Ratios Tell A story assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ratios Tell A story assignment - Essay Example However, it is very difficult for one to examine the whole financial statements of a company. Ratio analysis makes it easier for everyone to understand the profitability, solvency, and efficiency position of the firm. Ratio Analysis is a tool used for quantitative analysis of the information from the financial statement of a company. In spite of the advantages, ratio analysis has several drawbacks too. It consider only historical data, the future performance of the company cannot be predicted. It helps to evaluate firm’s financial status on the basis of past and present financial data of a company. In this study, comparisons of ratios have been made on different companies according to their financial indicators. A ratio analysis has been conducted to compare the profitability, solvency and efficiency of Wal-Mart and Safeway. Ratio analysis helps to effective analysis of the financial statement. The financial status of the companies can be easily understood by the help of the r atio analysis. Safeway vs. Wal-Mart Safeway Inc is a supermarket whereas Wal-Mart is general merchandise. Wal-Mart can also be classified as hypermarket. Hypermarkets are similar to big-box stores. The business of hypermarket is decisive on high volume, and low margin of sales. Wal-Mart is a typical supercenter covers around 150,000 square feet to 235,000 square feet area. It is the combination of supermarket and departmental stores, mainly situated in suburban or out of town locations. More than 2 lac brands can found here. Whereas Supermarket is a store based upon self service. It presents a huge range of food and household merchandise, divided into sectors. The range of foods and products are limited here rather than supermarket. There is a huge difference between the inventories of these two companies. It is because Wal-Mart sells more than 2 lac of different type of products whereas Safeway is limited with its narrow range of food and household products. Net PP&E are almost sam e (60%) in case of both the companies, because both of them are involved in retail business. The cash of Safeway is also less than Wal-Mart is due to the size of the business. Wal-Mart is more capable of generating cash in a higher volume to its variety of products. Adobe vs. Hewlett-Packard Adobe Systems Inc. is a software development company and Hewlett-Packard Company is a computer manufacturing company. In a computer manufacturing company, heavy processes are driven for manufacturing new products. The workers are needed to perform a specific task. After the completion of one task the next task can be performed by the next worker. A software development company includes research, development of new product, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, and maintains of other activities. Hewlett is having fixed assets near about 2 times higher than Adobe. As Hewlett is a manufacturing company it needs more instruments and equipments than Adobe. In case of both short term and L ong term debt, Adobe has none of these two because it is a service based company. It does not need extra money to run its business. In case of Hewlett the value of both short term and long term debt is higher. As the company runs factories, it needs money from outside to run its business. Amazon vs. Consolidated Edison, INC Amazon.Com is an internet retailer and Edison Inc has its business on electric utility. When a

Why Evolution Is True by Jerry A. Coyne (Penguin Books) Published in Essay

Why Evolution Is True by Jerry A. Coyne (Penguin Books) Published in 2010 - Essay Example These evolution theories contradict with the concept of the creationists. The creation concept says that the human beings are not evolved rather they are created at once and that animals and the human beings are different from their origin. Both the concepts of evolution and the creation are very much opposite to each other. The subject of the book is very important to be clearly understood in our own life. In other words we can also say that â€Å"Why Evolution is true† is the summary of all the facts of Darwin’s evolution theory and also the natural selection process. Natural selection process is explained very well by the Darwin. This means that the one living organisms who strives for the life gets the chance to survive in the competitive environment. With the help of his arguments, Jerry Coyne has showed that the natural selection process do not destroy the beauty of life rather it enhances or give advancement to it in a gradual manner, because the nature itself selects the suitable living beings on its own behalf. The process of natural selection basically means to find out the proper resources to live the life. The one who find out the available resources would be included in the list of the naturally fittest organisms thus striving for saving the life. In other words we can also say that the natural selection means the struggle for the existence. For this struggle the living beings may change their traits and this would be called as the gene variation according to the environment. The changing of traits may help living organisms to grab the best possible resources. This gene variation would help them to survive according to the environmental conditions. Actually each and every individual is composed of different combinations of genes. Some of these genes traits are helpful or other might be less important in the survival. Therefore the individuals may change such kind of traits and also adapting to those which are more

A History of Digital Dignatures

A History of Digital Dignatures History of Digital signatures Whitfield Diffie and also Martin Hellman throughout 1976, were the first that explained the idea of an electronic digital unique structure. It was while they simply conjectured in these kinds of techniques, and quickly after, Ronald Rivest, Adi Shamir, along with Len Adleman conceived the RSA protocol. This could be utilized to create ancient electronic digital signatures. Ddespite the fact that simply being a proof-of-concept, the plain RSA signatures are not secure. The initial extensively advertised software package to provide digital signature had been Lotus. It was introduced throughout 1989, and is usually employed by the RSA algorithm. To make RSA unique tips, create an RSA essential set containing the modulus d thats the product of two large primes. Also imagine the integers: e as well as d such that e d = 1 (mod f(n)) The actual signers general public essential is made of n and also e, and the signers solution key is made up of d. For an indication, there is a communication m, and the sign computes s = md (mod n) To ensure, the receiver checks that s e = m (mod n). While noted before, this kind of basic structure just isnt really protected. In order to avoid episodes, one can very first, and then can implement a new cryptographic hash function for the communication m. And then he can apply the RSA formula described previously mentioned to the result. This strategy might be established secure inside so-called arbitrary prediction model. Some other digital camera unique strategies have been quickly created soon after RSA. The primary are Lamport signatures, Merkle signatures (also known as Merkle trees or perhaps Hash trees), and Rabin signatures. Inside 1988, Shafi Goldwasser, Silvio Micali, and Ronald Rivest took over as very first to carefully outline the protection specifications associated with digital trademark strategies. They defined any pecking order regarding attack models regarding unique schemes, and also found the GMR personal structure, the first that can be which may prevent perhaps an existential forgery in opposition to a new chosen information invasion. The majority of early on personal plans had been of the comparable type: they call for conditions trapdoor permutation, such as the RSA perform, or perhaps in true with the Rabin personal system, computing rectangular modulo amalgamated n. A trapdoor permutation family is a family group associated with permutations, particular by a parameter, that is simple to work out inside the forward route, yet is hard in order to figure out inside the invert path with no by now knowing the private essential. Even so, for every parameter there is a trapdoor (exclusive important) that if identified, quickly decrypts what its all about. Trapdoor permutations may very well be public-key security techniques, in which the parameter will be the open public essential and the trapdoor will be the key, and also where encrypting corresponds to computing the particular onward direction of the permutation, whilst decrypting corresponds for the change direction. Trapdoor combining can even be seen as electron ic digital personal schemes, where computing the opposite direction with the entire secret key is thought of as signing, and research the actual forwards course is performed to verify signatures. Because of this messages, electronic digital signatures are often called determined by public-key cryptosystems, in which deciding upon is equivalent to decryption and verification is the same as encrypted shield, however this isnt the only method electronic signatures are usually calculated. Employed immediately, such a unique system is actually at risk of a new key-only existential forgery attack. To make a forgery, the particular attacker choices any haphazard trademark s and uses the confirmation process to look for the communication m equivalent compared to that signature. Used, nevertheless, this sort of unique isnt used right, but alternatively, the material to become signed can be initial hash to generate a short digest thats then closed. This forgery assault next, only generates the actual hash function output which refers to s, and not a message that leads for its benefit (which does not cause an attack). Within the random oracle model, this specific hash-and-decrypt form of unique is existentially un-forgeable, actually in opposition to a chosen-message assault. There are several top reasons to sign this type of hash (or perhaps message absorb) instead of the entire record. For performance: The trademark will probably be much quicker thereby save time considering that hashing is mostly considerably quicker than putting your signature on in practice. For being compatible: Mail messages are normally little bit guitar strings, however, many signature strategies run on other areas (including, in the case of RSA, amounts modulo an amalgamated number n). A new hash perform may be used to convert an haphazard feedback into the appropriate file format. With regard to ethics: Without the hash operate, the words to end up being signed might have to end up being divided (divided) in prevents sufficiently small for your unique system to do something on them straight. Nonetheless, the particular device in the agreed upon blocks is not able to acknowledge if every one of them is present and in the proper get. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL SIGNATURES The main benefit thing about public-key cryptography can be the increase in security, as well as comfort. This is because the private keys never need to be transported or exposed to any person. In a very secret-key technique as comparison, the secrets recommendations should be carried (both physically and through a conversation station), and there might be a possibility that the opponent could find the secret during their transmitting. Another significant benefit from public-key programs is that they provide one way functions with regard to digital signatures. Validation by the way of using secret-key systems requires only the expressing associate of the key. But sometimes it needs interaction of a third party as well. Therefore, a new mailer can be easily repudiated by a previously authenticated concept. This is through proclaiming how the discussed solution ended up being for some reason affected by the events revealing the secrets. As an example, the particular Kerberos secret-key authentication method consists of a new central repository that maintains replicates in the solution recommendations of most consumers. This way an attack on the databases will allow widespread forgery. Public-key authentication, conversely, stops this sort of repudiation; every single individual offers single obligation regarding safeguarding his / her individual crucial. This particular residence associated with public-key authentic ation is frequently named non-repudiation. A problem with using public-key cryptography pertaining to encryption is actually rate: youll find well-liked secret-key encryption techniques which are drastically more quickly as compared to any kind of available today public-key file encryption strategy. On the other hand, public-key cryptography works extremely well using secret-key cryptography for the greatest involving all possible. For encryption, the very best option would be to combine public- and secret-key methods to achieve the two security benefits of public-key programs and the velocity benefits of secret-key systems. Your public-key technique may be used to defend the key which is used to ensure the bulk of personal files or even communication. Such a process is known as digital camera envelope.. Public-key cryptography may be susceptible to impersonation, nevertheless, even though users exclusive recommendations usually are not obtainable. A successful invasion with a qualifications specialist enables an adversary in order to impersonate anyone the particular adversary selects to by using a public-key qualification from your jeopardized expert to situation an integral in the adversarys option to the category of yet another person. In several conditions, public-key cryptography is not required along with secret-key cryptography on its own is risk. This consists of situations where protected secret-key arrangement may take spot, for example through consumers conference within an individual. It also includes conditions in which a one expert understands and also manages all of the recommendations. As an example, a new closed financial program. Since the management knows everybodys keys already, theres not a lot advantages for it to get public. Furthermore, in public-key cryptography it is normally not needed in single-user surroundings. For instance, if you want to keep the data protected, you can do so with any kind of secret-key file encryption algorithm employing, declare, your individual security password because magic formula essential. Generally, public-key cryptography is best suited with an available multi-user natural environment. Public-key cryptography just isnt meant to exchange secret-key cryptography, but instead to be able to dietary supplement the idea, to restore safer. The initial way of using public-key methods ended up being for risk-free crucial exchange, in the otherwise secret-key system, which is nonetheless among its major capabilities. Secret-key cryptography remains vitally important and is also the subject of a lot continuing review as well as investigation. A few secret-key cryptosystems are usually discussed inside the areas about prevent ciphers along with flow ciphers.

Eulogy for Grandfather :: Eulogies Eulogy

Eulogy for Grandfather My grandfather taught us so much. When my sister and I were little, he taught us how to paint with oils on smooth pieces of wood, instructing us on how to blend colors or make certain brush strokes, telling us that "there are no straight lines in nature," to help us paint better trees. He taught us how to work with clay, too, and made us our own clay-working tools. He taught us how to roll pennies from the piggy bank he'd fill up every week. He taught us about the birds flying into the birdfeeder next to the family room window. He taught me about words, too, in one memorable exchange advising me to use the words "equine posterior" rather than their more common alternative. But most of what my grandfather taught us he taught us indirectly, without speaking. Going to museums with him was often a chore for me as a kid, because he would have to stop and read every plaque next to every painting or item, every so often calling us back to something we'd tired of already to explain what he'd just learned-but mostly, just observing, drinking in everything he could see with quiet patience. He never went to college, but he taught me more about education-and the value of being a self-educator-than I could learn in any school. My grandfather made miraculous things with lumps of clay and blocks of wood. It wasn't until much later that I realized how well-outfitted his workshop was, full of specialized tools; he'd taught my father how to be the same kind of hands-on man, and I thought all Grandpas and Dads had special lathes, band saws, table saws, jig saws, buckets of nails, vast arrays of screwdrivers and dozens of varieties of sandpaper in their basements. One birthday, I remember, he made special. After we'd unwrapped our other toys, my sister and I were presented with identical boxes with the Hallmark logo on them. They were presented with great ceremony, and we were confused but excited. We opened them at the same time. Inside my sister's box was a diorama of our dog Lady playing with a soccer ball out on the lawn. Her back paw was stomping tiny silk flowers into garden dirt rendered in sawdust. Mine was a black horse leaping over a stone wall-perfect down to the textured wood that formed the rock. Eulogy for Grandfather :: Eulogies Eulogy Eulogy for Grandfather My grandfather taught us so much. When my sister and I were little, he taught us how to paint with oils on smooth pieces of wood, instructing us on how to blend colors or make certain brush strokes, telling us that "there are no straight lines in nature," to help us paint better trees. He taught us how to work with clay, too, and made us our own clay-working tools. He taught us how to roll pennies from the piggy bank he'd fill up every week. He taught us about the birds flying into the birdfeeder next to the family room window. He taught me about words, too, in one memorable exchange advising me to use the words "equine posterior" rather than their more common alternative. But most of what my grandfather taught us he taught us indirectly, without speaking. Going to museums with him was often a chore for me as a kid, because he would have to stop and read every plaque next to every painting or item, every so often calling us back to something we'd tired of already to explain what he'd just learned-but mostly, just observing, drinking in everything he could see with quiet patience. He never went to college, but he taught me more about education-and the value of being a self-educator-than I could learn in any school. My grandfather made miraculous things with lumps of clay and blocks of wood. It wasn't until much later that I realized how well-outfitted his workshop was, full of specialized tools; he'd taught my father how to be the same kind of hands-on man, and I thought all Grandpas and Dads had special lathes, band saws, table saws, jig saws, buckets of nails, vast arrays of screwdrivers and dozens of varieties of sandpaper in their basements. One birthday, I remember, he made special. After we'd unwrapped our other toys, my sister and I were presented with identical boxes with the Hallmark logo on them. They were presented with great ceremony, and we were confused but excited. We opened them at the same time. Inside my sister's box was a diorama of our dog Lady playing with a soccer ball out on the lawn. Her back paw was stomping tiny silk flowers into garden dirt rendered in sawdust. Mine was a black horse leaping over a stone wall-perfect down to the textured wood that formed the rock.

Aggression-Discuss the Three Psychological Approaches Essay

What is aggression? During my research, I have noted various definitions of aggression and have often found it to be coupled with violence. This human trait is so complex that it is difficult to pinpoint any one description, but I believe that for the purpose of this essay, this extremely loose term will have to suffice, as aggression is viewed differently according to the different approaches. â€Å"Aggression – a wide variety of acts that involve attack† (The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology-Third Edition 2001) In this essay, I will explain and evaluate three psychological approaches of aggression from Sigmund Freud, Burrhus F Skinner and Carl R Rogers. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) developed the psychoanalytical theory of the personality, whereby he divided it into layers; the unconscious, preconscious and the conscious. These represented different levels of awareness in our minds. He also described the personality as the id, which is essentially what we are born with and is where the basic sexual and aggressive drives reside, the ego, which starts to develop as soon as interaction with the environment begins, and the superego, which represents the moral aspect of humans according to society’s standards and values. He believed that we are born with these inner feelings of aggression, which we use as a tool to obtain the things we want, but unfortunately, society restricts the use of this horrible behaviour for obvious reasons. The display of aggressive behaviour would cause us to lose love and respect ending in lowered self-esteem. In order to get through life without imposing this unacceptable behaviour upon society, we have in our superego, incorporated something called ‘guilt’, which in turn makes us feel ashamed of this pushy, demanding insistence of gratification side of ourselves. However, this causes within us an eternal conflict that rages on through our everyday lives, in the unconscious level of our minds, where we only dimly recognise it. He was however, concerned that these energies could not be permanently ‘bottled up’ and suggested that redirection of these energies (catharsis)  into other channels ie.sport, work would be more socially acceptable. He called this sublimation and suggested that a good society would make this possible. Nevertheless, he remained pessimistic about this also as it only redirected the energy of aggression and did not really deal with the source of the ‘problem’. Freud (1920) called the destructive force that forms aggression, Thanatos -the death instinct (Beyond the Pleasure Principle 1920) and believed that this is a natural human condition that is also aimed at ourselves. However, our natural life instincts prevent anything happening, but Freud thoroughly believed that the destruction of ourselves is inevitable, as aggression will always be at war with society and therefore the greatest obstacle to peace. Burrhus F Skinner (1904-1990) who favoured the behaviourist approach to psychology, criticised the psychoanalytical theory by suggesting that psychology should be the study of behaviour and not just the mind. However, Skinner’s approach was radical, in that he did consider our inner thoughts and feelings, but denied that they had anything to do with behaviour (Skinner 1974). His study of behaviour involved close contact with the experimental laboratory, where he experimented with small animals such as rats and pigeons. As the experimenter, he was able to study the use of stimuli and reinforcement (cause and reward) of behaviour. Skinner pointed out that aggression, like any other form of behaviour, is a result of social and physical issues in our environments. With this in mind, he believed that human behaviour is therefore controllable. In Skinner’s view, if aggression is apparent in a person, then it is determined by past and present relevant events, together with genetic endowment, hereditary factors that are passed through our genes in the process of evolution. He argued that full knowledge of these two sets of factors, genetic endowment and personal history, hold the key to controlling behaviour such as aggression. The behaviourist approach fails to acknowledge individual free will and choice however, and the frustrations involved in the inability to express  these. It is often these unobservable issues that cause behaviours, such as aggression. When looking at positive reinforcement, Skinner often refused to consider the mental causes of aggression ie if a drunk tries to start a fight with you in a pub, Skinner’s theory would indicate that the best form of action from previous experience would be to walk away. This however, ignores the events leading up to this point, and you may decide to stay and fight or maybe stay and make friends. The mind selects a response according to the desired consequence, which is a natural part of every function we perform but is not a straightforward case of positive reinforcement. Carl R Rogers (1902-1987) was the founder of the humanistic approach to behaviour and like Maslow, he believed that there was nothing ‘bad’ about human behaviour and that we are capable of healthy growth towards Self Actualisation. This means that we have the potential to reach fulfilment and achieve warm relationships with others through acceptance and understanding of what we as humans are. In order to understand the actualising tendency, Rogers claims that we should firstly be congruent, meaning that we should be aware of our inner feelings and accept them as a part of our nature. In this respect, what we express from those feelings is pure and true. Secondly, we should be able to empathise with our fellow man, in that we can understand what everything means to them from their point of view, as if we were in their ‘world’. Thirdly, we should be able to convey unconditional positive regard, meaning that we should be able to accept things as they are and who our fellow man is, without judgement or prejudice and without placing conditions upon their worth. These are three essential ingredients for healthy growth towards being a fully functioning person. Obviously, with an approach such as this, there is little room for negative feelings such as aggression. Because of this positive force for healthy growth, Rogers believed that aggression could possibly be a result of a state of incongruence, where we may feel conflict between our sense of self and our ideal self (like Freud’s ego and superego) ie. When we become aware of our own set of values but are told by our parents to respect their set of values, taught to us previously, and the use of conditional regard is applied to enforce those values. This could  possibly cause aggression by way of retaliation. However, he would not see aggression as inevitable or even an appropriate response, only as a possible response. Rogers’ theory opposes Freud’s in that aggression is inevitable. However, these two approaches are similar in that they both believe that aggression is a result of conflict in the mind – Rogers’ sense of self and the ideal self are similar to Freud’s ego and superego. However, Rogers argues that we are not doomed as Freud views it. Rogers, who was optimistic about human nature, believed that rather than trying to repress the desires and needs that aggression demands, a self-actualised person would see that aggression is a part of our nature and that acceptance of it, along with all other feelings, serve to help us grow healthily in the way of a fully functioning person. As a humanist, Rogers believed that to try to hide from what is inherently a part of us is futile and the only approach to make is that of acceptance in order to believe in ourselves. He also recognised that aggression could be a healthy behaviour, as in competition. Freud’s view that aggression is a common human characteristic does not constitute proof that it is innate. His views on catharsis as being a way of controlling the drives also lack support, and indeed support from one of his earlier disciples, Alfred Alder. With regard to aggression being innate and inherent, is aggression the result of genetics, or is it simply an excuse we use for violent behaviour? Could the answer lie in our environment and what we learn from it? Experiments performed by behaviourists such as Skinner have proved this, but do they offer all the answers? Is man born a completely blank slate? If that is the case, why do we keep messing up? Is this what Skinner meant when he maintained that man takes immediate gratification rather than looking at the long-term consequences? The different approaches of Freud and Skinner offer interesting theories about the sources of aggression. Take violence on the television for instance. Freud may have considered this as a cathartic experience thus reducing the drive of aggression by way of siphoning off the built up pressure as discussed earlier. On the other hand however, Skinner would  consider that violence on the television would serve to condition us to be more violent and therefore increase aggression. In conclusion, it seems that each approach holds some validity whilst there is still room for further research. Freud discussed aggression and its source at great length but did not really offer any sound evidence about how to reduce it. Neither did he encourage further research into collecting more information about it. Skinner, on the other hand, had rather strong opinions about how to deal with aggression but offered little information as to its source. Rogers had little to say about what aggression actually is but whilst his opinions on how to deal with it seemed realistic and acceptable, his theory, like Freud’s, offers no real proof. However, early as these theories were, they did offer some valuable contributions to the theory of aggression. Theories which have developed over the years and are continuing to do so, even though the reasons for aggression, and indeed all other human emotions, still elude us, remaining continually beyond scientific explanation. BIBLIOGRAPHY Glassman, William E (2000) Approaches to Psychology (3rd Edition) Buckingham and Philadelphia USA Open University Press Reber, Arthur A and Emily (2001) The Penguin Dictionary of Psychology (Third Edition) London, Penguin Books Ltd Nye, Robert D (1975) Three Psychologies: Perspectives from Freud, Skinner and Rogers (Fourth Edition) California, Brooks/Cole (Wadsworth Inc) http://www.goldenessays.com/free_essays/3/psychology/human_aggression.shtml (accessed 30 12 2002) http://www.term-papers.u/ts/gb/pnl141.shtml (accessed 30 12 2002) www.stolaf.edu/people/huff/classes/intro/skinner.html (accessed 30 12 2002) http://www.free_termpapers.com/tp/37/pko72.shtml (accessed 30 12 2002) http://www.free_termpapers.com/tp/37/pnl135.shtml (accessed 30 12 2002)

Gran Torino monologue on Ashley Kowalski Essay

Hello and welcome to this workshop on writing a monologue on the film, Gran Torino, from 2009, with Clint Eastwood who stars and directed in the film. This workshop will show what techniques are used in writing a monologue. This monologue will be written from Ashley’s point of view. As well as showing what the character, Ashley Kowalski is feeling at the time when her and her family are at the funeral of her grandfather, Walt Kowalski, also the part after the ceremony when there is the reading of the will, and who gets to keep Walt’s car, the Gran Torino. Ashley of course wants the Gran Torino, but does not end up getting it, and instead Thao, Walt’s neighbour, gets the car. I can’t believe this. Why didn’t I get the car, I mean it pretty much belongs to me because I am the eldest out of my brothers and I so I’m pretty much the rightful owner. Instead, that kid who was my grandfather’s neighbour got the car, which is completely unfair. I don’t even know him, and I don’t understand why my grandfather would become friends with him, and how, I mean he was a grumpy old man, he was rude and didn’t care about any one so it didn’t make any sense. How could he end up with his car? My car, it should belong to me, I am the one who wanted the car. I even asked my grandfather if I could have his car when he died, mainly because I needed a car so I wouldn’t have to waste money buying my own, but also because it’s an awesome looking car. I wish that I had been able to persuade him before he died into giving me his car. By the way the car had looked, I think that my grandfather didn’t even drive in the car, because it was in really good condition. My mother and I had already talked about the car, she said that I would be the one to get the car. I had already told her that I asked grandfather about the car, and what he wanted to do with it after he died. I had asked him about the car at my grandmother’s funeral, that’s when I found out that he had the car. I tried to be nice when I asked for the car because I really wanted it. I am quite popular at school and having a car like this would be great for my image. Girls like me at school and in town have cars or are about to get them so I should be getting one, it only makes sense. I was disappointed that my grandfather was dead. I can tell that my dad and my grandfather weren’t close, they hardly saw each other. I wish that they had been closer, so then grandfather would have definitely given me the Gran Torino. We were at the church for a long, long time, just talking about my grandfather, it was very uninteresting. About the time when the priest came out I was already getting annoyed he was saying things like how my grandfather knew a lot about life and death, what does that even mean? I don’t know, and frankly I don’t care. I just wanted to hear the reading of the will, it was killing me that I had to wait for so long to hear it. When the ceremony was finished I was the first one up and out, finally it’s over. After the ceremony my family and I went to the place where they were going to read the will, this is what I had been waiting for, I was thrilled. When we got to the will reading place I just couldn’t wait until I got my hands on the keys to my future car, I started to skip into the office but then my mother stopped me and said that I shouldn’t because I should be in grief, but how can I be depressed when I am about to get my own car. I acted so it looked like I was sad on the inside, but truthfully I was overjoyed. I had to sit through the whole entire will reading to get to the part about the Gran Torino. I noticed that over my shoulder in the corner was standing that weird Asian kid who lives next door to my grandfather’s house, I was puzzled as to why he was in the room but I thought that he must be there only to be jealous when I was going to get my car. I thought to myself, maybe the reason that my grandfather died was because of him, maybe he had something to do with his death, and if this is true then why is he here? He shouldn’t even be in the same building. I wasn’t listening to the man telling us my grandfather’s final wishes, I heard him saying something about his house and charity or something, but I didn’t really care. Then the man started talking about the Gran Torino, I was so anxious about it, but I don’t know why because I knew that it was going to be mine. The man said that my grandfather was giving it to his friend; I wouldn’t have referred to myself as ‘my friend’, but I guess that I will accept that for the car. When the man said that the car was being given to Thao, at first I thought it was a mistake but then the man went on about how Thao couldn’t do anything to it. I was so shocked; I thought that it was completely unfair. I mean I have known my grandfather since I was born, well I’ve been alive when he  has, and I’m even related to him and the boy only knew him for a week or something. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t get the car; I told my grandfather that I wanted it. I hope that the kid does something to it so it becomes mine.