Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Nike Case - 696 Words

NIKE INC. CASE 14 Philip Chen, Choco Huang, Ariel Chou, Matt Krieger In this report we analyzed Cohen’s approach in calculating WACC. After observing how Cohen derived his figures we came up with our own WACC, terminal value, and EPS. Cohen broke down his calculations into five parts 1) Single or Multiple Costs of Capital 2) Proportion of capital from debt and equity 3) Cost of Debt 4) Cost of Equity 5) WACC In part one; we disagreed with Cohen where he decided to value the company as a whole instead of valuing each division separately. Since Nike is a multidivisional firm Cohen should of aggregated the values of the individual divisions and calculate a different cost of capital for each one. Since the exhibit 1†¦show more content†¦The beta is the 0.69 YTD 06/30/2001 figure and our risk premium is the arithmetic mean. Both are found in exhibit 4. We used the arithmetic mean because it is a better indicator of the average returns in the past and 71% of financial analysts prefer arithmetic mean over geometric mean. Geometric mean is not preferred because (PLEASE ADD â€Å"WHY NOT† HERE. I REMEBER BOB DOING AN EXAMPLE IN CLASS WHERE GEOMETRIC MEAN IS A TRICK ON STUIPID INVESTORS). Here is our calculation of CAPM. CAPM=5.39%+0.69(7.50%). CAPM= 10.6% In Part 5 we can summarize our calculations for WACC. Table 1.2 shows our WACC. | Portion | Cost (K) | Contribution to WACC | Common Share | 30.57% | 10.60% | 3.24% | Debt | 69.43% | 9% | 6.25% | | | WACC | 9.49% | Our WACC is higher than Cohen’s because of the portions allocated to debt and equity, and the use of market value to calculate cost of debt. Since WACC has changed the terminal value will also change. The formula for terminal value= year 10 FCF*(1+L-T growth)/ (WACC-L-T growth). We used the L-T growth in exhibit 4, which is forecast of dividend growth at 5.50%. Therefore the new terminal value is 41,584. Since terminal value has changed the discounted present value of future cash flow will also change. The new discounted PV of FCF less debt is 21,224. The new EPS is $67.50 (21,224/271.5). MAYBE ADD CONCLUSION PLEASE Additional Calculation Table 1.3 | R/E Yr.2000 | NI Yr. 2001 | R/E Yr.2001 | |Show MoreRelatedNike Business Case Study1380 Words   |  6 PagesEven though every company should act ethically correct, not everyone does and Nike is a great example of that. Nike is a company who grew fast and looked for a cheap way to manufacture their products, by manufacturing overseas. Nike had a strong start but when people started protesting the company and their name was being dragged, they acted fast to recover to be the huge business they are today. Background The company Nike was founded in 1962 by Stanford University business graduate, Philip KnightRead MoreNike Case Study Analysis1294 Words   |  6 Pages â€Æ' Introduction Nike, a multinational company is one of the top and well known athletic footwear and apparel producers in the world. It had established production plants in many countries and has many suppliers, distributors, and retailers worldwide. It is well known because of its engagement in international business and the amount of employment it had created around the world. Nike was criticized as a result of how it managed its expansion strategyRead MoreNike Ethics Case Study1215 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom mass ordering and mass production are opportunities Nike sorted to exploit. However, this is not with problems as might lead to loss of control, and moral concern like was the case with Nike raising concern relating ethical principle in business. In this paper, we shall be answering questions related to the complexities of expansion amid a globalize world drawing inspiration from â€Å"The Promise and Perils of Globalization: The Case of Nike†, a working paper presented by Richard M. Locke and AlvinRead MoreCase Study : Advertising Strategy By Nike Essay1081 Words   |  5 Pages Case study on Advertising Strategy by Nike As per Nike organization legend, a standout amongst the most well known and effectively perceived trademarks in promoting history was authored at a 1988 gathering of Nike s commercial office Wieden and Kennedy and a gathering of Nike workers. Dan Weiden, talking fondly of Nike s can-do state of mind, allegedly said, You Nike fellows, you take care of business. The rest, as is commonly said, may be (promoting) history. In the wake of staggeringRead MoreNike Case Study1112 Words   |  5 PagesCase Study- Nike 1. Discuss how Nikes growth can be attributed to its targeting of diverse market global segments. In the 1960’s Nike was only making running shoes. At this point in time not many people knew of Nike or the Nike swoosh. In order to increase brand awareness, they started paying athletes to wear their shoes. However, very soon Nike learnt that in order to be a global brand they needed to appeal to different market segments, not just athletes. Hence, they then decided to tapRead MoreNike Case Answers1120 Words   |  5 PagesNike Case Answers– Spreading out to stay together 1. When Nike CEO Phil Knight stepped down and handed his job to Bill Perez, he stayed on as chairman of the board. In what ways could Knight’s continued presence on the board have created an informal structure that prevented Perez from achieving full and complete leadership of Nike? Answer: Informal structures are the set of unofficial relationships between organization members. Potential advantages of informal structures: ââ€" ª Helping peopleRead MoreNike Case Study1890 Words   |  8 PagesNike Presentation of Facts Surrounding Case Background on Football and the FIFA World Cup: Football (Commonly known as Soccer in the U.S.) was and still is the most popular sport in regards to viewership worldwide. In 2006 it was estimated that the sport of football was played by more than 265 million people, and continuing to grow (These estimates were up from 2000, estimated 42 million). Profession leagues exist throughout the world and the most popular teams were in Western Europe. The historyRead MoreNike Case Study1494 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction: This paper is a case study of Nike Inc. I will give a brief overview of the history, products, company goals, company challenges, financial report and sourcing strategies. My main sources of information are internet databases, company annual reports, and financial articles. Company Overview: Nike Nike incorporated, the worlds leading designer and marketer of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activitiesRead MoreCase Study on Nike1252 Words   |  6 PagesCase Study Nike Introduction Good morning ladies and gentlemen and thank for taking the time to meet with us. Nike was founded on January 25, 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight. The company officially became Nike, Inc. on May 30, 1978. Nike has various products which include footwear as well as other apparel that compliment the former. This accounts for 92 percent of the company’s revenue. The other 8 percent comes from equipment and non Nike brand products, such as ColeRead MoreNike, Inc. Case Analysis844 Words   |  4 PagesNIKE, Inc., is a company that was founded in by William Jay Bowerman and Philip H. Knight in 1964, and was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports, Inc. It’s name was changed to Nike, Inc. in 1971. It’s base of operation is located in Beaverton, Oregon. NIKE, Inc., is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activitie s worldwide. Entirely owned Nike subsidiaries include Converse

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

The Development of Greek Architecture - 1098 Words

Construction of buildings for different purposes has been around through out the entire history of human existence. It was simply essential for survival. It used to be like that in the beginning, but then it took a little bit different aspect. It evolved from very simple and primitive shelters of cavemen to very elegant and big scale buildings constructed by various nations. Each one of them tried to invent something new and tried to advance forward already known building principles. Many of them have succeeded to certain extent, but the Greeks made the greatest impact with introduction of the famous Ionic, Doric and Corinthian styles. The Ionic style is thinner and more elegant. Its capital is decorated with a†¦show more content†¦The spaces between the triglyphs are the metopes. They may be left plain, or they may be carved in low relief. Because the metopes are somewhat flexible in their proportions, the modular space between columns can be adjusted by the architect. Often the last two columns were set slightly closer together, to give a subtle visual strengthening to the corners. Early examples of the Doric order include the temples at Paestum, in southern Italy. The Corinthian order is one of the Classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture, although it was seldom used in Greek architecture. The Corinthian order was said to have been invented by an architect, Callimachus, who was inspired by the sight of a votive basket that had been left on the grave of a young girl. A few of her toys were in it, and a square tile had been placed over the basket, to protect them fr om the weather. An acanthus plant had grown through the woven basket, mixing its spiny, deeply cut leaves with the weave of the basket. A Corinthian capital may be seen as an enriched development of the Ionic capital, though one may have to look closely at a Corinthian capital to see the Ionic volutes at the corners, perhaps reduced in size and importance, scrolling out above the two ranks of leaves, and the smaller volutes scrolling inwards to meet each other on each side. TheShow MoreRelatedAncient Greek And Romes Impact On Western Literature1642 Words   |  7 Pages The impact greek and roman culture had on western civilization The ancient Greeks and Romans were two of the greatest civilizations of the ancient world. The two civilizations thrived in their ancient environments which eventually led to a large amount of wealth within these two cultures. It is because of this that these ancient cultures were able to make a variety of advancements in literature, architecture, art and many other fields. These two civilizations also produced some of the ancient world’sRead MoreClassical Greek Architecture1848 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Classical Greek Architecture The Ancient Greek population was one of the most powerful civilizations of the world. And the power of the people did not reside particularly in military strength, but more so in the high development of its culture and civilization. The ancient Greeks revealed increased levels of innovation in numerous fields. They for instance focused on sporting activities and other competitions and games; they revered their gods and goddesses and they created new teachings thatRead MoreCultural Context Of The Temple Of Athena1745 Words   |  7 PagesEstablishment of the temple 2. Related politics and art 3. Culture development ï  ¬ Conclusion Cultural influence of the temple of Hera It is very clear that ancient buildings can be a part of the evidence to show what happed in the history. As a part of ancient culture, architectural languages have the significant vale in both culture and construction. The temple of Hera, which becomes the sign of Greek classic architecture even the whole Europe, plays an important role in the Greece historyRead MoreGreek and Roman Architechture860 Words   |  4 PagesFrom the Parthenon to De Architectura written by the Roman Architect Vitruvius, major developments in Architecture emerged from the Greeks from third century B.C. and by the Romans up until early century A.D. from style, design, purpose, and innovative ideas. While ranging from the Greeks’ emphasis on lighting and proportions, to the Romans who preferred big, massive, and impressive structures such as the Coliseum in Rome and the Temple of Zeus in Athens, both civilizations are a model even in today’sRead MoreEssay about Greek and Japanese Architect ure865 Words   |  4 PagesGreek and Japanese Architecture For a great many years, architecture has been a breaking point for different artisticeras in history. Some of the most famous â€Å"works of art† have been chapels, temples, and tombs. Among the most dominant and influential eras of great architecture are the sophisticated, stoic Greeco-Roman periods and the more mystical, elemental Japanese eras. These two very distinct and very different eras have more in common than you may realize. When work began on theRead MoreHow Did Ancient Greece Influence Western Civilization951 Words   |  4 Pagesancient Greeks. The Greeks changed the way the world looks at art, math, architecture, philosophy, sports, and drama. Without the ancient Greeks, the modern world would not be the same. Men such as Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle changed the way we look at philosophy. The Athenians created the first known democracy, setting the stage for future governments. The Euclidian Theorem and the Pythagorean Theorem among others made mathematics easier and more developed. Even current architecture can be tracedRead MoreThe Parthenon Essay1464 Words   |  6 Pagesvalid. It is now openly acknowledged that Athens was not just the head of the Greek defense league but an imperial master over other Greek states. The Parthenon, chamber of the virgin goddess was built with League funds, which shows the confidence of the Athenians in their imperialism and represented the Greek ideals of hum anism, idealism, and rationalism. Human beings and their responsibilities are at the center of Greek art and their culture. Protagoras stated, â€Å"Man is the measure of all thingsRead MoreEssay about The Parthenon: The Epitome of Greek Culture 1136 Words   |  5 Pagesof Greek culture is the Parthenon. It reflects the ideas and religious beliefs of the Greeks and incorporates the architectural brilliance seen first with the Greek people. The frieze, the religious idea behind the building of the temple, and the attention to detail in the Parthenon shows a genius that can only be claimed by the Greeks. First, the Parthenon frieze is an example of how unique the Parthenon is to the Greeks. The frieze is â€Å"[t]he most characteristic feature in the architecture andRead Morehis112 r3 Ancient Civilizations and the Greek World Matrix1457 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿University of Phoenix Material Ancient Civilizations and the Greek World Matrix Complete the matrix by entering cultural, political, and economic developments that had lasting effects or that are significant of each civilization. The table includes one example. Civilization Cultural Developments Political Developments Economic Developments Mesopotamian Developed the beginnings of astronomy and mathematics Believed in many gods not just one. Emergence of Kings, exercised distinct political ratherRead MoreRoman Architecture And Its Impact On Society1550 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction Roman architecture is a thing of the past; however, it still has a large impact upon society today. Roman buildings are what our buildings were derived from, a lot of the art we think of when we see a building was once thought of by the romans, was once built by the romans, and some of these buildings are still standing today, not many, but a few. Now, roman architecture is significant because of how it affected the growth of our architecture, how it evolved changed how we

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Harvey Macht s The Television Show Suits, Portrayed By...

Harvey Spectre is a fictional character in the TV show Suits, portrayed by actor Gabriel Macht. In the show Harvey is a senior partner at a law firm in New York City, USA, where he worked his way up from the mailroom to become an attorney and eventually a name partner of the firm. In the following paper I will explain Harvey Spectre’s personality, showing that he is extremely Type A. I will begin by exploring the origins of Type A personality, followed by the general characteristics and behavior patterns attributed to it, and contrast that with Type B personality at the other end of the spectrum. I will briefly discuss the link between Type A, more specifically hostility, and coronary heart disease. I will then look at how Harvey Spectre†¦show more content†¦They maintained Type A pattern was a combination of overt behaviors often associated with coronary heart disease, not a typology or trait. Friedman and Rosenmann defined Type A pattern as a collection of action-em otion behaviors that can be observed in individuals. These behaviors include a struggle to achieve more and more even against opposing efforts of others, as well as a heightened pace of living, self-preoccupation and evaluation of their worthiness of activities in terms of numbers. They are prone to explosive, accelerated speech, concentrating on more than one activity at a time, and are impatient with slowness (Matthews, 1982). This was then clarified to Type A-Type B, representing almost opposite behavior patterns. It is important to note that these personality types are not mutually exclusive and instead exist on more of a continuum with most individuals falling somewhere in the middle, though some people would be more extreme Type A and others more extreme Type B. Type A behaviors often included an attraction to competition, doing things in a vigorous, efficient manner and a drive to achieve. They tend to therefore dislike wasting time, are easily aroused to anger and action, an d experience frustration with more easy going people, like Type B’s. Type B people are much more relaxed, unhurried and more likely to procrastinate than their counterparts (Burger, 2015). Personality researchers began to show an interest in these personality types and they

The Impact Of Cultural Differences On Project Management...

Executive Summary The focus of this research paper is to demonstrate the need for project management, identify the current and future trends within project management around the world, and discuss the effects of cultural differences on project management. Project management was first used in civil engineering and architecture projects but it soon spread to other industries such as the automobile and communication industries. After technological advancements, such as improvements in computer mainframes and softwares, project management softwares emerged to help manage complex projects. These programs along with locating and retaining the right type of talent within an organization becomes a crucial part of an organization’s structure and ultimately their success. Organizations must be able to assign the right people, with the right technical and soft skills, to the right project. Certification programs and in-house trainings are now available to help improve project managers’ technical sk ills, communication skills, and other soft skills needed to be effective/successful. There has also been an increased interest within organizations to reach a higher level of project management maturity. As businesses continue to expand and new opportunities in the market trigger the emerging of new companies, there is an increasing demand for project managers nationally and globally. Project management roles are expected to increase up to 28.1 million between 2010 and 2020. UtilizingShow MoreRelatedThe Construction Industry599 Words   |  3 PagesEgan (1998), major studies are carried out in different procurement routes, management system and technique and construction method. Beyond these, it has been suggested, that ‘softer’ factors such as organisational culture also have a significant impact on performance (Nicolini, 2002). The concept of organisation culture is a popular part of general management since early 1980s. But in construction industry with its proje ct based environment, innovative procurement and business practices such as partneringRead MoreThe Leadership Skills And Behaviours For Successful Implementation Of Human Resource Management Plan1737 Words   |  7 Pages1. INTRODUCTION This essay aims to discuss and evaluate the leadership skills behaviours for successful implementation of human resource management plan in a special case study of Offshore Gas Project (CSOGP). Identification of Leadership behaviours categories that are relevant and meaningful for all leaders is subject to controversy. For this essay discussion three main leadership categories have been considered as follows : 1) Task Oriented Leadership (TOL) which is a behaviour that organizesRead MoreExternal and Internal Factors1248 Words   |  5 Pagesand Internal Factors Management is the process of working with people and resources to accomplish organizational goals (Bateman-Schnell, 2003, p. 14). The four functions of management are planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Internal and external factors such as rapid change, technology, and diversity impact the four functions of management. This paper will focus on these three factors and their impact on Verizon. The successful application of the four management functions when dealingRead MoreCritical Review of Globe Framework for Assessing National Cultures1620 Words   |  7 Pagescritical review of Javidan, M., Dorfman, P.W., Sully de luque, M., House, R.J., (2006). ‘IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: Cross Cultural Lessons in Leadership from Project GLOBE.’ Academic of Management perspectives, February, pp 67-90 Introduction Global leadership have been seen as a way forward for multi-national organisations, however, the information gathered about different cultural context of countries has been helpful, even it has not been practically and theoretically use to lead in an overseas.Read MoreSurvivor Term Paper800 Words   |  4 Pagesof Forrester Research breaks down IT risks into implementation and impact considerations. Why do you think these are so difficult to manage? What makes IT investments different from investments in other areas of a company?    I would say Implementation and impact are so difficult to manage in the sense that these involve not only new and untested technologies but also both cultural and personal challenges. I think the difference between IT investment and investments in other areas of a companyRead MoreEssay about Project Planning and Control Methods1441 Words   |  6 PagesProject Planning and Control Methods Project planning and control methods came to be in the 1980s with the introduction of microcomputer software. In the 1990s project management was accepted into the mainstream business as a means for developing new products and services. In the 20th century project management appears to be the solution to many of the challenges confronting global business enterprises (Gray, C. Larson, E., 2003). Trends such as the globalization of business operationsRead MoreDeveloping A New International Division1274 Words   |  6 Pagesdevelopments. Following this, setting in place strategies for cultural challenges in addition to other typical pitfalls that may come with entering a new environment is also crucial to creating an effective plan for the firm’s development. Examining the scope of the project, and taking under consideration the average timeframes for economic fluctuation, will allow the firm to determine the maximum, and optimistic, length of time for the project to create autonomy. The first thing to consider when selectingRead MoreWork Style Survey On Decision Making Essay1453 Words   |  6 Pagesus the overview of the company and types of project you were involved in 2) What was your role in the projects? 3) How long have you been working in this position? 4) How many important decisions have you made? 5) How important was the decision affect on the company? 6) How many different decisions have you came up with? 7) Have you studied or worked overseas? How long? Part 2: Cultural Aspects on Decision Making 1) Please pick one of the projects you were involved in and based on your nationalRead MoreThe Classical View Of Project Management1411 Words   |  6 Pagesthe global economy. The increasingly important role of project management in projects should not be neglected. According to the website of the Project Management Institute (2016), in order to meet a projects’ demands, the utilization of knowledge, skills, tools and techniques in project activities are what combine to form a perception of project management. It is obvious that the contribution of the classical view of project management in project activities cannot be ignored, however, it is criticalRead MorePlan for Managing an International Team1135 Words   |  5 Pagesoptimized. In addition, this management plan is designed to ensure that travel expenses and travel time is reduced to the minimum necessary for effective productivity. Further, the philosophy of the company has always been that a diverse team permits a d eeper range of professional experience and knowledge than a homogeneous team. A typical hierarchical arrangement will not meet the needs of the virtual teams, and a primary goal of mine is to ensure that the management structure is as facile as necessary

Abortion History Of Essay Example For Students

Abortion History Of Essay Ever since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, Abortion haschanged its course in society. With the new decision made by the United States, abortionwas now legal. Many abortions were performed before the Supreme Court decision, butthe settlement made it less risky for the doctors involved. Abortion has caused society tobe divided by a pro-choice group and pro-life group. Two groups with struggles that willnever end. There are many different types of abortions that can be preformed. The type useddepends on how far along in the pregnancy the woman is. In the very early stage of thepregnancy, up to 49 days after conception, the woman has two choices. The first is totake a combination of drugs. This is called a medical abortion. The embryo is then passedout. The other method is to use a syringe, and gently suck the embryo out. The next type can be preformed six to fourteen weeks after conception. Themethod the doctors use is to insert a tube in the vagina, and then hook it up to a suctionmachine. The fetus is then removed. This procedure takes about ten minutes. The second trimester abortions are called DE, which stands for dilation andevacuation. These are preformed up to the twenty-fifth week of pregnancy, and usuallytake ten to twenty minutes. The way they are preformed is the woman is given absorbentdilators which open up the cervix and absorb the fluids. After this is left in overnight thewoman then is ready for the evacuation stage. The fetus is easily removed withinstruments and suction. In the last trimester of the pregnancy abortions are preformed mainly if thewomans life is in danger or the fetus is severely deformed. Only one out of everyten-thousand abortions are preformed this way. The main way that is used is by injectinga salt solution into the vagina, causing contractions. The baby is then born stillbirth. The other way is called a partial-birth abortion. Here the womans cervix is dilatedand the fetus is removed half-way feet first. The surgeon then jabs a sharp object in theback of the fetus head and the brains are extracted with suction. This allows the fetus tobe removed more easily. With all of these methods many United States citizens have come up with theirown morals and ethics about abortion. Today there are two main sides; pro-choice andpro-life. These two groups have been debating over the issues of abortion for many yearsnow and all have strong feelings about it. The pro-choice group believes that the choice of having an abortion should be leftup to the woman. This issue goes back to even to the bible. When people say thatabortion is a sin to God, there is proof in Genesis 2:7, ?And the Lord God formed manfrom the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the manbecame a living soul.? This point shows that first God formed the body, and not until hebreathed into it did it come alive.

A Fairy Tale Essay Example For Students

A Fairy Tale Essay He knew that his first prey, the firebird, lived high up in the trees in the heart of the forest. Like lightening, they were hard to miss, and the piercing of its beak left a burn that could never be forgotten. Suddenly, the boy heard a shriek, and he whirled his head to see the blood-red bird swooping toward his face. Panicking, the boy lunged for the ground, and for the net that the wise man had given him. He hurled it at the bird and missed. The bird, angry, made another giant swoop at the boy and tore its flesh as it flew straight into the blade of the boys sword. That was one creature taken care of. His next target, the freezing spider, could be either much harder, or much easier, the boy knew not which. The spider could not run, or jump, unlike some of its relatives, but it was harder to find, and its poison froze the human blood and made its victims helpless, lying on the ground shivering until the arachnid finally took pity on his prey and ate it. He tried not to think abou t it.Instead the boy thought of ways to attract his prey; if he could get it to come to him, the killing would be easier and definitely much safer. The freezing spider would eat any kind of flesh it could, but it was well known that the spider loved most to eat the flesh of humans. Well, what should he do? Obviously bait was safer than waiting for an attack, so the boy pulled out his dagger and held it to his upper arm. That was when he saw the grey bristles of the freezing spider. It was sitting quietly on a nearby shrub, its back toward the boy. Holding back a sigh of relief, he took one quiet step toward his prey, holding the dagger high, and stabbed it through the spider before it knew what hit it. A little less active a kill than the firebird, but just as exhilarating. Now the only victim left in this task of the boys was the netherworld wolf, and what a creature. About the size of a pig, these dogs could tear up a man in two minutes flat, or so it was said. However, being the largest of the creatures made it the easiest target. All that the boy had to do was look. He took out his crossbow (he figured it was the weapon least likely to let the wolf draw blood), and moved on in search of the wolfs lair. This search took longer than the first two. The boy wandered for two days and two nights with nothing to show for his efforts. On the third night, he finally let himself sleep. As he stretched himself out on the cold ground, he felt himself drift into mysterious dreams. They didnt matter when he felt the pain. The boy awoke to find himself surrounded by a pack of netherworld wolves; they obviously had not officially started an attack, but one had definitely bitten into him to see how he tasted. The boy grabbed his crossbow from his side and fired wildly into space. This startled the wolves, but only made them more angry.However, in the half-second the wolves had spent watching the arrow, the boy had had time to aim, and shot a wolf in the heart. The others, now fearing for their lives, ran back to their lair, not to bother the boy again. He smiled. The first of his tasks was done, and hed come out of it in quite good condition. A bite in his side, but some water would take care of that. After about a quarter hour of walking, the boy reached a stream that he had found earlier in his journey. It was the one pure element of the forest, and it was how he had gotten water and food (he had eaten the leafy plants that grew along the side of it). The boy kneeled now and scooped up some of the cold, crystal fluid to clean his wound. He looked down to his left side to see a piece of paper sticking out of the mud. Strange, he thought. He picked it up. It was a map, like one that a pirate would have drawn. But how could a pirates map have gotten into the Forest of Mirth? The boy was thinking about this when something on the paper caught his eye. The cup of Alfred the Great! It was written right below the giant X at the bottom of the page! The boy stopped thinking of the maps origin and concentrated on what was written on the old, browned paper. Obviously the map showed the area he was in, because it had the forest and the nearby village on it. It was somewhere in between, right near the outskirts of the town that the X was drawn. Simple enough, said the boy to himself. I will follow the map until I find the cup. It shouldnt take me too long.and with that the boy was off. He walked for two days until he came to the edge of the forest. It was night then, and the boy looked at the stars. He found the North Star almost straight in front of him, as if beckoning him forward. The boy followed, all the while thankful that his father had taught him his directional skills when he was young. The map said to go two hundred paces North until he reached a giant rock, shaped like a skull. Two hundred and twenty-seven paces later, the boy found it. Wrapped around the rock was a giant snake. The boy had been warned about the snakes outside the Forest of Mirth. They had a great gift for persuasion, and when that didnt work, they could hypnotise a mortal into doing their bidding without question. Young one, he hissed, Come hither. The boy stared at the snake, but he would n ot move. You want the treasure, do you not, young one? asked the serpent in a tempting voice. Come hither and I will tell you a secret about this treasure. The boy finally spoke. You are too kind, good snake, but I know what it is I am looking for, and frankly, though I hope you do not take offense, I do not wish to know anything more. Who cannot want to know the secrets of the serpent? hissed the snake. I know all and am powerful. All you need to do is come hither so that I can tell you what it takes to be like me. It lies in that treasure.Once again, good snake, I say I do not wish to know more about this treasure. Thank you, but I will continue with my task now. Please leave me alone. and with that, the boy started to dig through the earth, hoping that the snake would be quiet. It was not to be so. On Becoming an OBGYN (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) EssayYoure welcome. the boy replied. Now, I must be on my way. I must go back to the wise man so that he will fulfill my wish. And with that, the boy was on his way back home.The old man looked up from his books. Young one, he said, you are home quickly.My task is complete master. said the boy. Please fulfill my wish. The old man smiled. Go home young one, your wish has been granted.The boy hurried home to find his mother waiting for him at the door. Son, she said Im afraid I have news that may disturb you. Your new father died yesterday, very suddenly. No one knows quite how it happened. It was almost as if magic had occurred. The boy suppressed a smile, for he knew his mother hadnt accepted the thought of being alone. The point was though, that she wasnt. The boy turned to his mother and said Mother, I know you are unhappy because two men that you cared about have died, but I hope that you remember that you will always have me and that I love you very much.Tears welled up in the mothers eyes. Oh son, she said I love you too. and the two embraced and went back into their house to live happily ever after. Words/ Pages : 2,361 / 24