Broad History of Culinary Arts

Renita Thornton Chef Jerome Culinary 1010 18 February 2013 A Broad History of the Culinary Arts Introduction Culinary arts describe the art involving the preparation and cooking of foods. Culinary artists are usually responsible for preparing meals skillfully, which implies that the food made is appealing to the eye and the palate. The culinary arts history dates back from 1800s, when the first school in Boston involved in teaching the art of cooking became discovered. Various changes have taken place in the culinary arts from the discovery time to the present.For instance, various cooking methods are continuously being discovered. Although cooking was once taken as a household chore supposed to be carried out by women as men worked in the field, it has presently developed and has become a world’s wonder and highly attracting both men and women due to its ability to provide incomes. Today, cooking is not just a hobby but also a job to the American people. In this paper, I will discuss the evolution of the culinary arts commencing in the prehistoric times to the present. The history o f culinary arts dates back to 1800s, a time when the first cooking school became established in Boston.The cooking school established in Boston taught students how to prepare different foods and prepared them on passing knowledge to others. The Boston cooking school was a chief contributor in the creativeness of culinary professionals everywhere. However, more schools began popping up, and up to now, there are about 21,000 universities teaching culinary arts programs (Toussaint-Samat 29). Apart from the immense contribution of Boston cooking school, another vast contributor to the early culinary arts is Fannie merit book on American culinary arts and recipes.This book became published in 1896; it became the first ever official cookbook in America. During the time, the book became highly demanded since every household demanded the book as it was valued and used in every day’s life. This original book of cooking is still utilized in the present age as a reference in the cooking profession (Glazer 103). The next phase involving the history of culinary arts describes the culinary arts being taken to the television, in 1946, where the father of American cuisine; also known as James Beard held regular classes of cooking.This gave lesson to individuals desiring to know more regarding the cooking profession. The appearance of cooking lessons in the television brought a lot of changes to the cooking profession. Individuals desiring to become cooks became inspired since one was not required to pay anything in order to learn how to prepare and cook various cuisines; all that a person required was listening to cooking lessons on the television and then applying the learnt lessons practically. Many people did not understand how to prepare certain recipes not until there were free classes on televisions.In the 1800’s, people had the mentality that cooking was meant for women and participation of men in the cooking became deemed as a failure of man’s res ponsibility. However, in the early 1900’s, people commenced appreciating the art of cooking with the emergence of industries. The emergence of businesses such as tourist hotels made cooking become a vast profession that could hold almost all individuals regardless whether one was a female or male (Mondschein 49). This exceedingly gave the culinary arts a bit of professionalism, although not to a vast deal. Later, in 1946, the Culinary Institute of America became established.The establishment of the Culinary Institute of America brought changes in the professionalism of cooking. Since the institute is non-profit organization, it was capable of supporting professionalism in cooking without the objective of making a profit. This made most individuals join the cooking professionalism. Unlike the earlier days, most men joined the cooking profession. The college still offers professional education in cooking. Training materials, videos and books from the college have been used to t rain professionals and non-professionals in cooking.Cooking techniques have changed over time, due to interaction between various individuals. For instance, the interaction between the Americans and Africans has led to learning of new techniques of cooking embraced by the different groups (Strauss 43). In the same way, the interaction of Americans with the Asians has led to the adoption of new cooking techniques (Labensky 36). Also, new techniques have developed with the advance of time; traditional cooking techniques have been replaced by new techniques that are still emerging with the advancement of the cooking profession.ConclusionCulinary art involves the art of preparing and cooking different cuisines. Various changes have taken place in the culinary arts from the discovery time to the present. For instance, various cooking methods are continuously being discovered. Although cooking was once taken as a household chore supposed to be carried out by women as men worked in the fie ld, it has presently developed and has become a world’s wonder and highly attracting both men and women due to its ability to provide incomes. Changes have occurred in the cooking techniques emanating from the advancement of the cooking profession and integration of communities.Works Cited Labensky, Steven. The Prentice Hall Dictionary of Culinary Arts.Upper Saddle River, N. J: Pearson/Prentice Hall Books, 2006. Print. Toussaint-Samat, Maguelonne. A History of Food. Chichester, West Sussex, U. K: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.Internet resource. Glazer, Francine S. Blended Learning: Across the Disciplines, Across the Academy. Sterling, Va: Stylus, 2012.Print. Mondschein, Ken. Food and Culinary Arts. New York, NY: Ferguson, 2009.Print. Strauss, G L. M. Philosophy in the Kitchen: General Hints on Food and Drink. S. l: Vintage Cookery Books, 2008. Print.

Explain the contribution of Teresa of Avila to mysticism Essay

Transfer-Encoding: chunked i »? Explain the contribution of Teresa of Avila to mysticism (35) Mysticism is an aspect of religious experience that is little understood. This term has been used to describe experiences that reveal spiritual recognition of truths beyond normal understanding, from the mildly ecstatic to the occult. It has been said that there are certain features which accompany such experiences which enable their recognition, such as a sense of freedom from the limitations of time, space and the human ego. Believers may also experience a sense of â€Å"oneness† or unity with God, accompanied with bliss and serenity. Mysticism is seen as the closest a human being can ever come to actually meeting God in this life. Mystical experiences can also be classified into two areas: extrovertive, where one experiences unity in the world through the physical senses and introvertive, where the person loses their identity as a separate individual and slowly merges into the divine unity. A key introvertive mystic is Teresa of Avila. In examining her contribution to religious experience, a good place to start is considering her background. Teresa’s background may be key to understanding her enigmatic personality and experiences. She was a woman from a wealthy background and had a turbulent start in life. When she was seven her mother died, and when she was fourteen she ran away to seek martyrdom. She had an alleged love affair with her cousin that tarnished her reputation and effectively made her unmarriable. This, coupled with her obsession with books of chivalry, may have corrupted her view of what love really is. Her father decided to send her into an Augustinian convent where she was very unhappy. This sense of rejection played a major part in her later religious experience. It was while she was in the convent that her religious experiences began. In 1554 she had a deeper conversion when she saw a statue of Jesus after he had been whipped. She was deeply moved and wrote, â€Å"I felt so keenly aware of how poorly I had thanked him for those wounds that, it seems to me, my heart broke. I threw myself down before him with the greatest outpouring of heart. † After this experience she progressed into a life of intense prayer and the Catholic practice of mortification, so much so that he motto became, â€Å"Lord, either let me suffer or let me die. † She was also deeply influenced by the Confessions of Augustine and other theological books – although she did not have access to the Bible. Perhaps the single most influential experience she had was when she ‘came back from the dead’ after suffering from what is thought to have been malaria. This increased her notoriety. Moving on, Teresa was encouraged to write about her experiences and her books continue to influence mysticism today. Her two main writings are Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle. Way of Perfection is considered her spiritual autobiography. Here she emphasises the importance of praying mentally as well as vocally. In sixteenth century Spain the common people were encouraged to restrict themselves to vain repetitions of learned-off prayers, Teresa rejected this in favour of a more personal relationship with God. Her superbly inspiring classic on the practice of prayer is as fresh and meaningful today as it was when she first wrote it. The Way of Perfection is a practical guide to prayer setting forth the Saint’s counsels and directives for the attainment of spiritual perfection. Through the entire work there runs the author’s desire to teach a deep and lasting love of prayer beginning with a treatment of the three essentials of the prayer-filled life — fraternal love, detachment from created things, and true humility. St. Teresa’s counsels on these are not only the fruit of lofty mental speculation, but of mature practical experience. In The Interior Castle she compares the soul to a castle with seven rooms, with the Trinitarian God residing in the inner room. Growth in prayer enables the believer to reach a deeper intimacy with God, symbolised by a progressive journey through the rooms of the castle. She also describes the resistance that the Devil places in various rooms, to keep believers from union with God. Throughout, she provides encouragements and advice for spiritual development. Teresa’s writings lack Biblical references due to the Spanish Inquisition restricting access to the scriptures, and this grieved her. William James identified four characteristics of religious experience: ineffability; noetic quality; transiency and passivity. All of these care clearly apparent with Teresa’s experiences. Starting with ineffability, this is when one experiences a feeling that cannot be described to anyone else. She wrote that, â€Å"the soul is fully awake as regards God, but wholly asleep as regards the things of this world. † Secondly, noetic quality is when the mystic experience gives insight into truths unobtainable by the intellect alone. This is also apparent in Theresa’s experiences: â€Å"when I return to myself, it is wholly impossible for me to doubt that I have been in God, and God in me. † Thirdly, transiency. The religious experience does not last for long, usually half an hour or so. Though they are remembered, they are imperfectly recalled, but recognised if they reoccur – the recipient usually feels a profound sense of the importance of the experience. Associated with Teresa’s raptures are always visions. Her most famous vision involved her seeing a small angel with a beautiful face holding â€Å"a long golden spear† tipped with a â€Å"little fire† which he thrust into her heart. Finally, there is passivity, when the mystic feels as if they have been taken over by a superior power. In Teresa’s case, her visions were sometimes accompanied by levitation or strange screams. It could be this aspect that led many to believe she was possessed by the devil. In terms of impact, Teresa of Avila had a profound influence on religious experience. She the first female saint of the Roman Catholic Church – the saint of headache sufferers, rather oddly. She was somewhat of a reformer, emphasising a personal relationship with God above rigid sacramentalism. In 1562 she established the strict Carmelite order in various areas of Spain and her writings continue to be studied by believers today.

Reactions to Extreme Danger

Reactions to danger vary greatly in different types of situations and different types of people. A few known reactions to grave danger are actually in pairs of completely opposite reactions. What I mean by that is that is that in a moment of distress, one can act in ways that are completely different from each other. For example, one can either freak out or stay calm,, freeze or keep going, run or stay, ect. These actions, of course, depend on the person, place, and situation. There are dozens, probably hundreds, of different situations in which danger is present.Some usual situations are things such as kidnappings, fires, assaults, shootings, and being held hostage. Although some people may react calmly to a given dilemma, others may completely freak out in the spur of the moment and go to extreme measures in order to get out. Some of these extreme measures include doing things you may regret for the rest of your life. An example of these extreme choices is killing. Suppose you†™re being held hostage. The only way to survive is to kill your holder and run away.If you’re desperate, you’ll probably do it. Another example of these extreme measures is cannibalism. People usually resort to this when they are stranded and desperate for food. If a person dies, the best thing to feed the rest is to eat the body of the deceased. Psychosis can sometimes set in after such events. But as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures. All in all, different reactions to different types of danger vary depending on the person and situation. Usually, saving your life will be the ultimate goal.You’ll do anything in order to get out of the situation quickly and safely. One can even resort to the extreme measures mentioned previously. Killing and cannibalism are also usual choices people make to save their or a loved ones life. We as humans sometimes feel the need to protect not only ourselves, but others as well. The human mind and body can do great things when distressed. For example, a mother can lift a car under which her infant child is lying. In that case, saving her child’s life is the ultimate goal.

Briefly explain the economies of Singapore and Hong Kong Essay

Briefly explain the economies of Singapore and Hong Kong - Essay Example The political structure of Singapore changed in 1963 when it made collaboration with Malaya and Sabah Sarawak to form Malaysia. The association tore up when Malaysia expelled her for various ethnic and political reasons. One of the main ethno-politico reasons behind the eviction of Singapore was its Chinese majority under the Peoples Action Party (PAP). The PAP was led by Lee Kuan Yew which was opposite to the Malaysian’s. The end of first opium war brought Hong Kong under the rule of the British government during 1840/41. Later in 1898 – 99, the British government acquired Honk Kong on a 99-year lease in order to extend the territory of Hong Kong. A big change came in the administration of Hong Kong in 1997 when it got independence from the British rule and reverted back to China’s authority as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The 1967 pro-Communist riots threatened the administration of Hong Kong seriously after which the colonial government started modernizing the bureaucracy. This was done to strengthen the relation between government and society. The entrepot trade grew. Hong Kong became an entrepà ´t trading center that deals in the importation of manufactured goods from the west to Chinese market and in the exportation of Chinese products in the markets of the West. As the result of the unceasing political and economic instability during the colonial period, the majority of Chinese started migrating to Hong Kong. This change in the population composition of Hong Kong brought economic and political stability in the newly independent territory of Hong Kong.

Human Resource Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 15

Human Resource Management - Essay Example Once a top executive realises that no matter how hard he struggles for his organisation, all he will receive is his fixed salary, the performance levels of the executive will begin to recede. The removal of incentive is effectively the removal of motivation on the job for such positions. It must also be realised that when such executives join office their primary motivation is the challenge posed by the new position. Once an executive figures out how to manage the new position, the real motivation begins to disappear from the job. In order to keep motivation on the job to a high level, it would be desirable to use a fixed and variable pay structure to serve as the executive’s motivation. On another note, this pay structure aids in ensuring that the executive treats his job more seriously than before because his financial stakes are involved with the performance of the organisation. While it may be considered as cumbersome by some top executives but this model ensures that the organisation pays the executive back in proportion to their

Individualism and Community Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Individualism and Community - Dissertation Example The period before 1900 was characterized by an element of self-reliance. This probably because of the people involved in writing that time; the majority of the writers during this period were men. As a result of this, it is evident that most writings of the period were influenced by gender. For instance, Emerson asserts that his writing is all about himself and not what he has heard about other men (1873). In relation to his assertion, it is apparent that egotism of men influenced their ideas in writing. To emphasize the point of self-reliance, Emerson expounds on how the words of one of the painters of that period made him realize the essence of believing in oneself thought and what is in one’s heart (Emerson 1163). In relation to his assertion, one can deduce that self-reliance was a virtue of the majority of the men in the period before 1900. Decision-making was not influenced by outside forces; men believed in themselves in making decisions. The art of that period also enc ourages people to abide by their â€Å"spontaneous impression with good-humored inflexibility† (Emerson 1163). In relation to individualism, men emphasized on trusting oneself and the environment in which one resided. For instance, Emerson claims that great men worked through their hands, and as a result of this, he advocates the independence of solitude. Majority of the misunderstandings in the society were as a result of men’s individualism in making decisions. According to the writing by Emerson (1168), men trusted their emotion.

Describe and analyse the influence of the independant sector on health Essay

Describe and analyse the influence of the independant sector on health care provision in england - Essay Example They are formed and registered by the associated authority. In England, private medication is provided by private medical clubs, occupational medical services, work clubs, fee for service insurances, friendly societies, public medical clubs which was funded by subscription and medical fees paid on an adhoc basis, charities and voluntary hospitals. Doyle & Bull (2000: 122) state that private health care in England serves an important duty as it provides medication to very many people. For example, very many people were insured against health by insuring companies, friendly societies and cash plan companies in the year 1947.These group represents 77% of severe medical and psychiatric impatient and outpatient hospital treatment in the private sector. This is mostly when there is a problem concerning psychiatry, care of the elder, abortion (termination of pregnancy) and through waiting list initiatives. Most of the people in the United States of America do insure themselves with the private medical insurance. The elder and the social classes do insure against the same. Richer people chose to insure with private medical insurance to the extent of about 24% while the poor insures themselves relatively about 3% (Doyle & Bull, 2000:153). According to Shirom (2001: 17), employers are currently doing efforts to insure their employees so as to ensure a stable workforce. In this case there are some experts who practice to insure themselves privately. Some of insurers have established ways to converse and agree about the nature and quality of care offered to insured patients. Also the fact of using the medicine with proven evidence is now affecting the private sectors. The insurance companies notice that some of the procedures are not followed. A good example includes inserting grommets for glue ear and dilation, and curettage in younger woman. Private sectors usually are operated by the individuals and they may not be the government projects, they are in

Temporary Works to Superstructures (Slabs) Essay

Temporary Works to Superstructures (Slabs) - Essay Example The braking system applies friction on the tire during braking and as a result, the kinetic energy is converted to heat and sometimes noise. However, the hybrid car is so energy conservative such that it uses its energy with minimal losses. The energy is converted into electrical energy by the motor installed on the car and is stored in the battery. Thus, in place of the normal braking system of friction, the car uses the electric motor. The motor runs in the opposite direction to the tires, and in so doing acts as generator, converting the lost energy into electrical energy for storage in the battery. The earth’s potential energy The earth is another system that has got very much energy pent up within its interior. This energy manifests itself in various ways, but the most common is the earth tremors and earthquakes that are experienced. This energy moves in the earth’s interior as waves referred to as seismic waves. These waves cause the movement of the earth plates. Once these waves meet and slip over each other, the pent up energy is released promptly and is propagated to the earths surface inform of seismic waves. There are of two main types, the primary waves also called longitudinal waves and the secondary waves also called transverse. The primary waves travel faster than the secondary waves but the secondary are stronger than the primary waves. If this energy is not anticipated and happens to be very high, it causes catastrophic effects on the earth. Structures are brought down and others destroyed for good. Means of harnessing this energy have not been discovered. Electric field energy The field of electric energy has really been exploited. The law enforcement agencies have also embraced this technology and developed a very beautiful and efficient gun. These guns use battery and an inbuilt circuit to produce charges. These are connected to electrodes which when the electric field created encounters the body, disrupt the nerves electrical signals which control the body muscles, making the muscles non-active and hence the criminal is subdued easily. The charge used to produce these electrical fields is regulated such that it does not cause any harm to the criminal. Another fine advancement is the discovery of the electric fish. Fish tat produce electric fields actively are known as electrogenic fish. They achieve the separation of charge by having an electric organ. The electroplates are disk like and hence once the brain launches the message, the plates become charged by a chemical progression which is just the same as that of the nerves functioning. There are many fish that are electric but the most common are the electric eel and catfish. These fish use these electric fields for catching and subduing their prey. The fish that have strong electric fields such as the eel, whose electric field makes up to fifty percent of its body, can kill a prey instantaneously as they touch it with the electrodes. They also use the se fields for locating prey or other organisms and for communicating with each other. Some fish such as the elephant nose have weak electric fields and hence they use them for communicating only. Their electric charge is as good as that contained in the batteries. Lightening energy Lightening, usually observed as a flash of light on the sky is another form

DS Final Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

DS Final - Dissertation Example In the wake of such levels of debate and discussion among researchers, it is always useful to introduce a new paradigm that would serve as an alternative. Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) has been found to be a new technology that most IT projects would want to use in the provision of communication services. This is largely due to the level of reliability associated with the service output of VoIP. The study therefore took advantage to introduce a paradigm shift in medical alert systems by using VoIP instead of POTS. This was done through the development of medical software that was called VoIP medical alert system. Medical alert service is subsequently analyzed in this paper as a customized and integrated work activity, using emergency medicine as a theoretical framework. Medical alert service is regarded in the paper as an emergency response scheme that demands that medical care reach service users in emergency within the shortest timeframe. But for this to be achieved, the need to have a reliable and efficient communication system to link up to the medical alert service was necessary. Information systems theory was thus used as an activity theory to guide the development and introduction of the VoIP medical alert system at the St Theresa Hospital. ... I declare that the dissertation describes original work that has not previously been presented for the award of any other degree of any institution. Signed, your-name-here â€Å"This dissertation contains material that is confidential and/or commercially sensitive. It is included here on the understanding that this will not be revealed to any person not involved in the assessment process.† Student, Supervisors and Classes: Student name: Student ID number: GDI name: CRMT class ID: DA name: Yongge Wang CAC class ID: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A number of people played very instrumental roles in the completion of the current research. For various roles in which they supported me morally, spiritually, intellectually, and logistically, I would like to express a depth of gratitude to I would like to thank Dr.Yongge Wang (my dissertation advisor) for his support throughout this dissertation. I would like to thank my family for their continuous support and the University of Toronto. Finally, to all respondents who dedicated their time to answering interview questions during the primary data collection. LIST OF TABLES Table 6.1 Emergency Services given before and after the Intervention 47 Table 6.2 Deaths recorded before and after the Intervention 49 LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 3.1 Information Systems as an Activity 25 Fig 3.2 Decision-Making Theory Diagram 26 Fig 4.1 SSDAM Diagram 30 Fig 4.2 Simplified Data Flow Diagram 32 Fig 4.3 Business Systems Options Diagram 33 Fig 4.4 Requirements Specifications Diagram 35 Fig 5.1 Combined use of Waterfall Model and Action Research 42 TABLE OF CONTENT Chapter 1. Introduction 10 1.1 Scope 10 1.2 Problem Statement 11 1.3 Approach 12

I am not sure about the subject that i used, but you have to put the Assignment

I am not sure about the subject that i used, but you have to put the right subject for each - Assignment Example This comes in the wake of different cases around the nation where officers are seen to manhandle or mistreat people from minority groups, with some even leading to the death of the said individuals (Schmidt 1). The issue of hate crimes has been a topic that is often discussed in hushed tones in various areas in the United States. In yet another different online article, The Guardian dated 10 Feb. 2015, three individuals were sentenced to prison for alleged hate crimes that led to the death of one James Craig Anderson. In the wake of these allegations, it later emerged that a group of white people would go to Jackson to pester, harass, and assault black people. Others were waiting sentencing stemming from the same hate crimes and conspiracy to do the same against nonwhites (AP 1). After a series of attacks by both white police officers and civilians, it has become necessary for major newspapers around the nation to highlight what is happening, and what should be done about it. It is clear that race is still an issue that most people are battling with, and with the rising number of cases, the attitude and mentality of everyone involved needs to change. This is for the betterment of society and everyone involved in making it prosper. It is my belief that whenever minority groups hear of such cases, there is bound to be traces of anger, bitterness, and resentment towards the other race, especially when perpetrators are not brought to book. It is about time people realize that society is made up of all races, and not just the whites. Associated Press, Jackson Mississippi. â€Å"Three sentenced in Mississippi for ‘Hate Crime’ Murder of Black Man.† The Guardian 10 Feb. 2015. Print. Schmidt, Michael S. â€Å"F.B.I. Director to Give Speech Addressing Relations between Police and

Case study Paul Price Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Case study Paul Price - Essay Example For instance, Tefal Actifry sold the good to Paul Price by description. The good was therefore implied to correspond to the accorded descriptions by Tefal Actifry. The failure resulted into the breach of the implied terms in section 13 of the Sale of Good Act 1979. Section 14 provides that business people ensure that their goods are of satisfactory fit and quality for their purpose. Tefal Actifry although described the good as satisfactory and safe, the good turned out to be disastrous, however, and other similar goods sold to other consumers proved of good quality and safety (Stewart 1998). Therefore if Tefal Actifry had included a clause limiting their liability, this is the point where it would have relied on the clause to avoid complications with the buyer, Paul Price. Paul price should be aware that when one buys a good, he or she enters into a contract with the seller. The goods purchased must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose. The buyer, Paul Price, is provided with different protections when purchasing a good under contract law. Paul Price should be aware that he got into a contract with Tefal Actifry immediately he accepted and paid for the good. There may be concurrent liability for the manufacturer in the law of tort should goods which are faulty result into any significant harm or injury to the buyer, his or her property, but the buyer’s primary rights under the contract of sale lies with the retailer (Mark 2003). According to the Sale of Goods Act 1979, there are four major protections accorded to the buyer: the seller must possess the right of sale over the good (section 12), the goods that are sold with descriptions have to correspond to the given descriptions (section 13), the good sold must have a quality that is satisfactory enough (section 14), and in section 15, all goods sold by a sample must correspond to the quality of the sample. Paul Price should be aware of the above and observe with sound mind any bre ach of those protection and sue where necessary because Tefan Actifry is liable to the breach of any of those four provisions (Van 2001). Paul Price should know that the mentioned protections are statutory implied terms. Therefore the Sale of Goods Act will have to put those terms into contract of the goods sold regardless of what the agreed terms and conditions of the sale that the parties have agreed on themselves. The buyer, Paul Price, should be informed that a contract is just for provided goods sold. It is a transfer ownership of the goods sold for the money exchanged. Therefore if the seller, Tefal Actifry, breaches any of the provided terms, the statutory rights of the buyer, Paul Price, then the buyer is entitled to a remedy (Mark 2003). Therefore, Paul Price is entitled to a remedy by Tefal Actifry because of the breach of Paul’s statutory right provided in section 13 that the goods sold by description have to meet correspond to the given description. Tefal Actifry gave description of his good during the sale and it turned out otherwise, therefore he is liable to the damages that resulted from the good contrary to what he gave as the description during the sale (Stewart 1998). Tefal Actifry stated during the sale of the Actifry that â€Å"

The Influence of the MQ-1A Predator on Modern Warfare Essay Example for Free

The Influence of the MQ-1A Predator on Modern Warfare Essay The General Atomics MQ-1B Predator is a revolutionary unmanned aerial vehicle that has changed the very nature of warfare in the United States. The MQ-1 Predator drone was initially developed as a reconnaissance aircraft for the Central Intelligence Agency, designed to be a very light vehicle with a number of intelligent sensors to stealthily gather intelligence. However, since it’s development in the early 1990s, the Predator has undergone a number of variations and upgrades to take on a multitude of roles. Specifically, the United States Air Force describes the Predator as â€Å"uniquely qualified to conduct irregular warfare operations in support of Combatant Commander objectives†[1]. As public opinion continues to favor the value of every American soldier’s life, the MQ-1B Predator has had a profound impact on the United States Armed Forces. Though the concept of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles existed almost as soon as airplanes were developed, they were severely limited in their roles until the Vietnam War. By that time, the development of the â€Å"Lightning Bug† spy planes had been sufficiently developed for use in Vietnam and southern China. The Lightning Bug drones had numerous advantages, such as various countermeasure systems, a low cost, and little risk for the controlling crew[2]. The United States used the Lightning Bug drones on over a thousand missions during the Vietnam War, though some led to an emphasis on developing new UAV programs. The Lightning Bug employed a very basic control program, the first model developed operated on a timer, and would simply turn around after a certain amount of time had elapsed. Later models could be controlled by radio, though the drones had a short control range. The largest limitation of the Frisbee was that it could not take off or land independently; it was usually launched from a DC-130 Hercules and recovered by a helicopter after its parachute had been deployed. Despite these limitation, the Lightning Bug proved to concept of UAVs to the United States. By 1984, the Defense Advanced Research Projects contracted Leading Systems Incorporated of California to create an endurance UAV codenamed â€Å"Amber. † Amber was initially designed for photographic reconnaissance, electronic counter-intelligence operations, and could be used as a cruise missile. The first Amber drones were able to fly continuously for approximately 38 hours, and successfully completed long range test flights in 1987. During the late 1980s, Congress pressured the numerous UAV programs through funding cuts, though the Amber drone survived after being incorporated into the Joint Program Office for UAV development. By 1990 however, the Amber program was cut, likely due to the abrasive personality of its director, Abraham Karem[3]. Leading Systems faced financial difficulties after the failure of the Amber program, and was bought by General Atomics. At the time of its sale, Leading Systems was developing a variation of the Amber drone named the Gnat750, which was designed as a less expensive alternative. Though its wingspan was larger than the Amber, this enabled the Gnat to weigh less but carry a larger payload. The Gnat also had an extremely long range, with an endurance of 48 or more hours. The Gnat also featured a GPS system for independent flight, as well as a configurable sensor package that could be customized for various missions[4]. In the early 1990s, the CIA order multiple Gnat 750s to gather intelligence on the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Though the Gnat was successful on its missions, software glitches caused at least one crash and the drone was discovered to be susceptible to rough weather. The Gnat was considered a success for its configurability and endurance, and General Atomics resolved to develop a new UAV. General Atomics was awarded a contract to build the RQ-1A Predator in January 1994. The Predator’s design is similar to that of the Gnat 750, with a aerodynamic fuselage with low mounted wings. The Predator is also much larger than the Gnat, with a wingspan of 55 feet and a length of 27 feet[5]. The Predator featured a sensor â€Å"turret† underneath the nose of the aircraft which enabled Infrared and Electro-Optical imaging, a laser designator was added to later models. The Predator also includes a number of datalink antennas that enables it to be controlled from the ground by line of sight radio transmission or satellite link. The antennas also allows the Predator to upload information to various other battlefield units, such as aircraft or naval vessels. This allows the Armed Forces to obtain real time intelligence on the battlefield as long as the Predator can remain in the area. The Predator can be flown by remote control from a mounted camera, or will otherwise fly in a preprogrammed path via a mounted GPS system. The range of the Predator drone is also very large, â€Å"If a Predator were flown out of San Francisco, it would be able to operate into Nevada, southern Oregon, or northwestern Mexico and monitor a 185 x 185 kilometer (115 x 115 mile) grid†[6]. The Predator first saw service over Bosnia in 1995 with the CIA; one aircraft was destroyed by the mission commander after an engine failure and another was shot down. These initial drones were handed over to the Air Force and used in numerous campaigns. In early missions, the Predator’s primary role was to designate targets for other aircraft, though inexperienced pilots often could not get support to an area quickly enough to make a difference. It was quickly decided that Predator drones would need offensive capabilities in case it needed to engage a target itself, and many were quickly outfitted with a pair of Hellfire anti-armor missiles. After successful testing, one officer in the Air Force stated that â€Å"The effectiveness was a relief nobody was quite sure that firing a Hellfire from a Predator wouldnt rip the UAVs wing right off†[7]. The newly armed Predator drones were quickly put into service with the new designation of MQ-1A. According to the US Air Force website, M is the Department of Defense designation for multi-role, while Q is designated to all UAVs. Finally, the 1 and A show that the Predator was the first modern series of UAVs widely developed by the Air Force. The widespread use of the MQ-1A Predators and its variations are attributable to successful attributes of the previous UAV programs. Like the original Lightning Bug drones, the Predator is relatively inexpensive and enjoys a long endurance time. The Predator is also able to independently take off and land like the Amber drone, and has a unique design and a customizable sensor platform like the Gnat 750. All of these aspects allow the Predator drone to be highly adaptable to numerous mission types, all while putting no lives at risk and remaining cost efficient. Many pieces of modern military equipment, especially those with the modern sensor and weapons equipment found in the Predator platform, cost encormous amounts of money. However, as of 2009 a complete Predator drone package costs only $20 million. This includes four MQ-1A Predator drones, a ground control station, and a Predator Primary Satellite Link. The cost of maintaining the Predator fleet is also relatively low, operating and sustaining 195 MQ-1 Predators in 2010 cost the United States $2. 38 billion. In comparison, one F-15 Strike Eagle costs the Air Force approximately $100 million. The ground control station of a Predator unit is highly customizable, but a standard station is designed to fit into the body of a C-130 Hercules aircraft. During operation, one operator controls a Predators flight path and movements, while another monitor’s the drone’s equipment, including sensors and weapons. A commander will always be present in a ground control station to supervise the Predator unit. As the Predator was designed to be adaptable and upgradable, many variations and enhanced version of the Predator exist. In 2001, General Atomics created proof of concept UAV then called the Predator-B. The Predator-B featured a more efficient engine that was also less prone to malfunction, a longer wingspan, and a hardened design. This allowed the Predator-B to fly as high as 52,000 feet, above any potentially dangerous weather. By 2004, the Air Force had need of a UAV with more offensive capabilities, and the Predator-B was selected to take on this role. Renamed the MQ-9B Hunter Killer or MQ-9B Reaper, this drone has become the main UAV of the United States Armed Forces. The MQ-9B Reaper has an improved targeting system for identification and weapons targeting, an increased weight capacity for munitions or fuel, and an endurance time of over 42 hours. [9] The Reaper is not meant to replace the Predator drone however, instead it is used in more offensive mission, as it can be fitted with â€Å"twin 225 kilogram guided bombs, eight Hellfires, and two Sidewinder [missiles]†[10]. The original MQ-1A Predator is used for missions that only require surveillance or light armament. A third major variation of the Predator drone, the Predator-C, is under development as a stealth UAV. With a more streamlined design, the Predator-C is intended to offer offensive and surveillance capabilities, and models have been designed for deployment on aircraft carriers. Though development is ongoing, the United States Navy and Air Force have both ordered Predator-Cs. As the MQ-1A Predator is so adaptable and cost-efficient, it has had a major impact on numerous operations since its introduction. In 2000, the Predators were undergoing a trial run in Afghanistan by search for majoring terrorist leaders, including Osama Bin Laden. On at least two occasions in September of 2000, the Predators identified a tall man wearing white robes in Kandahar, Afghanistan that the 9/11 Commission Report states was â€Å"probably Bin Laden. †[11] However, these events occurred before the Predators were outfitted with offensive capabilities. On March 4, 2002, also in Afghanistan, a Predator drone destroyed a fortified Taliban bunker that had pinned down an Army Ranger team during the Battle of Robert’s Ridge. F-15 and F-16 fighters were previously scrambled to destroy the bunker, but were unsuccessful. Additionally, two of the twenty-two terrorists on the FBI’s most wanted list have been killed by Predator drones, Mohammed Atef and Fahid Mohammed Ally Msalam, both participants in the 1998 US Embassy bombings. The Predator was also been extremely effective in operations in Iraq. Between July 2005 and June 2006, Predator drones â€Å"participated in more than 242 separate raids; engaged 132 troops in contact-force protection actions; fired 59 Hellfire missiles; surveyed 18,490 targets; escorted four convoys; and flew 2,073 sorties for more than 33,833 flying hours. [13] Due to the success and variability of the entire Predator series, the platform is currently under consideration for many non-military roles. The Federal Aviation Administration recently authorized both the Predator and Reaper drones for domestic use in searching for the victims of disasters; the advance imaging equipment in the drones could be used to located survivors that would otherwise remain lost, and the drones are capable of remaining in flight much longer than ordinary rescue teams. 14] The US Border Patrol also utilizes Predator drones to maintain the US-Mexico border, and NASA uses the drones for high altitude scientific study. As the culmination of UAV technology and development, the MQ-1A Predator drone and its variations have had a lasting and revolutionary impact both on and off the battlefield. As the United States moves continues to move into the 21st century, the Predator drone enables long range surveillance and offensive capabilities without endangering the lives of soldiers, all while remaining extremely cost efficient. The applications of the Predator drone are nearly limitless as it has been an overwhelming success in nearly every deployment it has seen. By utilizing the technological advantages that the Predator drone offers, the United States Armed Forces will continue its missions without putting more servicemen or women at risk.

Three Major Issues Faced By Companies Going Overseas Marketing Essay

Three Major Issues Faced By Companies Going Overseas Marketing Essay The chapter begins by looking at the concept of market entry strategies within the control of a chosen marketing mix. It then goes on to describe the different forms of entry strategy, both direct and indirect exporting and foreign production, and the advantages and disadvantages connected with each method. The chapter gives specific details on countertrade, which is very prevalent in global marketing, and then concludes by looking at the special features of commodity trading with its close coupling between production and marketing. Basic issues An organisation wishing to go international faces three major issues: i) Marketing which countries, which segments, how to manage and implement marketing effort, how to enter with intermediaries or directly, with what information? ii) Sourcing whether to obtain products, make or buy? iii) Investment and control joint venture, global partner, acquisition? Decisions in the marketing area focus on the value chain (see figure 7.1). The strategy or entry alternatives must ensure that the necessary value chain activities are performed and integrated. Table 7.1 Examples of elements included in the export marketing mix 1. Product support Product sourcing Match existing products to markets air, sea, rail, road, freight New products Product management Product testing Manufacturing specifications Labelling Packaging Production control Market information 2. Price support Establishment of prices Discounts Distribution and maintenance of pricelists Competitive information Training of agents/customers 3. Promotion/selling support Advertising Promotion literature Direct mail Exhibitions, trade shows Printing Selling (direct) Sales force Agents commissions Sale or returns 4. Inventory support Inventory management Warehousing Distribution Parts supply Credit authorisation 5. Distribution support Funds provision Raising of capital Order processing Export preparation and documentation Freight forwarding Insurance Arbitration 6. Service support Market information/intelligence Quotes processing Technical aid assistance After sales Guarantees Warranties/claims Merchandising Sales reports, catalogues literature Customer care Budgets Data processing systems Insurance Tax services Legal services Translation 7. Financial support Billing, collecting invoices Hire, rentals Planning, scheduling budget data Auditing Details on the sourcing element have already been covered in the chapter on competitive analysis and strategy. Concerning investment and control, the question really is how far the company wishes to control its own fate. The degree of risk involved, attitudes and the ability to achieve objectives in the target markets are important facets in the decision on whether to license, joint venture or get involved in direct investment. Cunningham1 (1986) identified five strategies used by firms for entry into new foreign markets: i) Technical innovation strategy perceived and demonstrable superior products ii) Product adaptation strategy modifications to existing products iii) Availability and security strategy overcome transport risks by countering perceived risks iv) Low price strategy penetration price and, v) Total adaptation and conformity strategy foreign producer gives a straight copy. In marketing products from less developed countries to developed countries point iii) poses major problems. Buyers in the interested foreign country are usually very careful as they perceive transport, currency, quality and quantity problems. This is true, say, in the export of cotton and other commodities. Because, in most agricultural commodities, production and marketing are interlinked, the infrastructure, information and other resources required for building market entry can be enormous. Sometimes this is way beyond the scope of private organisations, so Government may get involved. It may get involved not just to support a specific commodity, but also to help the public good. Whilst the building of a new road may assist the speedy and expeditious transport of vegetables, for example, and thus aid in their marketing, the road can be put to other uses, in the drive for public good utilities. Moreover, entry strategies are often marked by lumpy investments. Huge investments may have to be undertaken, with the investor paying a high risk price, long before the full utilisation of the investment comes. Good examples of this include the building of port facilities or food processing or freezing facilities. Moreover, the equipment may not be able to be used for other processes, so the as set specific equipment, locked into a specific use, may make the owner very vulnerable to the bargaining power of raw material suppliers and product buyers who process alternative production or trading options. Zimfreeze, Zimbabwe is experiencing such problems. It built a large freezing plant for vegetables but found itself without a contract. It has been forced, at the moment, to accept sub optional volume product materials just in order to keep the plant ticking over. In building a market entry strategy, time is a crucial factor. The building of an intelligence system and creating an image through promotion takes time, effort and money. Brand names do not appear overnight. Large investments in promotion campaigns are needed. Transaction costs also are a critical factor in building up a market entry strategy and can become a high barrier to international trade. Costs include search and bargaining costs. Physical distance, language barriers, logistics costs and risk limit the direct monitoring of trade partners. Enforcement of contracts may be costly and weak legal integration between countries makes things difficult. Also, these factors are important when considering a market entry strategy. In fact these factors may be so costly and risky that Governments, rather than private individuals, often get involved in commodity systems. This can be seen in the case of the Citrus Marketing Board of Israel. With a monopoly export marketing board, the entire system can behave like a single firm, regulating the mix and quality of products going to different markets and negotiating with transporters and buyers. Whilst these Boards can experience economies of scale and absorb many of the risks listed above, they can shield producers from information about, and from. buyers. They can also become the fiefdoms of vested interests and become political in nature. They then result in giving reduced production incentives and cease to be demand or market orientated, which is detrimental to producers. Normal ways of expanding the markets are by expansion of product line, geographical development or both. It is important to note that the more the product line and/or the geographic area is expanded the greater will be the managerial complexity. New market opportunities may be made available by expansion but the risks may outweigh the advantages, in fact it may be better to concentrate on a few geographic areas and do things well. This is typical of the horticultural industry of Kenya and Zimbabwe. Traditionally these have concentrated on European markets where the markets are well known. Ways to concentrate include concentrating on geographic areas, reducing operational variety (more standard products) or making the organisational form more appropriate. In the latter the attempt is made to globalise the offering and the organisation to match it. This is true of organisations like Coca Cola and MacDonalds. Global strategies include country centred strategies (highly decentralised and limited international coordination), local market approaches (the marketing mix developed with the specific local (foreign) market in mind) or the lead market approach (develop a market which will be a best predictor of other markets). Global approaches give economies of scale and the sharing of costs and risks between markets. Entry strategies There are a variety of ways in which organisations can enter foreign markets. The three main ways are by direct or indirect export or production in a foreign country (see figure 7.2). Exporting Exporting is the most traditional and well established form of operating in foreign markets. Exporting can be defined as the marketing of goods produced in one country into another. Whilst no direct manufacturing is required in an overseas country, significant investments in marketing are required. The tendency may be not to obtain as much detailed marketing information as compared to manufacturing in marketing country; however, this does not negate the need for a detailed marketing strategy. The advantages of exporting are:  · manufacturing is home based thus, it is less risky than overseas based  · gives an opportunity to learn overseas markets before investing in bricks and mortar  · reduces the potential risks of operating overseas. The disadvantage is mainly that one can be at the mercy of overseas agents and so the lack of control has to be weighed against the advantages. For example, in the exporting of African horticultural products, the agents and Dutch flower auctions are in a position to dictate to producers. A distinction has to be drawn between passive and aggressive exporting. A passive exporter awaits orders or comes across them by chance; an aggressive exporter develops marketing strategies which provide a broad and clear picture of what the firm intends to do in the foreign market. Pavord and Bogart2 (1975) found significant differences with regard to the severity of exporting problems in motivating pressures between seekers and non-seekers of export opportunities. They distinguished between firms whose marketing efforts were characterized by no activity, minor activity and aggressive activity. Those firms who are aggressive have clearly defined plans and strategy, including product, price, promotion, distribution and research elements. Passiveness versus aggressiveness depends on the motivation to export. In countries like Tanzania and Zambia, which have embarked on structural adjustment programmes, organisations are being encouraged to export, motivated by foreign exchange earnings potential, saturated domestic markets, growth and expansion objectives, and the need to repay debts incurred by the borrowings to finance the programmes. The type of export response is dependent on how the pressures are perceived by the decision maker. Piercy (1982)3 highlights the fact that the degree of involvement in foreign operations depends on endogenous versus exogenous motivating factors, that is, whether the motivations were as a result of active or aggressive behaviour based on the firms internal situation (endogenous) or as a result of reactive environmental changes (exogenous). If the firm achieves initial success at exporting quickly all to the good, but the risks of failure in the early stages are high. The learning effect in exporting is usually very quick. The key is to learn how to minimise risks associated with the initial stages of market entry and commitment this process of incremental involvement is called creeping commitment (see figure 7.3). Exporting methods include direct or indirect export. In direct exporting the organisation may use an agent, distributor, or overseas subsidiary, or act via a Government agency. In effect, the Grain Marketing Board in Zimbabwe, being commercialised but still having Government control, is a Government agency. The Government, via the Board, are the only permitted maize exporters. Bodies like the Horticultural Crops Development Authority (HCDA) in Kenya may be merely a promotional body, dealing with advertising, information flows and so on, or it may be active in exporting itself, particularly giving approval (like HCDA does) to all export documents. In direct exporting the major problem is that of market information. The exporters task is to choose a market, find a representative or agent, set up the physical distribution and documentation, promote and price the product. Control, or the lack of it, is a major problem which often results in decisions on pricing, certification and promoti on being in the hands of others. Certainly, the phytosanitary requirements in Europe for horticultural produce sourced in Africa are getting very demanding. Similarly, exporters are price takers as produce is sourced also from the Caribbean and Eastern countries. In the months June to September, Europe is on season because it can grow its own produce, so prices are low. As such, producers are better supplying to local food processors. In the European winter prices are much better, but product competition remains. According to Collett4 (1991)) exporting requires a partnership between exporter, importer, government and transport. Without these four coordinating activities the risk of failure is increased. Contracts between buyer and seller are a must. Forwarders and agents can play a vital role in the logistics procedures such as booking air space and arranging documentation. A typical coordinated marketing channel for the export of Kenyan horticultural produce is given in figure 7.4. In this case the exporters can also be growers and in the low season both these and other exporters may send produce to food processors which is also exported. Figure 7.4 The export marketing channel for Kenyan horticultural products. Exporting can be very lucrative, especially if it is of high value added produce. For example in 1992/93 Zimbabwe exported 5 338,38 tonnes of flowers, 4 678,18 tonnes of horticultural produce and 12 000 tonnes of citrus at a total value of about US$ 22 016,56 million. In some cases a mixture of direct and indirect exporting may be achieved with mixed results. For example, the Grain Marketing Board of Zimbabwe may export grain directly to Zambia, or may sell it to a relief agency like the United Nations, for feeding the Mozambican refugees in Malawi. Payment arrangements may be different for the two transactions. Nali products of Malawi gives an interesting example of a passive to active exporting mode. CASE 7.1 Nali Producers Malawi Nali group, has, since the early 1970s, been engaged in the growing and exporting of spices. Spices are also used in the production of a variety of sauces for both the local and export market. Its major success has been the growing and exporting of Birdseye chilies. In the early days knowledge of the market was scanty and thus the company was obtaining ridiculously low prices. Towards the end of 1978 Nali chilies were in great demand, yet still the company, in its passive mode, did not fully appreciate the competitive implications of the business until a number of firms, including Lonrho and Press Farming, started to grow and export. Again, due to the lack of information, a product of its passivity, the firm did not realise that Uganda, with their superior product, and Papua New Guinea were major exporters, However, the full potential of these countries was hampered by internal difficulties. Nali was able to grow into a successful commercial enterprise. However, with the end of the internal problems, Uganda in particular, began an aggressive exporting policy, using their overseas legations as commercial propagandists. Nali had to respond with a more formal and active marketing operation. However it is being now hampered by a number of important exogenous factors. The entry of a number of new Malawian growers, with inferior products, has damaged the Malawian chili reputation, so has the lack of a clear Government policy and the lack of financing for traders, growers and exporters. The latter only serves to emphasise the point made by Collett, not only do organisations need to be aggressive, they also need to enlist the support of Government and importers. It is interesting to note that Korey (1986) warns that direct modes of market entry may be less and less available in the future. Growing trading blocs like the EU or EFTA means that the establishing of subsidiaries may be one of the only means forward in future. It is interesting to note that Korey5 1986 warned that direct modes of market entry may be less and less available in the future. Growing trading blocks like the EU or EFTA means that the establishment of subsidiaries may be one of the only ways forward in future. Indirect methods of exporting include the use of trading companies (very much used for commodities like cotton, soya, cocoa), export management companies, piggybacking and countertrade. Indirect methods offer a number of advantages including:  · Contracts in the operating market or worldwide  · Commission sates give high motivation (not necessarily loyalty)  · Manufacturer/exporter needs little expertise  · Credit acceptance takes burden from manufacturer. Piggybacking Piggybacking is an interesting development. The method means that organisations with little exporting skill may use the services of one that has. Another form is the consolidation of orders by a number of companies in order to take advantage of bulk buying. Normally these would be geographically adjacent or able to be served, say, on an air route. The fertilizer manufacturers of Zimbabwe, for example, could piggyback with the South Africans who both import potassium from outside their respective countries. Countertrade By far the largest indirect method of exporting is countertrade. Competitive intensity means more and more investment in marketing. In this situation the organisation may expand operations by operating in markets where competition is less intense but currency based exchange is not possible. Also, countries may wish to trade in spite of the degree of competition, but currency again is a problem. Countertrade can also be used to stimulate home industries or where raw materials are in short supply. It can, also, give a basis for reciprocal trade. Estimates vary, but countertrade accounts for about 20-30% of world trade, involving some 90 nations and between US $100-150 billion in value. The UN defines countertrade as commercial transactions in which provisions are made, in one of a series of related contracts, for payment by deliveries of goods and/or services in addition to, or in place of, financial settlement. Countertrade is the modem form of barter, except contracts are not legal and it is not covered by GATT. It can be used to circumvent import quotas. Countertrade can take many forms. Basically two separate contracts are involved, one for the delivery of and payment for the goods supplied and the other for the purchase of and payment for the goods imported. The performance of one contract is not contingent on the other although the seller is in effect accepting products and services from the importing country in partial or total settlement for his exports. There is a broad agreement that countertrade can take various forms of exchange like barter, counter purchase, switch trading and compensation (buyback). For example, in 1986 Albania began offering items like spring water, tomato juice and chrome ore in exchange for a contract to build a US $60 million fertilizer and methanol complex. Information on potential exchange can be obtained from embassies, trade missions or the EU trading desks. Barter is the direct exchange of one good for another, although valuation of respective commodities is difficult, so a currency is used to underpin the items value. Barter trade can take a number of formats. Simple barter is the least complex and oldest form of bilateral, non-monetarised trade. Often it is called straight, classical or pure barter. Barter is a direct exchange of goods and services between two parties. Shadow prices are approximated for products flowing in either direction. Generally no middlemen are involved. Usually contracts for no more than one year are concluded, however, if for longer life spans, provisions are included to handle exchange ratio fluctuations when world prices change. Closed end barter deals are modifications of straight barter in that a buyer is found for goods taken in barter before the contract is signed by the two trading parties. No money is involved and risks related to product quality are significantly reduced. Clearing account barter, also termed clearing agreements, clearing arrangements, bilateral clearing accounts or simply bilateral clearing, is where the principle is for the trades to balance without either party having to acquire hard currency. In this form of barter, each party agrees in a single contract to purchase a specified and usually equal value of goods and services. The duration of these transactions is commonly one year, although occasionally they may extend over a longer time period. The contracts value is expressed in non-convertible, clearing account units (also termed clearing dollars) that effectively represent a line of credit in the central bank of the country with no money involved. Clearing account units are universally accepted for the accounting of trade between countries and parties whose commercial relationships are based on bilateral agreements. The contract sets forth the goods to be exchanged, the rates of exchange, and the length of time for completing the transaction. Limited export or import surpluses may be accumulated by either party for short periods. Generally, after one years time, imbalances are settled by one of the following approaches: credit against the following year, acceptance of unwanted goods, payment of a previously specified penalty or payment of the difference in hard currency. Trading specialists have also initiated the practice of buying clearing dollars at a discount for the purpose of using them to purchase saleable products. In turn, the trader may forfeit a portion of the discount to sell these products for hard currency on the international market. Compared with simple barter, clearing accounts offer greater flexibility in the length of time for drawdown on the lines of credit and the types of products exchanged. Counter purchase, or buyback, is where the customer agrees to buy goods on condition that the seller buys some of the customers own products in return (compensatory products). Alternatively, if exchange is being organised at national government level then the seller agrees to purchase compensatory goods from an unrelated organisation up to a pre-specified value (offset deal). The difference between the two is that contractual obligations related to counter purchase can extend over a longer period of time and the contract requires each party to the deal to settle most or all of their account with currency or trade credits to an agreed currency value. Where the seller has no need for the item bought he may sell the produce on, usually at a discounted price, to a third party. This is called a switch deal. In the past a number of tractors have been brought into Zimbabwe from East European countries by switch deals. Compensation (buy-backs) is where the supplier agrees to take the output of the facility over a specified period of time or to a specified volume as payment. For example, an overseas company may agree to build a plant in Zambia, and output over an agreed period of time or agreed volume of produce is exported to the builder until the period has elapsed. The plant then becomes the property of Zambia. Khoury6 (1984) categorises countertrade as follows (see figure 7.5): One problem is the marketability of products received in countertrade. This problem can be reduced by the use of specialised trading companies which, for a fee ranging between 1 and 5% of the value of the transaction, will provide trade related services like transportation, marketing, financing, credit extension, etc. These are ever growing in size. Countertrade has disadvantages:  · Not covered by GATT so dumping may occur  · Quality is not of international standard so costly to the customer and trader  · Variety is tow so marketing of wkat is limited  · Difficult to set prices and service quality  · Inconsistency of delivery and specification,  · Difficult to revert to currency trading so quality may decline further and therefore product is harder to market. Figure 7.5 Classification of countertrade Shipley and Neale7 (1988) therefore suggest the following:  · Ensure the benefits outweigh the disadvantages  · Try to minimise the ratio of compensation goods to cash if possible inspect the goods for specifications  · Include all transactions and other costs involved in countertrade in the nominal value specified for the goods being sold  · Avoid the possibility of error of exploitation by first gaining a thorough understanding of the customers buying systems, regulations and politics,  · Ensure that any compensation goods received as payment are not subject to import controls. Despite these problems countertrade is likely to grow as a major indirect entry method, especially in developing countries. Foreign production Besides exporting, other market entry strategies include licensing, joint ventures, contract manufacture, ownership and participation in export processing zones or free trade zones. Licensing: Licensing is defined as the method of foreign operation whereby a firm in one country agrees to permit a company in another country to use the manufacturing, processing, trademark, know-how or some other skill provided by the licensor. It is quite similar to the franchise operation. Coca Cola is an excellent example of licensing. In Zimbabwe, United Bottlers have the licence to make Coke. Licensing involves little expense and involvement. The only cost is signing the agreement and policing its implementation. Licensing gives the following advantages:  · Good way to start in foreign operations and open the door to low risk manufacturing relationships  · Linkage of parent and receiving partner interests means both get most out of marketing effort  · Capital not tied up in foreign operation and  · Options to buy into partner exist or provision to take royalties in stock. The disadvantages are:  · Limited form of participation to length of agreement, specific product, process or trademark  · Potential returns from marketing and manufacturing may be lost  · Partner develops know-how and so licence is short  · Licensees become competitors overcome by having cross technology transfer deals and  · Requires considerable fact finding, planning, investigation and interpretation. Those who decide to license ought to keep the options open for extending market participation. This can be done through joint ventures with the licensee. Joint ventures Joint ventures can be defined as an enterprise in which two or more investors share ownership and control over property rights and operation. Joint ventures are a more extensive form of participation than either exporting or licensing. In Zimbabwe, Olivine industries has a joint venture agreement with HJ Heinz in food processing. Joint ventures give the following advantages:  · Sharing of risk and ability to combine the local in-depth knowledge with a foreign partner with know-how in technology or process  · Joint financial strength  · May be only means of entry and  · May be the source of supply for a third country. They also have disadvantages:  · Partners do not have full control of management  · May be impossible to recover capital if need be  · Disagreement on third party markets to serve and  · Partners may have different views on expected benefits. If the partners carefully map out in advance what they expect to achieve and how, then many problems can be overcome. Ownership: The most extensive form of participation is 100% ownership and this involves the greatest commitment in capital and managerial effort. The ability to communicate and control 100% may outweigh any of the disadvantages of joint ventures and licensing. However, as mentioned earlier, repatriation of earnings and capital has to be carefully monitored. The more unstable the environment the less likely is the ownership pathway an option. These forms of participation: exporting, licensing, joint ventures or ownership, are on a continuum rather than discrete and can take many formats. Anderson and Coughlan8 (1987) summarise the entry mode as a choice between company owned or controlled methods integrated channels or independent channels. Integrated channels offer the advantages of planning and control of resources, flow of information, and faster market penetration, and are a visible sign of commitment. The disadvantages are that they incur many costs (especially marketing), the risks are high, some may be more effective than others (due to culture) and in some cases their credibility amongst locals may be lower than that of controlled independents. Independent channels offer lower performance costs, risks, less capital, high local knowledge and credibility. Disadvantages include less market information flow, greater coordinating and control difficulties and motivational difficulties. In addition they may not be will ing to spend money on market development and selection of good intermediaries may be difficult as good ones are usually taken up anyway. Once in a market, companies have to decide on a strategy for expansion. One may be to concentrate on a few segments in a few countries typical are cashewnuts from Tanzania and horticultural exports from Zimbabwe and Kenya or concentrate on one country and diversify into segments. Other activities include country and market segment concentration typical of Coca Cola or Gerber baby foods, and finally country and segment diversification. Another way of looking at it is by identifying three basic business strategies: stage one international, stage two multinational (strategies correspond to ethnocentric and polycentric orientations respectively) and stage three global strategy (corresponds with geocentric orientation). The basic philosophy behind stage one is extension of programmes and products, behind stage two is decentralisation as far as possible to local operators and behind stage three is an integration which seeks to synthesize inputs from world and regional headquarters an d the country organisation. Whilst most developing countries are hardly in stage one, they have within them organisations which are in stage three. This has often led to a rebellion against the operations of multinationals, often unfounded. Export processing zones (EPZ) Whilst not

Positioning of Apple, Blackberry and Nokia

Positioning of Apple, Blackberry and Nokia Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The companys best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film-industry software products; Logic Studio, a suite of music production tools; and iOS, a mobile operating system. As of August 2010, the company operates 301 retail stores in ten countries, and an online store where hardware and software products are sold. Established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, and incorporated January 3, 1977, the company was previously named Apple Computer, Inc., for its first 30 years, but removed the word Computer on January 9, 2007, to reflect the companys ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers. As of September 25, 2010, Apple had 46,600 full time employees and 2,800 temporary full time employees worldwide and had worldwide annual sales of $65.23 billion. For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States. Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008 and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The company has also received widespread criticism for its contractors labor, environmental, and business practices. Segmentation: According to Michael J. Croft (1994), segmentation is to divide a market by a strategy directed at gaining a major portion of sales to a subgroup in a category, rather than a more limited share of purchases by all category users. Market segmentation is one of the steps that goes into defining and targeting specific markets. It is the process of dividing a market into a distinct group of buyers that require different products or marketing mixes. A key factor to success in todays market place is finding subtle differences to give a business the marketing edge. Businesses that target specialty markets will promote its products and services more effectively than a business aiming at the average customer. Opportunities in marketing increase when segmented groups of clients and customers with varying needs and wants are recognized. Markets can be segmented or targeted using a variety of factor. The bases for segmenting consumer markets include: Demographical bases (age, family size, life cycle, occupation) Geographical bases (states, regions, countries) Behaviour bases (product knowledge, usage, attitudes, responses) Psychographic bases (lifestyle, values, personality) A business must analyze the needs and wants of different market segments before determining their own niche. To be effective in market segmentation keeps the following things in mind: Segments or target markets should be accessible to the business Each segmented group must be large enough to provide a solid customer base. Each segmented group requires a separate marketing plan. Apple is such a band whose core competence in innovation. For apple to keep its market share it needs not only to concentrate on its research and development but also on segmenting its market efficiently and reaching them with its new products. Customers View of Segmentation: Customers segment themselves and take no notice of how companies segment their market(s). When choosing between competing products and services, customers select the proposition that meets their needs better than any other. To win market share, therefore, a company must ensure that their offers meet these needs better than any other at a price they perceive as providing superior value for money (which does not necessarily mean it has to be the cheapest). As this is how customers operate in a market, then a segmentation project should have these as its segmentation criteria. On its own this approach to segmentation, while able to provide you with an invaluable insight into how to win a customers business, still requires you to know how to reach them. The input to this part of a winning proposition, provided by a detailed understanding of who the customers are and where they are to be found, is clearly very important and plays a crucial part in our segmentation process. In addition, by really understanding what underpins a customers choice we gain an insight into their motivations, which will lead you to understand what promotional stance to take? Interestingly, all the reputable marketing books and marketing courses which look at the alternative approaches to segmenting markets include needs-based segmentation (sometimes called benefit segmentation) in their reviews. They also conclude that needs-based segmentation is by far the most successful approach. This is the approach taken by The Market Segmentation Company, for which we have developed a series of practical steps, tried and tested in numerous markets around the world, and incorporated into our segmentation process. Positioning of Apple, Blackberry and Nokia: Blackberry handset is no longer concerned with the occurrence of iPhone. Because of not all people switch off from their Blackberry handset to iPhone gadget, this statement was stated by researchers from UBS Investment Jeffrey Fan after successfully interviewed 222 people in UK and 106 people in United States when they would buy iPhone 3G. According to Cellular News, 106 of iPhone buyers in United States, only five people, or 4.7 percent are Blackberry users. In fact, three of that number doesnt intend to sell their Blackberry after buying Apple iPhone. About 30 percent of 106 people use Motorola and Samsung. With each contributing is 15 percent, said the Cellular news. In UK, from 222 people who purchased the iPhone, only eight people or 3.6 per cent claiming to have it switch from Blackberry to iPhone. Only one person is interested in using them, iPhone and Blackberry. However, 18 percent of these respondents claim to have a corporate Blackberry so that they cannot take down the handset made by Research in Motion (Rim). From 222 people in UK, the 28 percent is former Nokia users, while 20 percent is former Sony Ericsson users, Fan explained. Fan detailed more about this research, although the research is limited, but it can prove that the market segment of Blackberry and iPhone users is very different so it will not become a significant threat to Rim. In above countries, the majority of iPhone 3G buyers have used first version of iPhone. In UK is about 29 percent and in United States is about 37 percent. Even, some iPhone operator in several countries also sells Blackberry handset as alternative of iPhone by selling Blackberry with cheaper price. For example, the T-Mobile of United States reduced the price of Blackberry Curve by USD 50, to USD 99. According to Wilbur Schramm (1954), Schramms third model is based on the convergence or network approach. Due to various kinds of noise there are chances that the message gets distorted till it reaches the receiver, to overcome the problem he introduced the concept of feedback which helps the sender to modify the information from what he observes or hears from the receiver or the audience. The communication process now takes a circular form as both parties take on the roles of sender and recipient. Schramms model emphasizes on the importance of feedback for the information to reach the receiver in the same manner as desired by the sender. Feedback is essential in the business environment to ensure that the constituencies interpret the information correctly from the companies. Apple, Blackberry and Nokia: The iPhone was growing explosively, but its market share was barely a third of Nokias 68 million smart phones. Despite the massive coverage of the iPhone success in the United States, RIM with its Blackberry still leads the U.S. Smartphone market, with a share of over 30%. Apple had less than 30%, while Android-based phones (Google) were catching up fast. In the second quarter of 2010, Nokia held onto 33% of the mobile phone market. In the Smartphone market, Nokia sold 24 million such devices, up 42% from a year earlier. The overall Smartphone market grew at about the same rate, so Nokia held its share from a year ago, at 40.3%, and actually grew share slightly from the first quarter of this year. So in the global Smartphone rivalry, Nokia still had the lead, while RIM and Apple followed. The winners of the Smartphone market will be determined by global success. So is Nokia; in so much internal turmoil that it is reportedly considering replacing its CEO. Despite the softening of Nokias market share in the United States, Nokia has managed to expand its global position, especially in the high-growth large emerging markets; including China, India, Brazil and Indonesia. In a global rivalry, it would be a fatal mistake to think of these markets as second-tier. Apple is yet to open a store in India. India has such a huge market. Nokia with leading market share in India Apple should look at it if it sights at global leader in mobiles. True, until the 1980s, the lead customers in the most advanced industries were still in the United States, Western Europe and Japan. The G-7 nations dominated talks on international economics. And what was good for California was good for the world. Today, the lead customers are increasingly in the emerging world. The G-7 has been replaced by the G-20. The U.S. market is no longer enough for global leadership. In the global markets, the new mantra is, to paraphrase Frank Sinatra: If you can make it in Shanghai, you can make it in New Delhi, too. And yet, as Nokia has found out the hard way, the United States remains necessary for sustained global success. And the U.S. market is the main source of concerns about Nokias corporate future. In high-tech business, a solid presence in the United States is not just about a market share. It is about ensuring a role in cutting-edge innovation. Apple has hugely targeted youth and people having higher interest in technological products. The major setback for apple is it doesnt support office applications. Apple needs to concentrate on overseas expansion of its market. It is able to reach its target audience in some of the developed countries, but not having full length operations in a country like India is a big loss for any industry. Apple Ad Campaigning: In the past two decades, Apple Inc. has become well known for its advertisements, which are designed to reflect a plan of marketing their products to creative individuals. Their most significant ad campaigns include the 1984 Super Bowl commercial, the 1990s Think Different campaign, and the iPod people of the 2000s. Apples portable music player, the iPod, has been showcased as a piece of contemporary art in New Yorks Museum of Modern Art. Since the original Macintosh Super Bowl commercial in 1984, which mimicked imagery from George Orwells 1984, Apple has maintained a style of homage to contemporary visual art in many of its more famous ad campaigns. For example, the Think Different campaign linked Apple to famous social figures-including artist John Lennon and social activist Mahatma Gandhi. Apple has been criticized for its sometimes questionable use of modern art as an inspiration for its marketing campaigns-at times re-creating a short film or music video shot-by-shot for its commercials. Some artists have documented entering into rights-negotiations with Apple, only to have Apple pull out of the discussions, then use the artistic imagery anyway. As a result, several lawsuits have been filed against Apple by artists and corporations alike, such as visual artist Louie Psihoyos and shoe company Lugz. These claims were later confirmed. In 1997, the Think Different campaign introduced Apples new slogan, and in 2002 the Switch campaign followed. The most recent advertising strategy by Apple is the Get a Mac campaign. Today, Apple focuses much of its advertising efforts around special events, and keynotes at conferences like the MacWorld Expo and the Apple Expo. The events typically draw a large gathering of media representatives and spectators. In the past, special events have been used to announce products such as the Power Mac G5. Apple Branding: Unique design, sign, symbol, words, or a combination of these, employed in creating an image that identifies a product and differentiates it from its competitors. Over time, this image becomes associated with a level of credibility, quality, and satisfaction in the consumers mind. Thus brands help harried consumers in crowded and complex marketplace, by standing for certain benefits and value. Legal name for a brand is trademark and, when it identifies or represents a firm, it is called a brand name. Apple Computers is the epitome of self-empowerment and self-fulfilment combined in one brand. How else to describe a Cult Brand whose original slogan for the Macintosh was, the computer for the rest of us? Of course, the rest of us were those brave individuals who wanted to control their own destinies and break free of the systems controlling grip and authoritarian ways. In the eighties, Apple painted this dark controlling force as being IBM, while in the nineties it became Microsoft and Bill Gates. As Christopher Escher, former VP of Corporation Communications, noted: They turned computers, which are essentially a product for business people to crunch numbers with, into symbols of self-realization and liberation against social constraints. Apple has a branding strategy that focuses on the emotions. The Apple brand personality is about lifestyle; imagination; liberty regained; innovation; passion; hopes, dreams and aspirations; and power-to-the-people through technology. The Apple br and personality is also about simplicity and the removal of complexity from peoples lives; people-driven product design; and about being a really humanistic company with a heartfelt connection with its customers. The 2009 results of Virtues ranking of the most social brands is in, and Apple came out on top.   Apple is one of the most powerful relationship brands, so its not surprising that people talk about it across the social Web.   In fact, Apples iPhone brand took the ultimate top spot in the list of the most social brands, while Apples iTunes brand ranked 6th, and the Apple parent brand ranked 8th.   Interestingly, according to an article from Adweek, the only other companies to have multiple brands ranked in the top 20 of Virtues list were Sony (for both the parent brand and PlayStation) and Microsoft. Apple was successful till the launch of Iphone4 but after the launch of Iphone4 it faced problems regarding the signal problem. The issue relates to the mobile phone signal, with users reporting a drop in signal strength when the phone is held. After knowing from the analysts that recalling Iphone4 would cost the millions, Apple boss Steve Jobs held a meeting after the launch and tried to suppress the problem by offering free bumpers for the customers perceiving it would boost the signal. But, there were still a lot of customers left behind un-satisfied. Positioning: In marketing, positioning has come to mean the process by which marketers try to create an image or identity in the minds of their target market for its product, brand, or organization. Re-positioning involves changing the identity of a product, relative to the identity of competing products, in the collective minds of the target market. De-positioning involves attempting to change the identity of competing products, relative to the identity of your own product, in the collective minds of the target market. It is widely recognized that Apple is a premium brand that demands and earns a price premium.   This price premium spans the entire Apple product line-up encompassing the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, software, and accessories.   Apples positioning is aligned with targeting a less price sensitive customer.   As a result, Apples culture and internal activities are structured to meet the needs of these customers; strategists call this needs-based positioning.   Apple has thus created a culture and a set of activities to differentiate it from rivals in order to meet the needs of their target customers. If Apple were to attempt to compete for all customer segments, it would have to lower product prices.   The danger with such an approach is that it would not only undermine and erode the companys premium brand image but it would also undermine the companys culture and internal activities. Andreasen and Kotler, (2008) suggest three levels of product features. They are: Core, Tangible, and Augmented (Refer to appendix 1). Core Product. What is the core benefit your product offers?. Customers who purchase a camera are buying more than just a camera they are purchasing memories. For Apple core product is its brand. Actual Product: All cameras capture memories. The aim is to ensure that your potential customers purchase your one. The strategy at this level involves organisations branding, adding features and benefits to ensure that their product offers a differential advantage from their competitors. These are tangible. IPhone come with a beautiful packing. Apple made iTunes the activation agent for the IPhone, thus making customers familiar with its product. Augmented product: What additional non-tangible benefits can you offer? Competition at this level is based around after sales service, warranties, delivery and so on. John Lewis a retail departmental store offers free five year guarantee on purchases of their Television sets, this gives their `customers the additional benefit of piece of mind over the five years should their purchase develop a fault. Apple has setup a Genius bar and offers warranty for the product. This helps its customers to have confidence in the brand thus enables them to buy their product. Apple took care that its product not reaching the decline stage. When 2G seemed to reach decline stage it came forward with 3G and it continued till 4G.Each time it kept on increasing the price which benefited the company. Competitor Actions: Brand attitude also depends on competitor actions. A downturn in Hewlett-Packards attitude occurred during two quarters in which Canon ran some hard-hitting comparison advertising about Hewlett-Packards printers, the most visible Hewlett-Packard product with respect to advertising exposure. More dramatic was the impact of Windows 95. A product intended to neutralize Apples user-friendly comparative advantage, on Apples brand attitude. For the first quarter of 1994 (when Techtel respondents, some of whom were beta version testers, first began to provide opinions about Windows 95) to the fourth quarter of 1997, we find a very strong negative interrelationship (i.e., a correlation of -.95) between the attitudes toward Apple and toward Windows 95. Conclusion: Brand is all-important. Apple is one of the most established and healthy IT brands in the World, and has a very loyal set of enthusiastic customers that advocate the brand. Such a powerful loyalty means that Ample not only recruits new customers, it retains them i.e. they come back for more products and services from Apple, and the company also has the opportunity to extend new products to them Apple is definitely perceived as a premium brand from the customers perspective. But in case of Iphone4, Apple lost reputation from its customers. It felt in a race for cannibalizing their own products and tried to skim off the profits. Even it tried to repair its lost reputation from the customers it was not acceptable from such highly perceived company. Customers expect high valued products from Apple they might take all possible measures to care about its next product. Else, they may fall behind by miles in this market competition. Biblography: Brassington, F., Pettitt, S. (2007). Essentials of Marketing. Essex: Prentice Hall. Dibb, S., Simkin, L., Pride, w. M., Ferrell, O. C. (2006). Marketing Concepts and Strategies (5th ed.). London: Houghton Mifflin. Fill, C. (2007). Communications: Contexts, Strategies and Applications. London: Financial Times Press. Johnson, G., Scholes, K. (2008). Exploring Corporate Strategy: Text and Cases. London: Prentice-Hall. Kotler, P., Armstrong, G. (2006). Principles of marketing. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc.

Television Programing Essay -- Technology, TV, Internet

In the beginning, television programming was free for anybody with a television set and an antenna. Unfortunately, there weren’t very many channels to choose from and they were all loaded with ads. Later, cable companies found success for themselves by charging consumers to pipe an ever increasing number of channels into their homes. But it still seemed like there was never anything good, and it was all still loaded with ads. Now advanced telecommunications technology enables consumers to access television and video content on demand via the internet, provided they have a broadband, or high speed, connection. The increasing market penetration of broadband internet service may be leading consumers to abandon traditional television in favor of internet based on-demand video distribution, and forcing traditional television content producers to find new ways to maintain profits in the wake of this change. Watching high quality video content on a television screen via the internet has become easy for the average consumer. Streaming video players, which connect televisions to the internet and allow someone to easily navigate the vast sea of internet video content, are readily available for purchase in electronics stores. One such product, the Roku 2 HD, retails for about $60 and allows access to hundreds of online video channels without subscription fees over a broadband internet connection (â€Å"Choose your Roku†, 2011; â€Å"Roku channel store†, 2011). Meanwhile, Cox Communications charges about $20 per month for a very basic programming package consisting of 23 channels (â€Å"Cox Communications†, 2011). Since the Roku only costs the equivalent of three months worth of the most basic cable television service and does not require a subscription ... ...ly $734 million of that is from video (Perren, 2010, p. 74). While the advertising revenues are still small for online video, the number of people that are viewing is large, and it is getting larger quickly. In November 2010, The Washington Post published an article that that noted Netflix’s video service alone made up roughly 30% of all consumer internet traffic during the busiest times (as cited in Kang, 2011a). With so many consumers shifting over to online viewing, it is apparent that the industry will have to find a way to make it work. The consumer trend towards broadband internet connections and internet based on-demand video services is clear. Cable companies will continue to lose their once dominant positions unless they are able to leverage these new technologies to improve their customers’ experiences while increasing value of their advertising space.

Dinner is Served :: Technology Food Papers

Dinner is Served I ran into the kitchen to perform some last minute preparations for the night’s joyous festivities. I could smell the inviting aroma of the freshly smoked salmon which I had smothered in a light cabernet sauce and topped with dill to complete the presentation. I must admit that I was quite nervous in regards to the night that lay ahead. I quickly set the table because dinner was to be served in fifteen minutes. I could see the look of anxiety on my face through the reflection of the recently polished silver and stemware. I decided that Ben and Bill would sit across the table from Tim and myself. I knew I was taking a chance inviting the three of them back to my home considering what had happened the last time, but I was in the mood to engage myself into some stimulating conversation. The doorbell rang as I was pouring the last of the Pinot Grigio and my nervousness quickly ceased the moment that I opened the door. I said a little prayer that the night would go smoot hly and proceeded to twist the doorknob, opening myself to the world of luddites and fetishists. Bill Henderson was the first to arrive. He walked into my house with his head held high and placed his cane next to his seat. Bill was in his late 60s and was sure to add his own spice into the dinner party. I asked to take his knee length, brown suede jacket but he looked at me and mumbled, â€Å"I think that I can do it myself. You do realize that I can sufficiently run my life without an absurd amount of help that others seem to need.† "I'm sorry." I said. "I just thought it might be easier for me to take it.""That seems to be the only thing that concerns you people these days! Why must everything be so easy? I actually enjoy taking my coat and putting it behind my chair like the good old days." His breath permeated the smell of aged whiskey throughout the dining room. I led him to his predetermined seat and pushed start on the CD Player. He reached for his glass of wine as Beethoven’s String Quartet in C sharp minor gently entered the room.