Transcendentalism Henry David Thoreau Essay - 1096 Words

Henry David Thoreau was born on July 12, 1817 in Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau grew up in poverty; his dad was unsuccessful and had trouble maintaining a steady job. Thoreau followed in his father’s footsteps, ultimately bouncing from job to job, scorned by society for his unconventional way of living and lack of income (Henry David Thoreau, Discovering Biography). Thoreau began to write with the guidance of Ralph Waldo Emerson who became one of the most important influences in his life. Living with Emerson gave Thoreau insight and inspiration on how to write, and eventually led him to write Walden (Henry David Thoreau, Discovering Biography). Walden was also inspired by Transcendentalism, a literary movement that challenged the use and†¦show more content†¦Walden’s main themes and ideas embody the Transcendentalist literary movement. Thoreau proves in Walden that although society may feel overbearing and laden with responsibilities, each person may do whatev er he or she pleases. It is society and its glorified version of material things that makes people think that they always have to be one step ahead, when in reality it does not matter. Thoreau wrote Walden to point out the irony that people are possessed by their possessions (Swirski). Thoreau wanted to prove that a life led simply could be more fulfilling than a life led by an obsession of material things. This idea of the simplicity of human nature was one of the main ideas of Transcendentalism. Thoreau’s work was heavily influenced by the Transcendentalist movement due to his involvement with Emerson (Swirski). Another theme of Walden is unity with God. Thoreau believed that God was unified with philosophy, nature, and humanity, an idea that stemmed from the Transcendentalist movement. The Transcendentalist movement was a religious movement characterized by the belief that religion was what was inside of you, not what other people told you (â€Å"Thoreau, Henry David†). Thoreau was a strong believer in what this movement stood for, and because of this, he immersed himself into nature to discover religion and God inside of himself. Thoreau then wrote Walden toShow MoreRelatedThe Effect Of Transcendentalism : Henry David Thoreau1654 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effect of Transcendentalism: Henry David Thoreau Transcendentalism is the American literary, political, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century that was rooted in the pure Romanticism of the English and the German (Goodman). Ralph Waldo Emerson is considered the father of Transcendentalism because his literature is the first to praise the notable spirituality of nature. The basic belief of the movement is to live authentically; being true to oneself (Day). The movement itselfRead MoreHenry David Thoreau And Chris Mccandless Transcendentalism1618 Words   |  7 Pagesbe advised by people to start engaging in the concept of solitude. Henry David Thoreau and Chris McCandless were both transcendentalism that believes in the key fundamental idea that the human body should partake in such as solitude. Henry Thoreau was a transcendentalist that practiced the form of solitude throughout his life. He left society and moved into the woods to be removed from the confines of society. Along with Thoreau, a more modern-day t ranscendentalist was known as Chris McCandless.Read MoreTranscendentalism : Henry David Thoreau And Ralph Waldo Emerson847 Words   |  4 PagesTranscendentalism relates to freedom in several ways. Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are two transcendentalists that have different views on freedom. Our project, representing freedom, shows a person how to live his or her life in a way of freedom shown by Emerson and Thoreau. Together, we did research on the transcendentalists: Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. We studiedRead MoreTranscendentalism in Henry David Thoreau and Emily Dickinsons Literature984 Words   |  4 Pageswished to know what transcendentalism was he should empty his mind of everything coming from tradition and the rest would be transcendentalism† (Boller 34). This literary period has dramatically shaped literature and religion, in America. Many writers like Henry David Thoreau and Emily Dickinson have been influence by transcendental ideas. It is astonishing how an inspiring literature movement can change so much of the world’s view and still is around today. Transcendentalism was an American literatureRead More Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as Fathers of Transcendentalism730 Words   |  3 PagesRalph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau as Fathers of Transcendentalism Transcendentalism was a movement in writing that took place in the mid-nineteenth century. It formed in the early to mid nineteenth century and reached it climax around 1850 during an era commonly referred to as the American Renaissance, America’s Golden Day, or the Flowering of New England. The basic tenets of Transcendentalism involve the relationships between one’s self and the world at large. First, the searchRead MoreHenry David Thoreau And Transcendentalism1346 Words   |  6 PagesHenry David Thoreau was born and lived his life in Concord, Massachusetts. Thoreau had always been an intelligent student and eventually began his study at Harvard University and graduated at the top of his class despite having to drop out on several occasions due to his financial struggles. Around the time when Thoreau was graduating,   America had been experiencing an economic depression resulting in the loss of jobs of many and work became harder to find. But because Henry Thoreau was a HarvardRead MoreHenry David Thoreau : The Philosophy Of Transcendentalism1055 Words   |  5 PagesThe philosophy of Transcendentalism, according to the article â€Å"Transcendentalism, An American Philosophy† is believed to have been created and led by Ralph Waldo Emerson, which is why he is considered by many literary scholars and historians to be the father of Transcendentalism. Throughout the years, this philosophy attracted other artists and thinkers such as the American Romantic novelist Henry David Thoreau. These prominent and poetic individuals created an insight for this movement, believingRead MoreTranscendentalism And Ralph Waldo Emerson And Henry David Thoreau807 Words   |  4 Pages but none quite like that of Transcendentalism. This movement embodies the idea that spiritual growth can be achieved through personal journey instead of conflicting with organized religion. By the time of the movement’s onset, newly gained religious freedom in the United States allowed for new ideas and beliefs to prosper freely. At the heart of this movement was Transcendentalism philosophy famous ambassadors, Ralph Waldo Emerson and apprentice Henry David Thoreau. These men believed nature isRead MoreTranscendentalism : Ralph Waldo Emerson And Henry David Tho reau967 Words   |  4 PagesRalph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are two of the most inspiring and accomplished writers to ever walk upon this Earth. They dared to question how people lived and how people should live. They were light years ahead of their time with their transcendentalist ideas. Transcendentalism can be defined by this quote, â€Å"People... have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that transcends... what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel†(History). This is a perfect explanation forRead MoreTranscendentalism, By John Waldo Emerson And Henry David Thoreau1594 Words   |  7 Pagescloser and closer to utopia, the perfect society. Transcendentalism, the flawed doctrine, instead leads its adherents on the road to nowhere, and many of the principles fail spectacularly when applied in real life. Transcendentalism is too idealistic to be realistic. Simply put, transcendentalism is wrong. Their ideals are not just incorrect, they are potentially dangerous. First, transcendentalists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, among others, believe the spontaneous emotion

How We Find Meaning in Life Through Love Essay - 2466 Words

How We Find Meaning in Life Through Love Life’s offerings such as: interests, talents, jobs, religion, or relationships are the catalysts through which we put meaning into our lives. When we find someone or something that we love or feel passionate about that puts meaning into life. It makes people feel as though they are fulfilling a want or desire, which would also lead to feeling very accomplished and happy. Finding a passion gives life a purpose. Jay Earley said it best when he wrote, â€Å"I define life purpose as a contribution to the world that uses your whole self fully and gives your life passion, fulfillment, and meaning through dedication to something larger than yourself† (Early 6). We are able to feel that we are here for a†¦show more content†¦Collectors know exactly where they got each spoon and the story behind it. Another interest of many people is traveling. There are people that travel for pleasure and have a passion to venture outside of their city, state, and even their country. They want to discover and learn about new cultures. Many of the people who travel all of the time love having no ties and enjoy being as free as a bird. They are also finding a part of themselves and adding to their personal experiences. â€Å"Travel can help us overcome our fear of the unknown and inspire hope. Travel can also be a catalyst for personal growth and introduce us to integrative solutions for our common challenges† (Everette de la Campa 1). They are able to see the beauties of many other places. Everywhere you go it will be different in some way. The way that people live their every day lives differs from city to city, not only in different countries. From this, individuals are able to obtain an inside view of how other places in the world vary and see the differing cultures. They ar e able to go out and see what other places have in store for them and what they have to offer, instead of hearing about a place through TV and other people sharing their traveling experiences. They aren’t escaping anything they are only trying to find themselves, improve their view of the world, learn and understanding the surrounding parts of the world. They are being openShow MoreRelatedEssay on Mans Search For Meaning946 Words   |  4 Pages In Mans Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl describes his revolutionary type of psychotherapy. He calls this therapy, logotherapy, from the Greek word logos, which denotes meaning. This is centered on mans primary motivation of his search for meaning. To Frankl, finding meaning in life is a stronger force than any subconscious drive. He draws from his own experiences in a Nazi concentration camp to create and support this philosophy of mans existence. Frankl endured much suffering duringRead MorePeople Of All Ages Share A Aspiration For Meaning, Significance,1555 Words   |  7 Pagesa aspiration for meaning, significance, and hope in their lives that can lead to an underlying sense of purpose. Discovering and understanding our purpose provides us with a basis and a map with clear directions for how we can live out life to the fullest. For each person, the meaning of life may vary and be slightly different based on different cultures and morals. In our humanistic culture, people pursue what they think they will find meaning in. Some of these quests for meaning include successRead MoreA Book About The Torment That This Young Man Had From The Author s Own Point Of View879 Words   |  4 PagesReading this extremely descriptive book about the torment that this young man had to go through is kind of like reading a diary entry that stemmed from a failed high school relationship. Except in this case, someone else is writing this stor y about heartbreak. The author digs deep into the feelings and the underlying meaning behind the story of this young man and it almost seems as though they are experimenting or gathering data. In fact, it states that they are an observer in this short drama. WhileRead MoreExistentialism In Rick And Morty1409 Words   |  6 PagesLife can be interrupted in many ways to fit a person s lifestyle. It helps give the said person a reason to push through their time here on earth or possibly beyond. In the show â€Å"Rick and Morty†, Rick one of the main characters uses the saying â€Å"No one exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, we’re all going to die†¦Ã¢â‚¬  many times throughout the show. This is to help justify his actions that proceed after them; one of the main topics that come away from this, is that life has no grand meaning andRead MoreExistential Therapy: Death, Freedom Self-Awareness Essay1049 Words   |  5 Pageson others to validate who they are , and to give them meaning. However, they must realize that they are alone in this world and they must find meaning from within themselves and not from others. Nevertheless, for many people being alone causes anxiety in which people feel that their life has no meaning. A person can become aware of who they are but not accept who they are while being alone. Existential therapy helps people to look within and find a way to cope with their emotional experiences theyRead MoreMans Search For Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl Essay1208 Words   |  5 PagesLife was consumed by constant orders, labor, malnutrition, disease, and murder in the concentration camps. Yet somehow the human psyche in many individuals was able to endure throughout these imprisonments. Men and women were almost completely dehumanized during this genocide, but their psyche survived it. People had to find little things to keep themselves content and to nurture their psyche. â€Å"Humor was another of the soul’s we apons in the fight for self-preservation† (63). Humor allows a personRead MoreEssay on Mans Search For Meaning1241 Words   |  5 PagesIn Mans Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl creates his personal, yet revolutional, type of therapy. He calls this therapy, logotherapy, the prefix of the word is taken from the Greek word logos, which denotes meaning. This derivation is chosen because logotherapy is centered on a humans primary motivation to search for the means in which he exists. To Frankl, finding meaning in life is a stronger force than any subconscious drive. He draws from his own, personal experiences in a Nazi concentrationRead MoreJoseph Frankl s Man s Search For Meaning1348 Words   |  6 PagesFrankl said â€Å"Man’s search for meaning is the primary motivation in his life. This meaning is unique and specific in that it must and can be fulfilled by him alone; only then does it achieve a significance which will satisfy his own will to meaning.† In that phrase I was curious to find out more about this man and how he put his theory to the ultimate test in the worst of human conditions imaginable to modern man. In nine days Frankl wrote Man’s Search for Meaning which has over 12 million copiesRead MoreThe Real Meaning Of Life1511 Words   |  7 Pages The real meaning to life Since the beginning of humankind we have always strived to find answers to everything that has come to exist along in life with us or before us. Even though at any given time Life can throw us obstacles, we may face these moments which sometimes make us wonder why were we placed into this world. I believe as humans we will always hold a desire to try and understand every issue we encounter. Although the world can be a very cruel place to live in and, it can mentally damageRead MoreDeath As A Tragedy For The Individual Essay1253 Words   |  6 Pagescaptured. The struggle to decipher the meaning in dying was throughout provoking and especially moving in When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. Kalanithi wrestles with having an intimate knowledge of what will eventually be the cause of his death. While Kalanithi’s dying impacts him and his family profoundly, the impact of his death is only relevant to the living. Death impacts the community, the family, and the natural world through which the body may decompose. We see this in the chapter that was

Principles of Supply Chain Management- Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Supply Chanin Management. Answer: Introduction: Supply chain management The concept of supply chain management is very crucial for every organization or industry. The fashion industry also needs effective supply chain management process to keep the business on track. This report describes the role of supply chain management in a company Silversurf Beachwear provided in the case study. By analyzing the case study, it is seen that the company is operating in Australian market and it is doing well in its business. Further, the planning of the company is to expand the business in the international market but it is not any easy task. There is the need of proper inventory management planning and sufficient amount of raw material to operate in the global market. Based on the case study, it is observed that company is planning to expand its business in Asia, USA, China, America and Europe. These are developed countries and there is strong competition in the fashion retail industry. In such case, company has to adopt effective manufacturing and distribution strat egies to survive in the competitive environment of the global market (Chopra Meindl, 2013). Inventory management and strategic planning For every company, inventory management is important part to manage supply chain of the products in the market. For the company Silversurf Beachwear, inventory management will have a positive impact on the business operations as the company will be able to manufacture quality clothes for the target customers (Rashid Aslam, 2012). To operate in the global market, company needs strategic planning along with proper inventory management. To control and manage unnecessary cost and review the development of the business, inventory management is useful for the Silversurf Beachwear. Along with this, for establishing effective and strong relationship with the customers and suppliers, inventory management would be very helpful for the company in the global market. Economic value of the company in terms of revenue and profit would also be managed by proper inventory management (Beske Seuring, 2014). Supply chain in Globalized world At the global level, there is the need of some different supply chain strategy to deal with the competition and to attract the potential customers in the market. In the supply chain management, there are some key factors and functions which must be covered by the company Silversurf Beachwear. The supply chain functions are storage, proper raw material, production and monitoring of the products, establishing relationship with the customers and suppliers and distributing the finished to the customer on time. Operating on the global level is not an easy task for the companies (Cannella, 2010). For this manner, company has to focus on the core components of the supply chain management i.e. planning, sourcing, manufacturing, delivering and return. By focusing on these five components, Silversurf Beachwear will be able manage its supply chain of raw material and finished products at the global level. Further, continuous flow and exchange of the information in terms of production, material and finance is needed in the supply chain management at the global level. So, company has to adopt these supply chain practices to expand its business in the most challenging country of fashion retail i.e. China. China is considered as the most challenging country contributing the economic sector of the clothing industry. By adopting effective supply chain practices, company will be able to operate in the China market effectively (Barney, 2012). Sustainable practices of supply chain There are many points which to needed to be reduced in the business operations if a company us going to operate in the global market. For this manner, sustainable supply chain practices must be adopted by the Silversurf Beachwear to reduce the risk of investment, improve time to market, and generating more profit in the market. Supply chain practices are useful in improving the level of production along with the manufacturing and distribution process. For the excellent customer service and customer loyalty, there is the need of good production of the clothing products in the Silversurf Beachwear. There are some supply chain practices that must be used by the company at the global level operation. Some of the supply chain practices are provided for the company (Assey, 2012). Company would keep all the information regarding the required and available inventories in the production of clothing products. There would be transaction based movements for maintaining the records of the movements of the raw materials and inventories. Further, automated data collection method would be used for tracking the inventory and raw material. By this method, company would able to gather all the data and information related to all the required raw material. Along with this, it is important to maintain adequate level of raw material in the company as high level of inventory can be the cause unnecessary cost in the business operations. For this manner, company would set re-order point including the arrangements of the safety stock of inventory (Wisner, 2011). Managing inventory Managing inventory is important part of the supply chain process in the company. For operating at the global level, there is the need to manage its inventory by Silversurf Beachwear. Managing inventory includes ordering raw material, work in progress, partner inventories and finished goods that must be focused by the company while planning to operate in the international level. Company would observe the inventory items effectively by using inventory tracking software and bar codes to escape from the errors in inventory storage. Further, while placing the order of raw material, inventory management software would be used by the company. Along with this, company would have a backup plan to use that at the time of any kind of failure (Pamela Pietro, 2011). Impact of Information Technology Technology has an important role in every business operations. There are various technologies which can be used to keep the record of inventories. Company would implement some effective technologies i.e. e-tailing, e-commerce warehousing, and material requirement planning etc. along with this, some software such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and Enterprise resource planning (ERP) would also be used by the Silversurf Beachwear to maintain the supply chain activities at the global level. Conclusion From the above discussion, it can be said that supply chain management is helpful in reducing the workload of employees in the business operations. With the help of proper supply chain, company would be able to manage many business operations such as customer services, supplier and customer management, and inventory management. With the inventory management, company should do efforts for long term growth and should set the global standards for long term strategy because for the short term strategy. Along with this, company should start some activities such as adaption of IT resources, removal of unnecessary operation processes etc to improve the efficiency of supply chain. References Assey, J.J.M., (2012), A New Introduction to Supply Chains and Supply Chain Management: Definitions and Theories Perspective, Journal of Business and Economics, 5 (1), pp. 194-207 Barney, J.B., (2012), Purchasing, supply chain management and sustained competitive advantage: the relevance of resource-based theory, Journal of supply chain management, 48 (2), pp. 3-6 Beske, P., and Seuring, S., (2014), Putting sustainability into supply chain management, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 19 (3), pp. 324-333 Cannella, S., (2010), Up-to-date Supply Chain Management: the Coordinated (S, R), In Advanced Manufacturing and Sustainable Logistics,175-185, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, Germany Chopra, S., Meindl, P., (2013), Supply Chain Management: Strategy, Planning, and Operation (5th ed.), US: Pearson, Global Edition Pamela, D., Pietro, R., (2011), Supply chain integration and efficiency performance: a study on the interactions between customer and supplier integration, Supply chain Management: An International Journal, 16, pp. 220-230 Rashid, K., and Aslam, M., (2012), Business excellence through total supply chain quality management, Asian Journal on Quality, 13(3), pp.309 324 Wisner, J. D., (2011), Principles of Supply Chain Management: A Balanced Approach, Cengage Learning

Ordinary Atheist Essays - Email, Sieve, Spam Filtering,

Ordinary Atheist Endangered people please make way I'm trying to live another day Ranting, raving with my voice I'm going to hell, I have no choice My life is doomed, I have no time Others are doomed too, but they follow the mime Rotting away, our minds slosh to mud If christ died for me it was a waste of blood Another day, I have maintained to live Avoided being sucked down hell's sieve Everending church days, I knew they'd never last Goodbye god, heavens a thing of the past. Monkeys to men, that's how we became Its a lot more to go by than christ's seven day claim One day I'll grow old, eventually die That's all there is--no euphoria in the sky Ordinary Atheist Essays - Email, Sieve, Spam Filtering, Ordinary Atheist Endangered people please make way I'm trying to live another day Ranting, raving with my voice I'm going to hell, I have no choice My life is doomed, I have no time Others are doomed too, but they follow the mime Rotting away, our minds slosh to mud If christ died for me it was a waste of blood Another day, I have maintained to live Avoided being sucked down hell's sieve Everending church days, I knew they'd never last Goodbye god, heavens a thing of the past. Monkeys to men, that's how we became Its a lot more to go by than christ's seven day claim One day I'll grow old, eventually die That's all there is--no euphoria in the sky

Joseph Marie Jacquard and the Jacquard Loom

Joseph Marie Jacquard and the Jacquard Loom Most people probably don’t think of weaving looms as a forerunner of computers. But thanks to French silk weaver Joseph Marie Jacquard, enhancements to automated weaving helped lead to the invention of computer punch cards and the advent of data processing. Jacquards Early Life Joseph Marie Jacquard was born in Lyon, France on the July 7th, 1752 to a master weaver and his wife. When Jacquard was 10 years old, his father died, and the boy inherited two looms, among other holdings. He went into business for himself and married a woman of some means. But his business failed and Jacquard was forced to become a limeburner at Bresse, while his wife supported herself at Lyon by plaiting straw.   In 1793, with the French Revolution well underway, Jacquard took part in the unsuccessful defense of Lyon against the troops of the Convention. Afterward, he served in their ranks on the Rhà ³ne and Loire. After seeing some active service, in which his young son was shot down at his side, Jacquard again returned to Lyon.   The Jacquard Loom Back in Lyon, Jacquard was employed in a factory and used his spare time in constructing his improved loom. In 1801, he exhibited his invention at the industrial exhibition at Paris, and in 1803 he was summoned to Paris to work for the Conservatoire des Arts et Mà ©tiers. A loom by Jacques de Vaucanson (1709- 1782), deposited there, suggested various improvements in his own, which he gradually perfected to its final state. Joseph Marie Jacquards invention was an attachment that sat on top of a loom. A series of cards with holes punched in them would rotate through the device. Each hole in the card corresponded with a specific hook on the loom, which served as a command to raise or lower the hook. The position of the hook dictated the pattern of raised and lowered threads, allowing textiles to repeat complex patterns with great speed and precision. Controversy and Legacy The invention was fiercely opposed by the silk-weavers, who feared that its introduction, owing to the saving of labor, would deprive them of their livelihood. However, the looms  advantages secured its general adoption, and by 1812 there were 11,000 looms in use in France. The loom was declared public property in 1806, and Jacquard was rewarded with a pension and a royalty on each machine.   Joseph Marie Jacquard died at Oullins (Rhà ³ne) on the 7th of August 1834, and six years later a statue was erected in his honor  at Lyon.

Affirmative Action For Colleges essays

Affirmative Action For Colleges essays Affirmative action has been the subject of increasing debate and tension in American society. Should someone be able to attend a university just because of his or her nationality? This has been a growing debate all over the country. There are two sides of this argument. On one side, you have people that embrace equal opportunity programs, ensuring that every nationality is applicable for the college that they hope to one day attend. On the contrary, you have a group of people that believe that affirmative action is unfair. They believe that a persons skin color shouldnt determine whether or not they get accepted to a college, but rather their character and qualifications. What is the right thing to do? Should an African American student be accepted to a university with sub-par grades, when there is a White student that is not accepted with better grades than the African American student? According to affirmative action program, the black student will get in before the white student because his is a minority. This is truly a tough issue to handle. At the same time, if there were no affirmative action, would admissions for colleges be fair and equal? That is the question that many of college professors have been analyzing and debating over for years. Under a federal court order to abolish affirmative action, Texas universities have seen a drop in black and Latino students since 1996(http://aad.english.ucsb.edu). Trying to boost the numbers, the Texas Legislature mandated that the top 10% of each high school be offered automatic admission to University of Texas or Texas A ...

FASB Standards Overview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

FASB Standards Overview - Essay Example The essay "FASB Standards Overview" talks about the FASB, and particularly Statement No. 116, in which over the vociferous objections of many of its constituent not-for-profit organizations, decided that unrestricted pledges should be reported as revenue in the period received. They should measure the pledges at â€Å"the present value of estimated future cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved†. They should take into account both anticipated bad debts and the time value of money. If they establish an allowance for uncollectible(s), then they should use a risk-free discount. If not, then they should use a higher rate-one that takes into account the risk of being unable to collect the pledge. They should not both establish an allowance for uncollectible(s) and adjust the discount rate for risk. That would cause the default risk to be accounted for twice. Entities need not discount pledges to be collected within one year. To avoid recognizing contri butions as revenue before they are available for expenditure, not-for-profits should consider pledges of cash to be received in future period as subject to time restrictions. The FASB concluded that by promising to make payments in the future, donors implicitly restrict the donated resources to support of future, not current, activities. The recipient organizations should classify them as temporarily restricted. When the cash is received and available for expenditure, they should release resources from the temporarily restricted category.... Contributions also include unconditional promises-that is, pledges- to give those items in the future. Thus, pledges are regarded as contributions, although they exclude conditional promises to give these items in the future. A conditional promise depends on a specified future and uncertain event to bind the donor. For example, a university alumnus may pledge funds to construct a new physics laboratory if the university is successful in winning a government research grant. Contributions must be distinguished from exchange transactions. A contribution is a transfer of assets in which the donor does not expect to receive equal value in return. An exchange transaction is a reciprocal transfer in which each party receives and gives up resources of commensurate value. For example, if a private corporation were to give a not-for-profit research foundation funds to study the cause of a disease with the expectation that the results would be published in a scientific journal, the transaction would be considered a contribution. If, on the other hand, it gave the funds with the contractual agreement that it would have the rights to resultant patents, then the transaction would be an exchange transaction. The difference between the two is not always obvious. When people join the local Friends of the Library Association, do they do so to support the library's scholarly activities or to benefit for the right to attend member-only lectures Do they join the American Automobile Association to promote auto safety and good roads or to obtain emergency road service and travel directions Do they join the AARP to advance the interests of senior citizens or to take advantage of low-cost life and auto insurance