A Place Where the Sea Remembers free essay sample

by Rohanâ„ ¢-Enjoying Life! Member since: June 16, 2007 Total points: 19,555 (Level 6) * Add Contact * Block Best Answer Chosen by Asker 1. Remedios Remedios is la curandera, a healer. She knows the town’s stories, and the sea is witness to those stories. El pico, the swordfish beak, tells her the drowned body will wash up on this part of the shore. 2. Candelario Marroquin Cande celebrates his promotion to salad-maker by painting his door his favorite color, blue. He works at a restaurant in Santiago owned by Don Gustavo del Norte. Don Gustavo has taught him to make Caesar salad, hoping the restaurant will become famous for it.His 19-year-old wife, Chayo, and her 15-year-old sister, Marta, arrive. Marta was raped by Roberto Ramos and wants an abortion from the visiting doctor from Guadalajara. Luz told her it costs 100,000 pesos. Chayo hasn’t been able to have children, so without thinking, Cande says he’ll raise the baby. We will write a custom essay sample on A Place Where the Sea Remembers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As a man, he can’t take his word back. Months later, Chayo has a nightmare about throwing the flowers she makes to sea. Cande makes salad for the doctor and his wife at don Gustavo’s. The doctor says the abortions he does aren’t illegal because they have good causes, like rape. He charges 20,000 pesos.They don’t like the salad, so don Gustavo blames and fires Cande. 3. Remedios Elementales: Tierra In Remedios’s hut on top of a hill sits la mesa santa, an altar, with relics from earth and sea, and statues. Remedios chants, â€Å"I am she who knows. † 4. Fulgencio Llanos Fulgencio, el fotographo, roams the Mexican countryside, taking pictures. He misses the bus because he’d spent too much time cajoling dona Elvira Cantos. Yesterday, he’d photographed the famed masked wrestler El Santo without his mask, and plans to sell the photos to La Tribuna and become famous. He goes into a cantina for a drink when a hippie gringo, Jaime, offers him a ride.They leave in his Ford station wagon, filled with merchandise. Fulgencio offers to photograph the amphibian mariachi band. The gringo takes a detour to the beach at Playa de Oro. As night falls, Fulgencio realizes the gringo’s going to rob him and tries to bargain with God. At the beach, the gringo gets out. He returns just as Fulgencio is reaching for a machete in the back. The gringo throws him out and drives off with his valise. Fulgencio’s hopes are ruined without the pictures of El Santo. As he walks, he finds his valise intact by the road, and realizes the gringo was terrified of him. 5.Marta Rodriguez Marta, la recamerera, cleans a room at the hotel. She sees Elizabeth Taylor, her favorite actress, in Life magazine, on the table. She plans to give her baby to Chayo and has been saving money to leave and find work in El Paso, where she’ll live in luxury. Luz Gamboa comes in to help. Her husband, Tito, has run off with Tula Fuentes to El Paso, and she’s enlisted Remedios’s charms to bring him back. She thinks Tula had el brujo put a spell on Tito. Marta goes to help Chayo make flowers. Marta’s ashamed of her pregnancy and is the talk of the town. Cande hasn’t found work, so he’s fishing.Chayo says she’s pregnant and that Cande won’t take her baby anymore. Marta goes to talk to Luz, then goes to the apartment she shares with tia Fina and cries. Her neighbor, Don Justo, says Tito has come home. Thinking Remedios has been successful, she goes to see her for the first time. Remedios tells Marta she should not cross the border, and refuses to make Cande change his mind. Marta leaves, angered, to convince Cande. He claims he never said he wouldn’t take her baby—it was Chayo’s idea. Betrayed, Marta finds el brujo, don Pico Lara, who says he will kill the baby. Marta thinks he means her baby, but he means Chayo’s baby.She consents. 6. Remedios Elementales: Fuego Remedios prepares breakfast, affirming herself. She envisions her spirit flying to release a magpie, urraca, from a cage. The bird tells her it is her own spirit. She feeds her real magpie. 7. Rafael Beltran At 41, Maestro Rafael feels he’s let life pass him by. He doesn’t go to lunch with the other teachers. At the bus stop, he chats with Cuco, who’s told him Indian legends for a book he’s compiling. When he gets home to Santiago, he finds his mother, Dona Lina, has hired a 14-year-old Indian servant, Ines Calzada. He objects to her calling Ines la indita (derog).His two brothers live elsewhere and send money. As Dona Lina listens to a radio soap, Ines asks him to teach her to read. Her graveness reminds him of himself. Dona Lina disapproves of the arrangement. He wants to rebuke her, but he knows he’s meek and obedient. He visits the poor town El Cerro to speak with Concha Burgos, Beto’s mother, about Beto’s absences. She says he’s been fishing. She’s taking her sons to Oaxaca, but Beto will stay. He sees Ines down the street being pushed around by an older man who must be her father. Serving lunch, Ines collapses and bleeds. Rafael fetches the nurse and midwife, Esperanza, whom he loves.Dona Lina tells him the girl is having a miscarriage because her father beat her, which is just as well since Rafael is the father of the baby. He’s infuriated at the assumption. Esperanza tells her the old man is Ines’s husband. Later, the well-known photographer Llanos comes to take their picture, but Rafael refuses. His mother knows the truth now, but still thinks he could have slept with Ines anyway. He leaves her and finds Esperanza, who says a couple in Guadalajara will take Ines in. The next day, he gives Ines the satchel his mother gave him when he became a teacher and sees her off. . Cesar Burgos Cesar, el pescador, awakens to a chilly day. He’ll fish anyway, because it’s an escape from his troubles. Ever since the accident, his son Beto has refused to talk. Cesar has lost his wife, Concha Ojeda, and his two younger sons, whom Beto used to tell stories about his seashell collection to, in a bus accident. Cesar is working on a road shrine, but it’s plain and Beto won’t help decorate it. Beto refuses to eat breakfast. Cesar tells him to come fishing with him, but gets no response. He realizes there’s nothing he can do for his son. As they fish, it begins to rain.Cesar weeps for the first time since the accident. He tells Beto he’ll send him to his tia Bersa, who has offered to take him in. Beto shakes his head. Back home, Cesar is mending his fishing net when Beto takes out his seashell collection. He glues seashells to the shrine (Concha means â€Å"seashell†), and Cesar joins him. When they run out of seashells, they use his collection of polished glass shards, which look like jewels, to add the finishing touch. They buy paper flowers from Chayo, who gives them lunch. Her warm home reminds mournful Cesar of happy times. Cande asks Santos, the cab driver, to provide free transport.On Christmas Eve, Santos drops them off on the road to Oaxaca, where the bus flew into a deep ravine. They set up the shrine. Beto drapes his mother’s rebozo over it and apologizes for not following her to Oaxaca (el maestro didn’t want him to miss school). If he’d gone, he could’ve saved his brothers. Thunderstruck, Cesar assures him that nobody could’ve saved them. Beto replies that he should’ve died too, then, so he wouldn’t be a burden. Cesar tells him he’s all he has left in the world, and hands the rebozo back to him. 9. Remedios Elementales: Agua Remedios stands before the ocean with Urraca.People tell her their stories—their dreams, secrets, burdens, grief. â€Å"It is stories that save us. † She has come to the sea for renewal, for â€Å"people’s stories take a toll. † The listens, remembers, preserves. 10. Justo Flores Don Justo Flores, el pajarero (the birdman), goes with his 13-year-old German shepherd to check his canaries: Romeo, Julieta, and his pride, Rita. Each day, people at the beach pay to see the birds perform tricks and to have Rita pick their fortunes. He’s had two wives and five children, including Justina, his first, and Ernestina, his fifth. Suddenly, he receives a telegram. He suspects bad news, but can’t read.Marta, who’s named her son after Elizabeth Taylor’s husband Richard, is at work. Meddlesome tia Fina comes over and tries to engage him in conversation. The other day, she’d told Chayo that Marta asked el brujo to curse her child. Although Marta had gone to Remedios to reverse the spell and begged Chayo for forgiveness, Chayo refused. Don Justo escapes la tia and goes to the beach. He’s nervous about the telegram and wants a drink. He hasn’t drunk for ten years as penance. He hopes the telegram is from Justina, saying all is forgiven. A customer reads the telegram for him: â€Å"Come home at once, Papa. Justina is gone from us. -Ernestina. Don Justo gathers up his things and goes to town for a tequila. Back home, the accusing look in Rita’s eye reminds him of the past. He’d allowed his second wife to turn Justina out of the house. He can’t stand the pain. When he awakens with a hangover, he discovers that he’s killed Rita. 11. Esperanza Clemente Esperanza helps a woman give birth to a son. She herself is defiled, single, and childless. Marta, her servant and friend, tells her that Rafael’s mother is having rheumatism again. She visits dona Lina, who complains and claims Rafael wants to â€Å"get rid of† her by planning a one-month trip to visit his brother in Veracruz.She’ll leave in ten days is she’s well enough. Privately, Rafael tells Esperanza the trip would be good for both of them. Is dona Lina well enough to go? Esperanza leaves it up to fate. When dona Lina gets worse because of hysteria, Esperanza enlists Remedios’s help. Dona Lina leaves as scheduled. The next evening, Rafael takes Esperanza to a cafe, where they express their happiness. Two weeks later, they go to don Gustavo’s restaurant, then walk on the beach. They kiss, but she pulls away, thinking she doesn’t deserve such 11. Esperanza Clemente Esperanza helps a woman give birth to a son.She herself is defiled, single, and childless. Marta, her servant and friend, tells her that Rafael’s mother is having rheumatism again. She visits dona Lina, who complains and claims Rafael wants to â€Å"get rid of† her by planning a one-month trip to visit his brother in Veracruz. She’ll leave in ten days is she’s well enough. Privately, Rafael tells Esperanza the trip would be good for both of them. Is dona Lina well enough to go? Esperanza leaves it up to fate. When dona Lina gets worse because of hysteria, Esperanza enlists Remedios’s help. Dona Lina leaves as scheduled. The next evening, Rafael takes Esperanza to a cafe, where they express their happiness. Two weeks later, they go to don Gustavo’s restaurant, then walk on the beach. They kiss, but she pulls away, thinking she doesn’t deserve such happiness. She tells him how she was raped at 17, as a nurse in Miami. When she returned, she told no one and broke off her engagement to her boyfriend. Rafael becomes distant. A few days later, Cande comes for help for his dying son, Tonito. Marta and Chayo are sure it’s el brujo’s spell at work. Esperanza rushes to their house and finds Tonito in anaphylactic shock. Santos drives them to the hospital.Back home, Marta believes the outbreak has broken el brujo’s spell, and Chayo will forgive her. Esperanza knows better. She tried to help the two reconcile a year ago, but Chayo had refused. From now on, any insect sting or bite could kill her son. Rafael comes and asks Esperanza to forgive him. She accepts. 12. Remedios Elementales: Aire Remedios dreams of ascending to the stars with San Rafael Arcangel, Urraca, etc. They lead her to the center of the wind, where the ancestors (stars) reside, collecting wisdom, stories. The elements sustain her. Nothing dies in her heart, because she remembers. 13. Rosario â€Å"Chayo† Rodriguez de MarroquinChayo sells flowers to tourists on the beach. She’s saving up to buy clothes and to make mole for Esperanza’s upcoming wedding. She and Tonito, who sells gum, meet Don Justo as it begins to rain. His dog has died and he has a new blue canary, Carolina. He gives Tonito a fortune, but she takes it away, saying she doesn’t believe in stuff like that [but she believes in el brujo’s curses? ]. At home, as she makes mole, Tonito says he doesn’t want her to kill the turkey. Mischievous Santos describes turkey killing. Chayo tells Santos the governor should fill up the stinking arroyo, but it empties into the sea.Marta brings Richard, whom Tonito takes to see the turkey, but Chayo coldly shuts the door on her. During the wedding feast, Luz and Cesar dance and Tonito and Richard run about and get their photographs taken. Chayo allows Richard to come home with Tonito for the night. They make it home before the thunder and lightning storm begins. Before dawn, Santos gets Cande and Chayo to help him catch a pig that’s stranded in the flooded arroyo. However, the current carries the pig away. She thinks the boys are asleep when she sees Tonito fall into the river.Then she realizes that the boy is Richard. She and Cande are ready to save him themselves when the current washes away the tree he’s holding onto. 14. Remedios Remedios has been at the beach all day with el pico, waiting for Richard’s body to wash up. She had indeed expunged el brujo’s curse on Tonito. Others wait at the site where Richard fell, expecting him to be washed up there. Marta and Chayo join Remedios, and Marta says she was raped here. Remedios knows. â€Å"Seed spilled on this shore to this shore returns. † Marta says she’ll leave for El Paso, but Chayo cries no. The boy nears

Social Linguistics essays

Social Linguistics essays Linguistics is a major part of the anthropology field. Today, one of the largest obstacles in anthropology, is language groups becoming endangered. During the last couple years they have become more concerned about groups that are switching from the original language to a different one that has more power and opportunities. The other reason why linguists have become concerned is the groups are becoming so small that there is very little chance of continuing use of the groups language. The problem now is the extinction of languages, the loss of cultures, and the people they symbolize. There are different ways of explaining endangered languages, the easiest definition would be, languages below some critical number of speakers. (Kindell 1) Less spoken languages are in more danger, but the complex social, economic, political, or religious are major factors for the teaching of an original language from parents to their children. Nancy Dorian from the International Journal of the Sociology of Language describes three symptoms of language death, she says they are due to fewer speakers, fewer domains of use, and structural simplification. As of right now there a few options we can do to be involved with endangered languages. One, do absolutely nothing; deal with the changes in language use as normal. A second option is to attempt some sort of language maintenance program. Such as, language development plans, including education, literature production, and translation. There are certain problems for such a plan. A couple questions would be; should we even try to save languages from extinction? Is it even worth trying and can we really make a difference? Third, in the case of a moribund language (languages no longer being learned as mother-tongue by children), document the language and recording the most data as possible. In Sarah Gudschinsky's work, with the last known speaker of Ofaie, gave valuable information...

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Individual report about Tesco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

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Fedex Competitors Analysis and Customer Retention Strategies

Fedex Competitors Analysis and Customer Retention Strategies Introduction It is apparent from FedEx Corporation’s (FedEx) track record of success; it is clearly a leader in the industry. Ranked the world’s #1 express transportation company with 3 million packages delivered daily, FedEx surely knows what it is doing to keep the business growing and prosperous (Williams 2005). However, like most businesses these days, there are always trials and tribulations. Important decisions must be made everyday, it is critical that quick thinking and a clearly defined method of operations management must be followed to keep things running smoothly. Of course, the true test to whether or not a solid operations management flow is in place is how the company is able to deal with the unexpected. This brief will examine who makes up FedEx’s complete customer base and how the company attempts to satisfy and retain its customers. 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The internal customer for FedEx is obviously its own employees. 250,000 strong in 2005 with a 27 percent growth rate from 2004 shows that FedEx is growing quickly (Williams, 2005) and that type of growth needs to be managed appropriately. To maintain employee satisfaction, FedEx offers a competitive salary, fair working conditions, and the ability to â€Å"climb the corporate ladder† if desired. Employees boast of their success at FedEx and their true delight at working for this company throughout the company website (Fed Ex Company Website 2005). Externally, there a few more customers to consider including corporate, consumer, shareholders and stakeholders. Corporate clients, including Dell and Hewlett Packard, expect their products to be delivered on time and in good condition. As well, consumer clients expect to receive their products on time and in good condition. Shareholders, since FedEx is a public company, expect profits to be up and costs to be down. Finally, stakeholders are those people affected by the corporate actions of FedEx. Are its operations interfering with something in the community? Are its airplanes breaking noise ordinances? The bottom line is that the customers for FedEx are many and their needs are different so FedEx must consider the management of its operations from many angles. The risks There are many risks that one of FedEx’s packages not to arrive at its intended destination on time including unexpected volumes, weather, misrouting, and bottlenecks at customs. Luckily, FedEx has put into place the appropriate controls to prevent a delay of any package. As mentioned earlier, in efforts to prevent the loss of clients, FedEx has adopted policies and practices that have proven successful. To address the issue of unexpected volumes and weather problems, FedEx has built in quite a bit of redundancy into its systems. Its contingency planning is superior with proactive monitoring of weather and air traffic. As well, managers stay in close communication each day to plan, always staying one step ahead of the game. Additionally, FedEx actually has multiple hubs across the world in the case that packages need to be redirected. The automation of the sorting process keeps packages that are misrouted to a bare minimum. Packages that need special customs attention are also proactively reported to local authorities so there is minimal opportunity for those packages to slow the process. Even with these modern forms of automation in place, FedEx still prides itself on providing a human touch and treating each package as a â€Å"golden package†(FedEx Company Website 2005). Of course, if packages are delayed or do not ship to the accurate address, the company runs the risk of losing clients. Corporate clients can decide to take their contracts elsewhere and consumers will lose their feelings of loyalty if FedEx does not deliver the service it promised. FedEx’s philosophy of â€Å"Absolutely, Positively, Whatever it takes† (FedEx Company Website 2005) as discussed on its website is a direct reflection of what FedEx is willing to do to get the job done. In the unfortunate case where something goes awry with a package, FedEx also wants it customers to know there is a place to go for help and someone available at the end of the line to help work through issues. Indeed, FedEx offers many online tools to track packages as well as a phone number with live support staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (FedEx Company Website 2005). The effects of sudden demand The effects of an unexpected and sudden demand increase can be challenging for any company. In not managed correctly, a myriad of problems can result in the express service industry. This is a direct result of the company not being able to inventory products when the demand arises (Melnyk Denzler 1996 p.447). Specific issues that can arise when sudden demand occurs include late shipments, incorrect shipments, bottlenecks, scheduling difficulties, cost increases, and capacity issues. Externally, late or incorrect shipments affect the customer relationship and have a negative impact on future business. Internally, bottlenecks can cause major issues in making shipment deadlines. In addition, without appropriate notice, staffing can be off and there can be inadequate human resources available to meet the unexpected demand. Directly, if staff needs to be scheduled at the last minute, there is a good chance that overtime wages will be required and costs can skyrocket. Finally, capacity issues are created by the unexpected demand and lack of equipment to actually transport the additional packages. Overall, to regulate unexpected demand, the operations manager needs to focus on mastery of forecasting coupled with having a flexible base of resources (Melnyk Denzler 1996 p.448). Luckily, FedEx is well positioned with its contingency plans. Like David Rebholz, executive vice-president of FedEx’s US operations and systems states â€Å"Ninety percent of the package flow is predictable – but that other 10 percent can really throw you†. All FedEx, like any other company, can do is have the procedures in place to manage that 90 percent perfectly and have the contingency plans to deal with the other 10 percent when it happens. The Competition According to a recent article in the World Trade publication (The Big Three: UPS, FEDEX and DHL 2005 p.20), FedEx, UPS, and DHL are referred to as â€Å"the big three† in the express service industry. Another formidable competitor in this market space is TNT Logistics. To consider what type of threat each one of these competitors may pose to FedEx, it is important to review each of its competitor’s strengths and weaknesses as well as their market positions. Specifically, it is important to analyze each company’s history, leadership, market presence, and potential for future growth. UPS History The United Parcel Service (UPS) began in 1907 as the American Messenger Company and has continued to grow and flourish every since (UPS Company Website 2005). The company’s ability to continually reinvent themselves to fit the markets needs has kept them at the top of its game. Leadership Michael Eskew, the current Chairman and CEO for UPS, has been at the helm in his current post since 2003. Although relatively new in this leadership role, he has served with the company since 1972 as a faithful and forward thinking employee. Ninety percent of the company is owned by managers, employees, founders, and families. This ensures that those with a vested interested in the company are represented from the front lines to upper management (UPS Company Website 2005). Market Presence UPS has established itself as the largest package delivery company in the world. To grow its express delivery services, it recently purchased Overnight and is also committed to provide its customers a full line of supply chain management services. Potential for future growth As mentioned, UPS has a strong history of positioning itself for growth during times of change and shifts in the marketplace. Last year, employee growth was 8.2% and Net Sales Growth was 9.2% (Williams, 2005). DHL History Thirty Five years ago in 1969, DHL Worldwide Network took shape as the â€Å"low cost delivery service† as it entered the marketplace and attempted to carve a niche for itself as the low cost provider. Since then, the company has been working hard to gain new customers and convince them that with lower costs, quality need not be sacrificed (Hannon 2005). From the start, DHL has committed itself to providing what it customers need. As early as the 1970s, the company realized that the globalization of trade was playing a key factor in the current business climate and adapted itself to be able to provide the services required for success in the international arena. Leadership Dr. Klaus Zumwinkel, current Chairman of the Board, is leading the way to establish DHL as a premier service with the highest quality at competitive prices (DHL Company Website 2005). Market Presence Ranked as the world leader in cross border express deliveries, DHL is spreading its wings to capture even more of the delivery services market. Setting its sights on winning more of the ground delivery business, it recently acquired Airborne. In addition, DHL seems to be stepping it up a notch in focusing on its human touch for customers as Karen Johns reports, â€Å"customers say we are much more responsive, flexible and human to deal with (Hein 2005).† Potential for future growth Another company that seems positioned as ready for growth, DHLs net sales grew by 21.6 percent last year while the employee count grew by 7% (Williams 2005). TNT History Thomas Nationwide Transport (TNT) began back in 1946 as the first express delivery service. In the 80s, the company began to offer more logistical services as they understood the market demand for it. In the 90s, the company also began to offer supply chain solutions and looked to establish themselves as innovators in the total supply chain arena (TNT Company Website 2005). Leadership Dave Kulik, Group Managing Director, is at the forefront of leading the company with new ideas in the supply chain and express delivery services industry. Leadership in the company seems to embrace advancement from within and reflects a true commitment to employee growth through many initiatives, including â€Å"Investors in People† ( TNT Company Website 2005). Market Presence Although TNT offers only about 1/6 the sales numbers of its major competitors like DHL, UPS, and Fed Ex, their customer list is impressive. A key to TNTs focused success is the targeting of specific industries. Their client list includes big users such as BMW, GM, and Proctor and Gamble (TNT Company Website 2005). Potential for future growth Although TNT appears to be flexible in adding new products and services to offer its client base, it does not seem to be as aggressive in earning additional market segments as some of its competitors. However, for the last six years, the company has recorded 22% revenue growth each year (TNT Company Website 2005). In addition, back in 2004, TNT launched a $115 billion, six-year improvement program to keep its business up to speed (Keane 2004). FedEx History Frederick W Smith had the vision for FedEx while attending Yale back in 1965. His dream became a reality in 1973 when the company first became incorporated (Journal of Business Strategy 1988, pp.15-21). Leadership FedEx’s original founder is still the CEO, Chairman, and President of the company. Since the beginning, Smith has positioned FedEx as the industry standard setter and has given all others a bar to reach for in terms of overall performance. Market Presence FedEx is the #1 express transportation company in the world and continues to grow and diversify. Its recent purchase of Kinko’s has helped to expand its retail presence as well as the supply chain management services it can provide to its customers. Potential for future growth FedEx has enjoyed exponential growth each year since the beginning and has always been able to manage the growth with ease. Last year alone, FedEx supported an 18.8% boost in sales and a jump in employees of 27.7% (Williams 2005). How does FedEx measure against the Competition? After review of FedEx and its main competitors, it is interesting to consider what may happen if one of its competitors would try to win clients from its customer base. Cleary, FedEx is a strong player in its field but the competition is fierce. In a competitive bid against its foes, FedEx would need to go on the offense, highlighting all of its attributes that make it stand out above and beyond. The best sales pitch is always a positive one, focusing on your company’s strengths rather than bad mouthing the competition. In an effort to keep important client relationships, FedEx could highlight the following: It’s original visionary and founder is still at the helm and directing the company that is still considered the industry standard setter. FedEx is the #1 express transportation company with sales revenue growth of 18.8% over last year, and net income growth 72.9% over last year (Williams 2005). FedEx’s commitment to do â€Å"Absolutely, Positively Whatever it takes† to keep the customer satisfied. It’s positive track record in the industry and ability to adapt to meet the growing needs of its client base (i.e. the purchase of Kinko’s). The commitment FedEx has to not only deliver on time but to treat each package like a â€Å"golden package†. In the case that questions arise regarding a delivery, there is always live support staff ready and available to field phone calls from consumers. Of course, packages can always be tracked on line. A competitive price offered for a competitive service with high quality standards. It appears that FedEx and UPS are both making plays to meet the end customer’s needs from both ends of the spectrum. FedEx got its start with the idea to guarantee delivery of overnight packages anywhere in the US. UPS, however, ramped up as a company focusing on ground deliveries. Both now are trying to get a piece of the other’s pie, and both are attempting to do it through acquisitions (DNS Retailing Today 2005, pp35-37). Many analysts and recent articles have placed FedEx and UPS in a direct competition for each others market space. In the article â€Å"Can FedEx Deliver More Than UPS?†, it is reported that both companies are projected to do very well but there is a belief that FedEx will do better (Tsao 2005). Specifically, the more positive outlook for FedEx has much to do with their expansion into ground deliveries where margins are higher. Conversely for UPS, it is looking to expand into a market with lower margins. Conclusion After review of FedEx’s specific customer base, the risks that it takes, the problems of sudden demand, its rivals, and a possible scenario of stolen customers, it is evident that FedEx is well positioned for success in the future. Existing competition in the marketplace will continue to put pressure on FedEx to provide high levels of service at a competitive rate. Overall, Fed Ex is well positioned to serve as an industry leader. References DHL Company Website 2005, http://www.dhl.com. ‘Federal Express Spreads its Wings’ 1988, Journal of Business Strategy, vol.9, issue 4, pp.15-21. Retrieved on October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. ‘FedEx and UPS deliver much more than mail’ 2005, DSN Retailing Today, vol.44, issue 10, pp.35-37. Retrieved on October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. FedEx Company Website 2005, http://www.fedex.com. Hannon, D 2005, ‘DHL to focus on quality, not low-cost in US market’, Purchasing, vol.134, issue 12, p.113. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. Hein, K 2005, ‘DHL Delivers Message: We’ll Serve You Better’, Brandweek, vol. 46, issue 32, p.4. Retrieved on October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. Keane, A 2004 ‘TNT Express Growing Plans’, Traffic World, vol. 268, issue 26, p.30. Retrieved on October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. Melnyk, S Denzler, D 1996, Operations Management; A Value-Driven Approach, William Schoof. Slack, N Chamber, S Johnston, R 2004, Operations Management, 4th Edition, Prentice Hall. Terrill, C Middlebrooks, A 2000, Market Leadership Strategies for Service Companies, NTC Business Books, Lincolnwood, IL. ‘The Big Three:UPS, FEDEX and DHL’ 2005, World Trade, vol.18, issue 8, p.20. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. TNT Company website 2005, http://www.tntlogistics.nl. Tsao, A 2004 ‘Can FedEx Deliver More Than UPS?’, Business Week Online, 9/10/2004. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from Business Source Premier Database. UPS Company Website 2005, http://www.ups.com. Williams, R 2005, ‘Hoovers DHL Worldwide Network S.A./N.V Corporation Overview’. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from http://www.hoovers.com/dhl. Williams, R 2005, ‘Hoovers Fed Ex Corporation Overview’. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from http://www.hoovers.com/fedex. Williams, R 2005, ‘Hoovers TNT Logistics Holdings B.V. Overview’. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from http://www.hoovers.com/tnt-logistics. Williams, R 2005, ‘Hoovers United Parcel Service, Inc. Overview’. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from http://www.hoovers.com/ups.

Type 2 Diabetes :: essays research papers

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic illness that is a result of the body’s insulin not functioning correctly. It was formerly called adult-onset or insulin-dependent. It is also the most common kind of diabetes accounting for about 90 percent of all diabetes cases. Type 2 diabetes can also cause obesity and high cholesterol. About 6 percent of the population suffers from diabetes while about one-third of those who do have it, do not know about it. Insulin is a chemical that is released by the body to control blood sugar levels. It allows glucose to enter cells where it is used for daily functions. When blood glucose cannot be absorbed into cells, the energy cannot be expended and is then expelled through the kidneys. It starts as some of the body’s cells develop a resistance to insulin. This causes the liver to function without control, so it continues to release glucose. Without the cells picking up glucose high levels of glucose in the blood persist, which is a condition called hyperglycemia.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Some symptoms are excessive thirst, urinating frequently, and hunger. Fatigue can also be a sign of diabetes. Diabetic ketonacidoses can also occur in people with type 2 diabetes. This is when the cells do not get enough glucose and begin to burn fat. When the cells burn fat for energy it results in the release of waste products, know as ketones. High levels of ketones in the body can produce large amounts of acid, and if not tended to, will cause a person to go into a coma or can possibly be fatal. Diabetes is usually diagnosed by testing blood glucose levels. These tests tell doctors if the body is using insulin correctly by detecting how much glucose stays in the blood stream. Most doctors recommend daily exercise and strict diets to treat type 2 diabetes.

Beauty Pageants Argumentative

The Problems and Pleasures of Pageants Beauty pageants have been questioned on whether or not their truly innocent. In some cases, the smiles are more likely than not phony. On the other hand, the abundance of memories and skills gained from these extravaganzas can create a positive effect on the child. On the negative side, pageants are found to be full of drama from both the parents and from the stress of the requirements, including eating disorders. They also lead to bad sportsmanship and the parent’s desperate attempts to win, even at the risk of their own children.According to The Merriam Webster Dictionary (1899), the definition of a beauty contest, also called a pageant, is â€Å"an assemblage of girls or women at which judges select the most beautiful. † In other words, if one is the most beautiful, she, or sometimes even he, will be the most successful. This may be true physically, but the personality of certain parents or contestants prove otherwise. As you ca n see here, this mother is injecting her 8-year old child with Botox, a toxin used to make the face fuller in order to make certain features pop out or remove wrinkles.This toxin alone is dangerous to an adult, let alone a young girl. This Botox, if administered into the wrong place, would drip down her throat and kill her. Unfortunately, there are several parents who are desperate enough to win that will do treatments such as this. Other treatments include but are not limited to waxing, spray tanning or natural tanning, and heavy applications of make-up. Several of these so-called strategies to win are unhealthy for the contestant. An often occurrence at child pageants is feeding them high doses of sugar and caffeine.Often, they serve pixie sticks which are called â€Å"pageant crack. † Here we have young Alana, age 6. Her mother, known as â€Å"The Coupon Queen,† believes it’s perfectly fine to give her young daughter what she calls â€Å"Go-go† Juice. She defends this by saying â€Å"there are far worse things. I could be giving her alcohol. † She also claimed that plenty of mothers use caffeine and sugar in order to keep their toddlers awake and energized. Excuses like this are unacceptable. No child should be given large amounts of caffeine and sugar, if any at all.Parents are setting them at risk for obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and several other diseases caused by bad health choices like this. On the other extreme, there are eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating. This is Cleo Glyde, a model who is now a healthy size 12. She used to struggle with eating disorders, which are very common amongst the fashion world. Cigarettes and willpower were her only two friends against food. She eventually became a stick, much like the rest of the models, all because of peer pressure to be skinny rather than her normal self.She did an interview for Marie Claire, a high fashion company. She went on to e xplain the different things she had witnessed, such as the Brazilian woman who collapsed like herself in a fashion show and a beautiful girl who starved herself to nothing but bones, her beauty withering down as her skin became paler and dark circles grew under her eyes. The cold world of fashion is no different than the world of beauty pageants. The same effects can happen, and can be devastating. What makes child beauty pageants even sadder is the fact that the children can’t have a true childhood.They must spend their time practicing their moves, fixing their make-up and hair, practicing their smile, and trying on different dresses and outfits to parade around. They’re treated more like dolls rather than they are children. Everyone is admiring them while they walk about on stage, but those children dream about climbing trees and playing hide-and-seek with their other friends. There is, however, a lighter side to the pageant world. Children can believe that they are performing skits in a play and can have a wonderful time prancing about on the stage before them.Alliances and friendships are formed between the contestants and pageant moms. In fact, the definition could be considered misleading. Children do not need only beauty, but also talent, poise, confidence, and even communication skills. Truth be told, not everyone develops bad habits such as eating disorders and bad sportsmanship, or at least don’t pursue it. Former Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund developed an eating disorder at the age of 15 because of the demands to stay thin. She was in denial at first, but after she had received help, she overcame her obsession and now visits high schools to talk about eating disorders.To add on, according to statistics, only 6% of girls who compete in competitions suffer from depression. Although psychological disorders seem to occur often in the world of beauty, it’s not a guaranteed thing. Winning a competition does not mean winning fro m pure beauty. Almost all pageants use some form of a talent competition or an intelligence test, even for the younger ones. Miss South Carolina 2007 lost because she could not answer the question she was given. Meanwhile, on a different website, quotes from the beauty queens showed their not-so-perfect side of them. While one considered knitting a sport, another called Bob Barker â€Å"Mr.Parker. † Most of them seemed to create their own words, such as â€Å"challengement† and â€Å"instrumentation. † These are not negative things, necessarily. None of these Miss USA contestants won, making it true that intelligence is needed in order to win the contest. Several misconceptions are made about these parades of glitter and hairspray. Most negatives a person thinks of when asked about pageants are the extremes being shown on television, just as television does. The show Toddlers and Tiaras display the extreme mothers who will do anything to win, even if that means teaching the child bad behaviors.Fortunately, the majority of pageant parents know how to balance the shows and the regular life of a child. In order to be able to speak to an audience and use good communication skills, a child must have practice, which is used in these competitions. Whether considering a career in business, acting, or even staying at home to take care of the children, a woman needs a voice to be heard. The pageants for young children and adults assist in gaining the confidence and social manners one needs in order to be taken seriously. The characteristics gained can only be measured with the side effects that come with them.The facts of a beauty pageant are the same as rumors: some hold their ground and turn out to be factual, while others crumble away as every lie does. To put a child in a contest is up to the parent, but it is highly recommended that they be cautious of the feelings of the child. As for the expositions of the young adult, they may choose themsel ves what they want to do; however, they cannot depend on beauty alone in order to gain wealth. Whether considered innocent or pure evil, pageants will still have a place on the world. Works Cited Beauty pageants do more good than harm. (2011). Retrieved from http://www. ebate. org/debates/beauty-pageants-do-more-good-than-harm/1/ Glyde, C. (06 A). Marie Claire. Retrieved from http://www. marieclaire. com/health-fitness/news/anorexia-model Harden, S. (2012, March 28). Statistic brain. Retrieved from http://www. statisticbrain. com/beauty-pageant-statistics/ The family factor:child beauty pageants- the misconceptions. (2011, 04 17). Retrieved from http://www. thefamilyfactor. com/2011/04/child-beauty-pageants-misconceptions. html Grosaru, L. (2011, May 30). Debatepedia. Retrieved from http://debatepedia. idebate. org/en/index. php/Debate:_Child_beauty_pageants

Time Dilation Effects in Physics

Time Dilation Effects in Physics Time dilation is the phenomenon where two objects moving relative to each other (or even just a different intensity of gravitational field from each other) experience different rates of time flow. Relative Velocity Time Dilation The time dilation seen due to relative velocity stems from special relativity. If two observers, Janet and Jim, are moving in opposite directions and as they pass by each other they note that the other persons watch is ticking slower than their own. If Judy were running alongside Janet at the same speed in the same direction, their watches would be ticking at the same rate, while Jim, going in the opposite direction, sees both of them having slower-ticking watches. Time seems to pass slower for the person being observed than for the observer. Gravitational Time Dilation Time dilation due to being at different distances from a gravitational mass is described in the general theory of relativity. The closer you are to a gravitational mass, the slower your clock seems to be ticking to an observer farther from the mass. When a spaceship nears a black hole of extreme mass, observers see time slowing to a crawl for them. These two forms of time dilation combine for a satellite orbiting a planet. On the one hand, their relative velocity to observers on the ground slows time for the satellite. But the farther distance from the planet means time goes faster on the satellite than on the surface of the planet. These effects may cancel each other, but also can mean a lower satellite has slower-running clocks relative to the surface while higher-orbiting satellites have clocks running faster relative to the surface. Time Dilation Examples The effects of time dilation are used often in science fiction stories, dating back to at least the 1930s. One of the earliest and most well-known thought experiments to feature time dilation is the famous Twin Paradox, which demonstrates the curious effects of time dilation at its most extreme. Time dilation becomes most apparent when one of the objects is moving at nearly the speed of light, but it manifests at even slower speeds. Here are just a few ways we know time dilation actually takes place: Clocks in airplanes click at different rates from clocks on the ground.Putting a clock on a mountain (thus elevating it, but keeping it stationary relative to the ground-based clock) results in slightly different rates.The Global Positioning System (GPS) has to adjust for time dilation. Ground-based devices have to communicate with satellites. To work, they have to be programmed to compensate for the time differences based on their speeds and gravitational influences.Certain unstable particles exist for a very brief period of time before decaying, but scientists can observe them as lasting longer  because they are moving so fast that time dilation means the time that the particles experience before decaying is different from the time experienced in the at-rest laboratory that is doing the observations.In 2014, a research team announced the most precise experimental confirmation of this effect yet devised, as described in a Scientific American article. They used a particle accelerat or to confirm that time moves slower for a moving clock than for a stationary one.

Soujourner Truth essays

Soujourner Truth essays In an ever changing world , the evolution of man has been the most drastic in terms of technological, environmental, and emotional advancement. With great expansions in the various areas mentioned earlier the human being has ignored the very entity of there existence, and the power of reasoning, the ability to comprehend right from wrong without distortion. The Narrative of Sojourner Truth illustrates the hardships that were endured: enslavement, illiteracy, underclassing, brutal assaults, and murders. The African -American women were classed as third rate in the human scale that was implemented by the slaveowners; categorized under the whites, then under the African-American males. The African-American women were kept in good standing for the convenience of child bearing. Overburdened with the trials and tribulations of slavery Sojourner Truth was able to prosper with spiritual beliefs. Sojourner Truth's stability was made possible by a strong belief in the Holy Spirit. God was the major source of guidance, and willpower from the commencement of the slave trade until the emancipation of slavery. Slavery was orchestrated on a mass scale and caused the separation of many families in order to ensure that slaves would remain with there respective masters. Subservience to the slaveowners was considered to be sacred. Slaves were mentally programmed to believe there masters were gods. The wives of the slaveowners were seen as goddess's ,with there prime intent on down playing the daily work done by the African-American women. This was evident with Sojourner's first slave mistress, the continuos work routine that was endure by Sojourner, was difficult for males to accomplished. the slaves loyal to there masters. Ignorance of the slaves was a pivotal point in terms of loyalty. Considering slave knowledge was limited, in terms of the genetic appearance, beliefs, and language; sla...

Concert Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Concert - Essay Example The band consists of 80 players, using instruments like First and Second Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp, Percussion, Timpani, Tuba, Bass, Trombone, Trumpet, Horn, Contrabassoon, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet, Cor Anglais, Oboe, Piccolo and Flute. French overture means opening and indicates the formation or introduction to a performance. An overture is normally in three parts (fast-slow-fast). The 1812 Overture was about the battles between Napoleon's French Army and the Russians. Within the piece, there is therefore the inclusion of anthems, gunfire and church bells. With a number of performers, who took up the upper deck and the lower space of the venue delivered an amazing performance which was met with not only appreciation, but also applause by the listeners. 5. The JOURNEY - The 1812 Overture is a classic that takes you through emotional up's and downs. Various instruments have been used to bring out this effect, a set of violins to bring out the lower and higher moods. Bass, bass clarinet, bassoon to depict drama and gunfire, trumpets to indicate rises and emotions, flute and piccolo to bring out calmness. The use of church bells to indicate the end. The overture follows a stereotypical format which is the fast-slow-fast and the composer has managed to show both the sides of the story, 2 marching armies whose troops were brimming with enthusiasm in defeating their enemy, thus motivated. The beginning of the clash between the 2 armies, the scenario of the war accompanied by gunshots, a drop in the music depicting a low mood or defeat and the end of a war signaled by the ringing of church bells. 6. Evaluation of the performers - The BBC National Orchestra of Wales is renowned for their performances with resident composer, Guto Puw delivering mind blowing original performances and pieces by other composers with immaculate brilliance. Grant Llewellyn, who is the music director of the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Handel and Haydn Society is known for his exceptional charisma, energy and easy authority in music of all styles and periods. The performers who were 80 in number for this ensemble excluding the composers delivered an exceptional renderance of Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture deserving recognition and applause. 7. In-depth analysis of "one piece from the concert" For our analysis, we can choose the beginning of the composition. At approximately 4:00 minutes a drum roll comes on, and when

Literature Review on Small-Group Learning Activities

On Small-Group Learning Activities - Literature review Example If collaborative effort is applied to any task then the productivity tends to increase (Zawojewski & Et. Al., 2003). The overall study tries to demonstrate the importance of the small group learning activities. Objective of the Study The main objective of the study has been to understand the role of the small-group learning activities. The study will be related to the United Kingdom undergraduate students in subject areas linked to health care. The study will provide certain supporting evidences in small-group learning activities for the small group to discuss and debate. A clinical based scenario will be selected upon which the overall literature review will be based. At first the literature review will try to make the reader understand as to what the term small-group learning activity denotes. It will further try to explain the clinical based evidences that can be used by the small groups of students to discuss and debate. Finally, the literature review will try to identify the imp act of such small group learning activities. ... Therefore, it is important to understand if the three terms that is collaborative learning, cooperative learning and small-group learning express the same meaning. Most of the practitioners consider all the three types of learning to have the same goals, that is, to change a passive classroom environment into active student-centered environment. However, it has been evident that most of the authors don’t view the three types of learning as synonymous. In this regards, it can be discussed that the two terms collaborative learning as well as cooperative learning can be distinguished from each other. However, both the terms seem to focus upon the notion that students need to engage themselves with the study material so that they can learn the information in a meaningful manner. These terms assist in creating the environment where the students engage themselves in the study material by partaking of their knowledge and ideas by means of providing the support, feedback along with en couragement and by teaching each other. It is to be pointed out that the term small-group learning is quite flexible as well as comprehensive. It further reveals that there might be circumstances when the members of the group don’t cooperate or it might even be the case when the members of the group simply collaborate. The type of task the group needs to accomplish determines the interaction among the group members in most of the cases. It can be demonstrated that the small-group learning has turned into current label that is given to the type of active-learning activity by putting the students into groups and they are asked to achieve the task (Kreke & Towns, 1998). Importance of Using the Small-Group