NAFTA: Gainers and Losers

Economic cooperation has been a trend in neighboring countries to promote a free-trade zone for the benefit of its constituent countries. The largest of such, the North American Free Trade Agreement, was found in 1994 by the three North American countries. The members of NAFTA are the US, Canada and Mexico which includes a total of 416 million people and a GDP totaling to $12 trillion (Pohlmann, 2006). NAFTA aimed to totally remove trade barriers between the members for 15 years, which is scheduled to be in 2009. It also reduces the non-tariff trade barriers like sanitary regulations significantly. Although NAFTA major advantages, many are against it. Most of them are in the non-economic areas, and following are examples: US labor unions, environmentalists and Mexican farmers. They believe that NAFTA has unfavorable effects on them. Not all Mexicans are against it, in fact some of them had high hopes that the implementation of this contract would help boost their economy (Pohlmann, 2006). The NAFTA issue is debated in the Congress, with three major subjects: employment, environment and immigration from Mexico to the US. Tariffs had been an important factor in NAFTA for tariffs are taxes on imports and it usually makes imported products more expensive in order top benefit local products. NAFTA participants agreed to cut down the tariffs by 50% and they also agreed to reduce tariffs to 0 in the succeeding fifteen years. Economists clearly saw the benefits NAFTA could have with all its participants. They based their reasoning with the principle of comparative advantage wherein their country would be more organized in creating their goods. Thus each country would produce the goods wherein they are more efficient in producing and they would trade those goods with the goods of other country (which they are very good in producing in their own). However, there are those who contested the free trade contract believing that it would have certain effect on employment as well as on income. There are those who argue that there would be a great deal of unemployment because of rivalry in Mexico. They argued that since wages are much lower in Mexico as compared to United States, then businessmen would start moving their businesses in Mexico. However, there are those who argue that the reason behind higher wages in US lies on the fact that worker efficiency is greater in US as compared to Mexico. NAFTA proved to have great consequence in terms of employment in US. According to a study conducted by the US International Trade Commission (ITI), the US government could gain moderately from a free trade agreement with Mexico. A historical study also showed that NAFTA could produce about 134, 000 jobs in the US. However, a simple method of study conducted by Baldwin and Kahane showed the effects NAFTA could have in terms of employment. The particular study had been conducted in order to see which division would have employment gains and which would undergo job losses. A tabular data had been used in order to create two variables, that of â€Å"gainers† and that of â€Å"losers†. Among the gainers are electrical and non-electrical machinery alike as well as rubber chemicals. However, on the side of the losers we have textiles, glass, leather products and the like. It is important to distinguish gainers from losers and thus an explanation is provided in the quotation be low. The term GAINERS is associated to the number of employees in areas that were projected to have job gains, while the term LOSERS is related to job losses (Kahane, 1996). Thus, the effect of NAFTA allowed a rise in trade in both Canada and Mexico. There is also no clear evidence that US indeed lose jobs because of Mexico. And all in all it showed that there are industries which gained because of the NAFTA agreement while there are also those industries that had had their share of losses as had been mentioned in this paper. Reference: Kahane, L. (1996). Congressional voting patterns on NAFTA: an empirical analysis – North American Free Trade Agreement [Electronic Version]. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology. Retrieved June 4, 2007 from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0254/is_n4_v55/ai_18910967. Pohlmann, D. (2006). The Economic Impact of NAFTA on Mexico [Electronic Version]. Scholarly Publishing House. Retrieved June 4, 2007 from http://www.grin.com/en/preview/67522.html. Rosson, P., Runge, F., & Moulton, K. S. Preferential Trading Arrangements: Gainers and Losers from Regional Trading Blocs [Electronic Version]. Retrieved June 4, 2007 from http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/agecon/trade/eight.html.      

Macbeth: a Timeless Tale

Shakespearean Macbeth tells a timeless tale of ambition, greed and treachery. Its themes are universal in nature, as Is the construction of a tragic hero and for these reasons It continues to be relevant to audiences today. The litany of Interpretations and adoptions such as Polonaise's 1 971 classic, give credence to the argument that Macbeth remains relevant. Macbeth, In a fashion similar to modern teens (or so the media would have us believe) has a great deal of trouble deciding the difference between moral and moral during his rise to power. Consequently, Shakespearean message is as relevant today as it was during the Elizabethan era.Macbeth is introduced as a kinsman to the Scottish King and a brave and successful military general (l,ii, 15-23), thus earning the praise and esteem of the unfortunately though, he (perhaps Like many In my audience) allows himself to be Influenced by those â€Å"whose horrid image, doth unfix† his hair and â€Å"make his seated heart knock a t his ribs†, who prophesy both further titles and kingship, immediately arousing Machete's ambition (l, Ill, 127-129). This conflict between good and evil is not only confined to Shakespearean play. It is a theme that we see repeated over and over again in contemporary literature and film.As a character, Macbeth is magnificent. He represents the Internal battle that forms the plot for the ma]orally of highly regarded modern films and texts such as Pollack's Macbeth. Initially Macbeth is ambitious, but lacks the evil qualities that often see ambition fulfilled. He also, as his wife points out, is not unscrupulous enough (l, v, 4-24) nor ready to give up the honor and ‘golden opinions' he has won. He has hysterical courage but not the moral courage needed to stand against his more determined, strong willed wife who questions his love for her and his manhood (l, vii, 39-50).In committing regicide he violates the better part of his nature; he is so bent on putting evil on ev il he becomes â€Å"steeped â€Å"so far in blood that â€Å"returning were as tedious as go lb, 136-138). The troubling question of gender representation is one that continues to be debated. 1 OFF audiences. Initially, characters in Macbeth dwell on issues of gender. Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his manhood, wishes that she herself could e â€Å"unsexes,† and does not contradict Macbeth when he says that a woman like her should give birth only to boys.Similarly, Macbeth provokes the murderers he hires to kill Banquet by questioning their manhood. Such acts show that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth equate masculinity with violence and aggression. Their understanding of manhood allows the political order depicted in the play to descend into chaos. As in the multitude of controversial texts today, female characters are the source of violence and evil. The witches' prophecies arouse Machete's ambitions and then encourage his violent behavior; Lady Macbeth provides the brains and the will behind her husband's plotting.Macbeth traces the root of chaos and evil to women. While the male characters are Just as violent and prone to evil as the women, the aggression of the female characters is more striking because it goes against prevailing expectations of how women ought to behave. Ultimately, however, the play ends with a revised and less destructive definition of manhood. Malcolm consoles Macadam on the news of his family murder by encouraging him to take the news in â€Å"manly' fashion, by seeking revenge upon Macbeth. Macadam indicates however, that Malcolm has a mistaken understanding of masculinity.To Malcolm suggestion, â€Å"Dispute it like a man,† Macadam replies, â€Å"l shall do so. But I must also feel it as a man† (IV. Iii. 221-223). Also, at the end of the play, Seward reacts to his son's death complacently. Malcolm responds: â€Å"He's worth more sorrow [than you have expressed] / And that I'll spend for h im† (V. 1 1 . 16-17). Malcolm comment shows that he has learned the lesson Macadam gave him on the sentient nature of true masculinity. It also suggests that, with Malcolm coronation, order will be stored to the Kingdom of Scotland.Macbeth with its frightening paranormal undertones will pique the interest of a generation already obsessed with the supernatural. No remake can match Shakespearean representation of the witches. Polonaise's opening scene for example, , was rather poorly done. He made the witches look so grotesquely ugly that they distracted the audience from the important plot element of the scene: what they were saying. Unfortunately, this too was clouded: their screeching voices and constant giggling made them difficult to understand.A witness to the film unfamiliar tit the play or Shakespearean dialogue would have been left without any idea as to the importance of the scene. Undoubtedly the underlining of the plot of Macbeth is highlighted with events that have paranormal roots. The witches, both the bloody dagger that entices Macbeth towards Dunce's chamber and the ghost of Banquet are mystical in origin. â€Å"Art thou not a fatal vision, sensible to feeling as to sight†¦? Or false creation† (II, l, 41 , 42). Shortly after Dunce's death, his horses eat each other in frenzy, symbolizing the murder of the king, which leads to this imbalance in nature.Another relevant lesson on life, we can learn from Shakespeare, is that appearances are often deceptive. In Macbeth, things are seldom what they seem; â€Å"Fair is foul and foul is fair†. From the beginning, the play is full of ambiguity and double meanings. The play opens on a day that is extremely foul in weather and extremely fair (the battle has Just been won). The subsequent prophecies â€Å"cannot be ill, cannot be good†. In order to disguise their real motives, Lady Macbeth advises her husband to ‘look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under i t†. One of Dunce's sons ladled out â€Å"Murder! In his sleep, but the other one laughed! Does Lady Macbeth really faint? Or does she simply pretend to faint to divert attention from her husband's overacting? Does Lady Macbeth commit suicide? What is Lady Macbeth writing in her sleepwalking scene? A confession? A suicide note? A last love letter to a neglectful husband? There is also much discussion about clothing clothes provide both an identity but also conceal who you are. Point being? Beware the wolf in sheep's clothing! In conclusion, Shakespearean deeper purpose is to show us our own lives and make s think.The key question that Shakespeare seems to ask is this: is human society fundamentally amoral? This is a question that continues to challenge audiences. Consequently, Shakespeare movies are so numerous; they form their own sub genre. With over 250 Shakespeare movies produced, Shakespeare film adaptations such as Bag Loran's â€Å"Romeo and Juliet†, prove that S hakespearean plays have an enduring appeal. Macbeth is the Dearth Evader of Star Wars, or if you like, Lord Voltmeter of Harry Potter; ignore his lessons at you own peril. Thank You

BG William Hazen and the Savannah Campaign Research Paper

BG William Hazen and the Savannah Campaign - Research Paper Example Hazen played a major role in the planning and execution of the Savannah campaign and the fact that he managed to do so with minimal casualties can be considered to be one of the most remarkable events in the war history of the United States. The history of this man as a tactician and the victories that he won before the Savannah campaign is one of the reasons why he was so successful in the battles he led and won, ensuring that all of the intended objectives of these battles were dealt with in a manner which was swift and effective. The Savannah campaign ensured that the name of Hazen would remain in the annals of the history of the United States for a long time and this not only encouraged members of the future generations of the American military, but also led to the development of similar strategies in other wars that were fought in future. Therefore, it can be said that the Savannah campaign was a turning point in the Civil War and William Hazen was one of the military leaders wh o were able to make it a success. The Savannah campaign was planned and executed by Major General William Sherman who after leading his forces into a war in the Deep South which culminated in the capture of Atlanta made a move for Savannah as a way of opening up the communication route with the rest of the Union command.1 While this was the case, there was also the need to ensure that such strategic areas as Fort McAllister were under Union control because this was the only way through which they could be able to effectively capture Savannah. During this period, the Confederate defense of Savannah had sorely misjudged the Union army’s ability to capture the city and this was mainly because of the fact that the city’s entire defense concentrated mainly on the sea, from where the attack was expected. It is this form of defense strategy that

Parents Accountability for Their Childrens Delinquency Research Paper

Parents Accountability for Their Childrens Delinquency - Research Paper Example These factors consist of criminality of the parents, cruel and futile parental discipline to adolescence, antisocial/violent behavior, lack of parental participation in the adolescence activities, constant conflict in the family, abuse and or abandonment of a children, and negative response by parents (Patterson, Forgatch, & Stoolmiller, 1998; Walker et al., 1991). Should Parents be held accountable for their children’s delinquency? As much as the threat factors for criminal act during child’s tender age are more probable to be genetic, personality, and family unit factors, the fundamental position of recognized risk factors remains with the need to be elucidated, and no particular reason justifies or explains child delinquency. Somewhat, there are bigger quantity of risk factors. According to Demuth & Brown (2004), a juvenile’s resolution to participate in offending behavior is contributed by the parent or parental figurers’ use of direct, indirect and in ternalized controls. Usually, a parent begins to use these controls in formative years and continues their usage throughout the adolescence age. The juvenile development of psychological attachment and affection to his or her parents entails indirect control. The creation of a juvenile conscience throughout his or her life involves internalized control by parental figure or parents of a juvenile. On the other hand direct control involves supervision, restriction and punishment (Demuth & Brown, 2004). Family processes and delinquency research by Demuth & Brown (2004) resolute that control by parent especially via direct control through monitoring, parental involvement, supervision and closeness are negatively associated with delinquency. The research put into consideration... According to the research findings  a number of circumstances in the juvenile’s residence have been found to predict the start and persistent patterns of children and youth unsociable behavior. These factors consist of criminality of the parents, cruel and futile parental discipline to adolescence, antisocial/violent behavior, lack of parental participation in the adolescence activities, constant conflict in the family, abuse and or abandonment of a children, and negative response by parents.From this paper it is clear that  a juvenile’s resolution to participate in offending behavior is contributed by the parent or parental figurers’ use of direct, indirect and internalized controls. Usually, a parent begins to use these controls in formative years and continues their usage throughout the adolescence age. The juvenile development of psychological attachment and affection to his or her parents entails indirect control. The creation of a juvenile conscience th roughout his or her life involves internalized control by parental figure or parents of a juvenile. On the other hand direct control involves supervision, restriction and punishment. Control by parent especially via direct control through monitoring, parental involvement, supervision and closeness are negatively associated with delinquency. The research put into consideration different actions of parental direct control, for instance, obliging juvenile children to home at a given time, and threat of punishment in case of a wrongdoing.

Accomplishments of Charlemagne Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Accomplishments of Charlemagne - Essay Example Having served as an emperor during this medieval period has given me an opportunity to transform many lives and the nature of our lives. I believe that as I leave you soon, my political achievements will still remain and form major parts of the governments and other leaders to come. Precisely, my greatest political achievement is in 775, when I invaded, attacked and defeated the Germanic tribe Saxon who threatened the north-eastern frontiers of my newly formed Kingdom. During the same year, I also remember vividly that the Duke of Hrodgaud of Friuli rebelled against my rule but I defeated by him. These culminations gave me an opportunity with the Duke of Spoleto. We signed a treaty with him and this gave me the full power over Northern Italy which has ensured the peace that we enjoy today. To me, this is a very big accomplishment because as I go, I leave the many descendants of this great in a safe place to call home (Story, 2005).

Innovative Nursing Care Delivery Model Assignment - 1

Innovative Nursing Care Delivery Model - Assignment Example present a brief but comprehensive picture about the importance and the effectiveness of the models relating to innovative nursing care delivery within the healthcare domain. As mentioned earlier, innovative nursing care delivery model can enhance innovation in the operations of the organizations within the healthcare setting. Contextually, proper means need to be adopted in order to ensure successful implementation of the model within such setting. Notably, such models are directly correlated with the approach of attaining overall goals along with objectives of the healthcare sector. The model is primarily developed in and around the services delivered by the nurses. As per the model, a humanistic approach must be adopted by the nurses while delivering healthcare services to the patients. The model largely enabled organizations operating in healthcare sector towards delivering quality services in a cost efficient manner. Continuous improvement in service delivery of the nurses is also an important part of such models. These care models include namely â€Å"acute care agile self-directed nursing teams†, â€Å"community-based nurse managed clinics †, and â€Å"rural healthy aging community model† among others (Norlander, 2011, pp. 401-407). For instance, in the acute care nursing team model, the care providers are designated to provide required to a collection of patients. Subsequently, nurse managed clinics aim towards providing required healthcare services to undeserved communities (Norlander, 2011, pp. 401-407). It will be vital to mention in this regard that such models remain much focus towards enhancing the safety of the patients in healthcare setting in an innovative manner (Zerwekh & Garneau, 2013, pp. 194-198). The above discussed model or the set of model can be implemented within varied healthcare organizations by following certain planned strategies and procedures. The models can be incorporated in several key departments within healthcare organizations

Discuss and analyse strategies used by UK primary school teachers to Essay

Discuss and analyse strategies used by UK primary school teachers to develop the communication and literacy of primary age children - Essay Example This project stresses that teachers have abundant sources of information regarding the disabilities of students and the suitable ways to teach the disable students. Teachers in UK frequently refer to such informative websites to enhance their knowledge and gauge their teaching in accordance with the individualistic and collective requirements of the students with special needs. This essay declares that considering the extent of cognitive development in the children of that age, children entering the primary school are expected to comprehend a lot of what is said, be able to convey their point clearly and effectively, discuss their sentiments with others and make their needs realized by others. Such a basic level of expertise in speech is fundamental to the effective social, emotional and cognitive development of children. A young child commencing studies in the primary school undergoes a big transition in his life. The child has to make his/her own place in a new and tougher learning environment. Many children have to struggle to adjust with the new community and socialize with others in the new environment. â€Å"At 11 years old only a fifth of children with significant speech, language and communication needs reach the expected levels for their age in both English and Maths† . Many children have to cope with a sense of dual or multiple identities d epending upon their indigenous culture/cultures which they come from and the culture of the UK in which they have to live.

Role Of Icts For Improving Efficiency And Relevance Of Airlines Essay

Role Of Icts For Improving Efficiency And Relevance Of Airlines Services For Tourists - Essay Example In this direction it has become quite crucial for the organisation to undertake some crucial, new and innovative strategic and tactic moves. In this direction adoption of new and competent Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has become an important and effective way for the business organisations to enhance their overall capabilities in existing challenging business environment (Konig and Strauss 2000). The importance of ICTs can be sighted in different industries across the world. In this context, international airline industry has also been adopted ICTs quite significantly. The proliferation of Internet as an important channel of communication between business organisation and customers has provided some important and effective measures related with ICTs to international Airlines for enhancing quality of services provided to passengers (Sarmento 2011). In direction to this, the paper aims to ICTs relaed trends prevailing within the International Airlines Industry. The paper also elaborates different new technologies and trends related with information and communication technologies (ICT) that are quite prominently followed within airlines industry. The impact and role ICT related practices and trends in advancing customer expectations is also an important point of discussion made in the paper. On the basis of entire findings, the paper also presents some crucial recommendations for airlines industry for using ICT in the more tactical and strategic way so that efficiency and productivity of the industry can be enhanced. ICTs acceptance within airlines industry Like other business industries, the growth of internet and technological advancement of business environment has also affected trends and practices followed in airlines industry. In order to enhance efficiency of services provided to passengers and providing some intensive an d value added experience to them, airlines companies has adopted ICT as one of the most effective tools. The history of ICT acceptance by different Airlines is quite old. Since 1970s, Airlines companies have been using different variants of ICT for facilitating its customers. The availability of telephone availability within this decade has changed the trend of enquiring about availability, reservation and confirmation (Sarmento 2011). In regard to this, first of all American Airlines introduced SABRE Computer Reservation System (CRS) in the year 1962, for the purpose of providing fast and effective facilities regarding reservations and bookings. Afterwards, the system was started to be used for inventory control function within the organisation. This system allowed the company to schedule its crew effectively, track spare parts requirements, and have effective decision support systems for management (Knowles and Garland 1994). The revolution regarding ICTs in Airline industry can b e spotted from mid 1990s. The development of internet and intranet facilities within the market place has allowed the airline industry to have some effective strategies on technological innovations in their ICTs infrastructure. In this regard, British Airways has spent ?1.1 billion on its ICT infrastructure for the purpose of making its distribution channels more effective and responsive. Increasing competitive pressure has imposed business organisations to have enhanced the level of interaction with customers so that their trust and loyalty can be won (Noakes and Coulter 2002). In this concern, effective communication and information technologies used by the company has been considered as effective gateways. In addition to this,

Review Coursework for Rules for monetary policy questions

Review for Rules for monetary policy questions - Coursework Example However, the excessively high level of money circulating in the economy induces inflation. Conversely, the excessively low level of money circulating in the economy kills economic performance and induces deflation. Since the association between the money supply and other economic indicators such as the gross domestic product and prices level or inflation has become irregular, the money growth based policies have been unsuccessful (What is money supply? Is it important?, 2014). Adopting rules for the monetary policy is like suggesting that the economy regulators clearly understand all the variables within the economy and how they affect one another. The center stage for the formulations of rules for monetary policy is the interest rates and the economic output. It is currently clear that the performance of an economy is influenced by the performance of other institutions like the financial market, the capital market, and the financial institutions. These players add to the list of factors to be considered when formulating rules for monetary policy. The regulators have not been able to understand fully how the financial markets affect the economy, thus, controlling an unclear situation could cause damages. Therefore, the policy makers are reluctant to adopt rules for monetary policy (Swanson, 2014). Swanson, A. (2014). What the US could gain and lose from monetary policy rules. Retrieved from

Production Strategy Essay Example for Free

Production Strategy Essay The total number of time spent for machining and welding during the manufacture of one BodyPlus100 (includes the machining and welding hours mentioned in Frame Unit, Press Station and Pec-dec Station) are eight (8) hours. The total number of hours spent for Painting and finishing in the entire process (includes the machining and welding hours mentioned in Frame Unit, Press Station, and Pec-dec Station) is five (5) hours. The total number of hours spent for Assembling, testing and packaging for the manufacture of one BodyPlus100 machine is two (2) hours. BodyPlus200 The total number of time spent on machining and welding in the entire process (includes the machining and welding hours mentioned in Frame Unit, Press Station, Pec-dec Station and Leg Press Station) during the manufacture of one BodyPlus200 machine is twelve (12) hours. The total number of hours spent for Painting and finishing in the entire process (includes the machining and welding hours mentioned in Frame Unit, Press Station, Pec-dec Station and Leg Press Station) is ten (10) hours. The total number of hours spent for Assembling, testing and packaging for the manufacture of one BodyPlus100 machine is two (2) hours. Calculations: The total number of working hours assigned for machining and welding processes is 600 hours. The total number of working hours assigned for painting and finishing processes is 440 hours. The total number of working hours assigned for Assembling, Testing and Packaging is 140 hours. To find out the total number of machines that can be made can be found out in the following math. As either of the machines (BodyPlus100 and BodyPlus200) requires two (2) hours of assembling, testing and packaging time. Total number of machines to be produced:    Now let the total number of BodyPlus100 machines manufactures be denoted by the variable ‘X’ and the total number of BodyPlus200 machines manufactured be denoted by the variable ‘Y’. Therefore, the total time required for Assembling, testing and Packaging is 2 hours. That implies,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2X + 2Y =140 Then X+Y=70. There we get the total number of possible machines that can be made are seventy in number. As the recommended number of BodyPlus200 machines that have to be produced must be at least 25% of the total number of machines produced. Then ‘Y’ takes a value of 25% of the total number of possible machines i.e. seventy (70). Therefore, 17 fills in the best value of at least 25% of total number of machines produced when the count of total number of machines produced are sixty five (65). Taking the number of BodyPlus100 machines and BodyPlus200 machines manufactured to be 49 and 16 in numbers respectively. Then the calculation follows as: Time required for machining and welding: 1) BodyPlus100: In the Frame unit, it takes four (4) hours of machining and welding time. In the Press Station, it takes two (2) hours of machining and welding time. In the Pec-dec Station, it takes two (2) hours of machining and welding time. The total number of machining and welding time taken in the manufacture of one BodyPlus100 machine is eight (8) hours. Therefore, the total time taken for machining and welding processes during the manufacture of 49 BodyPlus100 is 49*8 = 392 hours. 2) BodyPlus200: In the Frame unit, it takes five (5) hours of machining and welding time. In the Press Station, it takes three (3) hours of machining and welding time. In the Pec-dec Station, it takes two (2) hours of machining and welding time. In the Leg Press Station, it takes two (2) hours of machining and welding time. The total number of machining and welding time taken in the manufacture of one BodyPlus200 machine is twelve (12) hours. Therefore, the total time taken for machining and welding processes during the manufacture of 17 BodyPlus200 is 17*12 = 204 hours. Therefore, the total number of hours spent for the entire manufacture processes is equal to 392 + 204 = 596 hours Hence, we lost 4 hours of unused machining and welding time. Time required for Painting and finishing: 1) BodyPlus100: In the Frame unit, it takes two (2) hours of painting and finishing time. In the Press Station, it takes one (1) hours of painting and finishing time. In the Pec-dec Station, it takes two (2) hours of painting and finishing time. The total number of painting and finishing time taken in the manufacture of one BodyPlus100 machine is five (5) hours. Therefore, the total time taken for painting and finishing processes during the manufacture of 49 BodyPlus100 is 49*5 = 245 hours. 2) BodyPlus200: In the Frame unit, it takes four (4) hours of painting and finishing time. In the Press Station, it takes two (2) hours of painting and finishing time. In the Pec-dec Station, it takes two (2) hours of painting and finishing time. In the Leg Press Station, it takes two (2) hours of painting and finishing time. The total number of painting and finishing time taken in the manufacture of one BodyPlus200 machine is ten (10) hours. Therefore, the total time taken for machining and welding processes during the manufacture of 17 BodyPlus200 is 17*10 = 170 hours. Therefore, the total number of hours spent for the entire manufacture processes is equal to 245 + 170 = 415 hours. Where the total number hours assigned for painting and finishing is 450 hours. Hence, we lost 35 hours of unused painting and finishing time. Time required for Assembling, Testing and Packaging: 1) BodyPlus100: The manufacturing of one BodyPlus100 machine takes two (2) hours of assembling, testing and packaging time. Therefore, the total number of hours spent in assembling, testing and packaging during the manufacture of 49 machines is 49*2= 98hours. 1) BodyPlus200: The manufacturing of one BodyPlus200 machine takes two (2) hours of assembling, testing and packaging time. Therefore, the total number of hours spent in assembling, testing and packaging during the manufacture of 17 machines is 17*2= 34hours. In total, the total number of hours spent during the entire process is 98 + 34 = 132 hours. As the assigned number of assembling, testing and packaging time is 140 hours. So, eight (8) hours of the assembling, testing and packaging time is unused. Total Cost for producing the machines: 1) BodyPlus100: The BodyPlus100 machine consists of four (4) units. Frame unit: Where the raw material cost for each BodyPlus100 unit is $450 in this Frame Unit. Press Station: Here the raw material costs for each BodyPlus100 unit is $300 in this Press Station. Pec-dec Station: Here the raw material cost for each BodyPlus100 unit is $250 in this Pec-dec Station. Packaging: Here the estimated cost for each BodyPlus100 unit is $50 for packaging. 2) BodyPlus200: The BodyPlus200 machine consists of five (5) units. a) Frame unit: Where the raw material cost for each BodyPlus200 unit is $650 in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  this Frame Unit. b) Press Station: Here the raw material costs for each BodyPlus200 unit is $400 in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   this Press Station. c)   Pec-dec Station: Here the raw material cost for each BodyPlus200 unit is $250 in   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   this Pec-dec Station. Leg Press Station: Here the raw material cost for each BodyPlus100 unit is $200   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   in this Leg Press Station. Packaging: Here the estimated cost for each BodyPlus200 unit is $75 for   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   packaging. Labor Costs during the manufacture Process: Machining and welding: Given that the labor costs are $20 per hour for machining and welding time.    Now the total number of hours spent for machining and welding in manufacturing one BodyPlus100 and one BodyPlus200 are eight (8) and twelve (12) respectively.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore, the labor costs for machining and welding estimated for manufacturing one BodyPlus100 to be 8*20 = $160.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And, the labor costs for machining and welding estimated for manufacturing one BodyPlus200 to be 12*20 = $240. Painting and finishing: Given that the labor costs are $15 per hour for painting and finishing time. Now the total number of hours spent for painting and finishing in manufacturing one BodyPlus100 and one BodyPlus200 are five (5) and ten (10) respectively.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore, the labor costs for painting and finishing estimated for manufacturing one BodyPlus100 to be 5*15 = $75.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And, the labor costs for painting and finishing estimated for manufacturing one BodyPlus200 to be 10*15 = $150. Assembly, Testing and Packaging: Given that the labor costs are $12 per hour for assembly, testing, and packaging time. Now the total number of hours spent for assembling, testing and packaging in manufacturing one BodyPlus100 and one BodyPlus200 are two hours each.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Therefore, the labor costs for painting and finishing estimated for manufacturing one BodyPlus100 to be 2*12 = $24.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   And, the labor costs for painting and finishing estimated for manufacturing one BodyPlus200 to be 2*12 = $24. Hence the total labor costs in manufacturing 49 BodyPlus100 are 49*($160+$75+$24) = 49*($259)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = $12691   Also, the total labor costs in manufacturing 17 BodyPlus200   are 17*($240+$150+$24) =17*($419)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = $7123 Gross expenditure in the production of one unit of:    BodyPlus100: The total cost made in the manufacture of one BodyPlus100 machine (includes raw costs and labor costs)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   $450+$110+$300+$55+$250+$70+$50+$24 = $1309. BodyPlus200: The total cost made in the manufacture of one BodyPlus200   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   machine (includes raw costs and labor costs)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   $650+$160+$400+$75+$250+$70+$200+$70+$75+$24 = $1974. Profit Calculations: The retail price of one BodyPlus100 machine is $2400. The retail price of one BodyPlus200 machine is $3500. An authorized dealer will purchase at only 70% of the suggested retail price. Hence, a sale of one BodyPlus100 will produce 70% of $2400 = $1680 And a sale of one BodyPlus200 will produce 70% of $3500 = $2450. Admittedly, the net profit that is made in the sale of one BodyPlus100 machine is ($1680 $1309) = $371. Whereas the net profit that is made in the sale of one BodyPlus200 machine is ($2450 $1974) = $476. Here the net profit made on manufacturing one BodyPlus200 machine ($476) is larger in number than the profit that is made on manufacturing one BodyPlus100 machine ($371). But if we calculate the net profit that is made per hour work will entirely change the opinion onto BodyPlus100 machine. As, we get a profit of $476 after working 24 hours in manufacturing BodyPlus200 machine. This means the net profit made per hour on manufacturing one BodyPlus200 is only   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   $476/24 = $19.83 Whereas, the net profit made on manufacturing one BodyPlus100 machine is $371 after working for 15 hours. Therefore, profit made per hour is   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   $371/15 = $24.73 Conclusion: So, referring to the above profit math increasing the production percent (i.e. 75%) in the total production will gradually increase the profits of the company. Solutions Plus      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Table2.1       No. of gallons required Freight Charges No of gallons supplied from Total charges for shipping       Cincinnati Oakland Cincinnati Oakland Cincinnati Oakland Santa Ana 22,418 0.22 22,418 4,931.96 El Paso 6,800 0.84 0.74 6,800 5,032 Pendleton 80,290 0.83 0.49 30,290 50,000 25,140.7 24,500 Houston 100,477 0.45 50,447 50,000 22,701.15 Kansas city 241,570 0.36 191,570 50,000 68,965.2 Los Angeles 64,761 0.22 14,761 50,000 11,000 Glendale 33,689 0.22 33,689 7,411.58 Jacksonville 68,486 0.34 18,486 50,000 6,285.24 Little Rock 148,586 0.34 98,586 50,000 33,519.24 Bridgeport 111,475 0.34 51,475 50,000 17,501.5 Sacramento 112,000 0.15 62,000 50,000 7,500 Total 990,522 Grand Total 517,615 462,907 Here we can see that the total numbers of gallons that are delivered from Cincinnati are more than 500,000 gallons. So we are short of 17,615 gallons of the locomotives cleaning agent that has to be delivered from Cincinnati. To satisfy the requirement of the majority of the dealers in the remaining locations, and considering the profits, all the 17,615 gallons of the cleaning agent is reduced from the Pendleton deal.   Ã‚                                         Table2.2 No. of gallons required Production cost for the total number of gallons Total charges for shipping Total expenditure from    Cincinnati ($1.20/gallon) Oakland ($1.65/gallon) Cincinnati Oakland Cincinnati Oakland Santa Ana 22,418 $36,989.70 $4,931.96 $41,921.66 El Paso 6,800 $11,220.00 $5,032.00 $16,252.00 Pendleton 62,675 $15,210.00 $82,500.00 $10,520.25 $24,500.00 $25,730.25 $107,000.00 Houston 100,477 $60,536.40 $82,500.00 $22,701.15 $83,237.55 $82,500.00 Kansas city 241,570 $229,884.00 $82,500.00 $68,965.20 $298,849.20 $82,500.00 Los Angeles 64,761 $17,713.20 $82,500.00 $11,000.00 $17,713.20 $93,500.00 Glendale 33,689 $55,586.85 $7,411.58 $62,998.43 Jacksonville 68,486 $22,183.20 $82,500.00 $6,285.24 $28,468.44 $82,500.00 Little Rock 148,586 $118,303.20 $82,500.00 $33,519.24 $151,822.44 $82,500.00 Bridgeport 111,475 $61,770.00 $82,500.00 $17,501.50 $79,271.50 $82,500.00 Sacramento 112,000 $74,400.00 $82,500.00 $7,500.00 $74,400.00 $90,000.00    After reducing the supply to the Pendleton concerning larger profits, the total no. of gallons of cleaning agent sent to the Pendleton will be 17,615 less than that stated in Table-2.1   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Table-2.3    No. of gallons required No. of gallons supplied Total Expenditure (in $) Total Income from each location (15% more than the actual cost) Santa Ana 22,418 22,418 $41,921.66 $48,209.91 El Paso 6,800 6,800 $16,252.00 $18,689.80 Pendleton*** 80,290 62,675 $132,730.25 $152,639.79 Houston 100,477 100,477 $165,737.55 $190,598.18 Kansas city 241,570 241,570 $381,349.20 $438,551.58 Los Angeles 64,761 64,761 $111,213.20 $127,895.18 Glendale 33,689 33,689 $62,998.43 $72,448.20 Jacksonville 68,486 68,486 $110,968.44 $127,613.71 Little Rock 148,586 148,586 $234,322.44 $269,470.81 Bridgeport 111,475 111,475 $161,771.50 $186,037.23 Sacramento 112,000 112,000 $164,400.00 $189,060.00 TOTAL 990,552 972,937 $1,583,464.67 $1,821,214.39 *** indicates the locations that are short of the locomotive cleaning agent than they require by any amount. Conclusion: Hence the net profit made for one year is $237,749.72 and if the bid is made for one year the total amount has to be $1,821,214.39 but given that the bid has to be made for two years. Then the bid price would be $3,642,428.78 And the profit expected in two years (taken the oil prices are fixed) is $475,499.44 If the oil price is hiked by 15% then also profit is expected for the Solution Plus Company as there are few locations which are supplied with the cleaning agents without any shipping charges. So only a marginal amount of profit can be made in two years even after placing the bid.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   If the price of oil is slashed by any margin, then there will be more profits for the   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Company after one year.

Characteristics of a Modern Nation State

Characteristics of a Modern Nation State Describing the characteristics of modern nation-state by giving describing Nation, State Nation-state The nation is a culture group residing within the territory of the political state. A group of people are considered a nation if (1) they are permanent residents of a defined territory, (2) they exhibit some form of government, (3) they have a common culture, and (4) they declare themselves to be, and are considered by others to be, sovereign. When a group becomes a nation, older loyalties to family or tribe must be subordinated to the new political order, and a common literature, history, and a sense of a common future develop (Walter, 2004). States are independent political unit that claim exclusive jurisdiction over defined territories and over all of the people and activities within them. The governments are not always able to exercise this jurisdiction completely, but states can encourage or even force patterns of human activities to conform the political map. (Rubinstein, Service, Science, , 2002) The continuous growth in size and complexity of societies led people to seek political organization first in clans based on kinship, later in tribes that were collections of clans, and finally in city-states. Around the fifteenth century, city-states gradually began to emerge as nation-states. A nation-state is a specific form of state, which exists to provide a sovereign territory for a particular nation, and derives its legitimacy from that function. In the ideal model of the nation-state, the population consists of the nation and only of the nation: the state not only houses it, but protects it and its national identity. The nation-state did not always exist, and most of the present nation-states are located on territory that once belonged to another, non-national, state. They came into existence at least partly as a result of political campaigns by nationalists. The establishment of a nation-state can be considered the central demand of any nationalist movement. Japan is considered a nation as it has defined territories, government and the residents share a common culture. Moreover Japan traditionally seen as an example of a nation-state and also the largest of the nation states, with population in excess of 120 million. It should be noted that Japan has a small number of minorities such as Ryukyu peoples, Koreans, and Chinese, and on the northern island of Hokkaido, the indigenous Ainu minority. However, they are either numerically insignificant (Ainu), their difference is not as pronounced (though Ryukyuan culture is closely related to Japanese culture). Japan is also seen as a state due to the limited authority powers of the Emperor he is seen as a ceremonial figurehead, he is defined by the constitution as the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people. Power is held chiefly by the Prime Minister of Japan and other elected members of the Diet, while sovereignty is vested in the Japanese people (National Diet of Japan, 2007) The Emperor effectively acts as the head of state on diplomatic occasions. Akihito is the current Emperor of Japan. Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan, stands as next in line to the throne. Nation-state in Japan express a shared identity of its own population, it has national symbols, above all a national flag and a national anthem, often a wide range of national emblems. In fact it promotes the Japanese national identity in almost every area of human social and cultural life, from the national library to the national airline. Additionally it attempt to create and maintain national unity, and at least a minimal internal uniformity. Nation states have a cultural policy and a language policy for this purpose, and the educational system is often subordinated to this goal. The desire for uniformity had positive economic effects, because nation-states generally try to reduce internal disparities in income and regional GDP. Most have a regional policy for that purpose. How the United States fits the criteria of and functions as a modern nation-state The United States acts a modern nation-state as it is a sovereign territory as it includes a group of people who want to have their own government; furthermore Territories are geographical areas under the jurisdiction of a sovereign state, Sovereignty means authority to control, Territories are elements of states and we know that the united states of America have 50 states, the United states maintain borders and subdivide their territory for governmental purposes. The common values shared between Americans since the United States was founded in the 18th century, Americans have defined themselves not by their racial, religious, and ethnic identity but by their common values and belief in individual freedom (Friedman, 2008). Goals of American Foreign Policy The goals of U.S. foreign policy can be said to include the following: First, the central goal is to protect the nations physical security. This is a primary goal of every nations foreign policy, but the United States has been more successful in it than most. In fact, since the War of 1812, no foreign armies have occupied the continental United States. In contrast, the nations of continental Europe were overrun twice in the twentieth century and repeatedly in the nineteenth century. However the threat of terrorism may change the state of our security. A second goal is to protect the physical security of the principal allies of the United States. For instance, since World War II, the United States has committed itself to protect the nations of Western Europe through NATO), as well as to protect nations on other continents: Japan, South Korea, and Israel. European Union as a transnational entity: Discuss the major events which lead to the establishment of the European Union. From the ideas of establishing sovereign state characterized by a union federation and the association of sovereign member states confederation the main development in Europe was on supranational foundationwhich is the method of decision-making in multi-national political communities, wherein power is transferred or delegated to an authority by governments of member states, this was carried out to tomake war unthinkable and materially impossible (Fontaine, Europejskie, 2003), the most important events which lead to the establishment of the European Union were the foundation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1952, which was included six nations acted like an international organization serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union. The ECSC was the first organization to be based on the principles of supranationalism, later The Treaties of Rome were signed on 25 March 1957, by The Six countries, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany. The first Treaty established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the second Treaty established the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom). They were the first international organizations to be based on supranationalism, after the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) established a few years prior. Later two new communities were created separately from ECSC, The executives of the new communities were called Commissions, as opposed to the High Authority. The EEC would develop a customs union between members and Euratom would integrate sectors in nuclear energy. In 1973 the European Union started to witness expansion to include new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community (the EUs predecessor) in 1952. In 1992 Maastricht Treaty was signed on February 7th which established the European Union when it came into effect on 1 November 1993 became effective; since then, the EUs membership has grown to twenty-seven with the most recent expansion to Bulgaria and Romania in 2007. Major institutions and nations which forms the European Union. The European Union is composed of 27 sovereign Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The contemporary function of the European Union. The function of the European Union (EU) is to enable closer relations between the member states. This is in order to make the most of the collective abilities of the member states, for example free trade, freedom of movement, freedom of job choice. It enables a lot of the beaucracy that used to be involved with those issues to be by passed. The EU was also formed as a counter balance to the position of the United States as the only global super power. The E.U does not belong to specific country, each member state has a say in the running of the EU. The EU was formed mainly out of need for stability in Europe after the Second World War, and was a product of firstly economic agreements, which still form the main basis of todays EU. Describe two examples of foreign policy objectives for the European Union. The first objective of the EU is to use a decisive diplomacy to be a key player in international issues ranging from global warming to the conflict in the Middle East. The basis for the EUs common foreign and security policy (CFSP) remains soft power: the use of diplomacy backed where necessary by trade, aid and peacekeepers to resolve conflicts and bring about international understanding. The second objective is to have governments in charge, foreign and security policy is one area where essential authority remains with EU governments, although the European Commission and, to a lesser extent the European Parliament, are associated with the process. Key decisions are taken by unanimous vote. Analyze how nation-states and transnational entities engage in foreign policy to achieve their interests. Analyze how nation-states and transnational entities engage in foreign policy to achieve their interests analyze the consequences of this interaction for international politics. Nation-states interests basically shapes the foreign policy of a nation, as the Nation-states needs; for instance when development is needed in the economical section the foreign policy of that nation changes to meet the needs for nation-state objectives therefore it starts to establishing or maintaining good relationship with other nations to enhance trade business. Taking the United States as an example; the United States signed the North American free trade agreement (NAFTA) on January 1st 1994. Linking the US, Canada and Mexico. Another example is when Americans felt the lack security after September 11th attacks; the foreign policy of Unites States lunched war on terror which involved in a war against extremists in Afghanistan and another war to disarm Iraq from the possessing alleged weapons of mass destruction, Similarity the EU nation-state which represent the interest of all EU countries by shaping the foreign policy to maintain the peace in Europe and the efforts to reduce global warming. In conclusion the development of national states has been of vital importance in the modern world. Principally, the loyalties and beliefs of nationalism have been motivating forces in the organization of complex, technological societies in the urban-industrial period. They have also been important forces in establishing and maintaining international antagonisms. References Fontaine, Pascal, Europejskie, Uniwersytet. (2003).Studia europejskie. 2003. Friedman, K. (2008). American identity: ideas, not ethnicity. Retrieved from http://www.america.gov/st/diversity-english/2008/February/20080307154033ebyessedo0.5349237.html National Diet of Japan, Initials. (2007, January 10).The Constitution of japan. Retrieved from http://www.sangiin.go.jp/eng/law/index.htm Rubinstein, David, Service, British, Science, British, , Brit. (2002).International bibliography of sociology. Routledge. Walter, C., Opello, (2004).The Nation-state and global order: a historical introduction to contemporary politics. Boulder, US: LYNNE RINENNER.

The Ultimate Pet: A Pet Rock Essay -- essays research papers

The Ultimate Pet: A Pet Rock A pet rock can be as comforting to me as any canine or feline. Some would believe that a man's best friend is a dog. However, living in a confined two bedroom apartment, I do not have the luxury or permission for a forty pound dog to be plopping around. This is why I have found comfort in my pet rock. A pet rock can replace many of the duties, such as a companionship, I can get from a pet dog or cat. When I go shopping for a pet, I look for the appropriate size and color to meet my needs. Some people like big animals, some small. Some animals come in black, brown, white, yellow; yet some are spotted. The same goes for my rock. When I went "shopping" for my rock, I didn't want o...

Italy and Analysis Essay -- Essays Papers

Italy and Analysis COUNTRY ANALYSIS GENERAL Italy covers a land area of 301,230 sq km (116,306 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Italy is slightly larger than the state of Arizona. Italy has high unemployment and a relatively complicated and young market oriented government. To get an idea of how Italy’s culture compares to that of the Unites States, we ran a Hofstede. United States Italy Individualism 94 78 Power Distance 41 48 Uncertainty Avoidance 45 74 Masculinity 62 68 Individualism versus collectivism focuses on the relationship between the individual and his or her fellows. In individualistic societies, the ties between individuals were loose and individual achievement and freedom were highly valued. Power distance focuses on how a society deals with the fact that people are unequal in physical and intellectual capabilities. Low power distance cultures were found in societies that tried to play down such inequalities as much as possible. Uncertainty avoidance measures the extent to which different cultures socialized their members into accepting ambiguous situations and tolerating uncertainty. Members of high uncertainty avoidance cultures placed a premium on job security, career patterns, retirement benefits, and so on. Lower uncertainty avoidance cultures were characterized by a greater readiness to take risks and less emotional resistance to change. Masculinity versus femininity looks at the relationship between family and work roles. In masculine cultures, the job is as important or more important than the family. After comparing Italy with the United States the only possible problem or threat in relation to cultures that Philips should note is uncertainty avoidance. This means that Italy is not quick to adopt new ideas. If Web TV is introduced into Italy, it will take more time for it to become accepted than it did in the United States. SOCIOCULTURAL PENETRATION The Internet has just started to make an impact in Italy. A recent study by Eurisko (a very reliable research company) indicates that 1.8 million people say they use the Internet. They also found that 1.1% of Italian families (216,000) have an Internet connection at home as compared to 16.7% (40 million) in the USA. The population of Italy is around 57.3 milli... ...Italy. Therefore, out of these main competitors, Toshiba is the main threat but you can never tell what will happen with future generations of a product. The interesting thing about these competitors is that they are all licensees of WEB TV. They are also scrambling to find that ultimate next generation item that duplicates WEB TV and more. These companies are trying to gain market share in the alternate and substitute products. For instance Philips is a leading manufacturer of digital TV and if they could align with a cable company around an ISP then they will compete against their own WEB TV. Philips can compete in Italy. The question is can they do it with Web TV. The answer is no. WEB TV can not operate in conjunction with the specs of European TV. Therefore, they will need to change the WEB TV and make it work or form a partnership with a new product. This market moves fast and each of these competitors could end up on top, and win the Italian market. They need the working combinations of a product that serves the Italian community and serves the new European union. Considering all the available information we give Philips a rating of 7.375 for competitiveness.

Four season goes to paris Essay

This case demonstrates how Four Seasons effectively creates, cultivates, and sustains its organizational culture throughout every place the company expands its business to. In 1999, Four Seasons took over the Hotel George V in France and reopened it as the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris (F. S. George V) leading the company to cope with cultural difference issues. Research showed that a strong organizational culture correlates with the firm’s high performance (Sorensen, 124). Therefore, it is vital for managers, whose work deals with international aspects, to realize the importance of corporate culture and know how to help their companies maintain the culture. In this paper, I will discuss about organizational culture of Four Seasons, French culture related to the hospitality industry, possible conflicts and resolution between Four Seasons and France employee regarding organizational culture. Four Seasons’ culture centered on providing customers with an exceptional service and giving its human resources high value. In terms of service, the company blended uniform service standards with local ingredients resulting in a customized hotel that goes hand in hand with its host country. To elaborate, the company ensured that every employee adopts the service standards and put them into practice. This is because sharing the same standard helps bond the employees to one another. Consequently, these bonds lead to creating corporate culture. The company put emphasize on its valuable human resources by introducing â€Å"The Golden Rule,† highlighting dignity and respect throughout the organization (Hallowell, Bowen, and Knoop, 4). The company created a strong culture through selection and socialization procedure (Sorensen, 125). First, the company recruited people based on their attitude fit to the organizational culture. For example, all potential job candidates at the F. S. George V were interviewed four times. Four Seasons was convinced that an employee with the right attitude could adapt to its culture. Second, the firm strengthened its culture through rules implementation and auditing performance helping to increase cultural persistence. Consequently, persistence contributed to maintaining the company’s culture. Third, the firm sustained its belief through association with symbols (Sorensen, 126). For example, when his uniform gets dirty, an employee is supplied with a uniform to change. This symbolizes and reminds the employee of dignity according to â€Å"The Golden Rule. † Differences between French culture and Four Seasons’ culture can create potential conflicts when both cultures collide. On one hand, French culture is indirect and subjective. French people are non confrontational. Face saving and dignity are vital in employee evaluation. French people are proud of their nationality. They are emotional and take honor into account when providing services. The working style of French people is polychronic (Hallowell, Bowen, and Knoop, 7). They regard personal relationship more important than fixed appointments. On the other hand, Four Seasons’ North American culture is more direct and objective. An employee feels comfortable to talk openly to his manager. In turn, the manager can give the employee sincere feedback on his performance. It is vital to follow business schedule strictly. This section talks about cultural conflicts and resolutions. Cultural differences between Four Seasons and France employee can bring about conflicts when the two collaborate. Especially, when the company has to embrace employees from the Hotel Gorge V. This means the hotel has to deal with an existing culture that is different from its own. The company’s confrontational style in managing people can be ineffective and considered insulting in France. French employee with monochronic culture may not know that attend meeting late is unacceptable for Americans with polychronic culture (Hallowell, Bowen, and Knoop, 7). Also, French people are emotional which is good in providing exceptional service to impress guests. However, being too emotional can result in inconsistency of service. For example, a concierge may treat one guest better than the other according to his own preference. This disrupts harmony in organizational culture in that the service standards require employees to treat every guest equally. To solve cultural difference issues, the company gradually replaced the existing culture with a new one aiming at employees who were willing to change and adopt the company culture. When the majority of employees embraced corporate culture, which prioritizes service standards, the company could resolve service inconsistency issue. The firm also hired Le Calvez, a truly French man as a F. S George V general manager. His experience in dealing with union in New York facilitated him in reducing gap between its employees and the union. Then, the hotel assigned the task force to the F. S. Gorge V to make sure that the opening will run smoothly. This task force helped building Four Season’s culture. Also, it symbolized the company’s unity worldwide. Realizing that French employees are indirect and avoid confronting with their boss, Four Seasons used direct line to encourage them to speak up and voice their concerns comfortably. In conclusion, this paper presents Four Seasons’ culture, National culture of France, main conflicts when the two cultures collide, and the approaches Four Seasons took to resolve such conflicts. The company created and cultivated its corporate culture through communication, implementation, and symbolization.

In an era where magazines are failing, how does FHM maintain its audience?

The origins of FHM magazine date as far back to 1985 in the United Kingdom where the magazine began publication. FHM was first published under the name â€Å"For Him† and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full â€Å"For Him† Magazine continues to be printed on the spine of each issue. Circulation of this magazine was expanded to newsagents quarterly by spring 1987, after the emergence of a similar magazine Loaded which was regard by them to be the blueprint for the lad’s mag genre. For Him Magazine’ firmed up its approach to compete with expanding market by introducing a sports supplement. The magazine is published monthly and changed its name to FHM this being the abbreviated version of ‘For Him Magazine’ this is probably to gain the audience attention as they can print these letters bigger and bolder which a generic convention that FHM uses. It has dominated the men’s market around 1997 according to ABC magazine results where A. Crawford presented an article where she collected information on FHM magazine sales, FHM managed to overcome all other magazines and reached over 600,000 sales a month which was a 76% increase on last year which was 365,000† This shows FHM after just over 10 years have managed to overcome and compete with other magazine and are still managing to do so in the present day, this suggest that FHM is in high demand and the audience are genuinely interesting in the magazine. Also FHM began to expand internationally and now sells magazines in 26 different countries. You can read also Audience Adaptation Paper FHM was sold as part of the publishing company sale, from EMAP to German company, Bauer Media Group in February 2008, which is owned by the Bauer family. This magazine in the genre of is an lad’s magazines, they look so to sell their magazine to a target audience of men the age of 18-35, predominantly males belonging to A, B and broad C socio-economic classes with an interest for everything and anything sexy, funny and relevant to a men’s lifestyle, for example hobbies, and sports. According to a Synovate Media Atlas survey, â€Å"This magazine has over 1 million readers monthly across all socio-economic classes; this figure is based on a survey carried out by Synovate Media Atlas in the 2009-2010 year. † FHM has had other successes with the e-media platform by introducing fhm. com. This website version of the magazine has bought more users in and maintaining a large audience, this proves by the mass of audience that FHM is actually selling magazines and gaining revenue. –analyse website, analyse magazine FHM makes their revenue through the cover price of the magazine which is ?3. 0 monthly and through yearly subscriptions offered to readers, and their revenue is mostly produced by the adverts within the magazine. In 2002 according to New York Business Wire, â€Å"FHM has revenue gain of an outstanding 105% over last year, in addition the magazine ends 2002 with the largest issue of the year. † Over 10 years ago FHM managed to increase their revenue through selling magazines and selling advertisement space, the adverts must have related to the audience for them to keep buying the magazine therefore keeping the audience interested in the content of the magazine. Also because of the substantial increase of revenue in 2002 this put FHM in good stead to further develop their magazine to maintain the audience. According to Audit Bureau of circulation (ABC) in Jan-Jun 2008 ‘FHM continue sales of 280,392 and remains the bestselling magazine in print, online and overseas, it outsells GQ, MAXIM and LOADED. In April 2008, FHM witnessed record levels of traffic on FHM. com culminating in an ABCe of over 2million users. FHM now numbers 31 international editions worldwide. ’ According to these figures FHM have found a way to gain money through magazine sales, also FHM have found an effective way to use their created space in their magazine and selling that space to advertisers. This will help FHM gain revenue, as advertisements are important for advertisers because they also need to get their product recognised then there will always be space filled within FHM. This can be useful for the magazine as they can choose to publish articles that match the advertisement for example an article on fitness and sport and advertisement for a new football boot may follow. This allows the Advertisement Company and FHM to work together. This means this is an effective way of earning extra money with the magazine than just sales. – Specific evidence from mag Also FHM have a e-media platform, fhm. com. This has become increasingly popular with the consumers as they can choose what they want to read and in website form can hold mass information, FHM have created this media platform so they can give exclusivity to the audience and because this platform has different features from just a magazine this will keep the audience from getting bored. FHM has also released magazines editions worldwide this will allow for diverse mass audience and will help FHM’s sales. – Why do people buy and read magazine We can analyse FHM by using the Laura Mulvey’s male gaze theory, whereby she theorised that consumers are largely masculine and that women is controlled by the male gaze. This idea is that women’s body is displayed and makes the men the voyeur. FHM uses attractive photos of women by portraying them as sexually alluring and according to this theory would make the audience experience erotic pleasure from looking at the pictures of women. This attracts the male audience using the male gaze theory. One of the reasons why FHM appeals to the audience; â€Å"Sales of early titles such as Arena and Esquire were rapidly outstripped by title’s such as Loaded and FHM, as images of the ‘new man’ were replaced by an emphasis on more ‘laddish’ forms of masculinity, associated with drinking, sport and sex. Jackson et al, 2001. This quote supports the modernism theory as FHM is saying that men are moving forward and is supporting the progression of different forms of a man’s masculinity, this suggests men are buying FHM because they are portraying a better element of a man’s masculinity than other magazines and because of this it is appealing to the male audience and the content provided has more relevance to the audience. The male audience is attracted by the idea of a masculine lifestyle is about drinking, sport and sex which FHM offers them, this attraction is one of the reasons why this magazine has had successful and maintaining sales for a sustained period of time. FHM have many articles that improve a man’s body shape by training and giving the audience different advice and tips to help them they also provide dietary tips to go alongside. This article appeals to the aspirer’s as they want to improve themselves and aspire to a better body. Search google â€Å"FHM and media theory† The User and Gratifications theory suggest that users proactively search for media that will not only meet a given need but enhance knowledge, social interaction and diversion. This theory interprets the audience for actively integrating media into their own lives. It implies that the FHM compete against other information sources for the viewer’s gratifications. Using this theory, can explain how articles FHM produce appeal to the audience, using the article mentioned before, according to this theory the audience actively takes in the article and integrates it into their lives for example articles that involve fitness work to improve themselves and articles that involve tips to improve different aspects of life. With this particular article about improving your body shape and therefore masculinity this gives knowledge to the audience and this can create diversion from their everyday life by improving themselves. This is the audience actively integrating media into their own lives and is supported by Blumler and Katz’s work whereby they studied why people use particular media, and developed the users and gratifications theory. â€Å"FHM highlights and attempts to commodify aspirational aspects of a men’s lifestyle as a way of appealing to advertisers and also simultaneously trying to speak directly to readers as an authentic voice† this magazine can be generalised by using the hypodermic needle theory as they inject and portray how a men’s lifestyle should be and explain ways of getting there. The success of FHM was dependant on how this subject was addressed, commodifying men’s gender anxieties through editorial material that provides useful advice in a witty and accessible manner, often using ironic mode of address to avoid the charge of being sad or taking things seriously. † FHM offers the audience Personal Identity, this magazine shows and portray s how a men’s lifestyle should be. The consumers will act on this information and will let this magazine shape their own lives for example â€Å"Get a body like this with this diet† this article would be aimed at reformers that would like to make their body better also the magazine would offer this article and mention that there would be a follow up article in next month’s article, this would make the consumers buy the next issue therefore increasing FHM total monthly sales and maintaining their revenue. Also this magazine will have articles on celebrities training regime this could provide the audience with surveillance and would be able to gain an insight into their lives this would also help maintain sales and would gratify the audience. In FHM there is a main dominant stereotype about men, those there appearances and attitudes are masculine and FHM is very forward with this idea, they show men doing exercise with good strong body’s and the images they use are masculine portraying this dominate stereotype, the aspirers and reformers of the audience will act on FHM’s ideas of a man’s masculinity and will aspire to be there idea of a new man therefore making the consumers continually buy this magazine each month. We can analytically investigate FHM by using the Pluralist model. The pluralist model argues that there is diversity in society and therefore there is also choice, because the audience is diverse with different views the media is influenced by society because the media need to please the audience they will try and reflect the values and beliefs that are predominant in society. So FHM reflects the predominant masculine man and try to portray a typical man’s lifestyle, FHM stereotypes men to be very masculine, good in bed, happy in relationships, witty, considerate and skilled at all things. FHM shows these things in their magazines to captivate the audience and show them what they want to see, according to previous sales figures FHM seem to be doing this and have been maintaining it and therefore gaining revenue as well as pleasing the audience.

Custodial issues

Every year thousands of prisoners are released from prisons on parole or after completing their jail terms. To ensure that prisoners return to their normal lives without re- offending governments adopt programs meant to prepare prisoners for life after prison. Such programs may involve prisoners being allowed to work in community projects in order to instill a sense of responsibility in them. Additionally, prisoners may be allowed to work away from prisons and return when they have finished work. In some cases prisoners are permitted to visit the community.But despite these noble initiatives, cases of prisoners re-offending soon after they are released from prisons are not uncommon. This reveals that the programs are not always effective and something needs to be done to improve the situation. I strongly agree with probation experts such as Maburi (2009) that the psychological confusion, social stigma and economic hardships that they experience are partly to blame for prisoners re-of fending tendencies. I believe that the excessively punitive sentences issued to convicts harden them instead of reforming them.Such sentences ignore the fact that convicts will at one time return to the community yet and do little to prepare them for life after prison. To prevent cases of ex convicts re-offending, courts should take bear in mind rehabilitation of prisoners back to the community after their jail terms. Towards this end, I believe there is need for further cooperation between the judiciary and the prisons and rehabilitation departments. By issuing humane punishments, courts will not only help in decongesting prisons but also save time and resources spent in charging and convicting the same persons for the same criminal offence repeatedly.This will definitely boost efficiency of both departments. While the move by governments to rehabilitate ex-prisoners into the community is laudable, I think there is need to enhance cooperation between rehabilitation departments and prisoners’ families and communities. This helps reduce stigmatization of prisoners thereby helping them regain their self esteem and quicken their reintegration into the community. The community also benefits from reduced cases of crimes. At the same time, by working closely with ex convicts, community leaders are able to monitor ex convicts movements and detect any criminal tendencies.Such monitoring also protects reformed ex convicts from being accused of criminal behaviors. I also believe that there is need to increase financial assistance accorded to ex-prisoners. As a result of social stigma that faces ex convicts, they face challenges in securing employment, consequently some of them may resort to criminal activities such as robbery to meet their needs. To reduce chances of ex prisoners re-offending, I would strongly advocate for the creation of organizations based on the alcohol anonymous model. This would entail prisoners and ex prisoners coming together to help each other overcome their criminal behaviours.Since they share similar experiences it would be easier for them to open up to each other and get assistance. Such a move will help reduce recidivism and other offences. Finally, I would propose that ex prisoners be made to pay back to the community for crimes committed. This could help deter them from committing crimes and boost reconciliation efforts in the community. References Maburi T, K (2009) Re-Integration of Ex-Prisoners Back Into Society – What More Can We Do? In The New Times 26 October 2009 retrieved from http://allafrica. com/stories/200910270086. html on May 10, 2010

Foundation and Empire 7. Bribery

Sergeant Mori Luk made an ideal soldier of the ranks. He came from the huge agricultural planets of the Pleiades where only army life could break the bond to the soil and the unavailing life of drudgery; and he was typical of that background. Unimaginative enough to face danger without fear, he was strong and agile enough to face it successfully. He accepted orders instantly, drove the men under him unbendingly and adored his general unswervingly. And yet with that, he was of a sunny nature. If he killed a man in the line of duty without a scrap of hesitation, it was also without a scrap of animosity. That Sergeant Luk should signal at the door before entering was further a sign of tact, for he would have been perfectly within his rights to enter without signaling. The two within looked up from their evening meal and one reached out with his foot to cut off the cracked voice which rattled out of the battered pocket-transmitter with bright liveliness. â€Å"More books?† asked Lathan Devers. The sergeant held out the tightly-wound cylinder of film and scratched his neck. â€Å"It belongs to Engineer Orre, but he'll have to have it back. He's going to send it to his kids, you know, like what you might call a souvenir, you know.† Ducem Barr turned the cylinder in his hands with interest. â€Å"And where did the engineer get it? He hasn't a transmitter also, has he?† The sergeant shook his head emphatically. He pointed to the knocked-about remnant at the foot of the bed. â€Å"That's the only one in the place. This fellow, Orre, now, he got that book from one of these pig-pen worlds out here we captured. They had it in a big building by itself and he had to kill a few of the natives that tried to stop him from taking it.† He looked at it appraisingly. â€Å"It makes a good souvenir – for kids.† He paused, then said stealthily, â€Å"There's big news floating about, by the way. It's only scuttlebutt, but even so, it's too good to keep. The general did it again.† And he nodded slowly, gravely. â€Å"That so?† said Devers. â€Å"And what did he do?† â€Å"Finished the Enclosure, that's all.† The sergeant chuckled with a fatherly pride. â€Å"Isn't he the corker, though? Didn't he work it fine? One of the fellows who's strong on fancy talk, says it went as smooth and even as the music of the spheres, whatever they are.† â€Å"The big offensive starts now?† asked Barr, mildly. â€Å"Hope so,† was the boisterous response. â€Å"I want to get back on my ship now that my arm is in one piece again. I'm tired of sitting on my scupper out here.† â€Å"So am I,† muttered Devers, suddenly and savagely. There was a bit of underlip caught in his teeth, and he worried it. The sergeant looked at him doubtfully, and said, â€Å"I'd better go now. The captain's round is due and I'd just as soon he didn't catch me in here.† He paused at the door. â€Å"By the way, sir,† he said with sudden, awkward shyness to the trader, â€Å"I heard from my wife. She says that little freezer you gave me to send her works fine. It doesn't cost her anything, and she just about keeps a month's supply of food froze up complete. I appreciate it.† â€Å"It's all right. Forget it.† The great door moved noiselessly shut behind the grinning sergeant. Ducem Barr got out of his chair. â€Å"Well, he gives us a fair return for the freezer. Let's take a look at this new book. Ahh, the title is gone.† He unrolled a yard or so of the film and looked through at the light. Then he murmured, â€Å"Well, skewer me through the scupper, as the sergeant says. This is ‘The Garden of Summa,' Devers.† â€Å"That so?† said the trader, without interest. He shoved aside what was left of his dinner. â€Å"Sit down, Barr. Listening to this old-time literature isn't doing me any good. You heard what the sergeant said?† â€Å"Yes, I did. What of it?† â€Å"The offensive will start. And we sit here!† â€Å"Where do you want to sit?† â€Å"You know what I mean. There's no use just waiting.† â€Å"Isn't there?† Barr was carefully removing the old film from the transmitter and installing the new. â€Å"You told me a good deal of Foundation history in the last month, and it seems that the great leaders of past crises did precious little more than sit – and wait.† â€Å"Ah, Barr, but they knew where they were going.† â€Å"Did they? I suppose they said they did when it was over, and for all I know maybe they did. But there's no proof that things would not have worked out as well or better if they had not known where they were going. The deeper economic and sociological forces aren't directed by individual men.† Devers sneered. â€Å"No way of telling that things wouldn't have worked out worse, either. You're arguing tail-end backwards.† His eyes were brooding. â€Å"You know, suppose I blasted him?† â€Å"Whom? Riose?† â€Å"Yes.† Barr sighed. His aging eyes were troubled with a reflection of the long past. â€Å"Assassination isn't the way out, Devers. I once tried it, under provocation, when I was twenty – but it solved nothing. I removed a villain from Siwenna, but not the Imperial yoke; and it was the Imperial yoke and not the villain that mattered.† â€Å"But Riose is not just a villain, doc. He's the whole blamed army. It would fall apart without him. They hang on him like babies. The sergeant out there slobbers every time he mentions him.† â€Å"Even so. There are other armies and other leaders. You must go deeper. There is this Brodrig, for instance – no one more than he has the ear of the Emperor. He could demand hundreds of ships where Riose must struggle with ten. I know him by reputation.† â€Å"That so? What about him?† The trader's eyes lost in frustration what they gained in sharp interest. â€Å"You want a pocket outline? He's a low-born rascal who has by unfailing flattery tickled the whims of the Emperor. He's well-hated by the court aristocracy, vermin themselves, because he can lay claim to neither family nor humility. He is the Emperor's adviser in all things, and the Emperor's too in the worst things. He is faithless by choice but loyal by necessity. There is not a man in the Empire as subtle in villainy or as crude in his pleasures. And they say there is no way to the Emperor's favor but through him; and no way to his, but through infamy.† â€Å"Wow!† Devers pulled thoughtfully at his neatly trimmed beard. â€Å"And he's the old boy the Emperor sent out here to keep an eye on Riose. Do you know I have an idea?† â€Å"I do now.† â€Å"Suppose this Brodrig takes a dislike to our young Army's Delight?† â€Å"He probably has already. He's not noted for a capacity for liking.† â€Å"Suppose it gets really bad. The Emperor might hear about it, and Riose might be in trouble.† â€Å"Uh-huh. Quite likely. But how do you propose to get that to happen?† â€Å"I don't know. I suppose he could be bribed?† The patrician laughed gently. â€Å"Yes, in a way, but not in the manner you bribed the sergeant – not with a pocket freezer. And even if you reach his scale, it wouldn't be worth it. There's probably no one so easily bribed, but he lacks even the fundamental honesty of honorable corruption. He doesn't stay bribed; not for any sum. Think of something else.† Devers swung a leg over his knee and his toe nodded quickly and restlessly. â€Å"It's the first hint, though-â€Å" He stopped; the door signal was flashing once again, and the sergeant was on the threshold once more. He was excited, and his broad face was red and unsmiling. â€Å"Sir,† he began, in an agitated attempt at deference, â€Å"I am very thankful for the freezer, and you have always spoken to me very fine, although I am only the son of a farmer and you are great lords.† His Pleiades accent had grown thick, almost too much so for easy comprehension; and with excitement, his lumpish peasant derivation wiped out completely the soldierly bearing so long and so painfully cultivated. Barr said softly, â€Å"What is it, sergeant?† â€Å"Lord Brodrig is coming to see you. Tomorrow! I know, because the captain told me to have my men ready for dress review tomorrow for†¦ for him. I thought – I might warn you.† Barr said, â€Å"Thank you, sergeant, we appreciate that. But it's all right, man; no need for-â€Å" But the look on Sergeant Luk's face was now unmistakably one of fear. He spoke in a rough whisper, â€Å"You don't hear the stories the men tell about him. He has sold himself to the space fiend. No, don't laugh. There are most terrible tales told about him. They say he has men with blast-guns who follow him everywhere, and when he wants pleasure, he just tells them to blast down anyone they meet. And they do – and he laughs. They say even the Emperor is in terror of him, and that he forces the Emperor to raise taxes and won't let him listen to the complaints of the people. â€Å"And he hates the general, that's what they say. They say he would like to kill the general, because the general is so great and wise. But he can't because our general is a match for anyone and he knows Lord Brodrig is a bad ‘un.† The sergeant blinked; smiled in a sudden incongruous shyness at his own outburst; and backed toward the door. He nodded his head, jerkily. â€Å"You mind my words. Watch him.† He ducked out. And Devers looked up, hard-eyed. â€Å"This breaks things our way, doesn't it, doc?† â€Å"It depends,† said Barr, dryly, â€Å"on Brodrig, doesn't it?† But Devers was thinking, not listening. He was thinking hard. Lord Brodrig ducked his head as he stepped into the cramped living quarters of the trading ship, and his two armed guards followed quickly, with bared guns and the professionally hard scowls of the hired bravos. The Privy Secretary had little of the look of the lost soul about him just then. If the space fiend had bought him, he had left no visible mark of possession. Rather might Brodrig have been considered a breath of court-fashion come to enliven the hard, bare ugliness of an army base. The stiff, tight lines of his sheened and immaculate costume gave him the illusion of height, from the very top of which his cold, emotionless eyes stared down the declivity of a long nose at the trader. The mother-of-pearl ruches at his wrists fluttered filmily as he brought his ivory stick to the ground before him and leaned upon it daintily. â€Å"No,† he said, with a little gesture, â€Å"you remain here. Forget your toys; I am not interested in them.† He drew forth a chair, dusted it carefully with the iridescent square of fabric attached to the top of his white stick, and seated himself. Devers glanced towards the mate to the chair, but Brodrig said lazily, â€Å"You will stand in the presence of a Peer of the Realm.† He smiled. Devers shrugged. â€Å"If you're not interested in my stock in trade, what am I here for?† The Privy Secretary waited coldly, and Devers added a slow, â€Å"Sir.† â€Å"For privacy,† said the secretary. â€Å"Now is it likely that I would come two hundred parsecs through space to inspect trinkets? It's you I want to see.† He extracted a small pink tablet from an engraved box and placed it delicately between his teeth. He sucked it slowly and appreciatively. â€Å"For instance,† he said, â€Å"who are you? Are you really a citizen of this barbarian world that is creating all this fury of military frenzy?† Devers nodded gravely. â€Å"And you were really captured by him after the beginning of this squabble he calls a war. I am referring to our young general.† Devers nodded again. â€Å"So! Very well, my worthy Outlander. I see your fluency of speech is at a minimum. I shall smooth the way for you. It seems that our general here is fighting an apparently meaningless war with frightful transports of energy – and this over a forsaken fleabite of a world at the end of nowhere, which to a logical man would not seem worth a single blast of a single gun. Yet the general is not illogical. On the contrary, I would say he was extremely intelligent. Do you follow me?† â€Å"Can't say I do, sir.† The secretary inspected his fingernails and said, â€Å"Listen further, then. The general would not waste his men and ships on a sterile feat of glory. I know he talks of glory and of Imperial honor, but it is quite obvious that the affectation of being one of the insufferable old demigods of the Heroic Age won't wash. There is something more than glory hereand he does take queer, unnecessary care of you. Now if you were my prisoner and told me as little of use as you have our general, I would slit open your abdomen and strangle you with your own intestines.† Devers remained wooden. His eyes moved slightly, first to one of the secretary's bully-boys, and then to the other. They were ready; eagerly ready. The secretary smiled. â€Å"Well, now, you're a silent devil. According to the general, even a Psychic Probe made no impression, and that was a mistake on his part, by the way, for it convinced me that our young military whizz-bang was lying.† He seemed in high humor. â€Å"My honest tradesman,† he said, â€Å"I have a Psychic Probe of my own, one that ought to suit you peculiarly well. You see this-â€Å" And between thumb and forefinger, held negligently, were intricately designed, pink-and-yellow rectangles which were most definitely obvious in identity. Devers said so. â€Å"It looks like cash,† he said. â€Å"Cash it is – and the best cash of the Empire, for it is backed by my estates, which are more extensive than the Emperor's own. A hundred thousand credits. All here! Between two fingers! Yours!† â€Å"For what, sir? I am a good trader, but all trades go in both directions.† â€Å"For what? For the truth! What is the general after? Why is he fighting this war?† Lathan Devers sighed, and smoothed his beard thoughtfully. â€Å"What he's after?† His eyes were following the motions of the secretary's hands as he counted the money slowly, bill by bill. â€Å"In a word, the Empire.† â€Å"Hmp. How ordinary! It always comes to that in the end. But how? What is the road that leads from the Galaxy's edge to the peak of Empire so broadly and invitingly?† â€Å"The Foundation,† said Devers, bitterly, â€Å"has secrets. They have books, old books – so old that the language they are in is only known to a few of the top men. But the secrets are shrouded in ritual and religion, and none may use them. I tried and now I am here – and there is a death sentence waiting for me, there.† â€Å"I see. And these old secrets? Come, for one hundred thousand I deserve the intimate details.† â€Å"The transmutation of elements,† said Devers, shortly. The secretary's eyes narrowed and lost some of their detachment. â€Å"I have been told that practical transmutation is impossible by the laws of nucleics.† â€Å"So it is, if nuclear forces are used. But the ancients were smart boys. There are sources of power greater than the nuclei and more fundamental. If the Foundation used those sources as I suggested-â€Å" Devers felt a soft, creeping sensation in his stomach. The bait was dangling; the fish was nosing it. The secretary said suddenly, â€Å"Continue. The general, I am sure, is aware of a this. But what does he intend doing once he finishes this opera-bouffe affair?† Devers kept his voice rock-steady. â€Å"With transmutation he controls the economy of the whole set-up of your Empire. Mineral holdings won't be worth a sneeze when Riose can make tungsten out of aluminum and iridium out of iron. An entire production system based on the scarcity of certain elements and the abundance of others is thrown completely out of whack. There'll be the greatest disjointment the Empire has ever seen, and only Riose will be able to stop it. And there is the question of this new power I mentioned, the use of which won't give Riose religious heebies. â€Å"There's nothing that can stop him now. He's got the Foundation by the back of the neck, and once he's finished with it, he'll be Emperor in two years.† â€Å"So.† Brodrig laughed lightly. â€Å"Iridium out of iron, that's what you said, isn't it? Come, I'll tell you a state secret. Do you know that the Foundation has already been in communication with the general?† Devers' back stiffened. â€Å"You look surprised. Why not? It seems logical now. They offered him a hundred tons of iridium a year to make peace. A hundred tons of iron converted to iridium in violation of their religious principles to save their necks. Fair enough, but no wonder our rigidly incorruptible general refused – when he can have the iridium and the Empire as well. And poor Cleon called him his one honest general. My bewhiskered merchant, you have earned your money.† He tossed it, and Devers scrambled after the flying bills. Lord Brodrig stopped at the door and turned. â€Å"One reminder, trader. My playmates with the guns here have neither middle ears, tongues, education, nor intelligence. They can neither hear, speak, write, nor even make sense to a Psychic Probe. But they are very expert at interesting executions. I have bought you, man, at one hundred thousand credits. You will be good and worthy merchandise. Should you forget that you are bought at any time and attempt to†¦ say†¦ repeat our conversation to Riose, you will be executed. But executed my way.† And in that delicate face there were sudden hard lines of eager cruelty that changed the studied smile into a red-lipped snarl. For one fleeting second, Devers saw that space fiend who had bought his buyer, look out of his buyer's eyes. Silently, he preceded the two thrusting blast-guns of Brodrig's â€Å"playmates† to his quarters. And to Ducem Barr's question, he said with brooding satisfaction, â€Å"No, that's the queerest part of it. He bribed me. Two months of difficult war had left their mark on Bel Riose. There was heavy-handed gravity about him; and he was short-tempered. It was with impatience that he addressed the worshiping Sergeant Luk. â€Å"Wait outside, soldier, and conduct these men back to their quarters when I am through. No one is to enter until I call. No one at all, you understand.† The sergeant saluted himself stiffly out of the room, and Riose with muttered disgust scooped up the waiting papers on his desk, threw them into the top drawer and slammed it shut. â€Å"Take seats,† he said shortly, to the waiting two. â€Å"I haven't much time. Strictly speaking, I shouldn't be here at all, but it is necessary to see you.† He turned to Ducem Barr, whose long fingers were caressing with interest the crystal cube in which was set the simulacrum of the lined, austere face of His Imperial Majesty, Cleon II. â€Å"In the first place, patrician,† said the general, â€Å"your Seldon is losing. To be sure, he battles well, for these men of the Foundation swarm like senseless bees and fight like madmen. Every planet is defended viciously, and once taken, every planet heaves so with rebellion it is as much trouble to hold as to conquer. But they are taken, and they are held. Your Seldon is losing.† â€Å"But he has not yet lost,† murmured Barr politely. â€Å"The Foundation itself retains less optimism. They offer me millions in order that I may not put this Seldon to the final test.† â€Å"So rumor goes.† â€Å"Ah, is rumor preceding me? Does it prate also of the latest?† â€Å"What is the latest?† â€Å"Why, that Lord Brodrig, the darling of the Emperor, is now second in command at his own request.† Devers spoke for the first time. â€Å"At his own request, boss? How come? Or are you growing to like the fellow?† He chuckled. Riose said, calmly, â€Å"No, can't say I do. It's just that he bought the office at what I considered a fair and adequate price.† â€Å"Such as?† â€Å"Such as a request to the Emperor for reinforcements.† Devers' contemptuous smile broadened. â€Å"‘He has communicated with the Emperor, huh? And I take it, boss, you're just waiting for these reinforcements, but they'll come any day. Right?† â€Å"Wrong! They have already come. Five ships of the line; smooth and strong, with a personal message of congratulations from the Emperor, and more ships on the way. What's wrong, trader?† he asked, sardonically. Devers spoke through suddenly frozen lips. â€Å"Nothing!† Riose strode out from behind his desk and faced the trader, hand on the butt of his blast-gun. â€Å"I say, what's wrong, trader? The news would seem to disturb you. Surely, you have no sudden birth of interest in the Foundation.† â€Å"I haven't.† â€Å"Yes – there are queer points about you.† â€Å"That so, boss?† Devers smiled tightly, and balled the fists in his pockets. â€Å"Just you line them up and I'll knock them down for you.† â€Å"Here they are. You were caught easily. You surrendered at first blow with a burnt-out shield. You're quite ready to desert your world, and that without a price. Interesting, all this, isn't it?† â€Å"I crave to be on the winning side, boss. I'm a sensible man; you called me that yourself.† Riose said with tight throatiness, â€Å"Granted! Yet no trader since has been captured. No trade ship but has had the speed to escape at choice. No trade ship but has had a screen that could take all the beating a light cruiser could give it, should it choose to fight. And no trader but has fought to death when occasion warranted. Traders have been traced as the leaders and instigators of the guerilla warfare on occupied planets and of the flying raids in occupied space. â€Å"Are you the only sensible man then? You neither fight nor flee, but turn traitor without urging. You are unique, amazingly unique – in fact, suspiciously unique.† Devers said softly, â€Å"I take your meaning, but you have nothing on me. I've been here now six months, and I've been a good boy.† â€Å"So you have, and I have repaid you by good treatment. I have left your ship undisturbed and treated you with every consideration. Yet you fall short. Freely offered information, for instance, on your gadgets might have been helpful. The atomic principles on which they are built would seem to be used in some of the Foundation's nastiest weapons. Right?† â€Å"I am only a trader,† said Devers, â€Å"and not one of these bigwig technicians. I sell the stuff; I don't make it.† â€Å"Well, that will be seen shortly. It is what I came here for. For instance, your ship will be searched for a personal force-shield. You have never worn one; yet all soldiers of the Foundation do. It will be significant evidence that there is information you do not choose to give me. Right?† There was no answer. He continued, â€Å"And there will be more direct evidence. I have brought with me the Psychic Probe. It failed once before, but contact with the enemy is a liberal education.† His voice was smoothly threatening and Devers felt the gun thrust hard in his midriff – the general's gun, hitherto in its holster. The general said quietly, â€Å"You will remove your wristband and any other metal ornament you wear and give them to me. Slowly! Atomic fields can be distorted, you see, and Psychic Probes might probe only into static. That's right†¦ I'll take it.† The receiver on the general's desk was glowing and a message capsule clicked into the slot, near which Barr stood and still held the trimensional Imperial bust. Riose stepped behind his desk, with his blast-gun held ready. He said to Barr, â€Å"You too, patrician. Your wristband condemns you. You have been helpful earlier, however, and I am not vindictive, but I shall judge the fate of your behostaged family by the results of the Psychic Probe.† And as Riose leaned over to take out the message capsule, Barr lifted the crystal-enveloped bust of Cleon and quietly and methodically brought it down upon the general's head. It happened too suddenly for Devers to grasp. It was as if a sudden demon had grown into the old man. â€Å"Out!† said Barr, in a tooth-clenched whisper. â€Å"Quickly!† He seized Riose's dropped blaster and buried it in his blouse. Sergeant Luk turned as they emerged from the narrowest possible crack of the door. Barr said easily, â€Å"Lead on, sergeant!† Devers closed the door behind him. Sergeant Luk led in silence to their quarters, and then, with the briefest pause, continued onward, for there was the nudge of a blast-gun muzzle in his ribs, and a hard voice in his ears which said, â€Å"To the trade ship.† Devers stepped forward to open the air lock, and Barr said, â€Å"Stand where you are, Luk. You've been a decent man, and we're not going to kill you.† But the sergeant recognized the monogram on the gun. He cried in choked fury, â€Å"You've killed the general.† With a wild, incoherent yell, he charged blindly upon the blasting fury of the gun and collapsed in blasted ruin. The trade ship was rising above the dead planet before the signal lights began their eerie blink and against the creamy cobweb of the great Lens in the sky which was the Galaxy, other black forms rose. Devers said grimly, â€Å"Hold tight, Barr – and let's see if they've got a ship that can match my speed.† He knew they hadn't! And once in open space, the trader's voice seemed lost and dead as he said, â€Å"The line I fed Brodrig was a little too good. It seems as if he's thrown in with the general.† Swiftly they raced into the depths of the star-mass that was the Galaxy.