Pearl River Piano

Introduction PRPG was a state-owned enterprise and was developed form an old piano factory in Guangzhou of China. The piano factory is located Pearl River, so that the brand of  piano  is  called  Pearl  River. Since  the  adoption  of  an  open-door  policy,  Chinaexploited a range of new opportunities provided by a market-oriented economy for  expanding production, employments, and profits through free trade markets. As a result, PRPG face a chance due to import technology and export products, and then they were expended to become Pearl River piano Industrial Corporation.Their  Ã‚  business become more  successful , fter they merger with several small company. In2000, PRPG had more than 130 strategic alliance through-outs the country, in addition to 208 sales units. Question1 Drawing on  industry- resource- and  institution-based views, explain how  PRPG,from  its humble roots,  managed to  become  China’s  largest  and the   world’s second largest piano producer. 1. 1 Industry-based view Rivalry  among  established  firms  may  prompt  certain  moves. PRPG  face  somechallenges, since piano is traditional European musical instrument, European pianoshas a long history, and they always target upper market, such as Steinway.PRPG will face  a  strong  challenge  when  they  target  upper  market. For  example,  althoughYAMAHA is the largest piano producers, they focus on medium and low-end market;however, Tong would like their PRPG become best brand, next only to Steinway. Inaddition, PRPG not only import technology of piano making, but also learn andintroduce western culture to them. Higher the entry barriers, PRPG face the difficult entre in US  market; the US peopledo not believe PRPG can make low price high quality products. PRPG cannot easily target foreign people.US people stay loyal to their local product. The bargaining power of buyers may lead to certa in foreign market entries. In USmarket, there are many competitors, such as Steinway. Steinway product always target upper market. Buyers may buy Steinway product, rather than PRPG. 1. 2 Resource-based view in 1960-1980, the factory had very low productivities, lowcompetitive ability, even less than 100 labors and produce only 13 pianos per year. The industry introduced total quality of management in 1988, and they also promoteISO 9000 in 1998.Moreover, they built business partnership with YAMAHA via joint venture. As  a  result,  PRPG  learned  higher  technology  skill  via  business  activities. PRPG not only import technology of piano making, but also learn and introducewestern culture to them. Tong pay attention to communicate with their employees in order to build goodâ€Å"GUANXI†. Tong also established close relationship with some famous world well-know piano players, and recommended they play their Pearl River piano in their  concerts. This is à ¢â‚¬Ëœcelebrity's appeal’ strategy in order to target people.Innovation included the importation of new technology in production and quality measurement and production innovation. Production innovation can be concluded developing a wide range of pianos to meet the upper-, medium- and low-end marketin order to target different consumers’ group. 1. 3 Institution-based view Regulatory risksThese risks are associated with unfavorable government policies. Since the adoptionof an open-door policy, PRPG is allowed import high technology and export their  Ã‚  products. As a WTO member, the government’s has been encouraging local industries to learn from their foreign partners.Currency risk  China  is  becoming  an  export  powerhouse,  which  caused  the  friction  with  other  countries, United States in particular. The U. S. senators urging the Whitehouse toexert pressure to China for RMB revaluation most recently and President Obama gavean official statement to point out RMB should be appreciated. China’s direct responseto RMB rate issue can be found in Premier Wen JiaBao’s answer in the pressconference just after the NPC;amp;CPCC* this month in Beijing. Premier Wen claimedRMB is not raise in value by presenting China’s increased figure of imp/expo absolutevalue in 2009.Question 2Why did  Tong believe that  PRPG must engage  in significant internationalization(instead of the current direct export strategy) at this point? China  is  a  country  with  a  huge  exporting  activities,  recently  it  is  changing  itsexporting mode which from low-wage and low-labor-cost advantage towards high-tech, high-value-added exports. Pearl River Piano Group, a state-owned company inChina, had been stimulated from a slow-moving Chinese firm founded in the  1956 toa booming global company with growing sales in domestic market and internationalmarket.While it has a good performanc e in the low-end product segment in the international market, there was an issue about whether Pearl River Piano could be awell-known global brand  by ascending to the  mid-high product segment, and whether  it could achieve sustained growth by building a reputable and high-quality brandname in the world. 2. 1 Direct exports Direct  exports  represent  the  most  basic  mode  of  entry,  which  capitalizes  oneconomized of scale in production concentrated in the home country and affords  better control over distribution.However, if the products involved are bulky. This strategy essentially treats foreign demand as an extension of domestic demand,and the firm is geared toward designing and producing for the domestic market firstand foremost. While direct exports may work if the export volume is small, it is notoptimal when the firm has a large number of foreign buyers. 2. 2 Dissatisfied of the  Pearl River piano progress The  company  established  a  joint  venture  with  Yamaha  in  1995. Through  this  partnership, PRPG learned how to make a world-class and high quality product.Bythe end of 2000, PRPG was the largest piano builder in china, the second largest in theworld, with an annual production capacity of over  100,000 pianos. The company hadmore than 4,000 employees with a total asset value of approximately $130 million. Also it diversified into other musical instrument, and contains more than 50% of  Ã‚  piano market in China. However, Tong did not satisfy this progress; he thought thePearl River piano could be a world class brand. 2. 3 Competition in domestic marketHundreds of private companies began entering the market and competing with their  low quality and low price products. Such as the old well-known brand Star Sea and NiEr, and numbers of emerging piano builder company with a low price products. 2. 4 Future prospects of PRPG According to the case, Tong believed that the company could s urvive by themselvesin domestic market; however it is impossible for an entrepreneur to stay in the same  position permanently. And he thought that the company had made some successes, butit is not enough for a company to stay in the good position.The company is stilldeveloping and it needs to extend business in the global market in order to satisfycompany’s strategy. 2. 5 Challenges in international market When  compared  with  other  Chinese  piano  builders,  PRPG  had  gained  someexperience in exporting. Tong believed that although the  piano market in the  US was mature, PRPG could still take advantage in the market. Because US have  a high levelof labor cost, PRPG could take advantage of cheap labor cost in China with high levelof product quality to gain market position in US market. On the other hand, it isdifficult to enter into the US market.If company want to extend business in USmarket, firstly PRPG need to introduce the US partner to t he Chinese market, as anexchange for its  entry to the  US market. Finally, PRPG established a  sales subsidiaryin the US market for further expands. 2. 6 Building world class brand Direct exporting could be an efficient way for company to make sales, but it onlysuitable for a short term development. For long term, PRPG must build its world class  brand and provide high quality product to target upper level markets in order tomaximize profit for sustainable development.Question 3If you were one of the professors who visited Tong in March of 2000, how wouldyou have briefed him about the pros and cons of various foreign market entryoptions? 3. 1 Non-equity modes (exports and contractual agreements) Tends to reflect relatively smaller commitments to overseas markets, which do notcall require independent organizations. 3. 11 Exports 1) Direct exports: treats foreign demand as an extension of  domestic demand, and thefirm is geared toward designing and producing for the domesti c market first andforemost. ) Indirect exports: exporting through domestically based export intermediaries. 1 Non–equitymodes: 1 Non-equity modes : Exports| Pros| Cons| | Economics of scale in production concentrated in home country. | High transportation costs for bulky products. | Direct Exports| Better control over distribution (relative to indirect export)| Marketing distance from customers. |   |   | Trade barriers. | Indirect exports| Concentration of resources on production. | Less control over distribution (relative to direct exports)|   | No need to directly handle export processes. Inability to learn how to operate overseas. | 3. 12 Contractual agreements 1)  Licensing/franchising:  the  licensor/franchiser  sells  the  rights  to  intellectual  property such as patents and know-how to the licensee/franchisee for a royalty fee. 2) Turnkey projects: projects in  which clients pay contractors to  design and  constructnew facilities and tr ain personnel. 3) R;amp;D contracts: outsourcing agreements in R;amp;D between firms (that is, firm Aagrees to perform certain R;amp;D work for firm B). 4)  Comarketing:  agreements  among  a  number  of  firms  to  jointly  market   their products and services. Non-equity modes : Contractual agreements| Pros| Cons|   | Low development costs. | Little control over technology and marketing| Licensing/Franchising| Low risk in overseas expansion. | May create competitors|   | | Inability to engage in global coordination. | Turnkey projects| Ability to earn returns from process technology in countries where FDI is restricted| May create efficient competitors. |   | | Lack of long-term presence. | | Ability to tap into the best locations for certain innovations at low costs. | Diffecult to negotiate and enforce contracts. R;amp;D contracts| | May nurture innovative competitors. |   | | May lose core innovation capabilities. | Co-marketing| Ability to reach m ore customers. | Limited coordination. | 3. 2 Equity modes (joint ventures and wholly owned subsidiaries) Indicate relatively larger, harder to reverse commitments, and equity modes call for  establishing independent organizations overseas. 3. 21 Joint ventures : a new entity given birth and jointly owned by two or more parent companies. 3 Equity modes : Joint venture| Pros| Cons| | Sharing costs and risks. | Divergent goals and interests of partners.   | Access to partners' knowledge and assets. | Limited equity and operational control. |   | Politically acceptable. | Difficult to coordinate globally. | 3. 22 Wholly owned  subsidiaries 1) Green-field operations: building factories and offices from scratch. 2) Acquisition:  A corporate action  in which  a  company  buys  most, if  not  all, of thetarget company's ownership stakes in order to assume control of the target firm. 4 Equity modes: Wholly owned subsidiaries| Pros| Cons| | Complete equity and operati onal control. | Potential political problems and risks. Green-field projects| Protection of technology and know-how. | High development costs. |   |   | Slow entry speed (relative to acquisitions)| Acquisitions| Same as green-field (above)| Same as green-field (above), except slow speed. |   | Fast entry speed| Post-acquisition integration problems. | Question 4 Again, if you were one of those professors, what method would you have tosuggest as a way to tackle the US market? Method has been talked before: Joint ventures  Nowadays, joint ventures have been the main form of foreign direct investment (FDI). 4. 1 Problems to tackle the US market: 4. 1 How to  get a partnership with  local company? US don't believe Chinese company can make good quality and cheap price products. They don't trust overseas company. They consider Chinese company as a competitor  more than a partner. 4. 12 Administrative requirements: US government wants their own people to benefit from industri alization. So they pushforeign investors to ally with local firms before graniting access to market. 4. 2  Suggestions: 4. 21Share ownership with US companies: Increase the trust each other Goal: encourage some ethnic citizens to participate in industrial development. To

Critisism on Curleys Wife Essay

For Of Mice and Men is a Tragedy, a tragedy not in the narrow modern sense of a mere ‘sad story’ (though it certainly is that), but a tragedy in the classic Aristotelian/Shakespearean sense of showing humanity’s achievement of greatness through and in spite of defeat. Some people seem to believe that the function of literature is to provide vicarious â€Å"happy endings,† to provide in words a sugary sweetness we would like to have but cannot always get in real life. To such people, true literary tragedy is distasteful. But the greatest writers and the best readers know that literature is not always only mere sugar candy; it can sometimes be a strong medicine: sour perhaps — at least to the untrained taste — but necessary for continued health[.] Some readers may object to the book’s presentation of low class characters, vulgar language, scenes suggestive of improper sexual conduct, and an implied criticism of the social system. But none of this is presented indecently, or beyond the ordinary norms of contemporary literature. Compared to many modern works, (or to movies and TV) this book is tame indeed. Furthermore, these features are necessary in this book in two ways. First, they are part of the accurate precise reporting of the reality of a particular time and place and environment. Part of Steinbeck’s literary point is that this is true to life. As such, the dirty details are part of Steinbeck’s enlargement of the realm of Tragedy, the democratization of the tragic world. Traditionally, the subjects of Tragedies have been Kings and other Great Ones: Job, Oedipus, Lear. But Steinbeck’s point — a truly American point — is that all men are created equal: Tragedy exists even among the lowly of the earth; even the least of us — even a Lennie or a George — has the human potential for tragic nobility. Of Mice and Men is a tragedy in the modern tradition of The Hairy Ape and Death of a Salesman. Second, the grossness is a way of presenting briefly the complex turmoil of life. This book is not stereotype melodrama. It is not a simpleminded book. There are no purely bad people in it. Conversely, there are no purely good people in it either. All the characters are complex mixtures of good and bad, or rather of bad results from good intentions. They are all — in their ability and in their outlook — limited. And they live in a gross and dirty world. Given their position in that world, they are not able to achieve much. But they are trying to do the best they can; they are trying to be good people and to have good lives. They have good intentions. They have noble aims. The tragedy is that, limited as the characters are, the world they live in is even more limited; it is a world in which the simplest dream of the simplest man — poor dumb big Lennie — cannot come true. â€Å"The best laid plans of mice and men gang oft a-glae [go oft a-stray],† wrote Robert Burns in the poem which provides the book’s title and its theme. And Steinbeck’s story shows why: The best laid plans go oft ast ray because they come in conflict with one another. The simplest good intention — simply to stay alive — of a simple mouse, a simple pup, a simple young woman, is thwarted by Lennie’s urge to pet something soft and beautiful. Lennie’s drive to touch beauty kills the things he loves. But his problem is the same problem that bothers Curley, the Boss’s son, the closest thing to a villain in the book. Like Lennie, Curley doesn’t know how to hold on to what he finds important: his young wife, his status as the Boss’s son, his reputation as a man. He loses each by trying to hold on too tightly. Curley’s aim to be a respected husband/boss/man is foiled by his own limited abilities. The similar but simpler aim of Lennie and George to have a small place of their own where they can â€Å"live offa the fatta the lan † is doomed to frustration also by their own limitations and the tragic chain of circumstance and coincidence that ends with Lennie dead by George’s hand. The point, of course, is that they all — we all — live in a too limited world, a world in which not all our dreams can come true, a world in which we — all of us some of the time and some of us all the time — are doomed to disappointment. The tragic dilemma is that for our basic humanity, for the goodness of our aims, we all deserve better than we get. But because of our human limitations, by our weaknesses of character, none of us is ever good enough to earn what we deserve. Some philosophers, seeing this dilemma, pronounce profound pessimism for humanity. Some religions promise for this world’s disappointments supernatural intercession and other-worldly compensations. The tragic viewpoint (the view of Shakespeare, the Greek tragedians, the Old Testament Job, and John Steinbeck) finds in it the chance for nobility of soul: even in the blackest of disappointments, a human can achieve individual greatness. One may be defeated physically — but one need not be crushed spiritually. One can remain true to one’s dream and true to one’s friend. We humans may die, but we can love one another. Friendship. Love. That too is what Of Mice and Men is all about. Lennie and George, disparate types, are, against all good reason, friends. They share a good dream. They love one another. They are too limited, too inarticulate, to know how to say it, but they do show it — or rather Steinbeck shows it to us readers. So the book treats the great themes of Dreams and Death and Love with simple powerful clarity. It does so with a classically elegant structure — another reason for using the book as a teaching tool: it allows a reader — especially an untrained or beginning reader of literature — to see (or be shown) how structure supports and presents content. Of Mice and Men has the classic situation/complication/twist/and/resolution plot structure uncluttered by diversions, distractions, or subplots. There is inevitableness, a starkness th at makes the point of the story unavoidable. The story has the classic unities of time and place and action. It begins in a small spot of beautiful nature, a secluded camp in the woods by a stream; it moves to the buildings of a California ranch, and ends back in the woods by the stream. The style is simple: clear, direct sentences of description and action, direct quotation of the speech of simple people. Few long words, no hard words. The action is simple: two poor and vagrant workers, big, dumb Lennie and small, clever George, take jobs at a large ranch. Lennie has trouble with the Boss’s son, Curley. Lennie accidentally — more or less — kills Curley’s wife. George kills Lennie to save him from the horrors of a lynch mob led by Curley, bent on revenge. The settings are simple in detail, and simply powerfully symbolic. The secluded spot in the woods by the stream is the uncomplicated world of Nature; the bunkhouse is the bleak home of hired working men trying to make sense of their lives and gain comfort in a limited environment; the barn is the place of working life, of seed and harvest, birth and death; the harness room with Crook’s bunk symbolizes social constraints; the â€Å"little place of our own† about which George and Lennie dream and all too vaguely plan is the Paradise on earth we all hope for. The characters, too, are simple yet significant. â€Å"Begin with an individual, and before you know it you find you have created a type,† wrote F. Scott Fitzgerald; â€Å"begin with a type, and you find that you have created — nothing.† Steinbeck begins with individuals: clearly and sharply crafted characters, a whole set of individuals who are so clearly realized that each — without surrendering individuality — becomes a type, an archetype, a univ ersal character: There is Candy, the old, one-armed worker with no place to go, as useless as his toothless dog; there is Carlson, gruffly and deliberately â€Å"unfeeling,† who can coolly kill old Candy’s ancient dog simply because â€Å"he stinks† and â€Å"he ain’t no good to you†; and there is Crooks, the dignified proud and aloof but helpless and lonely victim of racial discrimination. There is Slim, calm, reasonable, compassionate, the real leader of men. And there is Curley, the arrogant but inept Boss’s son. The man who could lead well does not have the position; the one who has the position and the authority is not a true leader. Curley hides his insecurities behind a mask of macho toughness. His competitive bravado makes him push too far and Lennie, after enduring much, is given permission by George to â€Å"get him.† Lennie in self-protection crushes Curley’s fist in his own big hand, crippling Curley somewhat as Candy and Crooks have been crippled by the punitive harshness of life. Curley is also the one man who has a woman. But clearly he does not — does not know how to — relate to her as a person. She is to him a thing, a possession, a sex-object and a status symbol. For the men, in braggadocio, he flaunts the sexuality of the relationship; and yet, out of his own self-doubts he is intensely jealous of the men’s awareness of her. The young woman has no name — she is merely â€Å"Curley’s wife.† She knows she wants — and somehow deserves — something better than this. â€Å"I don’t like Curley,† she says of her husband. She has grandiose ambitions of being a Hollywood star â€Å"in the pitchers.† She is a lost little girl in a world of men whose knowledge of women is largely limited to memories of kind old ladies and rumors of casual prostitution. All these men are afraid of Curley’s wife, afraid and aware that her innocent animal appeal may lead them into temptation and trouble. In self-protection they avoid her. Only Lennie, in naive goodness, actually relates to her as a person to a person. She talks to him. For a little time they share in their aesthetic sense; they both admi re beauty. Unfortunately, she is too naive, and Lennie is too strong and clumsy. In trying — at her invitation — to pet her lovely hair he is panicked by her quick resistance, and ends by killing her. Just as he had earlier killed a puppy and a mouse. Curley’s wife, a naive Romantic, wants love and tenderness in a harsh crude Naturalistic world; Lennie, big and ignorant, tries to give love. But he is too weak in the mind, too strong in the body. His tenderness is too powerful for weaker, unsuspecting creatures. We readers can identify with Lennie. We sympathize; we empathize. We care. We have — most of us — been in his position; not quite able to cope with the complexities of the world around us, wanting only security, peace, comfort, and something soft and beautiful to pet and love. Perhaps one reason that this book has evoked controversy and censorious action is that it is so simple and clear and easy to understand — and so painful! It hurts to read this book. And some people don’t like their books to hurt them; they want soothing. But great Tragedy is meant to hurt. One needn’t subscribe wholly to the Aristotelian doctrine of ‘catharsis’ by Art to see that one function of literature is to help us deal with the pain of real life by practicing with the vicarious pains of tragic art. Of course Of Mice and Men contains unpleasant attitudes; there is brutality, racism, sexism, economic exploitation. But the book does not advocate them; rather it shows that these too-narrow conceptions of human life are part of the cause of human tragedy. They are forces which frustrate human aspiration. Lennie and George have a noble dream. They are personally too limited to make it come true, but they do try. They try to help each other, and they even enlarge their dream to include old one-handed Candy and crippled black Crooks. Theirs is the American Dream: that there is somehow, somewhere, sometime, the possibility that we can make our Paradise on earth, that we can have our own self-sufficient little place where we can live off the fat of the land as peaceful friends. What is sad, what is tragic, what is horrible, is that the Dream may not come true because we are — each and all of us — too limited, too selfish, too much in conflict with one another. â€Å"Maybe ever’-body in the whole damn world is scared of each other,† says Slim. And George expresses the effects of loneliness, â€Å"Guys that go around alone don’t have no fun. After a long time they get mean. They get wantin’ to fight all the time.† What is ennobling in this tragedy of mice and men is the Revelation of a way beyond that loneliness and meanness and fighting, a way to rise above our human limitations: Two men — Lennie and George — who have nothing else, do have each other. â€Å"We kinda look after each other.† says George. And they do have their Dream. And the Dream is there even in the final defeat. For in the end the one thing George can do for Lennie is to make sure he’s happy as he dies. He has Lennie â€Å"look acrost the river you can almost see [the place].† And as Lennie says, â€Å"Let’s get that place now,† George kills him mercifully. It’s a horrible thing to do, and George knows that. And we know that. But in this limited world in this limited way it is all that George can do for his friend. And he does it. That is the horror and the nobility which together make up Tragedy. The Tragic pattern closes. There is a sense of completeness, of both defeat and satisfaction. In Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck has shown us something about the pain of living in a complex human world and created something beautiful from it. In true great literature the pain of Life is transmuted into the beauty of Art. The book is worth reading for a glimpse of that beauty — and worth teaching as a way to show others how such beauty works.

Abortion Issue Essay Example for Free

Abortion Issue Essay ? Abortion is a controversial issue but it should be discussed because it is happening, and is more widespread than we care to admit. If we truly care about life, then we must understand what is going on. Ideally, pregnancy is a wanted and happy event for women, their partners and their families. Unfortunately, this is not always so. Around the world, millions of women every year become pregnant unintentionally. In the Philippines, as in other countries, some of these women are faced with a difficult choice: to give birth to a child that they are not prepared or able to care for, or to obtain an illegal, and often unsafe, abortion. As a Filipino citizen abortion is a crime. According to Articles 256-259 of our Revised Penal Code, whether you’re the woman getting the abortion, the abortionist, or someone assisting or encouraging the abortion, if you commit the act on purpose, you could get sent to jail for one month, to twenty years. No exceptions. For us, the consensus in abortion is strongly â€Å"anti.† Almost all of my classmates insisted that intentional abortion of any kind; was murder, regardless of whether or not it was done to save the mother’s life. Out of the forty-four students in our section, only about six said that abortion, if regulated, could be made legal. While I myself would prefer to avoid having to get an abortion as far as reasonably possible, I believe that this issue should be looked at through a more critical lens. Why? Because it is the attitude that most Filipinos adopt in relation to abortion is frequently more emotional than practical. Much of it can be traced back to a knee-jerk, culture-based reaction to anything involving babies and death. The lines on matters involving religion, culture, and tradition are quite blurred, and the results are all the same: a default outcry against abortion, or any sort of regulation concerning sexual health. * Be able to understand and to be aware to the effects of abortion. * To enlighten the Filipino citizen not to agree to the so called â€Å"abortion bill†. * For us to share the learning’s to the teenagers what does abortion really do to our human life. Abortion is illegal in the Philippines and is not permitted under any circumstance. The act is criminalized by the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which was enacted in 1930 but remains in effect today. Articles 256, 258 and 259 of the Code mandate imprisonment for the woman who undergoes the abortion, as well as for any person who assists in the procedure, even if they be the woman’s parents, a physician or midwife. Article 258 further imposes a higher prison term on the woman or her parents if the abortion is undertaken â€Å"in order to conceal [the woman’s] dishonour† (Tan 2008 and Wikipedia 2008).The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines effectively any amendments to the Penal Code’s provisions on abortion because of Article II, Section 12, which states: â€Å"The State recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. It shall equally protect the life of the mother and t he life of the unborn from conception. The natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the Government.† In the principle, legalizing abortion would require a referendum to amend the constitution, although the enactment of a more definitive provision sanctioning the ban was not successful. In 1999, Congressman Roy Padilla Jr. of Camarines Norte filed House Bill 6343seeking to allow abortion in special cases (e.g., rape, congenital defects in the fetus or cases where the mother’s life is endangered). It is unlikely that the bill will be passed but it has stimulated discussion on abortion. The passage of HB 6343 will require amendment because the Bill as it presently stands is inherently unconstitutional (Wikipedia 2008 and Tan 2008).The United Nations recognizes that abortion in the Philippines is permitted only in instances in which the pregnant woman’s life is endangered. However, there is no law in the Philippines that expressly authorizes abortions in order to save the woman’s life; and the general provisions which do penalize abortion make no qualifications if the woman’s life is endangered. It may be argued that an abortion to save the mother’s life could be classified as a justifying circumstance (duress as opposed to self-defence) that would bar criminal prosecution under the Revised Penal Code. However, this position has yet to be adopted or debunked by the Philippine Supreme Court. Proposals to liberalize Philippine abortion laws have been opposed by the Catholic Church, and its opposition has considerable influence in the predominantly Catholic country. Philippines is the only Catholic country in Asia and contrary to that statistical data reported that there were some 400,000 to 500,000 abortion in 2005. The Department of Health added that nearly 100,000 women who have unsafe abortions every year end up in the hospital. About 4 in 5 abortions in the Philippines are for economic reasons, according to a survey by the University of the Philippines. In many cases, said Jocelyn Pacete, a spokeswoman for Likhaan, a women’s health group based in Manila, â€Å"the mother can’t afford another child, so ends up choosing her five living children over the fetus in her womb.† (Source: Legal_Updates) STATISTICAL FACTS, QUALITATIVE FACTS Prevalence of Abortion in the Philippines Accurate measurement of induced abortion levels has proven difficult in many parts of the world. Health care workers and policymakers need information on the incidence of both legal and illegal induced abortion to provide the needed services and to reduce the negative impact of unsafe abortion on women’s health. Information on the current level of unintended pregnancy and abortion is essential for understanding the extent to which women face barriers in planning pregnancies and preventing unintended ones. Evidence on recent trends in these important indicators is also crucial in assessing whether changes in policies and programs are necessary. Abortions cut across class, age, and marital status, and occur in both urban and rural areas. The UP Population Institute (UPPI) 1994 study estimates that between 300,000 and500, 000 women obtain induced abortions annually in the Philippines. Put another way, there may be 16 induced abortions for every 100 pregnancies. According to Singh et al. (2006), induced abortion in the Philippines is widespread and practice takes many forms. Nearly half of pregnancies each year end in an induced abortion or an unplanned birth. Unintended pregnancy is the root cause of abortion. Some 3.1 million pregnancies occur each year in the Philippines. Of these, 15% result in induced abortions, 31% in unplanned births, 39% in planned births and 15% in spontaneous abortions. An estimated 473,000 abortions occur annually. One-third of women who experience an unintended pregnancy end it in abortion. Thus, about 1.43 million pregnancies each year—nearly half of all pregnancies— are unintended. The annual rate of unintended pregnancy is 81 per 1,000 women of reproductive age, meaning that about 8% of Filipino women aged 15–44 conceive every year without intending to do so. Women from all segments of society experience abortion . Women who have had an abortion resemble average Filipino women: The majority are married, Catholic and poor. They have some high school education and have already had several children. Surveying students, friends and all the people around us that is willing to answer our questionnaire. We’ve made a questionnaire instead of direct interview to the respondents. We are estimating around 50 respondents and from there we can assume a certain percent for the â€Å"Pro-Life† and â€Å"Anti†. (Source: Legal_Updates) http://www.chanrobles.com/revisedpenalcodeofthephilippinesbook2.htm: 1. Ã…hman E and Shah I, Unsafe abortion: worldwide estimates for 2000, Reproductive Health Matters, 2002, No. 19, pp. 13–17. 2. Ã…hman E and Shah I, Unsafe Abortion: Global and Regional Estimates of the Incidence of Unsafe Abortion and Associated Mortality in 2000, fourth ed., Geneva: World Health Organization, 2004. 3. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Development, Abortion Policies: A Global Review, Vol. III, New York: United Nations, 1995. 4. Singh S et al., Estimating the level of abortion in the Philippines and Bangladesh, International Family Planning Perspectives, 1997, 23(3):100– 107 & 144. 5. Shire A and Pesso L, Changing policies and attitudes: postabortion care in the Philippines, Compass, 2003, N Abortion Issue. (2017, Feb 06).

Choose a fashion style or a physical element of a particular style and Essay

Choose a fashion style or a physical element of a particular style and consider how it signifies a social identity. Discuss the - Essay Example This discussion will define in detail the punk fashion style to bring out the unique aspects that define and alienate it from just any other group. Punk is a subculture, mostly of youth with the characters of opposing government, hating authority, with extreme unique hairstyles and dressing, they have the hatred of big business, greatly oppose prejudice, amongst other qualities. They advocate most of their ideas through their music, usually created by their punk rock bands. The emergence of this group dates back to the mid to late 1970’s mostly in the United Kingdom and United States, but today exists in most parts of the globe. Just like any other segregation or group, punk depicts strong distinct features that alienate it from any other group mostly in their styles of music, film, visual art, dance, and what this discussion is all about; fashion. Fashion is an umbrella term that covers style or practice preferences mostly in footwear, accessories, make up, clothing, body pie rcing, fashion, and to some extent furniture amongst others. According to English (2013), the 1970’s and 1980’s saw the emergence of extreme nihilistic fashion that depicted street style clothing, dressing associated with poverty, to express aggression and attract attention. It was during the era when Britain, and the global economy was skydiving, further widening the groove between the rich and the poor. The level of unemployment was very high and young people, especially the uneducated were the hardest hit. This period inspired, and continues to inspire modern punks’ way of dressing; they dress in worn, dirty, tattered clothes. It is also logical that owing to the small size malnourished people, they adopted the trend of wearing tight fitting jeans and clothes in general. Still on the note of dressing, punks consider their dressing as a medium of communication, and incorporate various tactics of doing so. As Kearns (2010), puts it, the punk subculture defines and applies its own intentional and very carefully thought of display codes. These codes have messages that they send out, which usually go against the grain of normal cultures, as they tend to be provocative, vulgar and offensive. In short, their fashion is a voice. The messages most common on the punk’s clothing revolve around Nazism, kinky sex, self-mutilation, political anarchy and other various themes that work to offend or provoke the â€Å"outsiders† who in this case are non-punks. Some popular examples include the â€Å"destroy shirt† that has the crucifix in an upside down posture with swastikas surrounding it, and the notorious shirt prints of two naked cowboys standing face to face. One of the major identities that punks use to identify themselves is through body modifications. Their body modifications mostly include body markings such as tattooing and writing on it or by piercing various parts of their bodies. Surprisingly enough, some even go to the extent of stretching their ears to achieve weird looks. In deeper punk, permanent and temporary body modifications such as branding, implants, and scarification make their identity and act as cues for artistic expression in addition to demonstrating scene involvement and embracing social difference. To differentiate themselves from the normal piercings, punks pierce unusual body parts such as cheeks or noses and implement crude accessories like safety pins and custom bullring design

Intercultural Communication optional Paper Essay

Intercultural Communication optional Paper - Essay Example Among theories of self and society is the high context vs. low context societal communication. Characteristics of communicative environment include cultural, socio-relational, physical, and perceptional environments. In this aspect cultural contexts entails features such as individualism and collectivism while physical aspect entails the geographical situation of interactions such s school, staffroom or at a dinner table. The extent to which communications and interaction depends on these features vary according to culture. In this aspect, a high context communication refers to the one that a lot of information either is in the physical or is within a self. Very little message in this perspective is coded. A low context communication on the other hand is the one that is explicitly coded. A cultural continuum helps in conceptualization of low-high context communication in which case there is no culture that appears exclusively to the extreme ends of the continuum. High cultures tends to have restricted communication code system such that users of a restricted code system rely most on the elements that pertains to context of communication setting for information as compared to the actual language code (Richard, 24). In high context cultures, since the parties understand each other, the words mostly do not necessarily convey meaning. People communicating in high context culture recognize that information from various elements of high context culture already exists and must not be codified further. Hence high context communication is fast, efficient, proficient and gratifies. In the low context culture, the verbal code is the primary source (Ian, 2). Thus people rely largely on the verbal code method to create an interpret meaning. The concept of face, the interactional self- image that a person displays which closely relates to the discursive images. Face refers to one’s image in a relational

Lab report paraphrasing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lab report paraphrasing - Essay Example The term, total squared error, is used in defining the accuracy of the original signal in the Fourier series. The accuracy of the Fourier series can only escalate if the value of â€Å"m† increases. The accuracy, for example, deteriorates or is very low when the value of â€Å"m† is 1. Consequently, the accuracy of the experiment is very high when the â€Å"m† value stands at 6. The poor accuracy results from the failure to take into consideration the original signal. The original signal serves as a crucial first step towards solving the Fourier series. It is, therefore, important to have a high value as â€Å"m† in order to increase the accuracy of the series. H. Wilbraham was the first scholar to identify the Gibbs phenomenon. Josiah Gibbs then later studied the phenomenon in detail. The phenomenon has a direct relationship with the Fourier series. It appears as a small sinusoidal wave in square waves. The phenomenon forms part of the troughs and peaks in the series. The sinusoidal waves cannot be eliminated unless the â€Å"m† rises to infinity. In other words, the small peaks forming parts of the square waves are always present. There are several uses of Fourier series in Electrical engineering. There are, for example, very useful in studies involving harmonic analysis. Harmonic analysis refers to the assessment of periodic functions that constitute simple sinusoidal elements. The methods are of immense importance in noise analysis, filter designing, and signal analysis. These are just a few areas of the wide harmonic analysis that calls for thorough understanding before undertaking computations of the

Stakeholder Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Stakeholder Management - Essay Example As the research discusses the first management process is identification of stakeholders. The stakeholder selected should be able to match the needs and objective of the organization. On the other hand, Stakeholder should abide by the provisions provided for the partnership to exist. After selection stakeholders should then be prioritized based on what they offer to bring to the partnership. Prioritization is based on the needs of the organizations and how much the stakeholders offer. Understanding the key stakeholders is then required in order to create a proper engagement framework. Key principles are then identified. In addition, organizational stakeholders are also identified to increase engagement approaches used during the process of stakeholder engagement. Communication and engagement with stakeholders is then instigated to create a long term interaction all way through the entire project. From the report it is clear that the importance of control stakeholder engagement and manage stakeholder engagement in the organization are mainly based on ensure project objectives are met within the specified period of time. The organization understands what is required from the stakeholder relationship until the project is complete. In an argument by Turner the engagement approaches provide an overview of what project completion requires in regards to the partnership with stakeholders. Most importantly, organization or project managers are able to detect any new or unexpected requirements as the project continues.

How do You Think a Confucian, a Daoist, and a Legalist would Evaluate Essay

How do You Think a Confucian, a Daoist, and a Legalist would Evaluate Asoka as a Ruler - Essay Example Asoka was inclined to fundamental values such as love, tolerance and was a devotee of nonviolence (Andrea and Overfield 143). Asoka was a peace-loving ruler who tried to instill a secular state ethic of non-violence. This clearly matches the arguments of the Confucius that claims that persons in a position of superiority were supposed to set an admirable example of moral behavior. This is what Asoka did (Andrea and Overfield 90). According to the Confucian doctrines, the politics are highly valued. They believe that politics is closely related to eternal life. The doctrines back up social issues that are indispensable as far as the livelihood of people is concerned. Because of this, aspects such as domestic order, preserve tradition, constant standard of living for the taxpaying peasants are highly valued. The Confucian theory is anchored on the belief that a ruler who cannot exemplify moral behavior is bound to loss the Mandate of Heaven. The Confucian doctrines aim at nurturing val ues such as compassion, traditional rituals, allegiance, and respect for superiors (Andrea and Overfield 92). The Confucius tends to value the family and community than the individual. This means that for one to be recognized by the Confucian, he or she must be able to assist the community. Egocentric is highly disregarded. From the religious perspective, Confucians worship the ancestors. They are still inclined to the traditional beliefs. Asoka argues that the relationship with the parents and living creatures should be firmly established. Ideally, the ruler should himself be such a model. For this, Asoka may be seen as an able ruler whose style of leadership style largely intertwines with the doctrine of Confucius (Andrea and Overfield 143). Legalism is anchored on the fact that people, by nature are evil, selfish, and untrustworthy. This philosophy aims at addressing the features of the people. It has one limitation in that it does not address the meaning of life. According to th e philosophy, law is the main tool through which people can be made to live in harmony. Because of this, the philosophy claims that the law code should be clearly availed to the public. Public must have access to the law code so that they can do according to the law. Failure to do meet these conditions may tempt people to commit crimes. The philosophy believes that the law makes people equal before the stipulated law codes (Andrea and Overfield 96). Nevertheless, the law states that those who break the law should be punished. Therefore, it is necessary to appreciate the fact that the measures that were taken provided some assurance of predictability. Similarly, the ruler has no significant impact or influence on the rule of law as it is predominantly run by the state and not him. Asoka became a successful ruler after a successful execution of military conquests. He waged war at Kalinga. This brings him out as a forceful ruler (Andrea and Overfield 143). A legalist would rate Asoka a n inferior leader. Legalism stated that ruler should be in a position to employ some leadership tactics. This would ensure that he or she is under control of others. It also ensures that no one may claim the control over the state. They claim that this is possible because no one could possibly predict the motivations of the ruler like Asoka. Consequently, it is even hard to understand the appropriate behavior for the successful execution and following of laws (Andrea and Over

Discuss the relative success and failures of the movements for more Research Paper

Discuss the relative success and failures of the movements for more political participation and democracy in one Latin American - Research Paper Example UNDP has played part in contributing to the strengthening of the democracy and its bodies to ensure they consolidate laws and policies that encourage political participation and democracy. The research addresses the political participation and democracy in Mexico, it being on of American Latin nations2. True democracy in Mexico has been of the long coming, social leaders and rebellion citizens played part in bringing of democracy in the country at the end of twentieth century. Dominance of one party has yield to more democratic structures marked with emergent decentralization and the implementation of the fairer election policies and procedures. Success and failure of Political participation Since the past 20 years or from 1980s, the political participation of Mexico has undergone drastic change or huge transformation. After a huge period of political control carried or exercised with highly dictatorial political system, one that had the power over Mexican parties and electoral proce ss, currently Mexico is now exercising participatory polity. There has been an increase or upsurge in the multiparty competition in elections that were carried out in 1988, 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2006; therefore, the kind of political participation, specifically voting has gained new meaning. There is a new way of distribution in the constituency in the pluralistic structure3. My argument is that in the past 20 years, the country has experienced a more vibrant and dynamic electoral participation and division of the voting predilection among the current diverse political parties in the Mexican state. The change transpired in the sense that the Mexican population had more risky attitude towards the political environment/sphere. There are many reasons and factors that could be related with the gradual change; the higher education of the citizens, the current socio economic pattern, and or fresh electoral bodies4. However, the given political big wing to the electoral prospects attribute s the influence on these differences in the orientation. The voting pattern of Mexico from 1988 -2006 The transform in the electoral partaking In Mexico between the year 1988 and 2000 is hugely attributed by presence of opposition parties particularly by PRD and PAN. The refusal of the government and PRI power over the electoral processes another significant factor and the duty of the IFE (the federal institute for elections) has the significant impact o the contribution in the encouragement of the political participation. It is argued that, in relation to the detailed analysis of the voting pattern change, especially after the electoral reforms were carried out the early 1990s5. The political electoral range started the process of political liberalization leading or yielding to the opposition parties to gain strength which enabled the over powering of the PRI by the PAN (national action party) in the election held at 2000. The election reforms that occurred between the years 1991 t o the year 1996, there were lawful sources of the deliberate but lasting increment in the change of the countries electoral participation. At the same line later after the numerous trial by the small parties in be part of the election process, only three parties that were

Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan - Essay Example "Blowin' in the Wind" was a fantastic piece of talent for the era. The song puts forward questions of moral principles on the earth at the time, warfare, coercion, privileges, etc. The first stanza of the song "How many roads must a man walk down Before you can call him a man" raises the matter, that how difficult it becomes to get respect. It is fundamentally a protest song, which talks about the protesters of the era and how much they suffered to get heard. The poem also mentions about a white dove sailing seas. The dove is considered as a widespread mark for peace. Dylan uses it to show people's anxiety and unrest and their search of peace in that era of war. He compares this situation with a white dove flying around to find a peaceful and safe place. The symbol dove as used in the poem may also be viewed as a biblical reference. Dylan asks even the most tragic and painful questions beautifully as he asked "How many times must the cannon balls fly /Before they're ever banned." Thi s line translates his concern for the people who died or may die due to the war and when would it be ceased forever. In the next few lines he answers his question and declares that the answer can't be seen but it can be observed. He thinks that society can evaluate the answer it is in the surroundings (i.e., in the blowing wind). The second stanza begins with the words "How many times must a man look up /Before he can see the sky" Dylan asks that how much time it would take for men to find out that war doesn't worth the loss countless lives. Dylan goes on with the rhyme of the poem and writes "How many ears must one man have / before he can hear people cry" one more biblical reference can be observed in this line, in Isaiah 6:9 it is stated that those who refuse Jesus Christ will fundamentally be deaf to the humanity but if they get Jesus and unbolt their heart then they shall hears. Isaiah replies to this by stating "Lord, how long" It is about the similar query Dylan inquires about in "Blowin' in the Wind". After this line of the song there is an evident anti-war speech. The losses of soldiers in Vietnam were increasing and the protesters merely wished for a pullout of troops to protect lives. And once again Dylan follows the same rhyme by declaring that the answers are blowing in the wind. The last verse begins with the wordings "How many years can a mountain exist /before it's washed to sea" This is a symbol that entails if the world keeps on fighting and participates in wars; just how extensive will it be until we have ruined ourselves The replication of nearly each verse opening with "how many" pushes the urgency of change on the readers. A further reason for this is to illustrate how exhausted his generation was of the Vietnam War. "How many years can some people exist /before they're allowed to be free" is one more anti-war metaphor. Dylan is declaring that people being sent away to take part in the war and not be able to do what one selects has gone on for very long. The line that tracks this is "How many times can a man turn his head /Pretending he doesn't see" which is yet again an pacifist line. This means that the governments do not pay any attention to the dangers and

The Pangaea Theory Essay Example for Free

The Pangaea Theory Essay The Pangea theory describes that all continents were joined together in one enormous land mass millions of years ago. Later on the continents broke apart and start drifting in opposite directions and still continued to make another arrangement. In 1912, Alfred Wegner, a German meteorologist and geologist gave the hypothesis the all the continents were joined together in a single continental land mass surrounded by a single ocean (Panthalassa) Late Paleozoic times. The Wegner used the term Kontinentalverschiebung for the breakup and displacement of crustal blocks. Pangea situated around where Antarctica is now presently. During Jurassic Period the Pangaea started to break up into smaller units called Laurasia and Gondwanaland. In late Cretaceous period, the continents were further separated and transformed as present day continents (William Lowrie, 2007). Figure-1 shows the reconstruction of Wegener’s continental mass using paleo-climatic data from Carboniferous, Permian, Eocene and to Quarternary. Figure-1 (a) Pangaea reconstruction by Wegener in Late Carboniferous time (b) continents in Eocene times (c) continents in Early Quaternary, where K, S, W, E refers coal, salt, desert areas, ice sheets respectively (after William Lowrie, 2007). Evolution of Himalayas The Himalaya holds very important geological and tectonic history. The arc of Himalayan belt is about 2500 km from northwest to southeast. It comprises of well-known famous peaks like Nanga Parbat, Evereast and Namche Barwa etc. The Himalayan ranges hold a huge concentration of lithospheric mass comprising Precambrian to Recent sediments. The contnent to continent collision of Indian and Asian plates is considered as the grave reason for the origion and development of Himalaya. This collision occurred in last 100 Ma yielding the uplifting of Himalayan chain of mountains. This lead the closing of Tethyian sea during 60-50 Ma. The over trust sheets and formation of nappe and klipps was generated as a result of crustal shortening. The uplift resulted huge erosion and deposition phases in the Arabian sea and Bay of Bengal. The subduction process is still under continuation causing earthquakes and tsunamis in the entire region (Anshu Kumar Sinha, August 2008),(An Yin et. al, May 2000) During cretaceous age the indian plate started it journey of collision with Eurasian plate. The subduction of the Indian plate occurred under Eurasia making Tibetan crust with huge thickness (Figure-2). The Tsangpo Indus suture zone was formed in western while MKT/ MMT zones were created. Several regional faults like main continental and boundary thrusts as well as salt range thrusts were generated (Klootwijk et al., 1992). Figure-3 show the distribution of major thrust faults associated with the indianeurasian plate collision Hamalyian orogeny. Figure-2, The subduction of Indian plate under Eurasian plate (after Klootwijk et al., 1992). Figure-3, Regional thrust faults distribution due to the collision of Indian plate (after Harald Drewes, 1995) Tectonics of Sulaiman Kirthar Range Sulaiman Range The Sulaiman Kirthar ranges comprises of about 1250 km long and 75 to 180 km wide zone. The zone is highly complex structurally (Figure-4). There are regional thrust belts in northern and southern side of these ranges. On the eastern and southern side of these belts the successions are highly folded. The intensity of folding diminishes as we move more eastward and southward. A huge foredeep zone containing 10 km thick Jurassic to Recent sediment is present in front of these ranges in the eastern and southern direction (A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Sulaiman Kirthar ranges comprises of various tectonos tratigraphic zones. The fold belt contains arc shaped zone is east-west direction. There is exposure of Jurassic to recent strata having a regional unconformity at the base of Dungan Limestone of Palaeocene age having Biabi volcanics a protolith. The folding style in Sulaiman fold belt area are enechelon, parallel/ sub parallel or open which becomes tighter as we move northward. The northern and central part of this belt holds the steep and huge thrust faulting effects including NW and NNW trending strike slip faults originating syntaxis. The lobe shape of Sulaiman fold is believed to be the result of presence of weak basal decollement composed of pilitic rocks or fine carbonates at 14 km deep above the crystalline basement which is supported by tear faults. The northward zone also comprises tight detachment folds as well as forward propagating anticlines with duplex geometry in piggy-back style while in south eastern side broad and dome shaped wider anticlines are present. The Sibi trough exist between Sulaiman and Kirthar fold belts. The trough contains 15 km thick sequences of Triassic to Recent sedimentary rocks above the basement. The thickness of Siwalik molasses in Sibi trough is 7000 meters (A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Kirthar Range The Kirthar Fold Belt is 330 km long and 50 to 70 km wide. The belt runs between Quetta and Karachi from north-south. In north and western side Bela-Zhobophiolite are present while on eastern side the Sibi trough, Kirthar foredeep and Indus platform are present (Figure-4). Jurassic to Recent sedimentary rocks are present in the Kirthar Fold Belt. Smaller structural units appear in the belt by differences in tectonic style and variations in stratigraphic successions (A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Kalat anticlinorium It lies in northern-most part of this belt contains massive Jurassic carbonates and comprises parallel or en echelon folds. Tallest peaks of more than 3000 meters are present in the area. The doubly plunging broad anticlines with steep limbs and flatter crests are common which are cut by normal and reverse faults. Wider synclinal valleys covered with Cretaceous and Paleogene shales and limestones are present. Kalat Plateau: The plateau is situated in the south of Kalat anticlinorium. This plateau is a depression or downthrown block that is containing Kirthar Limestone of Eocene age. This plateau is a gently undulating synclinorium and holds small and gentle folds having tear and reverse faults. Khuzdar knot: This area is having irregular geometry of structural feature. The zone has gone through intense deformation that lessens in southward. The massive Jurassic limestone here is forming tightly folded anticlines that are separated by tight valleys of irregular geometry. The trend of anticlinal axes is dancing in almost every direction. The folds in eastern side are larger broader. Khude Range Fold Belt The range consists of Paleogene sediments comprising thrust faults that are dipping away from the range. Narrow elongated and en echelon anticlines are present with Jurassic-Cretaceous exposed in the core. Nagau-KirtharFold Belt This belt comprises tight, en echelon, subparallel and doubly plunging folds characterized by reverse and tear faults. On the eastern side of the belt a lot of small popup structures are present due to presence of Kirthar Limestones. The passive roof duplex models are observed in this area. Karachi Embayment Zone This zone is characterized as a synclinorium and contains Miocene to Recent sediments forming SSW trending anticlines. Sanbakh-Lakhrauplift zone The zone lies in the east of Karachi embayment. Paleogene and Neogene sedimentary rocks have filled this area. The zone holds a lot of unconformities and comprises of broad doubly plunging, gentle northsouth trending folds that are cut through by numerous reverse and normal faults. The unconformities depicts that this zone was a structural hight in the paleotimes. KakarKhorasanBasin Kakar Khorasan is referred as Flysch basin. This basin is present in the north of Zhob ophiolite and thrust belt. The basin is comprised of flysch sediments. The deltaic and molasse sediments are also present in the basin. It is assumed that the oceanic crust related to Indian plate has subducted beneath Afghan block, this analysis is based on the gravity surveys which depicts that the oceanic crust beneath the Afgnan block is getting thinner causing Afghan block about 57 km thick. Nisai Limestone of Eocene age as well as Khojak Flysch sediments of Oligocene to Miocene age are exposed in the basin which are underlain by Pliocene sediments or younger molasse. Broad to tight anticlines and synclines associated with the reverse faults are present in this area (A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Figure-4, Geological map of a part of Sulaiman-Kirthar Fold Belts (after A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Geology Stratigraphy of Salt Range Salt range is composed of very interesting geology and tectonics. Tectonically the salt range is the result of Himalayan orogeny. The salt range thrust is the key tectonic feature that controls the whole configuration of these ranges. Various syntaxes were created due to the movements along vertical axes. Hazarasyntaxis (Jehlum fault) and Indus River syntazxis (Kalabagh fault) are characterized by lateral movements are present in East and west of the salt range respectively (Figure-5) which are the result of adjustment of major thrust plate around the subducting one. The area mainly comprises of thrusted salt cored anticlines and popups where salt is acting as decollement surface (A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Figure-5, Tectonic map for salt range (after Harald Drewes, 1995) The salt range comprises of Infra-Cambrian evaporates deposits which are under the coverage of EoCambrian package. The absence of Middle Cambrian to Early Permian rocks depicts regional unconformity in salt range. In Nammal, Chichli Nilawahan gorges of western salt range the younger while in western side at Choa Sayden Shah the older strata is exposed. The salt range area contains molasse deposits of Miocene to Pliocene age which are the result of Himayalian erosion. These recent sediments cover the thick EoCambrian package that overlies evaporite deposits (A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Mesozoic and earlier rock rocks exposures are exposed also in Surghar and Khisor ranges. The dolomites, shales and sandstones of Jehlum Group are unconformably overlain by a thick succession of carbonates and clastics of Nilawahan and Zaluch groups. Talchir boulder beds are the indications of a regional angular unconformity at the base of Permian. The exposed Eo-Cambrian formations are about 550m thick in Eastern salt range while the Permian sequence is about 700m thick in western Salt range. Figure-6 is a schematic cross section of Salt, Surghar and Khisor range showing the stratigraphic distribution of formations. The area is devoid of Ordovician to Carboniferous strata depicting a regional unconformity. In western salt range Permian to recent sediments are present uncomfortably over the Cambrian succession. On the contrary in the eastern salt range the Cambrian package is quite preserved and also do not contain Ordovician to Carboniferous successions. There is an abrupt change of stratigraphic successions that just above the Cambrian the Oligocene to recent sediments. An average thickness of continental molasses sediments is about 8000 meters overlying the Eo-Cambrian packages. The Nilawahan group of Lower Permian age acts as a regional unconformity in the entire area (A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Figure-6, Stratigraphic distribution of various successions in Khisor, Surghar and Salt range (after A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997). Tobra formation’s Talchir Boulder bed is a result of a global glacial event; the Bain Boulder bed of Marwat formation of Pliestocene age in Bhittani and Shinghar ranges is result of a single catastrophic flood event comprising volcanic debris flow. The salt range area contains highly fossiliferous stratigraphic sequences. Permian sequences contains wide range of fossils, the lower part contains cold while its upper part has water fauna and flora. Lower Eocene’s Kuldana Formation contains vertebrate fauna of whales. The successions in Cretaceous age contain vertebrates like rodents, artiodactyls, bounodonts, anthracobunid and proboscideans. The Siwaliks on the other hand contains mammalian fossils (A. H. Kazmi et al., 1997).

THE IMPACT OF MONETARY POLICY ON NIGERIAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Essay Example for Free

THE IMPACT OF MONETARY POLICY ON NIGERIAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Essay Monetary policy being an economic tool is used to stabilize the economy. It is a tool used by the government through monetary agencies like the Central Bank to control the supply of money in an economy. It is used to bring about economic growth and development through the control of inflation. It impacts the economy cannot over-emphasized. It has very positive impacts on the economy and helps in building a sustainable economy. Monetary policy is the process by which the monetary authority of a country controls the supply of money, often targeting a rate of interest for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability. It is maintained through actions such as increasing the interest rate, or changing the amount of money banks has to keep in the vault(bank reserves). It can be used to increase or decrease the volume of money in circulation based on the situation at hand. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The intent of the proposed study is to critically examine the impact of monetary policies on the Nigerian economy. The focus will be on how monetary policies adopted in recent years have impacted on the Nigerian economy. How the federal government have strived through the use of monetary policies to stabilize and develop the Nigerian economy. The intent is to provide adequate information to readers on the roles played by monetary authorities and monetary policies in ensuring economic growth and development in the entity called Nigeria. An objective approach shall be employed in order to bring about valid arguments and conclusions. LITERATURE REVIEW Scholars in the economic and financial field have written articles on the proposed research topic. Professor Kunle Adamson in 2002 wrote an article in this regard.he placed emphasis on the then proposed re-denomination of the naira by the then CBN governor Professor Charles Soludo. He critically analysed how the re-denomination of the naira would have impacted the Nigerian economy. Another literature to be reviewed is the article written by Dr Okoro A. Sunday(Ph.D) of the Ebonyi State University. He critically examined the long-run equilibrium relationship between monetary policy instruments and economic growth in Nigeria. The intent  of the proposed research is to explore the various angles to the research topic. The poor implantation process would also be critically examined.

Business strategy of low-cost airline

Business strategy of low-cost airline Case summary Allegiant airline, a leading US company has implemented several tactics in order to be a low cost airline. It provides low fees for checking baggages, boarding and seat assignment which enable Allegiant Air to compete with other low-cost airlines. Even if Allegiant would provided services in Europe, it would be a dominant low cost airline and would easily overtake Ryan air in terms of lower prices. Regarding a comparison with other low-cost airlines, recent statistics show that Allegiant Air in-flight fees rose to 22.7% extra income from ancillary and on board purchases, which takes advantage over Ryan air with 19.23% income from ancillary. Such extra charges during the in-flight service may be an inconvenience for the passengers, but they help keep the company aloft during the economic crisis. Allegiant Air is a low cost airline which occupies 80 aircrafts. The companys strategy also intends to achieve another 300 routes which include flights to Mexico and the Caribbean. Although the airline leases small air planes in order to save cost and to generate more profits, Allegiant avoids the main airports due to the fact that it is more economically beneficial and since they are not in competition with the big companies. Mr Gallagher, the chief exclusive describes how his company already partners with other business and provides packages, 30% of which are sold to customers. Article: Ian Wylie. (2009) â€Å"Tactics of low-cost airline† Financial Times: Published: October 18 2009 http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c031e712-baa1-11de-9dd7-00144feab49a.html Case commentary This article describes Allegiant Air tactics low fair service and explains how the company adjust to keep competitive with other low-cost airlines and ahead of. One of its goals is to sell flights from other airlines on Allegiants site in order to increase customer awareness and keep their dominance as a low fare service. Regarding to Mr Gallagher speech â€Å"Shortly, we should be identifiable to 100m people throughout the US†. â€Å"At that point, we can leverage the brand name and arrange all your travel†(Wylie, 2009). Gallagher is the CEO (managing director) of Allegiant Air and understands that because of the recession some changes were necessary. Which required analysis of their macro-environment. For example they have used PEST analysis tool in order to scan the general and the competitive environment. To improve these general environment factors required constant and structured scanning and monitoring. (Understanding Strategic Management, Henry 2008). Using an analytical tool such as porters five forces, one is able to not only look into their external environment, but they are allowed the chance to exploit the powers of the Porters five forces by enabling them to basically understand what is needed to be changed in order to gain strategic advantages. The business method which companies such as Allegiant Air would have most probably used is Porters five forces. This is because they have to fully analyse their market segment of being a low cost airline and they also have set specific targets in order to gain competitive advantage over its rivals (Understanding Strategic Management, Henry 2008:69). For example if a new airline would have tried to enter into the market service, it would have been very difficult to survive unless the new airline had the ability to compete with the existing grater airlines such as Allegiant. Therefore, if a new airline tries to provide and offer their services, it will face the threat of entry and whether if enters to the market it will depend of the barriers to entry and the reaction of the existing competitors. It would be very difficult to survive because Alliance has an organized business plan and offers low prices tickets for its specific routes, as resulting, this will act the new airline to dete r its services from entering the market because it will be difficult to survive and compete. In terms of generic competitive strategy, Allegiant business strategy ensures a fit between its strategy and the (CSFs) Critical Success Factors of the industry and also strives for competitive advantage over its rivals. (Pathfinder 2006 :119) Allegiant Air has identified the fact that in order to sustain their competitive advantage, it now offers another 300 routes and intends to fly to Mexico and the Caribbean. Their business strategy is to advertise their services on others companies and selling flights from other airlines on the allegiant site. Also, allegiant has signed up to a pays short term contract basis and use airport employers on monthly leases. In case any specific service failing, due to short-term contract which Allegiant posses they have the ability to end it before making great losses. This will allows Allegiant to gain competitive advantage over its rivals since they can cut most of their costs in a short amount of time. Because of the competitive pricing scheme used by Allegiant, they have made it a difficult task for new and upcoming businesses to enter their market. However the case study which I have chose to assess its purely based on the US market. Therefore the outcomes of the strategies and analytical models which they chose to achieve their targets would most probably differ if they were to evaluate or asses other markets such as the EU, Asia. It could be considered a good example because what can be derived from the above article in the organization can handle and keep low costs for its flights by gaining a competitive advantage against its rivals. Also, the short term contacts that are signed by the Airline contribute to business strategy and allow the company to immediately stop its services in case profits begin to decrease. It is evident that this airline is capable of providing low cost tickets and also the airlines business strategy is effective enough to remain dominant and provides its services at low cost in order to survive and compete with rival companies. Weblink http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c031e712-baa1-11de-9dd7-00144feab49a.html [Access 21/10/2009] References * Author: Anthony (2008) â€Å"Henry Understanding Strategic Management† * Author: Robert M. Grant (2008) â€Å"Contemporary Strategy Analysis†6th edition. * Article: Author: By Ian Wylie (October 18 2009) â€Å"Tactics of low-cost airline† Financial Times: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/c031e712-baa1-11de-9dd7-00144feab49a.html Key Words Take advantage, short term contracts, competitive advantage, business strategy, well define business plans, keep aloft in downturn, profitable business model, eventual goal â€Å"sell flights from other airlines on the Allegiant site†.

Lord of the Flies Characters :: essays papers

Lord of the Flies Characters In his first novel, William Golding used a group of boys stranded on a tropical island to illustrate the malicious nature of mankind. Lord of the Flies dealt with changes that the boys underwent as they gradually adapted to the isolated freedom from society. Three main characters depicted different effects on certain individuals under those circumstances. Jack Merridew began as the arrogant and self-righteous leader of a choir. The freedom of the island allowed him to further develop the darker side of his personality as the Chief of a savage tribe. Ralph started as a self-assured boy whose confidence in himself came from the acceptance of his peers. He had a fair nature as he was willing to listen to Piggy. He became increasingly dependent on Piggy's wisdom and became lost in the confusion around him. Towards the end of the story his rejection from their society of savage boys forced him to fend for himself. Piggy was an educated boy who had grown up as an outcast. Due to his acade mic childhood, he was more mature than the others and retained his civilized behaviour. But his experiences on the island gave him a more realistic understanding of the cruelty possessed by some people.The ordeals of the three boys on the island made them more aware of the evil inside themselves and, in some cases, made the false politeness that had clothed them disappear. However, the changes experienced by one boy differed from those endured by another. This is attributable to the physical and mental differences between them. Jack was first described with having an air of cruelty that made him naturally unlikeable. As leader of the choir and one of the tallest boys on the island, Jack's physical height and authority matched his arrogant personality. His desire to be Chief was clearly evident in his first appearance. When the idea of having a Chief was mentioned Jack spoke out immediately. "I ought to be chief," said Jack with simple arrogance, "because I'm chapter chorister and head boy." He led his choir by administering much discipline resulting in forced obedience from the cloaked boys. His ill-nature was well expressed through his impoliteness in saying, "Shut up, Fatty." at Piggy (p. 23). However, despite his unpleasant personality, his lack of courage and his conscience prevented him from killing the first pig they encountered: "They knew very well why he hadn't: because of the enormity of the knife descending and cutting into living flesh; because of the unbearable blood" (p.

Effective Use of Menace in The Merchants Tale :: Merchants Tale Essays

Effective Use of Menace in The Merchant's Tale Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Merchant's Tale" uses menace to reinforce many of the themes within the Tale and it is present in more areas than simply Januarie. There is menacing imagery adding tension to the Tale and the way in which the Tale is written often reiterates that. Menaces comes through more than plain threat, it is evident in such ideas as Januarie's inappropriate search for a wife. The way in which Januarie bases his search for a wife on concern for his own salvation and economic interests is menacing as it is a foreboding image for the rest of the marriage. His main interest lies in what he should do to ensure he experiences Paradise both alive and dead and thus highlighting his selfish nature. The economic concerns he shows for the match not only highlight this, but also his threatening lack of emotion that he is prepared to commit to the marriage. Rather than a child, he hopes for an heir, seeing only economic opportunity in any offspring. His fiancée can hope for little love for herself or any children. The suffocating nature of Januarie's so-called love for "fresshe May" means that he is unable to think of anyone else being with her. He would wish her to be "soul as the turtle that lost hath hire make". This extreme emotion only serves to heighten the irony of the affair that ensues and the previous Biblical references to women who cheated their husbands. The uncertainty caused by the fact that even the Church bids brides "be lyk Sarra and Rebekke" adds to air of uneasiness that little can be trusted. The dramatic irony that comes with the image of "warm wex" shows the hidden power of May, that Januarie knew nothing about. He is unaware that she has equal knowledge of the usefulness of warm wax and uses it to copy the key to the garden for Damyan. The deviousness of the wife is menacing as she is almost a champion of the image that has previously been so repulsive to the reader. The references that Januarie makes to images of being bound are as menacing as his private determination that on their wedding night he "wolde hire streyne". His plan to be such a physical power in the marriage is suffocating. Not only does he want to dominate physically, but his spiritual dominance in the relationship is unfair as May's views are not considered and she speaks very little.

Powerful Winter Imagery in Edith Whartons Ethan Frome :: Ethan Frome Essays

Powerful Winter Imagery in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethan Frome, the title character of Edith Wharton's tragic novel, lives in his own world of silence, where he replaces his scarcity of words with images and fantasies.   There is striking symbolism in the imagery, predominantly that of winter which connotes frigidity, detachment, bleakness and seclusion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Twenty-eight year old Ethan feels trapped in his hometown of Starkfield, Massachusetts.   He marries thirty-four year old Zeena after the death of his mother, "in an unsuccessful attempt to escape the silence, isolation, and loneliness of life" (Lawson 71).    Several years after their marriage, cousin Mattie Silver is asked to relieve Zeena, a gaunt and sallow hypochondriac, of her household duties.   Ethan finds himself falling in love with Mattie, drawn to her youthful energy, as, "The pure air, and the long summer hours in the open, gave life and elasticity to Mattie" (Wharton 60).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethan is attracted to Mattie because she is the antithesis of Zeena. "While Mattie is young, happy, healthy, and beautiful like the summer, Zeena is seven years older than Ethan, bitter, ugly and sickly cold like the winter" (Lewis 310).   Zeena's strong, dominating personality emasculates Ethan, while Mattie's feminine, effervescent youth makes Ethan feel like a "real man." Contrary to his characteristic passiveness, he defies Zeena in Mattie's defence, "You can't go, Matt! I won't let you!   She's [Zeena's] always had her way, but I mean to have mine now -" (Wharton 123). To Ethan, Mattie is radiant and energetic.   He sees possibilities in her beyond his trite life in Starkfield, something truly worth standing up for.   Her energy and warmth excite him and allow him to escape from his lonely, monotonous life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While Zeena is visiting an out of town doctor, Ethan and Mattie, alone in the house, intensely feel her eerie presence.   The warmth of their evening together is brought to an abrupt end by the accidental breaking of Zeena's prized dish.   Zeena's fury at the breaking of an impractical pickle dish exemplifies the rage she must feel about her useless life.   "That the pickle dish has never been used makes it a strong symbol of Zeena herself, who prefers not to take part in life" (Lawson 68-69).   Ethan's response to Zeena's rage was Powerful Winter Imagery in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome :: Ethan Frome Essays Powerful Winter Imagery in Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethan Frome, the title character of Edith Wharton's tragic novel, lives in his own world of silence, where he replaces his scarcity of words with images and fantasies.   There is striking symbolism in the imagery, predominantly that of winter which connotes frigidity, detachment, bleakness and seclusion.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Twenty-eight year old Ethan feels trapped in his hometown of Starkfield, Massachusetts.   He marries thirty-four year old Zeena after the death of his mother, "in an unsuccessful attempt to escape the silence, isolation, and loneliness of life" (Lawson 71).    Several years after their marriage, cousin Mattie Silver is asked to relieve Zeena, a gaunt and sallow hypochondriac, of her household duties.   Ethan finds himself falling in love with Mattie, drawn to her youthful energy, as, "The pure air, and the long summer hours in the open, gave life and elasticity to Mattie" (Wharton 60).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ethan is attracted to Mattie because she is the antithesis of Zeena. "While Mattie is young, happy, healthy, and beautiful like the summer, Zeena is seven years older than Ethan, bitter, ugly and sickly cold like the winter" (Lewis 310).   Zeena's strong, dominating personality emasculates Ethan, while Mattie's feminine, effervescent youth makes Ethan feel like a "real man." Contrary to his characteristic passiveness, he defies Zeena in Mattie's defence, "You can't go, Matt! I won't let you!   She's [Zeena's] always had her way, but I mean to have mine now -" (Wharton 123). To Ethan, Mattie is radiant and energetic.   He sees possibilities in her beyond his trite life in Starkfield, something truly worth standing up for.   Her energy and warmth excite him and allow him to escape from his lonely, monotonous life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While Zeena is visiting an out of town doctor, Ethan and Mattie, alone in the house, intensely feel her eerie presence.   The warmth of their evening together is brought to an abrupt end by the accidental breaking of Zeena's prized dish.   Zeena's fury at the breaking of an impractical pickle dish exemplifies the rage she must feel about her useless life.   "That the pickle dish has never been used makes it a strong symbol of Zeena herself, who prefers not to take part in life" (Lawson 68-69).   Ethan's response to Zeena's rage was

Practical Demonkeeping Chapter 21-23

21 AUGUSTUS BRINE â€Å"I found them. The car is parked in front of Jenny Masterson's house.† Augustus Brine stormed into the house carrying a grocery bag in each arm. Gian Hen Gian was in the kitchen pouring salt from a round, blue box into a pitcher of Koolaid. Brine set the bags down on the hearth. â€Å"Help me bring some of this stuff in. There's more bags in the truck.† The genie walked to the fireplace and looked in the bags. One was filled with dry-cell batteries and spools of wire. The other was full of brown cardboard cylinders about four inches long and an inch in diameter. Gian Hen Gian took one of the cylinders out of the bag and held it up. A green, waterproof fuse extended from one end. â€Å"What are these?† â€Å"Seal bombs,† Brine said. â€Å"The Department of Fish and Game distributes them to fishermen to scare seals away from their lines and nets. I had a bunch at the store.† â€Å"Explosives are useless against the demon.† â€Å"There are five more bags in the truck. Would you bring them in, please?† Brine began to lay the seal bombs out in a line on the hearth. â€Å"I don't know how much time we have.† â€Å"What am I, some scrounging servant? Am I a beast of burden? Should I, Gian Hen Gian, king of the Djinn, be reduced to bearing loads for an ignorant mortal who would attack a demon from hell with firecrackers?† â€Å"O King,† Brine said, exasperated, â€Å"please bring in the goddamn bags so I can finish this before dawn.† â€Å"It is useless.† â€Å"I'm not going to try to blow him up. I just want to know where he is. Unless you can use your great power to restrain him, O King of the Djinn.† â€Å"You know I cannot.† â€Å"The bags!† â€Å"You are a stupid, mean-spirited man, Augustus Brine. I've seen more intelligence in the crotch lice of harem whores.† The genie walked out the door and his diatribe faded into the night. Brine was methodically wrapping the fuses of the seal bombs with thin monofilament silver wire designed to heat up when a current was applied. It was an inexact method of detonation, but Brine had no access to blasting caps at this hour of the morning. The genie returned in a moment carrying two grocery bags. â€Å"Put them on the chairs.† Brine gestured with his head. â€Å"These bags are filled with flour,† Gian Hen Gian said. â€Å"Are you going to bake bread, Augustus Brine?† 22 TRAVIS AND JENNY There was something about her that made Travis want to dump his life out on the coffee table like a pocket full of coins; let her sort through and keep what she wanted. If he was still here in the morning, he'd tell her about Catch, but not now. â€Å"Do you like traveling?† Jenny asked. â€Å"I'm getting tired of it. I could use a break.† She sipped from a glass of red wine and pulled her skirt down for the tenth time. There was still a neutral zone between them on the couch. She said, â€Å"You don't seem like any insurance salesman I've ever known. I hope you don't mind my saying, but usually insurance men dress in loud blazers and reek of cheap cologne. I've never met one that seemed sincere about anything.† â€Å"It's a job.† Travis hoped she wouldn't ask about the details of his job. He didn't know a thing about insurance. He had decided on the career because Effrom Elliot had mistaken him for an insurance man that afternoon, so it was the first thing that came to mind. â€Å"When I was a kid, an insurance man came to our house to sell my father some life insurance,† Jenny said. â€Å"He gathered the family together in front of the fireplace and took our picture with a Polaroid camera. It was a nice picture. My father was standing at one side of us all, looking proud. As we were passing the picture around, the insurance man snatched the picture out of my father's hands and said, ‘What a nice family.' Then he ripped my father out of the picture and said, ‘Now what will they do?' I burst into tears. My father was frightened.† Travis said: â€Å"I'm sorry, Jenny.† Perhaps he should have told her he was a brush salesman. Did she have any traumatic brush-salesman stories? â€Å"Do you do that, Travis? Do you frighten people for a living?† â€Å"What do you think?† â€Å"Like I said, you don't seem like an insurance man.† â€Å"Jennifer, I need to tell you something†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It's okay. I'm sorry, I got a little heavy on you. You do what you do. I never thought I'd be waiting tables at this age.† â€Å"What did you want to do? I mean, when you were a little girl, what did you want to be when you grew up?† â€Å"Honestly?† â€Å"Of course.† â€Å"I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to have a family and a man who loved me and a nice house. Pretty unambitious, huh?† â€Å"No, there's nothing wrong with that. What happened?† She drained her wineglass and poured herself another from the bottle on the coffee table. â€Å"You can't have a family alone.† â€Å"But?† â€Å"Travis, I don't want to ruin the evening by talking more about my marriage. I'm trying to make some changes.† Travis let it go. She picked up his silence as understanding and brightened. â€Å"So, what did you want to do when you grew up?† â€Å"Honestly?† â€Å"Don't tell me you wanted to be a housewife, too.† â€Å"When I was growing up that's all any girl wanted to be.† â€Å"Where did you grow up, Siberia?† â€Å"Pennsylvania. I grew up on a farm.† â€Å"And what did the farm boy from Pennsylvania want to be when he grew up?† â€Å"A priest.† Jenny laughed. â€Å"I never knew anyone who wanted to be a priest. What did you do while the other boys were playing army, give last rights to the dead?† â€Å"No, it wasn't like that. My mother always wanted me to be a priest. As soon as I was old enough, I went away to seminary. It didn't work out.† â€Å"So you became an insurance man. I suppose that works. I read once that all religions and insurance companies are supported by the fear of death.† â€Å"That's pretty cynical,† the demonkeeper said. â€Å"I'm sorry, Travis. I don't have much faith in the concept of an all-powerful being that would glorify war and violence.† â€Å"You should.† â€Å"Are you trying to convert me?† â€Å"No, it's just that I know, absolutely, that God exists.† â€Å"No one knows anything absolutely. I'm not without faith. I have my own beliefs, but I have my doubts, too.† â€Å"So did I.† â€Å"Did? What happened, did the Holy Spirit come to you in the night and say, ‘Go forth and sell insurance'?† â€Å"Something like that.† Travis forced a smile. â€Å"Travis, you are a very strange man.† â€Å"I really didn't want to talk about religion.† â€Å"Good. I'll tell you my beliefs in the morning. You'll be quite shocked, I'm sure.† â€Å"I doubt that, I really do†¦ Did you say ‘in the morning'?† Jenny held her hand out to him. Inside she was unsure of what she was doing, but it seemed fine – at least it didn't feel wrong. â€Å"Did I miss something?† Travis asked. â€Å"I thought you were angry with me.† â€Å"No, why would I be angry at you?† â€Å"Because of my faith.† â€Å"I think it's cute.† â€Å"Cute? Cute! You think the Roman Catholic Church is cute? A hundred popes are rolling in their graves, Jenny.† â€Å"Good. They aren't invited. Move over here.† â€Å"Are you sure?† he said. â€Å"You've had a lot of wine.† She was not sure at all, nevertheless she nodded to him. She was single, right? She liked him, right? Well, hell, it was started now. He slid down the couch to her side and took her in his arms. They kissed, awkwardly at first; he was too aware of himself and she was still wondering if she should have invited him in in the first place. He held her tighter and she arched her back and pushed against him and they both forgot their reservations. The world outside ceased to exist. When they finally broke the kiss, he buried his face in her hair and held her tight so she could not pull away and see the tears in his eyes. â€Å"Jenny,† he said softly, â€Å"it's been a long time†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She shushed him and dug her hands into his hair. â€Å"Everything will be fine. Just fine.† Perhaps it was because they were both afraid, or perhaps it was because they really didn't know each other; it might even have been that by playing a role they would not have to face anything but the moment. The roles they played throughout the night changed. First, each gave when the other needed, and later, when need was no longer an issue, they played their roles out to felicity. It progressed thusly: she was the comforter, he the comforted; then he was the understanding counselor, she the confused confessor; she became the nurse, he the patient in traction; he took the role of the naive stable boy, she the seductive duchess; he was the drill sergeant, she the raw recruit; she was the cruel master, he the helpless slave girl. The small hours of the morning found them naked on the kitchen floor after Travis had played a rampaging Godzilla to Jennifer's unsuspecting Tokyo. They were crouched over a cooking toaster oven, each with a table knife loaded with butter, poised like executioners waiting for the signal to drop their blades. They polished off a loaf of toast, a half-pound of butter, a quart of tofu ice cream, a box of whole wheat cream-sandwich cookies, a bag of unsalted blue corn chips, and an organically grown watermelon that gushed pink juice down their chins while they laughed. Stuffed, satisfied, and sticky-sweet they returned to bed and fell asleep in a warm tangle. Perhaps it wasn't love that they had in common; perhaps it was only a need for escape and forgetting. But they found it. Three hours later the alarm clock sounded and Jenny left to go wait tables at H.P.'s Cafe. Travis slept dreamless, groaning and smiling when she kissed him good-bye on the forehead. When the explosions started, Travis woke up screaming. PART FOUR MONDAY The many men, so beautiful! And they all dead did lie: And a thousand slimy things Lived on; and so did I. – Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Rime of the Ancient Mariner 23 RIVERA Rivera came through the trailer door followed by two uniformed officers. Robert sat up on the couch and was immediately rolled over and handcuffed. Rivera read him his Miranda rights before he was completely awake. When Robert's vision cleared, Rivera was sitting in a chair in front of him, holding a piece of paper in his face. â€Å"Robert, I am Detective Sergeant Alphonse Rivera.† A badge wallet flipped open in Rivera's other hand. â€Å"This is a warrant for your and The Breeze's arrest. There's one here to search this trailer as well, which is what I and deputies Deforest and Perez will be doing in just a moment.† A uniformed officer appeared from the far end of the trailer. â€Å"He's not here, Sergeant.† â€Å"Thanks,† Rivera said to the uniform. To Robert he said: â€Å"Things will go easier for you if you tell me right now where I can find The Breeze.† Robert was starting to get a foggy idea of what was going on. â€Å"So you're not a dealer?† he asked sleepily. â€Å"You're quick, Masterson. Where's The Breeze?† â€Å"The Breeze didn't have anything to do with it. He's been gone for two days. I took the suitcase because I wanted to know who the guy was that was with my wife.† â€Å"What suitcase?† Robert nodded toward the living-room floor. The Haliburton case lay there unopened. Rivera picked it up and tried the latches. â€Å"It's got a combination lock,† Robert said. â€Å"I couldn't get it open.† Sheriff's deputies were riffling through the trailer. From the back bedroom one shouted. â€Å"Rivera, we've got it.† â€Å"Stay here, Robert. I'll be right back.† Rivera rose and started toward the bedroom just as Perez appeared in the kitchen holding another aluminum suitcase. â€Å"That it?† Rivera asked. Perez, a dark Hispanic who seemed too small to be a deputy, threw the suitcase on the kitchen table and opened the lid. â€Å"Jackpot,† he said. Neat square blocks of plastic-covered green weed lay in even rows across the suitcase. Robert could smell a faint odor like skunk coming from the marijuana. â€Å"I'll get the testing kit,† Perez said. Rivera took a deep sniff and looked at Perez quizzically. â€Å"Right, it could be just lawn clippings that they weighed out in pounds.† Perez looked hurt by Rivera's sarcasm. â€Å"But for the record?† Rivera waved him away, then returned to the couch and sat down next to Robert. â€Å"You are in deep trouble, my friend.† â€Å"You know,† Robert said, â€Å"I felt really bad about being so rude to you yesterday when you came by.† He smiled weakly. â€Å"I've been going through some really hard times.† â€Å"Make it up to me, Robert. Tell me where The Breeze is.† â€Å"I don't know.† â€Å"Then you are going to eat shit for all that pot over there on the table.† â€Å"I didn't even know it was there. I thought you guys were here about the suitcase I took. The other one.† â€Å"Robert, you and I are going to go back to the station and have a really long talk. You can tell me all about the suitcase and all the folks that The Breeze has been keeping company with.† â€Å"Sergeant Rivera, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but I wasn't quite awake when you were telling me the charges†¦ sir.† Rivera helped Robert to his feet and led him out of the trailer. â€Å"Possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy to sell marijuana. Actually the conspiracy charge is the nastier of the two.† â€Å"So you didn't even know about the suitcase I took?† â€Å"I couldn't care less about the suitcase.† Rivera pushed Robert into the cruiser. â€Å"Watch your head.† â€Å"You should bring it along just to see who the guy was that it belonged to. Your guys in the lab can open it and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Rivera slammed the car door on Robert's comment. He turned to Deforest, who was coming out of the trailer. â€Å"Grab that suitcase out of the living room and tag it.† â€Å"More pot, Sarge?† â€Å"I don't think so, but the whacko seems to think it's important.†