Australian Economy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Australian Economy - Essay Example Figure 1 - Historical real GDP growth in Australia's economy The Australian economy is expected to see a rise of between 3.75% and 4% in the GDP for the 2011-12 fiscal year. However certain estimates see this prediction as too high given the current global economic climate (Reserve Bank of Australia, 2010; Brinsden, 2010). The figure below speaks volumes of the success of the Australian government and the Australian Reserve Bank in keeping the Australian economy afloat (Australian Government, 2010; Reserve Bank of Australia, 2010; Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2010). Figure 2 - Comparison of international GDP growth rates The GDP of any nation is composed of the consumption (C), the investment (I), the net governmental fiscal spending (G) and the net exports (X – Q) which can be expressed mathematically as: Australia’s response to these components can be used to better delineate the response of the Australian government and the Australian Reserve Bank to deal with the ch allenges in the wake of the global financial crisis. Consumption can be used as a major indicator of the economic situation. Australia saw an increase in retail spending of around 0.8% by volume between June 2009 and 2010 which indicates greater consumer confidence (The Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010). However there is little denying that the global financial crisis made Australian consumers all the more conservative (Gruen, 2010) as the household savings rate went up by 1.3% by May 2010 (Reserve Bank of Australia, 2010). Given that consumption growth alone is responsible for 1.5% of the growth of the Australian GDP, it serves as an important sector. The GDP also witnessed a boost in investment especially in the mining sector although the government’s new tax on mining was expected to prohibit further growth. The mining industry witnessed a growth in investment of 29% between June 2009 and 2010 which was around 50% more than expected (Pascoe, 2010). As an initial respo nse to the global financial crisis the government spending shot up dramatically but this was slowed down fearing: overstimulation of the economy; crowding out of private investment; placing a large debt burden. The GDP was positively supported by the net exports as the current account deficit first fell and then went into a positive trade surplus. The increase in net exports can be seen to result from increased demand for Australian minerals in the South East Asian market. Moreover contribution from net exports is expected to rise in 2011 as new capital investment is lowered into mineral operations that will remove bottle necks that affect production capacity (Stutchbury, 2010). The policies and approaches adopted by the Australian government since 2008 have been directed at handling the impacts of the global financial crisis. Macroeconomic policies have been specifically designed and geared to minimise damage from the global financial crisis. Moreover another chief aim of these pol icies remains the provision of adequate exit strategies that would be implemented once economic stability is seen on the horizon. The current fiscal stance of the Australian government is more towards contraction as the budget deficit for 2010-11 was some 40.8

The Marketing Planning of L'Oreal Organisation Essay

The Marketing Planning of L'Oreal Organisation - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that L’Oreal Group is a leading company that markets a wide range of cosmetic products. The corporate products are sub divided-well in order to help the company to become an important player in beauty industry across the globe. Notwithstanding the intensity of competition that exists, it is beneficial to analyze the company’s internal and external profile to gain an understanding of its strategic planning process. The term marketing as an exchange process refers to a concentrated term in relation to the marketing concept. It is originally defined as a transaction by which two or more parties offer a benefit or value to others with a view to satisfying their prospective needs. Companies receive a benefit of selling goods through a market which incorporates a wide range of products and services while end-users obtain commodities they desire from the market. Therefore, both parties including the firms and end users/customers gain in this exchange process. This can occur in a transactional form which means that a consumer buys a particular brand because of self-interest or in form of relational exchange if long-term orientation has taken place. In case of L’Oreal, it can be seen that the company utilizes this concept when conducting its business. The exchange between L’Oreal and its customers result in transactions where the customers buy the products offered and the company gets money. The main goal of L’Oreal is to facilitate and increase its sales transactions through convincing the existing customers and potential customers to purchase its products. As such, it uses the marketing exchange process to assess the trade-offs it needs in order to satisfy its wants and needs, as well as its customer’s wants. L’Oreal’s objective is to create safe and effective quality beauty products for its customers. It is a company that values establishing a strong consumer relations hip.

Compliance of Apple Inc Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Compliance of Apple Inc - Research Paper Example Companies have shifted their operations to developing countries in order to curtail their costs and improve through economic ways. With such an approach, businesses have saved heavy taxes that could be imposed while operating in their homelands. The Economic factor is most influencing for the businesses as it directly affects revenues and profitability. Apple Inc has suppliers from China, India and other parts of the world that serve the company virtually or provide the required hardware, supplies, etc. The company has to assure compliance with standard ethics and variable economic obligations that exist in each country. It attempts to choose most reputed suppliers from around the globe so that economic and legal compliance may not be compromised while quality is maintained throughout operations (King, 2011). In the present era, societies are driven through global values and the gulf between different societies is contracting due to expanding embrace of international social values. H owever social circumstances differ geographically (Zylla, 2013). Apple Inc behaves as socially responsible entity and endeavors to aid workers as and when required to bring them in pace with the rapidly changing dynamics of the world. Apple does not allow the suppliers to overburden employees and limits the working hours per week so that they stay in good health and work efficiently in the long run. The company attempts to educate manpower of its suppliers through SEED (Supplier Employee Education Development) program.

Taking the Veil (by Katherine Mansfield) Essay Example for Free

Taking the Veil (by Katherine Mansfield) Essay It seemed impossible that anyone should be unhappy on such a beautiful morning. Nobody was, decided Edna, except herself. The windows were flung wide in the houses. From within there came the sound of pianos, little hands chased after each other and ran away fluttered in the sunny gardens, all bright with spring flowers. Street boys whistled, a little dog barked; people passed by, walking so lightly, so swiftly, they looked as though they wanted to break into a run. Now she actually saw in the distance a parasol of the year. Perhaps even Edna did not look quite as unhappy as she felt. It is not easy to look tragic at eighteen, when you are extremely pretty, with the cheeks and lips and shinning eyes of perfect health. Above all, when you are wearing a French blue frock and your new spring hat trimmed with cornflowers. True, she carried under her arm a book bound in horrid black leather. Perhaps the book provided a gloomy note, but only by accident; it was the ordinary Library binding. For Edna had made going to the Library an excuse for getting out of the house to think, to realize what had happened, to decide somehow what was to be done now. An awful thing happened. Quite suddenly, at the theatre last night, when she and Jimmy were seated side by side in the dress-circle, without a moment’s warning – in fact, she had just finished a chocolate almond and passed the box to him again – she had fallen in love with an actor. But – fallen – in – love†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. The feeling was unlike anything she had ever imagined before. It wasn’t in the least pleasant. It was hardly thrilling. Unless you can call the most dreadful sensation of hopeless misery, despair, agony and wretchedness, thrilling. Combined with the certainty that if that actor met her on the pavement after, while Jimmy was fetching their cab, she would follow him to the ends of the earth, at a nod, at a sign, without giving another thought to Jimmy or her fat her and mother or her happy home and countless friends again†¦.. The play had begun fairly cheerfully. That was at the chocolate almond stage. Then the hero had gone blind. Terrible moment! Edna had cried so much she had to borrow Jimmy’s folded, smooth-feeling handkerchief as well. Not that crying mattered. Whole rows were in tears. Even the men blew their noses with a loud trumpeting noise and tried to peer at the programme instead of looking at the stage. Jimmy, most mercifully dry-eyed – for what would she have done without his handkerchief? – squeezed her free hand, and whispered â€Å"Cheer up, darling girl!† And it was then she had taken a last chocolate almond to please him and passed the box again. Then there had been that ghastly scene with the hero alone on the stage in a deserted room at twilight, with a band playing outside and the sound of cheering coming from the street. He had tried – ah! How painfully, how pitifully! – to grope his way to the window. Hw had succeeded at last. There he stood holding the curtain while one beam of light, just one beam, shone full on his raised sightless face, and the band faded awa y into the distance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ It was – really, it was absolutely – oh, the most – it was simply – in fact, from that moment Edna knew that life could never be the same. She drew her hand away from Jimmy’s, leaned back, and shut the chocolate box for ever. T his at last was love! Edna and Jimmy were engaged. She had had her hair up for a year and a half, they had been publicly engaged for a year. But, they had known they were going to marry each other ever since they walked in the Botanical Gardens with their nurses, and sat on the grass with a wine biscuit and a piece of barley-sugar each for their tea. It was so much an accepted thing that Edna had worn a wonderfully good imitation of an engagement-ring out of a cracker all the time she was at school. And up till now they had been devoted to each other. But now it was over. It was so completely over that Edna found difficult to believe that Jimmy did not realize it too. She smiled wisely, sadly, as she turned into the gardens of the Convent of the Sacred Heart and mounted the path that led through them to Hill Street. How much better to know it now than to wait until after they were married! Now it was possible that Jimmy would get over it. No, it was no use deceiving herself; he would never get over it! His life was wrecked, was ruined; that was inevitable. But he was young†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Time, people always said, Time might make a little, just a little difference. In forty years when he was an old man, he might be able to think of her calmly – perhaps. But she, what did the future hold for her? Edna had reached the top of the path. There under a new-leafed tree, hung with little bunches of white flowers, she sat down on a green bench and looked over the Convent flowerbeds. In the one nearest to her grew tender stocks, with a border of blue, shell-like pansies, with at one corner a clump of creamy freesias, their light spears of green criss-crossed over the flowers. The Convent pigeons were tumbling high in the air, and she could hear the voice of Sister Agnes who was giving a singing lesson. Ah-me, sounded the deep tones of the nun, and Ah-me, they were echoed †¦.. If she did not marry Jimmy, of course s he would marry nobody. The man she was in love with, the famous actor – Edna had far too much common-sense not to realize that would never be. It was very odd. She didn’t even want it to be. Her love was too intense for that. It had to be endured, silently; it had to torment her. It was, she supposed, simply that kind of love. â€Å" But, Edna!† cried Jimmy. â€Å" Can you never change? Can I never hope again?† Oh, what sorrow to have to say it, but it must be said. â€Å" No, Jimmy, I will never change.† Edna bowed her head; and a little flower fell on her lap, and the voice of Sister Agnes cried suddenly Ah-no, and the echo came, Ah-no†¦.. At that moment the future was revealed. Edna saw it all. She was astonished; it took her breath away at first. But, after all, what could be more natural? She would go into a convent†¦. Her father and mother do everything to dissuade her, in vain. As for Jimmy, his state of mind hardly bears thinking about. Why can’t they understand? How can they add to her suffering like this? The world is cruel, terribly cruel! After a last scene when she gives away her jewellery and so on to her best friends – she so calm, they so broken-hearted – into a convent she goes. No, one moment. The very evening of her going is the actor’s last evening at Port Willin. He receives by a strange messenger a box. It is full of white flowers. But there is no name, no card. Nothing? Yes, under the roses, wrapped in a white handkerchief, Edna’s last photograph with, written underneath, The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Edna sat very still under the trees; she clasped the black book in her fingers as though it were her missal. She takes the name of Sister Angela. Snip! Snip! All her lovely hair is cut off. Will she be allowed to send one curl to Jimmy? It is contrived somehow. And in a blue gown with a white headband Sister Angela goes from the convent to the chapel, from the chapel to the convent with something unearthly in her look, in her sorrowful eyes, and in the gentle smile with which they greet the little children who run to her. A saint! She hears it whispered as she paces the chill, wax-smelling corridors. A saint! And visitors to the chapel are told of the nun whose voice is heard above the other voices, of her youth, her beauty, of her tragic, tragic love. â€Å" There is a man in this town whose life is ruined†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A big bee, a golden furry fellow, crept into freesia, and the delicate flower leaned over, swung, shook; and then the bee flew away it fluttered still as though it were laughing. Happy, careless flower! Sister Angela looked at it and said, â€Å" Now it is winter.† One night, lying in her icy cell, she hears a cry. Some stray animal is out there in the garden, a kitten or a lamb or –well, whatever little animal might be there. Up rises the sleepless nun. All in white, shivering but fearless, she goes and brings it in. But next morning, when the bell rings for matins, she is found tossing in her fever†¦. in delirium†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ and she never recovers. In three days all is over. The service has been said in the chapel, and she is buried in the corner of the cemetery reserved for the nuns, where there are plain little crosses of wood. Rest in Peace, Sister Angela†¦.. Now it is evening. Two old people leaning on each other come slowly to the grave and kneel down sobbing, â€Å" Our daughter! Our only daughter!† Now there comes another. He is all in black; he comes slowly. But when he is there and lifts his black hat, Edna sees to her horror his hair is snow-white. Jimmy! Too late, too late! The tears are running down his face; he is crying now. Too late, too late! The wind shakes the leafless trees in the churchyard. He gives one awful bitter cry. Edna’s black book fell with a thud to garden path. She jumped up, her heart beating. My darling! No, it’s not too late. It’s all been a mistake, a terrible dream. Oh, that white hair! How could she have done it? She has not done it. Oh, heavens! Oh, what happiness! She is free, young, and nobody knows her secret. Everything is still possible for her and Jimmy. The house they have planned may still be built, the little solemn boy with hands behind his back watching them plant the standard roses may still be born. His baby sister†¦.. But when Edna got as far as his baby-sister, she stretched out her arms as though the little love came flying through the air to her, and gazing at the garden, at the white sprays on the tree, at those darling pigeons blue against blue, and the Convent with its narrow windows, she realized that now at last for the first time in her life – she had never imagined any feeling like it before – she knew what it was to be in love, but – in – love!

Men of Respect and Macbeth Essay -- Compare Contrast Respect Macbeth E

Men of Respect and Macbeth   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1991, William Shakespeare’s great play â€Å"Macbeth† was re-created into a modern day version titled â€Å"Men of Respect.† Was the plays textual fidelity lost in transition during the making of the film, or did the film show total loyalty and devotion to the text and the feelings of the play? A closer examination of the characters/lines, classification between good and evil, and the use of light and dark will compare the many differences and similarities between William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Macbeth† and William Reilly’s â€Å"Men of Respect.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Set in present day New York (present as in 1991), the various warring kingdoms of the play become organized crime factions in the film, King Duncan becoming the "padrino" or godfather of the main "family," Charlie Di'Mico. His chief lieutenant, Mikey Bataglia is, of course, the corollary to the treacherous Macbeth. The character of Lady Macbeth (Ruthie Bataglia) remains instinctive yet ruthless in her goal to get Mikey to become the â€Å"padrino.† William Reilly at times stuck to Shakespeare’s original version word for word. Other lines were re-worked for the modern audience, such as Lady Macbeth’s speech that states â€Å"They have made themselves, and their fitness now does unmake you. I had given suck, and know how tender ‘tis to love the bebe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done this.† (A ct...

Computer Laboratory Management System Essay

The Computer Lab or Computer Laboratory is obviously part of the institution like Schools and University. For the reason that there are several matters that uses computer like computing of data, creating documents and many other task that uses computers for faster data processing. At schools almost all courses are having computer related subject to learn about computers. Focusing to this topic Computer Laboratory comprised of several computers that connected to a network which a network is consist of collection of computers and other equipment that is connected together to communicate with each other. Samar College Inc. is one of the most fast growing and innovative institution in Catbalogan offering various courses for College degree. Along with its increasing community is the need of the students for more high quality resources particularly in computer laboratory. Computer laboratory is one of the facilities that had provided by Samar College to help students practice the theories that have been thought in lecture. At this instance computer laboratory needs management software in order to secure, obey the rolls inside the lab and uses its advantage. As a student’s conducting research it shows that it is more advantage if computer laboratories will use management software that will manage several tasks of instructors or some faculty of Samar College who uses the computer lab in teaching students and for some matters that uses Computer Laboratory. This management software will handles the task like access control, system security, student’s attendance and remote monitoring of system activities. In addition to this study the researchers also notice to use biometric device for faster data processing and to acquire the consistent and exact information in short period of time. Also biometric device will be very useful for this kind of research to apply its consistency, accuracy and the security of the system. Project Context The proposed System Computer Laboratory Manage System is a LAN-based system which will further increase the efficiency of learning, management and  student monitoring by using client-server approach. This system will benefit both the instructor and the student, as it simplifies common tasks in a normal PC-based classroom. The server, which is used by the instructor as a control device for communicating, provides several functions: automating class attendance; broadcasting laboratory work and announcement viewing and locking computer screens; and database reports. Purpose and Description of the Project The project was aimed at producing application software that can optimize the usage of a computer lab in Samar College. Several misbehavior patterns of students in using the computers will be identified; an effective management and monitoring style to be in place. Objectives of the Project General The general objective of this study is to develop a system that would handle the management and monitoring of Computer Laboratory in Samar College. A system that would lessen the unmannered use of computers, time consuming of turning off all computers, get rid of using computers if not in a schedule. Specific 1. To develop a system that would able the instructors to have access control of computers; 2. to develop a system that use biometric device to login student & instructors; 3. to produce an application software where the instructor is able to monitor the computer usage of the student; 4. to enable instructor to take attendance of the students effectively. Scope and Limitations of the Project Scope The propose study entitled Computer Laboratory Management System for Samar College scope is to employs client-server approach, developed by using .Net Technology, covers the management and monitoring of Computer Lab which  allows the instructors to monitor and tract students in using the computer. The Instructors can add, edit and delete students and instructors information, the instructor can print out the attendance of the students, students will be given allotted time to use the computer laboratory based on their schedule, the students can automatically log- on to the computer using biometric device. Limitation This system is limited to the students and instructors of Samar College use only; only instructors can use the server side of system and only the students can use the client-side of system. The instructors can send message to the students. Students are limited only to update and access a particular info that is available on the screen. Chapter II Review of Related Literature Related Literature / Theoretical Background The history of computer labs at colleges and universities is an ill-documented one. Books, articles, and websites can be found documenting the first mainframes put in place and the early years of computer science education. Computer labs, however, are rarely found described in the literature about computing in higher learning. Even less scholarly attention has been given to how students have used these labs. In some ways it appears the labs have quietly settled into the middle areas between personal computers and supercomputers as well as between class use and in-home use. Lab computers offer access to personal computing software and high-end specialized software. They are also utilized for academic needs similar to in-class use and entertainment like much computer use at home. Yet, while studies have been focused on computer use at the ends of these two spectrums, the university computer lab has unceremoniously bridged the gaps without garnering much attention. Chapter III Methodology Technical Background The researchers used VB.Net in developing the system since it’s the most applicable resources, the researchers also use biometric device for faster data processing and secure the use of the system. The system is composed of two categories which is the server side and the other one is client side. The server side will be the control or manage the entire system and only the teacher can use it. Client side is for the students. Details of the technologies to be used At this section describes and discuss the details of technologies used by the researcher. VB.Net Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET) is a multi-paradigm, high level programming language, implemented on the .NET Framework. Microsoft launched VB.NET in 2002 as the successor to its original Visual Basic language. Biometric Device the process by which a person’s unique physical and other traits are detected and recorded by an electronic device or system as a means of confirming identity. Xampp (/ˈzà ¦mp/ or /ˈɛks.à ¦mp/) is a free and open source cross-platform web server solution stack package, consisting mainly of the Apache HTTP Server, MySQL database, and interpreters for scripts written in the PHP and Perl programming languages. MySQL is a popular choice of database for use in web applications, and is a central component of the widely used LAMP open source web application software stack (and other ‘AMP’ stacks). LAMP is an acronym for â€Å"Linux, Apache, MySQL, Perl/PHP/Python. How the project will work The system keeps and stores the data as well as provides a capacity for editing the student, instructors, and subject and schedules details if necessary. The system is compose of two categories which is the server-side that manage all the functionalities of the system and the other one is the client-side which used by the students to interact with the instructor or in order by the students to use the computer. A brief description of how the system works: Students and Teachers must logon in order to access the system, either using biometric scanner or by providing username and password at the login page.

The Self in a Social World

L. I am but a mass of tanned skin, black-brown hair, intimidating eyes, relatively normal features, and limbs and extremities of regular length stuck onto a body of less than average height with a slight belly to match. I have never seen myself as physically fit, exactly, nor do I see myself as someone head-turning gorgeous like a lot of my friends are. There are a lot of things about me that I want to desperately change in a physical sense, because really, I am nothing above typical. Regular mood swings are a norm for me, hormonal imbalance or none, though I ant say I'm emotionally unstable.You might say I'm sensitive; I'm easily touched, easily ticked off, easily pleased, easily hurt. I tend to be intense and extreme with my emotions, and very vocal about it too. Without a venting outlet, my emotions may be easily displaced. My mood is often dangerous and difficult to control, like wildfire. Sometimes, I think of myself as a mirror; how I behave depends on the people I'm with. If h e's the shy type, I'm the shy type. If she's bubbly and talkative, then that's me as well. The only time this doesn't work is when the person I'm with is a loud and obnoxious ass.Normally when there are plenty of people I don't know, be it walking around the Magic complex or sitting in a classroom full of people I don't know, I'm very guarded and conscious of my actions, making me look cold and quiet sometimes. This stems from my intense fear of public embarrassment, I think. But once Vie settled in a little niche, especially with the people who are close to me, the loud, wild and sometimes shameless little monster inside of me comes out with a vengeance. He. I'm not exactly a socially-awkward person, nor am I totally socially-adept.I'm either mainstream nor hipster, trendsetter nor wallflower either. Truth is, I'm really just somewhere in between all that. And I like where I am. I'm not the type to be easily swayed by new trends, habits, practices and opinions, sans political opini ons because I am so pathetically apathetic on those matters. Only in recent years have I begun to be as friendly and cordial as I can to new people I meet. I often try to keep my mood and behavior in check when I'm with my friends as well, because even though they know about it, I don't want to show them the ugly side of me that I only how myself.Now, even if I didn't graduate as the class valedictorian and simply made it with a humble Honorable Mention medal, that hasn't stopped me from thinking of myself as fairly smart. I have intelligent parent's and relatives and I think that's influenced me plenty. I do read and write a lot. I pick up a lot of things from books and movies and my father to be able to do those well, so much that I was able to conquer my fear of public speaking. Although it doesn't apply all the time, I do pick up on things rather easily, making schoolwork lighter for me than most of my friends think so.Still, I don't think that highly of myself in this matter. I am not special, and again, nothing above typical. II. Physical: 1 . ) Physically fit 3. ) Attractive 4. ) Has dimples Emotional: 1 . ) Emotionally stable 2. ) Intense with her feelings 3. ) Short-tempered 4. ) Sensitive 5. ) Happy-go-lucky Behavioral: 1 Careful 2. ) Competitive 3. ) Energetic 4. ) Perfectionist Social: 1 Friendly 2. ) Sociable 3. ) May come off as intimidating and difficult to approach Cognitive: 1 . Above average 2. ) Intelligent 3. ) Witty 4. ) Competitive Ill.For the Physical aspect of the survey, to everything aside from the typical â€Å"average height, brown shoulder-length hair†, I say â€Å"WHAT? † I was honestly laughing at the number of people who responded with ‘physically fit' and ‘sexy, because not only is one of them awkward to read, I also don't find the other one true at all. I always berate myself for my thighs and my arms and my belly that seem to be growing a hundred miles per hour. The responses in the survey make me th ink one of two things: 1 . Maybe it's all in my head after all or 2. They're Just saying that because they don't want to make me feel bad. And to be honest, the second one seems a lot more plausible to me. Because, really, I can't see this body as ‘physically fit' at all. Other than that, almost everything else I read off the survey answers were pretty much things I'm aware of or I already knew about myself. It makes me think how transparent I really am of a person, even to people I haven't been friends with for over a year. This fact assures me somehow, and I seem to take it as a good thing.Since Vie always hated people who are fake and ‘plastic', two-faced people who only care about looking good in front of other people, it's good to know that people are seeing me as I really am, even the rough spots and the dark sides, and that I'm not one of those people I absolutely loathe. It's nice to know I haven't completely turned into the person I swore I'd never become. You'd probably expect me to say something like â€Å"This survey activity has opened my eyes and inspired me to change, etc. † but no, that's the exact opposite of what Vie realized.I realized that there's really nothing to change after all. I already like everything myself, my short-temperateness, my faux icy demeanor, and even my that. Lastly, I thank my friends who responded honestly to this survey. I got to see how other people saw me, something Vie always been curious about, and I learned, based on how fast I ran out of survey forms, how many people I actually consider as friends who also see me the same way. Also, based on the fact that I'm still friends with these people, I realized how much they've accepted me, despite all my shortcomings as a person and as a friend.