Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Business entity part 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Business entity part 2 - Essay Example Realistic goal means that set objectives are within reach and can be achievable. Cash increase as a goal that can be achieved by starting a saving plan, thus identifying the financial capability of the corporation. Revenue growth is a financial goal necessary for a corporation’s growth (Krus, 2005). The long term goal means steady elevation of sales that lead to income increase. This can be achieved by setting aside crisis funds. This ensures the corporation has a back up and encounters no lose in the income. This enhances a corporation’s income which results to revenue growth that is fundamental in the financial unit. Returns increase is a long term financial goal that a corporation can set. Return increase means profit increase in a corporation. The returns increase objective should be specific, which implies that the corporation should put precise figures in an orderly manner. (Krus, 2005). The goal should be achievable without the corporation being under pressure to enable it fulfil the goal. This goal can be achieved by creating a budget that will identify credits and

Monday, October 28, 2019

VARK Analysis Essay Example for Free

VARK Analysis Essay Learning is a process that may occur consciously or unconsciously. Differences in the process through which different people accept/acquire information, process and interpret it, greatly influences the way individuals will react to the same stimuli. These differences carry on with an individual into the educational system and depending on an individual’s preference, their performance in school is greatly influenced-both academically and socially. There are several learning modes that individuals may ascribe to, the common ones being visual representation, audio representation, reading and writing and activity. This paper seeks to discuss these modes as brought out through the VARK analysis and give recommendations on how to make the best out of a particular learning mode. Learning Style To understand a concept, some people may prefer to observe others doing the same thing, others may prefer to be involved while others may prefer to read about it or be told about it by another person who they may regard as having a better understanding. These are learning styles that we employ to gather and process information. According to Keefe (1979), a learning style can be defined as â€Å"the composite of characteristic cognitive, affective, and physiological factors that serve as relatively stable indicators of how a learner perceives, interacts with, and responds to the learning environment. † As an individual, I particularly prefer to learn by being involved physically or doing something practically. This helps in embedding a concept or procedure to memory and allow for troubleshooting. Information gathered from literature is visualized and sometimes put in form of diagrams or patterns that can be easy to remember. Charts and graphs also serve as easy ways to grasp ideas being presented. In class setting, I prefer to look up information on my own, reading from different sources until a concept is understood. Occasionally I may enquire of others after exhausting all other avenues. Comparison of learning strategies According to the VARK analysis, individuals are considered to be able to take in and process information in through four channels; visual, aural, reading/writing or kinesthetic. No single way can be considered better than the others but understanding ones acceptance and processing channel can help in developing a study strategy to help the individual be able to improve the speed and learning efficiency. Any combination of the above learning preferences results in a multimodal (VARK) learning preference which may -in my opinion- be deemed more desirable than the single preference learning style. Being multimodal, having all preferences, allows the learner to be able to cope with learning challenges better as they are able to switch between preferences to the one most applicable in a given situation. This mode though may become a hindrance in itself in that the individual may be unable to decide fast enough onto which mode to switch into thereby resulting in delay in decision making or being out of sync with the learning environment. Following VARK analysis I am considered as multimodal with higher preference to kinesthetic, visual and reading/writing and least to aural which I consider as a true evaluation. Further analysis classifies me as a whole-sense multimodal individual – score over 25 – who makes use of several strategies before making a final decision (Fleming N. D. , 2010). This in itself is identified as a weakness due to the indecisive nature that results from taking to long to decide when presented with information through only one channel. Changes needed Though slowness in decision making is being viewed as a weakness, in some instances it is an advantage in that it prevents rash decision making and allows more time for reflection on any given topic. A most critical change required is in self-confidence, a capacity to take risk and act on the information at hand. This I consider as the most critical since in hospital setting, incase of a casualty case, there is not enough time to verify all information and instant decisions have to be made to save a patient. Another would be to determine the objectives of learning a particular subject and this would allow for faster decision making as it would allow for assumption to be made when only trying to get an idea (Bradford K. , Stewart K. L. , 1992) Summarization VARK analysis though not a learning strategy in itself, is a helpful tool in identifying ones own weaknesses and thus be in a position to identify the course of action to be taken. Instances where an individual is not able to integrate into a new learning environment can easily be dealt with since the individual knowing their strengths and weaknesses would easily try to adapt themselves to the environment or if possible change it to their preferred one. It also increases ones confidence when learning as clarification may be sought in a way the learner feels most comfortable with. Conclusion Though this analysis does give one a powerful tool with which to strategize their studies, it is important to understand that the outcome of studies depends entirely on that individual’s willingness to change their strategies to take advantage of their strengths and work on their weaknesses. It is also to be understood that learning styles in themselves are just preferences that an individual has and are not sure guarantees that presented with information in such a way they will instantly understand it. Although everyone has a preferred way of learning, it is possible for everyone to combine several strategies in order t achieve a set learning goal. ? References Flemiming N. D. (2010). VARK: A review of those who are multimodal. Accessed July 11, 2010 from http://www. vark-learn.com/english/page_content/multimodality. htm Keefe, J. W. (1979). Learning style: An overview. In NASSPs Student learning styles:Diagnosing and prescribing programs (pp. 1-17). Reston, VA: National Association of Secondary School Principals. Overview of Learning Styles, (2010). Accessed July 11, 2010 from http://www. learning-styles-online. com/overview/ Stewart, K. L. , and Felicetti, L. A. (1992). Learning styles of marketing majors. Educational Research Quarterly, 15(2), 15-23.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

How Harper Lee makes Mayella Ewell a Vulnerable yet Contemptible Character in To Kill a Mockingbird :: To Kill a Mockingbird Essays

It is Mayella's deceit that brings Tom Robinson to trial. Though she may not be forgiven for this lie, Atticus and Scout feel sympathy for her because of the terrible poverty in which she lives. Whenever Scout feels sorry for Mayella we do as well as we are viewing the trial from her point of view. When Tom Robinson?s trial begins, evidence begins to show that Tom Robinson is actually innocent. When Mr Ewell takes the stand we see that he is not a soft hearted person because he is blaming Tom Robinson for something that he has not done, ?I seen that nigger yonder ruttin? on my Mayella? This shows a man?s racism and inhumanity towards another man. Tom Robinson hasn?t done the community any wrong but is a social outcast for being black which is not his fault. We also learn a bit about Mr Ewell. Lee states earlier on, ?The varmints had a lean of it, for the Ewell?s gave the dump through gleaning every day? This suggests that the Ewells live of the town?s dump which isn?t a very hygienic way of living, but then again Mr Ewell is an unemployed alcoholic. As we are told earlier, ?No public health officer could free them from congenital defeats, various worms and diseases indigenous to filthy surroundings? Mr Ewell is a terrible father due to his abusiveness and neglect. He doesn?t care for or look after his children and so Mayella, his eldest daughter, has to carry out his job. ?Nobody was quite sure ho many children were on the place. Some people said six, others said nine? With lots of children to take care of Mayella was only able to get two to three years of education and she had no friends. This is why when Atticus asks her about her friends she thinks he is making fun of her. After having to live a life like this we don?t know why Mayella would like to defend her hard-hearted father, but she probably did this because she was scared of what he would do to her if she told the truth. We feel sympathetic towards her at this point but there is still a sense of hatred towards her as she is letting an innocent person being jailed who actually helped her a lot when no one did. Atticus questions Mayella very differently compared to the way he questions Bob Ewell. Through Atticus? language we learn that he does sympathise with Mayella and he does realise she is a victim of her father?

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Changing Gender Roles in William Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- Macbet

Changing Gender Roles in William Shakespeare's Macbeth  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   Much attention has been paid to the theme of "manliness" as it appears throughout Macbeth. In his introduction to Macbeth in The Riverside Shakespeare, Frank Kermode contends that the play is "about the eclipse of civility and manhood, [and] the temporary triumph of evil" (1307). Stephen Greenblatt emphasizes the same idea in The Norton Shakespeare, crediting Lady Macbeth for encouraging her husband through both "sexual taunting" and "the terrible force of her determination" (2557-58). Macbeth responds to his wife with "a clear sense of the proper boundaries of his identity as a male and as a human being, [telling her] 'I dare do all that may become a man;/Who dares do more is none' (I.7.46-47)" (2558). Both Kermode's and Greenblatt's notions focus upon how Macbeth's masculinity is recognized and defined -- by Macbeth himself as well as by the potentially influential people who surround him. The critics who introduce the play in these major anthologies perceive the same weakness in Macbeth's character as the apparently evil forces who play upon it do: Macbeth's masculinity becomes the psychological vehicle through which he becomes incensed, inspired, and finally incited to action. If Macbeth's "manliness" is to be questioned, it is not likely to occur within the male-dominated world of battlefields and military victories which Shakespeare introduces in Act I, Scene 2. In this passage, the bleeding Captain praises Macbeth's heroism, contending . . . brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name!-- Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valour's minion Carved out his passage till he faced the slave, Which ne... ... Universities Modern Language Association 70 (Nov. 1988): 366-85. Dolan, Frances. The Taming of the Shrew: Texts and Contexts. Boston: Bedford, 1996. Greenblatt, Stephen. "Introduction to Macbeth." The Norton Shakespeare. New York: Norton, 1997. 2555-63. Hawkins, Michael. "History, politics, and Macbeth." Focus on Macbeth. Ed. John Russell Brown. London: Routledge, 1982. 155-88. Kermode, Frank. "Introduction to Macbeth." The Riverside Shakespeare. Boston: Houghton, 1974. 1307-11. Stallybrass, Peter. "Macbeth and Witchcraft." Focus on Macbeth. Ed. John Russell Brown. London: Routledge, 1982. 189-209. Williamson, Marily L. "Violence and Gender Ideology." Shakespeare Left and Right. Ed. Ivo Kamps et al. New York: Routledge, 1991. 157-66. Winstanley, Lilian. Macbeth, King Lear, and Contemporary History. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1922.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Hampton Machine Tool Company Essay

From the point of view as the bank creditor, Jerry Eckwood, a determination must be made of whether Hampton Machine Tool Company should receive an extension of their original loan of $1 million, as well as an additional loan of $350,000. After research and careful consideration and extraneous research and forecasting, we, St. Louis National Bank, as well as myself, Jerry Eckwood, have determined to reject Hampton Machine Tool Company’s loan request, as well as the loan extension request. Based off of conducting a financial analysis, primarily on the cash budget, our forecasting has shown that Hampton Machine Tool Company would not be able to fully repay their loan of $1.35 million by the end of the year (1979). However, we have determined that Hampton Machine Tool Company would be able to fully repay their loan in January. Therefore, we are offering a proposal to extend the loan for another month, but with an increased interest rate. Not only will this allow you to repay your loans in full, but it will also provide you with the necessary funding that you are requesting. The re-negotiation of the terms of the loans would include the following: the deadline of the payment would increase to January, while the interest rate would increase to 1.75%. This will ensure that the loan will be repaid on time and will allow Hampton Machine Tool Company to purchase their new equipment to assist with operation needs. In order to make our decision, we reviewed Hampton Machine Tool Company’s financial ratios, as well as their cash budget. While analyzing the profitability ratio, it came to our attention that these ratios were unstable, but showed signs of significant improvement. The ratios that stuck out to us were the significant increase in operating profit margin and gross profit margin. This increase was based mainly off of the historical trend compared to the project financial statements. While the gross profit margin had its only decrease in September, we can safely trace this to the reduction of WIP inventory of $1,320 during this month. This reduction in WIP concludes that Hampton Machine Tool Company would be operating at a loss of -13% during the month of September. However, we must take into account that profitability will greatly increase three months  prior due to the backlog in inventory and customer orders. Therefore, we determined that Hampton Machine Tool Company would be an acceptable client to extend credit to. When determining liquidity, we based our determinations off of the project financial statements. These concluded that Hampton Machine Tool Company’s quick ration is currently below 1, and has been for some time. A quick ratio below 1 shows that a company’s liabilities are greater than its assets, which can lead to a greater chance of depending on inventory to cover some obligations for payment. Our main conclusion to reject Hampton Machine Tool Company’s offer was determined based off of their current cash budget. As shown in Exhibit B, we determined that Hampton Machine Tool Company would perform well once their equipment was improved with the loan. It was also concluded from this exhibit that additional borrowings would not be necessary to fund operations due to their potential ending cash balances. Exhibit D shows that Hampton Machine Tool Company would still have a possibility of a negative cash balance in December if they postponed paying dividends. When factoring in the December sales and the accounts receivable from them, Hampton Machine Tool Company would still be unable to fully repay the loan in December. Extending the loan to January would make the most sense, allowing them time to accumulate the appropriate cash to repay the loan in full. As stated above, our decision to reject Hampton Machine Tool Company’s loan extension request was primarily based off of their current cash budget. Our proposal is to extend the loan to January, with an interest rate increase to 1.75%. The acceptance of this proposal will grant Hampton Machine Tool Company excess time to repay the loan, which will simultaneously remove it from their liabilities. As for the St. Louis National Bank, we feel confident that providing an extension into January will allow Hampton Machine Tool Company sufficient time to turn profits and fully repay their loan. Along with this, the bank will receive additional payments due to the increase in the interest rate. Furthermore, if Hampton Machine Tool Company is unable to repay the loan in January, penalties would incur, based on the discretion of the bank and amount still owned by Hampton Machine Tool Company.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Free Essays on Galileo, Science And The Church

Galileo, Science and the Church By: Jerome J. Langford Galileo, Science and the Church, by Jerome J. Langford, are about the trails and tribulations of Galileo and the Roman Catholic Church. Langford wrote this book to let people know that there was a double fault in the conflict between Galileo and the church. The church did not agree with Galileo’s ideas, mostly his theories associated with Copernican. The intentions of Langford is to bring the truth of Galileo’s trails to his readers, and to show that ultimately Galileo was correct in his theories and was not trying to go against the church’s beliefs. Galileo was trying to seek truth in science, and wanted to be known as a historical scientific figure. Galileo was one of the truly greatest of scientist of all time. His discoveries and inventions place him up at the top with, Newton, Einstein, and a few more. Langford shows in the book, that in the beginning of the sixteenth century the geocentric view was accepted in majority by theologians and scientist alike, but by the end of the century scientific ideas began to emerge that was different. Through a series of events, by the end of the sixteenth century, the church had developed a stubborn dedication to the status quo; which tolerated no suggestions of flaws in their beliefs. From this book I gathered that Langford wrote the book to express how the church was wrong, and Galileo was right on his theories. I learned that long ago you had to pretty much go with the flow. You had to do what the church told you to do. Mainly because they could read and you couldn’t. You couldn’t tell right from wrong in the real world because the church told you what was considered right and wrong. You had to go with what they said no matter if you believe it or not. Once Galileo came in there with his theories on the earth and the sun, and inertia and the scientific point of view, the church was scared. Galileo kn... Free Essays on Galileo, Science And The Church Free Essays on Galileo, Science And The Church Galileo, Science and the Church By: Jerome J. Langford Galileo, Science and the Church, by Jerome J. Langford, are about the trails and tribulations of Galileo and the Roman Catholic Church. Langford wrote this book to let people know that there was a double fault in the conflict between Galileo and the church. The church did not agree with Galileo’s ideas, mostly his theories associated with Copernican. The intentions of Langford is to bring the truth of Galileo’s trails to his readers, and to show that ultimately Galileo was correct in his theories and was not trying to go against the church’s beliefs. Galileo was trying to seek truth in science, and wanted to be known as a historical scientific figure. Galileo was one of the truly greatest of scientist of all time. His discoveries and inventions place him up at the top with, Newton, Einstein, and a few more. Langford shows in the book, that in the beginning of the sixteenth century the geocentric view was accepted in majority by theologians and scientist alike, but by the end of the century scientific ideas began to emerge that was different. Through a series of events, by the end of the sixteenth century, the church had developed a stubborn dedication to the status quo; which tolerated no suggestions of flaws in their beliefs. From this book I gathered that Langford wrote the book to express how the church was wrong, and Galileo was right on his theories. I learned that long ago you had to pretty much go with the flow. You had to do what the church told you to do. Mainly because they could read and you couldn’t. You couldn’t tell right from wrong in the real world because the church told you what was considered right and wrong. You had to go with what they said no matter if you believe it or not. Once Galileo came in there with his theories on the earth and the sun, and inertia and the scientific point of view, the church was scared. Galileo kn...

Monday, October 21, 2019

The Black Catâ€Plot, Symbols, Themes, and Key Quotes

The Black Cat- Plot, Symbols, Themes, and Key Quotes The  Black Cat, one  of  Edgar Allan Poes  most memorable stories, is a classic example of the gothic  literature genre that debuted in the Saturday Evening Post on August 19, 1843. Written in the form of a first-person narrative, Poe employed multiple themes of insanity, superstition, and alcoholism to impart a palpable sense of horror and foreboding to this tale, while at the same time, deftly advancing his plot and building his characters. Its no surprise that The Black Cat is often linked with The  Tell-Tale Heart, since both of Poes stories share several disturbing plot devices including murder and damning messages from the grave- real or imagined. Plot  Summary The nameless protagonist/narrator begins his story by letting the readers know that he was once a nice, average man. He had a pleasant home, was married to a pleasant wife, and had an abiding love for animals. All that was to change, however, when he fell under the influence of demon alcohol. The first symptom of his descent into addiction and eventual madness manifests with his escalating maltreatment of the family pets. The only creature to escape the mans initial wrath is a beloved black cat named Pluto, but one night after a serious bout of heavy drinking, Pluto angers him for some minor infraction, and in a drunken fury, the man seizes the cat, which promptly bites him. The narrator retaliates by cutting out one of the Plutos eyes. While the cats wound eventually heals, the relationship between the man and his pet has been destroyed. Eventually, the narrator, filled with self-loathing, comes to detest the cat as a symbol of his own weakness, and in a moment of further insanity, hangs the poor creature by the neck from a tree beside the house where its left to perish.  Shortly thereafter, the house burns down. While the narrator, his wife, and a servant escape, the only thing left standing is a single blackened interior wall- on which, to his horror, the man sees the image of a cat hanging by a noose around its neck. Thinking to assuage his guilt, the protagonist begins searching out a second black cat to replace Pluto. One night, in a tavern, he eventually finds just such a cat, which accompanies him to the house he now shares with his wife, albeit under greatly reduced circumstances. Soon enough, the madness- abetted by gin- returns. The narrator begins not only to detest the new cat- which is always underfoot- but to fear it. What remains of his reason keeps him from harming the animal, until the day the mans wife asks him to accompany her on an errand to the cellar. The cat runs ahead, nearly tripping his master on the stairs. The man becomes enraged. He picks up an ax, meaning to murder the animal, but when his wife grabs the handle to stop him, he pivots, killing her with a blow to the head. Rather than break down with remorse, the man hastily hides his wifes body by walling it up with bricks behind a false facade in the cellar. The cat thats been tormenting him seems to have disappeared. Relieved, he begins to think hes gotten away with his crime and all will finally be well–until the police eventually show up to search the house. They find nothing but as theyre headed up the cellar stairs preparing to leave, the narrator stops them, and with false bravado, he boasts how well the house is built, tapping on the wall thats hiding the body of his dead wife. From within comes a sound of unmistakable anguish. Upon hearing the cries, the authorities demolish the false wall, only to find the wifes corpse, and on top of it, the missing cat. I had walled the monster up within the tomb! he wails- not realizing that in fact, he and not the cat, is the actual villain of the story. Symbols Symbols are a key component of Poes dark tale, particularly the following ones. The black cat:  More than just the title character, the black cat is also an important symbol. Like the bad omen of legend, the narrator believes Pluto and his successor have led him down the path toward insanity and immorality.  Alcohol: While the narrator begins to view the black cat as an outward manifestation of everything the narrator views as evil and unholy, blaming the animal for all his woes, it is his addiction to drinking, more than anything else, that seems to be the true reason for the narrators mental decline.House and home: Home sweet home is supposed to be a place of safety and security, however, in this story, it becomes a dark and tragic place of madness and murder. The narrator kills his favorite pet, tries to kill its replacement, and goes on to kill his own wife. Even the relationships that should have been the central focus of his healthy and happy home fall victim to his deteriorating mental  state.  Prison: When the story opens, the narrator is physica lly in prison, however, his mind was already imprisoned by the shackles of madness, paranoia, and alcohol-induced delusions long before he was apprehended for his crimes.   The wife: The wife could have been a grounding force in the narrators life.  He describes her as having that humanity of feeling. Rather than saving him, or at least escaping with her own life, she becomes a horrible example of innocence betrayed. Loyal, faithful, and kind, she never leaves her husband no matter how low he sinks into the depths of depravity. Instead, it is he who is in a sense unfaithful to his marriage vows. His mistress, however, is not another woman, but rather his obsession with drinking and the inner demons his drinking unleashes as symbolically personified by the black cat. He forsakes the woman he loves- and eventually kills her because he cant break the hold of his destructive obsession. Major Themes Love and hate are two key themes in the story.  The narrator at first loves his pets and his wife, but as madness takes hold of him, he comes to loathe or dismiss everything that should be of the utmost importance to him. Other major themes include: Justice and truth:  The narrator tries to hide the truth by walling up his wifes body but the voice of the black cat helps bring him to justice.Superstition:  The black cat is an omen of bad luck, a theme that runs throughout literature.  Murder and death:  Death is the central focus of the entire story. The question is what causes the narrator to become a killer.Illusion versus reality:  Does the alcohol release the narrators inner demons, or is it merely an excuse for his horrendous acts of violence? Is the black cat merely a cat, or something embued with a greater power to bring about justice or exact revenge?Loyalty perverted: A pet is often seen as a loyal and faithful partner in life but the escalating hallucinations the narrator experiences propel him into murderous rages, first with Pluto and then with the cat the replaces him. The pets he once held in highest affection become the thing he most loathes. As the mans sanity unravels, his wife, whom he also purports to love, becomes someone who merely inhabits his home rather than shares his life. She ceases to be a real person, and when she does, she is expendable. When she dies, rather than feel the horror of killing someone he cares for, the mans first response is to hide the evidence of his crime. Key Quotes Poes use of language enhance the storys chilling impact. His stark prose is  the reason this and other of his tales have endured. Key quotes from Poes work echo its themes. On reality vs. illusion: For the  most wild, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor solicit belief.   On loyalty: There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere Man.   On superstition: In speaking of his intelligence, my wife, who at heart was not a little tinctured with superstition, made frequent allusion to the ancient popular notion, which regarded all black cats as witches in disguise.   On alcoholism: ...my disease grew upon me- for what disease is like Alcohol!- and at  length  even Pluto, who was now becoming old, and consequently somewhat peevish- even Pluto began to experience the effects of my ill temper.   On transformation and descent into insanity: I knew myself no longer. My original soul seemed, at once, to take its flight from my body; and a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fiber of my frame.   On murder: This spirit of perverseness, I say, came to my final overthrow. It was this unfathomable longing of the soul to vex itself- to offer violence to its own nature- to do wrong for the wrongs sake only- that urged me to continue and finally to consummate the injury I had inflicted upon the unoffending brute.   On evil: Beneath the pressure of torments such as these, the feeble remnant of the good within me succumbed. Evil thoughts became my sole intimates- the darkest and most evil of thoughts.   Questions for Study and Discussion Once students have read The Black Cat, teachers can use the following questions to spark discussion or as the basis for an exam or written assignment: Why do you think Poe chose The Black Cat as the title for this story?What are the major conflicts? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) do you see in this story?What does Poe do to reveal character in the story?What are some themes in the story?How does Poe employ symbolism?Is the narrator consistent in his actions? Is he a fully developed character?Do you find the narrator likable? Would you want to meet him?Do you find the narrator reliable? Do you trust what he says to be true?How would you describe the narrators relationship with animals? How does it differ from his relationships with people?Does the story end the way you expected it to?What is the central  purpose of the story? Why is this purpose important or meaningful?Why is the story usually considered a work of horror literature?Would you consider this appropriate reading for Halloween?How essential is setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?What are some of the controversial elements of the story? Were they necessary? What is the role of women in the text?Would you recommend this story to a friend?If Poe had not ended the story as he did, what do you think might have happened next?How have views on alcoholism, superstition, and insanity changed since this story was written?How might a modern writer approach a similar story?