Lapu Lapu Reaction Paper Essay

II. Movie Characters/Cast Lapu Lapu Dinah Dominguez Ian Veneracion Lito Marcos III. Sypnosis Lapu-lapu was the king of Mactan , an island in visayas, Phillipines, who is know as the first native of the archipelago to have resisted Spanish colonization. HE is now regarded as the first Filipino hero. On the morning of April 27,1521 Lapu-lapu and the men of Mactan, armed with spears, and kampilan faced Spanish soldiers led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinan Magellan. In what would later be known as the Battle of Mactan, Magellan and several of his men were killed. According to Sulu oral tradition , Lapu-Lapu was a Muslim Chieftain and was also know as â€Å"Kaliph Pulaka† the People of Bangsamoro, The Islamic homeland in the Philippines islands. Consider him to be a Muslim and a member of the Tausug ethnic group. A variant of the name, as written by Carlos Calao, a 17th century chinese-Spanish poet in his poem â€Å"Que Dios Le perdone† (Spanish,† That God may Forgive Him†) is â€Å"Cali Pulacu†Ã‚  The 1898 Philippine Declaration of independence refers to Lapu-Lapu as â€Å" King Kalipulako de Maktan† in the 19th century, the reformist Mariano Ponce Used a variant name â€Å"Kalipulako†, as one of his pseudonyms. IV. Question/Answers 1. Which part of the movie do you like the most? – The part I liked the most is that when Lapu – Lapu rejected Magellan’s offer twice and waged war against the Spaniards. I liked Lapu – Lapu’s attitude because he is wise and care’s for his people at the same time he can be brutal to his enemies. 2. Will you recommend the video/ movie to your fellow AMAer? Why? – Yes, I would definitely recommend it because it is educational at the same time entertaining and this has a special part in our history considering Lapu – Lapu was our first Filipino hero.

Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy

Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com E-tail Customer Fulfillment Networks Pioneer â€Å"The logistics of distribution Scorecard are the iceberg below the waterline of online bookselling.B-web type —Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon. comAggregation (e-tail) /Agora (auctions, Zshops) hybrid model KEY PARTICIPANTS â€Å"Ten years from now, no one will remember whether Consumers and business buyers Context providersContent providersAmazon. com and small online merchants (Amazon. com associates, Zshops, auctions) Suppliers and b-web partners (publishers; producers [OEM]; distributors e. g. Ingram Micro, Baker & Taylor Books, and others) Customers Amazon. com spent an extra $100,000 upgrading shipping from the West Coast to the East Coast. All that will matter is whether electronic commerceGave people a good or bad experience.2 —David Risher, senior vice president for merchandising, Amazon. com Commerce services †¢ Infrastructure providers â€Å"This [the Amazon. com distribution warehouses and CFN] is the fastest expansion of distribution capacity in peacetime history. † 3 —Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO, Amazon. com Offering Amazon. com and online merchants (Amazon. com associates, Zshops, auctions) Amazon. om and merchants participating in auctions and Zshops Third party shippers (UPS & USPS) Amazon. com Drop shippers such as Ingram Technology providers such as Oracle, Net Perceptions, and i2 Technologies Third party shippers (UPS, USPS) The largest online e-tailer of books, music, videos, toys, and gifts Recently expanded service offering to include auctions (March 1999) and Zshops (September 1999)—an aggregation of merchants on its Web site Aspires to become a one-stop shop for merchandise on the Web CFN value proposition â€Å"Earth’s largest selection† of merchandise at competitive prices, a validated product assortment, nd consistent customer service from â€Å"home page to home delivery†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ24/7 URL http://www. amazon. com 360 Adelaide Street W, 4th Floor Toronto, Ontario. Canada M5V 1R7 Tel 416. 979. 7899. Fax 416. 979-7616 www. digital4sight. com  © 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. 1. 1 Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com few barriers to entry—but one of those barriers is customer fulfillment. In 1996–97, Amazon. com was largely alone in the e-tailing business. Now the Web is eeming with e-tailers like buy. com (which aggressively undercuts everyone else, including Amazon. com), CDNow, and barnesandnoble. com. There are also Web portal-run malls, many of which are copying and offering features (like the renowned â€Å"one-click shopping†) that have thus far differentiated Amazon. com. Yahoo’s online mall offers 7,000 stores with over four million items and walmart. com’s planned debut in 2000 poses a significant threat. Amazon. com’s first mover advantage, e-brand equity, and initial cost advantages (stemming from lack of investments in prime real estate for storefronts) are gradually eroding.Its margins are falling, while operating expenses from mergers and acquisitions are increasing. As of the end of 1999, Amazon. com expected to post approximately $600 million in losses for the year, at a time when growth in book sales is falling (from about 800% in 1997 to a little over 100% in 1999). On the plus side, customer retention rates exceeded 72% in the third quarter of 1999. 8 But average revenue per customer in 1998 was $98. 4, while average selling, general and administrative (SG&A) and distribution costs per customer (excluding cost of goods sold) were about $71. 30, leading to an average net earnings loss of around 21%. Amazon. com Founder Jeff Bezos wants to transform Amazon. com into the largest and most customer-friendly one-stop shop on the Web. Already the largest online e-tailer of books, music, and videos, the company has expanded its product offering to include toys, gifts, and electronics, and in September 1999 launched â€Å"Zshops,† a new initiative (online flea market on Amazon. com’s Web site) which offers customers â€Å"universal selection. †4 Zshops empower small merchants and customers to set up online stores on the Amazon. com Web site for a monthly fee of $10, and a transaction fee of 1–5% of every sale.With a market capitalization of approximately $31. 4 billion (as of November 1999), 12 million loyal customers, 18 million items on sale, projected 1999 sales of $1. 4 billion, and the most recognized brand name on the Internet,5 Amazon. com aspires to become the supermall of choice for online shoppers. Its recipe includes innovation driven by â€Å"customer obsession† and the ability to provide a secure, enjoyable shopping experience online, but its dominance is due to a customer fulfillment process that delivers. A carefully orchestrated and adroitly executed â€Å"sell all, carry few† strategy explains Amazon. com’s success ith e-tail customer fulfillment. Its business web (b-web) (for books) includes Ingram Book Group and Baker & Taylor, the two largest book wholesalers in the US, as well as dozens of others. In 1998, Amazon. com obtained 60% of its books through Ingram, which operates seven strategically located US warehouses. Amazon. com pays Ingram a wholesale markup a few percentage points above the publisher’s price for its drop shipping services. 6 How has Amazon. com responded to these formidable challenges? First, to increase revenue per customer, Amazon. com added product lines or capabilities practically every six weeks in 1999.In February, the company bought 46% of drugstore. com. The following month, it launched online auctions. It bought a 35% stake in homegrocer. com in May, 54% of pets. com in June, an d 49% of gear. com in July. The Zshops and All Product Search (a â€Å"search the Web† service) initiatives have moved it even closer to its goal of providing â€Å"earth’s largest selection. † For Amazon. com, the Zshops initiative is 80–90% grossmargin rich, since its marginal costs for providing one-click shopping and credit card collection on Zshops is nearly zero. In 1999, Amazon. com opened five new automated distribution centers of its own in the US (this is in ddition to two centers already operational in Seattle and Delaware). The intent is to improve declining margins in a cutthroat business (e. g. by sourcing books directly from publishers), lessen dependence on Ingram and other distributors, and extend and control its online fulfillment process to enhance competitive advantage. Amazon. com now offers its customers same to next day shipping (in the US) on most items. In the 1999 holiday season, the company sent more packages—perhaps in e xcess of 15 million—to more people than any other e-tailer or mail-order retailer in the country. 7 Amazon. com’s leadership in customer fulfillment etworking (CFN) will be critical to its success as the landlord of the largest shopping mall on the Web. Second, its customer fulfillment networking (CFN) strategy is designed to increase gross margins by sourcing directly from publishers and other producers, rather than from wholesalers (e. g. distributors like Ingram) who provide drop shipping for a premium. Amazon. com will also reduce costs per sale by cross-docking orders (books, electronics, and toys all in one order) at the warehouse closest to the customer through state-of-the-art demand forecasting and optimization solutions from i2 Technologies. 10 Business contextE-tailing is fast becoming a crowded marketplace with  © 1. 2 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com So, what are the implications of Amazon. com’s push into more warehouses for better customer fulfillment? While the investment in five additional warehouses has been immense (in excess of $200 million), it enables same or next day fulfillment in most cases—driving greater customer satisfaction and loyalty, and higher evenues and profits per customer. It also lowers operating expenses and empowers Amazon. com to respond to pressures from Wall Street for profits. The strategy appears to be paying off—5. 69 million unique Web users (excluding its 12 million registered customers) shopped at Amazon. com in the 1999 holiday season (an 81% increase over 1998), with average spending per customer of $128 (a 30% increase over 1998). 14 However, maintaining stock in seven warehouses also increases inventory carrying costs, which the company will need to balance and contr ol through efficient customer fulfillment planning and execution. 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Less compelling High Complex*E-BRAND AS BARRIER TO ENTRY E-CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS AMAZON. COM (Circa 2001)†¢ Landlord of largest Web supermall†¢ Universal selection, one-stop shopping, and same day customer fulfillment = competitive advantage†¢ Revenues: $2. 7 Billion (est. )†¢ Registered Customers: 19. 5 MM†¢ Items Offered: >18 MM AMAZON. COM (1998)†¢ Book E-tailer†¢ Investment in brand building†¢ Customer fulfillment largely outsourced to Ingram and Baker & Taylor†¢ Revenues: $610 MM†¢ Registered Customers: 12 MM†¢ Books Offered2. 5 MM Low Low This strategic shift (figure 1) makes sense because Amazon. com’s e-brand will be a less compelling barrier to entry beyond 2000, co mpared to its customized, collaborative, and integrated online fulfillment capability for â€Å"orders of one. † According to Andrew N. Westland, Amazon. com’s vice president of warehousing, transportation and engineering, it would risk losing its competitive advantage from its pioneering and innovative one-to-one customer fulfillment excellence if it hired another company to handle distribution.As he points out, â€Å"we would be the teacher and then they would offer those services to our competitors. †13 Designed and built for online order fulfillment, Amazon. com’s CFN and warehouse distribution system is among the first of its kind (another is Webvan). As such, it confers competitive first mover and learning curve advantage. ONLINE PRODUCT ASSORTMENT Amazon. com’s business model consists of two different but complementary revenue, pricing, and profit models. In the case of auctions and Zshops, relatively small topline revenues (at least as of t he end of 1999) contribute high gross and operating margins.In contrast, for the traditional e-tailing model, lower gross and operating margins offset high topline revenues. 11 The company wants to utilize both models: cross-sell the high margin Zshops/auctions offering to its registered e-tailing customers (immediately enhancing both revenue and profits per customer), and cut the cost of sales and operating expenses through efficient customer fulfillment. High Simple Third, its strategy of providing hassle-free, same or next day fulfillment on most items will enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, driving repeat business, referrals, and increased market share.CUSTOMER FULFILLMENT AS CORE-COMPETENCE High * Complexity of product assortment implies both high breadth and depth of product lines offered. Figure 1. Amazon. com’s strategic shift: from book e-tailer to landlord of Web super mall. 12 Value proposition Amazon. com’s value proposition is â€Å"earth’s largest selection—24/7, at a competitive price. † The world’s most â€Å"customer-centric company† gives its customers what they want (universal selection), how they want it (in one consolidated package), and when they want it (same or next-day by the year 2000), by orchestrating an enjoyable buying experience at the front end and einforcing it with seamless fulfillment at the back end. Bezos, who describes his team members as â€Å"customer obsessed†¦genetic pioneers,†15 can take credit for numerous innovations, including customer recognition and one-click shopping, free book reviews, recommendations (suggestive selling), Purchase Circles (best seller list by region, country, company, and industry), All Product Search (shop the Web), free e-greetings, Auctions, Zshops, and seamless customer fulfillment. Each of these has been a first on the Web, and competitors have copied most of them. Recent innovations include a system that lets shoppers u t together a big order and then send each item, tagged with an individual message, to a different individual and address (September 1999); a â€Å"wish list†Ã¢â‚¬â€much like a wedding registry—that lets people tell the world what gifts they want to receive; and an â€Å"Amazon. com anywhere† initiative with Sprint (announced December 8, 1999) that facilitates wireless shopping through Sprint PCS Internet-enabled smart cellular phones. 16 1. 3 Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com 1 Customer places order; credit card processed for payment 4 E-Customer All items picked, packed and assembled at nearest warehouse & shipped ia UPS or US Postal Service 5 Order delivered from the nearest warehouse via UPS/USPS AMAZON. COM WAREHOUSE WWW Electronics OEM Amazon. com’s servers in Seattle Demand forecasting visibility and optimization through i2’s Supply Chain OptimizationSoftware 2 Customer order parsed out to appropriate suppliers (if not stocked in Amazon. com warehouse). Books sourced from Ingram or other book publisher Music company LEGEND Inventory Information 3 Producers dispatch goods to Amazon. com warehouse. Figure 2. Amazon. com’s customer fulfillment network (CFN)—circa 2000. CFN strategy Amazon. com is a CFN pioneer. Its innovative CFN trategy enables true dynamic commerce that provides a customized experience to not only fulfill, but also create demand—profitably, and in real-time. This is a virtuous cycle realized through integration of the customer relationship management applications with the order fulfillment applications and its b-web, as well as intelligent and dynamic demand-supply synchronization. It is rendered possible by the following CFN value drivers: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Business processes and applications Sourcing multiple line items from disparate suppliers and assembling them to a customer’s order and specifications for same/next day fulfillment invo lves ramatically greater logistics and supply chain complexity than delivering huge pallets from warehouses to shelf spaces (brick-and-mortar retail). Dynamic and intelligent personalization that ensures dynamic content insertion and cross-selling (enhancing revenues and profits per customer) while matching the customer’s demands with Amazon. com’s fulfillment abilities Virtual integration across the b-web (from customer to supplier and warehouses) that ensures synchronicity across business processes, delivering intelligent and profitable order fulfillment Dynamic demand and supply planning and ptimization to minimize inventory carrying and transportation costs and reduce cycle times, Three factors—selling an expanded selection of products online (Amazon. com offers 18 million items), the need to move a large volume of small parcels, and rising customer expectations—combine to put new pressures on order fulfillment systems. According to Toby Link, CEO of e-Toys, â€Å"Inventory management is the great ecommerce business process that no one seems to know much about. It is the true barrier to entry. †17 Amazon. com, which has depended largely on a drop shipping and just-in-time arrangement for books with  © 1. 4 aximizing profit and service levels Maximum visibility and responsiveness to supply and demand variability and anomalies through dynamic exception notification (e. g. an electronic alert signal if something goes wrong) 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com Order Management System (OMS) Credit card data verification, e-ordering (if needed), reconcilliation of shipping and customer charges Inventory Management System (IMS)Which items and categories to stock, where and in what quantities? What is available and what needs to be ordered? I2’s Demand Optimizer Inventory turnover data by product, category, country, region, state, industry, etc. I2’s Available to Promise (ATP) Can we fulfill these orders profitably? Oracle database of products and consumer profiles All Product Search What are customers looking for? Customer Orders What are they buying? Warehouse & Transportation Management System (WMS & TMS) Pick, pack and ship orders most efficiently & profitably Purchase Circles (Best seller listing by country, region, industry or company)WWW E-Customer New Customer Profile Who are the e-customers (demographics, etc. )? What are their preferences? Suggested Selling (Cross-sell and Net Perceptions up-sell profitable, Collaborative Filtering: in-stock items that What items and categories of customers want) products are customers likely to buy based on affinity? a nagement (CRM) Decision Support, S upply Chain Planning & Execution Customer Relationship M Figure 3. Amazon. com’s suite of CFN applications. 20 Ingram and Baker & Taylor, has now primarily moved to a from-stock hybrid model (that also includes the other options) with its seven US warehouses. In ddition to enlarging its Seattle and Delaware warehouses in 1999, the company has invested over $200 million to lease five distribution and warehousing facilities in Fernley, Nevada; Coffeyville, Kansas; Campbellsville and Louisville, Kentucky; and McDonough, Georgia. of Digital Equipment Alpha Servers and Netscape Commerce Servers built around an Oracle database server and Oracle Financials Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. 21 According to Jeff Bezos, 80% of the company’s investment in software development since its founding in 1994 has not gone into its famously user-friendly screens, but to back-office logistics. 2 In 1998, two-thirds of Amazon. com’s 2,100 employees worked on customer fulfillment. 22 These seven warehouses, comprising 3. 5 million square feet of total space, will en sure fulfillment in 24–48 hours in most cases in the US. 18 The CFN comprising Amazon. com’s warehouses, b-web of suppliers and drop shippers, and end-to-end integration is specifically designed for online retailing from the ground up (i. e. , shipping merchandise item by item to individual customers). 19 It is one of only a handful of such networks. Amazon. com developed most of its own front end e-commerce applications, including page design and rder management systems (OMS). The acquisition and incorporation of Junglee, a highly sophisticated XML-based shopping bot, forms the basis of Amazon. com’s New Product Search application. It sourced its highly acclaimed suggested selling collaborative filtering software from Net Perceptions and recently acquired a Supply Chain Planning and Optimization package from i2 Technologies. 24 All other software—including middleware and the much-praised and patented one-click shopping application—is customized fo r Amazon. com or proprietary, and zealously guarded for competitive advantage. Amazon. com’s CFN, including its network of istribution centers, is illustrated in figure 2; figure 3 shows CFN applications deployed. Amazon. com’s initial hardware and software consisted  © 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. 1. 5 Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com Amazon. com is in the process of integrating its b-web (suppliers, distributors, and customers) with its supply chain planning (SCP) and ERP, as well as management systems for orders (OMS), inventory (IMS), warehouse WMS), and transportation (TMS) (figures 2 and 3). This strategy will lead to intelligent demand forecasting, optimization, and profitable distribution execution. The customer relationship management (CRM) suite at the front end, which consists of one-to-one personalization and collaborative filtering from Net Perceptions and Amazon. com’s own order management system (OMS), works in sync with i2’s Supply Chain Planning, Optimization (SCPO) and Decision Support Systems (DSS) at the back end. These form a virtuous cycle that creates profitable demand while delivering a customized buying experience in real-time, as well as ntelligent, profitable fulfillment that ensures customer satisfaction and referrals. Figure 3 presents a hypothesis of how the applications work to deliver intelligent end-to-end order fulfillment: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ This is a true â€Å"sense and respond† CFN based on Amazon. com’s move towards a â€Å"real-time inventory solution† (if the customer can order it, it is available, and can be shipped) to drive customer loyalty, revenues, referrals, and profitability. Data is gathered initially from the customer to form a customer profile in the Oracle data base. Information on items customers are looking for, and ctually buy, is gathered through the All Product Search function and customer orders, respectively. Data from All Product Search drives the categories and product lines that Amazon. com keeps adding to its colossal assortment. The buying data is queried to yield inventory turnover (for every item) by zip code, state, country, business, company, and industry. The inventory turnover data is used to stratify Amazon. com’s inventory on an A, B, C basis (e. g. ‘A’ items could be best sellers, ‘B’ items have medium turnover, and ‘C’ items are one-off orders). The inventory turnover data (XML tagged by zip ode) is fed back to the customer by way of Purchase Circles (best-seller listing) to seduce the customer into buying the item. As well, data from the customer profile and previous buying patterns are mined (using collaborative filtering from Net Perceptions) to predict affinities betwe en customers and products. This enables real-time suggestive selling recommendations (the right suggestions to the right buyer at the right time—right now) relevant to each customer’s buying objectives. These recommendations convert browsers into buyers, increase revenue and profits per customer, and stimulate repeat buying. 25 2’s demand planner uses the inventory turnover and buying data to dynamically anticipate customer needs by accurately predicting customer demand on an ongoing basis. By integrating these with i2’s available-to-promise (ATP) inventory management and distribution systems, Amazon. com ensures that B-web organization Amazon. com’s b-web is an Aggregation (e-tail) and Agora (auctions and Zshops) hybrid model powered by its CFN. Win-win b-web relationships and electronic integration with suppliers, distributors, publishers, producers, and software and hardware providers account for Amazon. com’s winning experience and fulfi llment.These partners contribute significantly to, and derive benefits from, its success. In addition to large and assured revenue streams, learning from this e-tailing and CFN pioneer assures competitive advantage in the high velocity arena of e-commerce. In book e-tailing, for instance, Amazon. com ties Ingram’s inventory data to its customer interface. This gives Amazon. com available-to-promise (ATP) capabilities that lets customers know when they can expect to receive their merchandise. As soon as an order comes in, Amazon. com sends it to Ingram electronically (if it doesn’t carry the ordered item); Ingram then ships the rder, usually the same or next day, to Amazon. com’s customer fulfillment center for cross-docking and shipping via UPS/USPS. Key lessons Four factors explain Amazon. com’s in success e-tailing: †¢  © 1. 6 it maintains an optimum inventory of its most ordered books, CDs, videos, toys, and electronics in its warehouses for in- stock fulfillment. Continuous reconciliation of order and inventory data via the ATP function enables Amazon. com to commit to lead times on its Web site that it can profitably fulfill. Distributors like Ingram will drop ship one-off items (‘C’), or Amazon. com will order them (through theOMS) on a just-in-time basis from other suppliers for cross docking at its warehouse closest to the customer (figure 2). Intelligent distribution, warehousing (WMS), and transportation (TMS) optimization ensures that Amazon. com picks, packs, and transports orders for delivery, via US Postal Service (60% of orders) or UPS (40% of orders), â€Å"from buy button to customer doorstep† 24–48 hours for in-stock items, and within seven days for others, in the US. 26 First, it translated its customer-centric understanding of market need into an easy-to-use, intuitive buying experience that pleases customers and drives evenues and referrals 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com †¢ Second, Amazon. com invested tens of millions of dollars in building the most valuable brand on the Web Third, Amazon. com built loyalty and barriers to entry by investing in innovative technology solutions such as suggested selling from Net Perceptions, Supply Chain Optimization (i2), Purchase Circles, and All Product Search, and integrating them into a irtuous cycle for dynamic commerce Fourth, and arguably most important, Amazon. com’s commitment to fulfillment has translated into deep and effective b-web relationships with distributors and suppliers like Ingram and a core competence in one-to-one inventory management and distribution †¢ †¢ Thanks to these four factors, Amazon. com forecasts a customer base of 22. 3 million and revenues of $3. 15 billion b y 2002. The company’s strategic investments in its warehouses, technology, and b-web integration (CFN) to enable reliable and accurate same or next day customer fulfillment are a key part of its first mover dvantage and a significant barrier to entry. Amazon. com can strategically leverage this â€Å"killer app† CFN in a number of ways:26 †¢ †¢ †¢ First, Amazon. com can offer excess capacity in its warehouses to Zshops’ merchants on a â€Å"fee for fulfillment† basis. This would accrue considerable marginal revenues for a significantly lower marginal cost incurred. Second, by installing Web-enabled buying kiosks (as well as interactive television sets and wireless Webenabled devices like PDAs) at high traffic areas in malls, office buildings, and other locations, it can move its Web buying experience to the real world for ess Web-savvy customers. Third, and perhaps most radical and innovative, Amazon. com can build free customer buying port als for each of its registered, loyal customers. For an incremental cost, Amazon. com can create customized buying pages (similar to Dell’s Premier Pages for its business-to-business customers) that will allow customers to go online and enter their buying requirements as needed. Amazon. com can then deliver the items it carries, and turn over remaining orders to its Amazon. com associates, Zshops, or other b-web affiliates for fulfillment. —Arindam (Andy) De  © 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp.Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. 1. 7 Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com Amazon. com: Key Performance Indicators (see Table 1 and figures 4a to 4f) Table 1. Comparison of 1998 performance: Amazon. com, Barnes & Noble, and Borders. 28 †¢ †¢ †¢ 117. 8 million US adults, or 60% of the adult population, recognize the Amazon. com brand name, making it the most recognized brand name on the Web, followed by Priceline and e-Bay. 29 Amazon. com, with a low customer acquisition cost of around $2930 compared with $109 for a new e-tailer) and a customer retention rate of over 72%31 enjoys huge competitive advantage in terms of repeat revenue streams and significant growth in its customer base. Analysts estimate that Amazon. com’s customer base will be about 22. 3 million users by 2002 (figure 4a). 32 With an average revenue per user of $141. 25 (figure 4b), this would translate into $3. 15 billion in revenues. Gross margins over the same period would increase from 22% in 1999 to about 25% in 2002. †¢  © 1. 8 Amazon. com, with $610 million in sales in 1998 and revenue growth of 230% (June 1998–June 1999), had ero days of receivables, 23 days of inventory, 87 days of payables (figure 4c) and a positive â€Å"gap in finance cycle†(figure 4d) of 64 days. 33 This implies that Amazon. com, unl ike its competitors, is actually financing working capital with cash flow from suppliers. Amazon. com’s revenue per employee (1998) was $290,476 (figure 4e) and revenue per dollar of fixed assets (figure 4f) was $20. 47 (appreciably higher than the competition). Figures 4e and 4f show an interesting correlation between Amazon. com’s market capitalization of $31. 40 billion and its revenue per employee and revenue per dollar of fixed ssets, against the competition. This may help explain the significant upward disparity in market capitalization enjoyed by the company vis-a-vis its clicks-and-mortar competitors. 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com REVENUES ($ MILLIONS) 19,500 22,300 $3,150 20 $2,700 2500 16,500 2000 13,300 15 $2,100 1500 10 $1,403 1000 6,200 Total reven ue per user Annual net income per user $127. 27 Gross margins $138. 6 25% 25 $105. 49 90 $98. 39 22% 22% 21% 21% 20 60 15 30 10 0 ($8. 08) 5 500 30 $141. 25 120 $ PER USER 3000 $150 NUMBER OF REGISTERED USERS (MILLIONS) Revenues ($millions) Number of registered users (millions) GROSS MARGINS (%) 25 $3500 $610 -30 ($19. 57) ($20. 09) 5 ($36. 73) ($45. 37) 0 1998 1999 2000E 2001E -60 2002E Figure 4a. Amazon. com: Revenues & number of registered users (1998–2000). 34 0 1998 1999 2000E 2001E 2002E Figure 4b. Amazon. com: Revenues & net income per user, registered users and gross margins (1998–2002). 35 80 64 INVENTORY TURNOVER OR CASH-TO-CASH CYCLE 60 Inventory turnover (1998) Gap† in finance cycle (1998) Revenue growth (1998-99) 400% 40 20 16. 14 0 -20 300 2. 4 AMAZON. COM 1. 83 B&N BORDERS 230. 1% 200 -40 -60 -80 100 (80) 6. 3% -100 Figure 4c. Book retail: Age of receivables, payables, and inventory (1998). 36  © 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any mean s, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. REVENUE GROWTH (%) 0 (90) 14. 5% 0 Figure 4d. Book retail: Revenue growth (June 1998–1999) vs. inventory turnover & gap in finance cycle (1998). 37 1. 9 Customer Fulfillment in the Digital EconomyAmazon. com $350,000 300,000 $35 Revenue per employee (1998) Market capitalization ($ billions) $30 Revenue per $ of fixed assets (1998) $35 Market capitalization ($ billions) $31. 41 25 $30 $31. 41 $30 $20 200,000 $15 150,000 100,000 $103,641 $10 $95,404 50,000 0 $20 15 $15 10 $10 $5. 89 $1. 21 $0 $25 $20. 47 5 $5 $1. 64 20 $1. 64 0 $5. 26 MARKET CAPITALIZATION ($ BILLIONS) $25 REVENUE PER $ OF FIXED ASSETS ($) 250,000 MARKET CAPITALIZATION ($ BILLIONS) REVENUE PER EMPLOYEE $290,476 $5 $1. 21 $0 AMAZON. COM B&N BORDERS Figure 4e. Book retail: Revenue per employee (1998) and market cap (November 1999). 38Figure 4f. Book retail: Revenue per $ of fixed assets (1998) and market cap (November 1999). 39 1. Anthony Bianco, â€Å"Virtual Bookstores Start to Get Real,† Business Week, 27 October 1998. 2. Saul Hansell, â€Å"Amazon’s Risky Christmas,† The New York Times, 28 November 1999. 3. Ibid. 4. Jeff Bezos quoted by Stefani Eads, â€Å"Is Amazon Shopping for Profits in its Zshops? † Business Week, 12 October 1999. 5. According to Opinion Research Corp. , 117. 8 million Americans, or 60% of the US adult population, recognizes the Amazon brand name, making it the most valuable brand name on the Web. 6. Anthony Bianco, op. cit. 7.Saul Hansell, op. cit. 8. As quoted in SS Investor Equity Research Report on Amazon, December 1999. 9. Analysis and estimates by Lauren Cook Levitan, analyst, Banc Boston Robertson Stevens, August 1999. 10. Jeanne Lee. â€Å"i2 Learns What Not to Say When Talking to Analysts,† Fortune, 29 March 1999. 11. Jeff Bezos, quoted in an interview with Robert D. Hof, Business Week, 31 May 1999. 12. Strategy map based on Digital 4Sight analysis of Amazon’s etailing strategy. 13. Saul Hansell, op. cit. 14. Media Metrix numbers quoted in â€Å"Amazon, e-Bay Get Most Holiday Visitors,† Los Angeles Times (Home Edition), 4 January 2000. 5. Jeff Bezos quoted by Chip Bayersin â€Å"The Inner Bezos,† Wired, (March 1999). 16. Amazon press release from its Web site, URL http://www. hoovers. com/cgi-bin/offsite? url= http://www. amazon. com/exec/obidos/subst/misc/investorrelations/investor-faq. html/002-5319771-2477605. 17. John Evan Frook, â€Å"Missing Link Emerges: Inventory Management,† Internetweek, 9 March 1998. 18. Bob Tedeschi, â€Å"Many Internet Companies Have Focused on Attracting Customers. The Bigger challenge Is Fulfilling Orders,† The New York Times, 27 September 1999. 19. Katrina Booker, â€Å"Amazon vs. Everybody,† Fortune, 8 November 1999: 120. 20.Digital 4Sight hypothesis based on secondary research. 21. Customer case study on Oracle’s Web site, URL: http://www. oracle. com/customers/ss/amazon_ss. html. 22. Anthony Bianco. op. cit. 23. Mary Beth Grover, â€Å"Lost in Cyberspace,† Forbes, 8 March 1999. 24. Jeanne Lee, op. cit. 25. Product data from Net Perceptions Web site. URL:http://www. netperceptions. com/product/home/0,,1091, 00. html. 26. Michael Krantz, â€Å"Cruising Inside Amazon,† Time, (December 1999). 27. Digital 4Sight analysis of Amazon. com’s e-tailing strategy. 28. Digital 4Sight Financial Ratio Analysis based on P&L and balance sheet data sourced from www. oovers. com.  © 1. 10 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. Customer Fulfillment in the Digital Economy Amazon. com 29. Opinion Research Corp. survey quoted in â€Å"Equity Research Report on Amazon,† SS Investor, December 1999. 30. McKinsey & Company Data quoted in â€Å"Online Customer Acquisition Costs† Business 2. 0, (November 1999): 16-17. 31. As quoted in â€Å"Equity Research Report on Amazon. com,†SS Investor, December 1999. 32.Analysis and estimates by Lauren Cook Levitan, op. cit. 33. Gap in Finance Cycle = Days of Payables – (Days of Receivables + Days in Inventory). 34. Analysis and estimates by Lauren Cook Levitan, op. cit. 35. Digital 4Sight Financial Ratio Analysis, op. cit. 36. Ibid. 37. Ibid. 38. Ibid. 39. Ibid. 360 Adelaide Street W, 4th Floor Toronto, Ontario. Canada M5V 1R7 Tel 416. 979. 7899. Fax 416. 979-7616 www. digital4sight. com  © 2000 Digital 4Sight Corp. Reproduction by any means, or disclosure to parties who are not employees of Digital 4Sight member organizations is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation. 1. 11

Beowulf The Epic Poem English Literature Essay

Beowulf The Epic Poem English Literature Essay Treasures often go for centuries without being found. And the best ones often come from unknown origins. Beowulf, the epic poem about a heroic Geat had gone untold and unappreciated for centuries until it was finally recognized in the early 1800’s. Known as one of the greatest and most important Anglo-Saxon Literatures and written by an unknown Anglo-Saxon poet, Beowulf proceeds to bring about many allusions and themes which are of great literary value. In particular however, the poet of Beowulf employs an array of Christian themes mixed in with some Germanic paganism in his epic poem. In order to completely understand Beowulf, critics often look into the mysterious poet himself. The fact that the Beowulf poet was a Christian is a recurring theme for many critics. For example, â€Å"..the Christian author who was responsible for giving the poem the general shape and tone..†(Rogers 233). Rogers goes on to talk about the attitude of the poet towards the poem and the mate rial which he used. It is safe to assume that the poet didn’t invent anything in the poem but instead, used the material in â€Å"†¦his own purpose, placing his personal emphasis upon it†(Rogers 233). Rogers feels that the poet is clearly biased pro Christianity. â€Å"The poet saw the heroic past of the Danes and the Geats through the eyes of a Christian Anglo-Saxon.† The critic then goes on to give examples of the various methods of the poet which suggest his Christian influence on the poem. The poet is portrayed as being a complacent Christian, one who believes in all things good, and is disgusted by the paganism of his time. The poet uses motives such as weapons, treasure, and society to his advantage in an entirely Christian method. Unlike in other works of literature, similar motives in Beowulf are used in a completely different method. Such as the sword, in Beowulf is melted away after performing just one great deed, when in other literature the hero would treasure it and do many great deeds. Treasure is also portrayed in a Christian way, instead of showing both sides of treasure, which most other literature would have done, the poet only emphasizes the evils of treasure (Rogers 234-235). Although the poet of Beowulf uses many Christian doctrines carefully and mostly successfully, it’s his use of paganism, and the knowledge or to some, the lack of, that intrigues many critics. â€Å"No one now doubts that it was composed by a poet thoroughly versed in Christian and biblical traditions, but whether its author had the same degree of knowledge of the background to his chosen subject matter–specifically, Scandinavian paganism–has been fiercely debated† (O’donoghue). In questioning the poet’s knowledge and views on paganism, whether Germanic or Anglo-Saxon, many critics peruse the poet’s sources, most of which include older literature available to the poet at the time. O’donogh ue goes on to analyze and compare different sources such as Old Norse-Icelandic literature and how the poet distorts and kilts it with ancient Germanic past.

Teen pregnancy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teen pregnancy - Research Paper Example 750,000 teenaged girls get pregnant each year, according to the same study. One third of these girls will have abortion. It is difficult to realize the total consequences of unprotected sex in the initial stages. In case the teenager was aware of the consequences she would not have allowed herself to be complacent. By the time, the teenager realizes the full consequence of her actions, it is too late. This is not the only implication. There are social and economic implications as well. Teenage girls who get pregnant have problems concentrating on their studies with the added responsibility of bringing up a baby. Balancing studies and bringing up a baby can prove to be very exhausting. Also pregnant teens are looked down upon by their school colleagues. They do not get proper social treatment. The economies for bringing up a baby can be devastating. The cost of raising a baby is quite high and where is the money to come from? The problem is in the lack of information about the consequences of pregnancy. Teens have sex rather liberally these days. The chances of becoming pregnant are quite high even when there is only one time unprotected sex. Parents do not know how to effectively broach the subject. Teens are not clear about the topic to be able to constructively discuss the theme. Once pregnancy is noticed, the parents wish they had been more communicative about sex with their daughters. Condoms make sex safer. However, there is the possibility of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Girls do not use discretion of knowing the person they have sex with. This could lead to contracting STDs. The movies aggrandize sex. They even make movies on the theme of teenagers’ sex. Much of what is shown on the television set is gloss. The reality is hard hitting. Having babies may be a joy. But it is also a responsibility. It is good to think twice for teenaged girls before having sex. It is even better to think many times before having

Plato's The Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Plato's The Republic - Essay Example At the very onset, Socrates expounds on the evils of imitative art, which is "thrice removed from the truth". He sets out to prove his point by saying that anything with a common name is believed to correspond with the same ides. He elaborates using an example - there are plenty of beds and tables but the idea behind the use of the same belongs to one only. It is the same person who makes "not only vessels of every kind, but plants and animals, himself and all other things" he is the maker. It may be possible for anyone to do the same by holding up a mirror, but that would merely be appearances. Thus in the same way a painter is a mere "creator of appearances". Getting back to the example there are three artisans who make it - one is God, who is and always will be the primary source for every conceivable idea, the carpenter who makes the bed for practical use and finally the painter who merely imitates. Therefore he serves no discernible purpose. Socrates says the imitator is always far from the truth. He has but a smattering of knowledge which he parades as the truth and simple folks, who know no better, accept it at face value. Poets are usually thought of as veritable founts of knowledge. Homer, the legendary poet for instance is believed to be knowledgeable man, able administrator and an astute observer of human nature. But if that been the case surely he would have been at the forefront of the events in his day instead of relegating himself to the background Thus one must beware of poetry because it amounts to nothing when stripped of its colors and insidious charm. Thus in a realm where truth has been elevated to the highest possible peak, there is no place for art which is so far removed from truth. Its banishment from the ideal society may however be revoked if it can prove to have its use in upholding truth, morality and virtue instead of detracting from it. PLATO'S VIEWS ON CENSORSHIP Plato through his speaker waxes eloquent on the need for censorship in art. Not only are the artists negligent with regard to truth but they contribute to moral decay as well. These imitators have no knowledge of what is good, bad or truly beautiful; they merely portray what they perceive as the real thing. The common man is carried away by the lure and charm of the arts and has no way or means of piercing this faade. Socrates asserts that the better part of the soul is the one which seeks refuge in rationale. Poetry meanwhile appeals to the baser instincts in man. In the face of calamity most people in the grip of reason would attempt to keep calm, without indulging in wasteful and destructive passions. However in poetry, the protagonist would wallow in despair, bewailing his fate in lengthy oration. The audience will get carried away and forget themselves in the process without realizing that "from the evil of other men something of evil is communicated to themselves." Thus it is imperative that, art which is flippant, morally licentious or just plain ridiculous be firmly uprooted from society before it allows the beast in man to run wild resulting in moral collapse and social ruin. THE WRITER'S VIEW ON THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF ART While Plato's views on the role of art in the republic are convincing and partly

Financial Trends Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial Trends Paper - Essay Example Also if we were to analyze the debt/equity ratios the decreasing leverage of the company has correspondingly increased not only its profitability but also increasing return on assets and increase in the net profit margin (money central, ten year summary). The article I am summarizing was published in Economist "The ones that get away: Accounts are increasingly more art than science". The author introduces the argument that although net profits of Amazon, online retailer, had fallen substantially while that of Sprint, telecom, had increased significantly share prices rose for both companies (Economist, 00130613). Author quotes Enron and WorldCom and stresses that people have become shy of profitability figures as these figures tend to be "malleable" (Economist, 00130613). There is a further argument that these errors start to creep in because companies are increasingly making use of estimates in their financial statements. The accrual method of accounting where expenses and revenues are entered into accounts when "incurred" (Economist, 00130613) have made the issue difficult and to compound it fair value accounting practices have introduced their own difficulties.

Organization Structure and Its External Environmental Research Paper

Organization Structure and Its External Environmental - Research Paper Example These domains are very large but the company has focused on the ones that have more influence on its performance in the market. Samsung company faces stiff competition from other companies especially LG with similar products, markets, and geographic locations. The company is aware of its competitors, their organizational size, marketing strategies, developments, and their competitive advantages. This has given management an upper hand in watching their operation internationally. The company is aware of its customers who are the most critical element of external environment. In order to keep its customers satisfied, it is important to know the preferential changes of customers, which are the likes, and dislikes which changes rapidly. The company produces goods that suit its customers bearing in mind that people live in tight social system that establish and encourage trends. It is always on the anticipating changes in customer product requirement, emerging technologies that can change how the good is used. In addition, it is aware of demographical changes, which include economical, social, and cultural shifts such as population age and economic class (Oldham, 1980). Samsung depends on availability of some external resources for its productivity and operation. It has skilled workers who include graduate from the field of technology, training schools, and labor market. The availability of these labors changes dramatically over period in that once the need for certain skill drops, even the supply drops which can affect the company, therefore, Samsung is aware of this and aims to compete for skilled labor in the market to avoid collapse. Samsung uses certain raw materials to manufacture its products, which it aims to keep in adequate supply to its main plant because a drift in supply of raw material may halts or slow its operation. Samsung has strong financial base that supports its operation in other countries in that it has credit lines that enables it to fund new ventures. Technologically, it has technological tools that are used in production of its products (Jacobsen, 2011). It uses new and up to date technology to fit the changing need of its customers. The company is responsible in its external market in which it operates in that it abide by the legal system , new laws and regulations that are in place in its area of operation. Environmental uncertainty is inevitable for any company since it is a measure of how many factors change during the time of planning. High level of uncertainty means that management has an intricate environment to deal with since it their decision-making capacity in absence of clear information. Leaders of Samsung Company have a framework of environmental uncertainty in that they have determined the stability and complexity of the environment in which they operate in. environmental complexity of Samsung company is determined by number of domains that influence its operation by focusing on how to beat its competit ors. Environmental stability of Samsung is determined by the frequency in which the domain aspects change and if the changes in the environment are predictable. Some domains in the Samsung environment are considered predictable thus making its external environment stable. Therefore, the company looks to create suitable

The Patriot Act Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Patriot Act - Research Paper Example Provisions of the Act violate the Constitution and tear down the freedoms for which true patriots have fought and died. This discussion will review provide a brief history pertaining to the subject, analyze the debate surrounding the topic and consequences of the Act then offer a concluding statement. History The PATRIOT Act was enacted in response to the 9/11 attacks and as a tool against terrorist threats. The right wing has actively advocated subverting the rights contained in no less than five of the first ten amendments (the Bill of Rights) to, as they claim, ‘protect’ citizens from terrorism. The name itself, the PATRIOT Act is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. The label for this law was cleverly designed and packaged to enlist broad support from a nation that is generally vulnerable to patriotic propaganda but even more so at the time that it was so swiftly enacted. Citizen s and legislators were all too eager to submit to the rhetoric that suggested that sacrificing a certain amount of freedom was a small price to pay for security. Most Congressmen admit to not have reading the Act before voting to pass it but those voting in favor were overwhelming. Only one of 99 Senators (Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold) and 66 of 423 Representatives voted against the law. The PATRIOT Act, as many citizens and legal experts alike have argued, violates the fundamental rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution’s first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights (Savage, 2006). This includes the freedom of speech and assembly (First Amendment); the freedom from unreasonable search and seizure (Fourth Amendment); the right to due process of law (Fifth Amendment); the right to a speedy, public and fair trial along with the right to counsel and to confront the accuser, (Sixth Amendment), the freedom from cruel and unusual punishment (Eighth Amendment) and freedom from pun ishment without conviction (13th Amendment). In March of 2010 President Obama signed a one-year extension of three parts of the USA Patriot Act without any amendments, additions or new limitations on measures he said were essential to safeguard American civil liberties. â€Å"The provisions allow the government, with permission from a special court, to obtain roving wiretaps over multiple communication devices, seize suspects’ records without their knowledge, and conduct surveillance of a so-called ‘lone wolf,’ or someone deemed suspicious but without any known ties to an organized terrorist group.† i Analysis Libertarian organizations such as the Civil Liberties Union claim that the Bush administration had a proclivity for secrecy and rejected the concept of transparency. The PATRIOT Act has reproved its agenda for the â€Å"outright removal of checks and balances.† ii Conservatives are alarmed as well including former Republican Representative Bob Barr, who is best known for leading the attempt to impeach President Clinton. Barr had led a group named â€Å"Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances† which focused solely on challenging the renewal of the Patriot Act in 2004. iii This multifaceted PATRIOT Act modified numerous laws including the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, Right to Financial Privacy Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act and Immigration and Nationality Act among many others. iv According to the Justice Department, the PATRIOT Act gives support to and

Business Policy and Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Policy and Strategic Management - Essay Example In customer perspective Starbucks strategy to retain market leadership is evident through operations such as brand extension to cater for different palates, setting up shops at diverse places e.g. hospitals, hotels and shopping centers – to capture the customers preferred hangouts and so on. In internal perspectives we can see Starbucks improving its processes as it forever seeks to brew the perfect cup of coffee, plus investing in increasing coffee knowledge among its staff and customers alike. Innovation and learning perspective is at the core of Starbuck ever unique coffee blends that result in products such as the Starbuck VIA Ready Brew. Also we notice that Starbucks pursues a differentiation strategy unlike its big rivals McDonalds and Dunkin’ Donuts which are pursuing low cost leadership. Differentiation strategy can only be sustained through continuous innovation. Starbucks has taken several steps to increase its innovativeness and entrepreneurial capability.

Talent Management at Google Company Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Talent Management at Google Company - Assignment Example The objective of the paper is to evaluate the implementation of diversity and equality, adherence to employment law and recruitment and selection processes of Google Inc. Talent management is the systematic approach which involves attraction, identification, deployment and retention of individuals or a group of people who are of a high value to the organization to help the enterprise meet its short and long run achievements. There are two approaches to talent management: the inclusive and the exclusive approach (Tucker, Kao and Verma, 2005). The inclusive approach includes the skill and knowledge development of all the employees in the enterprise. The exclusive approach is the process of development of a particular group of individuals considered as high potentials in the company (Buttiens and Hondeghem, 2012). Inclusive approach focuses on the talent development of all the employees of the organization, while, exclusive approach emphasizes on the development of a selected group of high potentials (Accenture, 2009). Inclusive approach does not add any value to the organization (Lockwood, N.R., 2006). In the inclusive approach, the difference between the less talented and the high performers is small while in the exclusive approach it is very high. The psychological contract is the unwritten expectations between the employee and the employer. According to psychological contract, the employee believes that the employer is compelled to behave in a certain manner and the enterprise also has some obligations toward the employee (Accenture, 2009). The psychological contract involves the employee and employer compulsions and the physiological contract evaluation. Under the exclusive approach, talented employees experience less violation of psychological contract and non-talented employees face more violation of the contract in their employment relations. The exclusive approach has high positive results for the high performers, but it adversely effects the employment

Evolution And Extinction Essay Example for Free

Evolution And Extinction Essay Evolution describes the progressive stages by which organisms existing today have emerged through processes of specialization, adaption and natural selection, from their pre-existing ancestors; it is the significant change in the traits of a population over several generations. On the other hand, extinction of a species of organism is the total disappearance of such forms of life from the surface of the earth due to inability to adapt. Â  The concept of f extinction and fossil development are closely interwoven. It is so important to the support of evolution that Charles Darwin expects that the ‘missing fossils’ would one day emerge as the ‘strongest support’ for the theory he propounded; the theory of evolution by natural selection. The point is that without extinction, there would be no fossils. In the absence of fossils, it readily becomes difficult to relate species ancestor to the existing organisms for the purpose of establishing an unequivocal evolutionary link. Evolution has generated a lot of controversy in contemporary times as it attempts to remove the Creationist theory from its vantage and highly exalted position. It is a thoughtful concept on the origin of living organism that has been supported by Developmental similarities [ascribed to the work of Ernest Haeckel], chromosomal similarities among mammals and primates [e.g. man and chimpanzee], fossil records, biochemical and anatomical similarities such as vestigial organs. Of these, fossil records are the most important since they create the needed link to substantiate evolution. Before reaching forth to connect and disconnect evolution and extinction, it is essential to note that: In the beginning, life was simple and over time, complexities came into view. As a result organisms perpetually attempt to become better suited to the prevailing environmental conditions and demands. Organisms who can effectively develop appropriate features survive i.e. they adapt and those who can not, die. This is the concept of ‘the survival of the fittest’. The newly evolved organism with better adaptation mechanisms produce offsprings much better suited by transfer of such positive and inheritable characters encoded in genes. When conditions change again, evolution occurs for the sustenance of life. Those who do not cope, die and their species progressively disappear. It is this cycle of evolution and extinction that is acclaimed to have maintained living organisms on the Earth. EVOLUTION VERSUS EXTINCTION From the aforementioned facts, it is clear that the two concepts are in a way, mutually interdependent. The progressive emergence of present-day horse from its evolutionary ancestors has been confirmed by fossil discovery and analysis. Same applies to man’s appearance as Homo sapiens. Â  In the examples, the ancestral species have gone into extinction. Their fossils were however discovered. A detailed analysis of these fossils, placing them side by side has made it possible to trace the evolution of horses and man; for man, from extinct Homo habilis through H. erectus to the present day Homo sapiens. This complementation has been achieved thus: detailed study and analysis of the different aspects of the fossil [anatomical, biochemical, and sometimes pathological], and comparing of findings to same properties of existing species has led to the conclusion that speciation and specialization occurred, necessitated by the need for survival. In contrast, if extinction points to the fact that evolution has possibly occurred, what about the ‘missing links’. This is an area that has made the belief in evolution a rather Herculean adventure. If organisms are claimed to have evolved over time, then, there has to fossils for the proposed ancestors. This is particularly important in the case of links i.e. species that combined the properties of two related members of a genus. If these links are absent, evolution raises more questions than it can answer. In this vein, one may look at Extinction as a natural solution to the problems of congestion. It appears to relieve the ecosystem of the burden of many lives. Imagine the congestion and its concomitant intense competition for space that would have resulted if extinction did not occur. The earth would have been in serious turmoil and life would intolerable. On the other hand, evolution shows the capacity that nature has to become suited to sustain life. It evidently relates a potent idea: nature is self-sustaining. It can adapt to changes effectively, and produce same or better results from prevailing conditions.

Utilitarianism - Justice Essay Example for Free

Utilitarianism Justice Essay A person who is a utilitarian believes in one principle of utility, which is to opt for an action that will bring the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people (Ronsenstand, 2013). It is not a decision made with selfish intentions, as it does not matter who benefits from the decision, as long as it is for the greater good. The utilitarian belief can be a solution to certain moral problems, but there are also problems that may arise from it. One of the problems of the utilitarian theory is that it is hedonistic and ignores individual rights (Sandel, 2009). Utilitarians will often look at the ‘big picture’ to determine the course of action that should be taken. If the decision is made in favor of the happiness of the greatest number of people, then what happens to those who are in the minority group? One example is the death of 6 months old Isis Charm Vas who was thought to be murdered by her babysitter, Ernie Lopez in 2011. Medical examiners failed to take into consideration that the child might be suffering from a rare blood disease. It is often found that in cases concerning the death of children, the law is quick to convict a person just to close the case as it impacts the society emotionally. Similarly, William Dillon served 27 years in prison for murder before he was exonerated from the crime he did not commit. It is not unusual for the law to convict innocent people just to provide closure for the family of the victims and also to give a sense of satisfaction or justice to the society. Society will naturally demand justice for these murders, thus putting pressure on the law to act quickly and often, make costly mistakes on behalf of innocents in the process. These people might sometimes be considered as ‘scapegoats’. Based on these cases, a utilitarian might argue that in general, it might bring a greater good to the vast majority if such criminal cases were brought to a closure, no matter if the person is truly innocent or not. Sacrificing one person is better than the unhappiness of a whole society. Closure reduces the hype around a particular case especially if it concerns children, which plays with the sympathy and anger of the society. The theory of utilitarian might argue that it is more important to restore the faith of the people in the law. If too much time is spent finding exact evidence pointing to the right offender in a case like Isis Charm Vas, the community might lose faith in the law thus creating even more problems in future. If no one trusts the law to provide justice, people might stop abiding the law altogether.

Philosophies of the Draft Dodgers

Philosophies of the Draft Dodgers Countercultures, or groups that that break off from a dominant or larger society because they disagree with the societys values or beliefs, can have lasting effects on government policies or global affairs (Thomas 39). One such counterculture is the group of American draft dodgers. These individuals evaded conscription, or mandatory military service, in American since the American Civil War (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). They rejected the American values of patriotism and national security during key wars such as World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. Also, they broke American laws, a part of the national culture, by burning their draft cards in protest and escaping to Canada to avoid their required service specifically during the Vietnam War (Kennedy and Cohen 891). These actions employed by draft dodgers display their own ideas and voices their rejection of the larger societys views, categorizing them as a counterculture in American history. Although draft dodgers can and have appeared in other countries around the world with mandatory military service, the American draft dodgers are specifically notable for their involvement in a number of American wars and polices. Draft evasion has roots in several areas from pacifism to personal unwillingness. Some countries exempted conscientious objectors to war and the draft (people who opposed bearing arms or violence for reasons related to their philosophy or religion) or provided them with specific jobs that did not require fighting, though others throughout history did not excuse these objectors from service (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The United States addressed conscientious objectors during the Civil War by allowing them to serve in positions that did not require the use of weaponry (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). However, the 1940 conscript laws clarified objectors as people who were part of a known pacifist group, not individuals that claimed perso nal objections (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The United States started experiencing draft dodgers during the American Civil War when conscription was first implemented in 1861 (Michael Ray). The affluent society in the North avoided military service by utilizing a bounty system, where the drafted individuals paid substitutes, especially African Americans, to enter the military for them (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). These citizens had an advantage over the poor and the military soon consisted of lower classes, inciting hostility towards both the wealthy and African Americans. Eventually, the Draft Riot of 1863 occurred with public unrest over this system; for four days, New York City rioters targeted African American buildings with violence (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). After the Civil War, the draft also added to the countrys military power during the two World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. All of these wars presented opportunities fo r draft dodgers, but the most notable wars they affected were the American Civil War and the Vietnam War. Most people associate draft resistance with American participation in the Vietnam War, where public protest of the draft escalated dramatically. Some of the public resistance of the draft stemmed from the Selective Service Systems deferment processes which provided certain people with special opportunities to avoid the draft (Michael Ray). Some draft dodgers resisted conscription by escaping to Canada (Kennedy and Cohen 891). After the Military Selective Service Act of 1967, burning draft cards, or the registration certificates for the draft, exploded as one of the most popular form of protest even though it broke government laws (Michael Ray). Protesters argued that the First Amendment protected their right to freely express opposition to the draft with this method (Michael Ray). David OBrien was one of the draft dodgers who burned their draft cards and ended up facing legal co nsequences (Michael Ray). His case eventually appeared before the Supreme Court in The United States v. OBrien, and the final ruling stated that burning draft cards hindered government actions and was not considered protected free speech (Michael Ray). Draft dodgers held great historical significance in American policy. In the Civil War, the draft dodgers influenced the composition of the military with the use of a bounty system to buy their way out of service (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). Their actions in the Civil War influenced American policy during World War I by prompting the government to abolish the bounty system in the 1917 Selective Service Act (Michael Ray). However, the most active and monumental role the draft dodgers played was during the Vietnam War (Kindig). They helped fuel opposition to the war with new drastic measures of burning draft cards and fleeing the country (Kennedy and Cohen 891). Their vocal actions had an unprecedented impact on the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War and the continuing attitudes later on. Currently, the U.S. draft sits dormant since there is no direct need for it, so draft dodgers appear less frequently in society as active protesters. However, in 1980 the gover nment required draft registration for men in case the draft ever resurfaced, and this policy still affects todays population (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). A sociological perspective and a sociological imagination can help people understand how draft dodgers actions affected the world. With a sociological perspective, people view others actions using scientific reasoning instead of everyday explanations (Thomas 4). It contends that everyone is a social being with hidden meanings behind his or her actions (Thomas 5). Clearly, draft dodgers did not protest the draft purely because of a disapproval of the implementation and process of the draft, although that did play a purpose in their actions. Using the sociological perspective, the actions of draft dodgers often target a larger intent to protest conscription in general and warfare as a method to solve conflict. A significant number of conscientious objectors objected to violence and bearing arms for religious or philosophical reasons, and since some governments did not excuse these objectors from service, they were forced to become draft dodgers in order to uphold their beliefs (The Edi tors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The American draft dodgers actions during the Vietnam War also had these sentiments, after media coverage of the war displayed unpleasant scenes that conflicted with their morals (Kennedy and Cohen 891). Draft dodgers conveyed the arguments for pacifism and nonviolence in their actions, two themes that apply to any country in the world. A sociological imagination, created by C. Wright Mills, allows people to connect their personal actions and experiences with the larger world in order to recognize the effects (Thomas 5). This viewpoint displays the great effects of draft dodger actions on larger bodies such as the United States of American and even the world. They significantly affected United States domestic and foreign policy. The Draft Riot of 1863 over the unfair bounty system influenced later domestic policy in the Selective Service Act of 1917, in which the process was prohibited (Michael Ray). They also influenced interpretation of the First Amendment when the Supreme Court case The United States v. OBrien arose from the protest method of burning draft cards that became popular during the Vietnam War (Michael Ray). The limitations of free speech were clarified for the American public, influencing later forms of protest. On the global perspective, foreign policy during the Vietnam War also received the impact of draft resistance since the protests amplified an opposition to American participation in the war. Their actions influenced the removal of American troops from Vietnam. Ethnocentrism is conviction that one group of people reigns supreme over other inferior groups (Thomas 35). Draft dodgers had an element of ethnocentrism in their actions, contributing to their classification as a counterculture, specifically during times of war. The draft dodgers who were conscientious objectors for religious or philosophical reasons believed that their values of pacifism or their faith were superior to the American sentiments of patriotism, leading them to resist the draft and conscription. Other draft dodgers felt that the value of life, including their own lives, was superior to patriotism, national security, or U.S. global power. They expressed their superior views by attempting to fulfill the requirements for exemption from service (deferment from Selective Service boards for academic or family reasons), burning their draft cards, or fleeing the country in order to not risk their own lives and protest the danger imposed on others lives (Michael Ray). Their ethn ocentrism encouraged draft dodgers to protest and fight for their beliefs rather than just duly accepting their fate as American citizens, resulting in their counterculture status. Cultural relativism practices that the standards of cultures different from one another, so a culture could only receive judgement based on their own point of view (Thomas 36). Using cultural relativism, draft dodgers avoid conscription because of their connection to the American culture from which they split. The American culture emphasized freedom to express and act according to an individuals beliefs (within obvious limitations). These draft dodgers, surrounded by the ideas that sharing opinions is acceptable and appreciated, naturally protested their opposition to drafts and conscription based on their own values and interests. In fact, one could argue that they protested the draft to save their own lives and the lives of their families, a priority for a number of people. A pacifist who is not a part of a formal organization would not receive exemption from conscription but would still have difficulty if drafted because the violence would conflict with his personal values, and ma y even die before fighting and breaking his values; therefore, draft avoidance could save his life (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). The draft sent men off to war whether they wanted to go or not, and unfortunately not all soldiers return home to their families. The families of the men who never return to war are left with a hole in their family structure, especially if the man was unwilling to fight. In this case, protesting and dodging the draft could protect a mans family, a formidable incentive to avoid conscription. Cultural relativism allows other individuals to understand the importance of draft evasion for men and their loved ones. Despite the incentives to evade conscription, I personally do not agree with all of the philosophies of the draft dodgers. The draft dodgers rightfully protested the unfair draft systems such as the bounty system during the Civil War or the subjective deferments of the Selective Service Board and I agree with the ideas of pacifism and resolving conflicts without violence that spurred draft dodgers to reject conscription. However, the draft should remain a possible tool today with modifications that require women to register as well as men to guarantee a suitable fighting force for national security. I cannot see the value in protesting a draft if the whole country faces peril and destruction as a result of a lack of volunteers to a war effort (with hope that such a situation never arises in the future). Also, there is no harm in registering when the government may never activate draft again in ones lifespan, and if the draft is reenacted, then there must be a dire need for soldiers w ith the already impressive advancements in military power through technology and volunteers. Although I cannot agree with their ideas, the fact remains that draft dodgers impacted American policies, values, and history significantly as longstanding counterculture. References   Kennedy, David M. and Lizabeth Cohen. The American Pageant: A History of the American People. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2016. Textbook. Kindig, Jesse. Vietnam War: Draft Resistance. 2008. Website. 3 March 2017. Michael Ray. Selective Service Acts. 10 September 2015. Website. 3 March 2017. The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. Conscientious Objector. 30 June 2010. Website. 3 March 2017. -. Conscription. 16 6 2011. Website. 3 March 2017. -. Draft Riot of 1863. 16 June 2011. Website. 3 March 2017. Thomas, W. LaVerne. Sociology: The Study of Human Relationships. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2003. Textbook.

Abraham Lincolns Abuse of Power :: American America History

Abraham Lincoln's Abuse of Power Lincoln's use of executive authority during the civil war is many times illegal and unjust; although his issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation may seem justified, Lincoln blatantly abused his power regarding civil rights. He did things like institute an unfair draft, suspend Constitutional rights, allocate military spending without Congress, and institute emancipation. Although some may justify these actions, they stomped on the Constitution. Lincoln found powers in the constitutional clause making him "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states." He said that because of this clause, he had the right to use any means necessary to defeat the enemy. With this justification, he issued many executive orders before Congress even convened. Lincoln summoned the militia, ordered a blockade of the Confederacy ports, expanded the regular army beyond its legal limit, and directed government funds before congressional allocation. of these powers were granted to him in the Constitution. Lincoln also abused his power with the draft. Prior to the draft, the Union depended on the states to fill assigned quotas with volunteers. But then Lincoln instituted a new draft. By its terms, all men between the ages of 20 and 45 were liable to military service. However, any man who was called for the draft could avoid it by hiring a substitute or paying $300 dollars to the government. Many groups rightfully denounced these acts, called the conscription acts, as a rich man's law. Indeed, many wealthy men were able to bribe poorer men into taking their place in The most blatant abuse of Lincoln's power was his suspension of habeas corpus. The suspension of this constitutional guarantee, by which a person could not be imprisoned indefinitely without being charges with some specific crime, around much opposition throughout the country. Although Lincoln himself made no concentrated efforts to suppress political oppositions, the repeal of habeas corpus enabled overzealous civil and military authorities to imprison thousands of people who were vocal in their opposition to the war against the South. During the war, in the case Ex parte Merryman, Chief Justice Taney ordered Lincoln to grant a writ of habeas corpus to a Southern agitator who had been arbitrarily jailed by military authorities in Maryland. Lincoln ignored the order. After the war, in the case Ex parte Milligan, the Supreme Court ruled that president could not suspend habeas corpus without the consent of Congress.

American Conservatism Essay -- Politics United States History

American Conservatism Beginning with Nixon and continuing with Reagan after the radical changes of American culture in the sixties and seventies, Americans would begin to shift towards more conservative ideas unsure of the rapid radical change. In the 1994 mid term elections, the American people would elect a congress of mostly conservatives for the first time in nearly 50 years. At the core of this success would be the Contract with America. A set of promises and goals devised by conservative congressional representative Newt Gingrich. In 2000 the Republicans (modern conservative party) would retain the Congress and capture the White House. Conservatism has been a leading political ideology since the inception of the United States to recent Presidential and Congressional elections. Over the last 230 years, conservative ideas in America would evolve to become a distinct brand of conservatism. The first conservative party in the newly formed United States of America was the Federalist. The Federalist were made up of several of the founding fathers including John Adams and Alexander Hamilton. John Adams a "Massachusetts lawyer spent the greater part of his life declaring, with perfect indifference to popularity, that freedom can be achieved and retained by sober men who take humanity as it is, not as humanity should be" is often cited as the founder of conservatism in an America (Kirk 71). They favored a strong central government that would protect the rights of property owners. They also favored little radical change after the Revolutionary War and retained a sense of social class apparent in the British Government. These parties tended to be supported by the businessmen of the time and those residing in smaller states. ... ...ervative tenets. This is a draw back of the two party system in which compromise must be made in order to form a viable political party. In that case, one may say the Republicans have been successful, yet they have only been so at the cost of their conservative ideology. Although it is also viable to say that since the Republican Party is the only major outlet for conservatism, conservatism has been relatively successful. The Republican Party will continue to evolve but will likely be the major source of conservatism in America for years to come. Hence as the Republican Party evolves American Conservatism will evolve. Works Cited Hauss, Charles. Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2003. Kirk, Russell. The Conservative Mind: From Burke to Eliot. Washington, D.C: Regnery Publishing Inc, 2001.

Cloning Essay -- essays research papers fc

With the technological knowledge in the world growing from day to day, there is no way to predict where science may lead us in the future. Just a few years ago, cloning was something of a fictional nature that most scientists had thought about, but never seriously considered it as an experiment. Recently, animals have been cloned, and cloning has become no less than true reality. In a few more years, the knowledge on how to clone humans could be present. Before that advancement arrives, we need to ask ourselves if this knowledge of cloning is a beneficial idea or a destructive one. Cloning will have negative effects on our society in the future because: cloning devalues uniqueness of the individual cloned, clones could be used in crimes or used as weapons, cloned animals that are reintroduced into the ecosystem could cause the ecosystem to change drastically, people who try to clone their dead loved ones will be shocked to find that the clone may resemble the person that they love, but it really isn't the person that they love, finally, animals that are cloned for medical reasons don't deserve to be brought into this world just to be used only for their organs and other body parts. If something isn't done to avoid cloning humans before it is too late, then cloning could upset the balance of our society drastically, possibly causing irreversible mishap in the world as we know it today. The knowledge on how to clone humans doesn't exist yet, but the knowledge on how to clone animals is presently being utilized in research labs worldwide. Standard cloning involves taking DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) from a cell of a particular species and transferring it into an egg cell from another animal belonging to the same species or another one. Before this process can take place, the nucleus from the original cell must be removed from that egg. The result is then implanted into the surrogate mother. This mother will then provide the food and nutrients for the embryo to develop until the mother gives birth to the clone. Until recently, the surrogate mother had to be of the same species, but now, with recent technological advances, one species can now give birth to a different species ("Science and Technology" 100). The laundry list of complaints about cloning begins with the fact that cloning humans decreases the value of uniqueness of the individual. Accordi... ...ls." CeresNet 2000.5 Nov. 2000 http://www.ceresnet.org/ViewEntry.cfm?ID=82&Section=outreach Colvin, Jonathon. "Me, my clone, and I (or in defense of human cloning)." The Humanist May/Jun. 2000: 39. Dixon, Dr. Patrick. Don't Clone – 3 Reasons. 31 Oct. 2000 http://www.globalchange.com/noclones.htm Lemonick, Michael D. "Could a clone ever run for President?" Time 8 Nov. 1999: 96. Mayor, Susan. "UK authorities recommend human cloning for therapeutic research." British Medical Journal 98: 1613. Myers, Nichole. Personal Interview. 1 April. 2001. Pavone, Fr. Frank. "What does it mean to be Me?" 31 Oct. 2000 http://www.priestsforlife.org/pressreleases/clonepress.html Rembert, Tracey C. "Me and my shadow." E Jul/Aug. 1997: 15–21. Schaeffer, Pamela. "Many oppose human cloning." National Catholic Reporter 22 Oct. 1999: 19,21. "Science and technology: New kid on the block." The Economist 14 Oct. 2000: 100. "Vatican: No to human cloning." National Catholic Reporter 22 Oct. 1999: 21. Watson, Rory. "European parliament wants world ban on human cloning." British Medical Journal 97: 847 Cloning Essay -- essays research papers fc With the technological knowledge in the world growing from day to day, there is no way to predict where science may lead us in the future. Just a few years ago, cloning was something of a fictional nature that most scientists had thought about, but never seriously considered it as an experiment. Recently, animals have been cloned, and cloning has become no less than true reality. In a few more years, the knowledge on how to clone humans could be present. Before that advancement arrives, we need to ask ourselves if this knowledge of cloning is a beneficial idea or a destructive one. Cloning will have negative effects on our society in the future because: cloning devalues uniqueness of the individual cloned, clones could be used in crimes or used as weapons, cloned animals that are reintroduced into the ecosystem could cause the ecosystem to change drastically, people who try to clone their dead loved ones will be shocked to find that the clone may resemble the person that they love, but it really isn't the person that they love, finally, animals that are cloned for medical reasons don't deserve to be brought into this world just to be used only for their organs and other body parts. If something isn't done to avoid cloning humans before it is too late, then cloning could upset the balance of our society drastically, possibly causing irreversible mishap in the world as we know it today. The knowledge on how to clone humans doesn't exist yet, but the knowledge on how to clone animals is presently being utilized in research labs worldwide. Standard cloning involves taking DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) from a cell of a particular species and transferring it into an egg cell from another animal belonging to the same species or another one. Before this process can take place, the nucleus from the original cell must be removed from that egg. The result is then implanted into the surrogate mother. This mother will then provide the food and nutrients for the embryo to develop until the mother gives birth to the clone. Until recently, the surrogate mother had to be of the same species, but now, with recent technological advances, one species can now give birth to a different species ("Science and Technology" 100). The laundry list of complaints about cloning begins with the fact that cloning humans decreases the value of uniqueness of the individual. Accordi... ...ls." CeresNet 2000.5 Nov. 2000 http://www.ceresnet.org/ViewEntry.cfm?ID=82&Section=outreach Colvin, Jonathon. "Me, my clone, and I (or in defense of human cloning)." The Humanist May/Jun. 2000: 39. Dixon, Dr. Patrick. Don't Clone – 3 Reasons. 31 Oct. 2000 http://www.globalchange.com/noclones.htm Lemonick, Michael D. "Could a clone ever run for President?" Time 8 Nov. 1999: 96. Mayor, Susan. "UK authorities recommend human cloning for therapeutic research." British Medical Journal 98: 1613. Myers, Nichole. Personal Interview. 1 April. 2001. Pavone, Fr. Frank. "What does it mean to be Me?" 31 Oct. 2000 http://www.priestsforlife.org/pressreleases/clonepress.html Rembert, Tracey C. "Me and my shadow." E Jul/Aug. 1997: 15–21. Schaeffer, Pamela. "Many oppose human cloning." National Catholic Reporter 22 Oct. 1999: 19,21. "Science and technology: New kid on the block." The Economist 14 Oct. 2000: 100. "Vatican: No to human cloning." National Catholic Reporter 22 Oct. 1999: 21. Watson, Rory. "European parliament wants world ban on human cloning." British Medical Journal 97: 847

Huckleberry Finn and The Catcher in the Rye essay Essay

The novels ‘The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn’ and ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ are both set in times where the expectations of society differed from the ones of today. Huckleberry Finn is set in the late 1800s, pre USA civil war and in a time where slavery was an accepted occurrence and the escape of a slave was seen as legally and morally wrong. This was also a time in which church attendance and education were seen as tokens of respectability. A young boy, the eponymous character, Huck, seeks to reject all that he regards as oppressive and cruel in order to establish an alternative life as a wanderer, far from adult control. The Catcher in the Rye’, on the other hand, was set in the late 1940s, a time when teenagers were just beginning to gain their own lives and being allowed more freedom than ever before. The picaresque novel gives the reader an insight into middleclass life in New York in the 50s and how one boy felt trapped by the expectations of his parents and school. His period of comparative freedom leads to unexpected consequences as he falls victim to depression and eventual supervision in an institution, putting paid forever to his dreams of freedom. Both novels present the themes of freedom and escape and the selected extracts portray incidents in the characters’ lives which focus on this theme. In both of the extracts, the characters are pretending to be someone else, Huckleberry Finn a young girl and Holden Caulfield taking a false identity. The reader may infer from this that by assuming a different and fake identity, the two boys can escape from their own lives; ones that are full of problems and worries. Escaping their lives allows them both to live a little more freely, even if just for a little while. However, Huckleberry Finn and Holden take on their new identities for different reasons. For instance, Huckleberry Finn assumes the alternative identity in order to travel across town without being recognised by anybody, as he was supposed to have died not long before. Another reason he had to pretend to be a girl is to protect his and Jim’s safety. Holden on the other hand, assumes the alternative identity in order to befriend people he meets on his journey without the people realising that he should still be at school. Various audiences of the two novels would interpret and receive the occurrences in the extracts very differently. For example, the audience of Huckleberry Finn would be shocked at Huck escaping, living with a slave and then dressing as a girl. This is because the changes in society since Huckleberry Finn was written are significant. In the late 1800s, young boys were to be well educated and then sent off to be a successful businessman, not to escape and run amok. Slaves were also seen as inferior and a possession and anybody helping them was breaking the law. Another thing that the different audiences would feel differently about is the fact that Jim gets called a ‘nigger’ quite often. An audience of the 1880s would accept that as normal as they were used to hearing it, whereas an audience of the 2000s would be shocked by this, as the word nigger has a very malicious meaning nowadays and is considered a racist insult due to the equality rights now instilled in the majority of society, due to the word undergoing perjoration. The audience of Catcher in the Rye would probably not be surprised at the behaviour that Holden employs, as teenagers in the late 1940s were gaining a new sense of freedom and the dangers of letting your children out into the world unsupervised had not yet been considered. They also would accept that he might befriend any stranger that he comes across. However in the 40s there still existed traditional views about respect for authority although they were gradually evaded. His parents however do not approve of him staying in the hotel by himself. In the 2000s however, we would frown upon a young teenager travelling around alone, talking to strangers and booking a hotel room in a large city. The maturity of the two different characters is also very different. Although Holden wants and tries to be mature, the reader very quickly sees that he is in actual fact very childish and naive. This could be so that he can escape the realities of adult life, and stay in his idealistic child’s world forever. Despite this, he does attempt to seem more of an adult by using more taboo language and more complicated language around people who he would like to impress, like the females in the Lavender Room. For example, he says; ‘I’m twelve, for Chrissake. I’m big for my age. ’ Although the word Chrissake, which is the words ‘Christ’s sake’ after undergoing elision and with Holden’s idiolect, is not considered taboo now, it was still frowned upon in the 1940s, as some sectors of society were still highly religious. Another taboo word he used a lot is ‘Goddamn’. Again this word, which is the words ‘God damn’ that have also undergone elision and are with Holden’s idiolect, is no longer considered taboo or offensive, due to the change in society over time. This language choice illustrates Holden’s immaturity as it shows that he believes that using taboo words and more complicated language will make him look more grown up, when in actual fact it simply makes him seem barbaric and pretentious. Huck, on the other hand seems quite comfortable with his maturity level, which is one that seems to fluctuate. For instance, he seems to treat the whole journey in the novel as an adventure, one that fuels his child-like imagination; as is shown when Huck plays a prank on Jim. He says; ‘I went to the cavern to get some, and found a rattlesnake in there. I killed him, and curled him up at the foot of Jim’s blanket, ever so natural, thinking there’d be some fun when Jim found him there’. This illustrates his immature side as children are more likely to play pranks and find them amusing. Another way that Twain shows Huck’s immaturity and failed education is through his speech, as Twain uses elision in depicting Huck’s speech and gives him a very strong idiolect and dialect. One instance of this is; ‘Who done it? we’ve heard considerable about these goings on, down in Hookerville, but we don’t know who t’was that killed Huck Finn. Huck uses the word ‘t’was’ instead of saying ‘it was’. Using elision as strong as this also shows us how badly educated Huck is, despite the attempts of Widow Douglas to correct this. However, you do get to see the more mature side of Huck. One example of this is when he makes plans for his escape from his father. He makes a list of the things he needs and even fakes his own death so that he can never be found. This shows his maturity because he has the initiative to put the plans into place and fool the people he is escaping from. Another example would be when he treats and considers Jim to be his friend, as it is obvious that he has to ignore society and make his own decision to befriend someone who could potentially get him into trouble with the law. Also, he has to overcome a moral dilemma when deciding whether to escape with Jim, or hand him over to Widow Douglas, to whom Jim rightfully belongs. The fact that Jim is a possession of someone else would shock modern audiences as they are not used to this due to the change in society. This particularly shows his maturity because he was making a decision about somebody else’s life as well, as Jim would have been sold on if returned to Widow Douglas, therefore thwarting his plan to find his family. The decision that Huck had to make had consequences beyond his control and Huck was fully and completely aware of this whilst making the choice. The central characters in the two novels respond to the theme of escape in different but not quite contrasting ways. For Huckleberry Finn, the journey he goes on allows him to grow up and realise what he wants for himself in the future. Huck’s resolution to embrace traditional societal values by resuming his studies shows he has come to a positive decision about his future. On the other hand, for Holden the journey is a reality check, as it shows him that he is not ready for the outside and adult world because he hadn’t even got the simple child’s world right. He saw life as a game, and was stubbornly naive. His loss of autonomy at the end of the novel shows loss of dreams of freedom and little hope of escape from the downward spiral he has found himself in along the way.