking down on the congregation, he feels he is superior. He has a painting at the foot of the Pulpit of this ship fighting off a colossal storm, and through the clouds is an Angel that is creating light to guide the lonely vessel home. The vessel in the painting is also the same as the vessel represented by the Pulpit and Mapple is at the Helm. Now at the top of the Pulpit is a podium where Mapple reads his bible. His bible in which guides his ship through the storms of evil. Now the resemblance of all this is that religion represents this lonely vessel, which must break through these storms of evil before the world can be holy, and Mapple is the only crewmember on this vessel, who represents mankind. Religion is being a lonely vessel, and man stays alone on this vessel. The tale from Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner further expresses this solitude. The mariner, who was a man that was cursed to walk the earth, telling his tale to those that he felt were fit. Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page6 Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner: I pass, like night, from land to land; I have strange power of speech the moment that his face I see I know the man that must hear me; to him my tale I teach It was tale of a seaman whose crew had encountered some grilling times during their voyage. They discovered salvation in a special Albatross that helped guide their path with swift wind to clear their passage. Once they were out in the clear, they witnessed that there blessed creature was killed by the mariner. In an instant the situation deteriorated and all two-hundred crew members suddenly dropped dead, with the mariner left all alone in the freezing, stormy weather. Once repented, the vessel was guided by all the ghosts of his crew members to an old hermit who sent him on a solitary quest. The quest he was sent on was for him to spend the rest of his life traveling the world, while telling his tale to all he felt fit. This could very well be Elijahs predicament in (Moby-Dick), someone who appears to be an old insane bum that wont stop trailing Ishmael and Queequeg. It all started when the Pequods papers were signed and that moment Ishmael and Queequeg have in effect signed their souls away. He moved on talking of a prophecy concerning Ahabs fate. Ishmael saw him as a senile fool, but Elijah has a purpose, he is a prophet. He brought about a sense of pessimism before the journey ever started. He was much like the Ancient Mariner in that he was damned to eternity of prophecy and warning. This is a warning that concerns a mistake which will lie ahead on their hunt. To the mariner, the Albatross is hunted despite the fact that it was their salvation sent by god. Elijah might be warning the deaf Ishmael that Moby Dick is actually the Albatross that was sent from god. In any case, Elijahs fate was sealed Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page7 forcing him into a life of solitude. He definitely is a true believer, a prophet, and perhaps even some incarnation of God. Once again someones faith leads them to solitude. Elijahs life may just be the ending to Jonahs story. After Jonah repented he was forgiven and reborn as a prophet. As a prophet or even a direct servant of god, his journey will end up being a solitary one; he will have to fend for himself much like Elijah was. Everyone seems to look upon Elijah with suspicion and ridicule, but this comes with the territory. Although Jonahs story never really ended, his fate was still written in stone, and Elijahs life is that fate. Faith destines him to live a life of solitude. Just like Elijah and Jonah, Ishmael is also left to a fate of spreading his tales to those he felt fit. He is the mariner, in which his voyage killed the albatross and he ended up paying the full price left alone in an empty ocean with nothing but a coffin as a life buoy. In all likeliness, God did not allow Ishmael to just shake it off and move on. This tragedy will end up consuming him for the rest of his life, and this cycle will never end because there will always be another Ishmael and his Pequods. Starbuck on the other hand, is one of the most faithful Christians on the Pequod. He is actually the voice of reason out of the whole crew and always maintains his faith while the majority of the crew ends up disregarding it. Like so many others, his religious faith ends up leading him to solitude. Now in The Quarter-deck, Ahab actually describes his experiences with Moby Dick and then announces the goal of his mission, and the entire crew becomes truly excited in which they all end up going along on his insane quest. Through all of this, Starbuck ended up being the only crew member to realize that Ahab had actually changed and became obsessive after this incident. Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page8 The Quarter-deck: Vengeance on a dumb brute! cried Starbuck, that simply smote thee from blindest instinct! Madness! To be enraged with a dumb thing, Captain Ahab, seems blasphemous. Even from the beginning, Starbucks faith isolated him from the rest, he could have easily decided to follow the crew, but that would falter his faith. He realizes he is completely different from the rest of the crew. He refused to drink sinfully with the rest, due to the crazed and absurd quest of Ahab. Ishmael described the whole crew as being detestable, but Starbuck is actually the ideal man; maybe even Gods blueprint. Now this is quite a difference. Yet the only factor that separates Starbuck from the whole crew is his faith, but his beliefs end up isolating him from the crew. His faith is truly pure but eventually in ends up faltering. He soon realizes that Ahabs obsession has been growing with each passing day and eventually it will kill them all. At point Ahab actually threatens Starbucks life with a musket over a difference of opinions. Starbuck ends up obtaining the musket and is forced to make a decision between his faith and justice. Starbuck being a man of faith knew that no matter the outcome, it will always end up being Gods will. A difference of faiths caused Queequeg to be alienated from the crew. Queequeg was a prince who came from the island of Kokovoko. Over time he developed an interest with Christianity and later ended up finding himself onboard an English whaling vessel. Although he did attempt to be assimilated into Christian society, but he eventually lost interest and ended up returning back to his own faith. The only thing truly learned were just the skills of whaling. Felling like Christianity had actually made him less than pure he decided not return to his Island to claim his throne. Even though he was greatly respected by the crew, they isolated him for his unique Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page9 faith and culture. During Queequegs Ramadan, he was in a deep meditation didnt move for a full day while worshipping his God. Ishmael had never seen anyone do anything like this before, so to get Queequegs attention he tried his hardest to knock down the door. Ishmael- The Ramadan: I then went on, beginning with the rise and progress of the primitive religions and coming down to the various religions of the present time, during which time I labored to show Queequeg that all these Lents, Ramadans, and prolonged ham-squattings in cold, cheerless rooms were stark nonsense; bad for the health; useless for the soul; opposed, in short, to the obvious laws of Hygiene and common sense. I told him, too, that he being in other things such as an extremely sensible and sagacious savage, it pained me, very badly pained me, to see him now so deplorably foolish about this ridiculous Ramadan of his. Ishmael being the fool tries his hardest to cover it by mocking Queequegs god. He questions what kind of savage religion would require your loyalty and discipline. In comparison to other faiths Ishmaels negative reaction indicates the lack of respect Christianity has for their God. Now Queequeg is definitely not the inferior one in this case. It seems that Ishmaels faith may be so weak and insecure that he feels he must convert and condemn every savage he sees. Even though he says that Christianity has progressed, it seems he may very Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page10 well may be using a different dictionary than the rest of the world. Unless progressed actually means to be declined to such an extent that a faithful Christian and a prophet are considered freaks and are shunned and isolated from the world. Ishmaels prayers to Yojo showed that he himself believes that Quequegs faith is inferior to his. Ishmael and Queequeg underwent a pagan ritual, smoking to the doll, in order to confirm their marriage. Ishmael -A Bosom Friend: I was a good Christian; born and bred in the bosom of the infallible Presbyterian Church. How then could I unite with this wild idolater in worshipping his piece of wood? But what is worship? , thought I. Do you suppose now, Ishmael, that the magnanimous God of heaven and earth- pagans and all included-can be possibly be jealous of an insignificant bit of black wood? Impossible! Ishmael is in denial and doesnt realize it. He has troubles excepting that the Christians God and Queequegs God are the same being but in different forms. His faith is not strong enough to see the idol as nothing more than just a piece of wood. This is exactly where the relationship starts to have problems. Ishmael feels church is infallible and lacks any solid proof. He feels this was due to it being forced and installed into him his whole life. On the other hand, Queequeg has spent ample amount of time worshipping his God to where he truly believes. Ishmael being so close-minded, he refuses to accept that Queequegs faith as anything Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page11 more than inferior, therefore making him more isolated from Ishmael than a normal from what Christian standards of friendship are. In other words, Queequegs faith makes Ishmael see him more as a pet than a friend. Queequeg is much like the character that goes by the name of John the savage from Huxleys Brave New World. John was raised away from new civilization, therefore he the opportunity to have his own opinions, ideas, and ideals. Now on the other hand, everybody that lives in this new society were brain washed from when they were children in order to fit into their assigned classes. Just like Ishmael and the Christians, they were raised believed that everything that they thought they knew was infallible. They believed in their somas, a drug, as a means to escape from their reality, while John knows that the somas were only just a diversion. They believed that the Feelies, a form of entertainment, was the only form of art, while john knew that was wrong for a fact. He was well aware of literature, poetry, and Shakespeare. John was very open-minded because he wasnt like everyone else, a brainwashed conformist. So do you think if Ishmael would have become more open if he wasnt raised by the church? Queequeg was discriminated against by everyone, because of his faith when he first boarded the ship. There is one criterion for working aboard the Pequod, it was that you were a Christian. It didnt matter if you were a Killer, thieve, or even an overall scum. All types were welcome with open arms as long as you were Christian. On the other hand, Queequeg must prove himself to everyone before he can work with them. It took a very dramatic experience for Queequeg in order to prove his worth to the crew. This all occurred when a foolish man who ridiculed Queequeg was knocked overboard due to a loose post that knocked him into the ocean. Queequeg immediately dove into the icy water without any hesitation at all in order to save this man, and he succeeded. Since his beliefs differed from the others, he was required prove himself to his shipmates even though it wasnt necessary for others, Christians, to do so. Unfortunately Queequegs faith separated him from Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page12 his shipmates. In a way it seems Christianity really screwed Queequeg over. He was completely rejected by the others, even though his interests in Christianity lead him to leave his people. He was driven away from Christianity from all the corruption that came with it. Since his purity was tainted by Christianity, it made him unworthy to be able to return home and claim his throne. So far the strong faith that was in the lives of these mentioned believers has not yet been a positive factor in their lives. We have Job who endured a humiliating test by the God he loved. Then theres Mapple who felt that in order to communicate with God he had to be isolated upon a pulpit. Then we have Elijah, the mariner, who preach the word of God to everyone he saw even though they deemed him a humbug. Now we cant forget about Queequeg who was discriminated against by everyone, even his own tribe, just because he was involved in two faiths. These stories make it seem like there is no advantage to having any faith at all. In fact, in the long run no matter whom they were and how strong their faith was, the entire crew ended up having the same fate: a watery death. All except for Ishmael, who was supposedly left to live his life as prophet spreading the word of God? The only affect religion seemed to actually have on these lives, was nothing more than pain and isolation. No one wa s rewarded nor did they receive any advantages just for loving God. In which seemed to have the opposite effect for the non-believers, they had a clear advantage to not having any religion at all. A life spent without religion is a life spent with leisure. The second mate of the Pequod was Stubb, and he was the complete opposite of Starbuck. Starbuck started this voyage to earn a living, in which Stubb just joined for the thrill of the hunt. Through this entire voyage, Stubb really enjoyed himself. His days are now worried free. His supper is one example of his impertinence and carefree attitude. He and the black cook, Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page13 Fleece, have a conversation that leads to questions about death. Stubb asks Fleece where he plans on going after his death, and Fleece just subtly points up. Which was quite funny since Stubb didnt understand this so he told Fleece that we definitely dont need a corpse just hanging from their masthead. Stubb -Stubbs Supper: You said up there, didnt you? And now look at yourself, and see where your tongs are pointing. But, perhaps you expect to get into heaven crawling through the lubbers hole, cook; but, no, no , cook, you dont get there, except you go the regular way, round by the rigging. Its a ticklish business, but must be done, or else its no go. None of us are in heaven yet. He might have some belief in heaven, but its definitely in a very distant corner of his mind. He lives his life without worry of heaven at least until the last possible moment. He thinks faith is nothing but useless, hes a non-believer. He asks Fleece how he intends to get into heaven since it seems the effort is more trouble than it is actually worth. On the other hand, the regular way in Stubbs mind involves a Starbuck-type loyalty, which he doesnt want to give. When he says none of us are in heaven yet he is basically saying: why bother? There is no proof and no live person can be sure that heaven even exists until they die. Therefore, his life is full of enjoyment having no religion, and yet he shares the same fate of Gods blueprint. Starbuck doesnt consider or Craig Peitz How strong is your faith? Page14 fear death at all, and this is how he lives without any worries, superstitions. One example Ishmael give for Stubbs lack of religion and faith, is his pipe. It was described as a part of his face, he thought of it to be some kind of disinfectant that would protect him from Gods wrath. Ishmael doesnt want to believe that there will be no consequences for your decisions in life. Yet some having no religious conviction at all easily lives his life freely, unlike most other Christians. I feel we all have the opportunity to make our own Blue Prints of life regardless of our beliefs and or faith. The only things that all humans have in common is suffering, which brings us together, but yet we all are destined to the fate of death some just sooner than others. These two monolithic figures from literary history lived two very similar lives despite their differences in faith and styles of coping. Both were beset by great tragedy, and endured in their own was. Perhaps there is something to be said of the captains demise when compared to Jobs perseverance, but a faith in something greater is what bound them together.

Frostbite Chapter 8

Eight Christian was kissing her, and wow, was it a kiss. He wasn't messing around. It was the kind of kiss that small children shouldn't be allowed to see. Hell, it was the kind of kiss no one should be allowed to see- let alone experience through a psychic link. As I've noted before, strong emotion from Lissa could make this phenomenon happen- the one where I got pulled inside her head. But always, always, it was because of some negative emotion. She'd get upset or angry or depressed, and that would reach out to me. But this time? She wasn't upset. She was happy. Very, very happy. Oh man. I needed to get out of here. They were up in the attic of the school's chapel or, as I liked to call it, their love nest. The place had been a regular hangout for them, back when each of them was feeling antisocial and wanted to escape. Eventually, they'd decided to be antisocial together, and one thing had led to another. Since they started publicly dating, I hadn't known they spent much time here anymore. Maybe they were back for old time's sake. And indeed, a celebration did seem to be going on. Little scented candles were set up around the dusty old place, candles that filled the air with the scent of lilacs. I would have been a little nervous about setting all those candles in a confined space filled with flammable boxes and books, but Christian probably figured he could control any accidental infernos. They finally broke that insanely long kiss and pulled back to look at each other. They lay on their sides on the floor. Several blankets had been spread under them. Christian's face was open and tender as he regarded Lissa, his pale blue eyes aglow with some inner emotion. It was different from the way Mason regarded me. There was certainly adoration with him, but Mason's was a lot like when you walk into a church and fall to your knees in awe and fear of something you worship but don't really understand. Christian clearly worshipped Lissa in his way, but there was a knowing glint to his eyes, a sense that the two of them shared an understanding of each other so perfect and powerful that they didn't even need words to convey it. â€Å"Don't you think we're going to go to hell for this?† asked Lissa. He reached out and touched her face, trailing his fingers along her cheek and neck and down to the top of her silky shirt. She breathed heavily at that touch, at the way it could be so gentle and small, yet evoke such a strong passion within her. â€Å"For this?† He played with the shirt's edge, letting his finger just barely brush inside of it. â€Å"No,† she laughed. â€Å"For this.† She gestured around the attic. â€Å"This is a church. We shouldn't be doing this kind of, um, thing up here.† â€Å"Not true,† he argued. Gently, he pushed her onto her back and leaned over her. â€Å"The church is downstairs. This is just storage. God won't mind.† â€Å"You don't believe in God,† she chastised. Her hands made their way down his chest. Her movements were as light and deliberate as his, yet they clearly triggered the same powerful response in him. He sighed happily as her hands slid under his shirt and up his stomach. â€Å"I'm humoring you.† â€Å"You'd say anything right now,† she accused. Her fingers caught the edge of his shirt and pushed it up. He shifted so she could push it all the way off him and then leaned back over her, bare-chested. â€Å"You're right,† he agreed. He carefully undid one button on her blouse. Just one. Then he again leaned down and gave her one of those hard, deep kisses. When he came up for air, he continued on as though nothing had happened. â€Å"Tell me what you need to hear, and I'll say it.† He unfastened another button. â€Å"There's nothing I need to hear,† she laughed. Another button popped free. â€Å"You can tell me whatever you want- it'd just be nice if it were true.† â€Å"The truth, huh? No one wants to hear the truth. The truth is never sexy. But you †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The last button came undone, and he spread her shirt away. â€Å"You are too goddamned sexy to be real.† His words held his trademark snarky tone, but his eyes conveyed a different message entirely. I was witnessing this scene through Lissa's eyes, but I could imagine what he saw. Her smooth, white skin. Slender waist and hips. A lacy white bra. Through her, I could feel that the lace was itchy, but she didn't care. Feelings both fond and hungry spread over his features. From within Lissa, I could feel her heart race and breathing quicken. Emotions similar to Christian's clouded all other coherent thoughts. Shifting down, he lay on top of her, pressing their bodies together. His mouth sought hers out again, and as their lips and tongues made contact, I knew I had to get out of there. Because I understood it now. I understood why Lissa had dressed up and why the love nest had been decked out like a Yankee Candles showroom. This was it. The moment. After a month of dating, they were going to have sex. Lissa, I knew, had done it before with a past boyfriend. I didn't know Christian's past, but I sincerely doubted many girls had fallen prey to his abrasive charm. But in feeling what Lissa felt, I could tell that none of that mattered. Not in that moment. In that moment, there were only the two of them and the way they felt about each other right now. And in a life filled with more worries than someone her age should have had, Lissa felt absolutely certain about what she was doing now. It was what she wanted. What she'd wanted for a very long time with him. And I had no right to be witnessing it. Who was I kidding? I didn't want to witness it. I took no pleasure in watching other people get it on, and I sure as hell didn't want to experience sex with Christian. It'd be like losing my virginity virtually. But Jesus Christ, Lissa wasn't making it easy to get out of her head. She had no desire to detach from her feelings and emotions, and the stronger they grew, the stronger they held me. Trying to distance myself from her, I focused my energies on coming back to myself, concentrating as hard as I could. More clothes disappeared †¦ Come on, come on, I told myself sternly. The condom came out†¦ yikes. You're your own person, Rose. Get back in your head. Their limbs intertwined, their bodies moving together †¦ Son of a- I ripped out of her and back to myself. Once again, I was back in my room, but I no longer had any interest in packing my backpack. My whole world was askew. I felt strange and violated- almost unsure if I was Rose or if I was Lissa. I also felt that resentment toward Christian again. I certainly didn't want to have sex with Lissa, but there was that same pang inside of me, that frustrated feeling that I was no longer the center of her world. Leaving the backpack untouched, I went right to bed, wrapping my arms around myself and curling into a ball to try to squelch the ache within my chest. I fell asleep pretty quickly and woke up early as a result. Usually, I had to be dragged out of bed to go meet Dimitri, but today I showed up early enough that I actually beat him to the gym. As I waited, I saw Mason cutting across to one of the buildings that held classrooms. â€Å"Whoa,† I called. â€Å"Since when are you up this early?† â€Å"Since I had to retake a math test,† he said, walking over to me. He gave me his mischievous smile. â€Å"Might be worth skipping, though, to hang out with you.† I laughed, remembering my conversation with Lissa. Yes, there were definitely worse things I could do than flirt and start something with Mason. â€Å"Nah. You might get in trouble, then I'd have no real challenge on the slopes.† He rolled his eyes, still smiling. â€Å"I'm the one with no real challenge, remember?† â€Å"You ready to bet on something yet? Or are you still too afraid?† â€Å"Watch it,† he warned, â€Å"or I might take back your Christmas present.† â€Å"You got me a present?† I hadn't expected that. â€Å"Yup. But if you keep back-talking, I might give it to someone else.† â€Å"Like Meredith?† I teased. â€Å"She isn't even in your league, and you know it.† â€Å"Even with a black eye?† I asked with a grimace. â€Å"Even with two black eyes.† The look he gave me just then wasn't teasing or even really suggestive. It was just nice. Nice, friendly, and interested. Like he really cared. After all the stress lately, I decided I liked being cared about. And with the neglect I was starting to feel from Lissa, I realized I also kind of liked having someone who wanted to pay so much attention to me. â€Å"What are you doing on Christmas?† I asked. He shrugged. â€Å"Nothing. My mom almost came down but had to cancel at the last minute †¦ you know, with everything that happened.† Mason's mother wasn't a guardian. She was a dhampir who'd chosen to just be domestic and have kids. As a result, I knew he saw her quite a bit. It was ironic, I thought, that my mom actually was here, but for all intents and purposes, she might as well have been somewhere else. â€Å"Come hang with me,† I said on impulse. â€Å"I'll be with Lissa and Christian and his aunt. It'll be fun.† â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Very fun.† â€Å"That's not what I was asking about.† I grinned. â€Å"I know. Just be there, okay?† He swept me one of the gallant bows he liked to make. â€Å"Absolutely.† Mason wandered off just as Dimitri showed up for our practice. Talking to Mason had made me feel giddy and happy; I hadn't thought about my face at all with him. But with Dimitri, I suddenly became self-conscious. I didn't want to be anything less than perfect with him, and as we walked inside, I went out of my way to avert my face so he couldn't look at me full-on. Worrying about that brought my mood down, and as it plummeted, all the other things that had been upsetting me came tumbling back. We returned to the training room with the dummies, and he told me he simply wanted me to practice the maneuvers from two days ago. Happy he wasn't going to bring up the fight, I set to my task with a burning zeal, showing the dummies just what would happen if they messed with Rose Hathaway. I knew my fighting fury was fired up by more than just a simple desire to do well. My feelings were out of control this morning, raw and intense after both the fight with my mother and what I'd witnessed with Lissa and Christian last night. Dimitri sat back and watched me, occasionally critiquing my technique and offering suggestions for new tactics. â€Å"Your hair's in the way,† he said at one point. â€Å"Not only are you blocking your peripheral vision, you're running the risk of letting your enemy get a handhold.† â€Å"If I'm actually in a fight, I'll wear it up.† I grunted as I shoved the stake neatly up between the dummy's â€Å"ribs.† I didn't know what these artificial bones were made of, but they were a bitch to work around. I thought about my mom again and added a little extra force to the jab. â€Å"I'm just wearing it down today, that's all.† â€Å"Rose,† he said warningly. Ignoring him, I plunged again. His voice came more sharply the next time he spoke. â€Å"Rose. Stop.† I backed away from the dummy, surprised to find my breathing labored. I hadn't realized I was working that hard. My back hit the wall. With nowhere to go, I looked away from him, directing my eyes toward the ground. â€Å"Look at me,† he ordered. â€Å"Dimitri- â€Å" â€Å"Look at me.† No matter our close history, he was still my instructor. I couldn't refuse a direct order. Slowly, reluctantly, I turned toward him, still tilting my head slightly down so the hair hung over the sides of my face. Rising from his chair, he walked over and stood before me. I avoided his eyes but saw his hand move forward to brush back my hair. Then it stopped. As did my breathing. Our short-lived attraction had been filled with questions and reservations, but one thing I'd known for sure: Dimitri had loved my hair. Maybe he still loved it. It was great hair, I'll admit. Long and silky and dark. He used to find excuses to touch it, and he'd counseled me against cutting it as so many female guardians did. His hand hovered there, and the world stood still as I waited to see what he would do. After what seemed like an eternity, he let his hand gradually fall back to his side. Burning disappointment washed over me, yet at the same time, I'd learned something. He'd hesitated. He'd been afraid to touch me, which maybe- just maybe- meant he still wanted to. He'd had to hold himself back. I slowly tipped my head back so that we made eye contact. Most of my hair fell back from my face- but not all. His hand trembled again, and I hoped again he'd reach forward. The hand steadied. My excitement dimmed. â€Å"Does it hurt?† he asked. The scent of that aftershave, mingled with his sweat, washed over me. God, I wished he had touched me. â€Å"No,† I lied. â€Å"It doesn't look so bad,† he told me. â€Å"It'll heal.† â€Å"I hate her,† I said, astonished at just how much venom those three words held. Even while suddenly turned on and wanting Dimitri, I still couldn't drop the grudge I held against my mother. â€Å"No, you don't,† he said gently. â€Å"I do.† â€Å"You don't have time to hate anyone,† he advised, his voice still kind. â€Å"Not in our profession. You should make peace with her.† Lissa had said exactly the same thing. Outrage joined my other emotions. That darkness within me started to unfurl. â€Å"Make peace with her? After she gave me a black eye on purpose! Why am I the only one who sees how crazy that is?† â€Å"She absolutely did not do it on purpose,† he said, voice hard. â€Å"No matter how much you resent her, you have to believe that. She wouldn't do that, and anyway, I saw her later that day. She was worried about you.† â€Å"Probably more worried someone will bring her up on child abuse charges,† I grumbled. â€Å"Don't you think this is the time of year for forgiveness?† I sighed loudly. â€Å"This isn't a Christmas special! This is my life. In the real world, miracles and goodness just don't happen.† He was still eyeing my calmly. â€Å"In the real world, you can make your own miracles.† My frustration suddenly hit a breaking point, and I gave up trying to maintain my control. I was so tired of being told reasonable, practical things whenever something went wrong in my life. Somewhere in me, I knew Dimitri only wanted to help, but I just wasn't up for the well-meant words. I wanted comfort for my problems. I didn't want to think about what would make me a better person. I wished he'd just hold me and tell me not to worry. â€Å"Okay, can you just stop this for once?† I demanded, hands on my hips. â€Å"Stop what?† â€Å"The whole profound Zen crap thing. You don't talk to me like a real person. Everything you say is just some wise, life-lesson nonsense. You really do sound like a Christmas special.† I knew it wasn't entirely fair to take my anger out on him, but I found myself practically shouting. â€Å"I swear, sometimes it's just like you want to hear yourself talk! And I know you're not always this way. You were perfectly normal when you talked to Tasha. But with me? You're just going through the motions. You don't care about me. You're just stuck in your stupid mentor role.† He stared at me, uncharacteristically surprised. â€Å"I don't care about you?† â€Å"No.† I was being petty- very, very petty. And I knew the truth- that he did care and was more than just a mentor. I couldn't help myself, though. It just kept coming and coming. I jabbed his chest with my finger. â€Å"I'm another student to you. You just go on and on with your stupid life lessons so that- â€Å" The hand I'd hoped would touch my hair suddenly reached out and grabbed my pointing hand. He pinned it to the wall, and I was surprised to see a flare of emotion in his eyes. It wasn't exactly anger†¦but it was frustration of another kind. â€Å"Don't tell me what I'm feeling,† he growled. I saw then that half of what I'd said was true. He was almost always calm, always in control- even when fighting. But he'd also told me how he'd once snapped and beaten up his Moroi father. He'd actually been like me once- always on the verge of acting without thinking, doing things he knew he shouldn't. â€Å"That's it, isn't it?† I asked. â€Å"What?† â€Å"You're always fighting for control. You're the same as me.† â€Å"No,† he said, still obviously worked up. â€Å"I've learned my control.† Something about this new realization emboldened me. â€Å"No,† I informed him. â€Å"You haven't. You put on a good face, and most of the time you do stay in control. But sometimes you can't. And sometimes †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I leaned forward, lowering my voice. â€Å"Sometimes you don't want to.† â€Å"Rose†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I could see his labored breathing and knew his heart was beating as quickly as mine. And he wasn't pulling away. I knew this was wrong- knew all the logical reasons for us staying apart. But right then, I didn't care. I didn't want to control myself. I didn't want to be good. Before he realized what was happening, I kissed him. Our lips met, and when I felt him kiss me back, I knew I was right. He pressed himself closer, trapping me between him and the wall. He kept holding my hand, but his other one snaked behind my head, sliding into my hair. The kiss was filled with so much intensity; it held anger, passion, release†¦. He was the one who broke it. He jerked away from me and took several steps back, looking shaken. â€Å"Do not do that again,† he said stiffly. â€Å"Don't kiss me back then,† I retorted. He stared at me for what seemed like forever. â€Å"I don't give ‘Zen lessons' to hear myself talk. I don't give them because you're another student. I'm doing this to teach you control.† â€Å"You're doing a great job,† I said bitterly. He closed his eyes for half a second, exhaled, and muttered something in Russian. Without another glance at me, he turned and left the room.

Operations Management Dell Inc - 4481 Words

Hanze University International business School Daniel Prieto MBA 2008/09 Operation Management: Dell 1 Introduction Dell is a technological sales company which performs their business in the whole world as is possible to see in the following diagram. With a net revenue of $61,133,000,000 is the second largest computer manufacturer company in the word and the number one in United States. Dell focuses on Business to Business(B2B) and Business to Consumer(B2C) commerce to satisfy their business and individual customers. Dell differentiates between classes of customers because the needs of their business customers, who buy large quantities of computers, are different than the individuals who want to configure a single unit. The present†¦show more content†¦4 Processes and Technology 4.1 Production process The well known operation model of Dell called ‘Dell Direct’ base its value added in just work on demand eliminating intermediaries in procurement, manufacturing and distribution processes. The technology used by the company in the manufacturing process is the base of success and therefore play a very important role in its operations. Dell’s technology allow to the company to combine its resources, its relationship with suppliers and its consumer communication capabilities, developing one big advantage over its competitors. Dell is in â€Å"Mass Production† process category due to mainly the stable demand of products, the assembly work as a main line of production and with a good level of efficiency. To consider Dell as a manufacturing or assembly company is a constant discussion even for the employees of the company. Due to the nature of the products (mainly computers) they build new products that do not exists in the market, in this sense they are manufact ures. But in another sense they just assemble component which production is on suppliers, in this sense could be considerate that dell â€Å"buy to sell†. In this document the company will be considered as a manufacturer company. The generation of innovative ideas for the production line is pulled due to the necessity of new kind of products defined basically due to the interaction with suppliers andShow MoreRelatedLiquidity Financial Ratio Review Exercise Essay1284 Words   |  6 PagesLiquidity Financial Ratio Review Exercise Understanding the meaning of financial ratios is imperative to different stakeholders both within and outside of a company. Management reviews different ratios to measure how effective the strategies used to run the business are within a given time period. Money Managers and other types of investors use ratios to determine investment strategies in different types of companies. The use of the ratios helps give a consistent look at different types of businessesRead MoreDell Computers Strategy1703 Words   |  7 PagesDell Computers Strategy Global companies play an important role in the business environment, because they connect their business together around the world. A good example of a global company is Dell Inc., an American computer-hardware company, headquartered in Austin Texas, which develops, manufactures, sells and supports a wide range of personal computers, servers, data storage devices, network switches, personal digital assistants (PDAs), software, computer peripherals, and more. They designRead MoreBusiness Relationship Management : Dell Inc. Essay1564 Words   |  7 Pagescompetition, customer-relationship management is emerging as an essential and critical factor in the process for companies to win the loyalty of their customers. Current customer base is so diverse, that one simple kind of strategy cannot work alone. However, a company that is able to show customer value and appreciation can leverage the potential of this diversity to ensure a successful customer business relationship. Dell Inc. is o ne such organization and Michael Dell is an innovative leader that providesRead MoreThe Key Components Of Dell743 Words   |  3 PagesDell’s individual devices are provided by outside suppliers which consist of China, Korea, Mexico, and Singapore. There are over sixteen countries that are involved in the manufacturing process of Dell products; however, China, Korea, Mexico, and Singapore are responsible for the key components of Dell personal computer products. China manufacturers are responsible for keyboards; Korea manufacturers are responsible for LCD and memory chips, Mexico manufacturers provide batteries, and Singapore manufacturersRead MoreDell : A Successful Entrepreneur1445 Words   |  6 Pagesconsumer, put dell at a sales margin of $7.7 billion by the year 1998. Even though the industry was only growing at a rate of 5 percent during this time, Dell would be growing at an unbelievable rate of more than 50 percent! In the year 1999, Dell made his dream of competin g with IBM come true by outselling not only IBM but also Hewlett-Packard with a whopping $12.3 billion in sales bringing internet sales to $30 million a day. Dell has proven to be a very successful entrepreneur as well as managerRead MoreDells Process Strategy and Location1308 Words   |  5 Pagesand low-cost production of goods and services in order to meet the ever-changing customer desires. This strategy combines the effectiveness of a product focus with the flexibility of a process focus. Strategy Process used at Dell, Inc.: Throughout its history, Dell, Inc. has developed its business practices and strategies on the direct-to-consumer model as the past attempt to expand into retail was not only brief but also unsuccessful. The company has relied on the made-to-order and just-in-timeRead MoreApple Is Global Corporation?1617 Words   |  7 Pagesbillions of dollars. Their annual sales turnover is more than the gross national product of many small countries. 2.  Worldwide operations: A multinational corporation carries on business in more than one country. Multinational corporations such as Coco cola has branches in as many as seventy countries around the world. 3.  International management: The management of multinational companies are international in character. It operates on the basis of best possible alternative available anyRead MoreBus650:Week 3 Assignment 11387 Words   |  6 Pagesare required to submit 10Q (quarterly) and 10K (annual) reports to the SEC detailing their financial operations over the previous quarter or year, respectively. These corporate filings are available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Go to the SEC website, follow the Search for Company Filings link, the Companies Other Filers link, enter Dell Computer, and search for SEC filings made by Dell. Find the most recent 10Q and 10K and download the forms. Look on the balance sheet to find the bookRead MoreDell Inc. Company Based On Computer Technology Essay1707 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION: DELL INC. ,is an American privately owned multinational company based on computer technology in ROUND ROCK,TEXAS,U.S.A. Michael Dell is the founder of DELL INC. It is INCORPORATED on February 1st ,1984. It was the largest company in GREATER AUSTIN area that sells ,repairs ,develops and supports computers and related products. The company is one of the largest technological corporations in the world. It is employing more than 103,300 people word wide. DELL sells personnel computersRead MoreDell Inc. : Business Level Strategy1118 Words   |  5 Pages History of Dell Dell Inc. was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell. Dell Inc. is an information technology company offering a range of products, including desktop, personal computers, servers, networking products, storage, mobility products, software and security. They also provide a range of services including consulting and product-related support services. Dell Inc. reached their success through the concept of selling computers directly to their consumers. Meaning, meeting the needs and proficiently

The Compensation Plan For Coca Cola Company - 1823 Words

This paper will evaluate the existing compensation plan to determine if it is the most appropriate for your company. It will determine the most beneficial ration of internally consistent and market consistent compensations systems for the Coca-Cola Company. Next, it will evaluate the current pay structure used by this company and assess the recognition of employee contributions. It will make two (2) recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the discretionary benefits provided by the company selected. Last, it will evaluate the types of employer-sponsored retirement plans and health insurance programs provided by the company you selected and compare them to that company’s major competitors. Coca-Cola is a multinational company that manufactures and sells soft-carbonated beverages. With over 130,000 employees, the company must establish an attractive pay, compensation and benefits package. Unfortunately, the company’s executives have passed a compensation package that seems to benefit them possibly at the expense of the rest of the employees and stakeholders. The current compensation plan at the company must be revised so that it is inclusive of all employees within the company. Employees are an essential asset in any organization, and an attractive compensation package guarantees a motivated and productive workforce. It will also aide in attracting new talent and retaining the existing high performing talent at Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola has three main elements of directShow MoreRelatedCoca-Cola and Pepsi Pension1013 Words   |  5 Pageshead: Coca-Cola and Pepsi Pensions Laila Nayani Professor:  William Blix ACC: 305 Abstract In this paper I will cover the comparative analysis case study of the pension plans offeredRead MoreCoca Cola vs Pepsi1313 Words   |  6 PagesThe Coca-Cola Company versus PepsiCo, Inc. Andy Berg Ufuoma Omosebi Intermediate Accounting III ACC305 19 November, 2011 Coca Cola and Pepsi are the two most popular and widely recognized beverage brands in the United States. Pepsi and Coca Cola contrast each other on their taste, its associated colors and themes, and ingredients. Even the pension plans and funding status are a competitive comparison. 1. Compare the pension plans of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, including type of plan and fundedRead MoreThe Analysis Of The Financial Statements For 2014, And 2015 Essay1684 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The Coca-Cola Company (Coca-Cola), the world s driving soda pop producer, works in more than 200 nations and offers 400 brands of nonalcoholic refreshments. Coca-Cola is likewise the most profitable brand on the planet. Coca-Cola is an all-inclusive perceived effective organization. The Coca-Cola was founded in May of 1886 and proceeds for over a century through the seasons of war and peace, success and misery and monetary blast and bust. As late as the 1990s, Coca-Cola was one of theRead MoreComparative Human Resource Analysis : Coca Cola And Pepsico1465 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis: Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Abhiram Satyadev Goldey Beacom College Course Name 02/16/2017 Table of Contents 1. Competition for Employees†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.3 2. Compensation of Employees†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 3. Legislation Concerning Employees.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...5 4. Human Relations Discussion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..6 5. Conclusions†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦7 6. References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦8 Comparative Human Resource Analysis: Coca-Cola v/sRead MoreCompensation Plan1851 Words   |  8 PagesAssignment 2 – Compensation Plan Outline Ginger Renee Wigglesworth Dr. Anthony Jacob Compensation Management December 2, 2012 Evaluation of Coca Cola s Compensation Plan Introduction Coca Cola uses a market-based compensation plan in which employees receive compensation that is comparable to the market rate. The market-based system is used for hourly employees and for entry level managers that receive a salary. The company also uses a merit pay system for increases, withRead MoreCoca Cola Green Initiatives1032 Words   |  5 PagesCoca Cola Green Initiatives Nicole Johnson MGT/470 Green Initiatives Implementation of sustainability plans by small businesses and global organizations have become one of the top priorities for businesses. Companies have become environmentally conscious of materials used in the production of goods, energy use in manufacturing, and modes of transportation for products. These organizations have become active in the effort to reduce greenhouse gases by using energy efficient facilities, recyclableRead MoreCoca Cola s Human Resource Management1452 Words   |  6 PagesHMR Strategy Coca Cola Introduction This report will cover the major aspects and the role of human resource management in Coca Cola. This will include the processes of recruitment and retention of talent through the practices of human resource management conducted within the company. This report will analyse how each process and procedure is undertaken and how successful the human resource management strategy of Coca Cola is in relation to the vision and values of the company. Each process and procedureRead MoreCoca Col The Largest Beverage Company1624 Words   |  7 PagesCoca-Cola has capitalized on the rapidly expanding beverage industry in the United States and has successfully infiltrated the gobal market where 70% of its revenue is reported. This journey into globalization has the company viewed as the largest beverage company in the world. In 2011, Business Insider reported that 3.1% of beverages consumed around the world is a product of Coca-Cola and/or its subsidaries. Currently, Coca-Cola operating segement s are North America, Latin America, Europe, AfricaRead MoreCoca-Cola on Operations Management1463 Words   |  6 Pages| Coca-Cola | Background Dr. John S. Pemberton invented Coca Cola in Atlanta, Georgia in May 1886. Coca-Cola first began selling their product at a soda fountain in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta. The name came about when Dr. Pemberton’s bookkeeper, Frank Robinson suggested it. He even wrote out the script as seen today on the Coke bottles. Initially, Coca- Cola averaged nine drinks a day in the first year of their sales, adding up to $50 annual revenue. Today products of The Coca-ColaRead MoreFactors That Affect The Management Of A Global Workforce1172 Words   |  5 Pages FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE MANAGEMENT OF A GLOBAL WORKFORCE Coca-Cola, a multi-national beverage corporation and manufacturer, started as a medicine sold in a small pharmacy that John Pemberton made in his backyard. This brand grew world wide through strategic marketing and affective global management. Managing a company globally is a tough task because there are several factors that affect a global workforce. The first challenge one may think of when determining the factors that affect the management