The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Three

Elena and Damon were waiting in the darkroom. Stefan could sense their presence in the small annex as he pushed the door to the photography room open and led Matt inside. â€Å"These doors are supposed to be locked,† Matt said as Stefan flipped on the light switch. â€Å"They were,† said Stefan. He didn't know what else to say to prepare Matt for what was coming. He'd never deliberately revealed himself to a human before. He stood, quietly, until Matt turned and looked at him. The classroom was cold and silent, and the air seemed to hang heavily. As the moment stretched out, he saw Matt's expression slowly change from grief-numbed bewilderment to uneasiness. â€Å"I don't understand,† Matt said. â€Å"I know you don't.† He went on looking at Matt, purposefully dropping the barriers that concealed his Powers from human perception. He saw the reaction in Matt's face as uneasiness coalesced into fear. Matt blinked and shook his head, his breath coming quicker. â€Å"What-?† he began, his voice gravelly. â€Å"There are probably a lot of things you've wondered about me,† Stefan said. â€Å"Why I wear sunglasses in strong light. Why I don't eat. Why my reflexes are so fast.† Matt had his back to the darkroom now. His throat jerked as if he were trying to swallow. Stefan, with his predator's senses, could hear Matt's heart thudding dully. â€Å"No,† Matt said. â€Å"You must have wondered, must have asked yourself what makes me so different from everybody else.† â€Å"No. I mean-I don't care. I keep out of things that aren't my business.† Matt was edging toward the door, his eyes darting toward it in a barely perceptible movement. â€Å"Don't, Matt. I don't want to hurt you, but I can't let you leave now.† He could feel barely leashed need emanating from Elena in her concealment. Wait, he told her. Matt went still, giving up any attempt to move away. â€Å"If you want to scare me, you have,† he said in a low voice. â€Å"What else do you want?† Now, Stefan told Elena. He said to Matt, â€Å"Turn around.† Matt turned. And stifled a cry. Elena stood there, but not the Elena of that afternoon, when Matt had last seen her. Now her feet were bare beneath the hem of her long dress. The thin folds of white muslin that clung to her were caked with ice crystals that sparkled in the light. Her skin, always fair, had a strange wintry luster to it, and her pale gold hair seemed overlaid with a silvery sheen. But the real difference was in her face. Those deep blue eyes were heavy-lidded, almost sleepy looking, and yet unnaturally awake. And a look of sensual anticipation and hunger curled about her lips. She was more beautiful than she had been in life, but it was a frightening beauty. overlaid with a silvery sheen. But the real difference was in her face. Those deep blue eyes were heavy-lidded, almost sleepy looking, and yet unnaturally awake. And a look of sensual anticipation and hunger curled about her lips. She was more beautiful than she had been in life, but it was a frightening beauty. â€Å"Matt,† she said, lingering over the first consonant of the name. Then she smiled. Stefan heard Matt's indrawn breath of disbelief, and the near sob he gave as he finally backed away from her. It's all right, he said, sending the thought to Matt on a surge of Power. As Matt jerked toward him, eyes wide with shock, he added, â€Å"So now you know.† Matt's expression said that he didn't want to know, and Stefan could see the denial in his face. But Damon stepped out beside Elena and moved a little to the right, adding his presence to the charged atmosphere of the room. Matt was surrounded. The three of them closed in on him, inhumanly beautiful, innately menacing. Stefan could smell Matt's fear. It was the helpless fear of the rabbit for the fox, the mouse for the owl. And Matt was right to be afraid. They were the hunting species; he was the hunted. Their job in life was to kill him. And just now instincts were getting out of control. Matt's instinct was to panic and run, and it was triggering reflexes in Stefan's head. When the prey ran, the predator gave chase; it was as simple as that. All three of the predators here were keyed up, on edge, and Stefan felt he couldn't be responsible for the consequences if Matt bolted. We don't want to harm you, he told Matt. It's Elena who needs you, and what she needs won't leave you permanently damaged. It doesn't even have to hurt, Matt. But Matt's muscles were still tensed to flee, and Stefan realized that the three of them were stalking him, moving closer, ready to cut off any escape. You said you would do anything for Elena, he reminded Matt desperately and saw him make his choice. Matt released his breath, the tension draining from his body. â€Å"You're right; I did,† he whispered. He visibly braced himself before he continued. â€Å"What does she need?† Elena leaned forward and put a finger on Matt's neck, tracing the yielding ridge of an artery. â€Å"Not that one,† Stefan said quickly. â€Å"You don't want to kill him. Tell her, Damon.† He added, when Damon made no effort to do so, Tell her. â€Å"Try here, or here.† Damon pointed with clinical efficiency, holding Matt's chin up. He was strong enough that Matt couldn't break the grip, and Stefan felt Matt's panic surge up again. Trust me, Matt. He moved in behind the human boy. But it has to be your choice, he finished, suddenly washed with compassion. You can change your mind. he finished, suddenly washed with compassion. You can change your mind. â€Å"Matt,† she whispered, her heavy-lashed jewel blue eyes fixed on his. Then they trailed down to his throat and her lips parted hungrily. There was no sign of the uncertainty she'd shown when Damon suggested feeding off the paramedics. â€Å"Matt.† She smiled again, and then she struck, swift as a hunting bird. Stefan put a flattened hand against Matt's back to give him support. For a moment, as Elena's teeth pierced his skin, Matt tried to recoil, but Stefan thought swiftly, Don't fight it; that's what causes the pain. As Matt tried to relax, unexpected help came from Elena, who was radiating the warm happy thoughts of a wolf cub being fed. She had gotten the biting technique right on the first try this time, and she was filled with innocent pride and growing satisfaction as the sharp pangs of hunger eased. And with appreciation for Matt, Stefan realized, with a sudden shock of jealousy. She didn't hate Matt or want to kill him, because he posed no threat to Damon. She was fond of Matt. Stefan let her take as much as was safe and then intervened. That's enough, Elena. You don't want to injure him. But it took the combined efforts of him, Damon, and a rather groggy Matt to pry her off. â€Å"She needs to rest now,† Damon said. â€Å"I'm taking her someplace where she can do it safely.† He wasn't asking Stefan; he was telling him. As they left, his mental voice added, for Stefan's ears alone, I haven't forgotten the way you attacked me, brother. We'll talk about that later. Stefan stared after them. He'd noted how Elena's eyes remained locked on Damon, how she followed him without question. But she was out of danger now; Matt's blood had given her the strength she needed. That was all Stefan had to hang on to, and he told himself it was all that mattered. He turned to take in Matt's dazed expression. The human boy had sunk into one of the plastic chairs and was gazing straight ahead. Then his eyes lifted to Stefan's, and they regarded each other grimly. â€Å"So,† Matt said. â€Å"Now I know.† He shook his head, turning away slightly. â€Å"But I still can't believe it,† he muttered. His fingers pressed gingerly at the side of his neck, and he winced. â€Å"Except for this.† Then he frowned. â€Å"That guy-Damon. Who is he?† â€Å"My older brother,† Stefan said without emotion. â€Å"How do you know his name?† â€Å"He was at Elena's house last week. The kitten spat at him.† Matt paused, clearly remembering something else. â€Å"And Bonnie had some kind of psychic fit.† â€Å"She had a precognition? What did she say? â€Å"She said-she said that Death was in the house.† Stefan looked at the door Damon and Elena had passed through. â€Å"She was right.† Stefan looked at the door Damon and Elena had passed through. â€Å"She was right.† â€Å"Be like what?† Stefan said brutally. â€Å"Disoriented? A vampire?† Matt looked away. â€Å"Both.† â€Å"As for the first, she may become more rational now that she's fed. That's what Damon thinks anyway. As for the other, there's only one thing you can do to change her condition.† As Matt's eyes lit with hope, Stefan continued. â€Å"You can get a wooden stake and hammer it through her heart. Then she won't be a vampire anymore. She'll just be dead.† Matt got up and went to the window. â€Å"You wouldn't be killing her, though, because that's already been done. She drowned in the river, Matt. But because she'd had enough blood from me†-he paused to steady his voice-â€Å"and, it seems, from my brother, she changed instead of simply dying. She woke up a hunter, like us. That's what she'll be from now on.† With his back still turned, Matt answered. â€Å"I always knew there was something about you. I told myself it was just because you were from another country.† He shook his head again self-deprecatingly. â€Å"But deep down I knew it was more than that. And something still kept telling me I could trust you, and I did.† â€Å"Like when you went with me to get the vervain.† â€Å"Yeah. Like that.† He added, â€Å"Can you tell me what the hell it was for, now?† â€Å"For Elena's protection. I wanted to keep Damon away from her. But it looks as if that's not what she wanted after all.† He couldn't help the bitterness, the raw betrayal, in his voice. Matt turned. â€Å"Don't judge her before you know all the facts, Stefan. That's one thing I've learned.† Stefan was startled; then, he gave a small humorless smile. As Elena's exes, he and Matt were in the same position now. He wondered if he would be as gracious about it as Matt had been. Take his defeat like a gentleman. He didn't think so. Outside, a noise had begun. It was inaudible to human ears, and Stefan almost ignored it-until the words penetrated his consciousness. Then he remembered what he had done in this very school only a few hours ago. Until that moment, he'd forgotten all about Tyler Smallwood and his tough friends. Now that memory had returned; shame and horror closed his throat. He'd been out of his mind with grief over Elena, and his reason had snapped under the pressure. But that was no excuse for what he had done. Were they all dead? Had he, who had sworn so long ago never to kill, killed six people today? â€Å"Stefan, wait. Where are you going?† When he didn't answer, Matt followed him, half running to keep up, out of the main school building and onto the blacktop. On the far side of the field, Mr. Shelby stood by the Quonset hut. â€Å"Stefan, wait. Where are you going?† When he didn't answer, Matt followed him, half running to keep up, out of the main school building and onto the blacktop. On the far side of the field, Mr. Shelby stood by the Quonset hut. It looked like the Mad Slasher room from the Haunted House fundraiser. Except that this was no tableau set up for visitors. This was real. Bodies were sprawled everywhere, amid shards of wood and glass from the shattered window. Every visible surface was spattered with blood, red-brown and sinister as it dried. And one look at the bodies revealed why: each one had a pair of livid purple wounds in the neck. Except Caroline's: her neck was unmarked, but her eyes were blank and staring. Behind Stefan, Matt was hyperventilating. â€Å"Stefan, Elena didn't-she didn't-â€Å" â€Å"Be quiet,† Stefan answered tersely. He glanced back at Mr. Shelby, but the janitor had stumbled over to his cart of brooms and mops and was leaning against it. Glass grated under Stefan's feet as he crossed the floor to kneel by Tyler. Not dead. Relief exploded over Stefan at the realization. Tyler's chest moved feebly, and when Stefan lifted the boy's head his eyes opened a slit, glazed and unfocused. You don't remember anything, Stefan told him mentally. Even as he did it, he wondered why he was bothering. He should just leave Fell's Church, cut out now and never come back. But he wouldn't. Not as long as Elena was here. He gathered the unconscious minds of the other victims into his mental grasp and told them the same thing, feeding it deep into their brains. You don't remember who attacked you. The whole afternoon is a blank. As he did, he felt his mental Powers tremble like overfatigued muscles. He was close to burnout. Outside, Mr. Shelby had found his voice at last and was shouting. Wearily, Stefan let Tyler's head slip back through his fingers to the floor and turned around. Matt's lips were peeled back, his nostrils flared, as if he had just smelled something disgusting. His eyes were the eyes of a stranger. â€Å"Elena didn't,† he whispered. â€Å"You did.† Be quiet! Stefan pushed past him into the thankful coolness of the night, putting distance between him and that room, feeling the icy air on his hot skin. Running footsteps from the vicinity of the cafeteria told him that some humans had heard the janitor's cries at last. â€Å"You did it, didn't you?† Matt had followed Stefan out to the field. His voice said he was trying to understand. Stefan rounded on him. â€Å"Yes, I did it,† he snarled. He stared Matt down, concealing none of the angry menace in his face. â€Å"I told you, Matt, we're hunters. Killers. You're the sheep; we're the wolves. And Tyler has been asking for it every day since I came here.† Stefan rounded on him. â€Å"Yes, I did it,† he snarled. He stared Matt down, concealing none of the angry menace in his face. â€Å"I told you, Matt, we're hunters. Killers. You're the sheep; we're the wolves. And Tyler has been asking for it every day since I came here.† â€Å"Why should I?† said Stefan coldly, emptily. â€Å"Do you regret it when you eat too much steak? Feel sorry for the cow?† He saw Matt's look of sick disbelief and pressed on, driving the pain in his chest deeper. It was better that Matt stay away from him from now on, far away. Or Matt might end up like those bodies in the Quonset hut. â€Å"I am what I am, Matt. And if you can't handle it, you'd better steer clear of me.† Matt stared at him a moment longer, the sick disbelief transforming slowly into sick disillusionment. The muscles around his jaw stood out. Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and walked away. Elena was in the graveyard. Damon had left her there, exhorting her to stay until he came back. She didn't want to sit still, though. She felt tired but not really sleepy, and the new blood was affecting her like a jolt of caffeine. She wanted to go exploring. The graveyard was full of activity although there wasn't a human in sight. A fox slunk through the shadows toward the river path. Small rodents tunneled under the long lank grass around the headstones, squeaking and scurrying. A barn owl flew almost silently toward the ruined church, where it alighted on the belfry with an eerie cry. Elena got up and followed it. This was much better than hiding in the grass like a mouse or vole. She looked around the ruined church interestedly, using her sharpened senses to examine it. Most of the roof had fallen in, and only three walls were standing, but the belfry stood up like a lonely monument in the rubble. At one side was the tomb of Thomas and Honoria Fell, like a large stone box or coffin. Elena gazed earnestly down into the white marble faces of their statues on the lid. They lay in tranquil repose, their eyes shut, their hands folded on their breasts. Thomas Fell looked serious and a little stern, but Honoria looked merely sad. Elena thought absently of her own parents, lying side by side down in the modern cemetery. I'll go home; that's where I'll go, she thought. She had just remembered about home. She could picture it now: her pretty bedroom with blue curtains and cherrywood furniture and her little fireplace. And something important under the floorboards in the closet. She found her way to Maple Street by instincts that ran deeper than memory, letting her feet guide her there. It was an old, old house, with a big front porch and floor-to-ceiling windows in front. Robert's car was parked in the driveway. letting her feet guide her there. It was an old, old house, with a big front porch and floor-to-ceiling windows in front. Robert's car was parked in the driveway. But she wasn't going to be able to get in here without being noticed. A woman was sitting on the bed with Elena's red silk kimono in her lap, staring down at it. Aunt Judith. Robert was standing by the dresser, talking to her. Elena found that she could pick up the murmur of his voice even through the glass. â€Å"†¦ out again tomorrow,† he was saying. â€Å"As long as it doesn't storm. They'll go over every inch of those woods, and they'll find her, Judith. You'll see.† Aunt Judith said nothing, and he went on, sounding more desperate. â€Å"We can't give up hope, no matter what the girls say-â€Å" â€Å"It's no good, Bob.† Aunt Judith had raised her head at last, and her eyes were red-rimmed but dry. â€Å"It's no use.† â€Å"The rescue effort? I won't have you talking that way.† He came over to stand beside her. â€Å"No, not just that†¦ although I know, in my heart, that we're not going to find her alive. I mean†¦ everything. Us. What happened today is our fault-â€Å" â€Å"That's not true. It was a freak accident.† â€Å"Yes, but we made it happen. If we hadn't been so harsh with her, she would never have driven off alone and been caught in the storm. No, Bob, don't try to shut me up; I want you to listen.† Aunt Judith took a deep breath and continued. â€Å"It wasn't just today, either. Elena's been having problems for a long time, ever since school started, and somehow I've let the signs slip right past me. Because I've been too involved with myself-with us-to pay attention to them. I can see that now. And now that Elena's†¦ gone†¦ I don't want the same thing to happen with Margaret.† â€Å"What are you saying?† â€Å"I'm saying that I can't marry you, not as soon as we planned. Maybe not ever.† Without looking at him, she spoke softly. â€Å"Margaret has lost too much already. I don't want her to feel she's losing me, too.† â€Å"She won't be losing you. If anything, she'll be gaining someone, because I'll be here more often. You know how I feel about her.† â€Å"I'm sorry, Bob; I just don't see it that way.† â€Å"You can't be serious. After all the time I've spent here-after all I've done†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Aunt Judith's voice was drained and implacable. â€Å"I am serious.† From her perch outside the window, Elena eyed Robert curiously. A vein throbbed in his forehead, and his face had flushed red. â€Å"No, I won't.† â€Å"You don't mean it-â€Å" â€Å"I do mean it. Don't tell me that I'm going to change my mind, because I'm not.† For an instant, Robert looked around in helpless frustration; then, his expression darkened. When he spoke, his voice was flat and cold. â€Å"I see. Well, if that's your final answer, I'd better leave right now.† â€Å"Bob.† Aunt Judith turned, startled, but he was already outside the door. She stood up, wavering, as if she were unsure whether or not to go after him. Her fingers kneaded at the red material she was holding. â€Å"Bob!† she called again, more urgently, and she turned to drop the kimono on Elena's bed before following him. But as she turned she gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. Her whole body stiffened. Her eyes stared into Elena's through the silvery pane of glass. For a long moment, they stared at each other that way, neither moving. Then Aunt Judith's hand came away from her mouth, and she began to shriek.

Singapore Footwear Analysis

Chapter 2 Market Analysis 2. 1. 1 Footwear Market Size The global consumption of footwear showed a steady growth between 2004 and 2007 but the global recession caused output volumes and consumer spending across a wide range of products, including footwear, to weaken in 2009. The USA, EU and Russian markets contracted in 2008 after good growth. Whereas the Asian and Brazilian markets continue to grow as a rising number of low-middle class people replace their flip-flops by closed shoes. A more important driving force to the global footwear market is the fast growth of very affluent people in the emerging economies buying luxury footwear.In 2008, the global footwear market was estimated at USD 201 billion and 7. 3 billion pairs, an annual average growth of 1. 4%, compared to USD 190 billion in 2004. The rising number of workingwomen, the trends towards casual footwear, the increasing affluence, and footwear as a fashionable status symbol, growing awareness about healthy and active life style, rising population and disposable income levels, were driving this growth. According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research, the global footwear market was worth USD 185. billion in 2011 and is expected to reach USD 211. 5 billion in 2018, growing at a CAGR of 1. 9% from 2011 to 2018. Global spending is expected to be moderate in 2012, as industry revenue for the Global Footwear Manufacturing industry increases by 2. 2% in the current year to total USD 122. 9 billion, up from USD 107. 4 billion in 2007. This represents annualized growth of 2. 7% in the past five years. As consumer spending power in the United States, Europe and other parts of the world steadies, demand for basic, non-discretionary footwear will continue to remain low.Furthermore, Transparency Market Research also stated that, in the overall global market, Asia Pacific is expected to maintain its lead position in terms of revenue till 2018. It is expected to hold the largest share at 4 2% with 30. 1% of the global footwear market revenue share in 2018 followed by Europe with 21% of market share. 2. 1. 2 Footwear Market Segmentation The footwear market is segmented into Men, Women and Children. Women’s footwear, excluding athletic footwear makes up the industry's largest product segment, with an estimated 26. 3% of industry revenue in 2012.Due to rise of economic independence and demand, new products are being launched more frequently in the women’s footwear segment than the men’s and children’s sections. There is a large variety of footwear for women, which are categorized by types and styles. Most types of them are designed for specific activities but, on the other hand, in the same activity, there have many styles in it. For this reason, both of the categories are somewhat overlap. Therefore, in this chapter, women’s footwear is categorized into types as followed: * Athletic shoes * Boots * Casual shoes * Comfortable shoes Dres s shoes * Job-specific shoes * Office and Professional * Sandals * Specialty and Special Needs 2. 1. 3 Footwear Market Growth Rate Packaged Facts expects the global footwear market to grow at a substantially slower clip between 2008 and 2013 compared to previous years. The global economic environment will likely put a damper on consumer spending putting pressure on all measures of the footwear including frequency of purchase, unit consumption and pricing. Regionally, markets will be affected to varying degrees and at various points in time as the global economic slump orks its way through international markets. For instance, the Asia-Pacific region may take longer to slow down and may not be as severe as other regions. Global Footwear Retail Market Forecast, 2008-2013 (in billion $) Source: Packaged Facts On a unit volume basis, Packaged Facts expects global unit volume consumption is expected to reach 12. 1 billion pairs in 2013, which is equal to 3% growth thereafter the United St ates and Europe return to more modest growth rates and emerging economies see consumption rates rise. Global Footwear Retail Unit Volume Forecast, 2008-2013 (in millions of pairs)Source: Packaged Facts As a whole, the footwear Industry is in the mature stage of its life cycle. The number of producers is rising and there is still positive growth in both industry revenue and value added. However, the barriers to entry are not insurmountable. Since global population continue to increase, World Resource Institute expected world population to rise five-fold in 2050, and footwear is a product required by most customers in the world, therefore, a base level of footwear purchases will repeatedly exist. 2. Singapore Market – PEST Analysis In this chapter, PEST analysis is used to assess the current in Singapore market. Political and Legal, Economic, Social and Technological factors are examined and described. Before starting up new business in oversea, location is one of the important issues, which we have to seriously consider. As the crisis in both the US and Europe are affected the economy all around the world, Asia market is still in good condition besides it is easier for business to succeed when operating in a healthy business environment.As for Singapore, The World Bank-International Finance Corporation (IFC) has ranked it as the easiest place in the world to do business and ranks as the world’s top logistic hub. Singapore has stable, diversified, growing and supported by regulatory environment that is transparent and balanced. As a result, Singapore succeeding became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe. 2. 2. 1 Political and Legal factorsDue to the government who has set up several organizations in helping the business system, in The 2011 Index of Economic Freedom, Singapore is ranked as the second freest economy in the w orld. According to the Corruption Perceptions Index, it also shows that Singapore is an enterprise friendly country as it consistently ranked as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Moreover, In Singapore, the state has taken on the role of promoter and practitioner of Corporate Social Responsibility, a logical development in view of the dominant role of the government in the local economy.The Economic Development Board Act exists to stimulate the growth, expansion and development of Singapore’s economy. Likewise, the emphasis of the regulatory policy of Singapore Ministry of Finance (MOF), which related with Companies Act, Business Registration Act, Accountant Act and Currency Act, is mainly focusing on development rather than control. These benefits help offering a healthy business environment for both local and foreign invertors. Singapore’s government also has great influent on business environment by providing well-served air, sea and telecommunication s connectivity.One of the most essential connectivity is broadband network, which is sufficient for every business need. Singapore has one the world’s busiest port, with the hub for about 400 shipping lines to more than 700 ports worldwide. Not only seaport facilities, Singapore also has Singapore Changi Airport, which is renowned as worldwide leading air hub for its efficiency and excellent services in cargo handling. The congregation of superior infrastructure and global industry professionals has made Singapore of the best destination of doing business. . 2. 2 Economy factors According to the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore, in the past decade, Singapore’s economy grew by an average of 5% per annum. Singapore's small population and dependence on external markets and suppliers has pushed it towards economic openness, free trade and free markets. This, as well as government policies that patronize economic development, have been key success factors in Singapore's hi storically strong economic performance. Singapore has a highly developed market-based economy.It is open and has corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP higher than that of most developed countries. Singaporean economy depends heavily on exports, information technology products, pharmaceuticals, and on a growing financial services sector. Real GDP growth averaged 5. 9% between 2007 and 2011. According to a report published by the World Bank, Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product was USD 239. 70 billion in 2011, about 0. 39 % of the world economy. Singapore GDP Source: www. tradingeconomics. om / World Bank Singapore is also known for low tax regime. The personal income tax rates start from 0% and are capped at 20% for residents while non-residents are taxed at a flat rate of 15%. The corporate income tax rate in Singapore is approximately 8. 5% for profit up to SGD 300,000 and a flat 17% above SGD 300,000. The GST or VAT rate is 7%. Moreover, there is no dividend tax, no estate duty, and no capital gains tax. The economy contracted 1. 0% in 2009 as a result of the global financial crisis, but rebounded in 2011.Over the longer term, the government hopes to establish a new growth path that focuses on raising productivity. Singapore has attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical technology production and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub. Share of GDP by industry Source: Department of Statistics Singapore As from the graphs above, even vary along with global economic situation, Singapore’s economy is considered as one of a great place to invest with strong emerging economy in every business sectors. . 2. 3 Social factors According to Department of Statistics of Singapore, the total population was 5. 31 million as at end-June 2012. There were 3. 82 million Singapore residents, comprising 3. 29 million Singapore citizens and 0. 53 million permanent residen ts, and 1. 49 million non-residents. Female residents outnumbered their male counterparts in Singapore further. The sex ratio was 970 males per 1,000 females in 2012. Chinese formed the majority at 74 % of the resident population, followed by the Malays with 13 % and the Indians with 9. %. The proportion of Singapore residents aged 65 years and over rose from 9. 3 % in 2011 to 9. 9% in 2012. Sex Composition of Resident Population Source: Source: Manpower Research and Statistics Department, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Age Distribution of Resident Population Source: Source: Manpower Research and Statistics Department, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Singapore Residents by Age Group, Ethnic Group and Sex, June 2012 Source: Source: Manpower Research and Statistics Department, Ministry of Manpower, SingaporeSingapore Manpower Research and Statistics Department also stated that Singapore Nominal incomes rose strongly in 2011, amid a tighter labour market with more residents employed i n both professional, managerial, executive ; technician (PMET) and non-PMET jobs in 2011. The median monthly income from work of full-time employed residents rose by 8. 3% over the year to USD 3,249 in 2011, Taking headline inflation into account, the median income rose in real terms by 3. 1% in 2011. Distribution of Resident Labour Force by Age, 2001 and 2011 (As at June)Source: Manpower Research and Statistics Department, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore 2. 2. 4 Technology factors As Singapore proceeding into globalization and networked economies where competition and collaboration are in the same page, the presence of a strong technological infrastructure is crucial and unavoidable. The changes of technology are not only refer to the changes in production techniques, production equipment and communication, it also leads to improvement of production and services as well. Besides, it helps speeding up the movement of the information including improvement of the analysis information. Singapore’s extensive infrastructure set up is one of a fundamental attractiveness for foreign investment. According to the 2010 Infocomm Usage by Households and Individuals Survey, Singapore has put in place an advanced and reliable Infocomm infrastructure that has met the needs and demands of the economy and society. The proportion of resident households with Internet and broadband access at home reached 82%. The National Infocomm Infrastructure (NII) started as a key initiative of the IT 2000 Master Plan, with the building of a high-speed nationwide broadband network as a major milestone in its development.Again, Singapore has also grown to be one of the major global telecommunications hubs in the region and is well positioned as a hub for international capacity. Over the last few years, Singapore has also grown to be a trans-cable hub where regional submarine cable systems and international cable systems interconnect. In addition, Singapore government also emphasizes on i ts strength and makes the most of its electronic performances by providing useful resources and information online.For example, the Custom Office of Singapore provides e-service transactions through its website in order to facilitate all investors and remain as a global trade hub trusted by foreign trading partners and business operating in Singapore. 2. 2. 5 Conclusion From the factors analyzed above, it can be concluded that Singapore government has play an important role on its business success both domestic and international. With government’s policies, it has created an enterprise-friendly environment for invertors worldwide.Singapore extensive connectivity, together with a pro-business environment and legal and regulatory framework, make it an ideal circumstance for doing business. 3. Market trend Howard Davis, a professor of footwear design at Parsons School of Design, told Footwear News in 2005, â€Å"Self-adjusting shoes will be shoes of the future because the consu mer will demand real and serious comfort. † Not only comfort, the industry’s demand is primarily driven by fashion and demography. Newcomers with more fashionable product may thrive at the expense of a fading rival.The profitability of individual companies depends on their ability to design attractive footwear lines and remain at the forefront of consumers' consciousness. Consequently, designers attempt to combine comfort and style by using new technologies, with predictions that customized fit could be soon become more popular and more widely available. As for Thai footwear trend through the world financial crisis, the Department of Export Promotion has assessed the impact and suggested that Thai firms has to seek for new market replacement in order to gain and maintain market share apart from European and US market that are in their downturn.Other than maintaining the share, Thai firms have to be prepared to reap the opportunities from new impact of economy under the Asian Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. 4. Key Success Factors In order for March Shoes to accomplish its marketing objectives, the key success factors are the elements that are highly necessary. There are a few factors include: * Access to distribution channels * Access to targeted market * Understand actual customer behavior The key success factors might be changed from time to time, the company must continue to plan ahead beyond present needs, and keep pace with rapid technological changes.

Why there may be greater potential for FDI activity in China rether Essay

Why there may be greater potential for FDI activity in China rether than India under the present economic climate - Essay Example However, when it comes to economic development both India and China have lot of similarities. These two countries are the most rapidly developing nations in the world at present. It is often said that global wealth is currently shifting from less heavily populated regions to the most heavily populated regions because of the developments in these two countries. India and China have shown the world that how the big curse (Population growth) can be turned to big blessing with the help of suitable economic policies. While most of the other developing nations such as America and European countries are struggling to find enough manpower, India and China have surplus manpower which they are utilizing cleverly for economic development. Even though a developing country may have many other sources of external finance, FDI seems to be the largest among all those sources. According to Malik et al.( 2012), â€Å"FDI is not only considered as a healthy sign for the overall national economy but al so a positive indication for the local industry considering its positive spill over effects† (p.230). FDI is bringing dividends in the progress of India and China in recent times. Majority of the prominent companies have invested heavily in India and China in recent times to capitalise the cheap manpower and other resources. . It should be noted that America and European region are not much promising for the multinational companies at present because of the ongoing recession problems and the ill-health of the economies there. On the other hand, India and China offer fertile soil for such companies and they work on their expansion plans based on the prospects in these two emerging economies. Some people believe that the investment climate in China is better than that in India. On the other hand, many others are of the view that India provides better climate than China for FDI. However, considering the recent performances of India and China in economic development, once can defi nitely say that China has slight edge over India in attracting FDI. This paper analyses why there may be greater potential for FDI activity in China rather than India under the present economic climate. What is FDI? According to Dicken (2007), Direct investment is a kind of investment intended to gain control over the activities of another firm. Moreover, FDI is the investment across nations (p.36). Ietto-Giles (2002) pointed out that â€Å"The flow of FDI and portfolio investments across countries generates a very large amount of investment incomes going in the opposite direction† (p.27). In short, the economic progress of a country in the modern era heavily depends on its ability to attract FDI. It should be noted that foreign direct investment is the investment of foreign capital in domestic goods and services. Since the internal resources of a country are limited, the ability to attract FDI determines which way the country is progressing. Adina (2011) mentioned about the training effect of FDI. In her opinion, FDI may help a country to modernize techniques and technologies, increase production and supply of goods, improve quality and competitiveness, create new jobs and grow the quality of life (p. 148). There is a limit for many countries to invest in infrastructure development projects because of various reasons such as budgetary constraints. FDI helps such countries to develop infrastructure with the help of foreign capital even though foreign companies, which bring capital, may exploit some internal resources. While balancing the profit and loss of FDI, profit will exceed the loss and hence most countries try to attract as much as FDI possible. In fact, competition for attracting FDI is huge among

See Asignment criteria- request for writer 5689 of possible Essay

See Asignment criteria- request for writer 5689 of possible - Essay Example sidered the height of the romantic manifestation with regard to the [Spanish] stage,’ explicitly references its central theme of Destiny in the title – ‘la fuerza del sino’ as it applies to the struggle and ultimate defeat of the protagonist (Young 1933, 278). Within the typical Sturm und Drang Romantic expression, Rivas utilises a conception of ‘fate’ to explore and undermine the obsolescing social hierarchy that dominated contemporary Spanish life. Yet the question remains unclear: what exactly is the nature, the driving force of this conceived destiny? Does this demonstrate the movement of divine providence, or is this more akin to the fatalistic destiny of the Greeks? As the story progresses, the thread of fate that propels the action reveals itself to be profoundly fatalistic, not the orchestration of an omnipotent God but the engine of the myriad unseen forces that surround and enshround Don à lvaro in his journey through despair. This fatalism draws its roots most profoundly from the tradition of Greek tragedy in which destiny always played a primary role. Yet Rivas develops advances on this fatalistic tradition, showing through the random twists delivered by destiny’s hand the massively destructive forces of the familial Spanish hierarchy, which from the beginning envelop the protagonist in the shackles of old custom. It is these, Rivas declares audaciously through his play, that make up the very essence of dest iny. It is these, the forces of society, which create the fatalistic reality in which all his characters, and by extension the whole of Spanish populiation, are doomed to their allotted existence. The fatalistic concept fundamental to Greek tragedy is the act of transgression, the fatal flaw caused by hubris, or believing oneself to be above divine law, which transgression in the protagonist’s own demise. This act of transgression could be something as active as Prometheus’ theft of divine fire, for which he was savagely

Agree with Mr. G. Raymond article and write 3 pages, cite the sources

Agree with Mr. G. Raymond and write 3 pages, cite the sources. 4.1DF51 - Article Example on to employ electronic documentation systems in managing data and information in hospital facilities, and this is where the challenge to its effective implementation arises. In order to accomplish a considerable level of flexibility in the data that is used in computer based record system, the classification systems of nursing are essential, but they are not sufficient enough to represent aspects of the nursing profession. In consideration of actions and decisions that nurses make, it may not be very possible to encode such processes into a computer data system that can be reproduced or reapplied anywhere else (Henry, et al, 2005). In essence, the actions taken by nurses in providing medical care, and which are encoded as interventions must be considered as critical inputs in developing computer based record systems. The function and structure of classifications systems that exist and are meant to encode interventions by nurses cannot be accurate in depicting the nature of the work that nurses do in a way that can facilitate reusing of the data. To be able to capture and electronically represent in clinical context data that reflects an encounter of a patient with a practitioner in a health care facility is a significant challenge for system developers. To be able to encode data by employing standard classification and coding and yet be able to link it to resources that are based on knowledge such as clinical guidelines, may not be an easy thing for system developers to achieve (American Nurses Association, 1991). If standardization of language for nurses will inevitably require electronic or computer documentation of patient information and data, then the first concern that must be considered is the enormous start up cost for putting in place electronic systems for recording and processing medical data. This challenge is compounded by the fact that all charts, and which are numerous, be converted into electronic format. In advent, practitioners and other

Journal 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Journal 2 - Essay Example Such privacy is protected by law and through electronic means. For example, electronic financial information can be protected through Personal Identification Numbers (PIN). It is a process through which a mortgage lender repossess the property used as collateral for a loan. The lender usually auctions that property or retains ownership rights due to a default by the loaned. The main objective of a foreclosure is to obtain the principle amount and also the accrued interest. The process of foreclosure is legal and sanctioned by court. The borrower is given a specific grace period in which he or she can make payment and avoid foreclosure. An example of a foreclosure is when a person uses a house as collateral for a loan and defaults in payments. The lender then seeks foreclosure by selling the house to obtain the balance and other payments. A franchise is a legal right or privilege that is officially accorded to an individual or entity to offer certain goods or services at a specific place and time. The franchise is strictly governed by guidelines that are defined under the agreement. An example to illustrate the terms can be sourced from the MacDonalds fast food franchise. The firm (franchisor) offers licenses or enters into trade agreements (franchises) with various entities (franchisees) around the world to offer products and services under its own name. The board of directors is a group of people who are elected to establish corporate management policies and practices in regard to the activities of the company. The board jointly runs the affairs of a company and is tasked with making decisions on major issues such as hiring terms, assessing the work of executives and shareholder dividends. The board of directors is formed by the organizations bylaws and regulated by a higher authority that has no interest in the firm to ensure the rationality of decisions. The activities of the board of directors are guided by the type,

Ivy League Schools vs Second Tier Schools Research Paper

Ivy League Schools vs Second Tier Schools - Research Paper Example According to the authors Fry, Ketteridge, and Marshall (2008), education plays an important role in shaping up the career of the students. By getting the proper education, the skills and qualities of the students get enhanced which encourage them in grabbing various opportunities. These authors highlighted that education process and policies are different in various academic institutions. Some schools focus on the overall growth of the students while other schools emphasize on knowledge enhancement processes. The authors stated that the students must select which type education they want to have before taking admission in school (Fry, Ketteridge and Marshall 54). The author Mullen (2009), highlighted for the expansion of higher education, the classes and courses get stratified. This process provides the better understanding to the students regarding different subjects. Ivy League Schools have various facilities and processes by which students can get high quality of education. In U.S , the students who belong from wealthy families or high-class society prefer to get an education from Ivy League Schools. The expectations of this type of students and their families are very high from the schools. The academic environment and facilities provided by these schools facilitate them in satisfying students and their families. The students of the low economic class also get admission in Ivy League Schools based on their merit. The Ivy League Schools are the most selective colleges in U.S.

The problems associated with the Blockbuster company Essay

The problems associated with the Blockbuster company - Essay Example The firm that is analyzed in the paper is Blockbuster. It was started in the year 1985 in Dallas as a single movie-renting store. With its aggressive growth strategy, the company managed to grow to nearly 7,265 stores in 24 nations around the world. Though the company remained as the world leader in movie rental during 1990s, problems emerged as new technologies developed in the area of entertainment distribution. New technologies that allowed online booking and online delivery of content developed as time passed, but the company management was adamant to give up its basic brick and mortar movie renting stores. As a result, while its competitors like Netflix effectively shifted to, and excelled in, methods like online booking, mail delivery and VOD, Blockbuster went on struggling with the already declining in-store movie renting systems and fell into debts. This resulted in a lot of issues in customer service that again made many existing customers leave the company. Firstly, the num ber of titles on offer declined dramatically, and secondly, popular items often went out-of-stock. Also, the delivery system was too slow as compared to that of its rivals. Thus, the company closed its year 2007 with a net loss of $ 85.1 million. This work looks into the various reasons behind the existing issues and tries to suggest ways for improvement in the future. A look into the performance of Blockbuster proves that once glamorous Blockbuster where everyone stopped to pick up a few movies has become a shadow of its past. There are a number of issues ranging from stiff competition, indifferent and doubtful management, lack of clear objectives, and finally, the continuously changing industry dynamics. Until the end of 1990s, Blockbuster was at the top of the rental business, and it never considered Netflix or any such other companies as consequential competitors. So the company paid little attention towards the emerging technologies and the changing customer preferences. Soon, the company found that its profits were going dramatically down. Thus, the stock price of the company fell from $29 to $2 per share. This was mainly the result of the emergence of other forms of entertainment delivery like rental by mail and video on demand. As these technologies emerged, a significant proportion of customers found them more convenient than in-store renting. It was at that juncture that the company made the most terrible mistake in its history. Instead of adapting itself to the emerging trend, the company decided to strengthen its in-store business. However, as the in-store business was destined to fail as technology allowed more convenient renting options, the effort proved futile. On the other hand, its rivals like Netflix who successfully adopted rental by mail and video on demand technologies found significant improvement in business and profit. As the company found itself in trouble, it started new strategies like kiosks, rental by mail and video on demand. How ever, each of the new strategies had its own defect too. For example, the rental by mail offered by Blockbuster was not as effective as that of Netflix. While Netflix managed to deliver the order in a single day, Blockbuster took one to three days. Also, while Netflix ensured successful delivery in more than 95% of the cases, many of the Blockbuster visitors found their favorite titles out-of-stock. Admittedly, the company has taken beneficial steps that will improve the position of the company in future. First of all, it has widened the product array in its brick and mortar stores by adding electronic appliances and video games. Secondly, it has started VOD though it has not been seriously explored. In fact, most of the problems faced by the company are associated with the lack of a specific objective. The management goes on changing its strategies in very short intervals, and hence, the customers get too puzzled to take a decision. Also, even the company representatives find it

COMUNICATION Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

COMUNICATION - Coursework Example A skill that I am very excited about improving is people skills. People skills involve a wide range of interpersonal skills including assertion skills, collaboration, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills. I am very excited about improving my people skills because doing so will make a better professional. People skills help people in business because they enable the person to adapt to the situation based on the audience the person is communicating with. For example a manager can use his people skills to persuade a supplier to lower their prices. People skills can benefit people from any professional background. Doctors utilize people skills to gain the trust of their patients. Once this occurs the doctor will have a returning client. I need to make improvements in my people skills to improve my ability to interact with other students. In college a lot of learning takes place outside of the classroom. Students with good people skills are able to interact with all types of pe rsons in an effective manner. I realized that in order for me to succeed in the business world I have to improve my people skills due to fact that these skills are valuable tools that can enhance a person’s career opportunities. People skills can help me improve my interactions in everyday life. People skills can help me achieve better results when dealing with governmental employees.

Porters Five Forces. External Environment Analysis of Southwest Term Paper

Porters Five Forces. External Environment Analysis of Southwest Airlines - Term Paper Example Threat of Entry Since the phase of deregulation, many new entrants have entered into the airlines industry in USA. 22 new airlines had been formed and another 43 of them has entered till 1982. Experts suggested that the industry had inefficient scale economies which supported the entry of numerous new entrants in the industry. However, since 1993 and during the recent years many of these start-ups have been consolidated, established and incorporated as large and major airlines. The high threat of new entry in the airlines industry in US also gets reflected through the fact that 8 major airlines existing in the market have become bankrupt merged with other companies or has simply vanished from the radar screen (Desai, Patel & Quach, 2002, p.4). Substitutes Trains, buses and cars account for major substitutes for air travel. However, the importance of trains and buses as substitute products has declined over the years. The Switching costs associated between air travel and its substitute services remain quite low; however, experts suggests that the importance of the substitutes are likely to change as per the customer type, route and reason for travel. For example, travelling through seas across US for long journeys would reduce ground transportation to a certain extent. Business travel could generate more flying demand while vocational travel could demand more driving. Due to the fact that leisure travellers are considered to be more price sensitive as compared to business travellers, they are more likely to use substitute services considering the opportunity costs incurred (Desai, Patel & Quach, 2002, p.4). Bargaining Power of Suppliers Employee bargaining powers are expected to vary according to unionization of employees or the charac teristics of employees. Wage rates have accounted for major operating expense of airlines leading to many union strikes during the post liberalization era. The bargaining powers of pilots have remained low since there are numerous pilots available in the market. Moreover, airplane manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing, enjoy high powers of bargaining since they huge switching costs are associated with changing the airplanes (Desai, Patel & Quach, 2002, p.4). Bargaining Power of Buyers The individual powers of buyers remain low because of the inability of the airline customers to coordinate and organize among themselves. The extent of price discrimination employed by airlines would also depend largely on routes and type of the customers. Routes which remain heavily flooded by different flights more likely to charge competitive prices because of the existence of substitute airlines. On the contrary the long distance flights which have less hubs and schedules are likely to be dominat ed by too many airlines and which consequently would charge exorbitant price from customers. Corporate discounting, i.e.,

Into Thin Air Paper Essay Example for Free

Into Thin Air Paper Essay Trusting others is a very difficult thing to do. It is important to trust others because humans cannot do everything by themselves. For example, Krakauers group had to rely on each other, so if one member is in trouble, another person had to help as soon as they could. If they do not trust each other, everyone would not make it up to the top of the mountain alive. Krakauer was afraid to be able to trust others because he felt very uncomfortable relying on inexperienced climbers, but he had to learn to trust them because he needs to survive the climb up the mountain. To climb a mountain, all climbers must have a group and a guide. Loyalty/respect of others on the mountain is essential because one can help another survive the journey. One must be willing to risk their own life and save another. The climbers lives are in the guides hands. Loyalty/respect is required for the guide because they give important information on how to climb properly and how to survive. An example from the book is how the guide, Rob Hall, helped an injured climber get down safely. At this point, it does not matter whom acts like what because the most important thing is for the people to survive the climb on Mount Everest. Climbing a mountain involves hard work, trust, and loyalty/trust. If one was not working hard or listening to the guide, his or her life is in danger. For example, one person did not listen to the guide when he was ill, so he was on the verge of dying because of his careless decision. This books highlights an important lesson: always trust and respect the people around you because they can always help you. People can make very poor decisions, and those who can help, help others to survive.

Qualities of Successful Women

Qualities of Successful Women Introduction The contribution of women in the development of the countries has been significant the world over during the last hundred years. In India, women are playing a major part in the economic development during the last four decades. The Indian women have gradually entered in all the spheres and there is no sector where they are lagging behind. BFSI Banking, Financial Services and Insurance sector is no exception. BFSI embraces all type of Banking activities, Insurance, Stock Market, Mutual Funds and all kinds of Financial Institutions. An attempt is made in this paper to trace the role of women in Finance sector and their achievements in the last four decades. Objectives The primary objective of this paper is to study and consolidate the contributions of women in Financial sector and also attempt to correlate the qualities of women that have made them successful in their professional careers in Finance. The secondary objective is to detail some organizations which have realized this aspect and have given opportunities to women to advance in their careers in Finance. What is BFSI? BFSI includes Banking, Financial Services Insurance. The scope for BFSI in India is very promising as on date. According to a study, 51 percent of the Indian population do not possess bank accounts and lack access to financial facilities. There is a great potential for banks in the rural markets. Though the insurance sector achieved about 15 percent growth rate in the last year, Indias insurance accounts for just 0.6 percent of the GDP as against the world average of 2.14 percent. The main reasons for low penetration are low consumer awareness, untapped rural markets and constrained distribution channels. India ranks 136th on penetration levels and lags behind China (106), Brazil (85) and Japan (61). The U.S is ranked 9 in this regard. The scenario of insurance business in India is now changing and the insurance business is growing at an impressive rate. There are 21 Life Insurance and 19 General Insurance companies in both public and private sector put together. Microfinance institutions provide poor people with small amounts of credit at reasonable interest rates. The microfinance institutions can be financial cooperatives, rural banks and NGOs. Although credit is an important part of microfinance, it is just one of the diverse financial services that poor people need to improve their lives. Poor people also need saving services, basic insurance options and affordable remittance systems to best manage their assets and generate income. How can women contribute in Financial Sector? Women leaders in Finance have taken leadership to a new level. Not that men dont excel at being leaders. According to a survey by New Jersey based Caliper Corporation, a new paradigm is evolving and women are in the forefront of creating the same. Inclusive financial growth can be attained if the banks touch upon the bottom of the pyramid which consists of approximately 75 percent of the Indian population. We can say that India is divided into two parts one group of privileged class of people having access to the best of the financial facilities and another class of disadvantaged people unable to get the financial facilities. Women are becoming active and popular in all fields and the Indian Stock Market is no exception. The modern Indian women want to save money and are also prepared to take risks. Women at home i.e. the home makers follow the stock market with the help of internet and invest wisely. The home makers also look at the household products which are very useful and of good quality and invest in those companies. For example, when scotch brite was introduced in the market, they found out which company introduced the same and invested in that company. The product was a success and they gained from their investments. Only a very small fraction of the rural Indian population has access to the Microfinance services. Loans as little as Rs. 5000 can give poor people a chance to set up their own small business and create more jobs. A study reveals that 11 percent of the companies across sectors in India had women CEOs. 54 percent of these CEOs are from the financial services sector. Worldwide organizations encouraging women in BFSI. Women Advancing Microfinance International (WAMI) launched in 2003 is the only global network of and for the advancement of individual women in the microfinance industry. One of their core values is to advance and support womens leadership in the microfinance industry through education and training, by promoting leadership opportunities and by increasing visibility of womens participation and talent while maintaining their work life balance. In India also we have organizations to promote microfinance for women. The Indian School of Microfinance for Women headquartered in Ahmedabad was started in June 2003 to address the capacity building requirements in the microfinance sector. The School particularly focuses upon the lives of women who are the primary participants in microfinance interventions. The School does not look upon microfinance as a means of poverty alleviation but also as a means for womens leadership and the building of womens assets. Women in Banking and Finance (WIBF) is a non profit professional organization committed to empowering its members in the banking and finance industry to realize their full potential. The organization is headquartered in London and was founded in 1980 by five members viz Jane Bradford, Susan Law, Lorraine Paddison, Margery Povall and Anne Watts. The organization is run by a highly professional management team comprising of members who give their time on a voluntary basis. All members are encouraged to join the management team to develop their project management skills. Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank (MDMSB) is a unique cooperative bank run by and for women in Mhaswad, a village in Satara District of Maharashtra. This 10 year old bank has created 16720 women entrepreneurs in the region around Mhaswad. The bank enjoys an excellent repayment rate of 97.5 percent. Successful women in BFSI. One Organization in the BFSI sector in India that can boast of encouraging and able to get the services of women at all levels including the top management is undoubtedly is the ICICI group. K.V.Kamath is one of the lucky persons to be surrounded by women. He has been responsible for empowering many women in ICICI. Out of 11 top management executives reporting to the MD Chanda Kochhar, 3 are women. About 40 percent of the senior management is women and about 25 percent of the total staff is women. The current Managing Director of ICICI bank, Chanda Kochhar is known to be an assertive woman who has climbed the ladder in ICICI both the hard and smart way. She joined ICICI Bank in 1984 as a Management Trainee. She knew nothing about retail banking when she took over the retail operations in ICICI Bank in the year 1998 at the age of 36. She was ranked number 37 in the list of worlds most powerful businesswomen in the year 2006. Shikha Sharma, the current CEO of Axis Bank was the Managing Director of ICICI Prudential and played a major role in the growth of ICICI Prudential. She is an early achiever, fast learner and fiercely competitive. She was responsible for setting up the joint venture with U.K based Prudential and bringing ICICI Prudential in the Indian Insurance Map as the largest private sector insurance company in the country. The first woman to rise to a senior position at the bank was Lalita Gupte, who was hired in 1971 and retired as Joint Managing Director. She played a leading role in transforming ICICI in the 1990s, and then started the banks international business in 2001, servicing overseas Indians and expanding investments abroad. That business now accounts for 15% of ICICIs $56.3 billion in net assets. She joined Alstoms Board of Directors in 2010. She is also the non-executive chairman of ICICI Venture Funds Management Company. Madhabi Puri-Buch joined ICICI Bank Ltd in project finance department in 1989. She served as Senior General Manager of ICICI Bank since 2003. She serves as Head of Operations and Group Corporate Brand Officer of ICICI Bank Ltd. She is in charge of Retail Asset Operations and the Product and Technology Group in the Wholesale Banking Group of ICICI Bank. She has been Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of ICICI Securities since February 1, 2009. Kalpana Morparia now is the Head of India Operations of JP Morgan Chase Co. She joined the legal department of ICICI in 1975 and became a board member in 2001. She was appointed as Joint Managing Director of the bank in 2001. She played a key role in ICICI Groups capital raising exercise as well as the merger of ICICI with ICICI Bank in 2002. After 33 years of service with ICICI, she joined JP Morgan in 2008. Renuka Ramnath was the Head of one of Indias largest private equity fund ICICI Venture. She is often referred to as the mother of Indian private equity. She quit ICICI venture in 2009 to setup private funds with former executives of Indian PE industry. Ramnath has been the Managing Director CEO of ICICI Venture since 2001. During her career spanning over 20 years with the ICICI Group, Renuka has spearheaded various business initiatives. She began her career at the Merchant Banking division of ICICI and then headed the Corporate Finance and Equities businesses at ICICI Securities, an investment banking JV between ICICI and JP Morgan. Vishakha Mulye is currently the Managing Director CEO of ICICI Venture Funds Management Company Limited. Mulye was earlier the Executive Director of ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited and the Group Chief Financial Officer of ICICI Bank Limited. Mulye is a Chartered Accountant and joined the ICICI group in 1993. She has worked extensively in the areas of project finance, structured finance, treasury, corporate planning and strategy, investor relations and resolution of distressed assets. She played a key role in the merger of ICICI with ICICI Bank, which led to the creation of the second largest bank in India. Between 2001 and 2005, she set up ICICI Banks structured finance business. This pioneering effort led to the development of an active securitization market in India. During this period, she was also responsible for ICICI Banks client-related treasury and markets operations, capital markets business and relationships with domestic financial institutions and multilat eral institutions. Mulye received the award for Most Powerful Women in Indian Business   2007 from Business Today. The World Economic Forum also selected her as a Young Global Leader for the year 2007. Renu Challu is the current Managing Director, State Bank of Hyderabad. Meera Sanyal is the Country Head Royal Bank of Scotland. Manisha Girotra is Managing Director and Chairperson for Swiss bank UBS in India . Renu Sud Karnad is the Managing Director of HDFC Ltd. Naina Lal Kidwai is the Group MD and Country Head of HSBC in India. Ashu Suyash is the MD and Country Head India of Fidelity International. Tarjani Vakil, former Chairperson of the Exim Bank, is one of the distinguished Indian bankers. She is the first women to head any large bank in India. In 1997, she was recognized by KPMG Worldwide Business as one of the top 50 women to prove her valor in the business. Through the recent economic meltdown and global recession, Reserve Bank of India had two women Deputy Governors Usha Torat and Shyamala Gopinath. Qualities in women that enables them to be successful in BFSI sector: Retail banking is more of relationship marketing rather than transactional marketing. Women excel at relationships. The nurturing and adjusting attitude of women flows into the workplace as well. Women are more practical and moderate risk takers. Women are good listeners and good learners. Women are more resilient and good at learning from setbacks. Women display better empathy and are able to place themselves in the shoes of the customers. Caliper Corporation, the New Jersey based Management Consulting Firm have made the following observations based on their study. Women are more persuasive Women are quick to learn from adversity Women demonstrate an inclusive, team building leadership styles of problem solving and decision making. Women are more likely to ignore rules and take risks. Suggestions for further enhancing the contribution of women in BFSI. The concept of Home Offices should be encouraged so that women may  contribute while raising families simultaneously Flexi time options should be made available to women Affluent Urban women should set up NGOs, Travel to the rural parts and  create awareness about the scope and importance of BFSI sector. Extensive training should be given to the rural women to take up careers  in finance The financial services companies should target the rural households  through the womenfolk. All women Regional Rural Banks should be encouraged. Conclusion It is observed from the secondary research that more and more women are actively participating and contributing to the BFSI sector. Since women are more empathetic, they can better understand customers. Women are more balanced and would take calculated moderate risks. It is high time our leaders realize this and leverage this to the growth of our country. Indian Banks and Financial Institutions with better gender equality on board than their western counterparts, scraped through the economic slowdown unscathed. In the last three decades, the gender equilibrium has become fairly poised.

Formalism in Art and Design

Formalism in Art and Design When thinking about formalism there is a larger perceived concept in society about this movement; there are many different types of formalism present in civilization which includes formalism in law, science, and art and design etc. This essay will focus on formalism in art and design specifically and certain questions will be answered to make the subject clear; what is formalism? How does formalism differ from other processes in art making? Why is this art movement so important to design? What era and movement in art do we specifically ascribe formalism to? This essay will also include three pictures that subscribe notions of formalism and will be briefly discussed. Each of these questions will be examined and answered to clarify the concept of formalism to a person who is not familiar with this movement. FORMALISM What is formalism? Many people believe that formalism only focuses on the form of an artwork or design which is not necessarily accurate because according to Wolf; formalism is the balance of certain elements in a design or painting. Formalism has a specific approach of art criticism and hypothesis to which all visual art has a fundamental importance. This importance is determined by the artists ability to accomplish a visual order and the balance of certain elements reality within a painting or image. These elements reality are the painting or image use of colour, line, composition and texture. No matter how much artistic technique and taste may transform over a period of time, formalism holds that these realities are constant (Wolf, 2009:[sp]). There is a theory developed of formalism that the object can stand on its own based on its construction significance according to Nelingburg; that formalism is art for the sake of art (Nelingburg, 2011: [sp]). Platos Theory of form When looking at Platos Theory of Form, it is a theory that can be used to assist with the understanding of formalism. The philosopher, Plato developed a Theory of Forms based on the proposal of eidos, which basically means stature or appearance. Plato applied the phrase generally in his diverse dialogues to propose a rudimentary general language. Every earthly object; a tangible object (like a chair) or abstract object (like human asset), has a mutual characteristic; all of the objects have form. Platos hypothesis is better understood when looking at his Allegory of the Cave; he visualises a cave which held captive prisoners who had never left the cave, all the prisoners could see were workers shadows cast on the cave walls, and all they could hear were the voices echoing in the cave. This is all that the prisoners knew about the outside world, so they perceived the voices and shadows as actual forms of real objects and were absolutely unaware that the forms were just mimicries of th e genuine things. Plato stated that the prisoners perception of objects was not false; because of their understanding of the world; by their understanding of the world, the shadows and echoes were the actual forms, just as a painting of a woman is as real, if not more real, than the actual woman who is depicted on the canvas. (Wolf, 2009:[sp]). The people imagined to be trapped in the cave have no idea of what the world looks like, so by just seeing the shadows and hearing the noises, this is all they will ever experience from the outside world, this is what is real to them because they have not been exposed to anything else. How does formalism differ from other processes in art making? The starting point of formalism is deeply ingrained in ancient thought, for they believed that the cosmos is ruled by numerical association, or in the concept of form as inelegant quality of things, imposed upon or intrinsic and these ideas were applied to art (Williams, 2009: [sp]). Formalists only concentrated on formal assets of works of art and assume that these forms follow their own development (Hatt, Klonk, 2006: 66). This shows the different believes that the formalist had about the art and how they applied this to the art process. One of the characteristics of formalism is that the artist was concerned with the manner of perception of the forms in the absence of any connotation. Kant proposes it that formalism refers to assets of seeing of objects (Crysler Cairns Heynen, 2012: [sp]). Where as in other movements is art such as Art Nuevo form was not that important, artists were more concerned with the decoration of the design and this was where mass production first occurre d. It is said that this era was the first time that modern civilisation used mechanism to construct designs (Wolf, 2009:[sp]). Why is formalism important to design? As stated above (What is formalism) that formalism focus on the importance of balancing elements in a design, (Wolf, 2009: [sp]); this aspect is applicable when looking at the design process of today, the use of elements will determine the principles which if the design achieves balance, it represents formalist characteristic. The theory of formalism states that it places emphasis on the design value; this theory implies that the most essential aspect of a work of art or design is the successful arrangement of the elements through the principles of design (Kjeria, 2008: [sp]). According to these points, if a design does not use the balance of elements, the design will not be successful and this is where formalism influenced the designing method of today. What era and movement is formalism ascribed to? It is claimed that within the early decades of 20th century there was an apprehension for formal qualities known as the formalism movement, it has been seen as the characteristic of art criticism (Schechter, [sa]: 261). The movement that formalism can be recognized to is modernism since much of the research done on formalism is connected with the modernism movement. The implement of artistic freedom became essential to progressive modernism; artists began to search for freedom not just from the rules of scholastic art, but from the demands of the community. Quickly it was claimed that art should not be made for the publics sake but for arts sake. The term art for art sake is also used (mentioned in previous paragraph) to describe modernism, this states that a call for discharge from the oppression of meaning and intention. Witcombe declared it a developing modernists point of view, that the meaning of the creation was an additional implement of freedom. It is also said to be a plot, another intentional disrespect towards the middle class responsiveness which demanded art with meaning or it had some reason such as instruct or pleasure and usually to reflect in some way their own focused and purpose-full world (Witcombe, 1997: [sp]). This quote; art for art sake is mention by Witcombe and Nelingburg, thus it may imply that there are subtle similarities between formalism and modernism. Modernism vs. Formalism The 20th century has focused its artistic awareness on progressive modernism to the extent that conformist modernism has been abandoned and derides as an art form. It is speculated that modernism art is practised completely within a closed formalist speciality, essentially detached from, not to be infected by the real world. In particular, abstraction, formalism could adopt the advantages of the progressives, who used it in justification of modernism, which has been particularly open to criticism. In the early 20th century, formalism was also efficiently united with other objectives of progressive modernism, universalism (Witcombe, 1997: [sp]). It can be assumed that the formalist and modernist movements were infused with each other in order to be seen as an art movement; they both needed each other to have subsisted. Formalist artworks Dare two In this artwork the artist used several elements to create a balance in the composition, which is what formalism portrays; the artist commemorates the new direction in geometrical abstraction and spiritual associations. The other element used in this piece was colour, it has reflection towards movements such as Neo Geo and formalism gives way to underlining perceptive progression and the enjoyment of art making (2012: [sp]). Repetition is also seen in the art; by repeating the colours, line and forms, this principle creates a unifying feature to the art as whole. By using some of the elements and principles in a balancing method the viewer can distinguish that it has a formalistic value. According to Dictionary.com, the definition of abstract is: thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances, this artwork also has these qualities of abstract art which can also be classified as abstract formalism. Untitled For Joel Shapiro (the artist) form is the most important characteristic of this untitled sculpture, according to Nelingburg, form was essential to the artist because emphasise of the sculpture is based on its physical structure and form, the sculpture relies on abstraction. There is a lot of awareness brought on the figures based on the materials that were used and the colours that make them, but the main focus is the shape and what they symbolize since it portrays the human body (Nelingburg, 2011:[sp]). By looking at the characteristics of the figure, it can be assumed that the artist successfully used the elements that are present in the model in an equal way, but in this case the form was the most important element present because it is a sculpture. As stated above (what is formalism), according to Nelingburg, there is a presumption developed that an artwork can stand on its own foundation based on aesthetic values, when specifically looking at formalistic sculptures (2011: [sp]). Friendly Formalism S. Stratton and J. M. Ward, art critics express that Ps Qs as friendly formalism, the artwork flirts with the rigidity of the 20th century formalism, but gives it a current 21th century twist. This artwork is described as playful, which is definitely far more cherished and forthcoming than the canonical mid-century artworks that are connected with the formalist philosopher Clement Greenbergs theories: works of art are colourful, relish their acquisitiveness, and opposed to the hard-edged perfectionism have a propensity to be associated with Piet Mondrian and Le Corbusiers designs (Pittman, 2010:[sp]). By looking at these aspects mentioned by Stratton and Ward, it is clear that this painting unquestionably has formalism virtues, because of the elements used such as colour, line, forms which creates the principles that are associated with the painting. The main element used there was the forms that are presented and the cold colours, all of these characteristics declared that this art work represents formalism. This artwork can also be classified as abstract formalism because the main idea of the piece is left to the imagination. Conclusion Formalism was a movement that wanted to create artworks just because of arts sake; it was about the artistic skill of how the artists balance certain elements in the art to accomplish balance. The movement can also be redefined by Platos theory, so that it can be understood when not grasping the concept of formalism as a movement. Formalism has its own characteristics and so does many other art movements, which is why formalism is unique and uses its own art development when creating a design or artwork by using certain elements and using them equally to accomplish balance. By knowing what the characteristics of formalism are, it is easy to see why formalism had such a great impact on current designs and artworks. Although formalism was present in the early 20th century and was mostly connected with modernism, these aspects of formalism and even modernism is still seen in designs and artworks of the modern day. Especially the artworks mentioned in this essay, all three of these paint ings and the sculpture are works of art that were created in the 21th century, all of the pieces have formalist qualities and characteristics even though they were not produced too long ago. Formalism is a delicate movement since it is complicated generates an artwork by balancing the elements equally and producing a piece that stands for art for the sake of art. Each question that was mentioned in the introduction was acknowledged and discussed in this essay, the questions of formalism became obvious to the reader; therefore knowing what formalism entails.

Performance Enhancing Drugs and their Effects Essay -- essays research

Performance Enhancing Drugs and their Effects Sports are America's number one source of entertainment. We often love to see game-winning homeruns, hail marys, eighty yard runs, and records being broken. We want OUR athletes to be at their best. We do not care at whose expense this entertainment comes, we just want our money's worth. How do these athletes perform at such high levels day in and day out? Most of them go to the gym and hit the weights or go to the ball field and practice some hitting. But others take an easier way out. They decide to cheat themselves of becoming a truly better athlete. Those cheating athletes turn to performance-enhancing drugs such as steroids or androstenedione, a.k.a. andro. These players feel the negative consequences of these drugs are out-weighed by the positive consequences. Those players are wrong. As a fan of sports, I want my favorite teams or players to be at their best. I want them to win. No, not just win; I want them to be spectacular in doing it. I want my team to give me heart-stopping action. Whether it is a homerun in the bottom of the ninth to win the World Series or it is a buzzer beater from half court to win the game, either way my team has to be great. I do not care about their practice habits or what is going on in their household; I just want them to perform at their best every night. I know most of you are guilty of this too. We turn on the TV at the beginning of the baseball game and the announcer says, "Joe Schmo won't be playing tonight cause of a broken leg he suffered last night in a terrible car accident." At first you will be shocked and hope he is ok. Then you ask the TV, expecting to get an answer, "When is he gonna be back?!?!" Sports today have become so competitive that players will hurt others to win or at least get an edge. If they do not hurt others, they hurt themselves. Lately there have been many cases of players being caught with some type of performance-enhancing drug. It seems that the pressure for these players to succeed has pushed them to the level of "at all costs". Recently, ex-Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar Jose Canseco admitted to using anabolic steroids while he was in the pros. Canseco was one of the premiere hitters in his time. Canseco a... ...ve to enjoy it. Work Cited Associated Press. â€Å"FDA attempts to stem sale of andro.† 11 March 2004. ESPN. 15 April 2004. . Breeder, Craig E. â€Å"Oral Andro-Related Prohormone Supplementation: Do the Potential Risks Outweigh the Benefits?† Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology 28 (2003): 102-17. â€Å"Caminiti Comes Clean: Ex-MVP says he won award while using steroids.† 28 May 2002 Sports Illustrated.Com. 22 April 2004. . Community Drug Alert Bulletin: Anabolic Steroids. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Bethesda, MD. April 2000. Bechtel, Mark: Kennedy, Kostya: Swift, E.M.. â€Å"Bodies of Evidence.† Sports Illustrated. 14 April 2003: 25. Llosa, Luis Fernando: Munson, Lester: Wertheim, L Jon. â€Å"Jolt of Reality.† Sports Illustrated 7 April 2003: 68-76. Research Report Series: Anabolic Steroid Abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse. National Institute of Health. April 2000. Rushin, Steve. â€Å"Big Man In The Big House.† Sports Illustrated 30 June 2003: 17-19.

Epic of Beowulf Essay - A True Literary Epic -- Epic Beowulf essays

Beowulf : A True Literary Epic       The Adventures of Beowulf, a rousing Old English poem of man and monster, and perhaps the earliest European vernacular epic, is rightfully considered an epic for it possesses those features which characterize epic poetry.    For example, in epic poetry the central character has heroic or superhuman qualities. In The Adventures of Beowulf, the main character, a Geat warrior named Beowulf, possesses such qualities: â€Å"He was the strongest of men alive in that day, mighty and noble.†Ã‚   Upon spotting Beowulf approaching, the sea-guard of the Danes says, â€Å"Never have I seen a greater man on earth†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Ã‚   King Hrothgar of the Danes says of Beowulf, â€Å"Seafarers who took gifts to the Geats say that he has the strength of 30 men in his hand grip.† Beowulf chooses to fight Grendel by himself and without shield or weapons; previously the hero slew 9 sea monsters with his sword. And he is fully willing to sacrifice his very life for this: â€Å"†¦ I alone will fulfill the wish of your people †¦ or die in the foe’s grasp.† Beowulf consciously chooses to act in a superhuman manner: â€Å"I shall perform the deeds of a hero or I have passed my last day in t his mead hall.† Even Grendel recognizes the hero’s superior strength: â€Å"The criminal knew he had not met in this middle-earth another with such a grip.† Other warriors when thinking of Beowulf â€Å"would quickly compose a skillful tale in words.† Hrothgar refers to Beowulf as â€Å"the best of warriors.†Ã‚   The Danish queen Wealhtheow compliments after Grendel’s defeat, â€Å"You have earned forever the praise of men from near and far.† Hrothgar expounds on good warriors: â€Å"This is the best-born man – my friend Beowulf †¦ the best of warriors.† When the dragon burns the mead hall of the... ...eat among his kin,† â€Å"war-death,† â€Å"held the gift-seat,† â€Å"a feast to ravens,† â€Å"old and wise,† â€Å"fell down battle-pale,† â€Å"battle-sweat,† â€Å"war-chief,† â€Å"drew his battle-knife,† â€Å"on his death-bed,† â€Å"death held him fast,† â€Å"feared evil days,† etc.    The Adventures of Beowulf is a poem of such stature that it manifests many common characteristics of epic poetry; therefore, it can rightfully be classified as an epic poem in its own right.    BIBLIOGRAPHY    Clark, George. Beowulf. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1990.    Fry, Donald K. â€Å"Introduction: The Artistry of Beowulf.† In TheBeowulf Poet, edited byDonald K. fry. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1968.    Robinson, Fred C. â€Å"Apposed Word Meanings and Religious Perspectives.† In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.

Roger Maris :: essays research papers

Roger Maris is probably one of baseball’s most misunderstood baseball heroes. Still now after almost 40 years Maris has still not achieved his rightful place in baseball history, the Baseball Hall of Fame. Roger Maris has had a picture-perfect life starting in Hibbing, Minnesota to where he grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. His young life was marked with athleticism. He excelled at many sports not just baseball. Roger was affluent in football and track among others. His baseball career began with the Cleveland Indians in 1957 and he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in 1958. In 1966, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals. Maris retired from baseball following the 1968 season. Roger Maris was born in the small town of Hibbing, Minnesota. He only lived there for a few years until he moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he stayed until he was ten. Maris began to realize his talent for athletics during those years. His father remembered that Roger could always play sports better than all of the other kids. More specifically he recalls that no other kid in the neighborhood could begin to match the distance in which Roger could hit the baseball. He was one of the fastest members of the track team. He was also prominent on the basketball and football teams. He was a local champion of stickball, being the only one who could hit the ball nearly 200 yards. Rogers’ family then moved to Fargo, North Dakota. His athletic skills were never used to their potential by the school so he changed high schools to Shanley high school where he was more appreciated. His football, track and basketball talents were used to the maximum potential and Roger gained a local fame.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Like many other baseball stars, Roger Maris began his career in American Legion baseball. He played outfield and he also pitched. In this league he was named the Most Valuable Player on the North Dakota championship team in 1950. After graduation Roger had to choose between football and baseball. It was a hard choice for him and he could go far in either sport. Thank goodness for baseball he chose it. He briefly considered college but he turned down the University of Oklahoma and numerous other colleges that made him offers.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A scout report that was made by Frank Fahey in 1950 resurfaced in 1961 and as a result of this the Cleveland Indians asked him to a tryout camp.

Fool Chapter 3

THREE OUR DARKER PURPOSE[15] â€Å"Well this is a downy lot of goose toss if I've ever read it,† said I. I sat on the bastard's back, cross-legged, reading the letter he'd written to his father. â€Å"‘And my lord must understand how unjust it is that I, the issue of true passion, is shorn of respect and position while deference is given my half brother, who is the product of a bed made of duty and drudgery.'† â€Å"It's true,† said the bastard. â€Å"Am I not as true of shape, as sharp of mind, a – â€Å" â€Å"You're a whiny little wanker,[16] is what you are,† said I, my brashness perhaps spurred by the weight of Drool, who was sitting on the bastard's legs. â€Å"What did you think you would possibly gain by giving this letter to your father?† â€Å"That he might relent and give me half my brother's title and inheritance.† â€Å"Because your mother was a better boff than Edgar's? You're a bastard and an idiot.† â€Å"You could not know, little man.† It was tempting then, to clout the knave across the head with Jones, or better, slit his throat with his own sword, but as much as the king might favor me, he favors the order of his power more. The murder of Gloucester's son, no matter how deserved, would not go unpunished. But I was fast on my way to fool's funeral anyway if I let the bastard up before his anger cooled. I'd sent Shanker Mary away in hope that any wrath that fell might pass her by. I needed a threat to stay Edmund's hand, but I had none. I am the least powerful of all about the court. My only influence is raising others' ire. â€Å"I do know what it is to be deprived by the accident of birth, Edmund.† â€Å"We are not the same. You are as common as field dirt. I am not.† â€Å"I could not know then, Edmund, what it is to have my title cast as an insult? If I call you bastard, and you call me fool, can we answer as men?† â€Å"No riddles, fool. I can't feel my feet.† â€Å"Why would you want to feel your feet? Is that more of the debauchery of the ruling class I hear so much about? So blessed are you with access to the flesh's pleasures that you have to devise ingenious perversions to get your withered, inbred plumbing to come to attention – need to feel your feet and whip the stable boy with a dead rabbit to scratch your scurvy, libidinous itch, is it?† â€Å"What are you on about, fool? I can't feel my feet because there's a great oaf sitting on my legs.† â€Å"Oh. Quite right, sorry. Drool, lift off a bit, but don't let him up.† I climbed from the bastard's back and walked to the laundry doorway where he could see me. â€Å"What you want is property and title. Do you imagine that you will get it by begging?† â€Å"The letter's not begging.† â€Å"You want your brother's fortune. How much better would a letter from him convince your father of your worth?† â€Å"He would never write such a letter, and besides, he does not play for favor, it is his already.† â€Å"Then perhaps the problem is moving favor from Edgar to you. The right letter from him would do it. A letter wherein he confesses his impatience with waiting for his inheritance, and asks for your help in usurping your father.† â€Å"You're mad, fool. Edgar would never write such a letter.† â€Å"I didn't say he would. Do you have anything written in his hand?† â€Å"I do, a letter of credit he was to grant to a wool merchant in Barking Upminster.† â€Å"Do you, sweet bastard, know what a scriptorium is?† â€Å"Aye, it's a place in the monastery where they copy documents – bibles and such.† â€Å"And so my accident of birth is the remedy of yours, for because I hadn't even one parent to lay claim to me, I was brought up in a nunnery that had just such a scriptorium, where, yes, they taught a boy to copy documents, but for our darker purpose, they taught him to copy it in exactly the hand that he found on the page, and the one before that, and the one before that. Letter to letter, stroke for stroke, the same hand as a man long gone to the grave.† â€Å"So you are a skilled forger? If you were raised in a nunnery how is it you are a fool and not a monk or a priest?† â€Å"How is it that you, the son of an earl, must plead mercy from under the arse of an enormous nitwit? We're all Fate's bastards. Shall we compose a letter, Edmund?† I'm sure I would have become a monk, but for the anchoress. The closest to court I would have come would have been praying for the forgiveness of some noble's war crimes. Was I not reared for the monastic life from the moment Mother Basil found me squirming on the steps of the abbey at Dog Snogging[17] on the Ouze? I never knew my parents, but Mother Basil told me once that she thought my mother might have been a madwoman from the local village who had drowned in the river Ouze shortly after I appeared on the doorstep. If that were so, the abbess told me, then my mother had been touched by God (like the Natural) and so I was given to the abbey as God's special child. The nuns, most of whom were of noble birth, second and third daughters who could not find a noble husband, doted on me like a new puppy. So tiny was I that the abbess would carry me with her in her apron pocket, and thus I was given the name of Pocket. Little Pocket of Dog Snogging Abbey. I was much the novelty, the only male in that all-female world, and the nuns competed to see who might carry me in their apron pocket, although I do not remember it. Later, after I learned to walk, they would stand me on the table at mealtime and have me parade up and down waving my winky at them, a unique appendage in those feminine environs. I was seven before I realized that you could eat breakfast with your pants on. Still, I always felt separate from the rest of them, a different creature, isolated. I was allowed to sleep on the floor in the abbess's chambers, as she had a woven rug given her by the bishop. On cold nights I was permitted to sleep under her covers to keep her feet warm, unless one of the other nuns had joined her for that purpose. Mother Basil and I were constant companions, even after I grew out of her marsupial affection. I attended the masses and prayers with her every day from as long as I could remember. How I loved watching her shave every morning after sunup, stropping her razor on a leather strap and carefully scraping the blue-black whiskers from her face. She would show me how to shave the little spot under your nose, and how she pulled aside the skin on her neck, so as not to nick her Adam's apple. But she was a stern mistress, and I had to pray every three hours like all the other nuns, as well as carry water for her bath, chop wood, scrub floors, work in the garden, as well as take lessons in maths, catechism, Latin and Greek, and calligraphy. By the time I was nine I could read and write three languages and recite The Lives of the Saints from memory. I lived to serve God and the nuns of Dog Snogging, hoping that one day I might be ordained as a priest myself. And I might have, but then one day workmen came to the abbey, stonecutters and masons, and in a matter of days they had built a cell off of one of the abandoned passages in the rectory. We were going to have our very own anchorite, or in our case, anchoress. An acolyte so devoted to God that she would be walled up in a cell with only a small opening through which she would be passed food and water, and there she would spend the rest of her life, literally part of the church, praying and dispensing wisdom to the people of the village through her window until she was taken into the bosom of the Lord. Next to being martyred, it was the most holy act of devotion a person could perform. Daily I crept out of Mother Basil's quarters to check on the progress of the cell, hoping to somehow bask in the glory that would be bestowed upon the anchoress. But as the walls rose, I saw there was no window left to the outside, no place for the villagers to receive blessings, as was the custom. â€Å"Our anchoress will be very special,† Mother Basil explained in her steady baritone voice. â€Å"So devout is she that she will only lay eyes on those who bring her food. She will not be distracted from her prayers for the king's salvation.† â€Å"She is the charge of the king?† â€Å"No other,† said Mother Basil. The rest of us were bound by payment to pray for the forgiveness of the Earl of Sussex, who had slaughtered thousands of innocents in the last war with the Belgians and was bound to toast on the coals of Hell unless we could fulfill his penance, which had been pronounced by the Pope himself to be seven million Hail Marys per peasant. (Even with a dispensation and a half-price coupon purchased at Lourdes, the earl was getting no more than a thousand Hail Marys to the penny, so Dog Snogging was becoming a very rich monastery on his sins.) But our anchoress would answer for the sins of the king himself. He was said to have perpetrated some jolly-good wickedness, so her prayers must be very potent indeed. â€Å"Please, Mother, please let me take food to the anchoress.† â€Å"No one is to see or speak to her.† â€Å"But someone has to take her food. Let me do it. I promise not to look.† â€Å"I shall consult the Lord.† I never saw the anchoress arrive. The rumor simply passed that she was in the abbey and the workmen had set the stones around her. Week's went by with me begging the abbess to allow me the holy duty of feeding the anchoress, but it was not until one evening when Mother Basil needed to spend the night alone with young sister Mandy, praying in private for the forgiveness of what the abbess called a â€Å"Smashing Horny Weekender,† that I was allowed to attend to the anchoress. â€Å"In fact,† said the Reverend Mother, â€Å"you stay there, outside her cell until morning, and see if you can learn some piety. Don't come back until morning. Late morning. And bring tea and a couple of scones with you when you come back. And some jam.† I thought I would burst, I was so excited when I first made my way down that long, dark hallway – carrying a plate of cheese and bread, and a flagon of ale. I half expected to see the glory of God shining through the window, but when I got there, it wasn't a window at all, but an arrow loop, like in a castle wall, cut in the shape of a cross, the edges tapered so that the broad stone came to a point at the opening. It was as if the masons only knew one window they could put in a thick wall. (Funny that arrow loops and sword hilts, mechanisms of death, form the sign of the cross – a symbol of mercy – but on second thought, I guess it was a mechanism of death in itself.) The opening was barely wide enough to pass the flagon through; the plate would just fit through at the cross. I waited. No light came from inside the cell. A single candle on the wall across from the opening was the only illumination. I was terrified. I listened, to see if I could hear the anchoress reciting novenas. There wasn't even the sound of breathing. Was she sleeping? What kind of sin was it to interrupt the prayers of someone so holy? I put the plate and ale on the floor and tried to peer into the darkness of the cell, perhaps see her glow. Then I saw it. The dim sparkle of the candle reflecting in an eye. She was sitting there, not two feet from the opening. I jumped back against the far wall, knocking over the ale on the way. â€Å"Did I frighten you?† came a woman's voice. â€Å"No. No, I was just, I am – forgive me. I am awed by your piety.† Then she laughed. It was sad laughter, as if it had been held a long time and then let out in almost a sob, but she was laughing and I was confused. â€Å"I'm sorry, mistress – â€Å" â€Å"No, no, no, don't be sorry. Don't you dare be sorry, boy.† â€Å"I'm not. I won't be.† â€Å"What is your name?† â€Å"Pocket, mum.† â€Å"Pocket,† she repeated, and she laughed some more. â€Å"You've spilled my ale, Pocket.† â€Å"Aye, mum. Shall I fetch you some more?† â€Å"If you don't want the glory of my bloody godliness burning us both down, you better had, hadn't you, friend Pocket? And when you come back, I want you to tell me a story that will make me laugh.† â€Å"Yes, mum,† And that was the day that my world changed. â€Å"Remind me, why is it we're not just murdering my brother?† asked Edmund. From whimpering scribblings to conspiracy to murder in the course of an hour, Edmund was a quick study when it came to villainy. I sat, quill in hand, at the table in my small apartment above the great gatehouse in the outer wall of the castle. I have my own fireplace, a table, two stools, a bed, a cupboard for my things, a hook for my coxcomb and clothes, and in the middle of my room a large cauldron for heating and pouring boiling oil upon a siege force through gutters in the floor. But for the clanking of the massive chains when the drawbridge is raised or lowered, it is a cozy den in which to pursue slumber or other horizontal sport. Best of all, it is private, with a thumping big bolt on the door. Even among the nobles, privacy is rare, as conspiracy thrives there. â€Å"While that is an attractive course, unless Edgar is disgraced, disinherited, and his properties willfully given to you, the lands and title could pass to some legitimate cousin, or worse, your father might set about trying to sire a new legitimate heir.† I shuddered a bit then – along with, I'm sure, a dozen maidens about the kingdom – at the mental vision of Gloucester's withered flanks, bared and about the business of making an heir upon their nubile nobility. They would be clawing at the nunnery door to escape the honor. â€Å"I hadn't thought of that,† said Edmund. â€Å"Really, you, not think? How shocking. Although a simple poisoning does seem cleaner, the letter is the sharper sword.† If I gave the scoundrel proper rope, perhaps he could hang for both our purposes. â€Å"I can craft such a letter, subtle, yet condemning. You'll be the Earl of Gloucester before you can get dirt shoveled on your father's still twitching body. But the letter may not do all.† â€Å"Speak your mind, fool. As much as I'd love to silence your yammering, speak.† â€Å"The king favors your father and your brother, which is why they were called here. If Edgar becomes betrothed to Cordelia, which could happen before the morrow – well, with the princess's dowry in hand, there'll be no cause for him to resort to the treachery we are about to craft around him. You'll be left with your fangs showing, noble Edmund, and the legitimate son will be all the richer.† â€Å"I'll see he is not betrothed to Cordelia.† â€Å"How? Will you tell him horrid things? I have it on good authority that her feet are like ferryboats. They strap them up under her gown to keep them from flapping when she walks.† â€Å"I will see to it that there is no marriage, little man, don't you worry. But you must see to this letter. Tomorrow Edgar goes on to Barking to deliver the letters of credit and I'll return to Gloucester with my father. I'll let the letter slip to him then, so his anger has time to fester in Edgar's absence.† â€Å"Quick, before I waste parchment, promise you'll not let Edgar marry Cordelia.† â€Å"Fine, fool, promise you'll not tell anyone that you ever penned this letter, and I will.† â€Å"I promise,† said I. â€Å"By the balls of Venus.† â€Å"Then, so do I,† said the bastard. â€Å"All right, then,† said I, dipping my quill in ink, â€Å"although murder would be a simpler plan.† I've never cared for the bastard's brother Edgar, either. Earnest and open-faced is he. I don't trust anyone who appears so trustworthy. They must be up to something. Of course, Edmund hanging black-tongued for his brother's murder would make for a festive chandelier as well. A fool does enjoy a party. In a half-hour I had crafted a letter so wily and peppered with treachery that any father might strangle his son at the sight of it and, if childless, bastinade his own bollocks with a war hammer to discourage conspirators yet to be born. It was a masterpiece of both forgery and manipulation. I blotted it well and held it up for Edmund to see. â€Å"I'll need your dagger, sir,† said I. Edmund reached for the letter and I danced away from him. â€Å"First the knife, good bastard.† Edmund laughed. â€Å"Take my dagger, fool. You're no safer, I still have my sword.† â€Å"Aye, which I handed you myself. I need your dagger to razor the seal off that letter of credit so I may affix it to this missive of ours. You'll need to break it only in your father's presence, as if you yourself are only then discovering your brother's black nature.† â€Å"Oh,† said Edmund. He gave me the knife. I performed the deed with sealing wax and candle and handed the blade back with the letter. (Could I have used one of my own knives for the task? Of course, but it was not time for Edmund to know of them.) The letter was barely in his pocket before Edmund had drawn his sword and had it leveled at my throat. â€Å"I think I can assure your silence better than a promise.† I didn't move. â€Å"So, you lament being born out of favor, what favor will you court by killing the king's fool? A dozen guards saw you come in here.† â€Å"I'll take my chances.† Just then the great chains that ran through my room began to shake, rattling as if a hundred suffering prisoners were shackled to them rather than a slab of oak and iron. Edmund looked around and I scampered to the far side of the room. Wind rushed through the arrow loops that served as my windows and extinguished the candle I had used for the sealing wax. The bastard spun to face the arrow loops and the room went dark, as if a cape had been thrown over the day. The golden form of a woman shimmered in the air at the dark wall. The ghost said, â€Å"A thousand years of torture rule, The knave who dares to harm a fool.† I could only see Edmund by the glow of the spirit, but he was moving crablike toward the door that led out onto the west wall, reaching frantically for the latch. Then he threw the bolt and was through the door in an instant. Light filled my little apartment and I could again view the Thames through the slits in the stone. â€Å"Well rhymed, wisp,† said I to the empty air. â€Å"Well rhymed.†