Professional international business law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Professional international business law - Essay Example Wally Solar Manufacturer hereinafter referred to as â€Å"Principal†; a corporation organized and registered in accordance with the laws of _________, having a registered address at ____________ and herein represented by ___________. Japan Sun Power Ltd., herein after referred to as â€Å"Agent†; a corporation organized and registered under the laws of Japan, having a registered address at ____________ and herein represented by ______________;† There are many ways of arranging the sections of an agreement to make in understandable and coherent. I propose that this agreement will be divided into sections with headings and subtitles for easy references. Statement of Purpose. The draft agreement you provided me has no statement of purpose. This provision is important as it will define the whole document and will guide the reader as what purpose it will serve. This should appear as section 1 in the agreement. Definition of Terms. In an agreement, as well as any other contracts, it is highly desirable to define the terms we use in the provisions thereof. There are words, which may have dual meanings or connotes a deferent interpretation when conjunct with another word or phrase. My recommendation is that we include a definition of terms in the agreement and put it as Section 3. Appointment and Territorial Coverage. A clear provision appointing the Agent and defining the territory upon which the agent shall have authority to operate should be included. This should be included as Section 4. I would like to suggest that provisions for this section should read as follows: The Principal hereby appoints the Agent to serve as its exclusive sales agent and representative in Japan and shall act in accordance with the terms of this agreement. The appointment should limit the coverage of the Agent within the Japanese territory as you already mentioned that the Agent is a small company with no capability of handling transactions outside Japan. Non-Transferability

Toyota Logistics Essay Example for Free

Toyota Logistics Essay Logistics and facility costs incurred within a supply chain change as the number of facilities, their location, and capacity allocation is changed. Companies must consider inventory, transportation, and facility costs when designing their supply chain networks. Inventory and facility costs increase as the number of facilities in a supply chain increase. Transportation costs decrease as the number of facilities is increased. If the number of facilities increases to a point where inbound. Economies of scale are lost, then transportation cost increase. The goal when designing a supply chain network is to maximize the firms profits while satisfying customer needs in terms of demand and responsiveness. Toyota cares are priced differently in different country. Car cost remain the same across the world but the tax and transportation cost differ in different country. Toyota need to minimize their transportation cost by efficient plant. They have joint venture in India, they have also have plant in Thailand and Indonesia. They don’t need this all three plant, this plants increasing their cost. As this countries distance are less and transportation facilities are good. They can build a plant in India and shutdown the others. Toyota can shut down their plant in Portugal, they can cover that country from Frances plant. Toyota can cover Mexico and Brazil market by holding their plant in Colombo. Colombo is middle of this two country, and Mexico don’t need any plant, the plant of USA can easily transport the products and Brazil or Portugal any one from this two country can shutdown and remain the other.

A Dream Deferred :: essays research papers

What happens to a dream deferred?Does it dry uplike a raisin in the sun?Or fester like a sore-And then run?Does it stink like rotten meat?Or crust and sugar over- like a syrupy sweet?Maybe it just sagslike a heavy load.Or does it explode?While Langhston Hughes authors this poem, A Dream Deferred, it can easily be interpreted as Toni Morrison's description of Nel and her life of sorrow and dissatisfaction. Sula and Nel, the protagonists in Toni Morrison's Sula, are each the only daughters of mothers whose distance leaves the young girls with dreams to erase this solitude and loneliness. There is no question that Sula alleviates this aloneness with a lascivious and experimental life, "I'm going down like one of those redwoods. I sure did live in this world"(143). Nel, however, for the most part, fails terribly at realizing her dreams and experiencing a happy existence. Compromising her individuality, her emotional stability, and her dreams mark Nel's banal and unfulfilling life.Early in Nel's life during a trip to New Orleans, she watches as her mother is humiliated by a train's white, racist conductor; she watches the indignity of her mother's having to squat in an open field to urinate while white train passengers gaze; and she watches her mother's shame at her own Creole mother's libidinous lifestyle. Her mother's submissiveness and humiliation evokes a fear, an anger, and an energy in Nel. Her emotions intensify as she makes a declaration to never be her mother, to never compromise her individuality, "I'm me. I'm not their daughter. I'm not Nel. I'm me. Me"(28). Figuring that her "me-ness" will take her far, she exclaims "I want...I want to be... wonderful"(29). However, that trip to Louisiana "was the last as well as the first time she was ever to leave Medallion"(29).Initially, Nel's self-declaration empowers her to pursue that dream of independence. She gathers power and joy, and "the strength to cultivate a friend in spite of mother"(29). Nel achieves a degree of her self-described "me-ness," her dream, a separation from her subservient and disgraceful mother, resulting in a new found complacency, "Nel, who regarded the oppressive neatness of her home with dread, felt comfortable in it with Sula"(29). This happiness was present in both girls, "Their meeting was fortunate for it let them use each other to grow on"(49). Unfortunately, as she left Medallion only one time, Nel would discover and enjoy this "me-ness" only one time.

Trafficking Essay -- Legal Issues, Human Trafficking

Human trafficking has become a major problem worldwide which affects many people. An estimated 600-800 thousand people are moved unwillingly between international borders each year (Kristof, et al, pg. 10). There is an even larger number of 12.3 million people who are estimated to be forced to work in agriculture, manufacturing, and the sex trade (Shepherd, pg. 94). A majority of the people forced into labor, especially into the sex trade, are children, most of which are women, at an estimated 1 million children per year (Kristof, pg. 9). There is a large amount of violence and abuse involved in sex slavery, many times leading to death. Globalization seems to have played a major role in the rise of sex slavery and the sex trade but has also played major roles in efforts to stop it. There has been speculation that the way that human trafficking has been constructed over time is a major problem in the scheme of trafficking. Barbara Sullivan writes that as the debate over trafficking evolved â€Å"women were seen to have a 'vulnerable sexuality' that was readily exploited by men; trafficking always involved prostitution and women's consent was irrelevant† (Shepherd, pg. 91). She argues that this shaping of the issue has also â€Å"erased the possibility of women being active agents in their own lives, for example by migrating to undertake lucrative paid work in the sex trade.† She continues in her writing to attribute these same problems to the way that anti-trafficking agencies present the issue as well. This viewpoint and argument is irrelevant to the issue and the construction of trafficking has much less of an effect on women's rights than the problem itself. Prostitution in itself, even if willing, involves a person sell... ...any have a hard time once released (Kristof, pg. 35-45). If girls in regions like Cambodia become educated they are more likely to be employed and are more likely to eventually be able to escape the lower status of being a poor woman. Since poor people have fewer chances at income and education in poor countries and are less likely to fight back against oppressive conditions, they are preyed upon by human traffickers (Shepherd, pg. 95). Since both of these things are true of women as well they have a double strike against them and are even more likely to be preyed upon. Even though globalization played a major role in the increase of human trafficking by making it easier for people to move from one place to another it also has played a role in allowing people who are more well off to assist those who do not have the resources or the freedoms to help themselves.

Mm Litteruture

To Celia is a love poem with a simple four line rhyme scheme (abcbabcb), written in first person. The over all tone of the poem is dreamy, optimistic, persistent, and gullibly innocent. The rhythm is smooth, and pensive, and seems to fall into an iambic pentameter. The poem gives the reader an intimate sense of this man’s love, and obsession for the woman of his desire, Celia. I interpreted this poem as having a theme of lost love. I imagined that Celia is his ex-lover, he still is in love with her, and wants her to come back to him.In the first stanza, the strong feelings he has for her are expressed metaphorically by comparing his love to drinking wine, and Jove’s Nectar, an elixir for immortality. He is intoxicated by her, and can’t live without her. In the first line â€Å"Drink to me, only with thine eyes And I will pledge with mine†, he is asking Celia to look at him with her eyes, and tell him she still loves him, he will in turn promise himself to her. â€Å"Or leave a kiss but in the cup And I'll not look for wine† meaning If that is too much to ask, at least show him in some way that she still cares for him, and that will as least satisfy him. The thirst that from the soul doth rise Doth ask a drink divine†, the desire and love he has for her is burning deep inside of him, and he needs her. â€Å"But might I of Jove's nectar sup I would not change for thine†, meaning he cannot live without her. If he were given the gift of immortality, he would not take it just to be with her. A wreath is a symbol of eternity, in the second stanza, he expresses eternal love for her by metaphorically comparing it to the rosy wreath. I believe the wreath also may represent an apology.In the first line of the second stanza, â€Å"I sent thee late a rosy wreath Not so much honoring thee†, I believe he is talking about the mistakes he made. He used the word late, implying that he was too late showing her his eternal lo ve for her, and is now not able to have her, honoring being another word for having. â€Å"As giving it a hope that there It could not withered be†, he is telling her he loves her hoping their love is not lost. â€Å"But thou thereon didst only breath And sent'st it back to me†, she doesn’t want to listen to him anymore, takes a deep breath or sigh, and does not accept his apology. Since, when it grows and smells, I swear, Not of itself but thee†, No matter what happens, I will always love you, and a piece of you will always be with me. Some techniques used in this poem are Alliteration, the use of metaphors, personification, irony, hyperbole, and possibly allegory. Alliteration can be identified in this poem by the words that are stressed such as (highlighted in green above) in the first stanza, stresses are placed on Drink, cup, kiss, and divine. Metaphors were used to describe his love for Celia, such as drinking the wine, the elixir of eternal life, an d the rosy wreath.Personification is used in personifying Celia’s eyes, as if they could speak, and the thirst takes on a human quality of rising, and asking for a drink. I thought irony was present when Celia sent the wreath back, or denied his apology. The man disregarded this action, and continued with his protest of love for her. I think hyperbole was used a lot in this poem. For example the entire poem seems to be a hyperbole. It is extremely exaggerated, and in particular, the lines â€Å"But might I of Jove's nectar sup I would not change for thine†, and â€Å"Since, when it grows and smells, I swear, Not of itself but thee. The images are unrealistic, and cannot be taken literally. I thought allegory can be identified in this poem, because if you read through the poem once, you may just interpret a man courting a woman, and the woman literally returning his gift to him, not acknowledging him. However I felt that these two people were at once very close. They l oved each other, and the man did something that caused them to break up. He still is madly in love with her, and would do anything to get her back. He apologizes to her, but it is not enough.The literal meaning is obvious, but the symbolic meaning of the poets word choices lead to my interpretation. I believe three main important concepts that influence the entire poems message would be word choice, tone, and symbols. Word choice is important in this poem, because the words used give the reader a detailed understanding of what the poet is trying to say. The words also create the imagery of the poem, and set up the meaning of the symbols used throughout. For example the whole first stanza is surrounded by words that are related to drinking wine, such as drink, cup, wine, thirst, and nectar.The words make it easy for the reader to determine that he is comparing the love he has for Celia to drinking wine, and the nectar of Jove’s. Her love is intoxicating, and worth more than an ything to him. In the second stanza, the word choice I noticed was more important. The words late, rosy wreath, honouring, withered, breath, grows, smell, and swear, to me all had in depth meaning. For example late lead me to believe he had made a mistake. Rosy wreath suggested eternal love, and an apology. Honouring took on the meaning of having. Withered reminded me of dyeing, and lost love.Breath implied her presence, and disapproval. Grows, tells the reader that his love for her has only gotten stronger. Smell implies a sense of lingering, as if her essence is still all around him. Swear implies a promise to oneself, and he promises to always love her. The tone of the poem I described as dreamy, optimistic, persistent, and gullibly innocent. I think this tone is important in getting the poets mood across to the reader. The rhythm of the poem contributes to the tone because it is smooth and pensive. The poem is read in a smooth whimsical way, and slightly imploring.I thought it w as dreamy because of the flowery language used, and the whimsical way it read through. Optimistic because he is hopeful that Celia still loves him, persistent, because he goes into length describing his love, and gullibly innocent, because even though it is clear Celia wants nothing to do with him anymore, he still holds onto the love he has for her. The symbols I thought were interesting, and really led me to discovering an underlying meaning to this poem. Examples of the symbol used in this poem are the eyes, Jove’s Nectar, the rosy wreath, and Celia’s breath.When the poet opens with mentioning thine eyes, it symbolizes that they are close, and he knows what she is feeling without her speaking. The eyes create intimacy in the poem. Jove’s Nectar symbolizes immortality, and his love. His love will never die for her. The rosy wreath symbolizes eternity, on how he will love her forever, and also I believe the wreath serves as a symbol for the apology he is giving her. Celia’s breath symbolizes her release from him. She does not take him in, but exhales. This symbolizes her rejecting him.I think these symbols were very influential in the way I interpreted this poem. In conclusion, I really enjoyed this poem, and digging into its underlying meaning. At first I found the language very hard to follow, and read it so many times I now have it memorized. I researched other people’s thoughts online, and realized that I had taken a different perspective on the poem compared to other reviews. I always find it interesting to see how differently people think, and how the meanings of these poems take life in the individual depending on their own experiences.

Wakandas Finest Professor Ramos Blog

Wakandas Finest Wakanda’s Finest The Black Panther movie is a superhero movie unlike any other with its breathtaking art and culture. The movie has a diverse cast something you rarely see in Marvel superhero movies. This movie also focuses on worldwide controversial topics such as human trafficking and racial history. Many people thought that a movie with a minority cast couldn’t do big-time Hollywood blockbusters, let alone superhero movies, but this movie proved those critics wrong it made 631 million domestically in ticket sales and grossed 1.3 worldwide. This move showed just how open audiences can be towards a culturally and socially aware movie, even if it has a minority cast.   From the African drums to the cool futuristic planes this movie keeps you on your heels for excitement. This movie is worth watching for its innovation, it’s cinematography and its culturally relevant message. The movie like all Marvel movies was based on a comic book written by the late Stan Lee. Black Panther debut in 1966 Fantastic Four issue called â€Å"Adventure to Wakanda†. The place where our hero’s homeland and the main story is held is called Wakanda, a fictional futuristic African city. Where Wakanda is truly different from normal African cities is that it was never touched by Europeans and other foreigners, which gives a viewer the idea of what would have happened to African’s countries if foreigners didn’t come in and take over. In America, there are a lot of social problems that affect its people. Black Panther goes into depth with these problems which is very surprising for a Marvel movie. It comes out at a perfect time because the social and political tension is so high. It gives the viewer a fresh sense of the change that needs to take place in order for things to get better.   It also gives the minority boy or girl a superhero that they can look up to. This movie had the hype, especially in the black community. Famous African American such as Kendrick Lamar and TDE bought out 3 cinemas for kids to see and T.I. gave out 300 tickets for people to see the film. LeBron James called it one of the greatest movies he has ever seen and was very needed in the times we’re in. This is just a little taste of the hype the movie brought but did it live up to it? As far as box office sales the movie went far beyond expectations by grossing 1.3 billion dollars in revenue. When it comes to the quality of the movie we first need to know what makes a movie good. According to msfilms.org in an article called â€Å"5 Things that Make a Good Film† by Penny Forles gives an idea of what a good film is. Penny first states that a good movie needs good characters and Black Panther delivers. First, with our hero T’Challa with his funny charm and noble cause,is as good of a hero as can be. It only makes everyone root for the guy. Then the story gives us villains who are likeable such as Ulysses Klaue and Erik Killmonger. Klaue is the cartoon-like villain who’s trying to make some money whereas Killmonger brings us a different look at the everyday Marvel villain. Killmonger’s ideals will have the viewer thinking and wondering if he is really in the wrong. The Second item necessary to having a good movie is a simple plot which thi s movie has. Not to Spoil it, but it is the simple hero fall and rise in order to save the world plot. Forles states â€Å"that a plot of a movie can make or break a film so you don’t what it too complex†. The Next item in Forles essay is the theme which is also simple in this movie. The theme changes from beginning to end and that’s how the viewer who has watched this film will leave. The fourth Item is attention to details which this movie does well in the form of the African culture and accents to the fantastic soundtrack. Lastly, Forles thinks movies should have a good ending which once again this movie does. It has one of the best final villain speeches in all of the Marvel films and a hero’s heartwarming show of change and hope. The film even gives a reference to the actual Black Panthers Party, a civil rights group who originated in Oakland California in 1966. Their purpose was to patrol the African American neighborhoods and protect them from police brutality. The black panthers also help the poor African American’s giving them food, clothes and educating them. They would carry around guns and watched any police arrest in the neighborhood making sure that the African American being arrested had their rights observed. This was because during that time, when America had just begun to develop its civil rights laws, and the country was in a worse state racially than it is today. Their founder and leader, Huey Newton, who was a man that was willing to die for what he believed in, also compare to a character in the Black Panther movie. Surprisingly it’s not the hero, it’s the villain Erik Killmonger. Killmonger’s ideals compare to the Black Panther Party in many ways. Both of their or igins are in Oakland and that they want to better the black community. They also wanted to use revolution as a method in order to achieve their adjective, although the Black Panther Party was more civil with their approach at first. The movie has you leaving the theater with a sense of sadness, especially if you’re an African American because you know his views were right but it his method was wrong. That is also why critics say he the most complexed Marvel villain. The final verdict of the movie Black Panther it is an 8 out of 10. Although it has a good story and plot the film still felt rushed. The CGI for the final fight scene felt lackluster and not as good as the other fight scenes. The villain Klaue was wasted potential compared to how the character is in the comics. There are also major plot holes but the good outweighs the bad.   This film is worth watching because it’s a fun and happy time. It has its flashy moments for the kids and a deep story for the adults. If the Director Ryan Coogler was to see this review he would appreciate the fact that I noticed the references about the Black Panther Party and the social massages in his film. Black panther picture https://www.google.com/url?sa=isource=imagescd=cad=rjauact=8ved=2ahUKEwjc88W3sZbfAhUCOn0KHVrjDnAQjB16BAgBEAMurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwallpapercave.com%2Ferik-killmonger-wallpaperspsig=AOvVaw1LNbigHKZnILpE7IqTfoTWust=1544569743623887 Work cited Liberation, Imagination, and the Black Panther Party by Kathleen Cleaver and George Katsiaficas , published 2001 Huey P. Newton with the Assistance of J. Herman Blake Revolutionary Suicide by Fredrika Newton, published 2009 Black Panther Movie, Disney and Marvel Films Directed by Ryan Coogle written by Ryan Coolger, Joe Robert Cole 2018 Review â€Å"Black Panther† Shakes up the Marvel Universe by Manohla Dargis Feb. 6 2018

October Writing Prompts for Classroom Journals

October Writing Prompts for Classroom Journals October begins with students and teachers still happily enjoy the summer holidays and ends with the excitement of heading back to school. Feel free to use these writing prompts for each day in October as daily warm-ups or journal entries. October Holidays Adopt-a-Shelter-Animal MonthComputer Learning MonthFamily History MonthNational Dessert MonthEnergy Awareness Month Writing Prompt Ideas for October October 1 - Theme: World Vegetarian DayAre you a vegetarian? Why? If not, would you ever consider becoming one? Why or why not?October 2 - Theme: Peanuts Comics Strip First PublishedWhy is your favorite character from Peanuts: Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Peppermint Patty, or another character? Explain your answer.OR October 2- Theme:  International Day of Non-ViolenceNon-violence has been used to bring about social change.Read up on Gandhi. What social change would you suggest should be brought about?October 3 - Theme: Family Television DayIs there any television show that you watch together as a family? If so, what are they? If not, explain which TV show is your favorite.October 4 - Theme: Toot Your Own Flute DayWhat is something that you are really proud about? What are you good at? For todays writing assignment, brag about yourself.October 5 - Theme: Fast Food (Ray Krocs Birthday)What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Why?OR October 5 - Theme: World Teachers DayEstablishe d by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) in 1994.Write a teacher from your past (or present) a heartfelt â€Å"thank you† letter or card. October 6 - Theme: Thomas Edison Showed the First Motion PictureExplain how movies have changed the world OR consider the economics of the motion picture industry (MPAA).   What is the significance of this industry that employs roughly  2.1 million jobs while paying out $49 billion to local businesses across the country?October 7 - Theme: Computer Learning MonthAre you a gamer? A coder?  On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest, how would you rate your skills using a computer?October 8 - Theme:  Columbus Day  -(celebrated)Should Columbus Day still be celebrated as a national holiday?Explain your answer.October 9 - Theme: Explorer Leif Erikson DayCelebrate the explorer who found America!No, not Columbus. The other explorer, the Viking, Leif Erikson, who beat Columbus by 400 years. Why do you think we do not celebrate this explorer?October 10 - Theme: Cakes (Cake Decorating Day)If you could have any cake for your birthday, what would it be?Describe the type of cake, the t ype of icing, and how it would be decorated. October 11 - Theme: Eleanor Roosevelts BirthdayEleanor Roosevelt was born on this date in 1884. She is considered one of the most influential First Ladies. In your opinion, what kind of influence should the First Lady have on the government?October 12 - Theme: Indigenous Peoples Day (traditionally Columbus Day)Indigenous Peoples Day  began as a counter-celebration to  the U.S.  federal holiday  of  Columbus Day.   Indigenous Peoples Day is intended to celebrate North and South American peoples, and to bring attention to  Native Americans who  continue to practice their cultures today. Do you know which indigenous peoples are associated with your town, city, or state?October 13 - Theme: Train Your Brain DayAre you a fan of crosswords, sudoku, or other mind games? Why or why not?OR  October 13 - Theme: National MM DayThere are over 340 million MMs produced daily.Which  is your favorite kind of MM candy? (plain, peanut, etc) If they had to invent a new MM, what would you suggest?October 14 - Theme: Chocolate Covered Insect DayThe  U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization notes that  there are more than 1,900 edible insect species on Earth. Insects may be one way to feed the world population in the future.Would you ever consider eating a chocolate covered insect? Why or why not? October 15 - Theme: National Poetry DayT. S. Eliot said, Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood. What do you think he meant by this?October 16 - Theme: Dictionary DayBased on the life and times of Noah Webster of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, this day celebrates words. Over 800 words are added annually to our language.  Look up some of the new additions or make a suggestion for the adoption of a new word.October 17 - Theme: Wear Something Gaudy DayDescribe the gaudiest outfit imaginable. Would you wear it?OR October 17 - Theme: Chess​In 1956, a 13-year old Bobby Fischer won the a chess match against the   26-year-old champion Donald Byrne  in what is called the chess Game of the Century.Do you play chess or other strategy games (board or video)? Do you think age makes a difference in who is a champion in a game of strategy? Why or why not?October 18 - Theme: Adopt-a-Shelter-Animal DayAccording to the ASPCA, approximately 6.5 million companion animals en ter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year.If you were to buy a dog or cat, would you go to a shelter to adopt one or buy from a breeder? Explain your reasons. October 19 - Theme: Thomas Edison Demonstrated the Electric LightA survey taken at the end of the 20th Century found that Edison was the most influential figure of the millennium..... Do you agree or disagree?   Describe at least five things that would be different about life if there were no electric lights.October 20 - Theme: Sweetest DayDescribe at least three nice things that you can do for someone you care about.October 21 - Theme: Reptile Awareness DayReptiles can an  alternatives for people who are allergic to furry  or feathery animals. There are some drawbacks, however, as there are many species of  Ã‚  reptiles that will bite. Some species are venomous.Would you own a snake or other reptile as a pet? Why or why not?October 22 - Theme: National Color DayWhat is your favorite color? How would you describe your favorite color to a blind person?OR October 22- Theme: RiskOn  this day in 1779, the French balloonist Andrà ©-Jacques Garnerin was the first person to use a parachute when he jumped out of a balloon over Paris using a silk parachute that he made himself.What is the riskiest thing you have ever done? Would you do it again? October 23 - Theme: Mole DayMole Day is an unofficial holiday for chemistry enthusiasts celebrated between 6:02 a.m. and 6:02 p.m., or 6:02 10/23 (a measuring  unit in chemistry).What are three ways in which chemistry has made the world a better place?October 24 - Theme: United Nations DayIn 1971, United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.If you could visit one foreign country, which would it be and why?October 25 - Theme: Sarcasm (Sarcastic Month)Are you a fan of sarcasm? Are you personally sarcastic? Explain your answers.October 26 - Theme: Make a Difference DayPick an area of your life: family, school, work, friends, or society. Explain 5 ways you can make a positive difference in that area.October 27 -Theme:  US Navy DayThe US Navy was created  by the Second  Continental  Congress  passed a resolution  but it was not until 1794 after an engagement with Barbary pirates in the Mediterranean that the Navy showed its prowess. What do you know about this branch of the military? Would you ever consider a career in the military? October 28 - Theme: Statue of Libertys BirthdayThe Statue of Liberty, or Liberty Enlightening the World, was a   symbolic gift from the people of France to the people of the United States in 1886.What does this the Statue of Liberty symbolize today?October 29 - Theme:  National Cat Day68 percent of all households in the United States own  a pet cat, making the number of pet cats close to  95.6 million.Are you a cat pet person or are you a dog pet person? Or do you even want a pet? Why or why not?October 30 - Theme: National Candy Corn DayWhats your favorite Halloween candy? Why?October 31 - Theme: HalloweenThe National Retail Federation estimates that over $9 billion dollars will be spent on Halloween. Do you plan on spending money for Halloween? Do you like Halloween? Dressing up? Why or why not?

Pyrrhus, the Pyrrhic War, and the Defense of Tarentum

Pyrrhus, the Pyrrhic War, and the Defense of Tarentum Spartas one colony, Tarentum, in Italy, was a wealthy commercial center with a navy, but an inadequate army. When a Roman squadron of ships arrived at the coast of Tarentum, in violation of a treaty of 302 that denied Rome access to its harbor, the Tarentines sank the ships, killed the admiral, and added insult to injury by spurning Roman ambassadors. To retaliate, the Romans marched on Tarentum, which hired soldiers from King Pyrrhus of Epirus (in modern Albania) to help defend it. Pyrrhus troops were heavy-armed foot soldiers with lances, a cavalry, and a herd of elephants. They fought the Romans in the summer of 280 B.C. The Roman legions were equipped with (ineffective) short swords, and the Roman cavalry horses couldnt stand against the elephants. The Romans were routed, losing about 7000 men, but Pyrrhus lost perhaps 4000, whom he couldnt afford to lose. Despite his diminished manpower, Pyrrhus advanced from Tarentum to the city of Rome. Arriving there, he realized he had made a mistake and asked for peace, but his offer was rejected. Soldiers had always come from the propertied classes, but under the blind censor Appius Claudius, Rome now drew troops from citizens without property. Appius Claudius was from a family whose name was known throughout Roman history. The gens produced Clodius Pulcher (92-52 B.C.) the flamboyant tribune whose gang caused trouble for Cicero, and the Claudians in the Julio-Claudian dynasty of Roman emperors. An evil early Appius Claudius pursued and brought a fraudulent legal decision against a free woman, Verginia, in 451 B.C. They trained through the winter and marched in the spring of 279, meeting Pyrrhus near Ausculum. Pyrrhus again won by virtue of his elephants and again, at great cost to himself a Pyrrhic victory. He returned to Tarentum and again asked Rome for peace. A couple of years later, Pyrrhus attacked Roman troops near Malventum/Beneventum; this time, unsuccessfully. Defeated, Pyrrhus left with the surviving fraction of the troops he had brought with him. When the garrison Pyrrhus had left behind in Tarentum departed in 272, Tarentum fell to Rome. In the terms of their treaty, Rome did not require the people of Tarentum to supply troops, as it did with most allies, but instead Tarentum had to provide ships. Rome now controlled Magna Graecia in the south, as well as most of the rest of Italy to the Gauls in the north. Source: A History of the Roman Republic, by Cyril E. Robinson, NY Thomas Y. Crowell Company Publishers: 1932

Systemic lupus erythematosus Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Systemic lupus erythematosus - Research Paper Example Lupus can be drug induced, can occur in babies born to women who have Sjogren’s Disease or can be confined to the skin. Systemic lupus erythematosus is more widespread in that almost every part of the body can be affected. Symptoms experienced include extreme fatigue, skin rashes, weight loss and fever ( Lupus Health Centre, 2012) Kim et al ( 1999) also described respiratory distress in adults with the condition. Kimberly ( 2001, page 650) describes how both extreme hypertension and infection can be the causes of fatality in this very serious condition. The author looks at what he describes as ’research opportunities’ of different types and how these could be expected to bring about advances in treatment of the condition. This list includes such the identification of relevant genes, as well as how these become activated in early auto immune activity, causing the disease and involving both the inborn and acquired immune systems that humans have. He looks first of all at the incidence of the condition, stating that it is commoner among females as compared with males, and also that it is both commoner, and often more severe, among certain racial groups, naming both those of Hispanic origin and black people. It is stated that ( page 650) both the inflammatory and non-inflammatory damage caused to the body’s various organs, is due to the immune system and its pathogenic role in SLE. He looks forward a long way, believing that the next quarter of a century will bring about great advances in both understanding and the management of the condition. He sees this as moving towards a prevention of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. ( SLE). Antigens are provoked into action and these in their turn incite other antigens, and so the disease spreads through the victim’s body. The author describes current methods of management including the use of non –steroid anti- inflammatory drugs , as well as ones originally developed in

Respiratory for Paramedic Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Respiratory for Paramedic - Case Study Example When irritants are inhaled, they result into swellings of the cells within the respiratory tract (Barnes, 2002 p.52). These cells are then activated to initiate an inflammatory process thus triggers the release of other mediators for inflammatory process like the interleukins, tumour necrosis factor alpha, matrix-metalloproteinase, fibrinogen, interferon gamma and C-reactive protein (Steurer-Stey et al, 2012 p.367). These mediators are responsible for the sustained inflammation process which results to the severe damage to the tissues as well as many other systematic systems. The inflammation sustained inflammation of the tissues of the respiratory system results into changes in the structure of the lungs which further lead to the limitation of the airflow. The inflammatory response associated with COPD is as a result into the remodelling of COPD thus result into the narrowing of the airways. According to Barnes (2002 p.84), three main factors are responsible for these structural changes namely; accumulation of scar tissue as a result of damage to the airways, peribronchial fibrosis as well as the over multiplication of the epithelial cells within the lining of the airways. These structural changes results into the loss of elasticity of the lung tissue and destruction of parenchyma. Alveoli is also affected because the structures feeding and supporting the alveoli are also destroyed leading to a condition referred to as emphysema. This is the most dangerous process of pathology of COPD since it results into the collapse of the small airways such as alveoli. This is very dangerous since it impedes the flow of air as well as trapping air within the lungs thus reducing lung capacity as compared to normal individuals. The other change that occurs as a result of COPD is the dysfunction of the mucociliary. Irritants that lead to inflammation of the airways also result into the inflammation of the mucosa glands that that line the airway walls in the

Mergers and acquisitions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Mergers and acquisitions - Essay Example HCL EAS Limited ("HCL EAS"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of HCL, for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Axon at a price of 650 pence in cash per Axon Share (including the Interim Dividend of 2.25 pence announced on 26 August 2008) On 2 October 2008, the Axon Board announced that it had withdrawn its recommendation for the Infosys Acquisition and intended to recommend unanimously the HCL Offer On November 25, Axon approved the scheme of arrangement to implement its acquisition by HCL EAS. HCL got 99.9 per cent votes in its favor and the company acquired 34.7 million shares of the British firm On 15 December, 2008 HCL Technologies completed its ?441 million (around Rs 3,100 crore) cash offer Axon Group Plc. Deal Structure Analysis HCL EAS, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of HCL Technologies which had been formed specifically for the purposes of making the offer, announced a cash offer to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Axon for ? 441.1 mn. HCL EAS is a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of HCL Technologies. Axon shareholders received for each Axon Share 647.75 pence in cash. Shareholders who were on the register of members of Axon on 24 October 2008 will also be entitled to receive an additional 2.25 pence for each Axon Share held by way of the Interim Dividend. Such Shareholders therefore received an aggregate of 650 pence per Axon Share. Financing arrangements: The cash consideration payable by HCL EAS under the terms of the HCL Acquisition was funded using a combination of the HCL Group’s existing resources and committed loan facility arranged by Standard Chartered for the purposes of the HCL Acquisition. New debt was given to HCL EAS pursuant to a... The paper affirms that there are many theories and motives that have given us useful reasons why mergers and acquisitions that take place. Williamson proposed the concept of transaction cost economics (TCE) through which an organization can find out ways of optimizing its activities so that the production and transaction costs are minimized. He proposed that it is generally cheaper to buy a generic product from an outsider which is having its core competency in the same area. However, firms might be interested in internalizing the above exchange. Therefore, firms might want to acquire other organizations. Another parallel theory that is often cited is the theory of resource dependence. It is proposed that organization exchange resources within their environment which include suppliers or competitors. Theorists claim that organizations go for acquisitions to take control over critical resources in order to decrease its dependence on outside. Mergers and acquisitions lead to organizati ons having access to critical resources thereby increasing their market power. Another motive in organizations going for mergers and acquisitions is the drive for organizations to acquire knowledge. Firms acquire or merge with other companies in order to take advantage of opportunities in organizational learning. This theory is based on the increasing importance of knowledge in achieving competitive advantage. Mergers are a preferred more of acquiring specific technical skills and capabilities that are difficult to buy.

Case studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Case studies - Essay Example It started as small company but it grew so rapidly that, in 2004 it had been ranked 25th among the Top 50 S&P 500 companies by Business Week magazine. The company has set itself as an example for the other companies in the SME sectors across the world regarding how to become successful in a short span of time. The period of 1990s seemed to be most successful for the company when on average it had opened a new store almost in each working day. This high pace of growth continued even after its entry into the new millennium also. In fact it had been able to maintain thin momentum until recently. The ongoing global down turn had also affected the company badly like the others. Since 2008, it has closed around 900 stores in the United States as demand has declined sharply. However, it still has a growth plan outside the territory of USA in near future. In fact, it is planning to open as many as 900 new stores in the countries outside the USA. (Starbucks- company Overview, 2009) Very often, this company has faced several types of protests on the grounds of trade related policies, employee relations, impacts on environment, and so on. But in the mid of all these issues it has managed to grow at a very fast rate (Starbucks- company Overview, 2009). There are a number of factors that have helped Starbucks to become so successful. These factors are as follows- Rapid expansion on a global basis: Starbucks had adopted the method of expanding its market not only in the domestic front, but also in the foreign countries. This expansion plan has been able to make the name of the Starbucks known by a huge number of people around the world which simply has resulted in magnificent increase in the customer base of this company. By creating its presence in the global market on strong feet, it has been able to dominate the segment of market it caters to. It has been rated as one of the best company to work with and its pleasant working environment has made the company able to expand at such a high pace, while retaining its customer base at its other outlets. Creation of brand loyalty: One major reason behind its success is that it has been able to create huge brand loyalty among its customers. The company has always been careful in meeting the customers' need and providing them with memorable experiences so that they make a return to this brand again and again. This is why the company has been rates as one of those global brands that have created highest level of impact on their consumers. In 2003, a magazine had considered Starbucks as one of most trustworthy brand. Its recognition as one of the most impactful and most trustworthy brand has enhanced its brand value and has made its logo recognizable by the most. Consequently, it has helped to retain its customer-base. The degree of loyalty of the customers to the Starbucks brand is so huge that even when the customers go any foreign location, they visit Starbucks' outlet to have a cup of coffee that they enjoy in their own home town. Adoption of innovative strategies for business: the company has employed a highly skilled research team for developing innovative ways of attracting more and more customers to its brand, while retaining the existing customers' loyalty towards this brand. For example, in 2004, it introduced a CD burning service in one of its outlets in California. This innovative service allows its

Holcims Romanian Unique Venture Yields Positive Results for all Essay

Holcims Romanian Unique Venture Yields Positive Results for all Stakeholders - Essay Example The plants needed only refurbishment and improvement. Secondly, operating in the country offers opportunities to widen the company's market share as the country can serve as a gateway to other countries of Eastern Europe. Furthermore, Romania is relatively politically stable and has a friendly business atmosphere. Romanians were also known for their enterprising character. One of the concerns usually arising from cement production is that the process uses large amounts of fossil fuel and involved large amounts of CO2 emissions. What Holcim did was to use contaminated and expired pet foods as a fuel substitute. 13,000 tons were gathered from the country's groceries and manufacturers. This endeavor was undertaken with all the environmental and safety regulations inspected and audited by a third party. Holcim discovered that each ton of pet food replaced 1.2 tons of traditional fossil fuel. Along with the use of fly ash instead of clinkers, the use of the pet food reduced C02 emissions by 74%. It also helped the country tackle with its toxic waste disposal problem. Believing that people are the foundation of value creation, Holcim offered wages that were 7% higher than the cement industry average and 15% higher than Romania's general industry. The work force was also represented by an independent trade union.

Case studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Case studies - Essay Example It started as small company but it grew so rapidly that, in 2004 it had been ranked 25th among the Top 50 S&P 500 companies by Business Week magazine. The company has set itself as an example for the other companies in the SME sectors across the world regarding how to become successful in a short span of time. The period of 1990s seemed to be most successful for the company when on average it had opened a new store almost in each working day. This high pace of growth continued even after its entry into the new millennium also. In fact it had been able to maintain thin momentum until recently. The ongoing global down turn had also affected the company badly like the others. Since 2008, it has closed around 900 stores in the United States as demand has declined sharply. However, it still has a growth plan outside the territory of USA in near future. In fact, it is planning to open as many as 900 new stores in the countries outside the USA. (Starbucks- company Overview, 2009) Very often, this company has faced several types of protests on the grounds of trade related policies, employee relations, impacts on environment, and so on. But in the mid of all these issues it has managed to grow at a very fast rate (Starbucks- company Overview, 2009). There are a number of factors that have helped Starbucks to become so successful. These factors are as follows- Rapid expansion on a global basis: Starbucks had adopted the method of expanding its market not only in the domestic front, but also in the foreign countries. This expansion plan has been able to make the name of the Starbucks known by a huge number of people around the world which simply has resulted in magnificent increase in the customer base of this company. By creating its presence in the global market on strong feet, it has been able to dominate the segment of market it caters to. It has been rated as one of the best company to work with and its pleasant working environment has made the company able to expand at such a high pace, while retaining its customer base at its other outlets. Creation of brand loyalty: One major reason behind its success is that it has been able to create huge brand loyalty among its customers. The company has always been careful in meeting the customers' need and providing them with memorable experiences so that they make a return to this brand again and again. This is why the company has been rates as one of those global brands that have created highest level of impact on their consumers. In 2003, a magazine had considered Starbucks as one of most trustworthy brand. Its recognition as one of the most impactful and most trustworthy brand has enhanced its brand value and has made its logo recognizable by the most. Consequently, it has helped to retain its customer-base. The degree of loyalty of the customers to the Starbucks brand is so huge that even when the customers go any foreign location, they visit Starbucks' outlet to have a cup of coffee that they enjoy in their own home town. Adoption of innovative strategies for business: the company has employed a highly skilled research team for developing innovative ways of attracting more and more customers to its brand, while retaining the existing customers' loyalty towards this brand. For example, in 2004, it introduced a CD burning service in one of its outlets in California. This innovative service allows its

Measurement Of Concrete Workability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Measurement Of Concrete Workability - Essay Example The volume of water affects the density of the concrete. The more the water content, the greater the workability of the concrete. High contents of water results in higher fluidity and hence better workability. An increase in the water/cement ratio decreases the compressive strength of the concrete. Large water/cement ratios increase the fluidity of the mixture and this can even cause the concrete to collapse. The method of curing used also affects the strength of the compressive strength of the mixture. All methods except the air curing method increase the compressive strength. Characteristic strength is used since it is normally based on statistical concepts as it is the strength below which no more than 5 % of all the cubes that have been tested from the concrete mixture will fall. It is expected that 95 % of all the cube samples will have strength in excess of the design characteristic strength. The practicality of placing concrete into a tightly spaced mold containing reinforceme nt is limited by the process of casting the concrete and the cost of performing this operation. In order to achieve a good compaction, vibration is done on the concrete mix using a screed board vibrator. This removes the air spaces present in the mixture. The amount of water available in the mix improves the workability of the concrete. The greater the content of water, the greater the workability of the concrete. High contents of water usually result in higher fluidity and hence better workability.

Pategonias Expansion Strategy Essay Example for Free

Pategonias Expansion Strategy Essay 1. Patagonia’s Current Strategy: Key Processes and Customer Perception In the context of our business model our number one key process is our Rules and Norms (a complete breakdown of Patagonia’s current business model and a to-be-proposed business model are available for review in Exhibit I). This ethos that started with the founding of Chouinard Equipment continued through the creation of Lost Arrow and indeed Patagonia. Our self-proclaimed â€Å"dirtbag† culture has resulted in some unorthodox business practices over the years. We pride ourselves on our efforts to reduce the social and environmental impact of the lifetime of the goods and services we produce. This is something that our competitors recognize but do not focus efforts on; for us it is of the utmost importance. I took this liberty to draft a Customer Value Proposition (CVP) for our current model: â€Å"We provide high quality, durable outdoor athletic clothing and accessories that are produced with a high standard for environmental and social impact. We make the products that we want to use.† To extrapolate on the latter portion of our CVP, we expect our employees to not only share in the environmental and social consciousness that Mr Chouinard has weaved into the culture of Patagonia but we expect employees to be users of our products as well. This gives us an incredible insight into the functionality and durability of our products. This is exemplified in our generous sabbaticals and midday surfing breaks at our corporate headquarters. Additional insight in this regard is provided by our investment in brand ambassadors, who also provide us with the core of our visual marketing in our catalogs, our website, and social media. In order of volume we move our products through three main channels: wholesale, retail, catalog/internet. In order of profitability the channels are arranged as such retail, catalog/internet[1], and wholesale. There is an additional product repair arm of Patagonia’s structure that at the moment is not profitable. Our commitment to the ethical fiber that binds the core of what Patagonia as a brand stands for results in a product that comes at a premium price, however we believe that the money you spend on Patagonia products is a contribution to our commitment for care when it comes to the environments and social spheres within which we operate. So far we have seen success as shown below. 2. Financial Review of Current Business Model The competition analysis in Exhibit III outlines our industries averages for financial health. It would seem that our â€Å"dirtbag† approach to business has boded well for us over the last ten years. While our total market share (annual sales) is far below the industry average over all the company is making money. Our gross profit margin is over 6% higher than the industry average and our pre-tax profit margin is right in line with the industry average. While Patagonia’s ROE and ROA are below the industry average it is not my much and our debt to equity ratio is far below the industry average. So while we holds more equity and assets on hand than our competitors we has enough liquid cash flow to finance operations without having to incur much debt. Our 12 month revenue growth is trending along with the industry however our 12 month net growth income is nearly 13% higher than our competitors. Thus while we are experiencing growth that is on par with the industry we are experiencing a downward turn in our operating and/or material costs. It should be noted that the information here is of companies who compete in our industry but not exclusively. Columbia is the competitor that competes most directly with our niche in the industry and on every account except for debt/equity our numbers are favorable and even in the case of debt/equity the difference is negligible. The standards for philanthropy and an ethical purview for production and material sourcing at Patagonia are much higher than the industry average. We donate 1% of gross sales to environmental initiatives and causes, and our COGS are higher than competitors as a result of our ethical stance. However, once again (as shown in Lost Arrow: Financials, Exhibit III) we have been operating in the black for the last decade. This may also be explained by our company ethic. We focus on a curbing of consumption and that focus has limited how much we are willing to spend on advertizing. Conversely our competition holds advertisement as a high priority when establishing sales and brand. This observation is not trivial and could more than account for the balance between our costs and those of our competitors. 3. Moving Forward As discussed the current model for Patagonia works. You can be a â€Å"dirtbag† and make make money. The question is how do we continue on with the goal of 10% growth per year for the next five years? Whatever we choose we must operate within that moral fiber that helped us to achieve who we are today. Following are two suggestions for how to move forward, one uses our current business model, the other proposes a change. Please reference Exhibit I for business model analysis and Exhibit II for strategy. Strategy: Current Business Model Tactic One: A Focus on Retail – Our best margins are derived from retail sales however this accounts for just one third of our sales volume. The best type of marketing asset we have are our retail employees. Our Dirtbag Ambassadors are out there skiing, snowboarding, climbing, camping, bouldering, and living the life that Patagonia wants to be an integral part of. We must expand our retail channel and focus on those areas where dirtbags convene. A quick review of the 26 stores in the United States can be found in Exhibit V. Portland, Seattle, St. Paul, Chicago, Atlanta, DC. Sure dirtbags live in cities but where are our stores in Telluride, Tahoe, Bend, Cheyenne, or Buffalo? An expansion of our retail stream increases profitability as well as the reach of our marketing, the Patagonia way. These are the places our competitors don’t wants stores for lack of traffic, but our stores are more than commerce they are community centers for dirtbags. Tactic Two: Research and Development – Our industry ethic has produced one of the best research and development laboratories in the industry. We can leverage this in two ways. First and foremost we must fund research to produce material with the ethical and physical integrity that also helps lower our gross margins. We have pioneered ethical durable material in the industry, now we must find a way to do so cheaper. Doing so would open up the market for those dirtbags who dont have as much money and would normally go to a competitor based on price point. Second we hold patents for these materials we could offer to sell material to other outdoor companies, or begin a joint venture. In either of these cases we must make sure that the material we produced is being utilized in an end product that is up to the standards of Patagonia. Strategy Two: A New Business Model There comes a time in a business life when you have to ask: While what we are doing has worked, how long will it work? To achieve the goal of 10% growth per year we may have to think outside of our wheelhouse and think about how committed we are to our ethical and social standards. As long as we continue to produce more clothing people will buy it. As it stands our customer base has expendable income. How can we convince them to only buy what we need? Through an expansion of our clothing repair services and clothing swap market. A case is made for the business model change in Exhibit I. Tactic One: Expansion of Repair and Retail – It is not our goal to abandon what has made Patagonia the company it is today, thus once again we will need to expand retail stores however we do so in a way that will facilitate clothing repair. Each store should have a mending workshop staffed and equipped to repair what comes their way. To really take advantage of this service we must willing to mend non-Patagonia clothing. This will do two things: it will reduce the overall number of unnecessary purchases in our market and it will introduce people to the Patagonia lifestyle through our retail store. These store can also facilitate a recycling program for those articles of gear that are beyond repair. Something as simple as an in store credit can get people who would otherwise go to Nike experience Patagonia CA. Additionally the expanded retail presence will be an opportunity to create a network for clothing swaps Tactic Two: Expansion of Internal Repair – Expand the repair infrastructure behind retail presence. That is to say, as opposed to expanding retail and having repair work centers in-store, invest in larger repair facilities that stores can send garments to. In our current business model we are reaching critical mass with regard to how much clothing repair we can handle. If we strategically place lager facilities near our exiting stores we can handle this work load our selves. This also ensures that the materials and process of clothing repair is within the ethical conduct of our company without having to do audits of our outsourced partners. The clothing repair infrastructure for our market is basically nonexistent at this point and with research and development focused on this new business model we can create and dominate this market. This will once again involve repairing more than just Patagonia products but in the end that’s what this business model is about. To survive and grow into the next decade we must not just reduce the consumption of our customer base but we must reduce the consumption of our competitors as well. When a dirtbag holds on to a coat for another year he helps reduce Patagonias impact on the earth and its inhabitants. When Patagonia repairs a Columbia or North Face coat and it lasts for another year we have slowed the consumption of unethically produced clothes and possibly created another dirtbag. Exhibit I: Four Components of Business Model Framework (Johnson, Christensen, Kagerman) Customer value proposition (CVP): Current: Providing high quality durable outdoor athletic clothing and accessories (CA) produced with a high standard for environmental and social impact. Proposed: In addition to production, engage the consumer in the environmental and social impact of their outdoor athletic CA by involving them in the maintenance/repair/swap of CA. Profit formula: Revenue model: Current: Standard industry mark up on goods sold. Proposed: Lower the price of goods sold and charge a small fee for repairs or continue with current price structure charge cost for repairs of Patagonia clothing/accessories, charge premium repair rates for non-Patagonia clothing and accessory repair. Cost structure: Current: COGS = 80% materials 20% parts with a wholesale margin of 45% and a retail margin of 65% Proposed: A modified cost structure that emphasizes retail sales and profits off of repairs Margin model: Current: Largest channel of sales in wholesale 44%, second retail 33%, and finally Catalog/internet 23% Proposed: Shift focus from wholesale to retail/catalog/internet sales, add additional emphasis on repair cost structure for maximum profitability Resource velocity: Current: In general keeping inventory exhausts resources, something which Patagonia wants to minimize. Thus production should match as close to demand as possible. Assets should be available, although they do not need to be incredibly liquid. Proposed: Same as current model. Key resources. Current: People: There is a certain type of person who works for Patagonia. Ideally a person who works at Patagonia is the ideal consumer of their goods. Brand: With a strong brand associated with high environmental and social standards combined with a strong dislike of standard advertising channels for the industry the reputation Patagonias brand has gained is remarkable (this is achieved through the people they employ as well). Technology: Their ethical commitment to responsible sourcing and production has resulted in some profitable patents of great CA material. Proposed: The current Key Resources should not be lost but the Technology will shift to the new business model – a focus on materials , threads, and substances for repair. Additionally there would be a re-purposing of Facilities to reflect this model change as well. Key processes. Current: Rules and Norms: Patagonias Rules and Norms inform every aspect of their business and it is no different when it comes to their Key Processes. So while manufacturing, service, and training are all important, it all comes down to the Rules and Norms. Propsed: This would not change. When a new business model is needed. 1. The opportunity to address through disruptive innovation the needs of large groups of potential customers who are shut out of a market entirely because existing solutions are too expensive or complicated for them. The product repair market is just this. As it stands now such jackets tend to be luxury purchases as they hobbies they are designed for are not generally cheap ones to keep. 2. The opportunity to capitalize on a brand new technology by wrapping a new business model around it or the opportunity to leverage a tested technology by bringing it to a whole new market Patagonia isn’t capitalizing on a new technology when it comes to CA per se but the market could motivate their RD department to develop a technology that could be incorporated into the repair model. 3. The opportunity to bring a job-to-be done focus where one does not yet exist The expansion of clothing repair for Patagonia and other non-Patagonia CA provides a real opportunity for an existing market that consumers may not know they need. It creates a job to be done (clothing repair as opposed to replacement). 4. The need to fend off low-end disrupters. Patagonia would be a low end disrupter in the repair market; repair is cheaper than replacement. 5. The need to respond to a shifting basis of competition. Patagonia would be shifting the basis of competition.

The Guildford Four And Other Miscarriages Of Justice Law Essay

The Guildford Four And Other Miscarriages Of Justice Law Essay An overview in light of how the criminal justice system has changed in relation to miscarriages of justice. As defined in the book Miscarriages of Justice, a miscarriage means literally a failure to reach an intended destination or goal. A miscarriage of justice is therefore, mutatis mutandis, a failure to attain the desired end result of justice. The issue of miscarriages of justice has always been discussed, either as a legal, political or social issue. It has been such a vital issue that it provoked the appointment of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice and many other changes in the English legal system, which shall be discussed in due course. It maintains being a legal issue due to the several rights at risk that are potentially affected by the operation of the criminal justice system, including  [2]  humane treatment (Art 3), liberty (Art 5), privacy (Art 8), fair trials (Art 6) and even the very right to existence (Art 2) in those jurisdictions which operate capital punishment. During the 1970s Great Britain had to face a wave of vicious attacks committed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). In response to the public outrage against the bombers, the Government introduced the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1974 (PTA) which gave new powers to the police to arrest on suspicion of terrorism, and to detain suspects for up to five days without charge.  [3]  It was clear that the police were under enormous pressure to capture the IRA bombers who had brought the war to Britain. Unfortunately, this led to numerous arrestings and convictions of innocent people. CASE STUDIES: The Guildford Four and the Maguire Seven were the first to be arrested and questioned under the new powers of PTA 1974. They were arrested for alleged involvement on behalf of the IRA, in the bombings of pubs in Guildford and Woolwich which killed five people and injure over a 100. On 22 October 1975, the Guildford Four Gerald Conlon, Paul Hill, Patrick Armstrong and Carole Richardson were convicted of murder, before Justice Donaldson and a jury of conspiracy. They were all given life sentences. An appeal against conviction failed in 1977, despite the fact that other IRA defendants awaiting trial  [4]  had claimed responsibility. However, in 1987 fresh evidence came to light following enquiries carried out by the Avon and Somerset police, which prompted a reference by the Secretary of State for the Home Department  [5]  to have the Guildford Four case reviewed. It was discovered that typescripts and notes of interviews had been tampered with; confessions were obtained under duress and detention sheets falsified. These matters brought into question the whole foundation of the prosecution case which had relied on the confessional evidence of the four defendants. After 15 years of imprisonment, the convictions were successfully appealed and their innocen ce was proved in October 1989. The outcome of the Guildford Four appeal immediately prompted the reconsideration of the case of Anne Maguire and the members of her family  [6]   the Maguire Seven- who were convicted in 1976, of being the source of the explosives used in the bombings.  [7]  Their sentences were quashed in 1992, although by then all had served their time, apart from Patrick Conlon who had already died in prison. The Court of Appeal reluctantly overturned the convictions because new evidence about the possibility of innocent contamination cast substantial doubt on the scientific evidence at trial that the defendants had been in contact with explosives.  [8]   The next blow to the publics faith in the criminal justice system was by the Birmingham Six case.  [9]  The Courts judgment  [10]  is an official testament to one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice in British legal history. In 1974, six men Hugh Callaghan, Gerard Hunter, William Power, Patrick Joseph Hill, Richard McLlkenny and John Walker- were convicted of bombings in two Birmingham pubs. The bombing caused more deaths than any other IRA incident in Britain.  [11]  The prosecution evidence rested upon three factors: confessions, which the accused claimed had been coerced and beaten out of them; forensic tests, which the accused claimed were essentially unreliable and had been performed unsatisfactorily; and highly circumstantial evidence, such as their links to known Republicans. New evidence was referred back to the Court of Appeal in 1988; even then the Court was unpersuaded. However, further revelations about the police fabrication of statements and new u ncertainties about the quality of the forensic tests ultimately resulted in their release in 1991. As mentioned earlier, that outcome provoked the establishment of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice. In The Conscience of the Jury (1991), Lord Devlin wrote that together the miscarriages in the cases of the Guildford Four, the Maguire Seven and the Birmingham Six were the greatest disasters that have shaken British justice in my time. Another unfortunate case of miscarriage of justice which involved the IRA occurred in 1974, when Judith Ward was convicted for handling bombs which resulted in twelve deaths.  [12]  Her conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 1992 because of the prosecutions failure to disclose material to the defence, which was supported at the time of the appeal by fresh psychiatric evidence and cast substantial doubt on the reliability of her confessions.  [13]   Another case arising from Irish terrorist activities concerned the Armagh Four Neil Latimer, Alfred Allen, Noel Bell and James Hegan-  [14]  who were members of the UDR, who were convicted of the murder in Armagh. After referral back to the Court of Appeal in 1992, Allen, Bell and Hegan were all freed because it was clear that the police had tampered with the evidence. It is evident that quite a few of miscarriages of justice have concerned Irish terrorist cases. The Irish terrorism trials stand out as having involved some of the most intense flaws in the English criminal justice system and as being the most vulnerable to error. There are probably two reasons for their prominence.  [15]  Firstly, special powers in the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1974 made abuses easier to commit, and more difficult to detect. Secondly, miscarriages are more likely because of the nature of these cases. In such prosecutions, the criminal justice system is under pressure by the desire to be seen to be taking effective action against terrorists.  [16]  This is probably why miscarriages seem so hard to remedy an acquittal becomes particularly costly to the State in terms of damage to its reputation. Various recognised cases of miscarriages of justice from the 1970s were not just confined to Irish terrorism. In 1976, Stefan Kiszko was convicted of murdering an eleven-year-old girl.  [17]  His conviction was quashed in 1992. Other infamous cases include those of the Tottenham Three  [18]  and the convictions in 1990 of the Cardiff Three,  [19]  for murder, which were overturned in December 1992 on referral to the Court of Appeal. Each of the abovementioned cases was a stain on the national stability of the United Kingdom, and a shocking reminder to the public that the English criminal justice system is imperfect. Such cases also raised many questions about police procedure and put doubts in many minds of the public as to the honesty of the police service. There were accusations that the police used beatings, intimidation, duress and threats against family and friends to derive illicit confessions from the accused. Numerous miscarriages of justice have come to light in the last few years, a few notorious ones having been mentioned above. But there are still many people in prison who proclaim their innocence to this day. Having overviewed a few cases of miscarriages of justice, the rest of this project will consider why such injustice occurs, what changes have been made to the law to prevent it, and whether these changes have rendered such tragedies impossible or whether there is a need for a more radical reform of the English criminal justice system. WHY DO CASES OF MISCARRIAGES OF JUSTICE OCCUR? As seen in previous cases, some of which have been discussed above, miscarriages of justice may result from a variety of causes. Problems begin arising from the very first meeting with the police to the very end of entanglement with the State, when machinery to reopen problematical judgments has been shown to be unfair and inappropriate.  [20]   There are a few common features which have been found to be present in most cases of miscarriages of justice, which led to the case being a miscarriage. However, it must be kept in mind that these features may not be the only reasons as to why miscarriage of justice occurs. The most obvious danger of a case being one of miscarriage of justice is the fabrication of evidence which was found to be an issue in the cases of the Birmingham Six,  [21]  Tottenham Three,  [22]  Armagh Four,  [23]  Darvell Brothers  [24]  and several West Midlands cases. Also, both the police and lay witnesses may prove to be an unreliable source when attempting to identify an offender as found to be the in cases of Luke Dougherty and Laslo Virag.  [25]  The evidential value of expert testimony has also been overestimated in a number of instances such as in the cases of the Maguire Seven,  [26]  Birmingham Six,  [27]  Judith Ward  [28]  and Stefan Kiszko  [29]   where it lat er emerged that the tests being used were unreliable, that the scientists conducting them were inefficient or both. Another common factor has been unreliable or false confessions as a result of being coerced by police pressure, duress, psychological or mental instability or a combination of all. Examples of these may be found in the cases of the Guildford Four,  [30]  Birmingham Six,  [31]  Judith Ward,  [32]  Tottenham Three  [33]  and Cardiff Three  [34]  cases. The non disclosure of significant evidence by the police or prosecution to the defence may be a further issue. The investigation of a case is by reliance on the police. Yet several cases, in particular the Guildford Four,  [35]  Maguire Seven,  [36]  Darvell Brothers  [37]  and the case of Judith Ward  [38]  illustrate that the police, forensic scientists and prosecution cannot be relied upon fairly to pass on evidence which might be helpful to the accused. Sometimes, as it has been alleged in the case of the Birmingham Six,  [39]  the conduct of the trial may produce miscarriages. For example judges may sometimes favour the prosecution evidence rather than acting as impartial umpires. Lastly but not the least, the presentation of defendants in a prejudicial manner- such as labeling a person as a terrorist- is also a problem in some scenarios.  [40]  As mentioned earlier, these are only a few of the common reasons as to why miscarriages of justice occur. Now that we have seen what is likely to cause miscarriages of justice and a few examples of it, this project shall now provide an overview of the changes that have been made in the criminal justice system in order to prevent such misfortunes from happening again. REFORMS: Successive governments have put into practice a number of important measures to prevent further miscarriages of justice. Most prominent, perhaps, is the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, and the Codes of Practice that accompany it. The creation of an independent, national prosecuting authority the Crown Prosecution Service   [41]  in 1986 has also been of fundamental significance to reducing the risk of miscarriages of justice. Another major reform was the establishment of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice in 1993 and the Criminal Cases Review Commission that it recommended. The Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 has also assisted in the prevention of miscarriages of justice. Although reforms have been made by the government to prevent miscarriages from happening, some people such as Paddy Hill of the Birmingham Six, are unconvinced that such legislation is enough. He told BBC News Online: Justice is something that is not on this governments curriculum. Therefore, apart from legislative changes and reforms in the criminal justice system, there has also been the formation of independent organisations, such as JUSTICE, Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (MOJO) and innocent projects by the name of Innocence Network UK (INUK) which have helped bring to the light many cases of miscarriages of justice. Investigative television programmes have also been of help to victims of miscarriages of justice in the past. How the abovementioned legislation and organisations work, and whether these methods have been effective or not to prevent cases of miscarriages of justice shall now be discussed in more detail. Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 Many miscarriages of justice cases arose before the PACE Act 1984 came into effect in 1986. This is because in the pre-PACE era, it was easy for the police to commit offences while investigating a case and get away with it, due to the absence of a statute such as PACE. The aim of the 1984 Act was to create a balance between the powers of the police and members of the public. PACE provides safeguards during police questioning, supported by strict Codes of Practice, made under s.60 and 66. It also gives detectives strict rules on the handling of evidence and on how long the police can question suspects for and insists that interviews be taped to ensure there was no mistreatment or any other form of intimidation. Safeguards such as these are in no doubt, assisting in the prevention of injustice. Crown Prosecution Service The separation of investigative and prosecution functions through the creation in 1986 of an independent, national prosecuting authority -the Crown Prosecution Service-  [42]  has also been of fundamental significance to reducing the risk of miscarriages of justice. The CPS was established under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985, to prosecute criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales. Previously the police forces were responsible for the prosecution of such cases. However, in 1981, the Royal Commission recommended to the government that an independent prosecution authority should be introduced which would prevent police forces setting up independent prosecution departments so as to avoid having the same officers investigate and prosecute cases. Due to the separation of investigative and procedures it is less likely for miscarriages of justice to occur. Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPI) 1996 During a criminal investigation, a large amount of evidence is gathered by the police including witness statements, forensic results, and confession statements etc. Not all of this evidence is shown at the time of the actual trial; much of is not even be admissible. However, some of the evidence gathered may undermine the prosecution case, and therefore be of interest to the defence. There have been a few cases such as the Guildford Four, Maguire Seven, Darvell Brothers and Judith Ward, where the prosecution deliberately failed to disclose evidence that was vital to the defence. In order to regulate the disclosure procedure, the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPI) 1996 was brought into effect. The CPI Act puts the burden on the police to disclose all evidence to the defence that they think might weaken their case. This process is overseen by the Crown Prosecution Service. Royal Commission on Criminal Justice Since 1907, when the Court of Criminal Appeal was created, the Home Secretary had a statutory power  [43]  to refer to the Court of Appeal, if he thinks fit, any case in which a person had been convicted on indictment and had exhausted all other methods of an appeal. The Royal Commission on Criminal Justice (RCCJ) was established the day the Birmingham Six convictions were quashed in 1991 by the then Home Secretary, to inspect the efficiency of the criminal justice system in England and Wales.  [44]  The Commission was set as continuation of Sir John Mays inquiry into the false convictions of the Guildford Four and Maguire Seven. In 1993 the Royal Commission reported and recommended to the Parliament that the Court of Appeal must be more ready to examine possible miscarriages of justice.   It also recommended the transfer over responsibility for the review of alleged miscarriages, from the Home Office to an independent non-departmental public body.  [45]  As a result of this recommendation, the Criminal Cases Review Commission was established. Criminal Cases Review Commission From the recommendation of the Royal Commission and through the enactment of the Criminal Appeal Act (CAA) 1995, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), became fully operational on 31 March 1997.  [46]  The jurisdiction of the Commission extends to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.  [47]  The CCRC is completely independent and impartial and does not represent the prosecution or the defence. The CCRCs statutory role and responsibilities are set out in the Criminal Appeal Act 1995 which involves reviewing suspected miscarriages of justice and referring a conviction, verdict or finding or sentence to an appellate court. The CCRC has wide-ranging investigative powers and can obtain and preserve documentation held by any public body. It can also appoint an Investigating Officer from another public body to carry out inquiries on its behalf. Applicants to the CCRC must focus their case on new evidence or argument that was not raised in the initial proceedings and as a result may cast doubt on the safety of an original decision. They can also challenge their sentence if they can show a new point of law or information relating to the sentence was not raised during the trial.  [48]  The CCRC refers a case to the appellate court if it considers there to be a real possibility that the conviction would not be upheld. There is no appeal against a decision of the CCRC, however a judicial review claim can be made to the high court to examine whether the CCRCs decision was unlawful.  [49]   The Commission has been the under considerable scrutiny for the way in which it deals with its applications. Criticisms of the Commission relate to the failure to interview more than a small proportion of applicants; to the insufficiency of communication with applicants and their representatives; and to alleged deficiencies of investigation, among other matters.  [50]   Although the CCRC is much better, than having no such body at all, to deal with issues of miscarriages of justice (as was the case before), it is still inadequate. JUSTICE JUSTICE is an independent legal human rights organisation which was founded in 1957. It works to improve the legal system and the quality of justice, in particular by promoting human rights, improving the legal system, criminal justice system and the access to justice. Ever since it was founded, JUSTICE has received requests for help by, and on behalf of, prisoners alleging miscarriages of justice in their cases. Some miscarriages of justice cases brought to light by JUTICE have provided investigations into the criminal justice system which resulted in reports urging reform. For example the Criminal Appeals (1964), Home Office Reviews of Criminal Convictions (1968), The Prosecution Process in England and Wales (1970), Evidence of Identity (1974) and Compensation for Wrongful Imprisonment (1982).  [51]  Several reforms have also taken place due to the influence of JUSTICE reports including reforms of police powers under the PACE Act 1984, and the forming of the CPS. Innocence projects Innocence projects  [52]  are a conjunction between university students, solicitors and barristers who investigate cases of alleged wrongful convictions, on a pro bono basis. The project seeks to uncover cases that are evident of the failings with the criminal justice system. Innocence Network UK (INUK) is the organisation for innocence projects based in UK universities, which was set up in 2004, to give help and hope to potentially innocent victims of wrongful conviction or imprisonment who have exhausted the appeals system and legal aid services. There are 23 member projects at universities across England, Wales and Scotland, with others being formed. Most of the cases they look into involve prisoners serving life or long-term sentences for serious offences, in particular murder, rape and GBH. According to the INUK, the CCRC is not doing a good job of referring cases of alleged or suspected miscarriage of justice back to the appeal courts. This is because; the public was under the impression that the CCRC referred cases in the interests of justice; however due to the way its rules have been set out, that was not the case. Some innocent victims of wrongful conviction were not referred back to the appeal court simply because they did not meet the required criteria, as happened in the recent case of Neil Hurley.  [53]   Television programmes The emergence of investigative television programmes such as Rough Justice  [54]  and Trial and Error  [55]  have previously helped to overturn a number of miscarriages of justice cases. These shows filmed enthusiastic journalists who pursued cases in detail in order to uncover such cases. Due to the impact of these shows, politicians and members of the public campaigned to pressurise the Home Secretary to refer cases back to the appeal courts. With the creation of the CCRC, however, such cases are no longer given as much importance and are no longer a major political issue. Such cases are now dealt with behind closed doors. If such media attention and support from politicians is once again provided, it will help a great deal in cutting down the number of cases of wrongful imprisonment. It may be concluded from this project, that miscarriage of justice indeed does exist in our criminal legal system. It is affecting the lives of many innocent people. Even when miscarriages of justice are corrected, they remain terrible personal tragedies which come back to haunt the innocent victims who have been through the whole ordeal. Gerry Conlon of the Guildford Four has had two breakdowns, an attempted suicide and a struggle with addiction after 15 years of imprisonment. Others have equally miserable stories to tell. Any amount of compensation may not be enough for those who have been wrongfully convicted and whose lives have been destroyed.  [56]   The ever-present dangers of mistakes in the criminal justice system are reflected in the often repeated sentiment that It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.  [57]  One must keep in mind that reforms have been made by the government and help has been provided by the members of the public to avoid or reduce such unjust incidents from recurring. Although the truth is bitter, it is of no use to anticipate that such miscarriages will altogether be eliminated in any way,  [58]  no matter how robust our criminal legal system is. This is because it is not just the English criminal justice system which is under this constant state of crisis, but this is the case in all other countries which operate legal systems. In order to prevent the numbers of cases of miscarriages of justice from increasing, the legal system must accept this reality and should take interest in identifying mechanisms which can reduce these cases. Further improvements to reforms or legislation must be considered as an ongoing struggle, to ensure that such misfortunes do not increase. Cases that are evident of the failings in the criminal justice system must be uncovered and lessons must be learnt from them in order to protect other such innocents from going through this injustice. Also, the victims of miscarriages of justice and members of the public must be reassured by the criminal legal system that that the possibility of such crisis occurring is less, rather than more, likely. One must not only hope that such injustice is reduced rather than increased, but also help campaign to take strict actions against such misfortunes. Who knows who the next innocent victim of miscarriage of justice might be? It could be you. Miscarriages of justice corrode respect for legal institutions. As a society we are finally learning that it is less damaging to admit mistakes than to pretend that they never happened. Nothing enhances justice more than the rigorous pursuit of error.  [59]  

Human Resources at John Lewis use labour market information to help :: Human Resources Essays

Human Resources at John Lewis use labour market information to help them with there HR planning Task 3 Human Resources at John Lewis use labour market information to help them with there HR planning. The information allows us to look at local employment trends so they can indicate the availability of labour in certain areas, so they can see whether it is in fact easy or difficult to hire .It also can be used to see whether a large company has made employees redundant which means there will be more workers available with the skills that could be transferable to the job. Local skills shortages is another piece of valid information that Hr department find valuable as they can expand their own training schemes for employees to build up their skills. Hr feel that coming together with fellow companies and employers in the area in which is in a similar industry, can support local schools and colleges so that people can develop their skills early on. Competition for employees is important for Hr to be aware of, as they will want know whether fellow competitors are enlarging the company and will in turn have a larger demand for labour. Human resources use this information inparticualr to overview the level of unemployment within certain regions and areas. Through this there will be a higher availability of labour, and so more people can commute easily the work place. This also depends on the regions statistics, age distribution, attitudes to women working and to the extent to which young people stay at school, college or go to higher education. John Lewis’s Hr department also look at internal labour market statistics to help them develop the business. It is important to overview labour turnover as it allows them to forecast for the future, for if staff turnover is high they must recognise why this is so and then make changes to keep staff. However in some ways companies can take advantage of staff turnover as they can see it as an opening for promotions and fresh ideas from new staff. Yet at the same time losing staff is cost effective to the company as they will lose the skills and retrain new employees. Human resources feel that it is important to keep a record of the companies sickness and accident rates. This means holding records of the companies notified absences, absences due to sickness and unauthorised absences. Through this they can take a statistical analysis and use the information to identify any particular problems with a specific or group of employees. However HR then look at whether absences are due to sickness or are unauthorised.

Free Essays - The Excellent Tale of Ernest Hemingways A Farewell to Arms :: Farewell Arms Essays

A Farewell to Arms Inspiring    Ernest Hemingway^s A Farewell to Arms captures the inspiring trials and tribulations of a disillusioned man caught between love and war.   Driving an ambulance on the Italian front of World War One Frederick Henry discovers his values as he realizes his love for Catherine Barkley, a innocent English Nurse.    An American Second Lieutenant in the Italian Army^s Ambulance Corps, Frederick Henry is depicted as an average man in search of a set of values.   Initially Frederick is lonely, lustful, confused and restless, but as he becomes involved with Catherine Barkley he finds his niche, and a meaning to life. Frederick can be considered heroic in that he is honorable, not interested in material commodities, and puts his fellow soldier before himself.   When the entire mess hall teases the priest Frederick defends him and is his only true friend.   Also, when offered an award, Frederick refuses.   Additionally, when he and the other drivers were bombed, he ignores his own injuries to assist the others and insists that the doctors treat others before himself.   Catherine Barkley is a young English nurse who has already lost a fianc to the war and is introduced as partially crazy.   She begins her relationship with Frederick pretending, he is her lost fianc who has returned, but soon falls!   in love with him and regains her sanity.   Throughout the story Catherine remains static, and represents the ideal Hemingway character that Frederick is to become as the novel comes to an end.    The basic plot of the novel revolves around Frederick^s relationship with Catherine.   Frederick experiences the war in the Italian Alps and sustains a leg injury that hospitalizes him for several months.   Although he knew Catherine before his hospitalization, their relationship blossoms during this period when he is away from the front.   Soon after his return to the front, there is a huge retreat and he takes his ambulance crew on a back road to get around traffic.   When he finally does make it back to the army he is forced to desert in fear of execution.   He finds Catherine and they begin a new life together in Switzerland.   Ultimately, Frederick learns his basic values through Catherine in their adventures of love, war, and death during World War One.   The theme shown is that love can come from even the strangest places, also there is a basic good versus evil shown by the dramatic tragedy at the end.    A Farewell to Arms is a very emotional and understanding story.   Throughout the book Frederick acted as a confused hero

Automobile and Aunt S House Essay

?An ordinary morning, that’s all it was. At 7:00 I began my short walk, just two doors down, to my aunt’s house. She was a teacher and her son and I would drive in early with her before school began, as we had done all year. The sun was shining bright and my unadjusted eyes had to squint to see. It was a fairly warm day but with a chilly breeze. I could smell the dew from the grass and hear the constant call and answer of the bird’s chirps. I could still taste my breakfast of cereal and chocolate milk. It was January of my second grade year. I was young, happy, and foolish. Around me only the bright green of the grass and trees, and life was as it should be, good. As I neared my aunt’s house I noticed her car slowly moving back a few feet, then forward the same distance. Confused I walked up the short but steep hill that her driveway was on. When I was next to the car I saw it wasn’t my aunt driving, but my cousin who was only 4 years older than myself. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and was very intelligent. Yet, I couldn’t understand why he was driving. â€Å"What are you doing? † I asked. â€Å"My mom told me to warm up the car† he replied. I was too young to realize he had avoided the question entirely. He got out of the car and asked if I wanted to try. I said I didn’t, but he told me it was very easy and started making fun of me. Feeling very nervous I got into the driver’s seat and closed the door. He leaned through the window to control the wheel and put the car in reverse. The car began to roll backwards and I felt more and more anxious. As it got close to the hill he told me to hit the brakes. Absolute terror gripped me then because I was unable to reach them and the car had reached the hill. He began to yell louder for me to hit the brakes but couldn’t. Suddenly my feet found a peddle, and I pressed it down as hard as I could, but the car didn’t slow down. It seemed to speed up. I heard a scream and a loud BANG, then nothing. Silence? What had happened? I seemed to be thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. All at once my senses came back to me. Pain? I had hit my mouth on the steering wheel. Taste of leather? Also from the steering wheel. Smoke? Must be from the car. Then I heard the screaming, a horrible screaming that sounded like a dying animal. â€Å"I’M GONNA DIE!!! PLEASE KILL ME NOW!!!! GOD HELP ME, PLEASE! † Then I was outside the car. Did I even open the door? Did my feeble legs even support me? And where was the screaming coming from?! I looked up and saw my cousin, covered in blood, screaming and crying. I could see his bone through his leg. The blood was everywhere and I began to cry and scream for help. My legs could no longer support me and I fell. But then I was in my aunt’s house. How did I get here? Did I even fall over? Where was my aunt? I yelled anything to get her to come. She finally wrapped in a towel. Then I heard the screaming again. Somehow I was outside and hear my cousin, wanting to die, and saw the blood that covered the street, and felt the pain in my mouth and head. I cried, and when I looked up, I was in my house. I ran to the window. Police cars and ambulances were everywhere. Across the street from my aunt’s house war her car, smashed into my neighbors front porch. My senses were gone. My heart seemed to stop. There was nothing after that.