Lockheed Martin Essay Example for Free

Lockheed Martin Essay Question: By laying of Lockheed Martin employees, does it affect the future sales of the company? Articles: Lockheed Martin Not Giving Layoff Notices, At White House Request, Lockheed Martin Drops Plan to Issue Layoff Notices, and Lockheed Martin threatens big cuts I. Introduction The Lockheed Martin Corporation ousted its incoming chief executive, Christopher Kubasik, for having a close relationship with a subordinate at the defense contractor. They forced him to resign after the investigation found it to be improper conduct, which violated Lockheed Martin’s code of ethics. However, Mr. Kubasik felt that his affair did not interfere in any way with his job performance. There have recently been some budget cuts at the Pentagon, and contractors are trying to adjust to the changes. The Lockheed Martin directors favored promoting Ms. Hewson, a contractor; because they believe she performs well in other management roles. She had been with Lockheed since 1983, and will immediately become president and chief operating officer of the corporation. II. Findings A. Layoffs (finding 1) 1. Pending job cuts 2. Warnings (the WARN Act) 3. Less pay B. Budget cuts (finding 2) 1. Reduction in Pentagon spending ($500 billion) 2. Minimized the potential for waste and disruption associated with the issuance of unwarned layoff notices. 3. Less spending C. Smaller workforce 1. 18% smaller 2. Hiring pace is slower 3. Fewer jobs available = smaller workforce III. Analysis A. Stakeholder analysis B. Cost-benefit analysis C. Six thinking hat IV. Conclusion Based on the findings and analysis, by laying off Lockheed Marin employees, it would affect the corporation and future sales negatively. Since there will be mass job cuts, the company will slowly start to deteriorate and will fall apart altogether.

The Writing Styles Of 2 Prominent British Science Fiction Authors :: essays research papers

The Writing Styles of 2 Prominent British Science Fiction Authors "Science fiction is one of the more secluded parade grounds where private fantasy and public event meet. They call it entertainment". (Aldiss Billion 1) This quote is interpreted to mean that, in the genre of science fiction there is a fusion of fantasy and reality. It is this combination of two opposites that produces the novel categorized today as science fiction. There is one aspect of science fiction that separates it from any other genre. Science fiction can be written as fantasy one day, and read as scientific fact the next. Jules Verne has written about man setting foot on the moon. When read by its original readers the idea of space travel was not a reality. It is now common knowledge that man has walked on the moon, and when this novel is read today no longer is space travel considered to be imaginary. Skillful science fiction novelists brilliantly blend fantasy with reality, composing a very fine line between the two perceptions. When reading, one sometimes does not even realize when the author makes the transition from a plausible concept to a ludicrous one. Science fiction is a relatively new term. Novels were first categorized this way towards the close of the 1920's. This word was first utilized in short stories that appeared in the pulp magazines, of the era. The phrase "science fiction" was considered an enhancement of the term scientifiction. However several British novels were categorized as scientific romances before the 1920's. (Aldiss Trillion 27) Before Frankenstein the only forms of science fiction were "the plays of Aristophanes or some Myrenaean fragment concerning the flight to the sun on a goose's back." (Aldiss Billion 2) In these fantasies there is no blend of reality and fantasy, it is pure fantasy. There is no one story that is accepted to be the first science fiction tale. Science fiction as perceived today originated with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. (Aldiss Trillion 18) Mary Shelley was the wife of the famous British poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley and daughter of Mary Wollenstonecraft. She was born in 1797 and her mother died soon after birth. Mary Wollenstonecraft married her husband at the age of fifteen. She produced her most famous novel entitled Frankenstein at the age of nineteen. It was published in 1818. (Ash 178) The origin of the novel came to Shelley in a dream, in which she says she saw "the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy half vital

Linking Aristotle’s virtue with character Essay

Aristotle’s virtue ethics is often considered to be founded on character such that an individual’s character defines his or her virtues. It is important to note that Aristotle gives emphasis to the idea that virtue is acquired through habit. In this regard, it can be presumed that there is a connection between character and virtue in the context of Aristotle’s philosophy. This is especially interesting to look into precisely because human beings think and act at least in terms of one’s consciousness or idea of ethics, specifically through one’s moral precepts. If it is indeed true that individuals think and act in ways related to one’s moral inclinations in their daily lives, then it is a strong reason to contend that virtue and character are all the more important elements in the life of humanity. The point that I would like to raise—and agree with Aristotle—is the idea that our ‘habits’, the way in which we do things on a regular basis, form a large sum—if not all—of our character. And since character builds our very virtues, it can be presumed that the things that we do on a regular basis define our virtues. That is, if we continue to harbor the ‘bad’ or ‘evil’ elements in the society, then it is most likely the case that our character develops into something ‘bad’ or ‘evil’. In the end, there will be little or no room for us to acquire virtues. The task of this assignment is to identify what is the connection between character and virtue in the context of Aristotle by providing Aristotle’s description of how we acquire virtues and why choice is an important component of these virtues. In the Book III of Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, I found out that one basic notion in Aristotelian ethics that occupies a central significance is Aristotle’s belief in the role of man’s activities in order for one to acquire ethical knowledge. That is, for one to become virtuous or to obtain virtues one should not merely confine himself to mere studying of these virtues but rather one should, more importantly, actualize this knowledge of the virtues. Thus, for one to become good, one should do good. I also found out in the same work of Aristotle the â€Å"doctrine of the mean†. The essence of this doctrine dwells on the basic precept that one ought to avoid the extremes and, instead, settle for the â€Å"mean†. The actions of men, more specifically, ought to be framed upon the â€Å"mean† which is the virtue. For example, the virtue of courage rests on the mean between two extremes: cowardice or the â€Å"lack† of courage, and rashness or the â€Å"excess† in courage. All of these things answer the central question being asked, specifically the identification of the connection between virtue and character. For the most part, the thought of the acquisition of virtue requires a form of a ‘good’ act which, when constantly repeated or enacted on a regular basis, forms the character of the individual. The individual should not only be inclined towards a theoretical understanding of these good acts but should also be inclined to enacting them, of living them on purpose and free will. It is not enough that the individual should simply live the theoretical perspectives of doing good acts for it does not suffice to forming the character of the individual. Moreover, these ‘good’ acts are founded on the principle of the â€Å"mean† wherein the individual is supposed to be acting not within the extremes but between these extremes because they are the ‘evils’. Hence, character is connected to virtue through one’s good—or â€Å"middle†Ã¢â‚¬â€actions performed habitually. I figured out that Aristotle implies the idea that man is indeed a social being in the sense that one cannot sufficiently do ‘good’ without the presence of other people. That is, without other people to whom our ‘good’ deeds will be enacted to, our actions may hardly be conceived as ‘good’ in the first place precisely because we may only be helpful if there are people to help, we may only be kind if there are people to whom we will be kind, or we may only be loving if there are other people to love just to name a few. Of course, my thoughts may be unacceptable to other people for they may also have their own thoughts about the ethics of Aristotle. But more to this, I figured out that those people who surround us have a large role in the formation of our character. Social isolation does not give room for the moral development of an individual. On the other hand, I have arrived at a question concerning Aristotle’s virtue ethics, especially with his doctrine of the mean. Exactly how are we to know when we are acting in the middle such that we avert from the extremes or the vices? Granted that we may be able to identify the vices that we should avoid, when can we say that we are truly in the middle path? How can too much ‘knowledge’ be a vice or an evil when Aristotle gives a substantial account and importance to knowledge? While there may still a handful of questions that may have been left untouched, it can hardly be doubted that our actions share a significant role in defining our characters as human beings. Whether or not an individual believes in virtue ethics or in morality in general, it remains a fact that our actions have consequences to us and to other people. Reference Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics. Trans. Martin Ostwald. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1962.

Picassos Women Germaine Gargallo Florentin Pichot

Germaine Gargallo Florentin Pichot went from being roommates with Pablo Picasso, to being lovers, and finally, friends. They spent 48 years together in all, from 1900-1948. She died in Paris in 1948. Beginnings Germaine Gargallo Florentin Pichot (1880-1948) entered Picassos life in 1900 when the young artists from Barcelona arrived in Paris and stayed at Isidre Nonells studio at 49 rue Gabriel. Germaine and her sister—Gertrude Stein claimed that Germaine had many sisters—Antoinette Fornerod served as models and lovers. She was not related to Picassos friend Pau Gargallo, but did claim to be part Spanish. She spoke Spanish, as did Antoinette. Another young model, who called herself Odette (her real name was Louise Lenoir) hooked up with Picasso. Odette did not speak Spanish and Picasso did not speak French. Casagemas Germaines claim to fame in Picassos biography stems from her liaison with Picassos best friend Carles or Carlos Casagemas (1881-1901) who accompanied Picasso to Paris that fall in 1900. Picasso had just turned 19. The Catalan artist Casagemas fell madly in love with Germaine, even though she was already married. Manuel Pallarà ¨s i Grau (known as Pajaresco) joined his Catalan bros about 10 days later at Nonells studio so that six people were now living for the next two months in a large—but not that large—studio. Pallarà ¨s set up a schedule for everything from working on their art to enjoying their respective lady friends. Picasso and Casagemas returned to Barcelona in time for Christmas. The love-sick Casagemas decided to return to Paris the following February without Picasso. He desperately wanted Germaine to live with him—to be his fiancà ©e, even though she was already married to some guy named Florentin. Germaine also confessed to Pallarà ¨s that Casagemas had not consummated the relationship. She refused Casagemas request. On February 17, 1901, Casagemas went out to dinner with friends at the LHippodrome, drank a lot, and at about 9:00 p.m. stood up, gave a short speech and then pulled out a revolver. He shot Germaine, grazed her temple with a bullet and then shot himself in the head. Picasso was in Madrid and did not attend the memorial service in Barcelona. Roommates, Lovers, Friends When Picasso returned to Paris in May 1901 he took up with Germaine. Germaine married a member of Picassos Catalan group, Ramon Pichot (1872-1925), in 1906 and remained in Picassos life well into his later years. Death Franà §oise Gilot recalled a visit she and Picasso made to Madame Pichot in Montmartre in the mid-1940s. Germaine was old, sick and toothless by then. Picasso knocked on the door, did not wait for an answer, walked in and said a few things. Then he left some money on the nightstand. According to Gilot, it was Picassos way of showing her a vanitas. Known Examples of Germaine Pichot in Picassos Art Germaine, 1900, sale at Christies May 9, 2009.The Two Saltimbanques (Harlequin and his Companion), 1901, Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow.La Vie, 1903, The Cleveland Museum of Art.Au Lapin Agile, 1904-05, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sources Gilot, Franà §oise with Carlton Lake. Life with Picasso. McGraw-Hill, 1964, New York/London/Toronto.Richardson, John. A Life of Picasso, Volume 1: 1881-1906. Random House, 1991, New York.Tinterow, Gary (et. al.). Picasso in The Metropolitan Museum of Art.The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2010, New York.