Companies must constantly improve the integrity and honesty of their Essay

Companies must constantly improve the integrity and honesty of their brands. Demographic trends have a huge effect on brand development and sustainability. Disc - Essay Example Therefore, investor’s and researchers are always concerned about the actual effects and results of marketing components including advertisement, sales promotions, and company emblems - upon the consumer’s perception and their consequence upon brand equity. In the last decade, a lot of research has been dedicated to conceptualizing and measuring customer-based brand equity. However, apart from putting forth various influencing factors, no integrative framework has so far been developed to account for the complex psychological processes underlying the formation of customer-based brand equity. In this context, this paper attempts to propose such a framework by drawing on the theory of the Elaboration Likelihood Model in order to study the effect of demographic trends on the sustainability of a brand in terms of its honesty and integrity. The modern day consumers’ decision making as far a choice of a brand remains widely unquestioned as far as practical observations and research go. As discussed through our five areas of research earlier, there are a variety of models to conceptualize and measure "brand equity" in order to explain how brand equity is generated in the consumer’s mind. These models consist of a thorough analysis of each factor that influences the decision making process as well as several synoptic approaches examining the influence of different variables on brand equity are available (Kotler, 1997 , p. 443). This promotes a deeper understanding of the elements of brand identity. Brand Identity is that element of customer perception and awareness which has its focus in the results of a certain kind of projection through the brand equity building measures. This calls for an integrative model which will combine the basic elements of the brand identity and brand equity concepts so as to create a platform for the effective discussion of the Elaboration Likelihood Model. While on one hand a brand may have visible, tangible,

The Life of Harriet Tubman Essay Example for Free

The Life of Harriet Tubman Essay Originally named Araminta, or Minty, Harriet Tubman was born in early 1819 or 1820 on the plantation of Anthony Thompson, south of Madison in Dorchester County, Maryland. Tubman was the fifth of nine children of Harriet Rit Green and Benjamin Ross, both slaves. Edward Brodas, the stepson of Anthony Thompson, claimed ownership of Rit and her children through his mother Mary Pattison Brodas Thompson. Ben Ross, the slave of Anthony Thompson, was a timber inspector who supervised and managed a vast timbering operation on Thompsons land. The Rosss relatively stable family life on Thompsons plantation came to abrupt end sometime in late 1823 or early 1824 when Edward Brodas took Rit and her then five children, including Tubman, to his own farm in Bucktown, a small agricultural village ten miles to the east. Brodas often hired Tubman out to temporary masters, some who were cruel and negligent, while selling other members of her family illegally to out of state buyers, permanently fracturing her family (http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny-tubman.html). At age six, Araminta was old enough to be considered able to work. She did not work in the fields though. Edward Brodas, her master, lent her to a couple who first put her to work weaving she was beaten frequently. When she slacked off at this job the couple gave her the duty of checking muskrat traps. Araminta caught the measles while doing this work. The couple thought she was incompetent and took her back to Brodas. When she got well, she was taken in by a woman as a housekeeper and baby-sitter. Araminta was whipped during the work here and was sent back to Brodas after eating one of the womans sugar cubes. As was the custom on all plantations, when she turned eleven, she started wearing a bright cotton bandana around her head indicating she was no longer a child. She was also no longer known by her basket name, Araminta. Now she would be called Harriet, after her mother. At the age of 12 Harriet Ross was seriously injured by a blow to the head, inflicted by a white overseer for refusing to assist in tying up a man who had attempted escape. Adulthood In 1844 at the age of 25, she married John Tubman, a free African American who did not share her dream of escaping. Since she was a slave, she knew there could be a chance that she could be sold and her marriage would be split apart. Harriet dreamed of traveling north. There, she would be free and would not have to worry about having her marriage split up by the slave trade. But, John did not want her to go north. He said he was fine where he was and that there was no reason for moving north. She said she would go by herself. He replied that if she ran off, he would tell her master. She did not believe him until she saw his face and then she knew he meant it. Her goal to achieve freedom was too large for her to give up though. So in 1849 she left her husband and escaped to Philadelphia in 1849. When she crossed the border she said,† I looked at my hands to see if I was the same person now that I was free, there was such glory over everything, the sun came up like gold through the threes, and over the fields, and I felt like I was in heaven† (The Secret History of Dreaming 185). Accomplishments After escaping from enslavement in 1849, Tubman dedicated herself to fighting for freedom, equality, and justice for the remainder of her long life, earning her the biblical name Moses and a place among the nations most famous historical figures. She became an Underground Railroad conductor after she had escaped to the north. She went back and helped free more than 300 slaves during 1850-1858 (The Story of Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad). During the Civil War, Tubman worked for the Union army as a nurse, a cook, and a spy. Her experience leading slaves along the Underground Railroad was especially helpful because she knew the land well. She recruited a group of former slaves to hunt for rebel camps and report on the movement of the Confederate troops. In 1863, she went with Colonel James Montgomery and about 150 black soldiers on a gunboat raid in South Carolina. Because she had inside information from her scouts, the Union gunboats were able to surprise the Confederate rebels. At first, when the Union Army came through and burned plantations, slaves hid in the woods. But when they realized that the gunboats could take them behind Union lines to freedom, they came running from all directions, bringing as many of their belongings as they could carry. Tubman later said, I never saw such a sight. Tubman played other roles in the war effort, including working as a nurse. Folk remedies she learned during her years living in Maryland would come in very handy. Tubman worked as a nurse during the war, trying to heal the sick. Many people in the hospital died from dysentery, a disease associated with terrible diarrhea. Tubman was sure she could help cure the sickness if she could find some of the same roots and herbs that grew in Maryland. One night she searched the woods until she found water lilies and cranes bill (geranium). She boiled the water lily roots and the herbs and made a bitter-tasting brew that she gave to a man who was dying-and it worked! Slowly he recovered. Tubman saved many people in her lifetime. Harriet Tubman, after a life of helping people, died at age 93 on March 10, 1913, at Auburn, New York.

E-commerce :: essays research papers

Business and the Internet The past several years have marked a time which is comparable to the coming of television and the radio. The Internet has grown from a simple way to send messages to and from two different computers with different operating systems, known as the beginning of E-Mail, to a way to sell and buy products just like in the tangible world. This article explains that the Internet or Web must be reckoned in dog years, because the pace of change is so fast that one year on the Internet is like seven years in any other medium. Fifteen million households connected to the "Net" can be a large market for any business willing and ready to scoop it up. By the year 2000, the projection is that North America will have 38 million online households, one third of all households. The reasoning, or thesis, of the article is the question of whether the Web should be used for information purposes, or for a new marketplace in this expanding goldmine of information. The potential for businesses is enormous. Fifteen million people is a very large consumer marketplace. Consumers are not the only ones "surfing" around for info. Businesses also focus on other companies to sell their products. General Electric sold machine and appliance parts using a new business to business technology called "extranet". GE used its successful "extranet" to roll in 1996 online sales of one billion dollars. Another very successful type of business on the net is the coming of services backed by research, such as discount stock trading, including e.Schwab and a Web-only company called E*Trade. Travel services have been very promising because the transactions can be supported by extensive computer databases of useful information. The Web is particularly effective at selling services backed by research. The reasoning behind the financial services taking up the Web is the fact that they are backed up by extensive research. The main worry with the Web and its growth is the concern of false information and crackpot theories masquerading as facts. The Web is flooded with many different kinds of businesses and "personal" Web pages which could mislead the consumer into believing false information. The only way to combat this problem is to trust "brand name" business and services. The only way to tell if you can trust a site or business is to have previous interaction with this company. As the web expands and the number of "companies" grows, brand names that are known will become progressively more important. E-commerce :: essays research papers Business and the Internet The past several years have marked a time which is comparable to the coming of television and the radio. The Internet has grown from a simple way to send messages to and from two different computers with different operating systems, known as the beginning of E-Mail, to a way to sell and buy products just like in the tangible world. This article explains that the Internet or Web must be reckoned in dog years, because the pace of change is so fast that one year on the Internet is like seven years in any other medium. Fifteen million households connected to the "Net" can be a large market for any business willing and ready to scoop it up. By the year 2000, the projection is that North America will have 38 million online households, one third of all households. The reasoning, or thesis, of the article is the question of whether the Web should be used for information purposes, or for a new marketplace in this expanding goldmine of information. The potential for businesses is enormous. Fifteen million people is a very large consumer marketplace. Consumers are not the only ones "surfing" around for info. Businesses also focus on other companies to sell their products. General Electric sold machine and appliance parts using a new business to business technology called "extranet". GE used its successful "extranet" to roll in 1996 online sales of one billion dollars. Another very successful type of business on the net is the coming of services backed by research, such as discount stock trading, including e.Schwab and a Web-only company called E*Trade. Travel services have been very promising because the transactions can be supported by extensive computer databases of useful information. The Web is particularly effective at selling services backed by research. The reasoning behind the financial services taking up the Web is the fact that they are backed up by extensive research. The main worry with the Web and its growth is the concern of false information and crackpot theories masquerading as facts. The Web is flooded with many different kinds of businesses and "personal" Web pages which could mislead the consumer into believing false information. The only way to combat this problem is to trust "brand name" business and services. The only way to tell if you can trust a site or business is to have previous interaction with this company. As the web expands and the number of "companies" grows, brand names that are known will become progressively more important.

Undaunted Courage Outline

Chapter 1 Youth 1774 – 1792 Summary and Analysis Meriwether Lewis's ancestry, birth, and early life are considered. Lewis is born August 1774 in Virginia to William Lewis and Lucy Lewis nye Meriwether, cousins. Lewis is born on the eve of the American Revolutionary War and his ancestry includes numerous military accomplishments in both lines. Lewis has an older sister, Jane, and a younger brother, Reuben. William Lewis dies of pneumonia in 1779; thereafter Nicholas Lewis, William's older brother, becomes family guardian pending Lewis' attainment of legal age.Lucy Lewis remarries in 1980 to John Marks, and has two additional children—John Hastings and Mary Garland. One significant family friend is Thomas Jefferson, future president of the United States of America and a nearby plantation owner. As a young boy, Meriwether spends a considerable amount of time out of doors, including accompanying a frontier pioneer group to a new settlement. He is considered to be curious, i nquisitive, coolheaded, and courageous†¦ Chapter 2 Planter 1792 – 1794 Summary and Analysis Also read: Why Nations Fail Chapter 5 SummaryDuring his youth, Lewis develops excellent skills in riding, hiking, and outdoor skills as well as a penchant for what he refers to as ‘rambling'; that is, adventure and wilderness travel. He develops a scrupulous honesty and is widely considered trustworthy. He assumes plantation management with minor misgiving over having given up his formal education. Nevertheless, he is a capable administrator, constantly increasing the size of his land holdings. Like most other plantation owners, he is land rich and cash poor. Slaves work his plantation and, like most men of the era, Lewis is not troubled by the moral quandary slavery presents.He esteems Native Americans as the archetypical noble savage and believes that one day they will accept European civilization and become productive and co-equal citizens; he simultaneously considers African Americans somewhat sub-human and incapable of the degree of energy and self-direction necessary for independent success in a free-enterprise†¦ Chapter 3 Soldier 1794 – 1800 Summary and Analysis During the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794, many young men, once children of the American Revolution, enlist in the military as a show of patriotic fervor.Among the new inductees is Meriwether Lewis who enlists as a private. Although only a private his considerable wealth, substantial education, and notable breeding ensure that, he spends most evenings in the company of officers. He finds life in the service enjoyable and fulfilling. Within a few months, he is commissioned an ensign in the Virginia Militia. After the rebellion is quelled the army ranks are rapidly thinned through cutbacks, but Lewis retains his position even with little experience—a fact which speaks well for his capability as a junior officer.He is eventually assigned to be army paymaster and spends many months traveling extensively through the western frontier areas of the growing nation. He meets most army o fficers personally and gets to know their opinions†¦ Chapter 4 Thomas Jefferson's America 1801 Summary and Analysis When Thomas Jefferson becomes President of the United States of America, the nation numbers slightly less than five and one-half million people. That includes approximately one million slaves. Geographically, the nation is a vast open country, nearly limitless in potential, and nearly completely unknown.Overland travel is slow and difficult, seldom averaging more than a score of miles in a day—even over a rarely encountered roadway. Rivers form the dominant highways and are the only way to transport substantial bulk materials. The relative positions of the Eastern seaboard states are known, as is the position of the distant Oregon country. Roughly, three thousand miles of terra incognita lay in between. Jefferson incorrectly speculates that a water route along major rivers probably exists which could link the two population centers.Meanwhile, many European nations, including Spain, France, England, and Russia, are vying for control of the interior of North America. Such†¦ Chapter 5 The President's Secretary 1801 – 1802 Summary and Analysis Meriwether Lewis is serving as army paymaster, when Thomas Jefferson offers him the highly sought after job as personal secretary to the president. Lewis immediately accepts the job. Though he leaves active service, he retains his commission and right to promotion. Jefferson selects Lewis largely because he is a staunch Republican and, importantly, because he knows nearly all of the officers in the army on a personal basis.One of the first tasks Lewis completes is an encyclopedic rating of all commissioned officers, placing them into one of several categories, which largely established their capability as officers and their political beliefs. Many officers are dismissed from the service, chiefly those who are incompetent but also many who are politically hostile to the new administration . Lewis performs many duties as secretary, including constant visits with congress and interaction with significant political persons. In fact, Lewis delivers Jefferson's first ‘state of the†¦Chapter 6 The Origins of the Expedition 1750 – 1802 Summary and Analysis From the earliest days of colonization, the national interest had been captivated by the vast interior space. Many voyages of interior exploration were planned but virtually none had come to fruition. Jefferson had personally championed several attempts. On the most promising attempt, the noted adventurer Andry Michaux was selected. Jefferson raised funds through private subscription and Michaux commenced his voyage of exploration.Before getting far, however, Jefferson discovered Michaux was actually an agent of the French government, causing the entire exertion to be canceled. Because of these many unsuccessful experiences, Jefferson comes to believe that a voyage of national exploration would require th e financial backing of the Federal Government. In 1787, a British explorer reports crossing northern Alberta and reaching the Pacific coast near Columbia. Coupled with the recent retrocession of the Louisiana territory from Spain to France the news galvanizes Jefferson; he determines immediately to act to preserve the†¦Chapter 7 Preparing for the Expedition January – June 1803 Summary and Analysis Jefferson personally attends to Lewis' requisite education. As well, Jefferson contacts experts in significant fields and enlists their open-ended assistance as educators, peers, and advisors for Lewis. Lewis thus has unrestricted access to the brightest minds in the nation while preparing for his voyage of discovery. Meanwhile, the various details of planning and organization are covered throughout the chapter. Jefferson develops an extensive document containing instruction, advice, and orders.Lewis makes up lists of supplies and costs, and estimates how many men might be requ ired to successfully complete the voyage. Lewis also spends a great deal of time learning how to perform geographic observations to fix latitude and longitude. Toward the end of the period discussed in the chapter Lewis begins to accumulate the vast stores of impedimenta required for such a long journey; he in particular spends time at Harpers Ferry securing firearms and overseeing the construction of an†¦ Chapter 8 Washington to Pittsburgh June – August 1803 Summary and Analysis Lewis returns to Washington and spends several critical weeks with Jefferson.Copies of the voyage orders document are circulated among Jefferson's intimate circle and various revisions are proposed and accepted. Lewis meanwhile continues to gather maps and fragmentary knowledge of the deep interior of the continent. Jefferson writes and signs a carte blanche order allowing Lewis to draw any funds or equipment from any branch or station of the United States Government; it also requests private en terprises to assist Lewis so far as practicable and orders military installations to cooperate with Lewis in any circumstance.The author notes the document is the most unlimited letter of credit ever issued by an American president. During this time, a second officer was considered indispensable to the voyage's success; Lewis immediately extends the offer, by post, to his old friend William Clark. Clark of course accepts the invitation, forming the most-famous partnership in†¦ Chapter 9 Down the Ohio September – November 1803 Summary and Analysis Lewis begins the trip by boarding the newly constructed keelboat and proceeding down the Ohio River.The extreme lateness of the season (Lewis had hoped to be leaving months previously) insured that the Ohio's waters were very low. Thus, the initial stages of the trip were very slow and the keelboat made only ten or so miles each day. Lewis begins recording in his journal on August 31, the day he left. The text then considers the nature of the journals; Lewis never recorded whether the journals were written during or after the expedition. Further, there are frequent large gaps in the journals where nothing is recorded—for example, May 14, 1804 to April 7, 1805.Modern histories do not know if these journals are lost or if Lewis simply did not record his observations for these prolonged periods. At any event, Lewis continues on his voyage. The snail's pace gradually†¦ Chapter 10 Up the Mississippi to Winter Camp November 1803 – March 1804 Summary and Analysis The mighty Mississippi River quickly convinces Lewis and Clark that they will need still more men to be successful. Over the next several weeks, the men worked the keelboat and pirogues against the current, difficult hard work claiming only a few miles of progress each day.The party continued on, stopping at trading posts and forts to obtain supplies and review potential recruits. The party eventually reaches St. Louis and a brief peri od of political intrigue follows wherein the local Spanish political commander refuses to allow entry to the Americans until the official land transfer of the upper Louisiana territories occurs. While in St. Louis Lewis sends and receives mail, notably from Jefferson. Additional men and supplies previously sent overland, rendezvous with the river party.With the season and political situation over, the party subsequently winters at Camp Wood near St. Louis. Finally, in mid-March, the political handover is accomplished†¦. Chapter 11 Ready to Depart April – May 21, 1804 Summary and Analysis In the spring, Lewis and Clark purchase more provisions and ready to leave. Clark's commission finally arrives; startlingly it is for a lieutenant's commission and not a captain's commission as Lewis had promised. Nevertheless, Clark accepts the commission, though obviously disappointed.Lewis suggests and Clark agrees that they two alone will know the true situation—to everyone el se on the entire voyage, and for years afterward, Clark is known as Captain William Clark and viewed as Lewis' co-commander on the voyage. Lewis appoints an authorized agent in St. Louis, sends of final communiquys, and readies his personal gear for departure. Many of the men attend a final mass service. In the afternoon, the party departs amidst rain, thunder, lightning, and the cheering of assembled crowds.For the next two or more years the party knows there will be no letters, no communication and no supplies from their homes. They are isolated†¦ Chapter 12 Up the Missouri May – July 1804 Summary and Analysis By dint of nearly superhuman endurance and raw physical strength, the party forces the heavy keelboat against the current of the mighty Missouri River, making up to twenty miles progress some days. The party reaches the Osage River, the Kansas River, and then the Platte River, passing tiny outposts of advance settlers and trappers. One settlement of note is Boone 's Settlement in Kentucky—founded by Daniel Boone.History does not record whether Lewis and Clark meet Boone. Strangely, throughout much of this period Lewis keeps no daily journal. Instead, he apparently spends his time walking ashore and collection plants, animals, and soils specimens while Clark, the better river-man, manages the progress of the keelboat. Lewis does issue a comprehensive Detachment Order, which allows modern historians to partially reconstruct the daily routine of the adventuring party. One of Lewis' primary directives was the posting of an active watch to secure the voyage†¦Chapter 13 Entering Indian Country August 1804 Summary and Analysis Lewis begins to realize the unprecedented possibilities offered to an astute botanist; he collects many specimens previously unknown to science and writes lengthy monographs using precise and technical terminology. The same paradigm presents with animal life—for example, on August 12, 1804, Lewis and Clark become the first Americans to see a coyote, which they called a ‘prairie wolf'. Near the end of August, the party shoots and eats the first bison taken by American hunters. The Garden of Eden qualities of the land are not lost on Lewis.Also during August, the party makes their first contact with Indians, meeting Otos and Missouris. Jefferson's orders instruct Lewis to attempt to peacefully integrate the Indians into the growing American commercial system; Jefferson wants to replace British fur traders with Americans and hopes most or all of the various Indian nations can be integrated with the United States of America. Lewis will†¦ Chapter 14 Encounter with the Sioux September 1804 Summary and Analysis The Sioux tribes are widely regarded as well organized, militant, and aggressive.Jefferson's instructions to Lewis specifically indicate that the Sioux should be courted especially vigorously as their cooperation would be extremely useful to future American expansion in the area. In early September, the party continues upriver and fortuitously encounters the lost private—he had assumed the boats were upriver from him and thus has been proceeding ahead of the party for a few weeks. Lewis finds the area of present-day South Dakota almost unbelievably opulent in animal life and he discovers several species—once, two in a single day—that are entirely new to science.Lewis and Clark commend with wonder at the hundreds and even thousands of bison that make up vast herds and on the plentiful bounty of the land. Ambrose once again notes that Lewis' journals are silent for a prolonged period beginning roughly when the party meets the†¦ Chapter 15 To the Mandans Fall 1804 Summary and Analysis Throughout September, the voyage continues upriver through panoplies of natural wonder. Huge herds of migrating mammals are seen daily and enormous flights of migrating birds pass overhead. The weather temporizes and frosts kill off the clouds of m osquitoes, as the trip becomes one of entire enjoyment.The party encounters their first grizzly bear; they refer to it as a white bear. They also pass through the deserted outer lands of the once-mighty Arikara tribe; empty villages and lands a mute testimony to the mass deaths recently caused by smallpox and other diseases. Eventually they arrive at the Arikara heartland and discover a tribe about three thousands strong. The meeting proceeds well and the Indians are friendly. One chief accompanies Lewis and Clark upriver to the next great tribal area of the Mandans, ostensibly to negotiate peace between the tribes. Many outlying Mandan villages are also deserted due to smallpox, but†¦Chapter 16 Winter at Fort Mandan December 21, 1804 – March 21, 1805 Summary and Analysis The winter proves exceptionally cold and difficult. Lewis and Clark and their men must rely upon the Mandan Indians for supplies and food. The expedition builds a sturdy fort complete with a palisade wa ll and substantive interior shelters. On one occasion, a lazy soldier scales the wall rather than issuing a password and waiting for the gate; he is observed by an Indian who subsequently scales the wall in imitation. Lewis and Clark are concerned now that the Indians realize the wall is more show than defense—in the event, however, nothing untoward occurs.The winter months are spent hunting, preparing for the coming season, and mingling with the local Indians. York, Lewis's African American slave, proves interesting to the Indians who think at first that he must be colored with paint. Frequent minor political intrigues occur and are documented, as are some of the Indians' sensationalistic practices. For example, the†¦ Chapter 17 Report from Fort Mandan March 22 – April 6, 1805 Summary and Analysis In the spring, the keelboat is packed and readied for its return trip to St. Louis—too large to navigate the upper Missouri, it is replaced by small canoes.The k eelboat is loaded with specimens, journals, observations, maps, compiled Indian vocabularies, and many long letters. These form the final link between the party and the United States of America until the party's return after many months of exploration. Lewis also sends an accounting of the expenses of the expedition to this point, including a list of all the various letters of credit he has issued on the journey. The expedition hopes to reach the Pacific Ocean and then return as far as the Mandan villages for the winter of 1805-6, and then return and report to Jefferson as early as September 1806.These predictions illustrate that even at this late date Lewis is underestimating the difficulty of crossing the Rocky Mountains†¦ Chapter 18 From Fort Mandan to Marias River April 7 – June 2, 1805 Summary and Analysis The expedition departs in early spring. Lewis refuses several last-minute offers of sexual adventure for the officers and men, even declining to take along severa l squaws for routine camp company. For many days, Clark guides the river teams of pirogues and canoes while Lewis with a few picked men hikes along the shore, hunting, recording observations, and collecting specimens.Because of the large number of the party—around thirty-five souls—a prodigious amount of meat is needed every day. Lewis constantly notes in his journals that game of all kinds is wonderfully abundant and, unalarmed by humans, easy to secure. For most of the upriver trek Lewis and Clark find the voyage exactly as the Hidatsas had described. Major rivers are found where their rudimentary maps indicate they should be, and the terrain and river conditions are as anticipated. Nevertheless, the journey is covering ground never before explored by modern Americans. Going†¦Chapter 19 From Marias River to the Great Falls June 3 – June 20, 1805 Summary and Analysis For several days, Lewis and Clark try to determine which river—the Missouri or the Marias—is the true Missouri river. Because of the turbidity and temperature, all of the men conclude erroneously that the Marias is the true Missouri. Lewis and Clark, however, in complete isolation determine that the true course of the Missouri lies to the southern fork. Only much later would historians realize that the Hidatsa, traveling overland, would have entirely missed this fork of the river as it occurs in a great northern bend of the Missouri River.Lewis and Clark spend several days scouting a goodly distance up each river and making numerous observations. They finally conclude that the party must take the south fork. While Clark leads the water party, Lewis and a few picked men rapidly proceed ahead on land to discover if they have selected the wrong branch of the river. They make good†¦ Chapter 20 The Great Portage June 16 – July 14, 1805 Summary and Analysis The boat group soon arrives at the base of the falls. Sacagawea falls ill and is nursed by Lewi s while the men cut timber and manufacture wheels and crude wagons with which they will haul the canoes and pirogues.The portage proceeds under fair weather but the work is grueling and accomplished only after many days of toil. At the head of the falls, Lewis assembled the iron frame of his experimental boat and has it covered with elk hide. This project is fascinating to Lewis but, apparently, Clark concludes at the outset that it is unpractical. In the end, Clark's opinion proves correct—the hide covering of the craft cannot be effectively sealed and the constant and rapid leaking through the seams of the skins makes the boat perpetually swamp. After only a few hours of experimenting ith the completed boat, Lewis must conclude that his experimental craft—hand built at†¦ Chapter 21 Looking for the Shoshones July 15 – August 12, 1805 Summary and Analysis With overloaded canoes, the voyage proceeds up the Missouri River through difficult terrain. The Rocky Mountains enclose the river so closely that Lewis names the initial entrance ‘Gates of the Rocky Mountains'. The voyagers proceed upriver searching for Shoshone Indians from whom they hope to procure horses. They pass what will eventually become the famous Last Chance Gulch, a location rich in gold.Lewis and Clark are not interested in mineral wealth, however—it is not easily portable and at such a distance from civilization would prove essentially worthless. First Clark and then Lewis take turns scouting ahead or ranging afar in an attempt to find the Shoshone. Clark's feet become damaged and infected by Prickly Pears, but he still presses on. By the end of July, the men are becoming despondent because of the difficult river work. They are heartened when Sacagawea begins to recognize landmarks and informs them that†¦Chapter 22 Over the Continental Divide August 13 – August 31, 1805 Summary and Analysis The next day the small group encounters an old Shoshone woman with a baby and engages her in very limited discussion, giving her some gifts. She leads Lewis and his few companions to the Shoshone village. A tense meeting follows where Lewis tries to make himself understood but is apparently mistaken for a trickster from a hostile Indian tribe, even though a white man. A period of tense negotiation follows but Lewis manages to befriend Cameahwait, the principle chief.He convinces the Indians to accompany him downstream to meet Clark. The Indians suspect a trap and thus warily accompany him. Lewis is dumbfounded to reach the location only to discover that Clark is not yet present. He uses several stratagems to calm the worried Indians until the following day when Clark does arrive. Finally, with Sacagawea's language skills, the Indians' fears are largely reduced and a series of agreements are†¦ Chapter 23 Over the Bitterroots September 1 – October 6, 1805 Summary and Analysis Led by Old Toby the party proceeds through the Rock y Mountains, covering incredibly difficult terrain.They meet a group of Salish Indians, purchase a few more horses and continue on. During the next week the weather breaks and snow begins to fall. The journey becomes very difficult and game is scarce, forcing the killing of three horses to feed the company. Fatigued, hungry, and depressed, the party makes little progress—perhaps ten miles per day—and reaches a critical breaking point. Faced with starvation Clark takes a few picked hunters and proceeds ahead at a rapid pace with the intent of hunting what game is available and leaving it along the trail for the larger party, led by Lewis.Lewis' group suffers several accidents with horses and frequently loses horses during the night but continues doggedly though dysentery and venereal disease weaken the men. Finally, after 160 miles of difficult terrain and†¦ Chapter 24 Down the Columbia October 8 – December 7, 1805 Summary and Analysis The men recover their strength and make rapid progress down the river. Even with the cumbersome dugout canoes the party sticks to the water and runs through numerous long and dangerous rapids.Old Toby becomes so afraid of the rapids that he sneaks off one evening and is not seen again. In early October, the expedition reaches the Snake River. They meet the Nez Percy Indians and establish friendly relations. Although the expedition does not stay in one place very long, Lewis manages to compile some language vocabularies and makes some ethnographic observations, including noting that the Indians possess items obviously acquired by trading with European sailors and are, unfortunately, fond of stealing anything they can.By mid-October, they reach the junction of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. Toward the end of October, the expedition encounters a prolonged series of savage rapids. Rather than a lengthy portage, Lewis and Clark†¦ Chapter 25 Fort Clatsop December 8, 1805 – March 23, 1806 Summary an d Analysis Amidst violent rain and windstorms, the expedition establishes Fort Clatsop, a small structure with two facing buildings joined by palisade walls to form a small interior parade ground. Lewis issues garrison orders and the long winter months of boredom begin.The men amuse themselves with sexual escapades among the receptive Indians, trading trinkets for partners and contracting venereal disease. Hunting parties wander ever farther afield and food remains very scarce. Lewis establishes a salt-making camp on the coast a few miles from the main fort—the men there boil seawater to collect salt. Throughout the winter, many groups of Chinook and Clatsop Indians visit—some are extremely friendly, others cause minor tensions. Most of the men of the expedition suffer from injury and illness at some point during the winter.Clark repetitively records in his journal that the area brings extreme boredom, monotony, and hunger. On one occasion a small group sets†¦ Cha pter 26 Jefferson and the West 1804 – 1806 Summary and Analysis This chapter contains a brief analysis of Thomas Jefferson's vision of the west. In brief, he subscribed to a vision of the United States stretching from coast to coast and considered that the Louisiana territory and the Pacific northwest were both rightfully components of his nation. A strident anti-British politician, he greatly desired to force the British fur traders out of American territory.Jefferson's views on the proper treatment of Indians are starkly at odds with his historic presentation as a great libertarian and proponent of human rights—the Indians must either join with the United States of America or remove themselves; there would be no recognition of sovereign rights. Jefferson stated that commerce with the Indians was preferable to military solutions because commerce was more profitable. The chapter also includes a discussion of the reception in St. Louis and Washington of dozens of Indian s who accepted Lewis' invitation to visit†¦Chapter 27 Return to the Nez Percy March 23 – June 9, 1806 Summary and Analysis The expedition sets out with a dread of the pending Rocky Mountain traverse. Food is scare and the men have taken to purchasing and eating Indian dogs. Lewis spends several days making jerky from what game is available. At the campsites through April many starving Indians visit, begging food and stealing trinkets. Tempers in camp flare as the thievery becomes more brazen and minor scuffles are common. On several occasions violent is averted only at the last moment.Rather than fight upriver against rapids and current Lewis determines to return along the Columbia route overland. The expedition has little left which is not necessary and when horses must be purchased, they must sacrifice part of their cooking kit to obtain them. At the end of April, the expedition meets and stays with Wallawalla and Yakima Indians; they are fed and receive more horses an d are given information about trail conditions†¦ Chapter 28 The Lolo Trail June 10 – July 2, 1806 Summary and Analysis The party proceeds into the mountains and encounters snow so deep there is no forage for the horses and the trail cannot be located.After a brief discussion, they turn back. Several days later, they acquire Indian guides who lead them quickly and surely through the mountains. On the far side of the Bitterroot Mountains their confidence swells out of proportion to common sense and the party determines to split up and conduct separate investigations of alternative routes. In all, the Corps of Discovery will divide into five small groups and execute a reckless and complicated series of investigatory travels. Various points of rendezvous are established and the plan is delivered to the men.Chapter 29 The Marias Exploration July 3 – July 28, 1806 Summary and Analysis The text covers only Lewis' expedition to locate the northern headwaters of the Marias River; the book does not cover in detail the exploration conducted by any of the other groups, though their experiences are mentioned in passing. This chapter thus deals only with Meriwether Lewis and the few men that accompany him. In early July they set off to discover whether the headwaters of the Marias River—and thus of the Missouri River drainage basin—extend beyond 49 degrees north latitude.If they do, then the United States of America can lay legal claim to more territory due to the terms of the Louisiana Purchase. The small group proceeds down the Big Blackfoot River as far as White Bear Island without major incident. They are happy to once again be on the plains where game is plentiful but they also once again find the mosquitoes nearly unbearable. They recover their cache†¦ Chapter 30 The Last Leg July 29 – September 22, 1806 Summary and Analysis Lewis' group proceeds by water to the junction of the Yellowstone River, the site of planned rendezv ous with Clark.Clark has left a note and moved ahead. Lewis pursues through a land of abundant game and abundant mosquitoes, making excellent progress without incident until mid-August. At that time, Lewis and a nearsighted one-eyed private are hunting elk when Lewis is shot in the buttocks. He calls out for the private who does not respond—Lewis hobbles back to the canoes and rouses the alarm of an Indian attack. The men go on the offensive but shortly return with the missing private and state no Indians are in the area.Later Lewis recovers another letter from Clark informing him that one of the smaller expeditions, having completely failed in its mission, has rejoined with Clark. Lewis thus spends a terrible night; too sore to be moved from the pirogue he passes the†¦ Chapter 31 Reporting to the President September 23 – December 31, 1806 Summary and Analysis In St. Louis, Lewis immediately writes a brief letter to Jefferson and also writes personal commendations for each of his men, noting with satisfaction that all members of the party have returned in good health.Lewis also once again appealed directly to Jefferson on Clark's behalf, noting the successful prosecution of the adventure was due equally to both men. The group then spends a month in St. Louis settling financial affairs and playing the role of heroes, enjoying fame and being entertained. In early November the party proceeds to Louisville and then to Frankfort where it splits into various smaller groups that proceed to their various destinations. Clark goes to Fincastle, Virginia, to visit with friends, while Lewis continues on to Charlottesville with Big White, the Indian chief.Late in December, after a lengthy trip of many public appearances, Lewis arrives in Washington. No account of the initial meetings between†¦ Chapter 32 Washington January – March 1807 Summary and Analysis In Washington Lewis once again lives with Jefferson and spends weeks and months prepari ng reports and revising his journal. The men of the expedition are all rewarded with substantial but not extravagant land warrants and pay—for example, Lewis' total amounts to some $7,262. Lewis and Clark both receive promotions, Lewis civilly as the Governor of the Louisiana Territory and Clark within the military.The book notes that Lewis is singularly unprepared to act as Territorial Governor and the appointment is one of Thomas Jefferson's great mistakes. Clark soon departs for St. Louis but Lewis remains in Washington, ostensibly to see to the private publication of the journals of the expedition. Lewis, faced with competing publication of other expedition members' journals, becomes uncharacteristically sarcastic about the relative merit of his subordinates' journals. Meanwhile, Clark becomes engaged, and Jefferson begins to distribute seeds collected by Lewis to his eminent botanist friends.Much†¦ Chapter 33 Philadelphia April – July 1807 Summary and Analysi s In the spring of 1807, Lewis leaves Washington for Philadelphia where he arranges for the publication of the journals, promised in three volumes costing $31 for the set. Lewis contacts several acquaintances for assistance in preparing the various volumes of the journals. Lewis' biological and botanical samples are catalogued and then delivered, with Jefferson's approval, to Charles Willson Peale's Museum in Independence Hall. Lewis, recently admitted as a member, also lectures at the American Philosophical Society.He also commissions artists to render relevant plates for inclusion in the journals, and Peale renders Lewis' portrait, as does C. B. J. Fyvret de Saint-Mymin. Lewis hires mathematicians to convert his copious observations into corrected latitude and longitude measurements. Finally, Lewis and Clark purchase one other journal written by a sergeant on the voyage, presumably to forestall its publication and subsequent competition. Strangely, amidst all this preparation for publication, Lewis overlooks the single†¦Chapter 34 Virginia August 1806 – March 1807 Summary and Analysis In late July, Lewis travels from Philadelphia to Washington and settles his receipts with the war department. He then tours through several cities and acquaints himself with several young women who fail to meet his expectations, and a few more who for unknown reasons do not find him suitable. For eight months, Lewis' whereabouts are unknown and through that time he accomplishes little more than nothing. Although he receives letters and correspondence from Jefferson and his family, he does not reply.Ambrose speculates that depression, alcohol, and malaria may explain his lack of production. At any rate, he appears in St. Louis in late winter of 1808 and produces a complex report on the situation of the Louisiana Territory. The consideration of the relative merits of the report consumes most of the brief chapter. Lewis suggests excluding the British from Louisiana Ter ritory, greatly increasing the military presence in the area,†¦ Chapter 35 St. Louis March – December 1808 Summary and Analysis In 1808 St. Louis is a vibrant and multi-cultural city and the dominant western city in the United States of America.Ambrose describes the city's unique flavor and brief history in some detail. Tensions between the old Spanish and French established business families and the new American businessmen are tense. Lewis' predecessor, General Wilkinson, had administered the territory with one eye on his own pocketbook and thus the political and economic situations are complicated and uncertain. Administering such a complex and vast territory would be a challenge for an accomplished and professional politician—it was simply beyond the ability of the young Lewis. Lewis arrives in St.Louis devoid of the melancholic depression that has apparently afflicted him for the past several months. He rents a house and engages in the social life of the city , drinking hard and spending many hours in dissipation. He does attempt to manage the rabble†¦ Chapter 36 St. Louis January – August 1809 Summary and Analysis Lewis continues to work as the governor of the territory, making some good decisions and many bad ones. He begins to take regular doses of opium and morphine, ostensibly to treat his malaria—soon, however, he is strongly addicted and frequently addled.Moreover, he continues to routinely become drunk in the company of less-notable political hangers-on; by today's standards, he would be considered an alcoholic. His personal finances are in complete disarray and his public expenditures are alarming. He arranges a merging of personal and public interests, which draws wide criticism—he helps to establish a fur trapping and trading company, grants the company a monopoly on trade, and funds the company's initial expedition with public funds. All this, he justifies by charging the company with the task of ret urning Big White to the Mandan villages.Although not hugely aberrant in concept for the day and place, the scale of the questionable†¦ Chapter 37 Last Voyage September 3 – October 11, 1809 Summary and Analysis In early September, Lewis sets out for Washington. He brings along the journals of the Lewis and Clark expedition, a few personal belongings, and a huge dossier of receipts, notes, and requests for public expenditure. He hopes to arrange his documentation and present his case to the government so they will honor his many public debts. He travels initially by river but finds the heat and humidity intolerable.In addition he drinks heavily, takes frequent snuff, many pills, and opium. His behavior is wild and outlandish and he then attempts suicide on two occasions. He is put ashore in charge of an army captain who places him under suicide watch. Lewis writes some garbled letters explaining his delay to distant officials. After about a week Lewis' derangement lifts an d he determines to proceed overland to Washington. For several days, Lewis and several attendants travel overland. Lewis' mood is dark and†¦ Chapter 38 Aftermath Summary and AnalysisMany years after Lewis' death, some researchers have proposed that he might have been murdered. Ambrose considers the evidence and dispenses entirely with the theory by noting that Clark and Jefferson both accepted Lewis' suicide at face value. Lewis was malarial, depressed, and highly stressed. He was an alcoholic and a drug addict, an inveterate user of snuff, a habitual smoker, and frequently greatly over-medicated himself with curatives of the period, which often contained mercury. Any one of these factors alone could have motivated him to suicide; taken as a group they are a more than convincing rationale.Coupling all this with his widely reported erratic and despondent behavior, the argument against suicide appears insubstantial. Lewis' estate is bequeathed to his mother and liquidated by his half-brother. The signal failure of his latter years remained packed into trunks—his unpublished journals. Clark obtains the expedition journals and travels to Monticello to†¦ Big Whitee Big White was a Mandan chief. He agreed to accompany the expedition on its return voyage and visit President Jefferson in Washington. He, his family, and a party of soldiers were attacked and repelled by a group of Arikaras on their return trip. gt;/p; Cameahwait Cameahwait was a Shonshoni chief who aided the Lewis and Clark expedition. Cameahwait's people provided horses and Old Toby to guide the expedition through the Bitterroot Mountains. Cameahwait also turned out to be Sacagawea's brother. Toussaint Charbonneau Charbonneau was a French Canadian. At the time he met the Lewis and Clark company, he was living among the Hidatsas as an independent trader. Sacagawea was one of his wives. Lewis and Clark eagerly signed him on as an interpreter, thus gaining the service of Sacagawea. Lewis was disappointed with Charbonneau, however, calling him â€Å"a man of no particular merit. Pierre Chouteau houteau, along with his half-brother Auguste, co-founded St†¦. Undaunted Courage | Summary Lewisaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ Early Life The first five chapters of Undaunted Courage detail Lewisaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ life before undertaking the expedition. Lewis was born to a distinguished Virginia plantation family in 1774. As a boy, Lewis spent several years living in a Georgia frontier colony. After his return from Georgia at the age of thirteen, he was given several years of formal education so that he would be prepared to manage the estate he had inherited from his father.However, he only spent a few years on the Virginia plantation; instead, he volunteered for the Virginia militia in 1794. He spent the next six years in the military, and his service required him to travel throughout much of the American frontier. However, in 1801, President Jeffersonaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ a longtime acquaintan ce of the Lewis familyaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬ asked Lewis to serve as his personal secretary and aide. Captain Lewis quickly gave up his military commission and moved to the presidentaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s residence in Washington. Planning the Expedition Jefferson had long been interested in sending an expedition to explore the west.When Jefferson learned that the British were planning to engage in the fur trade in the Pacific Northwest, he was galvanized into action. In 1802, Jefferson chose Lewis to command an expedition to the Pacific. Lewis had three main goals: find an all-water route to the Pacific Ocean; tell the Indians they had a new leader and bring them into the American trading network; and explore the northern tributaries of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers, which would determine the northern extent of the boundary of the Louisiana Purchase.Jefferson was also keenly interested in scientific inquiry. In preparation for the journey, Lewis studied geography, botany, mineralogy, as tronomy, and ethnology with leading American scientists. He also made decisions on what and how many supplies to bring, what presents to give the Indians, and how many men to employ in the company. He oversaw the construction of a boat that would take the company up the Mississippi River. Lewis also decided he needed a co-commander, and he chose Clark, whom he had met in the military.Although Clarkaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s official rank was never promoted beyond that of lieutenant, which dismayed Lewis greatly, the two men shared command. While preparations were being made, the Louisiana Purchase was also completed, giving the United States ownership of much of the land over which the men would travel. Up the Missouri On August 31, 1803, Lewis set forth down the Ohio River. He met with Clark in Clarksville, Indian Territory, where they enlisted men in their Corps of Discovery. The party then sailed upriver to Wood River, where they set up winter camp.Clark oversaw the preparations for the tr ip while Lewis took charge of purchasing supplies in St. Louis. On May 22, 1804, the Corps of Discovery, made up of almost fifty men, was finally on its way. It consisted of a large keelboat and two smaller boats. The boats traveled more than 640 miles upriver before encountering a single Indian. On August 2, a party of Oto arrived at the expeditionaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s camp. Lewis told them about Jefferson, their new Great Father, and gave them gifts. On August 20, the expedition suffered its only fatality when Sgt. Charles Floyd died of a ruptured appendix.In September, the Corps met a large party of Sioux and visited the Sioux village. In October, the group approached the Mandan villages in present-day North Dakota. The friendly Mandans were at the center of Northern Plainsaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ trade. The men built Fort Mandan, where they spent the winter. They also met a French-Canadian trader, Charbonneau, and his wife, Sacagawea, who joined the Corps as translators. A small group of men sailed back down the Missouri to bring back information about the expedition thus far. Westward Bound On April 7, 1805, the expedition was ready to move west.Eight days later, the expedition passed the farthest point upstream on the Missouri known by Lewis to have been reached by white men. The men hunted buffalo and had their first grizzly bear sighting. In June, the party crossed the Missouri and discovered that two large rivers met. They had to decide which river was the Missouri. They chose the south fork and followed the river to the Great Falls. At this point, the men had to carry their canoes overland. They had reached the foot of the Rocky Mountains and wanted to meet the Shoshoni. After several days, the men came across a Shoshoni party.Their leader was Cameahwait, who was Sacagaweaaâ‚ ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s brother. They traded for horses with the Shoshoni and hired an Indian guide, Old Toby, to take them across the mountains. Once across the mountains, the men traveled down the Col umbia toward the Pacific. They discovered that rapids and falls broke up the Columbia for almost a fifty-mile stretch. The men shot the rapids while the important supplies were carried by hand. They continued onward to the Pacific. The party built Fort Clatsop as their winter camp. By this time, the party had very little goods left to trade.When the Clatsops would not sell them a canoe that they needed, Lewis told his men to steal it. In March 1806, the men turned eastward on their way home. Heading Home The men headed east up the Columbia, which was hard going. They decided to go overland instead and purchased horses from the Nez PercA ©. Lewis also hoped to persuade them to send some guides and diplomats with them back east. The Nez PercA ©, however, said it was too early to cross the mountains, but the Corps was determined to do so. They headed out but soon discovered it was impossible to keep to the trail, which was hidden under feet of snow.They realized the difficulty of t heir undertaking but luckily came across two young Indians crossing the mountains and quickly engaged them as guides. Thus they reached the other side of the Continental Divide safely. Lewis and Clark parted company briefly in July. Lewis wanted to explore the northern river that had met the Missouri, the Maria. He hoped that it would extend far northward, giving the United States more land. He took a small party of men. After several days out, they got into a fight with some Blackfeet Indians and shot two. However, Lewis and his men escaped unharmed.They met up with Clark at the Point of Reunion in present-day North Dakota, and the entire party continued on to Fort Mandan. Then they headed down the Missouri. They met trading boats, which gave them the first news of the country they had heard since their departure. They arrived in St. Louis on September 22, 1806. Lewis immediately sat down to write a report to Jefferson telling him of their discoveries. After the Expedition Lewis we nt to Washington in January and after that on to Philadelphia. He made plans to publish his journals. Jefferson also appointed him the governor of the Louisiana Territory.Lewis, however, did little work, either on the journals or as the governor. He did not arrive in St. Louis until March 1808, at which point he was already experiencing bouts of depression and drinking heavily. In St. Louis, he attempted to set up a fur trade business with his friends and invested money in land speculation. He also spent money outfitting an expedition to return a Mandan chief to his homeland; however, the government decided not to reimburse him for these expenses. Lewis undertook a journey to Washington but died, apparently a suicide, on October 11, 1809.

Symbolism In English literatureâ€â€œGravity” Essay

Symbolism is a good tool to use when we come across difficult abstract concepts such as life and death.For example, in her article entitled â€Å"Gravity†, David Leavitt tells us a story about how a mom named Sylvia encourages her HIV infected son Theo to live longer. When Theo started to have bad eye sight in his childhood Sylvia just let him wear her flamboyant glasses despite that people around them all think that Theo looks strange. After Theo grew up, between a drug that could sustain his life and a drug that could save his sight, Theo chose the second one. Sylvia worried that Theo would give up the hope for living, so she tried to encourage Theo to live by a strange way which similar to the way she help him with his sight when he was a child. She threw a very heavy crystal bowl to Theo when they were shopping in a gift store. Theo caught the bowl without thinking. Theo realized that by throwing the bowl, on one side, Sylvia tended to prove that he is still alive. On the other side, Sylvia wanted to encourage him to live longer. The crystal bowl in the story represents exactly what Theo was going through. It symbolizes both life and death. It represents life because it was heavy and valuable â€Å"(The crystal bowl is) Four hundred and twenty- five dollars† (l. 88) This shows that the crystal bowl is very valuable just like that human’s life is very precious. In the same time, crystal bowl represent death because it could easily been shattered. Theo was surprised that he actually did not shatter the bowl â€Å"Theo looked at the floor, still surprised not to see shards of glass around his feet.† (l. 96-97) If the crystal bowl were broken, it would have not value or meaning just like it has lost its life. So, the Crystal bowl in the story represents death. If the bowl shattered, it just like a person lost his/her life. The crystal bowl also represents the character and hopes of Sylvia. The crystal in the story is very showing and pricy. â€Å"(The crystal bowl is) a large ridges crystal bowl, a very fifties sort of bowl, stalwart and square-jawed.† (l. 84-86) It represents Sylvia’s flamboyant and materialism characters. The author tells us that Sylvia has a flamboyant character by describing Sylvia’s bold and flashy glasses†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ harlequins with tiny rhinestones in the corners†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (l. 9) The author also implies that Sylvia is quite materialism by showing us that she care a lot abo ut the price of a graduation gift her sister given to her son  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Don’t you remember that cheap little nothing Bibi gave you for your graduation? It was disgusting.†(l.50-51) On the other hand, the crystal bowl represents the strength of Sylvia’s hope for Theo to live because the crystal bowl is heavy â€Å"’That’s heavy,’ Sylvia said, observing with satisfaction how the bowl had weighted Theo’s arms down†(l.93-94) The heavier the stronger, so the heaviness of the crystal bowl represent the strong will and hope of Sylvia. The author shows us that Sylvia is a strong willed woman who has done extremely stressful things in a role â€Å"The DHPG injections she (Sylvia) took in stride—she’s seen her own mother through her dying, after all, Four times a day, with the equanimity of a nurse, she cleaned out the plastic tube implanted in his chest, inserted a sterilized hypodermic a Sylvia and slowly dripped bag of sight-giving liquid into his vein†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (l.17-20) It shows that Sylvia has tremendous strength just like the toughness the crystal bowl appeared to be. The author also shows us that Sylvia’s hope for Theo to live is very strong. Even though Sylvia was stressed out †Yet she (Sylvia) had also, at about three o’clock one morning, woken him up to tell him she was going to the twenty-four- hour supermarket, and was there anything her wanted†(1. 122-124) This shows that Sylvia was on the edge of mental broken-down. But Sylvia still keeps strong hope for The o to live â€Å"†¦ it had occurred to him (Theo) that she (Sylvia) was trusting his two feeble hands, out of the whole world, to keep it from shattering.† This shows that after all, Sylvia strongly hoped that, showing Theo that he was still strong by throwing the crystal bowl and letting him catch it, Theo would not continue on giving up his life but choose to live longer. The crystal also symbolized the general message which the author is trying to convey to the readers: life should be fully lived. The author shows that Theo was dying and tended to giving up his life. He felt â€Å"†¦wide and unswimmable the gulf was becoming between him and the evereceding shoreline of the will †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (l. 35-36) Even though he felt that way, he still caught the heavy crystal bowl without thinking. It shows the underlining deep and significant meaning of the story â€Å"There are certain things you’ve already done before you even think how to do them†¦ the bowl, which Theo was holding before he could even begin to calculate its brief trajectory†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (l.131-133) This shows us that all human have an instinct for living. By showing us this, the story conveys a message to the readers that even though life is  violable like the fragile crystal bowl; it doesn’t mean that we should give up. Instead, we should look at the positive side of life. Just like the crystal bowl also heavy and strong side, human lives also have a strong side because very one have instinct for living. Therefore, we should have faith to ourselves and stop complaining our own misery but start to look at life in a positive way, and realize that our lives should be fully lived.

The High Priest of Globalization essays

The High Priest of Globalization essays Everyone remembers the times in early childhood when their dad would hand them a picture book and ask them what they saw. Unbeknownst to the child, the picture contained a hidden picture or message. Although difficult to see, it was there. Even if refused by acknowledgement, it still existed. Such is the case with todays government. The so called "world leaders" are only puppets acting under the control of the great puppeteers. Whether it is soaring gas prices, a fluctuating economy, or shifts in political power; secret entities of elite caliber are the masterminds behind all world affairs. These expert manipulators covertly gather behind closed doors and make decisions that affect the lives of every human being on the face of the earth. By exploiting political positions, exclusive members of the Trilateral Commission secretly direct, manipulate, and are making advances to eventually control the governments of the world, as a whole. The Trilateral Commission is an American based, political super power that claims to have its interest asserted in shaping and protecting foreign policy. The founder of the Trilateral Commission and chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank, David Rockefeller, wrote to the New York Times and said: My point is that far from being a coterie of international conspirators with designs on covertly conquering the world, the Trilateral Commission is, in reality, a group of concerned citizens interested in identifying and clarifying problems facing the world and in fostering greater understanding and cooperation among international allies. It is easy to say that their cause is benevolent, but are there ulterior motives? Is the Trilateral Commission attempting to mold public policy and construct a framework for international stability in the coming decades? Commission members such as David Rockefeller and former President Jimmy Carter are in such influential positi...

Learn How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story

Learn How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story If youve ever been assigned a book report, you may have been asked to address the  theme of the book. In order to do that, you really have to understand what a theme is. Many people, when asked to describe the theme of a book will describe the plot synopsis, but thats not the same as the theme.   Understanding Themes A books theme is the main idea that flows through the narrative and connects the components of the story together. A work of fiction may have one theme  or many, and they arent always easy to pinpoint right away. In many stories, the theme develops over time, and it isnt until youre well into reading the novel or short story that you fully understand the underlying theme or themes.   Themes can be broad or they can focus on a specific notion. For example, a romance novel may have the obvious, but very general, theme of love, but the storyline may also address issues of society or family. Many stories have a major theme and several minor themes that help develop the major theme.   The Differences Between Theme, Plot, and Moral A books theme is not the same as its plot or its moral lesson, but these elements are related and necessary in building the larger story. The plot of a novel is the action that takes place within the course of the narrative. The moral is the lesson that the reader is supposed to learn from the plots conclusion. Both reflect the larger theme and work to present what that theme is to the reader. A storys theme isnt typically stated outright. Often it is suggested by a thinly veiled lesson or  details contained within the plot. In the nursery tale The Three Little Pigs, the narrative revolves around three pigs and a wolfs pursuit of them. The wolf destroys their first two homes, shoddily built of straw and twigs. But the third home, painstakingly built of brick, protects the pigs and the wolf is defeated. The pigs (and the reader) learn that only hard work and preparation will lead to success. Thus, you can say that the theme of The Three Little Pigs is about making smart choices. If you find yourself struggling to identify the theme of a book youre reading, theres a simple trick you can use. When you finish reading, ask yourself to sum up the book in a single word. For example, you could say preparation best symbolizes The Three Little Pigs. Next, use that word as the foundation for a complete thought such as, Making smart choices requires planning and preparation, which could be interpreted as the moral of the story.   Symbolism and Theme As with any art form, the theme of a novel or short story may not necessarily be clear. Sometimes, writers will use a character or object as a  symbol or motif  that hints at a larger theme or themes. Consider the novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, which recounts the story of an immigrant family living in New York City in the early 20th century. The tree growing up through the sidewalk in front of their apartment is more than just part of the neighborhood background. The tree is a feature of both the plot and the theme. It thrives in spite of its harsh surroundings, much like the main character Francine as she comes of age.   Even years later, when the tree has been chopped down, a small green shoot remains. The tree serves as a stand-in for Francines immigrant community and the themes of resilience in the face of adversity and the pursuit of the American dream. Examples of Themes in Literature There are several themes that are  reoccurring  in literature, many of which we can identify quickly. But some themes are a little harder to figure out. Consider these popular general themes in literature to see if any of them might be appearing in something youre reading right now. FamilyFriendshipLoveOvercoming hardshipsComing of ageDeathStruggling with inner demonsGood vs. Evil Your Book Report Once youve determined what the main theme of the story is, youre  almost ready to  write your book report. But before you do, you may need to consider what components of the story stood out the most to you. To accomplish this, you may need to reread the text to find examples of the theme of the book. Be concise; you dont need to repeat every detail of the plot or use multi-sentence quotes from a character in the novel, a few key examples can suffice. Unless youre writing an extensive analysis, a few short sentences should be all you need to provide evidence of a books theme. Pro Tip:  As you read, use sticky notes to flag significant passages that you think may point to the theme; consider all of them together once youve finished reading.   Key Terms Theme:  The main idea that connects all elements of the narrative.  Plot:  The action that takes place over  the course of the narrative.Moral:  A lesson that the reader is intended to learn from the plots conclusion.Symbolism:  The use of a particular object or image to represent a larger idea.   Article edited  by  Stacy Jagodowski

Research Paper on Corporation and Security of Staff Devices

Research Paper on Corporation and Security of Staff Devices Research Paper on Corporation and Security of Staff Devices Abstract In the past, people could only use computers owned and managed by a company, and no one would think of lugging in their personal computers (PC) to use in the company. However, today, many things have become quite different. Many employees use personal devices such as tablets, smart phones, and many other gadgets that promote efficacy in communication. The use of these handheld devices by the staffs within an organization has provided services as well as a constant connectivity to workers. Despite the merits of new technological devices in a corporation, they are presenting new threats to the corporate assets (Mitchell, 2004). Research Problem The employees’ personal devices are causing ongoing concern in most companies concerning information security. For example, there are sensitive corporate information which can easily be transported as well as lost by using these devices. However, the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement in most organizations has led to an increasing number of expensive security incidents. The main problem in this case is that most corporations are still relying on the staff personal devices such as personal laptop for business (Loader, Biggs, 2002). These ancient devices do not have the same security level than those of the company leading to serious security threats to corporate information. This research proposal will discuss on the use of personal devices within the corporate as well as the security issues associated with the use of these devices (Burke, 2006). The issue of security level has become very problematic to many organizations since the employees using these devices usually jeopardize company security through loss and theft, malware, spam, phishing and Bluetooth (Zachary, 2004). It is evident that the use of staff personal devices is growing rampantly and affecting the corporate of all sizes. Therefore, the organizations that allow their staff to bring in personal organization in the premises should ensure that there is proper security implemented to control these risks (Quigley, 2008). From the research collected in various organizations, it is indicated that about 93% of the staffs have mobile devices that connect to the corporate networks and 67% allow personal devices to connect to corporate networks. It is also evident that the staff personal devices are causing challenges especially for the corporate IT security department (Mitchell, 2004). Most of the companies that allowed personal devices to access their networks, it was reported that the employees used their own smart phones, tablets, and other devices to handle business information leading to security issues (Zdziarski, 2008). The most common challenge faced by the IT corporations include the secu rity breaches particularly regarding the corporate information, tracking and controlling access to corporate and private networks, and managing personal devices containing the corporate as well as personal data and applications (Relationship and Resource Management in Operations, Securities Institute Operations Management, 2003). Aim of the Research The research proposal will discuss the corporation reliance on staff using their personal laptop, smart phones for business purposes. The justification for focusing on this issue is that the employees’ personal devices seem not to possess the same security level like those of the company. The aim of this research paper is to contribute to the understanding of various risks issues that are brought upon by using personal devices within an organization (IFPO, 2010). Significance of the Research Most staff members often feel comfortable using their own devices as opposed to using the corporate machines. In the United States of America, about 46% of the businesses are today allowing their staffs to use personally owned PCs (Steinberg, 2007). Several researches in this sector, such as the information technology research and advisory company continue reporting that in the future, employers will require their employees to supply their own devices to be used for business purposes (Lee, Swartz, 2007). Today, the significance of using personal computers is mainly focuses on the factors of choice and convenience for employees as well as saving costs for the employers. Most corporations rely on the staffs’ personal devices because they cause a significant time shift in the working behavior of the employees (Keyes, 2010). However, some corporations that allow staffs to carry their personal devices in the company have become successful in certain respects (Winch, 2010). For ins tance, the devices enable employees to conveniently send and reply to emails at any time, and from any location. This particularly applies to situations where the staff members are taken to do a field research by the organization (Reddy, 2010). Personal devices have enabled catching up on emails to be quite easy and fitted with employee performance. By using the devices, employees quickly handle even the most challenging tasks by relying on the personal devices for communication while managers can obtain prompt responses to their enquiries as well (Keyes, 2002). The other benefit of using personal devices in corporate is that the users will find the devices to be always at hand as compared to big machines implemented within the organizations. Therefore, staff members tend to have ready access to the businesses, personal information as well as check on the organizations latest business figures. The ready access to information offers a greater choice in a way the staff members work (Mahmood Szewczak, 2010). Research Methodologies Mobility can bring both advantages as well as risks to the corporate. As the staff members bring their personal devices into the workplace, most organizations are motivated to encourage the use of these devices for business purposes because they increase employee productivity within the premises (Lucas, 2012). Personal devices especially the portable ones can give the employees access to the corporate resources and continuous collaboration with business partners. The other advantage of using these devices is that they reduce the IT costs by allowing employees to often pay for their own personal devices rather than rely on the ones provided by the company. Therefore, most companies save IT spending on the device purchases and communication services (Zdziarski, 2008). The research also showed that the use of personal devices for work has become very consistent across all the sampled companies (Winch, 2012). Little variation was seen in the number of businesses claiming that they have p ersonal devices on their corporate networks, from the smallest business, which is about 65 % to the largest 68%. Corporation reliance on employees using their personal laptops and smart phones would promote productivity as this allows flexibility and mobility (Wolowitz, Tharp, Rubin, 2010). However, over-reliance on employees’ personal gadgets would compromise the security of corporate data and information. Therefore, the corporate needs to recognize that when the employees connect mobile devices to the organizations systems, the devices must then be treated just like any IT equipment with appropriate security controls (Keyes, 2010). The security issues of these devices should be addressed by the corporate at the outset because the devices used may become a point of security weakness, which threatens to disclose business information. It is evident that most hackers have discovered that the staff members carrying their personal devices to the corporate may have linked both business and personal data within the system (Snoyer, 2004). Therefore, it would be easy for the hackers to get more and more information regarding the corporate. Given that personal devices platforms have not been natively designed to provide comprehensive security, hackers have a strong incentive of developing new techniques or create the mobile-centric malware for the devices (Zdziarski, 2008). Access to Data The access of data to this research proposal will be gained by using both the primary and secondary sources. The data will also be collected using interviews and questionnaires for the corporate who allow their workers to bring in their personal devices to the organization. Access to these data will not be conditional because many corporate have for many years endured security issues in regards to allowing the staff to bring in their personal devices to the organization (Burke, 2006). Ethical Issues In the research Employees can compromise the security of a corporation by abusing their personal devices in various ways (Schultz, 2006). For instance, they may use these devices for other functions other than the stipulated official purposes. Blogging and spending so much time on social networking sites are other forms of abuse that eat into staff working hours and bring unnecessary costs to the organization (Melky Harnest, 2010). These issues can be addressed by pre-programming the devices or network proxy for authentication and access control. Conclusion Employees who bring their personal computers within the corporate usually do this for personal convenience and they are privy to the fact that they are publicizing their preferences even to hackers. The number of organizations that allow their staff to use their personal devices such as smart phones and iPhones are at an all-time high because these companies tend to give the employees greater say over their used devices. Today, workers on the other hand are also driving the tablet sales and point to tablets as the preferred method of consuming content. Caution should be taken by the corporations and employees to ensure that corporate information is secured away from the reach of hackers. Visit our research paper writing service which will help you with writing a research paper on any topic and discipline. Just visit our writing company!

2. List and describe the four types of healing Essay

2. List and describe the four types of healing - Essay Example Healers are gifted sense of the â€Å"sacred world† and have ties with spiritual force. Generally speaking, healing is less expensive than physicians. There are four types of healing that are vital towards rehabilitation and recuperation. The four basic types of healing consist of: forgiveness, inner healing of memories, physical healing, and breaking strongholds. Forgiveness is one of the most vital aspects that enable individuals to ponder deeply in thought about their actions. Forgiveness is part of inner healing since the cause of suffering is a personal sin. The main antidote for forgiveness is not only repentance but to understand that all humans sin. The second most basic type of healing consists of inner healing. Inner healing consists of realizing that humans are not control of all aspects of life. Inner healing is vital as it enables an individual to reach inner peace within themselves without always thinking about atoning for their sins. Inner healing consists of understanding an issue and admitting that you as a person tried your best to achieve your goal. Life is filled with obstacles and trials that will continue to challenge individuals. When a personal suffers from emotional illness, inner healing is utilized. The main foundation of the problem of is the fact that humans are unconscious about not forgiving. This holistic approach should aim to heal a person’s memory. Conducive holistic health directory offers a variety of holistic  healing therapies. Some individuals have always been victims of physical, social, and emotional abuse. The inner healing process is complicated and very sensitive as it strives to re store the emotional health of the person. The third type of healing is physical healing. Physical healing also include inner healing power, support from peers. However, physical healing can also mean having proper nutrition, taking healthy supplements, and any other

Media Interview Plan Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Media Interview Plan Development - Essay Example We acknowledge our mistake and necessary evaluation, adjustments and upgrades are now implemented while we are also constantly re-evaluating our plan so that we will be more responsive to any development there that similar incident can be mitigated if not totally prevented in the future. Let me assure you that the Army is doing everything within its capability and resources to ensure that similar result will not happen again. It was a loss of men and equipment that we do not take lightly. Our new plan and upgrade might not have seen action yet but let me assure you that such plan and upgrades were designed to ensure that similar incident will not happen again. There may be tactical miscalculation in our part that resulted in the unfortunate incident of wiping the original planning cell but the deployment of the troops there is strategically necessary. But let me tell you that we are not taking the incident lightly. We are currently re-evaluating the strategy employed there, including the rules of engagement to help mitigate and even prevent the same situation from happening again. As I have already mentioned evaluation of the strategy is now currently under way. Let me assure you that we are doing an overhaul of our plan with our panel of experts taking time to look into factors that we might not have considered. As we speak now also, we have already implemented an enhanced training among our personnel to make them more adoptable. We also did capability enhancing measure that includes upgrading of military hardwares. The new plan, training and upgrade have not yet see any action so we still cannot objectively asses its efficacy. But let me tell you that it is way better than the previous plan and necessary precautions and review has been done to mitigate if not prevent similar incidence from ever happening again. That is a possibility but we can also look at it this way, in the entire history of US

Analyse and discuss how the introduction of internet technologies has Essay

Analyse and discuss how the introduction of internet technologies has and is changing retailing. Give examples to illustrate your answer - Essay Example Over the years, the advancements on the internet have led to many companies adapting to the use of online. Online retailing or e-retailing resulted in the development of the e-tail ware (software tools that help in creating online catalogue and at the same managing those businesses connected with the e-tailing). The introduction of internet technologies has been and is still changing retailing; companies have adapted the system of online retailing, as it is fast and cheaper that of "physical" retailing (Doherty & Ellis-Chadwick, F, 2010). Its emergence brought about some benefits that included the ability to offer unusual, unique products and services, improve the economic gains, and made distribution of these products more efficient. The e-retailing also results to an assortment of complementary products. Examples of these businesses that adapt to the concept of online retailing include the Netflix and the Amazon. These companies usually dispense with the staffing and the costs requirements and exist only on the internet. The introduction of the e-retailing (internet technologies) concept greatly influences the way businesses handle their customers; however even with the many benefits resulting from the concept they also have several disadvantages. These disadvantages include security issues, in that the sharing of data may not be secure and may face threats suck as ‘hacking. Another disadvantage is that the use of the concept includes the lack of proper payment system, slow internet connections at times, and there may be limited access to the customer/consumers. The impact has impacts on retailing (the impacts of e-retailing), for the positive impacts of using online retailing is the cost. Use of online retailing reduces the costs of marketing, for example, the cost of referencing and storing a product in e-retail website is less that the cost of referencing and storing a product in a "physical" store. With the

Kraft s Cadbury acquisition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Kraft s Cadbury acquisition - Essay Example This is because, the sale of a product is a factor of the perception of the consumers, as well as the inherent tastes and preferences (Cho & Padmanabhan 2005). The differences in how certain products are also consumed and distributed are also part of the dynamics in the cultural environment that could impact a companys operations, especially in overseas situations. Receptiveness to Western products. Receptiveness to Western products is one of the challenges that Kraft-Cadbury faces when it comes to the mergers operations within the Indian continent. Because consumption is a function of taste, preferences, etc., the Indians slow responsiveness when it comes to the new tastes that Westerners bring can provide serious setbacks to the companys prospect for growth in the country. This is apparent in Cadburys slow growth during the past years, although the brand is the largest in the country. For instance, in the confectionery industry chocolate is still not the top picks for Indians when it comes to snacks. Mithai, an assortment of traditional milk-made sweets, is still the most preferred snack by the Indians, which has left chocolate consumption low in the country when compared to other countries where Cadbury also sells its products – in the UK for example. If chocolates do not delight the Indian palates more than the mithai, the chances t hat Kraft in succeeding marketing its food products to compete to the more traditional local alternatives will be slim. Distribution. The unique distribution system in the country is one cultural factor that is relevant to Kraft-Cadburys operations in India. Foods are distributed in a unique distribution channel called kirana stores – small mom and pop stores that sell products for retail. 98% of foods are still distributed among these stores, although supermarkets and hypermarkets are starting to become common. This has been a part of the countrys culture, and creating a supply-chain system in order

Construction Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Construction Project Management - Essay Example A risk specialist for some critical projects will also do risk assessment. At this stage, the project manager will prepare a plan of project handover from the requirements in the technical advisory group. At this stage, the development of design is complete and the output is documented and structured as specifications and drawings to procure construction resources, equipment and materials to begin the construction process. These contemplations will have to take into consideration the comparison of costs, the requirements of time and the connection to the acute route and possibilities of replacement with regard to various construction systems (Uher & Loosemore, 2014, p.67). At this point, the understanding of the procedures that will be done to construct the buildings, there should be a breakdown of the phases into actions and an assessment of how to conduct the procedures (Stallworthy & Kharbanda, 2012, p.82). The construction site will comprise of HGV access and a car park, related drainage, hard standings, sprinkler tank with an out building, soft landscaping, cooler systems and sections for preparing bakery and meat. The targets include site security within the perimeters of the residential houses, ensuring that repair is done punctually to avoid further problems from taking place in cases of vandalism. There will also be access of car wash within the packing areas. This will reduce the HGV’s need of negotiating with other smaller roads. The targets include developing a related traffic and construction plan of management, identification of sensitive areas such as homes and schools, development of a map that indicates the trunk roads delivery drivers course to the site (Srikantaiah, Koenig & AL-Hawamdeh, 2012, p.176). Other targets includes prevention of cars from queuing outside the residential areas by putting procedures in place, informing the

Kraft s Cadbury acquisition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Kraft s Cadbury acquisition - Essay Example This is because, the sale of a product is a factor of the perception of the consumers, as well as the inherent tastes and preferences (Cho & Padmanabhan 2005). The differences in how certain products are also consumed and distributed are also part of the dynamics in the cultural environment that could impact a companys operations, especially in overseas situations. Receptiveness to Western products. Receptiveness to Western products is one of the challenges that Kraft-Cadbury faces when it comes to the mergers operations within the Indian continent. Because consumption is a function of taste, preferences, etc., the Indians slow responsiveness when it comes to the new tastes that Westerners bring can provide serious setbacks to the companys prospect for growth in the country. This is apparent in Cadburys slow growth during the past years, although the brand is the largest in the country. For instance, in the confectionery industry chocolate is still not the top picks for Indians when it comes to snacks. Mithai, an assortment of traditional milk-made sweets, is still the most preferred snack by the Indians, which has left chocolate consumption low in the country when compared to other countries where Cadbury also sells its products – in the UK for example. If chocolates do not delight the Indian palates more than the mithai, the chances t hat Kraft in succeeding marketing its food products to compete to the more traditional local alternatives will be slim. Distribution. The unique distribution system in the country is one cultural factor that is relevant to Kraft-Cadburys operations in India. Foods are distributed in a unique distribution channel called kirana stores – small mom and pop stores that sell products for retail. 98% of foods are still distributed among these stores, although supermarkets and hypermarkets are starting to become common. This has been a part of the countrys culture, and creating a supply-chain system in order

Communicating at Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Communicating at Work - Essay Example Proper communication is necessary to resolve conflicts that may happen among employees when job satisfaction decreases (Masters and Albright). When there is no communication between the supervisor and the subordinate, the former becomes oblivious to the latter’s needs and demands thus putting the latter under job stress which increases his dissatisfaction. This has bad effects on the organization in the long run. The manager has to remain informed about his employees and the only way he can do it is through communicating with them about what they want to get and what they need to do to achieve organizational goals. Workers need to communicate among themselves so that they can share views and ideas, and stay stress free. This is internal communication. External communication is also as much important which involves communicating with partners, shareholders and the customers. All this adds to the organization’s integrity and rapport which pays off in the long run in the f orm of employee and customer satisfaction. Works Cited Masters, Marick Francis, and Robert R. Albright. The Complete Guide to Conflict Resolution in the Workplace. USA: AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn, 2002.

Marines Essay Example for Free

Marines Essay The organization I chose is the U. S. Marines. I have a few friends who are in the Marines and thought I would like to know more about the inner workings of the core, from what my friends have to say to what can be read in articles and books. â€Å"The Marine Corps in the only general-purpose force in the Department of Defense trained and equipped as the Nation’s first responder. † (Conway, 2010) So, basically, the mission of the Marines is to be completely trained and ready to go if ever needed on short notice. The philosophy and vision for the Marines is to have the most courageous soldiers who possess the mental ability to think of their own and follow orders given to them to protect our people from all enemies. The Marines are a branch of the military, which means they are obviously similar to the Navy, Army and Airforce. Their motto, â€Å"the few and the proud†, refers to the many people who may try to join and the elite who actually make it though. They are the first to enter a warzone and are highly trained to make sure they know exactly what to do if that situation arises. Operating â€Å"far from the flagpole†, without the direct supervision of senior leadership but under the unforgiving scrutiny of the media, our young Marines must be integrated with the quality of character necessary to permit effective, independent decision making under extreme stress. † This quote directly relates to the idea of the Marines because they are usually in small groups with minimum leadership and sent into unfamiliar places, in which they must assess the situation in front of them and act accordingly. Although all branches of our military are equally important in my eyes, each has their own views of importance inside our military. Marines are viewed as an elite group of individuals from the top chain of command to the grunts in the field. The Marines run as any other company, they are recruited and trained and sent off to do their respective job s. They are compensated for their service and can choose to go career and spend their entire lives in the military. I believe their espoused values do align with their enacted values because they are said to be courageous and brave, and that is what we hear about and see when they are portrayed in the media. There are many factors, such as secret missions, that may be going on as we speak that we may never know about that could question the way we interpret their values but as an American I believe the missions they carry out are in our best interest.