Saturday, August 31, 2019

A Street Car Named Desire Essay 3

In the story we’re reading in class titled, â€Å"A Street Car Named Desire†, Stanley Kowalski appears to have a bad temper. Stanley Kowalski is one of the main characters in the book. He has showed very bad behavior throughout the book, as well. This behavior goes as far as abuse towards his wife. Throughout this written assessment, I will describe how Stanley is characterized and I’ll state why I believe Stanley is the way he is. I will also be stating my opinion on whether or not I have empathy for Stanley. On page 107 in the book, Stanley’s rage gets out of control. I believe it’s out of control because all Stella asked of Stanley to do is to clean up his plates and he broke them. I believe Stanley would be characterized as aggressive in this scene. I think this because he had no right to break plates. He was simply asked to clean up, and he freaked out because he was told what to do. Also, I believe he’s acting ignorant because he quotes Huey Long and says, â€Å"Every man is a king,† when Long was referring to both men and women. Next, on page 109, Stanley is acting nice, and tells Stella everything will be alright after Blanche leaves the household and the baby is born. He then changes the subject and starts talking about sex. I believe Stanley can be characterized as a person who only cares for sexual relations. I think this because he never cares about how she’s feeling. He’s always self-centered and only caring about what he wants. The last page, page 112, Stanley is talking about sex, once again. He’s talking about how Stella and himself met, and how they â€Å"had them colored lights going! † I would characterize Stanley as, once again, a self-centered man. I think this because he doesn’t care about anything other than the sexual relations him and Stella had when they met. Also, he’s only talking about that, and not how much fun they had together doing other activities. I believe Stanley is the way he is because of his drinking. I believe he’s abusive because he drinks so much, and he’s so impaired by it, he doesn’t know what he’s doing. I believe this relates to his ways, as well. Also, I don’t think he cares much about other people because he’s a very self-centered man. Also, I believe his ego is bigger than him. This means he doesn’t really care for other people’s feelings, as long as he’s still perfect. I have no empathy for Stanley. I have no empathy because he’s a very rude person, and rude people do not please me. If he was nice and no one understood him, (which might be the case, I don’t know) then maybe I’d have a bit of empathy for him. Also, I don’t have empathy for him because he hit his own wife. Drunk or not, he should know never to hit a women, it’s not polite. No one should have empathy for Stanley because he already has so much empathy for himself, it could supply him for the rest of his lifetime, and more.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Common College Diseases Essay

College students are young, lively and generally healthy individuals, but just like any population, they are prone tocertain health problems. Not only do college students have some of the worst eating, exercising and sleeping habits,they also have to deal with stress from school, relationships and job hunting that takes a major toll on their health.Here are the 8 most common college diseases: 1. Depression : Depression is a growing issue that even college campuses are dealing with more and more. An alarming 44 percent of college students reported feeling symptoms of depression during college andmany do not seek treatment for their mental illness. Depression can be brought on by a number of factors,including anxiety from school or work, the loss of a loved one, a troubled relationship and early childhoodtrauma. College students have a high risk of being depressed because their hormones are often out of whack and imbalanced at this age, and they face a great deal of pressures and obstacles while in schooland away from their parents. 2. Meningococcal Meningitis: Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but often deadly bacterial infection that isspread through air droplets and direct contact with infected persons. When the disease attacks, it will shutdown major organs and prevent blood flow to the limbs, often causing tissue to die and extremities to beamputated. From a national perspective, meningococcal meningitis is a rare disease that strikes fewer than 3,000 people every year. However, it tends to thrive on college students living in the dorms becauseof the close-quartered arrangements and their often weak immune systems. 3. Alcohol and Drug Addiction: Alcohol and drug abuse has, and continues to be, a health problem amongcollege students. College students have higher rates of alcohol and drug addiction than the rest of thepublic, with nearly 2.7 million full-time college students abusing drugs and alcohol at least once a month. As students relish in their newfound freedom, they are more likely to try drugs and alcohol with friends for the first time. Although alcohol is still the preferred drug of choice by most college students, there has alsobeen an increase in marijuana and prescription drug abuse. 4. Sexually Transmitted Diseasesc: With the increased amount of sexual activity and unprotected sexhappening in todays colleges, its no wonder why sexually transmitted diseases are rampant amongcollege students. An estimated 20 to 25 percent of college students have been infected or are carriers of STDs. Sexually active young adults have high rates of STDs because they do not use adequate protectionand often do not seek medical attention. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes and HPV (Human Papillomavirus)are some of the most common STDs among college students. 5. Eating Disorders: Eating disorders continue to be a major concern among college students today. Inaddition to the classic eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, there are a number of other eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) that have become more rampant in college, suchas caloric restriction, drastic weight loss, excessive exercise, binging and purging. Disordered eating iscommonplace in college, when students are eating on their own and trying to avoid gaining the â€Å"freshman15.† 6. Obesity: Eating disorders continue to garner attention in college, but many students are troubled by theother end of the spectrum  ± obesity. Today, more than 30 percent of college students are consideredobese or overweight by the American College Health Associations standards. A combination of unhealthydiets, limited physical activity and poor lifestyle choices has caused many college students to becomeobese or overweight. 7. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): We hear a great deal about the amount of studentsabusing Adderall and other psychostimulant medications in non-medical ways, but there is a growingnumber of college students being tested and diagnosed with ADHD, as well. The growing number of diagnoses can be attributed to several reasons, including the pressures of college studies, poor academic

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Brave New World: How Technology Affects Society

October 29, 2012 Brave New World: How Technology Affects Society Brave New World, a place in which people are created from scientific labs through a process call the Bokanovsky Process, and where being born from parents is a shame for society. Where conditioning is use for training babies to act and think the way people in society wants them to do. A place where a popular drug call Soma is used to control and keep the society happy and stable, and causes principles and morals to disappear or change.Where entertainment is use to convince people of the phrase â€Å"everyone belongs to everyone†, and becomes a society that is always happy, no problems, and organized. The Bokanovsky Process is another way of reproducing ninety-six human babies from one egg by transforming it into buds, which each bud becomes an embryo. (pg. 17) Normally one egg produces one embryo which becomes one human adult, but in this case the Bokanovsky Process manipulates the egg to produce more than one em bryo by budding.After budding the egg for a couple of times it is dosed with significant amount of alcohol, and then later budded again until it creates more than eighty-six embryos, and since they’re all from the same egg they all are identical twins. Because the Bokanovsky Process is being used to reproduce more population, it has become one of the major instruments of social stability. (pg. 18) It causes people in society to wear uniforms with batches to identify what kind of twin they’re from, and what kind of job they are meant to do.Conditioning is done when the majority of the identical embryos are now full grown babies or children, they are placed in various repetition environments and experience in order to custom them the way they supposed to think and react. A very good example is when the babies are placed in front of books and flowers and start to like or get familiarize with it, once they are starting to like and giggle they give them electric shocks. It makes them get horrified or scared every time they see books and flowers, so that when they are older and full grown they would hate or not like books or flowers. (pg. 0) For society conditioning the children or babies that way is to make them hate the country, but at the same time love all the country sports so that they consume manufactured articles as well as transport(pg. 31), which helps the society increase in labor and income. Now Soma is a type of drug that works with society’s way of entertainment to avoid any unnecessary feelings, such as being in love, the feeling of wanting to form a family, or being stressed and worried. Soma is a drug that raises a wall into someone’s mind between reality and fantasy, which makes the person go into a soma holiday.As for the entertainment, Soma is always serve with coffee or as candy in many different places like restaurant and concerts while placing music by saying to take more soma or repeating the phrase everyone belong s to everyone. An example would be of a song like this, â€Å"Bottle of mine, it’s you I’ve always wanted! Bottle of mine, why was I ever decanted? Skies are blue inside of you, the weather’s always fine: for there ain’t no bottle in all the world like that dear bottle of mine. †(pgs. 8-79) Which basically describes how one feels after taking a couple of grams of Soma, which this actually helps to maintain control and organization in society. The Bokanovsky Process, Conditioning, Soma, and Entertainment all work together to create a world in which everyone is happy with no struggles, no problems or worries. A world where society is always in control and organized by using soma to keep the people conditioned as they are. Where there is no such thing as parents and family, love and friendship, and a new world of identicals with different jobs but with same culture. A Brave New World.

Bradley effect Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Bradley effect - Assignment Example He lost to Republican George Deukmejian.† (CNN) Some researchers believe that the Bradley effect is just an attempt to come up with an excuse for the inaccurate results of flawed opinion polling practices (Keeler, Scott and Nilanthi Samaranayake 2007). There have been several explanations given as the cause of these polling errors, but it is generally believed that some voters, due to societal pressure, are not very forthcoming in their answers during the pre-election polls. It is believed that some white voters are concerned about being labeled as racially prejudiced, and so do not fully declare their support for white candidates in the polls before the actual elections. â€Å"A recent study found that the possibility of the Bradley effect, while the last finding suggested the possibility of a "reverse" Bradley effect in which black voters might have been reluctant to declare to pollsters their support for Obama or are under polled.† (North Carolina Statewide Survey Res earch Report 2008) President Barack Obama did not really suffer this phenomenon in the presidential elections because although this issue is something to be concerned about, it clearly is not as serious an issue as it was in the 1980s. It is notable that both racial attitudes and polling techniques have undergone a lot of change since the Bradley effect was first noticed.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Ways that Can be Used by Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ways that Can be Used by Organization - Essay Example To understand this theme of freedom of thought, it is important to understand what freedom of thought entails. It entails the freedom that an individual has to consider a fact, thought or viewpoint irrespective of the viewpoints of other people in the society. It is important in the democratic constitutions today which protect this freedom. However, it is difficult to suppress this freedom of thought since it is impossible to know what an individual is thinking about unless they choose to disclose it. Despite this, freedom of thought is limited via censorship, burning of books and propaganda discouraging it all together. If individuals hold their freedom of thought, then it becomes easy for them to express themselves whenever they find others taking advantage of them in any way. In Mahfouz, Head, Marquez, there is this story on the answer is no. there is this teacher who had been abused as a small girl by the mathematics tutor that her father had designated for her. This tutor was over twenty-five years older than her and he promised to come back and marry her when she became of age. True to his words, he had kept his promise. He came back and proposed to her but she rejected. She was now more knowledgeable than she was years ago when the teacher abused her. She wondered whether the man was after her money now than she was successful and independent. The mere feeling of a man almost her father’s age abusing an innocent little girl disgusted her. She could not marry her despite her mother’s advises that fell on a deaf ear. More suitors came forward for her hand but she kept on rejecting them. This is one story that shows the aspect of independence of thought. Now that she had come of age, the teacher could now make her own decisions. She could not allow her weaknesses define her. She fought hard to ensure that she capitalized on her strengths and worked on her weaknesses to ensure that she became an independent young lady.  

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Project and Programme Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Project and Programme Management - Essay Example ue that the scope as well functions of project and operations often overlap, hence our analysis will be presented mostly within this grey area – when do we draw the line, when do they complement, and so on – and in the process outlining the support for our thesis. Thien is a project manager in his organization. Vice Presidents, directors and managers in other departments approach him daily whenever there is a new product or project to be investigated, initiated or launched. For instance, yesterday the Marketing Manager requested him to direct a campaign involving an invitation for clients in their database to visit the organization’s web site and see their new product lines. However, part of this project requires the website to be updated on a daily basis. The campaign sounds just like a job for the project manager but the cyclical aspect of maintaining the website seems to be a facet of an on-going operations. How was this possible? Let us outline the nature of projects and operations and, henceforth, eliminate the grey area. According to Marion Haynes, project management differs from other management schemes in two significant ways. â€Å"First, while department managers or managers of other organizational units expect their departments to exist indefinitely, project managers focus on an undertaking with a finite life span. Second, projects frequently need resources on a temporary basis, whereas permanent organizations try to utilize resources full-time.† (p. 3) As its name connotes, project management concerns itself with a project but only one. It has a beginning and an end – a time-bound process - since it is a one-time endeavor. According to Baum, evaluation caps the five stages of project management so there is a closure to the cycle. (Cracknell 2000, p. 95) It may be employed within the scope of an operation or other business processes. Most stakeholders in this management strategy believe that it is a linear process where operations management

Monday, August 26, 2019

Falcon City in Dubailand Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Falcon City in Dubailand - Research Paper Example Falconcity of Wonders is a multi-use megaproject in Dubailand and features structures that are based on well-known sites as well as the architectural wonders of the world including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Dubai Tower of Pisa: This will be an actual and precise duplicate of Italy’s leaning tower of Pisa. Dubai Hanging Gardens of Babylon: This building is designed to house a gorgeous garden that overlooks the Falconcity Mall, several restaurants and residences which are eco-friendly. Dubai Eiffel Tower: This structure is an exact replication of the Eiffel Tower in the French Capital and is intended to be the central point of the commercial sector of the whole Falconcity of Wonders megaproject. Dubai Eiffel Tower would be encircled by gardens, entertainment areas, residences, landscaped parks and a shopping arcade (Churchill, 2013). Dubai Grand Pyramid: This building upon completion of i ts construction would certainly be the largest pyramid ever constructed. The structure itself would be a multi-use project offering residences, offices as well as various venues for recreation. There will also be 2 other smaller pyramids which would be the address of Falconcity management facility and a commercial facility. Dubai Taj Mahal: This structure is designed to be a marvelous five-star hotel resembling India’s Taj Mahal. Dubai Taj Mahal would be one of the most excellent hotels within the entire Dubailand (Vidal, 2013). The Dubai Great Wall: A gargantuan wall would be constructed which would be similar to China’s Great Wall and it will feature a large jogging track. It is of note that the Dubai Great Wall would also serve as a buffer zone... As the discussion stresses  FCW is intended to bring the world together within 1 city. The project has been designed to appear similar to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national emblem, the falcon, with its wings spread and symbolizes the spirit of outstanding qualities, pride as well as leadership. FCW harmonizes the vision of the Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of turning Dubai into a principal global tourist destination. Falconcity of Wonders is a multi-use megaproject in Dubailand and features structures that are based on well-known sites as well as the architectural wonders of the world including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.  This study highlights that  Dubai Lighthouse  is intended to be an exact replica of the gigantic Pharos of Alexandria lighthouse that was constructed during the third century Before Christ on the Pharos Island in Alexandria, Egypt. In the 3rd century BC, Pharos of Alexandria lighthouse was viewed as 1 of the seven world wonders; the structure itself was the tallest building on the entire globe. In Dubai, the Lighthouse would serve as a landmark for Falconcity. It will have retail shops, residences recreational and commercial offerings.  Town of Venice  is designed to be a waterfront development that will contain a variety of shops, open-air cafes as well as provide gondola rides.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Business planning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Business planning - Assignment Example Contributing to competitive edge 14 5. Marketing Research 15 5.1. Targeted customers 15 5.2. Market Share 16 6. Marketing Strategy 16 6.1. Marketing Mix strategy 16 6.2. STP Strategy 18 7. Processes 19 7.1. Quality Control 19 7.2. Equipments 20 7.3. Policies 20 8. Personnel 21 8.1. Management team 21 8.2. Organizational Chart 21 9. Finance 22 9.1. Financial Projections 22 Conclusion 23 References 24 1. Executive Summary ‘The Fresher’ is an exciting start-up logistic business with unique approach to helping large scale supercentres and hypermarkets across London to provide its customers with freshest fruits and vegetables than those that are presently available in large retail outlets. The business idea behind this start-up is that customers across London are extremely concerned about fresh, natural, genuine and quality fruits as well as vegetables distributed by both large and small scale retailers, but they hardly get satisfied. The Fresher takes it not only as an oppor tunity to be commercialized, but also as a social responsibility to meet customers’ specific need for farm-fresh goods. In today’s highly competitive business contexts, marketers need to think strategically to develop certain strategies to help them achieve competitive advantage and to survive in the market. It is also required for a start-up business to be successful. ‘Going global’ is a very significant and effective strategy for that it widens the market potential and helps the firm grab further marketing opportunities. The Fresher begins its business from farmers across different countries and extends its services to local retailers in London to provide farm-fresh goods, and therefore, it not only goes global but also comes back to local to gain maximum advantages of logistics. The Fresher’s market involves customers who come to large as well as small to medium sized retailers to buy fruits and vegetables. The Fresher is going to bring wide vari ants of foreign fruits and vegetables that were never before available in London market and this adds up to the market potential of the company. The financial projections show that the company will generate quite impressive profitability within the first year. Strategic marketing activities, extensive R&D, integrated communication and promotion activities will help the company build a strong brand image among its customers. 2. The Industry 2.1. The industry Overview For the last two decades, fresh fruits and vegetables represented the most important product category in the UK market. According to United Nations Publication (2003, p. 231), out of the total turnover of the organic food in UK, 33 or more percent are generated by fresh fruits and vegetables in 2001 and more than 85 percent of all the organic fruits and vegetable sales were taken place in supermarket chains. As of 2006, fruits and vegetable represented 27 percent of UK’s organic food segmentation and 75 percent of the organic food sales were carried out by Supermarkets (UK Organic food, 2006). Almost all the large scale retailers, mainly Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose already offer core assortments of organic fruits and vegetables. UK’s fresh fruits and vegetables market has been valued as worth an estimated ?9.52 billion in 2010, with an increase of 4.3 percent from the previous year figures despite the fact that the market has been severally affected by rising food-price inflation. The industry in 2010 reported an increase of 29.5 percent total turnover in comparison

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Internet Banking Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 9500 words

Internet Banking - Coursework Example Modern day customers demand more from the banking services, as they want new levels of flexibility and convenience than what traditional banks offer. In spite of the fact that Internet Banking is the need of the time, there is immediate necessity to solve some of the key problems, which is necessary to make it widely acceptable. This research proposal discusses the main factors that affect the adoption of Internet Banking, by applying the theories relevant to the concept and relying on the findings of the Survey, which is done by the customers of HSBC Uxbridge Branch. E-commerce has revolutionised the way the businesses are conducted nowadays. New business models are replacing the outdated ones and the organizations are restructuring their business processes according to the needs of the customers. Just like any other sector, new customer relationship strategies are being formulated in the banks as this industry has also accepted the new technology - Internet Banking. According to Hickman, 85% of the largest banks in United States of America offer Internet Banking services in its basic forms, like, statements, access to accounts, stop payments, transfers, along with clear items. Most of these banks are also beginning their complete Internet banking services, comprising services on online loans, bill payment and brokerage. Research supports the fact that both banks and customers can benefit from Internet banking. However, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into consideration, the bank's perceptions of Internet banking and the cust omers' perceptions of internet banking being the principal ones. Along with benefitting the customers and the banks, internet banking or E banking is beneficial for the small and medium businesses as well. (Nath R., Schrick P. and Parzinger M., 2001, A) Benefits of Online Banking to its Customers Customers are benefitted in a number of ways from internet banking. The first and foremost benefit is convenience. The customers can operate 24 hours a day and seven days a week. (Benefits for Customers, n.d.) Cost Savings - Cyberspace is relatively cheaper to operate than the bricks and mortar structure and this benefit is often passed to the customers. Internet banking offers customers cost savings and financial benefits for online transaction of services. It also reduces the transfer fees of transaction is dome through e-banking. Access to

Friday, August 23, 2019

Intelligent Design Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Intelligent Design Philosophy - Essay Example Moreover, the principle of separation of state and the Church has precluded its teaching in schools. Nonetheless, creationism never really disappeared especially for those who remained to abide by the principles of Christian fundamentalism. Today, creationism takes a different shape, a shape that promises to be more scientifically in sync by underscoring empirical evidence rather than the idea of a Divine Being to explain its thesis. The concept of intelligent design emerged in the latter part of the 20th century and was founded by experts in various scientific fields. The arguments underpinning this concept attempt to point out the inability of the Darwinian evolution to explain certain phenomena. The arguments underlying the intelligent design concept are discussed in the preceding paragraphs as well as the counter-arguments of those who opposed them. Background: History of Intelligent Design The intelligent design movement is assailed as being rooted in Christian fundamentalism, a religious movement that originated in the United States and was sparked by the rise of Christian modernism in Europe in the late 19th century. The fundamentalist came out with a series of 12 booklets called collectively The Fundamentals: The Testimony of the Truth that attacked, among others, Darwin’s theory of evolution (Flank 17-21). Darwin’s Origin of Species, which was published in 1859, began to be taught in US schools and the fundamentalists vehemently fought this. Christian fundamentalist, however, declined after the Scopes Monkey Trial in 1925 where legal luminary Clarence Darrow acted as counsel in a test case that breached a law prohibiting the teaching of evolution. In this case, the fundamentalists were depicted as â€Å"uneducated hicks and backwoods country bumpkins† (Flank 21-24). In 1987, however, the final blow was dealt to creation science when the US SC itself invalidated an Arkansas law prohibiting the teaching of evolution in the case of Ed wards v Aguillard 482 US 578 (1987) (Young & Edis 2-3). With the death of creation science, intelligent design took its place as a theory that was foist to foil Darwin’s evolution. Conceived in the 1980s, it was the brainchild of some Christian intellectuals such as Phillip Johnson, who wrote Darwin on Trial, Michael Behe, a biochemist, and William Debski, a mathematician and philosopher, among others. Johnson subsequently established the right-wing think tank Center for Science and Culture and published a new book called The Wedge of Truth after the group’s wedge strategy, which has purportedly the overthrow of materialism as its goal. The strategy consists of the publication of books and technical and scientific materials within a span of five years to be incorporated into the public school system as well as to drum up support from their â€Å"natural constituency, namely, Christians† (Young and Edis 3). Intelligent Design: The Concept Intelligence design is a n origin-of-life theory that opposes the natural selection essence of evolution. Thus, this concept subscribes to the idea that there must be a grand ‘designer’ out there who directs the development of life because life and the universe are too complex to have merely come on their own without any entity or being guiding them. This theory directly conflicts with Darwin’

Thursday, August 22, 2019

A passionate and powerful poet Essay Example for Free

A passionate and powerful poet Essay Sheenagh Pugh is for me, a passionate and powerful poet; the majority of her poetry has contained the themes of the earth and how it will be ruined if we are not careful. Even within her childrens poetry, these themes are prominent. The other major theme within the poetry of Sheenagh Pugh is the bible this theme is quite often in association with divine love for earth. She deals with this in a startlingly refreshing and compassionate way, often with the sense of melancholy but never with depression. Sheenagh Pugh refers in the title of The craft I left in was called Esau  that the pilots name is Esau and she is suggesting that mankind has made a bad bargain like Esau did in the bible. The settings of the poems are different from each other; The craft I left in was called Esau is set in an spacecraft while Do you think Well ever get to see Earth again, Sir? is set in a classroom on a different planet evoking memories of home.  In Do you think well ever see earth again, sir? the setting is in a classroom and the teacher referring about earth. Sheenagh Pugh has set this poem in another world and in a class because she wants to show how it would make us think of home. She is uprooted from her culture or roots and she speaks I cant fancy a tour through the ruins of my home which suggests that she has no intentions of seeing her old traditions and earth. The theme of Sheenagh Pugh poems are to present us with a sad view of the future and a grim warning of what could be. In the craft I left in was called Esau Sheenagh Pugh mentions People joked nervously; just like a plane flight this suggests that people are joking to make themselves feel better to forget the true purpose of this trip, to forget that theyll never return.  I would have you ten years before the flood: this image gives the picture of how extreme his eternal love is and to what extent it goes. This effect of this is dramatic to the reader and builds up tension. The language of the poem becomes more positive as it progresses. The first stanza up to line ten, with its image of a woman in a trip ready to leave and never to return. The questions in the second section of the poem suggest progress towards understanding and the exclamations in the final section give the impression of sadness and remorse. In the second part she mentions No bother, no big deal. I cant recall feeling sad, not then which suggests the mood that the person is in a sad mood. The poet says that she cannot remember being sad at that moment in time but in line 12 not then she indicates she did feel sad at some point. We dont exactly when, but at some stage, she felt remorse and sad. In do you think well ever see earth again, sir? Sheenagh Pugh has been critical of Earth. The but in line 11 signals a change in direction. The speaker changes his/her approach completely and becomes optimistic. Sheenagh Pugh uses alliteration should see something to describe some beautiful thing like a leaf. This type of language gives a dramatic effect as we start to feel as we are ruining the earth and how we will remember it in the grim future. Towards the end of the craft I left in was called Esau, the passengers looked back in line 20 as they struggle to look ahead. They are still looking back to what theyre leaving behind. She mentions that earth is quite small really compared to the rest of the universe. The poet compares Earth to a guesthouse and we are just passing time on it but Earth is our permanent home. This gives us a grim warning of what could happen if we are not to careful. In do you think well ever get to see earth, sir? The speaker says at the end Look at it with the inside of your head, look at it for later, look at it for ever, and look at it once for me which suggests that the speaker wished that he/she looked at these simple things the last time they saw them? The speaker regrets not savoring the little moments and this is what Sheenagh Pugh is trying to get over the message to us to look after the earth as well not see it again once it has gone.  The language and structure of Sheenagh Pughs poems are to convey that we have to look after earth. She gets this message thought by using language as alliteration like in do you think line 11 should see some and similes in the craft I left line 7 people joked neverously; like a plane flight to show us what can happen in the near future.

The theories and philosophical understanding Essay Example for Free

The theories and philosophical understanding Essay With the advent of the 21st century and the fact that myriad challenges confront the world, it is only through firm disposition and the ability to cope with the persistent challenges of today that one can assuredly survive anything that may press on. And since the birth of the new age, we should take quantum leap towards the furtherance of ourselves to be of benefit to others and most of all to the world in which we live, and be one who can share in the problems of time with dignity, self-reliance, and respect for the diversity of others. These, I firmly believe, is what AUK aims for to provide students not just with knowledge but wisdom, and let them discover their innate best upbringings which will set them to the kind of pedestal they yearn to be. And since, we live in the land of miscellany, where many may have been living with their own ideology and philosophical conception, it is deemed that the young be inculcated with fine understanding of the differences around them and respect for themselves and for diversity. These are what motivated me to aspire to be part of AUK’s community. Because one may beeducated with multitude of theories and philosophical understanding in life for several years, but may not enliven everything he had been told and learned. One may just aspire only for the advantage of himself instead of the progress of many. The underlying principle behind a university which caters to the demand of its studentry is to mold future leaders with high moral standards. With this drive, I can admit to myself that if I will be given a chance to be part of such prestigious community of intellectuals and future benefactors of humanity, I can enhance the its community for I think that the best armament towards the fulfillment of one’s goals and aims is to share the same thing by having it manifested through his actions and performance of duties. I can say that commitment is one which can make a difference and this one of my attributes to commit to anything that will not just be of benefit for but one which I think will also benefit from me. And since commitment works hand in hand with action, I should say that I am also active in performing my duties and responsibilities which have been realized in most of my school activities and other responsibilities at home. If I have not been educated of the importance of taking responsibility, then I would not have been part of our school’s basketball team for four years. Academically, I have always been focused and straightforward for I treasure what my parents would always tell me that education is something which will give you the best weapon to combat innocence and one which will set you apart from the others. It is something which can’t easily be attained but sure enough to be something which will follow its master. I do believe that the concepts and skills I have acquired from my secondary education have equipped me to better understand the intricacies of life and to aspire for more altruistic aims. This I should say I have already started doing, when I volunteered in childen’s hospitals. And I believe that this has been helpful in understanding more the deeper meaning of service to others. All these root from my attachment to my family which I am most proud of. If not because of them, I would not have been looking at things seriously as possible. These attribute which set forth from our home to the school have ameliorated me to become someone who aspire to be sculpted to a better individual with greater hopes soaring high.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Models of Crime Prevention: Their application

Models of Crime Prevention: Their application Due to the increasing complexity brought about by modernisation, overpopulation, urbanisation, and globalisation, crime prevention has required a more urgent stance not only from government but also from communities, schools, citizens, families, and non-government institutions. While the prevention of crime has been unanimously agreed upon, the best way to go about it is still under debate. There have been several models of crime prevention which criminologists and law enforcement experts have introduced but until now, there remains no clear best model yet. Some of the major crime prevention programmes are situational or social in nature but so-called hybrid approaches or whole of government approaches have also gained popularity, especially in Australia. In order to develop a clear appreciation for the many-faceted nature of crime prevention as practiced today, it is necessary to define it clearly and analyse the different models used locally and overseas and examine how each model has fared when applied to actual crime prevention programmes. This essay discusses crime prevention, its models, and its application in the real-world setting. Defining Crime Prevention Crime prevention in its simplest definition is the process of deterring crime, criminals, and reducing levels of victimisation. White and Perrone (2005) view crime prevention as the creation and implementation of proactive programmes and strategies which are designed to prevent crime and address the fear of crime (p. 15). A more comprehensive definition is advanced by Van Dijk and De Ward (1991) to treat crime prevention as the total of all private initiatives and state policies, aimed at the reduction of damage caused by acts defined as criminal by the State (p. 415). The common thread of these definitions is the suggestion that crime prevention is not the sole responsibility of law enforcement and police, but rather a collective obligation of different sectors in society in government and in communities. Otherwise stated, crime prevention is a joint effort of various levels of society to work toward strategies that prevent crime occurrence. Rationale Behind Crime Prevention While concepts of crime and justice date back to antiquity, the enormity of concern attributed toward crime prevention emerged circa late 1980s and early 1990s. White and Perrone (2005) enumerated three major reasons why crime prevention has taken an unprecedented turn during this period: economic, operational, and community initiative. Economic. Crime prevention became an important economic concern because crime definitely pays, to use the popular catchphrase in huge amounts of fiscal resources. The cost of crime is increasing, and according to 2008 figures from the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC), crime consumes almost 4 percent of the countrys GDP which is equivalent to $36 billion (Rollings, 2008). Crime-related expenditures include policing, corrections, the security industry, and the criminal justice system as well as hidden costs such as medical costs, compensation, and loss of productivity of victims. To curb this gargantuan cost, crime reduction is considered a feasible alternative. Operational imperatives of policing. Considering the massive cost of crime, it became incumbent upon police and law enforcement agencies to recruit and enlist the assistance of citizens in an effort to arrest the escalating costs of crime. Policing required the collaboration of the law enforcement structure with citizens in the so-called fight against crime (Martin Perrone, 2005). Demands of the community. As crime rates increased with demographic changes attributed to the sprawl of urbanisation and migration, citizens have learned to recognise that a singular campaign by law enforcement to prevent crime would not do; hence, citizens have assembled themselves into crime prevention groups based in their respective communities to assist in crime prevention. As citizens became more vulnerable to crime, so did their resolve to empower themselves to stop victimisation. While one or a combination of all factors may have contributed to the emergence of crime prevention theory and application in the modern world, another theory is the growing concern for human rights and individual freedoms have led to an influence leaning toward non-punishment forms of crime prevention. Sutton and Cherney (2002) emphasised that crime prevention is reflective of societys desire to handle crime by using processes other than those that are eliminative; instead of punitive action, restorative means are advanced in the campaign for crime deterrence. Models of Crime Prevention Throughout its history, differing models of crime prevention have been used by law enforcement and criminologists around the world to curb crime and reduce victimisation. The major conceptual models of crime prevention include: situation, social, and developmental. Crime prevention has also been classified into primary, secondary, and tertiary forms. Situational crime prevention. The situational theory of crime prevention suggests that the best way to stop criminals is to design physical space and environment in a manner that will make the commission of crime harder and increase the likelihood of apprehending criminals. The idea is to change criminals perceptions of the rewards of crime by making the situation harder and much riskier for them. The situational concept of crime prevention was developed initially in the 1980s by criminologist Ronald Clarke. Clarke (1992) suggested that the most effective way to prevent crime is to implement strategies that create conditions which make it harder for criminals to commit crime. Thus, as an intervention model, situational crime prevention requires the proper identification of routines, factors, and patterns associated with criminal activity. Clarke Cornish (2003) presented five types of techniques which criminology practitioners should consider when using the situational model: 1) incr easing effort required to commit crimes; 2) increasing risks of committing crimes; 3) reducing rewards out of crimes; 4) reducing conditions that provoke crime; and 5) removing excuses for committing crimes (as cited in Homel, 2005, p. 132). Social crime prevention. The theory of social crime prevention aims to prevent offending by changing not the physical environment but the social environment. Social prevention intends to create social conditions that will deter potential or actual offenders from doing crimes. Hence, strategies associated with social crime prevention include empowering communities with resources and programmes that create a diversion from criminal behaviour. As an intervention model, social prevention focuses on youth and children, and programmes liked to this model including employment programmes, skills building activities, leisure programmes, youth drop-in centres, and other activities that increase productive behaviour. Developmental crime prevention. Developmental crime prevention as a theory strives to link childhood development with later delinquency. Researchers that have conducted prevention experiments were able to establish that factors surrounding early childhood are significant precursors to delinquent behaviour. These risks to delinquency include poor parenting, socially disruptive behaviour, and cognitive deficits (Sutton Cherney, 2002). Poor parenting could involve factors such as neglect, conflict in the home, deviant behaviour of parents, and early experience of family disruption (Homel, 2005). Among the developmental intervention strategies used courses related to proper parenting and other school-based measures. Crime Prevention Programmes The theoretical concepts of crime prevention discussed earlier have generated various intervention strategies all aimed to preventing crime. Situational prevention. Situational prevention strategies aim at designing the physical environment in order to make it less desirable and riskier for individuals to commit crime. Advocates of situational prevention strategies are more likely than advocates of other models to claim empirical effectiveness in preventing crime. Situational prevention involves among others, identifying cities that are crime hotspots, the use of surveillance cameras or CCTV cameras, screens, reducing cash-handling among banks to curb robbery, the use of boom gates to reduce car theft, and the use of undergrounds inroads to prevent vandalism and graffiti (OMalley, 1997). One of the strongest critiques against situational prevention is that the approach is inherently biases in favour of the rich and against the poor. Moreover, opponents claim that the opportunity reduction strategy gives only cosmetic remedies and that crime involves economic and cultural aspects associated with capitalism and mass consume rist ideology (OMalley, 1997). Social prevention. In lieu of situational prevention techniques, some criminologists have advocated social prevention instead because of the view that crime as a social problem is deeply ingrained within the economic and cultural structures in society. One of the most prominent social prevention strategies implemented was the Bonnemaison programme of Epinay, France, named after the towns mayor, Monsieur Gilbert Bonnemaison, MP (Cornish, 1995). This programme was implemented in France during a period of turmoil characterised by high levels of unemployment, ethnic rioting, and violence. The French central government collaborated with the local governments to develop diversionary programmes for the youth and made it a national priority. Some of these crime prevention programmes inspired by the Bonnemaison strategy include (Cornish, 1995): education of young people; re-training of those who failed to cope in the education system; better housing; employment; adequate health service; aid to victims of crime; better conditions for immigrants and ethnic minority groups; drug abuse treatment; after school activities for the young; provision of youth, cultural, training and recreation centres in each council area. (p. 188) Another overseas example of successful social prevention strategies include the so-called head start projects pioneered in the United States since the 1960s. These programmes focused on social justice as a crime deterrent by empowering poor and disadvantaged families with educational and other family enrichment programmes (Cornish, 1995). To date, several community-based and community development strategies of crime prevention have been modelled after the social prevention concept. Hybrid or whole of government approaches. Instead of focusing solely on just one crime prevention strategy, several programmes have combined several strategies and developed so-called hybrid programmes or whole of government approaches as it is known in Australia (Homel, 2005). An example of this customised approach toward crime prevention is the Safety Action Projects implemented in Surfers Paradise and Queensland during the middle of the 90s. Other projects that were national in scale include Safer Australia and subsequently, the National Campaign Against Violence and Crime (NCAVAC) geared at the promotion of community-based crime prevention through coordination and operational partnerships with local and central government (Homel, 2005). Conclusion Crime impacts overall quality of life because it influences ones actions, where one lives, how one travels, people one associates with, and others. The major conceptual models of crime prevention are the situational, social, and developmental crime prevention strategies. However, there has been increasing acceptance that crime is more complex in nature so that not one single strategy is effective in deterring crime. The emergence of hybrid approaches toward crime addresses both situational and social factors, and is considered to be more appropriate for the complexity of the 21st century. Supply management: A complex function Supply management: A complex function 1. INTRODUCTION Supply management is a complex function thats critical to business success, responsible for delivering efficient costs, high quality, fast delivery and continuous innovation throughout companies entire supply chains. The strategic contribution of supply management is measured not only in savings made, but also in increased shareholder value (Niezen, Weller Deringer, 2007). Nike and Adidas are two global companies try to improve their competitive advantage through strategically managing and utilizing their supply chain. The purpose of this report is to compare and evaluate the supply chain management practices of Nike Adidas. 2. CORPORATE PROFILE 2.1 Nike Corporate Profile Based in Beaverton, Oregon, and employing approximately 29,000 people worldwide, Nike Inc. is the worlds leading designer and marketer of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities (Comtex, 2002; Nikebiz, 2007a). Nike holds a 32 percent worldwide market share, a $20 billion market cap (Koch, 2004), has 40,000 stock-keeping units of goods (Mongelluzzo, 2002) and sells over 120,000 products in four cycles per year (Koch, 2004). 2.2. Adidas Corporate Profile Adidas is a leading producer of sportswear and sports equipment, offering its products primarily through four brands: Adidas, TaylorMade-Adidas Golf, Maxfli and Reebok (Datamonitor, 2007) The Adidas group and its 150+ subsidiaries are directed from the headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and employ 26,376 people (Adidas, 2007) The Adidas product line includes more than 20,000 items, with thousands of product variations. To keep up with market demand, the company changes its product range twice a year; more often if new technologies are available and in demand (Webex, 2004). 3. REPORT SCOPE Nike and Adidas are global players across a number of product categories. Supply chain management practices vary as the different products across the portfolios work towards different objectives. Due to the wide scope of product categories, the following report limits itself to analyzing the supply chain management practices of Nike and Adidas within the context of the global footwear market. Key supply chain processes under analysis include; manufacturing flow management supplier relationship management, demand management, order fulfillment customer services and relationship management (Lambert, 2007). 4. MANUFACTURING FLOW MANAGEMENT 4.1 Outsourcing as procurement strategy The international sports shoe industry is typified by the large scale vertical disintegration of functions and high levels of subcontracting activity. Multinationals such as Nike and Adidas no longer manufacture products, relying strongly on outsourcing all production in low-cost overseas labor markets, invariably resulting in the majority being manufactured in Asia. Outsourcing practices allow Nike and Adidas to focus on their core competencies; marketing, design and product innovation, areas in which they can best achieve a competitive advantage (Anderson, 2005). The trade-off to outsourcing to offshore manufacturers is that companies face substantially longer lead-times for delivery typically taking six to eleven weeks to receive products from Asia (Sahling, 2007). Efficiencies gained in terms of reduced wages are countered by the increased difficulty of monitoring the product and the actual working conditions in the factories (Van Dusen, 1998). Also, Nike Adidas production capa bilities are governed by the economic state of emerging markets; as countries prosper, there is a need to find new, low cost opportunities. Conversely, production could also be affected by external factors such as natural disasters or political instability. 4.1.1 Nike Approach Asia provides the majority of Nikes manufacturing and distribution, delivering to more than 80 destinations throughout the world, which now accounts for 65% of U.S. imports (Mongelluzzo, 2002). China now supplies 40% of Nikes U.S. consumption, increasing its reliance on southern Chinese ports (such as the Yantian port) instead of the port of Hong Kong (Field, 2003a). Yantian currently handles about 20% of Nikes volume from China, and approximately 10% is shipped from the port of Qingdao (Field, 2003a). The Yantian port has increased efficiency due to the close proximity to the Nike factory base, and quicker transits to the States (Field, 2003a). Nike places more importance on choosing the right local partners, not just the right ports. Nike doesnt own any of its facilities, and local partners make important logistics decisions (Field, 2003a). To manage relationships, Nike has both a global and regional vendor management team as output volume increases, Nike dont expand the number of suppliers, but increase the volume of business they do with each supplier (Field, 2003a). The Nike production system can be stratified into three classes; developed partners, volume producers and developing sources (Donaghu Barff, 1990). Although Nike has developed different levels of supplier relationships with each class the production network is commonly classified as a virtual enterprise where independent firms work together based on shared values and a common way of doing business to exploit a business opportunity through joint manufacturing (Pfohl Buse, 2000). 4.1.2 Adidas Approach Adidas has also been referred to as a virtual enterprise however, it may be better characterized as a strategic network because its supply chain utilizes three different types of suppliers; The first group have a direct contractual business relationship with Adidas, whilst the second group, subcontractors, are companies that have been subcontracted by their suppliers and do not have a direct business relationship with Adidas; and thee third group includes local sourcing companies, which source and manufacture products for local markets, rather than group-wide distribution (Adidas, 2002). Further, Adidas provides all of their suppliers with detailed technical and design specifications for the production and delivery of products, with strict quality control enforcement and inspections (Pfohl Buse, 2000), rather than adopting co-operation techniques and joint manufacturing ideals. 4.2 Lean Manufacturing Principles Lead Time Reduction According to Gernaat (2006), the fashion (footwear) market characterized by short product life cycle, high variety, high demand volatility, low demand predictability, low volumes and high level of impulse purchase. Therefore short lead times are highly important functions of responsive, reactive and flexible supply chains (Gernaat, 2006). Global sourcing creates longer lead times, and more complex supply chains. Nike and Adidas have instituted lean manufacturing principles to rationalize the supply chain processes and decrease costs. However, lean manufacturing approaches leave the companies more vulnerable to potential stock outs and there is increased reliance upon other supply chain elements running in sync and without interruption. 4.2.1 Nike Approach Nike utilizes several subcontracting arrangements that allow the company: a high degree of flexibility in dynamic and fluid markets a flexible demand-driven production system to shift production between factories and countries; opening plants and signing contracts that potentially only last a year and it to utilize capacity subcontracting methods to meet variable market demands (Donaghu Barff, 1990). Nike is upgrading its supply chain to try to drive the manufacturing cycle for a sneaker down from nine months to six to match its lead time to retailers ordering schedule. Nike aims to manufacture its sneakers to order rather than three months in advance (Donaghu Barff, 1990). Nikes new supply chain, using just-in-time management already active in the US and Europe enables shipment of products to customers faster. Select retailers receive delivery within days rather than months; cutting costs and improving profits by freeing up inventory and increasing sales (Herzog, 2003) 4.2.2 Adidas Approach Prior to 2002, Adidas operations were traditional batch and queue, and stored in warehouses until the order was processed. As part of its overhaul of its supply chain, Adidas sought to significantly reduce footwear lead times by introducing lean manufacturing principles across its supplier network. The time-to-market initiative involved a coordinated, global effort on behalf of Adidas and its consultants which included training suppliers, technology improvements in supply chain planning and a focus on internal design processes (Productivity Press, 2006). Efficient implementation of lean manufacturing principles also removed non-value-adding procedures, improved labeling and special handling to reduce lead time (Datamonitor, 2007). The reduction in lead time also lead to a 33% increase in correct product choice, increased accuracy in ordering and in some cases, resulted in larger orders as customers were less risk averse and displayed increased commitment (Productivity Press, 2006). 4.3 Centralisation 3rd Party Logistics Specialisation 4.3.1 Nike Approach The theme of Nikes sneaker supply chain is centralisation. All product design, factory contracting and delivery is planned and co-coordinated from Beaverton, Oregon (Koch, 2004). Nike runs a single instance of SAP R/3 (a single planning engine), and centralised demand management to work with outsourced suppliers (MSI, 2004). Nike is currently pursuing a total information integration strategy integrating ERP (enterprise resource planning), supply chain planning and CRM software onto a single platform shared by Nike operations in North America, as well as Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Initial results are promising; improved financial visibility, cash flow management, revenue forecasting, and taking advantage of shifting exchange rates through the re-allocation of Nikes cash resources (Koch, 2004). Nikes key supply chain strategy is through achieving up-to-date shipment data that can be used to make the supply chain more efficient, with transit time being the deciding factor over other considerations (Mongelluzzo, 2002). Nike has pared its number of logistics providers from five to two. Nikes two third-party logistics providers specialise in data management APL Logistics handles eastbound shipments to the U.S., Canada and Latin America and Maersk Logistics manages U.S. outbound shipments (Mongelluzzo, 2002). Nike requires transportation vendors to provide: Geographic coverage of U.S., Canada and Latin America Carrier specialisation Multiple ports of entry Multiple consortia Expedited air and courier services Cargo security EDI interface Data and documentation management (Mongeluzzo, 2002). For 60 percent of cargo from Asia, Nike controls the transportation move from Asian factories directly to the distribution centres of its U.S. retailer customers. The company moves the rest through its own U.S. distribution centres, where they are stored until a retailer needs them (Field, 2003b). Although the shipper and its logistics partners manage the supply chain, decisions on how much to ship and when to ship it are made in response to customer needs Demand drives the logistics strategy (Mongelluzzo, 2002). 4.3.2 Adidas Approach Traditionally Adidas has operated in a decentralized manner, with separate operating units independently choosing software that suited their internal preferences and geography (Tibco, 2007). Since 2002, Adidas has begun implementing common processes to help establish a global direction and help regain its competitive advantage. Tibco software was implemented to streamline and automate its business operations, improving flexibility, scalability and visibility across the enterprise helping to reduce product delivery times (Tibco, 2007). Similarly, Adidas inadequate paper-based warehouse and distribution systems were replaced with unique WMS and RF software to halve distribution costs, reduce labour costs and improve accuracy and efficiency through automated cross-checking of all orders (CIPA, 2004). John Hamilton, the Development Manager for Supply Chain Applications noted that We use third-party manufacturing so we are involved with a lot of different partners, from people who manufacture our product, to people who manufacture our raw materials, to the distributors that sell our product throughout the world We had a bit of a lag in our ability to see downstream demand Its hard to see the end customers demand because we are working through a lot of different subsidiaries. (i2, 2004) i2 solutions replaced the home-grown planning system, to ensure that Adidas continued to meet the needs of customers, suppliers, and consumers enabling the company to reduce order confirmation times and to get products to market faster through its ability to improve asset utilization, factory fill rates, and to plan at multiple lead times (ibid). Adidas moved further toward a centralization strategy as it implemented logistics software SAP AFS to facilitate process and system standardization worldwide, providing a solution that supported a consolidated global focus. Adidas chose the software because AFS is specific to the apparel and footwear industry with its emphasis on seasonal fluctuation, proliferation of design variations and product characteristics, multiple distribution channels and customer-service requirements, and outsourced manufacturing (SAP, 2002). Adidas consolidated the distribution system into UPS, a single streamlined network, with automated inventory and fulfillment systems that rapidly scaled its services and add enhancements as required (UPS, 2005) 4.4 Supplier Relationship Management 4.4.1 Nike Approach Athletic footwear producers use similar techniques to promote stability and trust in their relationships with subcontractors; Nike develops and produces all high-end products with exclusive partners, while its volume producers manufacture more standardized footwear that experience larger fluctuations in demand (Donaghu Barff, 1990). Nikes strategies for alliance involve: Seeding Nike expatriate technicians into factories producing Nike footwear to function as a liaison between head office and RD to ensure smooth product development processes and maintain product control. Encouraging partners to participate in joint product development activities, sharing responsibility for the development of new footwear Stabilize production and reducing demand variance with key factories partners by placing monthly orders with partners that exclusively produce Nike products (Donaghu Barff, 1990) Nike are establishing longer-term contracts with key suppliers, operating more as partners (ibid), fostering strategic alliances and creating value-add capabilities within the supply chain. 4.4.2 Adidas Approach Adidas current approach to supplier relationship management is consolidation; in 2001 it reduced the manufacturing base by over 25% with a medium term goal of reducing the suppler base by 40% (Adidas, 2002). The aim is to deepen relationships and therefore reliability, also to increase Adidas influence and bargaining power with suppliers. Adidas focus is on building their suppliers own capacity and internal management systems in health and safety and human resource management, seeking to develop sustainable compliance processes and to drive self-enforcement (Anderson, 2005) 5. DEMAND MANAGEMENT 5.1 Forecasting Order Fulfillment Gernaat (2006) argues that accurate forecasting is highly difficult in the fashion industry, as it is characterized by short PLCs, volatile demand and high variety. Wide product lines are challenged by an increasing individualization of demand, which Nike and Adidas combat by creating an increasing number of variants (Berger Piller, 2003). This makes forecasting and planning for the companies increasingly difficult which has the potential to result in high overstocks, increased supply chain complexity and the need to provide significant markdowns to get rid of surplus stock (ibid). Forecast accuracy can be increased through flexible supply chains with shorter lead times. However Gernaat (2006) also points to the use of Point Of Sale data to adjust forecasts and quick response programs to respond accordingly as a way of combating inaccuracies. Nikes forecasting is largely based on its Futures program, where retailers must order up to 80% of their merchandise inventory 6 months in advance in order to get substantial discounts and guaranteed delivery times (Porter, Harris Yeung, 2002). The futures ordering program allows Nike to minimize the amount of inventory held, purchasing costs, the time necessary to fill customer orders, and the risk of non-delivery (Nikebiz, 2007b). Nike gained a significant competitive advantage in the 90s as retailers were eager to secure discounts and guaranteed delivery times. Nike now faces pressure from customers and rivals because retailers are more reluctant to commit to ordering 6 months in advance as consumers tastes are increasingly fickle and smaller, more agile rivals are willing and able to work within shorter order cycles. Nike also is behind its rivals in direct point-of-sale (POS) integration with retailers; supply chain experts believe that actual store data, rather than software algorithms, are the best predictors of demand, but Nikes SAP system cannot yet accept POS data (Koch, 2004). Adidas recently launched World Class Supply Chain initiative appears to be moving away from a forecast-based supply chain to a demand-driven supply chain. The company has re-engineered its supply chain to customize its business to five differentiated and dynamic business models which target consumer needs (Adidas, 2006). The initiative covers the whole concept-to-shelf process and incorporates marketing, sales and operations functions; Brand Model delivers Adidas brand statement products, supported by comprehensive customer service, marketing, retail and supply chain capabilities (launched 2006) Evergreen Model short lead times and never-out-of-stock capabilities for Adidas most commercial and long life cycle product lines (launched 2006). Quick Response model seizes additional market opportunities with a 3-6 month concept-to-shelf process (launched 2007) Global/Regional model creates regional adaptations of global concepts to reflect consumer needs in regional markets (launched 2007) 2008 model aims to reduce the percentage of products turned around with 18 months lead time to only 25%. (Adidas, 2006) 5.2 Customer Service Relationship Management The success of global supply chains is the value they add to their ultimate customers in terms of the cost/price and the related services they provide (Coyle, Bardi Langley, 2003). IT can play a significant role in facilitating customer service that provides the opportunity to remain competitive, improve differential advantage and finally, gain market share (ibid). Advances in IT allow sharing real-time information between supply chain partners, which facilitates better inventory management which increases customer service and value. Sharing data also strengthens relationships between supplier and customer, as there is a development on trust and reliability. However, it is important to note that increased reliance on IT and software can potentially negatively affect positive customer service outcomes. Nike and Adidas have both been exposed to the negative consequences; Nike lost $100million in revenue due to software bugs in its supply planning software in 2001 (Interestingly this is the i2 solutions supply chain planning software that Adidas has taken on board), and Adidas first attempt at implementing WMS software resulted in massive market share losses in 1996 when the system failed to work and could not process orders (Supply Chain Digest, 2006). 5.2.1 Mass Customisation Pillar et al (2004) see information technology, along with flexible manufacturing practices as facilitators of mass customization and its promise to deliver goods and services that meet individual customer needs with near mass production efficiency. Adidas and Nikes approach to mass customization provides a good example of the trade off between the increased complexity of mass customization and supply chain economies of scale. The mi Adidas concept offers a full range of shoe customization options in regard to fit, functionality and aesthetic design. In contrast, Nikes NikeId program, in line with its highly centralized approach, limits customer integration and feedback by only offering the different colour choices of a shoes components (Piller, Moeslein Stotko, 2004). Relative to Nike, the degree of product, process and information complexity is much higher for Adidas thus incurring increased supply chain costs. However the costs are offset by higher premiums charged up to 50% co mpared to the customized shoes of Nike (between 5% and 10%) (ibid). Adidas develops a learning relationship with consumers through the brand interaction, increasing the revenue from each transaction because as well as the actual product benefits, the simplified purchasing decision process entices repeat purchase, thus creating loyalty (Piller, Moeslein Stotko, 2004) and deepening customer relationships. The mass consumption concept can also help generate better customer service and relationship management, as Adidas gains sticky knowledge about its consumers; valuable market research which could help inform more efficient planning for new products for the mass market segment (ibid). 6. KEY FACTOR ANALYSIS Coyle, Bardi Langley (2003) argue that the key factors of successful supply chain management include inventory, cost, information, and customer service and collaboration relationships. Based on the above inventory management, financial measurement and performance measures, Nikes tightly controlled, centralized supply chain management practices appear to have the advantage over Adidas; in fact, Nike was recognized as being one of the top 25 companies that exhibit superior supply chain capabilities and performance (AMR, 2007). Such performance indicators strongly suggest that Adidas has a continued need to improve operating efficiency, inventory management and also seek to deploy assets in more profitable avenues (Datamonitor, 2007). Adidas relatively poor financial performance (compared to industry leader Nike) was recorded across the 2002-2006 period, during which the company began to implement substantial changes across its supply chain management processes. Adidas has significantly centralized and automated elements of its supply chain, boosting efficiency and effectiveness of the processes by reducing errors and increasing productivity. At the same time it seems better equipped to accommodate consumers individualized demands through the more sophisticated mass customization practices, and increased collaborative relationships. Although Nike has strong collaborative relationships across its supply chain, its highly centralized processes seems less flexible in terms of demand management and customization which could affect its future competitive advantage. References Adidas, What We Do (2007) (http://www.adidas-group.com/en/overview/general_information/default.asp) [Accessed 05/09/07] Adidas, 2002 Annual Report (2002) (http://www.adidas-group.com/en/investor/reports/annually/downloads/as_ar_2002.pdf) [Accessed 05/09/07] Anderson, W (2005) Speech http://autoweb.ccpit.org/edit/UploadFile/20051017112649215.doc. [Accessed 05/09/07] Berger, C. Piller, F. (2003) Customers As Co-Designers, IEE Manufacturing Engineer, Aug/Sept 2003, pp.42-45 CIPA (2004) adidas-Salomon Canada Increasing Efficiency Through Wireless Technology (http://www.cipa.com/award_winners/winners_04/adidas-Salomon.html) [Accessed 05/09/07] Comtex. 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(2003), Nike, Business Week, Issue 3859. p. 98. i2, (2004) Case Study Keeping adidas-Salomon One Step Ahead of the Competition, (http://www.i2.com/assets/pdf/CSS_CPG_adidassalomon_css7185.pdf) [Accessed 05/09/07] Koch, C. Nike Rebounds: How (and Why) Nike Recovered from Its Supply Chain Disaster (http://www.cio.com/article/32334/), 2004 [Accessed 05/09/07]. Lambert, D. Supply Chain Management (2007) (http://64.233.179.104/scholar?hl=enlr=q=cache:cCqvumWaqAsJ:fisher.osu.edu/supplements/10/1186/SCM%2520Updated%2520on%252006_08_04.pdf+Lambert+Global+Supply+Chain+Forum+Conceptual+framework+of+SCM+Ohio+State+University) [Accessed 05/09/07]. Mongelluzzo, B. (2002), Nikes logistics hierarchy, JoC Week, Vol. 3, Issue 12. p. 24. Niezen, C., Weller, W. Deringer, H. (2007) Demanding Better Supply Chain Management, Business Strategy Review, Spring 2007, pp.47-49. Nikebiz, Company Overview, (2007a) (http://www.nike.com/nikebiz/nikebiz.jhtml?page=3item=facts), [Accessed 05/09/07]. 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Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Are Emotions Ethically Significant? :: Philosophy Philosophical Papers

Are Emotions Ethically Significant? Introduction The ethical significance of the emotions is a potentially enormous and difficult topic. Some of the positions that can be maintained include: 1 No moral judgements (either positive or negative) can legitimately be made of emotions. 2 Emotions are subject to moral praise or blame in just the same way (or, analogous to the way) that acts are. 3 Emotions are subject to moral praise or blame, but in a very different way from acts. 4 Emotions are the primary carriers of value, while rationality is purely instrumental ('reason is a value-neutral technique'); therefore moral judgement should properly concern itself only with the emotions, their origins and effects. The issue The issue is ambiguously, and hence interestingly, stated by Brecht in Der Dreigroschenoper. Polly Peachum, who is trying unsuccessfully to resist the emotional and sensual spell of Macheath, sings the soulful "Barbara-Song", including in the first stanza the line "Ja, da muss man kalt und herzlos sein." [Indeed, one must be cold and heartless] (Note "man"; Polly here is trying to state a general truth, not (yet) directly applying it to herself.) Since we (and Macheath) know that he cares little about Polly in the way she would like to be cared for, can we say that Macheath's emotional attentions to her are unethical? Or not? On what basis? Two arguments that there is no ethical significance to the emotions Before proceeding to the analysis, we must consider two possible arguments against the thesis that emotional states are subject to any moral praise or blame at all. If they are not, then that is the end of the discussion, or rather, it is the beginning of a different discussion. I believe these arguments fail, but the reasons why each fails point the way to understanding why and in what way the emotions do have ethical significance. First argument The first argument is this: (a) An act (including failure to act) can be subject to moral praise or blame only to the extent that it directly or indirectly affects (harms or benefits) the agent himself, or a moral patient (up to and including Nature as a whole), or if the agent could reasonably (as a moral agent) have anticipated this effect. (b) However, by this definition the ethical significance of the act lies only in its actual or possible consequences, and in the intentions and beliefs held by or ascribed to the agent concerning them.

Monday, August 19, 2019

What is science? :: essays research papers

Science is a method of understanding how things work. It is important because we need science in order for things to work and to develop new technology that is used in every day life. It is personally important to me because I really want to become a vet when I get older and I would need to do really well in science. Even though science isn’t exactly my best subject, I am willing to put in the hard work and determination so I may eventually get better and learn what I need to know. Science affects the world in many different ways. With the technologies that have been discovered we can now tell how warm or cold it will be for the next week, we will know when a tornado, hurricane, eruption or any other sorts of natural disasters will occur before they actually happen. This also helps out all communities. My family loves to travel, and if airplanes weren’t invented we wouldn’t be able to go to many places. We also need microwaves, stoves and ovens in order for us to eat supper, and fridges and freezers for us to keep our food in. We also enjoy watching television and movies, and I love talking on the telephone and listening to music. Without science none of these things would be possible. Everyone benefits from science because almost everything has something to do with or involves science. In the future, technology will be even more updated. Phones, televisions, personal stereos, computers etc., will keep getting smaller and smaller and more useful. Science will definitely make things a lot easier in the future. Science is everywhere; you always see it in every day life. Like when you get a ride to school from your parents, watch TV, talk on the phone, and listen to music, that’s using science. When you pass buildings science was used to build them. My favorite area of science is definitely Zoology because it has to do with animals and they are my passion.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Michael Jordan :: essays research papers

Michael Jordan is the Chicago Bulls superstar who beat Charles Barkley and Akeem Olajuwon for Rookie of the Year Honors in 1985. Perhaps, he is the greatest player to ever play the game....he even has six championship rings to back up his claim, including 3 straight from 1991-1993, and 3 more in 1996-1998. Michael was named the NBA Finals MVP in all of those titles. He's won them all with Scottie Pippen. In 1991, Jordan's Bulls finally overcame the greatest impediment to their team's success, Isiah Thomas' Detroit Pistons, who had regularly eliminated the Bulls from the playoffs. In 1993 he averaged 41.0 ppg in the finals, for a record. This 6-6 superstar guard is a perennial NBA first teamer (10 times from 1987-1993 and 1996 and again as a unanimous selection in 1997 and 1998). He was once again an All-NBA First Team member in 1996 after making his return from baseball. You can always pencil Mike in as the starting guard for the all-star game (13 appearances in 1985 and from 1987-1 993, 1997-1998 and again in 2002). He started for the ninth time in 1997, as the first player EVER to receive more that 2 million votes. In the 1997 Game he became the first player ever to record a triple double in the all-star game with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 11 asssists. Jordan was not named MVP that year (Glen Rice received that honor), but he did win the Game's MVP award in 1988 after scoring 40 points and again in 1996. Jordan was once again elected to start (10th time in 12 appearances) in 1998 after leading the eastern conference in voting. After coming out of retirement, Jordan was elected to start again for the eastern all-stars in 2002. Jordan holds the record for most career scoring titles with eight, including 7 straight, also a record. He scores so many points that it is almost unfair to compare him with other players. On November 6, 1996 Michael scored 50 points for the 36th time in his career! Jordan eclipsed the 25,000 career points total, and he continues to dominate in that statistical category. He was the tenth player to score that many points, accomplishing the feat against San Antonio on November 30, 1996, with his 35th point of the game. On January 4, 2001 Michael Jordan scored his 30,000 career point, becoming the fourth player in NBA history to reach the 30,000 point milestone.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Phnom Penh

I was born in Kampong Cham Province and I have moved to live in Phnom Penh since I finished my high school. When I first came here in Phnom Penh, I felt very surprise and scare. The building and people were far different from my hometown. I got around Phnom Penh by motorbike for a first few days. I saw many high rise buildings; especially the city's French colonial buildings were beautiful. I saw some different kind of transportation that running on the road such as: modern car, Motorbikes, Motorbike-taxis (motodops), Taxis were available at a few locations, Tuk-tuks, and Cyclos. There transportations were in the great amount if compared to my province and it sometimes caused a very serious traffic jam and accidents. I also went to the Royal Palace which no photography was allowed inside the Silver Pagoda and some of the Palace buildings. You were expected to dress decently (no bare legs or shoulders). Beside this, I went to Wat Phnom. I liked the park there. It was a pleasant green space and a popular gathering place for locals. A few monkeys kept quarters there as well and will helped themselves to any drinks you leave unattended. After that I went to Independence and Liberation memorials. Impressive Buddhist-style Independence Memorial, commemorating the departure of the French in 1953, dominated the centre of the city. Nearby was the very ugly Stalin-style Liberation Memorial, marking the Vietnamese capture of the city in 1979. The area was especially popular on weekend nights with locals when the multi-colored fountains were activated and communal music was played. I took several pictures there and got some rest. I also went to Sorya shopping center which located at the south of the Central Market. It's on a North-South Street on the west side. It is currently Phnom Penh's main Western-style mall. It is air-conditioned and contains a range of cheap fast-food outlets as well as a well-stocked supermarket named Lucky Supermarket. You can do shopping, eating, drinking, playing game and whatsoever. Everything is served here. After I live in Phnom Penh for many years, I feel that it is completely different from my province. Phnom Penh is developing very fast. Many high buildings were built, many companies were established and the whole city’s infrastructures are constructing rapidly. One I feel very anxious about is people here are competing for each other very aggressively. If you are not smart enough and you don’t high education, you will be jobless, isolate and demise from the society.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Crackling Day By Peter Abrahams Essay

â€Å"Crackling day’ is a story about a young black boy in South Africa that challenges three white youths and, in so doing, challenges the political system of the whole country. The very famous writer Peter Abrahams wrote it. It set in Africa in the times of apartheid. Apartheid was a â€Å"system’ or a mentality as it were was apposed on South Africa after the Second World War and the country gained independence from Great Britain. This did not mean that it would be the South Africans that â€Å"ran’ the country, as it was the British that were still in control. Apartheid laws were imposed on South Africa in 1948 and on June 13, 1950 the Group Areas Act was enacted. It segregated communities and relegated the black population to a minor percentage of the nation’s land, therefore meaning that white people mostly owned the land and the land on which the black people resided was often not even theirs. Everyone in the country had to register themselves as white, black (African), or coloured (of mixed race e.g. Asian). In 1953, the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act were passed, which empowered the government to declare stringent states of emergency and increased penalties for protesting against or supporting the repeal of a law. The penalties included fines, imprisonment and whippings. In 1960, a large group of blacks in Sharpsville refused to carry their passes; the government declared a state of emergency. The emergency lasted for 156 days, leaving 69 people dead and 187 people wounded. Wielding the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, the white regime had no intention of changing the unjust laws of apartheid. In 1989 there were approximately 19 million blacks in the country and on 4.5 million whites and yet whites had 87% of the land and blacks owned only 13%. The whites also received about 75% of the countries income with the blacks receiving 25% or less. The health and education services that blacks were allowed was also appalling with one doctor per 44,000 blacks whereas the whites had one doctor per 400 people and 1 teacher per 60 blacks whereas there was 1 teacher per 22 whites. Apartheid and how it affected people is the main subject of the story and can  clearly be seen throughout. Lee had to collect cow dung everyday so that he, his Aunt and his Uncle could use it as fuel. It was the only material that they could use for cooking and as a fire, possibly the only thing that they could use to keep their â€Å"house’ warm. Lee and all â€Å"the children of the location made the long trek to Elsberg siding for the square of pig’s rind that passed for out daily meat’. The children had to do this once a week, every Wednesday. Also not the place where the lived was simply â€Å"the location’ and had no name, whereas the place they were heading towards (where all the white people lived) did have a name, Elsberg. This gives the reader the thought that where the black people lived was considered a place that didn’t matter hence it had no name. Elsberg was also not a close by town; it was a â€Å"long trek’. This meant that the white people lived far away from the blacks, coincidence or purposefully put so that they were split up from each other? From the evidence and the time in which the story is set I would have to say that this was no coincidence. In the time of Apartheid the different â€Å"race groups’ were split up and it is therefore my conclusion that the whites did not want to live near the blacks, whereas the blacks had no choice. What we also notice that is a very important fact is that they cannot have any â€Å"daily meat’ and are instead walking miles for some pig crackling. This is not a nutritious thing to eat but they either couldn’t afford to buy meat or are not allowed any by the â€Å"baas’. The crackling that they do get is not even given to them. Earlier in the story we read that Lee’s Aunt wore a â€Å"thin’ (she, therefore is thin) dress with a pocket that was â€Å"nearest the skin’ and that â€Å"from this she pulled a sixpenny piece’ and â€Å"tied it in a knot on the corner on the corner of a bit of coloured cloth’. With this sixpenny (worth about 2.5 pence in today’s money) he bought the crackling off of the white man. Also note that it says that Lee â€Å"tucked it into the little canvas bag’. The word little is quite emotive as it shows that Lee does not have much. The man that was serving the crackling to the black children â€Å"did it in leisurely fashion, with long pauses for a smoke’ and he â€Å"occasionally turned his back’. From this we can see the affects of apartheid and what it does to  people. The â€Å"young man’ that was serving them was taking his time, and being facetious, flippant and dismissive. Not only that, but he was doing this towards young children. We can see that apartheid has made this young man think that he is greater than black children. This, therefore in his mind has justified his actions in believing he had the right to behave in such a manner. Apartheid, being part of South Africa’s legislation did give him the right to act in this manner by law. Along with apartheid in â€Å"Crackling Day’, there are also tough living conditions evident. Lee lives with his Uncle and Aunt but it is the white man’s land that they are living on. We can see this when later in the story the white man wants Uncle Sam to â€Å"teach him’ and warns Sam â€Å"if you and he are to live here, you must teach him’. From this we can see that the white man wants Lee to be â€Å"taught a lesson’ but does not want to have to punish him himself. It would be much more upsetting for Sam, Liza and Lee if Sam himself did it. Note that he does not include Aunt Liza when he is talking about the people living on his land. This is because in the times of apartheid it wasn’t just racism that was infection, it was sexism as well. Aunt Liza, being a woman, was not considered much and not worth much. This plays a crucial part later on in that particular scene. Lee also had to walk out in the cold with bare feet and they therefore cannot afford or obtain shoes. The author also uses different language styles to emphasize just how tough it is. He uses hyperbole like when he said â€Å"after what seemed hours’. He uses personification of the cold so that it makes us picture in our minds just how bad it is and how much of a â€Å"cruel enemy’ it was. He uses similes like when he said that the morning air â€Å"went down my throat like an icy draught’. He uses alliteration like when he said that the â€Å"sun sat high in the sky’. Note he also used alliteration and personification and alliteration in that last sentence saying that the sun â€Å"sat’. To always have to be humble, differential and submissive in the presence of someone who is so arrogant, aggressive and forceful cannot be easy. They also have to deal with collecting cow dung for fuel, eating only crackling and bread for which they have to walk for hours for, always having to â€Å"turn the other cheek’ and deal with all the rest of the immoral acts injustices that they are regularly put through. As a result of these facts, all the characters feel fear and need to show courage on a daily basis. Some examples of the difficult conditions which individual characters face are like when Lee and Andreas were startled by a â€Å"Boer dog’ (Boer being the term that described the settlers that came from Europe and Settled in South Africa). These dogs were trained to kill black people and this is something that young children had to face. The two had to get away from the dog (even though it was behind a fence). Uncle Sam has to live in fear of the white man because, by law, he is their superior and the fact that they are living on his land means that he could throw them out into the realms of homelessness where the destitute struggle. However, there are also specific incidents, which reveal the themes of courage and fear. The most prolific, courageous and important incident was one that seemed almost hidden. After Uncle Sam had beaten Lee the white man and the boys were leaving. The white man said â€Å"Good Night’ to Sam, to which Sam replied â€Å"Good night baas, sorry about all this’. The white man then said â€Å"Good night, Liza’ and â€Å"Liza did not answer’. This is very significant, as not replying to the white man could be shown as disrespectful and even breaking the law. The family could have been thrown off of the land for it. But, as stated earlier Aunt Liza is a woman and as such was considered not worth it by the white man. Just Before this Aunt Liza had also shown courage. After Sam had beaten Lee the white man said â€Å"bet his father’s one of those who believe in equality’. Aunt Liza said very bluntly to this â€Å"his father is dead’. This was not a humble thing to say, which was what was expected of her being black and a woman. Lee showed courage on two occasions. The first was when he and Andreas were running away from the white boys who were shouting at them â€Å"your fathers are dirty black bastards of baboons!’ Lee showed courage by stopping, turning round and â€Å"screaming’ â€Å"You’re a Liar!’ What prepared us for this was the fact that when Andreas was telling Lee that they should run and then changed his mind and told him to walk quietly Lee kept on asking â€Å"why?’ Lee wasn’t as â€Å"street-wise’ as it were when it came to avoiding the white children and how to act around white people. This is probably due to Lee being an â€Å"out-of-towner’ and he had just come from Johannesburg. This was courageous in the sense that not only was he standing up to the white boys but also he was standing up to the whole political system of the country. The second time that Lee showed courage was when Uncle Sam told Lee to tell the white man that he is sorry. This he did not and instead pleaded â€Å"he insulted my father’. This is a lot of courage to show for a small boy, and I don’t think it was out of stubbornness. In â€Å"Crackling Day’ Lee faces many challenges: he feels fear and displays courage in dealing with his fears. One example of this is the cold whether. Lee has to go out every Wednesday and walk for hours in the cold. He first shows courage out of dealing with this instead of winging about it, he even â€Å"trotted off’ as if he was willing to go. This shows he has a positive attitude towards this, which in itself requires tremendous courage. The author talks about the cold a lot during the story. He also utilizes different language styles to do so. He started by using similes about how cold the morning air was: â€Å"There was a sharp bite to the morning air I sucked in; it stung my nose so that tears came to my eyes; it went down my throat like an icy draught; my nose ran’. That was a long sentence! He uses this repetition for the sake of emphasis and effect. He also used a simile in there when it said â€Å"it went down my throat like an icy draught’. This is to give the reader the right picture and feeling of what it’s like and how hard it is for Lee. So in one sentence  he put in repetition and a simile. The story continues: â€Å"I tried breathing through my mouth, but this was worse. The cold went through my shirt and shorts; my skin went pimply and chilled; my fingers went numb and began to ache; my feet felt like frozen lumps that did not belong to me, yet jarred and hurt each time I put them down. I began to feel sick and desperate’. The second sentence again had repetition and a simile. So from that paragraph there is a long sentence, a short one, a long one, and again a short one. All this adds up to allow some insight as to what it was like for him. We can see how immoral it is for this young boy to have to go through all the suffering, not once, but every Wednesday. It then says later on: â€Å"We were creatures haunted and hounded by the cold.’ There’s a metaphor. â€Å"It was a cruel enemy who gave no quarter’. That’s very emotive personification. â€Å"And our meanings of fighting it were pitifully inadequate. In all the mornings and evenings of the winter months, young and old, big and small, were helpless victims of the bitter cold.’ Now the writer has started referring to the cold as â€Å"it’ and â€Å"bitter’. The story continues: â€Å"Only toward noon and in the early afternoon, when the sun sat high in the sky, was there a brief respite.’ There we have two instances of alliteration. â€Å"For us, the children, the cold, especially the morning cold, assumed an awful a malevolent personality.’ A lot of personification there, even describing â€Å"its’ personality! â€Å"We talked of â€Å"it’. â€Å"It’ was a half-human monster with evil thoughts, evil intentions, bent on destroying us.’ Much more personification that helps us see how much of an â€Å"enemy’ the cold was. The author has just â€Å"painted us a picture’ of what it was like for these two boys and how the hated and feared the cold. All of this tells us that Lee and Andreas are two boys that accept the way that they have to live and face it with courage and with a positive attitude. They realise that that is the society that they have to live in  and accept their lives. Another thing that Lee and Andreas fear is Hunger. The author shows this by, again, using personification and use of language. We are told â€Å"Hunger was an enemy too, but one with whom we could come terms, who had many values and virtues’. We are told here how hunger was also an enemy but not as bad as the cold. The author uses personification of these two factors (the cold and the hunger) is very skilfully. The incident with the man giving out the crackling demonstrates the theme of power and it’s importance in society. As stated earlier the man that was serving the crackling to the black children â€Å"did it in leisurely fashion, with long pauses for a smoke’ and he â€Å"occasionally turned his back’. Lee, Andreas and the rest of the black children have to call the white man â€Å"baas’ as a sign of respect. The white man wouldn’t serve Lee until he did: † â€Å"well?† the man repeated coldly. â€Å"Please, baas,’ I said. â€Å"What d’you want?† â€Å"Sixpence crackling, please.† â€Å"What?† Andreas dug me in the ribs. â€Å"Sixpence crackling, please.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Sixpence crackling, please, baas†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ. We can see that the white man has far more power than Lee or Andreas and as such they have to treat him as their superior. To respond in the way that Lee and Aunt Liza did to their fear demands courage because by law they are in the wrong. When Lee stands up to the white boys and when Aunt Liza stands up to the white man they are also standing up to the entire political system of their culture at that time. For doing so they could be beaten, thrown off of the white man’s land or even killed. The author is showing the difference in position between whites and blacks. He does this by showing that the man selling the crackling and the white man that owns the land can do whatever pleases them and get the black people to do whatever pleases them. The black people have to respond by being humble, differential and submissive. The character of Uncle Sam is what would be expected of him in that culture and time period. When he came home and Aunt Liza told him what had happened the author says â€Å"he, too, just looked at me and became more remote and withdrawn. They were waiting for something.’ Uncle Sam and Aunt Liza knew that that got beaten up by Lee would probably either tell his parents or his parents would see the bruises and ask what had happened. They knew that the white man would be coming round to their house to enquire what had happened. Uncle Sam was probably in a state of fear, of the white man, hence him becoming â€Å"remote’ and â€Å"withdrawn’. Another thing that displays that he is in a state of fear is that when they heard â€Å"a trap pull up outside’ Uncle Sam simply says â€Å"here it comes.’ When people are anxious, worried or afraid they tend to murmur or talk quickly. When the door â€Å"burst open’ and the â€Å"tall, broad white man strode in’ Uncle Sam greeted him in a respectful, humble manner (what was expected of him) by saying â€Å"Evening, baas’ and the text then tells us â€Å"Uncle Sam murmured’. It even tells us that he is murmuring! It then later says † â€Å"He’s sorry, baas,† Uncle Sam said quickly’. This definitely tells us that he is afraid of something as he is talking â€Å"quickly’. Uncle Sam does show courage when he lies to the white man. He tells him â€Å"I’ve given him a hiding he won’t forget’. The white man could easily find out, by examining Lee and this, again, could get the family thrown off of the white man’s land. When Lee doesn’t tell the white man that he is sorry and instead says that they â€Å"insulted’ his father the white man makes Uncle Sam beat Lee. As he is doing so he says â€Å"You must never lift your hand to a white person’ and it describes him as saying so â€Å"bitterly’. He is saying it â€Å"bitterly’ because of course he doesn’t want to have to hurt Lee. Sam beats Lee because he knows that he has to. If he doesn’t then all manner of things could happen to him,  Liza and Lee, the least of which being thrown off of the white man’s land. After they have left Sam begins to sob. This is because he feels so guilty and angry with himself, the white man, and the political system that they have to live under. The next day he simply says to Aunt Liza â€Å"One day†Ã‚ ¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ This is a threat towards the white man and, again the political system. It is probably an empty and hollow threat but he has to keep thinking this to give him a reason to be angry and something to be angry at. The next day Liza was â€Å"dishing out the food’ to Sam and Lee and â€Å"insistently’ reassured Sam â€Å"It’s all right’. Liza understood that Sam did what he had to do and that Sam was feeling guilty. She knew that he needed some comfort and assurance that what he did was what he had to. In conclusion, the types of courage and fears demonstrated in â€Å"Crackling Day’ are facing up to reality, doing what you have to do, though it may not be right, standing up to what you feel is wrong. All the main black characters through the story show some type of fear one-way of another. Uncle Sam was afraid of the results if he did not do what the white man told him but he still did not want to hurt Lee. Sam’s courage was lying to the white man in a desperate attempt to prevent Lee from being hurt or being completely exposed to the injustice and immorality of apartheid. Aunt Liza showed incredible courage when she did not reply to the white man even though she knew that it might cause the family to suffer. Lee and Andreas both showed fear by actually going out and facing the cold, hunger and the long hours of walking. Lee single-handedly showed courage when he stood up to the white boys and when he did not say he was sorry (the first time anyway) to the white man. The message the author is trying to communicate in â€Å"Crackling Day’ is that fear and a hard way of life bring courage and even the most unlikely people can be the most courageous. I think the main point that the author was trying to put to the reader is the immorality of apartheid and racism and what it can do to people physically and mentally.