Mccafe Analysis Essay

McCafe was introduced to the McDonalds business model at a time when the fast food industry, and dining out as a whole, was on a downslide. Consumers were trying to cut back and save money – dining out was an easy way to do that. McCafe is a full-service coffee bar, created as an extension of a current McDonalds counter, or as a stand-alone restaurant. The concept is positioned to consumers that fall in the working adult category, who enjoy coffee, and was said to be a direct competition to Starbucks. In terms of the comparison of McCafe to the overall McDonald’s vision and mission, the two fell in a parallel line. How would McCafe mirror the McDonalds vision? First, by delivering the end product to the customer in a timely manner – coffee machines were made to make espresso, lattes, and cappuccinos with the touch of a button, in around 22 seconds or less. McCafe coffee creation didn’t require a well-trained barista, just as a good Big Mac didn’t require a chef behind the grill. The McDonalds mission states that they want to â€Å"be our customers’ favorite place and way to eat.† Their global markets, regardless of whether they focus on burgers or coffee, is to center on five basics of an exceptional customer experience – people, products, place, price, and promotion – also known as the Plan to Win strategy. The McCafe model resonates the same way as the original McDonalds concept. In aligning the McCafe strategy with the Business Strategy Diamond, the following aspects of McCafe fulfill the strategy: Arenas: Where will McCafe be active? McCafe locations will be active as a full service coffee bar, either in a standalone facility, or as an extension of a current McDonalds restaurant. Vehicles: How will we get there? McCafe specialty coffees would ideally be introduced by current McDonalds franchisees interested in a way to diversify their product line and increase sales. However, new franchise owners with a desire to build standalone McCafes or new McDonalds restaurants with the McCafe feature could start new ventures. Differentiators: How will we win? McCafe’s offer not only specialty and brewed coffees, but cookies and pastries as well. Another benefit? By being a part of a current McDonalds restaurant, patrons could get not only specialty coffee, but their trusty yogurt parfaits or Egg McMuffins. Pricing would be set similar to or less than their competitors (ie. Starbucks). Staging and Pacing: What will be our speed and sequence of moves? McCafe counters could be added to existing McDonalds stores in as little as 4 days – the equipment took up minimal counter space and renovations would hardly disrupt their current operations. Economic Logic: How will we obtain our returns? McDonalds will turn a profit by banking on its history of success – the speed of its products, and its convenience, at a good price. They will be diversifying their product line and targeting a market that was dominated in the US by two prime retailers – Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. McCafe prices are in line with Dunkin Donuts, but with more options in the food area, while their prices come in below Starbucks, with similar quality. McCafe SWOT Analysis: StrengthsWeaknessesOpportunitiesThreats Strong global presence (through McDonalds Corp) Saturated industry (coffee/food)Multiple ownerships (other restaurants) = success in growth strategies Increasingly competitive amongst fast food markets Ease of introduction Increasing price competitionCountries available for retail pentration (Europe, Latin America)Links to obesity =negative press, high calorie coffees and snacks contributing factors Strong real estate locations Differentiation combining food with coffee cafe High visibility McCafe is a great new venture for McDonalds – a company with a wealth of history, but a need to differentiate itself from its competitors like Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendys, etc. McCafe will give McDonalds a great way to increase profits and move forward in the restaurant industry. Additional Sources: http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/our_company/mcd_faq/student_research.html?DC

Bakery Industry in India

[pic] EXECUTIVE SUMMARY- The bakery industry in India is the biggest in food industry. It witnesses tremendous growth with the changing demographics and an improvement in the quality of life of urban people & rural people. I would like to thank you for providing me this opportunity to provide a brief knowledge about this industry & share some basic ideas to implement, while working in similar trade. CONTENTS- 1. INTRODUCTION 2. PRODUCTS 3. MARKET POTENTIAL 4. MANUFACTURING PROCESS 5. MARKET INFORMATION 6. FOCUSING MARKET SEGMENT & OTHER STRATIGIES 7. MY STRENGHT FOR THE GIVEN ROLE . 0 INTRODUCTION Bakery is a traditional activity and occupies an important place in food processing industry. Despite the advent of fully automatic and semi-automatic bread as well as biscuit making Plants, a sizeable number of people still prefer fresh bread and other products from bakery. The bakery industry in India can be categorized into the three broad segments of bread, biscuits and cake. Only 40% o f the 3m tonnes bakery products industry in India is in the organized sector, while the balance comprises of unorganized, small-scale local manufacturers (Samant 2002).With changing consumer tastes and with the entry of multinationals post liberalization, the average Indian is expanding his palate from just bread, cake and biscuits to more sophisticated pizzas and burgers. The consumers are increasingly going for newer options with respect to bakery products. Recently, there has been a steady inflow of MNC’s and other organized players in this sector, leading to increased competition. Few Companies that go through channel partner are Britannia, Biskfarm, and Morish etc. Also, the Indian market is witnessing the proliferation of bakery cafe chains in the form of Barista, Cafe Coffee & Monginis etc. . 0 PRODUCTS There are many bakery products like bread and its different variants, biscuits, cakes & pastries, cookies, puffs etc. having ready market round the year. Each product e njoys a very wide range in terms of size or weight, flavours, end-use and so on. There is a tremendous scope to introduce new varieties every year. However, this note deals only with bread and biscuits. This project can be started anywhere in the country and there is no preferred location as such. This note considers Meghalaya as the contemplated location in view of good market prospects. . 0 MARKET POTENTIAL A bakery can be set up in urban as well as rural areas. Depending upon its location, a suitable product mix can be worked out. This profile primarily considers semi-urban location from where nearby rural centres can also be catered to. In view of this consideration, the suggested products are bread and biscuits. These products are very well accepted in the market and have gained consumer acceptance. 4. 0 MANUFACTURING PROCESS – 4. 1 Raw Material- The major raw material required is flour. Ideally, the unit can enter into a long term supply rrangement with an established f lour mill to ensure adequate and timely supply. Other items like yeast, sugar, ghee, milk powder, salt, edible colour and flavours shall be available from nearby trading centres. 4. 2 Bread – The Process Flow Chart is as under: ? Sifting of flour ? Preparation of suspension ? Preparation of dough by kneading all the ingredients ? Fermentation of dough ? Baking ? Cooling and packing 4. 3 Biscuits- The Process Flow Chart is as under: ? Mixing of ingredients except flour in required proportion in paste form. Preparation of dough by mixing with flour. ? Placing dough in biscuit moulding and cutting machine ? Baking ? Cooling & packing 5. MARKET INFORMATION- According to Assocham-India's bakery market is worth Rs 3,295 crore and it is witnessing a steady growth rate of 8%, stated the industry body the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). More than 20-lakh tonnes of bread and 15-lakh tonnes of biscuits are manufactured in one single year. Moreover, Brea d and rolls along with biscuits and cookies make up for 82% of the bakery products, said Assocham.Furthermore, Cakes, pastries, buns and rusk make up for the rest. Nearly 65% of bakery products are manufactured in the unorganised sector. DS Rawat, Secretary General, Assocham, â€Å"Due to increasing consumer gravitation towards convenience products and healthy food products, the bakery industry has undergone a virtual metamorphosis since 2004. † Reports claim that the per capita consumption of bread is just 1. 75 kg. The southern states consume almost 32% of the bread manufactured in India and in the northern, western and eastern states consume 27%, 23% and 18% respectively.Moreover, Maharashtra and West Bengal have got large number of bakery units. Almost 55% of biscuits are consumed in the rural areas due to long shelf life and also popular taste. 6. FOCUSING MARKET SEGMENT & OTHER STRATIGIES- †¢ With having a wide range of acceptance in all age group, The maximum age group that Consume maximum by 10 years to 35 years, so these groups get attracted mainly through Their friend circle, I would like to open some exclusive shops that will make our brands Identified. I would like to make our brand identified as a health improving product with different Poster, Danglers etc. †¢ I would like to capture the rural market & semi urban market with applying direct selling Sales person with incentive for making our brand more & more available at each point. †¢ Capturing different institution like CCD,Barista as well as college,University canteen etc. 7. MY STRENGHT FOR THE GIVEN ROLE – ? With having 6 years of experience in Fast moving items & logical attitude to apply marketing Methods to improve demand are the first & basic point of acceptance. My eagerness to learn fast & yielding a result that is valuable for company in terms of company. ? Having enthusiasm to prove my value to company, always drive me to research for the Methodology & ex ecution of sales & sales promotion activity. ? My flexibility to work with different people of different culture & building, developing Team is the added quality. ? My calculative approach that value for money & logical thinking always decrease the cost Of marketing with yielding high result.

Health care provider Essay

Greg Wilson, a 65-year-old man, is diagnosed with pneumonia. He has a history of congestive heart failure. His physician has ordered an antibiotic for the pneumonia and he takes digoxin every day. As the health care provider, which question would you ask first before administering his antibiotic? Why is the first dose of the antibiotic twice as much as the maintenance dose? Which variables may slow his metabolism and excretion? You should submit your initial response to each discussion question by Wednesday at 11:59 pm (MT) each week. You are also required to respond to a peer and/or their instructor on one other day of the week. LP2.1 Discussion: Medication Effects As a health care provider we must ask the right questions especially before administrating any medication. In the case study for Greg Wilson, the first and most important question his health care provider should ask is â€Å"have you ever had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic?† The reason for this question is imperative because it helps the provider to determine which antibiotic is best for him. If Greg Wilson has had a reaction before, the health care provider can avoid and more complications to Greg. Sometimes a provider will prescribe a prescription that will have instructions that instruct the patient to take two doses on the first dose, and after the first dose to take only one dose. This form of administrating medication is known as the loading dose. The loading dose is when a patient takes the initial dose that is often the maximum dose and then continues taking the medication using a smaller dosage. The reason for using this method is to quickly elevate the level o f the drug in the blood. The health care provider that is responsible for Greg Wilson’s prescription must also factor in other variables regarding the patient. The following variables must be known in order to administer the correct medication and dosage for it to be effective. * Age – as we get older our metabolism and excretions become slower, which can cause effects on how the medication is absorbed and excreted. * Weight – many drug doses depend on the weight of a patient. In most cases the heavier the patient the higher the dosage. * Gender – Men and women have different factors that cause them to respond differently to medication. Some factors are pregnancy, ratio of fat per body massdiffers in men and women, and hormone levels are also different in men and woman These factors are important because they all have some effect on how a patient’s body is going to react to the medication they were provided. The effectiveness and possible side effects of medication are all determined on many things, and it’s the health care provider’s responsibility to know a lot of important information about a pat ient in order to provide them the best care they can offer. Sources: Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Occupations, Sixth Edition

Is genetic enhancement an unacceptable use of technology Article

Is genetic enhancement an unacceptable use of technology - Article Example Technology is making it possible for parents to choose the features that they would wish to see in their children by resorting to various modifications. In as much as the procedures are helping improve and advance life, there are concerns about the side effects that would accrue to such individuals. Just like medications that are used to treat various diseases, it is feared that the substances used for such modifications may have adverse effects on human beings and therefore tampering with their growth. The pressure to sue technology is taking a toll on many parents considering its wave. However, the procedure can only be used by few who can afford it considering its cost. This hence means tat there will be a big imbalance and a widening gap between the poor and the as the rich people find ways to make their children more productive and acceptable in the society (Loder, 2013). We may not able to prevent the wave that comes with technology, yet appreciating nature is vital.

Decision Making using Critical Thinking Techniques Part 2 Essay

Decision Making using Critical Thinking Techniques Part 2 - Essay Example Department of Energy, 2001). The decision-making technique that will be used in this proposal will be the plus, minus and interesting technique (PMI). In using the PMI technique, it would be useful to make a three column table with the headings plus, minus and interesting (Mind Tools Ltd., n.d.). Under the plus column, one has to write all the positive aspects of the alternative. On the minus column, all the negative effects will be listed down. In the interesting column, the implications and possible outcomes, areas of uncertainty and areas which one thinks as either good or bad will be included. There are several alternatives that one can choose from with regards to increasing the presence of the company. To address the expectation of government on the company with regards to giving support to the social needs of the people of Kava, one alternative is to design a health program for the coffee farmers and their families. To illustrate the PMI technique, a PMI Table is presented below. Another alternative that one would like to propose and which will be evaluated using the PMI technique is to put up a store where there are plenty of foreigners residing or working because they are known to be coffee drinkers, such as the French and Americans. The PMI Table for this alternative is shown below. After using the PMI technique and applying it in all the alternatives open to the company, one can decide on the best decision to be made, which will result in the achievement of their goal of increasing their presence in Kava. In this case, one does not have to choose only one alternative; it could be a combination of alternatives whose benefits more than outweigh the negative effects of the options available. One can see that the steps utilized in making the PMI tables are very useful indeed in coming up with the strategies that the company can implement to increase their presence in Kava. Identifying the pros,

Factors that motivate Chinese students to study in the Uk Essay

Factors that motivate Chinese students to study in the Uk - Essay Example The aim of the present study is to investigate the factors that motivate Chinese student study to study in the UK. In order to understand the factors motivating Chinese students to study in the UK more clearly, the NCUK institution in Beijing will be used as a case study. Background of the Study Higher education has become an increasingly significant area of society in recent times, and higher education is likely to expand further in the 21st century. The 21st century might ultimately be known as the century of education. Numerous scholars view the arrival of an educated society, e.g. Unit Kingdom, Finland, Norway. Growth continues in a number of the world’s higher education systems, with predictions that millions of students will enter postgraduate educational institutions around the world in the next two decades, with most of that expansion occurring in the developing world. The last few decades of the 20th century witnessed considerable escalation in student mobility. The e xistence of international students on university campuses across different countries has increased over the past few years. Chinese students represent one of the biggest groups amongst international students in the United Kingdom (Altbach & Teichler, 2001). Due to a dramatic change in the policies of the Chinese government over the past few decades, a developing country has grown into as a super power (Wang, 2007). This development has come together with important reforms in higher education aimed at playing an important role in modernizing China (Zhang, 2007). The Open Door Policy taken up in 1978, which promoted foreign investment in China, allowed dual exchanges in education, firstly, teachers could go into foreign institutes of higher education to enhance the quality of their teaching, and secondly, a number of Chinese students could go abroad to study for higher degrees (Knight & DeWit, 1995). Since then, several impressive reforms in Chinese higher education have both altered the lives of many Chinese students and scholars. Since the pat two decades, education in China has been internationalized due to increase in globalization. This internationalization comprises a number of different activities, such as student and teacher exchange, specialized studies, technological assistance, the education of international students, and joint research programmes. China has become one of the world’s biggest exporters of students around the globe. Recent there are different researches to study the internationalization of higher education on various perspective, a number of which have been carried out in developed countries (Altbach & Teichler, 2001). China is the biggest supplier of international students around the world (Altbach & Knight, 2007). In recent decades, more and more Chinese students have been educated abroad for graduate degrees, with a number of graduate students studying in the United Kingdom (Mackie, 2007). The notion of gainning graduate degre es in British universities is broadly connected to the internationalization of higher education in China, as well as to the globalization of the Chinese society (Altbach & Knight, 2007). In order to achieve the dream of graduating from a foreign university, more specifically, the UK, there are a number of factors that influence students’ decision-making process. Researchers have discovered that family influence is a significant factor in overseas study decisions (Shanka, Quintal & Taylor, 2005). The opinions of family members might exercise various kinds of influence up on an individual’s behavior (Shanka, Quintal & Taylor, 2005). This is mainly because the nuclear familiar (single child policy) is small, parents have to finance the education

How to think English language Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to think English language - Assignment Example t types of communication in your home country and the U.S.), to the more subtle (like how your father’s or mother’s style of persuasion differs from your grandparents’). What kind of rhetoric do you use at home? At school? In the grocery store? With your friends? Online? How have these different uses of language impacted the way you see yourself as a rhetor? What do they reveal about how and why language might change across contexts? I encountered clear explanation when the doctor was giving me the exact instructions of what caused shock to my diseased friend. The doctor was trying to put across the most probability of the death and kept tried to give the smallest detail. I experienced this in political rallies in my home country. The political aspirants used words and phrases like â€Å"we†, â€Å"us† and other inclusive verbs in their speeches to make the electorates to vote for them. These rhetoric’s in improved my interaction between me and the other people in the following ways: The use of rhetoric in the context shaped my understanding of the world to know that through proper communication that is enhanced by use of rhetoric’s in context can generate proposal, ideas and discussions that can be used to solve the world current problems Mostly when our parents give instructions and warnings to us they will pause a question to us to confirm if we have understood what they are trying to tell us. Mostly the question needs answers that we often reply to them to show obedience to them. At home the context that may arise is the emphasis on the togetherness of the family. in such audience as the speaker u may use the rhetoric that is likely to be used to emphasis on unity is the power of one In school the teaching activity goes on, the teachers try to make the students to understand the new concepts that they have never learned before, the teacher we will try to refer to the things the students knows best and compare them with the new concept. This

Sun Microsystems Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sun Microsystems - Coursework Example The company was then selling its own servers developed by its own processors. Till 2001, the business was doing pretty well. However, during the economic downturn of 2001 when companies were looking for ways to cut on their costs, companies like Google shifted to cheap servers provided by other vendors. To adapt itself, Sun started to develop servers on third party platforms. From thereon they started losing on their revenues as many companies had already developed their own servers. In the year 2010, the company was taken over by Oracle. In the ‘Transformational model’, input and output consist of two types of components. The system input and outputs generally fall under the categories of labour, power, energy, information, decisions and money. In case of Sun Microsystems, the important planning inputs have been information, decisions, knowledge, skill set of the employees and the capital. Other influential factors which are significant in instigating the production process are competition, social facilities, technological and architectural infrastructures. The desirable outputs have been servers, workstations, data centres and software solutions for enterprises. However, in the process, Sun Microsystems was incurring higher cost which has been assumed as the less desirable output of the process. US hardware and software industry is huge with big players like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, HP and Apple. The political environment of US is encouraging for the innovations, which is the biggest source of competitive advantage in this industry. One major disadvantage which these companies have to face higher labour cost. As a consequence, these companies outsource a large number of activities to other countries, worldwide. With the passing of recession, the hardware and software industry in US is still in its recovery phase. Although the US economy is recovering at a faster pace, it would need some time to reach the peak stage. With technological

American political system, contraception mandate act Essay - 1

American political system, contraception mandate act - Essay Example As policy solutions to the contraceptive mandate, the religious groups prefer to use the natural family planning methods instead of using contraceptives as a family planning method. In as much as the religious groups views the natural family planning as the best policy solution to the contraceptive mandate, officials views have so far failed to necessarily match the behavior (Cutrer, 2005). As part of the alternatives which the religious groups advocates for include the periodic abstinence or the aspect of post ponding pregnancy. The religious groups view these solutions as a perfect way of solutions in relation to the contraceptive mandate. As Msgr. Flanagan claims, it is always against the artificial contraception but the religious groups favor natural body rhythms thus the natural family planning methods (Pipes, 2013). In most cases, the religious groups never oppose mandates, which require them to be competent especially on medical personnel so that they could teach natural family planning forms to couples and not just women involved (Cutrer, 2005). The decree requires the religious group members to pay for something, which is usually immoral. Additionally, the religious organizations, which are against contraceptives use,should then teach their religious members on using some of these types of these methods (Pipes, 2013).However, it is always up to the members of the religious groups to decide on what type of contraceptive they would prefer to use. In as much as the church is against the use of contraceptives, the church cannot force an individual on what method of family planning they can use. According to Becky Lynn who is a Health care providers thus the OBGYN, the contraception mandate remains a crucial to not only the women but also people involved or the couple. The health providers are advocating for more coverage for all

Strategies For Reducing Violence Essay Example for Free

Strategies For Reducing Violence Essay There are many causes of death but violence can be considered one of the leading causes worldwide. The most recent violent act was a tragic event that took place at an elementary school in Connecticut that killed 28 children as well as some teachers. Violence can be defined as the use of physical force or power against oneself, another person or against a community of a group, which may result in injury, death, mental harm or physical harm. Acts of violence include suicide, terrorism, child abuse, rape, and bullying. This essay will explore how violence can be reduced through changing social and cultural norms, and the teaching of social skills. Violence can be reduced through different school programs that teach the students ways to reduce violence. Olweus (1972) conducted an experiment in schools in Norway and had the whole-school faculty participate. He developed a seminar that taught the school faculty how to deal with bullying which included strict supervision on playgrounds and lunchrooms. He advised that if any bulling took place, the counselors should conduct therapy with the bullies. Olweus reported that this program reduced 50% of all bullying activities. However, on the downside, this research only took place in Norway, which is a country that already emphasizes on social importance and bullying. This could mean that the research may just be adding on to the progress already made. In addition, the policies and programs may only be effective if everyone is aware and is committed in changing. This research is a qualitative research, which can lead to bias and there is no control group for this experiment. However, a nti-bullying programs have been shown to be effective. Another method to reduce violence is through the teaching of social skills. Aronson (1979) used cooperative activities in classroom with the idea that everyone must work together. He used jigsaw puzzles and allowed the class to work together to come to a common goal, or consensus. Everyone had something to contribute and students had to collaborate to move forward. This forced children to help one another and contributed towards the learning process. Aronson also found that this lowered the rate of bullying in schools and increased interaction between out groups. There are also more positive interaction between students. However, this research cannot measure the interaction between students outside of school because it was limited within school grounds. The research was qualitative research, which can lead to possible biases. Although the research emphasizes cooperation and collective norms that would reduce bullying, this research is 20 years old. But there are newer research conducted by Figueireido et al in 2007 with computer training which shows similar effects. This activity alone will not reduce violence because there should be school monitoring of the students. Overall, this method is quite effective and schools should emphasize in training the students. Violence can be reduced through the changing social and cultural norms. There have been many studies that show that norms can increase violence. For example, the American south have a culture of honor that forces men to not accept insults or inappropriate conducts from others. One way to change the social and cultural norms is through education. In a study conducted by Foshee et al where he aimed to prevent adolescent dating violence, the participants’ attitudes towards violence were measured through a series of questionnaires before and after the program. Foshee et al, found that there were less psychological abuse and sexual violence reported in the treatment than in the control group. However, these effects were only reported through questionnaires and the conclusions of the results were based on self-report, not actual behavior. In addition, the effects were explained by changes in the dating violence norms, awareness and gender stereotyping. But reducing the adolescent dating violence through education is a possible option to consider. In conclusion, violence can be reduced through educating children about bullying and changing social and cultural norms. These are the bases of whether a person will be violent or not. If the root cases of these bases are solved, then there will be less violence in the future. It is important for people to educate the young about violence but it is difficult to change a communities’ social norm. However, it is possible if people are cooperating, there will be less more tragic incidents like the shooting in Connecticut.

Ethical Brand Management Strategies for Fashion Industry

Ethical Brand Management Strategies for Fashion Industry Though brand management is not limited to the apparels and accessories it is very evident that fashion industry has given the word a turnaround over the years. From brand fanaticism to Brand loyalty Fashion Brands have the tendency to create a strong Brand identity amongst the minds of the consumers. Many of their brand management strategies have been successful. The global fashion industry is a giant in terms of the impact it has on economy, trade and commerce of many countries, the reach and importance of its products and the strength of its employment. Over the century, growth of the industry has been astonishing in terms of technology and revenue. The innovations had been rapid and growth exponential. Though origin of branding dates back to historical times, fashion industry is one of the industries which capitalized the most of a Brands strength. Fashion industry has a strong affinity to brand management, and most successful brand strategies like retailers Zara, Mark Spencer and Luxury designer brands like Louis Vuitton, Armani, Dior and YSL. The Brand strategy of most fashion brands revolve around the concept of differentiation of products, target customer group and building brand-consumer relationship from which is derived a Brand Personality and Identity of each brand. This identity carves a niche for the brand in the market. But there arise a few questions about this glamorous industries brand management strategy. Does a successful brand management strategy mean ethical Brand strategy? Does having a good turnover a year make a brand strategy successful? Can Ethics be inculcated in a brand strategy in an effective way? In the recent years a new concern has developed for the industries worldwide, the Ethics of business. The London fashion week, 2008 states that the fashion Industry has been caught on the issue of ethical and environmental clothing. Though researches have been made widely on Ethics and Business in most of the fields and industries very few initiatives had been made for the same in terms of brand management ethics and in particular context of Fashion and Apparel Industry. This Proposal aims in studying this less frequented topic of research yet growing concern of ethical consumerism in fashion industry, the requirements and processes involved for a brand to identify itself as a Holistic and authentic ethical brand. Scope of the Study Research Objectives, Questions and Hypotheses Research Objectives To study the brand management strategy of successful and powerful brands To understand the importance of Ethics as a critical factor for any brand strategy To analyze the effects of integrating ethics into the brand strategy and the implications of the relationship Research Questions What is a Brand strategy management? What are the successful brand strategies? What is business ethics? What is the need of Ethical Brand strategy? What are the implications of integrating ethical business and brand strategic management? Research Hypotheses Hypotheses 1 Strategic management is significant for a successful Brand Hypotheses 2 Business ethics has become an essential factor for competitive advantage of a brand Hypotheses 3 The relationship between brand management and business ethics can form an authentic ethical brand Literature Review of the Project This chapter aims to analyze the theory of the research project which is basically categorized into three broader topics of the research, namely Fashion Industry Brand Management strategy Business Ethics FASHION INDUSTRY Definition and History While fashion can be defined as the style or custom prevalent at a particular period of time adopted by the vast population in terms of clothing or behavior, it has been around from the time when people begun clothing. From 10,000 BC when men discovered a needle and loom to cloth themselves, through the Mesopotamian and Egyptian civilization where clothing got a religious meaning through the roman and Greek civilization where clothing was given an symbolization of beauty through the evolution of modern Elizabethan and Victorian era and finally to the era of influence of designers like Dior, Chanel to arrive at the Great Fashion era of today, Fashion has been ever evolving. Evolution But technically an industry for the same flourished only with the mark of Ready-to-wear invention around the beginning of 20th century. Till then tailors made cloths specific to a person, until when they found similarities of body forms of people they developed patterns which would fit more than one individual. Thus came in the Ready-to-wear garments. With the mark of 20th century the tailor shops were being turned into workshops to factories, where pattern drafting, bulk fabric cutting and sewing began. Industrial engineering and quality assurance were introduced as in other industries to yield greater quality and quantity of goods. During the era of industrial revolution the industry flourished. Thus evolved a billion dollar industry. With market being flooded with apparel products, the industry learnt the means of survival is differentiation. That is when the fashion industry started to adopt branding strategy for differentiation and creating particular identity of products that could be held in the minds of the consumers which would make them to buy the products repeatedly. Thus evolved fashion brand management strategy. Successful Fashion brands and brand philosophies Nike Just Do It The brand philosophy portrays grit, determination and passion. The products of Nike send the statement of a detached, determined, unsentimental attitude. Nike is synonymous with Cool LV Symbol of sophistication and style LV brand philosophy is tradition in combination with modernity LV products are Elegant, Practical, Prestige, Luxurious, Desirable, Stylish, Value-for-money, High-quality and Ever-lasting LV signifies Pride, Luxury and elegance Giorgio Armani Epitome of Luxury Fashion The brand founded and owned by the designer Giorgio Armani is a luxury line created by the designer catering top-notch clients with exemplary designs, style and materials that differentiates it from the regular luxury brands. The Brand Philosophy of Armani brands are based solely upon the founders personality and idea since the unique selling point of the brand is that it is Armanis! BRAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Brand Definition According to the American Marketing Association (AMA), A brand is a name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers. But in a more generic definition it could be a means of differentiation a company has over their competitors who produce similar goods. For Example: Procter and Gamble produces dental tooth paste and so do Unilever. They both have to differentiate and offer some product for their customer base that would make them loyal to the company. Thus PG created Crest and Colgate brands of toothpaste and Unilever created the Pepsodent. The name is not the brand. But the logo, symbol, the product offering, the values on the whole is the brand a company creates. brands enable a buyer to easily identify the offerings of a particular company. Psychological perspective of brand From the psychological perspective a Brand is a perception held in the minds of the consumers. Perceptions are the psychological experience of humans. Hence a brand is actually the psychological experience or view a human has about what it has to offer to them. As Scott Bedbury, a leading branding consultant in his book titled, A Brand New World rightly states Brand has become psychological concepts held in the minds of the public, where they may stay forever Brand Strategic Management Strategic management in a Brand arena is the structured analysis, decisions and actions the brand takes in order to conjure the brand identity and value which gives the sustainable competitive advantage over its competitors. Decision Analysis Action Brand strategy is the foundation laid for the creation of the brand Identity which signifies the brand promise the customer expects. A brand strategy encompasses systematic planning at each stage of branding process. Right from Realizing the mission and vision of the company, Researching and defining the target customer segment, Zeroing on the Unique Selling Proposition of the company, Differentiating from competitors Giving a personality to the brand, developing brand values, Communicating the Brand values and brand promise to the customer Until Sustaining the Brand the strategic planning, decision making is termed as the brand strategy Management. The Zara Strategic Management Definition A firm to sustain in the current competitive market scenario should formulate and implement a value creating strategy, in order to achieve strategic competitiveness. Strategy is an integrated and coordinated set of commitments and actions designed to exploit core competencies and gain a competitive advantage. Strategic management process is the full set of commitments, decisions, and actions required for a firm to achieve strategic competitiveness and earn above-average returns. Zara has adopted what is termed as the integrated cost leadership and differentiation strategy. This strategy involves engaging in primary and support activities that allow a firm to simultaneous pursue low cost and differentiation. The Strategic Process Today a consumer has high expectations while purchasing a good or service. They demand low-priced yet differentiated products to suit their needs. To address these demands organizations engage in primary and support activities which will equip them to capitalize on both lower cost and differentiation. The objective of this strategy is to produce products of differentiated value efficiently. Efficient production provides cost leadership and the differentiation of products add unique value to it. The firms thus become strong in networking amongst the primary and secondary activities becoming competent. Zaras Strategic Process Zara has successfully adopted this strategy of cost leadership and differentiation to provide consumers with desirable fashion goods at relatively low prices. The sophisticated design team, effective managing of costs, flexible production system and total quality of management are the capabilities of Zara which gives it an strategic advantage over competitors ETHICS Definition While the world is facing the strength of business and commerce flourishing despite the economic slowdown, there is a silent movement amongst both the consumers and the organizations arousing concern for Ethical Business. Business ethics has now become the much debated topic not only because of its growing importance but also the complexity and difficulty in understanding and implementing them in a business. Human Beings have the power and ability to think and make a decision which other creations dont possess. This ability also comes with choices. And these choices require rational thinking. The humans thus should make the choice of which is right over wrong, using their knowledge, views and analytical skills. But the right and wrong are not explicit and requires tough decisions as the ethical decisions are not easy to make and demands more than what the individual or organization is ready to give. But such decisions are vital for the greater good of the organization, people and environment Evolution of Ethics Ethics is one of the few terms with no one fixed definition. It is an evolutionary concept. Its meaning and purpose is evolving as does the business. The following are the few views on ethics, The Initial definition for ethics was simple. Ethics was about doing right thing in context to morals, values and culture. This works for an individual who has personal instinct and acts according to that instinct. When it comes to an organizations perspective, defining what is the Right thing and whom or what should be the primary concern for ethical decisions the company, the shareholders, the stake holders or the whole society, ample questions arise. But inevitably men are greedy and as time progressed since 1960s various ethical issues arouse in business. From the Employee-employer relationship tensions, bribery, financial frauds and mis-management, human rights, transparency issues, environmental issues to the Intellectual property stealth and cyber crimes every issue has led onto a newer perspective and need for ethics in business. These needs were supported by various laws and codes passed on by the authoritative organizations. The developments include the earlier code of conduct and values established by companies, to the formation of ethics resource centre and corporate social responsibility movements and until the Sarbanes -Oxley Act of 2002 business ethics have fallen under strict scrutinization of these regulations. Need for Ethics Business ethics in text definition is The Principles, standards or rules that guide the organization and the organizers together in the business arena. The standards are the judging criterions for what is right or wrong and what is acceptable and unacceptable by the society at large. But various studies suggest that ethics is ever evolving phenomenon. From being Just doing the right thing to the standards and laws of judging the right thing now ethics has evolved to Business beyond profits and laws. Now Business ethics is about the Triple Bottom Line. Financial Social Environmental Ethics is now beyond just doing business without harming the society and environment. It is about doing business and also contributing to the society and environment from where they take resources for doing the business and also sell the end product or service. Thus the expectation is that while the business has growth there should also be the societal and environmental growth. This evolution of ethics gave rise to a new field in business namely the Corporate Social Responsibility. CSR is about an organization going beyond what is legal and makes most profit for the company to contributing and achieving societal benefits with interest of all stakeholders. ETHICAL BRAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY The New Concept While the business ethics is much debated and though complex organizations are trying to interpret and implement them in business. Research and studies are conducted in this field of business ethics. But unfortunately Brand management and integration of ethics into the foundation of branding still remains unobserved. The reason for the same could be many including the major misconception that branding is all about the powerful logo and name that enables organizations to sell products and rake profits. But that is only one part of the branding. The product branding is much regarded with importance that organization branding is overlooked. This study is to understand the importance of integrating ethics into organization branding and the strategic implementation of the same. Brands today have a powerful position in the minds of the consumer. The consumers associate themselves with the brand and studies claim that bran is a Personality in the minds of the consumer. This phenomenon leads to brand loyalty or in severe case to brand fanaticism. When brand has such importance amongst its consumers and has direct impact with its activities in society and environment, there is growing demand for Ethical brands. Case study: Apple Considering the Case of one of worlds powerful brand, Apple: Apple has a perceived personality of sophistication and uniqueness in the minds of its customers and the society. But a recently one of Apples supplier manufacturer have been found guilty for chemical poisoning of 49 employees and another supplier reported to have used child labor. Though Steve jobs of Apple claim that Apple is not responsible for the same, these reports highlight lack in ethical concerns in area of production of worlds popular devices. This might pose as a threat for the brand Image Apple has created over the years and its sustainability becomes questionable. Consumers have the access to information to realize Apples sophisticated product is an end result of unacceptable work environment and child labor. Then the Brand Personality in their minds might take a change. Thus to avoid such a situation it is not an option but a necessity for Ethical brand Management Strategies. The Ethical Approach Ethical brand is perceived as an oxymoronic term by business community at large. They are regarded as two contradictory terms put together. But the real sense in perceiving them is as two complementary words working in synchronization with each other. Both is of no use when the other is insignificant. While a typical Brand Strategy aims to Establish the brand values amongst customers Create Brand Identity and market position differentiating from competitors Create and sustain brand loyal customers To maximize profit by increased sales and expansion of brand These aims are basic and essential for any organization trying to establish and sustain a brand and make the organization profitable. But as the brand grows in size, power and financially, these aims are testified for their ethical commitments and that is when they flatter undoubtedly. The Ethical approach to the same brand strategy aims would possibly be, Establish the brand values amongst customers By not just stating the values but integrating those values at each and every stage of the organization. Brand values are promise made by the organization. Create Brand Identity and market position differentiating from competitors By competing fairly, without trying to override competition unethically at any means Create and sustain brand loyal customers Without fake promises, with transparency and sustainable brand practices. To maximize profit by increased sales and expansion of brand Without bringing about any harm to the environment, society and stake holders, and also contributing to the society and environment responsibly. The table does not follow any standard code of ethics but just a perspective in which the same aims can be redesigned for an ethical brand. ETHICAL FASHION BRANDS Fashion industry is undoubtedly ever flourishing industry not only because of its size and buzz but also since it produces one of the basic commodity for which there is a ever increasing demand: Clothing. Fashion Industry is characterized by Labor intensive, customer centric, fast changing trends, extensive raw material usage, and tedious manufacturing and marketing processes. Consumers of fashion brands are loyal followers of their brands. Be it high end fashion designer brands like Dior and Armani to the mass marketing fashion brand like Zara and MS, brand followers have very high expectation of their brands. From product quality to service these brands have to live upto their brand promise. With Globalization, a brands customers have access to informations of all forms. And the rising concern of the fashion consumer is not only about how cost efficient their clothes are but also how ethical are the clothes they wear? It has to be mentioned here that the same consumers who question about ethical status of the brands also demand lower costs of quality products. As discussed earlier in ethics there are always choices, whether to provide higher ethical products and the higher cost that accompanies it to make sustainable profits whether to give lower cost, lower ethical products and still make larger profit Unfortunately most fashion brands seem to have chosen the latter option which could be viewed as the immediate best solution for the brand and customers. But is the solution sustainable is the issue of the hour. Case of Ethical Brand Failure HM Originated in Sweden in the year 1947, HM now holds 2000 stores across the world. The brand has its own base of customers and promise them fashion and quality at the best price. The corporate social responsibility of HM as stated in their sustainability report which states style and substance encompasses most of the ethical issues of fashion industry. Their sustainability vision as stated is that they follow a strategy for the business operations which ensures financial, social and environmental sustainability. But recent reports claim otherwise, Financial Times has reported that HM clothings organic cotton claims are deceptive as a test conducted on these so called organic cotton fabrics reveal a outrageous amount of genetically modified cotton, (DNA modified cotton for better productivity and anti-pest properties). It is well known that there is worldwide outrage against genetically modified crops as their ill-effects surpass the benefits they possess. Many countries have banned the cultivation and use of genetically modified cotton as they possess unforeseen threats to the consumers health, environment and the society. Here is the case of HMs failed promise. Their sustainability vision has lost its application as they committed financial, social and environmental sustainability but the reports claim the opposite. GAP Gap, claiming to be the worlds largest specialty retailer, was founded by Doris and Don Fisher in the year 1969 with San Francisco as the base. They include array of brands namely Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. Gap now operates 3100 stores worldwide. Interestingly GAP has dedicated a separate website for the cause of the Brands social responsibility and ethical practices. The Statements and claims are powerful and brings a positive aura about the brand. Gap states that they believe not only in the basics of ethical business practices but also to embrace a broader, deeper responsibility to people and the planet. The statement states that the brand stands up to care for the stakeholders, society and the environment at large and they make choices which bring no harm to them. They also ensure the GAP customer that every time a Gap product is purchased the consumer acknowledges a Brand which cares about people and planet. But the true depth of these statements becomes questionable when GAP is now caught in the middle of quality of the work environment GAP suppliers are subjecting their workers to. The Telegraph reports about child-labor in factories in India sewing GAP garments. The Saipan Islands of the pacific, Officially under US has a legal system for setting their own immigration system which facilitated garment manufacturers to bring in cheap labor from china and use labels stating Made in USA. The large Chinese owned garment factories bring in young female workers from china and mostly south-east Asia with assurance of good salary and work environment but contrastingly with sweat shop work environment. A critical analysis of what GAP has stated as their ethical policy is strikingly in contrast with these reports. If the ethics is as integrated into Gaps vision as they claim what could be possibly be the cause of these situations in factories supplying GAP clothing? The Need for Authentic Ethical Brand The cases of GAP and HM are just examples of ethical failures in Fashion Brand management. There are many other big brands associated with ethics failure the list including Nike, Abercrombie Fitch, Calvin Klein, Wal-Mart and more. These cases plainly illustrates these companies didnt lack a vision for sustainability. They had well-structured vision and mission for sustainable ethical strategy, but what they lacked was the implementation and monitoring of the same. It is also essential to begin this process right from the basics. That is ethics and brand strategy should integrate from the fundamental and progress upwards through all processes of the brand development. Research Methods This research proposal aims in laying the foundation for the detailed dissertation to follow on developing an ethical brand strategy framework for the fashion industry. The proposal aims in locating the problems of existing ethical strategies and their implementation and monitoring systems. RESEARCH FRAMEWORK Trend Analysis Design process Sampling DESIGN MERCHANDISE Ethical check point Ethical issue Ethical Solution Approved Rejected Scheduling resource allocation Supplier Analysis Raw material procurement Sampling PLAN SOURCE Ethical check point Ethical issue Ethical Solution Approved Rejected Garment Sewing Management Fiber to fabric monitoring Marketing Ads Management Sampling PRODUCE AND MARKET Ethical check point Ethical issue Ethical Solution Approved Rejected DISTRIBUTE Warehouse management Inventory Management Transportation to showrooms Ethical check point Ethical issue Ethical Solution Approved Rejected Floor planning VM Sales feedback Sales Trend analysis SALES, ANALYSE AFTER SALES Ethical check point Ethical issue Ethical Solution Approved Rejected Research Development Human Resource Management Administration SUPPORT ACTIVITIES Ethical check point Ethical issue Ethical Solution Approved Rejected PRODUCT OF AN AUTHENTIC ETHICAL BRAND The idea of the research framework Fig is to ensure the brand can be known to be practicing an ethical strategy if and only if code of ethics is integrated at each level of process flow of product development. Description of the framework The framework is structured to highlight six vital process categories for a brand to produce the end product. The categories include Design merchandise The design and merchandising is the first stage in a fashion brand process flow, as this where the product is conceptualized and given form. The trend analysis, feasibility of design, material selection, sampling and all merchandising coordination processes takes place at this stage. This is the mind work part of the fashion product development. Plan source Planning includes the pre-production scheduling, resource allocation, backward planning and ensuring commitments. Sourcing includes procurement of raw materials for the production process. This stage requires large supplier and buyer co-ordination and resource planning. Produce and market The apparel manufacturing is the most labor intensive of all levels of product development. However automated, the actual cut, sew and pack requires ample workforce management. Marketing is where the brand transports its values to the customers and involves PR Distribute The distribution is the most important of the supply chain activities, inventory and warehouse management of finished goods, allocation planning and transportation to the showroom. Sales, analyze after sales This is where the product is made into revenue through sales. The showroom management, floor planning, visual merchandising all enable shoppers trafficking the showroom while the sales analysts analyze the sales patterns and suggest on replenishment. The after-sales services and waste management of the Brands products are areas of concern. Support Activities The support activities form the backbone of the brand process flow, which includes the essential human resource management generating, training and maintaining workforce, research development bringing about new innovations for the brands portfolio and the general administrative department taking care of the overall functioning of the brand from conceptualization to customer care. The Ethical Checkpoint The research aims in finding the feasibility of having an ethical checkpoint at every stage of product development of an apparel brand. The purpose and functionality of the ethical checkpoint could be Aim To ensure only ethically sustainable products pass through different levels of brands production process. Process Each brand should define their own ethical standards and code of ethics to be followed at each level of the Brands product development. This code of ethics should be in compliance with both global and local ethics standards in accordance to the brands demography. The function of the ethical checkpoint is to ensure that at each level of process flow the ethical standards are met and if any ethical issues arise the suitable ethical solutions are arrived at before the product pass on to the next level of the process flow. In this way the product at each level is ensured to be sustainable. Thus the brand self-monitors itself for ensuring the sustainability promise it has made to its consumers End Result The end product is not just name sake ethical but holistically ethical made by ethical standards from the scratch to the finished goods stage. Positive Impact By adopting this strategy the brand not only ensures it stays committed to the people, planet and product but also they promote positive consumerism amongst their consumers. This is one of the possible frameworks of authentic ethical brand management strategy for the fashion industry. A descriptive framework for the ethical check point could be Ethical check point Ethical issue Ethical Solution Approved Rejected

Zigbee Networks And Applications Information Technology Essay

Zigbee Networks And Applications Information Technology Essay ZigBee networking has number of applications, these applications are not just limited to home automation, inventory tracking, and healthcare but its applications are taking into account in daily life routine. Home automation is one of the major application areas for ZigBee wireless networking. The typical data rate for home automation application is 10kbps in a typical resident building. The applications of home automations are further explained. Security Systems A security system might have several sensors, including motion detectors, security cameras and glass-break sensors, these devices are required to communicate with the central security centre by either wires or a wireless network. ZigBee-based security systems are simple to install and easy to upgrade Although ZigBee has a low data rate, it has still the capability to transfer images wirelessly with reasonable quality., ZigBee has been used in a wireless camera system which do record the videos of visitor at a Front door and then transmit these recordings to monitor inside the house. Meter-Reading Systems Utility meters are needed to be read on a regular basis so as to generate utility bills. One simple way to do this task is by reading the meter manually at home premises and then enters values into a database. A ZigBee-based automatic meter-reading (AMR) system has the capability to create wireless mesh networks across residential complexes that makes link meters with utilities corporate offices. By using AMR, it provides the opportunity to remotely monitor the residenceà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s electric, gas, and water usage. In this way it eliminates the need for a human to visit each residential unit on a monthly basis. Irrigation Systems ZigBee can be used as a part of sensor based irrigation system which is used in efficient water management. Sensors are installed across the landscaping field which can communicate to the irrigation panel. It communicates the soil moisture level at different depth levels to the irrigation panel. The panel controller than tells the watering time based on moisture level, plant type, time of day and the season readings. Light Control Systems One of the classic examples of using ZigBee is Light control in a house or commercial building. In a typical light installation system, it is necessary to install a wire from the light to a switch in order to turn on or off the light. No wired connection between the light and the switch is necessary if the light and switch are equipped with the ZigBee devices. In this way, any switch in the house can be assigned to turn on and off a specific light. A ZigBee-enabled recess light is much expensive compared to a regular recess light, but the installation cost of a ZigBee-enabled light is lower than regular recess light as it requires no extra wiring to a wall switch. Wireless remotes to control the lights is not a new concept in our daily life, By using ZigBee it provides the opportunity to implement this versatile concept on a large scale by ensuring long battery life. Multi zone HVAC Systems The multizone control system have the ability to allow a single heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) unit to have separate temperature zones in a house. Zoning the HVAC system can be very helpful as it saves the energy by controlling the air flow to each room and preventing the cooling or heating to unnecessary areas. ZigBee devices control the motors based on the commands they receive from the main HVAC zone Control panel and temperature sensors. Hotel Guest Room Access ZigBee-based systems can replace the magnetic key card systems which are widely used in hotels in order to access the guest rooms. The traditional room are accessed by plastic cards which have a magnetic strip on their back. The card reader installed on the guest door reads the information that is encoded on to the magnetic strip to allow or deny access to the room. The Installation of this reader to each door requires wiring through the door. A ZigBee- based room access system have a portable ZigBee device that acts as the key and a battery-powered ZigBee device inside the door that locks and unlocks it, the ZigBee based room access system do not require wiring of each door. In this way it reduces the installation cost. Fire Extinguishers Fire extinguishers are required to be checked after every 30 days in order to make sure that all canisters are charged and the filled in pressures are correct. Instead of checking the extinguishers manually, the alternative way is to connect a ZigBee-based monitoring system a sensor is to each fire extinguisher which will monitor its status and it will wirelessly communicate with the coordinator when maintenance is needed. A ZigBee-based monitoring system saves time and labor cost. It also helps to improve fire safety when the fire extinguisher is not working properly by alerting the authority. Remote Control ZigBee have applications that are used in wireless remote controls, game Controllers, a wireless mouse for a personal computer, and many other applications An infrared (IR) conventional remote control communicates with televisions, DVDs, and other entertainment devices through infrared signals. There are limitations of IR remotes. One of the limitation is that IR remotes that provide only one-way communication from the remote to the entertainment device. Also, IR signals do not have the ability to penetrate through the walls and other objects and it therefore require line of sight for its peroration properly. Radio frequency (RF) signals have the ability penetrate through walls and most objects. ZigBee is a suitable replacement technology for IR technology in remote controls as it is low cost and has long battery. ZigBee can be used to create a two way communication between the remote control and the entertainment device. For example, song information or on-screen programming options can be directly fed in to the remote itself, even when the remote control is not in the same room as the entertaining device. Healthcare One of applications of ZigBee in the healthcare industry is to monitor a Patientà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s vital health information remotely. For example a patient is staying at his home but for him it is important that his physician monitor his blood pressure and heart rate regularly continuously. A ZigBee network has the ability to collect the data from various sensors that are connected to the patient. The 802.15.4 standard uses a 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) technology in order secure the data flow between ZigBee devices and other networks. A patient wears a ZigBee device that is interfaced with different sensors, such as a blood pressure sensor, which gathers the information from these sensors on a periodic basis. The received information is transmitted to a ZigBee gateway. A ZigBee gateway provides the interface between ZigBee and other types of networks, such as an Internet Protocol (IP) network. The patientà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s gathered information is then transmitted via Internet to a personal computer of a physician or nurse that they use to Monitor the patientà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s health status. This system could help hospitals in order to improve patient care and give some relieve hospital overcrowding by giving them the authority to monitor patients at home.

special ed :: essays research papers fc

Page 1 of 3 3803 The Treaty of Versailles. (buy this paper) This eleven-page undergraduate paper discusses the Treaty of Versailles which ended the First World War in terms of the Allies' desire for vengeance, the treaty's punishing territorial provisions, the unrealistic war reparations payments demanded of Germany, and the dire consequences these had upon chances for future peace. 11 pgs. Bibliography lists 5 sources. Filename: 3803 Treaty of Versailles.doc Price: $98.45 3922 The Causes of World War One. (buy this paper) This paper evaluates the causes of the First World War. It shows how scholars have pointed to the forces of nationalism, militarism and imperialism to explain the origins of the conflict. The war was certainly caused by the collision of interests between imperial powers. Overall, the paper reveals that the historiographical debate surrounds the issue of whether it was individual events or underlying forces that caused the war. 6 pgs. Bibliography lists 3 sources. Filename: 3922 World War One.doc Price: $ 53.70 6815 "In viewing the possible impact of the United States towards the War effort "over there", did the United States turn the tide of battle, that is, in all facets, economically, and militarily, did the impact of the United States entry into World War I enable the allies to achieve victory---YES OR NO?" (buy this paper) This is a 6-page paper in MLA style that states that World War I was won on the basis of the entrance of the Americans who through their military and economic help changed the tide of the war. 6 pgs. Bibliography lists 7 sources. Filename: 6815 US War Efforts.doc Price: $53.70 10247 Influence on Public Opinion in World War One. (buy this paper) This 4-pages undergraduate paper examines the role played by intellectuals and of propaganda in the World War I era. 4 pgs. Bibliography list 3 sources. Filename: 10247 Public Opinion War.doc Price: $35.80 2228 The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (buy this paper) This paper looks at the bombing by the Americans on Hiroshima and Nagasaki as an inevitable decision to avoid a long drawn out war with Japan. Essentially, the decision to bomb was the lesser of two evils. 10.5 pgs. 21 f/c. 10b. Filename: 2228 Bombing Hiroshima Nagasaki.doc Price: $89.50 2079 The American Decision to Use a Nuclear Weapon on Hiroshima. (buy this paper) 13 pgs. 17 f/c. 12b. Filename: 2079 American Decision Nuclear.

The Russian Peasant in Pre-Revolutionary Times Essay -- Russian Histor

The Russian Peasant in Pre-Revolutionary Times Russia in the late 19th and early 20th century was riddled with social and economic hardships throughout the countryside and inner cities. The Russian peasant was faced with widespread poverty and poor living conditions throughout their entire life. The economic situation and the living conditions drove the peasants and working class to rebel and begin the Russian revolution that would change the face of the country and impact the world forever. The peasants were the lowest ranking social group in Russia. Some peasants owned tracks of land that they farmed, while others worked nobles’ land for money and food. Peasants had literally no rights under czarist rule. The nobles bought and sold the peasants as needed. The women usually cooked the food, while the men served the nobles and all of their guests. The peasants ate only a few basic foods, which consisted mainly of dark bread, porridge, cereal, or meal boiled in water. Peasant families who owned land normally owned strip farms. In strip farming, tracks of land were divided up into different parcels. Each peasant family in a village had control over a certain number of parcels and they could farm it as necessary. This type of farming was ineffective because the different tracks of land were spread about, sometimes at a distance of miles. This resulted in peasants wasting time â€Å"needless journeys-to-work, consumed land in boundary furrows and headlands, resulted in fields that were too remote to cultivate properly and prevented innovation† (Pallot, 276). This also created tension between neighbors in disputes over confusing land boundaries. Peasants being forced to live together in small villages also increased the risk of... ... scare that swept the world in response to communist Russia. - Edelman, Robert. Proletarian Peasants. New York: Cornell University Press, 1987. - Dunn, Stephen and Ethel Dunn. The Peasants of Central Russia. Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc., 1967 - Worobec, Christine D. Peasant Russia. DeKalb: Northern Illinois University Press, 1995. - Inkeles, Alex. Social Change in Soviet Russia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968. - Geiger, Kent. The Family in Soviet Russia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968. - Pallot, Judith. â€Å"Imagining the rational landscape in late imperial Russia.† Journal of Historical Geography, 26, 2 (2000): 273-291. Links: http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/2163/bolintro.html http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Cyprus/1169/history/revolut.html http://www.historychannel.com

Coyote Blue Chapter 23~24

Part 3 Quest CHAPTER 23 Pavlov's Dogs and the Rhinestone Turd Las Vegas The only distractions from the noise of his own mind were desert-dried roadkills, thrown retreads, and road signs reflecting desolation. Sam drove, smoked, and fought drowsiness by worrying about how he would find the girl. The trickster slept in the passenger seat. Sam had been to Las Vegas three times before – with Aaron – to see championship boxing at Caesar's Palace. Two hundred dollars bought them seats at nosebleed altitude, closer to the moon than the ring, but Aaron insisted that there was nothing like being there. Without binoculars, following the progress of the fight was like tracking down a rumor. Sam usually watched the women and did his best to keep Aaron calmed down. As soon as they walked into a casino Aaron started. â€Å"This is my town! The lights, the excitement, the women – I was born for this place.† Then Aaron would drop a couple thousand at the tables and suck free gin and tonics until he staggered. In the morning Sam would drag Aaron out of a tangle of satin sheets and hookers, throw him in the shower, and listen to his long lament of remorse and hangover as he lay in the backseat of the car with a jacket over his head, whining the whole way home about how he would never return. Aaron never failed to fuel the greed machine and was always dumbfounded when it juiced him of his hope. It was the machine that fascinated Sam. While Aaron ground himself through the velvet gears, Sam watched the workings of the most elaborate Skinner box on the face of the Earth. Drop the coin, hear the bell, see the lights, eat the food, see the women, hear the bell, see the lights, drop the coin again. The ostentation of the casinos did not create desire for money; it made money meaningless. There were no mortgages in a casino, no children needing food, no car needing repairs, no work, no time, no day, no night; those things – the context of money – were someplace else. A place where people returned before they realized that a turd rolled in rhinestones is a turd nonetheless. Sam saw the glow from Las Vegas rising over the desert from thirty miles out. He poked Coyote in the leg and the trickster woke up. â€Å"Hold the wheel,† Sam said. â€Å"Let me drive. You can sleep.† â€Å"You're not driving my car. Just hold the wheel.† Coyote held the wheel while Sam punched buttons on the console. The screen of the navigation system flickered on. Sam punched a few more buttons and a street map of Las Vegas lit up green on the screen. A blip representing the Merecedes blinked along Highway 15 toward the city. â€Å"Okay,† Sam said, taking the wheel again. Coyote studied the screen. â€Å"How do you win?† â€Å"It's not a game, it's a map. The blip is us.† â€Å"The car knows where it is going, like a horse?† â€Å"It doesn't know, it just tells us where we are.† â€Å"Like looking out the window?† â€Å"Look, I'm going to have to sleep when we get to Vegas. I don't even know where to start looking for Calliope.† â€Å"Why don't you ask the car?† Sam ignored the question. â€Å"I'm going to get us a room.† He dialed information on the cellular phone, got the number of a casino hotel, then called and reserved a room. The exits off the highway were marked by names of casinos they led to, not by the names of streets or roads. Sam took the exit marked Camelot. He followed the signs down the surface streets lined with pawnshops, convenience stores, and low-slung cinder-block buildings under neon signs that proclaimed, CASH FOR YOUR CAR, CHECKS CASHED HERE, MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES – TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR DRIVE-THRU WINDOW. Coyote said, â€Å"What are these places?† Sam tried to think of a quick explanation, but was too weary from lack of sleep to tackle the concept of Las Vegas in twenty-five words or less. Finally he said, â€Å"These are places where you go if you want to fuck up your life and you don't have a lot of time to do it in.† â€Å"Are we going to stop?† â€Å"No, I seem to be fucking up at a fine rate of speed, thank you.† Sam spotted the pseudomedieval towers of Camelot rising above the strip, multi-colored pennons flying from standards tipped with aircraft warning lights. He wondered what the real King Arthur (if there was a King Arthur, and who was he to question the truth behind myth?) would have thought about the casino named after his legendary city. Would he recognize anything? Would he cower in fear at the sight of his first electric light? Flush toilet? Automobile? Would he be reduced to a pathetic Quixote attacking this place where chivalry was a quaint marketing idea? Or would the Once and Future King lay eyes on a leggy keno girl and raise another lance to lead the knights of the Round Table in a charge? The women, Sam decided, would be Arthur's touchstone, and his downfall. He shot a glance at Coyote. â€Å"When we get there you're going to see a lot of women without a lot of clothes on. Stay away from them.† Coyote looked surprised. â€Å"I never touch a woman who does not want it-â€Å" â€Å"Don't touch!† Sam interrupted. Coyote slouched in his seat. â€Å"Or need it,† he whispered. Sam drove the Mercedes over a giant drawbridge and stopped at the valet parking station where a dozen young men dressed like squires were scrambling around unloading cars, filling out slips, and driving cars away. â€Å"This is it,† Sam said. He popped the trunk and got out, leaving the engine running. A warm desert wind washed over him at the same time a young man ran around the car and held out a numbered slip of paper. â€Å"Your ticket, milord.† Sam dug in his pocket for a bill to tip the kid, but found nothing. â€Å"I'm sorry,† he said. â€Å"I don't have any cash on me. I'll get your name and leave a tip at the desk.† The kid tried to force a smile and failed. â€Å"Very good, milord.† He jumped in the car and slammed the door. Sam cringed and tapped on the window. The window whirred down; the kid waited. Sam leaned in and read the kid's plastic badge. â€Å"Look, uh, Squire Tom, I really will leave a tip at the desk for you. We left in a hurry and I forgot to get cash.† The kid waited, gunning the engine. â€Å"There's an alarm remote on the keys. Could you turn it on after you park it? One chirp is armed.† Squire Tom nodded and pulled away. Sam heard him say, â€Å"The pox on you, Moorish pig,† over the squeal of the tires. How authentic, Sam thought. He watched the Mercedes disappear around the corner and wondered why valet parking always made him feel as if he had seen his car for the last time. Coyote stood across the lane waving to the car. He looked over. â€Å"Moorish pig?† â€Å"The dark skin, I guess,† said Sam. He led Coyote past a half-dozen squires and an overweight guy in a purple-and-yellow jester's outfit with a radio on his belt and a badge that read, Lord Larry, over another drawbridge, and into the casino. Trumpets played a fanfare as they crossed the threshold under a brace of huge broadswords. A jolly electronic voice welcomed them to Camelot. Sam spotted a woman in a peasant dress by a sign reading, Ye Olde Information. The badge she wore, next to a magnificent display of cleavage, read, Lusty Wench Wendy. Sam pulled Coyote back and approached the girl. â€Å"Excuse me, er, Wendy. I have a room reserved and I need to find a cash machine.† The girl spoke in a whining fake-English-over-true-Brooklyn accent.  «Well » – she threw out a hip, struck a pose – â€Å"if milords proceed through the casino to the left to the second arch, ye will find the registration desk. There's cash machines by every arch, milord.† â€Å"Thanks,† Sam said. He started to walk away, then turned back to the girl. â€Å"Excuse me, but I've been here before and I thought everyone was a lord or a lady. Lusty wench is a new one.† The English accent had overheated and failed. â€Å"Yeah. About three months ago they said it was getting sorta confusing. You know, six Lord Steves, ten Lady Debbies. They use a bunch of other medieval titles now. The bellboys are serfs. Lusty wenches, alchemists, stuff like that.† â€Å"Oh, thanks,† Sam said as if he understood. He led Coyote into the chaos of the casino, looking for a cash machine while trying to move quickly. Coyote's appearance was attracting attention, and when people looked up from a slot machine or blackjack table, Sam knew they were truly distracted. As they passed a carousel of slot machines, a middle-aged woman who was pumping quarters into a machine by the handful leaned so far back to get a look at the trickster that she nearly toppled off her stool. Sam caught her and steadied her. â€Å"He works at the Frontier, up the strip,† Sam said. Coyote peeked over Sam's shoulder, winked at the woman, then licked his eyebrows. The woman's jaw dropped. â€Å"Exotic dancer,† Sam explained. The woman nodded, a little stunned, and returned her attention to the slot machine. â€Å"I wish you wouldn't do that,† Sam said to Coyote. â€Å"And don't you have any other clothes? Something a little more conservative?† â€Å"Wool?† Coyote made an incredibly realistic sheep noise. A pit boss at the blackjack tables raised an eyebrow and two security jesters fell in behind Sam and Coyote. â€Å"Be cool,† Sam said. He turned under a hanging tapestry of a unicorn and stopped by a cash machine, checking over his shoulder for the security jesters. They waited and watched, standing a few feet away, while Sam took a deck of credit cards from his wallet and shuffled through them. When he inserted one of the cards in the machine and punched his identification number the jesters moved off. â€Å"They're gone,† Coyote said. â€Å"Yeah, as long as it looks like you're going to spend money I guess it doesn't matter what you look like.† Coyote watched as the cash machine spit a stack of twenties into the tray. â€Å"You win,† he said. â€Å"You picked the right numbers the first time.† â€Å"Yeah, I'm lucky that way.† â€Å"Try again, see if you win.† Sam grinned. â€Å"I'm very good at this game.† He put a different card into the machine and punched the same PIN number while Coyote watched. The machine whirred and another stack of twenties shot into the tray. â€Å"You won! Play again.† â€Å"No. We need to check in.† Sam picked up the money and walked to a registration desk that was long enough to land planes on. At this hour of the morning there were only two people on the desk, a lusty wench named Chantel and a very tall, thin, very black man in a business suit and wraparound sunglasses who stood back from the desk and watched, unmoving. â€Å"Hunter, Samuel,† Sam said. â€Å"I have a reservation.† He placed a credit card on the desk. The girl typed for a second. The computer beeped and the girl looked over her shoulder at the black man, who moved like liquid to her side. He consulted the screen for a moment. What now? Sam thought. The black man looked down at Sam and a crescent moon of a smile appeared on the night sky of his face. He picked up Sam's credit card and handed it back. â€Å"Mr. Hunter, thank you for joining us again. The room's on Camelot, sir. And if there's anything I can get you, please don't hesitate to call down and ask.† Sam was dumbfounded. Then he remembered. The last time he had stayed here Aaron had lost almost twenty thousand dollars and billed it to their suite of rooms. The suite had been registered in Sam's name. Vegas loves a loser. â€Å"Thank you† – Sam read the man's nameplate, which was pinned at Sam's eye level – â€Å"M.F.† No Lord, no Squire, no title at all – just M.F. â€Å"The second elevator on your left, Mr. Hunter,† the lusty wench said. â€Å"Twenty-seventh floor.† â€Å"Thanks,† Sam said. Coyote grinned at the girl and Sam dragged him away to the elevator, where the trickster immediately punched in four floor numbers and stood back. â€Å"This time, I will win.† â€Å"It's a fucking elevator,† Sam said. â€Å"Just push twenty-seven.† â€Å"But that is not the lucky number.† Sam sighed and pushed the floor number, then waited while they stopped at all the floors Coyote had pushed on their way to twenty-seven. Once in the room, Sam stripped to his shorts and fell onto one of the king-size beds. â€Å"Get some sleep if you can. I'll try and figure out how to find Calliope in the morning. I'm too tired to think now.† â€Å"You sleep,† Coyote said. â€Å"I will think of a plan.† Sam didn't answer. He was already asleep. Coyote Loses His Ass Coyote and his friend Beaver had been hunting all day, but neither had found any game. After a while they sat down on some rocks and began talking. â€Å"This is your fault,† Coyote said. â€Å"I can always find game.† â€Å"I don't think so,† Beaver said. â€Å"If you are such a good hunter, why is your wife so skinny?† Coyote thought about his skinny wife and Beaver's fat little wife and he was jealous. â€Å"Well, how about a bet?† he said. â€Å"Tomorrow we will each go out hunting. If you get more rabbits, you can come to my lodge and sleep with my wife so you can see that my skinny wife is better. But if I get more rabbits, I get to sleep with your wife.† â€Å"Sounds fair,† Beaver said. The next day, after the hunt, Coyote came to Beaver's lodge carrying his one scrawny rabbit. â€Å"Oh, Mrs. Beaver,† he called. â€Å"I've come to collect on my bet.† Mrs. Beaver called from inside the lodge. â€Å"Oh, Coyote, you are a great hunter. Mr. Beaver just stopped by with twenty rabbits on his way to your lodge. You better go stop him and tell him that you got more.† â€Å"Right,† Coyote said. â€Å"I'll be right back.† He slunk off to his lodge dragging his rabbit. His wife was waiting outside. â€Å"Nice rabbit,† she said. â€Å"Beaver is inside. I'll see you in the morning.† Coyote's wife went into the lodge and pulled down the door flap. All night Coyote sat outside his lodge shivering and listening. At one point he heard his wife cry out. â€Å"Beaver!† Coyote shouted. â€Å"Don't you hurt my wife.† â€Å"He's not hurting me,† Mrs. Coyote said. â€Å"I like it!† â€Å"Swell,† Coyote said. The next morning Beaver came out of Coyote's lodge singing and grinning. â€Å"No hard feelings, right?† â€Å"A bet is a bet,† Coyote said. Mrs. Coyote peeked out and said, â€Å"Maybe this will teach you not to gamble.† â€Å"Right,† Coyote said. Then he called to Beaver, â€Å"Hey, how about playing the hand game with me – double or nothing?† â€Å"Sounds good,† Beaver said. â€Å"Let's go down to the river.† At the river Coyote said, â€Å"This is for a night with your wife.† Then he picked the wrong hand. â€Å"You really shouldn't gamble,† Beaver said. â€Å"I'll bet you my best horse for a night with your wife,† Coyote said. After a while, Coyote had lost all his horses, his lodge, his wife, and his clothes. â€Å"One more time,† he said. â€Å"But you don't have anything left,† Beaver said. â€Å"I'll bet you my ass against everything else.† â€Å"I don't want your ass,† Beaver said. â€Å"I thought you were my friend.† â€Å"Okay,† Beaver said. He hid the stone behind his back. Coyote picked the wrong hand. â€Å"Can I borrow your knife?† Coyote said. â€Å"I don't want your ass,† Beaver said. â€Å"A bet is a bet,† Coyote said. He took Beaver's knife and cut off his ass. â€Å"Boy, that stings.† â€Å"I've got to go,† Beaver said. â€Å"I'll tell your wife she can come and sleep in my lodge if she wants to.† He picked up all of Coyote's things and went home. When Coyote got home his wife was waiting. â€Å"Beaver took the lodge,† she said. â€Å"Yep,† Coyote said. â€Å"Where's your ass?† she asked. â€Å"Beaver got that too.† â€Å"You know,† she said, â€Å"there's a twelve-step program for gambling. You should look into it.† â€Å"Twelve steps.† Coyote laughed. â€Å"I'll bet I can do it in six.† CHAPTER 24 Coyote in Trickster Town Las Vegas Coyote had been a long time in the Spirit World, where everyone knew him, so no one would gamble with him. Now that he was in Trickster Town, he wanted to make up for lost time. He waited for Sam to fall asleep, then he took the salesman's wallet and went down the elevator to the casino. Coyote saw hundreds of shiny machines blinking, and ringing, and clanking big coins into hollow metal bowls. He saw green tables where people traded money for colorful chips and a woman in a cage who paid money for the chips. He saw a wheel with a ball that went around and around. When the ball stopped a man took everyone's chips. The key to that one, Coyote thought, is to grab your chips when you see the ball slowing down. At one green table, a shaman with a stick chanted while players threw bones. There was much shouting and moaning after each throw and the shaman took many chips from the players. That is a game of magic, Coyote thought. I will be very good at that one. But first I must use Sam's cheating medicine on this machine. The trickster stood by a machine that he had seen Sam win from two times. He took one of the gold cards from Sam's wallet and slipped it into the machine, then he pressed the number that he had seen Sam use. The machine beeped and spit the card out. â€Å"Panther piss!† Coyote swore. â€Å"I've lost.† He pounded on the machine, then stepped back and drew another card from Sam's wallet. He put it in the machine and pressed the number. The machine beeped and spit out the card. â€Å"Balls!† Coyote said. â€Å"This cheating medicine is no good.† A round woman in pink stretch pants who was standing behind Coyote cleared her throat and made an impatient humphing noise. Coyote turned to her. â€Å"Get your own machine. This one is mine.† The woman glared at the trickster and tapped her foot. â€Å"Go, go, go,† Coyote said, waving her away. â€Å"There are many machines to play on. I was here first. Go away.† He put another card into the machine and hunched over the keyboard so the woman would not steal his cheating medicine. He looked back over his shoulder. She was trying to see what he was doing. â€Å"Go away, woman. My cheating medicine will not help you. Even if you win you will still be ugly.† The woman wrapped the strap of her pocketbook around her wrist and wound up to swing it at Coyote. Coyote was going to turn into a flea and disappear into the carpet, but he would have had to drop Sam's wallet to do it, so he hesitated and the woman let fly. Coyote ducked and covered his head, but the blow didn't come. Instead he heard a solid thud above his head and looked up to see a huge black hand holding the pocketbook in the air, the woman dangling from the strap at the other end. Coyote looked up further, craning his neck, until he saw a dazzling crescent moon of a smile in the face like night sky. â€Å"Is there a problem?† said the crescent moon in a soft, calm, deep voice. The giant lowered the woman, who stood stunned, staring up at what looked like a living late-afternoon shadow in sunglasses. The giant was used to shocking people – white people anyway; a seven-foot black man anywhere off a basketball court nonplussed most. He squeezed the woman's shoulder gently to bring her back to her senses. â€Å"Are you all right, ma'am?† Again the smile. â€Å"Fine. I'm fine,† the woman said, and she tottered off into the casino to tell her husband that, by God, they would spend their next vacation in Hawaii where natives and giants – if they were there at all – were part of the entertainment. The giant turned his attention to Coyote. â€Å"And you, sir, can I help you with anything?† â€Å"You look like Raven,† Coyote said. â€Å"Do you always wear sunglasses?† â€Å"Always, sir,† the giant said with a slight bow. He pointed to the brass nameplate on his black suit jacket. â€Å"I'm M.F., customer service, at your service, sir.† â€Å"What's the M.F. stand for?† Coyote asked. â€Å"Just M.F., sir. I am the youngest of nine children. I suppose my mother was too tired to come up with a full name.† This was not entirely true, nor entirely false. The giant's mother had, indeed, been weary by the time he was born, but she had also developed an unnatural obsession with dental hygiene as a child, after she was chosen to be one of the first students ever to participate in a Crest toothpaste test. It had been her single moment of glory, her fifteen minutes of fame (and her best checkup ever). When she grew up she married a navy man named Nathan Fresh, and as she bore her children she christened them in remembrance of her day in the dental sun. The first of the Fresh children, a boy, was named Fluoristat. Then came three more boys: Tartar, Plaque, and Molar. Then two girls: Gingivitis and Flossie (the latter after the famous dental hygiene cow). After normal deliveries of two more sons, Bicuspid and Incisor, she had a long, difficult labor with her largest and last son, Minty. Later, Mother Fresh swore that had the child taken one more minute to come into the world, she would have nam ed him Mr. Tooth Decay out of spite – a fact that gave little solace to the man named Minty Fresh. Coyote said, â€Å"People think that it stands for motherfucker, don't they?† â€Å"No,† Minty said. â€Å"No one has ever mentioned it.† â€Å"Oh,† Coyote said. â€Å"Can you fix this machine? When I give it the cheating number it just beeps.† Minty Fresh looked at the cash machine, which was still blinking the message INSTRUCTIONS IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, OR JAPANESE. CHOOSE ONE. â€Å"You'll need to choose a language, sir.† He reached down and pushed the English button. â€Å"It should be fine now.† Coyote inserted a card and punched two numbers on the keyboard, then looked at Minty. â€Å"This is my secret number.† â€Å"Yes,† Minty said. â€Å"If you need anything at all, please ask for me personally.† He turned and walked away. Coyote finished punching the PIN number. When the machine prompted him for an amount he punched in $9999.99, the maximum allowed by the six-figure field. The machine whirred and spit five hundred dollars into the tray, then flashed a message saying that this was the card's transaction limit. Coyote tried the card again and got another five hundred. The third time the machine refused the transaction so Coyote tried another card. After running all of Sam's cards to their limit he walked away from the machine with twenty thousand dollars in cash. Coyote went to the roulette table and held the four-inch brick of twenties out to the croupier, a slight Oriental woman in a red-and-purple silk doublet with a name badge that read, Lady Lihn. The croupier said, â€Å"On the table.† She gestured for Coyote to put the money down. She nodded to a pit boss. â€Å"Watch count, please,† she said mechanically. The pit boss, a sharp-faced, slick-haired Italian man wearing a polyester suit and a ten-thousand-dollar Rolex, moved to her side and watched as she counted the bills out on the table. â€Å"Changing twenty thousand,† Lady Lihn said. â€Å"How would you like this, sir?† â€Å"Red ones,† Coyote said. The pit boss raised an eyebrow and smirked. Lady Lihn looked irritated. â€Å"Red is five dollar. No room on table.† The pit boss addressed Coyote. â€Å"Perhaps you'd like two hundred in fives and the rest in hundreds, sir.† â€Å"What color are the hundreds?† Coyote said. â€Å"Black,† Lady Lihn said. â€Å"Yellows,† Coyote said. â€Å"Yellows are two dollars.† â€Å"You pick,† Coyote said. Lady Lihn counted out racks of chips and pushed them in front of Coyote. The pit boss nodded to a cocktail waitress, then to the stack of chips in front of Coyote, which the cocktail waitress interpreted as â€Å"Take the order.† The cocktail waitress would bring strong drinks until Coyote started to get drunk, then she would bring watered drinks until he looked tired, when she would offer coffee and disappear until the caffeine kicked in. â€Å"Can I bring you something to drink?† Coyote turned to the cocktail waitress and stared into her cleavage. â€Å"Yes,† he said. The waitress held a pen ready over a cocktail napkin. â€Å"What can I bring you?† Coyote shot a glance to a woman at the table who was drinking a mai tai, resplendent with paper parasols and sword-skewered tropical fruit. He grabbed the woman's drink and downed half of it, nearly taking his eye out with the plastic broadsword. â€Å"One of these,† Coyote said. He replaced the drink in front of the woman, who didn't seem to notice that it had been missing. She'd been riding the alcohol-and-caffeine roller coaster for hours and was absorbed in winning back her children's college fund. â€Å"Bets down,† Lady Lihn said. Coyote put a single red chip on black and the ball was dropped. Coyote watched the ball race around the outside of the wheel. When it slowed and dropped to the numbers he reached for his bet. â€Å"No touch bet,† Lady Lihn snapped. In an instant the pit boss, the cocktail waitress, and two security jesters in steel-toed elf shoes were at Coyote's side. The trickster pulled his hand back. It will be hard to trick these people, Coyote thought. They talk like wolves, all twitches and gestures and smells. The ball dropped into a red slot and Lady Lihn placed another red chip next to Coyote's. â€Å"I win, I win, I win,† Coyote chanted. He did a skipping dance around the table and sang a victory song. Above the casino, in a mirrored dome, a video camera picked up Coyote's dancing image and sent it to a deck of monitors where three men watched and, in turn, watched each other watch. One pressed a button and picked up a telephone. â€Å"M.F.,† he said. â€Å"This is God. Customer service on table fifty-nine. The Indian you were talking to a few minutes ago. Watch him.† â€Å"I'm on it,† Minty Fresh said. He turned to the girl who was working behind the computer. â€Å"God wants me on the floor.† The girl nodded. As Minty walked by her she sang softly, â€Å"He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake†¦.† Minty Fresh smiled. He really didn't mind being watched. Because of his size, people had always watched him. He had never blended into any background, never entered a room unnoticed, never been able to sneak up on someone. Attracting attention was as natural to him as being. And for every original-thinking dolt who asked him how the weather was up there, there was a woman who wanted to research the wives' tale of proportional hand-foot-penis size. (A tale, Minty thought, dreamed up by the unsatisfied wives of small-footed men.) Minty spotted the Indian at the roulette table. The two security jesters had moved off a few feet but were still watching, as was the pit boss. When Minty came to the table they nodded in acknowledgment and moved off. The croupier looked at Minty and immediately looked back to the bets on the table. Minty Fresh put her on edge. It wasn't his size that rattled her, but the fact that no one was exactly sure what his job was, only that when there was a problem, he was there. He handled things. Lady Lihn dropped the ball into the wheel. It raced, then rattled into a slot, and she raked all the bets off the table. Coyote cursed and let out a howl. The woman playing next to him staggered back and wandered away, carrying visions of her children wearing paper hats and saying, â€Å"I was going to go to college, but my mother went to Vegas instead. Would you like fries with that?† Coyote looked at Minty Fresh. â€Å"She was bad luck. I lost half of my chips because of her.† â€Å"Perhaps you should move to a different table,† Minty said. â€Å"We can open a private table just for you.† Coyote grinned at Minty. â€Å"You think you have a table where you can trick me?† â€Å"No, sir,† Minty said, a little embarrassed. â€Å"We don't wish to trick you.† â€Å"There's nothing wrong with tricking people. They pay you to be tricked.† â€Å"We like to think of it as entertainment.† Coyote laughed. â€Å"Like movie stars and magicians? Tricksters. People want to be tricked. But you know that, don't you?† He picked up his chips and walked to a crap table. Minty thought for a moment before following the Indian. He prided himself on being able to handle any situation with complete calm, but he found dealing with this Indian made him nervous, and a little afraid. But of what? Something in the eyes. He moved in behind Coyote, who was throwing chips on the crap table. â€Å"You can't bet the numbers until the point has been made, sir,† said the stickman, a thin, balding man in his forties. He pushed Coyote's chips back across the table. The stickman looked over Coyote's head and nodded to Minty Fresh before pushing the dice to the shooter. â€Å"Place your bets,† he said, and the dealers working at either end of the table checked the bets on the felt. â€Å"New shooter coming out,† the stickman said. A blond woman in a business suit and perfect newswoman makeup picked up the dice and blew on them. â€Å"Come on, seven,† she said. â€Å"Baby needs new shoes.† Coyote twisted his neck to look at Minty Fresh. â€Å"Does talking to them work?† Minty nodded to the table as the woman let fly with the dice, rolling a two. â€Å"Snake eyes!† the croupier said. â€Å"Lizard dick!† Coyote shouted back. The blond woman cursed and walked away from the table. The stickman shot a glance to Minty, then continued. â€Å"Two. Craps. No pass. No come. Place your bets. New shooter coming out.† He pushed the dice to Coyote, who threw a handful of black chips on the table and picked up the dice. â€Å"You are small, but I am your friend,† Coyote said to the dice. â€Å"You have beautiful spots.† He pulled the rawhide pouch from his belt and poured a fine powder on the dice. â€Å"You can't do that, sir,† the stickman said. Minty Fresh gently took the dice from Coyote and handed them to the boxman, who sat across from the stickman watching an enormous rack of chips that was the table's bank. He inspected the dice, then gave them to the stickman, who dropped them in his tray and pushed a fresh pair to the trickster. â€Å"What is this, shade?† Coyote said. â€Å"The shaman gets to use his power stick but I can't use my cheating powder?† â€Å"I'm afraid not,† Minty said. Coyote picked up the new dice and chucked them to the end of the table. â€Å"Eight! Easy,† the stickman said. â€Å"Did I win?† Coyote asked Minty. â€Å"No, now you have to roll another eight before you roll a seven or eleven.† Coyote rolled again. The dice showed a pair of fours. â€Å"Eight. Winner. Hard way,† the stickman chanted. The dealer placed a stack of black chips next to Coyote's bet. â€Å"Ha,† Coyote said, taunting Minty Fresh. â€Å"See, I am good at this game.† â€Å"Very good,† Minty said with a smile. â€Å"You roll again.† Coyote placed the remainder of his chips on the table. The dealer immediately shot a glance to the boxman, who looked to Minty Fresh. Minty nodded. The boxman nodded. The dealer counted Coyote's chips and stacked them on the pass line. â€Å"Playing twenty-one thousand.† Coyote threw the dice. â€Å"Two!† the stickman said. The dealer raked in Coyote's chips and handed them to the boxman, who stacked the racks in the table bank. â€Å"I lost?† Coyote said incredulously. â€Å"Sorry,† Minty said. â€Å"But you didn't crap out. You can shoot again.† â€Å"I'll be back,† Coyote said. He walked away and Minty followed him through the casino, into the lobby, and out the door. Coyote handed the valet ticket to a kid named Squire Jeff, then turned to Minty, who stood by the valet counter. â€Å"I'll be back with more money.† â€Å"We'll hold a place for you, sir,† Minty said, relieved that the Indian was leaving. â€Å"I was just learning your game, shade. You didn't trick me.† â€Å"Of course not, sir.† Squire Jeff pulled up in the Mercedes, got out, and waited with his hand out. Coyote started to get into the car, then stopped and looked at the valet. He took the pouch from his belt and poured a bit of powder into the kid's hand, then got in the car and drove away. Minty felt a wave of relief wash over him as he watched the Mercedes cross the drawbridge. Squire Jeff, still holding his palm out, turned to Minty Fresh. â€Å"What am I supposed to do with this?† â€Å"You could snort it.† Squire Jeff sniffed at the powder, then wrinkled his nose and brushed the powder from his hand. â€Å"Fucking Indian. You work inside, right?† Minty nodded. Squire Jeff looked Minty up and down. â€Å"You play any ball?† â€Å"One year, UNLV.† â€Å"Injury?† â€Å"Attitude,† Minty said. He walked back into the casino.