Fat Pig a Play by Neil LaBute

Fat Pig a Play by Neil LaBute Neil LaBute titled the play Fat Pig (which first premiered off-Broadway in 2004) to get our attention. However, if he wanted to be blunt, he could have named the play Cowardice, because that is what this comedy-tinged drama is really about. The Plot Tom is a young urban professional who has a bad track record of quickly losing interest in the attractive women he dates. Although in comparison to his crude friend Carter, Tom seems more sensitive than your typical cad. In fact, in the first scene of the play, Tom encounters a smart, flirtatious woman who is described as very plus-sized. When the two connect and she gives him her phone number, Tom is genuinely interested, and the two start dating. However, deep down Tom is shallow. (I know that seems like a paradox, but thats how he is.) He is too self-conscious about what his so-called work friends think about his relationship with Helen. It doesnt help that he dumped a vindictive co-worker named Jeannie who interprets his overweight girlfriend as a personal attack: JEANNIE: Im sure you thought this would hurt me, right? It also doesnt help when his sleazy friend Carter steals a photo of Helen and emails a copy to everyone at the office. But ultimately, this is a play about a young man who comes to terms with who he is: TOM: Im a weak and fearful person, Helen, and Im not gonna get any better. (Spoiler Alert) Male Characters in Fat Pig LaBute has a definite knack for obnoxious, callous male characters. The two guys in Fat Pig follow in this tradition, yet they arent nearly as loathsome than the jerks in LaButes film In the Company of Men. Carter might be a slimeball, but he is not too vicious. At first, he is flabbergasted by the fact that Tom is dating an overweight woman. Also, he firmly believes that Tom and other attractive people should run with [their] own kind. Basically, Carter thinks that Tom is wasting his youth by dating someone of Helens size. However, if one reads the synopsis of the play, it asks: How many insults can you hear before you have to stand up and defend the woman you love? Based upon that blurb, audiences might assume that Tom is pushed to the breaking point by a barrage of awful insults at his girlfriends expense. Yet, Carter is not completely insensitive. In one of the best monologues of the play, Carter tells the story of how he was often embarrassed by his obese mother when in public. He also supplies the wisest piece of advice in the play: CARTER: Do what you want. If you like this girl, then dont listen to a goddamn word anybody says. So, if Carter lays off on the insults and peer pressure, and the vengeful Jeannie calms down and moves on with her life, why does Tom break up with Helen? He cares too much about what others think. His self-consciousness prevents him from pursuing what could be an emotionally fulfilling relationship. Female Characters in Fat Pig LaBute offers one well-developed female character (Helen) and a secondary female character who seems like an artistic misfire. Jeannie doesnt get much stage time, but whenever present she seems like a typical jilted co-worker seen in countless sitcoms and movies. WireImage / Getty Images But her stereotypical shallowness provides a nice foil for Helen, a woman who is bright, self-aware, and honest. She encourages Tom to be honest as well, often sensing his awkwardness when they are out in public. She falls hard and quick for Tom. At the end of the play, she confesses: HELEN: I love you so much, I really do, Tom. Feel a connection with you that I havent allowed myself to dream of, let alone be a part of, in so long. Ultimately, Tom cannot love her, because he is too paranoid about what others think. Therefore, as sad as the ending of the play might seem, its good that Helen and Tom face the truth of their faltering relationship early on. (Real life dysfunctional couples could learn a valuable lesson from this play.) Comparing Helen to someone like Nora from A Dolls House reveals how empowered and assertive women have become in the last few centuries. Nora builds an entire marriage based upon facades. Helen insists upon facing the truth before allowing a serious relationship to continue. Theres a quirk about her personality. She loves old war movies, mostly obscure World War II flicks. This little detail might just be something that LaBute invented to make her unique from other women (thereby helping to explain Toms attraction for her). In addition, it may also reveal the type of man she needs to find. The American soldiers of World War II, by and large, were courageous and willing to fight for what they believed in, even at the cost of their lives. These men are part of what journalist ​Tom Brokaw described as The Greatest Generation. Men like Carter and Tom pale in comparison. Perhaps Helen is obsessed with the films, not because of the pretty explosions but because they remind her of the male figures in her family, and provide a model for potential mates, reliable, stalwart men who arent afraid to take a risk. WireImage / Getty Images The Importance of Fat Pig At times LaButes dialogue seems like it is trying too hard to emulate David Mamet. And the short nature of the play (one of those no bak 90-minute ventures like Shanleys Doubt) makes it reminiscent of those ABC After School Specials from my childhood. They were short films that focused on cautionary tales of modern dilemmas: bullying, anorexia, peer pressure, self-image. They didnt have as many swear words as LaButes plays, though. And the secondary characters (Carter and Jeannie) barely escape their sitcomish roots. Despite these flaws, Fat Pig triumphs with its central characters. I believe in Tom. I have, unfortunately, been Tom; there have been times when I have said things or made choices based upon the expectations of others. And I have felt like Helen (maybe not overweight, but someone who feels like they are removed from those labeled as attractive by mainstream society). Theres no happy ending in the play, but fortunately, in real life, the Helens of the world (sometimes) find the right guy, and the Toms of the world (occasionally) learn to how to overcome their fear of other peoples opinions. If more of us paid attention to the lessons of the play, we could replace those parenthetic adjectives to often and almost always.

Italian Words Used in Fashion and Design

Italian Words Used in Fashion and Design Picture it: You walk into a boutique shoe shop on the main corso in Viterbo, Italy, looking to buy some shoes to match an outfit later that evening. La commessa (the saleswoman) greets you with a salve! and points to the merchandise arranged around her store.   Pairs of shoes sit on illuminated shelves, shoes with heels so tall, you couldn’t imagine wearing them without twisting an ankle on the cobblestone streets that line the center of the city. Each visit to a  un negozio (a store) to find a sweater, a pair of jeans, or a new top becomes an opportunity to acquire new, specific vocabulary for the items themselves and all the various colors, sizes, and materials they come in.   Below, find a list of common vocabulary and phrases that can be used when shopping in Italy or just talking about clothes. Accessories (Gli Accessori) Belt -  la cinturaBowtie - il papillonCap -  il berretto/il cappellinoGloves -  i guantiHat -  il cappelloPurse - la borsaSocks -  i  calziniSunglasses  - gli occhiali da soleTie -  la cravattaWatch - l’orologio Clothing (L’Abbigliamento / Il Vestiario) Blouse -  la camicetta/la blusaBra -  il reggisenoCoat -  il cappottoDress - il vestitoJeans - i jeansLingerie - la biancheria intimaPants -  i pantaloniRaincoat -  limpermeabileScarf -  la sciarpaShirt -  la camiciaSkirt -  la gonnaSweater -  il pullover/il golfSweatshirt - la felpaSweatsuit - la tutaSuit - il completoTuxedo - lo smokingUnderwear -  le mutandeVest -  il panciottoWindbreaker -  la giacca a vento Shoes (Le Scarpe) Flip-flops - le infraditoHigh heels - le scarpe col taccoHiking boots - le scarpe da trekkingRainboots - i stivali di gomma/stivali da pioggia Vocabulary Descriptions Cotton - il cotoneLeather - il cuoioLinen - il linoPolyester - il poliestereSilk - la setaWool - la lanaLoose - largoTight - strettoStriped - a righe/strisce Phrases Cerco una felpa a righe.I’m looking for a striped sweatshirt. Tip: Notice that in Italian there is no preposition used after the verb cercare (to look for). The â€Å"for† is implied within the verb. Sono/Porto/Indosso una taglia†¦(media).I’m a medium.Vuole provarlo?Do you want to try it on?Vorrei provare questi, dove sono i camerini?I’d like to try these on, where are the fitting rooms? Tip: In the phrase above, â€Å"lo† would be used if the item were singular and masculine, like il vestito (the dress). However, if it were singular and feminine, like la sciarpa (the scarf), it would be â€Å"Vuole provarla†? While it’s important to make everything agree, don’t stress if you can’t remember the gender of the object you have. You’ll be safe with using the pronoun â€Å"lo†. È comodo.It’s comfortable.Il vestito à ¨ troppo stretto, avete una taglia pià ¹ grande?The dress is too tight, do you have a larger size?Questi (stivali) sono scomodi.These (boots) are uncomfortable.Preferisco il rosa.I prefer pink. (As a color) Notice the differences in meanings below. Preferisco la rosa.I prefer the rose (flower).La preferisco rosa.I prefer  it (something feminine like: la gonna, la sciarpa, la maglietta...etc)  in pink.Lo preferisco rosa.I prefer  it (something masculine like: il golf, il pantalone, il papillon...etc)  in pink.

Response to classmate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Response to classmate - Essay Example 144). Rules and regulations should not just apply to particular individuals but everyone. I agree with you that individuals are not homogenous and are bound to behave contrary to the set moral obligations. I agree with your point of view because I believe that moral principles are binding to everyone in the society irrespective of status or religion. I agree with the utilitarian theory which states that humans are bound by the moral ethics to understand the consequences of their actions (Boss, 2015, pp. 282). The essence of duty is moral decision-making. It is important to note that some actions are morally essential regardless of the inherent consequences. Boss (2015) notes that performance of duty should be based on goodwill. I agree with this point of view because some people act based on a reward system or some form of punishment (Boss, 2015, pp. 288). Rights ethic is the defining standard through which humans derive protection of dignity and

Plan or review administrative systems Assignment

Plan or review administrative systems - Assignment Example Questions: What are processes and procedures? How important are they in a project. Explain the processes and procedures that are going to be used in this project. Include regulations on the use of the new system. iii. The system will be monitored weekly and a report prepared by each department. The report should indicate the usage of the database and identify the user. This report will be forwarded to the ICT department every Monday. The adoption of this system is a change process. Various considerations have to be made to ensure the success of the project. First, sensitization meetings will be held in each department to communicate the change and gather support, each employee will be required to participate. Through this, the project team will identify the expertise and training gaps in the employees. These are the ones to be addressed in the staff training process. Follow-up training needs will be done through monitoring as the system takes effect. Secondly, all the employees have to be involved in order to reduce resistance to change. Two-weekly meetings will be held to evaluate the process and address concerns. This meeting will be arranged and run by the project manager. The minutes for this meeting will have to be available to all staff by the next working day. A monthly newsletter will be prepared to show the exact nature of the progress (Brody, 2005, p. 243). Lastly, a confidential complaints and feedback system will have to be established in order to gather crucial information from the staff. This will help collect and investigate information that cannot be voiced during meetings. Since most personnel have only the basic computer literacy, the training will have to be done at all levels and inclusively. This helps to build teamwork for faster learning. The final date for tender submission will be on 6th January 2014. This

How Becoming an Adult Has Changed Christmas Essay Example for Free

How Becoming an Adult Has Changed Christmas Essay I love the holidays, they bring a special joy to my life, they make me smile even if things may not be going as planned in my life; just the thought of family and friends spending time together is a great big deal in my family. I now get to experience the feeling and joys my parents did when they see me opening my presents. My children are so precious and I love having every memorial moment with them. We still do the same things at Grandmas every year nothing has changed except for the fact that I’m a Mother now. I can distinctively remember the Christmas of 2006; it was the year my son (Jaylen) was born. It’s the year I realized that my spoiled days were over and it was not only about me any more. It was the first time I actually realized that I’m Mommy now! It was a very fearful and joyful moment at the same time; my family didn’t pay as much attention to me anymore. They were occupied with my new baby boy (Jaylen), I was extremely happy, they had taken to my son because 18 months earlier they were a little upset that I was going to have a baby(they thought I was too young). My dad was the happiest I have seen him in years, he was a proud grand pap. I’ll admit I was a little jealous because all the attention was no longer on just me I had to now share it. Then again I sat back and thought I’m an adult now and I should not be treated like a baby anymore, so from that point forward I found the grown up I had hidden inside. Thirty-three months (two and a half years) later there was an addition to my family for the holiday, I had my daughter JaKailah, she was a great gift after losing our Nana Boat in June of 2009. My daughter was born just 13 days later (June 21 2009); my grandmother and I both feel as though she is a part of Nana Boat in many ways. Not having our Nana Boat with us on Christmas anymore is a huge void; she is their saying â€Å"just give the children what ever they want, they are our special gifts from god†. One thing that has stayed the same is all holidays are special in my family, but Christmas is still the most important. All my family still meet at Grandma’s house every year. We have family from every where that comes in from out of state to celebrate this special occasion. Every year our Christmas routine has stayed the same; grandma has a special way of making every holiday memorable, she was also very particular about time, there was a time for everything we did on Christmas. She has a set schedule between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. Everyone shows up at grandmas to put their presents under the tree. Grandma has breakfast made for everyone every Christmas pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and toast. Then at 11:30am it is time to give each other the presents we have for one another. By the time we were all done opening presents it is time for us to have dinner at 2:30. WOW! We could smell that great food cooking the whole time we were opening our presents. As a child I can remember many traditions sheared with my family. Because there were so many people staying at Grandma’s for the holidays. I can remember making pallets (beds) on the floor with my cousins so the adults could have the beds and air mattresses. My cousins and I would stay up really late and sleep until the after noon. After waking up I can remember my Uncle Bobbie; he looked just like Mr. Rodgers (from Mr. Rodger Neighborhood) he has the same blue sweater and those same blue tie up shoes. I would wake up and say good morning, Mr. Rodgers it is going to be a wonderful day in the neighbor hood. I was a very spoiled child; I got what ever I wanted, when I wanted it from every one in my family. I have even started my own traditions with my children, we have one day where we all sit down at the dining room table after Thanksgiving and we tell each other what we would like to have Santa Clause bring us for Christmas. I have even found a count down to Christmas calendar filled with chocolate candies, it starts at twenty-five and end at one; what you do with this calendar is you start at twenty-five and every night eat one piece of chocolate and by the time its Christmas eve there is one less piece of chocolate remaining. Basically it is a count down to Christmas by eating a piece of chocolate each night until Christmas. My children are still very young so we are still in the process of coming up with new traditions. Things in life change so fast with out notice, some good and some bad, I just make the best of what I have. I always thought that I would need to be the center of attention, but this Christmas I learned that it’s not always about me. Each and every member of my family was very important in many ways. Each of us have our own roles and it works for my family. My fiance is a very quiet, laid back, stay out the way type of person. My Aunt is crazy for the kids, she literally buys them everything. My uncle is the strict no nonsense kind of guy who like the kids to stand in the corner. Uncle what can I say about him? Oh wow he’s the grouch, always yelling, the Children are too loud make them sit down. My dad always happy and feeding into what ever the kids say, do this and do that. Pappi mostly hiding in the room away from everyone to stay away from the chaos. My mom she is the clean freak always running around after every one cleaning up behind them. My Nana Boat she was all for the kids give, give, give that all she knew when it came to her baby’s. My brothers and sister they are needy, always wanting something that they really do not need. Being the big sister I have to love them(I do very much so. I’m only going to talk about my immediate family, because if not you will be here reading for months. As for my-self I’m kind of a reserved person; I just sit back and watch what’s going on around me. I can remember the time it took my grandma to prepare for Christmas; she would bake for weeks. She would let me help her make cookies, pies, fudge, and my most favorite of all chocolate covered pretzels with sprinkles. I can still smell those cookies and pies bake. Being with my grandma and helping her bake was the best feeling in the world. Still to this day my grandma still lets me help her bake for Christmas. She doesn’t leave out my children, they are right there with their hands in the dough, just getting as messy as possible. I know every edition to or family makes Christmas every year more and more enjoyable. I believe that each and every Christmas changes each and every person in my family for the better. CODA: There are a few reasons why I chose to use Frank McCourt â€Å"Limerick Homecoming† essay from the book Angela’s Ashes published in 1996. One reason I chose to use this essays style to revise my family essay is because Frank McCourt showed how to go from past to present tense in the same essay to tell about a special event in this life. Another reason I believe that this essay showed that no matter how bad things are at one point or another in your life that having your family around can make things all the better. Lastly, I chose this essay to because I related to the characters, meaning that I related to them so not coming from a rich family, not graduating high school and still striving to make it in this world .

Philosophy of Educative Assessment Essay -- essays research papers

Philosophy of Assessment Assessment of students is a crucial part of their education. It is one thing to be able, with some degree of confidence, to say that 'Johnny knows x' but it is quite another to be able to say 'Sarah can x'. It is clear that assessment at its core is involved in the measuring of something and that if I expect students to reach above a certain level of 'something' then I must clearly communicate that to them. The backwards design that we are familiar with goes someway towards achieving this goal. The notion that we state at the outset our expectations for student learning and then design activities to achieve that stated goal appears to be common sense. However, the tendency for teachers to rely upon pre-existing testing materials and adjust their high expectations to either teach to the test or adopt a less ?radical? approach is tempting. I think that new teachers are so overwhelmed with the day to day business of running a classroom that assessment, perhaps the most vital and under examined area in education, takes a back seat pretty quickly. A frustrating aspect of modern education is the concept of differentiation. It is often presented in the sense that each student learns differently, has different strengths and weaknesses and accordingly should be afforded assessment opportunities that allow them the best chance of success. That approach is daunting to new teachers because the intimation is that individualized assessment is preferable and with one hundred and six students of different grade levels and their own relative areas of skill, individualized assessment appears too hard a challenge. I have begun to examine my own assessment with a view to finding ways to improve it and improve ... ...stances students find among themselves, the absolutes are the text and the definitions available in the Oxford English Dictionary. The variable of teacher interpretation is also reduced because the student uses evidence form the text to prove their assertions. In addition to which, I contend that the explication meets the criteria for an educative assessment in that it allows for the academic growth of the student as the result of the features of the passage that are illuminated. Students see different things in the same text and express their findings differently but the value of their findings is the measure to take. The goal of educative assessment appears to turn ?traditional? assessment on its ear. The notion that the assessment is teaching something is a challenge to many teachers, particularly teachers with a vested interest in producing test scores.

Investigatory Project Essay

Garlic is commonly used in culinary and medicine. It grows up to 0.5 m (2ft) in height. Garlic helps prevent heart disease including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure and cancer. Garlic is used to prevent certain types of cancer, including stomach and colon cancers. A Czech study found garlic supplementation reduced accumulation of cholesterol on the vascular walls of animals and garlic also cause insects to react due to its allicin. Allicin is an antibiotic substance that is found when the garlic is crushed. The composition of bulbs is approximately 84.09% water, 13.38% organic matter, and 1.53% inorganic matter, while the leaves are 87.14% water, 11.27% organic matter, and 1.59% inorganic matter. Allicin is an antifungal compound (phytoncide) discovered by Chester J. Cavallito and colleagues in 1944. It has been claimed that allicin from crushed garlic can be used as a home remedy to help speed recovery from strep throat or other minor ailments because of its antibiotic properties. By this, we found out that garlic might be effective because of the compound it contains to kill insects in a certain affected plant. It is believed by some to act as a mosquito repellent, but no clinically reported evidence suggests it is actually effective. So we are going to test this garlic insecticide to prove this study. The center point of this study is to create an organic pesticide, a pesticide is a substance formed and established by scientists to act as repellent to harmful insects or organisms that benefit on a certain body that is infected or harmed. It is produced to dissolve the capability of harmful organisms to infect or continue to harm an organism. None of these discoveries and studies involved garlic as pesticide. We are going to prove this study. Conceptual Framework: Garlic as Insecticide Hypothesis: The garlic pesticide conducted contains a substance that is effective to insects. Therefore if it is sprayed to the affected plant with the pest on it, the insect will immediately die because of its reaction to the compound. On the other hand, the plant is safe and not harmed by the substances in the insecticide because it is all natural and organic. Therefore, the conducted pesticide is successful and effective. Definition of Terms: Allicin- is a compound that is created when garlic is chopped or crushed. It is often used in making garlic supplements. Antibiotic- a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria Approximately- an approximation is neither a guess nor an error but as exact as it possibly could be given the constraints Colleagues- are like companion or friend or someone whom you work with Compound- is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Immediately- instant or fast Insecticide- is a fluid used to kill harmful insects Organic- this means natural and no other elements are mixed in an organic matter. Reaction- is the physical answer of any living factor in a chemical substance Substance- the term substance specifically applies to a physical material with a definite chemical composition that cannot be separated into a constituent material by physical means.

Critical Analysis of Women Behind Bars Essay

More and more women-mothers, grandmothers, wives, daughters, and sisters are doing hard prison time all across the United States. Many of them are facing the prospect of years, decades, even lifetimes behind bars. Oddly, there’s been little public discussion about the dramatic increase of women in the prison system. What exactly is happening here, and why? This paper will be a critical analysis of the book, â€Å"Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in the U.S. Prison System. This paper will Introduction Journalist Silja Talvi’s Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in The U.S Prison System is an overview of issues affecting incarcerated women. The goal of the book Women Behind Bars is to increase the awareness about the growing population of women prisoners. Women Behind Bars presents a number of important issues regarding women prisoners. Incarcerated women’s stories represent a distillation of the larger forces that affect free women like racism, sexism and economic pressure. For these reasons, Silja Talvi explains, â€Å"incarcerated women should not be forgotten, despite the stigma of their criminal convictions and their physical removal from the community† (Talvi, 2007). Additionally, though incarcerated women may be locked up, they should not be overlooked. Women Behind Bars succinctly illustrates some of the important connections involving the War on Drugs, racial disparity, medical neglect: physically and psychologically, and the high rate of substance abuse and physical and sexual abuse among incarcerated women. Silja Talvi’s aim is to â€Å"shed light on what has contributed to this historic phenomenon of the mass incarceration of women in the United States† (Talvi, 2007). This paper will give background on how Silja J.A. Talvi researched the increase of female incarceration. This paper will also give insight surrounding the problems of the women, who Silja J.A. Talvi interviewed, faced while incarcerated. Additionally, outside resources pertaining to the issue of women in prison will be mentioned throughout this paper. Finally, an informed opinion based on the collection of outside information and what  was learned from the book will be presented. Silja J.A. Talvi bases her account on interviews with women prisoners. Silja J.A. Talvi had in-person and phone interviews with roughly one hundred women prisoners over a two year span. She also received letters from approximately three hundred women behind bars. In addition, she interviewed more than a dozen women who has been releases form jail or prison. Silja J.A. Talvi stayed in regular contact with fifty women locked up in state and federal prisons in seventeen states. In addition, Silja Talvi visited he women’s county jails in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as the Seattle/King County detention facility for juveniles. Silja Talvi also spent a fair amount of time talking with and learning from low-income women on Seattle streets who were willing to talk about their encounters with law enforcement and incarceration. Internationally, Silja Talvi was also granted permission to visit three women’s prisons, including the European Union’s biggest women’s prison, Holloway, in London, England; the sole female prison on Hameenlinna, Finland; and a provincial Canadian prison in British Columbia. Silja Talvi focuses on these women because she believes â€Å"that incarcerated females are the most misunderstood population in the vast U.S. incarceration system† (Talvi, 2007). These accounts from the women interviewed will further the insight on the realities of female incarceration. Further on this topic of incarceration, the author, Silja J.A. Talvi has stated that the United States has more people in prison than any other nation. â€Å"By mid-2006, the total number of women and men in prison rose to over 2.24 million, representing a significant increase from earlier year† (Harrison & Beck, 2006). Relatively speaking, more than one thousand prisoners are added to the prison and jail system every single week (Harrison & Beck, 2006). Meanwhile, â€Å"the number of incarcerated adult women has jumped by a shocking 757% since 1977, at nearly twice the rate of male prisoners† (Harrison & Beck, 2006). â€Å"The number of women in prisons and jails has reached a milestone,† explains Kara Gotsch, director of advocacy for the Sentencing project in Washington, DC. One of the main reasons why women are being locked up at an alarming rate is a result of a policy of mass incarceration. â€Å"Mass incarceration is a rate of incarceration so high that it affects not only the individual offender, but also whole social groups.† (American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 2011) Pursuing further, another main reason of  the increase of incarceration of women are the sentencing policies brought about by the â€Å"war on drugs.† â€Å"At the Federal level, prisoners incarcerated on a drug charge comprise half of the prison population, while the number of drug offenders in state prisons has increased thirteen-fold since 1980. Most of these people are not high-level actors in the drug trade, and most have no prior criminal record for a violent offense.† (sentencingpolicy.org) According to an excerpt in the Journal of Criminology, women are more likely to serve time for drug-related offenses and are less likely to serve time for violent offenses. (Lalonde & Cho, 2008) In addition, with the passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, women began to be arrested and charged with impunity, and were threatened increasingly with conspiracy charges if they didn’t snitch on their husbands, boyfriends, family member and acquaintances. Women were interrogated and threatened if they did not cooperate and these women would face serious repercussions. (Talvi, 2007) Many of the women that in state or federal prisons are first-time, non violent offenders sentenced on drug conspiracy charges. These women are serving far longer sentences than most first-time offender rapists, child molesters, or even murdered convicted of second degree murder or aggravated manslaughter. Furthermore, to a far greater degree than men, women come into the system with histories of sexual, physical abuse, domestic violence, rape, and mental illness. In this sense it is believed that our country is in crisis. Undoubtedly, because there are so many women locked up, there are a plethora of problems that incarcerated women face on a daily basis while in prison. Some of these problems include sexual assault and misconduct, medical neglect, deficient mental health treatment, and also discrimination based on gender, race and sexual orientation. Experiences of extreme violence and sexual abuse in women’s prisons are far worse and far too common than most American’s realize. In the United States, sexual assault by guards in women’s prisons is so notorious and widespread that it has been described as â€Å"an institutionalized component of punishment behind prison walls† (Davis, 1998). â€Å"Today it is estimated that at least 40% of guards in women’s prisons are men. In some female prisons, the majority of employees are men.† (Talvi, 2007) In these kinds of settings, there are violations of women’s privacy, as well as visual and verbal abuse by the male guards. Today, â€Å"one in four women reports having been sexually abused while being in  jail or prison† (Talvi, 2007). In addition to reports of violent restraint and punishment resulting in abrasions, cuts, bruises and even broken bones, women stated that they were subjected to humiliating strip searches and verbal harassment. Talvi explains that most of the women she interviewed in these prisons are in fear to even say anything about their abuse because of the likeliness to face the wrath of prison guards. The prison guards will cut visitation and phone privileges, take away prized possessions, and threaten these women and their families with bodily harm. On another note, According to Kim Shayo Buchanan, in an article called, â€Å"Beyond Modesty: Privacy in Prison and The Risk Of Sexual Abuse† basically explains, if women are being victimized by male guards in prison, it does them no harm to expose the problem by saying so. It is pointed out that black women are often discouraged from speaking out about sexual abuse because of concerns that, by speaking out about sexual harassment by black men, black women â€Å"will reinforce negative racial stereotypes about Blacks in general and about Black men in particular.† (Buchanan, 2005) Furthermore, ineffective formal procedures, legislation and reporting capacity within the United States prison system account for much of the ongoing sexual abuse of women. In several instances, guards who were disciplined for the abuse of women were reprimanded to the minimum degree. The frequency of sexual harassment and abuse in a prison environment is a constant reminder of how little power the women have over their lives once they are sentenced to do time. The sexually intrusive or abusive nature of these experiences in prison has a devastating impact on a women’s likelihood of achieving a healthy and successful reentry in society. When women leave jail or prison, with even more traumatic experiences heaped upon their life experiences, these women might endure low self-esteem issues, shame and rage. Within the book, Silja Talvi explains, â€Å"that these women who do re-enter into society, manifest any number of serious problems: continuing mental and/or physical illness the likelihood of an interruption of their treatment and medicines; loss of custody of their children; limited education or career opportunities; a lack of safe or stable housing; and the temptations to indulge in drug use or criminal activity.† If these factors are in place, it is believed that these women will find themselves back in the prison system intertwined in a vicious cycle. Secondly, a problem that is also plaguing women’s prisons is medical neglect and carelessness. While medical care for all prisoners is poor, the situation is far worse for women prisoners. Because prison health care systems were created for men, routine gynecological care, such as pap smears, breast exams and mammograms, is extremely rare in prisons. (Talvi, 2007) Care is frequently only administered once the situation becomes an emergency. In addition, women are denied essential medical resources and treatments, especially during times of pregnancy and/or chronic and degenerative diseases. There is also failure to refer seriously ill inmates for treatment and delays in treatment, cutbacks in budgets, lack of qualified personnel, inadequate supplies, and use of non-medical staff, charges for medical attention, inadequate reproductive health care, and lack of treatment for substance abuse. In the same sense, a factor that magnifies the severity of physical illnesses and disease is a nutrient poor, high fat diet. Fruits and vegetables are nearly non-existent in prisons. Relatively speaking, â€Å"the extensive overcrowding in some of these prisons lends itself to a concentration of mental and medical health problems that the prison system was never designed to handle† (Talvi, 2007). Thirdly, deficient mental health treatment is a serious issue when dealing with the incarceration of females. â€Å"48-88% of women inmates experienced sexual or physical abuse before coming to prison, and suffer post-traumatic stress disorder. Very few prison systems provide counseling. Women attempting to access mental health services are routinely given medication without opportunity to undergo psychotherapeutic treatment.† (Amnesty International, 2011) The overuse of jails and prisons to treat mental illness in society is problematic itself. Many of these women would be better served by intensive treatment programs and community based care rather than being thrown in prisons. The environment of prison can make an inmate’s mental health worse, not better. â€Å"Most prison systems lack treatment settings and programs for these prisoners. For instance, most state prisons, refused admittance to a psychiatric inpatient unit if inmates have a record of violent episodes† writes Kupers in Prison Madness. â€Å"they tend to wind up in super maximum confinement, where the harsh conditions and forced idleness worsen their mental disorders, followed by more disruptive behaviors on their part and  even longer terms in lockup.† (Kupers, 1999) A majority of the corrections employees are not trained in any extent in psychology or social work, and are most generally uneducated about the common symptoms of various psychiatric disorders and states of emotional distress. In these prisons that Talvi had visited she felt that there is high level of ignorance and outright hostility toward the mentally ill. The separation between mental health and disciplinary is lacking in many of the prisons. In a book called Prison Madness, Terry Kupers, an expert in psychiatric issues in prison criticizes this issue of mental illness treatment within prisons. â€Å"When behaviors on the part of mentally disordered prisoners-including suicide attempts, self-mutilation, rule breaking, and even some minor violent incidents-are secondary to their mental disorder, they should not be handled entirely as disciplinary infractions requiring punishment. Too often, disruptive acts are merely punished and the possibility that they reflect an imminent psychotic episode or a need for immediate psychiatric attention is never even considered.† (Kupers, 1999) In light of the issue surrounding the treatment of the mentally ill prisoners, suicide rates within in these prisons are at an increase. An investigator appointed by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton took a look into the mental healthcare in the state prison system, and to find out a reason behind the increase in suicides. It was found that prisoners in overcrowded and understaffed Administrative Segregation units are killing themselves in unprecedented numbers. Confining a suicidal inmate to their cell for twenty-four hours a day only enhances isolation and anti- therapeutic. (Talvi, 2007) In addition to insufficient substance abuse and mental health services, educational and vocational programs are also in short supply. Several studies (Pollock-Byrne, Morash, Haarr, and Rucker) found that female prisons offered fewer vocational and education program opportunities when compared to those offered in male institutions. Educational program opportunities could help successful integrate these incarcerated women back into the community. Lastly, discrimination based on gender, race and sexual orientation is a significant matter of contention in women’s prisons. The growth in incarceration has had its greatest impact on minorities, particularly African Americans. â€Å"Over a five-year period, the incarceration rate of African American women increased by 828%.† (NAACP LDF Equal Justice, 1998.) Also, according to Amnesty U.S.A,  the racial disparity revealed by the crack v. powder cocaine sentences insures that more African American women will land in prison. Although 2/3 of crack users are white or Hispanic, defendants convicted of crack cocaine possession were 84.5% African American. Crack is the only drug that carries a mandatory prison sentence for first time possession in the federal system. (prisonpolicy.org) Women are most vulnerable to different forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment or abuse. Women that do not fit the norm, such as lesbians, face increased risk of torture and abuse. Many of the prisoners Silja Talvi had interviewed expressed their grief about always getting taunted because of their sexual orientation. The issues facing lesbians and bisexuals in the criminal justice system aren’t just limited to what goes on behind bars. One study conducted by Victor Streib, a professor of law at Cleveland State University points to the possibility that lesbians, or women who do not appear to appear feminine, may be victims of harsher sentencing. In addition, lesbian or non feminine women who had entered the prison system may very well have less if a shot at an early release. (Streib, 2002) Human Rights Watch has documented categories of women who are likely targets for sexual abuse. Perceived or actual sexual orientation is one of four categories that make a female prisoner a more likely target for sexual abuse, as well as a target for retaliation when she reports that abuse. (HRW, 2010) These issues facing these women in the criminal justice system are not just limited to what goes on behind bars. In conclusion, based on the information provided from Women Behind Bars and many outside resources, the incarceration of women is at an all time high. Most likely, the number of incarcerated women will increase in the upcoming years unless the problem of mass incarceration is solved permanently. I feel as that as a result of drug laws, women are now a fast growing segment of the U.S. prison population. It is my belief that women are particularly vulnerable to such policies as mandatory minimums, because they are more likely than men to be incarcerated for drug-related or petty, non-violent property crimes. It is these arrests that are driving their high rates of incarceration. The problem of women in prison is directly tied to current US drug policy. For the last ten years, researchers have argued that the war on drugs has become a war on women (Belknap, 2002; Bloom & Chesney-Lind, 2000; Owen, 2000 & 1998, Cheney-Lind, 1997). In my opinion, one of several  alarming statistics is, The Bureau of Prisons reports that almost 80% of their female population is incarcerated for drug-related offenses. Relatively speaking, I think factors of poverty, psychosocial problems, mental illness, histories of trauma and abuse, and involvement in abusive relationships can lead up to a life of criminal behavior in women. Furthermore, based on information, statistics, and stories provided from the book Women Behind Bars and also from outside resources, it is my conclusion to say that many things could be altered within the prison system. First of all, I believe there are simply far too many women in prison for enough people to be drawn to the difficult job of guarding and rehabilitating these women and addressing their needs. With the information that has been researched, women’s prisons are poorly equipped to deal with the range of issues and needs of an ever-increasing female population. One of the things that struck me when reading the book is the degree to which jails and prisons have become America’s new mental health facilities. Also in regards of the issue of incarcerated mentally ill, I believe that basic education could be provided to correctional staff. Furthermore, guards could be taught to calm and talk the dangerous mentally ill women down from fits of paranoia, anxiety, or distress. Also, many of these women would be better served by intensive treatment programs and community-based transitional care, instead of just being thrown into the prison system. Furthermore, I feel that the extreme abuse of women in prison is a serious problem. I believe this action also harms society because it decreases the legitimacy of the justice system. If society cannot trust those responsible for guarding our prisons to behave properly, there is little hope for the rehabilitation of women in prison. Personally, I feel the prison has a place, but it is not in the persecution of non-violent females. I think there can be a lot more rehabilitation for these women. Many of these women in prison have emotional and psychological issues and because of the abuse, discrimination, and medical neglect, it is only going to make matters far worse. An excerpt from Silja Talvi’s Women Behind Bars that I found captivating that summed up a lot of what the book was about is, â€Å"Imprisoned girls and women deserve a chance to heal from past abuse, and to learn from their life experiences and the nature of their crimes. Before women and released, they must be given the tools to ensure that their reintegration  into society is not fraught with immediate economic and social struggle, and to help increase the odds that they will be released into families or communities that will actually support their reintegration. Former prisoners must be given the productive tools to become productive members of society; that is, if they weren’t productive already, and if they even needed to be locked up in the first place. In general, women in prison aren’t given one iota of the emotional, social and vocational skills they need to overcome the vast hurdles awaiting them beyond the gates that have confine them for years or decades on end.† (Talvi, 2007) In closing, I never realized to a great extent of the problem of women in prison. This book, Women behind Bars and also many outside resources has enlightened me on the growing issue of female incarceration. Women in prison is a problem in itself, then leading to all of the other problems these women face while in prison. I believe the struggles that women go through, go unnoticed, and more people should be aware of the increasing problem. Finally, I feel that Silja J.A. Talvi’s book Women Behind Bars can help focus attention on this growing population of women prisoners, and maybe one day something can be done about this increasing issue. According to the text, women represent the fastest growing segment of the criminal justice system increasing 757% between 1977 and 2004, a rate nearly 2 times the percent increase in the male offender population. The number of women involved in the US criminal justice system doubled during the 1990s (Beck, 2000). An estimated 68 in every 100,000 U.S. women are serving time in a state or federal prison with increased rates to one in every 100 among black women in their late 30s. Women currently represent about 7% of the overall state and federal prison population and 24% of individuals on community supervision. Substance use and abuse have been consistently reported as major contributing factors in the increasing population of women offenders. Some have argued that increased attention to substance users during the late 1980s and 1990s during the war on drugs had particular adverse consequences for women. A majority of women offenders have a history of drug use and drug-related offenses. Conclusion In closing, the writer never realized to a great extent of the problem of women in prison. This book, Women behind Bars and also many outside resources has enlightened on the writer of the growing issue of female incarceration. Women in prison is a problem in itself, then leading to all of the other problems these women face while in prison. The struggles that women go through, go unnoticed, and more people should be aware of the increasing problem. Finally, this book, can help focus attention on this growing population of women prisoners, and maybe one day something can be done about this increasing issue. The writer believes that alcoholism and addiction is a disease. Because it is a disease, communities should address it as a health issue and not a criminal justice issue. Imprisonment only removes a symptom, but does not cure the problem. The number of women incarcerated is steadily rising at frightening rates. When you incarcerate a woman, most often, you are also incarcerating a mother. The state not only pays to house the offender, but often pays for the care of the children of the offender as well. Women offenders have special needs many of which revolve around their children. Corrections should be perceived as a positive and helping connection, not a punitive one. In our present system, unfortunately, the women must often first fail before they are given the level of treatment they needed in the beginning. A new approach to corrections, one that offers a highly structured environment and stresses accountability, as well as, addressing the individual needs of each offender will not only save money, but also more importantly, it will save lives. In addition, communities should take responsibility and become involved in getting and giving education, reaching out to their communities to offer assistance helping addicts find hope through programs that take a holistic approach to their disease. Addicts need programs that heal body, mind and, most importantly, their crushed spirit. If needs are responded to on a personal level, in a way that engenders trust and confidence, women offenders can begin to hope again and the lives of families can be rebuilt. If people do not have hope, there is nothing to strive for, no reason to change. Instead of incarceration, I believe it would be more cost-effective to put women offenders in a community based program similar to the work release program that is used for prisoners after incarceration. These programs would allow the individual to maintain a job, yet they would be held accountable for all their time. They would receive counseling on an individual basis geared toward each one’s individual needs. The best programs combine supervision and services to address the specialized needs of female offenders in highly structured, safe environments where accountability is stressed. In conclusion, I believe that if communities would make an effort to educate themselves and their communities about the disease of alcoholism and addiction, they would begin to understand the magnitude of the problem. Although there are no easy solutions, one must accept the responsibility of educating our children, offer new and innovative programs that heal holistically, and most importantly, accept responsibility that as citizens one must reach out to help those in our communities who are struggling, offering them hope, support and encouragement. References American Academy of Arts & Sciences. (2011) Retrieved from http://www.amacad.org/projects/incarceration.aspx Austin, J., Irwin, J. (2001). â€Å"It’s About Time: America’s Imprisonment Binge.† Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co Belknap, J. (2001). â€Å"The Invisible Woman.† Gender, Crime and Justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co. Bloom, B., Chesney-Lind, M., Owen, B. (1994). â€Å"Women in California Prisons: Hidden Victims of the War on Drugs.† San Francisco, CA: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Bloom, B., Chesney-Lind, M. ( 2000). â€Å"Women in Prison; Vengeful Equity.† In It’s a Crime: Women and Criminal Justice. Roslyn Muraskin, (ed.), pp. 183-204. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Buchanan, K. (2005). â€Å"Beyond Modesty: Privacy in Prison and The Risk Of Sexual Abuse.† Marquette Law Review, 88(4), pp. 751-813. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1994). â€Å"Special Report: Women in Prison.† Washington, DC: US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1999). â€Å"Women Offenders.â €  Washington, DC: US Department of Justice. Davis, A. (1998). â€Å"Public Imprisonment and Private Violence: Reactions on the Hidden Punishment of Women.† Crim. & Civ. Confinement, 24, pp. 339-350. Editors. (2006). â€Å"U.S. Inmate Populations on the Rise: U.S. Leads World in Number of Incarcerated.† Correctional News. Harrison, P., Beck, J. (2006). â€Å"Prisoners in 2005.† Bureau of Justice Statistics. Human Right Watch. (2010) â€Å"Sexual Abuse of Women in U.S. State Prisons.† Retrieved from http://www.hrw.org/ Immarigeon, R., Chesney-Lind, M. (1992). â€Å"Women’s Prisons: Overcrowded and Overused.† National Council on Crime and Delinquency. San Francisco, CA Kupers, T. (1999). Prison Madness: The Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars and What We Must Do About It. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Lalonde, R., Cho, R. (2008). â€Å"The Inpact of Incarceration in State Prison on the Employment Prospects of Women.† Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 24, 243-265, 23. doi: 10.1007/s10940-008-9050 Mauer, M, Potler, C., Wolf, R. (1999). â€Å"Gender and Justice: Women Drugs and Sentencing Policy.† The Sentencing Project. Washington, DC Owen, B. (2000). â€Å"Women and Imprisonment in the United States: The Gendered Consequences of the US Imprisonment Binge.† In Harsh Punishments: International Experiences of Women’s Imprisonment. Cook and Davies (Eds.) pp. 81-98. Northeastern Press. Streib, V. (2002). â€Å"Gendering the Death Penalty: Countering Sex Bias in a Masculine Sancutary.† Ohio State law Journal, 63 Talvi, S. (2007). Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in the U.S. Prison System. Emeryville, CA: Seal Press. Van Denend, J. (2010). â€Å"Melanie Klein, Drug Crimes, and Women.† Studies in Gender & Sexuality, 11, 10-23. doi: 10.1080/15240650903445799 http://www.sentencingproject.org/template/page.cfm?id=107 http://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/women_prison.pdf

Abortion Reflection essays

Abortion Reflection essays Some of the general issues with abortion are the conflicts between pro-life and pro-choice. My issues with abortion are whether to abort or not to abort. The general issues and my personal issues are very similar. However, I feel strongly about both sides. And it is with my most recent tragedy that I have come to this decision. General pro-life advocates are for life no matter what the situation or what the person feels. General pro-choice advocates delve into peoples situations and feelings and learn to understand why abortion needs to be a choice. Society needs to find a median between the two. I used to be a pro-life person. I believe that all life is a miracle from God and we should cherish whatever is given to us from Him. However, since the loss of my daughter, who was born with a disease incompatible to life, my views on abortion have changed. I needed to be given a choice, during the 1st trimester when the disease can be found, whether or not to continue with the pregnancy knowing that my daughter would die anyways. Dont get me wrong, I am ecstatic that I had the chance to hold her and meet her and love her while she was alive, but her death was inevitable. Society needs to understand and understand is the biggest word here. They need to research reasons as to why abortion is sometimes necessary. Not just for the sake of a diseased baby, but maybe even for the sake of a mother who may not survive childbirth. I do not believe that abortion should be done if there is not a reason to. And that is where the stopping point should be. Because of these above reasons abortion needs to be pro-choice, within reason. How can this be mandated? We talked about writing letters in class and protesting for attention to the subject. We need to gather women in both groups together and teach the understanding of pro-choice. And we have to provide better centers for women to go when t ...

How to Grow as a Content Marketer With John Rampton of Calendar

How to Grow as a Content Marketer With John Rampton of Calendar Have you heard the term, â€Å"growth-hacking†? It can be a bit of a buzzword. Today we’re going to learn about a real-life growth-hacking example. You don’t have to have a special sales and marketing gene it just takes the willingness to learn. Today’s guest is John Rampton. He’s a serial entrepreneur, the founder of several companies, and a contributor to sites like Huffington Post and Entrepreneur. Today’s episode is a case study in perseverance, so you won’t want to miss it! Some of the highlights of the show include: What John is up to as an entrepreneur and how his products help businesses, as well as how he got into the entrepreneurial world. The first steps John took to get involved in an online business, including a hack he figured out that wasn’t illegal at the time. The framework John thinks about when it comes to risk-taking. Why hyperfocusing on specific niches and problems is one way to succeed. John’s thoughts on learning: how he finds time to squeeze learning into his busy days and making time for what’s most important. How something as simple as a calendar can function as a powerful tool, as well as information about Calendar.com. How an excellent marketing strategy can even sell a crappy product that provides no value. John’s most sage wisdom and best advice for marketers just getting started. Powered by PodcastMotor Actionable Content Marketing powered by By AMP068: How To Grow (Like Crazy) As A Content Marketer With John Rampton 00:00/00:00 1x 100 > Download file Subscribe on iTunes Leave Review Share Links: Due.com Calendar.com John on Twitter JohnRampton.com UpWork Email your iTunes review to podcast@.com If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by John â€Å"Don’t limit yourself to what you’re doing. Go find new and interesting ways there are always unique things to do.† â€Å"In your life, you’ll always go up or down, learning or not learning There’s no flat line.† â€Å"You will never be a better salesperson than your customers.†

Excel Analysis of Amazon and Ebay Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Excel Analysis of Amazon and Ebay - Assignment Example Therefore, the study has provided computation ratios for the two companies as indicated in the two attached spread sheet files attached as well as a summary of ratios. AMAZON FINANCIAL RATIOS Fins AS Version 2008010211 Ratios - ending Company: Amazon.com Analyst: Nanyail Smoke Most Recent Year Available: 2012 Years Available for: Income Statement (1-5) 5 Balance Sheet (1-5) 5 * EOY values instead of averages - - - - - - Liquidity 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 - - - - - - Days' Sales in Receivables 20.10 19.52 16.94 14.71 15.75 * Accounts Receivable Turnover 18.16 18.70 21.55 24.81 23.18 * A/R Turnover in Days 20.10 19.52 16.94 14.71 15.75 Days' Sales in Inventory 47.88 48.87 44.00 41.75 34.28 * Inventory Turnover 7.62 7.47 8.30 8.74 10.65 * Inventory Turnover in Days 47.88 48.87 44.00 41.75 34.28 * Operating Cycle 67.98 68.38 60.94 56.47 50.03 Working Capital 2,294 2,594 3,375 2,361 1,330 Current Ratio 1.12 1.17 1.33 1.32 1.28 Acid Test 0.78 0.82 1.00 0.99 0.94 Cash Ratio 0.60 0.64 0.84 0 .86 0.79 * Sales to Working Capital 26.63 18.53 10.13 10.38 14.41 Cash Flow/Cur. Mat. of Debt & NP #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! - - - - - - long-term debt-paying ability 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 - - - - - - Times Interest Earned 4.39 11.75 51.20 35.15 13.69 Fixed Charge Coverage 3.52 11.75 51.20 35.15 13.69 Debt Ratio 74.84% 69.31% 63.48% 62.27% 68.53% Debt/Equity 297.40% 225.87% #DIV/0! 162.75% 211.15% Debt to Tangible Net Worth 431.97% 301.98% -884.58% 212.68% 252.55% Cash Flow/Total Debt 17.16% 22.28% 29.29% 38.48% 28.48% - - - - - - Profitability 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 - - - - - - Net Profit Margin 0.19% 1.34% 3.35% 3.70% 3.41% * Total Asset Turnover 1.88 1.90 1.82 1.78 2.33 * Return on Assets 0.36% 2.54% 6.09% 6.61% 7.94% Operating Income Margin 1.11% 1.79% 4.11% 4.61% 4.39% * Operating Asset Turnover 2.04 2.06 1.96 1.96 2.51 * Return on Operating Assets 2.26% 3.70% 8.07% 9.04% 11.01% * Sales to Fixed Assets 8.65 10.88 14.17 19.00 22.44 * Return on Investment 1.53% 6.82% 62.11% 11.23% 20.32% * Return on Total Equity #N/A 8.13% #DIV/0! 17.16% 24.14% * Return on Common Equity #N/A 8.13% #DIV/0! 17.16% 24.14% Gross Profit Margin 24.75% 22.44% 22.35% 22.57% 22.28% - - - - - - Investor Analysis 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 - - - - - - Degree of Financial Leverage 1.17 1.07 1.03 1.03 1.08 Earnings per Share - - - - - Price/Earnings Ratio #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Percentage of Earnings Retained #N/A 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% Dividend Payout #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Dividend Yield #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Book Value per Share 18.04 17.05 #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Materiality of Options #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Oper. Cash Flow per Share 9.22 8.47 7.66 7.45 3.72 Oper. Cash Flow/Cash Dividends #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! #DIV/0! Year-end Market Price 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 EBAY FINANCIAL RATIOS Fins AS Version 2008010211 Ratios - ending Company: Amazon.com Analyst: Nanyail Smoke Most Rece nt Year Available: 2012 Years Available for: Income Statement (1-5) 5 Balance Sheet (1-5) 5 * EOY values instead of averages - - - - - - Liquidity 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 - - - - - - Days' Sales in Receivables 87.26 80.54 63.27 14.71 15.75 * Accounts Receivable Turnover 4.18 4.53 5.77 24.81 23.18 * A/R Turnover in Days 87.26 80.54 63.27 14.71 15.75 Days' Sales in Inventory 522.13 526.46 455.82 41.75 34.28 * Inventory Turnover 0.70 0.69 0.80