The Chocolate War :: essays research papers

1. Robert Cormier wrote The Chocolate War. The copyright of the book is 1974. 2. In the exposition of The Chocolate War, Jerry Renault, the freshman quarterback, was receiving constant blows from opposing players. Jerry was trying to get the ball to his receiver, the Goober, but not having any luck. In The Chocolate War, the rising action was the majority of the story. At Trinity High School, the school that Jerry attends, there is a group of "elite" students called the Vigils. The Vigils give out "assignments" to random students at Trinity. Archie, the head, told the Goober that his assignment was to unscrew every screw in Room nineteen. The Goober spent several hours doing his assignment, and eventually finished with the assistance of a few Vigil members. As the story goes on, the reader learns that every year at Trinity, there is a chocolate sale run by the assistant head master, Brother Leon. The last major detail in the rising action was when Archie informed Jerry of his assignment, Jerry’s assignment was not to sell chocolates for the first ten days of the annual chocolate sale. The climax of the novel was on the eleventh day of the chocolate sale when Jerry was supposed to start selling the chocolates but he didn’t. As a result of Jerry not selling any chocolates, the other students’ sales began to plummet during the falling action of the story. Brother Leon began to feel nervous and had to go to Archie and the Vigils for help. Incredibly, the Vigils turned the whole school against Jerry and made selling chocolates the "cool" thing. Students began to look down upon Jerry for not conforming to the chocolate sale tradition. Someone even vandalized Jerry’s locker and cut up his gym sneakers. A group of boys, including Emile Janza, one of the biggest bullies at Trinity, jumped Jerry after football practice and abused Jerry’s body with their fists and football cleats. The Chocolate War didn’t have a happy ending, but there was a resolution in the story. Archie set up a boxing match, of all things, between Jerry Renault and Emile Janza. Emile ended up beating Jerry to a bloody pulp in a matter of minutes, while Jerry landed only three punches the entire match. As a result Jerry finally learned that he couldn’t beat the system, and that he’d be better off doing what his authorities instructed him to do.

The Mexican Drug War and Its Consequences

The Mexican Drug War and Its Consequences Despite President Felipe Calderon’s good intentions and determination to eliminate the drug cartels in Mexico, the Mexican government has not been able to stop the drug cartel’s operations (smuggling drugs, people and weapons to and from the USA) for many reasons. The drug cartels have proven to be powerful, well connected politically, well trained, well- armed, and manipulation of the masses. Therefore, it has been impossible for the Mexican government to stop cartels like La Familia from operating, and now the cartels have become a problem for the Unites States too.The Mexican cartels have proven to be unstoppable for the Mexican government. President of Mexico Felipe Calderon’s decision to send fifty thousand soldiers and twenty thousand federal police has not been enough to stop the cartel’s indiscriminate killings. According to the University of San Diego Trans-Border Institute of Analysis and Data, since Janu ary of 2007, 28,228 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico (Sandiego. edu). Going muscle to muscle with the cartels has proven to be the wrong decision. Sending all those troops and federal police has only served to increases the death toll.Cartels like La Familia are well armed and trained. According to intelligence, members of La Familia must complete three to six month training camp in Michoacan, conducted by ex-members of the Colombian or Mexican Special Forces. La Familia uses equipment, weapons, and uniforms similar to those of the Federal Investigations Agency, therefore operating without being detected in cities and on highways (La Familia Michoacana fact sheet, DEA). It is a fact that La Familia is well armed with weapons that come from the United States.La Familia has the connections and the money to buy these weapons; Calderon continues to send more troops to combat the cartel, but this military effort will not work. La Familia cannot be stopped since they kn ow how to manipulate the masses, by threats and targeting opposing citizens, and this makes the situation even worse for the Mexican government as they try to obtain help from citizens to capture the leaders. La familia has won the loyalty of many people through political and Christian beliefs, but mostly through intimidation.In the article â€Å"Silver or Lead,† we can see how a regional official named Veronica Medina has selective hearing in favor of La Familia. Medina is clearly in favor of La Familia even though she works for the Mexican government. It could be quite possible that Medina is on La Familia’s payroll. La Familia is known to win favors by offering monetary rewards. La Familia also intimidates people with violence; they take over a town and tell the mayor, â€Å"We want to work here. There will be no trouble, no crime, no drunkenness, nothing. † Then, they enforce their rules.Mayors are usually paid for their hospitality. It is silver or Lead (Fi nnegan 48). How can regional officials decline? Since they are substantially underpaid and their lives are threatened, they are almost forced if they don’t they face almost certain death at the hands of the cartel. As long as the Mexican government continues with this plan of combatting cartel, it will never see the end of the cartel. Mexico is a traditional Catholic country; most of the Catholics practicing in North America live in Mexico. La Familia uses this religious fervor to gain the sympathy of the people’s town.La Familia knows they will gain sympathy and new people who want to work for them if their organization somehow shows they are Christian believers. La Familia wants people to think that they only kill those who have committed a crime. According to William Finnegan â€Å"La Familia doesn’t kill for money, it doesn’t kill women, it doesn’t kill innocent people–only those who deserve to die. Everyone should know: this is divine justice† (Finnegan 40). These words were actually written on a sign left by La Familia at one of their assassination sites. Their propaganda implies the need for divine justice.They are trying every way possible to make people believe they are doing God’s work. The Mexican church has not said anything about it, and there are people who are led to believe that perhaps some of the violent works of the La Familia are necessary and maybe even justified. La Familia’s smuggling business has a big negative effect on America society and economy. Since La Familia is willing to pay the exorbitant amounts of money for necessary costly weapons, it entices Americans into breaking the law by getting involved in the illegally sales of arms.In February 2007, drug cartels gunmen attacked two offices of the Guerrero state attorney general’s office in the resort town of Acapulco, killing four officers and three secretaries. One of the rifles used in the attack was traced bac k to the United States (guns without borders). Federal agents say about 90 percent of the 12000 pistols and rifles that the Mexican authorities recovered from drug dealers in the United States are mostly from Texas and Arizona (McKinley 1). Every gun smuggler captured is sent to prison, and the government has to house him and fed him, costing taxpayers thousands of dollars a year.Drug addiction costs the U. S. billions in health care. According to the 2008 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, approximately three million Americans 12 or older initiated the use of an illicit drug. That is nearly 8000 people per day (2008 national survey of drug and health). More than half of all people arrested in the United States test positive for illegal drugs. Drug use is closely connected to robbery and property crime. Substances abused led directly to the death of 38000 Americans (Executive Office of the President of the United States).The drug cartels are clearly affecting America Society an d their economy. The U. S. government needs to work harder to implement regulations on its side of the border. The Mexican government has tried almost everything, but it has not been successful. If the Mexican Government continues with the same approach to the drug cartel problems ultimately the drug cartels will overturn the government. Mexico is a civilized nation, and will not likely go to civil war over the drug cartels; still nobody has tried to take the drastic measures needed. La Familia is more brutal. La Familia is more motivated to keep their power than the government is to stop them; consequently they are impossible to stop.Works Cited Executive Office of the President of the United States. Web. 7. Nov. 2010 â€Å"Guns Without Borders† The New York Times. Web. 6. Nov. 2010 James Mckinley, â€Å"U. S. Stymied as Guns Flow to Mexican Cartels†, The New York Times, April 15, 2009 â€Å"La Familia Michoacana Fact Sheet†, DEA. Web. 5. Nov. 2010 Sandiego. ed u. Web. 6. Nov. 2010 William Finnegan, â€Å"Silver or Lead†, The New Yorker, May 31, 2010, 40, 48 2008 National Survey of Drug Use and Health. Web. 6. Nov. 2010

Toys and Games industry

Toys R Us is one of UK’s leading toy and game retailer. This report conducts an academic research focus on Toys R Us (UK) in toys and games retailing sector. In the first part of this report, we will discuss the toys and games industry background and the overview of Toys R Us. Then, the research will focus on Poster’s Five Force Model and Porter’s Generic Strategies. In the next parts, this report will concentrated on the potential strategies which Toys R Us might pursue in the future. Conclusion and recommendation will be mention in the final part of this report and the recommendation will be covered the best strategy for Toys R Us which can be used for the future competitiveness.1.1 Industry Background After the decline in 2008 and 2009, the toys and games market has grown about 5% just under  £2.2 billion. The market has opportunities to increase the sale revenue from 2010 to 2015 (MINTEL 2010). The Figure 1 shows UK retail value sales of toys and games betw een 2005 and 2015. (Figure 1, Source from: MINTEL Report 2010)According to MINTEL 2010, the main players in the toys and games industry in UK is Argos, Toys R Us, Disney and some internet specialists such as Amazon and Ebay. The Figure 2 shows the retail market share for those main players. (Figure 2, Source from: MINTEL Report 2010)1.2 Company overview Toys R Us is UK’s leading traditional toys and games retailer with over 1500 stores and 71,000 employees (including part-time employees) in 33 countries and the company’s headquartered in Wayne (DATAMONITOR 2011). Toys R Us offer Toys, Baby care, Video games, Multimedia PCs, Bikes and outdoor fun products (Toys R Us 2013).2.0 Poster’s Five Force Model2.1 The threat of new entrants According to Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner 2010, the threat of new entrants is depends on the level of entry barriers. In the UK toys and games industry, there are strong competitions for the pricing. According to MINTEL 2010, since 2008, co nsumer prices for the games and toys have fallen, so most retail cut down the price therefore strong competition in the toys and games industry. Moreover, Economies of Scale can be also related to the entry barriers. Finally, the government policy is major source of entry barriers. For example, national land policy can be effect the manufactory and location of stores, the entry barrier is also influence by high VAT rates for the company which standard rate is 20% and reduced rate is 5% in 2013 (GOV.UK 2013).2.2 The bargaining power of suppliers Toys R Us has increase the number of suppliers over 3000 manufacturers. Mattel, Hasbro and Namco Bandai are the main suppliers for Toys R Us. Those 3 manufacturers are top 20 suppliers in toys industry and Best-selling Toys of the year are always given to those 3 suppliers (GIMD 2011). Nintendo and Sony are also the main suppliers for Toys R Us. Those 2 companies are famous video games suppliers. Nintendo has produce NINTENDO 3 DS and Sony ha s produce PlayStation 3 and PSP, those 3 product all have good sale revenue in the games market (Toys R Us 2013).2.3 The bargaining power of buyers As this report has mention before, Toys R Us is one of UK’s leading toys and game retailer, therefore the company has strong brand image, when consumer planning to purchase toys or games, Toys R Us is always become a first choice for purchase toys and games because the strong brand image. Moreover, there are limited numbers of global retailer in the traditional toys and games industry therefore Toys R Us has strong buying power (GMID 2011). The Figure 3 shows the child/youth population by age and gender between 2005 and 2015 in UK. From this table, we can see the populations between ages 0-14 are increase from 2005. The target market for Toys R Us are children, if the populations of child is increase, the buying power will also increase. (Figure 3, Source from: MINTEL Report 2010)2.4 The threat of substitute products Toys R Us is mainly focus on traditional toys and games sector. However, since the new technology is coming to the market, such as Ipad, X-box 2 and some new online games, the consumers’ needs are changing. More young children prefer the game in Ipad video game and online game rather than traditional toys; therefore Toys R Us is facing on high threat of substitution.2.5 The intensity of rivalry among competitors in an industry Woolworths was the biggest toys and games retail in UK, after the collapse of Woolworths in 2008, Toys R Us, Argos, Disney and other online retail such as Ebay and Amazon became the major players in toys and games industry. In 2009, Argos has 24% market share which are top one in UK toys and games market. Toys R Us has 17% market share and Disney only has 3% market share (MINTEL 2010). Figure 4 shows the outlet, sales, positioning and evaluation of those major players in toys and games industry in 2010. (Figure 4, Source from: MINTEL Report 2010)3.0 Porter’s Generic StrategiesIn this part, this report focuses on Porter’s Generic Strategies to analysis the strategic positioning of the major play in toys and games industry. According to Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner 2010, Porter’s Generic Strategies include three strategies which are Differentiation, Focus and Cost leadership which a company can use for achieve competitive advantage and overcome five force. Figure 5 is made by the Porter’s Generic Strategies; this graph shows the main competitors for Toys R Us in toys and games industry. From this graph, we can find out Toys R Us is using differentiation strategy, the strategy for Disney Company is Focus strategy, Argos and amazon concentrated on Cost Leadership strategy. (Figure 5)Differentiation can be defined as a strategy based on creating differences in the company’s product and service (Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner 2010). As this report has mentioned, Toys R Us is using Differentiation strategy. The Company is pro viding different customer service as other competitors in the toys and games industry. According to Toys R Us 2013, every store of Toys R Us has an extensive Babies R Us department, inside of the Babies R Us included furniture, car seats, bedding, strollers, safety products, nappies and baby food for all parents and babies.Moreover, the company can be achieved the Differentiation strategy by strong brand image and wide range of products. As this report mention at the induction, Toys R Us is one of UK’s leading toy and game retailer therefore the company has strong brand image to achieve the differentiation strategy. According to MINTEL 2010, Toys R Us provides large range of toys and other children-related products. There are some advantages of Toys R Us using the Differentiation strategy. Firstly, this strategy can improve consumers’ loyalty. Differentiation strategy can also help company to decrease the threat of substitute products. On other hand, there are few disa dvantages for differentiation, consumer may prefer to purchase product from the company who using the cost leadership strategy.Disney Company is using focus strategy. The products from Disney shop are related to the Disney film (Disney store 2013). The company is focus on the customers who like the Disney brand images, most consumers will decide to purchase from Disney store if they like watch the Disney films especially young children. Argos and Amazon are focus on cost leadership strategy. Both companies are offering wide range of toys and games with low prices.4.0 Potential strategies might pursue in the futureIn this part, this report will mainly focus on the strategies which the Toys R Us may pursue in the future.4.1 Vertical Integration Vertical Integration is an expansion or extension of the company by becomes its own supplier or distributor (Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner 2010). According to GIMD 2011, the key strategic objective and challenges for Toys R Us is extending private l abel ranges. Vertical integration is one of best strategy to achieve this objective. If Toys R Us becomes its own supplier, the company will much easier to extending private label ranges. Moreover, the  company’s transaction costs are much higher than administrative costs, so vertical Integration becomes an attractive strategy for Toys R Us.There are few benefits for Vertical Integration. Firstly, the strategy has benefits on access to new business opportunities, this will be helpful for Toys R Us achieve the objective of extend private label ranges. Secondary, this strategy can help Toys R Us to make sure the quality of the product, therefore this will help to increase the consumers’ satisfaction. Finally, Vertical Integration can help company to reduce the transaction costs.4.2 Strategic Alliances Strategic Alliances can be defined as two or more companies have a cooperative relationship (Dess, Lumpkin and Eisner 2010). As this report mention in the second part, mo st young children are prefer video games rather than traditional toys, so Toys R Us might concentrate on video games sector in the future, to development a new video game, the company will need a strong technology, the company might think about the Strategic Alliances. As this report mention before, Nintendo is a famous video game manufactures, the company has sold about 2.4 billion video game since 1983 (Nintendo 2013).If Nintendo become an alliance partner with Toys R Us and development a new product with strong brand image from technology and high level of technology skill Nintendo, both companies will easy to increase the market share in the toys and games industry. The advantages for Strategic Alliances will be reducing manufacturing costs in the value chain. Moreover, this strategy will also help on developing and diffusing new technologies.4.3 Internal DevelopmentInternal development is focus on new products and new technology. According to GMID 2011, a key objective and chal lenge for Toys R Us is development of exclusive products, this strategy may help Toys R Us to achieve this objective. Moreover, the company is not having to using the Strategic Alliances to development a new video games, this strategy can help company to development own innovative product without having to share the wealth with alliance partners.5.0 Conclusion and RecommendationIn conclusion, this report has concentrated strategic analysis on Toys R Us in toys and games industry. In the first part, the report has discussed the industry background and company overview. Then, the analysis of Poster’s five force model takes the second place. In the third part, this report analysis the Poster’s Generic strategies which show Toys R Us are concentrated on Differentiation strategy. Finally, the report mentions the several strategies which Toys R Us might pursue in the future.After the report analysis those strategies for Toys R Us, we can give the recommendation on the best s trategy for the future competitiveness. Figure 6 shows the benefit and risk of the three strategies for Toys R Us, compare those three strategies, all of strategies have both benefit and risk for Toys R Us, but we recommend that Strategic Alliances is the best strategy for Toys R Us in the future.New product development is the main objective of Toys R Us, if the company can develop own video games product, it will easy to increase the market share in toys and games industry, Strategic Alliances is the only strategy which can help Toys R Us to achieve the goal in the fastest time. Internal Development may also help company to develop new product, but the company will need spend high cost on new product development and Toys R Us may not have enough technology skill on video game as the company such as Sony and Nintendo. (Figure 6)

Kant vs. Virtue Ethics Essay

When we talk about whether or not a person is ethically right, we can look at the actions that he or she may partake in. These actions maybe studied in different situations such as the one that we were told to evaluate. While leaving the grocery store, one witnesses an old man struggling with his oxygen tank. Without thinking, you lift the tank and help the elderly man. This action is a kind gesture, but would we consider this a moral act? One could analyze this situation with two different ethical theories, by Kantian and/or Aristotelian views. The approach that we take with Kant's views is strictly based on reason. The key factor in this situation with Kant would ask if we did this action without any thought. Because Kant heavily This case only brings the group off track again as yet another disagreement has to be resolved. While these conflicts themselves might have held the jurors back, the competition approach to these sources of conflict moved the group in the right direction. For example, Juror #9, the old man, approached Juror #10’s insults and stereotyping in competitive fashion, claiming that people are not simply born liars. Later, Juror #10 calls the accused boy a â€Å"common ignorant slob [that] don’t even speak good English,† after which immigrant Juror #11 competitively corrects him. In the end, almost every juror takes a competitive approach to juror #10’s insulting in one of the film’s most powerful scenes as they, one by one, leave the table and turn their backs on him. The jurors unsympathizing intolerance of Juror #10’s bigoted views serve as a prime example of a competitive approach to conflict. The conflict and the approach to the conflict between the jurors and Juror #10 bring the group together as the votes slowly change from guilty to not guilty. Another major source of conflict is the other jurors’ disinterested approach to the trial. Almost every juror approaches Juror #8’s insistence on a not guilty vote with avoidance. They care little about the case and do not grasp its gravity,

Paraphrasing#3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Paraphrasing#3 - Essay Example In circuit four, current through resistors R1 and R5 was the same because they were connected in parallel. Currents I1 and I2, and voltage V2 and V1 were equal since circuit 1 was a series connection. In circuit, a voltage divider was used and it divided the 12v available into three segments. The results were confirmed using a multi-meter. In the last circuit 3, we verified that the voltage divider had divided the 12v among the four resistors. The values of the resistors were successfully recorded using the multi-meter. From the experimental results, the resistors gave the following readings; R1=981, R2=978, R3=984, and R4=1.195. When compared with the results from the simulated software, the readings had the same trend and were almost the same. We carried out the practical perfectly and the results obtained were similar to the results got from the multisim software. The shape of the graph of percentage voltage (v) against time (s) also looked the same as that of the

Impacts of Information Technology Systems on Hotels Essay

Impacts of Information Technology Systems on Hotels - Essay Example ation technology systems enhance customer experience, increase revenues, differentiate brands, improve cost effectiveness and finally increase security. The recommendations include: embracing and implementing information technology systems that reflect the current trends in the global business environment and the need to have the staff in the industry compliment the information provided over the internet. The hotel industry, and in extension the entire hospitality industry, has significantly evolved over the years as it strives to meet the emerging customer needs in the modern digital era. This has been prompted by the emerging technological innovations that currently characterize daily life in almost all spheres. In recognition of these changes, the hotel industry has kept up the pace with modern times by embracing and integrating technology as a key component of hotel operations. Currently, hotels operate real-time service delivery through efficient websites, booking systems and fully automated management systems. Indeed, the Hotel Investment Conference convened in Durban identified technology as the driver of change and innovation in this broad industry (Reynard, 2012). The benefits of technology-based solutions not only accrue to the hotel operators, but also to the customers served by the industry. This paper seeks to answers the question: should a hotel invest in Smartphone-bas ed check-in and information systems? The major technological innovations that have changed the trends in the hotel industry are largely driven by the globalized business environment. As a result of globalization and increase in international trade, traveling and efficient international links are becoming an increasingly important aspect of the global hotel industry. This implies that the technology systems should offer global solutions so as to cater for the varied needs of customers in different locations. Secondly, the unprecedented growth and relevance of social media platforms has

Storm Drainage Design Project Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Storm Drainage Design Project Study - Essay Example As we go along this course work ,we will be able to understand what hydrographs are. The graphs above are the results of the Cynon river study data. The study took 4 days to finish nonstop. The measurements of the river height and the discharge are done every hour for 96 hours. The rainfall was plotted using the bar graph and the discharge was plotted using the line graph. In the analysis of the rainfall, you will notice that the rainfall is fluctuating. It is not as though there is a steady rise in the rainfall. The line graph shows the rise of discharge of water in the river, As the rainfall increases, the discharge also increases. The graph satisfy the components of a hydrograph. From the start of the study, you will notice that there is almost a steady flow of water in the river. That means that there is no increase in rainfall. At the start of the 44th hour, the water start to rise. This part of the graph is called the rising limb. This is the part of a hydrograph when water rises too the point of peak discharge. After it reached the peak point, the water stars to recede and this part is called the falling limb or the receding limb. This part denotes that rainfall is finally over and that the accumulated water in the river starts to stabilize again. The part of a hydrograph that is the highest point is called the peak discharge.. this is when there is the greatest amount of water in the river. The lag time is the period of time taking place between the peak rainfall and peak discharge. Computations By the application of the Manning's Formula, we will be able to get the value of breadth b of the open channel with the following data Channel design Given Data Q = 1.0 m3/s n = 0.012 S = 1/2000 = 0.0005 d = 0.5 Formula to be used V = where: v = velocity Q = Av R = Hydraulic Radius Q = A S = slope A = bd n = Manning's coefficient R = Q = discharge Computations: A = db = 0.5(b) Q = A R = 1.0 = 0.5b 1.(0.012) = 0.5b 0.012 = 0.5b = 0.5 0.5429 = 0.5 = 1.0858 = (1.0858)3 = b3 1.2801 = 1.2801 = 1.2801 (1.0 + 2b + b2) = 0.25b5 1.2801 + 2.5602b + 1.2801b2 = 0.25b5 1.2801 + 2.5602b + 1.2801b2 - 0.25b5 = 0 b = 2.2104 m. The value of depth of the river is also needed in order to solve for the value of the discharge of water in the river. The acquired value for depth will help us acquire the value fro the cross-sectional area of the river. In that way, we will be able to solve for the value of the discharge on the river. Computations; Q = Av where: A = cross-sectional area v = velocity = 4.0 m/s A = bd b = 15 m. A = 15(d) R = R = v = v = 4.0 = 4.0(0.012) ==2.1719 =(2.1719)3 =10.2451 =10.2451(225 + 60d + 4d2) = 225d2 2,305.1475+ 614.7069d + 40.9804d2 = 225d2 2,305.1475+ 614.7069d + 40.9804d2 - 225d2 = 0 2,305.1475 + 614.7069d + 1 84.0196d2 = 0 By quadratic equation; solve for the