Kangaroo, an Australian Icon Essay Example for Free

Kangaroo, an Australian Icon Essay An Australian Icon is defined as â€Å"an image or symbolic representation, which often holds great significance and importance to the Australian culture. † Every country has icons that represent their culture and values; Nelson Mandela is an example of a South African icon but also an icon of the world, who represented statesmanship, courage, freedom and equality against apartheid. Australia also has many significant icons such as the Sydney Opera House, Uluru, vegemite, Ned Kelly, and the Koala to name a few. These have all played significant parts in Australia’s background, culture and values. Uniquely Australian. Ultimately, the Kangaroo has to be Australia’s most famous and significant icon, it is known by the majority of people around the world and associated always with Australia. Due to the similarities it shares with the Australian character, it is recognised as the typical icon of Australia. The kangaroo represents Australia in many ways including: the logo for Qantas airlines, mascots for many sporting teams, and all products made in Australia are represented by the gold and green kangaroo trademark. Likewise it is represented on many television programs (e. g. Skippy the bush kangaroo), movies (e. g. kangaroo Jack), songs (e. g.Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport), toys and souvenirs. Most significantly of all, the kangaroo appears on the Australian Coat of Arms. Being an animal exclusive to Australia as well as one that can’t move backwards, the kangaroo is symbolically appropriate in representing Australia and the countries progress forward. Historical, Social, Cultural Context The kangaroo holds a significant historical, cultural and social background to Australia. Before European settlement (around 1780’s), the kangaroo was an important animal to Aborigines for its meat, hide, bones and sinews. It was also used in Aboriginal dreaming stories (also an icon of Australia). There is a well-known myth about kangaroo’s and how they got their name. When European settlers arrived, seeing such a strange animal they asked the Aboriginals what it was, and they replied with ‘kanguru’. In their language this meant ‘I don’t know’ which is supposedly how the kangaroo got its name. Aboriginal tribes have many different legends regarding the kangaroo and some see it as a reincarnation of their ancestors. Over the past 200 or so years, the kangaroo has broadened a lot in historical significance; it is one of the oldest icons of Australia and therefore should be kept that way. By contributing the Kangaroo to a National Australian exhibition, it will help to keep the icon of the kangaroo alive and significant. The kangaroo represents Australia’s cultural and social background and is internationally recognisable. It represents the Australian character in many ways including: Its size, strength and speed, which make it a national logo/emblem for Australian organisations and especially sporting clubs. Kangaroo’s are also symbolic of another Australian trait; to stick up for your self and not back down. With their large feet and long tail kangaroos find it hard to move backwards, indicating that Australians are people who are moving forward and growing as people of Australia. Discourse Discourses are the â€Å"social and cultural practices through which individuals and groups use language to establish their identities†¦they provide ways of being, thinking, acting and using language so that people can identify themselves in social and cultural networks† Discourses affect peoples views on all things, for example, two different discourses can be used about various guerrilla movements describing them either as freedom fighters or terrorists. The Kangaroo is so well represented as Australian that it has come to support and embody the dominant Australian discourse of both indigenous and non-indigenous people of Australia. This is evident through strength, fighting spirit, individualism, attitude, and their tough/rough personalities. To conclude this proposal, the kangaroo should be contributed to the National Exhibition titled ‘Icons of Australia’ because it represents Australians in such a way that it is known by most people throughout the world. The Kangaroo is recognised culturally, socially and historically and symbolises Australian discourse through its many traits. It is a unique animal to Australia and makes a huge contribution to Australia’s national identity. Representing Australia in so many ways, the kangaroo plays such a big part in Australia’s culture, history and even future, the National exhibit would be such a good way to show and help Australians understand how such an icon can play such a big part in the country of Australia. Bibliography Icon definition: icon ,2008, www. thefreedictionary. com/icon 20/05/08 Kangaroo Myth: Kangaroo, 2000, http://www. frogandtoad. com. au, 20/05/08 Discourse: M. Miller R. Colwin, Queensland Senior English, Macmillan Education).

Marshal Dylan: A Typical Law Man in Gun Smoke :: Gun Smoke

There are many characteristics that become standard for the typical "law man." However while listening to a few episodes of Gun Smoke the characteristics of a law man is very well distinguished. The typical law man portrays a character all of his own differing from that of anybody else. In the episodes of Gun Smoke, Matt Dylan is the Marshal of Dodge City, Kansas. Through the character of Marshal Dylan the idea of the law man is portrayed. Dylan seems to act out the part of Marshall in three different circumstances. There is the way that Dylan interacts and responds to his friends. On the other hand Dylan deals with his enemies altogether differently but with the same basic principles. Finally the last way the Marshal Dylan reveals his character is through interactions with strangers. No matter what kind of people the law man must deal with he is always wise, patient, and a strong leader. The way Matt Dylan treats his friends is a bit different than the way he treats everybody else. This is where we get to see the softer side of Mr. Dylan. Although his personality might somewhat differ, his normal relationship with others it is hardly an emotional one. One major character trait of Dylan that plays throughout is his stern personality and lack of words. Even though he was a stern man there was much caring in his tone when he would interact with Miss Kitty. He wasn't much of a smooth talker either; he simply says what needs to be said and goes about his business. At one point Dylan asks Miss Kitty if she would like a couple of drinks; she agrees but when she suggests to sit at the table he doesn't give it a moments thought before rejecting the idea and telling her where they will be sitting. We can conclude form this that the typical law man wasn't much of a ladies man at all. There is also the way Dylan interacts with his deputy Chester; many times the relationship betw een Chester and Dylan was a serious business one, but throughout there were several times when we could see Dylan open up a little more. When things were a little less stressful, Dylan's humorous side came out somewhat while teasing Chester for either falling asleep on the job or laughing at him for wanting to sit and watch the train.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

The following are the major problems KID were facing: It mistakenly tied up the profit, the number of stores, and the sales of machines and ingredients together. Moreover, it was too aggressive. It was hungry to show its ‘perfect performances' to investors by beautifying their book value. From non-financial perspective, there are serious drawbacks behind the expanding, and the growing numbers of stores made the K Doughnuts ‘everywhere', which made customers lost their feelings of freshness of It.As the case mentioned, KID raised Its purchase price on the Michigan franchise In order to get the Interest of loans back and KID recorded the interest under as an immediate income, profit. In the meanwhile, it booked the cost of buyback the franchise and the payment to the executive as an intangible asset, which the company did not amortize. In my opinion, the interest should be recorded under equity and the cost and payment could be booked as properties, cost, or at least they n eed to be amortized.KID got the interest from the franchise and successfully raised Its revenue to attract Investors but it in fact sacrificed Its hardliners' benefits by offering an over value purchasing prize. Moreover, keeping the previous executive till the trade closed and giving a huge amount of compensation makes me wonder if there was an inside trade. Exhibit 1, 2& 3 shows the unhealthy growth of KID. Compared to the growth of total revenues in the whole company, revenue that each stores contributed (total revenue/ total factory stores) was not increasing accordingly.On the contrary, the expansion of stores brought the corporation high expenses and venture. The cost of opening a new store, aqualung It and close It was paid in vain. The number of stores grew too quickly. The exhibit also shows the abnormal high value of stock-price patterns compared to the S 500 Composite Index but it was finally down to the earth' in the end of 2004 influenced by the divesting of Montana Mil ls and closing down of 3 underperformed stores.Viewing the company structure, revenues were generated from on-premises retail sales at company-owned stores (accounting for 27% of revenues); off-premises sales to grocery and convenience stores (40%); manufacturing and distribution of product mix and machinery (29%1 and franchisee loyalties and fees (4%). Actually, the ideal revenue resources of this kind of corporation should mainly come from the franchisee royalties and fees but not from distribution of mix and machine. The company supposed to boost the sales of its main product: doughnuts but not to expansion blindly.Once its doughnuts become popular and profitable, people will be willing to get In to the business and pay KID franchisee royalties and fees. However, the realistic was many units were losing money off-premises, and franchisees were not motivated to grow their sales, which fleets a governance problem in this corporate that the company itself did not has mutual benefits with its franchisees. The stock price of KID was fluctuated severely in recent years and the suggestions of buy, sell or hold from analysts were closely related to the stock price and scandal. ND January 2005, when the stock price was at its peak, at 22. 51 dollars per share (first under estimate), at 15. 71 dollars per share (divested Montana Mills) and at less than 10 dollars per share (credit-facility defaulted). Crispy Seeker's share price was $40. 63 right after its PIP, giving the firm a market capitalization of nearly $500 lions. The stock price might be over valued at first because KID was so popular at the time and therefore the public drove up the price. After a series of problem, the company restated its financial statements for the PAYOFF, which reduced pretax income by between $6. Million and $8. 1 million. This movement sharply decreased the tax expenses of the company, which is proved by items of income before income taxes, provision for income taxes and income taxes refundable in Exhibit 2. It is strange that given a large amount of amortized intangible asset, the company still ad a high level of tax shield as shows in the depreciation and amortization expenses from Exhibit 1 . Thus, the company might be showing a higher profit for investors but lower income for tax purposes, changing the treatment of amortization between the two.This practice violated the requests and rules in GAP. Knowing the accounting tricks that KID was playing, people can approximately calculate its book value by amortizing its asset, increasing its cost and tax, which leads to a deduction of profit. Influenced by the divesting of Montana Mills, the interest expenses, income tax refundable, long-term notes receivable, Joint venture ND intangible in 2004 increased dramatically and the share price dipped compared to them in 2003 as we can see from the Exhibit 1&2.However, it is odd that the interest expense raised so much when then the long-term debt decreased. Furthermore , from the Debit-to- equity ratio in Exhibit 7, we can see that the level of debt and financial distress went down in 2004. Therefore, guess is that the company might use the total long-term liabilities in calculating the interest expenses in order to have more tax benefits. As its known to all that the higher the ratio of liquidity, average, activity and profitability are the better the company's situation is in.Compared to other quick-service restaurants in Exhibits, only the receivables turnover and inventory turnover of KID was slightly lower than the average, which means the corporation was not performing absolutely badly. And in Exhibit 9, when comparing to average restaurant, Kid's cash & equivalents, notes payable, long-term debt, income taxes payable, all other current were much more lower and the trade receivables, intangibles, deferred taxes and shareholder's equity were higher than the common stores.Unexpectedly, the net income of KID on May 9, 2004 was negative 24,458, but it went up to positive 5,763 three months later on August 1, 2004. How could the situation be turned around in such a short time? As a matter of fact, an over-valued stock price will eventually go down to what it supposed to be in a high efficient market. This is one of the reasons that the bubble of the stock broke and the price slumped. Along with the revelation about the company's franchise accounting practices and the wrong operating methods, they explained the devalued of its stock.I think the doughnuts company should not rely heir profit on the sales of high margin machines but to make its actual product (signature doughnuts) better since it contributed around 60% to the total sales. In the meanwhile, KID should inherit its factory style', which provides newly baked fresh healthy trend among people influenced the sales of its products, improve their ingredients or explore new recipes are necessary. Furthermore, through research and sufficient preparation are important befo re exploring overseas market or expansion. KID already had its brand, goodwill and own steady customer group, it still has a chance to fight back.

Imperialism And Racism In Joseph Conrads Heart Of Darkness

The Negative Impact of Imperialism and Racism In the novella ‘Heart Of Darkness’ Marlow is a sailor who is telling the story to four other sailors about his expedition to The Congo and everything that ensued after he went on the expedition. Imperialism and racism has a negative impact on Marlow and Kurtz in Joseph Conrad’s novella â€Å"Heart Of Darkness† which reveals the savagery of the practice of imperialism. One of the impacts that is shown is near the end when Kurtz comes down with jungle fever and starts to show the symptoms. When Kurtz dies his last words are â€Å"The horror! The horror† (Conrad 69). When Kurtz says this, he is feeling remorse for everything that he has done to the natives of the land and all that he had put them through.†¦show more content†¦Then he sees that some of the Africans after they are done working they are left to die off from starvation and exhaustion. This is one of the key moments that Marlow starts to question if imperialism is really helpful to the Natives at all, if what him, Kurtz, and the Europeans are practicing is even morally right. Kurtz says what he is doing for the Natives is helping them by civilizing them and all of their savageness when in all actuality he only came to The Congo to fulfil all his wishes and his lusts. He tells all the colonizers that him and the Europeans is only there to help the Natives Christianize and civilize all the â€Å"ignorant† Natives, but they are actually there just for exploiting, trading, and manipulating just for the sake of ivory and money. Kurtz knows about the tragedy and heartache that him and the Europeans put upon the Natives by the practice of imperialism which he chooses to ignore or to even at the least acknowledge what they have done. Instead of owning up to the negative impact of the practice and imperialism that him and the Europeans participated in he decides to ignore his part of the problem he had a hand in and says â€Å" The Romans were conquerors and n otShow MoreRelated Comparing Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of Darkness and Kiplings Poetry1515 Words   |  7 PagesImperialism in Heart of Darkness and Kiplings Poetry   Ã‚  Ã‚   Imperialism sprung from an altruistic and unselfish aim to take up the white mans burden1 and â€Å"wean [the] ignorant millions from their horrid ways.†2 These two citations are, of course, from Kipling’s â€Å"White Man’s Burden† and Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, respectively, and they splendidly encompass what British and European imperialism was about – at least seen from the late-nineteenth century point of view. 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