Operations & Service Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Operations & Service Management - Assignment Example Orientation, Legal Restriction, Layout and Design, Composition, Process Photography, Darkroom Procedures, Stripping, Plate making, Offset Ink and Paper, Bindery Operations, Offset Press Operation, Production Problems, and Occupations and Evaluation .Main is the usage of special paper for printing for M& S. Note: All corporate and promotional material (e.g. booklets, leaflets and posters) must be approved by the Publications Officer, before being passed to the Print Unit for reproduction. 3-5 working days should be allowed for this, depending on the complexity of the job. In order to obtain order from M&S,Wace Burgess need to focus and assess on the potential risks and reward for its sustenance and integrity .It is ideal to sign a printing services agreement including the expectations of the client stating all the possible format for orders, Costing ,Capacity planning,Utilisation,Turn around time ,Accuracy parameter, designing process and die cutting etc .There should also be stringent clause on payment terms and penalty or adjustments in terms of late completion of order based on impact of loss incurred by W&S. Wace Burgess should also the need to commercialize the new technology on a large scale and to make profits and prove its sustainability." It is important to note that the Wace Burgess is noticed by M&S because they have been successful in printing technology. Now they are faced with a new challenge of managing creativity while getting a big order from a profound organization like M&S: an identity-shift from a small organisation to larger organisation is a bit

Cultural Differences in Business Essay Example for Free

Cultural Differences in Business Essay I have read a lot about the cultural differences between Asia and the United States. I have talked to some of my Asian acquaintances here in Okinawa. There are quite a few cultural differences in the business worlds in Hong Kong and the States. In the states, employees have stronger feelings about and opinions of the intrinsic contracts of a business. The employees inner images come into play with these feelings because they feel that if they have a good and strong inner image then the outer image will automatically be a good one. They feel that extrinsic contracts are not as important, but still an issue when it comes to business. Employees in the United States are not as respectful to management and will even argue if they feel they have a strong point. In some cases this may be a good thing. In the United States we tend to be more aggressive and have strong opinions rather than suggestions. In Hong Kong, they believe that extrinsic contracts are everything. They believe as long as they have a strong front and image then there business will succeed. This is a good thing when it comes to public images because if you look like you have a strong business then the public will not know any different. Intrinsic contracts are not a main concern in Hong Kong. They are pushed to the side until they have a strong front and then it may be worked on.

Air Passenger Duty Tax In The Uk Economics Essay

Air Passenger Duty Tax In The Uk Economics Essay According to the new system, commercial flights are divided into four bands which differ in price and distance. This essay will attempt to determine whether the new policy is justified and how it will affect the market for short haul flights, the competition, environment and the revenue for the government. a) In order to find out how the increase in Air Passenger Duty affects the market for short haul flights, it is necessary to carry out a supply and demand analysis of air travel. Figure 1: Market for short haul flights after the APD increase (Adapted from Sloman Garratt, 2010). Figure 1 shows airplanes supply and passengers demand for flights after the APD increase. According to Sloman and Garratt (2010), when price of a product or service rises, quantity demanded falls, and when price descends, quantity demanded increases. Therefore, the demand curve is downwards sloping to the right. On the other side, as price rises, quantity supplied goes up. As price decreases, quantity supplied goes down. In effect, the supply curve is upwards sloping. The point in which both curves intersect is the equilibrium price. At this point the amount supplied equals the amount demanded. Before the hike of the tax the seats (Q1) were sold at the price of P1. The increase of APD causes the supply curve to shift upwards to the left. It is because change in supply can be triggered by determinants other than price, like government policies (i.e. taxes), which in result increase costs of production (Sloman Garratt 2010). In order to cover it, an airline needs to raise the price per seat. This increase in fares affects passengers, who are now willing to purchase fewer seats. This is shown by a movement along D curve to the new equilibrium point P2 Q2. If the movement did not happen, it would result in a surplus, i.e. the quantity of plane seats would exceed the number of customers willing to buy it. Basing on the law of demand, the quantity demanded of plane seats drops due to the increase in fares, illustrated by P2 and Q2. However, taking into account the fact that a rise in APD is relatively low ( £1 in economy and  £2 in premium class), it is unlikely that the drop from Q1 to Q2 will be steep. b) The increase in APD on short haul flights will not necessarily mean that the passengers will foot the whole bill. Such flights are frequently used and the rise in APD is relatively low, so in many cases the increase will be shared by customers and airlines. Sloman and Garratt (2010) explain that consumers pay to the extent that price rises. Producers pay to the extent that this rise in price is not sufficient to cover the tax. So, passengers should face a rise of the price difference between P1 and P2 (Figure 1), which is less than  £1. The remaining part should be paid by an airline. However, this will depend on specific airlines: their revenue, policies and popularity of their offer. The more price inelastic is the demand for the airline, the bigger customers share. So budget airlines, like Ryanair and easyJet, are very unlikely to cover the increase in APD. This is due to the fact that their fares are very competitive, thus customers will be better off choosing their service even if the whole APD is passed in them. On the other side, traditional airlines (like BA) operating on domestic and short European routes could decide to bear the burden of the whole amount due to the fact, that they face a numerous competition in the industry and from other means of transport. Therefore, it could be reasonable for such airlines to cover some share of APD increase and keep the demand and profit high. They could achieve it by, for instance, reducing ticket prices and sales or scrapping other charges where possible. Therefore, if the increase is shared by customers and airlines, the price-increase for passengers will be less than  £1 in the cheapest class. c) Long distance fast train travel is considered to be the closest substitute to short haul fights. Therefore, if the price of the flights rises due to APD increase, customers (especially leisure travellers) may switch to the cheapest alternative, i.e. trains. According to Sloman and Garratt (2010), if demand is affected by other factor than price, the whole demand curve shifts to the right or to the left. The number and price of substitute goods is one of the determinants of the shift in demand. This means that if the price of one product rises, the demand for its substitute will go up. Figure 2: Market for train journeys after the price increase of short haul flights. (Adapted from Sloman Garratt, 2010). The graph illustrates the effect of the increase in short haul prices on the market for train journeys. The horizontal axis represents a number of passengers, whereas the vertical axis shows prices for a train ticket. Before the increase in flights prices, the equilibrium for train journeys was at the price P1 and quantity Q1. However, the demand for train journeys reacts to a high price of the substitute good, as more people travel by train rather than fly. Thus the demand curve shifts to the right. As a result, at the current point of price P1 there is shortage of the service, as more customers are willing to choose train travel than is available on the market. In order to eliminate the shortage, there must be a movement upward to the right on the supply curve to the new intersection point P2 Q2. In effect, more commuters use train service at a higher price. d) Knowing how elastic the demand for air travel is, it is possible to predict the effect of the increase in APD on the demand, as well as on the environment and tax revenue. Sloman and Garratt (2010) suggest that as the price of goods rises, the quantity demanded falls. Therefore, demand responds to a change in price. This is called the price elasticity of demand. To examine this concept, the percentage change of quantity demanded must be divided by the percentage change in price. The result of the calculation determines whether demand is elastic or inelastic. Demand is elastic when the result is greater than 1. It indicates that a change in quantity demanded is larger than a change in price. Consequently, inelastic demand occurs when a change in price causes relatively small change in quantity demanded. When quantity demanded and price change by the same proportion, then demand is unit elastic (Sloman Garratt, 2010). The price elasticity of demand is affected by various determinants, like substitutes, proportion of income spent on the product and the time period. The more alternatives there are, the bigger is the price elasticity of a good. The more income is spent on a good, the less elastic it is. Finally, with a passage of time, demand for a product may become more price elastic, because consumers may have time to find better options. Overall, average price elasticity for air travel is below 1 (Department for Transport, 2009). According to IATA (2009), prices of short haul flights and are more elastic than prices of long haul flights. This is due to the fact that companies operating on short haul routes face bigger competition from other airlines and different means of transport. Taking into account delays and time consuming check-in process, travel by car, coach or train seems to be a good alternative. However, the long haul flights cannot be easily replaced as there are not many substitutes for them. According to HM Revenue and Customs (2009), APD increase will reduce the demand by 1% in 2010-11 and by 1.5% in the following year. This small reduction in demand is supposed to save hundreds thousands tonnes of CO2. Therefore, other things being equal, the policy has a potential to help the environment. This, however, depends on the customers, because if they switch to cheaper airlines, the effect on pollution will be less significant than expected. APD increase is predicted to raise additional hundreds million pounds in tax revenue, because people, even if the demand falls, will still need to fly and pay extra charges. e) The reform of APD has been endorsed by the government and environmental agencies as a necessary green tax. They claim that the aviation is under-taxed in comparison with other industries. According to IATA (2008), the rise could possibly generate over  £700 million additional revenue per year, which could help in reducing the deficit. Moreover, the policy has a potential to reduce flights by 0.4% in 2010-11 and by 0.6% which could save 0.4 and 0.6 million tonnes of CO2 respectively. Other pollutants will also be reduced, as well as congestion and noise around airports (HM Revenue Customs, 2009). The policy divides flights into four bands, ensuring that passengers on long haul flights pay more, due to the bigger environmental impact. It also encourages business passengers to use clean alternatives, like video-conferencing or high-speed train. The government emphasise that thanks to the increase in APD, other methods of transport are given a green light, because other than price, they would not be able to compete with air travel. Another benefit of the reform is that it ensures that regional employment on domestic routes is not largely affected by it. Therefore the increase in Band A is only  £1  £2. What is more, the policy does not discourage airlines from opening new routes or keeping the routes in rural areas. If there was a tax per plane instead of APD, connections with a low passenger load would be discontinued (HM Revenue Customs, 2009). On the other side, the reform has many opponents who argue that APD is unjust for passengers and environment. The Independent (2010) points out that the new division is not based exactly on the mileage, but on the distance from London to the capital of the country destination. Therefore, in some cases it will be cheaper to go further, for example Hawaii falls into Band B, whereas Cancun, Mexico into Band C. This negates the whole idea of APD as a green tax. What is more, the policy rewards inefficiency by charging tax per passenger rather than per plane. A flight with empty seats is charged less tax than one which is full, even though they both have the same effect on environment. Also, charter planes are unfairly exempt from APD. Moreover, APD reform strikes families who would have to pay extortionate charges to go on holiday abroad. Decrease in demand for exotic package holidays may bring a loss to British travel agencies, as well as to many developing countries who count on revenue from tourism. As it was mentioned above, the policy favours certain destinations over other, even if the distance is very similar (e.g. Turkey and Egypt). Also, the tax hike can force many budget airlines to cancel unprofitable routes and move their businesses to Europe, where the charges are not as severe. Many UK travellers may want to reduce the burden of long haul prices by flying from Europe. Finally, foreign visitors may be put off by the highest tax in Europe, which they have to pay on the flight back home. They can decide that their visit in UK is not worth the price and instead they pick up different destinations. All these cases suggest that British aviation and tourism could suffer a loss and the government would lose much revenue from both industries. In conclusion, the policy seems to bring more damage than good. Because it raises many controversies, especially with regard to rewarding inefficiency, the government should look for another solution, possibly more competent tax per plane. To sum up, according to the law of demand, APD rise should slightly reduce the demand for flights and increase the demand for substitutes, like train journeys. In many cases the additional charge will be partially covered by airlines. The policy could raise an additional income for the government and reduce the pollution. However, all these optimistic objectives depend on the decisions made by passengers. Soon it will be known if the policy is a blessing or a curse for economy and environment.

Dinner at My Place Essay -- Personal Narrative Papers

Every year on Halloween; my favorite holiday, I had a very special dinner party. It looks like it was that time of the year again. So I pulled out my phone book and decided to invite a couple of people over. After putting lots of thought into it, I decided to invite three people: Jesse Berst, Molly Masland, and Julia Walker. Now these three people aren’t just any three people. They all have something in common; they know about about online shopping. They are all some type of reporter and have written articles about online shopping. Jesse Berst is and he did a report called "Online Shopping, The Safe Way;" which teaches some great tips on how to shop carefully. Molly Masland is also a reporter and her story/article was called "The Dark Side Of Online Shopping;† she shows you some of the things that can go wrong when you shop online. Finally there’s Julia Walker and she is known for her consumer reports. One of her many articles was "Resolving Problems, What T o Do When You Get Burned;" her reports tell you what to do and where to go for help if you get ripped off. Yes, online shopping was going to be the theme for this year. I figured since I had to do a paper on it for school and they all wrote stories on online shopping then we would definitely have something to talk about. Not to mention it was an interesting topic that would help me on my paper. So I made some invitations, sent them out and as soon as they all RSVP’d I began to plan everything out. Well it was almost eight o’clock and here I was running around my house frantic trying to get last minute things finished. For a while there I was going mad trying to decide what we should eat. I figured since they where all respectable people that some fine wine was to ... ...s out there that are keeping an eye out for shady businesses. It is good to tell people that there is something they can do about it, most people do nothing. Everyone should be aware that they should file consumer reports like Julia Walker said. It's the only way to protect you're self after something has happened, and it is also one of the only ways to help you recover what you lost. All in all I felt very satisfied with the dinner. Besides just being a nice evening it was also a very informative one. I learned a lot of things about online shopping that not most people know and that they should know. Sites to go to: Jesse Berst- Online Shopping: http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/story/story_2754.html Molly Masland- MSNVC Online Shopping: http://www.msnbc.com/news/283239.asp Julia Walker: Online Shopping: http://shoppingspot.com/consumerinfo/fraud.htm

The Lost Symbol Chapter 129-131

CHAPTER 129 Robert Langdon stood mesmerized at the glass portal, absorbing the power of the landscape below him. Having ascended unknowingly hundreds of feet into the air, he was now admiring one of the most spectacular vistas he had ever seen. The shining dome of the U.S. Capitol rose like a mountain at the east end of the National Mall. On either side of the building, two parallel lines of light stretched toward him . . . the illuminated facades of the Smithsonian museums . . . beacons of art, history, science, culture. Langdon now realized to his astonishment that much of what Peter had declared to be true . . . was in fact true. There is indeed a winding staircase . . . descending hundreds of feet beneath a massive stone. The huge capstone of this obelisk sat directly over his head, and Langdon now recalled a forgotten bit of trivia that seemed to have eerie relevance: the capstone of the Washington Monument weighed precisely thirty-three hundred pounds. Again, the number 33. More startling, however, was the knowledge that this capstone's ultimate peak, the zenith of this obelisk, was crowned by a tiny, polished tip of aluminum–a metal as precious as gold in its day. The shining apex of the Washington Monument was only about a foot tall, the same size as the Masonic Pyramid. Incredibly, this small metal pyramid bore a famous engraving–Laus Deo– and Langdon suddenly understood. This is the true message of the base of the stone pyramid. The seven symbols are a transliteration! The simplest of ciphers. The symbols are letters. The stonemason's square–L The element gold–AU The Greek Sigma–S The Greek Delta–D Alchemical mercury–E The Ouroboros–O â€Å"Laus Deo,† Langdon whispered. The well-known Latin phrase–meaning â€Å"praise God†Ã¢â‚¬â€œwas inscribed on the tip of the Washington Monument in script letters only one inch tall. On full display . . . and yet invisible to all. Laus Deo. â€Å"Praise God,† Peter said behind him, flipping on the soft lighting in the chamber. â€Å"The Masonic Pyramid's final code.† Langdon turned. His friend was grinning broadly, and Langdon recalled that Peter had actually spoken the words â€Å"praise God† earlier inside the Masonic library. And I still missed it. Langdon felt a chill to realize how apt it was that the legendary Masonic Pyramid had guided him here . . . to America's great obelisk–the symbol of ancient mystical wisdom–rising toward the heavens at the heart of a nation. In a state of wonder, Langdon began moving counterclockwise around the perimeter of the tiny square room, arriving now at another viewing window. North. Through this northward-facing window, Langdon gazed down at the familiar silhouette of the White House directly in front of him. He raised his eyes to the horizon, where the straight line of Sixteenth Street ran due north toward the House of the Temple. I am due south of Heredom. He continued around the perimeter to the next window. Looking west, Langdon's eyes traced the long rectangle of the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial, its classical Greek architecture inspired by the Parthenon in Athens, Temple to Athena–goddess of heroic undertakings. Annuit coeptis, Langdon thought. God favors our undertaking. Continuing to the final window, Langdon gazed southward across the dark waters of the Tidal Basin, where the Jefferson Memorial shone brightly in the night. The gently sloping cupola, Langdon knew, was modeled after the Pantheon, the original home to the great Roman gods of mythology. Having looked in all four directions, Langdon now thought about the aerial photos he had seen of the National Mall–her four arms outstretched from the Washington Monument toward the cardinal points of the compass. I am standing at the crossroads of America. Langdon continued back around to where Peter was standing. His mentor was beaming. â€Å"Well, Robert, this is it. The Lost Word. This is where it's buried. The Masonic Pyramid led us here.† Langdon did a double take. He had all but forgotten about the Lost Word. â€Å"Robert, I know of nobody more trustworthy than you. And after a night like tonight, I believe you deserve to know what this is all about. As promised in legend, the Lost Word is indeed buried at the bottom of a winding staircase.† He motioned to the mouth of the monument's long stairwell. Langdon had finally started to get his feet back under him, but now he was puzzled. Peter quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small object. â€Å"Do you remember this?† Langdon took the cube-shaped box that Peter had entrusted to him long ago. â€Å"Yes . . . but I'm afraid I didn't do a very good job of protecting it.† Solomon chuckled. â€Å"Perhaps the time had come for it to see the light of day.† Langdon eyed the stone cube, wondering why Peter had just handed it to him. â€Å"What does this look like to you?† Peter asked. Langdon eyed the 1514 and recalled his first impression when Katherine had unwrapped the package. â€Å"A cornerstone.† â€Å"Exactly,† Peter replied. â€Å"Now, there are a few things you might not know about cornerstones. First, the concept of laying a cornerstone comes from the Old Testament.† Langdon nodded. â€Å"The Book of Psalms.† â€Å"Correct. And a true cornerstone is always buried beneath the ground–symbolizing the building's initial step upward out of the earth toward the heavenly light.† Langdon glanced out at the Capitol, recalling that its cornerstone was buried so deep in the foundation that, to this day, excavations had been unable to find it. â€Å"And finally,† Solomon said, â€Å"like the stone box in your hand, many cornerstones are little vaults . . . and have hollow cavities so that they can hold buried treasures . . . talismans, if you will– symbols of hope for the future of the building about to be erected.† Langdon was well aware of this tradition, too. Even today, Masons laid cornerstones in which they sealed meaningful objects–time capsules, photos, proclamations, even the ashes of important people. â€Å"My purpose in telling you this,† Solomon said, glancing over at the stairwell, â€Å"should be clear.† â€Å"You think the Lost Word is buried in the cornerstone of the Washington Monument?† â€Å"I don't think, Robert. I know. The Lost Word was buried in the cornerstone of this monument on July 4, 1848, in a full Masonic ritual.† Langdon stared at him. â€Å"Our Masonic forefathers buried a word?!† Peter nodded. â€Å"They did indeed. They understood the true power of what they were burying.† All night, Langdon had been trying to wrap his mind around sprawling, ethereal concepts . . . the Ancient Mysteries, the Lost Word, the Secrets of the Ages. He wanted something solid, and despite Peter's claims that the key to it all was buried in a cornerstone 555 feet beneath him, Langdon was having a hard time accepting it. People study the mysteries for entire lifetimes and are still unable to access the power allegedly hidden there. Langdon flashed on Durer's Melencolia I–the image of the dejected Adept, surrounded by the tools of his failed efforts to unveil the mystical secrets of alchemy. If the secrets can actually be unlocked, they will not be found in one place! Any answer, Langdon had always believed, was spread across the world in thousands of volumes . . . encoded into writings of Pythagoras, Hermes, Heraclitus, Paracelsus, and hundreds of others. The answer was found in dusty, forgotten tomes on alchemy, mysticism, magic, and philosophy. The answer was hidden in the ancient library of Alexandria, the clay tablets of Sumer, and the hieroglyphs of Egypt. â€Å"Peter, I'm sorry,† Langdon said quietly, shaking his head. â€Å"To understand the Ancient Mysteries is a lifelong process. I can't imagine how the key could possibly rest within a single word.† Peter placed a hand on Langdon's shoulder. â€Å"Robert, the Lost Word is not a `word.'† He gave a sage smile. â€Å"We only call it the `Word' because that's what the ancients called it . . . in the beginning.† CHAPTER 130 In the beginning was the Word. Dean Galloway knelt at the Great Crossing of the National Cathedral and prayed for America. He prayed that his beloved country would soon come to grasp the true power of the Word–the recorded collection of the written wisdom of all the ancient masters–the spiritual truths taught by the great sages. History had blessed mankind with the wisest of teachers, profoundly enlightened souls whose understanding of the spiritual and mental mysteries exceeded all understanding. The precious words of these Adepts–Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, Zoroaster, and countless others–had been transmitted through history in the oldest and most precious of vessels. Books. Every culture on earth had its own sacred book–its own Word–each one different and yet each one the same. For Christians, the Word was the Bible, for Muslims the Koran, for Jews the Torah, for Hindus the Vedas, and on and on it went. The Word shall light the way. For America's Masonic forefathers, the Word had been the Bible. And yet few people in history have understood its true message. Tonight, as Galloway knelt alone within the great cathedral, he placed his hands upon the Word–a well-worn copy of his own Masonic Bible. This treasured book, like all Masonic Bibles, contained the Old Testament, the New Testament, and a treasure trove of Masonic philosophical writings. Although Galloway's eyes could no longer read the text, he knew the preface by heart. Its glorious message had been read by millions of his brethren in countless languages around the world. The text read: TIME IS A RIVER . . . AND BOOKS ARE BOATS. MANY VOLUMES START DOWN THAT STREAM, ONLY TO BE WRECKED AND LOST BEYOND RECALL IN ITS SANDS. ONLY A FEW, A VERY FEW, ENDURE THE TESTINGS OF TIME AND LIVE TO BLESS THE AGES FOLLOWING. There is a reason these volumes survived, while others vanished. As a scholar of faith, Dean Galloway had always found it astonishing that the ancient spiritual texts–the most studied books on earth–were, in fact, the least understood. Concealed within those pages, there hides a wondrous secret. One day soon the light would dawn, and mankind would finally begin to grasp the simple, transformative truth of the ancient teachings . . . and take a quantum leap forward in understanding his own magnificent nature. CHAPTER 131 The winding staircase that descends the spine of the Washington Monument consists of 896 stone steps that spiral around an open elevator shaft. Langdon and Solomon were making their way down, Langdon still grappling with the startling fact that Peter had shared with him only moments ago: Robert, buried within the hollow cornerstone of this monument, our forefathers placed a single copy of the Word–the Bible–which waits in darkness at the foot of this staircase. As they descended, Peter suddenly stopped on a landing and swung his flashlight beam to illuminate a large stone medallion embedded in the wall. What in the world?! Langdon jumped when he saw the carving. The medallion depicted a frightening cloaked figure holding a scythe and kneeling beside an hourglass. The figure's arm was raised, and his index finger was extended, pointing directly at a large open Bible, as if to say: â€Å"The answer is in there!† Langdon stared at the carving and then turned to Peter. His mentor's eyes shone with mystery. â€Å"I'd like you to consider something, Robert.† His voice echoed down the empty stairwell. â€Å"Why do you think the Bible has survived thousands of years of tumultuous history? Why is it still here? Is it because its stories are such compelling reading? Of course not . . . but there is a reason. There is a reason Christian monks spend lifetimes attempting to decipher the Bible. There is a reason that Jewish mystics and Kabbalists pore over the Old Testament. And that reason, Robert, is that there exist powerful secrets hidden in the pages of this ancient book . . . a vast collection of untapped wisdom waiting to be unveiled.† Langdon was no stranger to the theory that the Scriptures contained a hidden layer of meaning, a concealed message that was veiled in allegory, symbolism, and parable. â€Å"The prophets warn us,† Peter continued, â€Å"that the language used to share their secret mysteries is a cryptic one. The Gospel of Mark tells us, `Unto you is given to know the mystery . . . but it will be told in parable.' Proverbs cautions that the sayings of the wise are `riddles,' while Corinthians talks of `hidden wisdom.' The Gospel of John forewarns: `I will speak to you in parable . . . and use dark sayings.' â€Å" Dark sayings, Langdon mused, knowing this strange phrase made numerous odd appearances in Proverbs as well as in Psalm 78. I will open my mouth in a parable and utter dark sayings of old. The concept of a â€Å"dark saying,† Langdon had learned, did not mean that the saying was â€Å"evil† but rather that its true meaning was shadowed or obscured from the light. â€Å"And if you have any doubts,† Peter added, â€Å"Corinthians overtly tells us that the parables have two layers of meaning: `milk for babes and meat for men'–where the milk is a watered-down reading for infantile minds, and the meat is the true message, accessible only to mature minds.† Peter raised the flashlight, again illuminating the carving of the cloaked figure pointing intently at the Bible. â€Å"I know you are a skeptic, Robert, but consider this. If the Bible does not contain hidden meaning, then why have so many of history's finest minds–including brilliant scientists at the Royal Society–become so obsessed with studying it? Sir Isaac Newton wrote more than a million words attempting to decipher the true meaning of the Scripture, including a 1704 manuscript that claimed he had extracted hidden scientific information from the Bible!† Langdon knew this was true. â€Å"And Sir Francis Bacon,† Peter continued, â€Å"the luminary hired by King James to literally create the authorized King James Bible, became so utterly convinced that the Bible contained cryptic meaning that he wrote in his own codes, which are still studied today! Of course, as you know, Bacon was a Rosicrucian and penned The Wisdom of the Ancients.† Peter smiled. â€Å"Even the iconoclastic poet William Blake hinted that we should read between the lines.† Langdon was familiar with the verse: BOTH READ THE BIBLE DAY AND NIGHT, BUT THOU READ BLACK WHERE I READ WHITE. â€Å"And it wasn't just the European luminaries,† Peter continued, descending faster now. â€Å"It was here, Robert, at the very core of this young American nation, that our brightest forefathers–John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine–all warned of the profound dangers of interpreting the Bible literally. In fact, Thomas Jefferson was so convinced the Bible's true message was hidden that he literally cut up the pages and reedited the book, attempting, in his words, `to do away with the artificial scaffolding and restore the genuine doctrines.' â€Å" Langdon was well aware of this strange fact. The Jeffersonian Bible was still in print today and included many of his controversial revisions, among them the removal of the virgin birth and the resurrection. Incredibly, the Jeffersonian Bible had been presented to every incoming member of Congress during the first half of the nineteenth century. â€Å"Peter, you know I find this topic fascinating, and I can understand that it might be tempting for bright minds to imagine the Scriptures contain hidden meaning, but it makes no logical sense to me. Any skilled professor will tell you that teaching is never done in code.† â€Å"I'm sorry?† â€Å"Teachers teach, Peter. We speak openly. Why would the prophets–the greatest teachers in history–obscure their language? If they hoped to change the world, why would they speak in code? Why not speak plainly so the world could understand?† Peter glanced back over his shoulder as he descended, looking surprised by the question. â€Å"Robert, the Bible does not talk openly for the same reason the Ancient Mystery Schools were kept hidden . . . for the same reason the neophytes had to be initiated before learning the secret teachings of the ages . . . for the same reason the scientists in the Invisible College refused to share their knowledge with others. This information is powerful, Robert. The Ancient Mysteries cannot be shouted from the rooftops. The mysteries are a flaming torch, which, in the hands of a master, can light the way, but which, in the hands of a madman, can scorch the earth.† Langdon stopped short. What is he saying? â€Å"Peter, I'm talking about the Bible. Why are you talking about the Ancient Mysteries?† Peter turned. â€Å"Robert, don't you see? The Ancient Mysteries and the Bible are the same thing.† Langdon stared in bewilderment. Peter was silent for several seconds, waiting for the concept to soak in. â€Å"The Bible is one of the books through which the mysteries have been passed down through history. Its pages are desperately trying to tell us the secret. Don't you understand? The `dark sayings' in the Bible are the whispers of the ancients, quietly sharing with us all of their secret wisdom.† Langdon said nothing. The Ancient Mysteries, as he understood them, were a kind of instruction manual for harnessing the latent power of the human mind . . . a recipe for personal apotheosis. He had never been able to accept the power of the mysteries, and certainly the notion that the Bible was somehow hiding a key to these mysteries was an impossible stretch. â€Å"Peter, the Bible and the Ancient Mysteries are total opposites. The mysteries are all about the god within you . . . man as god. The Bible is all about the God above you . . . and man as a powerless sinner.† â€Å"Yes! Exactly! You've put your finger on the precise problem! The moment mankind separated himself from God, the true meaning of the Word was lost. The voices of the ancient masters have now been drowned out, lost in the chaotic din of self-proclaimed practitioners shouting that they alone understand the Word . . . that the Word is written in their language and none other.† Peter continued down the stairs. â€Å"Robert, you and I both know that the ancients would be horrified if they saw how their teachings have been perverted . . . how religion has established itself as a tollbooth to heaven . . . how warriors march into battle believing God favors their cause. We've lost the Word, and yet its true meaning is still within reach, right before our eyes. It exists in all the enduring texts, from the Bible to the Bhagavad Gita to the Koran and beyond. All of these texts are revered upon the altars of Freemasonry because Masons understand what the world seems to have forgotten . . . that each of these texts, in its own way, is quietly whispering the exact same message.† Peter's voice welled with emotion. † `Know ye not that ye are gods?'† Langdon was struck by the way this famous ancient saying kept surfacing tonight. He had reflected on it while talking to Galloway and also at the Capitol Building while trying to explain The Apotheosis of Washington. Peter lowered his voice to a whisper. â€Å"The Buddha said, `You are God yourself.' Jesus taught that `the kingdom of God is within you' and even promised us, `The works I do, you can do . . . and greater.' Even the first antipope–Hippolytus of Rome–quoted the same message, first uttered by the gnostic teacher Monoimus: `Abandon the search for God . . . instead, take yourself as the starting place.' † Langdon flashed on the House of the Temple, where the Masonic Tyler's chair bore two words of guidance carved across its back: KNOW THYSELF. â€Å"A wise man once told me,† Peter said, his voice faint now, â€Å"the only difference between you and God is that you have forgotten you are divine.† â€Å"Peter, I hear you–I do. And I'd love to believe we are gods, but I see no gods walking our earth. I see no superhumans.You can point to the alleged miracles of the Bible, or any other religious text, but they are nothing but old stories fabricated by man and then exaggerated over time.† â€Å"Perhaps,† Peter said. â€Å"Or perhaps we simply need our science to catch up with the wisdom of the ancients.† He paused. â€Å"Funny thing is . . . I believe Katherine's research may be poised to do just that.† Langdon suddenly remembered that Katherine had dashed off from the House of the Temple earlier. â€Å"Hey, where did she go, anyway?† â€Å"She'll be here shortly,† Peter said, grinning. â€Å"She went to confirm a wonderful bit of good fortune.† Outside, at the base of the monument, Peter Solomon felt invigorated as he inhaled the cold night air. He watched in amusement as Langdon stared intently at the ground, scratching his head and looking around at the foot of the obelisk. â€Å"Professor,† Peter joked, â€Å"the cornerstone that contains the Bible is underground. You can't actually access the book, but I assure you it's there.† â€Å"I believe you,† Langdon said, appearing lost in thought. â€Å"It's just . . . I noticed something.† Langdon stepped back now and surveyed the giant plaza on which the Washington Monument stood. The circular concourse was made entirely of white stone . . . except for two decorative courses of dark stone, which formed two concentric circles around the monument. â€Å"A circle within a circle,† Langdon said. â€Å"I never realized the Washington Monument stands at the center of a circle within a circle.† Peter had to laugh. He misses nothing. â€Å"Yes, the great circumpunct . . . the universal symbol for God . . . at the crossroads of America.† He gave a coy shrug. â€Å"I'm sure it's just a coincidence.† Langdon seemed far off, gazing skyward now, his eyes ascending the illuminated spire, which shone stark white against the black winter sky. Peter sensed Langdon was beginning to see this creation for what it truly was . . . a silent reminder of ancient wisdom . . . an icon of enlightened man at the heart of a great nation. Even though Peter could not see the tiny aluminum tip at the top, he knew it was there, man's enlightened mind straining toward heaven. Laus Deo. â€Å"Peter?† Langdon approached, looking like a man who'd endured some kind of mystical initiation. â€Å"I almost forgot,† he said, reaching into his pocket and producing Peter's gold Masonic ring. â€Å"I've been wanting to return this to you all night.† â€Å"Thank you, Robert.† Peter held out his left hand and took the ring, admiring it. â€Å"You know, all the secrecy and mystery surrounding this ring and the Masonic Pyramid . . . it had an enormous effect on my life. When I was a young man, the pyramid was given to me with the promise that it hid mystical secrets. Its mere existence made me believe there were great mysteries in the world. It piqued my curiosity, fueled my sense of wonder, and inspired me to open my mind to the Ancient Mysteries.† He smiled quietly and slipped the ring into his pocket. â€Å"I now realize that the Masonic Pyramid's true purpose was not to reveal the answers, but rather to inspire a fascination with them.† The two men stood in silence for a long while at the foot of the monument. When Langdon finally spoke, his tone was serious. â€Å"I need to ask you a favor, Peter . . . as a friend.† â€Å"Of course. Anything.† Langdon made his request . . . firmly. Solomon nodded, knowing he was right. â€Å"I will.† â€Å"Right away,† Langdon added, motioning to the waiting Escalade. â€Å"Okay . . . but one caveat.† Langdon rolled his eyes, chuckling. â€Å"Somehow you always get the last word.† â€Å"Yes, and there is one final thing I want you and Katherine to see.† â€Å"At this hour?† Langdon checked his watch. Solomon smiled warmly at his old friend. â€Å"It is Washington's most spectacular treasure . . . and something very, very few people have ever seen.†

Quizlet Essay Example

Quizlet Essay Example Quizlet Paper Quizlet Paper Group of atoms that link together and have the same function Examples of national groups hydroxyl, carbonyl, amino, phosphate, slothfully what is an isomer? Give two examples of isomers.. When a chemical formula is the same but arrangement is different. Ex. ) Structural isomer or Optical isomer what is the difference between structural or optical isomer? Structural is when it is based on bonds and arrangement while Optical is when a carbon atom has 4 different atoms attached to it , making it have two ways to fit inside . Like a mirror what percent of living tissue is water? List of most to least used sentences in tissue 1 . ) water 2. ) protein 3. )Nucleic acid 4. Carbon hydrates 5. ) lipids What is condensation reaction? Is a chemical reaction in which two molecules combine to form a bigger molecule. An example of this would be how monomers form polymers. In this process, water is lost. Think of it like this : It takes energy to combine two molecules. Its kind of like exercising. After exercising, you have lost a lot of calories(energy) and you are very tired. You are very thirst Water is lost in condensation reaction. What happens during a hydrolysis reaction? This is the opposite of a condensation reaction. This is when a big molecule is broken own into smaller molecules. An example would be to break down a polymer to monomers. Just as it is stated in name, hydrolists Water is added. What are 7 functions of proteins? 1 . ) acts as enzymes 2. )defending the body 3. ) regulating physiology(hormones) 4. ) cell signaling 5. ) structure support 6. ) transportation 7. )regulating gene expression Proteins dont perform what function? They dont store energy or information What makes up proteins? Amino acids What is a polypeptide? Amino acids go through a condensation reaction in order to form for chains(polypeptides) What 5 things do amino acids contain? . ) Alpha Carbon 2. ) Hydrogen 3. )Amino Group(always the same, Unionizes with Carbonyl) 4. )Carbonyl Group(always the same, unionizes with Amino) 5. )R group(gives identity to amino acid) What 4 categories can an amino acid be characterized due to its side chain(R)? 1 . ) charged hydrophilic 2. ) uncharged polar(H bonds)(hydrophilic) 3. ) Monopole hydrophobic 4. ) Special cases(hydrophobic) What do disulfide bridges do? They tell the structure of a proteins. What amino acids form a disulfide bridge?

Marketing Plan Segmentation Essays

Marketing Plan Segmentation Essays Marketing Plan Segmentation Essay Marketing Plan Segmentation Essay Marketing plan Segmentation: Tortilla Aztec In a nutshell, segmentation is the process of dividing a broad market into specific target group. In marketing, segmentation is crucial in creating a successful marketing strategy, because marketers are then able to identify consumers who have common needs and applications for the relevant goods and services. For example demographics such as age, gender and ethnicity are one of the many criteria when segmenting a market. For our marketing plan, we have focus upon building a tortilla company. Tortilla, which is a key component in many Mexican dishes, is favored not only by Latin American, but has also become a very popular ingredient in many western and Asian foods. The concept of tortilla is that it acts like a bread; people can apply almost any kinds of vegetables and meats, fold it or wrap it (depending on the style or preference) and bite it, its as simple as eating a hamburger. The tortillas that many of us eat today however have lost its traditional value. Nowadays Tortillas are designed and manufactured for mass consumption, and as a result fresh organic ingredients are left behind. As a tortilla expert we want to put an end to the blunt asset of 21 SST century tortilla and so our company has gone back to the basics; cooking tortillas the style a Mexican street vendor would do (read product part for more detail concerning tortilla-making). This idea of authentic Mexican tortilla is what our company will be trying to capitalize on; we depend on the idea that people are still concern about quality, not quantity. In marketing terms we are focusing on consumer preference, which is essential for us to identify what market segment we are going to target. We start with measuring possibility. First Step: Measuring Possibility All marketers know that the size of the market must be big enough to be worth targeting. According to statistic Canada as of 2001 244,400 people of Latin American origin lived in Canada. That year, they represented almost 1% of the total population of Canada (Statistic Canada). In Vancouver alone, there are approximately 28,575 Hispanics, which is a surprisingly big number considering, the distance it takes to travel between the two continents. Conclusion: the sample size proves to be substantial for our Tortilla Company to continue. Second Step: Segment growth It is very important for every business to analyze the prospect for growth. First we look at the number of tortilla producer in BC and identify who they are. The leading pioneer producer so far is a company called El Comma based in Burnable. Their tortillas are distributed in most of the major authentic Mexican restaurants such as La Tequila, Don Guacamole (closed for business), Salsa Agave etc. Another competitor is a smaller company called Donna Elastic based in Surrey. Their products are supplied mostly in specialty food stores across British Columbia, although its main business is focused upon delivery orders. Other Tortilla manufacturers only river Log retails canals sun as save-on Ana gateway superman et K . From a Dustless point of view the segment growth prospect looks to be very bright. Assuming that there are only two major competitors in BC, we can still capture a market-share of approximately 25%, which is around 7500 of Mexican people. According to statistic Canada, 7500 of these people earn an average income of $28000 (lower than the Canadian average income of $30000) however still a relatively sufficient income. Our findings illustrate that these Mexican people demand homemade corn tortillas compare to tortillas produce by big international brands. However the resources are not easily available with only two major companies providing the service. In conclusion: the Vancouver Hispanic market segment still has a very big room to grow. Third Step: Formulate narrower markets (Latino Community and Mexicans) McCarthy and Perpetual suggest forming sub-markets around what you would call your typical customer, then aggregate similar people into this segment, on the condition to be able to satisfy their needs using the same Marketing mix. As previously discussed before, the central market we are targeting is the Latino community living in Vancouver, BC. Our main concern however is the Mexican community. This is where the 80120% rule applies being that Tortilla is the staple food in major Mexican dish. In the distribution and supply-chain analysis we have discussed the possibility of supplying Tortilla to major retailers such as Save-on-Food and Safely. This pursuit is quite risky, especially for a starting company like ours, because not only does it require a big investment (e. G. UAPITA for machineries), but also the fact our companys name has not been well established in the Tortilla business. It is a lactated risk however because of the following facts: For Mexicans to buy their Tortilla, they have to travel to specialty food markets, most of which are inconveniently located because of its walking distance to the nearest bus stop or Strain. Save-on and Safely on the other hand, are strategically located hence a more shopping friendly environment. The problem however is that quality homemade tortilla are only available in these boutique supermarkets. The tortillas sold in big retails are international brands such as Dittos where the product factory processed hence the poor plastic taste. This is where our tortilla company steps in; with our homemade authentic concept, we expect that there will be more incentive and attraction for more Mexicans to buy their Tortillas and along with their daily groceries. A win-win situation is at hand. Considering Other Markets (other possible area of growth) Previously we have also considered the possibility of aiming the Asian market, which is not surprisingly one of biggest market in Vancouver. We were looking at a specific sub-market with huge potential growth and we were lead to the Indian community. In BC alone, there are over 230,000 Indians, half of them residing in Surrey. Moreover with the Indian economy booming and IT outsourcing becoming the major part of the business, the continuity increase in the Indian population will surely double for the next coming years. This is backed by an analysis, which says India-based firms are starting to win larger-scale Canadian TIT contracts and growing six times faster than traditional Tier 1 providers in TO. Our analysis however results us in not entering ten market. Nine mall Drawler we race was culture. Nine Animal culture Known to De very strong are less likely to substitute their values to that of other cultures. This is shown from their preference of food. Curry the staple food for an Indian dish is not easily substitute and this is proven from our Tortilla survey; when sales, compare with what you usually have with your cu rry, would you say that this Tortilla is the best in terms of taste? 3 out of 30 Indians said no and 5 of them even gave the opinion of sticking with the traditional Indian Root when eating the curry because the two dishes already complement very well with each other. Likewise, we also discovered the Red Mole which is the other dipping sauce we used for the marketing survey asset much more delicious on the tortilla compared to when we dipped it in the Curry. In conclusion the taste off food blends in harmony when it is applied with the original traditional ingredients. This finding has led us to the conclusion of canceling out the Indian Market. Mainstream Market The mainstream market is a very broad market. It is the most dominant market and therefore has the biggest potential for growth. The people inside this market are usually not tied to buying one specific product; rather, they buy product that are in trend and replace it once it has gone out of trend. This is very apparent in markets such as technology and fashion where products come and go very quickly. The mainstream market for Tortilla can be found in big retails. As mentioned before, tortillas brands supplied in these big retails are well known international brands such as Dittos. The market sadly are used to consuming these low quality processed products and as a result many of them are not aware of what home made Mexican tortillas taste like. This situation however is an advantage for our company because of one important fact: our tortilla is a newly introduced product line. A new product line meaner that there is big room for growth and for our company to fully establish our tortilla in an existing market it will most likely require some time. For example, we need to consider factors such as Canadian housewife. These housewife play a vital role to our success in the mainstream market because they the ones who decide what goes inside the grocery; instead of the usual bread and butter for breakfast we can convince them to substitute to our low calorie home made tortilla. Once these housewife have gained more knowledge about our reduce and realized the benefit of it, we hypothetically have secured a very major part of the Canadian market Niche Market Another important contributing factor to the popular rise of Tortilla, is professional working segment. With their limited time constraints, this specific group of people prefers foods that are on the go and Tortilla is the perfect complement to this kind of lifestyle. An analysis also shows that Tortilla can fill up to 52% of your daily fiber needs and contains low calorie: perfect from a marketing standpoint because these office working people are assume to have high disposable income and therefore emend more quality alternatives such as the home made Tortillas our company produces. Another important trend we have realized is how much Vancouver people value healthy and active lifestyle. This is proven from little things such as the long lines in whole-food supermarket, the availability of vegetarian restaurants, the number of Luncheon stores across Vancouver and etc. Conclusion: Vancouver people, especially the locals are willing to pay for healthier alternatives, and with the concept AT our Menominee tortilla we can capture tons Log part AT segment. Ten market