Wal-Mart Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wal-Mart - Essay Example However, this paper will try to evaluate the success of Wal-Mart which is indeed the market leader in the retail industry, and it will prove the supremacy of the organization with personal experiences and supportive facts. Personal viewpoints and some observations about Wal-Mart: The base of this argument can be put as the undisputed crowd pulling ability and growing footfalls in Wal-Mart. There are many other retails stores are there and they also pull the crowd very efficiently but do they pull crowd like Wal-Mart? Well, from many personal experiences it can be stated that the world number one retailer indeed pull the crowd efficiently than any other stores. If a person goes to any Wal-Mart store in USA in any time, he or she will see a gathering of huge crowd looking to buy something or the other. The cash counters are always busy with long queues and happy customers are always coming out with their purchases. However, the question is how they are so successful and how they overco me the tough competition in the market. From the personal experiences and viewpoints it can stated that Wal-Mart follow the strict rule of POCKETS (price, operations, culture, key item promotion, expenses, talent and services). They follow unique penetration pricing policy, they never tend to compete, break through operations management can handle the customers and the employees wisely within the store, great culture, they promote the key products very tactically and the inner talent of the management is distributed properly within the lower level of the organizations. There are some points are also there to support the positive aspects of the Wal-Mart and they are mentioned bellow. Remarkable business strategy of the Wal-Mart to support the argument: Wal-Mart has changed the seller’s market to the buyer’s market with their great business strategy. In the United States the main strategy of the Wal-Mart is to open stores in every five kilometers. And the main concept is selling practically everything under one roof with large discounts. The main strategy is to compel the people to buy more and more. Evolution of the supply chain management system: Supply chain is a very important factor for a g lobal giant like Wal-Mart. And in this case they are very strict to choose their thousand of suppliers globally. Mattel, the toy maker is one of the biggest suppliers of toys to Wal-Mart and they admit that it is a great business channel but a tough client as they want great quality parameters. Wal-Mart looks for close and strong relation with their suppliers. Wal-Mart is always hungry for customer satisfaction and that is the reason they also look for great suppliers who can provide good quality products in proper time with competitive pricing. Evaluation of the brand image: Wal-Mart has always been in the way to strengthen its existence. Around 2000 they opened the walmart.com which is the online portal for online shopping. And they have all the facilities like on-time delivery, great products and easy to use. In 2008 they have changes their total brand image, from the Wal-Mart store; Inc they changed their brand name to Walmart. Criticism about Wal-Mart: It is a true fact that gr eat brands have great criticisms. The Wal-Mart has been criticized in many ways many times but somehow I had overcome the criticism and embarked towards the success. In many times it has been criticized as the slaughter of the small grocery businesses. There are many times when small grocery stores owners have opposed the erection of the Wal-Mart store in their vicinity. But, the success relies on the verdicts of the customers. Mr. Sam Walton understood the importance of the demanded products to be sold in a low price in a price sensitive market. The Wal-Mart is

Dormitory rooms Essay Example for Free

Dormitory rooms Essay As students move on in their lives after high school to college, many think that their lives will become paradise. With many house rules abandoned and without a curfew, students get the first taste of adulthood. Many think everything will be easy; however, from the dining halls to having no money students learn that being an adult is harder than parents display. Campus life shows students what they perceive is very different than the reality of life. In my opinion, living on campus in a dorm, supplies a student the full experience of the college life. When I imagined living in a dorm room, I imagined a very small room and hardly having any space to walk around. However, the rooms are actually quite big. There is plenty of room to walk around and even play some crazy, goofy games with a roommate. I thought the most exciting part of living on campus was going to be able to meet new people and live in a new environment. Because I am so far from home, my biggest hope was having a roommate who was easy to get along with and could have fun, and I definitely got that. The bathroom situation, I thought, was going to be the worst part of living on campus. However, in reality, it is not as bad as I had thought. As a student-athlete living in a dorm where the entire floor houses athletes, the bathroom has a maximum of five people using the facilities at a time. This works because of each athlete on a different schedule. In actuality, living on campus is very exciting and there should be no worry considering the problem with space, meeting new people, or the bathroom being very full to the point of not being able to use it. As an athlete living on campus at Western Nebraska Community College the athlete receives a dorm family. A dorm family is a family around town that â€Å"adopts† the student for the two years while attending the school. The family opens up their hearts and lets the athlete come into the family. The family attends sports events that the athlete plays and supports the athlete. I have a dorm family, and I love them. When I first thought of having a family that would open up their home and family to me I thought it was going to be awkward. However, having a family in town that has opened up their home and hearts has been great. It helped me know that there are people here in town who are willing to help and support me. Additionally, living in the dorms and living on their own, without parents, helps students find many new found freedoms that they did not have before. With living in the dormitories many students stay out late on all nights of the week, because they had a curfew at home and now they do not. The first week of school I stayed out late when I could. However, this staying out late situation did not last long, because I had been slammed with homework and after I was done with my homework all I wanted to do was sleep. With these newfound freedoms I learned very quickly how I was going to manage my time and make sure I got my sleep. When first living on campus I learned how easy I had it while living under my parents’ roof and the responsibilities that I didn’t have that I have now. When thinking that I was moving out of my parents’ house I thought it was going to be great. The freedoms I would have were going to be tremendous compared to what I had back home. However, when thinking of the freedoms I never thought of the responsibilities that I was going to have. When at home, laundry was done and living on campus causes me to do my own laundry and pay a dollar fifty for it. At home I always had someone harping on me to do my homework, make my bed, and clean my room, but on campus there is no one around to do that except myself. I had to learn to manage my time wisely and make sure I stayed up in my schoolwork. As a new freshman in college, like myself, sees his or her schedule and thinks, â€Å"man this is going to be a tough year. † This was my reaction when I saw mine at least. As a new student at any school I thought classes were going to be hard, one, because I didn’t know anyone; two, because I want to accomplish a difficult degree; three, because I didn’t know how I was going to manage the homework load and basketball at the same time. Although, when I got to the campus and started the school year I found out that staying caught up with school really was not as hard as many people make college seem. College classes are a lot like high school classes, just a lot more homework. Once I figured out how I could manage my time with basketball, study time, and have somewhat of a social life, my days became easier. Furthermore, expecting high quality food when entering into a college is putting a lot of confidence into the cooks that have to cook for hundreds of people everyday, three times a day. As a freshmen student entering into the college experience, I expected the food to be very good. I understood that the cooks had to cook for many people each day, but I expected that the food was going to have a lot of taste. When I first came to the campus and had my first meal the food was very good. The food on campus did not necessarily get any worse; it had gotten old. When I say old, I do not mean spoiled or rotten, I mean boring. The food all ends up tasting the same each and everyday. By the third week of living and eating on campus at the dining hall I began to realize how much I loved my mother’s home cooked meals. Lastly, money is a big problem for many college students. When I thought I was going to save all my graduation money for college, I thought that I was going to have a lot of money, but as reality turns out I have no money. Living on campus and living on my own made me realize the things I need to buy and the things I just want. The difference between what I needed and what I wanted was crucial for me to determine what I should spend my money on and what I should not. As a student-athlete I go to my parents a lot for money still, because I do have not time for a job considering homework, school, and practice time. In conclusion, campus life shows students that what they perceive is very different than the reality of life. Students living on campus have to share a dorm room with someone, the room is big, and there is not a lot of girls in the bathroom at once. Athletes have a dorm family who â€Å"adopts† them and welcomes them into their home. Students have a lot of freedom and can stay out late, but might have a lot of homework so it would be smart to not stay out. Many students also have a schedule with classes that may seem tough, but if they manage their time they will be just fine. The food is not high quality food, and it gets old. Students living on campus begin to miss the home cooked meals. Finally the money problem, I thought I was going to have a lot of money but turns out, I do not have a lot of money, I will buy what I need and not what I want.

US History :: essays research papers

Even before the eve of the Revolution, the colonists constantly had the image of independence lingering in the back of their heads. The colonists felt that they were first on a loose leash, and as that leash tightened over the years, the colonists began to understand their true culture and identity. As time passed, the colonists developed a greater sense of their identity and unity as Americans and by the eve of the Revolution, even though at first the colonists were unorganized and had problems with being united, they remained determined to gain their identity and unity as Americans.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The most significant factor in that time period was unity. The wrath of intercolonial disunity slowly dissolved as time went on. Enormous distances between colonies, geographical barriers like rivers, conflicting religions, varied nationalities, different types of governments, boundary disputes, and resentment amongst themselves were the factors involving disunity. However, the colonists over time started to understand that they were all fellow Americans who shared common ideals. In 1754, the Pennsylvania Gazette showed the colonists an image that would show that unification was essential for independence. It was a picture of a snake that was cut into little parts and each part was a place. The snake depicts the image of independence, and without the unification of all its parts, it will not be complete. The title â€Å"JOIN, or DIE† of this drawing is demanding. The author of this drawing wanted to say that if the colonists wanted to achieve independence, they must unite and fight together for their common cause (A). In regards to unity, during 1774 and 1775, there were 17 contributors of Donations for the Relief of Boston. This astonishing number of contributors reflects the desire and willingness for unification. It shows that from anywhere as north as Massachusetts and as south as South Carolina, the colonies wanted to help each other out when another was in need. This fact is clearly evident that indeed America was slowly but surely trying to unite and fight as one (G). Another piece of evidence, which was composed in the 1770’s, can be seen in the Letters from an American Farmer by Hector St. John Crà ¨vecoeur. The narrator in this letter says that he â€Å"could point out to you a family whose grandfather was an Englishman, whose wife was Dutch, whose son married a French woman† (H). This quote shows that people were creating a new race, which in return, brings unification amongst different nationalities in colonial America.

Evaluation and Application of Thesis

MMS DBA Student-Walden University Introduction Christopher and Towill in the article, â€Å"Developing Market Specific Chain Strategies†, developed the thesis that there are three feasible pipeline designs for supply chain (Christopher & Towill, 2002). These designs resulted from the analysis of the relations between, demand, product, supply lead-times, as main factors in global supply chain, and, cost and agility, as results from the market requirements. Christopher and Towill adopted a notion of total cost that reflects more the unit cost than the traditional way of limiting cost to manufacturing cost (Christopher & Towill, 2002). Hewlett-Packard (HP) along with its early integrated process supply chain management has adopted that notion of total cost (Lee & Billington, 1995; Edmondson & Wheelwright, 1989). In fact total integrated inventories with retailers adopted by HP correspond to the quick response model developed by Christopher and Towill (Billington et al. , 2004). The predictable demand model may fit the decentralized incorporated system adopted by HP (Edmondson & Wheelwright, 1989). Analysis and Findings Based on the assumptions that demand is either predictable or volatile, product is either standard or special, and supply lead-times are either long or short, and all are applicable in the global supply market, Christopher and Towill induced eight possibilities for the supply chain based on demand, product, and supply lead-times (Christopher & Towill, 2002). The findings of eight possibilities based on the characteristics of demand, product, and lead-times specified is coherent to the mathematical combination formulae associated, the number of possibilities to combine three sets of two elements each. The analysis of these eight possibilities, in respect with agility and cost effectiveness, led Christopher and Towill to conclude on the representativeness of the three pipelines, lean pipeline, agile pipeline, and quick response model, as supply chain models (Christopher & Towill, 2002). These models fit well the global supply chain for, an expected demand is either predictable or volatile corresponding to the two first pipelines and an unexpected demand requires a quick response, hence the quick response model fits that kind of demand. Christopher and Towill provided in that study examples and tables supporting the findings and developed a concise theoretical basis for the quick response model. The tables may have been supported with more mathematical concepts within the text. The research findings by Christopher and Towill in this study are intended for managers of global supply chain as a whole in order to achieve competitive advantage for their companies. The lean supply chain that applies the lean model to the entire supply may be a modern view of the quick response model developed by Christopher and Towill (Mentzer, Myers, & Stank, 2007, p. 288). Applicability to HP Hewlett-Packard (HP) started to tackle the global supply cost related problems back in late 1980s, and implemented integrated processes (Lee & Billington, 1995; Edmondson & Wheelwright, 1989). HP company leaders continued research for competitive advantage through supply chain models adopting the concept of total cost and resulted in massive cost savings (Billington et al. 2004). The adoption of the total cost of the supply chain framework mentioned shows that the quick response model as developed by Christopher and Towill is consistent to the HP Company supply model at least for pioneering in viewing the cost of a unit not only in term of manufacturing but in term of supply, building and distribution (Christopher & Towill, 2002). The electronic market is changing rapidl y and HP had since 1991 implemented a decentralized and incorporated system that allowed localized divisions to operate more independently (Lee & Billington, 1995). This incorporated and decentralized system adopted by HP leaders is consistent to the predictable demand pipeline developed by Christopher and Towill. Conclusion Christopher and Towill concluded, suggesting that: Generally the preferred solution will be that predictable demand for standard items will be met via a lean pipeline probably fed from overseas manufacturers. Volatile demand for special items will then be met via an agile pipeline probably fed from home manufacturers. A third pipeline design is for quick response to top-up standard products for which there are an unexpected demand for specific colors, sizes, and volume. References Billington, C. , Callioni, G. , Crane, B. , Ruark, J. D. , Rapp, J. U. , White, T. , & Willems, S. P. (2004, Jan/Feb). Accelerating the Profitability of Hewlett-Packard’s Supply Chains. Interfaces, 34(1), 59-72, from Business Source Premier, doi: 10. 1287/inte. 0103. 0054 Edmondson, Harold E. , & Wheelwright, Steven C.. (1989). Outstanding Manufacturing In The Coming Decade. California Management Review, 31(4), 70-90, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 289046). Lee, H. L. , & Billington, C. (1995, Sep/Oct). The Evolution of Supply-Chain-Management Models and Practice at Hewlett-Packard. Interfaces, 25(5), 42-63. Martin Christopher, & Denis R Towill. (2002). Developing market specific supply chain strategies. International Journal of Logistics Management, 13(1), 1-14, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 196608131). Mentzer, J. T. , Myers, M. B. , & Stank, T. P. (Eds. ). (2007). Handbook of global supply chain management. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

President Jackson on the Twenty Dollar Bill

Jackson on the Twenty Dollar Bill Taylor Alton, 7th 11/13/11 I do not believe that President Jackson should be on the twenty dollar bill. He was not a man of good; all he cared about was pleasing himself and making other people believe he was doing good; manipulating them. Andrew Jackson was only concerned with keeping the union together. If he could get people to see that he could keep the states one nation then he would gain fame. I find this very ironic, he hated paper money and actually preferred coins, and people want him to be on the twenty dollar bill.The last reason I don’t want him on the twenty dollar bill is because of the way he treated the slaves and slavery in itself. Why should we put a man on money that does not deserve it? Andrew Jackson was a one man show unless it came to putting on a fake smile to â€Å"win† over his followers support. If something that he saw posed as a threat to his ideas then it was no good. Take cooperation’s or businesses for example, Andrew Jackson and most of his Democratic followers feared the growing economic and political power exercised by some corporations.Their ability to amass wealth, through banking and manufacturing operations, and to influence and even coerce individual citizens, posed a threat to the Jeffersonian ideals that Jackson held dear. So once again, those companies threatened his power and he did not like that. Andrew Jackson believed that the Second Bank of the United States was unconstitutional and that it posed a serious threat to the American economy and its democratic political institutions. Though its charter was not set to expire until 1836, BUS (Bank of the U. S. ) president Nicholas Biddle requested and received a congressional re-charter in 1832.Jackson decided to veto the bill. Jackson escalated this so-called â€Å"Bank War† in 1833 when he removed federal government funds that were on deposit with the BUS and distributed them to loyal state banks. Thatâ€⠄¢s not right of him to do that, in my opinion it doesn’t matter if he’s president or not. It posed as a threat to him and he feared for his own power. Jackson did not even like paper money anyways. He preferred to use coins instead, so putting him on money he wouldn’t even approve of us using is idiotic. Andrew Jackson was a man of action not of philosophy people say.He once was a slave owner before his presidency years. He took up the matter of slavery in only a political aspect. America was supposed to be a land of the free, and yet we have slaves. On July 5, 1852 people gathered in New York to here a speech about Independence Day by an African American former slave Fredrick Douglas. He blamed Andrew Jackson for the spread of slavery in America. He saw him as a hypocritical politician and a hypocritical American. Jackson transformed millions of acres of land that Indians lived on (Indian removal act) in the south into cotton plantations.This probably would ha ve happened without Jackson but he was the heart of this whole idea in making plantations for slaves to work on. Now if he was the man he says he is why would he want more land for African Americans to work on? Maybe Jackson has done some things that have had a positive effect on our nation today but for me I can’t get past all the wrong he’s done as well. He is a man of power and fame and he wants nothing to do with anything that he feels threatens or harms his ideas that he instills in people. He does not deserve the right to be on the twenty dollar bill.

How Bugs Find Their Way Into Your Food

How Bugs Find Their Way Into Your Food Entomophagy, the practice of eating insects, has been getting a lot of media attention in recent years. Conservationists promote it as a solution to feeding an exploding global population. Insects, after all, are a high protein food source and dont impact the planet in ways that animals higher up the food chain do. Of course, news stories about insects as food tend to focus on the ick factor. While grubs and caterpillars are diet staples in many parts of the world, U.S. audiences tend to get squeamish at the thought of eating bugs. Well, heres some  news for you. You eat bugs. Every day. Even if youre vegetarian, you cant avoid consuming insects if you eat anything that has been processed, packaged, canned, or prepared. You are, without a doubt, getting a bit of bug protein in your diet. In some cases, the bug bits are intentional ingredients, and in some cases, theyre just by-products of the way we harvest and package our food. Red Food Coloring When the FDA changed food-labeling requirements in 2009, many consumers were startled to learn that manufacturers put crushed bugs in their food products for color. Outrageous! Cochineal extract, which comes from a scale insect, has been used as a red dye or coloring for centuries. Cochineal bugs (Dactylopius coccus) are true bugs belonging to the order Hemiptera. These tiny insects make a living by sucking the sap from cactus. To defend themselves, cochineal bugs produce carminic acid, a foul-tasting, bright red substance that makes predators think twice about eating them. The Aztecs used crushed cochineal bugs to dye fabrics a brilliant crimson. Today, cochineal extract is used as a natural coloring in many foods and drinks. Farmers in Peru and the Canary Islands produce most of the worlds supply, and its an important industry that supports workers in otherwise impoverished areas. And there are certainly worse things that manufacturers could use to color their products. To find out if a product contains cochineal bugs, look for any of the following ingredients on the label: cochineal extract, cochineal, carmine, carminic acid, or Natural Red No. 4. Confectioners Glaze If youre a vegetarian with a sweet tooth, you might be shocked to learn that many candy and chocolate products are made with bugs, too. Everything from jelly beans to milk duds is coated in something called confectioners glaze.   And confectioners glaze comes from bugs. The Lac bug, Laccifer lacca, inhabits tropical and subtropical regions. Like the cochineal bug, the Lac bug is a scale insect (order Hemiptera). It lives as a parasite on plants, particularly banyan trees. The Lac bug uses special glands to excrete a waxy, waterproof coating for protection. Unfortunately for the Lac bug, people figured out long ago that these waxy secretions are also useful for waterproofing other things, like furniture. Ever heard of shellac? Lac bugs are big business in India and Thailand, where they are cultivated for their waxy coatings. Workers scrape the Lac bugs glandular secretions from the host plants, and in the process, some of the Lac bugs get scraped off, too. The waxy bits are typically exported in flake form, called sticklac or gum lac, or sometimes just shellac flakes. Gum lac is used in all kinds of products: waxes, adhesives, paints, cosmetics, varnishes, fertilizers, and more. Lac bug secretions also make their way into medicines, usually as a coating that makes pills easy to swallow. Food manufacturers seem to know that putting shellac on an ingredient list might alarm some consumers, so they often use other, less industrial-sounding names to identify it on food labels. Look for any of the following ingredients on labels to find the hidden Lac bugs in your food: candy glaze, resin glaze, natural food glaze, confectioners glaze, confectioners resin, Lac resin, Lacca, or gum lac. Fig Wasps And then, of course, there are the fig wasps. If youve ever eaten Fig Newtons, or dried figs, or anything containing dried figs, youve no doubt eaten a fig wasp or two as well. Figs require pollination by a tiny female fig wasp. The fig wasp sometimes becomes entrapped within the fig fruit (which is technically not a fruit, its an inflorescence called the syconia), and becomes part of your meal. Insect Parts Honestly, theres no way to pick, package, or produce food without getting a few bugs in the mix. Insects are everywhere. The Food and Drug Administration recognized this reality, and issued regulations concerning how many bug bits are allowable in food items before they become a health concern. Known as the Food Defect Action Levels, these guidelines determine how many insect eggs, body parts, or whole insect bodies can get by the inspectors before being flagged in a given product. So, truth be told, even the most squeamish among us eats bugs, like it or not. Sources: The Truth About Red Food Dye Made From Bugs, LiveScience, April 27, 2012. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Scientists Make Red Food Dye from Potatoes, Not Bugs, National Geographic, September 19, 2013. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Calimyrna Figs in California, Wayne P. Armstrong, Palomar College. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Humans as Fig Eaters, FigWeb, Iziko Museums of South Africa. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Laccifer Lacca, Gwen Pearson (Bug Girls Blog), February 14, 2011. Accessed online November 26, 2013.Q A on Shellac, the Vegetarian Resource Group blog, November 30, 2010. Accessed online November 26, 2013.

Free Essays on Salem Witch Trials

People ask themselves, why 1692? What started the Salem Witch Trials? Why were the people accused of witchcraft? There are some answers to those questions, but not accurate as to give a full description, and correct facts about the trials. Each person has a different perspective towards those answers, but none have the proof for their answers. They are all commentaries that people get from their knowledge about history. The Salem Witchcraft trials were trials that resulted from the largest witch hunt in America history. The trials were held in 1692 in Salem, a town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Nineteen people, both men and women, were convicted and hanged as witches. Another man was pressed to death with large stones for refusing to enter a plea of innocent or guilty to the witchcraft charge. Another 150 other resulted in the last witchcraft executions in America. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English colony, and many people there had brought the belief in witchcraft from England. Under English law, witchcraft was punishable by death. Sixteen people had been hanged as witches in New England before 1692. Throughout history millions of people, eighty-percent of which were women, have been accused, arrested, tortured, put to trial and persecuted as witches. In 1692, a tragedy occurred in America, the Salem Witch Trials. People would think that by the time the United States was colonized these injustices on humanity would have come to an end, but that was not so. Numerous witchcraft accusations had occurred in New England prior to 1692. As Indians attacked along the frontier and in the colonial landscape, most colonist feared for their own lives. In addition to the deadly cold winters, a smallpox epidemic had been around for over a decade. The superstitions of the people led them to believe that their God had abandoned them. In 1684, Great Britain withdrew its charter of Massachusetts, merchants sp... Free Essays on Salem Witch Trials Free Essays on Salem Witch Trials Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials all began on January 20,1962, with nine year old Elizabeth â€Å"Betty† Parris and eleven year old Abigail Williams, daughter and niece of the village reverend Samuel Parris. Soon the girls began exhibiting strange behavior, such as blasphemous screaming, convulsive seizures, trance like states and acting as if to cast mysterious spells. Within a short period, several other Salem girls began to illustrate similar behavior; physicians felt that the girls were under the control of the devil, Satan. Reverend Parris conducted prayer services and public fasting in hopes of revealing the evil forces that tormented them. In an effort to expose the ‘enchantress’, one man baked a witch cake made with rye bran and the urine of the ill girls. This counter-magic was meant to reveal the identities of the ‘witched’ to the ailing girls. Pressured to identify the cause of their misfortune, the girls named three women, including Tituba and two other slaves of Rev. Parris, as witches. On February 29, warrants were dispatched for the arrests of Tituba, Sarah Osborne, and Sarah Good. Although Good and Osborne sustained guiltlessness, Tituba confessed to seeing Lucifer, who appeared to her â€Å"sometimes like a hog and sometimes like a great dog.† Furthermore, Tituba certified that there was a collaboration of witches at work in Salem. On March 1, Magistrates John Hathorne and Jonathon Corwin investigated the three women in the courthouse in Salem Village. Tituba confessed to pursuing black magic. Over the next few weeks, other villagers came forward and testified that they too had been traumatized by or had seen strange phantoms of some of the village members. As the witch hunting prolonged, charges were made toward many different people. Frequently unmasked were women whose behavior was somehow disturbing to the social order and formalities of the time. Some of the accused had reco... Free Essays on Salem Witch Trials Salem Witch Trials What was the cause of the Salem Witch Trials? In the 300 hundred years since the Witch Trials in Salem, there has been much speculation concerning whether those accused of witchcraft in 1692, were in fact witches or merely the object of the hysteria that raged through New England at the time. So how did it begin and why were these innocent girls accused of witchcraft? The Salem Witch Trials hysteria occurred in Salem, Massachusetts between 1692 and 1693. A total of 141 people were arrested, 19 people were hanged and one was crushed to death (SWT internet 3). It all started off when Rev. Samuel Parris before coming a minister, worked as a merchant in Barbados. In his return to Massachusetts he brought back two slaves. One of the slaves, Tituba, his nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth called Betty and his eleven-year-old niece Abigail. Tituba passed on stories to the other girls about voodoo. They soon became very interested in it and began playing with it all the time. One time when the other girls in the village knew about it, they all got into it and they all started telling each other's fortune. They did this by floating an egg white in a glass on water and predicted their future husbands. Betty started to feel ill and not long after the other girls in the village started to feel the same way and started to see things that weren't there. " Its hard to say whether the girls believed they were possessed or whether the whole thing started as an act which got out of control." (Drake 56) People in the village believed witches gained their power from the devil. It was decided to find the witches responsible for all the hysteria going around with the girls seeing things and hallucinating and kill them. All the girls accused Tituba for all the problems going around that the village thought was witchcraft since she was the one who brought it over. The first to be accused were Tituba, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborne. Titub... Free Essays on Salem Witch Trials People ask themselves, why 1692? What started the Salem Witch Trials? Why were the people accused of witchcraft? There are some answers to those questions, but not accurate as to give a full description, and correct facts about the trials. Each person has a different perspective towards those answers, but none have the proof for their answers. They are all commentaries that people get from their knowledge about history. The Salem Witchcraft trials were trials that resulted from the largest witch hunt in America history. The trials were held in 1692 in Salem, a town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Nineteen people, both men and women, were convicted and hanged as witches. Another man was pressed to death with large stones for refusing to enter a plea of innocent or guilty to the witchcraft charge. Another 150 other resulted in the last witchcraft executions in America. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English colony, and many people there had brought the belief in witchcraft from England. Under English law, witchcraft was punishable by death. Sixteen people had been hanged as witches in New England before 1692. Throughout history millions of people, eighty-percent of which were women, have been accused, arrested, tortured, put to trial and persecuted as witches. In 1692, a tragedy occurred in America, the Salem Witch Trials. People would think that by the time the United States was colonized these injustices on humanity would have come to an end, but that was not so. Numerous witchcraft accusations had occurred in New England prior to 1692. As Indians attacked along the frontier and in the colonial landscape, most colonist feared for their own lives. In addition to the deadly cold winters, a smallpox epidemic had been around for over a decade. The superstitions of the people led them to believe that their God had abandoned them. In 1684, Great Britain withdrew its charter of Massachusetts, merchants sp... Free Essays on Salem Witch Trials The Salem Witch Trials What caused the Salem witch trials? This is a question that has been asked for the last three hundred years. There is no easy answer to that question. There were numerous factors and events that lead to the trials. â€Å"A recent small pox outbreak, the revocation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony Charter by Charles II and the constant fear of Indian attacks helped in creating anxiety among the Puritans and a fear that God was punishing them. This fear of punishment established a fertile atmosphere in which a case of witchcraft could easily be interpreted by the Puritans as the cause of Gods wrath† (Victims) Other factors were politics, religion, family feuds, economics, and the imagination and fears of the people. These factors brought about a climate of repression, religious intolerance, social hierarchy combined with fanaticism and oppression of women. The Puritan leaders used the trials as a way to control the community and prevent change in the strict social hierarchy. Ac cording to Woloch â€Å"historian Carol F. Karlson points out most New Englanders accused of witchcraft were middle aged or older women, who lacking brothers or sons stood to inherit. Such women impeded â€Å"the orderly transition of property from one generation to another†.† (Woloch, 30) Lets start with the political problems of Salem. The tension over land was growing fast. The residents were divided into two groups: those that wanted to separate from Salem town, and those that did not. The farming families in the Western part of Salem Village wanted to separate from Salem Town. The families located in the eastern part of Salem Village and therefore closest to Salem Town wanted to remain part of the town. (Sutter) There was much overcrowding in in New England communities. In 1632, the general court granted Governor Endicott three hundred acres of land. With subsequent land grants to others, the boundaries and borders that told the people wh... Free Essays on Salem Witch Trials The seventeenth century Salem witch trials brought panic and hysteria throughout the people of Salem. Whether or not the lives of apparently innocent men and women were taken illegally with insufficient evidence is still a subject of continuing debate. There are numerous factors and events that helped create and influence the trials. The main factors that started and fueled the trials were politics, religion, family feuds, economics, and the imaginations and fears of the people. Puritans believed in witches and their ability to harm others. They defined witchcraft as entering into a compact with the devil in exchange for certain powers to do evil. Thus, according to www.law.umkc.edu, â€Å"...witchcraft was considered a sin because it denied God’s superiority, and a crime because the witch could call up the Devil in his/her shape to perform cruel acts against others. In 1692, nineteen villagers were put to death in Salem, Massachusetts. Alice Dickenson, author of The Salem Witchcraft Delusion, states, â€Å"Reasons for conviction were the torment of teenage girls by supernatural means: witchcraft†(Dickenson 68). According to Shirley Jackson, author of The Witchcraft of Salem Village,â€Å"...these teens experienced pricking and pinching sensations, and some were contorted into strange bodily positions†(Jackson 44). The witchcraft outbreak originated in Salem Village with Betty Paris being the first afflicted girl. A woman by the name of Tituba was the first to be accused and the Heinzmann 4 first to confess of wrongdoing. The Salem Witchcraft Papers state, Tituba was asked to bake a witch cake in order to help the girls name their tormentors. A witch cake is composed of rye meal mixed with urine from the afflicted. It is then fed to a dog. The person(s) is/are considered bewitched if the dog displays similar symptoms as the afflicted. The girls were at first hesitant to speak, but Betty eventually spoke and named ... Free Essays on Salem Witch Trials 1629: Salem is settled. 1641: English law makes witchcraft a capital crime. 1684: England declares that the colonies may not self-govern. 1688: Following an argument with laundress Goody Glover, Martha Goodwin, 13, begins exhibiting bizarre behavior. Days later her younger brother and two sisters exhibit similar behavior. Glover is arrested and tried for bewitching the Goodwin children. Reverend Cotton Mather meets twice with Glover following her arrest in an attempt to persuade her to repent her witchcraft. Glover is hanged. Mather takes Martha Goodwin into his house. Her bizarre behavior continues and worsens. 1688: Mather publishes Memorable Providences, Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions November, 1689: Samuel Parris is named the new minister of Salem. Parris moves to Salem from Boston, where Memorable Providence was published. October 16, 1691: Villagers vow to drive Parris out of Salem and stop contributing to his salary. January 20, 1692: Eleven-year old Abigail Williams and nine-year-old Elizabeth Parris begin behaving much as the Goodwin children acted four years earlier. Soon Ann Putnam Jr. and other Salem girls begin acting similarly. Mid-February, 1692: Doctor Griggs, who attends to the "afflicted" girls, suggests that witchcraft may be the cause of their strange behavior. February 25, 1692: Tituba, at the request of neighbor Mary Sibley, bakes a "witch cake" and feeds it to a dog. According to an English folk remedy, feeding a dog this kind of cake, which contained the urine of the afflicted, would counteract the spell put on Elizabeth and Abigail. The reason the cake is fed to a dog is because the dog is believed a "familiar" of the Devil. Late-February, 1692: Pressured by ministers and townspeople to say who caused her odd behavior, Elizabeth identifies Tituba. The girls later accuse Sarah Good and Sarah Osborne of witchcraft. February 29, 1692: Arrest warrants are issued f...

An Overview of Municipal Waste and Landfills

An Overview of Municipal Waste and Landfills Municipal waste, commonly known as trash or garbage, is a combination of all of a citys solid and semisolid waste. It includes mainly household or domestic waste, but it can also contain commercial and industrial waste with the exception of industrial hazardous waste (waste from industrial practices that causes a threat to human or environmental health). Industrial hazardous waste is excluded from municipal waste because it is typically dealt with separately based on environmental regulations. Five Categories of Municipal Waste The second category of municipal waste is recyclable materials. Paper is also included in this category but non-biodegradable items like glass, plastic bottles, other plastics, metals and aluminum cans fall into this section as well. Inert waste is the third category of municipal waste. For reference, when discussed with municipal waste, inert materials are those that are not necessarily toxic to all species but can be harmful or toxic to humans. Therefore, construction and demolition waste is often categorized as inert waste. Composite waste is the fourth category of municipal waste and includes items that are composed of more than one material. For example, clothing and plastics such as childrens toys are composite waste. Household hazardous waste is the final category of municipal waste. This includes medicines, paint, batteries, light bulbs, fertilizer and pesticide containers and e-waste like old computers, printers, and cellular phones. Household hazardous waste cannot be recycled or disposed of with other waste categories so many cities offer residents other options for hazardous waste disposal. Municipal Waste Disposal and Landfills Today, landfills are engineered to protect the environment and prevent pollutants from entering the soil and possibly polluting ground water in one of two ways. The first of these is with the use of a clay liner to block pollutants from leaving the landfill. These are called sanitary landfills while the second type is called a municipal solid waste landfill. These types of landfills use synthetic liners like plastic to separate the landfills trash from the land below it. Once trash is put into these landfills, it is compacted until the areas is full, at which time the trash is buried. This is done to prevent the trash from contacting the environment but also to keep it dry and out of contact with air so it will not quickly decompose. About 55% of the waste generated in the United States goes to landfills while around 90% of waste created in the United Kingdom is disposed in this manner. In addition to landfills, waste can also be disposed using waste combustors. This involves the burning of municipal waste at extremely high temperatures to reduce waste volume, control bacteria, and sometimes generate electricity. Air pollution from the combustion is sometimes a concern with this type of waste disposal but governments have regulations to reduce pollution. Scrubbers (devices that spray liquids on smoke to reduce pollution) and filters (screens to remove ash and pollutant particles) are commonly used today. Finally, transfer stations are the third type of municipal waste disposal currently in use. These are facilities that where municipal waste is unloaded and sorted to remove recyclables and hazardous materials. The remaining waste is then reloaded onto trucks and taken to landfills while the waste that can be recycled for example, is sent to recycling centers. Municipal Waste Reduction Composting is another way cities can promote municipal waste reduction. This type of waste is comprised solely of biodegradable organic waste like food scraps and yard trimmings. Composting is generally done on the individual level and involves the combination of organic waste with microorganisms like bacteria and fungi that break down the waste and create compost. This can then be recycled and used as a natural and chemical free fertilizer for personal plants. Along with recycling programs and composting, municipal waste can be reduced via source reduction. This involves the reduction of waste through the alteration of manufacturing practices to reduce the creation excess materials which get turned into waste. The Future of Municipal Waste To further reduce waste, some cities are currently promoting policies of zero waste. Zero waste itself means reduced waste generation and the 100% diversion of the remainder of waste from landfills to productive uses via materials reuse, recycling, repair and composting. Zero waste products should also have minimal negative environmental impacts over their lifecycles.

Education and Code of Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Education and Code of Ethics - Essay Example The identified article emanates from the ethics of freedom of thought and expression. Allowing students to explore divergent, possibly antithetical points of view on a single issue is synonymous with allowing them to discard these views and arguments which they, as individuals, find unpersuasive and search for those which are more consistent with their own thoughts. Its ethical rationale further emanates from that set of precepts which dictate the imperatives of directing ad guiding students towards the exploration of multiple viewpoints both as a strategy for the development of critical thinking skills and as a means for providing them with the means by which they may formulate their own, independent, points of view (Fullan, 22007). Upon violating the said student right, teachers are not simply engaging in the violation of the Code but are undermining the very basis upon which creative and critical thought, on the one hand, are based, and that which the capacity to engage in freedom of expression is predicated upon, on the other (Fullan, 2007). The implication here is that not only are teachers violating their profession's espoused code of ethics but, in so doing, are stilting their intellectual curiosity and constraining their potential capacities for creativity. Accordingly, the violation of Article 3(a) of the code has far-reaching repercussions, both as regards individual students and society as a whole. Given the societal and student-centered consequences of violation, violators/professional teachers are confronted with disciplinary action should they "unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view" (The Code of Ethics, 3a). To ensure, however, that teachers/professional educators are fully cognizant of their responsibilities and are knowledgeable of student rights, on 25 September 1991, the ESC unanimously voting that training in the code and principles be required of all preservice teacher education programs and be included as a component of the Professional Orientation Program. The commission also made recommendations related to giving publicity to the code and principles and offering technical assistance to school districts for training of educators (Fullan, 1992, Haynes, 1998). The recommendations approved by the full commission directed the ESC and its staff to (a) produce a videotape about the code and principles for district use in training of personnel, (b) de velop and disseminate a brochure about the code and principles to students in preservice education and educators already in service, (c) develop a document summarizing cases related to each principle, and (d) provide training and materials to district personnel who will be providing inservice to educators within the district. All of these efforts focused on providing information and education to school personnel about the code and principles which govern their profession (Fullan, 1992). The EPC formed a rules committee during 1992 to examine the feasibility of establishing penalty guidelines based on past cases and penalties to assist teacher and administrator panels in their deliberations. During the public hearing held at the EPC meeting in Tampa on October 1, 1992, the committee reported its preliminary findings. Several commission members noted the committee only examined cases and

Environmental and Offender Profiling Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Environmental and Offender Profiling - Essay Example A combination of scientific disciplines and techniques are used in environmental profiling - e.g. pedology, biology, sedimentology, and geography. (Wiltshire, n.d.) Thus, all the scientific disciplines that compliment (or that are used in) environmental science are of use in environmental profiling. The use of chemistry to analyse soil particles in a laboratory for example, can give clues to the source of soil found at a crime scene and can be useful material evidence in solving crimes. Through the use of biological know how for example, soils from a crime scene may provide materials like insects, amoebae, parasitic worm eggs, and "aquatic organisms like Ostracods and Foraminifera". (Wiltshire, n.d. para. 2.1.2) Certain microscopic plants like diatoms and dinoflagellates may also be found in soil deposited unawares by an offender at a crime scene. These microscopic flora and fauna may not be widespread in location and would thus be only present in restricted areas. An analysis of such material could point investigators to the possible location of an offender. Wiltshire (n.d.) provides a non-exhaustive inventory of materials that can be useful in environmental profiling. ... (para. 3.2) Apart from use such valuable material in building environmental profiles of the crime scene, they also serve as very important evidential material in the building of a case against an offender in the criminal justice system. It must however be noted that very knowledgeable offenders can use some of these otherwise valuable materials as decoys. An intentional depositing of flora and fauna by an offender can easily sway the direction of the investigation to a wrong target, if the investigators 'bite the offender's bait'. Also, in situations where an offender is very 'skilful' in the conduct of crime, very little material may be left behind and this may not be very useful for building an environmental profile for the investigation. Environmental profiling thus to some extent, depends on the offender's level of incompetence. The more knowledgeable an offender is concerning forensic techniques of evidence collection, the less likely he/she is to leave enough material behind. The next segment of the essay considers the various forms of offender profiling. Though offender/criminal profiling has been popularly attributed to the Behavioural Science Unit (BSU) of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in the U.S., its use predates the founding of the FBI itself. Petherick (n.d.) states that the first recorded example of offender profiling in the contemporary sense was conducted in the 1880s by Dr. Thomas Bond, in his analysis of the corpse of Mary Kelly, who was the last victim of 'Jack the Ripper'. Bond wrote that: "the corner sheet to the right of the woman's head was much cut and saturated with blood, indicating that the face may have been covered with a sheet

High and low culture Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

High and low culture - Term Paper Example In order to understand the history and the relationship between the high and the low culture it would be necessary to refer to their basic characteristics. In accordance with Inglis, the term ‘low culture’ is used in order to describe ‘cultural products which exhibit qualities that are the opposite of great art’. However, at this point, the following problem appears: which would be the criteria on which the evaluation of a piece of art as of ‘high’ or ‘low’ culture would be based? It is explained that the views of people on art and quality can be differentiated. Works of art which are considered as of low quality for a particular individual may be regarded as exceptional by another person, i.e. subjectivity when referring to high or low culture cannot be avoided. At the same time, low culture has been related to the characteristics/ background of the creator, meaning that culture produced by people belonging in disadvantage minorities is likely to be considered as ‘low’ even if its quality is significant. On the other hand, it is made clear that the distance between high c ulture and everyday life is not so high as believed. It is noted that high culture can be used, at the same level as the low culture, for understanding the cultural trends of people within a particular society. On the other hand, Ferrarotti notes that the differentiation between the high and the low culture – also known as popular culture – reflects ‘the dichotomy between articulated culture and culture conceived of as a mode of life.

Business Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Decision Making - Essay Example It has done extensive market analysis and has been able to put measures of probability on the happening of each of the outcomes. However, these are subjective estimates as there is no past data to rely on. What decision the management of MPL finally takes depends a lot on whether they are risk-averse, risk-neutral or risk-loving. That would decide whether they opt for Maximax, Maximin or Minimax course of action (Jones 2004). Effectiveness of Decision Making Structure Decision making by a business organization is largely dependent on the structure of the decision making body. In a sole proprietorship organization, all decisions are taken by a single person. Hence, the entire decision making process is fast without any time consuming meetings and exchange of opinions. But, such decisions could also be incorrect at times as there are usually no inputs from other people. However, in organizations that have more than one owner, decision making is done through interactions between managin g partners and quite obviously decision making takes a far longer time than it takes in single owner scenarios. But, one must realize that though it is more time consuming, any decision making process that involves more than one person is better than a single person taking decisions. This is simply because while such decisions are taken, several, often differing, perspectives are considered and this aids in arriving at a more balanced decision (Cyert and March 1992). In case of MPL the decision making process is fairly inclusive and democratic in nature. Other than Lee Corbusier and Frank Lloyd, managers of three separate divisions meet once every month to discuss company strategy, market trends and receive departmental reports. This allows managers to micromanage their individual... The author begins with the description of the decision-making model of the company. The author thinks that decision-making by a business organization is largely dependent on the structure of the decision-making body. In a sole proprietorship organization, all decisions are taken by a single person. Hence, the entire decision-making process is fast without any time-consuming meetings and exchange of opinions. But, such decisions could also be incorrect at times as there are usually no inputs from other people. However, in organizations that have more than one owner, decision making is done through interactions between managing partners and quite obviously decision making takes a far longer time than it takes in single owner scenarios. But, one must realize that though it is more time consuming, any decision-making process that involves more than one person is better than a single person taking decisions. This is simply because while such decisions are taken, several, often differing, perspectives are considered and this aids in arriving at a more balanced decision (Cyert and March 1992). In the case of MPL, the decision-making process is fairly inclusive and democratic in nature. Other than Lee Corbusier and Frank Lloyd, managers of three separate divisions meet once every month to discuss company strategy, market trends and receive departmental reports. This allows managers to micromanage their individual departments while corporate decisions are taken by the management team.

VISION STATEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

VISION STATEMENT - Essay Example While there have been more exact and specific formulations of performance management, most notably by Dr. Aubrey Daniels who in the 1970s identified a technology specifically designed to manage behavior and results, for the consideration of performance management in this context, the essay will advance with the broader contextual interpretation. Recently Ford Motor Company altered an aspect of their performance management system to better evaluate employee performance. The past system had been the target of a number of law suits over complaints that it was skewed towards age discrimination. The new performance management system eliminates quotas from the performance rating system and updates the appraisal process through a newly updated system. This shift was the first major shift in performance management at Ford Motor Company since 2000 when the last system was instituted in an effort to increase bottom-line results and to alter the long stagnant corporate climate at Ford. (Karash 2005) The appraisal process at Ford Motor Company is based on a grading system much like one might experience in a university or high school scholastic environment. The company’s performance management system grades managers at various company levels with an A, B, or C performance rating. The grade is based on a complicated rubric that includes a number of internal factors, but is also highly contingent on productivity measures. If the employee or manager is rated at a C level then this eliminates their bonus for that year. If the employee or manager spends more than one year at the C grade scale and receives this performance rating for the second year then they are potentially demoted or in certain circumstances released. Over 18,000 managers are rated through this grading system. While the average number of managers receiving the C rating was intended to be at 10% for a number of years, recent reports indicate that the performance management system

How accurate is it to suggest that the Labour goverment promised much Essay

How accurate is it to suggest that the Labour goverment promised much but delivered little in terms of social policy during their period in office from 1964 - 1970 - Essay Example The lack of delivery and the inability to create the necessary changes to those who were interested in social policy was one which led to expected alterations; however, this changed to theoretical alterations instead of practical solutions for the country. The social policy which took place in the 1960s was based specifically on the alterations which were happening in society and the need to alter what was occurring with the economy and political status. The economic and political alterations led to welfare states that needed to be approached, specifically with the social beliefs that were from the lower class. The social constraints which followed the economic and political status were consistent with unequal rights which were taking place in the work region and which were based on the need to change the status of those in society. The movement from industrialization and into the modern era was the main force which caused the social rights to become a part of the economic and governmental association. The shocks which were occurring during this time led to a combination of economic and social changes, all which were meant to redefine the status of individual’s within society while promoting equal rights within the nation (Scha rpf, Schmidt, 2000: 19). The main association with social policies that were created during this time was a bridge to the modern belief systems that are currently a part of the governmental and economic order. From the 1960s to the 1980s there was a third order and second order change which occurred. The policies were based on taking basic human and social rights and moving them into the main institutions, specifically to protect the rights of workers in the region. The change was one which pushed to develop new tools that would enhance the human rights of those in the work space while adding in goals and alterations for the social movement that

VISION STATEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

VISION STATEMENT - Essay Example While there have been more exact and specific formulations of performance management, most notably by Dr. Aubrey Daniels who in the 1970s identified a technology specifically designed to manage behavior and results, for the consideration of performance management in this context, the essay will advance with the broader contextual interpretation. Recently Ford Motor Company altered an aspect of their performance management system to better evaluate employee performance. The past system had been the target of a number of law suits over complaints that it was skewed towards age discrimination. The new performance management system eliminates quotas from the performance rating system and updates the appraisal process through a newly updated system. This shift was the first major shift in performance management at Ford Motor Company since 2000 when the last system was instituted in an effort to increase bottom-line results and to alter the long stagnant corporate climate at Ford. (Karash 2005) The appraisal process at Ford Motor Company is based on a grading system much like one might experience in a university or high school scholastic environment. The company’s performance management system grades managers at various company levels with an A, B, or C performance rating. The grade is based on a complicated rubric that includes a number of internal factors, but is also highly contingent on productivity measures. If the employee or manager is rated at a C level then this eliminates their bonus for that year. If the employee or manager spends more than one year at the C grade scale and receives this performance rating for the second year then they are potentially demoted or in certain circumstances released. Over 18,000 managers are rated through this grading system. While the average number of managers receiving the C rating was intended to be at 10% for a number of years, recent reports indicate that the performance management system

Investment Advice for Microsoft Research Proposal

Investment Advice for Microsoft - Research Proposal Example Microsoft - major industry player - is headed by Mr. Steven A. Balmer, Microsoft’s 49-year old Chief Executive Officer (CEO).   The company’s co-founder, the illustrious Mr. Bill Gates, also sits in the Board of Directors and acts as its Chief Technological Architect.   As at end of the fiscal year 2005, Mr. Balmer along with the other directors of the company received an average annual salary of about $1.0 million each. As a global company, Microsoft operates in various countries across the world.   The headquarter is located at One Microsoft Way in Redmond, Washington D.C.   Direct competitors of Microsoft include other formidable companies such as Google Inc., International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) and Oracle Corp.   In terms of sales, Microsoft came in second to IBM as at end-June 2005.   However, Microsoft has posted the highest net income as compared to other industry players. Based on the above financial highlights, it can be seen that sales of Microsoft are steadily accelerating as evidenced by the moderate sales growth in the last three years.   In the same way, the income the company generated as at end-June 2005 has recovered from the decline in the previous year.   The sales and income posted by Microsoft are well above the industry average in 2005. Similarly, Microsoft has consistently proven its ability to convert sales into income in the past three years as seen in the company’s net profit margin.   Its 3-year average of 28% is higher than the industry average of only 23.5%. In terms of liquidity, Microsoft is highly liquid since it has more than sufficient current assets to cover its current liabilities.   As such it has a high current ratio that sends a positive signal to investors.

High school Essay Example for Free

High school Essay Many people would like to become a cheerleader, however, they are afraid of being stereotyped, and in turn, these stereotypes may affect ones chances of successfully becoming a cheerleader. â€Å"Stereotyping is so common in our society that when you meet someone for the first time you are often stereotyped before you even reach, ‘hello. ’ The way people perceive us can have a profound effect on how we see ourselves† (Mega Essays, 2008). Cheerleading has three common stereotypes as this sport gains in popularity. The first stereotype of cheerleading is a controversy that rages on about whether or not it is a sport. Next, cheerleaders are often times compared to people with unflattering and unintelligent personalities. Finally, there have also been questions about the inclusion of males upon cheerleading teams. Though many examples exist, the three examples listed above seem to be the most challenging stereotypes which keep many afraid of joining the sport of cheerleading. Cheerleading is very popular in middle schools all the way up to the university education level, but unfortunately, several observers often question a cheerleader’s athletic ability. Cheerleaders put in hard work by lifting weights, working up a sweat, and even facing possible injury. These athletes have a strong drive for determination and dedication by practicing at all hours of the day both with their team, and also individually. Some cheerleaders may often say they practice more than the teams they cheer for. So the question arises, why not give them the title and respect they strongly deserve? Independent cheerleaders also compete nationally in addition to high school and college cheer teams; however, many cheerleaders are left pondering whether or not they can gain the attention and recognition they need to officially declare cheerleading as a sport (Ninemire, 2008). Besides the questions of cheerleading as a sport, cheerleaders are often stereotyped from the moment they are met and identified as uneducated ditzy blondes. â€Å"She’s dumb,† â€Å"She’s ditzy,† â€Å"He’s feminine,† and â€Å"They’re snobs† are just some of the stereotypes that are often used. Many people who have been a cheerleader, met one, or have even watched a cheerleading team, have experienced these stereotypes. As stated by Mega Essays, (2008) â€Å"Stereotyping is most often someone’s perception of an individual or a group based on social status, education level, race or even looks. Therefore, why do they constantly defend their sport and themselves? † One of the stronger stereotypes within the cheerleading world is the placement of men on the cheer team. As males enter the world of cheerleading they are immediately labeled as being effeminate. They are faced with society’s overcoming stereotype of a male Barbie figure (Bluestein, 1994). Unfortunately, these qualities often lead to males defending their sexuality. â€Å"Against popular belief, females where [sic] not the founders behind the sport of cheerleading; instead males who were so eager to cheer while watching sporting events created this sport. In the 1890’s the first pep club was organized at Princeton University and it was there where the first organized yell was recorded† (Bluestein, 1994). In many high schools around the world, due to the stereotypes, very few males participate on a cheer squad. â€Å"There are more then [sic] 3,000 high school and college cheerleaders in the United States. 97% of all cheerleaders are female; however, approximately 50% of collegiate cheerleaders are male† (Bluestein, 1994). Over the years, there have been many stereotypes which have agonized and affected the cheerleading world. Some stereotypes of cheerleaders include the comparison of cheerleaders with uneducated ditzy blondes, the assumption that cheerleading is not an actual sport, and should males cheer on a team. Furthermore, one should be cautious when joining this sport because of the amount of rumors, whether true or not. According to About. com (2008), â€Å"Cheerleading has expanded from pom-poms and pep rallies into big business an estimated half-billion dollar industry. In addition to college cheerleaders who joke that they practice more than their football teams, there are also independent cheerleading groups not affiliated with schools, which compete nationally. † Cheerleading has been around since the first pep club in the1890’s and continues to grow and evolve each day. References About. com (2008). Cheerleading: controversy and competition. Retrieved August 22, 2008, from http://cheerleading. about. com/od/cheerinjuries/l/aa103102a. htm Bluestein S, (1994). Male Cheerleading is a sport Serendip. Retrieved August 22, 2008, from http://serendip. brynmawr. edu/exchange/node/1685 Mega Essays. (2008) Cheerleading stereotypes. Retrieved August 22, 2008, from http://www. megaessays. com/viewpaper/78441. html Ninemire V, (2008). Stop the stereotyping of cheerleaders. About. com. Retrieved August 22, 2008, from https://cheerleading. about. com.

Brave New World Essay -- essays research papers fc

Brave New World "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." second amendment to the United States Constitution, 1791. Within this famous paragraph lies the right that Americans both cherish and fear, the right to have a gun. Of all the civil rights endowed by Bill of Rights and it’s amendments, none has been as been opposed so hostile and defended so staunchly as the Second Amendment. Besieged in courts, bogged down in legislation, the Second Amendment as our forefathers intended it is constantly in limbo. "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." (Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights.) "The great object is that every man be armed ... Everyone who is able may have a gun." (Patrick Henry, in the Virginia Convention on ratification of the Constitution.) "The advantage of being armed ... the Americans possess over the people of all other nations ... Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several Kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." (James Madison, author of the Bill of Righ ts, in his Federalist Paper No. 26.) The Second Amendment was not the first of it’s kind. Under the laws of Alfred the Great, whose reign began in 872 A.D., all English citizens from the nobility to the peasants were obligated to privately purchase weapons and be available for military duty. Under the Assize of Arms of 1181, freemen between the ages of 15 and 40 were required by law to possess certain arms. They were required twice a year to demonstrate to Royal Officials that they were appropriately armed. In 1662, Gunsmiths in England were ordered to deliver to the government lists of all purchasers, as has been the case in recent years. In 1623, Virginia outlawed its colonists to travel unless they were "well armed"; in 1631 it required colonists to engage in target practice on Sunday and ... ...Kennedy were also members. Aren't drugs banned? Your normal citizen doesn’t have drugs, but criminals do. If guns are taken away, only the good people won’t have them. With some 20,000 firearms regulations now on the books, we do not need still more gun-control laws. Ultimately, it is people choices to use firearms to commit violent crimes. So criminals should be controlled, not the guns which they share with millions of law-abiding citizens. Owning a gun is a right, not a privilege. WORKS CITED Lee, Patricia. "Fighting for Freedom." Guns & Ammo Sept. 1992: 26. Schmidt, Shelly, and Bardes "AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS TODAY" West Publishing Company, 1991-92. Adams, Les "The Second Amendment Primer" Odysseus Editions, 1996. Report of the Subcommittee On The Constitution of the Committee On The Judiciary U.S. Senate Ninety Seventh Congress Second Session U.S. Department Of Justice From the Internet, The National Rifle Association, Handgun Control Inc., Violence Policy Center, The Department of Transportation, The Journal of Firearms and Public Policy, Gun Owners of America, USA Today, The 2nd Amendment Law Library,

Snapshots of Love Essays -- Personal Narrative, essay about my family

Most of the snapshots of my life are held in the photo albums of my mind. Some were captured by a camera, and those pictures I keep in a shoebox under my bed. I'm lucky to have "shoebox photos" of the earliest things I can remember. For example, three days after my third birthday, Katherine Emily arrived. I remember my dad taking me to see my new baby sister; we stopped at a gas station on the way to the hospital and bought my mom candy and a cola. That day, the camera caught the tiny smile only a big sister could have as she holds one of the best birthday presents ever. I don't take up even half of a blue hospital chair as I cradle Katie in my arms. She is wrapped all in white, like the little angel that every baby is. My white, hooded sweatshirt has faint patches of sky blue, and just a tiny crimson triangle of a T-shirt peeks out from behind the zipper. Looking closer, a third person can be seen: my mother's wrist-banded hand holds Katie's head up. My tiny arms weren't quite strong enough for that task. That was the first time I ever posed with Katie. Looking at that photo makes me remember all the other pictures I have of Katie and me, even when there was no camera with film and batteries ready to go. It's these pictures that I'll never lose. Before Katie and I went off to school, we spent our days in the tunnels and caves of cardboard boxes and secret hideaways under the kitchen table. Our house has never been short on toys (there were six kids born before Katie and me), but boxes have always been a favorite. I remember being able to easily slide through the long passageways, my back not even brushing against the "ceilings" of our tunnels and forts. Katie had an even easier time ... ..., on the right, Horseshoe Falls bubbles under a mist that slowly rises above the horizon. Katie and I lean against the heavy, black railing, and against each other. Our smiles are sweet and happy, reminiscent of Katie's first birthday. These two shoebox pictures of Katie and me are just two snapshots in a shared photo album, filled with every cake, thought, joke, and sweater we've shared. In the midst of looking through the collection, Katie yells at me, "Hey, that's my shirt!" "You borrow my stuff," I reply. "Not without asking." "You had my black skirt for three months." "I asked for it." I let the fight peter out, not wishing to waste a memory on an argument about clothes. There will be plenty of hair-pulling, name-calling, and angry situations between Katie and me to come. I want to save my film for better times. Snapshots of Love Essays -- Personal Narrative, essay about my family Most of the snapshots of my life are held in the photo albums of my mind. Some were captured by a camera, and those pictures I keep in a shoebox under my bed. I'm lucky to have "shoebox photos" of the earliest things I can remember. For example, three days after my third birthday, Katherine Emily arrived. I remember my dad taking me to see my new baby sister; we stopped at a gas station on the way to the hospital and bought my mom candy and a cola. That day, the camera caught the tiny smile only a big sister could have as she holds one of the best birthday presents ever. I don't take up even half of a blue hospital chair as I cradle Katie in my arms. She is wrapped all in white, like the little angel that every baby is. My white, hooded sweatshirt has faint patches of sky blue, and just a tiny crimson triangle of a T-shirt peeks out from behind the zipper. Looking closer, a third person can be seen: my mother's wrist-banded hand holds Katie's head up. My tiny arms weren't quite strong enough for that task. That was the first time I ever posed with Katie. Looking at that photo makes me remember all the other pictures I have of Katie and me, even when there was no camera with film and batteries ready to go. It's these pictures that I'll never lose. Before Katie and I went off to school, we spent our days in the tunnels and caves of cardboard boxes and secret hideaways under the kitchen table. Our house has never been short on toys (there were six kids born before Katie and me), but boxes have always been a favorite. I remember being able to easily slide through the long passageways, my back not even brushing against the "ceilings" of our tunnels and forts. Katie had an even easier time ... ..., on the right, Horseshoe Falls bubbles under a mist that slowly rises above the horizon. Katie and I lean against the heavy, black railing, and against each other. Our smiles are sweet and happy, reminiscent of Katie's first birthday. These two shoebox pictures of Katie and me are just two snapshots in a shared photo album, filled with every cake, thought, joke, and sweater we've shared. In the midst of looking through the collection, Katie yells at me, "Hey, that's my shirt!" "You borrow my stuff," I reply. "Not without asking." "You had my black skirt for three months." "I asked for it." I let the fight peter out, not wishing to waste a memory on an argument about clothes. There will be plenty of hair-pulling, name-calling, and angry situations between Katie and me to come. I want to save my film for better times.

Chemical element

True The half-lives of unstable isotopes vary from milliseconds to billions of years. The combining of atoms is known as nuclear fusion. Multiple choice (271)mints) The man responsible for discovering that the atom is mostly space is: Rutherford false statement concerning matter is: All matter contains mass. The true statement concerning the atomic nucleus is: It is made up of electrons only. The element has how many protons? 7 has how many neutrons? 146 Which statement is true? Isotopes of a given element have very similar chemical properties. The atomic number of an atom is equivalent to the number of: protons Rutherford coined the term used for the simplest positive charged particle and called it the: neutron An alpha particle is: an electron Select all that apply. In the vertical columns of the periodic table: All the physical properties are identical.The number of positive charges in the nucleus of an atom is equal to: its atomic number Most of the mass of an atom is made up of: The protons and neutrons Movement of electrons about a central nucleus is a concept by: Boor Periodicity is best defined as: The repeating nature of physical and chemical properties with increasing The last element in any period always has: eight electrons in the outermost energy level The maximum number of electrons in a p sub-level is: 3 The 3 in up represent TTS: the number of electrons Name the element that corresponds to the following electron configuration. 2 , as , up neon 22 61 What does the p mean in Is as the p shell What causes the lines in the spectrum for elements? None of the above What is the maximum number of electrons found in any shell of the known elements? 8 A principal quantum number refers to: The numbered energy levels starting from the nucleus outward 2 2 The electron configuration of En is: Is In the vertical columns of the periodic table, as the atomic numbers increase: The numbers of electrons in the valence shell increase.

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 25

The Asian Invasion After a relatively short workout and an even shorter – and silent – run with Tiffany, I hop a train to Philadelphia. Following Jake's directions, I walk down Market Street toward the river, turn right on Second Street, and follow the road to his building. When I reach the address, I am surprised to find that Jake lives in a high-rise that overlooks the Delaware River. I have to give my name to the doorman and tell him who I am visiting before he will let me in the building. He's just an old man in a funny costume, who says â€Å"Go Eagles† when he sees my Baskett jersey, but my brother having a doorman is sort of impressive, regardless of the man's uniform. Another old man wears a different sort of funny costume in the elevator – he even has on one of those brimless monkey hats – and this man takes me to the tenth floor after I tell him my brother's name. The elevator doors open, and I walk down a blue hallway on a thick red carpet. When I find number 1021, I knock three times. â€Å"What's up, Baskett?† my brother says after he opens the door. He's in his Jerome Brown memorial jersey because it's game day again. â€Å"Come on in.† There is a huge bay window in the living room, and I can see the Ben Franklin Bridge, the Camden Aquarium, and tiny boats floating on the Delaware. It's a beautiful view. I immediately notice that my brother has a flat-screen television thin enough to hang on the wall like a picture – and it is even bigger than Dad's television. But strangest of all, my brother has a baby grand piano in his living room. â€Å"What's this?† I ask. â€Å"Check it out,† Jake says. He sits down on the piano bench, lifts the cover off the keys, and then actually starts playing. I am amazed that he can play â€Å"Fly, Eagles, Fly.† His version isn't very fancy, just a simple chord progression, but it's definitely the Eagles' fight song. When he begins to sing, I sing along with him. When he finishes, we do the chant and then Jake tells me he has been taking lessons for the past three years. He even plays me another song, which is very unlike â€Å"Fly, Eagles, Fly.† This next song is familiar – surprisingly gentle, like a kitten walking through high grass – and it seems so unlike Jake to create something this beautiful. I actually feel my eyes moistening as my brother plays with his eyes shut, moving his torso back and forth with the sway of the piece, which also looks funny because he is wearing an Eagles jersey. He makes a couple of mistakes, but I don't even care, because he is trying very hard to play the piece correctly for me and that's what counts, right? When he finishes, I clap loudly and then ask him what he was playing. â€Å"Pathetique. Piano Sonata number 8. Beethoven. That was part of the second movement. Adagio cantabile,† Jake says. â€Å"Did you like it?† â€Å"Very much.† Truthfully, I am amazed. â€Å"When did you learn to play?† â€Å"When Caitlin moved in with me, she brought her piano, and she's sort of been teaching me all about music ever since.† I start to feel dizzy because I have never heard mention of this Caitlin, and I think my brother just told me she lives here with him, which would mean my brother is in a serious relationship I know nothing about. This does not seem right. Brothers should know about each other's lovers. Finally I manage to say, â€Å"Caitlin?† My brother takes me into his bedroom, and there's a big wooden poster bed with two matching armoires that look like guards facing each other. He picks up a framed black-and-white photo from the bed stand and hands it to me. In the photo, Jake's cheek is smashed against a beautiful woman's. She has short blond hair, cut almost like a man's, and she is very delicate-looking, but pretty. She is in a white dress; Jake is in a tuxedo. â€Å"That's Caitlin,† Jake says. â€Å"She plays with the Philadelphia Orchestra sometimes and does a lot of recording in New York City too. She's a classical pianist.† â€Å"Why have I not heard about Caitlin before?† Jake takes the portrait from my hands and stands it up on the dresser. We walk back into the living room and sit down on his leather couch. â€Å"I knew you were upset about Nikki, so I didn't want to tell you that I was †¦ well †¦ happily married.† Married? The word hits me like a giant wave, and suddenly I am slick with sweat. â€Å"Mom actually tried to get you out of that place in Baltimore for the Mass, but it was when you were first admitted and they wouldn't let you out. Mom didn't want me to tell you about Caitlin yet, so I didn't at first, but you're my brother, and now that you're home, I wanted you to know about my life, and Caitlin's the best part. I've told her all about you and – if you want – you can meet her today. I had her go out this morning while I broke the news to you. I can call her now, and we can have lunch before we go down to the Linc. So, do you want to meet my wife?† The next thing I know, I'm at a little swanky cafe off South Street, sitting across from a beautiful woman who holds my brother's hand under the table and smiles at me unceasingly. Jake and Caitlin carry the conversation, and it feels a lot like when I am with Veronica and Ronnie. Jake answers most of the questions Caitlin asks me, because I do not say much at all. No mention is made of Nikki or my time at the bad place or just how bizarre it is that Caitlin has been married to my brother for years, yet I had never met her. When the waiter comes, I say I'm not hungry, because I don't have very much money on me – only the ten bucks my mother gave me for the subway, since I already spent five bucks on the PATCO ticket. But my brother orders for all of us and says he is treating, which is nice of him. We eat fancy ham sandwiches with some sort of sun-dried tomato paste, and when I finish, I ask Caitlin if the ceremony was a nice one. â€Å"What ceremony?† she says, and I catch her looking at the little white scar above my right eyebrow. â€Å"Your wedding ceremony.† â€Å"Oh,† she says, and then looks lovingly at my brother. â€Å"Yes. It was really nice. We had the Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City and then a small reception at the New York Palace.† â€Å"How long have you been married?† My brother shoots his wife a look that I do not miss. â€Å"A while now,† she says, which makes me feel crazy because everyone present knows that I do not remember the last couple of years – and because she is a woman, Caitlin knows exactly how long she has been married to Jake. It is obvious she is trying to protect me by being vague. This makes me feel awful, even though I realize Caitlin is trying to be kind. My brother pays the bill, and we walk Caitlin back to their apartment building. Jake kisses his wife by the entrance door, and his love for her is so obvious. But then Caitlin kisses me right on the cheek, and with her face only a few inches from mine, she says, â€Å"I'm glad I finally got to meet you, Pat. I hope we'll become good friends.† I nod because I don't know what else to say, and then Caitlin says, â€Å"Go Baker!† â€Å"It's Baskett, dummy,† Jake says, and Caitlin blushes before they kiss again. Jake hails a taxi and tells the driver, â€Å"City Hall.† In the taxi I tell my brother I don't have any money to pay for the taxi ride, but he says I never have to pay for anything when I am with him, which is a nice thing to say, but his saying it makes me feel sort of strange. Underneath City Hall, we buy subway tokens, spin a turnstile, and then wait for the southbound Orange Line. Even though it is only 1:30 p.m. and kickoff is not for seven hours yet, even though it is a Monday, a day when most people have to work, many men in Eagles jerseys are already waiting on the platform. This makes me realize that Jake is not working today – it makes me realize I do not even know what Jake does for a living, which really starts to freak me out. I think hard and remember that my brother was a business major in college, but I cannot remember where he works, so I ask him. â€Å"I'm an options trader,† he says. â€Å"What's that?† â€Å"I play the stock market.† â€Å"Oh,† I say. â€Å"So who do you work for?† â€Å"Myself.† â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"I work for myself and do all my business online. I'm self-employed.† â€Å"Which is why you could take off early to hang out with me.† â€Å"That's the best part about being self-employed.† I am very impressed with Jake's ability to support himself and his wife by playing the stock market, but he doesn't want to talk about his work. He thinks I'm not smart enough to understand what he does; Jake doesn't even try to explain his work to me. â€Å"So what did you think of Caitlin?† he asks me. But the train comes, and we join the herd of boarding Eagles fans before I can answer. â€Å"What did you think of Caitlin?† he asks again after we find seats and the train starts moving. â€Å"She's great,† I say, avoiding eye contact with my brother. â€Å"You're mad at me for not telling you about Caitlin right away.† â€Å"No, I'm not.† I want to tell him all about Tiffany following me when I run; finding the â€Å"Pat† box; how Mom is still on strike and dirty dishes are in the sink and Dad turned his white shirts pink when he did the wash; how my therapist Cliff says I need to stay neutral and not get involved in my parents' marital problems but only focus on improving my own mental health – but how can I do that when Dad and Mom are sleeping in separate rooms and Dad is always telling me to clean the house and Mom is telling me to leave it filthy – and I was having a hard time keeping it together before I found out my brother plays the piano and trades stocks and is living with a beautiful musician and I have missed his gala wedding and therefore will never see my brother marry, which is something I very much wanted to see, because I love my brother. But instead of saying any of this, I say, â€Å"Jake, I'm sort of worried about seeing that Giants fan again.† â€Å"Is that why you've been so quiet today?† my brother asks, as if he has forgotten all about what happened before the last home game. â€Å"I doubt a Giants fan will show up at the Green Bay game, but we're going to set up in a different parking lot anyway, just in case any of the asshole's friends are looking for us. I got your back. Don't worry. The fat guys are setting up the tent in the lot behind the Wachovia Center. No worries at all.† When we arrive at Broad and Pattison, we exit the subway car and climb back up into the afternoon. I follow my brother through the thin crowds of diehards who – like us – have begun tailgating seven hours before kickoff, on a Monday no less. We walk past the Wachovia Center, and when the fat men's green tent comes into view, I can't believe what I see. The fat men are outside of the tent with Scott, and they are yelling at someone hidden by their collective girth. A huge school bus painted green – it's running, and the driver is inching toward our tent. On the hood of the bus is a portrait of Brian Dawkins's bust, and the likeness is incredible. (Dawkins is a regular Pro Bowler who plays free safety for the Birds.) As we get closer, I make out the words the asian invasion along the side of the bus, which is full of brown-faced men. This early in the afternoon, parking spaces are plentiful, so I wonder what the argument is about. Soon I recognize the voice, which argues, â€Å"The Asian Invasion has been parked in this very spot for every home game since the Linc was opened. It's good luck for the Eagles. We are Eagles fans, just like you. Superstition or not, our parking the Asian Invasion bus in this very spot is crucial if you want the Birds to win tonight.† â€Å"We're not moving our tent,† Scott says. â€Å"No fucking way. You should have gotten here earlier.† The fat men reiterate Scott's sentiment, and things are getting heated. I see Cliff before he sees me. â€Å"Move the tent,† I say to our friends. Scott and the fat men turn to face me; they look surprised by my command, almost bewildered, as if I have betrayed them. My brother and Scott exchange a glance, and then Scott asks, â€Å"Hank Baskett – destroyer of Giants fans – says, ‘Move the tent'?† â€Å"Hank Baskett says, ‘Move the tent,'† I say. Scott turns and faces Cliff, who is shocked to see me. Scott says, â€Å"Hank Baskett says, ‘Move the tent.' So we move the tent.† The fat guys groan, but they begin to break down our tailgate party, and soon it is moved three parking spaces over, along with Scott's van, at which time the Asian Invasion bus pulls forward and parks. Fifty or so Indian men exit – each one of them wearing a green number 20 Dawkins jersey. They are like a small army, and soon, several barbecues are going and the smell of curry is all around us. Cliff played it cool and did not say hello to me, which I realize was his way of saying, â€Å"It's your call, Pat.† He simply faded away into the other Dawkins jerseys, so I would not have to explain our relationship, which was kind of him. When we have our tent resituated, when the fat men are inside watching television, Scott says, â€Å"Hey, Baskett. Why did you let the dot heads have our parking spot?† â€Å"None of them have a dot on their head,† I say. â€Å"Did you know that little guy?† Jake asks me. â€Å"Which little guy, me?† We turn around, and Cliff is standing there with a sizzling platter of vegetables and meat cubes skewered on sticks of wood. â€Å"Indian kabobs. Quite delicious. For allowing us to park the Asian Invasion bus in its usual spot.† When Cliff lifts the platter up, we each grab an Indian kabob, and the meat is spicy, but delicious, as are the vegetables. â€Å"And the men in the tent – would they also like one?† â€Å"Hey, fat-asses,† Scott yells. â€Å"Food.† The fat men come out and partake. Soon everyone is nodding and complimenting Cliff on his delicious food. â€Å"Sorry for the trouble,† Cliff says so nicely. He's been so kind – even after hearing Scott call him a dot head – that I can't help claiming Cliff as a friend, so I say, â€Å"Cliff, this is my brother, Jake, my friend Scott, and †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I forget the fat men's names, so I just say, â€Å"Friends of Scott.† â€Å"Shit,† Scott says. â€Å"You should have just told us you were friends with Baskett here and we wouldn't have given you any trouble. You want a beer?† â€Å"Sure,† Cliff says, putting the empty tray down on the concrete. Scott hands everyone a green plastic cup, we all pour bottles of Yuengling Lager, and then I am drinking beers with my therapist. I am afraid Cliff will yell at me for drinking when I am on medications, but he doesn't. â€Å"How do you guys know each other?† one of the fat guys says, and then I realize that by â€Å"you guys,† he means Cliff and me. I am so happy to be drinking beers with Cliff that I say, â€Å"He's my therapist,† before I can remind myself to lie. â€Å"And we are friends too,† Cliff quickly adds, which surprises me but makes me feel pretty good, especially since no one says anything about my needing a therapist. â€Å"What are your boys doing?† Jake asks Cliff. I turn around and see ten or so men rolling out huge sheets of Astroturf. â€Å"They are rolling out the Kubb fields.† â€Å"What?† everyone says. â€Å"Come on, I'll show you.† And this is how we came to play what Cliff calls the Swedish Viking game while tailgating before Monday Night Football. â€Å"Why do a bunch of Indians play a Swedish Viking game?† one of the fat men asks. â€Å"Because it's fun,† Cliff replies, so cool. The Indian men are quick to share their food and are also so knowledgeable regarding Eagles football. They explain Kubb, which is a game where you throw wooden batons to knock down your opponent's kubbs, which are wooden blocks set up on opposite baselines. The knocked-down kubbs get tossed to the opponents' field and set up where they land. To be truthful, I am still not exactly sure how it all works, but I know the game ends when you clean the opponents' field of kubbs and knock down the kubb king, which is the tallest block of wood, set up in the center of the Astroturf. Cliff surprises me by asking if he can be my partner. All afternoon he tells me which blocks to aim for, and we win many games in between bouts of eating Indian kabobs and drinking our Yuengling Lager and the Asian Invasion's India Pale Ale out of green plastic cups. Jake, Scott, and the fat men assimilate into the Asian Invasion tailgate party very nicely – we have Indians in our tent, they have white guys on their Kubb fields – and I think all it really takes for different people to get along is a common rooting interest and a few beers. Every so often one of the Indian men yells â€Å"Ahhhhhhhh!† and when we all do the chant, we are fifty or so men strong, and our â€Å"E!-A!-G!-L!-E!-S! EAGLES!† is deafening. Cliff is deadly with his wooden batons. He mostly carries our team as we play Kubb against various groupings of men, but we end up winning the money tournament, in which I did not even know we were playing until we won. One of Cliff's boys hands me fifty dollars. Cliff explains that Jake paid my entry fee, so I try to give my brother my winnings, but Jake will not let me. Finally, I decide to buy rounds of beer inside the Linc, and I stop arguing with my brother over money. After the sun sets, when it is just about time to go into Lincoln Financial Field, I ask Cliff if I can talk to him alone, and when we walk away from the Asian Invasion, I say, â€Å"Is this okay?† â€Å"This?† he replies, and the glassy look in his eyes suggests he is a little drunk. â€Å"The two of us hanging out like boys. What my friend Danny would call ‘representing.'† â€Å"Why not?† â€Å"Well, because you are my therapist.† Cliff smiles, holds up a little brown finger, and says, â€Å"What did I tell you? When I am not in the leather recliner †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"You're a fellow Eagles fan.† â€Å"Damn right,† he says, and then claps me on the back. After the game I catch a ride back to Jersey on the Asian Invasion bus, and the Indian men and I sing â€Å"Fly, Eagles, Fly† over and over again because the Eagles have beaten the Packers 31 – 9 on national television. When Cliff's friends drop me off in front of my house, it's after midnight, but the funny driver, who is named Ashwini, hits the horn on the Asian Invasion bus – a special recording of all fifty members screaming â€Å"E!-A!-G!-L!-E!-S! EAGLES!† I worry that maybe they have woken up everyone in my neighborhood, but I can't help laughing as the green bus pulls away. My father is still awake, sitting on the family-room couch watching ESPN. When he sees me, he doesn't say hello, but loudly begins to sing, â€Å"Fly, Eagles, fly. On the road to victory †¦Ã¢â‚¬  So I sing the song one more time with my father, and when we finish the chant at the end, my dad continues to hum the fight song as he marches off to bed without so much as asking me a single question about my day, which has been extraordinary to say the least, even if Hank Baskett only had two catches for twenty-seven yards and has yet to find the end zone. I think about cleaning up my father's empty beer bottles, but I remember what my mother told me about keeping the house filthy while she is on strike. Downstairs, I hit the weights and try not to think about missing Jake's wedding, which still has me down some, even if the Birds did win. I need to work off the beer and the Indian kabobs, so I lift for many hours.