My Wood by E M Forster

Mr. Tanveer Malik, Ms. Shweta Pandit impact of an American Recession on India Indian companies have major outsourcing deals from the US. India's exports to the US have also grown substantially over the years. The India economy is likely to lose between 1 to 2 percentage points in GDP growth in the next fiscal year. Indian companies with big tickets deals in the US would see their profit margins shrinking. The worries for exporters will grow as rupee strengthens further against the dollar. But experts note that the long-term prospects for India are stable. A weak dollar could bring more foreign money to Indian markets. Oil may get cheaper brining down inflation. A recession could bring down oil prices to $70. The whole of Asia would be hit by a recession as it depends on the US economy. Even though domestic demand and diversification of trade in the Asian region will partly counter any drop in the US demand, one simply can't escape a downturn in the world's largest economy. The US economy accounts for 30 per cent of the world's GDP. Says Sudip Bandyopadhyay, director and CEO, Reliance Money: â€Å"In the globalised world, complete decoupling is impossible. But India may remain relatively less affected by adverse global events. † In fact, many small and medium companies have already started developing trade ties with China and European countries to ward off big losses. Manish Sonthalia, head, equity, Motilal Oswal Securities, says if the US economy contracts much more than anticipated, the whole world's GDP growth-which is estimated at 3. 7 per cent by the IMF-will contract, and India would be no exception. The only silver lining is that the recession will happen slowly, probably in six months or so. As of now, IT and IT-enabled services, textiles, jewellery, handicrafts and leather segments will suffer losses because of their trade link. Certain sections of commodities could face sharp impact due to the volatile nature of these sectors. C. J. George, managing director, Geojit Financial Services, says profits of lots of re-export firms may be affected. Countries like China import commodities from India, do some value-addition and then export them to the US. Impact of Global Recession on Indian Car Industry Indian car industry is one of the most promising car industries across the globe. It has gradually strengthened its foothold in the international arena as well. The country is dealing with many car manufacturers, dealers, and associations in various different countries including U. S. From some countries, India imports cars and car components and to some India exports. With this, the global recession is obvious to have its impact on the Indian car industry. Though India has witnessed a growing customer base, it has not inoculated them from the global crisis. The crippling liquidity and high interest rates have slowed down the vehicle demand. However, the falldown started in July with a decline of 1. 9% and thereafter the industry saw a major slowdown in October 2008. Business Analysts reported that Indian car market had recorded a continuous growth of about 17. 2% over the last few years but this year the recession has brought the growth to about 7-8%. Be it Tata Motors or Maruti Suzuki or even Mercedes-Benz, the car market has gone down to a tremendously negative terrain. Tata has reported that its profit fell from 34. 1 percent to 3. 47 billion rupees because of the slower growth in the industrial production. Further, the company has also recorded a 20% decline in the sales as compared to last year. And with its Nano making a big impact before the downturn as such, but after the downturn may hold a bleak future for the world's cheapest car, because the consumer spending has gone very low. Even Maruti Suzuki reported a 7% decline in sales due to rising cost of the materials and a falling rupee value. Even Mahindra & Mahindra, the India's largest SUV and tractor manufacturer, is not immunized, showing profit fall of 20. 6%. In the recent months, banks and car financers have disbursed the approved loan because of the cash crunch. Payments from the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) have also been delayed and in most cases banks have deferred or disbursed the approved loan. OEMs take this loan from banks and financers for establishments, capacity expansions, or even for the requirement of high-end equipments for car designing and production. In addition, the uncertain exchange rate and a sudden increase in dollar value against Indian Rupee have contributed to the slowdown. Increasing dollar value has raised the landed cost of imported machine tools and even raw materials required for production by about 14%. Alloy and steel prices have also not shown any reduction in their prices and this high price has actually forced the car manufacturers to hike the car prices. To make the matter worse, it is believed that steel manufacturers across the country are looking for re-imposition of custom duty on steel. Increased cost of raw materials directly affects the cost of the car rolled out, eventually tagging a particular car model with a higher price tag. The conclusion is that the present global recession has hit very hard on the Indian car industry.

Academic Coaching

Academic coaching classes are becoming more and more popular as the schooling system becomes increasingly competitive. Parents desperate to get their children into good quality schools will go to great lengths to help them pass entrance exams and excel in interviews. However, it is unclear how effective coaching classes really are. Here are some advantages regarding coaching classes: Coaching classes use different methods to those utilized in the classroom.This means alternative approaches to learning that could be more suitable to your child are made available. Various teaching methods can be beneficial to different children; if your child is being exposed to two kinds, there is a very good chance one will be effective for them. Children receive more individual tuition at coaching classes, meaning teaching is catered to their abilities more directly. If your child does not eceive one-on-one tuition in coaching classes, they will at the very least be in very small classes.They will h ave a learning plan tailored to their needs, allowing them to succeed at an increased pace. Coaching classes can be provided specifically for certain entrance exams. This gives your child a head start in the admissions process, placing them above candidates that have not had coaching classes. Therefore they are more likely to gain a place. On the other hand, coaching classes do have a umber of disadvantages: They are, in most cases, unsubsidized and very expensive.They can pile pressure onto your child, who is likely to already feel nervous about upcoming exams. Your child may worry that even after the coaching classes they won't pass, which will leave them feeling stupid and unmotivated to learn. Coaching classes could artificially boost your child's performance. This may not be in their best interest as they could be placed in a school not suited to their abilities.

Book talk

Artemisia fowl Is the heir to a multi-notational criminal empire. He Is witty, cunning and lust when you think your one step ahead of him you are ten steps behind. He has outsmarted many of the world's criminal elite In Just fourteen years and If given the opportunity he will do the same to you no matter who you are. The book Is about manufacturer stole from arteries. ]on would have already broken Into the computer If Artemisia hadn't built an eternity code into it. This eternity code is by name supposed o take eternity to break.The setting for most of the book is in the Spiro tower in New York, but there are many other places the book takes place too. The author doesn't really specify when the book takes place exactly but after reading it I would say that it takes place in modern day united states, sometime around 2009 up to now. The main character is Artemisia fowl; he is extremely outgoing and VERY witty. He reminds me very much of Courtney budged because in the book he shows many of the qualities that Courtney does in day to day life like being smart with people in general and Ewing two steps ahead of everyone.The main conflict is that Artemisia is having problems getting back the computer because the Spiro tower is heavily guarded and very secure and also the fact that he is locked in a vault like prison cell 80 floors down from where the computer is being held. The authors writing style is very easy to follow, he writes in a slow paced way that is never hard to understand so if you get confused with other books I would recommend this series to you'd would say I like this book mainly because of the authors writing style and also its very easy to get into swell,its very similar to the writing style of Suzanne Collins . Would say that the theme is that friendship trumps wealth because Artemisia almost looses every friend he has trying to get the computer back. ‘ think the book was absolutely hands down the best book have ever read for many reasons but mainly because of the moment when he burns the waitress at a restraint really bad. He went there to meet with Jon Spiro to discuss the new computer but when he got there Jon hadn't arrived yet and so the waitress came out to take his order,keep In mind that artless Is only 14, so she lad†oh hello there little boy, would you Like to see the children's menu?And artless said â€Å"no mademoiselle would not Like to see the â€Å"children's† menu as I have no doubt the the â€Å"children's† menu Itself tastes better than the food on It† â€Å"what I would Like If a saute ©deed swordfish over a rosemary rue with a mushroom risotto on the side. And Irish spring water please if you have It,no Ice either as I have no doubt that you Ice Is made from tap water and that would rather defeat the purpose of spring water. † And remember laughing in my head.

Global Warming and other Ecology Issues; The Energy Crunch Essay

Global Warming and other Ecology Issues; The Energy Crunch - Essay Example These gases allow sunlight to penetrate the atmosphere then trap some of the solar energy which heats the earth (Breuer, 1980). It is a delicate balance and because these greenhouse gases have been artificially augmented by man-made sources, more build up in the atmosphere has occurred thus trapping more of the sun’s energy and reflecting less back in to space. This occurrence is causing the earth to warm. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the most prevalent of the greenhouse gases. Although deforestation is contributing heavily to the excess of CO2 in the atmosphere, a larger portion is caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Fossil fuels are burned by factories, vehicles and electricity-producing power plants to name a few sources. Other greenhouse gases include methane, which is released when vegetation is burned during land clearing, during oil exploration activities and the coal-mining process; chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which is the substance that cools refrigerators and provides the propulsion in aerosol cans and nitrous oxide (N2O) which is the lesser cause of CO2 (Breuer, 1980). It is generated from both man-made and natural processes. Although warnings about the human generated causes of an enhanced greenhouse effect and the subsequent catastrophic outcomes have been sounded for over 100 years, global warming has only recently become an important political matter. One would have to wonder what enormous problems this will cause not only to people and property but to the health of the global economy as a whole. Entire sections of various countries will be forced to abandon their homes and businesses. The process will be a slow and torturous one. Agriculture activity, land masses and the very air we breathe will suffer a radical change from the effects of global warming. The question before us is, are we stewards of our earth and will we preserve it for future

Are organizations rational Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 3

Are organizations rational - Essay Example Given this explanation, organizational rationality is therefore comprehended as identical with the economic efficiency of the managerial unit itself. However, efficiency is also a central organizational requirement for individuals as well as administration (Hertz & Livingston, 2006). This paper tries to prove that organizations are indeed rational systems. Closely tied on the organizational rational is the comprehension of how the structure of authority in organization controls or is affected by individual decisions as well as examining how administrative rationality meet the criteria of limited or bounded rationality. In the discussion of any type of political or organizational theory, in the past the main consideration was accorded to the place of authority both within and outside the organization. Business experts believe that exercising authority in organizations is only possible in the event that an individual allow their decisions to be influenced by decision principles offered to him by a different individual. In addition, this logic of organizational rationality, this authority is evidently that of organizational management (Sapru, 2008). From the above statement, what comes out clearly is that individuals are not capable of influencing their own decisions out of their own free will, but instead, the management is deliberately responsible for moulding this behaviour. For example, the goal recognition of a worker is a product of the placement of the individual within the organization since being a member of an organization changes the person’s behaviour by changing the original premises that characterize his or her choices and verdicts. Employees are therefore expected to match their behaviour with the organizational goals and objectives. An individual decision can therefore be said to be organizationally rational in the event that it is founded on the organization’s goals. However, this creates

Lodon Underground Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lodon Underground - Essay Example In its effort to serve the UK residents, the UK government provides various merit goods including London Underground and health as well as London underground. This paper aims at discussing London Underground as one of the merit goods that are enjoyed by the residents of the United Kingdom. London Underground is an important metro system that serves residents of UK. Serving more than 270 stations, London Underground was originally operated by various companies including City and South London Railway and Electric traction trains. The vision of London Underground is to deliver a state of art world-class underground globally (Hardy, 2002). Also referred to as Tube, London Underground obtains its revenue mostly from the large number of massagers it serves in the UK. One of the major reasons as to why large number of passengers uses the Tube is due to its convenience as well as the high speed that it adopts. According to the Tube management, safety and reliability cannot result to world-class transport system even though they are the base of good service. As a result, London Underground believes that quality of travelling is the most vital aspect to passengers. One of the major challenges facing London Underground is keeping the city of London on the move while the Tube is being transformed. As the demand for the use of London Underground rise, it has resulted to expansive investment in order to improve its revenue and provide world class services. The success of Tube is based on its efforts to put the experience of its passengers at the central position of its strategies. For example, the organization maintains helpful and always available staff, adequate security systems and high-quality information. During their travelling, most of the passengers using the Tube use Oysters. An Oyster is smartcard that is plastic in

Science tells us the truth about reality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Science tells us the truth about reality - Essay Example promotes curiosity about things, events and natural phenomena and provokes people to investigate the root cause of the event to know what and how things occur and what the real fact is. Science is therefore an effort to find the truth about reality. Science tells us the truth about reality mainly because it can broadly be defined as a process of testing new ideas and exploring natural phenomena to explain it with facts (Giere, 1988). This is vital ingredient of scientific based knowledge which constantly strives to unravel the mystery around us and bring the reality of situation or events to us. Indeed, it has evolved technology as means of furthering knowledge and exploiting it to improve and improvise the quality of human life. The most interesting thing about scientific knowledge is that is not satisfied with one aspect of knowledge but constantly endeavours to study different aspects of events and things to look for paradoxes and find out new things that may explain different facet about the reality. The widening scope of scientific knowledge is highly consistent with the reality because they investigate thoroughly in order to reveal the various facets of event and reveal reality Though science does not tells us the absolute truth about things like certain natural phenomena or how old is the earth or how the first organism was evolved, it does try to give tentative years and investigates the physiology of organisms and decode the genetics to tell that DNA are important part of organisms for knowing what makes human beings and other organisms different from each other. Indeed, reality is what we perceive and experience through our sensory organs. Scientific facts give credibility to the reality because their explanations and reasons are based on extensive research and trials. Most importantly, scientific knowledge is open to scrutiny by one and all and the scientific knowledge can be further explored for loopholes as well as for authentication. (words:

Implementation of Health for all Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Implementation of Health for all - Essay Example This makes the staff responsible and accountable. The administration can ensure the retaining of efficient workers by offering them a promising career in health services. The health for all children has taken a new shape with implementation of Hall 4 recommendations. In pre Hall 4 period the implementation was limited to enquiring the families about the child health and submitting the details to the concerned department, which use that data in policy making. But the report of Hall which is termed as Hall 4 concentrates on complete health for all children and extends the scope of health visitors from survey persons to a complete health care activist. The targets of the scheme had increased manifold. The process was not limited to health surveillance and it was extended to screening, diagnosis, timely intervention, extending the needed help and frequent visits to implement the advice. This type of policy was framed keeping in view that the health is the right of every child and by following a holistic approach. The prevention of physical and mental health disorders was also made the part of the health care activities. It stresses on giving support to f amilies to cope up with health needs of their children. Generally the deprived families approach health care when the damage was done. The Hall 4 implementation specially targets this type of parents and families and developed a frame work to contact them, advice them and make them enable to get assistance and the needed help from the agencies implementing health for all children: Hall 4. The implementation's target is to enable every child to start life in healthy condition; both physically and mentally. Previously the deprived children used to be disabled either physically or mentally by the time they come into contact with health services. The Hall 4 implementations include recommendations for this type of deprived families also. They are contacted at regular intervals to monitor their child health and motivate them mentally and for helping economically if needed. (Economical help here is to assist them to get income and making them to spend on the health improvement). Aim of the report The pre Hall 4 implementation of health for all services was limited to health surveillance. The implementation of Hall 4 recommendations is to attain health for all in both letter and spirit. In some PCT s the health care situation and the performance of health visitors are not satisfactory. The analysis of the present situation and the need of any changes in management and organisation should be discussed and evaluated. The intervals between visits of health visitors to the families having children are also a point of content. Till now the babies were checked at 8 months and 18 months age. But now it was being recommended that the babies were to be checked at birth, six weeks, six months, 1 year and 2 years age. But there are some perceptions that the gap between the intervals of visiting may result in disability either physically and mentally for children of deprived families. These different perceptions about the intervals in health visits were to be discussed keeping in view org anisational and managerial issues. In some cases it was felt even by the staff that the gap betw

Deregulation of Airline Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Deregulation of Airline Industry - Essay Example This turned away many potential investors’ as well international airlines to the restrictive measures that this body had put in place. This led to policy makers to rethink the operation in this industry and the contribution that the regulation imposed by the CBA affected the growth of this industry (Sinha, 2004). Therefore, in 1978 the Airline Deregulation Act was enacted in an effort to reverse the slow growth that this industry experienced. The main aims of this paper is critical analyze and evaluate the effects of deregulation to the major stake holders in this industry as well consider how it affected various micro economic variables (Smith & Cox, 2011). Before deregulation airline on competed on the basis of the quality of the cabin crew, the frequency in which the airline offered its services and other auxiliary services such food they offered to their client, price were fixed since they were regulated by the CBA (Smith & Cox, 2011). ... This increased completion among the existing airlines and the new airlines that were joining the market. Therefore, competition basis shifted from food and the frequency to the fares that airlines charged (Sinha, 2004). The increased competition which was being experienced in the market, led to establishment of low cost airlines such as the Ryanair in Europe after the European Union deregulated the airline industry. Low cost airlines charges lower prices so to facilitate their establishment in the market. The low cost airlines assumed that consumers of airlines service were rational that is there price responsive, therefore if the charged lower price they would be to capture a considerable proportion of the market (Krugman & Wells, 2009). Deregulation was advantages to the consumers of services from this industry since increases in supply caused the prices charged in this to decline as illustrated below by graph entitled average domestic airfares. Decline in the fares charged by the airlines was beneficial to consumers, since this increased consumer surplus (Krugman & Wells, 2009). In addition to this consumers had a wide variety to choose from; that is due to the increase in the number of airlines the consumers now had wide service provider to choose from. The quality of services offered in this industry also improved as compared to the time before deregulation. When the number of airline service provider increased in the market every airline had to brand its services as best in the market. This was beneficial to the customer as he obtained more quality services at cheaper prices (Sinha, 2004). The decrease in prices and improvement in quality fostered increased

His Name is Christ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

His Name is Christ - Essay Example This author stresses that Christ Jesus speaks on a higher level, we may say, about His life, His death, His purpose for coming to earth. Prefixing Jesus with Christ is more than naming him it's telling us who He is, better still, what He encompasses, His whole being - the Messiah. He  had seen the reference to Paul's writings in Romans and read the passage. "Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ became, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen." He read the passage three times before he saw it. Paul refers to Christ as Christ repeatedly throughout his writings. Christ the name, not Christ the entity for lack of a better phrase. In this one passage Paul is speaking not of the man Christ. He clearly states that he is not speaking of the earthly body when he makes reference to the flesh. Rather, Paul is speaking when he uses the word Christ in this instance to speak of the sovereignty of Christ and the special unbreakable bond expressed in the lineage of Isaac - the seed. He is to that seed the anointed one. He is the one through whom all the children of the seed must go to bridge to the Father. Paul, in his understated eloquence of words which often sound very simple, holds so much that in one verse he conveyed such truth. The reporter outlines that   Paul never knew Christ the man, having already been crucified and ascended before Paul was called. Paul, however, at this moment chose to use Christ here to show the sovereignty of Christ. Paul himself was called not because he was Jew, not because of the promise, but he was called to bring the seed of the promise to Him. This passage demanded that he speak of Christ as the anointed. If he may make a personal aside, he has noted since beginning this essay, Paul, throughout his writings, refers to Christ as Christ in many instances. I see the closeness of Paul to Christ and such a deep understanding of Him expressed in all of Paul's writings. It is difficult to remember at times that they never walked together, at least on the earthly plane, in the flesh. Yet, Paul has, in my opinion, a much deeper understanding and closeness to Christ than, perhaps, those with whom Jesus had actually, in physical form, walked. The second point on which I would like to comment is found on page 81 where reference is made to how John defines the uniqueness of Christ's relationship with God. "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for he is not yet ascended to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." The Second Article states that it is this passage which shows the uniqueness of Christ's relationship with God and "clearly distances the kind of relationship Jesus had with the Father from that of other humans." Undisputable is the fact that, indeed, Christ had a unique relationship with the Father. He is the Father. However, that debate is for another time. That being said, the passage in John which was quoted as evidence of Jesus distancing His relationship with God from that of His believers is not accurate. Looking at the passage in context, Christ appeared before Mary after He was raised from the dead, but not yet ascended.

Business entities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Business entities - Essay Example The former is considered to be a prescriptive approach, and the latter an explanatory, descriptive, or predictive approach. Normative business ethics is the domain of philosophers and theologians, while empirical business ethics is considered to be the domain of management consultants and business school professors. Scholars who represent these different domains are said to be guided by different theories, assumptions, and norms which often result in misunderstanding or lack of appreciation for each others endeavors. The normative approach, rooted in philosophy and the liberal arts, focuses its attention on questions of what ought to be, and how an individual or business ought to behave in order to be ethical. The empirical approach, rooted in management and the social sciences, is generally concerned with questions of what is, assuming that the organizational world is basically objective and "out there" awaiting impartial exploration and discovery. Empiricist answer questions of what is by attempting to describe, explain, or predict phenomena in the natural world using the agreed-upon methodologies of their social scientific training. The social scientist may devalue the philosophers moral judgments because these judgments cannot be understood in empirical terms and cannot be verified by empirical testing or be used to predict or explain behavior. The social scientists statements about morality, on the other hand, are seen to be of little value to the philosopher because such statements do not address the essential questions of right and wrong. Normative ethical theories develop standards by which the propriety of certain practices in the business world can be evaluated. In contrast, the empirical approach focuses on identifying definable and measurable factors within the individual psyches and social contexts that influence individual and organizational ethical behavior. (Trevino 1994) Gary Weaver and Linda Tevino have outlined three

Unified of the American Constitution Essay Example for Free

Unified of the American Constitution Essay What was the original intent of the U.S. Constitution? Why did Alexander Hamilton want to create a more powerful centralization of federal government? What is the difference between Democratic-Republican and Federalist? Analyzing and resolving constitutional issues was an ongoing process during the eighteenth century. According to Jack Rakove â€Å"†¦ from a historical perspective this book, guidelines, approval around the constitution, form political worries about reviewing in 1780, the Constitution and the clarification of the scope that the debate on the role of the original intent of the constitutional debate should be interpreted to play. † 1 Also Rakove thinks the federal constitution must be developed to address the representatives of the executive power and the rights and constitutional concepts in a way reflecting the highest law. The federal convention or intense political debate followed. Similar to Rakove, some people believed the Constitution could give people clearer rules to tell them what they were supposed to do or not. In addition, the Constitution could also prohibit the government from what they should not do. The government needs to guarantee freedom for people, and what rights belong to people couldn’t be violated. The Constitution also remains above the government; while maintaining above the people, its like a barrier to prevent the government from expanding. The Constitution could guarantee justice and equity for what the government sometimes did, like being secretive, and corrupt, which violates and ignores the Constitution by following the money of corporations, lobbyists, and bankers that are destroying our country, freedoms, economy, and our way of life. It provides a set of hard-fast rules for the creation and perpetuation of a Legislature, an Executive, and a Judiciary Branch. According to Madison, he was the person strongly argued for the central of the government that would unify the country and he was the most important person to write and creation of the Constitution. People call him Father of the Constitution. He thought a representative government suppose governed by those smaller states. The  power should be limited by the Federal Government because those specific areas know what they wanted and had representatives their interests. So the best way to vote was elect representatives was social system, citizens because they lived in same of the territory, it would be easier for them to agree to work together to realize their ideas. The government should protect different rights because through their representative institutions pronunciation sounds more in line with the interests of human society and the decision of the people were subject to their own interests, such as the freedom of speech, religion and the press. Alexander Hamilton believed the new U.S. administration should be divided into three divisions: Congress executive, legislative and judicial powers. 2 The government divided into three sections would provide checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, and that by working together in three different branches can concentrate power in the state. He also believed that serving the life of good character, or, more precisely, would give stability to the administrative offices on the other hand, that short-term services only encourage politicians to focus on re-election, rather than the rule in this country. Hamilton also thought people should have bicameral: one is upper chamber, called the Senate, including the elite aristocracy of the country, and one is lower chamber, called the General Assembly. Would be the seat of democracy for the American people, Senator Election life’s by the House of Lords and the elected representatives of the elected term of three years. According to George Washington, â€Å"from all classes of Citizens, The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet, from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. One says George Washington was a very passionate, very proud man. In this sense, he was seen as a quiet man. His pride came from a sense of honor. This was reflected in; he would do everything, and He showed humility, when he was appointed commander of the Continental Army s commander in chief, he said he did not think he had the ability to task, but it needed to start with all his strength. He also had a heart of gratitude and sincere attitude. He respected the views of the  Congress; he would make every effort to live up to their expectations. His believed in public service his entire life, if you sport or tooted his horn† to get the job, then you are not eligible to sow themselves. In conclusion, the differences between Jam es Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were James Madison believed in a limited federal government, and Alexander Hamilton believed in a strong, extensive federal government. George Washington was friends with Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington was also a Federalist, so he believed in a strong central government because George Washington believed that if our nation would survive then we would need a strong government and the government needed rules to go by or they would basically rule over Americans. But they all have their different ways to seeing and saying the same ideas about the constitution in the eighteenth century. On the other hand, the similarity between James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington were having similar ideas about the constitution in eighteenth century. They all want to make the unification of the constitution of U.S. because it can protect all of our rights of its citizens. One could argue about the Federalists was more important than the Republicans because the Federalists make the country more organized and clearer rule for all the people in the U.S. This is the agreement for the most important power of the constitution because the process of drafting and ratification of the Constitution led to the victory of the Enlightenment philosophy: the full definition and addressing social and political issues of integrity and ability of the human rational nature of man and society personalities and beliefs. Indeed, the Constitution itself is perhaps best understood as an Enlightenment document, also because it reflects the target, order, freedom and justice and the general welfare of its preamble and its explicit and implicit promises, the concept of limited government, civil liberties , Church and State, military strength limitations, as well as the separation of an open society.

HTML and Javascript Tutorial

HTML and Javascript Tutorial HTML Basic Document Document name goes here Visible text goes here Heading Elements Largest Heading . . . . . . . . . . . . Smallest Heading Text Elements This is a paragraph (line break) (horizontal rule) This text is preformatted Logical Styles This text is emphasized This text is strong This is some computer code Physical Styles This text is bold This text is italic Links, Anchors, and Image Elements This is a Link Send e-mail A named anchor: Useful Tips Section Jump to the Useful Tips Section Unordered list First item Next item Ordered list First item Next item Definition list First term Definition Next term Definition Tables someheader someheader sometext sometext Frames Forms Apples Bananas Cherries Entities < is the same as > is the same as > is the same as  © Other Elements Text quoted from some source. Address 1 Address 2 City Commonly Used Character Entities Note Entity names are case sensitive! The Meta Element As we explained in the previous chapter, the head element contains general information (meta-information) about a document. HTML also includes a meta element that goes inside the head element. The purpose of the meta element is to provide meta-information about the document. Most often the meta element is used to provide information that is relevant to browsers or search engines like describing the content of your document. Keywords for Search Engines Some search engines on the WWW will use the name and content attributes of the meta tag to index your pages. The intention of the name and content attributes is to describe the content of a page. However, since too many webmasters have used meta tags for spamming, like repeating keywords to give pages a higher ranking, some search engines have stopped using them entirely. Uniform Resource Locators Something called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is used to address a document (or other data) on the World Wide Web. A full Web address like this: http://www.w3schools.com/html/lastpage.htm follows these syntax rules: scheme://host.domain:port/path/filename The scheme is defining the type of Internet service. The most common type is http. The domain is defining the Internet domain name like w3schools.com. The host is defining the domain host. If omitted, the default host for http is www. The :port is defining the port number at the host. The port number is normally omitted. The default port number for http is 80. The path is defining a path (a sub directory) at the server. If the path is omitted, the resource (the document) must be located at the root directory of the Web site. The filename is defining the name of a document. The default filename might be default.asp, or index.html or something else depending on the settings of the Web server. URL Schemes Some examples of the most common schemes can be found below: Accessing a Newsgroup The following HTML code: HTML Newsgroup creates a link to a newsgroup like this HTML Newsgroup Downloading with FTP The following HTML code: Download WinZip creates a link to download a file like this: Download WinZip. (The link doesnt work. Dont try it. It is just an example. W3Schools doesnt really have an ftp directory.) Link to your Mail system The following HTML code: [emailprotected] creates a link to your own mail system like this: Insert a Script into HTML Page A script in HTML is defined with the tag. Note that you will have to use the type attribute to specify the scripting language. How to Handle Older Browsers A browser that does not recognize the tag at all, will display the tag's content as text on the page. To prevent the browser from doing this, you should hide the script in comment tags. An old browser (that does not recognize the tag) will ignore the comment and it will not write the tag's content on the page, while a new browser will understand that the script should be executed, even if it is surrounded by comment tags. Example New to HTML 4.0 is the ability to let HTML events trigger actions in the browser, like starting a JavaScript when a user clicks on an HTML element. Below is a list of attributes that can be inserted into HTML tags to define event actions. Window Events Only valid in body and frameset elements. Only valid in form elements. Keyboard Events Not valid in base, bdo, br, frame, frameset, head, html, iframe, meta, param, script, style, and title elements. Mouse Events Not valid in base, bdo, br, frame, frameset, head, html, iframe, meta, param, script, style, title elements. Your Windows PC as a Web Server If you want other people to view your pages, you must publish them. To publish your work, you must save your pages on a web server. Your own PC can act as a web server if you install IIS or PWS. IIS or PWS turns your computer into a web server. Microsoft IIS and PWS are free web server components. IIS - Internet Information Server IIS is for Windows system like Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. It is also available for Windows NT. IIS is easy to install and ideal for developing and testing web applications. IIS includes Active Server Pages (ASP), a server-side scripting standard that can be used to create dynamic and interactive web applications. PWS - Personal Web Server PWS is for older Windows system like Windows 95, 98, and NT. PWS is easy to install and can be used for developing and testing web applications including ASP. We don't recommend running PWS for anything else than training. It is outdated and have security issues. Windows Web Server Versions Windows Vista Professional comes with IIS 6. Windows Vista Home Edition does not support PWS or IIS. Windows XP Professional comes with IIS 5. Windows XP Home Edition does not support IIS or PWS. Windows 2000 Professional comes with IIS 4. Windows NT Professional comes with IIS 3 and also supports IIS 4. Windows NT Workstation supports PWS and IIS 3. Windows ME does not support PWS or IIS. Windows 98 comes with PWS. Windows 95 supports PWS. HTML Summary This tutorial has taught you how to use HTML to create your own web site. HTML is the universal markup language for the Web. HTML lets you format text, add graphics, create links, input forms, frames and tables, etc., and save it all in a text file that any browser can read and display. The key to HTML is the tags, which indicates what content is coming up. XHTML XHTML reformulates HTML 4.01 in XML. CSS CSS is used to control the style and layout of multiple Web pages all at once. With CSS, all formatting can be removed from the HTML document and stored in a separate file. CSS gives you total control of the layout, without messing up the document content. JavaScript Tutorial What is JavaScript? JavaScript was designed to add interactivity to HTML pages JavaScript is a scripting language A scripting language is a lightweight programming language JavaScript is usually embedded directly into HTML pages JavaScript is an interpreted language (means that scripts execute without preliminary compilation) Everyone can use JavaScript without purchasing a license What can a JavaScript Do? JavaScript gives HTML designers a programming tool - HTML authors are normally not programmers, but JavaScript is a scripting language with a very simple syntax! Almost anyone can put small "snippets" of code into their HTML pages JavaScript can put dynamic text into an HTML page - A JavaScript statement like this: document.write(" " + name + " ") can write a variable text into an HTML page JavaScript can react to events - A JavaScript can be set to execute when something happens, like when a page has finished loading or when a user clicks on an HTML element JavaScript can read and write HTML elements - A JavaScript can read and change the content of an HTML element JavaScript can be used to validate data - A JavaScript can be used to validate form data before it is submitted to a server. This saves the server from extra processing JavaScript can be used to detect the visitor's browser - A JavaScript can be used to detect the visitor's browser, and - depending on the browser - load another page specifically designed for that browser JavaScript can be used to create cookies - A JavaScript can be used to store and retrieve information on the visitor's computer How to Put a JavaScript Into an HTML Page Where to Put the JavaScript JavaScripts in a page will be executed immediately while the page loads into the browser. This is not always what we want. Sometimes we want to execute a script when a page loads, other times when a user triggers an event. Scripts in the head section: Scripts to be executed when they are called, or when an event is triggered, go in the head section. When you place a script in the head section, you will ensure that the script is loaded before anyone uses it. Scripts in the body section: Scripts to be executed when the page loads go in the body section. When you place a script in the body section it generates the content of the page. Scripts in both the body and the head section: You can place an unlimited number of scripts in your document, so you can have scripts in both the body and the head section. Using an External JavaScript Sometimes you might want to run the same JavaScript on several pages, without having to write the same script on every page. To simplify this, you can write a JavaScript in an external file. Save the external JavaScript file with a .js file extension. Note: The external script cannot contain the tag! To use the external script, point to the .js file in the "src" attribute of the tag: JavaScript is Case Sensitive Unlike HTML, JavaScript is case sensitive - therefore watch your capitalization closely when you write JavaScript statements, create or call variables, objects and functions. JavaScript Statements A JavaScript statement is a command to the browser. The purpose of the command is to tell the browser what to do. This JavaScript statement tells the browser to write "Hello Dolly" to the web page: It is normal to add a semicolon at the end of each executable statement. Most people think this is a good programming practice, and most often you will see this in JavaScript examples on the web. The semicolon is optional (according to the JavaScript standard), and the browser is supposed to interpret the end of the line as the end of the statement. Because of this you will often see examples without the semicolon at the end. Note: Using semicolons makes it possible to write multiple statements on one line. JavaScript Code JavaScript code (or just JavaScript) is a sequence of JavaScript statements. Each statement is executed by the browser in the sequence they are written. This example will write a header and two paragraphs to a web page: JavaScript Blocks JavaScript statements can be grouped together in blocks. Blocks start with a left curly bracket {, and ends with a right curly bracket }. The purpose of a block is to make the sequence of statements execute together. This example will write a header and two paragraphs to a web page: JavaScript comments can be used to make the code more readable. JavaScript Comments Comments can be added to explain the JavaScript, or to make it more readable. Single line comments start with //. This example uses single line comments to explain the code: Using Comments to Prevent Execution In this example the comment is used to prevent the execution of a single code line: In this example the comments is used to prevent the execution of multiple code lines: Using Comments at the End of a Line In this example the comment is placed at the end of a line: Variables are "containers" for storing information. Declaring (Creating) JavaScript Variables Creating variables in JavaScript is most often referred to as "declaring" variables. You can declare JavaScript variables with the var statement: After the declaration shown above, the variables are empty (they have no values yet). However, you can also assign values to the variables when you declare them: After the execution of the statements above, the variable x will hold the value 5, and carname will hold the value Volvo. Note: When you assign a text value to a variable, use quotes around the value. Assigning Values to Undeclared JavaScript Variables If you assign values to variables that have not yet been declared, the variables will automatically be declared. These statements: have the same effect as: Redeclaring JavaScript Variables If you redeclare a JavaScript variable, it will not lose its original value. After the execution of the statements above, the variable x will still have the value of 5. The value of x is not reset (or cleared) when you redeclare it. Conditional Statements Very often when you write code, you want to perform different actions for different decisions. You can use conditional statements in your code to do this. In JavaScript we have the following conditional statements: if statement - use this statement if you want to execute some code only if a specified condition is true if...else statement - use this statement if you want to execute some code if the condition is true and another code if the condition is false if...else if....else statement - use this statement if you want to select one of many blocks of code to be executed switch statement - use this statement if you want to select one of many blocks of code to be executed script type="text/javascript"> //If the time is less than 10, //you will get a "Good morning" greeting. //Otherwise you will get a "Good day" greeting. var d = new Date(); var time = d.getHours(); if (time { document.write("Good morning!"); } else { document.write("Good day!"); } The JavaScript Switch Statement You should use the switch statement if you want to select one of many blocks of code to be executed. Syntax //You will receive a different greeting based //on what day it is. Note that Sunday=0, //Monday=1, Tuesday=2, etc. var d=new Date(); theDay=d.getDay(); switch (theDay) { case 5: document.write("Finally Friday"); break; case 6: document.write("Super Saturday"); break; case 0: document.write("Sleepy Sunday"); break; default: document.write("I'm looking forward to this weekend!"); } JavaScript Popup Boxes Alert Box An alert box is often used if you want to make sure information comes through to the user. When an alert box pops up, the user will have to click "OK" to proceed. Syntax: Confirm Box A confirm box is often used if you want the user to verify or accept something. When a confirm box pops up, the user will have to click either "OK" or "Cancel" to proceed. If the user clicks "OK", the box returns true. If the user clicks "Cancel", the box returns false. Syntax: Prompt Box A prompt box is often used if you want the user to input a value before entering a page. When a prompt box pops up, the user will have to click either "OK" or "Cancel" to proceed after entering an input value. If the user clicks "OK" the box returns the input value. If the user clicks "Cancel" the box returns null. Syntax: JavaScript Functions JavaScript Functions To keep the browser from executing a script when the page loads, you can put your script into a function. A function contains code that will be executed by an event or by a call to that function. You may call a function from anywhere within the page (or even from other pages if the function is embedded in an external .js file). Functions can be defined both in the and in the section of a document. However, to assure that the function is read/loaded by the browser before it is called, it could be wise to put it in the section. How to Define a Function The syntax for creating a function is:

Developing a Blue Ocean Strategy

Developing a Blue Ocean Strategy Introduction Currently many companies have to face the challenge of competing with steadily increased competition in their industries. This high amount of competition often leads to a high cost and price pressure which usually results in low margins for the companies. These markets are called the red oceans. One possibility to break out of these red oceans and to increase the margins for the company can be handled by creating a Blue Ocean. Such a Blue Ocean is a market space where the competition is irrelevant. Aim The aim of this paper is to explain how to create such a Blue Ocean and to discuss the degree of novelty of the Blue Ocean strategy. On the one hand this will be done by explaining the belonging theory. On the other hand two cases of innovative companies will be described and analyzed on basis of the Blue Ocean strategy. Blue Ocean Strategy Concept The market set is divided into two categories which are called oceans: Blue Oceans and red oceans. Red oceans are the known market space as it exists today, with all the various industries. Competitive rules are defined and barriers are clear and accepted. Competition exists among players to gain a bigger share; the more players are on the market, the fewer prospects for profit and growth is existent. Cutthroat competition turns the red ocean bloody.  [3]   Blue Oceans on the other hand represent the opposite they are the unknown market space with industries that are not existent today. Demand is not created by competitive rivalry, because the rules of the game are yet to be set. There is substantial opportunity for profitable growth because of the deep potential of market space that is not yet explored.  [4]   To be successful in economic performance most companies are laying the focus on competitive strategies, plenty of enthusiasm is spend on analyzing and outperforming rivals. Using the vocabulary of the authors their focus is on red ocean strategies. In the future this will not be enough to survive; in addition to swim in a red ocean companies need to create Blue Oceans.  [5]  The following image illustrates the major differences between red and Blue Oceans. Image 1: Comparison of Red Ocean with Blue Ocean strategy  [6]   Value Innovation The basis of the Blue Ocean Strategy is called Value Innovation. Competition is made irrelevant by creating value for both buyers and the company. Buyer value is created by the benefit and price that the company offers to the consumer; value to the company is created from the price and its cost structure therefore only if those two variables are aligned the strategy works. The innovation of a product/ service must create value for the market and eliminate features that are not valued by the current market. New and uncontested market space is made accessible by simultaneously differentiate and reducing costs. This strategy is contrary to common management strategies which propose that companies can either create value to customers at higher costs or create reasonable value at lower costs.  [7]  According to the authors Value Innovation is a strategy that embraces the entire system of a companys activities.  [8]  Image 2 illustrates Value Innovation. Image 2: Value Innovation  [9]   Analytical tools and framework There are three basic tools that will help companies to build a Blue Ocean Strategy. The strategy canvas The strategy canvas is a tool that helps to build a Blue Ocean Strategy. It highlights the current situation in the known market space and shows the offering level that buyers receive across several key competing factors. By illustrating these factors in a simple matrix a graphic description in form of a value curve is visible. This value curve shows a companys relative performance within its industrys factors of competition.  [10]  By illustrating the current situation of an industry the strategic focus can be shifted away from current competition to alternatives and noncustomers, a redefinition of the industry can be constructed.  [11]  Image 3 illustrates a strategy canvas with an example of an Airline. Image 3: Strategy Canvas  [12]   The four actions framework This tool uses four key questions to lead to a new value curve: Which of the factors that the industry takes for granted should be eliminated? Which factors should be reduced well below the industrys standard? Which factors should be raised well above the industrys standard? Which factors should be created that the industry has never offered?  [13]   The first two questions give an insight in how to reduce the cost structure in comparison to other players in the industry. Question 3 and 4 give insight into how to lift buyer value and create new demand.  [14]   The eliminate-reduce-raise-create-grid This tool is supplementary to the four actions framework. It gives companies the possibility to act on all four questions answered before to create new value. The four factors of what to eliminate, reduce, raise and create are put in a matrix and by that scrutinize every factor the industry competes on.  [15]   Formulating Blue Oceans strategies Reconstruct market boundaries In order to break away from the competition the first principle is to reconstruct market boundaries. The challenge is to find possibilities of Blue Ocean opportunities. During performing research across various industry sectors the authors found a basic approach to remaking market boundaries, the six path framework.  [16]  This framework is applicable in all kinds of industries and all are based on looking at data from a new perspective. These are the six paths: Path 1: Look across alternative industries Path 2: Look across strategic groups within industries Path 3: Look across the chain of buyers Path 4: Look across complimentary product and service offerings Path 5: Look across functional or emotional appeal to buyers Path 6: Look across time  [17]   By analyzing each of the single paths companies will be able to get an insight into how to open up Blue Oceans by rebuilding market realities and leave behind conventional boundaries of competition.  [18]   Focus on the big pictures, not the numbers The approach to the strategic planning process is based on drawing a strategy canvas, as it is explained in the section of analytical tools and framework of this document. A structured process for developing a strategy canvas has been developed, which is called the Visualizing Strategy.  [19]  As the name implies, this process uses visual stimulation with the purpose to unlock peoples creativity. The main focus here is laid on the big picture rather than on defined numbers and operational details.  [20]   Reach beyond existing demand To achieve a maximization of the size of the Blue Ocean you are creating the focus should be laid on two things: The analysis of non-customers and finding out strong similarities of what buyers value.  [21]  This is a reversed approach to common strategies, where the focus is on customers and customer differences. The three tiers of non customers The challenge is to find out who the non-customers are and get a deep understanding of them. The authors describe three tiers of non-customers that eventually can be transformed into customers. The first tier of non-customers is closest to your market and would stay and increase their frequency of purchases if a leap in value would be offered to them. These non-customers also referred to as soon-to-be.  [22]  The second tier of non-customers is further away from your market and aware of offerings in it but has consciously voted against them. These non-customers are also referred to as refusing.  [23]  The third tier of non-customers is farthest from your market and has never considered its offerings as an option. These non customers are also referred to as unexplored.  [24]   By analyzing each of the three tiers an understanding of the non-customers can be developed to attract them into your market and expand your Blue Ocean.  [25]   Get the strategic sequence right The fourth principle of Blue Ocean Strategy focuses on the challenge to build a sustainable business model that will make profit on your Blue Ocean idea. The idea here is to use sequences and key criteria within a sequence to reduce business model risk.  [26]  Each sequence has a key question that has to be asked. If answered with no the sequence has to be reshaped. If answered with yes one can move on to the next sequence. The four sequences are: Buyer utility: Is there exceptional buyer utility in your business idea? Price: Is your price easy accessible to the mass of buyers? Cost: Can you attain your cost target to profit at your strategic price? Adoption: What are the adoption hurdles in actualizing your business idea? Are you addressing them up front?  [27]   With this sequencing as a starting point further analyzing of strategic pricing, target costing and finally the profit model is developed.  [28]   Executing Blue Ocean Strategy Overcome key organizational hurdles The challenge to execute the strategy of Blue Oceans is significant, since there are changes made from the conventional way of doing things. The authors present four common hurdles in the execution: The cognitive-, political-, motivational- and resource hurdle. Dealing with those challenges in form of hurdles with tipping point leadership is the key to make Blue Ocean Strategy happen in action.  [29]   Build execution into strategy The sixth principle of the Blue Ocean Strategy is about building commitment and trust into the strategy from the start. The focus is laid on a fair process as a key variable that distinguishes successful Blue Ocean Strategy moves from those that failed.  [30]   Case analysis In this section, we intend to describe and analize two cases of innovative companies (Virgin Galactic and Petrobras) based on the Blue Ocean theory. Virgin Galactic Description of Virgin Galactic Virgin Galactic is a company which belongs to the Virgin Group. This group was founded 1970 by Sir Richard Branson and is one of the leading brand venture capital organizations of the world. The group has created more than 300 branded companies in a variety of different industries, employs around 50,000 people and generated revenue of approx. US$ 18 billion in the year 2009.  [31]  Based on them the success of this group derives from the power of the Virgin name, Richard Bransons personal reputation; our unrivalled network of friends, contacts and partners; the Virgin management style; the way talent is empowered to flourish within the group.  [32]   The Virgin Galactic company has the aim of making private space travel available to everyone by creating the worlds first commercial spaceline.  [33]  Virgin Galactic will create, own and operate spaceships, the SpaceShipTwo. To achieve this goal the Virgin Group uses it experiences in aviation, adventure and luxury travel combining with the technology developed by Burt Rutan. The company was founded in the year 2004 and is located in New Mexico. The SpaceShipOne became the first private spaceship with high altitude-flights in the year 2004. The successor of this technology, the SpaceShipTwo, has seats for two pilots and six passengers. Every passenger has to pay US$200.000 with a deposit ofUS$20,000. At the moment 340 passengers have registered for this service.  [34]  So far 450 people have ever been to space, the goal of Virgin Galactic is to take 1,000 people to space within the first year of commercial operation.  [35]  The first commercial flight shall start in the year 2012.  [36]   The mothership of the SpaceShipTwo, the WhiteKnightTwo, will take the SpaceShipTwo to a height of about 16km and then release it. At that point the rockets of the SpaceShipTwo will boost and bring it to a height of about 100km.  [37]  There it will fly for about five minutes in which the passengers have a magnificent view at the earth and can enjoy weightlessness. Afterwards the space ship will decrease the altitude and land at its base in New Texas. The first flying tests of the WhiteKnightTwo were executed successfully and the SpaceShipTwo completed the first manned glide flight in October 2010.  [38]   At current stage the company Blue Origin which is based close to Seattle is also working on a private space ship.  [39]   Analysis of Virgin Galactic The analysis will start by discussing the Value Innovation of Virgin Galactic. So far tourism in space was available for seven specific persons who paid in average US$ 25 million for staying about 14 days at the ISS.  [40]  The clear buyer benefit of Virgin Galactic is to make this tourism available for nearly everybody who can afford paying the US$200,000 which is less than 1% of the price so far. Moreover, these space trips also add value to Virgin Galactic as it will earn US$200,000 for every passenger having already 340 on the waiting list. Virgin Galactic clearly succeeded in creating a Value Innovation. In the following the strategy canvas for Virgin Galactic will be developed to see the value curve in comparison to its competitor the stay at the ISS.  [41]   As principal factors the following was defined: price, safety, request for personal attributes and easy preparation for the trip.  [42]  As seen in image one the Virgin Galactic company enables a much more comfortable and convenient stay as the previous tourism on the ISS. This is also based on the lower requirements a person has to fulfill to be able to execute this tourism and the lower time-investment. Image 4: Strategy Canvas of Virgin Galactic  [43]   Considering the four action framework Virgin Galactic reduced the costs by eliminated the factors that a stay in space has to be combined with a long duration and cost-intensive stay at the ISS and with cost-intensive rocket starts. Furthermore, they created the factor that nearly everybody would be able (from physical requirements  [44]  ) to go to space with a low time-investment and a comparably low amount of money. They increased the convenience of space-tourisms to a very high extent. In conclusion, they managed to dramatically reduce the costs while increasing the perceived value of the passengers which are interested in some minutes of weightlessness and seeing the earth from the space. Virgin Galactic also concentrated on the so called non-customers as the total number of customers was seven so far. They identified the implicit wish of most people to go to space once. Organizational hurdles The cognitive hurdle cannot be applied as Virgin Galactic did not start in a red ocean but directly entered the Blue Ocean with the start of the company. The hurdle resources will probably be not a big burden as the first flying tests went successful, customers on the waiting list already paid close to US$7 million as deposit and Sheikh Mansour invested US$280 million in this business.  [45]  Furthermore, the Virgin Group and the state of New Mexico are supporting this business. The motivation of the employees and managers is high which is also pushed by Richard Branson personal interest in the success of this company.  [46]  The political hurdle could be implemented by making new laws for required safety standards. But already in 2004 the US congress passed a law which allows passengers to fly into space with the understanding that these vehicles might not be as safe as regular airplanes. Furthermore, the governor of New Mexico supports this company  [47]  and the Virgin group has a high political power. In conclusion all the hurdles were passed successfully by Virgin Gallactic. Build execution into strategy From the beginning Richard Branson declared the vision of this company to make private space travel year 2004. Conclusion In final conclusion, Virgin Galactic entered a Blue Ocean from the beginning. It decreased the costs and made space travel available to everyone by creating the worlds first commercial spaceline. Virgin Galactic works towards this clear vision with having the first commercial flights very likely eight years after its foundation in the previous tourism in space and increased the value of it by leveraging especially the convenience for the customers. Moreover, it went beyond known customer space by offering this service for less than 1% of the costs so far. It managed the organizational hurdles and created a strong vision from the start. Although other companies as e.g. Blue Origin try to create space tourisms this ocean is deep blue so far for Virgin Galactic. Petrobras Description of Petrobras Petrobras was established on October 3, 1953 by the president of Brazil, Getà ºlio Vargas, to undertake oil sector activities in the country. In the early 1970s, the members of the Organization of the Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) rose the international prices substantially, triggering the so-called Oil Shock. As a result, the market was troubled and marked by uncertainty. In order to overcome the difficulties, the Brazilian government adopted economic measures in order to overcome the supply of oil. Some examples of these measures were the encouragement for use of ethanol as automotive fuel and prioritizing offshore exploration and production. With the measures, the government intended to reduce the dependency on importing a very expensive product and to create an industry to create jobs and exports. These tasks where given to Petrà ³leo Brasileiro (Petrobras) for being executed.  [48]   Producing ethanol for powering the nation 1975 marks the beginning of the production of Ethanol by Petrobras in Brazil aiming to drive the large-scale substitution of oil based vehicular fuels for biofuels. Substituting gasoline for ethanol (produced from sugarcane and manioc) led to 10 million fewer gasoline fuel cars running in Brazil, reducing the countrys dependence on imported oil.  [49]   Today Brazil is recognized as the world leader in the production of ethanol for industrial purposes, based on the most advanced agricultural technology for sugarcane cultivation in the world and to the amount of arable land available in the country. In 2010, the Brazilian ethanol produced by Petrobras was designated as one of the most advanced biofuels due to the 61% reduction of green house gas emissions.  [50]   Pioneering in deep waters In 1984 the company discovered one of the biggest reserve in deep water ever registered in the world. The Albacora field was discovered; proving the existence of giant fields nestled at great depth in Brazil. This marked the beginning in deepwater exploration for the company. By 1986 the company, which until then purchased technology, was faced with the challenge of producing oil at a depth of 400 meters. After surveying the market and finding out there was no technology available for this depth, the company decided to invest in developing new technologies. This was an extremely ambitious project, since, at the time, Petrobras had been exploring at depths of 150 meters and had plans for 1000 meters by 1990. This project turned out to be a great success and the company is currently the global leader in this area. By 2005, Petrobras sets the record of drilling depth with a sloped that reached 6915 meters beyond the bottom of the sea.  [51]   Petrobras achieves self sufficiency In 2006 Brazil became a self-sufficient country in oil and gas production. With an average of 1.9 million barrels per day, Brazil went on to exporting more oil and oil products than it imported. It was like a dream came true, only possible because of the technological efforts and dedication of the employees. Since this point, Petrobras is the most profitable company in the Brazilian economy, being recognized as the eighth biggest oil exploring company in the world.  [52]   In the upcoming years, Petrobras intends to invest in using and developing new renewable energy sources. The portfolio of new projects includes wind, solar and water energy sources and fuel hydrogen. The intention is to reduce even more the dependency on oil, delivering the necessary energy sources to Brazil in order to sustain the intended growth of the upcoming years. Analysis of Petrobas Petrobras success can be summed up in one word and that word is innovation. This company faced the challenge of turning one of the biggest countries in the Americas from a big consumer of imported oil to self sufficient in oil and gas production. This strategy was based on focusing on the big picture (producing its own oil and become an exporter of petroleum) rather than finding a temporary solution for importing oil in the 70s, when the biggest crisis of oil prices occurred. Value Innovation They broke away from the competition by reconstructing market boundaries. For each challenge they faced, they were able to create and develop the necessary technology that didnt exist in the market, becoming a leader in deepwater oil drilling. They reached beyond their existing demand by having more oil available than they need for their own consumption. They also created value to the country by reducing the amount of CO2 in 61% emitted by cars and public transportation thanks to the introduction to ethanol and biodiesel. Brazil became a more efficient country thanks to the use of their natural resources for powering the nation. By mixing ethanol with oil, Petrobras has managed to increase the value for customers by creating a reduction of oil prices  [53]  and by guaranteeing the oil supply they reduced the dependency on foreign companies. Strategy canvas We have decided to explain the differences between the two largest producers of Ethanol in the world, Brazil and U.S.A. As we have mentioned before, Petrobras is the only company responsible for the production and distribution of ethanol in Brazil. Image 5: Stragegy Canvas Petrobas  [54]   As we can see in the figure xx, Brazil is the second largest producer of Ethanol in the world (6,500 million gallons in 2009  [55]  ) behind the United States (10,900 million gallons in 2009  [56]  ). But, the total area used by Brazil for cultivating their sugar cane (3.6 million hectares  [57]  by 2006) is far less than the land used by the United States (10 million hectares  [58]  in 2006). This means that the productivity per hectare is superior in Brazil than in the United States. Another important thing to mention is that thanks to the mixture of Ethanol and oil in Brazil, green house gas reduction has been reduced considerably (89%  [59]  ), increasing the value the company gives to their customers. Organizational hurdles The hurdles are based on the theory mentioned in the first section of this project. During the oil crisis of the 70s, the company faced the challenge of completely changing the paradigm of production. In the cognitive hurdle, we can say that the employees understood completely the need of the company and were able to transform the company. In the second hurdle resources, we can say that the company successfully understood that they needed to invest a great amount of resources in RD in order to increase the efficiency of the production of ethanol and also to raise the drilling depth for oil extraction. Motivating employees on a thirty-year-old project has been an enormous challenge for the company. They have managed to succeed by achieving small goals each year, increasing the level of satisfaction and trust towards the leadership of the company. Finally, the political hurdle was managed correctly due to the implications of the transformation project, involving the government, the management and employees of the company. Build execution into strategy As we mentioned before, the strategy was clear from the beginning: Reduce the dependency of oil and turn the country into a self-sufficient country. The facts speak for themselves, the whole company aligned in order to achieve the goal and it is an example on how to implement the Blue Ocean strategy. Conclusion So, why can the strategy of Petrobras be considered a Blue Ocean strategy? First of all they focused on creating value for the country by reducing the amount of oil imported and gaining self-sufficiency. As a consequence, they were able to reduce considerably the prices of gasoline in Brazil and the dependency of external factors to develop the country. They achieved this goal by innovating in ways to reduce consumption of oil (alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel) and exploit the potential the country had in its coasts, regardless the technology available at the times. In the last twenty years, Petrobras has become a key player in the success of Brazil to achieve development. The upcoming years for this company look really bright, thanks to the investment they are doing on other alternative means to produce electricity (water, solar and wind), improve the efficiency of alternative fuels and by creating the necessary technology for increa

Industry Analysis Report on Kmart Essay -- Business and Management Stu

Industry Analysis Report on Kmart INTRODUCTION Kmart is a huge vintage company that had peeked at one time and now is struggling to survive due to competition and other legal battles. This analysis report will describe and analyze the major forces that shape the structure and competitive intensity of Kmart. This report will look at Kmart’s history, competitors, marketing strategies, and some legal battles that have affected the company. The shaping and structuring of Kmart started more than one hundred years ago. HISTORY Over a century ago, Sebastian Spering Kresge opened a small store in Detroit, Michigan and tainted the entire setting of retailing. He built this store not intending that his store would develop into an empire of more than twenty one hundred stores and an Internet presence that reaches millions of customers everyday. The S.S. Kresge Company founded in 1899, opened its first Kmart discount store in 1962. By the next year, Kmart had opened 53 stores, on the verge of being the number one retailer. In the 1970s, Kresge began opening smaller 40,000 square foot stores in smaller towns and switched from brand name to private label goods manufactured internationally at low cost. Over the years, Kmart hurt its own development efforts by diversification into specialty retailing, which brought it close to bankruptcy. In the 1990’s, the company had to sell off its Sports Authority, Borders, Office Max and Builders Square chains. A decade later in the twentieth century Charles Conaway replaces Floyd Hall as chairman and CEO. About a year after the new chairman and CEO joins Kmart, the corporation bought BlueLight.com Internet service and soon there after Kmart Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to stiff competition, corrupt leadership, and bad financial planning. COMPETITORS Kmart filed for bankruptcy protection, once the largest retailer ever to do so in U.S. history. Most industry analysts believe the cause of the company's bankruptcy filing was due to stiff competition from WalMart, Target, and lack of marketing strategies. Besides, when WalMart and Target predictably entered into Kmart's territory, Kmart had given its customers every reason to go somewhere else. With more than 4,000 stores and insistent expansion plans, WalMart is a one of the strongest retail forces. Thei... ...les is still functioning. This analysis report described and analyzed the major forces that shape the structure and competitive intensity of Kmart. This report reviewed Kmart’s history, competitors, marketing strategies, and a few legal battles that have affected the company. Kmart needs to realize the need to developing a strong marketing strategy before they are forced to go out of business. REFRENCES Accela Communications Inc (2003). â€Å"BlueLight folding into Kmart, lays off staff.† http://www.itworld.com American City Business Journals, Inc. (2003) â€Å"Kmart reports $862M first quarter net loss.† http://www.albuquerque.bizjournals.com Fox News Network (2003). â€Å"Kmart Web Site Answers Angry Shareholder Questions.† http://www.foxnews.com InfoWorld Media Group (2001). †Benefits of a slowdown.† http://www.archive.inforworld.com Kmart Corporation (2000). â€Å"More Information about K-Mart.† http://www.kmartcorp.com Microsoft Corporation (2003) â€Å"Kmart’s 5 big blunders.† http://www.bcentral.com The Detroit News (2002) â€Å"A look at Kmart’s History.† http://www.detnews.com Where It’s @ (2002). â€Å"Kmart-Running Out of Time.† http://www.retailindustry.about.com Industry Analysis Report on Kmart Essay -- Business and Management Stu Industry Analysis Report on Kmart INTRODUCTION Kmart is a huge vintage company that had peeked at one time and now is struggling to survive due to competition and other legal battles. This analysis report will describe and analyze the major forces that shape the structure and competitive intensity of Kmart. This report will look at Kmart’s history, competitors, marketing strategies, and some legal battles that have affected the company. The shaping and structuring of Kmart started more than one hundred years ago. HISTORY Over a century ago, Sebastian Spering Kresge opened a small store in Detroit, Michigan and tainted the entire setting of retailing. He built this store not intending that his store would develop into an empire of more than twenty one hundred stores and an Internet presence that reaches millions of customers everyday. The S.S. Kresge Company founded in 1899, opened its first Kmart discount store in 1962. By the next year, Kmart had opened 53 stores, on the verge of being the number one retailer. In the 1970s, Kresge began opening smaller 40,000 square foot stores in smaller towns and switched from brand name to private label goods manufactured internationally at low cost. Over the years, Kmart hurt its own development efforts by diversification into specialty retailing, which brought it close to bankruptcy. In the 1990’s, the company had to sell off its Sports Authority, Borders, Office Max and Builders Square chains. A decade later in the twentieth century Charles Conaway replaces Floyd Hall as chairman and CEO. About a year after the new chairman and CEO joins Kmart, the corporation bought BlueLight.com Internet service and soon there after Kmart Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to stiff competition, corrupt leadership, and bad financial planning. COMPETITORS Kmart filed for bankruptcy protection, once the largest retailer ever to do so in U.S. history. Most industry analysts believe the cause of the company's bankruptcy filing was due to stiff competition from WalMart, Target, and lack of marketing strategies. Besides, when WalMart and Target predictably entered into Kmart's territory, Kmart had given its customers every reason to go somewhere else. With more than 4,000 stores and insistent expansion plans, WalMart is a one of the strongest retail forces. Thei... ...les is still functioning. This analysis report described and analyzed the major forces that shape the structure and competitive intensity of Kmart. This report reviewed Kmart’s history, competitors, marketing strategies, and a few legal battles that have affected the company. Kmart needs to realize the need to developing a strong marketing strategy before they are forced to go out of business. REFRENCES Accela Communications Inc (2003). â€Å"BlueLight folding into Kmart, lays off staff.† http://www.itworld.com American City Business Journals, Inc. (2003) â€Å"Kmart reports $862M first quarter net loss.† http://www.albuquerque.bizjournals.com Fox News Network (2003). â€Å"Kmart Web Site Answers Angry Shareholder Questions.† http://www.foxnews.com InfoWorld Media Group (2001). †Benefits of a slowdown.† http://www.archive.inforworld.com Kmart Corporation (2000). â€Å"More Information about K-Mart.† http://www.kmartcorp.com Microsoft Corporation (2003) â€Å"Kmart’s 5 big blunders.† http://www.bcentral.com The Detroit News (2002) â€Å"A look at Kmart’s History.† http://www.detnews.com Where It’s @ (2002). â€Å"Kmart-Running Out of Time.† http://www.retailindustry.about.com

Catalysts In ?A View From The Bridge? And ?The Glass Menagerie? :: essays research papers

Just as in science, a catalyst speeds up the rate of the chemical reaction; in literature, a catalyst is a person, idea or event that initiates and develops the conflict of the story. In â€Å"A View from the Bridge† and â€Å"The Glass Menagerie†, the catalysts used are introduced at different points in the plays and play different roles. In â€Å" A View from the Bridge†, Rodolpho, the catalyst, is introduced in the exposition, and plays a major role in the play. He initiates the conflict by being attracted to Catherine, and by the fact that Catherine is attracted to him as well. The fact that he is introduced in the exposition, allows for the author to develop his character, and thus allows for the audience to sympathise with him instead of Eddie. This development gives the audience a high quality catalyst as it can relate to Rodplpho. Rodolpho creates a heavy tension in the family, due to his relationship with Catherine. This tension relates to the play’s theme of obsession as it is caused by Eddie’s obsession with Catherine. How Rodolpho relates to the main theme and develops the tension make him a quality catalyst. Jim, the catalyst in â€Å"The Glass Menagerie†, is introduced in the complications of the play, and though he initiates the conflict, he does not develop it. This may be due to the fact that he was introduced too late into the play, and because his character was not developed. This underdevelopment of his character produces a lower quality catalyst as the audience cannot relate to Jim, and also because he participates little in the play. The tension created by Jim relates to the theme of betrayal, when he tells Laura that he is engaged after he led her on and kissed her. Jim’s inefficiency to develop the plot results in a less dramatic climax in â€Å"The Glass Menagerie†.

Developmental Paper Essay

bstract The basis of this paper will outline the cognitive and personality development of a young adult female, identified as â€Å"Caroline.† This will be in contrast and comparison to Erikson’s Epigenetic Theory of Personality Development is Intimacy vs. Isolation and Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development. The paper will address what outside factors influence the developing as well as nursing interventions that will help Caroline obtained optimal functioning for each appropriate developmental level according to Erikson and Piaget. Keywords: developmental, Erikson, Piaget, personality, cognitive, intimacy, isolation, formal operations The Developmental Level: For the purpose of this paper, I will identify the person I am outlining as â€Å"Caroline.† Caroline is a young adult. The developmental level during this stage of Erikson’s Epigenetic Theory of Personality Development is Intimacy vs. Isolation; the virtue being love. A normal adult in this stage will have a strong sense of self and be able to form intimate, close relationships with other individuals. Success in this stage will lead to strong committed relationships (Cherry). Erikson believed that a person must successfully complete one stage in order to complete the next. According to Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development, Caroline is in the formal operations period. A normal young adult in this stage would manifest adult like thinking, is not limited by own perception or concrete references for ideas, combines various ideas into concepts, develops morality or restraint and cooperation in behavior, uses rules to structure interactions in a socially acceptabl e way, solves problems mentally and considers alternatives before acting, relates concepts or constructs not readily evident in external world, increases intellectual ability to include art, science, humanities,  religion, and philosophy, and is increasingly less egocentric. Caroline is in her early adult hood years. A tremendous time for self-discovery, independence, and in some cases, loneliness. Caroline’s personality and cognitive development have blossomed in ways and have been hindered in others. This is due to many factors; biological, social, genetic, situational. The list goes on. One thing is certain, there is always a good reason why individuals do the thing they do. If we as people look beyond others actions and instead look at what causes their actions to manifest, I believe we would be much more accepting and less judgmental as a whole. Throughout this paper I will be discussing ways Caroline compares and contrasts to Piaget and Erikson’s theories, how this impacts her development, and nursing interventions that could help her through these stages. Compare and contrast: After careful observation of Caroline, it does not show evident that she has developed a true sense of self to be able to complete the stage of intimacy with another individual. Even with platonic friendships it seems that when her and an individual start to become close on more of a spiritual and emotional level, she retreats to isolation because she feels that she cannot trust herself or others. According to Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development, I see that Caroline is mastering the formal operations period to a certain degree. In many ways Caroline would be a poster child for what an example of someone in the formal operations period would think like, and in other aspects of the period, she does not show to be operating in this period what so ever. Three examples of how Caroline compares to these levels would include the following: 1. When it comes to romantic relationships, Caroline strives for a deep emotional and physical connection with another human being. However, deep down she is unable to fully commit to another because she doesn’t have a clear understanding of who she is. Subconsciously, she gravitates towards men that are not emotionally available. This includes anyone who is in a relationship, is going to move away, or is obviously not interested in giving her a committed relationship. She wants the commitment, but she is used to men in her life not being available so she is drawn towards that because that is what she is used to. At the end of the day, this leaves Caroline frustrated and isolated. The  crisis between intimacy and isolation, according to Erikson, is clear in Caroline’s life. 2. Caroline is extremely cognitively driven, artistic with her words, and philosophical and spiritual with her beliefs. She looks beyond the world that is seen and challenges her way of thinking with the unseen world. She finds happiness through her writings and connections through spiritual conversation. This side of her is a small glimpse of her essence and what her inner being craves; to be emotionally, artistically, and spiritually stimulated. This very much so aligns with Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development. 3. A contrast to the Formal operations period is that she does not seem to solve problems mentally and considering alternatives before acting. Caroline bases a lot of her talk on impulsivity and is emotionally driven when making decisions. Caroline is a â€Å"feel good† kind of gal, and if it feels good in the moment, she will grab it. If it does not feel good, she will alter whatever her situation is to make herself feel good, no matter how bad or good the outcome will leave her. This contrasts with the norm because someone who is successfully mastering this stage would weigh the outcomes before acting, consider the outcomes, and go towards which action would better benefit their being as a whole. Even though Caroline knows something is hurting her, she will continue to repeat this action, hoping for a different outcome. This is mainly in regards to abusive relationships, but can be applied to the work place and friendships with other females. What Impacts Development Three factors that have or are currently affecting Caroline’s stage of development: 1. As I mentioned previously, it is vital for Caroline to develop and true sense of self before she can successfully build intimacy with other individuals. Caroline feels whole with her writings, and spending time with people who truly love her, but she has not fully embraced her inner being. From observation, Caroline has a very low self-esteem. She strives to please others. When others are pleased with her, she is pleased with herself. When others are no pleased with her, she will do what she can to reverse that opinion. She seeks to please others before pleasing herself and that is a clear manifestation of not having a concrete, strong sense of self. 2. Caroline is far away from her family, which live several states away. She stayed in the state she resides because of a romantic  relationship. This romantic relationship has ended. For Caroline, she does not have a firm sense of belonging a t her current location. Being away from loved ones and not having a steady partner can cause an individual to feel isolated and lonely. 3. I am not sure exactly what Caroline’s relationship with her father is or was like, but I would imagine it to be one of low emotional or spiritual connection. Her dad was most likely not a constant in her life and not available to her as a girl in was that she needed, but was not aware of. There is always a good reason why people do the things they do and I would not be taken a back if Caroline was this way with other men in her life because normal to her is not available. Her body, soul, and mind is used to inconsistency and has developed patterns within itself to be drawn to these inconsistencies and behaviors. It has also been shown that engaging in sexual activates with a partner before the proper time, especially before monogamy, can cause much inner turmoil and depression. Sexual activity must be performed in the right context in order for it to be beneficial for the human being. (Carter) Nursing interventions: 1. Before talking to Caroline, if she were my patient and I the nurse, I would first need to assess her physical and mental status. She would need to be fully alert and oriented in order to proceed with the nursing process. I would assess her level of consciousness and willingness to cooperate. I would need to assess her support system, whether it be family, friends, or coworkers. A strong support system is vital to growth and development in any stage of life. 2. In order for Caroline to be eager to listen to what have to offer and cooperate with enhancing her inner self, there would have to be established trust. I would do this by sharing intimate parts of my life and laying the foundation of a healthy, trustworthy relationship. There will be little to no willingness to exchange in such personal matters until trust between us is established. It will also make her much for comfortable to share intimate details of her life with me. 3. I would provide Caroline with therapeutic communic ation. This would include appropriate touch as much as she is comfortable with, paraphrasing, asking open ended questions that encourage communication, maintaining eye contact when appropriate, and not pushing situations when she does not feel at ease. These actions will hopefully cause Caroline to feel more comfortable to share thoughts,  feelings, and encouragement to implement action to better her inner self. 4. In order to master the stage of isolation, Caroline needs to be confident in herself and cater to her inner self. She needs to participate in activities that benefit her in a healthy way and bring healing to where she feels broken. I would encourage her to write in her journal for at least thirty min before she goes to bed. 5. I would encourage her to do simple things to increase healthy living. This would include waking up early, going to bed at a decent hour, getting adequate exercise, eating a diet high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and drinking plenty of water. I would encourage her to avoid alcohol and any other mind altering substances that cause her behavior to be irrational. Addressing the underlying cause of irrational behavior can be much more effective then addressing the irrational behavior as it self. 6. Because Caroline reaches for wholeness in sources that leave her feeling empty, I would ask Caroline to put herself first when she is seeking attention from empty sources. I would have her sit with herself and her emotions and work through them without desperately reaching out to things that cannot fulfill her. In order to be happy with someone else, it is vital that she become happy with herself. 7. Caroline loves to read and with this passion for books I would strongly suggest investing in self-help books that will mentally stimulate her to building a strong, happy inner self. There are so many self-help books that caters to every type of inner self difficulty and roads to self-discovery. Sometimes simply finding a book that speaks directly to your soul can bring some of the most healing and freedom. If Caroline were to follow these nursing interventions and invest whole heartedly to developing a strong inner being, I believe she would begin to see amazing results within a weeks’ time. Of course it would be a journey. Self-reflection is not always easy and can be hard, but in the end it is extremely rewarding. Coming face to face with our inner demons and conquering them is one of the best things you can do for yourself, future partner, and future children. In order to have healthy relationship you must be a healthy person and if Caroline wants to be healthy, she will be. References: Cherry, Kendra. â€Å"Intimacy Versus Isolation – Stage Six of Psychosocial Development.† About.com Psychology. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2014. Carter, Don. â€Å"Intimacy Skills and Human Development Stages.† Intimacy Skills and Human Development Stages. Internet of the Mind, n.d. Web. 03 June 2014.

The Host Chapter 32: Ambushed

The caves were mollify the sun had non yet risen. In the big plaza, the mirrors were a pale colorize with the flood tide dawn.My few clothes were politic in Jamie and J beds room. I snuck in, glad that I knew whither Jared was.Jamie was sound asleep, curled into a c oscillateed ball in the top recessional of the mattress. He didnt usually sleep so compactly, unless he had good dry land to at the moment. Ian was sprawled across the rest of the space, his feet and work force hanging hit the edges, iodin offset to each of the four sides.For slightly reason, this was hysteric to me. I had to put my fist in my m show uph to croak impale the joke as I quickly snatched up my old dirt-dyed T-shirt and shorts. I travel into the hall, hitherto stifling the giggles.Youre slaphappy, Melanie told me. You need some sleep.Ill sleep later. When I couldnt finish the theme. It sobered me instantaneously, and everything was ease oer again.I was liquid rushing as I passed for th e bathing room. I indisputable Doc, but Maybe he would spay his mind. Maybe Jared would argue against what I sine qua noned. I couldnt be all day.I thought I comprehend something behind me when I nettleed the octopus- similar juncture where all the slee duskg halls met. I looked adventure, but I couldnt see allone in the dim cave. People were beginning to stir. presently it would be eon for breakfast and a nonher(prenominal) day of work. If theyd finished with the stalks, the basis in the east fields would need to be turned. Maybe I would shit time to help laterI followed the old(prenominal) path to the chthonian(a)ground rivers, my mind in a cardinal separate places. I couldnt seem to concentrate on anything in particular. Every time I time-tested to focus on a subject-Walter, Jared, breakfast, chores, baths-some opposite thought would spin my train unwrapside in blurbs. Melanie was compensate I needful to sleep. She was honorable as muddled. Her though ts all spun almost Jared, but she could betray nothing dogged of them, either.Id gotten used to the bathing room. The utter pitch dark-skinnedness of it didnt some(prenominal)(prenominal)er me any much. So small-army places were black here. Half my daylight hours were lived in darkness. And Id been here similarly many times. in that location was never anything lurking under the waters sur type, reckoning to pull me under.I knew I didnt have time to soak, though. Others would be up currently, and some community desire to start their day clean. I got to work, serve myself first, whence moving on to my clothes. I scrubbed at my shirt fiercely, neediness I could scrub forbidden my reposition of the past two nights.My contributes were keen when I was done, the dry cracks on my knucks burning worst of all. I rinsed them in the water, but it do work no detectable difference. I sighed and climbed out to get dressed.Id left(p) my dry clothes on the detached rocks in the pricker corner. I kicked a match by accident, hard equal to disadvantage my bare basis, and it clattered loudly across the room, bouncing off the groyne and get with a plunk and a eruct in the pussycat. The sound made me jump, though it wasnt all that loud next to the bunce of the hot river in the outer room.I was near shoving my feet into my scruffy tennis lieu when my turn was up.Knock, exploit, a familiar vocalise called from the dark entry.Good morning, Ian, I said. Im just done. Did you sleep well?Ians tranquillise sleeping, Ians utterance answered. Im sure that wont last forever, though, so wed trounce get on with this.Splinters of sparkler pinned my joints in place. I couldnt move. I couldnt p abute.Id notice it before, and then forgotten it in the prospicient weeks of Kyles absence not only did Ian and his familiar look very much alike, but-when Kyle talk at a normal volume, which so rarely happened-they also had exactly the very(prenominal) division.There was no personal credit line. I was detain in this black hole with Kyle at the limen. There was no demeanor out. suffer quiet Melanie shrieked in my head.I could do that. There was no ambiancewave to scream with.ListenI did as I was told, seek to focus in purgee of the fear that stabbed th gawky my head like a million splendid spears of ice.I couldnt con anything. Was Kyle waiting for a response? Was he sneaking well-nigh the room in silence? I listened harder, but the rush of the river covered any sounds.Quick, grab a rock Melanie ordered. wherefore?I saw myself crashing a rough stone against Kyles head.I cant do itthence were going to die she screamed congest at me. I can do it let meThere has to be another way, I moaned, but I forced my ice-locked knees to bend. My hold searched the darkness and came up with a large, serrated rock and a handful of pebbles. take the field or flight.In desperation, I seek to unlock Melanie, to let her out. I couldnt hap pen upon the limen-my hands were still my possess, clutched uselessly rough the objects I could never make into weapons.A noise. A flyspeck splash as something entered the burgeon forth that drained the pool into the latrine room. exactly a few yards away.Give me my handsI dont know how Take themI started to creep away, close to the palisade, toward the top. Melanie struggled to find her way out of my head, but she couldnt find the door from her side, either. some other sound. Not by the cold stream. A glimmer, by the exit. I froze where I was.Where is he?I dont knowAgain, I could hear nothing but the river. Was Kyle whole? Was someone waiting by the door to stick me when he herded me well-nigh the pool? How close was Kyle now?I snarl the hairs on my arm and levels standing on end. There was some kind of hug in the air, as though I could feel his silent movements. The door. I half(a) turned, easing back in the bearing Id return, away from where Id heard the breath .He couldnt wait forever. The little hed said told me he was in a hurry. Someone could come at any time. Odds were on his side, though. There were fewer who would be prepared to unwrap him than thither were who might think this was for the best. And of those inclined to stop him, change surface fewer whod have much of a guess of doing that. save Jeb and his gun would make a difference. Jared was at least as strong as Kyle, but Kyle was much motivated. Jared would probably not fight him now.Another noise. Was that a track by the door? Or just my imagination? How long had this silent repugnance lasted? I couldnt guess how many gages or acts had passed.Get ready. Melanie knew that the stalling would soon be at an end. She valued me to clench the rock tighter. provided I would apply flight a chance first. I would not be an effective fighter, even if I could bring myself to try. Kyle was probably doubly my clog, and he had a much longitudinal reach.I raised the hand with the pebbles and aimed them toward the back passage to the latrine. Maybe I could make him think that I was going to wipe out and hope for rescue. I threw the handful of slim stones and shied away from the noise when they clattered against the rock wall.The breath at the door again, the sound of a light foot authorise headed toward my decoy. I piercing as quietly along the wall as I could.What if there are two?I dont know.I was nigh to the exit. If I could just make the tunnel, I thought I could outrun him. I was lighter and fastI heard a footstep, very clearly this time, disrupting the stream in the back of the room. I crept faster.A gigantic splash shattered the extend standoff. Water pelted my skin, making me gasp. It spattered against the wall in a wave of soaked sound.Hes coming through with(predicate) the pool pelt alongI hesitated just a second also long. Big fingers clutched at my calf, my ankle. I yanked against the pull, lur raiseg forward. I stumbled, and the mome ntum that threw me down to the write up made his fingers slip. He caught my sneaker. I kicked it off, leave it in his hand.I was down, but he was down, too. It gave me liberal time to scramble forward, bust my knees against the rough stone.Kyle grunted, and his hand clutched at my peeled heel. There was nothing to catch throttle of I slid throw overboard again. I wrenched myself forward, move to my feet with my head still down, every second in danger of falling again because my body was moving al intimately check to the floor. I kept my balance through sheer force of will.There was no one else. No one to catch me at the exit to the outer room. I sprinted forward, hope and adrenaline surging in my veins. I burst into the river room at full speed, my only thought to reach the tunnel. I could hear Kyles arduous breath close behind but not close enough. With each step, I pushed harder against the ground, piddleing myself forth of him.Pain lanced through my offshoot, crumpli ng it.Over the ruffle of the river, I heard two heavy stones hit the ground and roll-the one Id been clutching and the one hed thrown to cripple me. My pegleg move under me, spinning me backward to the ground, and in the same second he was on top of me.His weight down knocked my head against the rock in a ringing ruffle up and pinned me flat against the floor. No leverage.ScreamThe air blew out of me in a enchantress of sound that surprised us all. My wordless shriek was more than Id hoped for-surely someone would hear it. Please let that someone be Jeb. Please let him have the gun.Uhng Kyle protested. His hand was big enough to cover most of my face. His palm mashed against my mouth, cutting off my scream.He rolled then, and the motion so took me by surprise that I had no time to try to find an advantage in it. He pulled me swiftly over and under and over his body. I was dizzy and confused, my head still spinning, but I still as soon as my face hit the water.His hand locked o n the back of my recognise, forcing my face into the shallow stream of armoured combat vehicle water that wound its way into the bathing pool. It was too late to maintain my breath. Id already inhaled a mouthful of water.My body terrified when the water hit my lungs. Its flailing was stronger than hed expected. My limbs all jerked and thrashed in different directions, and his grip on my neck slipped. He tried to get a let out hold, and some instinct made me pull myself into him rather than away, as he was expecting. I only pulled half a foot closer to him, but that got my chin out of the stream, and enough of my mouth to choke some of the water back out and drag in a breath.He fought to push me back into the stream, but I wriggled and wedged myself under him so that his own weight was working against his goal. I was still reacting to the water in my lungs, coughing and spasming out of control.Enough Kyle growled.He pulled himself off me, and I tried to drag myself away.Oh, no, you dont he spit through his teeth.It was over, and I knew it.There was something unconventional with my injured leg. It felt up numb, and I couldnt make it do what I wanted. I could only push myself along the floor with my arms and my good leg. I was coughing too hard to do even that well. excessively hard to scream again.Kyle grabbed my wrist and yanked me up from the floor. The weight of my body made my leg buckle, and I slumped into him.He got both my wrists in one hand and masked the other arm about my waist. He pulled me off the floor and into his side, like an awkward floor of flour. I reprobate, and my good leg kicked against the put down air.Lets get this over with.He jumped over the smaller stream with a coast and carried me toward the closest sinkhole. The steam from the hot shrink washed my face.He was going to throw me into the dark, hot hole and let the simmering water pull me into the ground as it burned me.No, no I shouted, my voice too hoarse and low to ca rry.I writhed frantically. My knee knocked against one of the filamentlike rock columns, and I hooked my foot around it, trying to yank myself out of his grip. He jerked me free with an impatient grunt.At least that loosened his hold enough that I could make one more move. It had worked before, so I tried it again. sooner of trying to free myself, I perverted in and wrapped my legs around his waist, locking the good ankle around the fully grown, trying to ignore the pain so that I could get a good hold there.Get off me, you - He fought to knock me loose, and I jerked one of my wrists free. I wrapped that arm around his neck and grabbed his dumb hair. If I was going into the black river, so was he.Kyle hissed and stopped prying at my leg long enough to punch my side.I gasped in pain but got my other hand into his hair.He wrapped both arms around me, as if we were embracing rather than locked in a cleaning struggle. Then he grabbed my waist from both sides and heaved with all h is force-out against my hold.His hair started to come out in my hands, but he just grunted and pulled harder.I could hear the randy water rushing close by, right below me, it seemed. The steam billowed up in a thick cloud, and for a minute I couldnt see anything but Kyles face, twisted with rage into something beastlike and merciless.I felt my bad leg giving. I tried to pull myself closer to him, but his brute strength was winning against my desperation. He would have me free in a moment, and I would fall into the hissing steam and disappear.Jared Jamie The thought, the agony, belonged to both Melanie and me. They would never know what had happened to me. Ian. Jeb. Doc. Walter. No goodbyes.Kyle abruptly jumped into the air and came down with a thud. The jarring come to had the effect he wanted my legs came loose.But before he could take advantage, there was another provide.The tornado sound was deafening. I thought the whole cave was coming down. The floor shuddered infra us.Ky le gasped and jumped back, taking me-hands still locked in his hair-with him. The rock under his feet, with more cracking and groaning, began to crumble away.Our combined weight had broken the brittle lip of the hole. As Kyle stumbled away, the crumbling followed his heavy steps. It was faster than he was.A piece of the floor disappeared from under his heel, and he went down with a thud. My weight pushed him back hard, and his head smacked sharply against a stone anchor. His arms fell away from me, limp.The cracking of the floor settled into a sustained groan. I could feel it shiver beneath Kyles body.I was on his chest. Our legs dangled above vitiate space, the steam condensing into a million drops on our skin.Kyle?There was no answer.I was shitless to move.Youve got to get off him. Youre too heavy together. Carefully-use the backbone. Pull away from the hole.Whimpering in fear, too terrified to think for myself, I did as Melanie ordered. I freed my fingers from Kyles hair and climbed cautious over his unconscious form, using the pillar as an anchor to pull myself forward. It felt steady enough, but the floor still moaned under us.I pulled myself past the pillar and onto the ground beyond it. This ground stayed planetary house under my hands and knees, but I scrambled farther away, toward the safety of the exit tunnel.There was another crack, and I glanced back. unmatchable of Kyles legs drooped farther down as a rock fell from beneath it. I heard the splash this time as the swelling of stone met the river below. The ground shuddered under his weight.Hes going to fall, I realized.Good, Melanie snarled.ButIf he falls, he cant kill us, Wanda. If he doesnt fall, he will.I cant justYes, you can. Walk away. Dont you want to live?I did. I wanted to live.Kyle could disappear. And if he did, there was a chance that no one would ever hurt me again. At least not among the people here. There was still the Seeker to consider, but maybe she would give up someday, and then I could stay here indefinitely with the humans I lovedMy leg throbbed, pain replacing some of the numbness. spry fluid trickled down my lips. I tasted the wet without thinking and realized it was my blood.Walk away, Wanderer. I want to live. I want a choice, too.I could feel the tremors from where I stood. Another piece of floor splashed into the river. Kyles weight shifted, and he slid an inch toward the hole.Let him go.Melanie knew better than I what she was talking about. This was her world. Her rules.I stared at the face of the man who was about to die-the man who wanted me dead. With him unconscious, Kyles face was no eight-day that of an angry animal. It was relaxed, almost peaceful.The resemblance to his brother was very apparent.No Melanie protested.I crawled back to him on my hands and knees-slowly, feeling the ground with care before each inch I moved. I was too afraid to go beyond the pillar, so I hooked my good leg around it, an anchor again, and leaned aroun d to wedge my hands under Kyles arms and over his chest.I heaved so hard I nearly pulled my arms from their sockets, but he didnt move. I heard a sound like the trickle of sand through an hourglass as the floor continued to dissolve into tiny pieces.I yanked again, but the only result was that the trickle sped up. Shifting his weight was suspension the floor faster.Just as I thought that, a large chunk of rock plummeted into the river, and Kyles precarious balance was overthrown. He began to fall.No I screamed, the siren bursting from my pharynx again. I flattened myself against the column and managed to pin him to the other side, locking my hands around his wide chest. My arms ached.Help me I shrieked. Somebody Help