The War Of Sweetheart Circle Essay - 872 Words

In the early morning of October 10, 2015, the Heffeweissen troops were forced to arrange and arm themselves in the most ill prepared manner. Heffeweissen, where few of the soldiers were from, was a poor nation with a benevolent ruler—Landgrave Frederick XXII. In his attempt to compensate the nation’s depleted treasury, Landgrave Frederick XXII rented out thousands of soldiers to other national militaries—one of which was under Solomon Rex of Britain. Under General Rex, the soldiers, or Heffians, arranged themselves in a military formation of about twenty men. Despite, their substantial amount of manpower to support General Rex’s loyalist cause, most—if not all—of them were untrained for war, were inexperienced with weapons, and—above all—were insufficient in battle strategies. The War of Sweetheart Circle ultimately initiated at 10:07 AM. In the preceding minutes of the war, the Heffeweissen troops loosely gathered themselves under huddles of enormous trees, proposing who would be leader and who would assume specific tasks. In the few minutes of controversy for leadership, the Heffians finally determined their leader; however, individual tasks were yet to be established. As time progressed, the Loyalist troops wearily advanced to their base, trudging their feet across muddied paths. Already, there was uncertainty plaguing the troops. Roaring echoes of thunder and pellets of rain immediately troubled the discouraged troops. 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Hope And Change The First African American President Of...

Hope and Change? History was made in 2008. The first African American was elected President of the United States. In Barack Obama’s acceptance speech he described his election as a defining moment and one that would bring change to America. Has that change come? Race relations have always been a topic of great debate, even more so since an African American was elected President. Can a black president change the way people think about race and its place in everyday life? As we are in Obama’s last year of his second term it is obvious that racial bias has seen little improvement in the United States. Trending polls point to no improvement, recent high profile events are keeping it in the news and there has been no†¦show more content†¦A telephone survey in 2009 revealed that eight out of ten blacks said the country needed to make more changes to ensure blacks had equal rights. Also, most blacks remain skeptical that police treat them equally. In the same survey, fifty-four percent of blacks say that race relations have improved. At this one year mark of his presidency support is higher among blacks than whites (Blacks). It seems that at this point in the president’s term the African American populations does not see the change but don’t want to point the finger at Barack Obama. While during this first year, the number of blacks that have a favorable opinion of Obama is high at ninety-five percent; popularity has declined with whites from seventy-six percent to fifty-six A recent poll in 2015 by CNN said thirty-nine percent of Americans think race relations have gotten worse. Only fifteen percent say they have improved. It’s important to note that this survey was taken a week before a Department of Justice report found racial bias to be evident in the Ferguson Police Department (Shapiro). A separate poll revealed that seventy-six percent of Blacks think the justice system favors whites (Agiesta). The justice system and the things that come along with it are one of the things that put race relations to the front lines. High

Nuclear Power Cons Analysis Essay Example For Students

Nuclear Power: Cons Analysis Essay In our society, nuclear energy has become one of the most criticizedforms of energy by the environmentalists. Thus, a look at nuclear energyand the environment and its impact on economic growth. Lewis Munford, an analyst, once wrote, Too much energy is as fatal astoo little, hence the regulation of energy input and output not itsunlimited expansion, is in fact one of the main laws of life. This istrue when dealing with nuclear power. Because our societies structure andprocesses both depend upon energy, man is searching for the most efficientand cheapest form of energy that can be used on a long term basis. Andbecause we equate power with growth, the more energy that a country uses, the greater their expected economic growth. The problem is that energy isconsidered to have two facets or parts: it is a major source of man-maderepercussions as well as being the basis of life support systems. Therefore, we are between two sections in which one is the section ofresource availability and waste, and the other the continuity of lifesupport systems pertinent to survival.Thus, the environmentalists believe that nuclear energy should not beused for various reasons. First of all, the waste product, i.e. plutonium,is extremely radioactive, which may cause the people who are working orliving in or around the area of storage or use, to acquire leukemia andother cancers. They also show how billions of dollars are spent yearly onsafety devices for a single reactor, and this still doesnt ensure theimpossibility of a melt down. Two examples were then given of Chernobyland Three Mile Island, in 1979, when thousands of people were killed andincapacitated. Finally, the environmentalists claim that if society wastesless energy, and develops the means to use the energy more efficiency, thenthere would be a definite decrease in the requirement for more energyproducing plants. On the other hand, some business men and economists say that thepresent conditions should be kept intact, as the other forms of energy,e.g. oil, natural gas and coal, are only temporary, in dealing withsurplus, and give off more pollution with less economic growth. Concurrently, countries wanted a more reliable, smokeless form of energynot controlled by OPEC, and very little uranium was required to producesuch a high amount of resultant energy. Lastly, they said that renewableenergy is (a) unreliable in that the wind, for example, could not bedepended upon to blow, nor the sun to shine, and (b) were intermittent inthat a 1,000 mega-watt solar farm may occupy about 5,000 acres of land,compared with less than 150 acres of land for a similar capacity nuclearpower generation station. Because the energy technology that society employs directly influencesthe quantity and quality of life, the energy option that is chosen shouldhave the greatest cost- benefit effectiveness as well as maximizingflexibility and purchases. However, those who believe in continuous energyconsumption growth, seem to forget that there is only a limited supply ofenergy in every energy system, and to overdo any resource may provide foran unacceptable impact upon global and regional ecology. Thus, if the business world pushes the environment as far as it cango, Ceribus Paribus, please refer to figure 1. Thus, to use petroleum as asubstitute for uranium, which is needed to power the nuclear system, wouldnot be economically or environmentally sensible. I say this because, firstof all, there is a major supply of uranium considering it was one of thelast energy sources to be found as well as only a small amount of it isrequired to produce a lot of energy. Secondly, petroleum gives off carbonmonoxide which is one of the reasons for ozone depletion; whereas, theuranium does not give off pollution except that it produces plutonium whichneeds to be buried for more than fifty years to get rid of its radiation. .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c , .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .postImageUrl , .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c , .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c:hover , .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c:visited , .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c:active { border:0!important; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c:active , .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u8873c85642712245d29221892a50e76c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: -1- The Young Offenders Act - The Truth? This Was Written To Sho EssayFinally, because so much of the petroleum will be required to power thevast area that nuclear energy can cover, the cost to us as the consumerwould be massive! This would mean slower economic growth and/or expansion,especially when compared to nuclear energy. Therefore: Ceribus Paribus (a) if the cost decreases, the demand increases, and (b) if the costincreases, the demand decreases. Please refer to figures #2 and #3respectively. Nuclear plants are now replacing coal burning plants. It will costthe taxpayers far more

Wuthering Heights Essays (1009 words) - British Films,

Wuthering Heights WUTHERING HEIGHTS MAIN CHARACTERS Catherine Earnshaw ~ She is the daughter of Mr. Earnshaw and the sister of Hindley. She is also Heathcliffs foster sister. Heathcliff and Catherine are in love, but she marries Edgar Linton instead. When Cathy died, she wanted both Heathcliff and Edgar to suffer because Edgar never understood why she loved Heathcliff and Heathcliff because he never knew why she married Edgar. Catherine Linton ~ She is the daughter of the older Catherine and Edgar Linton. Her mother Catherine died shortly after she was born. She married Linton Heathcliff and became Catherine Heathcliff. Then after her husbands death she married Harenton and became Catherine Earnshaw. Mr. Earnshaw ~ He was a farmer and father of Hindley and Catherine. He is a kind- hearted man who takes Heathcliff in after he found him lying on the street, although his family protested he still took him in. Edgar Linton ~ He is Isabellas older brother, who marries Catherine Earnshaw and is the father of there daughter, Catherine Linton. He is a gentle bred, refined man, a patient husband and loving father. Ellen Dean ~ Ellen is one of the main narrators. She has been a servant for the Lintons and Earnshaws all her life. She knows all of them better than any one else. People that are close to her call her Nelly. Frances Earnshaw ~ She is Hindleys wife. She was a rather giddy woman. She displayed a great fear of death, which tells us why she died of tuberculosis. Harenton Earnshaw ~ Harenton is the son of Frances and Hindley Earnshaw. He marries young Catherine and grows up with his Uncle Heathcliff; his both mother and father die. He is ruff and uncultured having been kept from civilization from so long by Heathcliff. The Wuthering Heights belongs to Harenton even though Heathcliff runs the household. Hindley Earnshaw ~ Is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw, he is also Catherines older brother. He becomes a violent alcoholic after his beloved wife Frances dies. Also Hindley never got along with Heathcliff because Hindley felt rejected from his fathers affection, because Heathcliff the favorite child of Mr. Earnshaw. Heathcliff ~ He is taken in by Mr. Earnshaw and raised along with Catherine and Hindley. Catherine was a moving force in his life, and he hated all those who stood between him and his beloved Cathy. However, he was of unknown descendants and was found in Liverpool starving on the streets. Heathcliff married Isabella, and they had a child named Linton together. However, he only married her for her money. Isabella Linton ~ She is Edgars younger sister, and marries Heathcliff and became Isabella Heathcliff. She and Heathcliff had a son together named Linton. Before she married Heathcliff she was a little foolish, but a pretty young girl. After she married him, she became cruel, just like Heathcliff. She also developed a great hate for him with all her heart. Joseph ~ He is a household servant at Wuthering Heights, and his religion is to be unforgiving to others. Dr. Kenneth ~ He is the local doctor who helps people who are sick or dying. His main concern is for his patients well being. Mr. and Mrs. Linton ~ Are Edgar and Isabellas parents. They spoil their children and also turn young Cathy into a young lady. They are very unsympathetic to Heathcliff when he is a child. Linton Heathcliff ~ He is the son of Heathcliff and Isabella. He had the worst qualities of both his parents. He was also a very weak and cruel person. Linton marries young Cathy, but dies soon after. So Heathcliff inherited all the property and money of the Linton family. Lockwood ~ He was one of the narrators of the novel. He was from London and was not particularly sympathetic. Zillah ~ A housekeeper at Wuthering Heights. She was an impatient, but capable woman. CONFLICT One conflict was between Mr. Heathcliff and Mr. Hindledy, they were enemies because when they were children Mr. Earnshaw (Hindleys father and Heathcliffs foster father) liked Heathcliff better. He was always Mr. Earnshaw's favorite and Hindley despised him for that. Hindley felt that Heathcliff just came in and took his fathers affection for him. So after their fathers death

My Favorite Band Essays

My Favorite Band Essays My Favorite Band Essay My Favorite Band Essay Task 1 Read the texts below. Match choices A-H to 1-5. There are three choices you do not need to use. It’s not Me, It’s My Hormones! 1 __________________ When you feel like you can’t even crack a smile, force yourself to do something fun. Hook up with a funny friend or watch a comedy movie or TV show and laugh till you cry! It might an act at first, but you’ll soon be giggling for real! 2 _________________ There’s nothing wrong with crying! If you feel yourself welling up and you’re in a quiet and private place, go for it! You’ll feel so much better. Just make sure you’ve got some tissues close by! 3 _________________ It really is true! Certain foods are great for making you happy. When you’re feeling low, reach for some good mood food – nuts, beans, fish, fruit will all put a smile on your face! 4 ________________ Get creative! Having a project to work on can take your mind off the stresses of growing up. You could work on a painting or drawing, take some cool photos or even make some clothes or customize the ones you’ve got! The feelings of pride and success you’ll get when you finish your project will be unbeatable! ________________ Keeping a diary or channeling your thoughts and feelings into a story, poem or article can really help get thoughts into perspective. You could even keep a blog – just be sure not to give any personal information away, like your name, age or address. Years from now, you can take a look at what you’ve written and remember, you can get through anything ! ALet it out! BYou Are What You Eat CLaugh DWrite Down Your Feelings ECommunicate and Relax FEat Something Tasty! GMake Something HExercise Every Day! Task 2 Read the text. For questions 6-10 choose the correct answer A, B. C or D. 16-year-old Australian Begins Her Solo Adventure A 16-year-old Australian girl sailed her yacht out of Sydney harbor today, beginning an attempt to become the youngest person to single-handedly navigate the globe unassisted, despite concerns over her age and expertise. If all goes to plan, Jessica Watson will spend the next eight months alone on board her 10-metre vessel, navigating 28. 000 miles through some of the world’s most dangerous seas. Around 100 boats gathered under grey skies in the harbor to see her off. Watson did not speak to reporters before she left, but her mother Julie, posted an update on the solo sailor’s blog. â€Å"I know you are all anxious to hear from Jess, but she is a little preoccupied on her first day, so she asked me to post a quick note to let everyone know that the departure went well this morning,† she wrote. While Watson’s family insists the teenager is a sufficiently skilled and experienced sailor, with expertise in navigation, electronics and maritime safety, her plan has sparked a debate in Australia about whether someone so young is ready for such a challenge. There was further worry after Watson’s yacht collided with a Chinese cargo ship last month. Some of Australia’s most experienced sailors, and the government of Watson’s home state, Queensland, have urged her not to go ahead with the voyage. Watson will be in contact with her family and support team via radio and email, as well as updating her blog. â€Å"I think a lot of Australians are nervous for Jessica. I’m nervous for her,† the country’s deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, told Nine Network TV. â€Å"Since she’s determined to go, I wish her the best of luck and urge her to keep safe. A British 17-year-old, Mike Perham, became the youngest solo round-the-world sailor in August following a nine-month voyage, although a stop for repairs ‘en route’ meant his trip did not count as unassisted. The youngest sailor to complete the voyage unassisted is another Australian, Jesse Martin, who was 18 when he completed it in 199 9. 6In paragraph 1 the author states that Jessica ___________. Ais the world record holder in solo sailing Bhas started on a risky round-the-world voyage Cplans to spend half a year in the open sea Dlacks the experience for a round-the-world trip According to the text, what happened the day of Jessica’s departure? AA lot of ships followed Jessica’a yacht. BJessica refused to talk to the journalists. CThe weather changed for the worse. DJulie informed the public of Jessica’s voyage. 8All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 3 EXCEPT ___________. AJessica’s parents are sure she has received enough training BJessica’s age has been a major concern for the public CJessica’s yacht has expensive equipment on board DJessica’s vessel has recently been hit in an accident 9Which of the following is TRUE according to paragraph 4? AJessica can get professional advice during her voyage. BThe state’s authorities assist in Jessica’s solo trip. CThe people of Australia are proud of their young heroine. DJessica’s voyage is covered on her parents’ webpage. 10The expression ‘en route’ in line 27 is closest in meaning to ___________ Awhile sailing Bwhile relaxing Cwhile daparting Dwhile training Task 3 Read the texts below. Match choices A-H to 11-16. There are two choices you do not need to use. 1112 Jack of the Wood 95 Patton Ave. A cozy cafe-restaurant. Features the best acoustic music and dancing in the evening. The menu includes international cuisine, vegetarian fare and barbecue. Coffee and cakes in the afternoon from 15. 00-17. 00 Whisky Tavern 81 Broadway St. The best new place to hang out in downtown Ashville. Come by and have national food, good spirits and a fun time. Live jazz every Monday and Tuesday nights. Open nightly year round or for lunch Saturday and Sunday during football season. 1314 Prir Frakkar Specialities: French seafood and Whale meat Open daily for lunch and dinner except Sat/Sun. for dinner only Reservation tel. 552 3939 Baldursgata 14 Welcome to Sjanghe Restaurant At our Chinese restaurant you will find not only fresh seafood and meat but we are also the only restaurant in Iceland with expert chefs from China. Our species are flown in directly from Asia. Wine and locally brewed beer available. We offer you various menus to choose from. 1516 VEGETERIAN A totally vegetarian restaurant specializing in international cuisine that features fresh local produce with mostly organic ingredients. Daily specials, fast food and take out. Tel. 552 2028 Open: 11. 30-21. 00 weekdays 16. 00-21. 00 Sat. /Sun/ HOTEL LOFTLEIDIDIR At our two restaurants we serve the freshest and tastiest veal and lamb you’ll find anywhere. Our chefs’ culinary skills, combined with the finest available ingredients, guarantee you a meal of the highest quality. We also offer an international selection of beers and wines. Open: Mon. -Thur. 9. 30-21. 00Fri. , Sat. , Sun. 10. 00-22. 00Tel. 5050 925 At this restaurant ______. Aoriental food and local beer are served Bthey mainly serve seafood Cunique and delicious meat courses are offered Dyou can make on-line reservations Eyou can enjoy live music twice a week Ftraditional cuisine and music are offered Gyou can eat in or take away Hmeat as well as vegetarian dishes is available Task 4 Read the text below and choose from A-H the one which best fits each space 17-22. There are two choices you do not need to use. Amazon Parrots Amazon parrots are native to the New World. Indeed, (17) ___________ that he brought back to Europe after his first voyage here. There are 27 species of Amazon parrots. Most parrot species are bred successfully in captivity and several types of Amazons are available from breeders and pet stores here in Canada. Prices generally range, depending on the species, from $800 to $1600, (18)____________________________. Amazon parrots are very good at talking and imitating sounds. One test subject, Alex – a parrot, can name about 40 objects, identify seven different colours, and say whether the two objects are same or different; and indisputably, (19) ____________________. Studies put the intelligence of these feathered chatterboxes on the same level as three-year-old humans, dolphins and monkeys. Amazons are actually very similar in personality to monkeys. Parrots are very energetic, playful, social creatures that crave lots of interaction with their human owners. The best pet birds are hand-raised and have bonded early with human companions. More than other parrot species, (20) ________________. They can be, at different times, loud, quiet, stubborn, silly, playfully aggressive of irritable. They will play and fight with their toys for hours on end (21) _________________________. Sometimes, an Amazon may temporarily become quite aggressive. Careless owners have had fingers or ears bitten. You really have to understand your bird’s mood and behaviours (22) ___________________. Amazon parrots are definitely not for all pet owners, they need much more love and attention than most people would expect. Owning an Amazon is very similar to owning a dog with wings. Awith a premium paid for the breeds that are considered to be better â€Å"talkers† Beven rolling over on their backs to juggle a ball or play with some string Cthe research has clearly shown that it is very intelligent and will speak in context Das the trickier aspect of owning an Amazon parrot Eand talking ability will vary from species to species and from bird to bird FChristopher Columbus himself apparently gave the name â€Å"Amazon† to the green. Short winged parrots Gthey also love being around people, and they are particularly good at speaking HAmazons are well known for their strong or often moody characters Task 5 Read the text below. For questions 23-32 choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). Advertising Whether it is in print or on television, radio, or billboards, advertising profoundly (23) __________ our life. The ads we see, hear, and smell (in the case of open-and-sniff perfume inserts in magazines) (24) _____________ how we feel and what we think about a wide range of products. Companies pay a lot of money to persuade us that their products are the best. Advertising has a long history in North America. As early as the 1600s, ads were used to (25) _____________ English settlers to the Colonies. According to historian Daniel Boorstin, these brochures (26) _______ â€Å"hopeful overstatements, half-truths, and downright lies†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In the 1700s famous (27) ____ were involved in the advertising business, (28) _____ them Benjamin Franklin, who ran ads in his publications. And with the boom in mass-circulation magazines, the advertising became the powerful force it is today. Television arrived in the 1940s and (29) _______ a new, action-packed advertising medium. Creating a good ad isn’t as (30) __________ as it might seem. One key is to find the right spokes person. An effective approach is to have the company president speak. Still another option is to create (31) __________ characters, such as Speedy Alka-Seltzer fellow, or an animated parrot (Gillette). A memorable slogan is helpful as well: â€Å"I can’t (32) _________ I ate the whole thing†; â€Å"Where’s the beef? †; â€Å"You deserve a break today†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ 23| A| influences| B| inherits| C| installs| D| introduces| 24| A| accept| B| infect| C| affect| D| protest| 25| A| win| B| attract| C| invade| D| involve| 26| A| contained| B| consisted| C| located| D| contributed| 27| A| numbers| B| members| C| peoples| D| figures| 28| A| along| B| among| C| between| D| through| 9| A| stayed| B| remained| C| created| D| resulted| 30| A| slight| B| easy| C| light| D| heavy| 31| A| undesirable| B| unforgivable| C| uninviting| D| unforgettable| 32| A| suppose| B| consider| C| hope| D| believe| Task 6 Read the text below. For questions 33-42 choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D). Planting the seeds of change The Green Wave projec t aims to help meet the goals of the United Nations Convention (33) ______ Biological Diversity by (34) __________ young people on the importance of biodiversity. In an ambitious program, students from schools all across the world (35) ____________ to mark the International Day for Biodiversity each year by planting a single tree of an inborn of locally important species. On May, 22, (36) ______ student groups will each plant their tree – uniting to send a ‘green wave’ from east to west around the planet. Promoting research and learning about nature, encouraging team-work and partnership across countries and continents, The Green Wave (37) _______ a positive step toward maintaining biodiversity all over the world. 33| A| about| B| on| C| for| D| of| 4| A| educate| B| educated| C| educating| D| educates| 35| A| have been invited| B| have been inviting| C| invite| D| have invited| 36| A| this| B| those| C| that| D| these| 37| A| take| B| is taking| C| taking| D| taken| A Skiing City Break in Austria Postcard-pretty Innsbruck is the ideal destination for everyone who wants (38) ______ a skiing holiday with a city break. The ca pital of the Habsburg Empire in the late middle ages, it has a charming old town with many ornate medieval buildings, together with natural baroque additions, (39) _________ the cathedral. The city is home to a wealth (40) ________________ museums, galleries, bars and restaurants, and (41) ______________ twice played host to the Winter Olympics, so it has plenty of winter-sports facilities, and – just a short train ride out of town – ski tracks to challenge the most (42) _____________ of skiers. 38. Do not write your own name, any dates, addresses or other personal information.

Cruel But Funny Roommate Pranks

Cruel But Funny Roommate Pranks Even though April Fools Day is already over, it doesnt mean that playing college roommate pranks is forbidden. So, it doesnt matter if you and your roommate are enemies or best friends - pranking can be fun either way. Some of the following ideas are pretty cruel, so think twice before pulling them on your roommate as revenge might reach you very soon. #1 A Cream Cheese Deodorant Is your roommate a little sleepy in the mornings while getting ready for the day? If yes, it will be even easier for you to pull this prank. If you want to spoil your roommates morning, everything you need to do is to take out the deodorant stick from the packaging and replace it with any cream cheese. Just unscrew the stick from the base, carve the piece of cream cheese in the same shape to match a deodorant form. Insert the fake deodorant and screw it back so that it looks just like a regular deodorant stick. This one is harmless, of course, but might get a little messy so your roommate will have to spend more time in the bathroom before going to classes. #2 A Bold Toothbrush Toothbrush pranks are always funny and easy college pranks. This prank will do the best if it is played before your roommates date. Take his or her toothbrush and cut off all the bristles. Or you can also put some salt on the brush to give that strange salty taste to any toothpaste. #3 Spiced Food Are you annoyed with your roommate eating your food? Do you want to take your revenge and wonder how to prank your roommate without them knowing? Let him or her know about that by spoiling another dinner. Just cook dinner for yourself and add some extra-hot sauce to the leftovers. This way, you will know for sure if your roommate steals your food. If you want to make this prank a little crueler, hide the milk to make your roommate struggle longer. This is one of the classic April Fools Day pranks alongside a few others which you can learn from our article. #4 Caramel Apple Who doesnt love caramel apples? Your roommate wont resist having one when seeing them freshly cooked on the table. But what your roommate doesnt know is that there is a big and juicy onion under the caramel layer. Bon appetit! Be sure to catch the reaction of your roommate at this precious moment as the shot of it might become a new meme. By the way, have you already checked our list of the best college memes? #5 A Little Late Are you looking for some ideas of funny pranks to do at home at night? This prank can ruin the whole day of your victim, especially if he or she has some important plans for the day. Just set all of your roommates clocks one or two hours ahead, making him or her be late for a job interview or classes. Too cruel! You can also set multiple night alarms to make your roommate wake up every hour or so and spoil his or her sweet dreams. Especially good for annoyingly snoring roommates. Do you need more prank ideas? Then check out our list of the best pranks that you can play on your college friends. #6 Thirsty? Many students wonder â€Å"How to prank a bad roommate?† Well, if you are in the middle of the war with your roommate, then you will totally find the following pranks suitable. If your neighbor loves drinking right out of the bottle, you can take advantage of that. The first thing that you can do is to add some little marshmallows into the milk carton before your roommate is going to drink it. This will feel just like the lamps in curdled milk. Seeing the disgust on the face of your victim at this moment is priceless. The second prank can be played with orange juice. Just fill the empty bottle from orange juice with a mix of cheese powder from a mac and cheese box with water. The taste is going to be killing. #7 Oily Hair Bathroom pranks are the most common and mean roommate pranks. You can put a thin layer of toothpaste on the toilet seat or cover a soap bar with clear nail polish. These are just classic. But there is one more thing that you can do – replace your roommates shampoo with baby oil. It will be very hard to rinse it without a shampoo (make sure to take your shampoo bottle away). #8 Uncomfortable Bed Its very simple – just take a box of crackers, crumble them and spread evenly over the sheet of your roommate and under it. Even if your roommate notices the mess and gets rid of it, he or she will struggle with the leftovers of crumbs here and there in the bed for a long time. This is a great way to give a messy roommate a hint as this is one of the easiest pranks to pull on a roommate who doesnt clean. Leaving with a roommate might be a blessing but also might be a real struggle. Either way, a little bit of humor wont hurt. Did you like our list of pranks to play on your housemates? Be careful, as pulling one of them might become a beginning of the war between you and your roommate.

Collaborative Teaching Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Collaborative Teaching - Research Paper Example This article provides information on the impact of collaborative and self-teaching for primary and early childhood education teachers. The article explores the effect of changes in the learning and teaching in a sociology paper for first years for the ECE students. Teacher educators wanted to know the effect of the paper changes influenced on learning and teaching the students. The teachers had a collaborative teaching relationship for three years creating an environment, which recognized the voice of the students through student-teacher engagement.Research question:What are the strengths and challenges of collaborative teaching in enhancing teaching and learning? The research question is important as it seeks to identify the successes and challenges of collaborative teaching, which is the basis for this research. Research hypothesis:Collaborative teaching influence teaching and student learning. The aim of the research was to test different approaches to teaching and learning in big classes through self-study by examining personal values and professionals practice. The research took three years from 2010 to 2012 involving two-teacher educators and a primary and ECE first-year teachers. The students were enrolled in the paper with the title of ‘Whanau’, which was taught to both the ECE and primary teachers doing Bachelor of Education degree. The participants worked together, shared feelings of satisfaction, joy, disappointment, and frustration and made room for solutions.

Stock Market efficiency (Marks and Spencer) Essay

Stock Market efficiency (Marks and Spencer) - Essay Example Proponents of the efficient market hypothesis suggest that the market has a large number of players out to maximize profits. Each of these players logically analyzes the market information available so as to make an informed investment decision. This ensures that the market quickly and fairly represents all the available market in the prices of securities. There are three types of market efficiency; allocation efficiency, operation efficiency and pricing efficiency (Kraakman, 2003, p.11). Operational efficiency refers to the transactional costs involved in the selling and buying of securities. The operation of the London stock exchange is streamlined and well aligned to ensure operational efficiency. Allocation efficiency follows the premise that there are limited financial resources and therefore the existing resources are invested in the most productive way (Cassedy, 2004, p.6). This suggests that the investors are rational and that available capital is directed to the most profitable stock. Pricing efficiency is based on the premise that the stock fairly and instantly reflects information available in the stock market. Most of the theories developed in the area of market efficiency revolve around pricing efficiency. Pricing efficiency suggests that a security’s price reflects all the available information. Market efficiency can be said to exist in three distinct levels. These are Weak-form efficiency, Semi-strong efficiency and Strong-form efficiency (Banks, 2011, p.3).   The weak-form efficiency suggests a market that reflects all the past market information. The past information is fully and instantly reflected in the price of securities. This view therefore suggests that the past market information cannot be used to predict future prices of securities. This is because listed financial securities already reflect all past market data. Semi strong

Character of Curley’s wife in Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Character of Curley’s wife in Of Mice and Men Essay The novel Of Mice and Men was written in the 1930’s by a man named John Steinbeck. The book is set in America and at a time during the Great Depression. This was when the stock market had crashed some years prior, lots of companies went bankrupt, the banking systems failed and a massive soar in unemployment was witnessed. Also during this period of the Great Depression droughts were seen in the southern and western states of America with failed harvests in Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas. The fertile grassland that once was, became desert like and the area became known as the â€Å"dust bowl†. During this time the women fitted into this society as the home keepers, the men would go out to earn money whilst the woman stayed home to ensure things ran along smoothly there. The key terms that I will be evaluating in this essay, is how Steinbeck portrays Curley’s wife and how he attempts to make the reader either feel dislike or sympathy towards her. In chapter two Steinbeck describes Curley’s wife as a â€Å"tart†, this is a derogatory term used to describe a female who could possibly be â€Å"loose† or â€Å"promiscuous† even if they are not. Even before the reader is introduced to Curley’s wife, Steinbeck begins to tempt the reader to dislike her. Further on in the chapter when she is being introduced for the first time, Steinbeck uses imagery to describe Curley’s wife, he writes about her â€Å"full rouged lips†, her â€Å"red finger nails†, the â€Å"bouquets of red ostrich feathers† and the â€Å"red mules† she is wearing. Here the reader can see that Steinbeck is using connotations of the colour red. Red is seen as a provocative or seductive colour, it can also be seen as a colour of warning or danger. Here Steinbeck could possibly be trying to foreshadow future events to come. From this the reader may begin to already form a dislike towards Curley’s wife as it appears that she attempting to attract the attention of the workers on the farm, this would be an un-natural way for a married woman to behave. In chapter three Steinbeck continues to describe Curley’s wi fe in a negative manner. Steinbeck uses the term â€Å"jail bait† when she is being spoken about by the farm workers. The term jail bait is a metaphor as you cannot literally be a piece of bait that will end another up in jail. A woman who is described as jail bait is somebody who attempts to look older than they  actually are, and are possibly attempting to attract a suitor to take the bait, if this event comes to fruition the suitor could find himself serving a lengthy prison sentence. Further on in chapter three, Steinbeck writes about Curley’s wife as having â€Å"the eye† all the time, Steinbeck again is using a metaphor to descried Curley’s wife actions towards the farm workers. You cannot actually have the eye, what Steinbeck is doing is attempting to show the reader that she is always looking for attention and has to act in a provocative manner to obtain this. The reader may begin to feel strong dislike towards Curley’s wife now, as this is not the way any married woman should act. However it also begins to show the reader what a lonely existence it was for women during this era and possibly all that Curley’s wife actually craved was social interaction which is a basic need for any human being. Steinbeck again could possibly be foreshadowing future events to come. In chapter four Steinbeck begins to touch more on the lonely existence for a woman during this period of time. Curley’s wife speaks about wanting to â€Å"talk to somebody ever once in a while† this again represents the loneliness that she may be experiencing and again possibly the cause for her acting in the manner that she does around the workers. Steinbeck here uses imagery as the reader can imagine Curley’s wife being completely alone from female contact and only having Curley to speak to and the farm workers when Curley is not around. Steinbeck could also be possibly foreshadowing future events to come. Further on in the chapter Steinbeck also creates an element of fear towards Curley’s wife, this is seen when she is talking with Lennie and Candy. Curley’s wife states to Candy that she could get him â€Å"strung up† on a tree when she is challenged by him. Steinbeck a gain is using imagery and a metaphor to describe what will have. Being strung up is a referral to being hung, this would be done by making a noose at one end of a rope and hanging it over a branch and tying it to a tree, unfortunately a person then has the noose put over his head and then the rope is pulled tight and the person is effectively â€Å"strung up†. From this the reader may begin to feel a strong dislike to Curley’s wife even though she could possibly be lonely, the way she is going about getting the attention she craves is not the way to win people over. Making threats to a person who already may not get the best treatment, will only make them fear the consequences more if they are found out. In chapter five Steinbeck uses imagery to describe the way  Curley’s wife quietly approached Lennie in the stable, the reader could feel that this is a sneakily way to get close to Lennie and then before he can get away from her she is upon him. Steinbeck also describes Curley’s wife as having little â€Å"sausage curls†, Steinbeck is using personification to describe her hair, as in reality you would not have sausage as curls in someone’s hair, and again may be attempting to sway the reader to dislike her, also from this the reader may feel that Curley’s wife can be quite sly and cunning at times, the way that she approaches Lennie in the barn is not the norm if you are just strolling about, it must be a calculated act, knowing full well that she will catch Lennie alone. From this the reader may feel a strong dislike towards her, this is due to the fact that although she is married, she is still attempting to get one of the farm workers alone. It is almost like she cannot resist the temptation. And ultimately in the end if anything was to happen, the worker would move on and she would have knew victims to try and entice. Throughout the novella the readers opinions of Curley’s wife may slightly sway from dislike to sympathy, this is because the way Steinbeck uses imagery to describe her at the beginning it is that of a loose and easy woman, craving the attention of men on the farm in an almost sexual and provocative manner even though she is recently married. This theme continues throughout the majority of the story at different intervals. She enjoys to wear red, she is always asking if anyone have seen her husband, she seems to relax more if they have not and enjoys the attention she attracts. The reader may also feel sympathy for her as when Steinbeck describes her wanting company, this could possibly be a reason for her always hanging around the worker and looking for Curley. Ultimately I feel the reader will show great dislike towards her, the way she acts is not the correct way for a woman to act regardless of loneliness. I feel that Steinbeck is attempting to draw attention to how lonely life must have been for any person during that period of time. The struggles that they must have come over and lengths that some people would have gone to achieve that.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder Essay -- BDD Self Image Health Essays

Body Dysmorphic Disorder People now a days have a problem with the way they appear. For hundreds of years, people, especially females, have been concerned with their weight, the way they look, and the way people perceive them. In the article, Do You Have a Body Image Problem? author Dr. Katharine A. Phillips discusses the concerns with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Dr. Phillips uses her knowledge or ethics to discuss the effects that BDD has on people today. She also uses emotion to show the reader how people are seriously affected by this disorder. In Dr. Phillips article, she discusses how people are emotionally and socially affected by the body dysmorphic disorder, and how society is also affected by it. The human body is one of the most beautiful things that anyone can have. There is not one body that appears to be the same. However, many people think that their body should look the same as somebody on the cover of a magazine. But little do people know that the bodies on the covers of magazines are airbrushed, or are a combination of a couple of different people put into one body. If it is so simple to see that we should not idealize others bodies, then how come people do? That is where media plays a role; they make the average person believe that they should look like the models today. When people realize they cannot look like models, they develop different disorders. One of the disorders that Dr. Phillips discusses is BDD, which is body dysmorphic disorder. This disorder consists of people who are obsessed with how they appear. Everybody is concerned with how they appear, but people who have BDD are overly concerned with how they look. This disorder can socially affect them by not al... ..., the picture has good symbolism because it shows that you should have fun, and you should enjoy how you look. Another advertisement that this site contains is a rounded rectangular box that contains the words â€Å"Everyone tells you how to look good† and it shows a lady in a sitting position possibly doing yoga. The box does not contain what it is advertising for, but it gives the viewer the eagerness to check out what it contains. This web site contains plenty of examples of ethos, pathos and logos. Women.com and Dr. Phillips did a good job creating a web site that appeals to the human eye. This site gives someone comfort in trusting the information that it contains due to who wrote the article and who sponsors it. I found this site to be very informative, and I liked how it allowed the spectator to link to many other trustworthy and helpful sites.

The Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal – The Taj – is the â€Å"King Emperor† amongst the World Wonders. The Taj is the final achievement and acme of the Mughal Art. It represents the most refined aesthetic values. It is a fantasy-like grandeur. It is the perfect culmination and artistic interplay of the architects' skill the jewellers' inspiration. The marble in-lay walls of the Taj are amongst the most outstanding examples of decorative workmanship. The elegant symmetry of its exterior and the aerial grace of its domes and minarets impress the beholder in a manner never to be forgotten. It stands out as one of the most priceless national monuments, of surpassing beauty and worth, a glorious tribute to man's achievement in Architecture and Engineering. The Taj is threatened with deterioration and damage not only by the traditional causes of decay, but also by changing social and economic conditions which aggravate the situation with even more formidable phenomena of damage or destruction. A private sector preservation organization called â€Å"World Monuments Fund† (American Express Company) has published a list of 100 most endangered sites (1996) in the World. The environment of Agra is today beset with problems relating to the inadequacy of its urban infrastructure for transportation, water and electricity. Residential fuel combustion, diesel trains and buses, and back-up generators cause the densest pollution near the Taj Mahal. Constitution of the proposed Agra Ring Road and Bypass that would divert the estimated daily 6,50,000 tons of trans-India truck traffic financing. Strict controls on industrial pollution established in 1982 are being intensively enforced following a 1993 Supreme Court Order. The Asian Development Bank's proposed $300 million loan to the Indian Government to finance infrastructure improvements would provide the opportunity to solve the chronic problems. Agra contains three World Heritage Sites, including the Taj Mahal. † According to the petitioner, the foundries, chemical/hazardous industries and the refinery at Mathura are the major sources of damages to the Taj. The Sulphur Dioxide emitted by the Mathura Refinery and the industries when combined with Oxygen – with the aid of moisture – in the atmosphere forms sulphuric acid called â€Å"Acid rain† which has a corroding effect on the gleaming white marble. Industrial/Refinery emissions, brick-kilns, vehicular traffic and generator-sets are primarily responsible for polluting the ambient air around Taj Trapezium (TTZ). The petition states that the white marble has yellowed and blackened in places. It is inside the Taj that the decay is more apparent. Yellow pallor pervades the entire monument. In places ugly brown and black spots magnify the yellow hue. Fungal deterioration is worst in the inner chamber where the original graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal lie. According to the petitioner the Taj – a monument of international repute – is no its way to degradation due to atmosphere pollution and it is imperative that preventive steps are taken and soon. The petitioner has finally sought appropriate directions to the authorities concerned to take immediate steps to stop air pollution in the TTZ and save the Taj. The court considered the affidavit filed by the board and directed the board to issue a public notice. Pursuant to the courts order, the board filed affidavit (5. 8. 93), wherein it stated that public notice was published in two national newspapers calling upon the industries to file their replies during the extended time. The affidavit also states that all listed industries were polluting industries and 507 out of them had not even installed any air pollution control device. The 212industries that did not respond to the notice and failed to take any steps towards installing the pollution control devices were closed by order-dated 27. 8. 93. The court was assisted in its efforts to improve air quality in the TTZ by the reports prepared by the NEERI (National Environment Engineering Research Institute), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) on the supply of fuel gas to industries in the area and the study conducted by the Vardharajan Committee, which was constituted in May 1994, by the MoEF. Varadharajan Committee made, among others, the following recommendations: â€Å"Steps may be taken to ensure that no new industry including small industries or other units which can cause pollution are located north-west of the Taj Mahal. Efforts may be made to relocate the existing small industries particularly the foundries, in an area southeast of Agra beyond the Taj Mahal so that emissions from these industries will not be in the direction of the monuments. Similar considerations may apply to large industries such as Fertilizer and Petrochemicals. Such industries, which are likely to cause environmental pollution, may not be located in the neighbourhood of the refinery. The Committee further recommends that no large industry in the Agra region and its neighbourhood be established without conducting appropriate detailed studies to assess the environmental effect of such industries on the monuments. Location should be so chosen as to exclude any increase in environmental pollution in the area. †¦ The Committee wishes to record its deep concern regarding the existing level of pollution in Agra. It recommends that an appropriate authority be created which could monitor emissions by industries as well as air quality at Agra on a continuous basis. This authority should be vested with powers to direct industries causing pollution to limit the level of emission and specify such measures as are necessary to reduce the emissions whenever the pollutant level at the monuments exceeds acceptable limits. The Committee particularly desires that recommendations made in regard to reduction of existing pollution levels at Agra should be covered to a time-bound programme and should be implemented with utmost speed. The Committee also recommends that studies should be undertaken by competent agencies to explore the possibility of protecting the monuments by measures such as provision of a green belt around Agra in the region between Mathura and Agra. Even though assurances have been obtained from IOC that adequate precautions would be taken to contain the pollution on account of using coal in the power plant, the Committee is of the opinion that till such time this problem is studies in depth and suitable technologies have been found to be satisfactorily in use elsewhere the use of coal in the refinery power plant should be deferred. The National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) gave an â€Å"Overview Report† regarding status of air pollution around the Taj in 1990. â€Å"The sources of pollution, including small and medium-scale industrial units, are scattered all around Taj Mahal. High air pollution load is thus pumped into the Taj air shed. Sudden rises in concentrat ion level are often recorded in all directions in gaseous as well as particulate pollutant depending upon the local micro climatic conditions. On four occasions during the five-year air quality monitoring, the 4 hrly average values of SO2 at Taj Mahal were observed to be higher than 300 ug/m3, i. e. 10 folds of the promulgated CPCB standard of 30 ug/m3 for sensitive areas. The values exceeded even the standard of 120-ug/m3 set for industrial zones. Statistical analysis of the recorded data indicate that 40% (cumulative percentage level) has crossed the standard set for sensitive receptors/zones. The SPM levels at Taj Mahal were invariably high (more than 200 ug/m3) and exceeded the national ambient air quality standard of 100 ug/m3 for SPM for sensitive locations barring a few days in monsoon months. Another study during 1985-87 brought to fore that the overall status of the ambient air quality within the trapezium has significantly deteriorated over this period. â€Å"The Taj Mahal marble samples analyzed by NEERI in 1993 reveal that the black soot on certain protected surfaces contains 0. 6% Calcium and traces of Sulphate. X-ray diffraction studies indicated that soot and quartz (Silicon Dioxide) and the major constituents of the black coating at Taj Mahal (Lal and Holden, ES & T, April 1981). The origin of soot can be traced back to the fuel consumption around the sensitive receptor, while quartz is derived from geocrustal origin and causes surface abrasion. Soot in itself is not chemically destructive, but with tar it acts as a soiling agent. Absorption of the acidic gases is enhanced due to the presence of soot/smoky matter resulting in long-term effects. Further, the presence of soot reduces the aesthetic value of the monument. Ambient air around Taj Mahal is polluted primarily from point/line sources and has adverse impacts on building material by alteration of marble and sandstone structures at microcrystalline level. The earlier studies have revealed that the concentrations of gaseous pollutants and SPM (predominantly soot and carbon particles) are relatively high during winter months due to the frequent inversion conditions restricting vertical dispersion. During monsoon seasons, suspended particles are washed away and this cycle of pollutant builds up and subsequent removal continues exposing fresh surface of the monument to the pollutant. The period industrial development of Agra-Mathura region has resulted in acidic emissions into the atmosphere at an alarming rate. This causes serious concern on the well being of Taj Mahal. †¦ The gaseous pollutants being acidic in nature, significantly both the as well as the biotic components of the ecosystem like plants and building material like marble and red stone. The sources of pollution in Agra region as per the report of the Central Pollution Control Board are iron foundries, Ferro-alloyed industries, rubber processing, lime processing, engineering, chemical industry, brick refractory and vehicles, Mathura Refinery and Ferozabad Glass Industry. On 3 August 1995, the court formed a tentative view that polluting industries in the TTZ would have to be relocated and sought the assistance of the Union Government to device an appropriate solution. Taj, being a cultural heritage is an industry by itself. More than two million tourists visit Taj every year and this is a good source of revenue for the country. The court had monitored this petition for over three years with the objective of preventing and protecting the Taj from deterioration and damage due to atmosphere and environmental pollution. It cannot be disputed that the use of coal/coke by the industries emits pollution in the ambient air. The objective behind this litigation is to stop pollution while encouraging development of the industries. The old concept that development and ecology cannot go hand in hand is no longer acceptable. The development of the industries is essential but not at the cost of the environment. Orders passed by the court time to time indicate that the relocation of the industries from TTZ is to be resorted to only if the Natural Gas, which has been brought at the doorstep of TTZ is not acceptable/ available by/to the industries as a substitute for coal/coke. The GAIL has already invited the industries in the TTZ to apply for gas connections and industries operating in TTZ with the gas connections need not relocate. The atmospheric pollution in the TTZ has to be eliminated at any cost as it's not just the preservation of monument, which is essential, but also the human life. In August 1999, the Supreme Court struck again, ordering the closure of 53 iron foundries and 107 other factories in Agra that had not cleaned up their act. The order has become a call to arms for foundry owners, workers, trade union representatives and small-scale industry. However, industry is buying time: it filed a review petition through the Uttar Pradesh State government and obtained a reprieve on the court order's implementation. The matter comes again before the Supreme Court this summer. In the meantime, Agra's Iron Founders' Association is building up their case. They argue that 3,000 cottage and engineering units depend on the foundries, and that they directly or indirectly employ about 300,000 workers. They hold that the technology for using natural gas in their industries is not yet ready. Taj trapezium project's phase II gets green signal Buoyed by a decline in the pollution levels around the Taj trapezium with the successful implementation of the first phase of the afforestation project, the state administration has okayed the Rs 15. 0-crore second phase. The success of the plantation scheme assumes significance since a report prepared by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur, had pointed out how â€Å"pollution inventory of Agra reflected high concentration of NO2, SO2 and CO2†. Apart from a vigorous re-run of the plantation campaign in the Taj city, this ph ase envisages greening of â€Å"sensitive receptors† of pollution like the heritage monuments and the 42-hectare land strip along the NH-2 (Delhi-Agra-Kanpur), NH-3 (Delhi-Agra-Mumbai) and NH-11 (Jaipur-Agra) highways. A 3

Final Paper African Americans Essay

Through out history there has been a struggle for African Americans to be accepted in our society. An African American endures many more disadvantages than most white people. The media and other sources have made blacks to look the same and has portrayed them in a certain light that may not be fitting to all blacks. There are many misconceptions that people have of blacks. Many people and organizations have had a part in bringing equality and fighting for equal rights for black people. African Americans have been at a huge disadvantage in America from the beginning. Unlike many other minority groups in America, African Americans in many cases were brought here by force and not by there own will. (000000) The first African Americans came to America in the seventeenth century and were immediately forced to work for Whites. After much turmoil and even a civil war Blacks were finally given there freedom with the Emancipation proclamation signed and ratified in 1863. Even after the proclamation some blacks were still enslaved and freed blacks had little to no opportunity. The struggle continued into the next century as blacks finally received the right to vote with the ratification in of the 15th amendment. The 20th century contained a world filled by a segregated America between whites and blacks through jim crow laws that existed that restricted blacks from interacting with whites. With a history like that it is no wonder that African Americans still have disadvantages in our modern day. America today is known as the country of opportunity. Although there are many opportunities out there it seems that there are more opportunities for some groups more than others. Many companies and corporations still use race as a indicator for hiring employees. In one study done by the National Bureau of Economic Research, people with common black names were less likely to be called back for an interview based on there application alone then black people with common white sounding names. Job applicants with white sounding names needed to send out ten applications to get one call back while applications with common black names needed to send out about fifteen to get one reply. (Francis, www. nber. org/digest.com). The research was done withe resumes of the same qualifications. It is easy to see that Black people are constantly bombarded by inequality in the work force. If there were inequalities just based on names of applicants just imagine the inequality when employers actually see the race of the applicants. Black Americans have been stereotyped for years and continue to be today. The media is one great source of portraying African Americans in certain roles. African Americans are portrayed as criminals, drug dealers and sex offenders in many instances. Many Africans are outraged at how they are portrayed in the media. Protest groups such as the Young African Americans Against Media Stereotypes have done what they can to show there stance on stereotypical media portrayal. â€Å"Majority of the time you see a young African-American male in the media he is singing, rapping, scoring a touchdown, dunking a basketball or committing a crime†( http://www. yaaams. com/) Many stereotypes about black people are incredibly false. Many people still think that black people are only good at certain things like music and sports. This is a very false belief and black people have contributed heavily to all different sorts of fields. Many vital inventions that we use on an everyday bases were invented by black people. The dust mop, pencil sharpener, typewriter, and elevator were all invented by black people. (http://www. black-network. com) Our society would not be what it is if it were not for Garret Morgan, the young Black man who invented the traffic light. http://www. infoplease. com/spot/bhmcensus1. html.

Siege of Fort Erie in the War of 1812

Siege of Fort Erie in the War of 1812 Siege of Fort Erie- Conflict Dates: The Siege of Fort Erie was conducted August 4 to September 21, 1814, during the War of 1812 (1812-1815).   Armies Commanders: British Lieutenant General Gordon Drummondapprox. 3,000 men United States Major General Jacob BrownBrigadier General Edmund Gainesapprox. 2,500 men Siege of Fort Erie - Background: With the beginning of the War of 1812, the US Army commenced operations along the Niagara frontier with Canada.   The initial attempt to mount an invasion failed when Major Generals Isaac Brock and Roger H. Sheaffe turned back Major General Stephen van Rensselaer at the Battle of Queenston Heights on October 13, 1812.   The following May, American forces successfully attacked Fort George and gained a foothold on the west bank of the Niagara River.   Unable to capitalize on this victory, and suffering setbacks at Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams, they abandoned the fort and withdrew in December.   Command changes in 1814 saw Major General Jacob Brown assume oversight of the Niagara frontier.          Aided by Brigadier General Winfield Scott, who had relentless drilled the American army over the previous months, Brown crossed the Niagara on July 3 and quickly captured Fort Erie from Major Thomas Buck.   Turning north, Scott defeated the British two days later the Battle of Chippawa.   Pushing ahead, the two sides clashed again on July 25 at the Battle of Lundys Lane.   A bloody stalemate, the fighting saw both Brown and Scott wounded.   As a result, command of the army devolved to  Brigadier General Eleazer Ripley.   Outnumbered, Ripley withdrew south to Fort Erie and initially desired to retreat across the river.   Ordering Ripley to hold the post, a wounded Brown dispatched  Brigadier General Edmund P. Gaines to take command. Siege of Fort Erie - Preparations: Assuming a defensive position at Fort Erie, American forces worked to improve its fortifications.   As the fort was too small to hold Gaines command, an earthen wall was extended south from the fort to Snake Hill where an artillery battery was emplaced.   To the north, a wall was built from the northeast bastion to the shore of Lake Erie.   This new line was anchored by a gun emplacement dubbed the Douglass Battery for its commander Lieutenant David Douglass.   To make the earthworks more difficult to breach, abatis were mounted along their front.   Improvements, such as the construction of block houses, continued throughout the siege. Siege of Fort Erie - Preliminaries: Moving south, Lieutenant General Gordon Drummond reached the vicinity of Fort Erie in early August.   Possessing around 3,000 men, he dispatched a raiding force across the river on August 3 with the intention of capturing or destroying American supplies.   This effort was blocked and repulsed by a detachment of the 1st US Rifle Regiment led by Major Lodowick Morgan.   Moving into camp, Drummond commenced building artillery emplacements to bombard the fort.   On August 12, British sailors mounted a surprise small boat attack and captured the American schooners USS Ohio and USS Somers, the latter being a veteran of the Battle of Lake Erie.   The next day, Drummond commenced his bombardment of Fort Erie.   Though he possessed a few heavy guns, his batteries were sited too far from the forts walls and their fire proved ineffective. Siege of Fort Erie - Drummond Attacks: Despite the failure of his guns to penetrate Fort Eries walls, Drummond moved forward with planning an assault for the night of August 15/16.   This called for Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fischer to strike Snake Hill with 1,300 men and Colonel Hercules Scott to assault the Douglass Battery with around 700.   After these columns moved forward and drew the defenders to the northern and southern ends of the defenses, Lieutenant Colonel William Drummond would advance 360 men against the American center with the goal of taking the original part of the fort.   Though the senior Drummond hoped to achieve surprise, Gaines was quickly alerted to the impending attack as the Americans could see his troops preparing and moving during the day. Moving against Snake Hill that night, Fischers men were spotted by an American picket who sounded the alert.   Charging forward, his men repeatedly attacked the area around Snake Hill.   Each time they were thrown back by Ripleys men and the battery which was commanded by Captain Nathaniel Towson.   Scotts attack in the north met a similar fate.   Though hiding in a ravine for much of the day, his men were seen as they approached and came under heavy artillery and musket fire.   Only in the center did the British have any degree of success.   Approaching stealthily, William Drummonds men overwhelmed the defenders in the forts northeast bastion.   An intense fight erupted which only ended when a magazine in the bastion exploded killing many of the attackers.    Siege of Fort Erie - Stalemate: Having been bloodily repulsed and having lost nearly a third of his command in the assault, Drummond resumed the siege of the fort.   As August progressed, his army was reinforced by the  6th and 82nd Regiments of Foot which had seen service with the Duke of Wellington during the Napoleonic Wars.   On the 29th, a lucky shot hit and wounded Gaines.   Departing the fort, command shifted to the less resolute Ripley.   Concerned about Ripley holding the post, Brown returned to the fort despite having not fully recovered from his injuries.   Taking an aggressive posture, Brown dispatched a force to attack Battery No. 2 in the British lines on September 4.   Striking Drummonds men, the fighting lasted around six hours until rain brought it to a halt. Thirteen days later, Brown again sortied from the fort as the British had constructed a battery (No. 3) that endangered the American defenses.   Capturing that battery and Battery No. 2, the Americans were finally compelled to withdraw by Drummonds reserves.   While the batteries were not destroyed, several of the British guns were spiked.   Though largely successful, the American attack proved unnecessary as Drummond had already resolved to break off the siege.   Informing his superior, Lieutenant General Sir George Prevost, of his intentions, he justified his actions by citing a lack of men and equipment as well as the poor weather.   On the night of September 21, the British departed and moved north to establish a defensive line behind the Chippawa River. Siege of Fort Erie - Aftermath: The Siege of Fort Erie saw Drummond sustain 283 killed, 508 wounded, 748 captured, and 12 missing while the American garrison incurred 213 killed, 565 wounded, 240 captured, and 57 missing.   Further reinforcing his command, Brown contemplated offensive action against the new British position.   This was soon precluded by the launching of the 112-gun ship of the line HMS St. Lawrence which gave naval dominance on Lake Ontario to the British.   As it would be difficult to shift supplies to the Niagara front without control of the lake, Brown dispersed his men to defensive positions.   On November 5, Major General George Izard, who was commanding at Fort Erie, ordered the fort destroyed and withdrew his men into winter quarters in New York.   Selected Sources Siege of Fort Erie, War of 1812Niagara Parks: Old Fort ErieHistoryNet: A Bloody Stalemate at Fort Erie

Truckers Your Job Hunt Cheat Sheet

Truckers Your Job Hunt Cheat Sheet Truckers: If you’re looking for your next great gig, why not start with the cream of the crop? Everytruckjob.com did their homework, and recently compiled a list of the top 10 trucking companies in the country- a great place for you to start or continue your job hunt! American FreightwaysA logistics leader with unparalleled shipping and transportation solutions in the industry.SCHNEIDER NationalA shipping capacity titan with a proven on time service delivery record.C.H. RobinsonA true industry veteran with a great reputation and commitment to high quality standards.Con-way TransportationGreat trucking services with deep coverage throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.SAIA LTL FreightA true leader in safety and efficiency, with an impressive array of services for its customers.Fox TransportationGreat, efficient service has put them at the top of the trucking company heap.RyderKnown for superior supply chain management and commercial transportation solutions.MayflowerA consiste nt and reliable player in the freight and transportation industry.J.B Hunt Transport ServicesA top-flight company that understands the value of having qualified employees who can deliver measurable results.WERNERA customized supply chain champion, with a focus on safety and its customers.Consider this your job hunt cheat sheet- any trucker would be well served to work for any of these companies. When you’re looking for your next great trucker job, keep them in mind, do your research and see if any of them have open driver positions, and include them in your job-hunt plan. Best of luck!Top 10 Trucking Companies in The USARead More at www.everytruckjob.com

Intro to religious studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Intro to religious studies - Essay Example He gave himself the biggest position within his new found movement labeling himself; Pastor, Reverend, Prophet and Founder. His strict leadership style and disciplinary record set him apart from those who aspired to head the movement after his death in Nigeria, 1985 (Adogame). Celestial Church of Christ has continued to develop since the death of its founder Oshoffa. His death created an avenue for severe setbacks relating to the issues of succession especially after the demise of his successor Alexander Obiodun Adebayor Bada in 8th September 2000. Philip Honsu Ajose succeeded Bada, but a dispute came up after his death in March 2001. Son of Oshoffa, Reverend Emmanuel Oshoffa was caught up in a dispute with Gilbert Oluwatosin Jesse over succession. Jesse later passed away, and his faction supported Paul Suru Maforikan as their spiritual leader. Celestial Church of Christ was formally recognized and authorized in the year 1965 in Dahomey (now known as Benin). The movement recruited many followers in 1976 after kick-starting an evangelistic campaign in areas of French West Africa. CCC has embraced the use of technology, importantly the internet enabling them to be constantly in contact with their African-Diaspora branches. They have successfully linked Nige ria where the movement is most popular with countries such as France, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, and the USA (Adogame). The Olowun religion is mainly found in the central parts of Africa among small groups of the society mainly found in the deep forests of Central Africa, the founder is unknown since Olowun does not have sacred texts. It is quite similar to most religions that surround this area mainly the West-Africa vodun. Worshippers of the Olowun religion carry out ancestral worship and believe that spirits of those who passed away live among us. These spirits are referred to as washins, and

Short essay philosophy Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Short philosophy - Essay Example He believed in the ability of man to do good. His philosophy entailed the inability of man to be evil. Socrates held that all the evil that occurred in the world did so because of the ignorance of man. The exact dates of the birth of the Buddha have been a subject of debate among historians; however, he lived in India during the fifth century B.C. his philosophy is similar to that of Hinduism. He emphasized on the importance of gaining freedom from desire. This he believed, would grant man freedom from the cycle of life and death to which one was confined otherwise. Man’s salvation lay in a detachment from worldly affairs. seventeenth century. He believed in the rational nature of being and attempted to arrive at something that he would be able to label as the truth. He believed that thought was the one feature that was unique to man and defined him. The thoughts of a man were what made him what he was. Elizabeth of Bohemia was a contemporary and regular correspondent of Descartes. Her work in philosophy concerns the relationship between the mind and the body. This is related to the work that was produced by Descartes, who worked on the relationship between man and the thoughts that originate in his mind. She however, is critical of the divorce that Descartes effects between the body and the mind and places great emphasis on the effect that both have on each other. The philosophers that have been discussed here belong to different ages and nationalities. Their contributions to the field of philosophy, however, are great. Contemporary researchers and philosophers have been able to see the connections between these different ideologies and in them, man’s eternal quest to understand his own nature and position within the

Respone artical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Respone artical - Essay Example This focus necessarily detracts from some of the better known artists that have gained renowned based upon their overall appeal and artistry. Seemingly all too often, individuals that review music will disparage popular music to such a great degree that they fail to recognize that some aspects of it, or at the very least certain artists, demand a level of attention; due to the fact that their success is ultimately the result of the fact that many individuals have come to appreciate their music and thereby gives them a level of credence. Additionally, the piece focuses almost entirely on R&B, rap/hip-hop, folk, and a few other genres; hardly inclusive of the full range of music that has been represented over the past four years. Essentially, the qualms of this author with the listing are of course subjective; however, any number of individuals might agree, disagree, love or detest the listing based upon their own musical

Distribution channel management

Distribution channel management CHAPTER 1: Introduction This chapter will introduce the topic, specify the key aim and objectives of the dissertation, discuss the research approach and state the dissertation outline. The key aim of this chapter is to establish the foundation for the research topic by giving out basic information. Introduction The research is about study of distribution channel management at Dell Computers, UK. The dissertation is more practical in nature, studying the Distribution Channels of Dell, both at a strategic and an operational level. I would be analysing the business function on its efficiency and effectiveness, comparing with the other industry performers. I would mostly be comparing the function against Sony Electronics, the most respected name in multi-channel distribution network; Acer, pioneer of value computing products and proprietary brands like Advent. Dell Inc. is a multibillion dollar, multinational technology firm that manufactures, develops, sells and supports personal computing and computer related products. Dell has seen a rapid growth to become one of the top three vendors in the PC manufacturing industry, and has seen a substantial increase in share price and market value. While many other companies were unable to handle the demands of the competition, Dell has proved successful in such an environment. The main key to success to Dell has been its two innovative practices that is direct sales and build-to-order business model. This model is simple as a concept but highly complex to execute, especially in the present conditions of rapid growth and change. Dell has continually renewed and extended its business model while striking a balance between control and edibility. Dell made changes in its design, manufacturing, procurement, and logistics processes to reduce the costs, and to speed up the entire distribution system. It has expanded into International markets and it started making notebook and server product lines which has led to extraordinary profits for dell, and has given a great market value for the company. Dell has reached sales of $18.2 billion by the year 1998, with a profit of $1.46 billion, and Dells market share in the PC market grew from 3% in 1995 to 9.2% in the year 1999 with stock price increasing by 40 times. Dells market capitalization has reached $100 billion. Research aim and Questions The primary purpose of my research work is to analyse the role distribution channels play in the functioning of a business, both in the long run and in the short run. My study is to present a detailed description of the unique distribution channel adopted by Dell Inc., analyse its efficiency and effectiveness, identify possible loopholes and put forth recommendations for development. My study is being undertaken with an aim to answer the following research questions: How are the various distribution channels organised within Dell Inc.? How does it compare with its competitors? How effective and efficient is this channel management at Dell? What can be done to make it better? The four research questions are the guiding blocks of my entire research and all of the work would be keeping them in view. Distribution Channels within Dell: I would be looking at Dells innovative distribution channel management which has literally revolutionised the importance of Direct Marketing in the consumer electronics space. Direct marketing is still the primary distribution mechanism within Dell. I would be documenting the evolution of this concept within Dell right from its customized sales regime during PCs Limited to the complex and sophisticated systems that it employs currently. I would be presenting a visual of the entire distribution network that it stands at today. Comparison with its competitors: I would be comparing the dynamic distribution systems of its arch rivals. Sony, Acer, Advent and HP Compaq are the brands that I would be concentrating upon. I would be looking at the strategies adopted in different economies, though my primary concentration would be on the English markets. Efficiency and Effectiveness: I would be conducting an efficiency and effectiveness test of Dells powerful distribution network against its competitors. This would be an empirical study. I would be concentrating on the parameters of Customer Satisfaction and Vendor relationship management. Recommendations: Finally, I would be putting forth recommendations for future developments along with the cost benefit analysis of such implementations. Research approach The study is conducted by collecting secondary data and primary data. Secondary data is collected from books, journals, government websites, company documents whereas primary data is collected by means of survey questionnaire distributed among channel partners and the end customers. Participants of research would be intermediaries in the distribution network and the end customer. In order to select the participants the study has made use of stratified random sampling method in order to make sure that major demographic segments are represented while selecting the samples (Rao Skinner, 1996). Questionnaire design consists of two parts. The first part contained the demographic information while the second part dwelled on each of the subjects perception on each variable using five point likert scales from 1 (Strongly Agree) to 5(Strongly Disagree). The study did not require any assistance from a third party or any other institution. In order to collect data the study made use of web portal survey to distribute survey and get responses. The system was designed in such a way that the respondent have to submit all the answers. Out of 60 questionnaires, responses for 50 surveys were obtained. The duration for the survey was kept as two weeks, a reminder mail was being sent to the respondents at the end of week one to remind them. Importance of the study Organizations have been undergoing strategic changes over the past decade. More so in the past couple of years. The current recession has proved that risk management and strategic planning are most vital for an organizations long lasting and self-sustaining performance. My work will strive to highlight one such areas of strategic thinking and inform the senior management about the benefits involved. Research Scope My work would primarily be concentrated on the UK market. Though Dell is a global corporation with intermediaries present across the globe, all working towards forming an effective value chain to maximize business potential and ensure efficiency in operations; UK being the second biggest market after the US will be a general approximation of the entire organizational behaviour. Furthermore, the cosmopolitan nature of London and demographic diversity ensures that it would be a close estimate of the general population. Limitation of Research I intend to undertake my research as comprehensively as possible. As in any research work, inherent are some unavoidable drawbacks in my study. Few of them are: Financial and Time Constraints: As outlined before, the scope of my work is limited to the English market. Financial and time constraints of my semester mean that Im not able to conduct a global research that would be more apt in this case. Personal bias. Most of my work is conducted through a personal observation method; as such it is prone to my personal bias. However as the person who is to do the entire research right from formulation of research questions to recommending solutions, I would be most qualified to comment on the topic. Information Constraints. Distribution channel model is a sensitive piece of company information. Though I have secured access to Dell, wherein I could do all the data mining myself, the extent of information that I would be able to muster about the rivals model is still to be seen. Dissertation outline The structure of the dissertation is as follows Chapter 1: Chapter 1 encompass introduction to the topic, followed by brief background into the research topic. This beginning chapter also lays bare aims and objectives of the research followed by structure of the thesis. Apart from that this chapter also gives information on the research approach adopted and the limitations of the research. Chapter 2: The literature review section of the dissertation explores the definition of distribution, channel, and distribution channel and distribution channel management. Apart from that the section also examines the activities and the levels of distribution channel. The latter half of the section focuses on the distribution strategy adopted by Dell, Sony and Acer. The final section compares the distribution strategy by all the three players. Chapter 3: The thesis then moves on to methodology section wherein the research model, research framework and data collection methodology is discussed. Questionnaire method is used to collect the necessary data from the consumer. Chapter 4: This chapter explores data findings Chapter 5: This chapter presents the conclusion. Chapter 6: This includes references using Harvard referencing style Chapter 7: This includes the Appendix Summary The chapter introduced the topic of the dissertation, specified the key aims and objectives of the research. Discussed the research approach in form of secondary and primary data collection through the means of questionnaire and clearly stated the limitations of the research in brief. The chapter also outlines the research structure specifying the contents of each chapter. Chapter 2: Literature Review During my research, I would primarily be looking towards the concepts of Distribution Channel and its management. I would be guided by the various contributions in the field, though my work would primarily be influenced by the theories and suggestions of Philip Kotler in the area. A Professor of Business Studies at the Kelloggs Business School, Kotler is often regarded as the Father of Modern Marketing. My work also coincides with various other management thinking like Consumer Behaviour, Relationship Management, Marketing Mix and Optimization, among others. Definition Distribution Kotler (1996) states that distribution is a key element in the marketing mix (place amongst the 4Ps). It is the systems and practices in use which make a product or service available to the consumer of such a product or service. Channel Channel is defined as a set of interdependent organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for consumption or use (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). It can also encompass physical movement, warehousing, ownership of the product, presale transaction, post-sale activities; order processing, credit and collections; and other different types of support activities (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). Distribution Channel The Distribution Channel is the chain of intermediaries, each of them passing on the product or service to another intermediary until it reaches the consumer. The business dictionary defines it as The route by which a product or service is moved from a producer or supplier to customers. A distribution channel usually consists of a chain of intermediaries, including wholesalers, retailers, and distributors, that is designed to transport goods from the point of production to the point of consumption in the most efficient way (Dictionary, 2010) Another definition of Distribution channel states A group of independent and interdependent organizations involved in the sale and movement of goods and services to the end users may be called a distribution channel or network (Gorchels, West, Marien, 2004). More specifically, a distribution channel is: The transfer of goods from manufacturer to the end user. Route of a company for distributing the goods. The process of moving goods from the manufacturer to the consumer. A supply chain consisting of all parties in between production to the end user. Types of channel members The activities in the distribution channel can be carried out by the marketer himself or it can be carried out by specialist organizations. The specialist organizations and the channel members can be categorized into two types. Resellers Specialty Service Firms. Resellers are the companies which usually buy and take the ownership of the products from the manufacturer with the intention of selling to end consumers. An organization can have one or more than one reseller in the chain. The network or chain of resellers is known as reseller network. The resellers can be further classified into: Retailers: A retailer sells the product directly to the end customer. Wholesalers: Wholesalers buy the products from manufacturer or other wholesalers and then they sell the products to the retailers. Industrial Distributors: They are the ones who sell products from one business to other, they are suppliers who buy the goods and sell it to another firm. Specialty service firms are organizations that do not take the ownership of the products. They also provide additional services along with the products. Specialty firms can be: Agents and brokers: They are the firms which bring together the suppliers and buyers and mediate the sale and they charge a fee for this kind of service. Distribution service firms: They provide services which help with the movement of goods in the distribution channels like transportation, processing and storage of goods and products. Others: They are the firms which provide other services to the channels in distribution like insurance, routing assistance etc. The distribution channels consist of many parties among which each of them is trying to meet their objectives. Relationships between channel members should be strong with each others especially on which they are depending for the further distribution of product. Levels The arrangement of the distribution channels can be classified into two types: Independent channel arrangements. Dependent channel arrangements. Independent channel arrangements: In this type of arrangement the channel members negotiate deals with others which do not result in the binding of the relationships. Channel members are free to make arrangements which they feel is in their own and best interest. An individual member decides what is best for them and not the entire channel. This is also called conventional distribution arrangement and often significant conflict as each member decides what is best for him and not in concern with the entire channel There are four levels of distribution channels. Channel 1 is called the direct marketing channel which is the distribution of products or services from the manufacturer to the customer. The best example for this channel is Dell which does not makes use of any intermediaries to distribute its products to end customers; there are no retailers, agents or wholesalers. The channel does not have any intermediaries. This type of channel helps to eradicate the excess cost and also helps to have good control over the quality and marketing. The other three channels fall in the category of indirect marketing channels. The second channel has one intermediary, if the market is a consumer market the one intermediary is basically a retailer. Electronic consumer goods market of UK is an example of second type of channel arrangement. In this type of distribution arrangement the companies sell good to large retail chains, example would be Sony, Canon, and HP selling their electronic goods to large retail chains such as Dixons. These retailers in return sell the goods to the end customer. The role of the wholesale in this channel is to buy the products at bulk from the manufacturer and then sell the same to retailer in smaller quantities. This model works best for retailers on small scale and not for big chains such as Dixons. This type of distribution channel is best when there are large number of small retailers and not big companies. Example in this case would be the medical drugs distribution market in the UK. The fourth channel has added level to it in the form of agents who work as intermediary between manufacturer and wholesaler. The agent acts as representative for both the sides. This works in textile market. A direct distribution channel is where a company sells their products direct to consumers. While direct channels were not popular many years ago, the Internet has greatly increased the use of direct channels. Additionally, companies needing to cut costs may use direct channels to avoid middlemen mark-ups on their products. Distributors, wholesalers and retailers are the primary indirect channels a company may use when selling their products in the marketplace. Companies choose the indirect channel best suited for their product to obtain the best market share; it also allows them to focus on producing their goods. Though, in practicality, a number of other players exist, they can be generalised to the above. The specific channel of distribution adopted by a company depends, to a major extent, on its business model, the industry type and the scale of its operations. As an Instance, Sony has its own set of company operated exclusive showrooms. The strong brand equity of Sony, the scale of its business and clearly identifiable product differentiations that it enjoys with the consumers, allow it to leverage on its economies of scale and scope by operating its own outlets. Directly, this result in better margins for the company and indirectly it helps building on its already demanding brand leadership. Dell, on the other hand, relies more on online sales. This is because of the organization of its service delivery utility. Dells business model is based upon its centralised manufacturing facilities, rather than the nuclear organization at Sony. Online sales suits such a strategy by negating the high costs of transportation and inventory planning issues involved. A manufacturer selling a physical product might require three channels: Sales Channel, Delivery Channel, and Service Channel. In Our case, Dell uses telephone and internet as sales channels, express mail services as the delivery channel and local repair people as its service channel. Distribution Channel Activities Distribution includes different range of activities (Richard Gay, 2007) Linking many suppliers to provide wide range of consumer choice Assist the exchange process identify the needs of the buyer in the context of product categories, quantities, range etc. and devise manufacturing, inventory and packaging schedules to fit. Marketing information: This encompass collection, distribution and analysing marketing research information such as the past sales data about the players within the organizations marketing environment. Promotional activities- This involves setting of promotional objectives and activating the various elements of the marketing communications mix and measuring their effectiveness, this will encompass identify and communicate with prospects. Pricing: Deciding on the sales terms and conditions at each stage of the value chain Risk management This includes analysis and resource sourcing required for involvement in the channel , the degree of control and influence and the potential benefits such as revenue and profit generation. Physical Distribution Management It includes the transportation all aspects of warehousing management and information flows. Other Activities that may be part of the distribution channels are as follows: Order Generation. Handling of Goods. Shipping of Goods. Storage of Goods. Display of Goods. Promotion of Goods. Sale. Feedback. Distribution Channel Management Distribution Channel Management is all about getting the product or service to the right people at the right time under the constraints of profits, efficiency and effectiveness. Successful marketing does not end when a business has developed a product or service and has found its appropriate target audience with a view to selling it at the right price. The next issue that needs to be faced is how they are going to distribute and sell this product/service to these people- the consumers. When a product/service is purchased by a consumer, it may have been bought directly from the business, or it may have been through a number of intermediaries (wholesaler, retailer, etc.): these are known as distribution channels. Small businesses need to acknowledge the different types of distribution channels to utilize sales potential. Distribution channel management involves a lot of channel decisions, strategic alternatives and numerous linking concepts, all of which would be explored in my research paper. Distribution channel management involves a lot of channel decisions, strategic alternatives and numerous linking concepts. The PC industry is driven by rapid technological improvements in components, particularly microprocessors, other semiconductors, and storage devices. The improved performance of hardware has been matched historically by increased complexity of software, creating demand for the latest hardware. This means that time is a critical competitive factor in the industry in two ways: Firstly, excess inventory loses value (at an estimated 10% per month 😉 and costs money; Secondly, products incorporating the most advanced technologies are in high demand and carry a price premium. As a result, companies that minimize inventory and bring new products to market faster can reduce costs, increase market share, and maintain higher margins. Two factors come into play in determining the ability of PC companies to manage inventory and introduce new products. First is the standardized, modular nature of the PC. PCs are built from standard components, using common architectural interfaces determined largely by Intel, Microsoft, and, earlier, IBM. PC makers also can outsource much of their production and purchase components from a well-established production network of contract manufacturers and components suppliers. This makes it quite easy for PC companies to introduce new PCs with the most advanced technologies. By the 1990s, PC makers could no longer gain much of an edge by virtue of design and manufacturing, as everyone had access to the same technical information and supply base. The difference among PC companies was determined increasingly by the second factor-the structure of distribution. The traditional distribution system of the PC industry is an indirect model often referred to as the channel. The PC maker sells its products to distributors, who buy products from many manufacturers and then sell them to a variety of retailers, resellers, system integrators, and others, who sell products and services to the final customer. This distribution system was an effective means for distributing high volumes of PCs with a variety of configurations to reach a broad customer base. However, it had inherent weaknesses that left it vulnerable in a time-based competitive environment. First was its reliance on market forecasting to drive production. Even the most successful PC makers, such as IBM, Apple, and Compaq, were chronically bedevilled by their inability to accurately forecast demand in a market driven by ever shorter product cycles. They were either caught with short supplies of hot products, causing them to lose sales to competitors, or stuck with excess inventories of slow sellers, which clogged the distribution channels and often had to be sold at a loss to move them out. Even with the best forecasting, the indirect model was plagued by the need to hold inventory at each step. In the early 1990s, it was common for PC makers to have up to 90 days of inventory on hand and in the channel. The high inventory costs and lack of responsiveness of the indirect channel meant that there was an opportunity for someone who could a way to circumvent the channel. The company that seized this opportunity was Dell, which pioneered a new business model based on selling PCs directly to the final customer, and building the PC only when an order was received Selling directly removes two links in the supply chain where inventory could build up and also enables Dell to know its final customers, provide better service to them, and promote repeat or expanded sales to them. Build-to-order production allows Dell to introduce new technologies as soon as customers want them and makes it possible to adjust production to demand very quickly. It also means that Dell does not purchase components and assemble PCs until it has received payment from the customer, giving the company a negative cash conversion cycle in which it receives payment from customers before it must pay suppliers. The current environment for the computer hardware industry is shaped by several macro forces. Primarily, Dell and its competitors are influenced by economic, demographic, technological and national forces. Government, social, physical and national forces peripherally affect the computer hardware industry to varying degrees. The commoditization of the personal computer-a vital tool for business and consumer. Customers- are a key driver for the economics of this industry. Corporate spending accounts for 80% of all technology spending, and economic conditions decreasing business capital expenditures has a negative and direct impact on the computer hardware industry. While this industry is mature in the U.S., leading to decreased growth expectations, computer spending by other countries around the world will likely fill this void. Pricing in the computer manufacturing industry is extremely competitive. IT reflects the rapid pace of technological change and decreasing PC costs. Since 2000, the prices of chips and disk drives declined and the standardization of primary components of PCs led to a decline in PC prices. Direct sellers, including Dell, have traditionally been able to under-price indirect sellers in the industry including Compaq and HP. However, most PC vendors now offer a desktop model for less than $500 and a laptop for $700. Key success factors for companies in this industry continue to evolve as the industry matures. Specifically, they include: Competitive prices Superior relationships with suppliers Product customization for business and consumer customers Quality customer service Excellent cost structure Channel Issues Some of the channels issues that the companies face are as follows Product related issues Promotions related issue Pricing related issues Target market related issue Product related issues: The nature and type of the product decides the distribution option that should be chosen for the product. A few products require special handling. Ex. Flowers, Fragile goods etc. Promotion related issues: The type of promotions that are required to sell the products to the customers also decides the distribution options; there are products which require an extensive contact of the sales person with the customer like automobiles etc. and there are products which require no sales assistance from the sales person like milk etc. Pricing issues: The price at which the marketer desires to sell their product also decides the distribution option for the channel if a product is prices really less it cannot have many members in the distribution channel as each one of them looks at making their own profit in the channel. Target market issues: The distribution channel is successful only if the product can reach the right customer. Choosing a distribution channel is the path to reach the target customer. A key decision in setting of a channel arrangement is for the marketer to choose the approach to reach his target customer in the best possible manner. Dell Company Background Dell Inc. is a multibillion dollar, multinational technology firm that manufactures, develops, sells and supports personal computing and computer related products. Based out of Texas, it employs over 75,000 people globally and is amongst the biggest players in the personal computing space. With revenues crossing 60 billion dollars in 2009, it is a Fortune 500 listing. Dell is a brainchild of Michael Dell, when he was a student at the University of Texas. PCs limited was started by him with a meagre capital of $1,000. The company produced its first computer in 1985, the Turbo PC sold for $1,000. Powered by an Intel 8088 compatible processor running at 8 MHz, it was the start of the most successful story in the modern computing space. Pcs Limited offered these machines in a variety of specifications, customised to each order amongst a pre-defined choice sets. Though not the first company to use this model, it was the pioneer to succeed using it. In its first year of trading, the compan y grossed over $ 70 million. In 1988, the company was renamed as Dell Computer Corporation. In 1987, the company expand overseas with a fully functional service and assembly centre in Ireland. Within the next few months, the count reached eleven. In June 1998, Dell became public with a 50 million dollar Initial Public Offering, one of the biggest in its times. In 1990, Dell test marketed a multi-channel retail distribution strategy with little success and was forced to return back to its direct marketing channel. In 1992, Dell featured in the Fortune 500 list for the first time. In 1992, it started on line sales, by offering its products, initially through its own website and later on through various partners and compare websites. In 2002, Dell expanded its product line by foraying into the consumer electronics segment. It also started manufacturing computer accessories with the launch of the dell branded home and office printers. In 2003, the company was named Dell Inc. so as to parallel its brand name with the variety of product offerings that it started. In 2005, Dell saw its international sales exceeding its domestic ones for the first name. The company was now a truly global performer, featuring in the top 5 power brands, both in the emerging markets as well as the developed economies (Dell Inc., 2006). Organizational Structure Dell Corporations organizational structure is a functional, decentralized structure. The company encourages different departments and functional components to contribute ideas to enhance the strength of the organization. The hierarchical structure provides defines the various functions provided by D