International financial management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International financial management - Essay Example spect to be kept in mind is that the only source of revenue generation for Temple Hill is from Guests and if there are any lacunae in this area it could affects future revenue and dips in profits. Since this project has a 35 % returns on investments it could be considered to be a safe one and its implementation could be further enhance by increasing the guests’ strength. By increasing the number of guests from 12 to 40, the net profit on Sales increases from 8% to 25.65 %. The future trend of profitability for this venture is also commendable. However, it needs to be studied that these illustrations assumes that the variable costs remains constant in the short period which may not always be the case. If any guest discontinues during the period it could further affect the profitability levels in the short run although it could be compensated by others in the long run, but this risk factor needs to be evaluated. Return on Common Equity, which is measured as the Return on Common Equity. In other words, this would display what proportion of the capital is being returned as profits to the investors. It is by far, the most important aspect of business, because the ultimate motive of business is the Returns to Investors/.Stakeholders. In this case we find the following: â‚ ¤ 6,946/â‚ ¤ 20000 or 34.73 %. Therefore it could be said that there is a a return of around 35% on this proposed venture. Normally the industry standard for ROE is around 15%. Therefore, it could be said that for the present moment, this seems to be a profitable venture which has financial viability. From the above it is found that Returns on Sales is 8.03 % which is much above the industry standard of 5 %. However, it is suggested that this Returns on Sales could be further improved by 1. Either increasing the Revenue or 2. By cutting costs. The fixed costs could not be reduced in the short run, since this is a trial measure for seeking the feasibility of this project. However, the major costs

Common Intention Essay Example for Free

Common Intention Essay Section 149 deals with the 5 or more people as that would account for unlawful assembly here section 34 is not applicable. Section 34 talks about common intention whereas section 149 talks about common object such as the common object have a wider scope. Common intention is if two or more person commits any crime with the same intention and under a prearranged plan, but in common object  it is not necessary that there should be a prior concert in the sense of a meeting of the members of the unlawful assembly, the common object may form on spur of the moment; it is enough if it is adopted by all the members and is shared by all of them. In section 34 Participation of the people in crime is an important aspect, even standing people who indirectly help in commissioning of crime are also prosecuted. But in Section 149 mere membership of the group of an unlawful assembly is sufficient enough for prosecution. Section 34 is substantive evidence and other sections like 302 murder has to be clubbed with it. Section 149 is a constructive crime in itself. Section 34: Acts Done by Several Persons in Furtherance of Common Intention-  According to Section 34, when a criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of common intention of all, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone. Object of Section 34:-  Section 34 lays down only a rule of evidence and does not create a substantive offence. This section is intended to meet cases in which it may be difficult to distinguish between the acts of the individual embers of a party or to prove exactly what part was taken by each of them in furtherance of the common intention of all. This section really means that if two or more persons intentionally do a thing jointly, it is just the same as if each of them has done it individually. The reason why all are deemed guilty in such cases is that the presence of accomplices gives encouragement, support and protection to the person actually committing an act. Elements of Section 34:  T o attract the application of Section 34, the following conditions must be satisfied:- 1. Some Criminal Act:   Ã¢â‚¬ËœCriminal act’ used in section 34 does not refer to individual acts where a crime is committed by a group of persons. Where a crime is committed by several persons in furtherance of common intention of all of them, each of them doing some act, similar or diverse, big or small shall be liable for that act. ‘That act’ refers to the ‘criminal act’ used in section 34 which means the unity of criminal behaviour which results in something for which an individual would be punishable if it were all done by himself alone in an offence. . Criminal Act Done By Several Persons:   The criminal act in question must have been done by several persons i. e. by more than one person. The number of wrong doers should be at least two. Most importantly, if the criminal act was fresh and independent act springing wholly from the mind of the doer, the others are not liable merely because when it was done they were intending to be partakers with the doer in a different criminal act. 3.

St. Thomas Aquinas Third Way Modalized :: Aquinas Third Day Philosophy Papers

Aquinas' Third Way Modalized ABSTRACT: The Third Way is the most interesting and insightful of Aquinas' five arguments for the existence of God, even though it is invalid and has some false premises. With the help of a somewhat weak modal logic, however, the Third Way can be transformed into a argument which is certainly valid and plausibly sound. Much of what Aquinas asserted in the Third Way is possibly true even if it is not actually true. Instead of assuming, for example, that things which are contingent fail to exist at some time, we need only assume that contingent things possibly fail to exist at some time. Likewise, we can replace the assumption that if all things fail to exist at some time then there is a time when nothing exists, with the corresponding assumption that if all things possibly fail to exist at some time then possibly there is a time when nothing exists. These and other similar replacements suffice to produce a cogent cosmological argument. Aquinas' Third Way is a cosmological argument for the existence of God which "is taken from possibility and necessity." It is surprising therefore that philosophers of religion have not shown much interest in applying modal logic to its analysis. (1) There are a couple of reasons. First, Aquinas does not always use the words 'possibility' and 'necessity' in the same way that they are used in modal logic. Second, cosmological arguments generally purport to build a bridge between some property of this world and a supreme being, making it unnecessary, it might be thought, to appeal to modalized features of other possible worlds. Modal logic has of course been applied extensively to the analysis of ontological arguments. Ontological arguments purport to build a logical bridge between thought and a supreme being. Most ontological arguments proceed from the assumption that it is possible for God to exist. They then link this assumption with some rather "strong" and controversial principles of modal logic in order to prove that God must exist in all possible worlds, from which it follows that God exists in the real world. (2) It might be possible, however, to prove the existence of God with the use of a weak and noncontroversial system of modal logic if we root the proof with some plausible possibilistic principles about what might be true of the cosmos. The Third Way is not sound per se.

Disease Surveillance

Disease surveillance is defined as the systematic data collection, data analysis and interpretation of the results in order to enable effective planning in the aspect of disease control. It enables infectious diseases to be detected early so that their potential threat to the public is minimized. The threats may be due to cases of food borne infections, bioterrorism and communicable diseases (Lombardo and Buckeridge, 2007). There are several systems and networks that have been put in place in order to help in the surveillance of infectious diseases.Disease surveillance also requires the collaboration of different partners and officials, an effective communication system and reliable laboratory networks in order to be effective. BioSense involves the use of syndromic data derived from different electronic sources. This improves the speed at which disease is detected. It enables outbreaks to be detected early enough before they lead to serious problems. It has been applied in different sectors by the state such as to detect any cases of bioterrorism and other threats that may put the lives of the citizens in danger.This system has been employed by CDC (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004). Electronic Laboratory Exchange Networks (eLEXNET) is a surveillance system used in food safety. It is a web-based system used in state, federal and even local agencies. It enables the collaboration of both the government and health officials in that the data regarding food safety is shared and therefore the potential risk of a possible outbreak of food borne diseases is detected early enough (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004).The other type of syndromic system is the Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community based Epidemics (ESSENCE). It relies on data that is got from hospitals, dispensaries and clinics. This data is collected daily and assist in the tracking of the common syndromes found in a particular area. H istorical data is also helpful in this system since it acts as a starting point for the epidemiologists. The officials can also pin point the specific area or region with a high number of a certain syndrome through the use of a geographic information system (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004).Epidemic Information Exchange (Epi-X) is a web based communication system usually used by CDC. It enables the sharing of information with the state, federal and other pubic health officials. It is an effective system since it enables the authorized users to share information and get feedbacks on every issue such as the efforts put in place for the control of infectious diseases (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004). Food borne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) is a system which is designed to respond to any new food borne disease that is of public importance.It also monitors the trend and identifies the specific sources of these diseases. It is a more reliable and an accurate system in the estimation of incidences of these diseases (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004). Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) enable keen surveillance of diseases which have either been confirmed or rumored. It is mostly used by WHO in the surveillance of diseases that are of worldwide importance. The information is gotten from different sources such as the media, institutions and health ministries in different countries (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004).Other systems that have also been used include Global Public Health Intelligence (GPHIN), Health Alert Network (HAN), Laboratory Response Network (LRN), National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS), National Electronic Telecommunications System for Surveillance (NETSS), National Retail Data Monitor (NRDM), Real Time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS) and Sexually Transmitted Disease Management Information System (STDMIS) (United States Government Accountability Office, 2004).These systems require a number of key factors in order for disease surveillance to be effective. First, the source of data must be reliable to enable the accurate and fast response during surveillance. The data is the baseline for surveillance as seen in all the systems above such as ESSENCE and BioSense. Therefore, surveillance cannot be possible without data. Secondly, effective communication networks which enables the information to be shared with other partners such as the state, federal and public health officials. References Lombardo, J.S. & Buckeridge, D.L. (2007).Disease Surveillance: A Public Health Informatics Approach. New Jersey: John Wiley & sons, Inc. United States Government Accountability Office. (2004). Emerging Infectious Diseases: Review   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   of State and Federal Disease Surveillance Efforts. Retrieved on 12th May 2010 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04877.pdf

Marketing on the marketing research department

It is to be recalled that at the meeting of the Board of Directors of Company X held on 30 June, 2006, approval was given for the establishment of a Marketing Research Department. This decision was finally taken after several presentations were made to the Board to that effect.   The newly created department was charged with the following responsibilities:a.Determine how various customer groups are reacting to present marketing mixes of company Xb.Evaluate the effectiveness of operational marketing mixesc.Create new marketing mixes for new customer marketsd.Assess changes in the external environment and the effect they would have on product and service strategye.Identify new market   (a to e are after McDaniel and Gates, 1999)f.Assess present relationships with external marketing agencies with the view to making them stronger.This report presents the current and potential problems confronting our organization from the perspective of marketing and how the newly created department intends to solve them. It also considers new opportunities that have been thrown up since the creation of the department and how it intends to take advantage of them. The marketing department also plans to recruit additional staff. The new staff shall be given an orientation to enable better cope with our style of working. Details of the marketing research process have been given in Appendix 1.IDENTIFIED PROBLEMSAs with most start-up departments, the newly created marketing research department has no past records to guide its work. The only available records are those from our relationships with external marketing agencies. They cover mostly farmed out work from our organization. As a baby trying to walk, we anticipate to encounter difficulties but shall learn as we crawl forward. The department is seriously understaffed, so additional staff must be recruited to enable it discharge its assigned responsibilities.The new staff members would be given an orientation to enable them cope with our unique style of working. The department would also have to put in place expanded information systems to cope with the additional responsibilities assigned to it. Such systems would enable us handle the data that we collect and analyze effortlessly. There is also the need to put up in-house facilities for focus-group work and telephony research.IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIESIt is estimated that about over One billion people use the internet worldwide (Business week, 2005). Available reports indicate that this figure shall increase in future. This is a big opportunity for our company, if we can identify our customers and offer them tailor-made goods and services.Some of the market segments of our company are presently underserved. There is the need to accurately identify them and map out strategies to fully serve them. New markets have also opened up in other countries and regions that we must adequately research and go after.PROPOSED SOLUTIONSWe shall have to develop discussion gu ide book for our focus group work and also a manual on the research process orientation. Five additional staff shall be recruited for our in-house research work. Of the staff employed two with a background information technology and electronic business or commerce shall be needed for our web-based businesses. Materials shall also be procured for our in-house focus group work. New Information systems shall be purchased to seamlessly weave data output from the different departments with that of marketing research.From our customer research studies, we shall be better placed to take advantage of the opportunities that have risen up online.   It is our goal to match the enormous opportunity online with the strength of our new staff members, with the background in electronic business or commerce.   The business and marketing plans shall provide details on how new emerging markets shall be entered into and existing ones developed. The plans shall also outline ways and means of forging solid relationships with marketing agencies and other stakeholders.ConclusionIt is our wish that if these measures are implemented, we shall not only see a vibrant marketing research department but also the kind that contributes enormously to our company’s bottom line results.Appendix 1THE MARKETING RESEARCH PROCESSMcDaniel and Gates (1999) have outlined an eight stage procedure for conducting marketing. These are:a.Problem or opportunity identification and formulationb.Creation of research designc.Selection of research methodologyd.Selection of sampling proceduree.Collection of dataf.Analysis of datag.Preparation and writing of reporth.Follow upa.Problem or opportunity identificationDuring this stage attempt is made to identify the problem at stake or the opportunity to be taken advantage of. Attempt is also made to grasp the scope of the problem and also the opportunity. The information needed in solving the problem and the way and manner it should be obtained is also dete rmined.   After having grasped the scope of the problem or opportunity, the research objectives are outlined. It must be stressed that it is essential for the problem under investigation to be thoroughly understood as the other subsequent stages rest on this stage.b.Creation of research designAt this stage, the researcher devises a plan or an approach for answering the research question. In doing so, the researcher must opt for an approach that is cost-effective and also provide the highest possible information for decision making.C.Selection of research methodologyThere are essentially three major methods for carrying out marketing research. These are surveys, observation and experiment. At this stage therefore the research should select one or a combination of them to collect the information needed.d.Selection of sampling procedureA sample is a subset of the population the researcher is interested in.At this stage therefore, the researcher decides on which members of the target population should be used for the research†¦ The researcher must determine whether he would give each and every member of the target population equal opportunity to participate in the research or only a select few shall be used.e.Collection of dataThis stage entails the collection of the information that the researcher is interested in.   This can be interviewing, survey questionnaire, and observation. The researcher can decide to collect the information himself or ask other persons to do so on his behalf.f.Analysis of dataThe data collected is analyzed at this stage to give meaning to it. From the analysis, it makes it possible for the researcher to interpret the results and offer recommendations and conclusiong.Preparation and writing of report.The analyzed and interpreted data must be communicated to the desired audience in a report. Since the objective of this stage   is to give understanding to what the researcher has found, the report was be tailored to needs of the a udience.h.Follow-upAt this stage, the researcher seeks to find out whether the results and recommendations made in a report have been used and also what has been the outcome of itAReferences1.Businessweek (2005). The Future of Tech, Businessweek ,20th June edition.McDaniel, C. and Gates, R. (1999). Contemporary Marketing Research, South-Western College Pub

Analytical Essay Sample on Harry Potter

Analytical Essay Sample on Harry Potter Many children around the world can proudly say that the popular Harry Potter series are the best books that they have ever read. However, because of the recent controversy from some parents and several Christians, children might not have the chance to read or watch Harry Potter. They believe that it teaches witchcraft, which is extremely absurd. Harry Potter does not teach witchcraft, it actually gives children characters to relate to and learn from, it expands their imagination, and it helps them to read more. J.K. Rowlings characters are realistic and many children can understand and learn from them. The main character, Harry Potter, illustrates to the reader how anyone can be a hero without the significance of his or her appearance. Although Harry is physically small and scrawny, he is able to defeat the all-powerful enemy, Voldemort. He is capable of doing this because he believes in himself and has bravery. Harry shows bravery not just in his dangerous adventures, but when he stands up to bullies, which is a major problem to most kids during that age. Children can learn a great deal from Harry because he is an extraordinary hero that is identical to their age. In addition, numerous kids today know the experience of growing up without parents. Orphans know of the jealousy that Harry feels towards Ron and his enormous family. Harry is also an orphan and many foster children can have a character that they can relate and comprehend. His best friend Ron is also another character that many c an associate to. Ron comes from a family with financial problems and he is always left with hand-me-downs from his older brothers, which causes him to be a laughing stock at school. Several children in this world are familiar with this experience and through Ron, they can see that they are not alone. Ron also helps children with economic difficulties to learn that family is much more important than material needs. Hermoine completes the circle of the three best friends. Her special trait is her knowledge and her willingness to learn. Her character is one that everyone knows as the nerd. HermioneÐ ±Ã ¿s role proves how important knowledge can be and especially useful in hard times. She also shows that there is nothing bizarre about wanting to learn. Her motivation and the way she uses her knowledge is so powerful that she can inspire others to go out to educate themselves. These characters resemble the people that one sees in everyday life. They offer children familiar experiences and many beneficial morals. During the early years of ones life is when one has the broadest imagination. Harry Potter helps expand that imagination even greater. Even though Harry Potter has witches and warlocks doing witchcraft, it is all just fantasy and is like any other fantasy movie or book, except better. Things like a three-headed dog, a flying broomstick, and an invisibility cloak allows the reader to leave the reality world and go into a different world of their own. During the peak time of the Harry Potter booksÐ ±Ã ¿ popularity, a mother decided to read the series to her six-year old daughter who was going through cancer. The child, named Catie Hoch, fell in love with the books and became a huge fan. This is probably because of the storyÐ ±Ã ¿s magic and how it lets oneÐ ±Ã ¿s mind go off into fantasy. There is no doubt that the books gave happiness to this little girl during the hardest point of her short-lived life. J.K. Rowling actually got in contact with Catie and even got to read to her from her fourth book, which at that time was not yet released to the public. Sadly, however, she died before Rowling could finish reading the book to her. It is stories like these that the anti-supporters of the Harry Potter books should know about. Lastly, in a period where technology rules the earth, it is difficult for children to get their eyes off the TV. Reading Harry Potter was more fun than watching TV or playing video games (Kwon). If a child would prefer to read a book then watch TV, then the book must be very well written and extremely interesting, Harry Potter is just that. Although there are now Harry Potter movies, many can say that they have read the book and the book was even better than the movie(Kwon). By having children read rather than watching TV, it can help them to be better readers and writers which will help them in the future, while watching TV will just make them obese and lethargic. On the other hand, many believe that the Harry Potter books do nothing but show people how to do witchcraft. One pastor claimed, The books are going to destroy the lives of young people (Locals’). The churchÐ ±Ã ¿s Herculean opposition is nonsense. In December 2001, the Harry Potter series were among the books burned in a churchs holy bonfire. Many Christians explain: God says in Deuteronomy that witchcraft is an abomination† (Gibbs’). Although they are right about Gods saying on witchcraft, Harry Potter was not written to teach people to be witches and warlocks. Its main point is to entertain people. The author of the books said almost sarcastically: I have met thousands of children and not even one time has a child come up to me and said: Ms Rowling, Im so glad IÐ ±Ã ¿ve read these books because now I want to be a witch (Potter). One can tell that she is not serious about this topic, so why should we even be arguing over this ludicrous issue? Why can we not let children read books that they love and enjoy? Although some churches and priests are strongly against Harry Potter and tell people not to read it, it can actually be a good sermon topic. A conservative Vanguard Church in Colorado with 1,100 members actually used Harry Potter to teach Sunday school for the children. The teachers were dressed as wizards, and the church was entirely decorated, with darkened rooms and glow-in-the-dark props (Gibbs). They had the children put on the Sorting Hat that decides the fate of the young wizards in the book. The children were all put in the Slytherin House, the house of evil Voldemort; the way out, they were taught, could only come from following what God teaches (Gibbs). If other churches were more lenient and understanding, they would see, how using Harry Potter can be a beneficial way to learn. In conclusion, Harry Potter books do not teach people witchcraft and they do not encourage them to become witches or warlocks. The books actually give characters for children to learn and relate to, expand their imagination, and allow them to read more. If one could just try to be more considerate, they can enjoy and actually learn a few things from the books.

he green revolution essays

he green revolution essays The Green Revolution: What Lies Beyond As a result of rapid population increase, the world today is facing a threat of massive famine. In the 1960s, the globe prematurely heralded the solution to feeding the growing number of people. Dr. Borlaugs development of high-yielding wheat varieties was seen as the ultimate solution to solving the world hunger. However, the Green Revolution, as the enormous yield increases in crops were tagged, also introduced a problematic high-intensity farming, which is adversely affecting the environment to this day. Moreover, the Green Revolution is no longer able to keep up with the growing population. Thus new approaches to farming and the development of new technologies are necessary in order to sustain the human population in the future. The new methods in agriculture discussed here, include the use of old and new biotechnologies: plant breeding and genetic engineering. Also discussed are alternative farming strategies that can reduce the harmful effects on environment, while sustaining high crop yields. The growth of human population is becoming unsustainable to earths resources, most importantly food resources. The solutions provided by the Green Revolution are only temporary, as the population growth is outracing the amount of food produced by high-yielding crops. Moreover, the high-intensity farming, which requires intensive use of fertilizers, pesticides, machinery, and irrigation, is heavily polluting the environment and destroying the fertility of the soil. Thus new methods of food production are needed to manufacture enough food for future generations, and maintain the usability of land. Several references from books and journal articles were used to investigate the problems presented. The human population today is growing at a rapid rate, which soon promises to outrace the earths capacity for food production. An estimated 160 people are added to the globe ...

Eleanor of Aquitaines Children and Grandchildren

Eleanor of Aquitaine's Children and Grandchildren Eleanor of Aquitaine has been called the â€Å"grandmother of Europe† for the connections of her children and grandchildren to many royal houses.   Here are the children and grandchildren of Eleanor of Aquitaine: First Marriage: to Louis VII of France Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122 – 1204) married Prince Louis of France, later Louis VII of France (1120 – 1180), on July 25, 1137. Their marriage was annulled in 1152, and Louis maintained custody of their daughters. 1. Marie, Countess of Champagne Marie of France (1145 – 1198) married Henry I (1127 – 1181), Count of Champagne, in 1164.   They had four children.   2. Alix, Countess of Blois Alix of France (1151 – 1197) married Theobold V (1130 – 1191), Count of Blois, in 1164.   They had seven children. More details and generations: Eleanor of Aquitaines Children and Grandchildren: Her First Marriage Second Marriage: Henry II of England After Eleanor of Aquitaine’s first marriage was annulled, she married Henry FitzEmpress (1133 – 1189), later Henry II of England. 1. William IX, Count of Poitiers William IX (1153 – 1156), Count of Poitiers 2. Henry the Young King Henry (1155 – 1183) the Young King married Margaret of France (betrothed November 2, 1160, married August 27, 1172).   Her father was Louis VII of France, Eleanor of Aquitaine’s first husband, and her mother was Louis’ second wife, Constance of Castile; Henry and Margaret shared two older half-sisters, Marie and Alix. After Henry’s death she married Bela III of Hungary in 1186. William of England (1177 – 1177), born premature, died three days after birth 3. Matilda, Duchess of Saxony and of Bavaria Matilda (1156 – 1189) of England, married as his second wife, Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and of Bavaria. Their children lived in England after their father was deposed in 1180 until their mother’s death; William, the youngest child, was born in that exile period. More details and generations: Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Descendants Through Matilda, Duchess of Saxony 4. Richard I of England Richard I (1157 – 1199) of England, married Berengaria of Navarre (1170 – 1230); they had no children 5. Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany Geoffrey II (1158 – 1186), Duke of Brittany, married Constance, Duchess of Brittany (1161 – 1201) in 1181. More details and generations: Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Descendants Through Geoffrey II of Brittany 6. Eleanor, Queen of Castile Eleanor (1162 – 1214) of England married Alfonso VIII (1155 – 1214), King of Castile, in 1177 More details and generations: Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Descendants Through Eleanor, Queen of Castille 7. Joan, Queen of Sicily Joan (1165 – 1199) of England, married first William II (1155 – 1189) of Sicily in 1177, then married, as his fifth of six wives, Raymond VI (1156 – 1222) of Toulouse in 1197. More details and generations: Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Descendants Through Joan, Queen of Sicily 8. John of England John (1166 – 1216) of England, known as John Lackland, married first Isabella (~1173 – 1217), Countess of Gloucester, in 1189 (betrothed 1176, annulled 1199, she married twice more), then second, in 1200, Isabella (~1188 – 1246), Countess of Angoulà ªme (she remarried after John’s death). More details and generations: Eleanor of Aquitaine’s Descendants Through John, King of England Two of Eleanors Ancestors (Grandchildren / Great-Grandchildren) were canonized as saints in the Roman Catholic Church:   Ferdinand II, King of Castile and Leà ³n, Isabelle of France The Royal Houses Listed here are some of the descendants of Eleanor of Aquitaine children, grandchildren and great grandchildren only who were kings, queens, empresses (the women usually as consorts though a few ruled in their own right): England: Henry the Young King, Richard I of England, John of England, Eleanor Fair Maid of Brittany was for a time proposed as the rightful ruler of England, Henry III of England. Edward I of England France: Blanche of Castile, Queen of France, Louis IX of France Spain (Castile, Leon, Aragon): Eleanor, Queen of Castile, Ferdinand II, King of Castile and Leà ³n, Berengaria, Queen of Castile and Leà ³n (ruled Castile briefly in her own right), Eleanor of Castile, Queen of Aragon, Henry of Castile Portugal: Urraca of Castile, Queen of Portugal, Sancho II of Portugal, Afonso III of Portugal Scotland: Joan of England, Queen of Scotland, Margaret of England, Queen of Scotland Other: Otto IV, Holy Roman Emperor, Richard of Cornwall, King of the Romans, Isabella of England, Holy Roman Empress, Charles I of Sicily, Marie of Champagne, Empress of Constantinople, Alice of Champagne, Queen of Cyprus, Berengaria of Leà ³n, Queen of Jerusalem, Eleanor of Portugal, Queen of Denmark, Eleanor de Montfort, Princess of Wales More About Eleanor of Aquitaine Eleanor of Aquitaine BiographySiblings of Eleanor of Aquitaine

Caligua Roman Empire Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Caligua Roman Empire - Research Paper Example By that time Caligula’s father was dead and his mother and two brothers were in disgrace. At Capri, Caligula was appointed as heir together with Tiberius Gemellus, son of Drusus the younger. According to the Roman law, Caligula did not have a right to be the emperor, but nevertheless it happened. After the death of Tiberius, with the help of Macro, Caligula was proclaimed â€Å"princeps† (first citizen) by the Senate. Tiberius’s will was invalidated and Caligula was proclaimed emperor with the official name of Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus in AD 37. The people of the empire were happy with the news, because Caligula’s parents were very popular in Rome and loved and respected by people. The first actions of the new emperor were directed at gaining popularity. When he entered Rome, he put Tiberius body into Augustus’ mausoleum, and made a funeral speech, in which he promised to rule Roman Empire together with the Senate and under its supervision. C aligula dropped a request for the deification of Tiberius, who was very unpopular in Rome, and announced amnesty. He put the taxes down and paid all the debts made by previous emperor. The new emperor won over the masses by resuming gladiator fights, bringing back actors from exile, and renewing of theatrical performances. Of course, such politics was very popular among the people. At this festive background, amplification of the monarchical principle and exaltation of power and personality of the emperor occurred. Caligula made a visit to Pandateriya and Pontius, and moved the ashes of his mother Agrippina and his brother Nero to Rome. There were yearly sacrifices yielded in honor of Germanicus and Agrippina, and circus games were arranged in honor of his mother. There were a lot of coins depicting the princeps’ brothers and parents. In six months Caligula got seriously sick. After his recovery he was no longer the same person. Some of the historians say that he had epilepsy from his childhood. †This, or some other cause, violently affected his mental state, and he became totally irrational, with delusions not only of grandeur but also of divinity.† (http://www.roman-empire.net/emperors/caligula.html, para.15). Caligula’s policy has changed so much that there was a firmly established belief in the society about his madness. It could be seen through his actions (for example, he was going to make his horse a consul) and in his appearance. The issue of mental normality of Gaius Caligula has occupied many researchers’ minds, both historians and psychologists. The opinions were divided. Some scholars have regarded him as mentally ill, while others believed that he was mentally normal. The range of definitions of his disease varies from schizophrenia to psychopathy. The latter version is the most recognized by modern scholars and seems the most convincing. In AD 38 Caligula put to death without trial his principal supporter, the pra etorian prefect Macro. Gemellus was also killed by his order. Marcus Junius Silanus, the father of the first of Caligula's wives was compelled to commit suicide. A new feature was that the process did not occur in the Senate: princeps alone decided the fate of the eminent dignitaries of the empire. In a short period of one year Caligula wasted all of the reserves of the state treasury accumulated by the Tiberius. New taxes were introduced to

Joan of Arc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Joan of Arc - Essay Example She participated in various war affairs for the separation of France from the powers of the English. She had a very persuasive personality as she was quite determined towards her aims and objectives and she was able to gather support of several individuals to fight for her cause (Twain XII). She was quite obviously an inspiring leader who led from the front and she participated in battles with great bravery and fearlessness. She did not depend on taking measures that were manipulative in nature; rather she was blunt and believed in action that was quite direct in nature. She faced life and death like a strong rock; she did not turn her back against her own army and instead fought to death when she was burned (Bunkers 89). Another great achievement of this Saint was the liberation of the region of Paris from the control of the English rule. During the battle she was badly injured and taken as captive by the Burgundies who were from the French race but were in support of the English rule. Later she was sold by this race of France in exchange of huge amount of money. She was regarded by her contemporaries as a heroine for her heroic activities during war and with her heroic nature she was able to persuade and lead others into attaining her objective of freeing France from the control of the English. For example during the war she was very seriously injured as an arrow slit through her neck, still she continue to be the in charge of the field and she kept fighting. Saint Joan of Arc has proven to be of utmost importance in current society than she was during her era. She was quite high in integrity and was very truthful which quite a missing element of current society is. This part of her personality was clearly highlighted by several literatures as they stated that Joan of the Arc was a person who always used to speak in a truthful manner even if the people liked it or not (Peterfy 159). Meeting

The Role Transnational And Multinational Companies Have Played On Essay

The Role Transnational And Multinational Companies Have Played On Globalization - Essay Example The world has seen a tremendous increase in the global transactions and foreign trade in the recent years. The main reason behind this is that now more and more countries are getting engaged in trading with each other in order to increase their profit or sales or protecting them from being eroded by competition. The main objectives which are influencing the companies to engage in international business are the expansion of sales, acquiring resources, minimizing competitive risk and diversification of sources of sales and supplies (Johnson & Turner, 2003). Besides these, there are other few factors like economic factors, cultural factors, technological factors, and social factors which have the influence to a greater extent. The emergence and activities of transnational and multinational enterprises had impacted to a huge extent on the concept of globalization. Multinationals have played an important role in globalization. Given their international reach and mobility, prospective countries, and sometimes regions within countries must compete with each other to have MNCs locate their facilities (and subsequent tax revenue, employment, and economic activity) within. To compete, countries and regional political districts offer incentives to MNCs such as tax breaks, pledges of governmental assistance or improved infrastructure, or lax environmental and labor standards. This process of becoming more attractive to foreign investment can be characterized as a race to the bottom.

Chinese and Japanese Response to Western Imperialism Essay

Chinese and Japanese Response to Western Imperialism - Essay Example Chinese efforts to strengthen it politically, militarily and economically also failed. China would become dominated by unequal treaties of foreign powers. Japan would become a major world power able to compete against the European countries. Japan in the seventeenth and eighteenth century was undergoing a period of isolation in which European missionaries and traders were highly restricted in their movements. Under American pressure in 1853, Japan would open its ports and sign unequal treaties with European powers. Japan began a series of reforms known as the Meiji Restoration in which the feudal system was abolished, economic reforms were launched, military was modernized and Western political concepts were applied to the country. The Meiji restoration would transform Japan into a major industrialized and economic power which was capable of competing with the West. Japan would use its modern military to inflict crushing defeats on Russia and China. During World War II, Japan would e mbark upon a policy of conquering several South East Asian countries before being defeated by the United States. Under the American occupation, Japan would again rebuild itself into a pacifist but economically powerful country. China in the nineteenth century suffered from strife, corruption, stagnation and various internal problems. The Chinese also had to deal with foreigners who were now taking control of many territories in Asia. The Chinese monarchy was arrogant in its dealings with Europeans. Trade between Europe and China brought a series of conflicts in which China was humiliated and defeated. As trade increased between European traders and Chinese, this led to increased hostility between European governments and China.

Is the way Socrates founds the city in speech,especially the role of Essay - 1

Is the way Socrates founds the city in speech,especially the role of the guardians,compatible with 5th Century Athens How about Sparta or any other city or nat - Essay Example Thesis The role of the guardians bears resemblance with functions and duties of rulers in the 5th century Athens and can be compared with the role of communists in soviet Russia and Communist China. The guardians in The Republic bear resemblance with rules of ancient Athens. The most important political principle of Platos ideal state is rule by an enlightened elite, highly trained and educated for the role and endowed with a philosophical turn of mind that presumably assures the wisdom of their policies. Platos commentary is principally concerned with the training and duties of this elite class, the Guardians. In fact, Athens had a whole host of officials, for the most part annually selected boards of magistrates, each devoted to an aspect of social regulation. Magistrates shared some of the duties involved in policing Athens, their role and function will only indirectly be a concern of this work. Interpreted more narrowly, policing also describes the work of an organized police force, a disciplined, professional corps, whose duties include enforcing the law through investigation and prosecution and ensuring public order. The Guardians themselves are divided into two major gro ups. The larger group (sometimes referred to in the texts as "Auxiliaries") includes civil servants and a permanent military force, skilled in the art of war and dedicated to the task of defending the state from external enemies. In ancient Athens, there was social division: the military would be charged with keeping civil order within the state as well. The most important virtue of these Guardians is courage. However, those rulers who show a gift for rational and philosophical contemplation are eligible to become Rulers, who are charged with making the important policy decisions that the lower orders of Guardians will then carry out and enforce. In a direct response to what he saw as the corruption and decadence

Chinese and Japanese Response to Western Imperialism Essay

Chinese and Japanese Response to Western Imperialism - Essay Example Chinese efforts to strengthen it politically, militarily and economically also failed. China would become dominated by unequal treaties of foreign powers. Japan would become a major world power able to compete against the European countries. Japan in the seventeenth and eighteenth century was undergoing a period of isolation in which European missionaries and traders were highly restricted in their movements. Under American pressure in 1853, Japan would open its ports and sign unequal treaties with European powers. Japan began a series of reforms known as the Meiji Restoration in which the feudal system was abolished, economic reforms were launched, military was modernized and Western political concepts were applied to the country. The Meiji restoration would transform Japan into a major industrialized and economic power which was capable of competing with the West. Japan would use its modern military to inflict crushing defeats on Russia and China. During World War II, Japan would e mbark upon a policy of conquering several South East Asian countries before being defeated by the United States. Under the American occupation, Japan would again rebuild itself into a pacifist but economically powerful country. China in the nineteenth century suffered from strife, corruption, stagnation and various internal problems. The Chinese also had to deal with foreigners who were now taking control of many territories in Asia. The Chinese monarchy was arrogant in its dealings with Europeans. Trade between Europe and China brought a series of conflicts in which China was humiliated and defeated. As trade increased between European traders and Chinese, this led to increased hostility between European governments and China.

Airport Monitors Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Airport Monitors - Assignment Example The flights coming in and out during the peak of the storm were canceled until better weather. The runways became full of snow because of the storm but have been quickly cleared. The runways currently in use are runways 03, 04, and 09. The typical runways sizes are 8,000 to 12,000 in length. The runways are made out of concrete and in good condition. Each runway has lights and can be used during all conditions. The airport has most of the planes out of a base and moving passengers. There are 5 jets and 1 multi-engine aircraft at the Detroit Metro Airport not in use. The average number of flights per day is 660 commercial air flights, 579 air taxis, and 26 GA Transients. The airport has 13 different radio frequencies. Overall, the airport has decent runways and many flights scheduled to depart and many flights scheduled to arrive. The twenty-mile radius around the airport is cluttered with incoming and outgoing flights. The second airport chosen is the Chicago O’Hare International airport. The airport is located in Chicago, Illinois. The airport examination was performed at 6:10 pm on February 3rd, 2011. The airport is usually quite a busy airport. Chicago was recently hit with a large blizzard that forced the airport to cancel almost every flight. The weather at the time of observation is cold and sunny. The previous weather caused many delays and cancelations. The twenty-mile radius surrounding the airport shows very few flights coming or going. There are only 8 flights total within a twenty-mile radius. At the time of observation, there is no aircraft based at the airport. Under normal weather conditions, the airport has on average 1533 commercial flights, 764 air taxis, and 20 GA transients. The average total air traffic is 2317 flights each day. The current runway conditions are snowy and icy. The airport has five runways currently operating. Three of the runways are made of asphalt and two are made  of concrete.  

Htc Business Model Essay Example for Free

Htc Business Model Essay Executive summary Using Googles Andriod platform has given HTC a boost, but now the Taiwanese handset maker are vulnerable to underwhelming sales in America and Europe. Their hope? China. HTC only entered China in early 2010, much later than its established peers. It is playing catching up with international premium brands, such as Apple, Samsung and LG, where HTC is currently aiming to get a slice of the pie. However, the company is also facing stiff competition from local brands who operate at the lower price market. In this Global Marketing proposal, we propose several initiatives for HTC to grow its current 1% marketshare in the China mobile phone market, including new products for HTC to tap into the lower price market as well as localized promotion campaigns to sell phones in rural areas. It is time for HTC to sway away from satisfied with being quietly brilliant. Context analysis Company Background HTC Corporate, founded in 1997, was a relatively obscure Taiwanese original design manufacturer (ODM). Incorporated as High Technology Computer, HTC focused on manufacturing of computer notebooks. The company created the worlds first pocket size PC in collaboration with Microsoft in 1998[1]; it later developed the iPAQ, one of the earliest PDA for Compaq in 2000. HTCs close tie with Microsoft led them to develop XDA[2] in 2002, first ever smartphone operated on Windows. The company remained true to ODM principles when it produced smartphones by efficiently catering for carriers specifications and requests. HTCs ODM smartphones continued to generate profit margin as high as 20% compared to industry average of 5%[3]. According to Harvard Business Review, HTC shipped more than 70% of the worlds Windows smartphones in 2006 at its peak. HTC won a reputation for excellent smartphones. But it wanted more, and began to invest more in innovation before eventually creating its own brand in 2007. HTC set up a unit called Magic Labs[4], where engineers from various disciplines come up with lots of ideas, even if most were quickly discarded. From this unit bred several ground breaking ideas, including HTC touch, a touch screen device that appeared few weeks before Apples first iPhone; and first ever Android phone in collaboration with Google. Reaping from the Androids high penetration rate, the company experienced unprecedented growth from 2008 onwards and became the top seller of smartphones in America in 3Q of 2011, according to Canalys Research. HTC has recently eclipsed Nokia in market capacity and has climbed up to the no.3 spot for smartphones sold worldwide, behind Apple and Samsung. In terms of brand equity, the company has invested heavily in developing its own brand and broke into Interbrands top 100 Brands 2011[5] (no. 98) . China: Macro-environmental Factors Politics China remained a single party directed country since the founding of Peoples Republic of China in October 1949. Putting political ideologies differences aside, efficient decision-making is widely seen as a characteristic of Chinas political system. The profound changes that have taken place in various fields of this nation: from Deng Xiapings Special Economic Zone in the 80s to the economic leaps in the turn of the century. Inefficiencies in the political system such as corruption still exist today, but Chinas communist party has taken bold steps for reform. The party has embraced market socialist economy to lead China out of poverty and soar to one of the most powerful nations in the world. Economic Despite China has mounted new heights in her economy, outshining Japan as the second largest economy in the world, the slowdown in economic growth has not abated. The housing boom in the past decade is now over, implying that growth now weigh on heavy industry and local consumption. In the past, China has offered massive infrastructure stimulus, as it did to prop up growth following SARS and the global financial crisis. However, local governments have learned not to overheat the economy, as evidenced by the late 2011 credit crunch in Wenzhou[6]. Central government is expecting a moderate GDP growth of 6%, but China is due for correction in its property and possibly stock market. Social Chinas Communist Party maintained its strong foothold in the nation, as the country enjoyed a period of unprecedented prosperity in the past decade. As Chinas economy take flight, the number of local billionaires and millionaires grew by leaps and bounds. The wealth gap, at the same time, widened drastically. As a consequence, there have been several localized pro-democracy campaigns since 2011. Termed Jasmine revolution, citizens used social network site such as microblogs to organize public protests demanding fairness, housing and food – social issues that are often overlooked during economic boom. Such unrests were quickly put to rest as Beijing aims to mitigate any form of dissidents since learning the hard lessons from Tiananmen protests in 1989. Other than localized protests and occasional controversy in human rights, Chinas social order have been maintained. Technology China has sparked its technological boom since it gained accession to the world trade organization in 2001. Internally, China has developed a matured internet market which now boost one of the largest internet users in the world. In mobile phones, the market evidenced a dynamic growth due to the rapid development of mobile subscriptions and growing third-generation (3G) networks. China: Smartphone Market Industry analysis After Chinas telecommunications operators acquired 3G licenses, they formed several strategic alliances with mobile phone brands. For example, China Unicom has established alliances with Apples iPhone and Lenovos LePhone, whilst Motorola and HTC and strategic partners with China Telecom. Customer analysis According to government statistics in 2012, China has become to first country to top 1 billionThe cell phone users, a soar from 2010s 787 million users. The number of users is equivalent to 74% of Chinas population. That being said, only 14% of users are 3G users. Mobile phones are seen as a necessity, as customers regularly use phones for texting and micro-blogging. Competitor analysis Mobile phones are relatively consolidated in China, with the top five brands deriving nearly 72% of total retail volume stales in 2010[7]. Top five brands are Nokia (34.2%) , Samsung (18.1%), LG (6.8%), ZTE (6.3%) and Huawei (6.3%). Apple (1.4%) and HTC (0.7%) are late boomers in the market, with both companies having entered China in 2009 and 2010 respectively. According to market research by Canalys[8], international brands such as Samsung, Apple and HTC should continue to dominate in the space above RMB2,500 (US$400). Leading local tier-one brands, such as Huawei and ZTE, are diversifying beyond the entry level by launching a number of high-profile, flagship smart phones. As of late, Lenovo has made efforts to penetrate the low cost, rural market by introducing models starting from RMB700 (US$158). Company Analysis HTC in China HTC only entered China in 2009 and occupied a market share below 1% as of figures in 2010. Its strategy is to challenge Samsung and Apple as the biggest smartphone players in Mainland, but it also faces stiff competition from local brands such as Tianyu and ZTE Despite its geographic proximity in Taiwan, HTC started off late in China than in richer parts of the world largely because the countrys 3G structure was not as matured in 2009 as today. Targeting Positioning HTCs mission statement is â€Å"to become the leading innovative supplier of mobile information and communication devices by providing value-added design, world class manufacturing and logistic and service capabilities.† Whilst this may have been a successful formula over the past 10 years in geographic location, HTC is in danger of falling behind competitors in China. HTC currently has 10% of the market for smartphones costing more than RMB2,000 (US$320). Its strategy is to target those high-end customers who utilizes 3G network and appreciates international brand. As if HTCs Magic Lab works tirelessly to come up with numerous innovative products, HTC currently adopts a similar volume approach in its phones. HTC regularly pushes forward phones in the market. In 2011, when Apple had launched one new iPhone, HTC introduced fifteen new models. HTCs Challenge After a meteoric rise which placed it briefly atop the U.S. smartphone sales charts, HTC revenue as a whole in the first two months of 2012 was a staggering 45% down on last year. HTC has run afoul of punitive legal juggernaut Apple, which delayed the availability of HTCs handsets. Determined to avoid the fate looming over troubled rivals like Research in Motion, HTC saw a big revitalization push in China, championed by several flagship phones such as HTC One X and Evo 4G Lite. Sales in Europe have been dropping but HTC saw better than expected revenue in China. The rise of HTC in China despite its late entry could be partially attributed to their advanced operating systems with Android and excellent hardware, such as dual core processing units and friendly features where the phone rings louder when in a bag. But with competitors catching up hardware specifications overnight these days, can HTC sustain its China growth? The challenge of HTC faces is not neither simply in hardware nor software. HTC needs to formulate a marketing and branding strategy for China, as to fend off the fierce challenge by international brands (Apple, Samsung) and local players. Proposed Marketing Campaign For the proposed marketing campaign, we propose a bi-polar approach to target existing high-end customers of HTCs and also tap into the basic customers specturum, an area HTC has not entered so far. High-end customers HTC is currently focusing on high-end customers who are tech savvy, able and willing to pay for premium mobile phones. These high-end customers are currently up and coming professionals, live a fast moving lifestyle and mostly reside or work in first or second tier cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Xi Chuan. All of these customers have subscribed or are going to subscribe 3G network, in order to make the most of out HTCs smartphones. In addition to product quality and operating system, high-end customers nowadays also care about brand reputation and image. The proposed marketing campaign for HTCs high-end customers is therefore to enrich the brand experience and differentiate HTCs personality. Basic customers As mentioned earlier, 3G users accounts to less than 20% of Chinas mobile phones market. According to market analysis, local players, best represented by ZTE and Huawei, are more popular amongst price sensitive mass and lower-end customers. These basic customers reside in third tier cities or rural areas, demand basic functions for their phones and also aspires to own a smartphone one day. Product Designers collaborations are nothing new. Indeed, they are now a well-established marketing tool – as well as source of income. Standard Hotel Group in America has joined forces with the likes of surfwear brand Quiksilver to provide exclusive trunks and bikinis that guests can purchase in the groups resorts. HM, the Swedish fashion behemoth, took rise after asking Karl Lagerfeld, designer for Chanel and owner of Fendi, to come up with a special collection back in 2004. For mobile phones,it is no different story. RIM collaborated with Porsche design and launched a high-end luxurious blackberry in 2011. LG and Prada started working together in 2006[9] and continued to attract fashionistas for their crossover phones. For high-end customers, HTC should leverage connection with a renowned brand within the Chinese community and produce collaborate products. Nike would deem to be an appropriate choice, given the brand is held in high regards among Chinese and its innovative brand image aligns with that of HTCs. Nevertheless, Nike has strong connection with Apple as Nike currently produces Nike+ a tracking device that connects an athletes performance data with iPhones, iPods etc. If there is a brand for up-and-coming professionals which matches HTCs pricing and targeting strategy, Adidas would be a great fit. Rather than choosing a luxury brand such as LVMH or Gucci, a partnership with Adidas could not only appeal to the sports lovers, but also be perceived as socially acceptable. Partnering with luxurious goods might risk further alienation as the wealth gap widens in China. Adidas is actively investing on its mi adidas platform that rivals Nike+. The sports company enjoys a good reputation in China after sponsoring Team China in Beijing Olympics, and its innovative roots in products and designs could enrich the HTC brand experience. For basic customers, HTC could build 2G or even very basic 3G phones to attract the mass. With much reduced functionality and a lower price point, HTC could attract the 80% users who have not yet subscribe to 3G network. While the simpler handsets should have less fancy functions, embodying the HTC names mean that that the phones should still be innovative. HTC could be more localize with these phones by having local functions such as Chinese keyboard and improved durability that adapts to environment in rural areas. Perhaps basic phones could have a brighter screen for users to view the screen easily in open rural areas, or made in anti-sand materials as desertification is common in northwest China. Aside from hardware reengineering, HTC needs to redesign its software capabilities. HTC is relatively weak in content when compared to rivals such as Apple. It has no plans to launch its own app store, preferring instead to reply on Android marketplace and its apps. HTC acquired French content provider Abaxia in June 2010[10] to develop innovative apps for its devices. Recently, it has installed digital map apps in HTC Sense interface. Currently, there is a market gap in smartphone manufacturer originated apps in China. Almost all of the apps available on Android/iPhone system are developed by individual software company. HTC could potentially develop operating system with apps linked to popular Chinese social media sites, such as QQ and Sinas Microblog. Price HTC should continue to target upper tier price points for its high end customers. Its currently price point closely resembles Apples and Samsungs, averaging around RMB2,500 (US$400). The high price setting strategy further illustrates HTCs ambition to compete with the international brands but the company could consider undercutting its price by a fraction, say less than 10%, than the leaders so as to gain stronger market share. Price reduction should not be advertised aggressively, as it might signal a loss in quality. For products in the lower end market, HTC should try to be a price leader in the arena. Lenovo markets its cheaper line of phones around RMB700, and HTC should try to undercut Lenovo. It is important to capture the basic customers first, with the hope that HTC could persuade basic users to switch to more expensive phones over time. Place According to Economists, HTC now as 2,300 authorized retailers in China. Apple has 3,500 – not withstanding its flagship Apple store and website – while Nokia and Samsung have 9,000 each. HTC could open more shops by granting authorized retailers license, but it is easier said than done as brands jostle retailers for shelf spaces. Rather than investing heavily in opening its own shop, HTC could form a strategic partnership with popular online shop Taobao or Alibaba to reach customers in the second or third tier cities to compliment its e-shop. Further place promotion could been referred in HTC ambassador campaign in People section. In first tier cities, HTC could theoretically leverage on Adidass store presence and distribution network. Nonetheless, HTC should adopt a selective approach by opening flagship store that can illustrates its customer experience. Promotion In HTCs incumbent global marketing campaign, the company slogan is quietly brilliant. HTC commercials do not focus on the precise functionality of their handsets but the way people use them. The concept itself is intuitive, but the campaign is not as much advertised in China as other places – the slogan does not even has a Chinese translation. As a result, HTCs promotion in China is product focused. HTC One X advertisements were filmed where a photographer takes pictures with HTC phone while skydiving – stressing the superior camera quality of the handset. To revamp the promotion campaign, HTC should first come up with a better slogan for China or even for its global campaign. Stressing on the way people interact with HTC cell phones is a good idea, but conceptually the slogan could be more straight forward – Nokias connecting people or LGs life is good are good examples. For China specifically, HTC needs to build on build on enriching users experience. Yan Siqing, chief operating officer of China Telecom said HTC grew rapidly despite its late start because it provided a â€Å"good user experience†. Nationwide promotion campaign should focuses on how HTC helps people to capture their moments in life. Whether is at work, in sporting moments or vacation, a user-friendly HTC handset is always there to make things happen. People Simliar to Unilevers â€Å"Shakti Revolution† to help women in rural India to become entrepreneurs[11], HTC could foster partnership with non governmental organisations, banks and local counties, to promote handsets at rural areas through employing HTC ambassadors. Ambassadors are underpriviledged residents in country sides and they are invited to become direct-to-consumer sales distributors for HTCs basic handsets for second or third tier cities. Contrary to normal mom-and-pop shops, HTC should provide training in selling, commercial knowledge and bookkeeping to help ambassadors become micro-entrepreneurs. This proposal could not only expand HTCs reach in the lower tier markets, but also been seen as a socially responsible act of goodwill. [1]Kim R. Yoffie D., HTC Corp. in 1999, 8th Dec 2009, Harvard Business Review [2]Sourced online: http://xda.o2.co.uk/ [3]Kim R. Yoffie D., HTC Corp. in 1999, 8th Dec 2009, Harvard Business Review [4]HTC: The brand from no where; The Economist, 7th Apr 2012, sourced online from [5]http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/best-global-brands-2008/best-global-brands-2011.aspx [6]Wolfe A, Gurushina N Gassambe I, China Outlook: The Tao of Hard Landing, 28 May 2012, Roubini Global Economics Report [7]Mobile Phones in China, Category Briefing, 19 Sep 2011; Passport GMID [8]http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20120619PR203.html [9]http://www.gizmag.com/lg-prada-collaborative-phone/20862/ [10]http://www.ubergizmo.com/2010/06/htc-acquires-abaxia-to-strengthen-its-software-capabilities/ [11]http://www.unilever.com.au/sustainability/casestudies/economic-development/creating-rural-entrepreneurs.aspx

StarTeam System Development

StarTeam System Development Delainah E. Borgonia StarTeam is a life cycle management tool that allows program managers and system developers the ability to collaborate on projects and track change management.   This system was developed by a company named   Starbase Corporation, which then was bought by Borland in January 2003.   StarTeam now belongs to MircoFocus which is known to build, operate and secure enterprise software.   In order for this system to work on your computer and operating system, you are required to have certain Hardware and Software requirements.   Even though StarTeam is the system of choice for the Air Force Life Cycle Operations Agency, StarTeam does have a competitive advantage to other systems that our currently on the market today.   StarTeam is a great life cycle management system that does the job, however I do believe if I was able to make a few system enhancement recommendations, it will be a robust and better system that will be beneficial to our workplace and users. Server-Side Hardware Requirements StarTeam system works only on two different server-side hardwares.   It currently uses a Windows Server with either a 32-bit or a 64-bit computer processor.   With a 32-bit computer processor it must have a minimum 32-bit dual-core system with at least four gigabytes of memory.   With a 64-bit computer processor it must of a minimum 64-bit quad-core sytem with at least four to eight gigabytes of memory. Server-Side Software Requirements The server-side software requirements for the StarTeam informations system are currently used on a multitude of operating systems.   StarTeam system currently works with the Mircosoft Windows Server, Red Hat Enertpirse Linux, and SUSE Linux operating systems.   The only Microsoft Windows Server versions StarTeam is compatible with is the 2012 and 2008 versions.   For the 2012 version, it only works on the 64-bit computer processor, and on the 2008 version, it works on either the 32-bit or 64-bit processor.   This information system also works on two Linux operating systems for those who uses a Linux Operating system platform.   Red Hat Enterprise Linux platform delivers a military grade-security with a 99.999% uptime, the only versions that is compatible with StarTeam are the 6.7 in either 32-bit or 64-bit operating system and/or the 5.5 version only in a 32-bit processor.   The other Linux plateform that is compatible with StarTeam is SUSE Linux 11.3 and 11.4 Enterprise Desktop in either the 32-bit or 64-bit system processor.   SUSE Linux is an affordable environment that currently is coexistent with Windows, Mac, Unix and other operating systems. Client-Side Hardware Requirements StarTeam is used and has been tested on both laptops and desktops computer hardware, that as at least a minumum 32-bit dual core operating system with a minimum of two gigabytes of memory. The hardware must have 200 migabytes to install the application with an adequate disk space required for all your files that you would work on a daily basis. Like with all other products the amount of disk space will differ depending on how much you use the product.   Currently at our workplace we currently use it on either a laptop or desktop computer hardware system. StarTeam is also compatible on some MAC computer models as well. It can be used on a MacBook with the early 2015 model, late 2008 aluminum, early 2009 or newer model.   It also works on the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.   The MacBook Pro must be the mid to late 2007 or newer model and the MacBook Air must be the late 2008 or newer model.   It also works on the Mac Mini, Imac and Mac Pro just to name a few a few others. Just fo r your information StartTeam support is only for the physical Apple Computers only, and the OS X Virtual Machines are not supported by StarTeam information system. Client-Side Software Requirements The StarTeam information system client-side software we currrently use at our workplace is the StarTeam Cross-Platform Client System.   The Star-Team Cross-Platform Client System uses Java and can be used on a Operating System that can support the Java Runtime Enviromment (JRE) 1.8.0_102 version.   This Cross-Platform Client has been used and tested on the certain softwares.   The Operating System the StarTeam Cross-Platform Client is compatible with is the Mircorsoft Windows 10, 8, 7, XP Professional SP3, and Windows Vista SP1 in either 32-bit or 64-bit processor.   StarTeam Cross-Platform Client System is also compatible with other operating systems like the Solaris Sparc 10, RedHat Enterprise Linux 6, Ubuntu 14.04, SUSE 11.3 and the El Capitan, Yosemite on the Mac OS.   The Client System also needs an Adobe Acrobat software in order to view any PDF manuals or files.   Also, if any online help is needed you must use an Internet Explorer 8 or later for Microsoft Windows only or Firefox 4 later browser.   In order for the StarTeam to work at its optimal performance it is recommended that the StarTeam Server be on a its on dedicated application server unless your workplace is using a supported version of Microsoft SQL Server Express as their database. Competitive Analysis of the System The StarTeam application lifecycle management software has a whole lot of competitors on the market today.   There are numerous lifecyle management application software that offers a whole lot of features compared to StarTeam.   In order for StarTeam to stay competitive against its other software rivals, MicroFocus has made an ideal application lifecycle management software that can be used and implemented easily by any type of development team or enterpise.   How StarTeam stays on top is MicroFocus has developed a feature that allows users to post system suggestions to request enhancements and imporovements to its system.   StarTeam is also an on-line tool that can be accessible from anywhere through any compatible device, which makes it easy for users to collaborate on projects and track change management at anytime. MicroFocus is also known for their security, high performance and stability.   They have created an application lifecycle management software application tha t can easlily be run.   It is also so lightweight that it can be integrated with a multitude of tools that you may be already be using.   StarTeam also stays competitive by always upgrading and doing server imporvements to its software. This is an important step when competing against rivals.   Knowing what the customers wants and needs can always make your system better than others that are comparable to StarTeam.   Another advantage StarTeam has from other systems and rivals, is their customer service team.   Having an excellent customer service team that knows their product and responses with little or no wait time can make or break a system and company. StarTeam is a system known for its stability, ease of use to the users, performance and its software pricing.   Like with any system out there StarTeam can use some system enhancements that I believe can imporve the users experience. Recommendations for Improving the System Informations systems can always be enhanced and made better, that stays true to StarTeam as well.   The one recommendation I have for StarTeam is the ability to notify you by email whenever there is a change in status with the requirement.   This will allow my team to keep track of our requirements on where it is in the system life cycle, instead of logging into the system to check. At this time StarTeam only sends email notification to the point of contact when a project is awaiting their coordination. I believe if the system was enhanced to allow an email notification to be sent anytime there was a change in status, it will allow the user to save time from not loggin into the system. The second recommendation I would like to improve to StarTeam is to have StarTeam   be a web-base system instead of connecting through a client server.   StarTeam currently uses a server which currently takes about 1-3 minutes to open one requirement.   I believe if StarTeam was a web-base sy stem, Im hoping it will decrease the wait time it takes to open a requirement. This is a a great deal when making changes to multiple projects at the same time. The last recommendation I would improve is the ability to link all change requirements that have dependencies with each other.   This will help the requirement manager to capture all the change requests that have to be developed together, instead of opening each one separately. Altough these changes may not be useful to the developer and analyst process, but I think these recommendations would be a huge benefit to the requirement manager users experience for tracking all requirements and doing their job as a whole. Conclusion StarTeam is a life cycle management tool that allows program managers and system developers the ability to collaborate on projects and track change management. Ive discussed what hardware and software requirements a user must have in order to use the StarTeam Application Life Cycle Management software.   StarTeam is a great system the Air Force Life Cycle Operations Agency uses for keeping track of the development and enhancement to an Air Force System, but I know that the enhancements Ive discussed, like it being a web-base system vs a client server, and having all requirement dependencies link together instead of it just stating the requirement number can be beneficial to my workplace as well its user. StarTeam does have a competitive advantage to other systems that our currently on the market today by Micro Focus outstanding customer service as well has developing a feature that allows users to recommend system enhancements and improvements to their system.   StarTeam is great but with every system out there , there is always room for improvement. References Home. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.microfocus.com/products/change-management/starteam/system-requirements/ Megherbi, M. (n.d.). StarTeam Reviews (1 Review) StarTeam Community Feedback Score: 4.00 Mar 2017. Retrieved from https://www.crowdreviews.com/starteam#reviews Borland StarTeam Installation Guide.(2013). Costa Mesa, CA: Micro Focus

The ?Way? As Seen In Taoism And Confucianism Essay -- essays research

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Taoism and Confucianism are both very complex and important religions of their time. Both mainly Asian religions, these creeds were more prominent in the times they were developed then they are today. Each of these religions had a certain belief that there was a â€Å"Way† that things should happen and should work so that goodness and peace will regulate in the world. Confucius was the founder of Confucianism. His works were taught in the Confucian Analects. His sense of mission to be â€Å"a human among other humans.† He was said to have fortune cookie knowledge and was admired by many people, including his many followers. Lao Tzu is the founder of Taoism. His teachings are found from the Te-tao-ching. Lao Tzu beliefs were nature based around nature. Each of these teachers taught a great deal to their followers about their beliefs and we see that through the works they left behind. Confucius was willing to teach and learn with anyone who came to him; once he even accepted an uncapped youth though he stated that he was not responsible for what the youth did when he left. He once struck a man who was waiting for him in a sprawling position in the shins with his staff, declaring that youths that show no respect for their elders achieve nothing, and those who merely get older are useless pests. He observed that one youth seemed to be more interested in growing up quickly than in improving himself....

Healthcare Utilization

Health care reform is a not only an ongoing topic of debate statewide, but nationwide as well. Health care reform is a popular topic right now all over the United States. This paper will discuss the various ways that health care reform measures have expanded or inhibited access to care as well as how these changes effect the utilization of healthcare. Also covered will be universal health care, a discussion of what this consists of and how current care identifies or contrasts with it (University of Phoenix, 2013). The cost for a patient receiving care has been on a steady incline, nearing â€Å"$2. 6 trillion in 2010, over ten times the $256 billion spent in 1980,† (Kaiser Foundation, 2013, para. 1). Contributing to these rising costs is advanced medical technology. Not only does the updated technology affect the cost of health care, but it offers patients a more updated, safer solution compared to equipment and procedures of the past. The rising cost of health care seriously impacts people who may already be suffering financially, denying them the ability to receive proper medical care. There are a limited amount of Americans that can afford routine care with a primary care doctor. Many patients are forced to resort to using the emergency room on an as needed basis. In order to ensure more Americans receive the health care they need, a change in the system must occur. Health care reform is built upon the current health insurance system as a way of providing access to system to provide more people with the ability to gain medical insurance coverage. Health reform also establishes an easy way for consumers to compare and purchase health insurance as well as protect consumers legally. The current plan for health care reform will make it possible for low income families to qualify for medical coverage through federal programs. The health reform will also encourage additional employers to provide health insurance policies that cover preventative measures for employees. This reform would also protect patients from unreasonable rate increases to their policies. Although health care reform is intended to increase the accessibility of healthcare, it also comes with the potential to be a financial disaster for he government and patients alike. Becoming effective in 2014, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will require states to cover individuals with incomes not exceeding 133 percent of the federal poverty level, under the age of 65 and not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid. â€Å" The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care and will create the transformation within the health care system necessary to contain costs,† (Responsible Reform, 2012, para. ). One issue that will still be present will be the limited access to preventative and primary care because Medicaid will only ensure non-routine visits. Forcing patients to visit emergency departments or urgent care offices will increase costs and pose a threat to not only the patients but the physicians, hospitals, and government agencies behind the funding (Douglas Holtz-Eakin, 2010). Health care reform will not only affect patient coverage but will force changes within the utilization of health care as well. The changes made from health care reform have a major impact on health care by influencing the level of spending within the health care industry. These rates of health care utilization are direct indicators of the type of care patients are seeking. The rates also define how services may vary from one region to the next. As noted above, health care reform will expand patient utilization of the emergency department and urgent care offices nationwide. Universal healthcare would be an example everyone being covered for basic healthcare services, and no individual would be denied care as long as they are legal residents in the geographical area covered. The ideal concept would assure that all citizens should have access to affordable, quality health care which differs from the current system. Universal health care programs are government directed through various regulations, mandates, and laws that determine the type of care provided and who is eligible for coverage. Universal health care is a publicly funded health care delivery system. There are certain instances where the patient will be responsible for partial costs, the portion the single payer insurance did not cover. The opposing argument against universal health care is that doctors accepting the insurance offered through the universal program would make less money, therefore influencing the level of care provided to patients. Some also believe it is each individual’s responsibility to take care of their medical coverage, not the responsibility of the government. Some feel it is yet another burden to the current fiscal crisis. They fail to realize the majority of the uninsured are employed citizens that simply cannot afford the rising costs of care. One similarity of the current care in the United States with universal health care is Medicaid and Medicare. Patients covered by these programs must meet government guidelines and receive specific care that is covered by these. The difference between Medicaid/Medicare and universal healthcare is that there is no equality to health care accessibility; the government is determining who is eligible and what is covered. The government determines what services can receive and eligibility. Medical coverage in the United States appears to be a luxury in today’s economy and universal health care would change that view. As am insured dependent, I am covered by blue cross blue shield health insurance. I am able to see my primary care physician with a co-pay and very little out of pocket expenses upfront for minor illness, and accidents. If for some reason I wouldn’t have healthcare anymore. I would be eligible for Medicaid but compared to the coverage I currently have, it would not be much assistance but in an emergency. Not only would it limit my medical coverage, I would all but lose preventative care as well as dental coverage. If universal health care were put into effect through a health care reform, preventative care should be a necessity. Not only does it ensure good health of Americans, it cuts costs in the long run by preventing medical emergencies and undiagnosed conditions. While the health care reform is an ongoing debate, utilization of health care accessibility needs to expand. Coverage for all Americans needs to expand, not just providing access to an emergency room but preventive care as well. The concept of universal health care would ensure that all Americans receive access to quality health care.References Douglas Holtz-Eakin 2010, Healthcare reform and Medicaid: Patient Access, Emergency Department Use, and Financial Implications for States and Hospitals retrieved July 10, 2013 from: http://www.americanactionforum.org/files/HCR_Medicaid Kaiser Foundation (2013). U.S. health care costs. Retrieved July 10, 2013 from http://www.kaiseredu.org/Issue-Modules/US-Health-Care-Costs/Background-Brief. aspx Responsible Reform (2013). The patient protection and affordable care act. Retrieved July 10, 2013 from http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill04.pdf

Canadian Economy, Labor, And The Global World Essay

The Federal Open Market Committee report indicates a decline in output and employment. Household spending has been increasing gradually though there have been several constraints such as high unemployment rates, tight credit, and slight income growth. The United States is the biggest trading partner to Canada and economic slumps within the American economy affect the Canadian economy negatively as well. Such a decline in output will affect the Canadian economy since a decline in goods that Canada obtains from the United States will mean the country will lack them and have to find other countries to trade with. In addition, the low output will result in American businesses importing less goods from Canada that they use in the process of producing their goods. The high unemployment will affect Canadian labor based on the large number of Canadians who work in the United States. During an economic recession as this one most foreign workers lack unemployment in other countries as governments give first priority to their domestic workers first. As such, American nationals would be considered first during employment exercises while the Canadians will be left out and stay unemployed until the economy is seen to have recovered. The role of the state in a global world The worlds today is a global one with people from different countries, social backgrounds and cultures interacting on a daily basis. States are part of these interactions as well as they encompass the geographical boundaries that divide our continents into smaller units. States exist as a result of a host of reasons such as political, historical, economic, social, cultural and militaristic. States form different corners of the world are carrying out trade with one another as a result of the growth of the idea of competitive advantage that allows countries to export what they have in abundance and import what they lack. Apart from trade, there are numerous organizations and agreements around the world that have brought numerous countries together in pursuit of common goals so as to create a modern world that is safe and productive to live in. As such, a state has to find a way to effectively take part in such a global world despite having its own independent political, social, cultural, and corporate way of doing things. This requires states to come up with policies that will enable them to actively take part within the global world without compromising their independence (Plattner, 2002). This creates the need for due attention to the theoretical rationales of the state’s formation that ensure that the state remains pertinent in the global world. This is in line with the fact that domestic policies can not be made to treat the economy as a closed entity but need to consider the implications and counterbalancing effects that arise from globalization. The state has a role in the global world that is aimed at legislating its policies that protect its domestic market as well as give opportunity for its country’s participation in globalization. Labor unions in a global world Globalization has grown over the years and has now become an important part of our corporate and social lives. Labor is one of the institutions that have been greatly affected by globalization as businesses and institutions are now able to employ individuals from anywhere in the world as far as they have the required skills and knowledge needed for the job. With the growth of capitalism and international trade, most companies realized the only way to stay in business and continue making huge profits was to cut down on overall expenses and labor costs were one of the expenses cut. The growth of globalization has also lead to the development of outsourcing where businesses have some of the operations carried out by other institutions that are specialized in that field and therefore do not have to employ people to carry out those jobs internally. Most businesses are opening factories in foreign markets that have cheaper labor such as China and Indonesia. As such, labor unions have responded in order to protect their domestic workers from the increasing amount of unemployment that could result from the employment of foreign workers who could be asking for lower wages and salaries as compared to the domestic workers. Labor unions have responded to globalization by engaging in several strategies that limit the negative effects of globalization on labor. One such strategy has been the opposition towards free trade initiatives and agreements involving several countries. One such agreement has been the North American Free Trade Agreement by asking for there to be provisions within the agreement for the inclusion of a charter that would entail a number of labor principles that would be put into effect and enforced by both domestic and international courts. Secondly, labor unions have began to organize regional as well as international organizations that seek to harmonize the labor needs of their members. This is the case especially for multinational companies that operate in several countries where unions facilitate workers from the different factories in the various countries to be able to have collective bargaining of their needs (Herod, 2002). Thirdly, labor unions have been involved in the process of developing labor regulations that are incorporated in most business codes of conduct. Due to the possibility of business including legally correct phrases that could be detrimental to workers when effected and which would affect workers negatively. By have access to the policy formulation stage, unions are able to prevent the inclusion of such codes and policies that would end up leaving workers at a disadvantaged position. How the federal government responded to growing labor militancy The onset of the depression found the provincial as well as municipal governments in debt following expansion in infrastructure. This was at a time when Mackenzie was the prime minister and he held the belief that the crisis would pass thus failed to provide aid to the provinces. The federal government was reluctant in making efforts of reviving the economy that followed the depression (Robert, 2009). After the depression the government started a relief plan faced with mounting pressure from World War 1 veterans who demanded to be protected from poverty that was known as the New Deal The federal government under R. B Bennett campaigned on high tariffs as well as large scale spending. The federal government also increased welfare and assistance programs as well as programs intended to increase work opportunities. This was a move that led the federal government to more deficit (Neatby, 1963). This worsened the situation based on the fact that it caused a great number of government employees to loose their jobs as well as the cancelation of many public works projects that were underway. The federal government had a burden of the Canadian National Railway that had been highly affected by the depression. The government has as well taken over a number of railways that were bankrupt and out-of-date over the period of the world war. This increased the debt that the government had to a massive sum that was hard to be repaid at the time based on the hard financial time that the nation faced. The decrease in trade had made the Canadian National Railway to loose substantial amounts of funds a crisis that had been worsened by the depression. This created a burden for the federal government on the basis that it had to bail out the CNR baring in mind that the government was as well facing other debts. The failure of the federal government to revive the economy led to its defeat by the liberal party. The future for Keynesian economics Keynesian economics is struggling as it seems to have a dimming future. Since the 1970s when Keynesian economics faced a significant decline due to its failure as a result of the resultant high inflation rates and economic recessions, there has been an emergence of monetarism. In the 1980s, classical as well as supply-side economics have increasingly challenged the appropriateness of Keynesian economics further (Rousseas, 1986). As a result, Keynesian economists have responded to this decline and have created new schools of thought based on early Keynesian economics. These are †¢ The neoclassical Keynesianism †¢ The post-Keynesianism †¢ The new Keynesianism All these school of thoughts have emerged mainly as a response to the criticisms that new classical economists have raised against Keynesian economics (Gordon, 1990). Due to the focus on the demand side, Keynesian economics has proved to be important especially during economic revival after recessions as was witnessed after the recent 2008-2009 global recession where most affected countries engaged in Keynesian economics by providing economic stimulus packages aimed at reviving the economy again. This is based on the Keynesian view that markets usually lack a mechanism to self correct themselves and therefore government interventions are required to restore the economy once again. References Gordon, R. J. (1990). â€Å"What Is New-Keynesian Economics? † Journal of Economic Literature 28, no. 3 1115–1171. Herod, A. (2002). â€Å"Organizing globally, organizing locally: union spatial strategy in a global economy. † In Harrod, J. & Robert, O. Global Unions? Theory and Strategies of organized labor in the global political economy. London: Routledge. Neatby, H. B. (1963). William Lyon Mackenzie King, 1924-1932: The Lonely Heights. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Plattner, M. (2002). â€Å"Globalization and Self-Government†, Journal of Democracy 13(3): 54-67. Robert, L. (2009). â€Å"The Workplace and Economic Crisis: Canadian Textile Firms, 1929-1935,† Enterprise and Society, Vol. 10 Issue 3, pp 498-528. Rousseas, S. (1986). Post-Keynesian Monetary Economics. London: Macmillan.

Memory of my childhood

I wanted that journey to go on forever. Well, at the beginning anyway. We had left Belgium in the morning, all of us reluctant to arrive at our ‘final destination', but the day progressed. The atmosphere in the car became tense, and the distance on the map didn't seem to change with the passing hours. The inhabitants of the car are completely oblivious to the outside world. My parents were thinking only of their petty arguments and minor discomforts. The landscape changed with the mood, as they began to descend into the routine that they would have taken up every hour or so from now on. The tar on the road sizzled; fantasies distort vision and reflect light into a glazed eye. They only thought of themselves. My little sister, Emma, said â€Å"It's my turn on the Game Boy.† â€Å"No, it's mine.† I said. â€Å"Just give it to Emma. She's youngest.† Mother said. â€Å"Where are we on the map now?† â€Å"I WANT IT NOW!† Emma said. â€Å"I don't know; look for yourself, Mother said, â€Å"Now give Emma the game boy Naz.† â€Å"Can't you all just be quiet? I'm trying to read.† I shouted angrily. â€Å"Don't you speak to me like that young lady† That was the reaction I got from both of my parents as I asked them to keep the noise down. We hadn't moved from this spot for 2 hours. And it was Emma's turn on the Game Boy. And I only wanted to play it to get on Emma's nerves. I could have told them that, but I would have just gotten the same unreasonable reaction, that because I was 10, I didn't have a clue about anything. The noise began to settle as we listened to our repetitive music and the toneless instructions of the navigator. Each of us was thinking about an incident vivid in our own mind, but forgotten by others. We only thought of our own importance, and the mark we left on others. We were self contained and self absorbed. We were heading for Cornwall. For all of us except my dad, it was for the first time in three years. It was understandable that they spent most of the long hours lecturing us on manners while we were caged in the car- we had to make a good impression. They were our family though. Should we really have to make an impression on them? Aren't they supposed to know us better than we even know ourselves? Sometimes things aren't what they are assumed to be though. They suspect the feeling of awkwardness that undercurrents their arrival. It will be smothered by joyfulness, present giving and drink. Concern for each other's appearance makes them interfering. Hills roll past, and the hateful sun is shining straight down onto the car holding them like packed vegetables. Slowly the car crawled down the stretch of motorway, which the sun was slowly melting. The car had been a shelter from the heat at the beginning of the journey, but then we could feel the effects of it. The angrier and more frustrated we got the warmer the car grew. As the batteries ran out, everyone's books were finished, and we still didn't look like we had moved all that much further we ignored each other and concentrated on ourselves. I was thirsty, my arms were itchy with sweat, my legs were cramped, and I still didn't see why I was the one that always had to read Emma a story, ever since Emma was 5 years old. â€Å"Why can't she read it herself?† I said furiously. â€Å"Because, I asked you to do it† My mother answered me angrily. â€Å"Then ask her.† â€Å"She cannot read. And now just do it.† â€Å"Fine, Whatever† So I went on to read ‘We're going on a Bear Hunt' with as much feeling as I would read a recipe. Slowly as we got closer and closer to Cornwall we forgot every reason we had for not wanting to get there. A huge proper Sunday roast, which would no doubt be on the table when we arrived, sounded like heaven. It was our cousin Alan's birthday, and the cake would be huge and covered in chocolate. We had had experiences of birthday cakes before in Cornwall. They were always worth the journey. We had a CD on in the car. It was Robbie Williams. We always listened to Robbie Williams and Van Morrison on long car journeys. Everything seems to merge together after a while though, just drowning out the sound of the car and each other. We were separated and isolated from each other as though in separate cages. We expected no communication. We gave none. We could only think ahead. By the time that there was only about an hour to go of this pain staking driving us were all looking forward to Cornwall like it was the ‘Promised Land'. Every accident was forgotten. We only remembered the food and drink we would be given, the early Christmas and late birthday presents. We were just coming up the drive of the house when the door opened and every single relative I remember, some that I didn't remember, and some that I didn't even know came swarming down the drive. Within minutes we were all crowded round a huge dining table, ready to begin. The accidents were forgotten. They had successfully implanted themselves in this household. They would not let it out of their grasp until they left exhausted and overfed, to return to their ordinary routine of work. Believe that we had had a holiday.