Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 34

Case Study Example Plants in Egypt and Trinidad (Atlas and Titan) are worked as joint endeavors with Methanex holding basic interest of 60% and 63.1%, individually. The paper seeks to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the company’s SWOT analysis before the year 2013. In addition, the paper will discuss the key recommendations on how to solve the issues both qualitatively and quantitatively (Methanex, n.d.). Some of the major issues affecting the company include holding a large amount of Assets (PPE) sitting unused due to political instability in Chile and Egypt leading to wastages. Notably, these wastes constitute to close to $1.87 B in initial investment costs that could be put to constructive use. In addition, the company lacks diversification and is completely dependent on the sale of Methanol making it not competitively effective. Besides, the company has not fully taken advantage of economies of scope since almost all of its competitors produce other materials (Methanex, n.d.). Methanol in its pure form cannot be directly used since companies buy from Methanex to produce other materials. The replacement cost of assets are more than the market value of the company (2/3 cost). This implies that if the company goes under, they could not sell assets to cover all the cost. Another major challenge that the company faces is high operational cost (Zacks.com, 2014). In fact, 80% of cash co sts go to purchase of natural gas and energy use costs hence increasing the operational cost (Arslan & Er, 2008). Its greatest contender (MHTL), could conceivably make them bankrupt in Trinidad (where the vast majority of Methanexs yield is produced) The biggest utilization for methanol, formaldehyde, has had terrible attention in the U.S. in view of conceivable negative wellbeing impacts identified with presentation (Leukemia, numerous myeloma, Hodgkins). High purchaser power- methanol expenses represent a little divide of what

Slavery and Mason Dixon Line Essay Example for Free

Slavery and Mason Dixon Line Essay Women and african american slaves played a huge role during the American Revolution, womens roles became more valued for their aid in the revolution and were under the idea of Republican motherhood or mothers for the new nation, while african american slaves were used for harsh manual labor and received little in return. Women began to have ideas of the revolution stimulate hopes and expectations for equality and freedom. In some cases they even gained voting rights, however overall the revolution only lead to a limited gain of status. The same could be said of the slaves. Although the slave trade itself was banned and in the northern states, slavery was abolished, it did not completely remove slavery and make them considered as a real person. Nonetheless, the ideals of the revolution inspired women and slaves for equality, freedom and independence that would contribute in the future. The American Revolution significantly affected aspects of slaves and the status of women. It provided slaves with an opportunity to escape their bondage through joining the army, while it gave women an opportunity to proclaim a more public role in society. The American Revolution had an impact on both slavery and the status of women from 1775-1800. It gave the African American slaves opportunities to Escape the bondage and join the army. It significantly affected the legal position of white women. Revolutions within the Revolution took place causing vivid changes in the aspects of women and slavery. It gave a new light to the women who had been looked down on and hope for slaveries who helped fight the cause. African American Slaves who had only the slightest chance to obtaining their own freedom had a new hope that the army would direct them to that path. Nevertheless there were no intentions of giving new privileges to these slaves in the army. They were to be nothing more than extra support against the British with little value. African-American slaves still had the same treatment as those who were in bondage. However, the slaves believed that since they were fighting for the white people they would be given more freedom. With a few exceptions this did not happen. African-American soldiers did enjoy the few things white people took for granted but other than that they only continued to serve as a slave. Some slaves managed to escape the during the confusion and chaos of the war and  act as a freed slave without being caught and some went out to help others. Slavery continued after the war despite the efforts of African-American soldiers. Although slavery didnt undergo any major changes the aftermath of the war inspired many criticisms on slavery. A group called the Quakers formed to help free a small percentage of slaves. Much like slavery, white women were affected by the revolution. They were beginning to proclaim a public role in society. They were given a wide range of roles to further their independence in the war. Women were able to help support the cause which they played an important role in. This affected the relations between man and woman to a more bonded level. A woman was not only a wife and a mother but a mutual companion. Both Slavery and the status of women were in the first stages of gaining independence and liberty. Before the American Revolution African Americans had NO chance of freedom. They were being shipped as slaves along the triangle trade route , but after the revolution the question was discussed of abolishing slavery in the constitutional convention and the writing of the declaration of independence. Do to the fact that it was such a touchy issue for the south, due to the large economic impact of abolishing slavery, the question was thrown out and a treaty was signed that wouldnt let ANY laws on slavery be passed or even discussed for at lease 20 years. Moreover, many of the American Revolutionary Generals were slave owners in the first place and were reluctant to give up their own personal wealth. The effect of the American Revolutionary War on African Americans depended on where they lived. If they were slaves in the New England States, they were freed soon after the war ended. If they were slaves north of the Mason Dixon Line, they were freed about 30 years after the adoption of the constitution. If they were south of the Mason Dixon Line, some were freed but most were not.Slavery was also outlawed on mainland Britain- no man could land on British soil without being free. The British had promised many African-Americans their freedom from the colonists if they fought for the British, and around 20,000 of them did. When the British lost, they attempted to honor their agreement as much as possible by helping African-Americans travel to England and London with the retreating redcoats.  Some were even put ashore in Africa at their own request. Therefore many African-Americans clearly felt that their chances of freedom were better with the Brits.

Reducing rape in India

Reducing rape in India In December 2012, a 23-year-old medical student who studied at the University of Delhi, after the movie she went home with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, seven men hit her boyfriend and even worse they gang-raped her on the bus. At last, the student died in Singapores Mount Elizabeth Hospital. This is such bad news. Nowadays, it is a civilized society. However, rape always occurs in the world. For instance, with more than twenty-four thousand reported rape cases in India in 2011, rape registered a 9.2 percent rise over 2010. People have been hurt because of rape. From this likeness, the aim of the research is a wake up call to tell people of the rising trend of rape. In my opinion, rape is a crime that harms others. We should resolutely resist the occurrence of such acts of rape. My research is divided into three sections. First of all, I will define rape. Rape in its simplest form (and the meaning, most people can understand it), is when a man forces a woman to have sex with him. Often this has been done by using either threat or violence. When the victim is mentally incapacitated or impaired, physically impaired, asleep or unconscious. Next, I will compare the laws, womens social status and the government system between India and Singapore. I choose two countries because India often has rape cases and Singapore seldom. Last but not least, I will give some advice through the three aspects of the laws, social status as well as self-protection on how to reduce rape. 2. Data of Rape in India The Wall Street Journal (http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2013/01/08/map-rape-rate-across-india/) The Indian edition of WSJ has come up with this map which shows the rape rate across different states of India.It shows the central region of rape rate up to 8.2 reported cases per 100,000 women. But the north-eastern states as having highest rape rate. The rape rate up to 10.1 reported case per 100,000 women. The notorious Indian capital of Delhis rape rate was 7.4 reported cases per 100,000 women, but it was not the highest. The northern city of Mizoram the rape rate is 14.3 reported cases per 100,000 women which was the highest. According to the survey, with more than 24,000 reported cases in India in 2011, rape registered a 9.2 percent rise over the previous year. In recent years, frightening data from New Delhi has earned the title of rape capital of India. 3. Causes of rape A: Reason for more rapes in India 3.1 Legal loophole According to the survey, rape criminal law sentences people to more than seven years in India and even the death penalty. But Indian law also provides that the offender may be released on bail or pay a fine. Because of this, a lot of the rapists have not been punished. Laws should provide fast track courts to deal with such cases, says Girija Vyas, Chairperson, and National Commission for Women (NCW). According to the survey, the results encourage more people to crime which just a dismal 27 percent of the rape conviction rate in 2006-2007. 3.2 Low status of women in India Women were considered inferior to men in social life. On the one hand, a large part of Indian women are illiterate because their family did not send the girl to school for education. As for women, the literacy rate stands at just 54.16 percent. On the other hand, women were prohibited to take part in domestic as well as in external matters. Indian womens working rate is very low. But the population of working women has risen to 13 percent in 1987. Still, the population of working women just has 25 percent in 2011. Women who smoke, drink, go to bars is considered unethical behavior in India. Acceptance of domestic violence. India is the worlds most serious country for domestic violence. Some women believe that domestic violence is often seen as deserved. The Indian women property cannot be independent rather dependent on men. Level of Indias last name. The vast majority of female government officials come from high-grade surnames. High-grade surname female government officials will no t fight for the right to civilian women. 3.3 The government system India has a sluggish court system which the inefficiency of the court dealing with the case for only 15 judges. It is so surprised that Delhi high court judge deals with the backlog of cases need 466 years. There are not enough police to protect ordinary citizens in India. Leading to difficulties to obtain evidence and spend a lot of time. Even worse, there is a part of the police have been involved in rape. Encouraging rape victims to compromise. For example, a 17-year-old rape victim under the police pressure she got married with the attackers. The reason for this compromise is for keeping the peace between the families or ethnicities. India also lacks public safety. Less than a lot of street lighting in India and lack of public toilets. These are factors that induce rape. B: Reason Less Rape in Singapore 3.1 Strict laws Anyone who commits rape should be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 20 years, and needs to be liable to fine or to cane. The assist will be subjected to the punishment of 8 years and caning with at least 12 strokes. Singapore has improved the police system and the court system to rapid processing of cases. So that people will not dare to violate the law. 3.2 National equality and equality between men and women As Singapore is a multi-ethnic country, equality is the theme of Singapore. Singapore has a special legal protection to equality between men and women. Legal protection of the equal status of women in public places and even in the home. In 2011, for the Gender Inequality Index Singapore received a score of 0.086, placing the country at 8 out of 146 countries with data. 3.3 Geylang-legal prostitution Geylang is Singapores famous Red Light District for legal prostitution. A lot of prostitution through prostitutes who were from Thailand, Malaysia, China for men over there every day. Sex is a basic human so need that a legal red light district providing some basic sexual gratification for men can exist. Being lack of sex, a man has proper ways to solve the problem. They do not need to rape others. Effects of rape Rape is a crime, most of the victims have a greater psychological trauma. But the victims often lack peoples concern and respect. Even victims will be rejected and disgusted. This will cause the victims experience a second victimization. This is a mournful fact. The rape also leads to the AIDS epidemic. Some of the victims of rape and pregnancy. If women use the contraceptive drugs it will reduce the pregnancy rates. If the baby was born, it will add to the victims burden of life and affect the life of the victim. If the city often has rape, it will reduce the peoples sense of security and occurrence of other types of cases. For example: Murder. Solution Revisit the definition of rape and pay attention to the development of accurate laws. Severe punishment to a person who is convicted for rape. Improve the judicial system to reduce procedural delays. Increase legal aid to help the victims. Improve the legal status and rights and interests of women. Women should receive equal education. Women should know how to use the law to protect them. The promotion of womens self-defense skills. The creation of self-defense courses at school. Males have a physical strength advantage over females, but women can use techniques to narrow the gap with men. Both rape victims and rapists are likely to be drunk. Women who are drunk should avoid walking alone at the bar. The 1997 NCVS reports that 35.8 percent of rape victims believe their rapists were under the influence of alcohol. Looking for some drinks alternative to alcoholism help to reduce rape. Conclusion The study focuses on how to reduce rape. In the course of this analysis, I finish by comparing between India and Singapore law, the social status and self-protection of women to get a correct understanding. And trying to find some solutions to reduce rape. Rape is a heinous act which hurts a lot of people. Especially, in some developed countries, rape would be more serious. Therefore, doing research to reduce rape is necessary. The study concludes that the need is improvement of law, improve the status of women in society, to learn self-defense skills and reduce the abusing of alcohol that is an efficient way to solve rape. In my opinion, a safe social environment can be conducive to the development of society. Rape is an important factor affecting social security. If we want a wonderful, safe living environment, we should contribute to reduce rape.

A Modern Synthesis of Science with Eastern Christianity Essay -- Philo

Introduction Since the dawn of consciousness, humans have strived to understand the world around them and their place in it. From the first naturalistic surveys of the flora and fauna of the earth painted on the rocky walls of fire-lit caves millennia ago to the enormously complex investigations into quantum physics ventured at today’s particle accelerators, human curiosity has known no bounds. By way of organizing the countless questions posed and answers sought, broad conceptions of "science," "reason," "philosophy," and "religion" have been created and debated by humankind for centuries. Beginning in earnest during the Age of Reason following the Renaissance, two distinct ways of understanding the world seemed to form. On one hand, understanding could be realized by rational thought, reason, and the applications of science. On the other, understanding could be achieved by faith in some divine presence, the application of religion. A philosophical conflict quickly developed between the t wo camps: what should reign supreme in human understanding of the world—science or religion? The debate had no clear-cut answer, and only tautological methods of prioritizing one over the other. Various ways of relating science and religion have been proposed and adopted in the past century or two. As summarized by Ian Barbour in his Religion and Science, philosophers concerned with the interaction (or lack thereof) of science and religion have been left with four broad options: Conflict, Independence, Dialogue, and Integration. The divisions proceed from fundamental ideas about how science and religion, in very general terms, operate and work in the world. Conceptions separating science and religion philosophically, arguing that they serve... ...otheses, models, experience, intuition, hypotheses, models†¦) . That the priorities of science and religion, and the pathways that each entity uses to progress, are so similar, and yet the entities themselves so separate, leads quite nicely into the dialogue position. Any consideration (investigations into the character of some object or an answer to some question) can involve both types of inquiry: "Nothing excludes the co-existence of faith and science when faith is not imaginary and science does not falsify its positive character with the use of metaphysics." Though full and harmonious integration may not be possible, a very useful, satisfying, complete dialogue between the right religious tradition and most scientific philosophies may easily produce a harmonious, complementary, synthesis to grant a better understanding of humanity and its place in the world.

Study of Theatre’s -isms

The only form of theatre known before realism was romanticism so the world was very scared to accept the new, scary kind of plays. Especially considering that the new style was not always perfect and nice, but sometimes sad and disappointing. Realism didn't really catch on so only 20 years later, naturalism was formed. Unfortunately, naturalism did not do so well either. In the 18805-1 9005, symbolism started to appear. This was a very significant step in the life of theatre and is still very often used today. The creators of homeboys believed that reality can only be expressed indirectly and through symbols.They used many medieval symbols and religious paintings in their plays as well as allegorical signs. Around the same time period is when impressionism made it's short appearance. This movement was primarily seen in the set designs because it was believed that â€Å"artist is affected internally through external reality†. Oftentimes in plays today, you will notice a certain painting or color in the background of the set that looks random but always has a deeper, much more interesting reasoning. This all started in the asses with symbolisms and impressionism!In the years 1916-1924 is when theatre started to become more†¦ Artsy. This is when dada and surrealism became genres. Both of these focused on what was unusual and different to the audience. Dada started as a reaction to the First World War. The word â€Å"dada† itself is a made up word that means nothing. It was sought to outrage the audience into action. Sets and costumes often looked blurred together like a big mess – or they were just completely outrageous. Similarly, surrealism said that art must transcend reality by ding all arts into one single vision that suggests a harmony.Many times, there would be what seems like way too much on stage or on a costume but in surrealism, somehow it always blends together peacefully. Surrealism seems to be, in many ways, the most precedi ng of the -isms because of how prominent it still is in theatre and film. Through all of my research, have learned that theatre today is nowhere close to what is was when first created. Am sure that in the next years, theatre will continue to change even more and I cannot wait to see where it ends up when my children are my age!

Pros Cons of the Death Penalty and Current Status by Country

Pros Cons of the Death Penalty and Current Status by Country Capital punishment also dubbed the death penalty, is the planned taking of a human life by a government in response to a crime committed by that legally convicted person. Passions in the United States are sharply divided and run equally strong among both supporters and protesters of the death penalty. Quotations from Both Sides Arguing against capital punishment, Amnesty International believes: The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state in the name of justice. It violates the right to life...It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. There can never be any justification for torture or for cruel treatment.​ Arguing for capital punishment, the Clark County, Indiana, prosecuting attorney writes: There are some defendants who have earned the ultimate punishment our society has to offer by committing murder with ​aggravating circumstances present. I believe life is sacred. It cheapens the life of an innocent murder victim to say that society has no right to keep the murderer from ever killing again. In my view, society has not only the right, but the duty to act in self-defense to protect the innocent.​ And Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, wrote: The death penalty diminishes all of us, increases disrespect for human life, and offers the tragic illusion that we can teach that killing is wrong by killing. Death Penalty in the United States The death penalty has not always been practiced in the United States, although Time magazine estimated that in this country, more than 15,700 people have been legally executed since 1700. The Depression-era 1930s, which saw a historic peak in executions, was followed by a dramatic decrease in the 1950s and 1960s. No executions occurred in the United States between 1967 and 1976.In 1972, the Supreme Court effectively nullified the death penalty and converted the death sentences of hundreds of death row inmates to life in prison.In 1976, another Supreme Court ruling found capital punishment to be constitutional. Since 1976, almost 1,500 people have been executed in the United States. Latest Developments The vast majority of democratic countries in Europe and Latin America have abolished capital punishment over the last 50 years, but the United States, most democracies in Asia, and almost all totalitarian governments retain it. Crimes that carry the death penalty vary greatly worldwide, from treason and murder to theft. In militaries around the world, courts-martial have sentenced capital punishments also for cowardice, desertion, insubordination, and mutiny. Per Amnesty Internationals 2017 death penalty annual report, Amnesty International recorded at least  993 executions  in  23 countries  in 2017, down by 4% from 2016 (1,032 executions) and 39% from 2015 (when the organization reported 1,634 executions, the highest number since 1989). However, those statistics do not include China, known as the worlds top executioner, because the use of the death penalty is a state secret. Countries in the table below with a plus sign () indicate that there were executions, but numbers were not received by Amnesty International. Executions in 2017, by Country China: Iran: 507Saudi Arabia: 146Iraq: 125Pakistan: 60Egypt: 35Somalia: 24United States: 23Jordan: 15Vietnam: North Korea: All other: 58Source: Amnesty International As of 2018, capital punishment in the United States is officially sanctioned by 31 states, as well as by the federal government. Each state with legalized capital punishment has different laws regarding its methods, age limits, and crimes that qualify. From 1976 through October 2018, 1,483 felons were executed in the United States, distributed among the states as follows: Executions from 1976–October 2018, by State Texas: 555  Virginia: 113Oklahoma: 112Florida: 96Missouri: 87Georgia: 72Alabama: 63Ohio: 56North Carolina: 43South Carolina: 43Louisiana: 28Arkansas: 31All others: 184 Source: Death Penalty Information Center States and U.S. territories with no current death penalty statute are Alaska (abolished in 1957), Connecticut (2012), Delaware (2016), Hawaii (1957), Illinois (2011), Iowa (1965), Maine (1887), Maryland (2013), Massachusetts (1984), Michigan (1846), Minnesota (1911), New Jersey (2007), New Mexico (2009), New York (2007), North Dakota  (1973), Rhode Island (1984), Vermont (1964), West Virginia (1965), Wisconsin (1853), District of Columbia (1981), American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Source: Death Penalty Information Center The Moral Conflict: Tookie Williams The case of Stanley Tookie Williams illustrates the moral complexities of the death penalty. Williams, an author and Nobel Peace and Literature Prizes nominee who was put to death on December 13, 2005, by lethal injection by the state of California, brought capital punishment back into prominent public debate. Williams was convicted of four murders committed in 1979 and sentenced to death. Williams professed innocence of these crimes. He was also co-founder of the Crips, a deadly and powerful Los Angeles–based street gang responsible for hundreds of murders. About five years after incarceration, Williams underwent a religious conversion and, as a result, wrote many books and created programs to promote peace and to fight gangs and gang violence. He was nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize and four times for the Nobel Literature Prize. Williams admitted his life of crime and violence, which was followed by genuine redemption and a life of unusually good works. The circumstantial evidence against Williams left little doubt that he committed the four murders, despite last-minute claims by supporters. There also existed no doubt that Williams posed no further threat to society and would contribute considerable good. His case forced public reflection on the purpose of the death penalty: Is the purpose of the death penalty to remove from society someone who would cause more harm?Is the purpose to remove from society someone who is incapable of rehabilitation?Is the purpose of the death penalty to deter others from committing murder?Is the purpose of the death penalty to punish the criminal?Is the purpose of the death penalty to take retribution on behalf of the victim? Should Stanley Tookie Williams have been executed by the state of California? Exorbitant Costs The  New York Times  penned in its  Ã‚  op-ed High Cost of Death Row: To the many excellent reasons to abolish the death penalty- it’s immoral, does not deter murder and affects minorities disproportionately- we can add one more. It’s an economic drain on governments with already badly depleted budgets.It is far from a national trend, but some legislators have begun to have second thoughts about the high cost of death row. (September 28, 2009) In a 2016 California had the unique situation of having two ballot measures up for  a vote  that purported would save taxpayers millions of dollars per year: one to speed up existing executions (Proposition 66) and one to convert all death penalty convictions to life without parole (Proposition 62). Proposition 62 failed in that election, and Proposition 66 narrowly passed.   Arguments For and Against Arguments commonly made for supporting the death penalty are: To serve as  an example  to other would-be criminals, to deter them from committing murder or terrorist acts.To punish the criminal for his/her act.To obtain retribution on behalf of the victims. Arguments commonly made to abolish the death penalty are: Death constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, which is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment to the  U.S. Constitution. Also, the various means used by the state to kill a criminal are cruel.The death penalty is used disproportionately against the poor, who cannot afford expensive legal counsel, as well as against racial, ethnic, and religious minorities.The death penalty is applied arbitrarily and inconsistently.Wrongly convicted, innocent people have received death penalty sentences, and tragically, were killed by the state.A rehabilitated criminal can make a morally valuable contribution to society.Killing human life is morally wrong under all circumstances. Some faith groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church, oppose the death penalty as not being pro-life. Countries that Retain the Death Penalty   As of 2017 per Amnesty International, 53 countries, representing about one-third of all countries worldwide, retain the death penalty for ordinary capital crimes, including the United States, plus: Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Botswana, China, Comoros,  Democratic Republic of Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt,  Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis,  Saint Lucia,  Saint Vincent  and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia,  Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand,  Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda,  United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe. The United States is the only westernized democracy, and one of the few democracies worldwide, to not have abolished the death penalty. Countries That Abolished the Death Penalty As of 2017 per Amnesty International, 142 countries, representing two-thirds of all countries worldwide, have abolished the death penalty on moral grounds, including: Albania, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada,  Cape Verde, Colombia, Cook Islands,  Costa Rica, Cote DIvoire, Croatia, Cyprus,  Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti,  Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Holy See (Vatican City), Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta,  Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands,  New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa,  San Marino,  Sao Tome  and Principe, Senegal, Serbia (including Kosovo), Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia,  Solomon Islands,  South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, Togo, Turkey , Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine,  United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela. Some others have a moratorium on executions or are taking strides to abolish death penalty laws on the books.

Understand Fiberglass Boat Delamination

Understand Fiberglass Boat Delamination In the early days of fiberglass boat construction the durability and strength of the material was underestimated. Builders formed thick hulls with integrated tubular ribs and stringers. Since this was the time before computer aided design tools, builders in the North Western United States built using the old default method of more is better. In 1956, when the first fiberglass boat was built, the material was very new but already found acceptance in aviation and automotive industries. The only way to build at that time used layers of fiberglass impregnated with acrylic resin that hardened when cured. Large molds allowed entire hulls to be made as one piece with no seams. Some wooden structure was added inside the hull for rigidity and it was bonded in with more fiberglass material. No precautions were taken to compress the curing hull or eliminate air bubbles in the structure as is done today. We know this method as solid core construction. Fiberglass materials remained expensive, and as demand for these new boats increased, manufactures began cutting costs to compete in the marketplace. Soon a layer of wood was added to lighten and strengthen the hulls and decks. The fiberglass and wood sandwich was a great combination until one of the outer surfaces of the fiberglass was breached. This is called wood core construction. It didn’t take a crash on the rocks to let water into the wood layer. Small cracks allowed the wood to become soaked and it swelled, and then rotted. Soon the inner and outer fiberglass layers couldn’t do their job and broke down from repeated flexing. This was the first type of fiberglass delamination and the failures damaged the boat building industry badly since many manufacturers had transitioned to all fiberglass construction, leaving more traditional materials behind. Fiberglass construction was quickly becoming known as poor quality because of delamination issues. Two Types of Delamination   The first type of delamination, where a wood core either separates or disintegrates, is very difficult to repair. One of the fiberglass surfaces needs to be removed to access the core. It’s usually the inner skin that’s removed because it’s less visible so finish quality is not as important.   The process is expensive and requires skilled labor; many boats were scrapped because of the cost of repair. Even with today’s modern materials and processes this kind of repair is difficult. Another type of delamination is similar but without the wooden layer. In these cases tiny flaws in the fiberglass itself allow air to be trapped. If the hull is cared for badly, water can enter through microscopic channels and enter these voids filled with air. Expansion and contraction of these tiny bits of water will make the voids grow horizontally along the layers of fiberglass cloth and resin binder. Temperature fluctuation causes the expansion and contraction of the water and if freezing and thawing are encountered the voids will grow quickly. Small bumps soon become visible in the smooth finish. These bumps are called blisters and it’s a serious condition. Blister Repair The only way to repair this damage is to remove the outer gel coat and underlying fiberglass material to access the damage. It is then filled with new resin and the gel coat is patched. It sounds easy, but unless you have considerable experience working with composites it’s easy to make the situation worse. If the boat is going to get a new coat of paint the problem of color matching isn’t an issue. Blending a patch into existing paint is an art form and lighter colors are much easier to match than bright or dark paints. Mechanical bonding is the larger issue since the new patch is only connected to the hull through adhesive properties. The same vibrations that formed tiny cracks will cause the boundary of the patch to loosen. Some blister repair involves drilling a few very small holes and injecting an epoxy compound. The blister is then compressed while the epoxy cures. This allows the patch to become a more integrated part of the hull. Causes of Blisters Marine growth can penetrate the gel coat and allow water into the structural area. Keeping a clean bottom and using an anti-fouling paint is the most important step. Abuse is another way tiny cracks form and allow the entry of water. Some boats are exposed to these conditions as a normal course of wear. Other boats are needlessly used in a careless way and this causes hull problems. Never allow someone to load heavy objects on the cabin top or jump onto the deck from the dock. Not only is it dangerous, but it can lead to delamination in these areas which will grow with further vibration from normal use. Poor storage practices like leaving water in the bilge can lead to severe delamination. Even in tropical climates the expansion and contraction of water trapped between layers of fiberglass can raise blisters. In climates which freeze and thaw often it’s possible a small blister can turn into a â€Å"pop† where the outer surface is torn away by the pressure of internal ice. Pops can be fixed with the same processes as a blister but the extent of the damage is unknown and the hull is permanently compromised. Sonic survey can reveal some of the damage but prevention is far easier.

Mortons neuroma Essays - Foot Diseases, Neurological Disorders

Mortons neuroma Essays - Foot Diseases, Neurological Disorders Mortons neuroma Abstract Mortons neuroma is a condition that affects one of the nerves that run between the third and fourth toes that may at first appear gradually, but becomes more significant and persistent over time. The exact cause is not certain, as there are a number of things that are thought to contribute to this condition. Symptoms can range from pain that starts in the ball of the foot and shoot into the affected toes, to a burning or tingling sensation of the toes. The treatment of this condition varies widely and includes conservative and surgical treatments, depending on the physician. This paper will examine the different causes and symptoms of a neuroma, as well as the different treatment options and recovery period. Mortons Neuroma What is Mortons Neuroma? A neuroma is an enlargement of nerve tissue that occurs at the base of the third and fourth toes that causes pain and numbness in the affected area. The tissue or ligament around the nerve swells up, which causes a pinching of the nerve and results in a sharp burning sensation in the toes. It is sometimes referred to as an intermetatarsal neuroma, which describes its location, and occurs in the ball of the foot between the metatarsal bones (the bones extending from the toes to the midfoot). It is sometimes referred to as a benign growth, or tumor, of nerve tissue that leads to the thickening of the toes, and a sharp burning pain in the ball of the foot. The irritation of the nerve could eventually lead to permanent nerve damage that may require patients to take painkillers, have steroid injections, or eventually surgery to either remove the nerve or release the ligament around it. This condition was first described by T.G. Morton in 1876. He used a more vague terminology of metatarsa lgia which described it as a painful condition in the ball of the foot (Bennett). What are the causes of Mortons neuroma? Doctors are not sure what exactly causes Mortons neuroma, but it seems to develop as a result of an irritation, pressure or an injury to one of the nerves that lead to the toes. One of the most common offenders is wearing shoes that are too narrow or tapered around the toes, or high heeled shoes that force the toes into the narrow part of the shoe. Because the anatomy of the bones in the feet is narrow between the metatarsals, the nerves that run between these are more likely to be compressed or irritated from wearing these types of shoes. People that have certain deformities in their feet, such as bunions or hammertoes which cause the bones to pinch the nerves, are at a higher risk for developing a neuroma. Other potential causes are activities that involve a repeated irritation to the foot, such as running, court type sports, or stress from long periods of standing on the feet. Also, inflammation in the joints or ligaments in the foot next to the nerves can cause irritation that le ad to a neuroma. Improper footwear can cause the toes to be squeezed together that can be problematic. What are the symptoms of Mortons neuroma? The symptoms of Mortons neuroma can occur unexpectedly and get progressively worse over time. You may have one or more of these symptoms: ?XTingling, numbness, or burning sensation in the toes or foot ?XPain in the ball of the foot when weight is placed on it ?XA feeling that something is inside the ball of the foot ?XSwelling between the toes At first the symptoms begin gradually, and then may go away temporarily by removing the shoe and massaging the foot. When wearing narrow-toed shoes or by performing activities that aggravate the foot, the symptoms become more intense as the neuroma enlarges and the damage to the nerve becomes permanent (American). Over time the symptoms progressively worsen and may persist for several days or weeks. How physicians diagnose a Mortons neuroma? To diagnose a neuroma, a podiatrist (foot specialist doctor) will obtain a thorough history of your symptoms, and will examine the foot and try to locate the affected nerve. This can be done by manipulating the foot and toes in trying to reproduce the symptoms. X-rays are also taken of the foot to make sure the

Mastering Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Mastering Management - Essay Example tem to machine design as well as production, managing the shift from functional communication lines and responsibility to a plant-level dimension and handling unsatisfied employees at the plant based on their new task assignments and hence mitigate the chances of worker unionization. The selection of a plant manager can be challenging, especially in a situation facing Heritage Appliance Company’s River Woods plant. Consequently, the selection committee must take into consideration certain desirable aspect in order to find the right person for the crucial management position. As the selection committee, the suitable candidate must have expert, referent and reward power, which will successfully interplay with legitimate power accorded by the virtue of being the plant manager to steer the project to success. The candidate must generally have good interpersonal skills, critical problem-solving skills and be proactive. An internal candidate would be more desirable for the position because he/she is already familiar with the culture of the organization and what it intends to achieve. Besides, He already knows the strengths and weaknesses of the staff and can easily help them upgrade to match the new tasks facing

Write an evaluation of a published macroeconomic forecast Essay

Write an evaluation of a published macroeconomic forecast - Essay Example This means that there is continuous growth in future, which is brought by the banks’ new advances made on the credits extended to customers. In the next quarter the economy is expected to perform even much better. Another contributor to the economic growth is the housing for the last more than 5 months, sales of real estates hasbeen evident. This is backed by the new modern homes that have been constructed and some which are still under construction. For example, CoreLogic Home Price Index rose by 1.1% in a year. This is according to chapter three of the (economic forecast publication r April 2014). In comparison, the housing construction and sales vary by 9%, construction rate being higher than the sales. This is a growth indicator. Manufacturing and processing sectors have added wonderful growth indicators to the economic growth. The May returns of this year are anticipated to be the highest for the last three years. This follows last years 5% growth, which is highest for the last three years now. Key assumptions here are that: the government does not take care of the borrowers where the cost of loans is very high. The government assumes that there is general growth. They don’t take care of the private sectors and individuals who bear the high cost of economic growth through coast of loans. The second assumption is the policy of selling the homes. It is more beneficial to hold investments than sales, especially real estates. This is in regard to the principle of the investment multiplier concept. The audience of this information is the potential investors, shareholders and the government agencies. Some areas have been exaggerated. Firstly, the sales of assets are lower in long term growth in GDP. Anothe r one is the high cost of loans shifted to borrowers. The borrowers are economically affected. Labor market shows a negative image compared to developments as said earlier in the US economic

Analysis of Abortion Theme in Literature Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Analysis of Abortion Theme in Literature - Essay Example For instance, there are a lot of disputes with pro and con arguments concerning the legalization of marihuana, the animal deaths for the sake of scientific experiments, the problem of corruption or possible methods to reduce alcohol dependence and others. Within entire variety of such ‘everlasting’ matters there is also one that causes considerable interest from the point of view of morality, ethics, social aspect and medicine simultaneously. Its level of development is able to affect demography and living standards of any country dramatically. This pressing issue manages to bring sometimes undesirable changes to people’s lives. And finally, present query deals with human health condition, which can be damaged irreparably if required preventive measures are not used in time. The problem which the present paper is dedicated to is the matter of abortions in modern society. Statistical data The world statistics shows that the biggest percentage of women who are prone to obtain abortions goes to the group of girls under twenty five years old. Over 60% of all medical procedures are done on women who have never been married (Henshaw and Kost 11). Moreover, only 7% of abortions happen due to rape or health problems, meanwhile about 93% of all abortions are committed because of social reasons, when a woman deliberately and consciously desires to get rid of unwanted baby. Today the question about whether abortion is ethically right or wrong action still quite controversial issue. Hence, in some states of the USA authorities provide financial assistance to insolvent women for enabling them to obtain mentioned medical procedure. However, in some countries, such as Brazil, Peru, Bangladesh, Colombia and Mexico, abortion has official status of illegal deed. Philosophic and religious attitude The matter of abortions from the view of ethics has been always a disputable notion among numerous philosophers. Jane English differentiates own visions concerning m entioned issue due to the stages of pregnancy. Hence, she believes that in the early months of pregnancy a baby in a womb should not be considered as a person, this means that a fetus has no any rights and moral status yet and abortion may take place. However, if there are late months of pregnancy then abortion should occur only if labor may cause damage to woman’s health condition (qtd. in Hillar and Prahl 133). By contrast with English, Mary Ann Warren concludes that no matter what period of pregnancy is a fetus should be considered as an inseparable part of woman’s body, therefore she has a full right to make a decision. It should be mentioned that different religions also have own visions to the problem of interrupted pregnancy. For example, the Orthodox Church objects to abortions, while Jewish faith claims that â€Å"a fetus is hot considered a full human being and has no juridical personality of its own† (Zwerin and Shapiro 31). Reasons of abortion It is well known that a decision to give a birth to a baby is a serious and essential step that requires prolong and weighted reflections. There is no harder and more crucial issue for a woman than to make up own mind concerning the possibility of her potential child’s future life. Feeling a burden of huge responsibility, a lot of women are prone to find courage for interrupting pregnancy artificially. This happens because of several reasons, the major of which are the following: childbirth may damage

Are Universities Cartels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Are Universities Cartels - Essay Example The entry of universities which are responsive to societal needs has a profound effect on American education market (Dodgson et al 2009). In the oligopoly, learning institutions are driven by profit maximization. The United States market entry and exit barriers are flexible. A telling example is the Stanford’s free online Robotics and artificial intelligence courses. In the previous years, the largest barriers to the education US market entry have been economies of scale and strategic actions by the incumbent universities. Access to complex technology and government regulations in the US education market have relatively small impact on the market forces. The courses have attracted tens of thousands students. This has caused a shift from the traditional approach in education market. Virtual subgroups between lecturers and students have affected the learning costs (Tschang & Della 2001). The market trends have been altered as new ways of meeting the demand become introduced. The se trends have indicated that the market position of the state universities is under severe threat. A telling example is the cooperation between AT & T and university of Phoenix on employee training. The culture of education cartels is losing ground as innovative ways of meeting education demands continue to gain ground (Tschang & Della 2001). ... Perfect competition and oligopoly in the American education market is demand products to be defined. A product is defined as a good or service produced by universities in an education market. Products and units of production affect the demand and supply forces in the education market. The availability of products in the education market is directly correlated to pricing. Defining products and units of output is directly related to pricing. Market forces in the education market are overcoming the significance of collusion theory and competition is rising. Pricing is an important aspect in the education market in the United States. In the study of education market in US, definition of productions and units of output affects competitiveness and brand equity profoundly (Dodgson et al 2009). Cartels within the traditional university systems face direct challenges from virtual universities (Kreps 2004). The education market is increasingly becoming competitive leading to reduced prices in traditional degree programs as new programs take the center stage (Newman et al 2004). Programs and units are packaged in affordable and convenient methods e g the decrease in the cost of traditional courses and demand in virtual courses grows. (Dodgson et al 2009). Careful decisions are focusing on the nature of courses offered and the place of offering them. The universities are getting involved in corporate social responsibility. Technology has overcome geographical barriers through electronic learning (Tschang & Della 2001). The modern US universities are developing other responsive measures of raising revenues and quality of services in an increasingly competitive education market. In conclusion, the American education market is experiencing

Strategic Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Strategic Management - Assignment Example A third advantage of SWOT is that the tool can be used for strategic management purposes. A fourth advantage of using SWOT to evaluate a business is its simplicity and versatility. Despite the benefits of using SWOT, the tool also has its cons and limitations. One of the inherent weaknesses of the tool is that different people might evaluate companies using subjective factors. For instance, a manager that is biased might perform a SWOT analysis using favorable data that might be misleading. The success of SWOT is dependent on methodologies utilized by the business analyst and the eagerness of the management team to implement the recommendations identified by the analysis. Another weakness of SWOT is that the analysis can be simplistic and not actionable (Britt, 2012). Sometimes people that used SWOT focus too much on gathering information instead of interpreting the information and finding solutions to the challenges the company

Explain what the term 'Fair trade' means and what are the important Essay

Explain what the term 'Fair trade' means and what are the important issues for the business world - Essay Example The basic intention of having fair trade is to move the works of the producers from the developing markets down towards the more urbanized quarters of the world, which suggests that the works of these developing countries are appreciated and allotted with revenues in return. This also helps the developing regimes to move from a position of vulnerability to security as well as economic self-sufficiency. The aspect of empowerment is also apparent from these undertakings since it allows for these developing nations to have more stakes in their produced goods over a period of time and thus allow them far more share in their own wealth. What this in essence does is to provide a greater share of equity which marginalizes the world trade levels as well as brings an end to the exploitation that has been happening over a long period of time, more so under the international trade tenets. A number of different global organizations work in close unison with fair trade regimes since this brings in aid for the poor countries, uplift in economic levels for the ones which are on the development curve and an overall prosperity scenario for the countries that have already been established and are making both ends meet in an economically self-efficient manner. These social and environmental organizations include Oxfam, Amnesty International and Caritas International to name a few. What these organizations try to do is to devise ways and means through which fair trade could be bolstered between different world regions and the societies could benefit from these steps that are taken under such levels. Also there is unity of purpose and actions are carried out in a manner which works to the advantage of the whole globe rather than a single entity at the very end. Because of these very steps, there are critics present under the banner of the fair trade regimes which suggests that the close

Are Universities Cartels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Are Universities Cartels - Essay Example The entry of universities which are responsive to societal needs has a profound effect on American education market (Dodgson et al 2009). In the oligopoly, learning institutions are driven by profit maximization. The United States market entry and exit barriers are flexible. A telling example is the Stanford’s free online Robotics and artificial intelligence courses. In the previous years, the largest barriers to the education US market entry have been economies of scale and strategic actions by the incumbent universities. Access to complex technology and government regulations in the US education market have relatively small impact on the market forces. The courses have attracted tens of thousands students. This has caused a shift from the traditional approach in education market. Virtual subgroups between lecturers and students have affected the learning costs (Tschang & Della 2001). The market trends have been altered as new ways of meeting the demand become introduced. The se trends have indicated that the market position of the state universities is under severe threat. A telling example is the cooperation between AT & T and university of Phoenix on employee training. The culture of education cartels is losing ground as innovative ways of meeting education demands continue to gain ground (Tschang & Della 2001). ... Perfect competition and oligopoly in the American education market is demand products to be defined. A product is defined as a good or service produced by universities in an education market. Products and units of production affect the demand and supply forces in the education market. The availability of products in the education market is directly correlated to pricing. Defining products and units of output is directly related to pricing. Market forces in the education market are overcoming the significance of collusion theory and competition is rising. Pricing is an important aspect in the education market in the United States. In the study of education market in US, definition of productions and units of output affects competitiveness and brand equity profoundly (Dodgson et al 2009). Cartels within the traditional university systems face direct challenges from virtual universities (Kreps 2004). The education market is increasingly becoming competitive leading to reduced prices in traditional degree programs as new programs take the center stage (Newman et al 2004). Programs and units are packaged in affordable and convenient methods e g the decrease in the cost of traditional courses and demand in virtual courses grows. (Dodgson et al 2009). Careful decisions are focusing on the nature of courses offered and the place of offering them. The universities are getting involved in corporate social responsibility. Technology has overcome geographical barriers through electronic learning (Tschang & Della 2001). The modern US universities are developing other responsive measures of raising revenues and quality of services in an increasingly competitive education market. In conclusion, the American education market is experiencing

Explain what the term 'Fair trade' means and what are the important Essay

Explain what the term 'Fair trade' means and what are the important issues for the business world - Essay Example The basic intention of having fair trade is to move the works of the producers from the developing markets down towards the more urbanized quarters of the world, which suggests that the works of these developing countries are appreciated and allotted with revenues in return. This also helps the developing regimes to move from a position of vulnerability to security as well as economic self-sufficiency. The aspect of empowerment is also apparent from these undertakings since it allows for these developing nations to have more stakes in their produced goods over a period of time and thus allow them far more share in their own wealth. What this in essence does is to provide a greater share of equity which marginalizes the world trade levels as well as brings an end to the exploitation that has been happening over a long period of time, more so under the international trade tenets. A number of different global organizations work in close unison with fair trade regimes since this brings in aid for the poor countries, uplift in economic levels for the ones which are on the development curve and an overall prosperity scenario for the countries that have already been established and are making both ends meet in an economically self-efficient manner. These social and environmental organizations include Oxfam, Amnesty International and Caritas International to name a few. What these organizations try to do is to devise ways and means through which fair trade could be bolstered between different world regions and the societies could benefit from these steps that are taken under such levels. Also there is unity of purpose and actions are carried out in a manner which works to the advantage of the whole globe rather than a single entity at the very end. Because of these very steps, there are critics present under the banner of the fair trade regimes which suggests that the close

President Obama Essay Example for Free

President Obama Essay Obamanomics is basically a system where the government works from the Bottom up for more equality for all people. This system will benefit the working and middle class, and higher taxes for the wealthy 1% of our population. This means better living wages, better schools, universal Healthcare, less taxes for small businesses and a regulated system on wall street. Obamanomics will give the american people employment with Jobs in both the public and private sector; And make education more Affordable for every child with better paying teachers. President Obama is also dealing with the environment and the quality of food the American people place on their tables. His ultimate plan is for a world where less warfare will be produced by every country for a safer And freer world for all Americans and abroad. The american people think obamanomics will break the economy and leave the country bankrupt. However, it will work in the years to come with adjustments taken place until obamanomics is perfected and every american has benefited from it greatly.

What are the differences between Price and non price competition

What are the differences between Price and non price competition To increase the profits or revenue of any firm we choose price competition or non price competition. price competition is a competitive situation in which price is major means of differentiating the products A product or service can be competing in the market by many ways. In price competition ,two products which are similar compared by the customer on their respective pricing, the customer mainly purchase the product on the basis of which is cheaper, they are other ways of competition but price comparison will effect. Price competition is one of the marketing strategy which used by firms to increase profits and revenue of the firms. To compete efficiently firm must be match the price or it need to be beat the price. Firm must be lowest cost producer and it need to change price frequently ,in price competition even your competitor respond to your price your firm need to respond as quickly as possible when the competitor change the price . Customer will switch to brand which is low priced brand Non price competition: Non price competition is a competition among different firms that they distinguish their products example: product features, style, delivery, promotions, advertising, selling staff etc.non pricing competition is mainly used by firms to distinguish their products, any firm can use non-price competition it is common for monopolistically competitive firms because firms which operates in monopolistically competitive market are price takers. Non price competition is a marketing strategy to increase profits and firm revenue. Every firm try to distinguish their products by its quality or promotions or product features any other sustainable competitive advantage other than price, Can build customer loyalty towards the brand. The firm must promote the distinguishing features to create customer awareness. MONOPOLISTIC MARKET The market structure of monopolistic competition is situated between those of perfect competition and monopoly 1)in monopolistic competition profits can be maximized when marginal revenue equals to marginal cost MR=MC. 2)there are many buyers and many sellers 3)the products being sold are differentiated or heterogeneous in character 4)there is free entry or exit of firms 5)the goal of the firm is to maximize the profits both in short run and long run short run comes under price competition and long run comes under non-price competition 6) product differentiation is high 7)completion on quality, price, marketing OLIGOPOLISTIC MARKET Oligopoly market is an imperfectly competitive market structure in which few large firms dominates the market .oligopolistic market is non price competition because product different ion exists in it, firms have reason to compete on the basis of other factors besides the price Characteristics of oligopoly market 1)few sellers 2)either a homogeneous or a differentiated product 3)different market entry 4)oligopolistic competition are price maker 5)in this few large firms one firm action influence others the four market perfect competition,monopoly,monopolistic competition, oligopoly in which firms in perfect competition are price-taker ,whereas firms in other three markets are price makers ELASTICITY The elasticity of demand is the measure of response of demand for a product to change in any of its determinants example price of the product, price of substitutes, price of complements, consumers income and consumers expectations regarding prices. If the price of the compulsory goods can be increased and the consumer can choose the complementary goods then it is called elastic and the consumer cannot choose the complementary goods ,they are compulsory goods then it called inelastic There are different types of elasticity of demand 1)price elasticity 2)cross elasticity 3)income elasticity Price elasticity of demand: the price elasticity of demand is demand for the product or firm to change in its price ,elasticity of demand is the percentage change in the quantity demand of a firm or product as a result of certain percentage change in its price Ep=percentage change in quantity of demand /percentage change in firm= %à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  Q/%à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  p Price Elasticity if it is more than 1 Elastic Demand when price changes quantity of demand for product is also increased When if it is less than 1 Inelastic Demand when price decreases quantity of demand for the product is little increased when compared to previous revenue Unitary Elastic when price decreases quantity of demand for the products is equal as previous revenue. Price elasticity for individual goods If the goods are luxuries elasticity will be higher, when substitutes are available consumer have choice and time to choose. When ED>1 point is above mid-point, demand is elastic. When ED=1 point is at Midpoint, demand is unit-elastic When ED When elasticity of demand is price inelastic, whenever price decrease reduces total revenue. When elasticity of demand is price elastic, whenever price decrease increases total revenue. In unit elastic demand, whenever price decrease there is no change in the total revenue Arc and point elasticity : when price elasticity of demand is measured between any two finite points on a demand curve it is called arc elasticity and elasticity measured at a point on the demand curve is called point elasticity Cross Elasticity of demand: cross elasticity defines A change in the quantity of demanded for one product is created by a price change in a related product i.e substitute good and complimentary good represents cross elasticity of demand. If two goods are substitutes for each other cross elasticity is high and if the two goods are totally different and unrelated , cross elasticity between them is zero. When cross elasticity is positive between two goods then they are called substitutes .when cross elasticity is negative between two goods they are not complementary as this is found price change is very strong when income effects. Income Elasticity of Demand: A small change in consumer income will lead to change in quantity of demand for the product. As consumer income increases and income spend on the product is same as before elasticity for the product is one. If the proportion spent on the product increases as income increases then the income elasticity for the product is greater then one If the proportion spent on the product decreases as income increases then income elasticity for the product is less than one Factors affecting elasticity demand 1) The fraction of income spend on the good 2) How narrowly defined the good is 3) How easy is to find out about substitutes 4) How much is available to adjust to price changes 5) nature of commodity 6)differed consumption 7) time factor 8) price level 9) joint demand SHAMPOO USAGE I visited a local super market and focused on shampoos section where I found wide range of shampoos of different brands. There are few companies which produce many varieties of shampoos and conditioners which will be available at any store at a reasonable rate. In my paper I specified on the following company brands which are listed below 1) Hindustan unilever limited > Dove > Clear > Clinic plus > Sunsilk 2) Procter and gamble > Head shoulder > Pantene > Rejoice 3) Cavinkare > Meera >chick >nyle 4) loreal >Garnier fructis 5) ITC >  vivel ultra pro HINDUSTAN UNILEVER LIMITED Hindustan unilever limited which was established in 1933, the first shampoo which they launched was clinic plus which had a great demand compared to the other company products at that time (19s). The main reason was they were successful in satisfying the customer, which made there brands so popular. CLINIC PLUS Clinic plus launched 3 different varieties of shampoos 1) Clinic plus strong and long health shampoo 2) Clinic plus strong and natural shampoo 3) Clinic plus long and strong anti dandruff Another shampoo brand from Hindustan unilever limited is Sunsilk, a global brand which was launched in 1964. SUNSILK Sunsilk was launched in 6 different varieties Sunsilk Thick long shampoo conditioner Sunsilk soft and smooth shampoo conditioner Sunsilk hairfall solution shampoo conditioner. Sunsilk damage repair shampoo conditioner Blackshine shampoo. Anti-dandruff shampoo. ALL CLEAR Clinic all clear is another brand from Hindustan unilever limited, it is the first brand which targeted men specially. Formulated anti dandruff shampoo it was launched in 1980 in india and 14 other countries world wide later it was renamed as CLEAR. Clear is available in 5 varients Active Care Ice Cool. Hair fall Defense Soft Gloss. Radiant Black DOVE Dove is the leading brand from Hindustan unilever limited globally dove was launched over 80 countries world wide and it is also called fastest growing hair category brand in India , dove attracts wide range of female customers Dove has a wide range of hair care products that repair accumulated damage and protect and care for the hair .The new Zero Damage System repairs and protects hair from damage. There are variety of shampoo from dove and conditioner Dry therapy Breakage therapy From the HUL company there is a cheaper product like clinic plus and sunsilk which helps rural people and costly product like dove for urban people.From both urban rural areas HUL is covering both urban and rural areas To increase the sales HUL released shampoos in various sizes for various brands For clinic plus, sunsilk the prices are similar 7.5 ml sachet-3 rs 100 bottle 67 rs 200 ml bottle- 120rs For dove the prizes of respective samples is 7.5ml sachet 3 rs 100ml bottle 130 rs 200 ml bottle 215 rs In the local store 35% of the place is occupied by hul products HUL occupies market share over 50% PROCTER AND GAMBLE Procter and gamble launched head shoulder and it is worlds no one anti dandruff shampoo, which reduces not only dandruff but also eliminates p.o value. HEAD SHOULDERS Head Shoulders released 6 different varieties of products: Head Shoulders Smooth Silky. Head Shoulders Refreshing Menthol Head Shoulders Clean and Balanced Head Shoulders Silky Black Head Shoulders Naturally Clean Head Shoulders Nourishing Aloe Vera PANTENE Pantene is the product of Procter and gamble, which was launched keeping women as there prime focus. Pantene is the shampoo that conducts survey on ladies hair loss. Rejoice is the another brand from Procter and gamble who launched Asias No. 1 shampoo Micro-Silicone conditioning technology gives twice as smooth, and easy to comb hair versus ordinary shampoos.as it use natural ingredients like henna, amla, reetha and shikakai. PG released its products in 3 different varities : Rich: Silky Clean Complete Products from the Procter and gamble is highly costly product which covers only urban areas In the rural areas only 7.5 ml sachets will be sold out 40 % of company profits is from sachets only Prices of pg is as follows 7.5 ml sachet-3 rs 100ml bottle-110rs 200 ml bottle -210rs In local stores place occupied by the PG is 25% PG occupies market share over 16 % CAVINKARE Cavincake was established in 1983 it launches 3 different varieties of shampoos Meera it is pure herbal shampoo with badam enriches and many herbals Chick is the first shampoo launched by the cavinkare at the time of clinic plus it is compitetor for clinicplus chick is one of the most used bu rural peoples Nyle- nyle shampoo is newly launched by cavincare it is in 4 different varients Amla, Tulsi, Aloevera and Green tea Calvinkare products release their products in following szes 7.5ml sachet-3 rs 50ml bottle- 35 rs 100 ml bottle -60rs 200ml bottle 110 rs In local stores place occupied by the PG is 15% Calvinkare occupied market share over 19% LOREAL Garnier was launched in 1991 Garnier was launched with ultra Duox range of shampoos in the year 1991. Garnier is not an Indian brand but it has crafted a special place in todays Indian market. Garniner has reached peaks because of its innovations and by launching new products which attracts the consumers. Presently garnier has targeted the middle and upper class by reducing its price and launching huge range of there collection. It has two sub brands they are >Garnier fructis and >Garnier ultra soux Garnier fructis was launched with different varieties like Garnier fructis daily care shampoo Garnier fructis triple nutrition fortifying shampoo Garnier fructis anti-dandruff shampoo Garnier fructis sleek shine shampoo. The credit of launching a color shield shampoo and Shampoo + Oil 2 in 1 shampoo goes to Garnier. It is the first company to launch a shampoo which contains essence of oil and shampoo together in a same pack. Coming to the garnier shield shampoo it was launched in order to nourish and strengthen the colored hair. Garnier could sustain its level in Indian market by introducing variety of products into the market and by there advertising style. Its innovative ideas and new releases are making its products popular. On a survey it was noted that the number of consumers using Garnier has drastically increased as they make there products from natural fruit oils which are harmless. Garnier has reached to the core of the market as it is able to satisfy its consumers and meet there requirements. Garnier products released their products in th following sizes 7.5ml sachet-3 rs 100 ml bottle -115 200 ml bottle- 220 In local super market space allocation for the loreal products are 15 % Loreal products occupy market share over 10 % ITC Itc launches vivel ultra pro in 2009 with 3 years extensive research it as unique actipro -z omplex which will solve dandruff problems VIVEL ULTRA PRO Vivel ultra pro products released their products in th following sizes 7.5ml sachet-3 rs 100 ml bottle -90 200 ml bottle- 160 In local super market space allocated for the product is 5% It occupies market share over 5% CONCLUSION From the above shampoos I conclude most of the shampoos sachets is sold instead of bottles due to price many of the shampoos companies get 40 % profit from sachets only HUL is occupied 1st place in shampoos market it has low price products to attract rural areas and high price products to be sold in urban areas it occupies 50% of market share. And then calvinkare because it is mainly used by rural areas due to price comparision , calvinkare products are relatively low when compare to any of the other it occupies 19% this are the only 2 leading companies in shampoos market

1950s :: American America History

1950's The 1950's were quite radical in fact, this is the decade that began rock n' roll, the civil rights movement, better family living, advances in technology, Fashion, medical research, other wonderful things this country was not used to seeing or hearing. The 1950's were looked at more as a state of mind or a way of living rather than just another decade or time era in American history. Everything was peaceful now, which looking back on the two world wars and the great depression this country was not used to at all. Nobody worried about war, nobody worried about how they were going to feed their children and keep a roof over their heads because everyone had jobs and the economy was doing great. (Edey, Maitlanded.57) Teenagers were having more fun than ever too. Rock n' roll was introduced to them and they all seemed at the time to know what they wanted out of life, to go to school, graduate, get a job, get married, and have children all in that order just as their parents had. (Clayton , Andrew.24) The 1950's were the most influential decade in American history because the civil rights act began, fashion was completely new and trendy, there were much advancement in entertainment and medicine, and suburban life was much more "functional" than any other decade in American history. One reason the 1950's were the most influential decade in American history is because rock and roll was introduced to the country and it let people forget about their morals for a while and just let loose to have fun. (Pareles, John.3) Elvis Presley was quite the king of rock and roll, with songs like hound dog, don't be cruel, and love me tender and ready teddy Elvis lit up the stage. ("Elvis Presley-Biographical Timeline-The Fifties") Elvis was born on January 8th 1935. He purchased his first guitar in 1946 for $12.95 at the local hardware store. In 1954 Sam Phillips teams Elvis up with local musicians Scotty Moore (guitar) and Bill Black (bass). By November of 1955 Elvis had signed his first record contract with RCA His contract was for $40,000, and a $5,000 signing bonus for Elvis. In April of 1956Elvis signed a seven-year movie contract with Hal Wallace and Paramount Pictures. The most famous film Elvis came out with ; Jailhouse Rock came out in May of 1957. This is the film tha t really helped Elvis launch his career.

Personal Narrative: What Real Friendship Is Essay -- essays research p

When you were still in the kindergarten, friends were the people who romped about with you, played mischievous tricks upon everyone. When you were getting bigger, perhaps at primary school, friends were the people who helped you in your homework, who sung with you at the school choir. Had you forgotten them? Had you betrayed them? Are you a good friend to your friends? A true friend would always tell you the truth, be you best partner when you need him, most of all, support you. It is not right to act suspiciously in front of your friends. Not long ago, my friends were very busy planning a birthday surprise for me. They stopped talking when I drew near and whispered when I was within earshot. They put their work hastily away when I asked what it was. Their act was so suspicious that my curiosity grew. I tried to expose their scheme. I tried to peep into their drawers when they were away at recess. At the end, everyone lost his patience and interest and my friends blamed me. â€Å"It’s all your fault!† Yes, that’s true. I had spoiled their plans, but their motives were suspect with me. Good friends are the people who forgive your mistakes, who stop you from making mistakes and help you when you do. Friends are the people who help you, who offer support and tell you the truth when you need to hear it. Once, my friend Aggie and I had attended a duet contest. We tried different styles and different songs, but none of those satisfied us. I was upset and wanted to give up, but Aggie encouraged me. Finally, we chose the most suitable piece of music for the competition. We practiced and practiced and practiced. Sometimes we only practiced for an hour, while we usually practiced a whole day, kept repeating the same phrase again, again and... ...missed her. Aggie never acknowledged the letter with words, but she did with her behavior. We went from acting like awkward acquaintances to being the friends — and soul mates─,─, that we once were. She began to write me more and more and our conversations went back to the gossipy notes we used to have that made us laugh. She included me in her life and we began a new relationship─,─, a very honest and real relationship. Now it is with laughter and joy. It is hard to believe that after all the years of separation and all that we have been through, how close Aggie and I have become again. Friends are the people who understand you, who walk beside you, who make a difference in your life. They stick with you and stand by you. They hold your hand and watch you live. You learn from them and rely on them. Your life is not the same without them.

The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Two

â€Å"And that's all I remember,† Bonnie concluded as she and Meredith walked down Sunflower Street between the rows of tall Victorian houses. â€Å"But it was definitely Elena?† â€Å"Yes, and she was trying to tell me something at the end. But that's the part that wasn't clear, except that it was important, terribly important. What do you think?† â€Å"Mouse sandwiches and open graves?† Meredith arched an elegant eyebrow. â€Å"I think you're getting Stephen King mixed up with Lewis Carroll.† Bonnie thought she was probably right. But the dream still bothered her; it had bothered her all day, enough to put her earlier worries out of her mind. Now, as she and Meredith approached Caroline's house, the old worries returned with a vengeance. She really should have told Meredith about this, she thought, casting an uneasy sideways glance at the taller girl. She shouldn't let Meredith just walk in there unprepared†¦ Meredith looked up at the lighted windows of the Queen Anne House with a sigh. â€Å"Do you really need those earrings tonight?† â€Å"Yes, I do; yes, absolutely.† Too late now. Might as well make the best of it. â€Å"You'll love them when you see them,† she added, hearing the note of hopeful desperation in her own voice. Meredith paused and her keen dark eyes searched Bonnie's face curiously. Then she knocked on the door. â€Å"I just hope Caroline's not staying home tonight. We could end up stuck with her.† â€Å"Caroline staying home on a Saturday night? Don't be ridiculous.† Bonnie had been holding her breath too long; she was starting to feel lightheaded. Her tinkling laughter came out brittle and false. â€Å"What a concept,† she continued somewhat hysterically as Meredith said, â€Å"I don't think anybody's home,† and tried the knob. Possessed by some crazy impulse Bonnie added, â€Å"Fiddle-dee-dee.† Hand on doorknob, Meredith stopped dead and turned to look at her. â€Å"Bonnie,† she said quietly, â€Å"have you gone completely through the ozone?† â€Å"No.† Deflated, Bonnie grabbed Meredith's arm and sought her eyes urgently. The door was opening on its own. â€Å"Oh, God, Meredith, please don't kill me†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Surprise!† shouted three voices. â€Å"Smile,† Bonnie hissed, shoving the suddenly resistant body of her friend through the door and into the bright room full of noise and showers of foil confetti. She beamed wildly herself and spoke through clenched teeth. â€Å"Kill me later-I deserve it -but for now just smile.† There were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a cluster of presents on the coffee table. There was even a flower arrangement, although Bonnie noticed the orchids in it matched Caroline's pale green scarf exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a design of vines and leaves. She'll end up wearing one of those orchids in her hair, I'll bet, Bonnie thought. There were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a cluster of presents on the coffee table. There was even a flower arrangement, although Bonnie noticed the orchids in it matched Caroline's pale green scarf exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a design of vines and leaves. She'll end up wearing one of those orchids in her hair, I'll bet, Bonnie thought. â€Å"Nothing I can't break with an iron crowbar,† Meredith replied. But she smiled back with wry warmth and Bonnie relaxed. Sue had been a Homecoming Princess on Elena's court, along with Bonnie, Meredith, and Caroline. She was the only girl at school besides Bonnie and Meredith who'd stood by Elena when everyone else had turned against her. At Elena's funeral she'd said that Elena would always be the real queen of Robert E. Lee, and she'd given up her own nomination for Snow Queen in Elena's memory. Nobody could hate Sue. The worst was over now, Bonnie thought. â€Å"I want to get a picture of us all on the couch,† Caroline said, positioning them behind the flower arrangement. â€Å"Vickie, take it, will you?† Vickie Bennett had been standing by quietly, unnoticed. Now she said, â€Å"Oh, sure,† and nervously flicked long, light brown hair out of her eyes as she picked up the camera. Just like she's some kind of servant, Bonnie thought, and then the flashbulb blinded her. As the Polaroid developed and Sue and Caroline laughed and talked around Meredith's dry politeness, Bonnie noticed something else. It was a good picture; Caroline looked stunning as ever with her auburn hair gleaming and the pale green orchids in front of her. And there was Meredith, looking resigned and ironic and darkly beautiful without even trying, and there she was herself, a head shorter than the others, with her red curls tousled and a sheepish expression on her face. But the strange thing was the figure beside her on the couch. It was Sue, of course it was Sue, but for a moment the blond hair and blue eyes seemed to belong to someone else. Someone looking at her urgently, on the verge of saying something important. Bonnie frowned at the photo, blinking rapidly. The image swam in front of her, and a chilling uneasiness ran up her spine. No, it was just Sue in the picture. She must've gone crazy for a minute, or else she was letting Caroline's desire for them â€Å"all to be together again† affect her. â€Å"I'll take the next one,† she said, springing up. â€Å"Sit down, Vickie, and lean in. No, farther, farther-there!† All of Vickie's movements were quick and light and nervous. When the flashbulb went off, she started like a scared animal ready to bolt. Caroline scarcely glanced at this picture, getting up and heading for the kitchen instead. â€Å"Guess what we're having instead of cake?† she said. â€Å"I'm making my own version of Death by Chocolate. Come on, you've got to help me melt the fudge.† Sue followed her, and after an uncertain pause, so did Vickie. The last traces of Meredith's pleasant expression evaporated and she turned to Bonnie. â€Å"You should have told me.† â€Å"And that makes it all worthwhile?† â€Å"Well, it helps,† Bonnie said, with an air of being reasonable. â€Å"And really, it probably won't be so bad. Caroline's actually trying to be nice, and it's good for Vickie to get out of the house for once†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"It doesn't look like it's good for her,† Meredith said bluntly. â€Å"It looks like she's going to have a heart attack.† â€Å"Well, she's probably just nervous.† In Bonnie's opinion, Vickie had good reason to be nervous. She'd spent most of the previous fall in a trance, being slowly driven out of her mind by a power she didn't understand. Nobody had expected her to come out of it as well as she had. Meredith was still looking bleak. â€Å"At least,† Bonnie said consolingly, â€Å"it isn't your real birthday.† Meredith picked up the camera and turned it over and over. Still looking down at her hands, she said, â€Å"But it is.† â€Å"What?† Bonnie stared and then said louder, â€Å"What did you say?† â€Å"I said, it is my real birthday. Caroline's mom must have told her; she and my mom used to be friends a long time ago.† â€Å"Meredith, what are you talking about? Your birthday was last week, May 30.† â€Å"No, it wasn't. It's today, June 6. It's true; it's on my driver's license and everything. My parents started celebrating it a week early because June 6 was too upsetting for them. It was the day my grandfather was attacked and went crazy.† As Bonnie gasped, unable to speak, she added calmly, â€Å"He tried to kill my grandmother, you know. He tried to kill me, too.† Meredith put the camera down carefully in the exact center of the coffee table. â€Å"We really should go in the kitchen,† she said quietly. â€Å"I smell chocolate.† Bonnie was still paralyzed, but her mind was beginning to work again. Vaguely, she remembered Meredith speaking about this before, but she hadn't told her the full truth then. And she hadn't said when it had happened. â€Å"Attacked-you mean like Vickie was attacked,† Bonnie got out. She couldn't say the word vampire, but she knew Meredith understood. â€Å"Like Vickie was attacked,† Meredith confirmed. â€Å"Come on,† she added, even more quietly. â€Å"They're waiting for us. I didn't mean to upset you.† Meredith doesn't want me to be upset, so I won't be upset, Bonnie thought, pouring hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Even though we've been friends since first grade and she never told me this secret before. pouring hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Even though we've been friends since first grade and she never told me this secret before. Then Bonnie shook her head determinedly. She couldn't think about this right now; she had a party to think about. And I'll make sure it's a good party and we all get along somehow, she thought. Strangely, it wasn't even that hard. Meredith and Vickie didn't talk much at first, but Bonnie went out of her way to be nice to Vickie, and even Meredith couldn't resist the pile of brightly wrapped presents on the coffee table. By the time she'd opened the last one they were all talking and laughing. The mood of truce and toleration continued as they moved up into Caroline's bedroom to examine her clothes and CDs and photo albums. As it got near midnight they flopped on sleeping bags, still talking. â€Å"What's going on with Alaric these days?† Sue asked Meredith. Alaric Saltzman was Meredith's boyfriend-sort of. He was a graduate student from Duke University who'd majored in parapsychology and had been called to Fell's Church last year when the vampire attacks began. Though he'd started out an enemy, he'd ended up an ally-and a friend. â€Å"He's in Russia,† Meredith said. â€Å"Perestroika, you know? He's over there finding out what they were doing with psychics during the Cold War.† â€Å"What are you going to tell him when he gets back?† asked Caroline. It was a question Bonnie would have liked to ask Meredith herself. Because Alaric was almost four years older, Meredith had told him to wait until after she graduated to talk about their future. But now Meredith was eighteen-today, Bonnie reminded herself-and graduation was in two weeks. What was going to happen after that? â€Å"I haven't decided,† Meredith said. â€Å"Alaric wants me to go to Duke, and I've been accepted there, but I'm not sure. I have to think.† Bonnie was just as glad. She wanted Meredith to go to Boone Junior College with her, not go off and get married, or even engaged. It was stupid to decide on one guy so young. Bonnie herself was notorious for playing the field, going from boy to boy as she pleased. She got crushes easily, and got over them just as easily. â€Å"I haven't seen the guy so far worth remaining faithful to,† she said now. Everyone looked at her quickly. Sue's chin was resting on her fists as she asked, â€Å"Not even Stefan?† Bonnie should have known. With the only light the dim bedside lamp and the only sound the rustle of new leaves on the weeping willows outside, it was inevitable that the conversation would turn to Stefan-and to Elena. Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert were already a sort of legend in the town, like Romeo and Juliet. When Stefan had first come to Fell's Church, every girl had wanted him. And Elena, the most beautiful, most popular, most unapproachable girl at school, had wanted him too. It was only after she'd gotten him that she realized the danger. Stefan wasn't what he seemed-he had a secret far darker than anyone could have guessed. And he had a brother, Damon, even more mysterious and dangerous than himself. Elena had been caught between the two brothers, loving Stefan but drawn irresistibly to Damon's wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to redeem their love. Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert were already a sort of legend in the town, like Romeo and Juliet. When Stefan had first come to Fell's Church, every girl had wanted him. And Elena, the most beautiful, most popular, most unapproachable girl at school, had wanted him too. It was only after she'd gotten him that she realized the danger. Stefan wasn't what he seemed-he had a secret far darker than anyone could have guessed. And he had a brother, Damon, even more mysterious and dangerous than himself. Elena had been caught between the two brothers, loving Stefan but drawn irresistibly to Damon's wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to redeem their love. â€Å"I still can't believe she's gone,† Sue said quietly, shaking her head and shutting her eyes. â€Å"She was so much more alive than other people.† â€Å"Her flame burned brighter,† said Meredith, gazing at the patterns the rose-and-gold lamp made on the ceiling. Her voice was soft but intense, and it seemed to Bonnie that those words described Elena better than anything she'd ever heard. â€Å"There were times when I hated her, but I could never ignore her,† Caroline admitted, her green eyes narrowed in memory. â€Å"She wasn't a person you could ignore.† â€Å"One thing I learned from her death,† Sue said, â€Å"is that it could happen to any of us. You can't waste any of life because you never know how long you've got.† â€Å"It could be sixty years or sixty minutes,† Vickie agreed in a low voice. â€Å"Any of us could die tonight.† Bonnie wriggled, disturbed. But before she could say anything, Sue repeated, â€Å"I still can't believe she's really gone. Sometimes I feel as if she's somewhere near.† â€Å"Oh, so do I,† said Bonnie, distracted. An image of Warm Springs flashed through her mind, and for a moment it seemed more vivid than Caroline's dim room. â€Å"Last night I dreamed about her, and I had the feeling it really was her and that she was trying to tell me something. I still have that feeling,† she said to Meredith. The others gazed at her silently. Once, they would all have laughed if Bonnie hinted at any-thing supernatural, but not now. Her psychic powers were undisputed, awesome, and a little scary. â€Å"Do you really?† breathed Vickie. â€Å"What do you think she was trying to say?† asked Sue. â€Å"I don't know. At the end she was trying so hard to stay in contact with me, but she couldn't.† There was another silence. At last Sue said hesitantly, with the faintest catch in her voice, â€Å"Do you think†¦ do you think you could contact her?† It was what they'd all been wondering. Bonnie looked toward Meredith. Earlier, Meredith had dismissed the dream, but now she met Bonnie's eyes seriously. â€Å"Is that the only way to communicate with dead people? What about a Ouija board or something?† Sue asked. â€Å"My parents have a Ouija board,† Caroline said a little too loudly. Suddenly the hushed, low-key mood was broken and an indefinable tension filled the air. Everyone sat up straighter and looked at each other with speculation. Even Vickie looked intrigued on top of her scaredness. â€Å"Would it work?† Meredith said to Bonnie. â€Å"Should we?† Sue wondered aloud. â€Å"Do we dare? That's really the question,† Meredith said. Once again Bonnie found everyone looking at her. She hesitated a final instant, and then shrugged. Excitement was stirring in her stomach. â€Å"Why not?† she said. â€Å"What have we got to lose?† Caroline turned to Vickie. â€Å"Vickie, there's a closet at the bottom of the stairs. The Ouija board should be inside, on the top shelf with a bunch of other games.† She didn't even say, â€Å"Please, will you get it?† Bonnie frowned and opened her mouth, but Vickie was already out the door. â€Å"You could be a little more gracious,† Bonnie told Caroline. â€Å"What is this, your impression of Cinderella's evil stepmother?† â€Å"Oh, come on, Bonnie,† Caroline said impatiently. â€Å"She's lucky just to be invited. She knows that.† â€Å"And here I thought she was just overcome by our collective splendor,† Meredith said dryly. â€Å"And besides-† Bonnie started when she was interrupted. The noise was thin and shrill and it fell off weakly at the end, but there was no mistaking it. It was a scream. It was followed by dead silence and then suddenly peal after peal of piercing shrieks. For an instant the girls in the bedroom stood transfixed. Then they were all running out into the hallway and down the stairs. â€Å"Vickie!† Meredith, with her long legs, reached the bottom first. Vickie was standing in front of the closet, arms outstretched as if to protect her face. She clutched at Meredith, still screaming. â€Å"Vickie, what is it?† Caroline demanded, sounding more angry than afraid. There were game boxes scattered across the floor and Monopoly markers and Trivial Pursuit cards strewn everywhere. â€Å"What are you yelling about?† â€Å"It grabbed me! I was reaching up to the top shelf and something grabbed me around the waist!† â€Å"No! From inside the closet.† Startled, Bonnie looked inside the open closet. Winter coats hung in an impenetrable layer, some of them reaching the floor. Gently disengaging herself from Vickie, Meredith picked up an umbrella and began poking the coats. â€Å"Oh, don't-† Bonnie began involuntarily, but the umbrella encountered only the resistance of cloth. Meredith used it to push the coats aside and reveal the bare cedarwood of the closet wall. â€Å"You see? Nobody there,† she said lightly. â€Å"But you know what is there are these coat sleeves. If you leaned in far enough between them, I'll bet it could feel like somebody's arms closing around you.† Vickie stepped forward, touched a dangling sleeve, then looked up at the shelf. She put her face in her hands, long silky hair falling forward to screen it. For an awful moment Bonnie thought she was crying, then she heard the giggles. â€Å"Oh, God! I really thought-oh, I'm so stupid! I'll clean it up,† Vickie said. â€Å"Later,† said Meredith firmly. â€Å"Let's go in the living room.† Bonnie threw one last look at the closet as they went. When they were all gathered around the coffee table, with several lights turned off for effect, Bonnie put her fingers lightly on the small plastic planchette. She'd never actually used a Ouija board, but she knew how it was done. The planchette moved to point at letters and spell out a message-if the spirits were willing to talk, that is. â€Å"We all have to be touching it,† she said, and then watched as the others obeyed. Meredith's fingers were long and slender, Sue's slim and tapering with oval nails. Caroline's nails were painted burnished copper. Vickie's were bitten. â€Å"Now we close our eyes and concentrate,† Bonnie said softly. There were little hisses of anticipation as the girls obeyed; the atmosphere was getting to all of them. â€Å"Think of Elena. Picture her. If she's out there, we want to draw her here.† The big room was silent. In the dark behind her closed lids Bonnie saw pale gold hair and eyes like lapis lazuli. â€Å"Come on, Elena,† she whispered. â€Å"Talk to me.† The planchette began to move. None of them could be guiding it; they were all applying pressure from different points. Nevertheless, the little triangle of plastic was sliding smoothly, confidently. Bonnie kept her eyes shut until it stopped and then looked. The planchette was pointing to the word Yes. Vickie gave something like a soft sob. Bonnie looked at the others. Caroline was breathing fast, green eyes narrowed. Sue, the only one of all of them, still had her eyes resolutely closed. Meredith looked pale. â€Å"Keep concentrating,† Bonnie told them. She felt unready and a little stupid addressing the empty air directly. But she was the expert; she had to do it. â€Å"Is that you, Elena?† she said. The planchette made a little circle and returned to Yes. Suddenly Bonnie's heart was beating so hard she was afraid it would shake her fingers. The plastic underneath her fingertips felt different, electrified almost, as if some supernatural energy was flowing through it. She no longer felt stupid. Tears came to her eyes, and she could see that Meredith's eyes were glistening too. Meredith nodded at her. â€Å"How can we be sure?† Caroline was saying, loudly, suspiciously. Caroline doesn't feel it, Bonnie realized; she doesn't sense anything I do. Psychically speaking, she's a dud. The planchette was moving again, touching letters now, so quickly that Meredith barely had time to spell out the message. Even without punctuation it was clear. CAROLINE DONT BE A JERK, it said. YOURE LUCKY IM TALKING TO YOU AT ALL â€Å"That's Elena, all right,† Meredith said dryly. â€Å"It sounds like her, but-† â€Å"Oh, shut up, Caroline,† Bonnie said. â€Å"Elena, I'm just so glad†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her throat locked up and she tried again. BONNIE THERES NO TIME STOP SNIVELING AND GET DOWN TO BUSINESS And that was Elena too. Bonnie sniffed and went on. â€Å"I had a dream about you last night.† TEA â€Å"Yes.† Bonnie's heart was thudding faster than ever. â€Å"I wanted to talk to you, but things got weird and then we kept losing contact-â€Å" BONNIE DONT TRANCE NO TRANCE NO TRANCE â€Å"All right.† That answered her question, and she was relieved to hear it. CORRUPTING INFLUENCES DISTORTING OUR COMMUNICATION THERE ARE BAD THINGS VERY BAD THINGS OUT HERE â€Å"Like what?† Bonnie leaned closer to the board. â€Å"Like what?† NO TIME! The planchette seemed to add the exclamation point. It was jerking violently from letter to letter as if Elena could barely contain her impatience. â€Å"Danger?† Vickie repeated, looking as if she might jump off the chair and run. WAIT LISTEN FIRST THE WHOLE TOWN IS IN DANGER â€Å"What do we do?† said Meredith instantly. YOU NEED HELP HES OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE UNBELIEVABLY STRONG NOW LISTEN AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS YOU HAVE TO DO A SUMMONING SPELL AND THE FIRST INGREDIENT IS H- Without warning, the planchette jerked away from the letters and flew around the board wildly. It pointed at the stylized picture of the moon, then at the sun, then at the words Parker Brothers, Inc. â€Å"Elena!† The planchette bobbed back to the letters. ANOTHER MOUSE ANOTHER MOUSE ANOTHER MOUSE â€Å"What's happening?† Sue cried, eyes wide open now. Bonnie was frightened. The planchette was pulsing with energy, a dark and ugly energy like boiling black tar that stung her fingers. But she could also feel the quivering silver thread that was Elena's presence fighting it. â€Å"Don't let go!† she cried desperately. â€Å"Don't take your hands off it!† MOUSMUDKILLYOU, the board reeled off. BLOODBLOODBLOOD. And then†¦ BONNIE GET OUT RUN HES HERE RUN RUN RU- The planchette jerked furiously, whipping out from under Bonnie's fingers and beyond her reach, flying across the board and through the air as if someone had thrown it. Vickie screamed. Meredith started to her feet. And then all the lights went out, plunging the house into darkness.