Challenges Face by New Retail Shop

According to a survey on the retail market in Singapore, fashion industry has undergone rapid growth in the recent years and is expected to grow further. Despite the good factor there is also some challenges need to face by the company. A. Challenges that will be faced Firstly, the entrepreneur will face a challenge in finding a clothing designer who has enough expertise and skill, and at the same time has the willingness to take a risk in being part of a business arrangement.This arrangement will have likely oopportunity costs for the designer because the designer will have to forge a salary, and instead invest in a start-up of the business. Secondly finding a suitable venture capitalist will be a problem also. If an investor with little expertise in start-ups comes into the picture, it will not be suitable for the company as the start-up will lose out on the expert knowledge of a professional capitalist.Finally the entrepreneur will face challenges in giving his ideas over to the s crutiny of the investor and in this manner the entrepreneur will feel that he is losing control over his plan. Other challenges that the new company can face are in terms of workers because finding good workers for a new company will be difficult. The salaries of the workers will have to be taken out of the capital initially. Another challenge will be from already established competitors. Moreover, Singapore is a sophisticated market and customers are demanding so the new company will find it difficult to cater to such customers.

Of Mice and men, Analysing weak characters Essay

The novel is called ‘Of mice & men’ because things can go wrong between a small mouse to an important human being. Thing can go wrong despite how hard you try. There are two characters in this novel that I think are portrayed as being weak. One of the characters that I feel comes across as weak in the novel is Crooks. The reason being is because of how he is treated by the other characters in this novel. For example, most of the characters except for Slim refer to Crooks as a ‘Nigger’. Even though ‘Nigger’ is a racist term, it was used normally in those days. But this shows the little respect the rest of the characters had for Crooks; they could have decided to refer to him using his real name, just like Slim. The fact that they continuously call him that shows the weakness in Crook, if he had the amount of free will and power the rest had, he would have spoke up and tell them to stop calling him a ‘Nigger’. Steinbeck may have set it out like this to show that not everyone was racist and disrespectful to whom the majority of the people thought was inferior. Slim could have been a character just like Steinbeck, he’s showing that he is not racist and is empathetic to Crook’s feelings, and is aware that despite his skin colour, he is just as superior. However, noticing this, Slim could be portrayed as weak because he didn’t speak up to defend Crooks when it came to the name calling, if he did, he probably would have been casted as a ‘Sell out’ by the other characters. There is another incident in the novel that shows how inferior and weak Crooks is portrayed. After Curley’s wife enters the room to talk to him, Lennie and Candy, Crook’s ends up getting frustrated with Curley’s wife and starts telling her off. However, by now the readers would have thought that Crook’s is finally standing up for himself and defending himself, but this all changes in the space of a few minutes. For example, Curley’s wife retaliates and say’s ‘Listen, Nigger, you know what I can do to you if you open your trap?’ ‘Well, keep your place Nigger. I could get you strung up on a tree so easily it ain’t even funny’. ‘Strung up on a tree’ meant to be lynched; this shows that she had the power to get Crooks lynched, even for the pettiest things. So even though Crooks was speaking the truth, him speaking up could get him into trouble, he can’t win, him staying quiet and saying the things the other characters wants to hear makes him look weak, but even when he does speak up against problems, he is still portrayed as weak. After Curley’s wife mentions this, the narration says ‘Crooks seemed to grow smaller’ the use of the letters ‘Er’ shows that he was already ‘small’ but by Curley’s wife mentioning Lynching, it made him ‘smaller’, weaker than he already is. One more factor that shows Crooks is weak, is by the structure of the chapter, the chapter starts and ends the same. On page 99, it say’s ‘Crooks sat on his bunk [†¦] he held a bottle of liniment and with the other hand, rubbed his spine’. The chapter also ends the same way. This shows that the way Crooks is living is never ending, it’s a cyclical feature, and there is no hope for him. Also, because Steinbeck kept on referring to his spine, shows that even though Crooks does have hopes and dreams, him being black and being injured is what’s stopping him from living the ‘American dream’. The injury to Crooks back occurred after being kicked in the spine by a horse. The reason for this is because of where Crooks Is forced to sleep. Crooks sleeps in a barn. This is usually a place where horses rest. On page 98, it lets the readers know the Crooks bun was made form a long box filled with straw. ‘Crooks’ bunk was a long box filled with straw’. This portrays him to be some sort of animal. He is portrayed as a horse. Again even though horses are strong physically, they are weak in the sense that they have no power, they are usually tied up. This is a good example of Crooks. Again, he may be the most intelligent out of the characters and in some ways, mentally strong. But he is still weak in other ways. Another character that Steinbeck portrays as being weak is Curley’s wife. The apostrophe in ‘Curley’s’ is possessive, this shows that Curley’s wife belongs to Curley and that he is her owner. She is referred to as ‘Curley’s wife’ throughout the novel and is not named. It also shows how unimportant she is and how little the characters think of her. Another way she is portrayed as weak is by her attitude towards the men in the novel. Curley doesn’t pay her much attention, so she feels insecure and lonely. This makes her want the attention of the other men and makes her feel superior and important, even though she isn’t. The characters talk about her in a negative way behind her back. For example, after Curley’s wife is introduced George say’s ‘Jesus, what a tramp’. The use of the word ‘Jesus’ makes Georges reaction the Curley’s wife seem dramatic, this shows that Curleyâ⠂¬â„¢s wife is a huge problem if she causes such dramatic responses. Also he refers to her as a tramp. ‘Tramp’ can mean many things, but one definition of a tramp for a female is a prostitute or a person regarded as promiscuous. This is Georges first impressions Of Curley’s Wife, and this is how she comes across whilst trying to flirt. This shows how weak she is to George especially. She may be trying to flirt and act sexy in order for the men to lust after her but her trying has no effect on George, he thinks of her as the opposite. George also calls her a ‘bitch’ and a ‘Rat trap’ whilst talking to Lennie. A ‘bitch’ is the name given for a female dog, this links to the apostrophe in ‘Curley’s wife’ Dogs are popular pets and have owners. She is like Curley’s pet. Curley’s wife thinks of Crooks, Lennie and Candy as the ‘Weak ones’ by her saying this, it makes her look weak as well, she feels she has to refer to them as something deemed inferior in order to make her feel superior. However, even though she refers to them as this, she still hangs around them, this show’s that she hasn’t got much choice and that that is the only form of company she has and appreciates, despite coming across as nasty. This shows her weak side. In section 5, Curley’s wife goes in the barn to comfort Lennie and flirt with him, this could have led into something more. If she didn’t end up dying she probably would have ended up sleeping with Lennie. This again, shows her weakness; she is not strong enough to just leave Curley if she is not happy, she married Curley for the wrong reasons, leading to her being unhappy. Instead she goes behind his back looking for ‘Love’, ‘comfort’ and a sense of ‘importance’. This leads to her being accidently killed by Lennie. Before this happens whilst she confides in Lennie she admits, ‘He says he was gonna put me in the movies’ referring to one of the actors she met. This didn’t end up happening so she ended up marrying Curley. She then goes on and says ‘So I married Curley. [†¦] I don’t like Curley, he ain’t a nice fella’. This shows that she had no choice but to marry him and that she is finding it hard to escape from him. The death of Curley’s wife is like Karma. She threatened to get Crooks lynched if he carried on disrespecting her but then ended up dying as a result of her neck of being broken, this is what lynching is. Also, she married Curley for the wrong reasons and used him and she was also the women who stopped the characters from living their dreams, this may have been out of spite from her not getting to live hers. However, again, she ended up dying, and the characters still didn’t get to live their dream. This is how Karma works, ‘what goes around comes around’. This could be linked to the ‘Cyclical feature’ in the novel, the problems are never ending and there is just no hope. To conclude, both Crooks and Curley’s wife are very much alike and they’re just as weak as each other. Both characters are referred to as harsh names other than their real names. They both had dreams of being successful but it never happened. Crooks is a black man, and Curley’s wife is a white women. So even though Crooks had dreams and was capable of getting far the only problem that would have been stopping him is the fact that he is black and racism was in full effect in those days. Also, he was the smartest among the other characters, this links back to the title ‘Of mice and men’ that things can go wrong despite how hard you try. So despite his intelligence and how hard he learns, he still can’t get to where he wants to go in life. Nevertheless, even though Curley’s wife is white, she is a woman. Women didn’t have that much say or rights when men were involved. So her dreams and goals were not reached. For example she say’s ‘I never got that letter, I always thought my ol’ lady stole it’ She is adamant that her mum stole the letter an actor ‘wrote’ to her, so that’s why she never became an actress. Except, going back to how powerful men were in those days, White American men especially, he may have not even written a letter, probably forgetting about her and just complimenting her because it was the heat of the moment type. This shows that Curley’s wife is not mentally strong enough to come to terms and face reality of what actually might have happened, again that’s her way of feeling important, because deep down she is a weak individual.

Online Sociology Class

Ch 5 dba Us our text, as needed! 1)   In the opening vignette to Chapter 5, the Crips provided Monster Cody a sense of brotherhood, belonging, and superiority while the Bloods were described as being the enemies of the Crips and unworthy of their respect. In this scenario, what sociological concepts apply to each group for Cody? For instance,   what is/are Cody's ingroups, outgroups, reference groups, primary groups, secondary groups? 2. What essentials elements are missing from aggregates and categories that are found in â€Å"groups.   Why are groups more important to humans than either categories or aggregates? 3. Why do you think secondary groups frequently break down into primary groups? 4. Which of the following  do you think this online sociology class is and why:  Ã‚   an aggregate; a category; a primary group; or a secondary group. 5. How do reference groups work? Do you have to be an actual member of  your reference group? What are some of your reference groups ? 6. Why did many of the subjects in Solomon Asch's experiment give answers that they knew to be incorrect? Have you ever been a â€Å"victim† of group conformity?Share the details of your answer DQ5 Sociology is the study of life in groups–chapter 5  | DQ5A YOUR groups†¦ 0 messages – 0 unreadWho are your primary groups, your secondary groups? Your reference groups? Your ingroups, your outgroups? * Unlocked: Feb 9, 2013 4:51 PM – Mar 4, 2013 11:55 PM| DQ5B Social networking 0 messages – 0 unreadSocial networks are important in the study of sociology. Understand what they are. Have you ever benefited from your social network. For instance, have you gotten a job or met someone nice through a friend of a friend?Another way to look at it, how many degrees are you away from from contacting former President George Bush? It never fails that I have a student who knows someone who knows  Bush personally! * Unlocked: Feb 9, 2013 4:53 PM – Mar 4, 2013 11:55 PM| DQ5C Facebook and Suicidal Content Link 0 messages – 0 unreadIs anyone familiar with this link on Facebook? It's the first I've ever heard of it. It could be really useful. http://www. latimes. com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-facebook-military-suicide-20120508,0,1357844. story * Unlocked: Feb 9, 2013 4:53 PM – Mar 4, 2013 11:55 PM|

Housing Management (See assingment criteria section for the full Essay

Housing Management (See assingment criteria section for the full question) - Essay Example Some associations provide shared ownership contracts, also, to provide services to people who cannot afford to buy their homes outright. Housing associations in England are funded and regulated by the Housing Corporation. Other governmental bodies perform the same service in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Whales. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors the services provided as a non-Departmental Public Body. The Housing Corporation supports communities over the entire country of England by funding the supply and regulating the quality of affordable homes. Regulation by the Corporation makes is easier for those who have circumstances that make it difficult for them to meet their housing needs in the open market. This also includes homeless people, low-income families, and anyone who is in need of supported housing. These associations provide a large scope of housing. Some manage large estates for housing for families, while the smaller ones manage a group of houses for older people. These entities also provide special project housing for people with mental health or learning disabilities, substance abuse problems, homeless people, young people, ex-offenders, and women fleeing domestic violence. The housing associations day-to-day operations are supported by rent and service fees made by the tenants living on the properties. Some of the funding is provided on behalf of the tenants. Housing associations are operated as a commercial entity, but most do not require donations for their daily general activities. New Housing, however, is very different. Its support tends to require subsidies in order to be economically viable. Where the sources of subsidies come from depends on where the association is located The Housing and Regulations Act of 2008 created two bodies of support. One being the Home and Communities Agency that directly deals with funding and regenerated work. And second, the Tenant Services Authority, which provides responsibility for the regul ations. Beginning in 2010 the TSA began regulating all providers of â€Å"social housing.† The associations of these entities are known as Registered Providers of the private, public, and for profit or not-for-profit status. In Northern Ireland the same procedure is handled by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and in Scotland by the Scottish Government. However, in Whales, this process is handled by the Welsh Assembly Government. Housing associations are generally seen as private entities because they are neither owned nor operated by the state. This has been challenged by many legal rulings in the past few years. In 2004, a ruling by the British government did document housing associations as public bodies for the purpose of procurement. In 2008 the high court in the UK ruled that housing associations were public authorities, and could be subject to judicial review in some instances. The ruling stated.†permeated by state control and influence with a view of meetin g the Government’s aims for affordable housing, and in which RSL, Registered Social Landlords, work side by side with, and can in a very real sense be said to take the place of, local authorities.† This ruling is very politically significant since the housing associations do not currently contribute to the United Kingdom’s public sector borrowing requirement. Although larger housing associations usually have paid staff to manage the association operations, a volunteer board of management is

Criminology 101 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Criminology 101 - Essay Example (Longshore, Turner, and Stein 1998). The general theory of crime presupposes that while an individual's personality, that is, their ability to exercise self control remains stabilized but the crime level continues to change. Sampson and Laub however, posit that their age graded life course perspective demonstrates that an individual's behavior changes also as a result of social circumstance. Further, they posit that it is the changes within the life course and not necessarily self control that will mandate the level of crimes that a person may or may not commit. Accordingly, the presented assertions offers various theories in regards to what will constitute a likely offender. All of this notwithstanding there is a shared common denominator as per causal process:for Gottfredson and Hirschi, it is succinctly defined as the emotional investment of the parents. Meaning, if the parents have emotionally provided for their child, then it would follow that the child is able to show and demonstrate self control; for Sampson and Laub, it is the emotional attachment of a prior offender to a place of employment of a relationship of status such as marriage that ultimately paves the way to desistance. This similarity allows them to be linked using a psychological theory of deviance called attachment theory. While I can understand the g... It is also generally understood that we are all exposed to different experiences in our lifetime, some positive and others horrendous. Nobody processes or internalizes their experiences in the same way. What is harmful or traumatizing to one person is not necessarily so for another. As a result, our future behaviors may or may not be influenced by our past and our interpretation of it. As a result it cannot be said that a single theory can explain any crime that we may commit. To say that a single theory can explain every crime is to also say that a single theory defines all human nature. Because it is already known that no two people are the same, no single theory can be employed to explain their behavior good or bad. Accordingly, I don't agree that there is any general theory of crime. For the past ten years, there has been a myriad of reports on boot camps in the United States. These are commonly known as "shock camps". The purpose of these camps was to literally start a "get tough program which was military based. The camps include extreme physical labor, drills and a military schedule which is highly structured. The military shock camp started in the southern part of the United States and was applied to male prisoners. It is now used in the juvenile system as well. The Canadian system was created to introduce what is perceived as the best part of the Canadian military system along with the youth programs that Canada has designed. The hope is that the determination and behavior of the youth will lead to him being promoted. The reward of a promotion progresses into a desire to succeed on the outside world and the structure that boot camp offers allows the offender to graduate the program with a discipline

Family - its Changes and Values Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Family - its Changes and Values - Essay Example A person may embrace another person’s difference, while some might totally turn their backs from their families or their families might turn away from them because of dissimilarities. Discussion Individuals have their own identities. No two persons have exactly the same life or desires. Even twins do have their differences, which can result in arguments. Yet these differences should not prevent a family from being a unity. As Goodman put it into context, â€Å"We don’t have to achieve to be accepted by our families. We just have to be. Our membership is not based on credentials on birth (4)†. Regardless of how much changes a person may have in a lifetime, he or she should be accepted by the family where he or she belongs. People or society may not agree as to what the person may become, yet the family should be there when a person needs them. Even the meanest person in this world is still loved by his or her family even if he or she resents them. According to Sen na, â€Å"In death we are each reduced to our essence: the spirit we are when we are born. The trappings we hold on to our whole lives – our race, our money, our sex, our age, and our politics – become irrelevant† (19). A person may have the most luxurious life in the physical world, yet he or she may be the poorest in spirit. Worldly possessions are immaterial to a person in his or her dying days. In the end, no person is spared from death. Though what the person has accomplished in life would often be just a memory forgotten in time, it is not valid as regards his or her family that has always loved this person unconditionally. One may change for the worst, yet there are still people who give love and understanding to this individual even when he or she pretends not to need them. It is a sad reality that people often turn their back away from their families when they have achieved their goals, found happiness and contentment in other beliefs, or when greed and envy have eaten them up from inside. Despite these changes, a mother and a father will always have a space in their hearts for their children who had the courage to stand up on their own and live the lives that they want. It is painful for parents when they see their children go astray. The pain that they feel is not brought about by disappoinment or hate. This feeling of pain is brought about by the affection and love that parents have for their children. No parent would want to see their children suffer or get hurt, and this is a valid statement not only as regards the parents-children relationship but also as regards grandparents-grandchildren or uncles/aunts-nephews/nieces relationships. However, as Senna states, â€Å"†¦the differences between us were real and alive, and they threatened to squelch our fragile connection† (16). The first step in accepting one’s differences, especially in a family, is to acknowledge the difference and make amends. It may not b e an easy thing to make amends with people with whom one has differences, especially when it comes to the delicate topics like religious and political beliefs. One may be discriminated by the society due to his or her differences. However, the most painful circumstances would be when a person is being alienated by his or her own family. This is not to blame the families for the shortcomings or the outrageous actions of an individual. It is just an attempt to trace why such events occurred. A part of accepting the difference is to know where and how it started within

Student's Analysis on Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Essay

Student's Analysis on Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company - Essay Example Reconsidering the retail of Goodyear tires by Sears also meant that Goodyear has to review their distribution policy. Goodyear now faces several problems and a few dilemmas. Should we allow Sears to retail our products Should we only license them to market the Eagle brand Which brands, and how many should we allow Sears to carry Distribution through Sears would definitely increase the sales of passenger replacement tires of Goodyear. But what would the repercussions of this be on the company-owned and franchised Goodyear tire dealers How much loss would they incur The replacement tire market is responsible for 70 to 75 percent of tires sold every year. Passenger car tires are 75 percent of annual sales. The average mile driven per vehicle affects the principal demand for this market. Each 100 mile shift in the average number of miles traveled per vehicle there is a result of 1 million unit change in the sales of the replacement car tire market, and this is supposing that a tire has an average treadlife of 25,000 to 30,000 miles. Because of the longer treadlife of new tires, worldwide unit shipments have remarkably decreased. In 1987, a total of 204.8 million tires were sold. Of these, 151.9 were replacement tires. The following year (1988), a total of 209.4 tires were sold and 155.3 million of these were replacement. There was a decline of sales in 1989: only 205.1 million tires in total were sold and 153.8 million were replacement tires. It further declined in 1990 with only 199.5 million tires in total; of these were 152.3 million replacement cars. It did, however, increase the following year (1991) out of the 205.3 million tires sold, 155.4 million were replacement tires (Peterson and Kerin, 2007). Retail Tire Marketing Independent tire dealers normally carry brands of several major manufacturers and some discount-priced private label brands. This is to offer buyers a wide range of choices. It is usually more advantageous for manufacturers to have a broad product line to appeal to different customers with different vehicular requirements, and price affordabilities. Sears, for instance, usually carries manufacturer's brand tires and markets their own private-label tires. Most buyers buy from the retail store that they trust, and only a few really know about which tires are best. Most just follow the advice of the storeowners or salespersons that they usually do business with. For these reasons, Goodyear is considering the offer of Sears to retail their Eagle products. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company The principal activity of the company is to develop, manufacture, market, and distribute tires and rubber products. Goodyear has maintained the leading market-share in the U.S. replacement tire market. This is until Michelin acquired Goodrich Tire Company, the second largest U.S. tire manufacturer in late 1990. 83 percent of Goodyear's corporate sales were composed of tire and tire tubes in 1991. Along with this, the company also owns Kelly-Springfield Tire Company, Lee Tire and Rubber Company, and Delta Tire. And in addition, Goodyear also produces private-label tires. 20 to 25 percent of the world's tire manufacturing industry, and in the U.S. tire industry,

The current debate and developments in accounting for leases for Essay

The current debate and developments in accounting for leases for lessees - Essay Example This report provides the discussion regarding the reasons behind aforesaid changes in standards. Maintaining focus from the lessee point of view, this report puts together the new proposal for lessees regarding the ‘right to use’ model. Moreover, it will discuss the impact of proposed changes on the companies worldwide using international standards in the preparation of their financial statements. INTRODUCTION Lease is essentially a form of rental agreement where the owner (lessor) receives rentals from lessee. Corresponding to mentioned rentals, lessee gains right to use the assets (EZ Technical, 2009). Lease is a major source of finance for business and to give the correct picture of business, it must provide the source of this important information in the financial statement (Roberts, Weetman, Gordon, 2008). Currently, lease under operating category does not provide this information (Melville, 2011). Therefore, to ensure the financial statements represent lease transa ctions in harmony with commercial essence and not in according to the legal form only, International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) proposed new approach to lease accounting (Cotter, 2012). ... Hence, factors determining lease as finance lease are further mentioned below (Kelly and Kelly, 2009): The ownership of the asset is finally transferred to the lessee at the end of agreement term. Risks such as cost of maintenance, obsolescence due to technological advancement etc are all transferred to lessee. Rewards pertaining to right on profit from the usage of asset as well as gaining benefit for its whole useful life are transferred to lessee. The lessee can purchase the asset at a price notably below than its fair value. Or it has right to extend the lease for secondary term at rent considerably below market value. The major portion of useful life or the economic life of assets is accounted in lease term. Usually 75% of asset life is accounted in term. At the time of lease agreement, present value of the minimum lease payments represent the substantial fair value of the leased asset. In case of cancellation of agreement the charges are to be borne by lessee. In the light of t hese factors, agreement can be defined as finance. In case of the lease agreement does not account for the discussed conditions it shall be then regarded as operating lease. PROPOSED STANDARD- EXPOSURE DRAFT ED/2010/9 LEASES International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the US Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on 17 August 2010 published proposal Exposure Draft ED/2010/9 Leases (Hales, Venkataraman, and Wilks, 2012). This draft suggested new approach to lease accounting for lessees and lessor. The new draft suggested replacement of IAS 17 and change in accounting treatment of lease considerably (Eames, 2011). Specific to lessee, ED/2010/9 Leases proposes â€Å"right of use† model where the lessee would

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Summary - Essay Example Even in the early twenty first century there was only a minimal use of the internet and that was usually through advertisements and manipulation of simple search processes. These methods had the advantage of being familiar to everyone, and they could easily be monitored to produce hard facts and figures which allowed companies to measure the effectiveness of their marketing and their ratings with the public. It is widely reported that all of this has changed now that social media have taken over the world. The authors observe that traditional media like television are still popular, but they are being affected by the time that consumers spend on more interactive media such as twitter. The size of the shift towards social media is very large, but even more striking is the speed with which this change has happened. Even within the last two or three years there have been massive changes in the percentage share of traditional and social media when it comes to attracting consumer attentio n. Paradoxically the authors see in these modern trends a return to one of the basic truths about marketing, namely that word of mouth sells products more effectively than big budget advertising. Social media open up a new channel in which old fashioned word of mouth can flourish once more. This is an exciting reality for many companies and it is clear that Name: ID engaging in dialogue with customers online is going to be an essential ingredient in marketing in the future. There are a few words of warning from the two authors, however. The first caveat to mention is the fact that social media cannot achieve all of the same things that traditional marketing campaigns used to do. For a start it is difficult to predict how a conversation with the public will go, because of the interactive nature of the communication. A company can control very tightly all of the images and texts which are published with the company logo in magazines or on television. This is not so in social media, be cause the consumers may react well or badly to a product, and they can turn the tables on a marketing professional by engaging in campaigns of their own. This can work in the company’s favor if the message is positive, but it can cause untold reputational damage if the consumers criticise or ridicule the product. The problem with social media is one of control: a company cannot exercise very much control about what is said about their products. Another point to remember is that social media has not replaced more traditional avenues for marketing. It is an additional channel, and it lends itself to particular segments of the market. The speed of its implementation can also offer companies an opportunity to step in and influence the way that a press story or marketing campaign is going. Some people have argued that it social media are free to use, and that this means a word of mouth campaign can be a cost effective option. In reality, however there are quite significant hidden costs in the operation of marketing activities online, such as the need to have sustained and knowledgeable staff input around the clock. Word of mouth can have an immediate and significant effect on sales. This sounds attractive, but it must be remembered that the sales can go down or up, depending on the kind of messages that are being sent Name: ID across the internet. The authors point out also that there are some

Wine project Essay Example for Free

Wine project Essay Valais is known for its exceptional climate, whereby the mountains stop most of the rainfall, but create ‘foehn’ winds which assists in the late autumn months with the essential ripening process of late varieties of grapes. Almost continuous sunshine for most of the year attributes to hot and dry summers, while winters can be cold and snowy, even on the lower levels of the valley, yet the frost, which is usually the worst enemy of winegrowers, is rare, as the seasons change gradually, not abruptly. Soil Composition Light, well-aerated soil, poor in clay. This warms up rapidly in sunshine but does not retain water very well. The soil composition varies from plot to plot, diversity due to the geological upheavals, which occurred in this region. Type of wine Rose wine Character of the wine Dry, full bodied, typical flinty taste Food harmony (2 dishes) Seared cod with red wine sauce, Sauteed chicken with wild mushroom. Commercial argumentation This beautiful Pinot Noir opens up with very aromatic flavors. It is essential summer wines, easy to drink fresh and fruity. It has a lovely red fruit aromas with the smooth end. Cost sale price. 2009 Dole Blanche, Charrat, Verteys Price: 14 Chf. References: Swiss Wine Growers Association. (1994). All About Swiss Wine. Geneva: OFD Communications. artisan-vigneron. ch. (n. d. ) Retrieved February 26, 2013, from http://www. artisan-vigneron. ch/vins. html Chateau Brane-Cantenac Appellation Chateau Brane-Cantenac Country France Region Bordeaux Sub Region Margaux Village Margaux Estate Vineyard/ Grand cru Brane Cantenac Grape(s) Variety(ies) Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 5% Climate conditions Bordeaux has a warm summer and long mile autumns, but suffers plenty of rainfall. In vineyard terms, it is a marginal climate, where grapes need a good site and a good year to ripen fully. Soil Composition Deep gravel from the quaternary era, with white gravel, sand and less clay. Type of wine Bordeaux-style red blend Character of the wine The wine has leafy, blackcurrant aromas a flavorsome but light wine for the vintage. Food harmony (2 dishes) Ratatouille, Roast duck with fig and orange sauce. Commercial argumentation A gorgeous deepest violet color by far that is made from world- quality grapes; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. It will deliver wines of charm and fine texture rather than brute power. It is blend in Bordeaux style, but don’t lack of attentiveness and structure. The wine is aged for eighteen months with the love and care from the wine maker. This wine could be considered as the most sophisticated as the wine is built in a long hue, and still very much on the way to go further. Cost sale price 1988 Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Margaux, France Price Range of 750ml bottle, ex-tax in CHF Average: 85CHF From: 55CHF To 120CHF References: Crook, S. (2009). The complete Bordeaux. Great Britain, Octopus publishing group. Wine-searcher. com. (n. d. ) Retrived February 26, 2013, from http://www. wine-%09searcher. com/wine-8-1988-chateau-brane-cantenac-margaux-france Chambertin Appellation Chambertin Country France Region Burgundy Sub Region Cote de Nuit Village Gevery-Chambertin Estate Vineyard/ Grand cru Gevery-Chambertin Grand Cru Grape(s) Variety(ies) Pinot Noir Climate conditions Relatively hot, dry summers and cool, crisp winters. Particularly in summer, this climate type brings high diurnal temperature variation, which helps to maintain a balance between natural sugars and acidity in the wines. Soil Composition The soil varies depending on how high up the hillside the vineyard is located. The primary component is limestone, mixed with some clay and flint. The amount of clay decreases in site higher up the hill Type of wine Red wine Character of the wine Chambertin is full, firm and austere at the outset and structured and fleshy, with initial flavor of black fruits, liquorice and coffee beans, mellowing into something rich, concentrated, generous and warm-hearted when they mature. Food harmony (2 dishes) Beef wellington, Cheese souffle Commercial argumentation. The most prestigious and luxury wine produced from Burgundy, France with the deep colored, full body, smooth and very complex red wine from the world famous Pinot Noir. The wine is made at the northern end of the Cote d’Or, with the rich of soil and perfect amount of sun, these factors render Chambertin to be named as â€Å"King of Wines†. It offers a strong and rigid structure with the hints of black berries fruits, and coffee beans, blended together until reached the top of quality. Chambertin is full of flavor and powerful in aromas that will definitely deliver the pleasure to anyone who taste it. Cost sale price 1988 Domaine Armand Rousseau Pere et Fils Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France: Price Range of 750ml bottle, ex-tax in CHF Average: 1,083CHF From: 885CHF To 1,362CHF References: Anderson, P. J. , (2012). About wine. USA, Curio Press. Coates, C. , (2008). The wine of Burgundy. University of California Press Wine-search. com. (n. d. ) Retrieved February 26, 2013, from http://www. wine-searcher. com/wine-37013-1988-domaine-armand-rousseau-pere-et-fils-chambertin-grand-cru-cote-de-nuits-france Laurent Perrier â€Å"Alaxandra rose† Appellation Laurent Perrier â€Å"Alaxandra rose†/ Champagne. Country France Region Champagne Sub Region NA Village NA Estate Vineyard/ Grand cru Laurent Perrier Grape(s) Variety(ies) Pinot Noir 80%, Chardonnay 20% Climate conditions Champagne is a cold place, at the northern climatic limit of grape growing, a factor that leaves the grapes with low tannins but a particularly fine varietal aroma. Sometimes July and August will be hot, and occasionally September and October will be warm. Soil Composition The prominent soil type is chalk, though this is not always visible in the surface Type of wine Champagne, rose Character of the wine. A pale salmon pink with an orange tinge. Complex and powerful, the first aromas are reminiscent of strawberry jam. These are followed by floral notes such as rose petal. Lively and crisp, with dominant flavors of red berry fruit such as wild strawberries. Full-bodied, with a velvety texture and a finale showing hints of dried apricots and orange peel. Food harmony (2 dishes) Duck in bilberry sauce, Green salad with Caviar and smoked salad Commercial argumentation A lively rose champagne from the world famous Pinot Noir blended with another well-known Chadonnay in a perfect combination. Laurent Perrier â€Å"Alaxandra rose† reached the top quality to be one of the best rose champagnes in the world. The wine offers the flavor of red berries and wild strawberry with the hints of dried apricots and orange zest. It has kept its freshness while building the element of toasty and maturity which renders the taste to be crips, and powerful in aromas. The full-bodied, elegant champagne with a smooth texture and a complex finish will never disappoint anyone. Cost sale price 2004 Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Alexandra Rose Millesime, Prestige Cuvee Champagne, France: Price Range of 750ml bottle, ex-tax in CHF? Average: 275CHF From: 275CHF To 276CHF References: Kolpan, S. , Smith B. H. , Weiss M. A. , (2010). Exploring wine. USA. Willey Press. Wine-searcher. com. (n. d. ) Retrieved February 26, 2013, from http://www. wine-searcher. com/wine-16145-2004-laurent-perrier-grand-siecle-alexandra-rose-millesime-prestige-cuvee-champagne-france Lauren-perrier. com. (n. d. ). Retrieved February 26, 2013, from http://www. laurent-perrier. com Mondavi private selection Meritage Appellation Monterey County Country USA Region California Sub Region Central coast Village NA Estate Vineyard/ Grand cru NA Grape(s) Variety(ies) 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot Climate conditions The 2008 growing season on California’s Central Coast was one of great variety. Flowering was on the late side due to winter drought and a strong frost in late March. Summer temperatures were inconsistent, alternating between cool and excessively hot. Soil Composition Sandy, well-drained soil Type of wine Red wine Character of the wine The wine offers lavish dark plum, black cherry, and blackberry aromas along with a velvety texture and succulent mid-palate flavors. Its finish is impressively long and enhanced by well- integrated tannins. Food harmony (2 dishes) Grilled rib eye with garlic butter, Osso Bucco Commercial argumentation With the brilliant invention of Robert Mondavi, he created the wine with Bordeux style and presented it into a very nice wine. The wine is an amazingly rich with the dark plum color, yet tasteful and easy to drink. It consists of five different Bordeaux red varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot that were blended in the perfect combination until reaching the same quality as Bordeaux wines. Cost sale price 2008 Robert Mondavi Winery Private Selection Meritage, California, USA Price Range of 750ml bottle, ex-tax in CHF? Average: 10CHF From: 7CHF To 13CHF References: Kolpan, S. , Smith B. H. , Weiss M. A. , (2010). Exploring wine. USA. Willey Press. Robertmodavi. com. (n. d. ) Retrieved February 26, 2013 from http://www. robertmondavi. com/rmps/wines/our_wines/meritage/ Wine-searcher. com. (r. d. ) Retrieved February 26, 2013 from http://www. wine-searcher. com/wine-77785-2008-robert-mondavi-winery-private-selection-meritage-california-usa.

Sensor Technology for Mineral Exploration

Sensor Technology for Mineral Exploration 1. Introduction Significant contribution is done by satellite remote sensing in the field of mineral exploration viz. Geological faults, fractures and mapping, which are associated with the ore deposits based on spectral signature, (Farooq and Govil 2013; Magendra and Sanjeevi 2014; Murphy and Monteiro 2011, Le Yo et al., 2011) the spectral signature helps in the recognizes hydrothermal altered rocks (Sabins, 1999). The multispectral remote sensing exhibits differences in spectral signatures which are insufficient spectral resolution for the hydrothermal altered mineral mapping (Clark, 1999). The Multispectral sensors viz. Landsat TM, ETM+, ASTER image processing helps in iron oxides mapping, the spectral ranges 1.55-1.75 Â µm and 2.08-2.35 Â µm is important for iron mapping (Gupta, 2003). The hyperspectral images provide a higher spectral resolution the the multispectral images (Clark et al., 1990; Magendra and Sanjeevi 2014; Van der Meer 2012). The discovery of new hyperspectral sensor technology in terms of both sensor and technical development has provided the opportunity to revisit previous remote sensing approaches for the mineral exploration as well as for the development of improved methods. Hyperspectral sensors have hundreds of channels, aircraft and satellite platforms which provide unique spectral datasets, and which are helpful in analyzing the surface mineralogy mapping (Goetz et al., 1985; Kruse et al., 2003; Debba et al., 2005, Vaughan et al., 2003). The airborne sensors like AVIRIS, HYDICE and Satellite sensor like Hyperion are used for mapping geology, snow etc. Hyperspectral remote sensing aims at providing the requirements like spectral, spatial and radiometric empower, measuring in terms of range, sampling, response, stability, uniformity, precision and accuracy. With the help of hyperspectral remote sensing we can find different minerals viz iron oxides, micas, chlorites, amphiboles, talc, serpentines, c arbonates, quartz, garnets, pyroxenes, feldspars and sulphates (Eva Papp and Cudahy 2002; Magendran and sanjeevi 2014; Hubbard and Crowley 2005). EO-1 Hyperion is the first Space based hyperspectral sensor, and it was launched on 21 November 2000 (Ungar et al., 2003). The Hyperion image has 30m spatial resolution, 242 channels and 7.7 km swath. The hyperspectral (Hyperion) sensor with 0.4-2.5Â µm spectral range, i.e. visible-near infrared (VNIR) spectrometer (approxmeterly0.4-1.0Â µm) and one short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectrometer (approximately 0.9-2.5Â µm) (EO-1 User guide) in which some minerals and rocks show good absorption and reflectance, due to variation in physicochemical properties, which help in their exploration mapping (Clark et al., 1990; Hunt et al., 1971). The spectral reflectance one can detect and identify the Earth surface and atmospheric constituents to measure the reflected spectra’s component concentration. We can find the distribution of the component and validate by improving models. The processing of Hyperion image is a challenging task as it consists hundreds of channels. The selection of required channels with its good apparent reflection requires good skills. The direct measurements of atmospheric properties are rarely available, and there are some techniques which surmise them from their imprint on hyperspectral radiance data. These properties are used to constrain highly accurate models of atmospheric radiation transfer to produce an estimate of the true surface reflectance. Moreover, atmospheric corrections of this type can be applied on a pixel by pixel basis since each pixel in a hyperspectral image contains an independent measurement of atmospheric water vapor absorption bands. There are different models available viz QUAC, 5S, 6S, ATCOR, ATREAM, HATCH, EFFORT Polishing, FLAASH etc (ITTVis, 2010). FLAASH is a MODTRAN4-based atmospheric correction software package, which provides accurate, physics-based derivation of apparent surface reflectance, through derivation of atmospheric properties such as surface albedo, surface altitude, water vapor column, aerosol and cloud optical depths, surface and atmospheric temperature from hyperspectral imaging data. FLAASH uses the most advanced techniques for handling particular stressing atmospheric conditions, such as the presence of clouds, cirrus and opaque cloud classification map adjustable spectral polishing for artifact suppression. The Hyperion image consists of a huge number of data sets which are supposed to be reduced dimensionally. The techniques like Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transform are used to reduce the number of spectral dimensions to be analyzed. The pure pixels are the most spectrally extreme pixels (Broadman et al., 1995), which spectrally correspond to the mixing end members. These end members form the base for the n-Dimensional visualization, and each selected end members are spectrally matched with USGS spectral library. The near visible near infrared image (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral range cover the features of iron bearing minerals, hydroxyl bearing minerals sulphates and carbonates. The iron ores and iron bearing minerals have characteristic spectra in the 850nm to 950 nm wavelength (Magendran and Sanjeevi, 2014). The ferric iron minerals hematite (Fe203) has distinct spectral curves in the visible near-infrared image (VNIR), which is caused by absorptions and induced by crystal field transitions at about 465 nm, 650 nm and 850–950 nm (Townsend, 1987). The paper presents an attempt for mapping iron oxides in Chitradurga Schist belt by using the Hyperion image. The iron distribution mapping is made with the standardized hyperspectral methodologies. An attempt is also made by taking the spectra of iron in-vitro and compared it with the USGS spectral libraryfor mappingiron distribution. The Spectral Angle Mapper Classification (SAM) is an automated method of comparing the image spectra with the individual spectra, or a spectral library (Boardman 1992; Kruse et al 1993). SAM treats both individual spectra, spectral library spectra and calculates as vectors and its spectral angle. Since the SAM algorithm uses the only vector direction and not the vector length. The result of the SAM classification is an image showing the best match at each pixel. This method is typically used for determining the mineralogy and works better in the areas of identical regions. The USGS maintains a large spectral library composed of mineral and soil types, which has image spectra and can be compared directly. 1.1 Study Area and image data The lithology of the Chitradurga schist belt 13036’25’’N and 760 35’49’’E belongs to both Bababudan and Chitradurga Groups. (Figure 1) The Bababudan Group of rocks represented by metabasalt-quartzite formations and NNW trending synclinal Kibbanahalli BIF formation, wrapping around the Chikkanayakanahalli (CN Halli) gneiss and joining the main CN Halli belt near Dodguni (Radhakrishna, 1967; Srinivasan and Sreenivas, 1975; Seshadri et al., 1981; Ramakrishnan and Vaidynadhan, 2008). Chitradurga Group covers most of the CN Halli schist belt, represented by quartz-sericite-chlorite schist, quartzite, carbonates, Mn formations and BIF overlies Bababudan Group (Devaraju and Anantha Murthy, 1976, 1977). EO-1 Hyperion level 1 radiometric (L1R) product having 242 bands covering CN Halli area acquired on 14 April 2011 was used. The image covers the spectral range of 0.4 to 2.5Â µm at 10 nm bandwidth. However, only 155 of them are calibrated from visible-to-infrared (VNIR) and short wave-infrared (SWIR) regions. (Table 1) (EO-1 User Guide, 2003).

Hemingways Themes Essay -- Essays Papers

Hemingways Themes â€Å"Hemingway’s greatness is in his short stories, which rival any other master of the form†(Bloom 1). The Old Man and the Sea is the most popular of his later works (1). The themes represented in this book are religion (Gurko 13-14), heroism (Brenner 31-32), and character symbolism (28). These themes combine to create a book that won Hemingway a Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and contributed to his Nobel Prize for literature in 1954 (3). â€Å"Santiago’s ordeal, first in his struggle with the big fish, and then in fighting against the sharks, is associated by Hemingway with Christ’s agony and triumph,† (Bloom 2). When Santiago sees the second and third sharks coming, he shouts â€Å"Ay,† and Hemingway notes: â€Å"There is no translation for this word and perhaps it is just such a noise as a man might make, involuntarily, feeling the nail go through his hand and into the wood† (Waldmeir 28). â€Å"Santiago is often regarded [as] a Christ figure, and his love for all living creatures and forbearance in physical pain are attributes that support this [idea]. However, Santiago shares few traits with Christ (Brenner 38). In his book The Old Man and the Sea: Story of a Common Man, Gerry Brenner states: Christ is a fisher of men, but Santiago is merely a fisherman; Christ is a figure with a divine mission, Santiago one with a secular mission (to bring back an oversized fish); Christ is a martyr who willingly but reluctantly dies for his convictions, Santiago is a persevering champion who is willing to die only to win a battle with a fish; Christ is a teacher of spiritual and ethical wisdom, Santiago is a professional with skill and slogans to impart (38). The Hemingway hero is often religious, but their religion is rarely central to their lives (Gurko 13). Santiago is Cuban, at once devout and credulous (13). However, neither his religion nor his superstitious beliefs play a role in his ordeal with the great marlin (13). God is sometimes prayed to by the Hemingway hero in a time of crisis, but He is never depended upon (Waldmeir 29). When Santiago says his prayers, he also says, â€Å"I am not religious,† even as he says his prayer (29). After forty-five hours of struggle have passed, Santiago says, â€Å"I’ll say a hundred Our Fathers and a hundred Hail Mary’s. But I cannot say them now.† (Waldmeir 29-30) For those ... ..., Mrs. â€Å"Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea† Lecture: 2000. Timms, David. â€Å"Contrasts in Form: Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea and Faulkner’s ‘The Bear’† Modern Critical Interpretations: Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Ed. Harold Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999: 45-52. Wagner, Linda W. â€Å"The Poem of Santiago and Manolin† Modern Critical Interpretations: Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Ed. Harold Spreng 8 Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999: 45-52. Waldmeir, Joseph. â€Å"Confiteor Hominem: Ernest Hemingway’s Religion of Man† Modern Critical Interpretations: Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Ed. Harold Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999: 45-52. Wilson Jr., G.R. â€Å"Incarnation and Redemption in The Old Man and the Sea† Modern Critical Interpretations: Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Ed. Harold Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999: 45-52. Young, Philip. â€Å"The Old Man and the Sea: Vision/Revision† Modern CriticalInterpretations: Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea. Ed. HaroldBloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999: 45-52.

Essay --

The novel A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, is well written and a must read for teenagers across America. This novel mainly focuses on the treatment of women and the friendship of women in Afghanistan, and is relatable to many women, mainly in the Middle East. The book takes the reader through the tough lives of two women, Mariam and Laila. These two women have grown up in different environments and were treated very differently from each other. This book shows the unity and strength of two women who stand against their abusive husband and every obstacle they come face to face with. The book starts off in a poor village where Mariam lives with her mother, Nana. Her father, Jalil, is a very wealthy man from Herat who visits her once a week. Since Mariam was born, her mother has always called her names. Nana constantly told her she was a worthless bastard because her father had an affair with his servant, who was Nana at the time. After Nana found out she was pregnant, Jalil and his three wives kicked her out, as it would hurt their reputation. Since Mariam is a girl, no one saw any value in her. Mariam soon learns the truth after she sneaks off to her father’s house to meet him despite her mother’s wishes. At her father’s house she is told to go home as her father is away on a business trip. Mariam refuses to leave and is forced to sleep outside, poorly treated. In the morning, she goes to the yard and sees Jalil’s face in the window, shocked to understand her mother was right all along. When Mariam returns home to apologize to Nana, she finds her dead body hanging. After her mother’s death, Jalil and his three wives force fifteen year old Mariam to marry forty-five year old shoemaker, Rasheed. Years passed in their ma... ... much as its men. He was a teacher before the war so he taught Laila at home as well. Although Laila was educated and Mariam was not, the respect they both had for each other was equal. This novel has a very powerful message for men and women. One gender should not dominate over the other. Equality is important for stability in every relationship and every country. The importance of women should be recognized and this novel briefly shows the power of unity and strength. Men and woman both have different roles, and both should equally have their share in society. The novel, A Thousand Splendid Suns is a must read for everyone across the country and share the message. Many women in different countries do not have value and are living life in misery. Women’s rights are worth fighting for and Khaled Hosseini did a marvelous job with displaying this story to the readers.

Is Science to Blame Essay -- Science Scientific Essays

Is Science to Blame Science has played an important role in the American culture. One way or another it has transformed our way of living and our way of thinking towards human beings and nature. Science has been blamed for its new science inventions due to causing harm to individuals or the environment. As we are aware, science can have many benefits towards the health and environment, but at the same time there are consequences if new science ideas are not properly handled under the hands of the scientist or us, the individual. No doubt, science has provided many solutions to our unanswered questions and has removed our fears. J.Michael Bishop explains in his essay â€Å"Enemies of Promise† â€Å"science is the art of the possible, of the soluble† (239). For example, without scientist having the abundant knowledge that they do, the people and animals would not have survived infection’s diseases. People would not be aware of a habit they consume as being listed as a dangerous one nor would they know the facts on how to take care of their animal (s) or the environment. The solution to the diseases is that science has evolved with the proper vaccination though some are still in the process and others are about to be discovered. Also, nature has resulted to provide benefits to the human skin and even to cure some illnesses, has been discovered by scientist. There has been many other science solutions provided to Americans but many scientists are not appreciated for their development, rather people seek to find more answers to their health or environmental problems. If individuals are not meet with their needs they begin to criticize the science technology. Many Americans do not understand the concept of science. They imagine a... ...nswer can vary, depending on your beliefs, but it’s logical to say that science should be blamed when scientist introduce a new scientific idea just for selfishness, who don’t take into consideration the consequences of their product. Also, individuals who take advantage of any science development are the ones responsible for their failure not science. Science provides a different perspective on how to view others our natural environment. Works Cited Bishop, Michael J. â€Å"Enemies of Promise†. The Presence of Others. Ed. Moller. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. 237-242. Rifkin, Jeremy. â€Å"Biotech Century: Playing Ecological Roulette with Mother Nature’s Designs†. The Presence of Others. Ed. Moller. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. 244-253. Shelley, Mary. â€Å"Frankenstein†. The Presence of Others. Ed. Moller. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000. 231-235.

How and why does Iago convince Othello of Desdmona’s infidelity?

Shakespeare is often referred to as the greatest playwright that ever lived. His comedies have made many laugh, his tragedies many have cried over and romances that have touched millions. Shakespeare's writing although hundreds of years old are always relevant to our lives because that is what they are about, life. Shakespeare deals with all aspects of human nature and flaws. He greatly exaggerates a particular flaw in each of his tragic heroes. This flaw brings about their downfall. In the course of one conversation Iago convinces a man who loves his wife completely that she is in fact having an affair with one of his most trusted subjects without using one shred of proof or any real basis. This is a man who can make the most innocent of people guilty and the most loved, hated. He uses many tactics to persuade Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio, the reason, is revenge. Iago is a very cunning and manipulative man. He is also often irrational and erratic. He will go to any means to get what he wants and in this case he doesn't mind ruining three people in the process. At the beginning of the play we hear of Iago's rage at the fact that Cassio was made lieutenant instead of him. Iago feels that he was the better candidate and deserves the position. Iago isn't hard pushed to find a way of getting revenge. Othello often says that without Desdemona he would be in chaos, â€Å"But I do love thee; and when I love thee not, chaos is come again. † Iago uses this, because he wants to create chaos, which is one of the major themes of the play. Other major themes include relationships, jealousy, love and deceit. Luck provides him with the opportunity to stage an affair between Cassio and Desdemona, driving Othello to insanity and resulting in the death of Desdemona and Othello. Iago becomes very jealous of Othello because of his position in the Venetian Army. He is also sexually attracted to Desdemona but that is not a real reason for hating Othello, his mind concocts stories which he believes are true and thus making himself think acceptable to take revenge on Othello by sleeping with his wife. Iago believes that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia, â€Å"leapt into his seat†, he wants revenge for this too, â€Å"not out of absolute lust†. He wants to sleep with Desdemona for revenge not just for pleasure. He appears to be sexually frustrated as he also presumes that Cassio has also slept with Emilia, â€Å"I fear Cassio with me nightcap too†. Throughout the play he often refers to sex as lustful and nothing to do with love. This is emphasised in his disbelief that Othello and Desdemona's relationship is based on love. Through this we have to consider the reasons why he feels this way. Can he not love someone? He finds it easy enough to kill his own wife at the end of the play, yet is constantly reaffirming his â€Å"love† for Othello. We know he uses this as a tactic for Othello to gain faith in Iago, but could there be more? This plot is an obsession for Iago, his jealousy rules him. Could this mission be his only love? To understand how Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio we must look at the events beforehand which Iago directs to his own advantage. It starts when Cassio and Desdemona greet each other; Iago forms the plan that Cassio will be target. Cassio and Desdemona are friendly to each other and Iago can see how this could appear to be more than just friendship. Didst thou not see her paddle with the palm of his hand? † In Elizabethan times this was deemed as highly intimate and personal, this would have been an activity that only a couple would engage in. By claiming that Cassio was stroking Desdemona's hand, he is suggesting that they are a couple or intimate with each other. Iago sees the opportunity and uses his knowledge of Cassio to get him into a fight with Roderigo. Iago knows that this will outrage Othello and Cassio will want to redeem himself. Iago has planted the circumstances for Cassio to plead with Desdemona so that she will speak to Othello on Cassio's behalf. Iago knows that Desdemona will take up Cassio's plight for she is a good person. â€Å"I will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me†. Desdemona doesn't realise that Iago is abusing her goodwill so that it will bring about her own downfall. Othello doesn't see it as strange that Desdemona is supporting Cassio for he knows what type of person she is. It is Iago that uses this as a basis for an affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago fools many of the main characters. He only gets away with this because they trust him and this protects him from any questioning. His cunning means that the events can occur, building the play. He uses this to his own benefit, talking Cassio into pleading with Desdemona and inducing Othello to believe that Desdemona is having an affair. Throughout the play Iago is described as an â€Å"honest† man, which to the audience seems ironic because really everything the man says they know to be a lie. Desdemona describes as, â€Å"o that's an honest fellow†, Othello thinks â€Å"This fellow's of exceeding honest,† and Cassio too sees him as honest, â€Å"†¦ honest Iago. † It surprises the audience that the characters are so blind to Iago's faults but then we must understand that he has never done anything that could make them doubt him. He is an idyllic picture, a man who is loyal and trustworthy, they could never imagine that he is capable of deceit. Iago's effectiveness at noticing innocent situations and making them look suspect is another way in which he gets Othello to believe in Desdemona's unfaithfulness. When Othello first enters the room at the start of Act III Scene III, Cassio hurriedly leaves the room after speaking with Desdemona. Cassio does this completely innocently, he leaves because he doesn't want to annoy Othello any more than he has already, he feels disgraced and is ashamed, and he cannot face Othello. Iago successfully twists this situation- â€Å"That he would steal away so guilty like- seeing you coming. † Iago explains Cassio's guilt as that he has been sleeping with Desdemona. Of course the reader knows that is not true, but to Othello, the way that he hurries away, once pointed out to him by Iago, does look very suspicious. This is even more enhanced in Othello's mind when immediately afterwards Desdemona starts defending Cassio and pesters Othello to re-instate him. This combined with Iago's perverting of the situation looks very abnormal to Othello. Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is sleeping with Cassio by very through very calculated steps. In each instance he builds on Othello's insecurities and his trust in him. He is successful in commanding the lack of evidence to his own advantage. Othello trusts Iago as he sees him as a loyal subject. Iago starts by questioning Cassio and Othello's relationship. He does this by asking suggestive questions, â€Å"Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady know of your love? † By doing this he is making Othello consider their past and what effect it could have on the present. When Othello questions him further he refuses to answer a question directly. â€Å"Honest my lord? † By doing this it is as if he is trying to protect Othello, by keeping something from him. This will make Othello want to know the truth even more as it is human nature to be curious; after all we all want to know details especially if you know that really you shouldn't hear it. For Othello to believe in what Iago is about to tell him Othello must trust him. Iago needs to know that his news will not be instantly dismissed, he does this by the affirmation of his love. † My lord you know I love you†. This is his basis, if you genuinely trust someone you believe in what they tell you. Othello and Iago had fought together in wars and it is most likely that they had often held each other's lives in their hands. So Othello would never believe that Iago would turn against him so suddenly, especially as for the large majority of the play, Iago looks to be nothing more than a completely loyal servant to Othello. He refuses to tell Othello what he's thinking. â€Å"Utter my thoughts? Why say they are vile and false? † He doesn't want to say anything bad or untrue, after all he is Othello's loyal servant and would not want to hurt him. He also doesn't want to leave himself out for blame by playing this way he can say that Othello pressurised the information out of him even when he wasn't sure it was true. Iago is good at planting ideas. † O beware my lord of jealousy†. Iago suggests what Othello should be thinking and feeling. Even if Othello wasn't previously jealous because maybe he didn't believe fully, now Iago has told him exactly what he should be feeling. By warning Othello has in fact put it in his utmost mind. Iago plays on the fact that Othello is not of Venetian society. He explains that there are differences in social attitudes. † In Venice they do not let God see the pranks they have not shown their husbands†. Othello cannot question this as he is from a different background and already feels compromised. Although when in Venice, he appears to be a strong-minded character, proves to have low self-esteem, this low opinion of himself may stem from being racially self-conscious. But some may argue that race would not have been an issue, it is more to do with the fact that he comes from a different society, an outsider who knows little of how their expectations. Although no mention is ever made of it, Othello views himself as different, which he is, from the rest of Venetian society. In was shock to everyone and probably even Othello that one of the most eligible women in Venice has fallen in love with him. So when Iago starts telling Othello of a relationship between Cassio and his wife, the rumours about Desdemona and the fact that she had refused men of higher status than Othello, â€Å"Not to affect many proposed matches of her own clime, complexion and degree†¦ † he believes it may be true. Also he reminds Othello of what her father said when he first found out about Desdemona planning to marry Othello without his consent- â€Å"Look to her Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father and may thee†. To which Othello replies â€Å"My life upon her faith†. Much of Othello deals with pride and reputation, for Othello now to hear about Desdemona's unfaithfulness, after he replied so convincingly that he trusts her completely, would certainly start to worry him. After all, if what Iago had been telling Othello was true, then Othello had been made to look a complete fool by Desdemona in a very short period of time. Iago often uses very crude language and often refers to animal imagery. He belittles Othello and Desdemona's relationship, regarding it in its most instinctive form, a sexual relationship, â€Å"†¦ you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse;† Othello however approaches it as serious and loving relationship, â€Å"†¦ Nor to comply with heat the young affects in me defunct and proper satisfaction; But to be free and bounteous to her mind. † That is why the audience is particularly amazed that Othello resorts to animalistic images too. Othello refers to Desdemona as â€Å"haggard†, a hawk that cannot be tamed. He also refers to himself as a â€Å"toad†; this is a far cry from the man who stood in front of the Duke and other important men of Venice declaring his love. Shakespeare uses this technique to show us that Othello has lost his confidence and is no longer self-assured. As he becomes more and more angry his control through his speech begins to slip, no longer does he speak in long flowing sentences but now in exclamations, which hints at his loss of capability to loose his temper. He is also speaking in a similar way to Iago, This may symbolise that he has come to think in the same manner. These images show us the depth of Othello's jealousy, the woman he loved he now disparage. When Othello begins to fall into the trap that Iago has set out, there is only one thing that would convince him completely. The principal method that Iago uses to convince Othello of Desdemona's infidelity is by using one of Othello's most treasured possessions and telling Othello that his wife, Desdemona has given it away to her lover, Cassio. The handkerchief was the first gift he gave to Desdemona, so it possesses enormous sentimental value to Othello. Finding out that Desdemona has given it away shows her as inimical. It must have hurt and angered him, after all the woman he loves and is married to has given away without a care for him, would almost certainly anger him, for in Othello's mind she has thought the handkerchief to be a meaningless piece of cloth. Iago tells Othello that he saw Cassio wiping his mouth with it, much like a rag. † I know not that; but such a handkerchief- I am sure it was your wife's- did I today. See Cassio wipe his beard with†. This enough proof for Othello to be convinced that Iago is telling the truth and for him to kill both Desdemona and Cassio. Within these three says let me hear thee say that Cassio's not alive. † And, â€Å"I will withdraw to furnish me with some swift means of death for the fair devil. † The fair devil refers to Desdemona. This oxymoron suggests that Othello still sees her as divine and yet he has lost his faith in her. Of course, the main way Iago fools Othello is by pure luck. That luck being that a lot of the things that Cassio and Desdemona say and do fall right into the trap and further convince Othello of a relationship between the two of them. When he first sees them together and Cassio scurries away, Iago jumps on the opportunity. Another example of this is found further on in the play when by controlling the circumstances Iago gets Cassio to talk disparagingly about Bianca, while Othello thinks the conversation is about Desdemona. The luck of this situation is gargantuan; one mention of the name Bianca and Othello would realise that Cassio was really speaking about her, fortuitously for Iago, Cassio does not mention Bianca's name once in the entire conversation. Shakespeare often presents the true feelings of the characters through soliloquies. Through Iago's soliloquy we see that Iago is an opportunist and amoral. The Moor already changes with my poison†¦ † This line shows that Iago's plan is having the desired effect. Other characters in Shakespeare's plays have shown conscience to the fact that they are doing wrong, and have felt some remorse, we can see this in Macbeth's soliloquy, â€Å"First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself. † But Iago shows no wavering, he is convinced that this is the right thing to do, â€Å"Burn like the mines of sulphur,† he wants Othello to fall from grace as revenge for instating Cassio over him. It is most disconcerting to think that Iago almost takes pleasure from Othello's torment, â€Å"Nor all the drowsy syrup of the world, shall medicine thee to that sweet sleep which thou ow'dst yesterday. † Othello is the typical â€Å"tragic hero† that Shakespeare incorporated in many of his works, a man who sets out to do his very best, but through one flaw he is bought down. This has an enormous effect on the audience. The audience know that he is a good man, but circumstances are working against him, leaving the audience frustrated at his own idiocy for not realising and making the amendments. Often as the audience we feel like screaming at him for being so blind to the facts, we are drained of our emotions. Shakespeare intended this; he used the ancient Greek method of Catharsis. Shakespeare had to make the main character likeable enough for the audience to warm to him and suffer his pain, but still make sure that in the end his tragic flaw shone through. Othello's main flaw is his jealousy. Othello's other flaws are pride and gullibility. Iago however can not be blamed for everything; he did not murder Desdemona nor kill Othello. The characters must have a motive of their own and therefore is there not a basis for Othello to be pushed into murdering his wife? Many would say that by removing Iago the couple would live happily ever after, but mustn't there be a reason for why Othello was pushed so readily into murder. Othello acts like a confident man when in Venice, he has the support of his wife and men like Cassio. Remove the safety of that support and you would find a man alone in a foreign country which has different values and expectations, maybe in reality Othello knew that he could not belong in Venetian society and not with Desdemona. Our view of Othello progresses as the play develops. The first mention of Othello is by Iago; he presents him to the audience as someone with poor judgement as he has promoted the wrong person and through repellent sexual images, as someone grotesque. Yet others, like the Duke see Othello as â€Å"†¦ valiant†¦ † From the beginning Othello is authoritative and confident, but without the knowledge that Desdemona is faithful to him, he collapses. Othello's lack of judgement is shown when he lets suspicion of Desdemona having an affair with Cassio take over his mind, stopping all rational thought. He asks the opinion of Emilia (Desdemona's handmaid and Iago's wife) â€Å"You have seen nothing then? † Even though she replied â€Å"Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect† he does not believe her because his poisoned mind can't accept it. This is an issue that reigned in the Elizabethan times, people of his social status could not loose their power, it disrupted the hierarchy and made those below them feel uneasy. Society was very structured and those at the top would have a ripple effect on everyone below. We also notice in Shakespeare's plays that the tragic hero is always a man of position, Kings, noble men or army officials. This is so that they have a position to fall from, there would be no point in having an ordinary man in a story like this, the tragic hero is meant to be almost perfect, but not quite. This can be linked to the tragic hero King Lear; he is far too trusting and divides his country between his two treacherous daughters, which inevitably leads to his death. Through King Lear Shakespeare looks at madness and through the character of Othello he shows us how the people we surround ourselves with can create this. In the play, â€Å"King Lear†, King Lear has to deal with betrayal by his daughters in a similar way to which Othello is betrayed by his trusted friend, Iago and he believes his wife too. Like Othello Lear looks for justice instead of the revenge that Iago seeks. â€Å"It shall be done; I will arraign them straight. Come, sit thou here most learned justicer. â€Å"(King Lear, Act 3 scene 6) it indicates that a desire of order and justice is starting to replace the chaos and thoughts of savage revenge in Lear's mind; it marks the start of his journey away from insanity. This insanity is similar to what Iago creates in Othello, he creates jealousy and through that chaos. All of the main themes are present in Act III Scene III. The fight of good against evil is represented in Othello's struggle with Iago. The theme of chaos verses order is shown through Othello's gradual recede in anguish. Othello's overpowering jealousy blinding him from the truth and Iago's revenge which bring about the chaos and evil. Despite wanting to kill his wife Othello's love for her still remains. In his soliloquy before killing Desdemona he states his love for her, however Othello thinks murder is the only punishment worthy of betrayal â€Å"yet she must die, else she'll betray more men†. Othello's jealousy is now at peak level, he still can't show rational thought and is blind about the true horror he is about to do. Even when he speaks to her and she denies ever giving Cassio the handkerchief he doesn't believe her, â€Å"Yes, presently; therefore confess thee freely of thy sin; for to deny each article with oath cannot remove nor choke the strong conception that I do groan withal. Thou art to die. † It is ironic that Othello believes every lie that Iago fed him and yet cannot believe a single truth that the woman he loves tells him. â€Å"I never did offend you in my life; never lov'd Cassio but with such general warranty of heaven as I might love; I never gave him token. † After killing his bride he is brought out of his trance and realises the mistakes he has made. Iago's scheme is brought out into the open. Emilia brings out the scheme when the truth is told about the true goings on. At this point in the play Othello's heroic qualities are put on show for the audience once more. â€Å"Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice: then, must you speak of one that lov'd not wisely but too well; of one not easily jealous, but, being wrought, perplex'd in the extreme. † Having realised the horror of the situation he takes full blame for his actions and commits suicide and lies next to his beloved bride to die. Iago is a man who is out for his own gain, and there are many people in our society who are like him. He is a character who knows how to direct circumstances to his own purpose, unfortunately the other character do not see this and are spun into his web of lies. By luck and tactics like planting ideas and evidence he is able to persuade Othello into thinking that Desdemona is having an affair and get his revenge. Through this catharsis we realise that in Iago Shakespeare has created that ultimate embodiment of evil and malice.

Part Seven Chapter 3

The coffins lay side by side on biers at the front of the church. A bronze chrysanthemum oar lay on Krystal's, and a white chrysanthemum teddy bear on Robbie's. Kay Bawden remembered Robbie's bedroom, with its few grimy plastic toys, and her fingers trembled on the order of service. Naturally, there was to be an inquiry at work, because the local paper was clamouring for one, and had written a front-page piece suggesting that the small boy had been left in the care of a pair of junkies and that his death could have been avoided, if only he had been removed to safety by negligent social workers. Mattie had been signed off with stress again, and Kay's handling of the case review was being assessed. Kay wondered what effect it would have on her chances of getting another job in London, when every local authority was cutting numbers of social workers, and how Gaia would react if they had to stay in Pagford †¦ she had not dared discuss it with her yet. Andrew glanced sideways at Gaia and they exchanged small smiles. Up in Hilltop House, Ruth was already sorting things for the move. Andrew could tell that his mother hoped, in her perennially optimistic way, that by sacrificing their house and the beauty of the hills, they would be rewarded with a rebirth. Wedded for ever to an idea of Simon that took no account of his rages or his crookedness, she was hoping that these would be left behind, like boxes forgotten in the move †¦ But at least, Andrew thought, he would be one step nearer London when they went, and he had Gaia's assurance that she had been too drunk to know what she was doing with Fats, and perhaps she might invite him and Sukhvinder back to her house for coffee after the funeral was over †¦ Gaia, who had never been inside St Michael's before, was half listening to the vicar's sing-song delivery, letting her eyes travel over the high starry ceiling and the jewel-coloured windows. There was a prettiness about Pagford that, now she knew that she was leaving, she thought she might quite miss †¦ Tessa Wall had chosen to sit behind everyone else, on her own. This brought her directly under the calm gaze of St Michael, whose foot rested eternally on that writhing devil with its horns and tail. Tessa had been in tears ever since her first glimpse of the two glossy coffins and, as much as she tried to stifle them, her soft gurglings were still audible to those near her. She had half expected somebody on the Weedon side of the church to recognize her as Fats' mother and attack her, but nothing had happened. (Her family life had turned inside out. Colin was furious with her. ‘You told him what?' ‘He wanted a taste of real life,' she had sobbed, ‘he wanted to see the seamy underside – don't you understand what all that slumming it was about?' ‘So you told him that he might be the result of incest, and that I tried to kill myself because he came into the family?' Years of trying to reconcile them, and it had taken a dead child, and Colin's profound understanding of guilt, to do it. She had heard the two of them talking in Fats' attic room the previous evening, and paused to eavesdrop at the foot of the stairs. ‘†¦ you can put that – that thing that Mum suggested out of your head completely,' Colin was saying gruffly. ‘You've got no physical or mental abnormalities, have you? Well then †¦ don't worry about it any more. But your counsellor will help you with all of this †¦') Tessa gurgled and snorted into her sodden tissue, and thought how little she had done for Krystal, dead on the bathroom floor †¦ it would have been a relief if St Michael had stepped down from his glowing window and enacted judgement on them all, decreeing exactly how much fault was hers, for the deaths, for the broken lives, for the mess †¦ A fidgeting young Tully boy on the other side of the aisle hopped out of his pew, and a tattooed woman reached out a powerful arm, grabbed him and pulled him back. Tessa's sobs were punctuated by a little gasp of surprise. She was sure that she had recognized her own lost watch on the thick wrist. Sukhvinder, who was listening to Tessa's sobs, felt sorry for her, but did not dare turn around. Parminder was furious with Tessa. There had been no way for Sukhvinder to explain the scars on her arms without mentioning Fats Wall. She had begged her mother not to call the Walls, but then Tessa had telephoned Parminder to tell them that Fats had taken full responsibility for The_Ghost_of_ Barry_Fairbrother's posts on the council website, and Parminder had been so vitriolic on the telephone that they had not spoken since. It had been such a strange thing for Fats to do, to take the blame for her post too; Sukhvinder thought of it almost as an apology. He had always seemed to read her mind: did he know that she had attacked her own mother? Sukhvinder wondered whether she would be able to confess the truth to this new counsellor in whom her parents seemed to place so much faith, and whether she would ever be able to tell the newly kind and contrite Parminder †¦ She was trying to follow the service, but it was not helping her in the way that she had hoped. She was glad about the chrysanthemum oar and the teddy bear, which Lauren's mum had made; she was glad that Gaia and Andy had come, and the girls from the rowing team, but she wished that the Fairbrother twins had not refused. (‘It'd upset Mum,' Siobhan had told Sukhvinder. ‘See, she thinks Dad spent too much time on Krystal.' ‘Oh,' said Sukhvinder, taken aback. ‘And,' said Niamh, ‘Mum doesn't like the idea that she'll have to see Krystal's grave every time we visit Dad's. They'll probably be really near each other.' Sukhvinder thought these objections small and mean, but it seemed sacrilegious to apply such terms to Mrs Fairbrother. The twins walked away, wrapped up in each other as they always were these days, and treating Sukhvinder with coolness for her defection to the outsider, Gaia Bawden.) Sukhvinder kept waiting for somebody to stand up and talk about who Krystal really was, and what she had done in her life, the way that Niamh and Siobhan's uncle had done for Mr Fairbrother, but apart from the vicar's brief reference to ‘tragically short lives' and ‘local family with deep roots in Pagford', he seemed determined to skirt the facts. So Sukhvinder focused her thoughts on the day that their crew had competed in the regional finals. Mr Fairbrother had driven them in the minibus to face the girls from St Anne's. The canal ran right through the private school's grounds, and it had been decided that they were to change in the St Anne's sports hall, and start the race there. ‘Unsporting, course it is,' Mr Fairbrother had told them on the way. ‘Home-ground advantage. I tried to get it changed, but they wouldn't. Just don't be intimidated, all right?' ‘I ain' fuck – ‘ ‘Krys – ‘ ‘I ain' scared.' But when they turned into the grounds, Sukhvinder was scared. Long stretches of soft green lawn, and a big symmetrical golden-stoned building with spires and a hundred windows: she had never seen anything like it, except on picture postcards. ‘It's like Buckingham Palace!' Lauren shrieked from the back, and Krystal's mouth had formed a round O; she had been as unaffected as a child sometimes. All of their parents, and Krystal's great-grandmother, were waiting at the finishing line, wherever that was. Sukhvinder was sure that she was not the only one who felt small, scared and inferior as they approached the entrance of the beautiful building. A woman in academic dress came swooping out to greet Mr Fairbrother, in his tracksuit. ‘You must be Winterdown!' ‘Course ‘e's not, does ‘e look like a fuckin' buildin'?' said Krystal loudly. They were sure that the teacher from St Anne's had heard, and Mr Fairbrother turned and tried to scowl at Krystal, but they could tell that he thought it was funny, really. The whole team started to giggle, and they were still snorting and cackling when Mr Fairbrother saw them off at the entrance to the changing rooms. ‘Stretch!' he shouted after them. The team from St Anne's was inside with their own coach. The two sets of girls eyed each other across the benches. Sukhvinder was struck by the other team's hair. All of them wore it long, natural and shiny: they could have starred in shampoo adverts. On their own team, Siobhan and Niamh had bobs, Lauren's hair was short; Krystal always wore hers in a tight, high pony tail, and Sukhvinder's was rough, thick and unruly as a horse's mane. She thought she saw two of the St Anne's girls exchange whispers and smirks, and was sure of it when Krystal suddenly stood tall, glaring at them, and said, ‘S'pose your shit smells of roses, does it?' ‘I beg your pardon?' said their coach. ‘Jus' askin',' said Krystal sweetly, turning her back to pull off her tracksuit bottoms. The urge to giggle had been too powerful to resist; the Winterdown team snorted with laughter as they changed. Krystal clowned away, and as the St Anne's crew filed out she mooned them. ‘Charming,' said the last girl to leave. ‘Thanks a lot,' Krystal called after her. ‘I'll let yer ‘ave another look later, if yeh want. I know yeh're all lezzers,' she yelled, ‘stuck in ‘ere together with no boys!' Holly had laughed so much that she had doubled over and banged her head on the locker door. ‘Fuckin' watch it, Hol,' Krystal had said, delighted with the effect she was having on them all. ‘Yeh'll need yer ‘ead.' As they had trooped down to the canal, Sukhvinder could see why Mr Fairbrother had wanted the venue changed. There was nobody but him here to support them at the start, whereas the St Anne's crew had lots of friends shrieking and applauding and jumping up and down on the spot, all with the same kind of glossy long hair. ‘Look!' shouted Krystal, pointing into this group as they passed. ‘It's Lexie Mollison! Remember when I knocked yer teeth out, Lex?' Sukhvinder had a pain from laughing. She was glad and proud to be walking along behind Krystal, and she could tell that the others were too. Something about how Krystal faced the world was protecting them from the effect of the staring eyes and the fluttering bunting, and the building like a palace in the background. But she could tell that even Krystal was feeling the pressure as they climbed into their boat. Krystal turned to Sukhvinder, who always sat behind her. She was holding something in her hand. ‘Good-luck charm,' she said, showing her. It was a red plastic heart on a key-ring, with a picture of her little brother in it. ‘I've told ‘im I'm gonna bring ‘im back a medal,' said Krystal. ‘Yeah,' said Sukhvinder, with a rush of faith and fear. ‘We will.' ‘Yeah,' said Krystal, facing front again, and tucking the key-ring back inside her bra. ‘No competition, this lot,' she said loudly, so the whole crew could hear. ‘Bunch o' muff munchers. Le's do 'em!' Sukhvinder remembered the starting gun and the crowd's cheers and her muscles screaming. She remembered her elation at their perfect rhythm, and the pleasure of their deadly seriousness after laughter. Krystal had won it for them. Krystal had taken away the home-ground advantage. Sukhvinder wished that she could be like Krystal: funny and tough; impossible to intimidate; always coming out fighting. She had asked Terri Weedon for two things, and they had been granted, because Terri agreed with everyone, always. The medal that Krystal had won that day was around her neck for her burial. The other request came, at the very end of the service, and this time, as he announced it, the vicar sounded resigned. Good girl gone bad – Take three – Action. No clouds in my storms †¦ Let it rain, I hydroplane into fame Comin' down with the Dow Jones †¦ Her family half carried Terri Weedon back down the royal-blue carpet, and the congregation averted its eyes.

American Business Leaders

This essay briefly describes the life and achievements of two successful American business leaders, their brief life sketches, the ways and means used by them to achieve their success . It also goes to explain how each of them affected the American society and finally concludes with a comment on the morality of their actions.The two businessman chosen for this essay are : Andrew Carnegie, the pioneer of the American steel industry who lived in the nineteenth century, and Bill Gates,  the software wizard who has managed to change the definition a computer, from a ‘ highly scientific equipment’ of 1960s, to a necessary machine of every member of every family, not only in America but the entire globe !!!Andrew hailed from a very poor family of a hand weaver of Scotland who was disposed ‘workless’ by the power looms of the industrial revolution, and Bill was an entrepreneur at the age of 14 as a school student !!!! Both climbed up the ladder, to be respected a s the ‘captains’ of their ownrespective industries. Life sketches â€Å" I began to learn what poverty means, it was burnt to my heart that my father had to beg for work, and then came the resolve that I would cure it when I become a man. †. ( Andrew Carnegie) Can anyone believe that he would become the pioneer of the formidable American steel industry and the richest man on this world? Andrew Carnegie was born in a very poor family of a hand weaver who was disposed from his work when power looms came in during the industrial revolution in Britain.His mother used to do household work to manage daily bread. The family shifted to Pittsburgh in US in 1848. Andrew started working at the age of 17 as a telegraph delivery boy, and never missed an opportunity for advancement. Carnegie happened to come close to Thomas Scott, who was an official with Pennsylvanian railroad, while working at the telegraph office. Thomas hired him as his PA, and from there he climbed up to become the later become the superintendent of Pittsburgh division. The outbreak of civil war created a huge demand for iron and steel.Andrew saw this as an opportunity and invested in steel rolling mill. There was no looking back then. He became the richest man on this world during his times. In the later stages of his life, he sold off his steel business and concentrated on philanthropic activities, mainly for the spread of education and global peace. 2500 public libraries were opened with the help of his donations. He had given away $350 million as donations for the improvement of mankind. He had floated the idea of ‘league of nations’ and built the ‘ palace ofpeace ’ which later became ‘ world court ’. He was so disturbed by the hostilities of World War I that the last entry in his autobiography was on the day the war began !! ( Andrew Carnegie) On the other hand, Bill Gates, real name William Henry Gates III, was born in a rich family of Se attle, USA, to a lawyer father and mother was director in a bank. He went to the most expensive school of Seattle, where the fees were $ 5000 as compared to $ 1760 at Harvard. He was interested in programming from his early school days.The Computer Center Corporation banned students from his school, when they were caught exploiting bugs with the operating system to buy computer time!! So involved was he with programming that at the age of 14, he had already made a payroll program in Cobol and formed a venture with his school colleagues to make traffic counters and earn $ 20,000/- in the first year. When his age was disclosed, he was shown the gate !! He went to Harvard for his degree study where he met Steve Ballmer. Both joined hands as partners to establishMicrosoft ® a software consultancy firm, which has become the largest software company on this world. Windows operating system, invented by Microsoft ® has revolutionized the computer industry. Bill Gates is perhaps the only person to be ranked as the richest man on this world for 13 successive years, from 1993 to 2006 !! He announced his retirement from day to day activities in 2006, to turn his attention to philanthropic activities. ( Bill Gates) Methods Both Andrew and Bill have lived two centuries apart, and both were polesapart in their personalities and background. Hence their methods to amass wealth also vary substantially. Andrew lived in times when technology was not so advanced and resources were scarce. A very fierce lust for wealth was the driving force behind all his methods, and this force was driven by necessity. He had seen the ghastly face of poverty in his childhood and his sole aim in life to drive it away. This was coupled with eagerness to progress and earn more. In absence of any good scholastic background, his instincts was the only asset he had.He kept his eyes and ears open and took a right jump whenever he saw a rise in income coming through that jump. Experience was the only teacher, and he was an avid learner. He did not hesitate to jump if it offered financial gains. This was coupled with a sharp sense of vision. A vision to see the shape of things to come in future. He saw an opportunity in iron and steel during the civil war, and he invested in it. Taking right steps at an appropriate time is also one of the salient methods adopted by him.Though he was an advocate of trade unionism, he did not mind exploiting the workers of his own steel company, because self gain is the only motive of any businessman. This is evident from the labor strike at his company. Good administrative skills and good human relations management were the key methods to his success, which has earned him the reputation of ‘Captain of steel industry ’. Bill Gates has lived in a different era when technology had highly developed and he had an enviable scholastic background.His methods are more ‘intellectual’ than ‘physical’. It were the intell ectual abilities, especially his ability to find software solutions , that has enabled Bill to win the race. Like Andrew, Bill also saw an opportunity and lost no time in grabbing it. A salient highlight of Bill’s methodology is that he has always focused on ‘ innovations’ and ‘speed’. The milestones of developments his development are witness to the fact that his thoughts are very fresh and innovative, and he worked at such great speeds thathe has always been the first to offer tangible solutions. It has been Bill’s strategy to bank upon someone else’s idea, work upon it, and present the solutions before others can do it. Bill did not see anything wrong in working upon GUI which originally someone else’s idea. It was Bill who came up with the first GUI ‘Windows-3. 1’ which was an instant success. ‘ Ruthlessness’ was one of the methods which helped Bill to attain his status as the ‘captain of softw are industry’. Impact on American SocietyBoth Andrew and Bill have had tremendous impact on the American life. Andrews’ daunting spirits were not only helpful in establishment of the formidable American steel industry, but also an inspiration to many youngsters who were eager to start on their own. Europe was the focus of all technological development so far, but Andrew was instrumental in demonstrating that America has all the resources to beat Europe in this matter. It was largely due to his efforts that large scale industrialization and mass production concepts startedgaining momentum in the war torn America. Talking of Bill, he has changed not only America but the whole world. So wide and great is the impact of his thoughts and the products of his company that today almost Microsoft ® has become a household name over the globe. He has completely changed the way people communicate across the globe. This has a massive impact on the increase in global trade and comm erce. Today, a Director of a company head quartered in London can get the production figures from its units situated in America, and thesales figures from his office in Tokyo, within seconds. He should thank Bill Gates for making all these possible !! Moral Aspects All of us big or small, rich or poor have a social obligation. Both Andrew and Gates have erred drastically during their young age in their quest for wealth. Even though Andrew had witnessed poverty, he did not hesitate in exploiting the poor workers in his own steel company. The strike and the labor unrest due to this is a blot on his otherwise spotless career. ( Andrew Carnegie) On the other hand Billwent one step ahead, and saw nothing wrong in ‘stealing’ the GUI concepts which were initiated by others. His fierce maneuvering with IBM is one more example of business practice which can be judged ‘wrong’ morally. A legal suit, filed by the American Government over Microsoft ® raises many quest ions about the ethical policies of the Company. ( Bill Gates) Both these ‘captains’, towards the end of their career have exhibited unparallel moral sense by donating huge amounts for the betterment of the society. Andrewconcentrated on improvement through education, while Bill has been more aggressive and even touched social issues like ‘AIDS eradication’. Andrew died as a frustrated man due to hostilities of the first world war and what happens to Bill, only time will tell. Works-cited page 1) Andrew Carnegie, People and events- Andrew Carnegie, 1999, Retrieved on 18-02-07 from, < http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/amex/carnegie/peopleevents/pande01. html > 2) Bill Gates, wikipedia the free encyclopedia, 18-02-07, Retrieved on 20-02-07, From: < http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Bill_Gates >