Major Factors For The Low Profitability Commerce Essay

Major Factors For The Low Profitability Commerce EssayTo regard the indispensable elements that contributed as major factors for the low profitability in the information processing system industry, the group had to apply Porters five forces orientation. The main reasons for a low average profitability in the computer market even though there exists juicy level of output and innovation especially during the last ten years lavatory be attributed to these factorsPrimary, as a weak strategic choice, Stiff Competition (which ultimately led to price competition) was war of attrition between these companies, and of course as a result of this some money was left on the table and average profitability was low. Secondly, product differentiation among the industries was very weak and complementary products that would submit made a difference were non as such available. Thirdly, as it can be seen from the business chain, the suppliers had monopoly power over the manufacturers. Fourth, thr eat of the substitutes was very high since there was no brand loyalty on the part of customers. So, as a result these forces were able to put an undeniable pressure on the computer industry and led to a low average profitability.2) Why has Dell been so successful despite the low average profitability in the PC industry?In 1998 the computer industry shared or had the same kind of business strategy. This is more(prenominal) obvious when one sees the similarity in dissemination carry. What made Dell distinctive from the competitors was their application of the Blue Ocean strategy. Dell focused on direct orders from customers, offering customer tailored products and meanwhile real new marketing and distribution strategy. This resulted in low product variable be and 8% increase in operating(a) profit in comparability with usage of standard distribution channels.Dell segmented their customers in two main groups relationship and transaction buyers. This increased the capability of be tter understanding and responding more efficiently to customer needs. This raised customer satisfaction level and created loyal customers, which affected positively the lodges profitability.The decision to take orders instantly from the internet web page, knowing especially through a new CRM model, made it possible for Dell to provide innovative service and products to all customer segments. A crucial headstone to Dells success was the decision to proceed with production only after an order was received.In the same time focusing on limited number of suppliers and maintaining occlude relationship with them, allowed Dell to separate delivery of different components of production, thus reducing shipping time and decreasing operating cost by keeping short letter at minimum level.Dells successes resulted from implementing an impressive and profitable corporate strategy by focusing heavily on direct customers and suppliers.3) Prior to the recent (19971998) actions by the competitor s to hold in Dell, how big was Dells competitive advantage?The personal computer industry has been one of the most competitive industries in the world. It is typically characterized by rapid innovations, low costs, and in most cases, the demand for updated processing systems has kept this industry very attractive.The only way companies can be profitable under this set framework was to be operationally efficient. In the 1990s, the growth of the World Wide Web led to an increased demand for PC and thus consequently led to a parentage in prices because of its highly competitive nature.Dells efficiency in 1997-1998 came from two key success factors First, they sell directly to their customers so their distribution channels are saucer-eyed and cheap (eliminating all middlemen costs, no dealership markup). Second, they adapted the necessitate Model, where they only do build-to-order, which kept inventories low. Low inventories mean that, when the competing companies drop the price of its processors, Dell did not tolerate accumulated old expensive processors. It was able to strangle the prices on its computers faster than its competitors can, because the components that made up those computers are the latest and cheapest.Dell clearly terrific its customers segments and as part of its strategy, it targeted the corporate customers (relationship buyers) who were volume buyers. As a result, the transactions costs/per PC sale were substantially lower compared to its competitors.In summary, Dells strategy was characterized byBuild-to-order and direct-to-customer relationshipsFocus on specific market segmentsLow cost distributionManufacturing and strong supplier relationshipsMinimum inventoryService and repair through call in and third parties.Exhibit 1 shows that Dell as compared with the competitors had a low gross margin. (See annex)Exhibit 2 shows that Dells net profit margin is the same as the market average. We can conclude that the fixed costs for Dell was mu ch lower than for the competitors, which gave Dell an opportunity to cut prices unlike its competitors. (See annex)Exhibit 3 shows that the attach to has a relatively low inventory turnover which gives the company a competitive advantage in the fiercely growing market by minimizing losses. (See annex)4) How effective have competitors been in responding to the challenge posed by dells advantage?IBMIBM was the first PC maker to recognize Dells competitive advantage in direct gross revenue distribution. In early 1990s it launched a series of initiatives to improve the coordination with resellers and distributors called Joint Manufacturing Program that was followed by Integration and assemblage program and Enhanced Integration and Assembly Programs. IBM started to ship heavily configured PCs to resellers and distributors who completed the configuration of the machine for the end users.In 1995 IBM launched Authorized Assembly Program shipping lightly configured computers (Model 0s) to downriver partners who would complete the assembly with the missing components and ship to customers. The AAP program helped IBM to rapidly deliver customized PCs without holding large amounts of inventory.In 1998 IBM launched its web site where business customers would refer to certain resellers and individual customers could purchase standardized PCs directly from IBM.CompaqIn 1994 Compaq was the worlds largest manufacturer of PCs. Compaqs initial strategy was to distribute the PCs to customers primarily through retail stores. The company launched several attempted initiatives to sell directly to customers (online catalogue in 1993 and toll free telephone in 1996) which soon had to be shut down because of channel conflicts.From 1995, Compaq launched new initiatives to reduce the inventory by optimizing its production system and introducing Optimized Distribution Model. This eventually reduced the inventory to 25 days.Starting from 1998 Compaq launched Direct Plus Program sellin g PCs directly to customers via internet and telephone. Direct Plus came with additional services such as support service, software modules and leasing programs.HPHP sold PCs mainly through distributors and resellers and retail channels. HP was reluctant to sell PCs directly to customers and although in 1997 it started to accept orders on its web site, the PCs were delivered to the customers through resellers.In 1998 HP extended the scope of HP obtain Village web service that allowed the consumers to purchase PCs directly from the web site, however like IBM business customers were referred to resellers.GatewayGateways business model was very similar to Dells, the company took orders from the customers, build the PCs and shipped them directly to the customers. Initially the strategy was very successful but over time Gateways competitive advantage declined despite a series of initiatives. In 1998 the company lost its corporate customer segment and refocused on small businesses.Despit e the efforts the competitors made to match Dells success, none of them were particularly successful.5) What should each of Dells major rivals (IBM, Compaq, HP, Gateway) do now?As a short term solution, competitors (IBM, Compaq, HP and Gateway) before focusing on their core competence and increase their market margin they have to imitate Dells competitive advantages for some time. But in the long run competitors shouldPursue sustainable increase in efficiency of the production processes to decrease the operating costs analyze and revise current supply chain, outsourcing certain tasks to the other geographical location in order to benefit from the lower labor cost and also try to find new market place as a comparative and competitive advantage.A special attention should be apt(p) to premium customers (large companies) through direct sales and sales-force, because these clients make big and repetitive orders, and for the rest of the segments sales can be conducted through Internet or phone. Direct sales help avoid leaving margins in pocket of resellers and distributors.And most importantly, they should focus on their specialization.CompanyKey Market segmentsKey Distribution channelsBusinessDellLarge BusinessDirect distribution 86.6%Assembly (only)GatewayHome and small businessDirect distribution 90.43%ProductionHPSmall and middle business 32.6% Individuals 28%Distributors 75%, Resellers, 23%ProductionCompaqSmall and middle business IndividualsDistributors 66.6%, Resellers, 24.6%ProductionIBMLarge Business Small and sensitive BusinessDistributors 69.6%, Resellers, 18.4%ProductionAnnexExhibit 1Exhibit 2Exhibit 3

Computer Networks And Wireless Transmissions

Computer Ne iirks And Wireless TransmissionsIn telecommunications, wireless communication may be use to transfer information everyplace improvident distances or long distance. The term is often shortened to wireless. it encompasses various types of fixed , mobile, cellular teleph hotshots etc. at present -a days people who need to be online all the time. For these mobile users, twisted pair, coax, and fiber optics be of no use. They need to get their hits of data for their laptop, notebooks, shirt sackful or wrist watch computers without being tethered to the terrestrial communication infrastructure. For these users, wireless communication is the answer.THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUMWireless transmission can provide specific services and conveniences to people, much(prenominal) as connection to the internet or other networks without connecting to wire directly. It can also facilitate the creation of networks in limited situations, such as terrain that is unfri completionly to ground cables. Wireless communication began, in fact, in the Hawaiian island precisely the problem of terrain separated by large stretched of ocean. governmental organizations determine which sections of the spectrum of light ar all to which wireless transmission purpose. Because the existing organizations are always in agreement with current practice or with individually other, approximately products manufactured for one country may not work in another.RADIO TRANSMISSIONRadio waves are easy to generate and are omnidirectional, but have low transmission rates. Also, dep displaceing on their frequency, radio waves either cannot run low very far, or are absorbed by the earth. In some cases, though, high frequency waves are reflected back to earth by the ionosphere. Ionosphere is a layer of the atmosphere.MICROWAVE TRANSMISSIONMicrowave transmission is popular for its ability to give-up the ghost in heterosexual person lines. A source can be directly focused on its destination w ithout interfering with neighboring transmissions. Because they travel in straight lines, though, the curvature of the earth can interrupt with the microwave transmitters. The solution to this is the addition of repeaters in between the source and destination to redirect the data path. Microwaves are used for long distance communication like cellular phones, garage door openers and so on..INFRARED AND MILLIMETER WAVESInfrared light is used for close- range communication, such as remote controls, because if does not pass through objects well up. This is also a plus because infrared communications in one room de not interfere with the infrared communications in another room. Infrared communication is more secure than other option, such as radio, but it cannot be used away(p) due to interference by the sun.LIGHTWAVE TRANSMISSIONLasers can be used for wireless communication. It is a relatively low cost way to connect two buildings LAN, but it has drawbacks. The laser is difficult to target on the destinations receiver because the beam is so small. Laser light also diffuses easily in poor atmospherical conditions like rain, fog and so on.TERMS OF WIRELESS TRANSMISSIONThe theoretical basis for data communicationTransmission mediaWireless transmissionThe telephone clayNarrowband ISDNBroadband ISDN and ATMTHE THEORETICAL BASIS FOR DATA COMMUNICATIONHarmonicsAn infinite series, such as a Fourier series, is just the addition of an infinite number of toll. all(prenominal) term is called a harmonic.BaudSignals are used to s difference data over a write. If we want to indicate a data change, there is a corresponding signal change on the wire. The upper limit possible number of signal changes per second is called the baud.Fourier SeriesA periodic function is one that repeats itself over time. Sine and cowickedness are periodic functions. Fourier proved that any reasonably behaved periodic function could be written as a sum of sine and cosine functions. This is importa nt because sine and cosine are easily represented and recreated. The Fourier series allows periodic signals to be sent over a wire.Voice-Grade LineA voice-grade line has certain restrictions that limits the maximum number of signal changes per second.Signal-To-Noise Ratio DecibelsA way to measure to measure the thermal hitch that is present on a wire.TRANSMISSION MEDIAHere more than ten terms are there so I am expiration to explain five termsMagnetic MediaMaterial on which to store data. It is used in diskettes and magnetic tape. Magnetic media is a common way to transport data quickly.Twisted pas de deuxThe oldest and still most common transmission medium. Two insulated copper wires. Twisting the wires reduces electrical interferences from nearby wires. It also counters the antenna effect caused by parallel wires.Head-EndIn a dual cable system, there are two cables which only transmit data in one direction each. At one end of the network, data is collection from one line for re- transmission on the line going the opposite direction. The end of the network responsible for the data collection and retransmission is called the head-end.SubsplitWhen two cables are not used, but there is need for simulation of dual cable system, bandwidth on a single cable can be split up, with one portion representing one cable, and the other portion representing the second cable. Splitting the frequencies so that the lower frequencies are used for one purpose and the higher for another is called a subsplit system.ModeCharacteristic of a light wave associated with the reflection of the wave through the silica fiber.WIRELESS TRANSMISSIONFrequency (F)Light and electricity travel in the form of waves. Waves are periodic in that they repeat themselves, so the frequency of a wave is just the number of times the wave repeats itself in one second.Hertz (Hz)The unit of measure of frequency. The name comes from the german physicist who first produced electromagnetic waves.Wavelength (Lam bda)Wavelength is the measure of the length of a wave that is it is used ti fix the distance between two consecutive maxima or minima.Speed Of Light (C)The speed that electromagnetic waves travel in a vacuum approximately 3*108 m/sec. electromagnetic waves do not travel as fast through a medium as they do through a vacuum. blossom SpectrumA pattern for EM transmission which is popular in the military for its ability to avoid jamming. The transmitter hops from frequency to frequency across a wide frequency band.THE TELEPHONE SYSTEMIn this there are more than ten terms so here I am going to explain six termsPublic Switched Telephone NetworkThe currently existing network used for telephone communication. It was designed specifically for voice, and is not well suited for use by computers for transmitting data to one another.End OfficeThe place to which your telephones lines connect to receive the telephone service. The distance from the telephone to the end office is usually small aro und 1 to 10km).Toll OfficesSwitching centers that connect several end offices.Tandem OfficesSimilar to the toll office, except it connects the end offices that are within the same local area.Toll Connecting TrunksThe hardware which connects the end office to the toll of offices.NARROWBAND ISDNIntegrated Services Digital Network fully digital, circuit switched telephone system that is designed to accommodate both voice and data services.Digital Bit PipeA bi-directional logical pipe which provide pass bits on from source to destination without concern about whether they are voice.NT1Device placed between the user and the nearest end office allows ISDN connection. sphere Old Telephone Exchange or NT2Device placed between the end user which can provide a variety of ISDN services.Narrowband ISDNISDN services on 64-kbps channels.BROADBAND ISDN AND ATMBroadband ISDNIt is more recent design for a digital network on which data can travel rates of 155Mbps. It is base on ATM technology.Perma nent Virtual CircuitsVirtual circuits that remains in place for extended periods of time.Switched Virtual CircuitsVirtual circuits that remains in place for short periods of time, typically related to the session time.Head-Of-Line BlockingIf a questionable cell tries to come into ATM switch, it will be stalled, effectively stalling the cells behind it unfairly. This is called head-of -line blocking. spectator SwitchTo solve the head-of-line blocking problem, queuing on the output side has been proposed. The knockout switch does just this, by stimulating a single output align by having several output queues that are activated on a round- robin type basis.FORMULAETHE THEORETICAL BASIS FOR DATA COMMUNICATIONBaud sayThe baud rate is NOT the same as the data rate. Baud tells how many signals are sent per second, but there are ways of encode more than one bit per signal change. AVOID getting this confused.Baud= number of signal changes/secondMaximum Data Rate Of A groove (Nyquists The orem)Max data rate=2 Hlog2 VH=bandwidth in HZV=discrete levelsThis verbal expression shows the maximum number of bits that can be sent per second on a data line with a bandwidth of H, is V bits are sent per signal. The max data rate should be in bits per second.Signal-To-Noise Ratio10log10(S/N)S=signal powerN=noise powerThis figure is used to quantify the quality of a line. It is not usually presented as a ratio, but instead it is given in the units decibels.Maximum Number of Bits Per Second (Shannons Result)Max number of bits per second=H log2 (1+(S/N))This formula shows the maximum achievable data rate on a noisy line. The difference between shannons result and Nyquists theorem is that Shannons result takes the noise on a line into consideration. The noise can drastically reduce a lines capacity to send data. It is measured in bits per second.TRANSMISSION MEDIAAttenuation10 log10 (transmitted power/ received power)Attenuation is a way to measure the amount of power lost in a sig nals strength from when it was sent to when it was received. Attenuation is measured in decibels.WIRELESS TRANSMISSIONThis formula is used to find the relationship between frequency, wavelength, and the speed of light.Lambda f=cLambda=wavelengthF=frequencyC=speed of lightTHE TELEPHONE SYSTEMThis formula is used to fine the bits per second.Bits per second= number of bits per signal change*baud.BIBILIOGRPHYGoogle.comWikipedia.com

The Way Life Goes :: Short Stories Shopping Papers

The Way Life Goes With the national economy stronger than it has been in decades, 1999 was a boot year for good old American consumerism. Timely for a generation of consumers. Nordstrom Inc., integrity of the nations oldest retail legends, approaches its 100th anniversary with everyplace one hundred subdivision stores across the country. Nordstrom profits by targeting untapped consumer resources in cities such as Providence whose shoppers previously crossed state lines to fit their closets and empty-bellied their bank accounts. The opening of one of their shiniest new branches, the first in Rhode Island, boasts milky marble floors, the latest in escalator design and Providences gameest sectionalisation of designer clad shoppers. Whether you are in Nashville or Anchorage, the quality of merchandise, service, and shopping environment at Nordstrom is set at a high standard. The personal line of credit is thick with expensive perfume, sales clerks are smartly dressed and exc itable, pink cashmere hangs delicately from the racks. Nordstrom Inc, which has done well in the stock exchange and on the internet, attempts to pop the question a pleasant shopping experience for customers. After a white chocolate mocha at the Nordstrom Caf and three expansive floors of warm command processing overhead lighting, most(prenominal) agree. People come for the atmosphere, the fashion, and if they happen to know about Leroy, they come for the music. Sometime in November, a young man from East Providence wandered into Nordstrom with a assembly of friends, noticed that the black Steinway on the first floor was silent, sat down, and began to play. As his fingers rolled an eclectic mix of gospel, jazz, and blues across the ivory keys, a meeting of shoppers abandoned their purchases, literally dropped their bags, to surround the piano, drawn by the music to this magnetic musician. No one had heard anything like it, especially in a department store. Stephanie in jewelry di aled Merideth on the third floor. Nineteen year old Leroy Robinson landed himself a job.Three months later at 1000 on a Tuesday morning, uncomfortable with the silence of slow business, Leroy evokes the same reactions for the fewer who meander in. Entranced stares. Commending nods. Grown men surround the Steinway to tap their feet, clench their fists, and in a few octaves above their natural ability, sing fragmented lyrics to old jazz tunes. He appears lost in a world of improvisational music but he looks up to acknowledge the customers and smiles at every last one.The Way Life Goes Short Stories Shopping PapersThe Way Life Goes With the national economy stronger than it has been in decades, 1999 was a peak year for good old American consumerism. Timely for a generation of consumers. Nordstrom Inc., one of the nations oldest retail legends, approaches its 100th anniversary with over one hundred department stores across the country. Nordstrom profits by targeting untapped con sumer resources in cities such as Providence whose shoppers previously crossed state lines to fill their closets and empty their bank accounts. The opening of one of their shiniest new branches, the first in Rhode Island, boasts milky marble floors, the latest in escalator design and Providences highest class of designer clad shoppers. Whether you are in Nashville or Anchorage, the quality of merchandise, service, and shopping environment at Nordstrom is set at a high standard. The air is thick with expensive perfume, sales clerks are smartly dressed and excitable, pink cashmere hangs delicately from the racks. Nordstrom Inc, which has done well in the stock exchange and on the internet, attempts to provide a pleasant shopping experience for customers. After a white chocolate mocha at the Nordstrom Caf and three expansive floors of warm overhead lighting, most agree. People come for the atmosphere, the fashion, and if they happen to know about Leroy, they come for the music. Sometim e in November, a young man from East Providence wandered into Nordstrom with a group of friends, noticed that the black Steinway on the first floor was silent, sat down, and began to play. As his fingers rolled an eclectic mix of gospel, jazz, and blues across the ivory keys, a crowd of shoppers abandoned their purchases, literally dropped their bags, to surround the piano, drawn by the music to this magnetic musician. No one had heard anything like it, especially in a department store. Stephanie in jewelry dialed Merideth on the third floor. Nineteen year old Leroy Robinson landed himself a job.Three months later at 1000 on a Tuesday morning, uncomfortable with the silence of slow business, Leroy evokes the same reactions for the few who meander in. Entranced stares. Commending nods. Grown men surround the Steinway to tap their feet, clench their fists, and in a few octaves above their natural ability, sing fragmented lyrics to old jazz tunes. He appears lost in a world of improvis ational music but he looks up to acknowledge the customers and smiles at every last one.

Eating Disorder Essay - Bulimarexia Changed My Life -- Personal Narrat

Bulimargonxia Changed My LifeIt was a frigid day in September 2003, and I was on my focus into school. This was the introductory day of school, in my Senior year. Everyone said it is suppose to be the best year of your high school career. However, it wasnt that way for me. I walked into school on that day, and I felt as if I had some terrible disease. People were avoiding me, ignoring me, and this had never happened before. I was always Miss Popularity all through discover school and I endlessly had someone around me. Therefore, getting the cold shoulder was new to me. Day after day I would come to school feeling left out and alone. I had no idea what was happening to all my friends. Until one day I overheard some people talking about me. I was so damage to hear the things being said, because it was far from the truth. These lies and rumors went on until November, when Homecoming was over. Every week there was a new rumor, a new lie, a new way to hurt me. One week I was a lesbian , the next week I dated every guy in school, whatsoever lie that anyone would believe. At first, I let it go in one ear and out the other. Even though it hurt, I didnt want anyone to know it bothered me. However, holding it inner(a) was even worse. At this point I felt alike(p) I had no one to lean on, and nowhere to escape from this nightmare. I tried everything to flummox myself wake up and realize this was all a terrible dream. However, I never woke up and the horror continued. During this time my parents were having troubles as well. Hence, I felt like everything was coming down around me and I had no idea how to stop it. Finally, after about a month, I could not hold my feelings in any longer. I ended up falling into the horrible disease called bulimarexia. Bulimarexia is ... ...veryone is different and nothing is wrong with that. However, there is something wrong with a world make of the same mold. If God would have done that, do you know how boring this world would be? W e would all know everything about one another, there would be nothing new to learn. Everyone is different for a reason and if someone cant accept that, then they are not worth your time or energy. To be yourself is a wonderful thing, and I am glad that I realized this now instead of later. I am enjoying myself and getting to live a less stressful life. I am so thankful to be able to share my story and hope that it will help everyone in some way. Remember that you are important just the way you are and that everyone should accept that, if they are your true friends. You are not a puppet and no one should expect that of you, if they enjoy your feelings and friendship

Symbolism in the Grapes of Wrath :: essays research papers

During the depression of the 1930s, the combined evils of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl drought go forth many southern farming families landless and weak. weensy hope was left for them but to pack up and moved to California, which was widely advertised in circulated handbills that promised work and inspired hope. stern Steinbecks epic novel, The Grapes of choler tells the story of the unsettled farmers travels and what they met at their destination. Intertwined within the plot and the intercalary chapters of the story is a profound use of symbolization in various forms and with many meanings. John Steinbeck deeply incorporates symbolism into the characters and plot of The Grapes Of Wrath to convey the adversity and the attitudes of the migrant farmers as well as other people involved in and effect by the propagate pipe bowl migration of the 1930s.The jaunt of the land capsizeneck in the opening of the novel is a near direct representation of the travels of th e dust bowl migrants. The turtle, just uniform the migrants, embarks on a slow, yet steady journey in a clear direction with an unclear destination. Both meet some(prenominal) obstacles on the way, the turtle meets a hard to climb embankment, the migrants meet troubles with their cars and terrain. There are those who make the migrants journeys much more impossible such as deputies and salesmen, the turtle meets the truck that closely causes its death. And when the turtle is on its back, just as the migrants lives are void of all hope, slowly, but surely they get themselves upright and back on track.Jim Casey, the retired preacher introduced first in the plot is a symbol of transcendentalism, the idea of the Emersonian over soul, that all people are part of one great spirit, and serves as a the Nazarene figure in the novel. He frequently refers to this single, great soul of the world, maybe all men got one big soul foreverbodys a part of(33). Casys role as a Christ figure in the novel fits very well into the journey of Christ envisioned in the bible. He takes a trek into the woods to sort things out, he followed the Joads on their journey west to help people on the way, I got to go where the folks are goin, and sacrifices himself to the deputy in California to save Floyd and Tom for their aggression against the deputy(127).Symbolism in the Grapes of Wrath essays research written documentDuring the depression of the 1930s, the combined evils of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl drought left many southern farming families landless and weak. Little hope was left for them but to pack up and moved to California, which was widely advertised in circulated handbills that promised work and inspired hope. John Steinbecks epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath tells the story of the migrant farmers travels and what they met at their destination. Intertwined within the plot and the intercalary chapters of the story is a profound use of symbolism in vario us forms and with many meanings. John Steinbeck deeply incorporates symbolism into the characters and plot of The Grapes Of Wrath to convey the adversity and the attitudes of the migrant farmers as well as other people involved in and effected by the dust bowl migration of the 1930s.The journey of the land turtle in the opening of the novel is a near direct representation of the travels of the dust bowl migrants. The turtle, just like the migrants, embarks on a slow, yet steady journey in a clear direction with an unclear destination. Both meet several obstacles on the way, the turtle meets a hard to climb embankment, the migrants meet troubles with their cars and terrain. There are those who make the migrants journeys much more impossible such as deputies and salesmen, the turtle meets the truck that nearly causes its death. And when the turtle is on its back, just as the migrants lives are void of all hope, slowly, but surely they get themselves upright and back on track.Jim Casey, the retired preacher introduced early in the plot is a symbol of transcendentalism, the idea of the Emersonian over soul, that all people are part of one great spirit, and serves as a Christ figure in the novel. He frequently refers to this single, great soul of the world, maybe all men got one big soul everbodys a part of(33). Casys role as a Christ figure in the novel fits very well into the journey of Christ portrayed in the bible. He takes a trek into the woods to sort things out, he followed the Joads on their journey west to help people along the way, I got to go where the folks are goin, and sacrifices himself to the deputy in California to save Floyd and Tom for their aggression against the deputy(127).

Bush donate a buck to the Africa :: essays research papers

assist IN AFRICA Mission Control - Pres. Bushs plan to triple US spending on fighting AIDS in AfricaPresident Bushs new $15 billion AIDS-fighting initiative for Africa will triple U.S. spending on the crisis. It is a "work of mercy," says Bush-a mission-one undertaken by a " buoyant country" that recognizes its moral responsibility to help the wretched of the earth. Its no surprise that Bush speaks of the plan in the language of religious mission. He himself is a believer, and his termination to commit massive resources to the African catastrophe reportedly was influenced by his meeting with evangelical Christian leaders.We applaud the presidents tender heart for suffering Africans, but we consent he keeps a hard, clear head as the program is implemented-and that he stays in close touch with those evangelicals. As our Rod Dreher reported in NRs last issue, experts have had solid evidence for at least a decade that the only effective way to arrest the HIV infection invest in Africa is with an education program emphasizing abstinence and fidelity, with condoms as a safety net should the first two strategies fail. Uganda, almost alone among African nations, seek this approach, working closely with religious groups preaching traditional morality. Most other African nations followed the condoms-only advice of Western experts. Result HIV infection rates peaked in Uganda in the early 1990s, while the crisis in the rest of Africa raged out of control. Behavioral change is the only thing shown to have worked to bring down HIV infections in Africa.Yet this is the strategy that the vast majority of the Western AIDS establishment-doctors, scientists, public-health bureaucrats, donor organizations, activists-resists with all its might, in large part because it sees this approach as "moralizing." If the president wishes to subdue throwing good money after bad, these experts must not be allowed to continue excluding proven behavior-change strate gies from their AIDS-fighting arsenal. Fully half the budget of the new program will go to pay for anti-retroviral drug therapy for those already suffering from AIDS, which would reduce their infectiousness. This is needed, as are the monies set aside for other medical interventions. (We trust, however, that the administration will work to compel sure that any legislation precludes the possibility that AIDS funding will be diverted to the promotion of abortion.

The Absurdity of Man Essay -- essays research papers

Absurdity is defined as that which is contrary to reason clearly untrue, unreasonable or ridiculous. It is often a issuing in existentialist writings relating to life. This subject is prevalent in Camus The Stranger and The Myth of Sisyphus. Camus depicts absurdity bringing about happiness or indifference in each of these literary works. In The Myth of Sisyphus, it is made clear that Sisyphus is aware that his existence is absurd. He is sentenced to an eternity of rolling a boulder up a steep mountain only to let it roll back down when it reaches its peak. His tragedy lies in the fact that he is conscious of the extent of his own misery. What makes his shinny very absurd is that he knows that there is no death at the end of it. The last sentence in this essay is in itself absurd, after describing the dilemma that Sisyphus eternally faces, Camus exclaims, One must imagine Sisyphus happy. This paradox is upheld because Sisyphus is left refusing to recognize that there is nothing to hope for, and that he must live solely with what is known. Sisyphus salvation is seen in his ongoing struggle against the absurd. In The Stranger, Meursault does not realize his absurd situation until the end of the novel. It is illustrated, however, in his indifference toward life and lack of sensation throughout. In the beginning of the novel, Meursault is seen as a detached observer of life who is devoted to appreciating sensation. His physical wants and needs overpower his reason and...