The Most Noble Order of the Garter :: Essays Papers

The Most Noble Order of the Garter History Of Orders: The secular orders of chivalry that came about in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries were fundamentally based on the idea of religious expression, social valor, and virtue. These institutions, â€Å"recycled some of the trappings of the original orders of chivalry, but with the aim to create a close knit and devoted circle of noblemen around the person of the sovereign† (Saintry). An order is an award or symbol of great authority and mark, â€Å"The most striking among them (Orders) were those founded by great princes and distinguished by their lavish ceremonial and their ornate dress regulations. The oldest of these princely orders seems to be the Order of the Band, founded by Alfonso XI of Castile in about 1348† (Keen). However, King Edward III, founded the Order of the Garter in 1348 setting a new standard for the future of these great orders. It is within these orders that the very essence or aura can be understood within the realm of chi valry. These orders were descendants from the age of feudalism. Even today the Order of the Garter is still practiced in Great Britain today. Every year at Windsor Castle the ceremony of the Garter takes place. This celebration is performed in the shadow of the famed St. George's tower where a procession takes the present 24 knights into St. George's Chapel (the shrine to the Garter). History of the Garter: The Order of the Garter, founded by King Edward III, is the premier Order of Great Britain. This order is comprised of twenty-six Knights who surrender themselves onto the mercy of their order. It is believed that the Order of the Garter is modeled after King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table and Edward does nothing to dispel that rumor! King Edward III is the epitome of the Order of the Garter and some even believed that Edward was King Arthur reincarnate. This fueled his idea for the Order, which embodied the idea of chivalry and everything that went with it, (i.e. largesse, honor, and nobility). It is rumored that at a celebration King Edward was dancing with the glamorous Countess of Salsbury when her garter slipped off. Immediately Edward picked it up, slipped it on his leg and said, â€Å"Honi soit qui mal y pense† or â€Å"Shame or dishonor on him who thinks evil on it.

And Then There Were None Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  And Then There Were None, written by Agatha Christie is a thrilling tale of ten people invited to a remote island by an unseen figure who never appears throughout the story. All those who were invited have pasts that they are hiding and many things to fear. The guests are cast upon Indian Island, an island off the coast of England around the 1930s. Strangers to each other, slowly they reveal their shameful pasts. Coincidently, the name which they were invited by, Mr. U. N. Owen sounds similar to that of the word â€Å"unknown.† Among the characters is a Mr. Wargrave, a recently retired judge, who is intelligent, cold, and commanding. He takes leadership on the island after the killings begin. Wargrave is the first to insist publicly that they are dealing with a homicidal maniac, and the first to acknowledge that the killer must be part of their group. Vera Claythorne is witty and believes she was hired as a secretary to Mrs. Owen. Philip Lombard, a mysteri ous man, served as a soldier in Africa and often carries a gun with him. Among the other characters are William Blore, an ex-detective, and Dr. Armstrong who thinks he has been hired to look after the wife of the island’s owner. Emily Brent, General Macarthur, Tony Marston think they have been invited for a visit with old friends. And Then There Were None examines justice, but it bends the manifestation by making the victims of murder, people who committed murder themselves. It expresses the theme of what the burden of one’s own guilty conscience can lead that person to perform.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upon arriving on the island, they are greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers who were hired as the butler and housekeeper. That evening after dinner they hear a recorded voice accusing each of them of a specific murder committed in the past and never uncovered. Talking about the accusations, they realize none of them actually have ever met or know â€Å"Mr. U.N. Owen.† As they ponder this mysterious matter, Tony Marston chokes on poisoned whiskey and dies. Vera Claythorne observes similarities between the death of Marston and the first verse of a nursery rhyme, â€Å"Ten Little Indians,† that hangs in each bedroom. The next morning the guests find that Mrs. Rogers apparently died in her sleep. The guests hope to leave that morning, but the boat that regularly delivers supplies to the island do... ...gives the book a wonderful plot and ending. The book addresses the idea that only the dead are above suspicion. A baffling mystery, And Then There Were None can be enjoyed by even the most immature [of people]. â€Å"Ten Little Indians† Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little Indian boys traveling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven. Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in halves and then there were six Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little Indian boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little Indian boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one of them and then there were two. Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little Indian boy left all alone; He went and hanged himself... And then there were none

Classic Pen Co. Case

Classic Pen Co. Case In the past Classic Pen Company had been the low-cost producer of black and blue pens and had profit margins over 20% of sales. Over the last five years Pen Co. decided to start producing red and purple pens. They require the same basic production technology but can be sold at 3% and 10% premium selling prices. Sales Manager Dennis Selmor is just seeing the financial results and is not happy with the numbers. The first issue that Pen Co. is facing is their decline in profitability. Even though the numbers show the red and purple pens are more profitable individually (red 14. %, purple 18. 2%), the overall return on sales is declining (13. 5%). A second issue that Pen Co. has is the issue of addition of resource costs. It requires a substantial amount of time for physical changeover of production from one colour pen to another. Particularly changing from another colour to red. The final issue Pen Co. faces is the increase of costs related to scheduling and purchas ing activities. Most of the indirect labour costs and computer system costs are related to scheduling and purchasing.Pen Company’s declining profitability could be based on the amount of the company’s overhead. They have determined overhead to be 300% of direct labour costs, when previously the overhead cost was only 200%. The make-up of this overhead is indirect labour, fringe benefits, computer systems, machinery, maintenance, and energy. The reason for such a large increase in overhead is because of the higher demand for indirect costs due to the addition of more complex and specialized products. While the cost for direct labour per one unit is the same for each colour of pen produced.The cost for indirect labour is made up of three different activities: 50% for handling production runs ($10,000), 40% for physical changeover or set up costs ($8,000), and 10% for maintaining records or parts administration ($2,000). The cost for computer systems is made up of two act ivities: 80% for production run activities ($8,000), and 20% for record keeping or parts administration ($2,000). Finally the remaining indirect costs are the machinery ($8,000), maintenance ($4,000), and energy ($2,000).These are all used to supply the machine with the capacity to produce the pens with a total of $14,000. Overall Classic Pen Co. must improve upon several areas of demand in order to increase its profitability similar to what it had been in the past. They need to increase their planning and try to adjust their current planning system and organizing. They could invest in more computers to increase the amount of scheduling being done by computers and as a result lower their indirect labour costs.Finally I recommend they should invest in some more machines to produce the different colour pens in. This would have a high cost of capital but would eventually save the company money in the labour cost and time required for the physical changeover between colours Calculation Page Indirect LabourMachine Support Handling Production Runs = 10,000Machinery = 8,000 Set Up = 8,000Maintenance = 4,000 Parts Administration = 2,000Energy = 2,000 Fringe Indirect Labour = 8,000Total = 14,000 Computer SupportFringe for Direct LabourHandling Production Runs = 8,000Fringe = 8,000 Parts Administration = 2,000 Total Overhead = 60,000 Calculating Activity Rate Activities| Activity Cost| Cost Driver #| Calculation| Activity Rate| 1) Handling PR| 22,000| 150| 22,000/150| 146. 67 / Run| 2) Set Up| 12,000| 526| 12,000/526| 22. 81 / Hour| 3) Parts Admin. | 4,000| 4| 4,000/4| 1000 / Product| 4) Machine Support| 14,000| 10,000| 14,000/10,000| 1. 4 / Hour| 5) Fringe DL| 8,000| 20,000| 8,000/20,000| 0. 4 / DL Cost| Total| 60,000| | | |